The Battle Of Navarino: Austria's Forgotten Naval Clash

On 20 October 1827, a decisive naval battle was fought in Navarino Bay, Greece, during the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829). The battle was fought between the allied forces of Britain, France, and Russia, and the Ottoman and Egyptian forces. The battle proved to be a decisive victory for the Greeks in their struggle for independence, as the combined British, French, and Russian squadrons destroyed the entire Turco-Egyptian fleet. The battle also marked the last major naval engagement involving only wooden sailing ships and was a pivotal moment in the war, as it prevented the Russians from taking up the role of saviours of Greece, allowing the nation to emerge as an independent entity largely absent from the games of the Great Powers.

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The battle was fought between Ottoman-Egyptian and Allied forces

The Battle of Navarino was fought between the forces of the Ottoman Empire and its tributary state of Egypt, and the Allied forces of Britain, France, and Russia. The battle took place on October 20, 1827, in Navarino Bay on the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece. The Allied forces were led by British Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, along with French Rear Admiral Henri de Rigny and Russian Rear Admiral Count Heiden.

In the years leading up to the battle, the Greeks had been fighting for their independence from the Ottoman Empire. While the Greeks received support from philhellenic British officers, their forces were far inferior to those of the Ottomans and Egyptians. The Greek government was also facing bankruptcy, and many of its fortresses were under Ottoman control.

In 1827, the three Great Powers of Britain, France, and Russia signed the Treaty of London, which demanded a cessation of Ottoman attacks and full autonomy for the Greeks. The Ottomans rejected the treaty, leading to the deployment of a British naval force under Admiral Codrington to the region. Despite initial agreements to cease hostilities, the truce broke down due to continued Greek advances and civilian atrocities committed by Ottoman commander Ibrahim Pasha.

As the Allied fleet entered Navarino Bay, they were met by Ibrahim Pasha, who demanded their withdrawal. Codrington, however, proceeded with the British, French, and Russian warships into the bay, intending to force the Ottomans and Egyptians to agree to an armistice or face the destruction of their ships. The Allied forces outnumbered the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet, with superior firepower and gunnery.

The battle resulted in a decisive victory for the Allies, who did not lose a single vessel. The Turkish and Egyptian ships were either sunk or set on fire by their own crews to avoid capture, with about three-fourths of their fleet destroyed. The defeat marked a turning point in the Greek War of Independence, leading to the evacuation of Turkish forces from Greece and the eventual creation of the independent Kingdom of Greece in 1832.

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The Treaty of London was signed by Britain, France and Russia

The Treaty of London was signed on July 6, 1827, by Great Britain, Russia, and France. The treaty restated the terms of the Protocol of St Petersburg, which had been signed on April 4, 1826. The preamble of the Treaty of London referred to the need to safeguard trade in the southeast Mediterranean, the Greek petition to Britain and France for protection, and the humanitarian spirit in the region.

The three powers demanded that the Ottomans and the Greeks conclude an armistice. If the Ottomans agreed to the armistice, the three powers would immediately commence negotiations with the two adversaries in Constantinople. The Greeks would pay tribute to the Sultan but would gain autonomy.

The Treaty of London was signed by the three powers as they decided to intervene jointly in the conflict between the Ottomans and the Greeks. The Greek provisional government's land and sea forces were far inferior to those of the Ottomans and Egyptians. In 1827, Greek regular troops numbered less than 5,000, compared to 25,000 Ottomans in central Greece and 15,000 Egyptians in the Peloponnese. The Greek government was also virtually bankrupt, and many of the key fortresses on the little territory it controlled were in Ottoman hands.

The Battle of Navarino, which took place on October 20, 1827, was a result of the Treaty of London. Allied forces from Britain, France, and Russia decisively defeated Ottoman and Egyptian forces, making Greek independence much more likely. The battle was fought in Navarino Bay, a large natural harbor on the west coast of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese. It was the last major naval battle in history fought entirely with sailing ships.

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The battle was the last major naval battle fought with sailing ships

The Battle of Navarino was a decisive naval engagement fought on 20 October 1827, during the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829). It was fought in Navarino Bay, on the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, in the Ionian Sea. The battle was the last major naval battle fought with sailing ships.

The battle was fought between the allied forces of Britain, France, and Russia, and the Ottoman and Egyptian forces. The Allies decisively defeated the Ottomans and Egyptians, who were trying to suppress the Greek revolutionaries. The Greek forces, led by Maj Sir Richard Church and Lord Cochrane, were far inferior in number and weaponry to the Ottomans and Egyptians. However, with the intervention of the three Great Powers, the tide turned in favour of the Greeks.

The Allied squadrons were under the command of Codrington, De Rigny, and Geiden, who had the support of Vice Admiral Sir Edward Codrington's Mediterranean squadron. The Allies had a total of 24 ships, including 11 ships of the line and 9 frigates, while the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet had over 70 ships, including 3 ships of the line and 15 frigates. Despite being outnumbered, the Allies had superior firepower and gunnery skills. The Ottoman-Egyptian fleet also had smaller-calibre guns and less experienced crews.

The battle began in the afternoon, with the Allies entering Navarino Bay in two lines, with the British and French ships to starboard and the Russians to port. Codrington, in the lead ship, gave the signal to prepare for action, and the Allied crews were ordered to their guns. The Allies had strict orders to open fire only if attacked, and the Ottoman shore batteries and corvettes did not attempt to prevent their entry into the bay. However, Codrington received a message from Ibrahim Pasha, demanding that the Allies withdraw. The Allies anchored their ships close to the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet, and the battle commenced.

The Allies' superior firepower and gunnery skills proved decisive, and within a couple of hours, about three-fourths of the Ottoman-Egyptian ships had been sunk or set on fire by their own crews to avoid capture. There were no European ships sunk, and the Allies lost 700 dead and wounded, while the Ottoman-Egyptian forces lost 6,000 dead and wounded, with 60 ships destroyed. The battle ended with the destruction of nearly all of the Ottoman-Egyptian fleet's eighty-two ships.

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The Greek War of Independence was supported by Britain, France and Russia

The Greek War of Independence was supported by Britain, France, and Russia, who fought together against the Ottoman and Egyptian forces in the Battle of Navarino on 20 October 1827. The battle was fought in Navarino Bay, a large natural harbour on the west coast of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese. The Allied victory, led by British Admiral Codrington, was a significant platform for the Greeks' efforts to establish an autonomous and independent nation.

Britain, France, and Russia's decision to intervene jointly in the conflict was influenced by several factors. Firstly, the Greek provisional government's forces were far inferior to those of the Ottomans and Egyptians, and the Greek government was virtually bankrupt. The Greeks were in dire need of support to avoid capitulation. Secondly, the three powers had a vested interest in safeguarding trade in the southeast Mediterranean and ensuring the dominance of a humanitarian spirit in the region. The Treaty of London, signed by the three powers on 6 July 1827, reflected these interests by demanding an armistice between the Ottomans and Greeks, which would grant the Greeks autonomy while still paying tribute to the Sultan.

Additionally, Britain's stance was influenced by its position as a global power with mercantile and naval interests worldwide. Britain held the Ionian Islands off the coast of northwestern Greece and sought to prevent the fighting from spilling over into its territories. Moreover, Britain aimed to contain Russian expansion and mediate peace talks to expedite a resolution to the conflict. Initially, Britain's position was pro-Ottoman to counterbalance Russian influence, but as the war dragged on, aiding the Greeks became a consideration to prevent prolonged Russian involvement.

France and Russia also had their own motivations for supporting Greek independence. France had built many vessels for Egypt and still had advisors aboard the Egyptian fleet, creating tension with the other Allies. Russia, meanwhile, had been expanding at the expense of the decaying Ottoman Empire and sought to continue this expansionist policy.

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The Austrian representative in Cairo advised Mehemet Ali to gamble on the Allies not fighting

The Battle of Navarino was a naval battle fought on 20 October 1827 (8 October per the Old Style calendar) during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829). It took place in Navarino Bay on the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula in the Ionian Sea. The battle was fought between Ottoman and Egyptian forces, which were trying to suppress the Greeks, and Allied forces from Britain, France, and Russia. The Allies decisively defeated the Ottoman-Egyptian forces, making Greek independence much more likely.

In the lead-up to the battle, the Austrian representative in Cairo advised Mehemet Ali to gamble on the Allies not fighting. Mehemet Ali was initially gripped with indecision when the Sultan entreated him to send a new fleet to Greece. The Austrian representative in Cairo, however, managed to persuade Mehemet Ali by arguing that the Allies were incapable of unity due to the bad blood between Codrington and Rear Admiral de Rigny, who commanded the French squadron. He also pointed out the presence of French civilian advisors with the Egyptian fleet at Navarino and questioned whether English was truly determined to go to war. Based on these calculated words of advice, Mehemet Ali decided to take the gamble and ordered his fleet to sail.

Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, the Allied commander-in-chief, played a crucial role in the events leading up to the battle. He had successfully extracted verbal promises from Ibrahim Pasha, the son of an ethnic Greek mother and the Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali, to cease offensive operations by land and sea. However, Ibrahim Pasha soon violated these commitments, outraged that Codrington appeared to allow the Greeks to continue their military operations. In response, Codrington decided to make a show of force to induce the Ottomans to respect the armistice and desist from atrocities against civilians.

The Allied squadrons under Codrington, de Rigny, and Geiden entered the narrow bay of historical Pylos, creating an impressive atmosphere of silence and expectation. The Allied force consisted of 11 ships of the line, 9 frigates, and 4 smaller ships, while the Egyptian-Turkish fleet had 3 ships of the line, 15 frigates, and more than 50 smaller ships. Despite being outnumbered, the Allies possessed superior firepower and gunnery, and within a few hours, they had utterly destroyed the Ottoman fleet. The victory was a turning point in the Greek struggle for independence, and it led to the creation of the independent Kingdom of Greece in 1832.

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