The Battle of Rimnik

The key events of the war were expected to take place in the region of Izmail. The Turks demonstratively moved their large forces there. Taken in by this trick, commander-in-chief Potyomkin concentrated the might of the Russian army there. This was what the Turks were waiting for. Their army of 100,000 commanded by Yusuf Pasha (Yusuf means brilliant) was preparing to defeat the Austrians to get their hands on the Russians afterwards. The Austrian forces were commanded by Prince Coburg. On finding out from scouts that the Turks were going to advance 100,000 against his 18,000, the prince hurriedly despatched a courier to General Suvorov begging for help. A 7,000 -8,000 strong Russian army division sent by the general hurried to aid the ally.

The Turkish losses amounted to 10,000 killed. The allies lost a total of 1,000 killed and wounded. In a couple of days, Yusuf Pasha gathered the rest of his once 100000-strong army. It now counted only 15,000 men.