The Anapa campaign in 1788 was a military expedition launched by the Russian Empire to capture the Ottoman fortress of Anapa, located on the northeastern Black Sea coast in the North Caucasus. The expedition ended in failure for the Russian army. It was part of both the Sheikh Mansur Movement and the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792.
Date: 11 August – 14 October 1788
Location: Anapa, North Caucasus
Result: North Caucasian–Ottoman victory
Belligerents: Sheikh Mansur Movement and Ottoman Empire (defenders) vs. Russian Empire (attackers)
Commanders: Sheikh Mansur and Hussein Pasha (defenders) vs. General Peter Tekeli (attackers)
Campaign
On April 22, 1788, Russian Prince Grigory Potemkin ordered General Peter Tekeli to march against the Ottoman fortress of Anapa and capture it. However, strong flooding of mountain rivers in 1788 delayed the start of the campaign. Only on August 11 did General Tekeli begin marching, accompanied by General Talyzin. On September 11, the Russians crossed the Kuban River. They successfully overcame enemy attacks and crossed the Ubin River on September 25.
Tekeli divided his troops into two forces under General Ratiev and Colonel Hermann, with a third force under Lieutenant Mansurov moving first to the upper river to meet the Turks. Mansurov's detachment unexpectedly came across a Turkish camp led by Mustafa Pasha, consisting of 2,500 Turks and 8,000 Caucasians. Mansurov's detachment was surrounded before it could regroup, but formed a square formation and fought off attacks for five hours until reinforcements arrived and forced the Ottomans to retreat.
On October 13, 1788, the Russians arrived at Anapa fortress. On October 14, Colonel Hermann, with one dragoon brigade and the Volga Cossack regiment, conducted a reconnaissance of the fort. The Ottomans responded with heavy fire. When the fortress guns fired a volley, the head of the Turkish garrison, Hussein Batal Pasha, appeared at the main front. Caucasians hiding in the surrounding forests, seeing Batal Pasha, advanced with 11 guns and launched a fierce attack, forcing the Russians to retreat. Simultaneously, Janissaries emerged from the fortress gates and charged the Russian forces.
The Russians found themselves in a critical situation. Colonel Hermann was rescued by timely reinforcements, allowing him to retreat. The garrison launched a sudden sortie, but the Russians were saved by the Dragoon Brigade, which successfully pushed back the Ottomans and Caucasians. After this battle, Tekelli concluded that attacking the fortress would cost too many lives and would be difficult to hold.
Aftermath
Empress Catherine the Great and Prince Potemkin were dissatisfied with Tekelli's actions, accusing him of lacking energy and determination. Tekelli was removed from his post as commander but continued to serve in the Caucasus.
The Ottoman Sultan dispatched firmans (decrees) to the Caucasians calling for the expulsion of the Russians from the Caucasus. Imam Mansur (Sheikh Mansur) launched religious sermons among the Caucasians, who listened favorably to his speeches rather than to the Turks, whom they considered no less threatening to their independence than the Russians.
