background

The revolutionary wars of France at the end of the 18th century led to the fact that in the Mediterranean, many key points, including the Ionian Islands, control over which allowed them to extend their influence to the Balkans, were captured by the French. The Black Sea squadron of Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov, with the support of a small Turkish flotilla led by Kadyr Bey, was instructed to take control of the Ionian Islands, which they managed to capture by the beginning of November 1798. It remained to take only a well-fortified about. Corfu.

Position and plans of the parties

The French covered about. Corfu with about. Vido and counted after protracted artillery duels to force the Russian-Turkish fleet to go to the open sea. Total on about. Vido had about 800 soldiers and 5 artillery batteries under the command of Brigadier General Pivron, on about. Corfu in the Old and New fortresses housed 3,000 soldiers with 650 guns under the command of General Jabot.

Ushakov planned to take Fr. Vido, and then, placing artillery batteries on it, begin shelling about. Corfu, concentrating shot fire against the location of the enemy artillerymen. In Ushakov's flotilla there were 12 battleships and 11 frigates, a team of naval grenadiers 1700 people, Turkish soldiers 4250 people, and 2000 Greek patriots. Moreover, by January 26, 1799, Russian sailors managed to build on about. Corfu has two batteries - opposite the San Salvador Fort and the Old Fortress, as well as to restore the battery at the St. Panteleimon". It is from these positions that the landing on about. Corfu.

Assault progress

February 18 at 7 am Ushakov begins the assault on Corfu. The ships "Kazan Mother of God" and "Kherim-Captain" began to fire with buckshot battery No. 1 on about. Vido. A little later, all the ships blocking Vido joined the shelling. After a 4-hour shelling, all batteries were suppressed, and a landing party of 2160 people landed on the island. Two French frigates Leander and La Brun tried to help the besieged, which, however, received significant damage under fire from the battleship Blessing of the Lord and were forced to retreat. After a 2-hour battle, 200 defenders of Vido were killed, 420 French soldiers, and with them 20 officers and the commandant of the island, Gen. Pivron is taken prisoner. About 150 people managed to swim to Corfu. The Russians lost 31 people killed and 100 wounded, the losses of the Turks and Albanians amounted to 180 people killed and wounded.

Simultaneously with the assault and capture of Fr. Apparently, Russian ships fired on the fortifications of the Old and New Fortress on about. Corfu. Around 14.00 Albanians tried to capture the bastion "St. Rock", but were repulsed. Already the next Russian-Turkish joint attack forced the French to retreat to the fortress. The assault on the Old and New Fortress was scheduled for February 19, but in the evening the French surrendered on honorable terms.

Results

2931 people surrendered in Corfu (including 4 generals). The war trophies of the winners were: 114 mortars, 21 howitzers, 500 cannons, 5500 rifles, 37,394 bombs, 137 thousand cores, etc. In the port of Corfu, the Leander battleship, the Brune frigate, a bombardment ship, 2 galleys were captured , 4 semi-galleys, 3 merchant ships and several other ships. Allied losses amounted to about 298 killed and wounded, of which 130 Russians and 168 Turks and Albanians. The capture of Corfu put an end to France's claims to the Mediterranean dominance, and the Republic of the Ionian Islands was formed on the Ionian Islands, which for some time was the base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Corfu

The French Revolution blew up the fragile European world. Since 1792, the continent plunged into the abyss of wars that lasted more than two decades. During this time, the political map of Europe has undergone significant changes. This also affected the Mediterranean region, where at the very end of the 18th century a complex tangle of contradictions was tied up.

The successes of Napoleon's army in Italy, his capture from powerless Venice in 1797 of the Ionian Islands caused serious concern not only among European governments and Russia, but also in Constantinople, where they feared a French landing in Greece.

On the other hand, after the conclusion of the Iasi Peace, by the end of the 18th century, thanks to the diplomatic art of M.I. Kutuzov Russian-Ottoman have undergone major improvements. It was this factor, as well as Napoleon's attack on Egypt in early 1798, that forced the Turkish government to move closer to Russia, the only state with a powerful fleet ready to help its southern neighbor. For the first time in the history of relations between these countries, a defensive alliance was concluded between them in 1799.

But even earlier, on August 23 (September 2), 1798, a squadron under the flag of Admiral F.F. Ushakova arrived at the Bosphorus. Sultan Selim III himself visited the flagship incognito, and the squadron received permission for free passage through the Dardanelles. A week later, the Ottoman Empire severed diplomatic relations with France. Ushakov was put at the head of the combined Russian-Turkish squadron, and Abdul Kadyr, an experienced and brave sailor, was given to help him.

On September 29 (October 9), the squadron approached the island of Tserigo. The French garrison resisted bravely, but only for three days. Ushakov showed himself not only as a skilled naval commander, but also as a subtle diplomat: the prisoners were kept banners and weapons and released them "on parole" - not to fight against Russia. The admiral announced to the inhabitants of the island that he was introducing local self-government here.

On October 14 (25) the same fate befell the fortress on the island of Zante. And here the captured French had to be protected from the embittered Greeks, outraged by the predatory mores of the invaders. Soon the islands of Kelafoniya, Ithaca, Saint Maura were captured. In November 1798, Russian and Turkish flags fluttered over all the Ionian Islands, except for Corfu.

On November 20, the squadron of Ushakov and Kadyr Bey approached Corfu. To expel the French from it was a matter of strategic importance, since the island was located directly near the Ottoman possessions, and its possession would ensure the security of the western part of Rumelia. Ushakov, despite the opposition of the English Admiral Nelson, who sought to divert the Russian squadron from taking this French stronghold in the Mediterranean, managed to prepare and carry out one of the most brilliant operations in the history of the Russian fleet. On March 3, 1799, the four thousandth French garrison of this first-class fortress capitulated.

To avoid heavy losses during the assault, Ushakov decided to first take the small mountainous island of Vido, the heights of which dominated the surrounding area. A landing party was landed and after a two-hour battle the island was taken. After the fall of Vido, the key to Corfu was in the hands of Ushakov. Russian batteries located on the captured island opened fire on the fortifications of the fortresses of Corfu.

By March 3, the commandant of the fortress, considering further resistance useless, laid down his arms. 2931 people, including 4 generals, were taken prisoner, and on honorable terms of surrender (the French were allowed to leave the island with a promise not to participate in hostilities for 18 months). The war trophies of the winners were 114 mortars, 21 howitzers, 500 cannons, 5500 guns, 37,394 bombs, 137 thousand cores, etc. In the port of Corfu, the Leander battleship, the Brune frigate, a bombardment ship, 2 galleys, 4 semi-galleys, 3 merchant ships and several other ships. Allied losses amounted to about 298 killed and wounded, of which 130 Russians and 168 Turks and Albanians.

For this assault, Emperor Pavel promoted Ushakov to admiral and awarded him with diamond signs of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, the Neapolitan king - the Order of St.

During the assault on the fortress, the persistent opinion of contemporaries - military theorists, that coastal fortresses were taken only from land, and the fleet ensured their close blockade, was refuted. F.F. Ushakov proposed a brilliantly implemented new solution: a powerful shelling of the fortifications with naval artillery, the suppression of coastal batteries and the landing of grenadiers. No wonder the great commander A.V. Suvorov wrote in his congratulations: “Hurrah! To the Russian fleet... Now I say to myself: why wasn't I even a midshipman at Corfu.

The archipelago epic ended there. On the liberated islands, under the temporary protectorate of Russia and Turkey, the republic of the Republic of the United Seven Islands was created, which for several years served as a support base for the Russian Mediterranean squadron A on the Mediterranean Sea itself. Ushakov continued his victorious campaign, despite the fact that he did not have a relationship with the commander English fleet Nelson. He considered the Russian squadron an auxiliary force designed to serve British interests, insisting on sending it to the Egyptian shores. It is no coincidence that the English admiral, realizing the importance for the British Empire of occupying dominant positions in the Mediterranean, did not allow Ushakov to move to the strategic island of Malta. The admiral had to go to the shores of Naples and restore the power of King Ferdinand there.

However, the successes of the Russian fleet, as well as the ground operations brilliantly carried out during this campaign by A.V. Suvorov, did not bring diplomatic benefits. Emperor Paul made a sharp turn in politics, breaking the alliance with England and Austria and began negotiations for an alliance with Napoleon Bonaparte. Another turn in Russian politics took place on the night of March 12, 1801. Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich went out to the soldiers of the Semyonovsky regiment guarding the Mikhailovsky Castle and said that his father had died of apoplexy.

100 great battles Myachin Alexander Nikolaevich

Assault on the island of Corfu (1799)

The revolutionary wars of the French Republic against the coalition of England, Austria and Prussia, which began in 1792, soon turned into predatory wars waged in the interests of the big French bourgeoisie.

In 1796-1797, thanks to the stunning victories of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French government established its dominance in northern and central Italy. Then Belgium was annexed to France. In 1798, the French entered Switzerland, establishing a regime dependent on Paris there. In the spring of 1799, the illustrious General Bonaparte landed in Egypt.

In 1798, the so-called second coalition was formed against republican France, which included England, Austria, Russia, Turkey, the Kingdom of Naples and other countries. In the upcoming war, England and Austria set themselves the main task - the elimination of the growing dominance of the French Republic in Europe. Also, these countries sought to resolve some territorial issues through war. So, England hoped to establish itself on about. Malta, the Ionian Islands and Egypt. Austria sought to return to its possessions the Netherlands lost according to the Peace of Campoformia in 1797, as well as to acquire new lands in Italy.

All the feudal-monarchist states that joined the anti-French coalition hated France as the country of the victorious Revolution. The spread of rebellious ideas, the "hotbed" of which was France, caused panic among the crowned heads of Europe. It was this circumstance that largely determined Russia's entry into the coalition and its participation in the military events of 1799. In addition, the seizure of the Ionian Islands by France created the threat of military aggression in the Balkan Peninsula and the strengthening of France's influence on Turkey, which was always hostile to Russia. In addition, in the upcoming war, the position of Prussia was not clear, which could join France and oppose the coalition countries, and this created a real threat on the northwestern borders of Russia. "Thus, the policy of the Russian government towards France was to some extent intertwined with national tasks." (Zolotarev M.N., Mezhevich M.N., Skorodumov D.E. For the Glory of the Russian Fatherland. M. 1984. P. 159.)

By mutual agreement, the Russian troops, together with the Austrian, were to act against the French on land in northern Italy. For action at sea, the British sent a squadron under the command of Admiral G. Nelson to the shores of Italy. The landing of Bonaparte in Egypt forced Turkey to turn to Russia for help, which was very beneficial for the latter. Russia quite reasonably feared that the French squadron might appear in the Black Sea. So even at a time when Bonaparte's squadron was supplied with everything necessary in the ports of France and the purpose of his expedition was not clear, Vice Admiral F.F. coast of the Crimea.

In July 1798, Ushakov received an order to be sent to Constantinople to join the Turkish fleet. It is not surprising that the choice of the squadron commander fell on Ushakov. “The heroes who won several remarkable naval victories in the Black Sea, the invincible Ushak Pasha, famous throughout the East, had no rivals between Russian admirals at that moment.” (Tarle E.V. Selected works. V.4. Rostov n / D., 1994. P. 127.)

Having received the highest decree on August 4, Ushakov began immediate preparations and already on the 13th of the same month went to sea with a squadron consisting of 6 battleships, 7 frigates and 3 messenger ships, having 792 guns and 7,406 crew members. On board the squadron were 1,700 troops from the soldiers of the Sevastopol garrison.

On August 23, 1798, the Russian squadron approached the Bosphorus, and the next day entered Constantinople. On August 26, the Russians received permission for the free use of the Black Sea straits, and it was announced to the Russian admiral that the Porte undertakes to provide support to Russian ships in everything.

On August 28-30, at the first and second Constantinople conferences of the allies, Turkey undertook to attach an equivalent Turkish squadron to the Russian squadron and, by common agreement, Vice Admiral Ushakov was appointed commander of the combined fleet, to whom the Turks, with respect for his talent and high-profile victories, completely entrusted their fleet. It was decided that the united squadron would direct its forces to the liberation of the Ionian Islands, since the French, owning them, controlled the situation throughout the Mediterranean. No wonder Bonaparte said that the Ionian Islands for France are more important than all of Italy.

The fighting to liberate the islands began on September 28, 1798. In the period from October 1 to November 1, the French garrisons were driven out from the islands of Tserigo, Zante, Kefalonia and Saita-Mavra. Thus, the first stage of the campaign was completed as soon as possible. As a result of the victories of Russian sailors, the French lost 4 islands and 1,500 people killed, wounded and captured. (See Ovchinnikov V.D. Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov. M. 1995. S. 64.) Now Ushakov planned to throw all his forces against the largest and well-fortified island of the archipelago - Corfu.

The city of Corfu (or the main fortress) was located between two fortresses: the Old - Venetian, located on the eastern tip of the city, and the New - in the west, - extremely fortified and converted by the French. This fortress consisted of three separate mighty fortifications connected by mined underground passages. The main fortress was separated from the shore by two ramparts, a dry moat and housed 650 fortress guns and 3,000 garrison soldiers. From the sea, the main fortress was covered by the well-fortified island of Vido, whose mountainous heights dominated the city and fortress of Corfu. Five coastal batteries and 500 garrison men were located on Vido Island. In the harbor between Corfu and Vido, there were 2 enemy ships, 2 galleys and 4 semi-galleys.

It was very difficult to take such a fortress on the move. Therefore, it was decided to blockade Corfu. On November 8, 1798, the ships of the united squadron surrounded the island from all sides and began a siege, which was personally led by the commander in chief.

The siege lasted about three and a half months. During this time, the garrison of the fortress became convinced of the decisiveness of the actions of the allies, who intended to take the fortress of Corfu at any cost. The hardships of the siege were not limited to the French. Cold winter, with piercing wind and rain, mowed down the ranks of the besiegers more than the pool and cores of the enemy. However, the Russian sailors and landing grenadiers courageously endured all hardships and did not lose their fortitude. They boldly repulsed the attacks of the besieged, inflicting moral and physical damage on them.

In mid-February 1799, having replenished his forces with soldiers sent by the Turkish rulers from the coast, Ushakov began intensive preparations for a decisive assault. Sailors learned to overcome various obstacles. Ladders were made in large numbers, conditional signals were developed to control ships and landing forces.

On February 17, a military council was held on the flagship St. Paul, at which the direct cloak of the operation was developed. It consisted in using naval artillery to silence the enemy coastal batteries, land troops and storm the advanced fortifications. The main blow was to be inflicted on about. Vido. The main role in the developed plan was assigned to the ships of the allied fleet, which, according to Ushakov, were to replace him with 50,000 ground troops. The leading role in the entire operation was assigned to the Russian squadron and its landing force, so the hope for the Turks and auxiliary troops was too small.

At dawn on February 18, at 7 o'clock in the morning, a conditional shot thundered from the flagship - a signal for coastal batteries located on the northern and southern parts of the island to open fire on the main fortress. “At the first signal, a flash appeared on the batteries, like lightning, followed by a terrible thunder, guns roared, bombs _ cores flew into the fortifications.” (Admirals of the Russian Fleet. St. Petersburg - 1995. S. 266.) At the same time, the united squadron weighed anchor and rushed to about. Vido.

The frigates "Kazan Mother of God" and "Kherim-Captain" were the first to enter the battle with the French batteries. They approached within shotgun range of enemy battery No. 1 on the northwestern tip of the island and unleashed a flurry of fire on it. At the same time, the frigate "Nikolai" and the ship "Mary Magdalene" approached battery No. 2, they stood on the spring and also opened artillery fire.

According to the plan of operation, a certain group of ships operated against each French battery. Flagship "St. Paul" showed the entire squadron examples of fearlessness and courage. Ushakov ordered to stand on the spring at the western cape of the island and with both sides smashed two enemy batteries at once. The position occupied by the admiral allowed him to vigilantly follow the course of the battle and determine in time the moment of landing.

The terrible roar of hundreds of guns and explosions resounded around the islands of Vido and Corfu. Acrid gunpowder smoke, mixed with the smoke of conflagrations, veiled the sky. Cannonballs and buckshot rained down on the French from all sides. The besieged defended themselves desperately. They responded to the cannonade of the allies with shots from their batteries, but could not compete with the attackers. The fire of the shells demolished the trees and tore apart the stones. On the captain's ship, the signal for landing was raised. Under the cover of naval artillery, special rowboats with landing forces attacked the defenders. Of the officers, 15 were captured, including the commandant of the Criminal Code. After the fall of Vido, the key to Corfu was in the hands of Ushakov. The landing force continued the offensive and broke into the fortifications. Seeing the impossibility of holding back the attack, the French, having riveted the cannons and blown up the powder magazines, prepared for the sinking of St. Salvador, which they decided to blow up. Russian soldiers on the shoulders of the retreating broke in and, using hand-to-hand combat, also took possession of it. After some time, the last advanced outpost of the New Fortress - the fortification of St. Abraham fell under the onslaught of the attackers.

Such a quick capture of well-fortified positions showed the French that the denouement would come very soon. Fall about. Vido and the advanced fortifications of the New Fortress, the incessant firing of the allied cannons and a bold assault did their job. The morale of the French garrison was broken. Seeing the futility of further resistance, the commander of the French troops, General F. J. Chabot, sent three officers to Ushakov on February 19 with a proposal to accept the surrender of the garrison and begin negotiations. Ushakov agreed with him and ordered a ceasefire. On February 20, the act of surrender was signed. Under its terms, the French surrendered the fortresses of Corfu with all the trophies they contained and pledged not to fight against Russia and its allies for 18 months.

The war trophies of the winners were: 114 mortars, 21 howitzers, 500 cannons, 5500 guns, 37,394 bombs, 137 thousand cores, etc. In the port of Corfu, the Leander ship, the Brune frigate, a bombardment ship, 2 galleys, 4 semi-galleys, 3 merchant ships and several other ships. (Ovchinnikov F. D. Decree, op., p. 7 amp;.)

Thus, on February 20, 1799, the strongest naval fortress with a numerous and brave garrison fell. The capture of Corfu completed the complete victory of Ushakov - the liberation of the Ionian Islands from the rule of the French. The grandiose victory at Corfu and the liberation of the entire Archipelago was of great military and political significance. On the liberated islands, under the temporary protectorate of Russia and Turkey, the Republic of Seven Islands was created with a democratic constitution, the foundations of which were proposed by Ushakov. Russia acquired a military base in the Mediterranean Sea, which it successfully used in the war of the 3rd coalition of European powers against France.

The capture of Corfu was a triumphant end to the combat path of the Russian navy in the 18th century and, as it were, summed up the first century of its existence.

1. Military encyclopedia. - SPb., Ed. I. D. Sytina, 1913. - V.13. pp. 207–209.

2. History of naval art / Ed. ed. R. N. Mordvinov. - M., 1953. - T.1. - S. 255–259.

3. Marine atlas. Descriptions for cards. - M., 1959. - T.Z, part 1. - S. 399–400.

4. Marine atlas / Ed. ed. G. I. Levchenko. - M., 1958. - T.Z, part 1. L. 20.

5. Mordvinov R. N. Naval art of Admiral F. F. Ushakov // Russian Naval Art. Sat. Art. / Rev. ed. R. N. Mordvinov. - M., 1951. S. 121–142.

6. Snegirev VL Russian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Campaign of Admiral Ushakov (1798-1800). - M., 1944.

7. Soviet military encyclopedia: In 8 volumes / Ch. ed. comis. N. V. Ogarkov (prev.) and others - M., 1977. - V.4. - S. 378–379.

8. Tarle E. V. Admiral Ushakov on the Mediterranean Sea (1798–1800). - M., - 1948.

9. Encyclopedia of military and marine sciences: In 8 volumes / Under the general. ed. GA. Leer. - St. Petersburg, 1891. - T 5. - S. 485–486.

Alexander Samsonov Battle of Corfu

Built by the Venetians fortress of Corfu was considered the most powerful of the French strongholds in the Ionian Islands. The local garrison numbered more than 3.5 thousand people.

The city of Corfu was located on the east coast of the island between the "sea" Venetian "Old Fortress" (Paleo Frurio), separated from the city by an artificial moat with sea water, and the "coastal" "New Fortress" (Neo Frurio), fortified by the French. From the sea, the city was covered by the bastions of Vido Island.

"Old Fortress" (Paleo Frurio) today


Photo by Anton Dergachev

"New Fortress" (Neo Frurio) today


Photo by Anton Dergachev

The blockade and assault on Corfu was carried out by a joint Russian-Turkish squadron consisting of 23 battleships and frigates, 1.7 thousand naval grenadiers, 4.2 thousand Turkish troops and two thousand Greek militias.

The anti-French coalition of Russia, Turkey and England was forced. The monarchies, previously not seen in military cooperation, united against the revolutionary "contagion". Ushakov's colleague in the Mediterranean campaign was the English admiral Horatio Nelson. The temporary "marriage of convenience" was far from ideal, accompanied not only by intrigues. Emma Hamilton, the mistress of the English admiral, also took part in this.

On March 1, 1799, after a long blockade, the Russian squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Fyodor Ushakov began the battle for the citadel of Corfu. The main landing force was Russian sailors and grenadiers. The success of the operation was ensured by powerful naval artillery. The landing took possession of the enemy's bastions on the fortified island of Vido, after which the assault on the New Fortress on Corfu began. On March 3, the French garrison capitulated. A total of 2931 people were taken prisoner, including four generals. The trophies of the winners were warships, more than 600 guns, 137,000 cannonballs and other weapons. Allied losses amounted to about 300 killed and wounded, of which 130 Russians, 168 Turks and Albanians.

The storming of Corfu ended the liberation of the Ionian Islands from the French troops, which was of great military and political importance. The assault on the bastions went down in history as a relatively rare case of the capture of an island citadel by amphibious assault forces.

The Russian fleet received a powerful military base in the Eastern Mediterranean. On the liberated islands, under the temporary protectorate of Russia and Turkey, the Republic of Seven Islands was created, which for several years served as a support base for the Russian Mediterranean squadron.

After the successful assault on Corfu, Ushakov sent two squadrons to Ancona and to the shores of the Kingdom of Naples. On May 4, 1799, a detachment of captain-lieutenant Gregory Belli was landed in Brindisi, consisting of 550 soldiers, who cleared the coast from the enemy and moved to Naples, where, together with the allies, participated in the assault on the city. Subsequently, a Scot by origin Grigory Bellini became a Russian Rear Admiral.

At the request of the Neapolitan king, 3 Russian frigates were sent to Naples to maintain order in the city. Ushakov himself with a squadron went to Sicily in Palermo to meet with Admiral Nelson, from where on August 25 both admirals departed for Naples.

Nelson, making sure that he could not take Malta with his troops, invited Ushakov to take part in the siege. After repairing the ships in Corfu, on April 10, 1800, an order was received from St. Petersburg to assist the British in the siege of Malta. But on June 15, Austria signed a truce with France, and the Russian Emperor Paul I ordered the squadron to be sent to the Black Sea. October 26, 1800 the squadron returned to Sevastopol.

For two and a half years of the campaign, the Russian squadron did not lose a single ship. As a result of the expedition, Russia acquired a military base in the Mediterranean Sea, strengthening its presence in this region.

Russian naval commander, Admiral Fedorov Ushakov(1745 - 1817) was the commander of the young Black Sea Fleet (1790 - 1792). After the entry of the Russian Empire, together with the Ottoman Porte, into the anti-French coalition, Vice Admiral Ushakov was instructed to lead the Mediterranean expedition (1798 - 1800). One of the main tasks of the combined Russian-Turkish squadron was the liberation of the strategically important Ionian Islands from the French, which was achieved. The Russian squadron did not lose a single ship in the battles, not a single sailor was captured. The Turks respectfully called the Russian commander "Ushak Pasha". The admiral became the author of the first Greek constitution.

For the assault on Corfu, Ushakov was promoted to admiral by Emperor Paul the First and was awarded diamond badges. Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky. Government Republic of the Seven United Islands for freeing them from the enemy and restoring order, he presented Admiral Ushakov with a golden sword with diamonds. The Neapolitan king awarded the admiral the Order of St. Januarius, 1st class, and the Turkish sultan, the highest award of the Ottoman Empire. This silver insignia (chelenk) for a turban was studded with precious stones, had the shape of a flower with petals, from which 13 rays departed.

A monument to Admiral Ushakov was erected on the island of Corfu and there is a street named after him. Every year since 2002 Days of memory of the Russian admiral have been held. In 2013, a bronze bust of the admiral was installed on the Greek island of Zakynthos near the walls of the church of St. Dionysius and in Messina (Sicily, Italy), where there is also the Square of Russian Sailors.

In 2001, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized the admiral as a righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov.

***
Admiral Ushakov is dedicated to the historical and biographical feature films "Admiral Ushakov" and "Ships Storm the Bastions" (USSR, 1953, directed by Mikhail Romm).
The films were created on the initiative of the commander of the Soviet Navy, Admiral N. G. Kuznetsov, to declare the role of Ushakov in the history of the Russian fleet and justify the approval of the Order of Ushakov as the main naval order, which caused a mixed assessment among Soviet sailors. The script of the film on the foreign policy of the Russian Empire of that period was corrected by the leadership of the Navy and the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The film "Ships Storming the Bastions" basically faithfully reproduces the storming of the French-occupied Ionian Islands and the citadel of Corfu in 1799.
Filming was carried out in the former Akkkerman fortress in Belgorod-Dnestrovsky.

In 1789, a revolution took place in France, that is, an event that seemed to be purely internal, but the Great French Revolution changed Russian-Turkish relations for as much as 35 years. On July 14, 1789, the rebellious Parisians took the Bastille. On this occasion, the French ambassador in St. Petersburg, Segur, wrote: "... there was such rejoicing in the city, as if the cannons of the Bastille directly threatened the Petersburgers." Catherine was extremely outraged by the events in France. Her angry words were scattered throughout Europe. She called the deputies of the National Assembly intriguers, unworthy of the title of legislators, "swindlers" who could be compared with "Marquis Pugachev." Catherine called on European states to intervene - "the cause of Louis XVI is the cause of all the sovereigns of Europe." After the execution of the king, Catherine publicly wept, later she stated: "... all the French must be eradicated in order for the name of this people to disappear."

And what did such an aggressive empress do after such words? Yes, absolutely nothing. Unless in 1795 she sent a squadron of Vice Admiral Khanykov to the North Sea, consisting of 12 ships and 8 frigates. This squadron escorted merchants, led the blockade of the Dutch coast, and so on. She had no combat losses. In fact, it was ordinary combat training, with the difference that it was financed entirely by England.

Moreover, Catherine was well aware of the events in France. The completeness of information plus the analytical mind of the empress allowed her to predict events. So, in October 1789, she said of Louis XVI: "He will suffer the fate of Charles I." Indeed, on January 21, 1793, the head of the king rolled into a basket at the foot of the guillotine.

In February 1794, Catherine wrote: “If France copes with her troubles, she will be stronger than ever, will be obedient and meek as a lamb; but for this you need a remarkable, dexterous, brave man, ahead of his contemporaries and even, perhaps, his age. Was he born or not yet born? Will he come? It all depends. If such a person is found, he will stop the further fall with his foot, which will stop where he stands, in France or elsewhere. But before 18 Brumaire was 5 years and 7 months!

The opinion of the mother empress about the events in France in a narrow circle differed sharply from public statements. About Louis XVI, she remarked: "He is drunk every evening, and he is controlled by whoever wants." On December 4, 1791, Catherine told her secretary Khrapovitsky: “I am racking my brains to move the Vienna and Berlin courts into French affairs ... to bring them into business in order to have free hands myself. I have many unfinished enterprises, and it is necessary that these yards be occupied and that they do not interfere with me.

In August 1792, Prussian and Austrian troops invaded French territory. Europe is entering a period of "revolutionary wars". But strange things are happening in Russia. The best forces of the army and navy are drawn not to the west against the villainous Jacobins, but to the south of the city. In 1793, 145 officers and 2,000 sailors were transferred from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In Kherson and Nikolaev, 50 gunboats and 72 rowing vessels of various classes were laid down. By the navigation of 1793, the Black Sea Fleet had 19 ships, 6 frigates and 105 rowboats. In the decree on the preparation of the Black Sea Fleet, it was said that he "can embrace the walls of Tsargrad with the Chesme flame."

In January 1793, a new commander-in-chief, Count Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, arrived in Kherson. While Catherine was forging a coalition to fight the Jacobins and throwing public tantrums over the execution of the king and queen, master Timofei Ivanov secretly minted medals at the St. with a crescent and a cross shining in the clouds.

The operation to seize the straits was scheduled for the beginning of navigation in 1793. However, in the spring of this year, an uprising began in Poland under the leadership of Kosciuszko. Reluctantly, Catherine was forced to abandon the campaign against Istanbul. August 14, 1793 Suvorov arrives in Poland, and already on October 24 Warsaw surrenders to him. As a result, Suvorov became a field marshal, Catherine annexed three more provinces to Russia - Vilna, Grodno and Kovno, and at the same time the Duchy of Courland.

But not always a titmouse in the hands is better than a crane in the sky. Catherine understood this very well, and a new operation was planned for 1797. According to her plan, Count Valerian Zubov was to end the war in Persia and move troops to Turkish Anatolia. Suvorov with the army was to move to Constantinople through the Balkans. And Vice-Admiral Ushakov with the ship and rowing fleet - to the Bosphorus. Formally, the empress was to personally command the fleet.

Once again, chance changed the course of history. On November 6, 1796, Catherine the Great died. Her son Paul took the throne. When he came to power, he decided to do the opposite. Pavel stopped preparations for the Bosphorus operation and withdrew Admiral Makarov's squadron from the North Sea. Pavel indignantly declared to Potemkin's former secretary Popov: "How to correct the evil done to Russia by the one-eyed one?" Popov was not at a loss: “Return the Crimea to the Turks, Your Majesty!” Pavel did not dare to give up the Crimea, but ordered to rename Sevastopol to Akhtiar. In the first months of his reign, Paul did not interfere in European affairs, but watched them closely. The years 1796-1797 were marked, on the one hand, by political instability in France, and, on the other hand, by the success of the French army in the fight against the European coalition. Paul perceived this situation only as a military weakness of the monarchs of Europe. He gradually allowed himself to be convinced that it would be impossible to restore order in Europe without his intervention.

In April 1796, the French army under the command of the 27-year-old General Bonaparte invaded Italy. Austria sent one after another the best armies under the command of its best generals, but they were smashed to smithereens by Bonaparte. In May 1797 the French occupied Venice.

For General Bonaparte, the possessions of the Republic of Dalmatia and the Ionian Islands were of much greater value than the city of Venice itself. As Napoleon wrote: "Corfu was one of the most important possessions of the Republic." Indeed, the island of Corfu was a good base for control over the Eastern Mediterranean.

By order of Bonaparte, a squadron of captured Venetian ships was sent to the Ionian Islands, the core of which was six 64-gun ships. Four infantry battalions and six artillery companies under the command of General A. Gentilly were loaded onto the ships of the squadron. The expedition was led by the Commissioner of the Directory, the Hellenistic historian A. - V. Arno. On behalf of Bonaparte, he composed the following appeal to the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands: “Descendants of the first people famous for their republican institutions, return to the valor of your ancestors, restore the prestige of the Greeks to its original splendor ... and you will acquire your valor of ancient times, the rights that France, the liberator, will provide you Italy".

Approaching Corfu, the French saw many armed Greeks on the shore. Arno alone went ashore on a boat. His speech caused a storm of applause from the people of Corfu. The Greeks joyfully welcomed the landing of the French troops.

The Republicans set about "democratizing" the Ionian Islands. The population was enthusiastic about the planting of "freedom trees" and danced around them. The Olympic Games were arranged, etc. However, the indemnity of 60,000 thalers imposed on the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands was clearly not to their liking. In addition, the French command made an unforgivable mistake on the islands, grossly propagating atheism and the cult of "higher reason". As a result, the Orthodox clergy began to incite the population to revolt.

On February 13, 1798, the captured Venetian squadron, consisting of 11 ships and 6 frigates, under the command of Vice Admiral F. Bruyes, left for Toulon. The French left one ship and one frigate in Corfu.

In the spring of 1798, the concentration of ships and transports began in Toulon. The 38,000th landing corps under the command of Bonaparte himself was pulled there. All of Europe held its breath. Newspapers circulated the most controversial information about Bonaparte's plans - from the landing in England to the capture of Constantinople. On the banks of the Neva, they were afraid that the villain Buonaparte was only planning to take the Crimea. On April 23, 1798, Paul I urgently sends an order to Ushakov to go to sea with a squadron and take a position between Akhtiar and Odessa, "observing all movements from the Porte and the French."

On May 19, the French fleet left Toulon. On May 23, the French approached Malta, which belonged to the Order of the Knights of Malta. Malta surrendered without a fight, and the knights had to get out of the island the best they could. On June 20, 1798, the French army landed in Egypt. Bonaparte easily defeated the Turks and occupied Egypt, but on July 20-21, Admiral Nelson defeated the French fleet in the Aboukir Bay. Bonaparte's army was cut off from France.

The knights expelled from Malta turned to Paul I for help and offered him to become the Grand Master of the Order. Pavel happily agreed, not thinking about the comedy of the situation - he, the head of the Orthodox Church, was offered to become the master of the Catholic order. On September 10, 1798, Paul issued a manifesto on the acceptance of the Order of Malta into "his Highest Administration." On the same day, Ushakov's squadron joined the Turkish squadron in the Dardanelles, and together they moved against the French.

Bonaparte frightened the Turks even more than the Russians. Although Egypt was ruled by the Mameluke beys, semi-independent of Istanbul, and Bonaparte repeatedly stated that he was fighting not with the Turks, but with the Mamelukes, Sultan Selim III still considered the landing of the French an attack on the Ottoman Empire. Moreover, foreign diplomats, most likely Russians, brought to the Sultan "secret" information about the plans of "Bonaparte", who decided to destroy Mecca and Medina, and restore the Jewish state in Jerusalem. And how can you not believe this when the French are on the Nile and moving to Syria? There is no time for memories of Ochakovo and the Crimea.

Sultan Selim III ordered an alliance with Russia, and the French ambassador, as expected, was imprisoned in the Seven-Tower Castle.

On August 7, 1798, Paul I sent a decree to Admiral Ushakov to follow with the squadron to Constantinople, and from there to the Mediterranean Sea.

On August 12, 1798, six ships, seven frigates and three advice notes left the port of Akhtiar. On board the ships were 792 guns and 7406 "sea attendants". A fair wind inflated the sails, Andreevsky flags proudly fluttered, the squadron of the famous "Ushak Pasha" went to the Bosphorus. Everyone, from the vice admiral to the cabin boy, was sure of success. It never occurred to anyone that it was on this day that the sixteen-year bloody war with France began. Ahead will be the "sun of Austerlitz", and burning Moscow, and the Cossacks on the Champs Elysees.

On August 25, the Russian squadron passed the Bosphorus and anchored in Buyuk-Der opposite the house of the Russian ambassador. It is interesting that the population joyfully met their "sworn enemies". Admiral Ushakov reported to Pavel: “The Brilliant Port and all the people of Constantinople are incomparably delighted by the arrival of the auxiliary squadron, courtesy, affection and goodwill are perfect in all cases.” Even Selim III could not resist and incognito traveled around the Russian ships in a boat.

On the day of the arrival of Ushakov's squadron, the Grand Vizier presented the Russian envoy V.S. Tomare a declaration intended for Ushakov. It said: “Russian military and transport ships will have perfect freedom for the entire duration of this war to pass and return through the Black Sea Canal and the Dardanelles; they will enjoy great security and will be let through on their single presentation of themselves that they are Russian ships ...

The necessary orders will be sent to all the marinas belonging to the Brilliant Port, so that the Russian squadron will be provided everywhere with favor, benefits and assistance.

In addition, the declaration spoke of "the mutual extradition of deserters and the promotion of sanitary measures in order to avoid the spread of contagious diseases."

When the Russian squadron entered the Bosporus, neither Ushakov nor Pavel had a specific plan for the conduct of hostilities. So, in Constantinople, Ushakov received a letter from Grigory Kushelev with instructions in case of defending the Dardanelles from an attack by the French fleet. However, upon receiving news of the defeat of the French fleet at Aboukir, the Turks agreed with Tomara and Ushakov on a joint operation to liberate the Ionian Islands. On this occasion, Ushakov sent an appeal to the inhabitants of the islands, calling on the people to assist the allied fleet in expelling the French. Together with this appeal, Patriarch Gregory of Constantinople, by order of the Sultan, conveyed to the Greek people his pastoral exhortation, proposing "to overthrow the yoke of French enslavement and establish under the auspices of the three allied courts a government similar to the French or which they will recognize as good."

The Russian squadron left Constantinople under the roar of fireworks. The shore was crowded with people. Selim III himself stood on the veranda of the palace.

Poskochin immediately took action, placing loaded guns in front of the pickets. And Ushakov ordered three frigates to approach both cities of Kefalonia within a canister shot. And if robberies and riots cannot be stopped peacefully, then shoot first with blank charges, and then with buckshot.

On October 23, Ushakov arrived on the island of Kefalonia. The population joyfully welcomed the Russian admiral. The next day, Ushakov received a number of denunciations from the local nobility, demanding the arrest and trial of members of the municipality who collaborated with the French, and other Jacobins. However, “Admiral Ushakov, entering into the position of these unfortunate citizens who submitted to force and acted, probably more out of fear than out of harmful intentions, did not pay any attention to this denunciation and, by this wise behavior, saved the accused not only from inevitable persecution, but also from useless complaints."

On the island of Kefalonia, Ushakov left a guard in the form of an advice note "Krasnoselye" and a garrison of 15 Russians and 15 Turks.

On October 18, Ushakov sent a detachment to the island of St. Maura, consisting of the ship "St. Peter" and the frigate "Navarchia", as well as two Turkish ships. The detachment was commanded by captain 1st rank D.N. Senyavin.

Two days later, another, stronger detachment set out to blockade the island of Corfu. It included the ships "Zachary and Elizabeth", "Theophany of the Lord" and the frigate "Gregory the Great of Armenia", as well as one Turkish ship and two frigates. Captain 1st rank I.A. was appointed to command the detachment. Selivachev.

On October 24, Selivachev's detachment arrived at Corfu. The next day, deputies from the nobility, priests and foremen appeared on the flagship, who asked under no circumstances "to land the Turks in the landing force" and promised to put up an auxiliary corps of 10 to 15 thousand people to help the Russians.

Selivachev decided to send Captain-Lieutenant Shostak to the fortress to find out if the garrison had any intention to surrender. Shostak was blindfolded into the fortress, into a huge hall filled with French generals and foremen, who received him with great courtesy and answered the demand that they still did not see who to surrender to, and were surprised that this was required of them; but for all that, they treated him to a dinner table, drank to his health, and then invited him to the theater and to dinner.

Meanwhile, the French for the first time offered serious resistance to the Senyavin detachment on the island of St. Maura (Santa Mauri). The situation was complicated by the geographical location of the island, separated from the Albanian coast by a narrow strait "five hundred paces away". Albania was under the rule of Ali Pasha Janinsky, formally an official of the Porte, but in fact an independent ruler. Even before the arrival of the allied ships, Ali Pasha offered the French commandant of St. Maura, General Miolette, 30 thousand gold coins for the surrender of the fortress. Miolette refused, but the door was open for further negotiations.

To begin with, Senyavin landed a landing force of 569 people with 6 field and 24 ship guns. Senyavin did not dare to use ship artillery against the fortress. Moreover, domestic historians lie in discord, shielding him. So, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, in the best traditions of "soviet" historians, paints an impregnable French citadel: "The fortress, located on an impregnable cliff, washed on both sides by water, was defended by 540 people of the French garrison." And in the "Military Encyclopedia" there is generally indistinct babble: "The ships of the detachment could not take a direct part in the bombardment of the fortress due to its great distance from the detachment's parking lot." Whether the fortress was removed from the sea beyond the reach of the ship's guns, or Senyavin was afraid to approach it - understand as you know.

Russian troops, with the assistance of local residents, began to build siege batteries (three eight-gun batteries on the island and one four-gun battery on the Albanian coast), which on October 23 began shelling the fortress. After two days of lively bombardment, Senyavin again offered the commandant to surrender, but General Miole demanded the honorary release of the garrison from the fortress and his departure to Toulon or Ancona, which Senyavin refused. The sortie undertaken by the French of 300 people was not successful.

On October 31, a joint Russian-Turkish squadron of Vice Admiral Ushakov arrived at the island of St. Maura, consisting of two Russian ships, two Russian frigates, two Turkish ships, one Turkish frigate and two Turkish corvettes. Admiral Ushakov ordered to speed up preparations for the assault on the fortress, for which the troops brought in were brought to 772 people (550 Russians and 222 Turks), not counting the large number of armed residents.

On November 1, when preparations for the assault were completed, the French commandant resumed negotiations on surrender, which was signed on the night of November 3. Surrendered 512 people. 37 cast-iron cannons of large and small caliber, 17 small-caliber copper cannons and two 7-pound copper mortars were taken from the fortress. As on other islands, Ushakov ordered that copper tools be taken to the ships, and the cast-iron ones left in the fortress.

During the siege of St. Maura, there was a lot of firing, but the French killed 34 people, wounded 43, and the Russians killed 2, wounded 6. The losses of the Turks and the local population are unknown.

On October 19, a military convention was concluded in Constantinople between Russia and Turkey, according to which the latter was to release annually 600 thousand piastres for the maintenance of the Russian squadron and obliged all the heads of the coastal pashalyks (regions) and cities of Turkey to assist in supplying the Russian squadron.

In order not to return to the Russian-Turkish negotiations, I will say that on December 23, 1798 (January 3, 1799 according to the new style), the Allied Defensive Treaty between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Porte was concluded in Constantinople. The treaty confirmed the Iasi Treaty of 1791 (“from word to word”). Russia and Turkey guaranteed each other territorial inviolability as of January 1, 1798. The secret articles of the agreement stated that Russia promised Turkey military assistance, defined as 12 ships and 75-80 thousand soldiers. Turkey undertook to open the straits for the Russian navy. "For all other nations, without exception, the entrance to the Black Sea will be closed." Thus, the treaty made the Black Sea a closed Russian-Turkish basin. At the same time, the right of Russia as a Black Sea power to be one of the guarantors of the navigation regime of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles was fixed.

As they say, history does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, but if Turkey strictly observed this agreement, then the history of the Russian-Turkish wars could be put an end to. After all, Sweden concluded peace with Russia in 1809, and so far they have never fought. Although Europe constantly put pressure on Sweden to force it to fight with the Russians. In 1812 it was demanded by Napoleon I, in 1855 by Napoleon III and Lord Palmerston, in 1914 by Wilhelm II, and in 1941 by Hitler. But Sweden proved immune to European pressure. Unfortunately, Turkey behaved differently.

On November 13, 1798, the Russian ambassador in Istanbul, Tomara, sent Ushakov a rather frank letter with recommendations on methods of warfare. Tomara advised the admiral not to interfere with the Turks to wage war in their own way: “... consequently, observing on your part in the reasoning of the French the rules of war, generally accepted, should not force the observation of their Turks. Let them do what they want to do with the French ... Violation of their surrender cannot be attributed to you, because the surrendering garrisons in his disposition remain relative to their departure home or Turkey, and you should not and cannot be burdened with prisoners. Leaving the French to the mercy of the Turks, you must preserve the recourse to the highest court of the Greeks in all your strength, calling your position with them due and obvious patronage according to common faith, and their position with you due and obvious devotion according to the same, and in this you should not pretend in the slightest. ".

Further, Tomar incites Ushakov to piracy, sorry, to waging an unlimited war of marque: “The London court issued orders to its military courts to recognize all Italian ports and ships of the regions, dependent on the French, as hostile. And just as the Turks have never been in the world with the Republic of Genoa, with the Pope of Rome and Cisalpina, and they declared war on France, then Your Excellency, as the commander of the troops of the allied power of England and the Ports, has the right to deal with the courts of those regions in the same way as the British deal with them."

Thus, the Russian squadron could capture any ships in the Mediterranean, with the exception of British and Turkish ones. Here the ambassador himself has a direct benefit - Ushakov's squadron will be "on self-sufficiency", and maybe part of the booty will be transferred to Tomar.

“On October 29, the Russian ship The Epiphany, operating near the fortress of Corfu, captured an 18-gun French shebeca, which, under the name Macarius, became part of the squadron of Vice Admiral Ushakov.” This phrase wanders from one source to another. The original name of the ship and the details of the capture are unknown. Personally, I am sure that the battle with the 18-gun French ship would have been painted in detail "in colors" by our historians. Apparently, it was a merchant ship, possibly with small-caliber guns.

November 9, 1798 Ushakov with the main forces of the squadron arrived at the island of Corfu. The fortress of Corfu was rightfully considered one of the strongest in the Mediterranean. It consisted of five separate fortifications, mutually shelled by the fire of their batteries. To the east of the city, surrounded by a double rampart with deep dry moats, on Capo Desidero there was an old citadel, separated from the city by a wide channel. To the northwest of it was located a new citadel with fortifications carved into the rock. Three separate fortifications protected the city from the southwest: the forts of St. Abraham, St. Roque and St. Salvador. From the sea, Corfu was defended by two fortified islands: Vido and Lazareto. Vido had five batteries, and the much smaller Lazareto had a fortified quarantine.

The French garrison defending Corfu numbered 3,000 men. There were 650 guns on the fortifications. In the harbor between the island of Vido and the old citadel there were two ships - the 74-gun "Genereux" ("Genereux") and the 54-gun "Leander" ("Leander"), as well as the frigate "La Brune" ("La Brune") the bombing vessel "La Frimer" ("La Frimer"), a brig and four small vessels.

The history of the ship "Leander" ("Leander") is curious. After the battle of Aboukir, Admiral Nelson sent the Leander to London with a report of his victory. But at dawn on August 7 (18), 1798, not far from Crete, the Leander ran into the French ship Genero, which took part in the Battle of Aboukir. After a six-hour battle, the Englishman lowered his flag and was taken to Corfu. The spars of the Leander were badly damaged, and in the absence of ship rigging in Corfu, the French replaced it with frigate sailing weapons. Nevertheless, by the time the Russians arrived, the Leander was not combat-ready.

At first, Ushakov limited himself to the blockade of Corfu, while at the same time making desperate efforts to strengthen his forces. On November 15-19, by order of the admiral, two batteries were built in Corfu: one 10-gun on November 15 by landing under the command of Captain Kikin against St.

Local residents also took an active part in the siege of Corfu. So, the Greek engineer Markati formed a volunteer detachment of 1,500 people, and Ushakov helped this detachment by giving him three guns.

The shelling of the batteries erected by the Russians caused some damage to the fortress, but on November 20, about 600 French went on a sortie. The Greeks fled, three Russian gunners were killed, and 17 were taken prisoner. True, they were promptly exchanged for French prisoners.

On December 9, 1798, the frigates "Saint Michael" and "Kazan Mother of God" approached Corfu (it is curious that in official documents the frigate was simply called "Kazanskaya"). Both frigates under the command of Captain 2nd Rank Sorokin were sent to the coast of Egypt on September 14 and acted jointly with the English fleet. During the blockade of Alexandria, Sorokin managed to capture several merchant ships. Soon the frigates ran out of food, and since the British refused to supply them, Sorokin went to Corfu.

On December 30, the 74-gun ships St. Michael and Simeon and Anna came to Corfu under the command of Rear Admiral Pustoshkin. The ships left Akhtiar (Sevastopol) on October 26, 1798.

From the end of the autumn of 1798, the English and Portuguese squadrons led the blockade of the island of Malta, occupied by the French. On October 13, Admiral Nelson arrived at Malta with a detachment of ships. He immediately captured the nearby castle on the island of Gozzo (his garrison numbered only 180 people). Nelson ordered the Neapolitan flag to be hoisted on Gozzo and saluted with 21 volleys, and he later defiantly threw the French flag captured in the castle at the feet of King Ferdinand IV of the Two Sicilies and congratulated him on the acquisition of 16 thousand subjects.

On December 12, Nelson sent a letter to Ushakov, where he described the capture of the island of Gozzo, which he transferred to the legal possession of the king of the Two Sicilies. Further, Nelson wrote: "I hope to hear soon about the destruction of the French ships in Alexandria, as well as the entire French army in Egypt."

Thus, Sir Horatio tried to cheat both King Ferdinand IV and the Russian admiral - the British were determined not to let Malta out of their hands. By the way, the "enlightened navigators" had their sights on Corfu. The extermination of the French in Egypt was the importunate delirium of the glorious admiral.

Willy-nilly, Admiral Ushakov had to agree to the arrival of the Albanian troops of the Yanin Pasha on the island of Corfu. By the end of January 1799 there were already 4250 Albanians on the island.

By this time, Corfu was blocked by an allied squadron consisting of 12 ships, 11 frigates and many small ships. Nevertheless, the only combat-ready French ship, the Genero ship, on the night of January 25, broke through the blockade along with two small ships. Ushakov wrote to Paul I: “Finally, on the 25th on the 26th of January, on an extremely dark night, with blackened sails, with a strong south wind, he broke through between the blocking ships. Two semi-galleys, purposely cruising in front of our ships for supervision, saw him under sail in good time, one of them, in the darkness of the night, fell under the very ship and barely managed to retreat, going downwind, they made a definite signal to them about the escape of the ships. At the same time, when the "Genero" had not yet reached our ships, signals were made from me to chase the fleeing ships, beat, drown and take prisoner, but this ship broke through with firing at it from our ships and from Turkish frigates and went to Ancona. Our two ships “Theophany of the Lord” and “Zachary and Elizabeth” and the frigate “George the Great of Armenia”, also two Turkish frigates chased him to Ancona, but in the darkness of the night they could not even see him.

Our military historians blame only the Turks for this scandalous story. However, as we see, Ushakov did not dare to lie to the tsar.

Despite the onset of winter, the Russians continued their siege work near Corfu. On January 20, under the cover of the Makariy shebek, they began to build a battery on the hill of St. Panteleimon. This battery was armed with 16 large naval guns, 14 mortars and field guns. After 10 days the battery was built. Ushakov appointed Captain 1st Rank Yukharin to command it. Soon another battery was built for 7 mortars. The fire of these batteries caused destruction and fires in the fortress. The French raid to capture the batteries was not successful.

In mid-February, Ushakov began preparations for the assault. To begin with, it was decided to take possession of the fortifications of Vido Island. At 7 a.m. on February 18, on a signal from the flagship St. Paul, the combined Russian-Turkish fleet (the ships St. Peter, Zachary and Elizabeth, Theophany, Simeon and Anna and Mary Magdalene, "Gregory the Great of Armenia", "Saint Nicholas", "Navarchia" and "Kazan Mother of God", a schooner, a messenger ship, as well as two Turkish ships, six frigates, a corvette and a gunboat) approached the fortifications of Vido Island on a grape shot and, becoming on the spring, opened fire on the coastal batteries. Soon all five French batteries were "exterminated and turned to dust." At 11 o'clock, a Russian-Turkish landing force with a total number of 2159 people was landed. The French, leaving their batteries, fled into the interior of the island. “Our brave troops,” Admiral Ushakov reported after the battle, “... instantly rushed to all places of the island, and the enemy was defeated and defeated everywhere ...” At 2 o’clock in the afternoon, the Russian flag was hoisted on the island of Vido. The commandant of the island, Brigadier General Pivro, 20 officers and 402 soldiers were taken prisoner.

The French ship Leander and the French frigate, which tried to support the batteries of Vido Island, were so badly damaged in battle with Russian ships that they could hardly escape under the protection of the Corfu fortress. The commandant of Vido Island, General Pivron, 20 officers and 402 lower ranks were captured. 200 people were killed and sunk, and only 150 people managed to escape in rowboats and take refuge in the main fortress.

Immediately after the capture of Vido, a landing force was landed from the ships of the squadron to support the troops attacking the fortress from the fortifications of St. Salvador and St. Abraham. The combined forces of Russian sailors and soldiers, Turks, Albanians and Corfiots, having crushed the desperate resistance of the French, broke into both fortifications, captured them and forced the enemy to flee to the inner fortress.

At the same time, Russian batteries near the village of Mandukkio and from the hill of St. Panteleimon smashed the French, and the ship "Holy Trinity", the frigate "Descent of the Holy Spirit", the advice note "Akat-Iran", the shebek "Makariy" and the Turkish ship, which was stationed at the southern part the old citadel, shelled it with continuous fire.

During the capture of the island of Vido and actions on the coast, the Russians lost 31 people killed and 100 wounded.

“The capture of Vido, the fortifications of St. Abraham and St. El Salvador decided the fate of the fortress of Corfu. This phrase wanders from one domestic publication to another. Only Colonel of the General Staff V.A. Moshnin assessed the surrender of Corfu differently: "Not by bombardment, but rather by hunger, he forced the fortress to surrender."

Indeed, the old fortress could still hold out for a long time. The fundamental question was whether the French would be able to get reinforcements from outside or not. The military-political situation in Italy and the Mediterranean from 1796 to 1815, as we shall see, radically changed dozens of times in the most unpredictable way. Therefore, in the end, both sides decided not to risk it and came to a certain compromise. According to the terms of the honorable surrender, “... the garrison with its own crew will be transported to Toulon on ships by hiring and maintaining Russian and Turkish squadrons under the cover of military ships, and division general Shabo with all his staff, various officials will be allowed to go to Toulon, or to Ancona, from these places, where he wishes, with the exception of the contracting powers; the generals and the entire French garrison are obliged by word of honor not to accept weapons against the All-Russian Empire and the Ottoman Port and their allies within 18 months.

The French, captured during the siege of Corfu, will be sent on the same rights together with the French garrison to Toulon with an obligation on parole not to take up arms against the aforementioned empires and their allies throughout the present war, until they are exchanged with both Russian and Russian empires. will not be committed by the Turkish ...

In the fortresses of the island of Corfu, upon inspection, certain mortars turned out to be copper of various calibers 92, cast-iron 9-pood stone-shooting 13, copper doves (howitzers) 21, copper cannons of various calibers 323, cast iron of various calibers 187, guns fit 5495 ... gunpowder of different grades 3060 pounds, unground wheat in different stores up to 2500 quarters and ... sea and land provisions according to the number of the French garrison for a month and a half, and there were also a considerable amount of supplies and materials in many stores for various positions.

Ships located at Corfu: a 54-gun ship, sheathed with copper "Leander", a 32-gun frigate "Bruna" ("La Brun"), a half-crane "Expedition" about 8 copper guns, one bombing ship, galleys 2, semi-galley fit 4 , unusable 3, brigantine unusable 4 and 3 merchant ships, and these merchant ships belong to the treasury or owners; the commission was ordered to consider them; in the port of Gouvy, one 66-gun ship is dilapidated, also one ship, 2 frigates are dilapidated, flooded; at the fortress of Corfu and in the port of Gouvy, there was not a small amount of oak and pine forests, suitable for the correction of ships and for changing the spars ...

February 23. On the 23rd, a decent number of inhabitants were sent to the Leander ship to correct it, and servants from the Turkish squadron were sent to the Bruna frigate, which, by agreement of the commanders-in-chief of the connected squadrons, was taken by the Turks, and the Leander ship went to the Russian squadron.

Horatio Nelson was certainly a talented admiral, but in life he was extremely stubborn and petty. Even during the siege of Corfu, he, through the British ambassador in Istanbul, sought from the Turkish government the transfer of the Leander ship to England. After the surrender of Corfu, the Grand Vizier offered Tomara to exchange the Leander for the frigate La Brun, which the Turks got when dividing the trophies, and even pay extra.

On May 18, 1799, Ushakov replied to Tomar: “I cannot give up the Leander ship without a special order from the sovereign, but if there is, they say, a command, I will fulfill everything.” Similarly, our admiral responded to Nelson's personal message. Then Sir Horatio decided to act through the ambassador in St. Petersburg Whitworth, the same one who was preparing a conspiracy against Paul I. The “knight on the throne” answered in the style of Ivan Vasilyevich Bulgakov: “Kemsk volost? Let them take it!” As a result, Ushakov had to part with the only valuable prize.

As already mentioned, on the whole, the entire campaign of 1798-1799, led by Paul against revolutionary France, was contrary to the interests of the Russian Empire. Only the capture of Corfu to some extent justified sending a squadron to the Mediterranean.

Throughout the empire, the words of Field Marshal Suvorov were repeated: “Our great Peter is alive. What he, after the defeat of the Swedish fleet at the Aland Islands in 1714, said, namely: nature produced only one Russia: it has no rival, and now we see. Hooray! Russian fleet! .. Now I say to myself: why was I not at Corfu, even a midshipman!

The question of the future fate of the Ionian Islands was discussed by Russia and Turkey even before the capture of Corfu. The Turks offered to transfer them to the Kingdom of Naples or create a principality there, dependent on Turkey. Paul proposed to establish on the islands ... a republic! Of course, according to modern concepts, the constitution of this republic was not entirely democratic. Thus, elections to the Great Council were held by curiae, separately for each class. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Paul I became the first Russian tsar to establish a republic.

On March 3, 1799, the squadron of Fyodor Ushakov liberated the island of Corfu, besieged by the French. “Why wasn’t I even a midshipman at Corfu?” He spoke of the brilliant victory of the Russian sailors. Contrary to the opinions of military theorists, the powerful fortress was taken by the forces of the fleet alone.

At the end of the 18th century, France pursued an active policy of conquest. In 1797, the Ionian Islands were captured, which allowed the French to extend their influence not only to the Balkans, but also to Egypt, Asia Minor and the Black Sea possessions of Russia.

These events prompted Turkey, Russia and England to unite in the fight against French expansion.

The agreement on the union of the country was signed in December 1798, but even before its conclusion - in August 1798 - it was decided that the combined Russian-Turkish squadron would send its forces to the liberation of the Ionian Islands.

So, the Turkish squadron of Vice Admiral Kadyr Bey (four battleships, six frigates, four corvettes and 14 gunboats).

By October 1798, Russian sailors liberated the islands, which allowed them to actually control the waters of the archipelago: Kitira, Zakynthos and Kefalonia, in early November, the French garrison was driven out from Lefkada.

Now Ushakov intended to throw all his forces against the largest and well-fortified island of the archipelago - Corfu.

The French covered Corfu from the nearby islets of Vido and Lazaretto. Vido had about 800 soldiers and five artillery batteries under the command of Brigadier General Pivron. In Corfu, in the Old and New fortresses, the garrison consisted of 3,000 soldiers and 650 guns under the command of General Shabo. In addition, the 74-gun ship Generet, the 50-gun captured English ship Leander, the frigate La Brun, the bombardment ship La Frimer, a brig and four auxiliary ships were stationed in the harbor between Corfu and Vido.

It was almost impossible to pass through such a powerful defense, so they decided to blockade Corfu. It began on October 24, 1798 with the arrival of a detachment of ships under the command of Captain 1st Rank I. Selivachev to the island. “Stop all communication with this island,” Ushakov set him such a task. Later, the ships of the detachment of the captain of the 2nd rank I. Poskochin, the main forces of the squadron led by Ushakov himself, the detachment of the captain of the 1st rank D. Senyavin approached Corfu. The French forces were opposed by 12 ships of the line and 11 frigates, a team of 1,700 naval grenadiers, 4,250 Turkish soldiers, and about 2,000 Corfiots.

Despite all the difficulties - the cold winter and the lack of proper supplies that fell on the shoulders of Turkey - Ushakov managed to organize a tight blockade of the island, which lasted four months.

The French garrison was deprived of the opportunity to receive outside help, and in order to prevent the French from obtaining provisions for themselves by robbing the local population, a small landing force with artillery landed on Corfu and two batteries were built. Ushakov's sailors organized another battery on Lazaretto, which the French left without a fight.

Throughout the blockade, both on land and at sea, there were systematic clashes between the Allied and French forces.

It was supposed to storm the fortress by the joint efforts of the Russians and the Turks, but the Turkish command delayed the sending of the promised landing force. Despite this, Ushakov nevertheless continued to prepare for the offensive, which, according to his plan, provided for a simultaneous attack on Corfu and Vido.

The assault began on the morning of March 2, 1799. Ushakov's squadron settled down according to a strictly thought-out disposition, and several ships at once hit Vido's batteries with grapeshot. The island responded with heavy gunfire.

Here is how a participant in the events Yegor Metaksa described this moment:

Continuous, terrible shooting and the thunder of large guns trembled all the surroundings. Vido, one might say, was completely blown up by buckshot, and not only the trenches ... there was no tree left that would not have been damaged by this terrible iron hail. At eleven o'clock the cannons from the French batteries were shot down, all the people defending them died, while the rest, fearful, rushed from bush to bush, not knowing where to hide.

The artillery duel lasted about four hours. The French frigates Leander and La Brun tried to help the besieged, however, they received serious damage under the fire of St. Peter" and "Navarakhiya", they were forced to retreat. After the cannonade from the French batteries weakened, a landing party landed on the coast of Vido, secured between the batteries and went further to the middle of the island. The Turks, who were part of the combined landing force, furious from the stubborn resistance of the French, staged a massacre, not sparing even the prisoners, who were defended by Russian officers.

By 2 p.m. Vido Island was taken. 200 French soldiers were killed, more than 400, including the commandant of the fortress, General Pivron, were taken prisoner.

In parallel with the assault and capture of Vido, Russian ships fired on the fortifications on Corfu, especially the strongest of them - the fortress of El Salvador. Landed on Corfu after the fall of Vido, the landing force quickly rushed to attack the outer defensive structures of the fortress. The first attack was repulsed by the French, and only the second attack, delivered after the arrival of reinforcements, ended in success.

The French commandant Chabot, seeing the hopelessness of the situation, sent a letter to Ushakov asking for a truce for 24 hours, during which he undertook to sign a surrender. The next day, March 3, the French officially capitulated.

Contrary to the opinions of military theorists, the powerful fortress was taken by the forces of the fleet alone. As for the role of the Turkish squadron in the capture of Corfu, it is negligible.

In a letter to Kadyr Bey in March 1799, Ushakov wrote directly: “Although during the attack of the island, some of your squadron were sent to the northern and southern parts of the strait with ours, they were always at anchor, in battle against the enemy ships never entered, and during the assault on the island of Vido they were far from it, except for one frigate ... ".

Ushakov himself was promoted to admiral for this victory, and the population of the islands warmly thanked the Russian sailors for their liberation and independence.

On the archipelago under the temporary protectorate of Russia and Turkey, the Republic of Seven Islands was created with a democratic constitution, the foundations of which were proposed by Fedor Ushakov. At the head of the Republic was Count John Kapodistrias, later - the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, and even later - the first president of independent Greece.

Russia acquired a military base in the Mediterranean Sea, which it successfully used during the war of the third coalition of European powers against France.