Siege of Anapa (1828)

The Siege of Anapa in 1828 was a significant event in the Russo-Turkish War (1828-1829). Anapa, a strategically important Black Sea fortress and port controlled by the Ottoman Empire, was besieged and captured by the Russian Imperial forces under the command of Admiral Alexei Greig and General Nikolai Nikolayevich Raevsky.

Prior to 1828, Anapa had changed hands several times between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The Russian objective in this campaign was to secure the northeastern coast of the Black Sea and eliminate Ottoman influence in the region, thereby improving Russian control over the Caucasus.

The siege involved a combined land and naval assault. The Russian fleet blockaded Anapa, preventing resupply and reinforcement by sea. The land forces, after overcoming initial Ottoman resistance in the surrounding area, established siege lines around the fortress. The Russian artillery bombarded the fortifications, gradually weakening the defenses.

After a period of intense bombardment and facing a determined Russian assault, the Ottoman garrison of Anapa surrendered on June 12, 1828 (O.S.). The surrender marked a major victory for the Russian Empire and further solidified their control over the eastern Black Sea coast.

Following the capture of Anapa, the fortress was largely dismantled, and the town became a part of the Russian Empire. The local Circassian population, who had generally sided with the Ottomans, faced increased Russian control and displacement. The siege and subsequent Russian control of Anapa had a lasting impact on the demographics and political landscape of the region.