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Battle of Belen Pass

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Battle of Belen Pass
Part of Egyptian–Ottoman War (1831–1833)
Date29/30 July 1832
LocationBelen Pass
Result Egyptian victory
Belligerents
 Egypt  Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ibrahim Pasha Hussein Pasha
Strength
14,000 men 17,000–45,000 men,
160 cannons
Casualties and losses
500 dead and wounded 2,500 killed and wounded
1,500–2,000 captured
25-39 cannons captured
Egyptian–Ottoman War (1831–1833)

The Battle of Belen Pass was a military engagement between the Egyptian army of Ibrahim Pasha and the Ottoman army of Hussein Pasha. The Ottoman army suffered a serious setback, causing them to lose Syria to the Egyptians.

Background

Having won his victory at the battle of Homs, Ibrahim occupied Hama and Aleppo and then headed for the Beilan mountain pass, situated between Antakiyah (Antioch) and Alexandretta. The pass was the key to the heart of the Ottoman Empire, Asia Minor, and here were stationed the main forces of the Turkish army, under the command of serdar-i-Akram, Hussein Pasha. The Ottoman army had a force of 17,000 men or 45,000 men and 160 guns. The Egyptians had a force of 14,000 men. Examining the Ottoman position, he determined that facing them face-to-face was impossible, instead, he decided to flank their left wing and occupy the mounds positioned in the center while also sending another force to outflank their right wing.

Battle

Ibrahim led the force towards the left wing. His march was difficult given the rough passages there as they had to endure hardship climbing upwards. The Ottoman noticed their advance and began boarding them, Ibrahim responded with fire cannons. The Egyptians continued their march and passed the Ottoman left-wing area. The Egyptians then occupied the mounds that protected and oversaw the Left-wing position. They placed their cannons and bombarded them, causing heavy casualties to the Ottomans. Meanwhile, another force of Egyptians attacked the Ottomans in the center, similar thing happened on the right. These attacks caused disorder in the Ottoman army and began retreating from their positions. The Ottomans were dispersed in the mountains. The battle happened on 29/30 July.

Aftermath

The victory made the Egyptians the unchallenged lords in Syria. The Egyptian troops entered Anatolia. They occupied Adana and then proceeded westwards. The Sultan dismissed Hussein Pasha and appointed Mohammed Reshid Pasha as commander-in-chief. The Ottomans lost 2,500 killed and wounded, 1,500-2,000 prisoners, and 25-39 cannons. The Egyptians suffered 500 killed and wounded.

References

  1. Lutsky, Vladimir
  2. Bodart, Gaston , p. 499
  3. Abd al-Rahman al-Rafai, p. 237
  4. Bodart, Gaston, p. 499
  5. Abd al-Rahman al-Rafai, p. 237-238
  6. Abd al-Rahman al-Rafai, p. 238-239
  7. Abd al-Rahman al-Rafai, p. 236
  8. Bodart, Gaston , p. 499
  9. E.J. Brill, p. 690
  10. Lutsky, Vladimir
  11. Abd al-Rahman al-Rafai, p. 239
  12. Bodart, Gaston , p. 499
  13. Bodart, Gaston , p. 499

Sources

  • Lutsky, Vladimir (1969). "Mohammed Ali's Struggle for Syria and Palestine. Egypt's Defeat".
  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618–1905) (in German). Vienna and Leipzig: C. W. Stern. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  • E.J. Brill (1987), E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913–1936, Vol I.
  • Abd al-Rahman al-Rafai, The era of Muhammad Ali.
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