TRENDEFRARAtlas of the Sultans · Wars, battles and treaties
Battle · 1789
In the war of 1787–1792, fought on two fronts against Russia and Austria, the Ottoman army suffered heavy defeats in Moldavia and Wallachia after Selim III's accession. According to the TDV article on Koca Yusuf Pasha, the heavy routs at Focșani on 1 August 1789, while crossing the Rymnik on 22 September and then on the banks of the Buzău, were followed by the surrender of fortresses, and the situation became too grave to be mended by changing grand viziers. According to the TDV article on Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha, after the routs at Focșani and Buzău the commander-in-chief Kethüda (Cenaze) Hasan Pasha was dismissed, and on 3 December 1789 Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha became grand vizier and commander-in-chief.
| Date | 1 August and 22 September 1789 |
|---|---|
| Location | Focșani and the Rymnik–Buzău rivers, on the Wallachia–Moldavia border |
| Result | The Ottoman army suffered two heavy routs; its commander was dismissed |
| Belligerents | Ottoman Empire | Russian Empire Habsburg Monarchy |
|---|---|---|
| Commanders | Cenaze Hasan Pasha |
Took place during the reign of Selim III (1789–1807). Selim III
Open the reign of Selim III on the mapBy the atlas's calculation the Ottoman lands covered about 4,596,000 km² in 1789; at the start of Selim III's reign they measured 4,596,000 km², at its end 4,551,000 km².
During Selim III (1789–1807) the atlas records 0 regions gained and 1 region lost.
Regions lost: Budjak–Bessarabia (1806).
He launched a thorough programme of reform: a new army, permanent embassies, engineering schools. The programme was overthrown by a Janissary revolt and he himself was killed; yet the Nizam-ı Cedid became the blueprint for Mahmud II's reforms.
Areas are land area computed from the atlas's region data; see Method and sources.
Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, “YÛSUF PAŞA, Koca” (Turkish); text written for the atlas.
Cite as: Atlas of the Sultans, “Battle of Rymnik (1789): Date, Commanders and Outcome”, https://padisahlaratlasi.com/en/events/battle-of-rymnik/ (last updated 12 November 2026). Corrections
Terms on this page: Grand vizier · Vizier