Battle of Navarino

Quick Facts: Who was Battle of Navarino?

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Battle of Navarino

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Decisive 1827 naval battle ensuring Greek autonomy against Ottoman and Egyptian forces.

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Origins & Early Life

The Battle of Navarino was a naval battle fought on 20 October (O.S. 8 October) 1827, during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829), in Navarino Bay (modern Pylos), on the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, in the Ionian Sea. Allied forces from Britain, France, and Russia decisively defeated Ottoman and Egyptian forces which were trying to suppress the Greeks, thereby making Greek independence much more likely. An Ottoman armada which, in addition to Imperial warships, included squadrons from the eyalets of Egypt and Regency of Algiers and Tunis, was destroyed by an Allied force of British, French and Russian warships. It was the last major naval battle in history to be fought entirely with sailing ships, although most ships fought at anchor. The Allies' victory was achieved through superior firepower and gunnery.

Career & Major Achievements

The context of the three Great Powers' intervention in the Greek conflict was the Russian Empire's long-running expansion at the expense of the decaying Ottoman Empire. Russia's ambitions in the region were seen as a major geostrategic threat by the other European powers, which feared the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of Russian hegemony in the Eastern Mediterranean. The precipitating factor was support of elements in Orthodox Russia for Greek coreligionists, despite the opposition of Tsar Alexander in 1821 following the Greek rebellion against their Ottoman overlords. Similarly, despite official British interest in maintaining the Ottoman Empire, British public opinion strongly supported the Greeks. Fearing unilateral Russian action, Britain and France bound Russia, by treaty, to a joint intervention which aimed to secure Greek autonomy, whilst still preserving Ottoman territorial integrity as a check on Russia.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Powers agreed, by the Treaty of London (1827), to force the Ottoman government to grant the Greeks autonomy within the empire and despatched naval squadrons to the Eastern Mediterranean to enforce their policy. The naval battle happened more by accident than by design as a result of a manoeuvre by the Allied commander-in-chief, Admiral Edward Codrington, aimed at coercing the Ottoman commander to obey Allied instructions. The sinking of the Ottomans' Mediterranean fleet saved the fledgling Greek Republic from collapse. But it required two more military interventions, by Russia in the form of the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–29 and a French expeditionary force to the Peloponnese to force the withdrawal of Ottoman forces from central and southern Greece, to finally secure Greek independence. The Ottoman Turks had conquered the Greek-controlled Byzantine Empire during the 15th century, taking over its territory and its capital, Constantinople, and becoming its effective successor-state.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1821: 1821 Milestone — The precipitating factor was support of elements in Orthodox Russia for Greek coreligionists, despite the opposition of Tsar Alexander in 1821 following the Greek rebellion against their Ottoman overlords.
2. 1827: 1827 Milestone — 8 October) 1827, during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829), in Navarino Bay (modern Pylos), on the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, in the Ionian Sea.
3. 1828: 1828 Milestone — But it required two more military interventions, by Russia in the form of the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–29 and a French expeditionary force to the Peloponnese to force the withdrawal of Ottoman forces from central and southern Greece, to finally secure Greek independence.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Battle of Navarino

True or False: “The Battle of Navarino was the first major naval engagement fought entirely with sailing ships in history.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): It was noted as the last major naval battle to be fought entirely with sailing ships, although most ships were fighting at anchor.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Arthur Cayley — Historical peer (Born in 1821) (1821): Pioneering English mathematician, instrumental in founding modern algebra and group theory.
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• Adolph Northen — Historical peer (Born in 1828) (1828): German painter known for dramatic battle scenes, especially Napoleonic Wars events.
• Albrecht von Graefe (ophthalmologist) — Historical peer (Born in 1828) (1828): Pioneering German ophthalmologist, instrumental in establishing modern eye care.

Frequently Asked Questions about Battle of Navarino