Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko
Encyclopedia
Count Iosif Vladimirovich Romeyko-Gurko ' onMouseout='HidePop("46188")' href="/topics/Mogilev_Governorate">Mogilev Governorate
— 15–28 January 1901, near Tver
), also known as Joseph or Ossip Gourko, was a Russian
Field Marshal
prominent during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).
Of Belarusian/Polish extraction, Gurko was educated in the Imperial Corps of Pages, entered the hussar
s of the Imperial Guard as a sub-lieutenant in 1846, became captain in 1857, adjutant to Alexander II of Russia
in 1860, colonel in 1861, commander of the 4th Hussar Regiment of Mariupol in 1866, and major-general of the emperor's suite in 1867.
He subsequently commanded the grenadier regiment, and in 1873 the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, of the cavalry of the Imperial Guard. Although he took part in the Crimean War
, being stationed at Belbek, his claim to distinction is due to his service in the Turkish war of 1877. He led the spearhead of the Russian invasion, took Tarnovo on July 7, crossed the Balkans
by the Haim Boaz pass--which debouches near Hainkyoi--and, despite considerable resistance, captured Uflani, Maglizh
and Kazanlak
; on July 18 he attacked Shipka
, which was evacuated by the Turks the following day. Thus within 16 days of crossing the Danube
, Gourko had secured three Balkan passes and created a panic at Constantinople
.
He then made a series of successful reconnaissances of the Tundzha
valley, cut the railway in two places, occupied Stara Zagora
(Turkish, Eski Zaara) and Nova Zagora
(Eni Zaara), checked the advance of Suleiman Pasha's army and returned again over the Balkans. In October he was appointed commander of the allied cavalry, and attacked the Plevna line of communication to Orkhanie with a large mixed force, captured Gorni-Dubnik
, Telische and Vratsa
and, in the middle of November, Orkhanie
itself. Plevna was isolated, and after its fall in December Gourko led his troops amidst snow and ice over the Balkans to the fertile valley beyond, decisively defeated Suleiman Pasha at the Battle of Philippopolis and occupied Sofia
, Philippopolis (Plovdiv
) and Adrianople. The armistice
at the end of January 1878 stopped further operations.
Gurko was made a count and decorated with the 2nd class of St. George and other orders. In 1879–1880 he was governor of St. Petersburg
, and from 1883-1894 Governor-General of Poland, where he enforced the Russification
policies of Alexander III
.
Mogilev Governorate
The Mogilev Governorate or Government of Mogilev was a governorate of the Russian Empire in the territory of the present day Belarus. Its capital was in Mogilev....
— 15–28 January 1901, near Tver
Tver
Tver is a city and the administrative center of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population: 403,726 ; 408,903 ;...
), also known as Joseph or Ossip Gourko, was a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
prominent during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).
Of Belarusian/Polish extraction, Gurko was educated in the Imperial Corps of Pages, entered the hussar
Hussar
Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
s of the Imperial Guard as a sub-lieutenant in 1846, became captain in 1857, adjutant to Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
in 1860, colonel in 1861, commander of the 4th Hussar Regiment of Mariupol in 1866, and major-general of the emperor's suite in 1867.
He subsequently commanded the grenadier regiment, and in 1873 the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, of the cavalry of the Imperial Guard. Although he took part in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, being stationed at Belbek, his claim to distinction is due to his service in the Turkish war of 1877. He led the spearhead of the Russian invasion, took Tarnovo on July 7, crossed the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
by the Haim Boaz pass--which debouches near Hainkyoi--and, despite considerable resistance, captured Uflani, Maglizh
Maglizh
Maglizh is a town in Stara Zagora Province, South-central Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Maglizh Municipality. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 3,426 inhabitants.-Honour:...
and Kazanlak
Kazanlak
Kazanlak, formerly Kazanlık is a Bulgarian town in Stara Zagora Province, located in the middle of the plain of the same name, at the foot of the Balkan mountain range, at the eastern end of the Rose Valley...
; on July 18 he attacked Shipka
Battle of Shipka Pass
Four battles were fought between the Russian Empire, aided by Bulgarian volunteers known as Opalchentsi, and the Ottoman Empire for control over the vital Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War...
, which was evacuated by the Turks the following day. Thus within 16 days of crossing the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, Gourko had secured three Balkan passes and created a panic at Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
He then made a series of successful reconnaissances of the Tundzha
Tundzha
The Tundzha is a river in Bulgaria and Turkey and the most significant tributary of the Maritsa, emptying into it on Turkish territory near Edirne....
valley, cut the railway in two places, occupied Stara Zagora
Stara Zagora
Stara Zagora is the sixth largest city in Bulgaria, and a nationally important economic center. Located in Southern Bulgaria, it is the administrative capital of the homonymous Stara Zagora Province...
(Turkish, Eski Zaara) and Nova Zagora
Nova Zagora
Nova Zagora is a town located in the southeastern plains of Bulgaria in Sliven Province. It is the administrative centre of Nova Zagora Municipality. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 23,625 inhabitants , while the entire municipality has a population of 45,111. The first traces...
(Eni Zaara), checked the advance of Suleiman Pasha's army and returned again over the Balkans. In October he was appointed commander of the allied cavalry, and attacked the Plevna line of communication to Orkhanie with a large mixed force, captured Gorni-Dubnik
Battle of Gorni-Dubnik
In an effort to reduce the fortress of Pleven quicker, Russian forces began targeting garrisons along the Ottoman supply and communications route. A significant garrison had been reduced at the Battle of Lovcha in September...
, Telische and Vratsa
Vratsa
Vratsa is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Vratsa Province. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 60,482 inhabitants....
and, in the middle of November, Orkhanie
Botevgrad
Botevgrad ; pre-1866: Samundzhievo ), is a town in western Bulgaria. It is located in Sofia Province and is close to Pravets. Botevgrad is situated at a 47-km-distance from Sofia.-Geography:...
itself. Plevna was isolated, and after its fall in December Gourko led his troops amidst snow and ice over the Balkans to the fertile valley beyond, decisively defeated Suleiman Pasha at the Battle of Philippopolis and occupied Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Philippopolis (Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
) and Adrianople. The armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
at the end of January 1878 stopped further operations.
Gurko was made a count and decorated with the 2nd class of St. George and other orders. In 1879–1880 he was governor of St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, and from 1883-1894 Governor-General of Poland, where he enforced the Russification
Russification
Russification is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attributes by non-Russian communities...
policies of Alexander III
Alexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
.