Gurko (Romeyko-Gurko) Joseph Vladimirovich (1828 - 1901), Russian Field Marshal General. Graduated from the Page Corps. Participant of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 - 1878, in which he led the advance detachment of the Russian army across the Balkans and led the defeat of the Turks at Tashkisen and Filippopolis (Plovdiv). In 1879, he served as an assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Guards and the St. Petersburg Military District. From 1883 to 1894, he served as Governor-General of the Vilnius Region and Commander of the Warsaw Military District. In 1885, he became a member of the State Council.

The captain of the Life Guards of the Hussar Regiment, Joseph Gurko, attracted the attention of Tsar Alexander II at one of the combat reviews. "What a fine fellow!" - the tsar could not resist at the sight of a brilliant guardsman, famously prancing in front of him on a full career at the head of a well-trained squadron. "Well done" was soon awarded the appointment of aide-de-camp to his Imperial Majesty, which largely guaranteed further successful promotion. But how many there were in history, such dashing hussars, who drowned their youth in champagne and wasted their energy in idle revelry! Gurko turned out to be of a different breed.

For the time being, the future field marshal's career progressed in a routine manner, without any significant twists or surprises. However, this man was constantly engaged in a subtle and unnoticed work that would eventually propel him to become one of the most prominent military leaders of his time.

With the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, Gurko, already in the rank of lieutenant general, was ordered to join the active Danube Army. At the insistence of D.A. Milyutin, after the successful crossing of the Danube in June 1877, the Russians were not only to advance through the Balkans towards Constantinople, but also to attempt to defeat the enemy piecemeal. For this purpose, four detachments were formed, one of which, the Vyvodny (both in name and in essence), was led by Lieutenant General Gurko. The detachment, which included four cavalry brigades, one rifle brigade, six detachments of the Bulgarian militia, three hundred Cossacks, and thirty-two cannons, was tasked with advancing towards Tarnovo to occupy the city and the passes through the Balkans.

The situation was favorable for the Russians, as the Turkish command did not expect a large enemy force to appear here. Taking advantage of this, Gurko began to carry out his mission with great energy. On June 25, the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Tarnovo, was captured, and then the Russian troops took control of the mountain passes, with the last one, Shipka Pass, being occupied by Gurko on July 7. The local population enthusiastically welcomed the Russian "brothers."

After the loss of Shipka, the Turkish General Staff removed the incompetent and elderly Turkish general Abdi Pasha from his post as commander-in-chief on the Danube. He was replaced by General Suleiman Pasha, a 45-year-old military leader of a new, European formation. Suleiman Pasha proved to be a formidable opponent for Gurko. In just 17 days, he managed to transport his 25,000-strong corps from Montenegro, covering a distance of nearly 700 kilometers, and immediately engaged the Russians in battle. Gurko's task was to prevent him from reaching the Shipka and Hainkioy passes, so it was decided to establish a defensive line at the Novo-Zagora and Stara-Zagora borders.

On July 19, a fierce battle broke out near Stara Zagora. The city was defended by a small detachment of Russian and Bulgarian militiamen led by General N.N. Stoletov. After five hours of heroic defense, the city was in danger of being surrounded, and Stoletov ordered its evacuation. Unfortunately, Gurko's main forces were unable to arrive in time to assist, as they encountered Reuf Pasha's troops on their way to Stara Zagora. The Turks were defeated, but time was running out, and Gurko ordered a retreat to the passes due to the impossibility of continuing the offensive. However, the sacrifices were not in vain, as the battered Sultan's army remained stationary for three weeks, licking their wounds. This provided a respite for the Russians to regroup their forces.

In early October, Russian forces began to concentrate in the area of Plevna. It was an unподъемной глыбой blocking the way to Constantinople. The three previous assaults on the fortress had been unsuccessful. It was necessary to find a way to take it and clear the way to the gates of Constantinople.

Gurko was put in charge of the Guards Corps, which caused discontent among many generals. After all, his military service was shorter than not only that of the Chief of Staff of the Guards Corps, but also that of many division commanders. However, the complexity of the situation forced the Tsar and the Commander-in-Chief of the Danube Army, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, to disregard the pride of other senior commanders with experience but lacking a pronounced military talent.

Having become the head of the corps, Gurko began to carry out D.A. Milyutin's plan, approved by Alexander II, to blockade Plevna. For the success of the case, it was necessary to cut the Sofia highway, on which to Osman Pasha (he headed the Plevna garrison) unhindered reinforcements were delivered, and to seize the fortified points located on it. The first blow was struck against Mountain Dubnyak. This battle on October 12 took a prominent place in the history of military art. Here, Gurko, developing the tactics of the rifle units, used new methods of moving the chain before the attack - running and crawling. The Turks were completely defeated.

The general approached the assault on Telish in a different way. Seeing the futility of the infantry attacks, he ordered a powerful artillery attack. The concentrated and accurate fire of the Russian batteries demoralized the enemy. On October 16, the 5,000-strong garrison surrendered. On November 20, the enemy abandoned Dalny Dubnyk without a fight. The blockade of Plevna was complete.

Gurko suggested that we should move on immediately, and if the outcome was favorable, we should break through our troops at Shipka and advance beyond the Balkans. However, Nikolai Nikolaevich was cautious and stopped us in the area of Orkhaniye until Plevna was taken. This took more than a month, as the weather became colder and our supplies were limited.

On November 30, 1877, at the Tsar's military council, D.A. Milyutin's plan was adopted to immediately launch an offensive in the Sofia direction by crossing the Balkan Mountains in order to advance through Adrianople towards the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Military historians highly appreciate this decision as a significant contribution to the theory of strategy. The enemy did not expect the Russians to dare to attack in the winter, with snow-covered passes. However, they did so. General Gurko was put in charge of the Western detachment, which was the first to arrive.

At dawn on December 13, Gurko's detachment set out. The snow-covered paths, icy climbs and descents, the fierce blizzard that turned into a snowstorm, and the severe cold - nature itself was working against the enemy. "It required an iron will, a Suvorov-like determination, and an unwavering faith in oneself and one's troops," wrote a contemporary, "to overcome the challenges of the campaign and maintain focus on the intended goal. When there was a murmur among the officers under Gurko's command about his harsh orders and demands, he gathered all the officers of the Guards and said to them in a stern voice, "I have been placed in charge of you by the will of His Majesty the Emperor, and I am responsible only to him, to the Fatherland, and to history for my actions. I demand your unquestioning obedience, and I will ensure that everyone follows my orders without criticism. Please remember this well..." If it's difficult for the big people, I'll put them in reserve and go forward with the small ones..."

During the campaign, he set a personal example of resilience, endurance, and energy. The troops saw him every minute. The general marched in the general's formation, personally leading the artillery up and down the icy paths, and shared the same rations and sleeping in the snow as the soldiers. The struggle against nature and self-overcoming lasted for a week, culminating in the victory of the Russian spirit. Gurko's unit descended into the Sofia Valley and, after a fierce battle, captured the Tashkisen fortified position on December 19. Faced with the threat of encirclement, the Turks retreated to Sofia. However, after the ordeal they had endured in the winter mountains, the Russians seemed to have no obstacles in their path. Their fighting spirit was such that the terrified enemy surrendered without resistance. On December 23, 1877, the Caucasian Cossack Brigade was the first to enter Sofia, followed by the infantry units. The population greeted the liberators with enthusiasm.

I. V. Gurko, addressing the personnel of the Western Detachment with an order, wrote: "The occupation of Sofia marked the end of a brilliant period in this campaign, the crossing of the Balkans, where you can't help but be amazed at your bravery and courage in battles against the enemy, or at your resilience and patience in enduring the hardships of the mountains, freezing temperatures, and deep snow. Years will pass, and our descendants will visit these wild mountains and say with pride and triumph: "Russian troops marched here and revived the glory of Suvorov and Rumyantsev's heroic warriors."

He spoke little, never argued, and seemed impenetrable in his thoughts, feelings, and intentions. His entire figure and sharp eyes exuded an overwhelming, indomitable inner strength that was authoritative and formidable to those who disobeyed or were weak. Many feared him, and not everyone loved him, but they respected him, for Gurko was, without exaggeration, a true military commander and leader of the Suvorov type.