Siege of Corfu
- When
- 1797–1799
- Where
- Corfu, Ionian Islands; Mediterranean; Ionian Islands; Corfu; Hill of St., Corfu; Vido, off Corfu
- Episodes
- 7
The Siege of Corfu (November 1798–March 1799) saw a joint Russo-Turkish fleet under Admiral Fyodor Ushakov besiege and capture the fortified Ionian island from its French Republican garrison, completing the Russo-Turkish takeover of the Ionian Islands and ending the first period of French rule there.
Episodes
- French Occupation of Corfu
Following the Treaty of Campo Formio and Venice's dissolution, France occupied Corfu as the département Corcyre.
- Russo-Turkish Squadron Sent to the Mediterranean
In 1798 Admiral Ushakov was dispatched with a joint Russian-Turkish squadron, tasked with seizing the Ionian Islands from the French.
- French Garrisons Driven from the Outer Islands
In October 1798 French garrisons were expelled from Cythera, Zakynthos, Cephalonia, and Lefkada, isolating Corfu.
- Opening of the Siege of Corfu
On 4 November 1798 Selivachev's Russo-Turkish detachment of three ships of the line and three frigates began the siege.
- Siege Works and Winter Blockade
Winter blockade conditions halted siege works; on 31 January 1799 battery construction resumed on the Hill of St. under the xebec Macarius's cover.
- Assault on Vido
The allies assaulted Vido early in the morning of 28 February 1799, a key step before Corfu's capitulation.
- Surrender and End of French Rule
The capture of Corfu completed the Russo-Turkish takeover of the Ionian Islands, ending the first period of French rule there.
Background and detail
Background. By the Treaty of Campo Formio (November 1797) and the dissolution of the Republic of Venice, the Ionian Islands were ceded to the French Republic, which occupied Corfu as the département Corcyre. Corfu's fortifications had a strong reputation, but by the time of the siege they were in a parlous state.
Forces and Commanders. In 1798 Admiral Fyodor Ushakov was sent to the Mediterranean commanding a joint Russian-Turkish squadron, with taking the strategically important Ionian Islands from the French among his main tasks. The French Division du Levant under General Louis Chabot had been dispersed among the islands and mainland exclaves, leaving only about 1,500 men to defend Corfu.
Course of the Siege. On 4 November 1798 a Russo-Turkish detachment under Captain 1st rank Ivan Selivachev began the siege with three ships of the line, three frigates, and several small ships. By 12 January 1799 the combined fleet numbered 12 ships of the line and 11 frigates. After winter conditions halted siege works, a battery on the Hill of St. was begun on 31 January 1799, and the assault on Vido opened early on 28 February 1799.
People involved
- Fyodor Ushakov · Russian admiral commanding the joint Russo-Turkish squadron
- Louis Chabot · French general commanding the Division du Levant
- Ivan Selivachev · Russian captain 1st rank leading the detachment that opened the siege (new person candidate; no supplied passage corroborates a link to an existing Person identity)
Sources
- Siege of Corfu (1798–1799) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.