Siege of Corfu (1798–1799)

The Siege of Corfu (1798–1799) was a siege conducted by a joint Russo-Ottoman fleet against the French garrison on the island of Corfu, one of the Ionian Islands, during the War of the Second Coalition. The island was strategically important, controlling access to the Adriatic Sea.

The French had occupied the Ionian Islands in 1797 following the Treaty of Campo Formio, which dissolved the Venetian Republic. They established a new administration and garrisoned the islands with French troops. However, the local population, especially the Greek Orthodox inhabitants, resented the French occupation and their anti-clerical policies.

In late 1798, a combined Russo-Ottoman fleet under the command of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov blockaded Corfu. The fleet consisted of Russian warships and Ottoman naval vessels. The Ottoman contribution was largely motivated by a desire to reclaim territories lost in previous conflicts, including the Ionian Islands, which they had long considered within their sphere of influence.

The siege lasted several months. The Russo-Ottoman forces bombarded the island's fortifications, including the formidable Old Fortress and New Fortress in Corfu Town. They also landed troops and engaged in skirmishes with the French defenders. The French garrison, under the command of General Louis François Jean Chabot, initially resisted strongly, but their supplies dwindled, and morale declined.

The decisive moment of the siege came with the capture of the island of Vido, which controlled access to Corfu Town's harbor. The Russo-Ottoman forces stormed Vido, overcoming fierce French resistance. With Vido in their hands, the allies were able to intensify their bombardment of Corfu Town.

Faced with overwhelming odds and dwindling resources, General Chabot surrendered Corfu on March 3, 1799. The French garrison was allowed to return to France. The capture of Corfu marked a significant victory for the Second Coalition and weakened French influence in the Adriatic.

Following the siege, the Ionian Islands were established as the Septinsular Republic, a nominally independent state under Ottoman suzerainty and Russian protection. This marked the first modern Greek state since the fall of the Byzantine Empire. The Russo-Ottoman alliance, though temporary and opportunistic, played a key role in liberating the islands from French control and paving the way for the eventual formation of a fully independent Greece.