La Pomone contre les fregates Alceste et Active, painted by Pierre-Julien Gilbert.
The Adriatic campaign of 1807–1814 was a naval fight for control of the Adriatic Sea. It happened between the French Navy and the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. At first, there were many battles between groups of fast ships called frigates. The biggest battle was the Battle of Lissa in 1811. In this battle, the last large French naval force was defeated.
After this, British warships kept attacking French and Italian ships and coastal towns. This continued until 1813, when the British captured several important French port cities. This campaign began after the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807. In this agreement, the Russian Navy left the Adriatic Sea.
For seven years, the Royal Navy tried to stop French and Italian ships. These ships were used for trade and to move soldiers and supplies. Control of the Adriatic also depended on who held the Ionian Islands. These islands are outside the Straits of Otranto. If controlled, they could block ships from passing through. France strongly protected the island of Corfu. However, they could not keep a strong navy in the area. The British used this weakness to defeat French ships. This gave Britain full control of the Adriatic and Ionian seas.
This campaign in the Adriatic was very important for the wider war. It made it hard for France to move forces in the Balkans. Some people think Napoleon wanted to invade the Ottoman Empire. But he might have changed his mind because it was so hard to supply his army without controlling the Adriatic. He later turned his attention to Russia instead. The campaign also lowered the spirits of the French fleet. They lost some of their best commanders and frigates. It also helped the Austrian army in 1813. British attacks from the sea helped the Austrians get around French defenses in Italy.
What Happened During the Campaign?
Further information: Adriatic campaign of 1807–14
This timeline shows the main events of the Adriatic campaign. It also includes important events happening in Europe at the same time. These wider events often affected what happened in the Adriatic Sea.
| Year |
In the Adriatic Sea |
Wider Napoleonic Wars |
| 1807 |
- August 23: The British ship HMS Weasel arrived near Corfu. French soldiers had already taken over the island. Weasel chased and captured three small French ships with 250 soldiers.
- October 7: Boats from sixth rate HMS Porcupine captured an Italian gunboat called Safo near Giuppana.
- October 25: Boats from HMS Herald captured a French privateer ship named César at Otranto.
- November 27–29: HMS Porcupine raided the coast near Ragusa. Her small boat captured two ships in Ragusa harbor. Two days later, it attacked Zuliano. They burned most ships, destroyed French supplies, and captured two merchant vessels. One ship had four large mortars for defense.
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| 1808 |
- February 23: The French fleet from Toulon reached Corfu. They brought many troops and supplies. This was the last time such a large French force successfully entered the area.
- May 2: HMS Unite began patrolling the Gulf of Venice. It captured many coastal ships. Unite captured three Franco-Italian ships: Ronco, Nettuno, and Teulié.
- June 26: ship of the line HMS Standard captured two French ships, Volpe and Léger, near Corfu.
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- February 6: Napoleon secretly ordered French armies to take Spanish fortresses. French forces quickly took over most of Spain.
- August 1: 14,000 British troops landed in Portugal. They helped the local people fight against French rule. This naval support was very important for the British army.
- October 5–16: A French and Neapolitan army successfully captured the island of Capri on the west coast of Italy.
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| 1809 |
- February 8: British ships HMS Amphion and HMS Redwing landed on Melida. They captured two merchant ships.
- February 14: HMS Belle Poule captured the French ship Var near Valona. Var later joined the Royal Navy.
- March 12: French frigates Danaé and Flore arrived in the Adriatic with supplies for Corfu. They fought briefly with the British ship HMS Topaze.
- April 1: A British group of ships began attacking the Italian coast. Boats from HMS Mercury raided Rovigno and captured a gunboat.
- April 23: HMS Amphion, HMS Spartan, and HMS Mercury landed at Pesaro. They captured 13 ships, burned others, and blew up Pesaro Castle.
- May 2: HMS Spartan and HMS Mercury attacked Cesenatico. They captured 12 ships and blew up the castle and gun batteries.
- May 15: A group from HMS Mercury attacked Rotti and burned seven coastal ships.
- May 31: Boats from HMS Topaze raided Demata on Santa Maura. They captured nine French gunboats.
- July 28: Boats from HMS Excellent and other ships raided Duino near Trieste. They captured six gunboats and ten merchant ships.
- August 27: HMS Amphion landed at Cortellazzo. They captured six gunboats and two merchant ships. They also burned five other ships and blew up a gun battery.
- September 7: Boats from HMS Mercury landed at Barletta and captured the Neapolitan ship Pugliese.
- October 1: A British group of ships landed 1,900 soldiers on Cephalonia. The island quickly surrendered. Zante, Ithaca, and Cerigo also fell easily.
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- April 9: The Austrian army attacked Bavaria. This started the War of the Fifth Coalition. Napoleon won many battles against the Austrians.
- April 22: Sir Arthur Wellesley landed in Portugal. He drove the French out of most of the country. He won a big victory at the Battle of Talavera on July 27.
- October 14: The Treaty of Schönbrunn ended the War of the Fifth Coalition. Austria had to give up its entire Adriatic coastline to France.
- October 21–25: The last attempt by the French Toulon fleet to escape the British blockade failed. Many French ships were captured or burned.
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| 1810 |
- March 22 – April 16: A British force landed on Santa Maura. They captured the main fortress and secured the island.
- June 28: Boats from HMS Amphion and HMS Cerberus landed at Grado near Venice. They attacked French defenses, captured 62 French soldiers, and 25 coastal ships.
- September 29: New French frigates Favorite and Uranie joined the Venetian fleet. They sailed from Chiozzo to Ancona.
- October 20: British ships searched for the French fleet. The French force landed on Lissa on October 22. They captured or burned ships but left after eight hours when they heard British ships were coming.
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- July 21: A French army invaded Portugal. They besieged the Allied army behind the Lines of Torres Vedras. The French army struggled with supplies and had to retreat in March 1811.
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| 1811 |
- February 4–12: British frigates HMS Cerberus and HMS Active raided the Italian coast. They captured four merchant ships at Pescara. They also attacked Ortona, capturing a ship and burning two supply buildings.
- March 11: The Battle of Lissa took place. French ships tried to invade Lissa again. The British squadron spotted them. The French commander, Dubourdieu, was killed early in the battle. His ship Favorite was destroyed. The British captured Flore and Bellona. This battle ended France's attempts to control the Adriatic.
- March 25: French frigates Adrienne and Amélie left Toulon with supplies for Corfu. British ships attacked them, forcing them back to Toulon. The supply ship Dromedaire was captured.
- May 4: Boats from HMS Belle Poule and HMS Alceste attacked Parenzo harbor. They burned a French ship carrying supplies.
- November 27: HMS Eagle chased French frigates Uranie and Corcyre near Fano. Corceyre was captured.
- November 28–29: Action of 29 November 1811. A French convoy with cannons sailed north from Corfu. British ships chased them. The French ships Pomone and Persanne were captured.
- November 30: The French frigate Flore was destroyed in a storm off Chioggia.
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- March 5: A French army besieging Cadiz in Spain was defeated by an Anglo-Spanish army.
- May 3: The French army in Portugal had to retreat. Wellington's army advanced and forced the French out of Portugal completely at the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro.
- September 15: A French campaign in Valencia was held up by Spanish forces. The French eventually captured Valencia in December 1811.
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| 1812 |
- February 22: Action of 22 February 1812. The new French ship Rivoli left Venice. The British ship HMS Victorious chased it. After a five-hour fight, Rivoli was captured.
- August 31: HMS Bacchante landed near Venice. They captured a convoy of ship-timber and its escorts.
- September 9: The French frigate Danaé was destroyed by an explosion at Trieste.
- September 16: HMS Eagle drove 23 ships ashore near Goro. They burned six ships and captured 15.
- September 18: Boats from HMS Bacchante attacked a convoy off the Tremiti Islands. They captured all 18 ships and eight gunboats.
- December 21: A group from HMS Apollo and HMS Weasel landed at San Cataldo near Lecce. They captured and blew up the town's defense tower.
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- January 25: Wellington's British army advanced into Spain. They captured the fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz.
- June 13: Wellington's army advanced into León. They won a major victory at the Battle of Salamanca on July 22. They captured Madrid but later had to retreat to Portugal.
- June 23: The French Army invaded Russia. They pushed deep into Russian territory. They won battles like Battle of Borodino. Napoleon captured Moscow but found it empty. The French army had to retreat in the winter, losing many soldiers.
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| 1813 |
- January 6: HMS Bacchante and HMS Weasel captured five French gunboats off Otranto.
- January 29: Admiral Thomas Fremantle led an invasion force to Augusta. The island surrendered without a fight.
- February 1–3: Troops landed on Curzola. They stormed the French defenses in the main town.
- February 2: Boats from HMS Kingfisher captured one ship and drove nine ashore near Faro.
- February 14: HMS Bacchante captured and burned the French gunboat Alcinous near Otranto.
- March 22: A group from HMS Havannah landed near Vasto. They seized a gunboat and burned a merchant ship.
- April 11–14: Royal Marines from HMS Apollo captured two grain ships near Corfu. They also raided Malero harbor, forcing eight grain ships to sink themselves.
- April 22: HMS Weasel fought 14 French gunboats near Zirona. Weasel was damaged but captured or wrecked six gunboats.
- April 24: Groups from HMS Apollo landed at San Cataldo. They captured 26 French soldiers.
- April 29: Boats from HMS Elizabeth and HMS Eagle captured five ships and burned another near Goro.
- May 15: HMS Bacchante destroyed a gun battery on Karlobag.
- May 17–27: Boats from HMS Cerberus and HMS Apollo attacked a French convoy leaving Brindisi. They captured three gunboats and four coastal ships.
- June 8: Boats from HMS Elizabeth and HMS Eagle landed at Omago in Istria. They defeated the French, captured four ships, and destroyed the town's defenses.
- June 12: Boats from HMS Bacchante attacked seven French gunboats and 14 coastal ships in Gela-Nova harbor. They captured them all.
- June 17: Boats from HMS Havannah raided Vasto, capturing ten merchant ships. Marines from HMS Saracen captured 36 French soldiers on Giuppana.
- June 20: 50 sailors from HMS Elizabeth landed at Dignano. The town surrendered, and its defenses were destroyed.
- July 3: Admiral Fremantle led a large attack on Fiume. British boats and marines attacked the port's defenses. After a fight, the French garrison surrendered. Over 90 ships were captured. The city's defenses were blown up.
- July 5: The British squadron attacked Porto Ré. The French sank 13 ships and destroyed gun batteries.
- July 7: HMS Eagle bombarded and blew up the castle at Farasina.
- August 2: Groups from HMS Eagle and HMS Bacchante attacked Rovigno. They destroyed defenses and captured or destroyed 21 ships.
- August 4: Marines from HMS Milford and HMS Weasel landed on Ragosniza. They attacked and blew up the island's battery.
- October 5: Admiral Fremantle's ships blocked Trieste while the Austrians attacked by land. British sailors and marines helped the Austrians. The city's castle fell on October 29.
- October 12: HMS Bacchante, HMS Saracen, and other ships attacked French gunboats near Cattaro. They captured all four. The next day, they captured the island itself.
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- May 22: Wellington's army advanced into Spain. They defeated the French army at the Battle of Vitoria on June 21. French resistance in Northern Spain collapsed.
- June 3: A British army tried to besiege Tarragona but failed.
- July 25: French armies counterattacked Wellington's lines in the Battle of the Pyrenees. Wellington eventually defeated the French and entered French territory.
- The Coalition (Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Austria) advanced into France. Napoleon won some battles but was outnumbered. The Battle of Leipzig on October 16 was a big victory for the Coalition. Napoleon was driven out of Germany.
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| 1814 |
- January 6: British ships received the surrender of the fortress of Cattaro after ten days of fighting.
- January 28: Ragusa surrendered to Captain Hoste and an Austrian force.
- February 3: The French frigate Uranie was set on fire in Brindisi harbor to prevent its capture.
- February 16: Admiral Fremantle announced that the Adriatic was secured. British and Austrian forces had captured the entire Dalmatian and Croatian coasts and parts of Italy. Over 700 French and Italian ships were captured.
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- January 1: The Prussian army crossed the Rhine. Other Coalition armies followed. Napoleon had to abandon most of his empire. He fought battles near Paris. He won some, but the Coalition's larger numbers pushed him back.
- April 6: Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Paris. He was forced to give up his title as Emperor.
- April 10: Wellington's army defeated the French at the Battle of Toulouse.
- April 11: At the Treaty of Fontainebleau, Napoleon formally surrendered. He went into exile on Elba.
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See also
