The Battle of Navarino in 1827 is rightfully considered one of the largest naval battles in modern history, in which the largest powers of those times took part. This battle predetermined the fate of the participants in the hostilities, strengthening the position of one side and further weakening the opposing camp.

Prerequisites for the start of the war

Despite the fact that the Ottoman Empire was slowly sliding into the very bottom of the political and economic crisis, it still possessed quite significant territories in the Balkans and northern Africa. Holding such vast lands became harder and harder over the years. Greek revolutionaries fought especially fiercely for their independence. Their struggle began in 1821 with a major uprising in the Peloponnese. The Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, only with the help of his Egyptian vassal Muhammad Ali, managed to stop the expansion of the Greek liberation movement in 1824. The situation in the Balkans was closely monitored by European powers. England and France sought benefit in the rapid weakening of the Ottoman Empire. Russia, having succeeded in the war with the Turks in 1806-1812, wanted to further strengthen its position on the Balkan Peninsula and the Black Sea.

An attempt to reconcile the parties

Despite the above, future Entente allies were not interested in the complete collapse of the Ottoman Empire. At least not that fast. France and England sought to place it in a dependent position through economic pressure, pumping resources out of it and, if necessary, using it against Russia. Russian Tsar Nicholas I was also not satisfied with the fall of such a large empire, even though it was weakened. A rapid collapse would lead to major changes in the political map of both the Balkans and northern Africa, which were within the Allied sphere of influence.

And therefore, on July 16, 1827, in London, with the participation of high-ranking officials from France, England and Russia, a convention was signed that approved the autonomy of Greece within the Ottoman Empire. The Greeks continued to pay annual tribute to the Sultan's treasury and were considered subjects of the Sultan, but received significant advantages for trade transactions with European powers. The document obliged the parties to stop hostilities and make peace. Violation of the treaty implied intervention in the conflict by introducing naval forces of mediating countries.

Conflict escalation

Naturally, this state of affairs categorically did not suit the Turkish ruler. After all, for the first time in 5 centuries of governance, Greece had a chance to free itself from Ottoman tutelage and gain the long-awaited freedom. The actions of Sultan Mahmud II were quite expected. The Ottoman Empire had no intention of following the terms of the London Convention. An impressive Turkish-Egyptian fleet was located in Navarino Bay. This step contributed to the activation of the clause on intervention in the conflict of the allied squadron.

Number and command structure of opponents

The combined fleet of Russia, England and France headed for Navarino Bay. The Russian squadron was led by Rear Admiral L. Heyden (a Dutchman in the service of the Russian Tsar), and the French naval forces by A. de Rigny. General leadership was transferred to the highest rank of the allied armada - the English Vice Admiral E. Codrington. A total of 26 ships with 1,300 guns advanced.

Upon arrival at their destination on October 20, 1827, the allies realized that the enemy outnumbered them both in the number of ships and manpower, and in artillery power by almost 2 times. In total, 91 ships gathered to defend the bay. The Ottoman-Egyptian fleet was led by Ibrahim Pasha, assisted by Tahir Pasha and Muharrem Bey. In addition to the 2,600 guns located on ships on land, the fortress of the same name also housed the coast guard with another 165 guns, as well as a small battery on the island of Sphacteria. Despite such an impressive superiority in armament and numbers, the European squadron had one significant advantage over its opponent - many years of experience in participating in naval battles. Moreover, the Greeks decided not to sit on the sidelines and joined the allied fleet.

Attempt at negotiations

Even having brought the flotilla to full combat readiness, Commander E. Codrington still did not lose hope of resolving the conflict diplomatically. The French and English fleet quite carefully and slowly passed through the narrow bay and positioned themselves opposite the enemy. The Russian ships were not greeted cordially. The Ottomans did not forget the defeat in the war of 1806-1812, after which they lost a number of territories. Immediately heavy fire was opened on the Russian ships. Several Allied ships, including Sirena, the French flagship, were holed. Then there was some calm. Taking advantage of the moment, Codrington sent a small delegation to the enemy camp. However, the enemy’s coastal forces did not intend to conduct any negotiations at the very beginning and again opened fire with all their guns. The parliamentarians died instantly, and several Allied ships received significant damage. Thus, the peaceful resolution of the conflict was marked as a dead end. Thus, on October 20, 1827, the naval battle of Navarino began.

Progress and result of the battle

The signal for the naval battle of Navarino was the Egyptian shelling of the British flagship, the Asia. The fleet commander's ship received several holes. Muharrem Bey was going to finish off the enemy. However, the future hero of the naval battle Azov, the flagship of the Russian fleet, came to the fore. In the absence of Heyden, who received a shell shock, Captain Lazarev took command. The attack on "Asia" was repulsed, and Muharrem Bey's ship was sunk. Then other Russian ships entered the battle - "Gangut", "Ezekiel", "Alexander Nevsky", "Konstantin", "Elena", "Provorny" and "Castor". However, the battle in Navarino Bay became Azov’s finest hour, which became the main guarantee of victory, leading the rest into battle. The battle lasted only 4 hours and ended with a crushing defeat of the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet.

Losses on both sides

The Battle of Navarino ended in the expected victory of the allied flotilla. Experience prevailed over numerical and weapons superiority. On the victorious side, the losses were quite insignificant - about 800 people were killed and wounded. Despite serious damage, none of the ships of the European squadron were sunk. Among the Russian ships, only the Castor did not have any casualties. As for the losers, the situation here was much worse. The allied fleet destroyed more than half of the ships (more precisely 61) of the Ottoman Empire and its ally Egypt. The remaining vessels were also unusable due to damage. Human losses amounted to more than 7,000 people. The night attack of the Turks was also unsuccessful. The remaining ships were sunk by the Ottomans themselves.

Heroes and awards

As mentioned above, the main hero of the Battle of Navarino was the flagship of the Russian fleet, Azov. Despite numerous damages, he had 5 sunken enemy ships, including 2 ships under the leadership of Muharrem Bey and Tahir Pasha. Along with the Asia, the frigate ship of Commander-in-Chief Ibrahim Pasha was also destroyed, and several more of them were forced to run aground. "Azov" was the first in the history of Russia to receive the St. George Ribbon. For military merits, Heyden (soon promoted to vice admiral), Nakhimov, Lazarev (promoted to rear admiral) and other officers and soldiers received awards (including foreign ones) and promotions to the rank.

Consequences of the battle

The Battle of Navarino predetermined the future fate of the participating countries. Greece benefited the most from the naval battle. Its fate was decided by the Russian Empire in the next Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29, which ended with the victory of the Russians, which over the next few years gave the Greeks long-awaited independence.

In gratitude, the Hellenes to this day celebrate victory day in Navarino almost as a national holiday, remembering the dead. After the defeat, the Ottoman Empire began to regress even more; many people appeared who wanted to challenge the Ottoman Sultan and secede from Turkish rule. Even yesterday's ally, the Egyptian governor Muhammad Ali, twice in the 1830s and 40s. raised troops against Mahmud II for the right to own Syria, but ultimately failed due to Russian intervention. As for England and France, they were extremely dissatisfied with the successes of the Russians and in every possible way looked for a reason to weaken the influence of the Russian Empire on the Balkan countries and prevent it from entering the Middle East. All these attempts in the early 1850s led to the Crimean War, where former allies became enemies.

Sources about the battle

The Battle of Navarino in 1827 was, first of all, a great success for the Russian navy. Naturally, on this occasion there is a holiday in the Russian calendar - the day of the commander of the Russian Navy. Books about the Battle of Navarino are quite numerous: I. Gusev’s “The Naval Battle of Navarino”, G. Arsha “Russia and the Greek Struggle for Liberation”, O. Shparo “The Liberation of Greece and Russia” and many others. Foreign authors generally provide scant information about the battle or downplay the successes of the Russian fleet in their descriptions. The Battle of Navarino on October 20, 1827 also interested artists. The most famous are the paintings of Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky and the Englishman George Philip Reinagle.

190 years ago, on October 20, 1827, the Battle of Navarino took place. The allied fleet of Russia, England and France destroyed the Turkish-Egyptian fleet. The main role in the naval battle was played by the Russian squadron under the command of Rear Admiral L. M. Heyden and Chief of Staff Captain 1st Rank M. P. Lazarev.

Background

One of the main issues in world and European politics at that time was the Eastern question, the question of the future of the Ottoman Empire and the “Turkish legacy.” The Turkish Empire rapidly degraded and was subjected to destructive processes. Its naval power was significantly weakened, and Turkey, which had previously itself threatened the security of European nations, became a victim. Great powers laid claim to various parts of the Ottoman Empire. Thus, Russia was interested in the straits area, Constantinople-Istanbul and the Caucasian possessions of Turkey. In turn, England, France and Austria did not want Russia to strengthen at the expense of Turkey and tried to prevent Russians from entering the Balkans and the Middle East.

Peoples previously subjugated by the military might of the Ottomans began to emerge from subordination and fought for independence. In 1821 Greece rebelled. Despite all the cruelty and terror of the Turkish troops, the Greeks courageously continued their struggle. In 1824, the Porte requested assistance from the Khedive of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, who had just modernized the army to Western standards. The Ottoman government promised to make greater concessions on Syria if Ali helped suppress the Greek uprising. As a result, Muhammad Ali sent the Egyptian fleet with troops and his adopted son Ibrahim to help Turkey.

Turkish-Egyptian troops brutally crushed the uprising. The Greeks, in whose ranks there was no unity, were defeated. Greece was drowning in blood and turning into a desert. Thousands of people were killed and enslaved. The Turkish Sultan Mahmul and the Egyptian ruler Ali planned to completely slaughter the population of the Morea. In addition, famine and plague were raging in Greece, claiming more lives than the war itself. And the destruction of the Greek fleet, which performed important intermediary functions in the trade of southern Russia through the straits, caused great damage to all European trade. Therefore, in European countries, especially in England and France, and of course in Russia, sympathy for the Greek patriots grew. Volunteers traveled to Greece and donations were collected. European military advisers were sent to help the Greeks.

The new Russian Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich, who took the throne in 1825, thought about the need to appease Turkey. He decided to do this in alliance with England. Emperor Nicholas hoped to find a common language with England regarding the division of Turkey into spheres of influence. St. Petersburg wanted to gain control of the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, which had enormous military-strategic and economic significance for the Russian Empire. The British, on the one hand, wanted to once again pit the Russians against the Turks, receiving maximum benefits from this, while avoiding the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the interests of Russia. On the other hand, London wanted to tear Greece away from Turkey and make it its “partner” (dependent state).

On April 4, 1826, the British envoy to St. Petersburg, Wellington, signed a protocol on the Greek issue. Greece was to become a special state, the Sultan remained the supreme overlord, but the Greeks received their own government, legislation, etc. The status of vassal of Greece was expressed in an annual tribute. Russia and England pledged to support each other in implementing this plan. According to the St. Petersburg Protocol, neither Russia nor England were supposed to make any territorial acquisitions in their favor in the event of a war with Turkey. Paris, concerned that London and St. Petersburg were deciding the most important European affairs without its participation, joined the anti-Turkish alliance.

However, the Porte continued to persist and did not make concessions on the Greek issue, despite pressure from the great European powers. Greece was of enormous military and strategic importance for the Ottoman Empire. The Porte hoped for great power tensions; the British, Russians and French had too different interests in the region to find common ground. As a result, the great powers decided to put military pressure on Istanbul. To make the Turks more accommodating, they decided to send an allied fleet to Greece. In 1827, a three-power convention supporting Greek independence was adopted in London. At the insistence of the Russian government, secret articles were attached to this convention. They envisaged sending an allied fleet to exert military-political pressure on Porto, stopping the delivery of new Turkish-Egyptian troops to Greece and establishing contact with the Greek rebels.

Egypt postage stamp dedicated to Ibrahim Pasha

Allied fleet

While negotiating with the governments of England and France about a joint fight against Turkey, Russia began preparations back in 1826 to send the Baltic squadron to the Mediterranean Sea, which included the most combat-ready ships of the Baltic Fleet and two new battleships - Azov and Ezekiel ", built at the shipyards of Arkhangelsk. An experienced commander, captain 1st rank M.P. Lazarev, was appointed commander of the Azov in February 1826. Simultaneously with the construction of the Azov, Lazarev was engaged in manning the ship. He tried to select the most capable and knowledgeable officers who knew his job. Thus, he invited to his ship Lieutenant P. S. Nakhimov, midshipmen V. A. Kornilov, V. I. Istomin, who had proven themselves in joint service with him, and other talented young officers who later became famous in the battles of Navarino and Sinop and in the heroic defense of Sevastopol in the Crimean War.

On June 10, 1827, the Baltic squadron under the command of Admiral D.N. Senyavin left Kronstadt for England. On July 28, the squadron arrived at the main base of the English fleet, Portsmouth. Here D.N. Senyavin finally determined the composition of the squadron, which, together with the Anglo-French fleet, was to conduct combat operations in the Mediterranean Sea: four battleships and four frigates. At the head of the Mediterranean squadron, on the personal instructions of Tsar Nicholas I, Count Rear Admiral L.P. Heiden was appointed, and D.N. Senyavin appointed captain 1st rank M.P. Lazarev as chief of staff of the squadron.

On August 8, a squadron under the command of Rear Admiral L.P. Heiden, consisting of 4 battleships, 4 frigates, 1 corvette and 4 brigs, separated from the squadron of Admiral Senyavin, left Portsmouth for the Archipelago. The rest of Senyavin's squadron returned to the Baltic Sea. On October 1, Heyden's squadron united with the English squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Codrington and the French squadron under the command of Rear Admiral de Rigny off the island of Zante. From where, under the general command of Vice Admiral Codrington, as the senior in rank, the combined fleet headed to the Bay of Navarino, where the Turkish-Egyptian fleet was located under the command of Ibrahim Pasha. In London, Condrington was considered a shrewd politician and a good naval commander. For a long time he served under the command of the famous Admiral Nelson. At the Battle of Trafalgar he commanded the 64-gun ship Orion.

On October 5, 1827, the allied fleet arrived at Navarino Bay. Codrington hoped to force the enemy to accept the Allies' demands through a demonstration of force. The British admiral, following the instructions of his government, did not plan to take decisive action against the Turks in Greece. The command of the Russian squadron, represented by Heyden and Lazarev, adhered to a different point of view, which was prescribed to them by Tsar Nicholas I. Directing the squadron to the Mediterranean Sea, the Tsar handed Count Heyden an order to act decisively. Under pressure from the Russian command, Condrington on October 6 sent an ultimatum to the Turkish-Egyptian command for the immediate cessation of hostilities against the Greeks. The Turkish-Egyptian command, confident that the Allies (and especially the British) would not dare to enter the battle, refused to accept the ultimatum. Then at the military council of the Allied squadron, again under Russian pressure, it was decided to enter Navarino Bay, anchor against the Turkish fleet and, with its presence, force the enemy command to make concessions. The commanders of the allied squadrons made a “mutual promise to destroy the Turkish fleet if even one shot was fired at the allied ships.”

Thus, at the beginning of October 1827, the combined Anglo-Franco-Russian fleet under the command of the English vice-admiral Sir Edward Codrington blocked the Turkish-Egyptian fleet under the command of Ibrahim Pasha in the Bay of Navarino. The allied command hoped, with the help of force, to force the Turkish command, and then the government, to make concessions on the Greek issue.

Login Petrovich Heyden (1773 - 1850)

Admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev (1788 - 1851). From an engraving by I. Thomson

Strengths of the parties

The Russian squadron consisted of the 74-gun battleships "Azov", "Ezekiel" and "Alexander Nevsky", the 84-gun ship "Gangut", the frigates "Konstantin", "Provorny", "Kastor" and "Elena". In total, Russian ships and frigates had 466 guns. The English squadron included the battleships Asia, Genoa and Albion, the frigates Glasgow, Combrienne, Dartmouth and several small ships. The British had a total of 472 guns. The French squadron consisted of the 74-gun battleships Scipio, Trident and Breslau, the frigates Sirena, Armida and two small ships. In total, the French squadron had 362 guns. In total, the allied fleet consisted of ten battleships, nine frigates, one sloop and seven small ships, which had 1,308 guns and 11,010 crew.

The Turkish-Egyptian fleet was under the direct command of Mogharem Bey (Muharrem Bey). The commander-in-chief of the Turkish-Egyptian troops and fleet was Ibrahim Pasha. The Turkish-Egyptian fleet stood in Navarino Bay on two anchors in a formation in the form of a compressed crescent, the “horns” of which extended from the Navarino fortress to the battery of the island of Sphacteria. The fleet included three Turkish battleships (86-, 84- and 76-gun, total 246 guns and 2,700 crew); five double-decker 64-gun Egyptian frigates (320 guns); fifteen Turkish 50- and 48-gun frigates (736 guns); three Tunisian 36-gun frigates and a 20-gun brig (128 guns); forty-two 24-gun corvettes (1,008 guns); fourteen 20- and 18-gun brigs (252 guns). In total, the Turkish fleet included 83 warships, more than 2,690 guns and 28,675 crew members. In addition, the Turkish-Egyptian fleet had ten fire ships and 50 transport ships. Battleships (3 units) and frigates (23 ships) made up the first line, corvettes and brigs (57 ships) were in the second and third lines. Fifty transports and merchant ships were anchored under the southeastern coast of the Seas. The entrance to the bay, about half a mile wide, was fired by batteries from the Navarino fortress and the island of Sphacteria (165 guns). Both flanks were covered by fire ships (vessels loaded with fuel and explosives). Barrels with a flammable mixture were installed in front of the ships. On a hill from which the entire Navarino Bay was visible, there was the headquarters of Ibrahim Pasha.

The Ottomans had a strong position, covered by a fortress, coastal batteries and fire ships. The weak point was the crowding of ships and vessels; there were few battleships. If we count the number of guns, then the Turkish-Egyptian fleet had more than a thousand guns more, but in terms of the power of naval artillery, the superiority remained with the allied fleet, and significant at that. The ten Allied battleships, armed with 36-pounder guns, were much stronger than the Turkish frigates, armed with 24-pounder guns, and especially the corvettes. The Turkish ships standing in the third line, and especially near the shore, could not fire because of the large distances and fear of hitting their own ships. Another negative factor was the poor training of the Turkish-Egyptian crews compared to the first-class allied fleet. However, the Turkish-Egyptian command was convinced of the strength of their position, covered by coastal artillery and fire ships, as well as the large number of ships and guns. Therefore, the Ottomans were not afraid of the arrival of the allied fleet and were not afraid of an enemy attack.

The ship "Azov" in the Battle of Navarino

Battle

On October 8 (20), the British admiral sent the allied fleet to Navarino Bay to demonstrate his strength to the enemy and force him to make concessions. At the same time, it was emphasized: “Not a single cannon should fire without a signal, unless the Turks open fire, then those ships should be destroyed immediately. In the event of a battle, I advise you to remember the words of Nelson: “The closer to the enemy, the better.” Thus, Codrington firmly hoped that the Turks would yield and the matter would end in a mere show of force.

Allied columns entered the bay sequentially. The British naval commander considered that entering the cramped bay in two columns was risky. The English admiral, before entering the harbor, was met by a Turkish officer, who reported that Ibrahim Pasha, who was allegedly absent, had not left orders regarding the permission of the allied squadrons to enter this port, and therefore he demanded that they return to the open sea without going further . Codrington replied that he had come not to receive, but to give orders, and that he would destroy their entire fleet if even one shot was fired at the allies. The English ships calmly, as if on maneuvers, entered the bay and, according to their disposition, stood on the spring.

Captain Fellows was subordinate to a detachment of small ships intended to destroy fire ships that covered the flanks of the enemy fleet. Entering the port, he sent Lieutenant Fitzroy to one of the nearby fireships to take it away from the allied squadron. But the Turks, considering this an attack, opened rifle fire, killing the sent officer and several sailors. Nearby British frigates responded. They opened fire on them from Turkish ships. Then the indiscriminate firing from rifles and cannons of the Turkish fleet began. After some time, coastal batteries also joined the firefight. This happened around 2 p.m.

The British responded with all available weapons. At that moment, Heyden led his squadron into the port, which was already filled with smoke, and as soon as the Azov passed the fortifications, the Turks opened fire on it. At the beginning of the battle, Admiral Codrington had to deal not only with two Turkish battleships, but also with ships of the second and third lines. His flagship "Asia", coming under heavy fire, lost its mizzen mast, with the fall of which some of the stern guns stopped firing. The English flagship was in a dangerous position. But at that moment Heiden entered the battle. His ship "Azov", covered with thick choking smoke, showered with buckshot, cannonballs and bullets, nevertheless quickly reached its place, stood within pistol shot distance of the enemy and removed the sails in one minute.

According to the recollections of one of the participants in the battle: “Then the position of the British changed, their opponents began to act weaker and weaker, and Mr. Codrington, whom our admiral helped, crushing the Tunisian captain-bey, crushed Mogarem: the ship of the first, rushing along the line, was abandoned on stranded, and the second one burned down, the ships of the second and third line, which hit the “Asia” from the bow and stern, were sunk. But “Azov” attracted the general attention of the enemy, who was seething with furious anger against him; not only cannonballs, buckshot, but even fragments of iron, nails and knives, which the Turks furiously placed in the cannons, fell on him from one ship, five two-deck frigates that hit him in the stern and bow, and many ships of the second and third lines. The ship caught fire, the holes grew larger, and the spar collapsed. When “Gangut”, “Ezekiel”, “Alexander Nevsky” and “Breslavl” arrived at their places, when their cores flew towards enemy ships, then “Azov” little by little began to emerge from the terrible hell in which it was located. 24 killed, 67 wounded, battered rigging, sails, and especially the spars, and more than 180 holes, in addition to 7 underwater ones, prove the truth of what was said.”

A fierce battle raged for several hours. The Turkish and Egyptian admirals were convinced of success. Turkish coastal batteries tightly covered with their fire the only exit to the sea from Navarino Bay, it seemed that the allied fleet was trapped and would be completely destroyed. Double superiority in strength promised victory for the Turkish-Egyptian fleet. However, everything was decided by the skill and determination of the commanders and sailors of the allied fleet.

Archipelago expedition of the Russian fleet in 1827. Battle of Navarino on October 8, 1827. Source: Maritime Atlas of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Volume III. Military-historical. Part one

This was the finest hour for the Russian fleet. A barrage of fire fell on the ships of the Russian and English squadrons. The flagship ship "Azov" had to fight against five enemy ships at once. He was supported by the French ship Breslau. Having recovered, “Azov” began to destroy the flagship of the Egyptian squadron of Admiral Mogarem Bey with all its guns. Soon this ship caught fire and, from the explosion of powder magazines, flew into the air, setting fire to other ships of its squadron.

A participant in the battle, the future admiral Nakhimov, described the beginning of the battle as follows: “At 3 o’clock we anchored in the designated place and turned the spring along the side of the enemy battleship and a two-deck frigate under the Turkish admiral’s flag and another frigate. They opened fire from the starboard side... "Gangut" in the smoke pulled the line a little, then became becalmed and was an hour late to arrive at its place. At this time, we withstood the fire of six ships and precisely all those that were supposed to occupy our ships... It seemed that all hell had unfolded before us! There was no place where arrows, cannonballs and buckshot would not fall. And if the Turks hadn’t hit us a lot on the spar, but hit us all in the hull, then I’m confidently sure that we wouldn’t have even half the team left. It was necessary to fight truly with special courage in order to withstand all this fire and defeat the opponents...”

The flagship Azov, under the command of Captain 1st Rank Mikhail Lazarev, became the hero of this battle. The Russian ship, fighting with 5 enemy ships, destroyed them: it sank 2 large frigates and 1 corvette, burned the flagship frigate under the flag of Tahir Pasha, forced an 80-gun battleship to run aground, and then set it on fire and exploded. In addition, the Azov, together with the British flagship, sank the battleship of the commander of the Egyptian fleet, Mogar Bey. The ship received up to 1,800 hits, 7 of them below the waterline. The ship was completely repaired and restored only by March 1828. For military exploits in the battle, the battleship Azov was awarded the stern St. George flag for the first time in the Russian fleet.

The commander of “Azov” M.P. Lazarev deserved the highest praise. In his report, L.P. Heyden wrote: “The undaunted captain 1st rank Lazarev controlled the movements of Azov with composure, skill and exemplary courage.” P.S. Nakhimov wrote about his commander: “I still didn’t know the value of our captain. It was necessary to look at him during the battle, with what prudence, with what composure he gave orders everywhere. But I don’t have enough words to describe all his commendable deeds, and I am confidently confident that the Russian fleet did not have such a captain.”

The powerful ship of the Russian squadron "Gangut" under the command of Captain 2nd Rank Alexander Pavlovich Avinov also distinguished itself, which sank two Turkish ships and one Egyptian frigate. The battleship "Alexander Nevsky" captured a Turkish frigate. The battleship "Ezekiel", assisting the battleship "Gangut" with fire, destroyed the enemy fireship. In general, the Russian squadron destroyed the entire center and right flank of the enemy fleet. She took the main blow of the enemy and destroyed most of his ships.

Within three hours, the Turkish fleet, despite stubborn resistance, was completely destroyed. The level of skill of the allied commanders, crews and artillerymen had an impact. In total, more than fifty enemy ships were destroyed during the battle. The Ottomans themselves sank the surviving ships the next day. In his report on the Battle of Navarino, Rear Admiral Count Heyden wrote: “The three allied fleets competed with each other in courage. Never has such sincere unanimity been seen between different nations. Mutual benefits were delivered with unwritten activities. Under Navarino, the glory of the English fleet appeared in new splendor, and on the French squadron, starting from Admiral Rigny, all the officers and servants showed rare examples of courage and fearlessness. The captains and other officers of the Russian squadron performed their duties with exemplary zeal, courage and contempt for all dangers; the lower ranks distinguished themselves by courage and obedience, which are worthy of emulation.”

Battle of Navarino, National History Museum, Athens, Greece

Results

The Allies did not lose a single ship. The ones that suffered the most in the Battle of Navarino were the flagship of the English squadron, the ship Asia, which lost almost all of its sails and received many holes, and two Russian ships: Gangut and Azov. All the masts on the Azov were broken, and the ship received dozens of holes. The British suffered the greatest losses in manpower. Two envoys and one officer were killed and three were wounded, including the son of Vice Admiral Codrington. Of the Russian officers, two were killed and 18 were wounded. Among the French officers, only the commander of the Breslau ship was slightly wounded. In total, the Allies lost 175 killed and 487 wounded. The Turks lost almost their entire fleet - more than 60 ships and up to 7 thousand people.

For this battle, Azov commander M.P. Lazarev received the rank of rear admiral and was simultaneously awarded four orders - Russian, English, French and Greek. For the courage, bravery and seamanship of the crew, the battleship "Azov" - for the first time in the Russian navy - was awarded the highest military honor - the stern St. George flag. "Azov" became the first guards ship of the Russian fleet. “In honor of the praiseworthy deeds of the superiors, the courage and bravery of the lower ranks,” said the royal rescript. At the same time, it was prescribed to “raise the St. George flag from now on on all ships bearing the name “Memory of Azov.” Thus the Marine Guard was born.

Russian Emperor Nicholas I awarded Codrington the Order of St. George, 2nd class, and de Rigny the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. Many Russian officers also received orders. For the lower ranks, ten crosses of St. George were issued to each ship, and five to the frigate. The reaction of the English king was peculiar: when presenting Codrington to the Order of Victoria (and the monarch simply could not refuse to award him, given the enormous international resonance of this battle), he wrote: “Deserves a rope, but I am forced to give him a ribbon.” London's plans did not include the complete destruction of the Turkish fleet, therefore, as soon as the excitement subsided and the jubilant public calmed down, Codrington was quietly dismissed.

Militarily, the battle is interesting because the Turkish-Egyptian fleet had a positional advantage and its trump card was coastal batteries with large-caliber guns. Ibrahim Pasha's miscalculation was that he allowed the allies to enter Navarino Bay. The most convenient place for defense was the narrow entrance to the bay. According to all the rules of naval art, it was at this point that Ibrahim Pasha had to give battle to the allies. The next miscalculation of the Turks was the unsatisfactory use of numerous artillery. Instead of hitting the ship's hull, the Turks fired at the spars. As a result of this serious mistake, they were unable to sink a single ship. Enemy ships (especially large ones) offered fierce resistance. However, their fire was not effective enough, since it was directed not at the hull, but at the spar. In a letter to Reinecke, P.S. Nakhimov wrote: “There was no place where nozzles, cannonballs and buckshot would not fall. And if the Turks had not hit us a lot on the spar, but hit us all in the hull, then I am confidently sure that we would not have half the team left... The British themselves admit that under Abukir and Trafalgar there was nothing like that... " Russian sailors, on the contrary, as in other naval battles, acted in the main direction - against the most powerful enemy ships. The death of the flagships paralyzed the will to resist the larger Turkish-Egyptian fleet.

The news of the Battle of Navarino horrified the Turks and delighted the Greeks. However, even after the Battle of Navarino, England and France did not go to war with Turkey, which persisted on the Greek issue. The Porte, seeing disagreements in the ranks of the great European powers, stubbornly did not want to give the Greeks autonomy and comply with agreements with Russia regarding free trade through the Black Sea straits, as well as the rights of the Russians in the affairs of the Danube principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. This in 1828 led to a new war between Russia and Turkey.

Thus, the defeat of the Turkish-Egyptian fleet significantly weakened the naval power of Turkey, which contributed to Russia’s victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. The Battle of Navarino provided support for the Greek national liberation movement, which resulted in Greek autonomy under the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829 (Greece became de facto independent).

Naval battle of Navarino. Aivazovsky's painting

Ctrl Enter

Noticed osh Y bku Select text and click Ctrl+Enter

On October 8 (20), 1827, a naval battle took place in the Navarino Bay of the Ionian Sea between the allied fleet (Russia, England and France) and the Turkish-Egyptian fleet.

After Turkey refused to comply with the requirements of the London Convention of 1827 on granting autonomy to Greece, a combined squadron of Russia, England and France under the command of the senior English Vice Admiral E. Codrington approached the Bay of Navarino, where the Turkish-Egyptian fleet under the command of Muharrem was located -bey.

The English squadron consisted of 3 battleships, 3 frigates, a sloop, 4 brigs and a tender (472 guns in total). The English squadron was commanded by Vice Admiral E. Codrington. In the French squadron of Rear Admiral A. de Rigny there were 3 battleships, 2 frigates, a brig and a schooner (362 guns). Under the command of the Russian Rear Admiral L.P. Heyden there were 4 battleships and 4 frigates (466 guns). In total, the combined fleet consisted of 10 battleships, 9 frigates and 7 small ships and about 1 thousand 300 guns.

The Turkish-Egyptian fleet consisted of 3 battleships, 5 two-deck 64-gun frigates, 18 frigates, 42 corvettes, 15 brigs and 6 fire ships (in total, according to various sources, from 2.1 thousand to 2.6 thousand guns). The entrance to the bay was shelled from both sides by 165 guns from coastal batteries located in the Navarino fortress and on the island of Sphacteria. The commander-in-chief of the Turkish-Egyptian troops and fleet was Ibrahim Pasha.

On October 8 (20), 1827, the allied squadrons began to enter the bay in a wake column and take up positions according to the previously accepted disposition. As soon as the ships of the English squadron began to lower their anchors, the Turks opened rapid rifle fire on them and killed an English parliamentary officer who was heading to negotiate with the Turkish admiral. At the same time, the first cannon shot was fired from the Egyptian corvette at the French flagship Sirena, and the fortress batteries opened crossfire at the flagship of the Russian squadron Azov, which was passing at the head of the detachment through the narrow strait into Navarino Bay.

A fierce short-range battle lasted for 4 hours, during which the allied squadrons acted in complete unanimity, providing each other with mutual support. The Turkish-Egyptian fleet was completely destroyed. The Russian squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Heyden acted most decisively and skillfully, destroying the entire center and right flank of the enemy fleet. She took the main blow of the enemy and destroyed most of his ships. The losses of the Turkish-Egyptian fleet amounted to more than 60 ships and vessels, including 3 battleships, 9 frigates, 24 corvettes, 14 brigs. Losses in killed and drowned alone amounted to more than 7 thousand people. At night, the Turks themselves burned almost all of their remaining ships. The Allies did not lose a single ship. Their losses in killed and wounded amounted to about 800 people.

The Russian flagship Azov, under the command of Captain 1st Rank M.P. Lazarev, especially distinguished itself in the battle. “Azov” sank 2 frigates and a corvette, burned a 60-gun frigate under the flag of Tahir Pasha, forced an 80-gun ship to run aground, and then, together with the British, destroyed the Turkish flagship.

For military exploits, the battleship Azov was awarded the stern St. George flag and pennant for the first time in the Russian fleet. Its commander, Captain 1st Rank M.P. Lazarev, was promoted to rear admiral. Rear Admiral L.P. Heyden became vice-admiral, holder of the Order of St. George 3rd degree, the French Order of St. Louis and the English Order of the Bath. Most of the officers of the Russian squadron received Russian, English and French orders and promotions in rank.

ULTIMATUM TO IBRAHIM PASHA

Your Mightiness!

According to rumors that reach us from all countries, and from reliable information, we learn that numerous detachments of your army have scattered in different directions throughout the western part of the Morea, devastating it, burning, destroying, uprooting trees, vineyards, all kinds of plants, etc. in a word, they are vying with each other to turn this country into a complete desert.

Moreover, we were informed that an expedition had been prepared against the Maina districts and that some troops had moved there.

All these unusually violent actions take place, one might say, in our eyes and in violation of the truce, which Your Lordship pledged on their word of honor to observe inviolably until the return of your couriers. In violation of such a truce, by virtue of which your fleet was allowed to return to Navarin on the 26th of last September.

The undersigned are in the unfortunate necessity of announcing to you now that such an act on your part and such an amazing violation of your promises puts you, Gracious Sovereign, outside the laws of the people and outside the existing treaties between the high courts of the allies and the Ottoman Porte. To this, the undersigned add that the devastation being carried out at this very time, at your command, is completely contrary to the benefits of your Sovereign, who, due to these devastations, may lose the significant benefits brought to him over Greece by the London Treaty. The undersigned demand from Your Lordship a decisive and speedy answer and present to you the seemingly inevitable consequences of your refusal or evasion.

Vice Admiral E. Codrington,

Rear Admiral Count Heyden,

Rear Admiral Chavalier de Rigny

HEROES OF "AZOV"

In the Battle of Navarino, the battleship Azov fought a heavy battle simultaneously with five enemy [ships. This is how Rear Admiral L.P. Heyden described it in a report to Nicholas I: “...The ship “Azov”... while it was surrounded by the enemy, it helped the English admiral a lot, who fought with the 80-gun ship, which had the flag of Mukharem Bey, for when the latter, due to the breaking of his spring, turned his stern to the Azov, then 14 guns were immediately detached on this subject from the left side and acted for about half an hour with such success that they smashed, so to speak, his entire aft, and when a fire broke out in the constapel room and his cabin and the people made every effort to extinguish it, the strong grapeshot fire from the Azov destroyed this intention, through which the enemy ship was soon enveloped in flames and, finally, was blown up into the air ...

To the honor of Captain Lazarev, I must add most obediently that strict discipline, daily gun drills and the order in which the servants were always kept were the reason, and to which I am absolutely obliged, that the ship "Azov" acted with such success in defeating and exterminating the enemy. With his strong fire he sank 2 huge frigates and a corvette, shot down an 80-gun ship, which ran aground and was finally blown up, destroyed a two-deck frigate, on which the commander-in-chief of the Turkish fleet Tahir Pasha had his flag and which burned down the next day, having, according to the pasha himself, out of 600 people on his team, up to 500 were killed and wounded.”

About how M.P. Lazarev behaved in battle, P.S. Nakhimov wrote in a letter to his friend Mikhail Reineke: “I still don’t know the worth of our captain. It was necessary to look at him during the battle, with what prudence, with what composure he gave orders everywhere. But I don’t have enough words to describe all his commendable deeds, and I am confidently confident that the Russian fleet did not have such a captain.”

During the battle, future naval commanders showed their worth on the Azov: Lieutenant Nakhimov, Midshipman Kornilov, Midshipman Istomin.

Zolotarev V. A., Kozlov I. A. Three centuries of the Russian fleet, XIX - early XX centuries. M., 2004http://militera.lib.ru/h/zolotarev_kozlov2/08.html

AFTER THE PRAYER SERVICE THE PEOPLE WERE GIVEN A GLASS OF RUM

Exactly at 6 o'clock we struck the all-clear, and, having thanked the Almighty in my soul for the glorious victory granted and protection from the destructive flame, I went down to the cockpit to look at my wounded brother. Thanks to God, his wound is not dangerous. There the priest read the funeral service for the dead, the doctor cut the leg of the wounded, the drunk... shouted “Hurray”, and the secretary fussed around the sick. Having delighted the wounded and those in the crew chamber with the news of a complete victory, I ran to the poop deck. It was already dark. It was a beautiful evening, completely calm, and nothing darkened the clear sky while such horrors were happening around us. The officers, having gathered, kissed like brothers, and the joy of seeing everyone safe was immeasurable. Everyone quickly told what happened in his detachment during the battle; As for me, in general I was very happy that day and cannot describe the feeling that possessed me. I was especially happy with our brave sailors, who fought with courage that surpassed all expression, and amazed me with the trust they showed towards their officers.

At half past 7 o'clock an officer from Count Heyden came to the ship to congratulate the captain and officers on the victory and thank him on behalf of the admiral for the quick occupation of the place and the glorious action of the guns. The ship "Azov" lost a lot of people and suffered a lot in its hull. We also have quite a few dead and wounded.

After the prayer service, the people were given a glass of rum and ordered to stand at the guns, where, after eating crackers, they went to bed, leaving two sentries at each gun. The officers, having gathered at the captain's, were very happy to find the rescued roast there, and spent a very pleasant hour at a cheerful dinner. The captain divided us into two shifts, entrusting the command of each of them to a staff officer, who was supposed to take care of putting the ship in order and maintaining the guard. I joined the first shift before midnight, the others went to rest at their guns. We, having examined the sentries, gathered on the poop deck to admire the extraordinary and majestic spectacle. The batteries on all the ships of the united fleet were illuminated, constant detours around the bay were plowed and caused a wide variety of calls from the sentries. "Who's rowing?" - we shouted... the French shouted... on the English ships. All this was mixed with rifle shots and at times drowned out by volleys of flaming Turkish ships or thunderclaps of a sudden explosion. All these sounds, without ceasing, shimmered in the mountains, illuminated by the bright flames of the dying enemy ships, scattered on the shallows off the coast and reflected in the quiet waters of the bay, filled with the dead and drowning, seeking the wrong salvation on the floating wreckage of broken ships. During my watch, from 7 pm to 12 pm, 7 explosions followed one after another. The Turks, in desperation, set their ships on fire themselves. In these cases, each time the fire spread roughly throughout the entire ship; due to the excessive heat, the red-hot cannons fired on their own, and an explosion soon followed. Everything that was above the hook chamber rose into the air, the rest was left to burn out on the water.

The author of the notes, Alexander Petrovich Rykachev, in 1816, at the age of thirteen, having excellent training, entered the Naval Cadet Corps and was immediately enrolled as a midshipman. In 1827, with the rank of lieutenant (on the ship Gangut), he took part in the Battle of Navarino. For his heroism he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree with a bow. 1877 A posthumous edition of A.P. Rykachev’s notes was published in Kronstadt

P.S

At Codrington’s presentation to the Order of Victoria - it was impossible not to award him, given the enormous international resonance of this battle - the English king wrote: “Deserves a rope, but I am forced to give him a ribbon.” The plans of the British government did not include the complete destruction of the Turkish fleet. When the jubilant public calmed down, Codrington was quietly dismissed.

Russo-Turkish War 1828–1829 was caused by Turkey's desire to preserve the disintegrating Ottoman Empire. Russia, supporting the uprising of the Greek people against Turkish rule, sent a squadron of L.P. to the shores of Greece. Heyden for military operations together with the Anglo-French fleet (see Archipelago Expedition of 1827). In December 1827, Türkiye declared a “holy war” on Russia. Russian troops successfully operated in both, the Caucasian and Balkan, theaters of war. In the Caucasus, troops of I.F. Paskevich took Kars by storm, occupied Akhaltsikhe, Poti, Bayazit (1828), captured Erzurum and reached Trebizond (1829). At the Balkan theater, Russian troops P.Kh. Wittgenstein crossed the Danube and took Varna (1828), under the leadership of I.I. Dibich defeated the Turks at Kulevcha, captured Silistria, and made a bold and unexpected transition through the Balkans, directly threatening Istanbul (1829). Under the peace treaty, Russia acquired the mouth of the Danube, the Black Sea coast from Kuban to Adjara and other territories.

Archipelago Expedition (1827)

Archipelago expedition of 1827 - expedition of the Russian squadron L.P. Heyden to the shores of Greece to support the Greek anti-Turkish uprising. In September 1827, the squadron joined the Anglo-French fleet in the Mediterranean for joint action against the Turks. After Turkey rejected the Allied ultimatum to cease hostilities against Greece, the Allied fleet completely destroyed the Turkish fleet at the Battle of Navarino. Heyden's squadron distinguished itself in the battle, destroying the center and right flank of the enemy fleet. During the subsequent Russian-Turkish war of 1828–1829. The Russian squadron blocked the Bosphorus and Dardanelles.

Navarino naval battle (1827)

The battle in Navarino Bay (the southwestern coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula) between the united squadrons of Russia, England and France, on the one hand, and the Turkish-Egyptian fleet, on the other, took place during the Greek national liberation revolution of 1821–1829.

The united squadrons included: from Russia - 4 battleships, 4 frigates; from England - 3 battleships, 5 corvettes; from France - 3 battleships, 2 frigates, 2 corvettes. Commander - English Vice Admiral E. Codrington. The Turkish-Egyptian squadron under the command of Muharrem Bey consisted of 3 battleships, 23 frigates, 40 corvettes and brigs.

Before the start of the battle, Codrington sent an envoy to the Turks, then a second one. Both envoys were killed. In response, the united squadrons attacked the enemy on October 8 (20), 1827. The Battle of Navarino lasted about 4 hours and ended with the destruction of the Turkish-Egyptian fleet. His losses amounted to about 60 ships and up to 7 thousand people. The Allies did not lose a single ship, with only about 800 men killed or wounded.

During the battle, the following distinguished themselves: the flagship of the Russian squadron "Azov" under the command of Captain 1st Rank M.P. Lazarev, who destroyed 5 enemy ships. Lieutenant P.S. acted skillfully on this ship. Nakhimov, midshipman V.A. Kornilov and midshipman V.I. Istomin - future heroes of the Battle of Sinop and the defense of Sevastopol in the Crimean War of 1853–1856.

The feat of the brig "Mercury"

The brig "Mercury" was laid down in January 1819 at the shipyard in Sevastopol, launched on May 19, 1820. Tactical and technical characteristics: length - 29.5 m, width - 9.4 m, draft - 2.95 m. Armament: 18 24-pounder guns.

There was a Russian-Turkish war of 1828–1829. In May 1829, "Mercury" as part of a small detachment under the flag of Lieutenant Commander P.Ya. Sakhnovsky, together with the frigate "Standard" and the brig "Orpheus", carried out patrol duty in the Bosphorus area. On the morning of May 26, a Turkish squadron consisting of 18 ships was discovered, including 6 battleships, 2 frigates and 2 corvettes. The overwhelming superiority of the enemy was undeniable, and therefore Sakhnovsky gave the signal not to accept the battle. Having raised all sails, "Standart" and "Orpheus" escaped the pursuit. "Mercury", built from heavy Crimean oak, and therefore significantly inferior in speed, lagged behind. The high-speed ships of the Turkish fleet, the 110-gun battleship Selimiye and the 74-gun Real Bay, rushed in pursuit and soon overtook the Russian brig.

Seeing the inevitability of a battle with the enemy, the brig commander, Lieutenant Commander A.I. Kazarsky gathered the officers. Traditionally, the first to speak was the youngest lieutenant of the corps of naval navigators I.P. Prokofiev expressed the general opinion - to accept the battle, and in the event of a threat of capture of the ship - to blow it up, for which purpose leave a loaded pistol near the cruise chamber.

The brig was the first to fire a salvo at the enemy. Kazarsky skillfully maneuvered, preventing the Turks from conducting aimed fire. Somewhat later, Real Bay was still able to take up a firing position on the left side and Mercury came under crossfire. The Turks showered the brig with cannonballs and cannonballs. Fire started in many places. Part of the team began to extinguish it, but the well-aimed fire from the Turkish ships did not weaken. The Russian gunners managed to inflict such significant damage to the Selimiye that the Turkish ship was forced to drift. But Real Bay continued to fire at the Russian brig. Finally, he also received a cannonball hit in the front mast and began to fall behind. This unprecedented battle lasted for about 4 hours. "Mercury", despite the fact that it received 22 hits in the hull and about 300 in the rigging and masts, emerged victorious and the next day joined the Black Sea squadron. For the feat, captain-lieutenant A.I. Kazarsky was awarded the Order of St. George, IV degree and promoted to captain of the 2nd rank, and the ship was awarded the stern St. George flag and pennant. In addition, the imperial rescript stated that “when this brig falls into disrepair, build according to the same drawing and in perfect similarity with it the same ship, named “Mercury”, assigning it to the same crew, to which it will be transferred and St. George's flag with a pennant."

This tradition, which has developed in the Russian fleet, continues to this day. In the wide expanses of the seas and oceans, the sea minesweeper "Kazarsky" and the hydrographic vessel "Memory of Mercury" fly the Russian flag.

The commander of the legendary brig A.I. Kazarsky was appointed to the retinue of Nicholas I in April 1831 and soon received the rank of captain 1st rank. On June 28, 1833, he died suddenly in Nikolaev. In Sevastopol according to the project of A.P. Bryullov, a monument to the brave sailor was laid. On the stone truncated pyramid there is a stylized model of an antique warship and a short inscription: “To the Kazars - as an example to posterity.”

Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky “Sea Battle of Navarino” (1846) © Public domain

The Battle of Navarino in 1827 was a major naval battle between the combined fleet of Russia, France and England, on the one hand, and the Turkish-Egyptian fleet, on the other. It occurred (8) October 20, 1827 in the Navarino Bay of the Ionian Sea, on the southwestern coast of the Greek Peloponnese peninsula, and became one of the decisive events of the Greek national liberation uprising of 1821-1829.

In 1827, three allied countries (England, Russia and France) signed the London Convention, according to which Greece was granted complete autonomy from the Ottoman Empire. However, the latter refused to recognize this document, which became the reason for sending an allied squadron to the conflict zone in order to put pressure on Turkey.

Scheme of the Battle of Navarino © Public domain

The combined allied fleet consisted of 28 ships with up to 1,300 guns. The squadrons were commanded by Russian Rear Admiral L.M. Heyden, French Rear Admiral A.G. de Rigny and the English Vice Admiral E. Codrington, who took overall command of the Allied forces as the senior in rank.

The Turkish-Egyptian fleet under the command of Ibrahim Pasha consisted of twice as many ships, with up to 2220 guns, and it was also protected by coastal batteries (165 guns) and 6 fire ships. And although the allied fleet was inferior in numbers and artillery, it was superior in combat training of personnel.

Battle of Navarino, National History Museum, Athens, Greece © CC BY-SA 2.0

Vice Admiral Codrington, hoping without the use of weapons, only through a demonstration of force to force the enemy to accept the demands of the allies, sent the fleet to Navarino Bay, where it entered (8) October 20, 1827. And envoys were sent to the Turkish admiral with a demand to leave Greece. However, the Turks began to shoot and killed one of the envoys, and then opened fire from coastal guns at the combined fleet, to which the Allies returned fire.

With the Navarino victory, the allies provided serious assistance to the Greeks. Soon Türkiye recognized the independence of Greece.

The Russians lost 59 people killed and 198 wounded. Turkish losses reached seven thousand, 60 Turkish and Egyptian ships were destroyed. The Allies did not lose a single ship.

For the courage, bravery and seamanship of the crew, the battleship "Azov" for the first time in Russian maritime history was awarded the highest military honor - the stern St. George's flag.

In Greece they still remember and appreciate the feat of Russian sailors. Victory Day in the Battle of Navarino is a national holiday in modern Greece; monuments to the fallen sailors are erected in the bay. In Russia, in honor of this historical event, a holiday has been established - the Day of the Commander of a Surface, Submarine and Aircraft of the Russian Navy.