Iosif Gurko

Count Iosif Gurko
Born (1828-07-28)28 July 1828
Novgorod, Novgorod Governorate, Russian Empire
Died 28 January 1901(1901-01-28) (aged 72)
near Tver, Russian Empire
Allegiance  Russian Empire
Service/branch Russian EmpireImperial Russian Army
Years of service 1846–1901
Rank Field Marshal
Battles/wars Crimean War
Russo-Turkish War
Awards Order of St. George

Count Iosif Vladimirovich Romeyko-Gurko (Russian: Ио́сиф Влади́мирович Роме́йко-Гурко́; 28 July [O.S. 16 July] 1828 — 28 January [O.S. 15 January] 1901), also known as Joseph or Ossip Gourko, was a prominent Russian field marshal during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).[1] [2] [3]


Biography

Of Belarusian/Polish extraction, Gurko was educated in the Imperial Corps of Pages, entered the hussars 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 Zagra) and Nova Zagora (Turkish: Yeni Zagra), 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 Orhanie with a large mixed force, captured Gorni-Dubnik, Telish and Vratsa and, in the middle of November, Orhanie itself. Pleven was isolated, and after its liberation in December Gourko led his troops amidst snow and ice over the Balkans to the fertile valley beyond. He liberated Sofia and decisively defeated Suleiman Pasha at the Battle of Philippopolis and occupied Adrianople. The armistice at the end of January 1878 stopped further operations.

In 1879–1880, Gurko was a governor of St. Petersburg, and from 1883-1894 Governor-General of Poland, where he enforced the Russification policies of Alexander III.

He died in 1901, near the city of Tver.

Honour

Gurko was made a count and decorated with the 2nd class of St. George and other orders.

Gurkovo town in South-central Bulgaria and General Yosif V. Gurko Street in Sofia, Bulgaria are named after him.

Notes

  1. ↑ "GOURKO, JOSEPH VLADIMIROVICH". The Encyclopaedia Britannica; A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information. XII (GICHTEL to HARMONIUM) (11th ed.). Cambridge, England and New York: At the University Press. 1910. p. 288. Retrieved 26 July 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ↑ Forbes, Archibald (1895). "Soldiers I Have Known". Memories of War and Peace (2nd ed.). London, Paris & Melbourne: Cassell and Company Limited. p. 366. Retrieved 26 July 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ↑ Greene, F. V. (1881). "Russian Generals". Sketches of Army Life in Russia. London: W.H. Allen & Co. pp. 143–147. Retrieved July 26, 2018 – via Internet Archive.

Sources

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gourko, Joseph Vladimirovich". Encyclopædia Britannica. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 288.
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