The future Admiral Fyodor Ushakov was born on February 13, 1745. He was the third son in the family of a guards musketeer - a native of an old noble family. Father Fedor Ignatievich Ushakov served in his youth, but he never managed to make a career. In 1747, he retired with the rank of sergeant and lived a quiet, measured life as a small landowner (he had about 30 peasants). The future Saint Fyodor Ushakov was born in the small village of Burnakovo, which belonged to his father.
Early years
The boy's older brother Gavril became a dragoon captain, the other, Stepan, rose only to the rank of second lieutenant. Fedor decided to connect his life with the fleet. For a young man of his status, this was an odd choice. At that time, the nobles considered the naval service too harsh and not prestigious. In addition, the future Saint Fyodor Ushakov was not distinguished by iron he alth and heroic strength. Physical barriers, however, did not frighten him.
Enrolling in the naval cadet corps, Ushakov began to learn how to handle a gun and cannons, studied ship architecture in detail. Every summer the cadet had an internship. During the exercises, the future Saint Fyodor Ushakov got used to real warships. He had wonderful teachers and mentors, includingincluding the future hero of the Battle of Chesme and Admiral Grigory Spiridov. In 1764-1765. Ushakov sailed from Kronstadt to Revel and to the island of Gotland, and in 1766 he was released from the corps and promoted to midshipman.
Very soon the next Russian-Turkish war (1768-1774) began. The future Saint Fyodor Ushakov was promoted to lieutenant and, by appointment, went south to the Azov-Don Flotilla, commanded by Rear Admiral Alexei Senyavin. The officer set off from Pavlovsk. From there to Azov he had to transport floating batteries (which was done).
War and Peace
In 1772, the holy righteous warrior Fyodor Ushakov became the commander of a ship for the first time. It was a small warship "Courier". The boat guarded the Kerch Strait, sailed to Feodosia and Taganrog. The very next year, the sixteen-gun ships Modon and Morea were under the command of Ushakov. The ships cruised along the newly occupied Crimea by the Russian troops and covered the army from the Turkish landing. After the war, the future Saint Ushakov Fedor Fedorovich received the rank of lieutenant commander and moved to St. Petersburg.
In the years of peace, the officer regularly served in the capital. In 1780 he was appointed commander of the court yachts. This position was convenient for all sorts of careerists. Being next to the empress meant having a chance to get into court life, inside which all the cream of St. Petersburg society resided. But the holy warrior Fedor Ushakov did not at all strive for such secular pleasures. Once again handing over the ships entrusted to him for the winter,he asked Ivan Chernyshev, head of the maritime department, to transfer him to the active fleet.
At the origins of the Black Sea Fleet
At the age of 35, Fedor Ushakov became the captain of the battleship Viktor. On this ship, as part of the squadron of Rear Admiral Yakov Sukhotin, he went on an expedition to the Mediterranean Sea. Upon his return, the officer was waiting for another promotion (he received the rank of captain of the second rank). Without wasting time on vacations due to him, Ushakov set about testing new ships, ferrying them from Revel to Kronstadt. The last time before a long break, he sailed in the B altic in the summer of 1783, after which he moved to the Black Sea.
When the holy righteous Fyodor Ushakov found himself in Kherson, where he started building ships, the city was struck by a plague epidemic. The officer had to split his artel, and put part of the team in quarantine. In 1784, an experienced sailor became a captain of the first rank. For the successful fight against the plague, he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree.
Soon, Fedor Fedorovich launched the St. Paul battleship and arrived on it at the newly built base of the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol. Meanwhile, the port acquired new piers, arsenals, warehouses, barracks and officers' houses. When the construction of Sevastopol was finally completed, Empress Catherine II and her ally, the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, arrived in the city. For his services, Ushakov was admitted to the Empress and sat at the same table with her.
New Challenges
Turkish SultanAbdul-Hamid I was not going to put up with the latest victories of Russian weapons (including the annexation of Crimea). He set out to return the peninsula. Before the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet had time to get comfortable in Sevastopol, another Russian-Turkish war (1787-1791) began.
During the first trip of that campaign, Ushakov on the St. Paul, along with several other ships, was overtaken by a fierce storm. The disaster happened near Varna. "Saint Paul" lost the masts, and the current carried it far to the east to the enemy Abkhazian shores. But even this misfortune could not unsettle such a talented captain as St. Fedor Ushakov. The short biography of the famous military leader was full of examples of exploits and decisive actions. And this time, he didn't hesitate. The captain and his team managed to install new sails on the remains of the masts and return the ship to Sevastopol.
On July 14, 1788, a battle took place near the island of Fidonisi (it is also known as Serpentine) - the first serious naval battle of that war. Fedor Ushakov also took part in it. The saint of the Russian Orthodox Church was in the forefront of the courts, repelling the first attack of the Turks. The Black Sea Fleet was successful. The decisive and accurate firing of the frigates damaged the Turkish flagship. The enemy squadron left the battlefield. After this defeat, the Turks no longer had superiority in the Black Sea and lost the opportunity to land troops on the Crimean coast. For a huge contribution to the victory near Snake Island, Ushakov was promoted to Rear Admiral.
Kerch battle
Fyodor Ushakov's next battle(Kerch naval battle) took place on July 8, 1790. This time, the naval commander commanded an entire squadron that met an enemy Turkish detachment. The enemy had artillery superiority. From the first minutes, the Turks unleashed furious fire on the vanguard of the Russian squadron. Something urgently needed to be opposed to this onslaught. The decision depended on only one person, and that person was Rear Admiral Fyodor Ushakov. The holy righteous warrior separated the weakest frigates and, closing ranks, hurried to the rescue of the attacked vanguard, commanded by fleet foreman Gavriil Golenkin.
With the help of several maneuvers, Ushakov managed to lure out the Turkish Vice Admiral's ship. The enemy ship had to pass between the Russian lines and fall under the crushing dense fire of the cannons. Then Ushakov, who was on the flagship "Christmas", together with the rest of the squadron, went to rapprochement with the Turks.
Enemy ships f altered and fell down. Only their own lightness and speed saved them from the final defeat. The Kerch naval battle demonstrated the outstanding skill and fire training of Russian sailors. After another defeat, the Turks became worried about the safety of their own capital, Istanbul.
Tendra
Fyodor Ushakov was not going to rest on his laurels, but took up the organization of a new important naval operation. On August 28, 1790, his squadron, consisting of 36 ships, unexpectedly attacked the Turkish fleet (also 36 ships), which stopped between the Tendra Spit and Gadzhibey. The rear admiral's actions were on the borderline of courage and self-confidence. The Turks, with the numerical equality of the ships of the most dangerous battleships, had 9 more, which again gave them artillery superiority (1360 guns against just over 800).
Nevertheless, it was the reckless courage of the Russian fleet that led the enemy into confusion. The Turks, despite their numerical superiority, prepared to retreat, some of the ships had already retired to a considerable distance. As expected, the Ottoman rearguard fell behind and found itself in a highly vulnerable position. Then Vice Admiral Said Bey, who commanded the squadron, decided to go to the rescue of slow ships. As a result, his ship Kapudaniya, along with the Meleki Bahri, was surrounded. The Turks fought desperately, but were defeated. After the bloodshed, the Most Serene Prince and favorite of the Empress Grigory Potemkin arrived at the “Christmas of Christ”. On his recommendation, Catherine II awarded Ushakov with the Order of St. George, 2nd class (contrary to the tradition that this award was given only to military leaders with higher ranks).
Fyodor Fedorovich returned to Sevastopol, but not for long. In October, on the orders of Potemkin, Rear Admiral took up cover from the Turkish fleet for the passage of the rowing squadron, which was supposed to get to the Danube. After occupying the mouth of the river, it was supposed to begin the assault on the important Ottoman fortresses of Chilia and Izmail. The task was completed. Ushakov's actions helped the army capture strategic fortresses on the Black Sea coast. Alexander Suvorov distinguished himself the most, whose assault on Ishmael is still consideredone of the bloodiest assaults in the military history of mankind.
Kaliakria
Meanwhile, power has changed in Istanbul. The successor of Abdul-Hamid I, Selim III, was discouraged by the successes of the Russians at sea and at the walls of Ishmael, but decided not to lay down their arms. As a result, the end of the campaign was somewhat delayed, and the last naval battle of that war took place on July 31, 1791.
The day before, the Ottoman fleet concentrated near Varna, and then headed towards Cape Kaliakria (modern Bulgaria). Unexpectedly, he was attacked by a Russian squadron under the command of Fyodor Ushakov. The Turks were taken by surprise. Some of their ships turned out to be unprepared for battle due to the upcoming Ramadan holiday. Nevertheless, reinforcements in the form of Tunisian and Algerian corsairs joined the Ottomans.
From the first minutes of the battle, Ushakov, without losing a minute, began to approach the enemy. For mobility, his ships lined up in three columns. This position was the most advantageous in terms of a surprise attack. The Turks, having learned about the appearance of the Russian fleet, began to hastily cut ropes and set sails. Several ships collided with each other, causing more panic and confusion.
Another win
In the Turkish squadron seniority belonged to the Algerian flagship. This ship, along with several other ships, tried to go around the Russian flotilla. Fedor Fedorovich understood the enemy's maneuver in time. His ship "Christmas"moved forward and headed to intercept the enemy detachment. This decision came as a complete surprise to both their own and others. According to tradition and unwritten rules, the captain had to remain in the heart of the battle formation, from where it is easiest to control the course of the battle. However, at a critical moment, when the fate of the entire collision was at stake, Ushakov decided to give up on the established order. His ship shot the flagship of the Algerian pasha with well-aimed fire. The ship had to retreat back.
After a while, the entire Black Sea Fleet approached the Turks and attacked them in a friendly impulse. The flagship "Christmas" was in the very center of the Ottoman squadron. The most powerful onslaught of the enemy's resistance was broken. The Turks again fled.
Coincidentally, on the same day, July 31, a truce was signed. Fedor Ushakov learned about the end of the war on August 8. Rear Admiral received this news from Field Marshal Nikolai Repnin. The key campaign in the life of Ushakov, which immortalized and covered his name with glory, ended. It's time to go home.
Mediterranean trip
After the end of another Russian-Turkish war, Fyodor Ushakov in 1790-1792. served as commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Meanwhile, the situation on the world stage remained tense. Russia entered the anti-French coalition, which opposed the revolution, which was dangerous for conservative monarchies. This foreign policy step was taken by Catherine II. However, she died in 1796. her sonPavel I continued his mother's foreign policy. In 1798, he appointed Fyodor Ushakov commander of the Mediterranean squadron, and a year later made him an admiral.
During the campaign, the commander proved himself not only as a brilliant strategist, but also as an outstanding diplomat. He contributed to the creation of the Greek Republic under the protectorate of Turkey and Russia, participated in the battles for the Ionian Islands and the liberation of Italy from the French. Saint Admiral Fyodor Ushakov led the blockade of Genoa and Ancona. After helping the allies in the anti-French coalition, the admiral returned to Sevastopol with his squadron.
Recent years and legacy
In 1802, the holy warrior Admiral Fyodor Ushakov took command of the B altic rowing fleet, then he was appointed head of the St. Petersburg naval teams. At the age of 62, the military leader retired. He settled in the Tambov province, where he bought a small estate. Here he was caught by the Patriotic War of 1812. The Tambov province needed the head of the militia. They elected Fedor Ushakov. Saint of the Russian Orthodox Church resigned due to illness.
In his old age, the admiral devoted himself to a modest religious life and charity. He often visited the Sanaksar Monastery located not far from his estate. The naval commander died on October 14, 1817 in his village Alekseevka on the territory of the modern Republic of Mordovia. The relics of the holy righteous warrior Fyodor Ushakov were buried within the walls of the Sanaksar monastery.
Together with the admiralNakhimov, this commander became a symbol of the glory of the Russian fleet. In many cities, monuments have been erected or streets named after him. In 1944, the Order of Ushakov was established in the USSR, and in 1953, based on his biography, the film “Ships storm the bastions” was shot.
Despite the fact that in the Soviet era, repressions against the church became commonplace, and the Sanaksar monastery was closed, the admiral's grave was saved. After the USSR collapsed, and the Russian Orthodox Church was able to recover, the question was raised about the canonization of the famous naval commander. On the one hand, he became famous as a great officer, and on the other hand, in his old age he began to lead a humble religious life. In 2001, by decision of the Russian Orthodox Church, a new canonized warrior appeared - Fedor Ushakov. The saint, whose relics are still kept in the Sanaksar Monastery, became a figure not only of naval, but also of religious veneration.
