Izmail: The Danube fortress that changed hands between empires for over five centuries

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Located on the Chilia branch of the Danube, Izmail has served as a strategic prize for Genoese merchants, Ottoman sultans, and Russian tsars. Once a site of brutal sieges and shifting borders, this Ukrainian port city remains a complex crossroads of seventy-five nationalities and centuries of competing imperial ambitions.

The history of Izmail is defined by its position as a vital river crossing. Originally established as a Genoese fortress in the 12th century, it was later known as the Slavic settlement of Smil. By 1484, the Ottoman Empire conquered the territory, transforming it into a major regional stronghold. The city was officially founded by a decree from Sultan Murad III, who named it after the grand vizier Ayaşlı Ismail Pasha. For centuries, it served as the primary Ottoman defense in the Budjak region, enduring multiple conflicts, including a destruction by Cossacks in 1609.

The 18th century brought intense military focus to the city. Russian general Alexander Suvorov famously stormed the fortress on 22 December 1790, a victory so significant it was immortalized in Russia's first national anthem. The battle was catastrophic, resulting in the deaths of approximately 40,000 Ottoman forces. Despite the Sultan’s earlier claims that the fortress was impregnable, the site was repeatedly traded between Russian and Ottoman control. Following the 1812 Treaty of Bucharest, Russia rebuilt the city, adding landmarks like the Intercession Cathedral, which still stands today.

Throughout the 20th century, Izmail’s identity continued to oscillate. It was part of Romania between the World Wars, then occupied by the Soviet Red Army in 1940. During the Second World War, the city suffered significantly; in 1941, the Romanian authorities deported the city's Jewish population to Transnistria, where most perished. Today, Izmail is a Ukrainian municipality and a critical port for food processing and ship repair. Its demographic makeup remains remarkably diverse, reflecting its history as a melting pot where, as of 2001, residents identified with 75 different nationalities.

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