Ushakov's Mediterranean Campaign

After the entry of the Russian Empire together with the Ottoman Porte into the anti-French coalition, as a result of which Porta became an ally of Russia, Vice Admiral Ushakov was instructed to lead the Mediterranean expedition.

On August 12, 1798, a squadron under the command of Ushakov, consisting of 6 battleships, 7 frigates, 3 avisos, and landing parties (1,700 naval grenadiers of the Black Sea naval battalions and 35 midshipmen of the Nikolaev naval school) left Sevastopol and headed for Istanbul . In Istanbul, under the command of Ushakov, the Kadir Bey squadron consisting of 4 battleships, 6 frigates, 4 corvettes and 14 gunboats was transferred, after which the combined fleet set out on a campaign.

For 6 weeks, the Russian amphibious assault occupied the Ionian Islands: Kitira , Zakynthos , Kefalonia ^[1] and Lefkada , after which the fleet embarked on an operation to seize the island of Corfu .

Siege of Corfu

To Corfu, the French had the following forces: 3,000 soldiers, 650 guns and plus 500 soldiers and 5 artillery batteries on the island of Vido , which covered the main fortress from the sea. Also on the island of Corfu were the Governor of the Islands, General Shabo and the Commissioner General of the Republic of Dubois . In addition, there was a French squadron consisting of: 2 battleships, 1 frigate, 1 bombardier ship and several auxiliary vessels.

Ushakov originally blocked the fortress from the sea. He later agreed with the rebels, and they gave 2,000 soldiers. In addition, the Turks sent 4,250 soldiers from Albania (three times less than promised). The assault on Corfu began at 7 a.m. on February 18, 1799 (senior article). After the ship’s bombardment on the island of Vido , 2 out of 5 batteries were destroyed and a 2,000th landing was landed. After the battle, the Russians captured 423 Frenchmen. On February 20, 1799, the fortress surrendered. 2931 people surrendered. Rich trophies were captured: 16 ships, 630 guns and other property. For this assault Ushakov was promoted to admiral.

Next Steps

On May 4, 1799, in Brindisi , which was liberated on April 23, 1799, a detachment of captain-lieutenant Belly was composed of 550 soldiers, who cleared the coast of the enemy and moved to Naples , where on May 25 he joined with the Allies and participated from 2 to 8 June in the storming of the city.

On May 5, 1799, detachment of Rear Admiral Pustoshkin began the blockade of Ancona . On May 30, a major 200- man landing was landed in Pesaro , consisting of 200 soldiers, who, with local rebels, took the Fano fortress on June 1. After the news of the French-Spanish squadron entering the Mediterranean Sea, they were recalled by Ushakov to Corfu.

On July 2, the enemy squadron returned to Brest , and Ushakov ordered the 2nd-rank captain Voinovich to speak to Ancona. On July 6, a detachment of ships went to sea, on July 12 Pesaro was taken, and the Russian troops, combined with the Neapolitan, on July 20 took Fano and began to block Ancona. In the meantime, Ushakov repaired his ships and, leaving 3 battleships, 4 frigates and 1 corvette in the Archipelago, with the main forces of 10 battleships, 6 frigates and 6 smaller ships, sailed to Messina on July 24, where he arrived on August 3. Rear Admiral Pustoshkin’s squadron was equipped for cruising near Livorno and Genoa .

At the request of the Neapolitan king, 3 frigates under the command of Sorokin were sent to Naples to protect order in the city. Ushakov himself, with a squadron of 7 battleships, 1 frigate, 4 light ships, went to Palermo to meet with Nelson . On August 25, both admirals departed for Naples .

At the end of August 1799, the Turks forced their admiral to go to Constantinople. On September 19, the landing detachment of Colonel Skipor consisting of 818 soldiers entered Rome . In the meantime, allied Austria diplomatically took possession of Ancona, already half taken by Voinovich.

Nelson, making sure that he did not take Malta with his troops, suggested that Ushakov take part in the siege. On December 20, a Russian squadron consisting of 7 battleships, 1 frigate, 8 small vessels and with 2,000 naval grenadiers left Naples. Arriving in Messina on December 22, the admiral was ordered to return to the Black Sea. On January 1, the squadron left Messina and on January 8 arrived in Corfu. After the repair of the ships on April 10, a command was received to assist the British in the siege of Malta .

But on June 15, 1800, after the defeat at Marengo, Austria signed a truce with France. Cruising became unpromising, and Emperor Paul I ordered the squadron to lead to the Black Sea. When the Russian fleet left the Ionian Islands to the Black Sea, the Kefalonians, in appreciation, presented Ushakov with a large gold medal with the admiral’s image (inscription around: “ Valiant pious Fedor Ushakov, commander in chief of the Russian fleet ”), Corfu fortress and the islet of Vido, between which there are 2 French ships, and in front of Vido - 6 Russian ships (inscription: "All the Ionian Islands to the savior of Kefalonia") ^[1] .

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, but lost about 400 people. As a result of the expedition, Russia gained a base on the Mediterranean Sea, strengthening its presence in this region.

• The Mediterranean film by F. F. Ushakov is dedicated to the feature film “ Ships Storming the Bastions ” ( USSR , 1953 , directed by Mikhail Romm ). In the role of F.F. Ushakov - Ivan Pereverzev .

• TSB
• Emelyanov Yu. N. Mediterranean expedition of F.F. Ushakov // Free Thought . - M .: Politizdat , 2011. - No. 6 (1625) . - S. 181-192 . - ISSN 0869-4435 .
• Lebedev A.A. From Fidonisi to Corfu. Behind the curtains of the great victories of F.F. Ushakov // Gangut. 2012. No. 67.