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Napoleon’s invasion of the Ionian
Islands serving as a springboard for his follow-up attack on Egypt jeopardized
Russia’s interests in the Balkans. In a joint bid to knock the French out
of the region, two former enemies – Russia and Turkey – forged an anti-Napoleon
coalition. An expeditionary force under the legendary Russian naval commander,
Admiral Fyodor Ushakov headed for the Mediterranean.
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Fyodor Ushakov was an extraordinary person. As a naval commander he covered
himself with glory in the second Russian-Turkish war of 1789-91 by inflicting
several crushing defeats on the enemy fleet and almost annihilating it,
thus putting an end to Turkey’s supremacy in the Black Sea and asserting
Russia as a strong naval power.
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Ushakov gave a total of 40 battles and lost
none - an unprecedented case in history. A devout Christian, he firmly
believed that all his victories were bestowed on him by God. “Human skills
are nothing without God’s help”, the Admiral used to say. After each battle
he offered a thanksgiving prayer to God. Often his ships bore the names
of saints - “Saint Peter”, “Saint Paul”, “The Nativity of the Mother of
God” and other religious names.
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Ushakov’s tactical genius helped him pull
off a victory in the hardest situations. The most glaring example is the
capture of Corfu. Within three months the Russians drove the French out
of the Ionian Islands. Corfu, an impregnable fortress with a more than
3-thousand-strong garrison, was the last to fall. The Corfu battle went
down in history as one of the most brilliantly fought naval battles. One
little-known fact: during the storm of Corfu French soldiers preferred
to surrender to Russians, rather than to Turks. They had all reasons to
do so because Turks were paid for each dead Frenchman. The Russians were
much more humane than their Turkish allies: they even bought out French
prisoners of war from Turks in order to save their lives.
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The population of the Ionian Islands
hailed Ushakov as a liberator and defender of Christians. There the God-loving
Admiral revealed another of his talents – the talent of a statesman. Apart
from restoring calm and order, he took an active part in the creation of
a democratic republic uniting seven islands and boasting one of the most
progressive constitutions in Europe.
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When Ushakov was leaving the Ionians, the
grateful islanders gave him a hearty farewell. They presented him with
medals that bore the inscription: “Thou art unanimously proclaimed our
father”. People named their children after him and said they would never
forget him.
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Ushakov’s mission in the Mediterranean didn’t
end with the liberation of the Ionian Islands. His received an order to
support from the south the anti-French campaign waged by his legendary
compatriot, Field-Marshal Alexander Suvorov in northern Alps. The Ushakov-led
expeditionary force disembarked on the Italian coast and took Naples. Soon
the political situation changed and the Admiral was summoned back to Russia.
As a result of his successful operations at sea, France lost its dominant
positions in the Adriatic. The Corfu base, now controlled by the anti-Napoleon
coalition had an important part to play in its later wars with France in
1805-1807.
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In conclusion, a few words about Ushakov’s
further destiny. After retiring from the Navy, he settled down in his estate
in central Russia. There he immersed himself into charity as fervently
as he had performed his military duties. The Admiral donated large sums
to veterans of the Russian-French war of 1812, to homeless and the needy,
and made generous contributions to the neighbouring Sanaksary monastery
where he often went to pray. Fyodor Ushakov died in 1817 at the age of
74. Local newspapers carried obituaries saying: “You knew him as a great
naval commander, we knew him as a great charity-maker”.
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In 2002 Fyodor Ushakov, a fighter and a
Christian, was officially canonized and is particularly revered in the
Saransk diocese. He is regarded as a heavenly patron of the Russian Navy.
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