Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov (February 13 (24), 1745 - October 2 (14), 1817) - an outstanding Russian naval commander, admiral (1799), commander of the Black Sea Fleet.

Fedor Ushakov was born on February 13 (24), 1745 in the village of Burnakovo (now the Rybinsk district of the Yaroslavl region), into a poor noble family, baptized in the Church of the Epiphany on the Island in the village of Khopylevo. Parents - Fedor Ignatievich (1710-1781) and Paraskeva Nikitichna, uncle - Elder Feodor Sanaksarsky. In post-Petrine times, noble youths were usually assigned to the guard, Fedor Ignatievich also served in it, but after the birth of his third son Fedor, he was dismissed from service with the award of the sergeant rank of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Returning to his native village, he changed the royal service to household chores and raising children.

The lad Fyodor, possessing an innate fearlessness of character, often, accompanied by the same daredevils, ventured, as biographers note, to feats beyond his years - for example, with the headman of his village he went to a bear. At the age of sixteen, Fedor was presented for a review at the Senate's Heraldry Office, where he showed that "he was trained in Russian to read and write ... he wants, Feodor, to be a cadet in the Naval Cadet Corps." The Naval Cadet Corps was located in St. Petersburg, on the corner of the Bolshaya Neva embankment and the 12th line of Vasilyevsky Island. In February 1761, Fyodor Ushakov was enrolled there.

The future admiral, distinguished by good studies and good morals, diligently comprehended the sciences taught to him, showing a special propensity for arithmetic, navigation and history, and five years later (1766) successfully, one of the best, graduated from the Naval Corps, received the rank of midshipman and was brought to oath: “Az, Theodore Ushakov, I promise and swear by the Almighty God before His Holy Gospel that I want and owe HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY to my all-merciful Sovereign EMPRESS EKATERINA ALEKSEEVNA AUTOCURRENT and HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY TO THE MOST LOVELY TSEMURES Son throne to the Heir, faithfully and unhypocritically serve and obey in everything, not sparing his belly to the last drop of blood .... May the Lord God Almighty help me in what! The whole subsequent life of Fedor Fedorovich became a confirmation of the fact that he did not change his oath in any way.

P.N. Bazhanov. "Portrait of Admiral F. F. Ushakov." 1912

After graduating from the Naval Corps, Fyodor Ushakov was sent to the Baltic Sea Fleet. The North Seas are rarely calm, and for a young officer it was a good naval school. At the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century, the state task of returning the Black Sea coast to Russia was put forward. Since 1769, in the Don (Azov) flotilla, he participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. On June 30, 1769 he was promoted to lieutenant. The joy of promotion was short-lived: Ushakov found out that his bride was married and was in demolition. Yielding to the persuasion of her mother, she agreed to become the wife of a wealthy Greek merchant. Until the end of his days, Ushakov will love this woman and take care of her fate, and the born boy in the future will serve as a naval officer under his command.

I. Aivazovsky. "Chesme battle".

Appointment on board the frigate "Northern Eagle", serving in the Mediterranean expedition, was very helpful. Only the sea could heal the "wounded heart" of the young lieutenant commander. During the campaign, Ushakov hones his knowledge of foreign languages ​​and makes acquaintances with foreign "colleagues". At the end of 1772, he received command of the boat "Courier", was cruising in the Black Sea along the southern coast of Crimea. In 1773, commanding the 16-gun ship "Modon", he participated in repelling the Turks who landed in Balaklava.

N.G. Nikolaev. "Admiral Ushakov". 2005

In 1775, under Empress Catherine II, it was decided to create a linear fleet on the Black Sea. From 1775 he commanded a frigate. Participated in a campaign to the Mediterranean Sea with the aim of escorting frigates to the Black Sea. In 1778, thirty versts above the mouth of the Dnieper, not far from the tract Deep Pristan, the Admiralty was established, the port and city of Kherson were founded. In 1780, Fyodor Ushakov was appointed commander of the imperial yacht, but soon achieved a transfer to a battleship. In 1780-1782 he was the commander of the battleship "Victor", which participated in the implementation of the policy of "Armed Neutrality" as part of a squadron in the Mediterranean Sea.

A. Shorokhov. Sevastopol is under construction.

Since 1783, captain of the second rank Fyodor Ushakov participated in the construction of ships in Kherson and the construction of a fleet base in Sevastopol. He received his first award - the Order of St. Vladimir IV degree (1783) for the successful fight against the plague in Kherson. The Treaty between Russia and Turkey of December 28, 1783 Crimea was finally annexed to Russia. And at the same time, Catherine II issued a decree on the construction of new fortifications on the southern borders, among which it was necessary to build "a large fortress of Sevastopol, where Akhtiyar is now and where the Admiralty should be, a shipyard for the first rank of ships, a port and a military village." Ushakov took over the main command over the port and the city of Sevastopol.

V.D. Ilyukhin. "Meeting of A. V. Suvorov and F. F. Ushakov in Sevastopol".

At the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1792, Ushakov was the commander of the St. Paul ship of the line and the vanguard of the Black Sea Fleet. Soon the first general battle took place. The Turkish fleet consisted of seventeen battleships and eight frigates, and in the Russian squadron, the vanguard of which was commanded by the captain of the brigadier rank Fyodor Ushakov, there were only two battleships and ten frigates. On June 29, 1788, the opponents discovered each other and, being in mutual proximity, tried to take an advantageous position and maintain the battle line.

Panasenko S.P. The battleship St. Paul. Ushakov's flagship.

But on July 3, a battle near the island of Fidonisi became inevitable. The Turkish fleet, with all the power of its line, began to descend on Russian ships. And then the avant-garde detachment of Ushakov, “using diligence and skill”, added sails and decisively made it impossible for the commander of the Turkish fleet, Eski-Gassan, to cover the Russian ships and board them. At the same time, Ushakov cut off two advanced Turkish ships from the main forces. Those, in turn, discovering their disastrous position, without waiting for any signal, rushed to flee for their lives "with great haste." Eski-Gassan was forced to set off in pursuit of his ships. The victory was for the Russian squadron. For the first time in an open battle, a small Russian fleet defeated the superior forces of the enemy.

F. F. Ushakov makes a serious contribution to the development of the tactics of the sailing fleet. He was distinguished by a quick assessment of the situation, an accurate calculation of all success factors and a decisive attack aimed at achieving complete victory over the enemy. Ushakov, in his report, did not attribute success to himself, but paid tribute to the courage and desire for victory of his subordinates: with such excellent diligence and a brave spirit that I consider it a necessary duty to attribute to them all worthy praise for that ... "

The first year of the war ended, in which the Turkish naval forces were crushed, and the young Black Sea Fleet won a decisive victory, bringing the Ottoman Port "in extreme fear and horror." Ushakov, having received the rank of rear admiral, was appointed at the beginning of 1790 the commander of the Black Sea Fleet. The prince wrote to the Empress: “Thanks to God, both our fleet and flotilla are already stronger than Turkish ones. There is Rear Admiral Ushakov in the Sevastopol fleet. Excellent knowledgeable, enterprising and willing to serve. He will be my assistant."

Maslov Oleg Sergeevich. "Admiral Ushakov".

At the beginning of July 1790, not far from the Kerch Strait, another battle took place, in which Ushakov's squadron again won a brilliant victory. Russian sailors understood: where Ushakov is, there is victory! Prince Potemkin reported to the Empress: “... the battle was cruel and glorious for us all the more because Rear Admiral Ushakov hotly and decently attacked the enemy twice as hard ... he smashed hard and drove until the very night ... Rear Admiral Ushakov excellent merits. I am sure that a great naval leader will come out of him ... ”Catherine II answered:“ We celebrated the victory of the Black Sea Fleet over the Turkish Fleet yesterday with a prayer at Kazanskaya ... Rear Admiral Ushakov, I ask you to say a lot of thanks to all his subordinates.

Alexander Blinkov. "The Battle of Tendra Island August 28-29, 1790".

On the morning of August 28, the Turkish fleet was anchored between Gadzhibey (later Odessa) and the island of Tendra. Hussein Pasha saw the Russian fleet going under full sail from Sevastopol. Ushakov, instantly assessing the situation, ordered the squadron to carry all the sails and, approaching the enemy at a distance of a canister shot, unleashed the full power of onboard artillery on the forward part of the Turkish fleet. Ushakov's flagship "Christmas" fought with three enemy ships, forcing them to leave the line. Russian ships bravely followed the example of their leader. “Ours, thanks to God, gave such a pepper to the Turks, whatever. Thanks to Fedor Fedorovich, ”prince Potemkin responded so enthusiastically to this victory.

I.I. Rodinov. "The battle at Cape Kaliakria on July 31, 1791".

In 1791, the Russian-Turkish war ended with a brilliant victory for Rear Admiral Ushakov at Cape Kaliakria. The Russian state, having strengthened its position in the south, "stands with a firm foot on the shores of the Black Sea conquered by it." For such a famous victory, Rear Admiral Fyodor Ushakov was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. At the beginning of 1793, he was called by the Empress to Petersburg. Catherine II wished to see a hero who had gained such great fame, and "met in him a straightforward, modest man, little acquainted with the requirements of secular life." For services to the throne and the Fatherland, Catherine II presented him with a golden fold-cross with the relics of saints as a gift of extraordinary beauty.

In the same year, Fedor Ushakov was granted the rank of Vice Admiral. In 1796, Emperor Paul I ascended the Russian throne. Soon, Sultan Selim III accepted the proposal of the Russian Emperor for an alliance against France and turned to Paul I with a request to send an auxiliary squadron. At the beginning of August 1798, being near the Sevastopol raid with the squadron entrusted to him, Fyodor Ushakov received the Highest command "to immediately follow and assist with the Turkish fleet against the malicious intentions of France, like a violent people who destroyed not only within their faith and God established government and laws ... but also among the neighboring peoples, who, by misfortune, were defeated by him or deceived by their treacherous suggestions ... "

E. Parchment. "Ushakov".

Heading for Constantinople, the Russian squadron soon approached the Bosphorus, and this was enough for the Porte to immediately declare war on republican France. The Russian squadron stayed in Constantinople for two weeks; On September 8, "having given the Turks the experience of unheard-of order and discipline," she weighed anchor and, with a favorable wind, headed her way to the Dardanelles, to the junction with the Turkish fleet. Vice Admiral Ushakov was appointed commander of the joint forces.

The first task of the squadron was to capture the Ionian Islands located along the southwestern coast of Greece, the main of which, Corfu, having already the most powerful bastions in Europe, was still significantly fortified by the French and was considered impregnable. Emperor Paul I promoted Fyodor Ushakov to admiral for the victory at Corfu. This was the last award he received from his sovereigns. It was necessary to form a new statehood on the liberated islands, and Admiral Ushakov, as the plenipotentiary representative of Russia, managed to create such a form of government on the Ionian Islands that ensured "peace, silence and tranquility" for all the people.

Meanwhile, his mission in the Mediterranean has not yet ended. In northern Italy, the Russians, led by the glorious Suvorov, smashed the "invincible" French army. Suvorov asked Admiral Ushakov from the south to provide him with all possible support. Being in close cooperation, they beat the French Republicans on land and at sea. On October 26, 1800, the squadron of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov entered the Sevastopol Bay. On the night of March 11, 1801, Emperor Paul I was killed by conspirators. His son Alexander I ascended the Russian throne. The policy of Russia changed.

Soon Admiral Ushakov was transferred to St. Petersburg. At the Court, the opinion prevailed that a large fleet was unnecessary for "land" Russia. The then naval minister spoke about the fleet that “it is a burdensome luxury,” and another figure in the maritime department wrote: “Russia cannot be among the leading maritime powers, and there is no benefit or need for that.” In 1804, Fedor Fedorovich compiled a detailed note about his service to the Russian fleet, in which he summed up his activities: “Thanks to God, with all the indicated battles with the enemy and during the entire stay of the ongoing fleet under my command at sea, the preservation of the Most High Goodness, not a single ship from ongo Not a single person from our servants was lost and captured by the enemy.

Continuing to serve as the chief commander of the Baltic Rowing Fleet, and in addition also the head of the St. Petersburg naval teams and the chairman of the qualification commission "for the production of skippers, sub-skippers, non-commissioned officers and clerks of the Baltic and Black Sea ports", formed at the Naval Cadet Corps , Fedor Ushakov tried to fulfill these duties with zeal and zeal, as was generally characteristic of him in any business. On December 19, 1806, he submitted a letter of resignation to the Emperor: “My spiritual feelings and sorrow, which have exhausted my strength and health, are known to God - may His holy will be done. I accept everything that happened to me with the deepest reverence ... ”Moving away from official affairs, he lived in St. Petersburg for some time, continuing to patronize his nephews, and was preparing to move to a permanent and already the last place of his life.

Commemorative coin of the Bank of Russia dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the birth of F. F. Ushakov. 2 rubles, silver, 1994.

He had several small villages in his homeland in the Yaroslavl province, there was a plot of land near Sevastopol. He chose to live in the quiet village of Alekseevka, in the Temnikovsky district, near the Sanaksar Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery, where during the years of his military exploits, his uncle, the Monk Theodore, prayed for him. The Patriotic War of 1812 began. At the provincial meeting of the nobility, in which Fedor Fedorovich could not take part due to illness, he was elected by a majority of votes as the head of the internal Tambov militia. “For a favorable, kind opinion of me and for the honor done, I offer my most humble gratitude,” the admiral answered. “With excellent zeal and zeal, I would like to take on this position and serve the Fatherland, but with extreme regret due to illness and great weakness of health, I can take it upon myself and cannot and cannot fulfill it in any way.”

But, meanwhile, together with the Temnikovsky cathedral archpriest Asinkrit Ivanov, he arranged a hospital for the wounded, giving money for its maintenance. He contributed two thousand rubles for the formation of the 1st Tambov Infantry Regiment. Back in 1803, he contributed twenty thousand rubles to the Board of Trustees of the St. Petersburg Orphanage; now he transferred the entire amount with the interest due to it in favor of those devastated by the war: “I have long had a desire to distribute all this money without exception to the needy and wandering, who do not have homes, clothes and food.” "Do not despair! - he said - These terrible storms will turn to the glory of Russia. Faith, love for the Fatherland and commitment to the Throne will triumph. I have little left to live; I am not afraid of death, I only wish to see the new glory of my beloved Fatherland!”

Nativity of the Theotokos Sanaksar Monastery.

Wholly and daily devoted to maritime affairs, Fedor Fedorovich lived all his life as a bachelor. In his advanced years, staying on his estate, he became almost a hermit. The rest of his days, according to the same hieromonk Nathanael, the admiral spent “extremely abstinent and ended his life as a true Christian and faithful son of the Holy Church on October 2, 1817, and was buried at his request in a monastery near his relative from the nobles, the original the monastery of this hieromonk Theodore by the name of Ushakov. He died at the age of 74 and was buried in the Sanaksar monastery in the Temnikovsky district of the Tambov province.

Grave of F.F. Ushakov.

The relics of F.F. Ushakov in the Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Virgin of the Sanaksar Monastery.

Name F.F. Ushakov is worn by an island in the north of the Kara Sea, a bay in the Anadyr Bay of the Bering Sea and a cape on the northern coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The coastal defense battleship Admiral Ushakov was named after him, launched in 1893 and killed on May 15 (28), 1905 in the Battle of Tsushima. During the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet government established on March 3, 1944 the Ushakov medal and the Order of Ushakov of the 1st and 2nd degrees.

On October 6, 2004, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church ranked the admiral among the church-wide saints in the face of the righteous as the righteous warrior Theodore Ushakov. The memory is celebrated (according to the Julian calendar) on May 23 (Cathedral of the Rostov Saints), July 23 and October 2. Fyodor Ushakov (not to be confused with his uncle and namesake monk Theodore of Sanaksarsky) is revered as the patron saint of the Russian navy (since 2000) and strategic air forces (since 2005).

T. Simonova. Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov - holy Russian admiral.

The famous naval commander of the Russian Empire, Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov, was born into the family of a poor Yaroslavl nobleman in 1745. The biography of Admiral Ushakov is very interesting and replete with remarkable events that left an imprint not only on his fate, but also on the history of all of Russia.

From a young age, Fedor was fond of naval affairs and in 1766 he successfully graduated from the St. Petersburg Naval Cadet Corps. Ushakov began his service with the Baltic Fleet, then participated in battles against the Ottoman Empire as part of the Azov Flotilla. Having distinguished himself in battles against the Turks, he was appointed captain of a frigate, and then of the imperial yacht. Under his command, the battleship (battleship) successfully held back the activities of English pirates on the routes from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring the safe movement of Russian and European merchants.

In 1783, Fedor Fedorovich began the construction of the Black Sea Fleet. Under the command of Ushakov in Sevastopol, which became the main naval base of the Russian Empire on the Black Sea, fortifications were erected and modern guns were installed. At the head of the Black Sea Fleet, F.F. Ushakov defeated the Turks in battles near the Kerch Strait, Tendra Island and Cape Kaliakria.

Ushakov's military victories were based on tactics that had been practiced over the years, which consisted of a lightning attack on the enemy and the full inclusion of all available guns in the battle, due to which the Russian ships managed to surprise and stun the enemy already in the first minutes of the battle. Ushakov ordered his ships to first of all attack the flagship (the ship on which the formation commander is located) in order to deprive the enemy of leadership and undermine the enemy's morale.

For his services in the development and strengthening of the Russian Navy, for outstanding victories over the enemy, in 1799 Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov was promoted to admiral. Leading the Mediterranean campaign (1798-1800) at that time, Admiral Ushakov, using naval artillery as cover, managed to capture a well-fortified fortress on about. Corfu, which was formerly occupied by the French. After the capture of this fortress, Admiral Ushakov, remaining a staunch monarchist to the last, using his diplomatic skills and international respect, contributed to the establishment of the democratic Greek Republic of the Seven Islands.

Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov, having retired in 1807, devoted his activities to charity and assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church, for which he was canonized in 2011. All naval battles of Ushakov were brilliantly won. Admiral Ushakov took care of his subordinates, appreciating the life of every sailor. And in response, the sailors loved their admiral, trusting him and unquestioningly fulfilling all his orders. The sailors were confident in the correctness and military genius of Ushakov, who did not lose a single soldier captured. In the spirit of A.V. Suvorov, F.F. Ushakov built the fleet on the principles of value and maximum efficiency of each ship and sailor.

F.F. Ushakov graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps, served in the Baltic Fleet, participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 as part of the Don (Azov) flotilla. He was appointed commander of the 16-gun ship "Modon", one of the largest in the Azov flotilla. From 1775 Ushakov commanded a frigate. In 1780 he was appointed commander of the imperial yacht, but soon abandoned his court career. And in 1780-1782. commanded the battleship "Victor", which guarded Russian merchant ships in the Mediterranean from the piratical actions of the English fleet. Since 1783, in the Black Sea Fleet, he oversaw the construction of ships in Kherson, participated in the construction of the main base in Sevastopol. At the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. F.F. Ushakov commanded the battleship "St. Pavel".

In the battle at Fr. Fidonisi (1788), commanding the vanguard of the squadron, Ushakov defeated the superior forces of the Turks and in 1789 was promoted to rear admiral. In March 1790, His Serene Highness Prince Potemkin-Tavrichesky appointed him commander of the Black Sea Fleet. From that moment, the real combat formation of this fleet began, its glorious combat traditions began to be laid.

Commanding the Black Sea Fleet, Ushakov won brilliant victories over the Turkish fleet in the Kerch naval battle, near about. Tendra (1790) and at Cape Kaliakria (1791), resorting to the new maneuver tactics he created, which was fundamentally different from the linear tactics adopted at that time. Its main features were the use of unified marching and combat formations, a decisive rapprochement with the enemy at a short distance without rebuilding the battle formation, the concentration of the main efforts against the enemy flagships, the allocation of a reserve ("Kaiser-flag squadron"), a combination of aimed artillery fire and maneuver, pursuit enemy until it is completely destroyed or captured. Attaching great importance to the naval and fire training of personnel, Ushakov was a supporter of the Suvorov principles of educating subordinates.

In 1793, Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov was promoted to vice admiral. During the Mediterranean campaign of 1798-1800. he again showed himself as a major naval commander, a skilled politician and diplomat, especially during the creation of the Greek Republic of the Seven Islands under the protectorate of Russia and Turkey. Ushakov demonstrated examples of the organization of interaction between the army and the navy during the capture of the Ionian Islands and especially Fr. Corfu, during the liberation from the French of Italy, during the blockade of Ancona and Genoa, during the capture of Naples and Rome. In 1800, Ushakov's squadron returned to Sevastopol.

Ushakov's merits were not appreciated by Alexander I, who appointed him to a secondary position as chief commander of the Baltic Rowing Fleet and head of naval teams in St. Petersburg. In 1807 Ushakov resigned and went to his estate in the Tambov region. To the message of the emperor, who wished to know about the true reasons for his dismissal from the service, the admiral replied: “My spiritual feelings and sorrow, which have exhausted the strength of my strength, God knows health - may his holy will be. I accept everything that has happened to me with the deepest blessing. During the Patriotic War of 1812, Ushakov was elected head of the militia of the Tambov province, but due to illness he resigned. He died on his estate and was buried in the Sinaksar Monastery near the town of Temnikov.

A bay in the southeastern part of the Barents Sea and a cape on the northern coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are named after Ushakov. The name of Ushakov was carried by warships of the Russian and Soviet Navy. On March 3, 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the military order of Ushakov of two degrees (the order of the 1st degree was awarded 47 times, the 2nd degree - 194 times) and a medal. In 2004, he was canonized as a righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov.

Admiral F.F. Ushakov. Artist P.Bazhanov.

First, a brief biographical note. F.F. Ushakov was born into a poor noble family on February 24/13, 1745. Place of Birth the village of Burnakovo(coordinates 58°00′13″ N 39°17′34″ E) now Rybinsk district, Yaroslavl region. In 1766 he graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps. Participated in the Russian-Turkish wars of 1768-1774 and 1787-1791. In 1789 he was promoted to Rear Admiral. Commanding the Black Sea Fleet since 1790, he won the battle of Kerch, near Fr. Tendra, at Cape Kaliakria. Since 1793 - Vice Admiral. During the Mediterranean campaign of 1798-1800, he proved himself as a major naval commander, a skilled politician and diplomat. He showed examples of the organization of interaction between the army and the navy during the capture of the Ionian Islands and during the liberation of Italy from the French. In 1799 he received the rank of full admiral. In 1800 he brought a squadron to Sevastopol, then was appointed chief commander of the Baltic Rowing Fleet and head of naval teams in St. Petersburg. In 1807, he retired, led a righteous life, and was engaged in charitable activities. He died on his estate and was buried in the Sanaksar monastery near the town of Temnikov. In 2001, Ushakov was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as a saint of the Saransk diocese, and in 2004 the Council of Bishops ranked him among the church saints as a righteous warrior Theodore (Ushakov) Sanaksarsky.

Icon of the Holy Righteous Warrior Theodore (Ushakov) of Sanaksar.

And now - 10 little-known facts and misconceptions.

1. Date of birth.

Oddly enough, but for a very long time in biographical materials about Ushakov erroneous information was given. So, in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, the year of birth of the admiral was indicated as 1744; 1743 is found in other editions. The same with the place of birth - for example, it was said about the Tambov province ... Only relatively recently, historians managed to accurately establish the date and place of birth of the future naval commander: the village of Burnakovo, Romanovsky district, Yaroslavl province, February 13 (24), 1745. These data were found in the Rostov branch of the State Archives of the Yaroslavl Region.

Fedor Ushakov on the deck of the ship. Artist N.G. Nikolaev.

2. The genealogy of Admiral Ushakov can be traced back to the 11th century.

It is believed that the genus Ushakov comes from Roman, the son of Rededi, the Grand Duke of the Kosozh Horde, who died in 1022 in a battle with Grand Duke Vladimir Mstislavovich. In the sixth generation, one of the representatives of the family received the nickname Ushak, from which the name of the naval commander was born.

Father of the future admiral Fedor Ignatievich Ushakov, was a small estate nobleman. He served in the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment and retired with the rank of sergeant; had nothing to do with the fleet. The upbringing of his son Fyodor was also influenced by his own uncle, the Monk Theodore of Sanaksar (in the world Ivan Ignatievich Ushakov), who in 1764 became rector of the Sanaksar Monastery.

Admiral F.F. Ushakov. Lithography.

3. Served on all seas.

Usually the name of the admiral is associated with the Black Sea Fleet, but in fact Ushakov in different years he served on all the seas washing Europe. Back in 1766-1767, being a midshipman, Fedor Ushakov made a voyage around Scandinavia, going on the Nargin pinky from Kronstadt to Arkhangelsk and back. In 1768-1775, he served in the Azov flotilla, then made the transition from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea and remained there until 1779, first commanding the frigate "St. Paul", and then the ship "George the Victorious". In 1780 Ushakov in command of the yacht of Empress Catherine II, in 1781, as commander of the 64-gun ship "Victor", he sailed to the Mediterranean Sea, in 1782 he commanded the frigate "Agile" in the Baltic. Next year captain 1st rank Ushakov transferred to the Black Sea Fleet, where he receives the 66-gun ship "St. Paul". From this moment begins a new, most glorious and most famous stage of his biography.

The squadron of Admiral Ushakov in the Bosphorus. Artist M. Ivanov, 1799

4. The number of victories won.

In the literature and the Internet, you can often find the phrase: "out of 43 naval battles, Ushakov did not lose a single one". How realistic is this number?

Undoubtedly, Admiral Ushakov played an important role in the development of the Russian fleet, it is not in vain that it is compared with Suvorov. He acted boldly and decisively, under his command the fleet achieved brilliant victories at Tendra, at Kaliakria, near the island of Corfu ... But even if you count the small skirmishes and actions against the Greek islands, the number of battles under the command of Ushakov is still much less than 43. And where this figure came from is not clear.

5. Tactics.

Ushakov often called the creator of the maneuvering tactics of the sailing fleet, although historians still argue about how true this statement is. According to the candidate of historical sciences, captain of the 1st rank V.D. Ovchinnikova- a researcher of the biography of the naval commander and the author of several monographs dedicated to him - an opinion on Ushakov as the founder of maneuver tactics first appeared only in the middle of the twentieth century, during the period "fight against cosmopolitanism". V.D. Ovchinnikov argues quite convincingly that this statement is not entirely correct. At F.F.Ushakova real merits are enough, and there is no need to ascribe to him merits that do not exist.

6. Ships storm bastions?

During the fighting against Corfu, contrary to popular belief, which has developed primarily thanks to the feature film "Ships storm the bastions", Admiral's squadron Ushakov in reality, the bastions were not stormed. The ships fired not at the fortress of Corfu, but at the few and practically unprotected batteries of the island of Vido. The shelling of the Old Fortress from the sea was symbolic and had only a moral effect. Substituting ships under the numerous coastal artillery of the most powerful citadel from Ushakov's side would be simply madness.

The main reason for the premature surrender of Corfu by the French is their apparent unwillingness to fight. And this is quite understandable: after the battle of Aboukir, the island of Corfu lost its importance as a strategic base for the French fleet, and the garrison of the fortress was well aware that no one would come to its aid. The French generals believed that they and their troops at that moment were more needed in France than on a distant island, and in the event of acceptable terms of surrender, they were ready to immediately surrender. And the conditions for surrender were offered, one might say, honorable. The instrument of surrender stated that “The French garrison ... with military honors will leave all the fortresses and gates that it now occupies, and, being put into operation, will lay down their weapons and banners, excluding the generals and all officers and other officials who will remain with their weapons. After this, this garrison with its own crew will be transported to Toulon by hired ships ... under the cover of military ships ... the generals and the entire French garrison are obliged by word of honor not to accept weapons against the All-Russian Empire and the Ottoman Port and their allies for 18 months ".

A still from the feature film Ships Storm the Bastions (1953, director Mikhail Romm).

7. Admiral-diplomat.

After the surrender of the French garrison on Corfu to Admiral F.F. Ushakov I had to actively engage in activities unusual for him - to equip life on the liberated Greek islands. As it turned out, he is not only an outstanding naval commander, but also a talented politician and a good administrator! First thing Ushakov issued a manifesto that guaranteed freedom of religion, property and person rights to residents of all classes. Then he formed a guard regiment from local residents. At his suggestion, elections of delegates were held on all the Ionian Islands, who arrived in Corfu and formed the core of the "senate", which began the development of a project for the state structure of the islands formally under Russian-Turkish, but in fact Russian rule. At the end of May 1799 Ushakov approved "The plan for the establishment of government on the former Venetian islands liberated from the French and the establishment of order in them". This is how the Republic of the Seven Islands arose, uniting the islands of Corfu (Kerkyra), Paxos, Lefkas, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos and Kitira. The government of the republic in 1803 was headed by John Kapodistrias - the future Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia (1816-1822), and later - the head of independent Greece.

It is interesting to note two points. Firstly, the Republic of the Seven Islands de facto became the first independent state on the territory of modern Greece. Secondly, paradoxically, a state with a democratic form of government was created by a Russian admiral, who was also a staunch monarchist...

Monument to F.F. Ushakov on the island of Corfu (Corfu), Greece.

8. Usak Pasha.

It is often stated in various books and magazine articles that Admiral F.F.Ushakova Turks "respectfully called Ushak Pasha". Probably, the naval commander really had such a nickname, but it is unlikely that it is very respectful ... Because "Ushak" in Turkish means "servant, footman".

Monument to Admiral Ushakov at Cape Kaliakria, Bulgaria.

9. Character traits.

According to many sources, Admiral Ushakov He was distinguished by great severity both in relation to sailors and officers. He was laconic and had a "severe character". If Suvorov liked to joke with the soldiers, then Ushakov In this respect, he was the complete opposite.

At the same time, his severity in relation to violators of the order was combined with justice and often generosity. Documents testify: he, for example, demands to forgive the guilty officer "for the sake of his young children" and petitions the emperor for the reinstatement of officers demoted for misconduct.

Ushakov had a negative attitude towards alcohol and, unlike Suvorov, sailors were forbidden to drink, with the exception of the prescribed portion. For drunkenness of the lower ranks, the admiral strictly exacted from the commanders. Generally, Ushakov paid great attention to the health and nutrition of sailors. So, in October 1792, he donated 13.5 thousand rubles. own funds (a huge sum for those times!) for the purchase of fresh meat and the maintenance of hospitals in Sevastopol. And this case was far from isolated. In 1813 Ushakov He donated almost all of his fortune to the Fund to help victims of the Patriotic War.

Straightforwardness and truthfulness F.F.Ushakova often became the reasons for his conflicts with his superiors and subordinates - Admirals M.I. Voinovich, N.S. Mordvinov, with the famous shipbuilder A.S. Katasanov, with one of the commanders of the ships - the future naval commander D.N. Senyavin.

Ushakov and Suvorov. A shot from the feature film "Ships storm the bastions."

10. Holy righteous warrior.

Donating all your savings to charity F.F. Ushakov in a letter to the Chief Prosecutor of the Synod, A.N. Golitsyn, he wrote: “For a long time I had a desire to distribute all this money without exception to the poor, the poor brethren, who do not have food, and now, finding the most convenient and surest opportunity to fulfill my desire ...”. And here are the words of Hieromonk Nathanael: “This Admiral Ushakov ... the famous benefactor of the Sanaksar monastery, upon his arrival from St. Petersburg, for about eight years led a secluded life in his own house, in his village Alekseevka, three miles from the monastery through the forest ... on Sundays and holidays he came to worship in monastery ... and during Great Lent he lived in a monastery in a cell ... every long service with the brethren in the church he stood rigorously ... He spent the rest of his days extremely temperately and ended his life, as a true Christian and faithful son of the holy church should".