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A heroic defense of the Bayezid Fortress began
6 (18) June, 1877 during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, on the Caucasian theater of war, a small Russian garrison began a heroic defense of the Bayezid Fortress (now Doğubeyazit, in the north-eastern Turkey), which lasted 23 days and went down to history as "Bayazet seat."
After seizure of Bayezid in April of 1877, a detachment of Lieutenant-General A. Tergukasov moved to the west, leaving a small garrison in the fortress under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A. Kovalevsky. The commandant of the fortress was appointed captain F. E. Shtokovich. May 24 (June 5) Colonel Kovalevsky as chief of the garrison was replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel G. Patsevich.
6 (18) June, 25, 000 Turks under the command of Faik Pasha and Qazi Muhammad entered the city of Bayezid and besieged its fortress, locking up to 1,600 men. The fortress was not prepared for a siege, as its commandant was not given timely orders to stockpile water, and the food depot of the garrison was located in the city, and the food was delivered to the citadel on demand.
In the morning of 8 (20) June, a large force of Turks under the command of the former commandant of the city, Kamal Ali Pasha, made a powerful attack on the citadel. Having panicked, Lieutenant Colonel Patsevich, in agreement with several other officers, including the commandant of the fortress, Shtokvich, decided to surrender Bayezid, but was removed from command by Colonel Ismail Khan of Nakhichevan, who on the rights of the superior, assumed command of garrison on his own initiative.
The situation of the besieged worsened every day. Poor food stocks were fast depleted, the citadel had no water. It was available only in the stream which flowed near the fort. Turkish arrows shot the braves coming down for water.
During 23 days the garrison bravely repulsed all attacks of the Turks, and finally, on June 28 (July 10) was rescued by Erivan detachment of General Tergukasov: thanks to his skillful actions and misses of the enemy, the Turkish troops were thrown back from Bayezid. During the siege the garrison lost in killed and wounded 10 officers and 276 soldiers of the lower ranks.
Persistent defense of Bayezid had not allowed Turkish commanders breaking through the left flank of the Russian Caucasus Army and reach the rear of Paskevich’s troops going to Erzurum. Diverting of the major forces of the Turks by a small garrison of the citadel prevented the attack on the province of Erivan, and saved its people from destruction and looting. If it was not for Bayezid, the Turkish army would have a chance to penetrate to Armenia, then in Azerbaijan, Georgia and the North Caucasus.
For his services Colonel Ismail Khan of Nakhichevan was awarded the rank of major general, and for the exemplary courage and good management demonstrated by him during the siege of Bayezid in June 1877 he was awarded the Order of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, 4th class. Other orders were awarded to another 8 officers from among the liberators and defenders. For his merits in battles against the Turks, the captain of the local Tiflis regiment, F. E. Shtokvich was granted the rank of major before the appointed time.
After the war, under the terms of the San Stefano Treaty, Bayezid and the adjoining territories were ceded to Russia. But upon the resolutions of the Congress of Berlin, Bayezid and Alashkertskaya Valley were returned to Turkey. During the World War I Russian troops had again to storm the fortress of Bayezid.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials: