Iosif Gurko
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Count Iosif Vladimirovich Romeyko-Gurko | |
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Born | Novgorod, Novgorod Governorate, Russian Empire | 28 July 1828
Died | 28 January 1901 near Tver, Tver Governorate, Russian Empire | (aged 72)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1846–1901 |
Rank | Field Marshal |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Order of St. George |
Count Iosif Vladimirovich Romeyko-Gurko (Russian: Граф Ио́сиф Влади́мирович Роме́йко-Гурко́, romanized: Iósif Vladímirovič Roméjko-Gurkó; 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
[edit]Of Belarusian 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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%82_%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0_%D0%98%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%B0_%D0%92%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B0_%D0%93%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BE_%28%D0%B2_1879-1880%D0%B3%D0%B3%29._%D0%98%D0%B7%D0%B4.1903%D0%B3_%D0%93%D0%98%D0%9C_e1t3.jpg/150px-%D0%9F%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%82_%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0_%D0%98%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%B0_%D0%92%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B0_%D0%93%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BE_%28%D0%B2_1879-1880%D0%B3%D0%B3%29._%D0%98%D0%B7%D0%B4.1903%D0%B3_%D0%93%D0%98%D0%9C_e1t3.jpg)
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. With the help of Carol I of Romania and a few other Russian commanders such as : Michael Nikolaevich and Iosif Vladimirovich Gourko, the Russian Empire managed to break free Romania, Serbia and Montenegro. After a Russian victory the Treaty of Berlin was signed.
In 1879–1880, Gurko was a governor of St. Petersburg, and from 1883 to 1894 Governor-General of Poland, where he enforced the Russification policies of Alexander III. While in office as Governor-General of Poland, he carried out significant training maneuvers involving troops from all over the Empire.[4][5] In 1892, notable construction projects were underway including roads, railways, and fortifications. These projects employed 150,000 Poles.[6]
In 1892, General Gourko heard complaints from factory workers about "brutal treatment" from German overseers. In response, he issued a policy requiring factory overseers to be able to speak Russian and Polish perfectly.[7]
According to the New York Times, General Gourko also played a role in carrying out expulsions from Russian Poland.[8]
He died in 1901, near the city of Tver.
Honour
[edit]Gurko was made a count and decorated with the 2nd class of St. George, Order of the Cross of Takovo[9] and other orders.
Gurkovo town in South-central Bulgaria and General Yosif V. Gurko Street in Sofia, Bulgaria are named after him.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 288.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "RUSSIAN ARMY MANOEUVRES". The New York Times. 1890-05-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "RUSSIA MOVING TROOPS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "RUSSIA IN POLAND.; EXTENSIVE FORTIFICATIONS AND RAILWAYS BEING CONSTRUCTED". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "BRUTAL GERMAN OVERSEERS.; WELL-GROUNDED COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM IN RUSSIAN POLAND". The New York Times. 1892-11-16. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ "JEWS DRIVEN FROM POLAND.; Four Hundred and Eighty Families Expelled from One District Alone". The New York Times. 1893-06-01. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ Acović, Dragomir (2012). Slava i čast: Odlikovanja među Srbima, Srbi među odlikovanjima. Belgrade: Službeni Glasnik. p. 621.
Sources
[edit]- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gourko, Joseph Vladimirovich". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 288. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
- 1828 births
- 1901 deaths
- People from Veliky Novgorod
- People from Novgorodsky Uyezd
- Russian people of Belarusian descent
- Members of the State Council (Russian Empire)
- Governors-general of Warsaw
- Russian military personnel of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
- Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Russia)
- Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian)
- Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Second Degree
- Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Third Degree
- Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Takovo
- Battle of Shipka Pass