Siege of Belgrade (1806)

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Wikipedia

Siege of Belgrade (1806)
Part of the First Serbian Uprising

The death of Vasa Čarapić at the Stambol Gate
Date12–26 December 1806
Location
Belgrade, Ottoman Empire
Result Serbian victory
Belligerents
 Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
  • Ottoman Empire Mehmed-aga Fočić
  • Ottoman Empire Mula Jusuf
Units involved
Revolutionary Serbia First Serbian Army Ottoman Empire Ottoman Army
Strength
12,000–25,000[citation needed]
40 cannons[citation needed]		 300 cannons[citation needed]
Casualties and losses
50 dead, 60 wounded Around 300 dead, many captured

The Siege of Belgrade (Serbian: Опсада Београда, romanized: Opsada Beograda), known as the Liberation of Belgrade (Ослобођење Београда, Oslobođenje Beograda) was carried out by the Serbian rebels led by Karađorđe, seeking to overthrow the Ottoman government in the Sanjak of Smederevo, which was seated in the Belgrade Fortress. Following the victories at Mišar (13–15 August) and Deligrad (3 September), the Serbian rebels marched towards Belgrade.

Belgrade was in Serbian hands by 26 December 1806.[1]

The battle

The plan of penetrating the town of Belgrade, through taking over the Sava, Varoš, Stambol and Vidin Gate), was presented by Konda Bimbaša to Karađorđe. Konda Bimbaša, well aware of the operating procedures of the Ottoman guard, took the leadership over volunteers to take over the Sava gate, accompanied by Uzun-Mirko. Karađorđe decided with the commanders that the attack be carried out on Saint Andrew's Day, during Eid al-Fitr, when the attention of the guards was lower. Rebel columns were set on each gate, to storm after the gate was taken, commanded by Milivoje Petrović Blaznavac, Sima Marković, Vasa Čarapić, Stanoje Glavaš and Vule Ilić. At the estimated time, Konda, Uzun-Mirko, Petar Sremac, Nikola Stambolija, Karlovalija, Dragić, and Mladen headed out, followed by a detachment of volunteers, and then the main column of Miloje Petrović. Since they arrived unnoticed at the gate, Konda and Uzun-Mirko first climbed the rampart and jumped over the palisade, and headed towards the guards on a bypassing road. Met by an Ottoman patrol, they presented themselves as kirdzhalis, then proceeded to the town gates and guards where they divided into two groups. Uzun-Mirko and Konda attacked the guards, and the rest broke into the gate locks with axes. In the fight, Uzun-Mirko received two wounds, and Konda five, but they kept on. Even though shots were fired, the Turks in the town and at the rest of the gates did not suspect that a Serbian attack was in question, but that shots were fired for the holiday. After taking over the first gates, commandos went toward the Varoš Gate, at which time the Turks were alarmed. Most of the Turks tried to reach the Upper Fortress (Kalemegdan), while the resistance was provided by the so-called krdžalije. Uzun-Mirko and Konda also fought on the Varoš Gate, while Vasa Čarapić died taking over the Stambol Gate, and Stanoje Glavaš and Vule Ilić penetrated through the Vidin Gate, after which the rebels easily took over the town towards Kalemegdan.[2]

Aftermath

In January 1807, the Ottomans accepted "Ičko's Peace", however, the rebels rejected it and sought Russian aid to their independence, signing a Russian-Serbian military alliance in June.

References

  1. ↑ Radosavljević & Marinković 2012, p. 284.
  2. ↑ Kosta Protić (1893). Ratni događaji iz Prvog srpskog ustanka 1804—1813 pod voždom Karađorđem Petrovićem. Beograd: Publisher unknown.

Sources