Battle of Philippopolis (1878)

Battle of Philippopolis
Part of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878
View of one of the streets of Filipoppol (Plovdiv) after the liberation, January 1878
Date 14-16 January 1878 Location Filibe Sanjak, Edirne Province, Ottoman Empire (now Plovdiv, Bulgaria) Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Gourko	Suleiman Pasha
Strength
12,000	7,000
Casualties and losses
1,300 killed and wounded	5,000 killed and wounded, 2,000 captured

The Battle of Philippopolis, or Battle of Plovdiv, was one of the final battles of the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War.

Following the crushing Russian victory at the last battle of Shipka Pass, Russian commander Gen. Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko began to move southeast towards Constantinople. Blocking the route was the Ottoman fortress at Plovdiv under Suleiman Pasha. On 16 January 1878, a squadron of Russian dragoons led by Captain Alexander Burago stormed the city. Its defenses were strong but superior Russian numbers overwhelmed them and the Ottoman forces retreated almost to Constantinople. At this time foreign powers intervened and Russia agreed to the Treaty of San Stefano.

The Monument to the Liberation of Plovdiv

Captain Aleksandr Burago's monument in Plovdiv

Coordinates: 42°9′N 24°45′E / 42.150°N 24.750°E / 42.150; 24.750

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