Totleben or Todleben, Eduard Ivanovich

Totleben or Todleben, Eduard Ivanovich (both: edwärt' ēvä'nuvich tôt'lyebyin) [key], 1818–84, Russian general and military engineer. He won his chief renown in the Crimean War by his defense of Sevastopol (1854–55). In a very short time Totleben constructed a system of fortifications that enabled the garrison to hold out for nearly a year. Totleben is considered the originator of a new technique of fortification. He planned the siege of Pleven in the later Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) and subsequently received the command of the entire Russian army and was created a count.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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