Battle of Eski Zagra

Battle of Eski Zagra
Part of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)

Defending of the Samara flag (1909) by Pyotr Morozov
Date19 July 1877
Location
Result Ottoman victory
Territorial
changes
  • Stara Zagora was captured and burned by the Ottoman troops
  • Russian troops have been driven back from central Bulgaria to the Balkan Mountains
Belligerents
Russian Empire  Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Iosif Gurko
Nikolai Stoletov
Süleyman Hüsnü Pasha
Units involved

Advance squad

Süleyman land Army
Strength
4,500 to 5,000
4 cannons

35,000 to 48,000

  • 17,500 to 24,000 engaged
    8 cannons
Casualties and losses
567 casualties c.200 to 1,500 casualties
14,000 to 20,000 Bulgarian civilians were killed

The Battle of Eski Zagra was a military engagement that took place in the city of Stara Zagora on 19 July 1877 during the Russo-Turkish War. As a result of a well-planned counteroffensive, the Ottoman troops were able to unexpectedly strike at the Russians and force them to retreat to the Balkan Mountains.