Anglo-Russian War (1807–1812) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Anglo-Russian War of 1807–1812 |
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 Battle between the Russian ship Opyt and a British frigate, off the coast of Nargen Island, 11 July 1808 |
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The Anglo-Russian War (1807–1812) was a period of fighting between Great Britain and Russia. It happened during the larger Napoleonic Wars, a time when Napoleon Bonaparte and France were fighting against many European countries. This war started after Russia signed a peace deal with France called the Treaty of Tilsit.
The fighting between Britain and Russia was mostly small naval battles. These took place mainly in the Baltic Sea and the Barents Sea.
Contents
Why Did the War Start?
The Treaty of Tilsit
In 1807, Napoleon's French army defeated Russia at the Battle of Friedland. After this loss, the Russian leader, Tsar Alexander I of Russia, had to sign a peace treaty with Napoleon. This treaty was called the Treaty of Tilsit.
Even though many in Russia didn't like the treaty, Tsar Alexander had no choice. Napoleon's army was very strong and could easily invade Russia. A key part of the treaty forced Russia to stop trading with Great Britain. This was part of Napoleon's plan to weaken Britain's economy. He wanted to close off Britain's important markets in Europe. This plan was known as the Continental System.
Russia Declares War
On October 26, 1807, Tsar Alexander officially declared war on Great Britain. This happened after the British attacked Copenhagen in Denmark in September 1807. However, Tsar Alexander did not actively fight a big war against Britain. He mostly just stopped trade as required by the treaty. The British understood Russia's difficult position. So, they also kept their military actions limited. Still, there were a few important events during this time.
What Happened During the War?
Ships Taken by Both Sides
When news of Russia's declaration of war reached Britain, the British took action. They stopped all Russian ships in British ports. About 70 British ships helped seize the Russian frigate Speshnoy in Portsmouth Harbour. Another Russian ship, Wilhelmina, was also taken. These ships were carrying money for a Russian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Lisbon Incident
In 1807, a Russian fleet under Vice-Admiral Dmitry Senyavin was ordered to sail from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea. Bad weather forced his ships to stop in Lisbon, Portugal. Soon after, the British Royal Navy blocked Lisbon. They treated Russian ships as enemies because the Anglo-Russian War had begun.
French forces then took over Lisbon. Senyavin found himself in a tricky spot. He declared his fleet neutral and managed to protect his ships from being seized. Later, British forces defeated the French in Portugal. Senyavin's fleet was then faced with many more British ships. He bravely stood his ground, threatening to destroy his own ships and Lisbon if attacked.
Eventually, Senyavin made a deal with the British Admiral Sir Charles Cotton. The Russian ships would be escorted to London, still flying their Russian flags. Senyavin even got to be the senior commander of the combined British and Russian fleet. His squadron arrived in Portsmouth in September 1808. The British held the Russian fleet there for a long time. They used excuses like bad winter weather making it impossible to return to the Baltic. Finally, in August 1809, the Russian fleet was allowed to sail to Riga.
Russia also invaded Sweden in 1808, which was a British ally. British warships helped the Swedish fleet during this Finnish War. They won battles against the Russians in the Gulf of Finland in 1808 and 1809.
In May 1808, a British fleet arrived in the Baltic. A British frigate, Salsette, captured the Russian cutter Opyt after a brave fight by its crew. This happened near Nargen island. The British Navy later used Opyt as their own ship.
The Vsevolod Battle
In July 1808, the Russian fleet sailed out from Kronstadt. British ships, Centaur and Implacable, joined the Swedish fleet to face them. On August 22, the Russian fleet moved to threaten the Swedes. The British and Swedish ships sailed to meet them.
The two sides were quite evenly matched. The Russians started to retreat, and the Allied ships followed. The British ships were faster and caught up to a Russian ship called Vsevolod. After a tough fight and many casualties, Vsevolod surrendered. The British ships involved in this battle later received special medals for their bravery.
After this, the British and Swedes blockaded the Russian fleet for several months. Eventually, the Russian fleet was able to return to Kronstadt.
Small Boat Actions
British boats also carried out smaller attacks in the Baltic Sea.
- In July 1809, boats from several British ships captured or destroyed Russian gunboats and a convoy near the Hanko Peninsula.
- Later that month, seventeen British boats attacked Russian gunboats and a brig near Fredrikshamn. The British captured several Russian vessels, but both sides suffered many casualties.
Despite these naval successes, the Russian army's victories on land forced Sweden to make peace with Russia in 1809. Sweden gave the area that became Finland to Russia. Sweden later joined Napoleon's blockade against Britain, but they still secretly traded with the British. The British Navy also continued to use Swedish ports.
The Anglo-Russian War also involved actions in the far north, in the Barents Sea. The British expanded their trade blockade to Russian waters there. The British Navy raided towns like Hasvik and Hammerfest. They also disrupted the "Pomor trade," which was Norway's trade with Russia.
In June 1809, boats from Nyaden raided Kildin Island, wiping out a Russian garrison. They also captured many coastal trading ships in the Kola River. Nyaden also took other Russian ships at sea.
British naval actions in this region continued into 1811. British ships captured several Russian trading vessels and a Danish privateer.
British Officers in Persia
During the Russo-Persian War (1804–1813), some British officers stayed in Persia. They helped train the Persian army. One officer, William Monteith, even commanded a frontier force.
How Did the War End?
Tsar Alexander I tried to keep Russia as neutral as possible in the ongoing war between France and Britain. He secretly allowed Russians to continue trading with Britain. He also did not fully enforce Napoleon's Continental System. In 1810, Russia officially left the Continental System, and trade between Britain and Russia grew.
Relations between France and Russia got worse after 1810. Napoleon had promised to help Russia in its war against the Ottoman Empire, but he never did. It became clear that Napoleon was not keeping his promises from the Treaty of Tilsit.
As war between France and Russia seemed likely, Tsar Alexander began to prepare. In April 1812, Russia and Sweden signed a defense agreement. A month later, Russia ended its war with Turkey.
After Napoleon invaded Russia in June 1812, Britain and Russia became allies again. They signed a peace treaty, the Treaty of Örebro, on July 18, 1812. On the same day, Britain also signed a peace treaty with Sweden, ending a short, uneventful war between them.
Images for kids
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Battle between the Russian ship Opyt and a British frigate, off the coast of Nargen Island, 11 July 1808
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