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Russian Siege of Hvar Town (April 29 - May 10, 1806)
Joško Bracanović
orcid.org/0000-0002-9923-2025
; Hvar Heritage Museum
Abstract
The paper presents the Russian siege of Hvar town in 1806. Russia didn’t sign the Peace of Pozun (Pressburg) in 1806 so it continued its Second Archipelago Expedition. Vice-admiral Dimitry Senyavin commanded the Mediterranean escadrille of Baltic Fleet. After conquering Kotor, he confided in captain Henry Baillie to conquer central Dalmatian islands. After conquering Korčula, Baillie besieged Hvar with several ships. The siege lasted from April 29 until May 10, 1806, and it culminated on May 2 by landing on Hvar. French forces managed to repel the attack. The bombing of the town that lasted for another few days caused great material damage. As French reinforcements kept coming to the island, Baillie left the siege. On May 11 Baillie met vice-admiral Senyavin who accepted his decisions. But the danger of the Russians didn’t end for the town and the island by that. A long-lasting naval blockade led to famine. Senyavin planned to attack the town again in December 1806 but problems on Corfu forced him to abandon that plan. On July 7, 1807, it was decided on the fate of the island in the Battle of Friedland, which forced the Russians to sign the Treaty of Tilsit, after which their ships started to leave the Adriatic.
The paper also brings a review of other military activities on the island of Hvar during Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Hvar was the last French base on islands until the British conquered it in November 1813. They kept it under control until July 20, 1815, when the island was returned under the Austrian administration. The consequences of the Russian attack for the further development of Hvar town are considered.
Keywords
War of the Fourth Coalition; Second Archipelago Expedition; Napoleonic Wars; Henry Baillie; Dimitry Senyavin
Hrčak ID:
284089
URI
Publication date:
9.9.2022.
Visits: 600 *