Siege of Calvi facts for kids

The Siege of Calvi was a military operation during the invasion of Corsica. It happened during the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars. The people of Corsica had risen up against the French soldiers on the island in 1793. They asked for help from the British Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, led by Lord Hood.

Lord Hood's fleet was busy with the Siege of Toulon at first. But in February 1794, a small British force successfully defeated the French at San Fiorenzo. Then, a larger force attacked the town of Bastia. After Bastia fell, the British army, now led by General Charles Stuart, focused on Calvi. This was the last French-held fortress in Corsica.

Calvi was very well-protected with two strong forts. General Stuart prepared for a long siege. His troops took control of the mountains overlooking the town and began firing cannons. The French fired back. Many soldiers were injured on both sides. Among the British wounded was Captain Horatio Nelson, who lost sight in one eye. After several weeks, the French defenses were badly damaged. Stuart launched a big attack, pushing the French out of their forts and into the town. Stuart and the French commander, Raphaël de Casabianca, then talked about a surrender. This led to a truce and then, on August 10, a full surrender. The French soldiers were allowed to return to France. After the siege, Corsica became a British colony and a British base for two years.

Quick facts for kids Siege of Calvi
Part of the Invasion of Corsica during the French Revolutionary Wars
Loss of his Eye Before Calvi, National Maritime Museum
Date 17 June − 10 August 1794 Location Calvi, Corsica Result Anglo-Corsican victory
Belligerents
Great Britain Corsica	France
Commanders and leaders
Samuel Hood Horatio Nelson Charles Stuart John Moore Pasquale Paoli	Raphaël Casabianca
Strength
2,300 Mediterranean Fleet	5,000 2 frigates 2 brigs 1 gunboat
Casualties and losses
88 killed or wounded 1,000 sick	700 killed or wounded 2 frigates captured 2 brigs captured 1 gunboat captured

Why the Siege Happened

The French Revolution began in 1789. This event encouraged people in Corsica to want their own country. Corsica was an island controlled by France in the Mediterranean Sea. France had taken the island in 1768.

After the Revolution, a Corsican leader named Pasquale Paoli returned home. He quickly gained power and took control of Corsica. He drove out his opponents, including the powerful Bonaparte family. But in 1793, the French government, called the National Convention, became worried about Corsica's growing independence. They ordered Paoli's arrest.

Paoli decided to fight back. He gathered an army of local fighters. They pushed the French soldiers into three fortified ports on the northern coast. At the same time, Paoli asked British leaders in Italy for help. Britain had recently joined the French Revolutionary Wars. A large British fleet, led by Admiral Lord Hood, arrived in the Mediterranean in the summer of 1793.

British Involvement in Corsica

Lord Hood could not send help to Paoli right away. This was because of an unexpected uprising in Toulon, a main French naval base. The Siege of Toulon took up most of Hood's time and resources for several months. In December, Toulon fell to the French army. Hood had to make a quick retreat from the port. During this, half of the French fleet in the harbor was burned. Hood also rescued 7,000 French loyalists.

Without a base in the Ligurian Sea, Hood turned his attention to Corsica. A deal was made: Britain would help Corsica fight the French. In return, Corsica would become a self-governing part of the British Empire. This would give Hood a base to operate against the French coast.

The French soldiers on the island numbered about 6,000. They were led by Raphaël de Casabianca, who was based in Calvi. In February, a British force landed near San Fiorenzo. They attacked the town and captured it quickly. In April, the larger town of Bastia was attacked. The French soldiers there surrendered in May after running out of supplies. They were sent back to France. Only Calvi remained under French control.

These battles were difficult for the British commanders. Several generals resigned because they found it hard to work with Lord Hood. The newest general was Charles Stuart. His naval partner was Captain Horatio Nelson. Lord Hood had sailed away to chase a French fleet.

Preparing for the Attack

Calvi was very well-defended. Two modern forts protected the approaches to the port.

• On the west side was Fort Mozello. This was a star fort with ten cannons. It had a smaller battery to its east.
• To the southwest was Fort Mollinochesco. This fort controlled the main road through the mountains.

In the Bay of Calvi, two French ships, the Melpomène (40 guns) and the Mignonne (28 guns), were anchored. They could fire on any attacking force. The British commanders knew that if they waited until summer, their troops would get sick. Malaria was common on the island during the "unhealthy season." So, Stuart and Hood decided to attack as soon as possible.

Landing British Forces

General Stuart landed his troops at Port-Agra cove, about 3 miles (5 km) from Calvi. Captain Nelson's ship, HMS Agamemnon, and two supply ships, HMS Dolphin and HMS Lutine, escorted them. Stuart's plan was similar to the attack on Bastia. British forces would pull cannons up the steep mountainsides overlooking the town. From there, they could fire on the forts below.

This was a very difficult task. Roads had to be built to reach the mountains. Nelson estimated that one large cannon had to be pulled over 80 miles (130 km) of mountain terrain. Unloading supplies at Port-Agra took two days. On the second day, more help arrived. Lord Hood sent sailors from his flagship, HMS Victory, with more supplies.

During this time, Nelson's ships had to move away from the shore for five days because of a strong wind. But Lord Hood appeared off Port-Agra on June 27 in Victory. He landed more cannons. The British cannons were not all in place until July 4. Each fort faced a mortar battery, supported by two cannon batteries. These were set up overnight. The French were reportedly unaware of them until the firing began. One battery was only 750 yards (685 m) from Fort Mozello.

Attacking Calvi's Defenses

The first shots were fired two days earlier than planned, aimed at Fort Mollinochesco. The British firing was so heavy that by July 6, the fort was badly damaged. That evening, French workers tried to repair the damage. But British and Corsican troops made small attacks, forcing the French to pull back. This allowed a new British battery to be set up close to the damaged fort. This new battery made the fort impossible to defend, and the French soldiers moved into Calvi. With Fort Mollinochesco in British hands, the bay was no longer safe for French ships. The frigates moved into Calvi harbor.

British efforts then focused on Fort Mozello. They fired heavily on this fort for another twelve days. A large hole was blown in the western wall of the damaged fort. During this time, French cannons fired back effectively. One British captain was killed by cannon fire. Nelson was badly injured by flying stone splinters on July 12. He eventually lost sight in his right eye.

With Mozello weakened, Stuart ordered an attack on the outer parts of the fort on July 18. British soldiers set up new batteries overnight. The next morning, soldiers from the Royal Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Regiment launched a general attack. Despite heavy musket fire and hand-to-hand fighting, the British captured the outer batteries. They then stormed the hole in the wall and took control of the fort.

The Final Surrender

With the main French defenses captured, the town of Calvi came under heavy fire. Houses were destroyed, and many soldiers and townspeople were injured. Only 12 cannons were still working when Stuart sent terms of surrender to Casabianca on July 19. The French commander replied with the town's Latin motto: "Civtas Calvis semper fidelis" ("Calvi is always loyal").

Stuart responded by placing new batteries 650 yards (594 m) from the city walls. But he did not immediately restart the firing. On July 25, Casabianca sent a message to Stuart. He said that if supplies and reinforcements did not arrive within 25 days, he would surrender the city. Stuart discussed this with Lord Hood on Victory. Hood had returned from blocking a French fleet.

Hood and Stuart agreed that Calvi would not be allowed to hold out past August 10. But on the evening of July 28, four small ships carrying supplies managed to get through the British blockade. The defenders cheered. The offer of surrender was withdrawn, and firing started again on both sides. However, these ships brought no ammunition, which Calvi desperately needed. On July 31, a new offer for a truce was made and accepted by Stuart. It would last six days.

On August 10, after 51 days of siege, Casabianca surrendered as planned. His men marched out of the town and laid down their weapons. The terms of surrender allowed them to return to France.

What Happened Next

The British had 30 soldiers killed and 58 wounded. But the end of the siege was very important for Stuart. The summer heat was making his troops very sick. Malaria and dysentery had spread through the camp. Only 400 men were still fit to fight when Calvi surrendered. This explains why the surrender terms were generous. About 300 French soldiers and 247 Corsican supporters were given safe passage back to France.

The surrender made Britain's allies, Austria and Sardinia, angry. Their armies were fighting the French in Italy. But the new British leader of Corsica, Sir Gilbert Elliot, dismissed their complaints. Lord Hood also complained about the terms. He criticized Stuart for being too "tender" because he refused to fire on French hospitals during the siege. Hood thought this made the siege last longer than needed.

Many supplies were captured, including 113 cannons and mortars. Also captured were the French ships Melpomene and Mignonne, two small brigs named Augeste and Providence, and the gunboat Ca Ira. Melpomene was a beautiful ship and was added to the Royal Navy. But Mignonne was too small for service.

Corsica was now in British hands. Elliot was appointed to govern with Paoli. Elections had been held, and a constitution was announced. After Calvi fell, Paoli's deputy was made president of Corsica. Stuart became one of his advisors. But within weeks, Paoli and Elliot disagreed. Elliot and Stuart also argued about who had military authority on the island. The situation in Corsica became so bad that it almost led to a civil war in early 1796. British forces were forced to leave the island at the end of the year.