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Battle of Rymnik 1789




Carronade 2025

Coming, Suvorov!
The Battle of Rymnik (also Battle of Mărtinești or Boze) on 22 September 1789, in Wallachia, at the Râmnicul Sărat River, known as the Rymnik, near Râmnicu Sărat (now in Romania) during the Russo-Ottoman War of 1787–1792 and the Austro-Ottoman War of 1788–1791.

After their defeat at the Battle of Focşani (31 July 1789), the Grand Vizier, Cenaze Hasan Pasha, reinforced the main field army to a strength of around 100,000 men, including 40,000 janissaries, 40,000 cavalry and 20,000 other infantry, supported by 85 guns. He started the new offensive with a night march from Braila to attack Coburg’s 18,000-strong Austrian army on the Râmnicul Sărat River in Wallachia, south of Focşani. Coburg managed to fight off the initial attack from the Ottoman vanguard on 19 September and called on Suvorov’s 7,000-strong division for support. He replied, "Coming, Suvorov!" and quickly marched to their aid, covering about 97 kilometres in two and a half days, arriving on 21 September. The Ottomans had camped in the river basin of the Rymna (Râmna) and Rymnik Rivers, fortifying three camps six kilometres apart. Despite being outnumbered four to one, Suvorov proposed to attack and defeat the larger Ottoman army piecemeal. 

On the evening of 21 September, Russian engineers found a crossing point on the Rymna and Suvorov led his column over the river, forming six squares. They advanced six kilometres south towards the Ottoman camp at Tyrgo Kukuli. After an artillery exchange, some 12,000 Ottoman troops surged out of a gully to attack the Russian left flank. The square was breached in several places, but by deploying reserves and fire support from the neighbouring squares, the Ottomans retreated, and Suvorov moved his division to the left to support Coburg. This is the action we will replicate on the tabletop.

Suvorov's arrival rescued the Austrians, who captured the Ottoman entrenchments and forced the remaining Ottoman troops to retreat. After a further Ottoman attack was repulsed, they started to drift away from the battle. By nightfall, the Allies had secured the ground up to the Rymnik River. The twin victories at Focşani and Rymnik secured Suvorov’s military reputation, and he was awarded the title ‘Count of Rymnik’. The Austrians had also learned how to fight the Ottomans effectively, and they occupied Wallachia until the end of the war.​

The game will be played using 28mm figures from various ranges. The rules are Lust for Glory, a variant of the popular To the Strongest and For King and Parliament rules by Simon Miller, which we are play testing for the author. You are very welcome to play a turn or more, and we would welcome your feedback on the rules. 
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Ottoman Janissaries (Old Glory)
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Monument to Suvorov on the battlefield today
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Russian Line Infantry wearing the distinctive Potemkin helmet (North Star)
Glasgow and District Wargames Society

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