The siege of Erivan took place from October to November 1808, during the Russo-Persian War of 1804-1813. As in

1804 Events January–March * January 1 – Haiti gains independence from France, and becomes the first black republic, having the only successful slave revolt ever. * February 4 – The Sokoto Caliphate is founded in West Africa. * Februa ...

, the Iranians successfully defended the city and forced the Russians to withdraw. The Russian campaign, launched late in the season and poorly conceived, failed after a six-week siege of the Iranian fortress of Erivan. The Russians had suffered 3,000 casualties with almost 1,000 deaths. Russian field marshal

Ivan Gudovich Count Ivan Vasilyevich Gudovich (russian: Граф Ива́н Васи́льевич Гудо́вич, tr. ; 1741–1820) was a Russian noble and military leader of Ukrainian descent. His exploits included the capture of Khadjibey (1789) and the ...

tried to excuse his defeat by claiming that French military officers had helped the Iranians, but Gudovich's superiors, as modern historian

Alexander Mikaberidze Alexander Mikaberidze ( ka, ალექსანდრე მიქაბერიძე; born 27 January 1978) is a Georgian lawyer, author and historian who specializes in Napoleonic studies. He is a full professor of history and social scien ...

explains, "knew better". Tsar

Alexander I Alexander I may refer to: * Alexander I of Macedon, king of Macedon 495–454 BC * Alexander I of Epirus (370–331 BC), king of Epirus * Pope Alexander I (died 115), early bishop of Rome * Pope Alexander I of Alexandria (died 320s), patriarch of ...

was severely dissatisfied; when he heard about Gudovich's failure, he named his expedition as "stupid", and without any sort of compassion, sent him into retirement.

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