Pavel Nakhimov
Pavel Nakhimov | |
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| Born | 5 July 1802 Vyazemsky Uyezd, Smolensk Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 12 July 1855 (aged 53) Sevastopol, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire (Crimea) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Service/ |  Imperial Russian Navy |
| Years of service | 1818–1855 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Corvette Navarine Frigate Pallada Ship of the line Silistria Ship Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet Chief of Fleet Division Squadron of the Black Sea Fleet Commander of Fleet and Port |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | see awards |
Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov (Russian: Павел Степанович Нахимов, pronounced [ˈpavʲɪl sʲtʲɪˈpanəvʲɪtɕ nɐˈxʲiməf]; July 5 [O.S. June 23] 1802 – July 12 [O.S. June 30] 1855) was a Russian Admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy known for his victory in the Battle of Sinop and his leadership in the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855) during the Crimean War.
He joined the imperial Russian Navy and moved up the ranks serving in the
After his death, he became a hero in Russia, with medals and ships named after him, especially during Soviet times, starting with Stalin.[1] Also, a Soviet Film called Admiral Nakhimov was made in 1947 about his life.[2]
Early life
Nakhimov was born in the village of Gorodok in the Vyazma district of the Smolensk Governorate into a noble Russian family. He was the seventh of eleven children of a landlord and second major Stepan Mikhailovich Nakhimov and his wife Feodosia Ivanovna Nakhimova (née Kozlovskaya). Six of his siblings died as infants. He and all four of his brothers would become professional seamen, including vice admiral Sergei Stepanovich Nakhimov (1805—1872).[3]
Early military career
In 1817, he entered the Naval Academy for the Nobility (
At the beginning of his naval career, Nakhimov's experience was limited to voyages in the
During the three-year voyage, Nakhimov was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. On conclusion of this adventure, he received his first award, the
In the summer of 1827, Azov sailed to the
Azov, under then-
Early in his career, Nakhimov was criticized for “brutality towards sailors,” despite this allegation it wouldn't impact him in the public perspective of being a popular commander.[7]
Crimean War and death
Battle of Sinope
During the
Before the battle, the Russian fleet in the Black Sea was divided into two groups, one led by Nakhimov and the other
On November 30, 1853, the Nakhimov's squadron entered the bay where the Ottoman fleet led by admiral Osman Pasha was.[11] At first, the Russian squadron demanded the surrender of the Ottoman fleet.[11] After the Ottomans refused to surrender, a firefight broke out.[11] At first, the Ottoman ships were doing well against Nakhimov's forces. However, the battle quickly turned against the Ottomans as the Russian guns proved too much, and in just a few hours, the Ottoman fleet was on fire.[12] One ship, the Ottoman frigate Taif, started to head to Istanbul.[11] Despite the attempts of the Russians, they were unable to capture the ship, even with the efforts of the Russian Admiral V. A. Kornilov, who arrived with reinforcements but was unable to capture the ship.[11][12] The Taif would arrive in Istanbul, delivering the news of Naknimov's victory on December 2.[13] During the fight, all the Ottomans ships in the fleet, except for the Taif, were "devastated."[12] Alongside the damage to the ships, many Ottoman sailors died, although there is no agreement on exactly how many.[12][14] Only an estimated 33-36 Russians Sailors and one officer died during the battle.[14] Admiral Osman was wounded in the foot and captured along with four other officers.[12][14] Admiral Osman and the four officers remained a prisoners of war until he was released in 1855.[14]
Nakhimov kept firing during the battle despite most of the Ottoman ships ablaze. It resulted in the burning of parts of the city, and its leaders and the Muslim population fleeing. Thus he's been criticized for attacking civilians during the battle. However, he later tried to explain his actions by sending an envoy to the city, arguing that he was seeking to "destroy the Ottoman fleet."[12]
Siege of Sevastopol and death
His finest hour came during the
Legacy
Glorification
In the aftermath of his death, Naknimov faced a movement of glorification, which included misrepresenting facts.[7] Becoming a part of the "Sevastopol myth," in which Russian figures presented glorification of the defense of the city. This populist movement glorification of the battle was conducted alongside writers such as Leo Tolstoy.[7][15] In publications, Naknimov was represented as a "friend of the common people" and "the soul of the defense of Sevastopol."[7] Despite his popularity with populist factions, the Imperial government didn't recognize Nakhimov, as evident of the government's efforts to force artists of the panoramic painting "Defense of Sevastopol, 1854-5" to remove his figure and replace it with Mikhail Dmitrievich Gorchakov.[15]
Despite him not being included in official government accounts, he was later honored in the Soviet Union by propagandists.[16] During World War 2, Naknimov was turned into a national hero by the Soviet Union and Stalin alongside other figures like Prince Pyotr Bagration, Mikhail Kutuzov, Aleksandr Nevsky, and Aleksandr Suvorov.[1][16]
Monuments and tributes
There are many monuments and medals created in his memory. In the 1890s a statue of Nakhimov along with Vladimir Alexeyevich Kornilov was put in Sevastopol.[15] A bust portraying Russian admirals and sailors from the Crimean War, including Nakhimov, was erected at Sevastopol Park after renovations in 2008.[17][18]
Nakhimov was buried inside
Ships named after Nakhimov
- Admiral Nakhimov, a Russian armoured cruiser.
- Original name of Chervona Ukraina, a Svetlana-class cruiser.
- Admiral Nakhimov, a Sverdlov-class cruiser.
- Admiral Nakhimov, a Soviet passenger liner.
- Admiral Nakhimov, a Kresta II-class cruiser.
- Admiral Nakhimov (formerly Kalinin), a Kirov-class battlecruiser
Honours and awards
- Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class (1825; the voyage on the frigate Cruiser)
- Order of Saint George, 4th class (1827; for service in the Battle of Navarino
- Order of St. Anna, 2nd class (1830)
- Order of St. Anna, 2nd class with the Imperial Crown (1837; for diligent and zealous excellent service)
- Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd class (1842; for diligent and zealous excellent service)
- Badge of distinction "For impeccable service" XXV years. (1846)
- Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st class (1847)
- Order of St. Anna, 1st class (1849)
- Order of St. Anna, 1st class with the Imperial Crown (1851)
- Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class (1853; For the successful transfer of 13th Division)
- Order of Saint George, 2nd class (1853; For the victory at Sinope)
- Order of the White Eagle (Russia), (1855; For actions in the defence of Sevastopol)
- Order of the Bath (United Kingdom)
- Order of the Redeemer (Greece)
In popular culture
The 1947 Soviet movie Admiral Nakhimov, directed by Vsevolod Pudovkin, is about the life of Nakhimov. Soviet actor Aleksei Dikiy played Nakhimov. The movie covers Nakhimov's victory in the Battle of Sinop and his defense of Sevastopol. The film had to be remade by Pudovkin as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union viewed the original film as having too much "dancing" and misrepresenting historical facts. Pudovkin removed the love story and "toned down" the dance scenes.[2]
Gallery
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Portrait of Pavel Nahimov by Georg Wilhelm Timm -
Painting of Pavel Nahimov by Georg Wilhelm Timm -
Pavel Nahimov’s lethal injury by Ivan Dyagovchenko -
Pavel Nahimov's grave in St. Vladimir's Cathedral, Sevastopol
See also
References
- ^ OCLC 1341476896.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ a b Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. (5 January 1947). "SOVIET FILM REVISED FOR PARTY APPROVAL". New York Times. p. 55.
- ISBN 5-8122-0302-4
- ^ Cochrane, George (1837). Wanderings in Greece. Vol. 1. Henry Colburn, Publisher. p. 115. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
[...] the battle of Navarino, which ended in the total destruction of the Turko-Egyptian squadron.
- ^ "Admiral P. S. Nakhimov". Russian Navy. RusNavy.com. 1998–2012. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ "210TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF ADMIRAL PAVEL NAKHIMOV". Russkiy Mir Foundation.
- ^ OCLC 1346817267.
- ^ )
- ^ )
- ^ )
- ^ )
- ^ )
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- ^ )
- ^ OCLC 607750654.
- ^ OCLC 607750654.
- ^ "У Севастопольському парку Дніпра прибрали погруддя російських адміралів часів Кримської війни (+фото)". Крым.Реалии (in Ukrainian). 22 December 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Таємниця церкви Святого Лазаря". www.ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). 2 July 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
External links
Media related to Pavel Nakhimov at Wikimedia Commons
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