Battle of Larga

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Battle of Larga

Date	7 July 1770 ^[1]
Location	Larga river
Result	Russian victory

Belligerents

Russian Empire

Ottoman Empire

Commanders

Field-Marshal Rumyantsev

Kaplan Girey

Strength

38,000, 115 guns

65,000 cavalry, 15,000 infantry, 33 guns

Casualties and losses

100 killed and wounded

1,000 killed, 2000 prisoners, 33 guns, supply train

The Battle of Larga was fought between 65,000 Crimean Tatars cavalry and 15,000 Turkish infantry under Kaplan Girey against 38,000 Russians under Field-Marshal Rumyantsev on the banks of the Larga River (a tributary of the Pruth) for eight hours on 7 July 1770. It was fought on the same day as Battle of Chesma, a key naval engagement of the Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774. The battle was a decisive victory for the Russians who captured 33 Turkish cannons and the vast enemy camp. For this victory, Rumyantsev was awarded the Order of Saint George of the 1st Degree. Two weeks later, the Russians scored an even greater victory in the Battle of Kagul.