Who is P s Nakhimov? Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov - biography, information, personal life

Nakhimov, Pavel Stepanovich

Admiral; genus. in the village In the town of Smolensk province, Vyazemsky district, on June 23, 1800, he died on June 30, 1855. His father, Stepan Mikhailovich, a second major, later the district leader of the nobility, had 11 children, of whom six died in childhood. All survivors: Nikolai, Platon, Ivan, Pavel and Sergei were brought up in the naval cadet corps and served in the navy.

Pavel Stepanovich was assigned to the corps on May 3, 1815 as a midshipman. During his stay in the corps, he made practical voyages in the Baltic Sea on the brigs "Simeon and Anna" and "Phoenix". On the Phoenix, under the command of one of the best naval officers of that time, Dokhturov, Nakhimov, among the few best students assigned to the brig by the will of the Sovereign, visited, among other things, the shores of Denmark and Sweden. N. graduated from the corps course in 1818 as the sixth graduate and at the same time, on February 9, he was promoted to midshipman and enlisted in the 2nd naval crew.

The end of 1818 and all of 1819 N. served with his crew in St. Petersburg, in 1820 he sailed in the Baltic on the tender "Janus", and in 1821 he was sent by land to Arkhangelsk, to the crew of a ship being built there. From Arkhangelsk, he was soon called back to St. Petersburg and assigned to the frigate "Cruiser", intended together with the 20-gun sloop "Ladoga" for a circumnavigation of the world. The head of the expedition and commander of the “Cruiser” was Captain 2nd Rank Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, a later famous admiral, under whose leadership so many famous Russian sailors were trained. The "Cruiser" was intended to guard the Russian-American colonies, and the "Ladoga" was intended to deliver goods to Kamchatka and the said colonies.

Contemporaries unanimously assert that such an appointment to a person without patronage at a time when circumnavigation of the world was extremely rare serves as irrefutable evidence that the young midshipman attracted special attention to himself. The general voice of his colleagues is also conveyed that from the first days of the voyage Nakhimov served 24 hours a day, never causing reproaches for his desire to curry favor from his comrades, who quickly believed in his calling and dedication to the work itself. On August 17, 1822, the "Cruiser" left Kronstadt and, having visited the ports of Copenhagen and Portsmouth, dropped anchor on December 10 in the Santa Cruz roadstead. Having reloaded in Rio de Janeiro and not hoping, due to the late season, to round Cape Horn, Lazarev considered it best to go to the Great Ocean around the Cape of Good Hope and Australia. On April 18, 1823, they entered the Gobart Town roadstead, where the crews were given rest on the shore and where they prepared for further sailing to Otaiti Island and further to Novo-Arkhangelsk. At the last point, the "Cruiser" was replaced by our stationer, the sloop "Apollo", and was placed at the disposal of the chief ruler of the colonies. Having sailed to San Francisco in the winter of 1823 to renew supplies and then remained with the colonies until mid-October 1824, the "Cruiser" was replaced by the sloop "Enterprise" arriving from Russia, rounded Cape Horn, stayed a little in Brazil and arrived in Kronstadt on the 5th. August 1825.

A three-year circumnavigation under the command of Lazarev, which gave Nakhimov the rank of lieutenant in 1823, and at the end of the expedition the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class, developed him into an excellent sailor, brought him closer to Lazarev, who appreciated the talents of his subordinate and lovingly mentored him for further service in navy. This rapprochement was so close that throughout his subsequent service N. was constantly under the command of Lazarev until the admiral’s death, that is, until 1851.

At the end of his round-the-world expedition, in the same year 1825, N. received an appointment to Arkhangelsk, from where the following year he went to Kronstadt on the 74-gun ship "Azov" under the command of his old boss.

When, on the initiative of Emperor Nicholas, European states stood up for the Greeks, oppressed by the Turks, and by the Treaty of London on June 24, 1827, Russia, England and France pledged to act jointly, a collective note was sent to Turkey demanding a truce within a month and threatening otherwise, by force to force the warring parties to stop fighting, three allied squadrons were sent to the shores of Greece.

The Russian squadron under the flag of Rear Admiral Heyden united in the Mediterranean Sea with the French and English squadrons. Nakhimov was still on the Azov under the command of Lazarev. On October 8, the united allied fleet approached the entrance to Navarino Bay in two columns: one consisted of English and French ships, the other of Russians. At the head of the Russian column was the "Azov" under the admiral's flag. Encountered by the crossfire of coastal batteries stationed on both sides of the entrance to the bay, and the batteries of the island of Sfakteria, which covered the same entrance, "Azov" did not respond to the enemy with a single shot and continued in menacing silence on its way to a predetermined place. The rest of the Russian ships followed this example: in complete silence they walked one after another to the designated position points and, only after occupying them, took part in the memorable battle. The Allies, who had 26 ships with 1,298 guns, fought against 65 enemy ships, armed with 2,106 guns, and numerous coastal batteries. Despite this inequality of forces, in four hours they destroyed up to 60 different sizes of Turkish and Egyptian ships. "Azov", controlled with exemplary composure by the art and courage of Lazarev, fought simultaneously against five enemy ships, while helping the English admiral against an 80-gun Turkish ship under the flag of Mukharem Bey. "Azov" received 146 surface and 7 underwater holes in the ship's hull and was generally severely damaged; but he sank two large frigates and a corvette and burned an 80-gun ship and a two-deck frigate on which the commander-in-chief of the Turkish fleet, Tagir Pasha, was located. The destruction of the enemy fleet was complete. The Tsar's generous rewards were distributed to our brave sailors. Nakhimov, who particularly distinguished himself in battle, was promoted to captain-lieutenant and awarded the Order of St. George, 4th class. and the Greek Order of the Savior.

N. spent the entire year of 1828 sailing, first in the Mediterranean Sea, and then in the Archipelago, and the following year he was appointed commander of the 16-gun corvette Navarin, taken from the Egyptians near Modon and armed by its new commander in Malta with all kinds of naval luxury and panache. On this corvette in May 1830, Nakhimov returned as part of Lazarev’s squadron to Kronstadt and cruised the Baltic Sea on it during the 1831 campaign.

In 1832, N. was a member of a committee established to protect Kronstadt from the then emerging cholera epidemic, and soon received command of the frigate Pallada, laid down at the Okhta shipyard. He tirelessly monitored the construction of this exemplary vessel and introduced on it some improvements that were applied for the first time. On the new frigate N. already cruised the Baltic in 1833 in the squadron of Admiral Bellingshausen. During the voyage, he personally checked the correct course of the ship, which was sailing in the formation of the squadron; one night he was the first to discover the wrong course and raised the signal: “the squadron is in danger!” The ships quickly changed course, and the old admiral, gray at sea, demanded an explanation. Cannon shots thundering in the distance were a response to the request: the advanced ship "Arsis", which did not consider Nakhimov's signal, ran into rocks and almost sank. Nakhimov’s reward was the gracious words of the Sovereign: “I owe you the preservation of the squadron. I thank you. I will never forget this.”

In January 1834, N. was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet, which then entered the management of Vice Admiral M.P. Lazarev, and was appointed commander of the 41st naval crew. On August 30 of the same year, he was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank, and in 1836 he was given command of the ship Silistria, which was under construction. On “Silistria”, while performing ordinary practical voyages, on December 6, 1837, he received the rank of captain of the 1st rank.

Continuous long-term voyages, various hardships associated with cruising in distant seas and when crossing oceans, participation in hostilities and tireless work undermined N.’s health. Despising all the comforts of life, paying little attention to the advice of doctors, he neglected the beginnings of diseases that soon took on the character threatening. Radical treatment became a direct necessity for him, and he had to part with his native element for a while. At the request of the Chief of the Main Naval Staff, Prince. Menshikov, Nakhimov was dismissed in October 1838 with a reduction in pay abroad, where he stayed for 11 months.

Having recovered from his illnesses, Nakhimov again took command of the Silistria, participated on it in 1840 in transporting ground forces to the Black Sea shores of the Caucasus to occupy the mouths of the Tuapse and Psezuane rivers, and on the way back assisted in the destruction of a smuggling ship between Anapa and Novorossiysk on September 2 , for which he received the Royal favor. He spent the years 1841-1845 in regular cruising along the Black Sea and in Sevastopol, providing, among other things, assistance to the fortification of Golovinsky, besieged by the mountaineers, on August 30, 1844, and again received the highest favor for this. On September 13, 1845, N. was promoted to rear admiral and appointed commander of the 1st brigade of the 4th naval division. Then, until 1852 inclusive, he sailed the Black Sea on the Cahul, Silistria, Yagudiel and Kovarna. On March 30, 1852, appointed commander of the 5th Fleet Division, he raised his flag on the ship "Twelve Apostles", and on October 2 of the same year he was promoted to vice admiral with confirmation of his position. By this time, N.’s naval reputation was fully established. With his mind and will, he was selflessly devoted to naval affairs. A convinced bachelor, a man of Spartan habits, who hated luxury, he had no personal interests and was alien to any selfishness and ambition. Simple-minded and always modest, N. avoided ostentation both in the service and in public life. But everyone who knew the admiral could not help but understand what greatness of soul, what strong character he concealed within himself under his modest and simple-minded appearance.

On the shore, Nakhimov was the senior comrade of his subordinates, he was the “father” of the sailors, their wives and children. He helped officers in word and deed, and often with his own resources; delved into all the needs of the lower sea brethren. In Sevastopol, on the Grafskaya pier, almost every day one could see the admiral, accompanied by his adjutant, to the crowd of petitioners awaiting him - retired sailors, wretched old people, women, children. These people turned to the “sailor’s father” for more than one material help; sometimes they asked only for advice on all sorts of matters, they asked for arbitration in quarrels and family troubles.

At sea, on a ship, Nakhimov was, however, a demanding boss. His severity and exactingness for the slightest omission or slackness in service knew no bounds. His closest shore friends and interlocutors did not have a moment of moral and physical peace at sea: N.’s demands increased in the degree of his affection. His consistency and perseverance in this regard was truly amazing. But in moments of rest from official duties, at the dinner table in the admiral’s cabin, Nakhimov again became a good-natured interlocutor. Service troubles were soon forgotten, and dissatisfaction with the boss never lasted. However, Pavel Stepanovich’s reprimands and remarks were not painful: they always bore the imprint of good nature.

Demanding of his subordinates, Nakhimov was even more demanding of himself, was the first employee on the squadron, and served as an example of tirelessness and devotion to duty. While sailing on the Silistria as part of a squadron, Nakhimov once suffered an accident. During the evolution of the fleet, sailing on the counter-tack and very close to the Silistria, the ship Adrianople made such an unsuccessful maneuver that a collision turned out to be inevitable. Quickly assessing the situation, Nakhimov calmly gave the command to remove people from the most dangerous place, and he himself remained in this very place, on the quarterdeck, which was soon struck by the Adrianople, which tore off a significant part of the Silistria's mast and a huge boat. Showered by debris, but not changing his position, Nakhimov only by a lucky chance remained unharmed, and to the officers’ reproaches of carelessness, he didactically replied that such cases are rare and that commanders should use them, so that the ship’s crew would see the presence of spirit in their commander and be imbued with him respect, so necessary in case of hostilities. Having closely studied shipbuilding techniques and invested a lot of personal creativity into it, N. had no rivals as a shipmaster. His brainchildren: the corvette "Navarin", the frigate "Pallada" and the ship "Silistria" - were constantly the models that everyone pointed to and which everyone tried to imitate. Every sailor, meeting the Silistria at sea or entering the roadstead where she was showing off, took all measures to appear in the best possible, impeccable form to the vigilant commander of the Silistria, from whom not a single step, not a single slightest flaw could be hidden. , as well as dashing ship control. His approval was revered as a reward that every Black Sea sailor tried to earn. All this led to the fact that Nakhimov acquired a reputation as a sailor, all of whose thoughts and actions were constantly and exclusively aimed at the common good, at tireless service to his homeland.

When, with the beginning of the Crimean War, in Sevastopol on September 13, 1853, an order was received from St. Petersburg to immediately transport the 13th Infantry Division with two light batteries, a total of 16,393 people and 824 horses, with a corresponding amount of military cargo, to Anakria - heavy This assignment was entrusted to Vice Admiral Nakhimov and he carried it out brilliantly. The fleet under his command, consisting of 12 ships, 2 frigates, 7 steamships and 11 transports, prepared for sailing and received the landing in four days, and seven days later, i.e. September 24, the troops were landed on the Caucasian coast. The disembarkation began at 7 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m. Suffice it to recall that in 1801, transporting the same force of landing forces from Malta to Egypt required more than 200 military and merchant ships. The manager of operations, Nakhimov, “for excellent diligent service, knowledge, experience and tireless activity,” was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class.

From the Caucasian coast, our fleet immediately returned to Sevastopol, and on October 11, not yet knowing about the declaration of war, Nakhimov went to sea with a squadron, which included: the ships "Empress Maria", "Chesma", "Rostislav", "Svyatoslav" and "Brave", the frigate "Kovarna" and the steamer "Bessarabia". The squadron was intended to cruise in sight of the Anatolian coast, on the routes of communication between Constantinople and the eastern coast of the Black Sea, and to protect our possessions on this coast from a surprise attack. Nakhimov was given instructions to “repel, but not attack.”

On November 1, the chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet, Kornilov, arrived at Nakhimov on the ship Vladimir and brought a manifesto about the war. Immediately the order was given to the squadron: “War has been declared; serve a prayer service and congratulate the team!” Another order was immediately drawn up, extensive and clearly expressing the requirements of the admiral, from which we quote the following remarkably defined and at the same time modest phrase: “I notify gentlemen commanders that in the event of meeting with an enemy exceeding us in strength, I will attack him, being completely I am confident that each of us will do our part."

Several more days passed. The weather was getting worse; On November 8, a storm broke out, the likes of which the Black Sea residents had never experienced before. The ships "Svyatoslav" and "Brave", the frigate "Kovarna" and the steamer "Bessarabia" suffered such severe accidents that they had to be sent to Sevastopol for repairs. Nakhimov was left with three ships; but, having decided to fulfill his duty at all costs, he did not stop cruising.

Meanwhile, the Turkish admiral Osman Pasha also appeared in the Black Sea with a squadron consisting of seven frigates, 3 corvettes, two steamers and two transports, a total of fourteen warships. The storm forced the Turkish admiral to seek shelter. He took refuge in the Sinop roadstead. Nakhimov was not slow to appear at the entrance to the roadstead with three ships, which made up the entire force that was at his disposal at that time. Thinking that the Russian admiral was luring the Turkish fleet into the open sea, Osman Pasha did not dare to leave the harbor. On November 16, Rear Admiral Novosilsky’s squadron joined Nakhimov’s detachment. It consisted of the ships "Paris", "Grand Duke Constantine" and "Three Saints" and the frigates "Kahul" and "Kulevchi". Our fleet had artillery of 712 guns, the enemy - 476. But the Turks were protected by six coastal batteries, on which there were 26 large-caliber guns, including 68 pound guns, i.e., samples much stronger than the then samples of the ship's artillery. On November 17, Nakhimov gathered all the commanders, and then a detailed disposition for the battle was drawn up and an order was given for the squadron. Here everything was foreseen, everything was provided for, and in fact everything began to be carried out as if in maneuvers. At the same time, the end of the order is instructive: “In conclusion, I will express my thought that all preliminary instructions under changed circumstances can make it difficult for a commander who knows his business, and therefore I leave everyone completely independently to act at their own discretion, but will certainly fulfill their duty.”

On the morning of November 18, it was raining and a squally OSO wind was blowing, the most unfavorable for capturing enemy ships, because, broken, they could easily throw themselves ashore. At 9 o'clock in the morning our squadron launched rowing ships, as the wooden fleet usually did before a battle, and at 9½ o'clock the signal was raised to prepare for an attack. At noon the ships headed for the Sinop roadstead. Despite the rain and fog, the enemy soon noticed the attack. All of its ships and coastal batteries opened fire at 12½ o'clock. The Empress Maria, flying Nakhimov's flag, was bombarded with cannonballs and nipples, most of its spars were broken, and only one intact shroud remained at the mainmast. But the ship, having the wind from the stern, fearlessly moved forward, firing battle fire at the enemy ships it passed by, and dropped anchor against the Turkish admiral frigate Auni-Allah. Unable to withstand even half an hour of fire, the Turkish flagship weighed anchor and washed ashore. "Empress Maria" then turned her fire exclusively on the 44-gun frigate "Fazli-Allah" - the Russian "Raphael", taken from us by the Turks in 1828 - and forced it to follow the example of the first ship. The other commanders of our ships did not lag behind their boss, showing both daring and skill. The actions of the ship "Paris" under the flag of Rear Admiral Novosilsky were especially brilliant. Admiring his beautiful and cold-blooded maneuvers, Nakhimov, in the hottest moment of the battle, ordered to express his gratitude to “Paris”, but there was nothing to raise the signal; all the Empress Maria's halyards were broken. Our complete victory soon became evident; almost all the Turkish ships washed ashore and burned there; Only one 20-gun steamer, the Taif, broke through, subsequently bringing sad news to Constantinople.

At 1:30 p.m., the frigate "Odessa" appeared at the Sinop roadstead under the flag of Adjutant General Kornilov, and with it the steamships "Crimea" and "Khersones". The battle continued, but mainly with the coastal batteries. The Turkish warships washed ashore were in the most distress; transport and merchant ships sank from cannonballs. Soon the enemy frigates began to explode, the fire spread to city buildings, and a strong fire broke out. At five o'clock in the evening it was all over: the entire Turkish fleet, except for the steamship Taifa, was destroyed; the destroyed batteries were silent. Up to three thousand Turks were killed; the survivors surrendered along with their admiral, who was wounded in the leg. Our losses were limited to 1 officer and 33 lower ranks killed and 230 wounded.

At night, the steamships took our ships away from the shore to avoid the possibility of the burning remains of ships of the enemy fleet being deposited on them. At the same time, work began to repair the main damage, which turned out to be quite significant. On one ship, the Empress Maria, there were 60 holes, fortunately on the surface. And all these damages, under the direct leadership of Nakhimov himself, were corrected in 36 hours so much that the squadron was able to undertake a return voyage through the entire Black Sea in deep autumn. On the 20th, Nakhimov set off, and by the night of November 22, the winners entered the roadstead of Sevastopol.

By a letter on November 28, the Sovereign Emperor, “executing with true joy the decree of the statute,” granted Nakhimov the Order of St. George, 2nd class.

A very characteristic fact is that in his detailed report on the Sinop battle, Nakhimov completely forgot about himself.

On December 23, the Anglo-French fleet with a total force of 89 warships, including 54 steamships, entered the Black Sea, turned Varna into its naval base and began to equip a huge landing force there with a clear threat to the Crimea to send strong detachments to the open sea, which and were not slow in stopping the movement of merchant ships along our shores. The Russian Black Sea sailing fleet, significantly inferior to the enemy both in number and, especially, in quality, was doomed to passive activity. On February 9, 1854, a manifesto was issued about the break with England and France, on April 9, the allies bombarded Odessa, and on September 2, the allied army landed in Yevpatoria: 28,000 French, 27,000 British and 7,000 Turks with a corresponding amount of field artillery and 114 siege weapons. Immediately after landing, the British and French moved towards Sevastopol.

By the beginning of the Eastern War, Sevastopol was quite strongly fortified on the sea side. The entrance to the raid was fired upon by 8 batteries. Only the outermost batteries - Konstantinovskaya and No. 10 - could operate on the fleet approaching Sevastopol; Only part of the guns of other batteries could help them in this matter. Then, in the spring of 1854, three more internal batteries were built - the Twelve Apostles, Paris and Svyatoslav - and two external ones, on the sea coast north of Konstantinovskaya. All these batteries were armed with 610 guns. In addition, for the defense of Sevastopol on the water, Nakhimov’s squadron of 8 ships and 6 frigates stood in the roadstead, in full readiness to go to sea; further, at the entrance to the southern bay, Kornilov’s squadron of 4 ships, 1 frigate and 4 steamers, and finally, in the depths of the roadstead, a flotilla of small ships.

On the land side, Sevastopol was almost undefended. On the northern side there was a large but old fortification, erected back in 1818, and on the southern side it was only planned to build a series of bastions and defensive lines connecting them. The ground defense fortifications began at Kilen Bay with bastion No. 1; with it, and then with bastion No. 2, Malakhov Kurgan (Kornilovsky Bastion) and bastion No. 3, the Ship side of Sevastopol was defended; further, bastions No. 4-7 protected the City side.

After an unsuccessful battle for us on September 8 on the Alma River, where the allied army of 62 thousand was met by 34 thousand of our troops, Menshikov retreated to Bakhchisarai, entrusting temporary control of the defense of the southern side of Sevastopol to Nakhimov, and the northern side to Kornilov. The allies, approaching Sevastopol from the north and inquiring from the Tatars about the complete lack of defense of the southern side, changed the original plan, settled in Kamysheva and Balaklava bays and intended to storm the city from the south. But by this time, on the southern side, through the active efforts of Nakhimov, Kornilov and Totleben, a line of fortifications had already been erected. The enemy did not dare to attack with open force and began a proper siege of the fortress.

The garrison on the southern side consisted of 6 reserve battalions and naval commands, totaling up to 5,000 people. Considering it impossible to defend Sevastopol with such forces, Nakhimov, after Menshikov’s decision to reject Kornilov’s plan to engage the enemy in a naval battle, took measures to scuttle the ships of his squadron, so as not to give them up to the enemy and to prevent the enemy fleet from accessing the roadstead, and on September 14 he gave the following memorable order: “The enemy is approaching a city in which there is very little garrison. I am, of necessity, forced to scuttle the ships of the squadron entrusted to me, and attach the remaining crews with boarding weapons to the garrison. I am confident in the commanders, officers and crews that each of them will fight like a hero. Up to three thousand of us will gather. The assembly point is on Teatralnaya Square. I will announce this throughout the squadron."

Work on the south side is in full swing. Nakhimov, together with Kornilov, vigilantly took care of the delivery of all the assets of the fleet, port and other parts of the naval department to Totleben, who energetically began to strengthen the defensive line. The sailors involved in the work, inspired by the personal example of their worthy boss, were distinguished, according to Totleben, by their special tirelessness, dexterity and efficiency. To ensure communication between the Ship side and the City side, N . On his own initiative, he built a bridge across the southern bay, using brigades, schooners and rafts.

The memorable day of October 5th arrived - the day of the first bombing of Sevastopol. Clouds of cannonballs and bombs rained down on the bastions, which, having been hastily poured, poorly resisted enemy shells. The strongest battle took place on Malakhov Kurgan and on the 5th bastion. Kornilov went to the first, Nakhimov to the second. Moving from gun to gun, N. himself aimed the guns, gave advice to the gunners, monitored the flight of shells, and encouraged the hearts of the fortress defenders. Despising any danger, he almost died at the very beginning of the battle: wounded in the head, fortunately wounded lightly, H. tried to hide it, not wanting to worry the sailors who adored him. "It's not true, sir!" He answered sharply and with displeasure to one of the officers, who loudly exclaimed: “You are wounded, Pavel Stepanovich!” Fate was not so lenient towards Kornilov, who died that day on the Malakhov Kurgan.

The battle of October 5, waged by the Allies simultaneously from both land and sea, ended with very minor damage to the coastal batteries, but with sad results on the land side. The defensive line was damaged to such an extent that it presented almost no obstacles to the assault. Fortunately, the enemy did not take advantage of this and did not dare to attack. Reinforcements began to approach Sevastopol and the defense was able to become long-lasting and stubborn.

To systematically trace N.'s activities involved in this defense would mean writing a detailed history of the glorious defense of the city native to the Black Sea sailors. We have to confine ourselves to only a general description of his personality as the most prominent defender of Sevastopol, a retelling of particularly outstanding episodes from his military life and reporting information about changes in his official position.

To characterize the personality of Pavel Stepanovich as a defender of Sevastopol, it is enough to quote the following lines from the pen of his glorious comrade-in-arms Totleben, lines recognized by the author as only “a weak sketch of what Nakhimov was for Sevastopol.”

“Nakhimov walked around the defensive line every day, despising all dangers. With his presence and example, he raised the spirit not only in the sailors, who were in awe of him, but also in the ground forces, who also soon understood what Nakhimov was. Always caring about preserving the lives of people, the admiral did not spared only himself. For example, during the entire siege he alone always wore epaulettes, doing this in order to convey contempt for danger to all his subordinates. No one knew better than him the spirit of the Russian commoner sailor and soldier, who did not like loud words ; therefore, he never resorted to eloquence, but influenced the troops by example and by strictly demanding that they fulfill their official duties. He was always the first to appear in the most dangerous places, where the presence and management of the commander were most needed. Fearing being late, he even went to bed at night, without undressing, so as not to lose a single minute in dressing.As for the administrative activities of the admiral during the defense, there was not a single part that he did not care about more than anyone else. He himself always came to other bosses, even junior ones, in order to find out if there were any difficulties and to offer them his assistance. In case of disagreement between them, he always acted as a reconciliator, trying to direct each and every one solely to serving the common cause. Wounded officers and lower ranks not only found support and protection in him, but could always count on help from his own poor pocket."

There is no doubt that those military writers are right who unanimously claim: “Nakhimov was the soul of the defense of Sevastopol.” But in addition to the moral influence on the garrison, Pavel Stepanovich also played a well-known role in organizations defense In December 1854, at his insistence, three batteries were built to shell Artillery Bay, into which enemy ships could break through due to damage to the roadstead barrier by storms. In mid-February of the following year, he set up a second line of barriers at the entrance to Sevastopol. At the end of June, allowing, due to the circumstances of that time, the possibility of a breakthrough to the enemy fleet's roadstead, he strengthened the defense of the entrance with three more batteries, of which one, two-tiered for 30 guns, placed on the cape between the Konstantinovskaya and Mikhailovskaya batteries and operated both in the roadstead and against the French siege work at Chersonesus, was called Nakhimovskaya. His order of the end of February, which established the general order of service and activities on the bastions, cannot but be classified as one of those most remarkable documents that must be passed on to posterity with inviolable accuracy. Here is the order:

“The efforts used by the enemy against Sevastopol on October 5 and in the following days give good reason to think that, having decided to continue the siege, our enemies are counting on even more enormous means; but now the six-month work to strengthen Sevastopol is coming to an end, the means of defense ours almost tripled, and therefore - which of us, believers in the justice of God, will doubt the triumph over the daring plans of the enemy?

But destroying them with a great loss on our part is not yet a complete triumph, and therefore I consider it my duty to remind all commanders of the sacred duty that lies upon them, namely, to take care in advance that when opening fire from enemy batteries there is not a single extra person not only in open places and idle, but even the servants at the guns and the number of people for work inseparable from the battle was limited by extreme necessity. A caring officer, taking advantage of circumstances, will always find ways to save people and thereby reduce the number of those in danger. The curiosity inherent in the courage that animates the valiant garrison of Sevastopol should especially not be tolerated by private commanders. Let everyone be confident in the result of the battle and calmly remain in the place indicated to him; this especially applies to the years. officers.

I hope that Messrs. remote and individual commanders of troops will pay full attention to this subject and divide their officers into lines, ordering those who are free to remain under dugouts and in closed places. At the same time, I ask you to instill in them that the life of each of them belongs to the fatherland, and that it is not daring, but only true courage that brings benefit to him and honor to those who know how to distinguish it in their actions from the first.

I take this opportunity to once again repeat the prohibition of frequent shooting. In addition to the incorrectness of the shots, a natural consequence of haste, the waste of gunpowder and shells is such an important subject that no courage, no merit should justify the officer who allowed it. Let concern for the protection of the city, entrusted by the Sovereign to our honor, be a guarantee for the accuracy and composure of our fellow artillerymen.”

As you know, at the beginning of the defense of Sevastopol, Pavel Stepanovich held the modest position of head of naval teams on the southern side. In this position, on January 11, 1855, he was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, sent with a rescript from the august Admiral General, which, among other things, said: “We are proud of you and your glory as an adornment of our fleet.” On February 1, he was appointed assistant chief of the Sevastopol garrison. This appointment did not, however, open up new activities for the venerable admiral, who from the very beginning of the siege constantly took the closest and most ardent part in everything related to defense, sparing neither his strength nor his life for the benefit of the common cause. From February 18, Nakhimov temporarily filled the post of chief of the garrison, following the departure of Menshikov and the appointment of gr. Osten-Sacken commander of the field army. On March 27, he was promoted to admiral. “The enviable fate,” Pavel Stepanovich wrote on this occasion, “to have subordinates under my command who adorn the boss with their valor, fell to me.” On the night of May 27, during the French assault on the redoubts behind Kilen-balka and on the Kamchatka lunette, Pavel Stepanovich was exposed to great danger: the admiral, who had arrived on the Kamchatka in the evening and personally led the reflection of the assault, stood out with his epaulettes and powerful figure, almost was not captured. The sailors literally tore him out of the hands of the enemy.

On this day, going around the defensive line as usual, Pavel Stepanovich headed at four o'clock in the afternoon to the 3rd bastion, and from there to Malakhov Kurgan. Having climbed to the battery banquet in front of the tower, he began to examine the enemy’s work through the telescope. Standing completely openly and standing out sharply from his retinue with the black color of his frock coat and gold epaulettes, Pavel Stepanovich was not slow to turn into a target for the French riflemen. In vain the officers accompanying the admiral begged him to leave the banquet: “Not every bullet is in the forehead, sir!” he answered. Here the bullet hit the earthen bag lying in front of Pavel Stepanovich. Even then he remained in place, calmly saying: “They aim pretty well!” Almost simultaneously with this, the second bullet hit Pavel Stepanovich precisely in the forehead, above the left eye, and pierced the skull obliquely. The admiral fell unconscious into the arms of those accompanying him and was immediately carried to the dressing station of Malakhov Kurgan. When they sprinkled water on his forehead and chest, he woke up and said something, but it was difficult to make out what exactly. Having bandaged him, he was carried on a simple soldier’s stretcher to Apollo’s Beam, and from here he was taken in a boat to the North Side. All the way he looked and whispered something; in the hospital barracks he lost consciousness again. Needless to say, all the doctors of the garrison gathered at the bedside of the seriously wounded man. The next day the sufferer seemed to feel better. He moved, his hand touching the bandage on his head. He was prevented from doing this. "Oh, my God, what nonsense!" said Pavel Stepanovich. Those were the only words that those around him could understand. On June 30 at 11:70 am, Admiral Nakhimov passed away.

Even at the beginning of the defense of Sevastopol, Nakhimov and Kornilov expressed a desire to be buried in the crypt where the ashes of M.P. Lazarev rested, that is, on the City side, near the library. The place then remained in the crypt for two graves. One was occupied by Kornilov, the other was given over to Nakhimov for the burial of Istomin’s ashes. However, friends and colleagues found an opportunity to fulfill the will of the deceased.

The head of the Sevastopol garrison honored the memory of Pavel Stepanovich with the following order:

“Providence was pleased to test us with a new grave loss: Admiral Nakhimov, struck by an enemy bullet on the Kornilov Bastion, died on this date. We are not alone in mourning the loss of a valiant colleague, a knight without fear or reproach; all of Russia together with us will shed tears of sincere regret for his death hero of Sinopsky.

Sailors of the Black Sea Fleet! He has witnessed all your virtues; he knew how to appreciate your incomparable selflessness; he shared all the dangers with you; guided you on the path of glory and victory. The premature death of the valiant admiral places on us the obligation to pay dearly to the enemy for the loss we have suffered. Every warrior standing on the defensive line of Sevastopol longs, I am undoubtedly sure, to fulfill this sacred duty; Every sailor will increase his efforts tenfold for the glory of Russian weapons!

From the brothers of P. S. Nakhimov - Platon Stepanovich(born in 1790, died on July 24, 1850 in Moscow) left naval service with the rank of captain of the 2nd rank, was an inspector of students at Moscow University, and then the chief caretaker of the Hospice House in Moscow, gr. Sheremetev; Sergey Stepanovich(born in 1802, died on December 8, 1875) also served in the navy until 1855, when, with the rank of rear admiral (from August 30, 1855), he was appointed assistant director of the Naval Corps , and from December 23, 1857 - director; He held the latter position for four years; on January 1, 1864, S.S. Nakhimov was promoted to vice admiral.

Marine archive - book. Nos. 400 and 412; "Materials for the history of the Crimean War and the defense of Sevastopol", a collection published by the Committee for the Organization of the Sevastopol Museum - various orders of Nakhimov, his reports on the Sinop battle, letters and rescripts to Nakhimov, various data for biographies of Nakhimov from the "Sea Collection" 1855 No. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, 1868 Nos. 2 and 3, from "Russian Invalid" 1854 No. 229, 1855 Nos. 152 and 207, 1868 No. 32, from "St. Petersburg Gazette" 1854 No. 44 and 1868 No. 25, from "Moskvityanin" 1855 No. 10 and 11, from "Odessa Bulletin" 1855 No. 80, 81, 82 and 83, from "Northern Bee" 1855 No. 160; “Description of the defense of Sevastopol, compiled under the leadership of Adjutant General Totleben,” three volumes, St. Petersburg, 1863; N. F. Dubrovin, “History of the Crimean War and the Defense of Sevastopol”, three volumes, St. Petersburg, 1900; V. I. Mezhov, "Russian historical bibliography"; N.P. Barsukov, “The Life and Works of Pogodin,” book. 14; "Shchukin Collection", vol. IV, pp. 190-193 and many others. etc. - About Plat. Step. Nakhimov: "General Marine List", vol. VII; "Led by the Moscow City Police", 1850, No. 197; "Moskvityanin" 1850, No. 15; "Rus. Star.", vol. 100; november. - About Sergei Step. Nakhimov: Marine Archive, book No. 638; A. Krotkov, "Naval Cadet Corps", St. Petersburg, 1901; "Bracket. Vestn." 1872, No. 140; "Illustrated. Gas." 1872, no. 50.

G. Timchenko-Ruban.

(Polovtsov)

Nakhimov, Pavel Stepanovich

Famous admiral (1802-1855). Genus. in Vyazemsky district of Smolensk province; studied in the naval cadet corps; under the command of Lazarev committed in 1821-25. circumnavigation; in 1827 he distinguished himself in the Battle of Navarino and from 1834 until the end of his life he served in the Black Sea Fleet. N.'s first and most important feat, which made his name popular, was his victory over the Turkish squadron of Osman Pasha on November 18, 1853, on the Sinop roadstead. The surprise of foreigners was aroused by his very sailing from Sinop to Sevastopol in such weather when the best foreign ships did not dare to leave the harbor. In Sevastopol, although N. was listed as the commander of the fleet and port, after the sinking of the fleet, he defended, by appointment of the commander-in-chief, the southern part of the city, leading the defense with amazing energy and using the greatest moral influence on the soldiers, who called him “father-benefactor.” Mortally wounded in the head, he died on June 30, 1855.

Wed. "Admiral P. S. Nakhimov" (St. Petersburg, 1872); Art. A. Aslanbegov in the “Sea Collection” for 1868, No. 3 (the article was written regarding the “Notes of a Sevastopol resident”, unfavorable for N., which appeared in the “Russian Archive” for 1867, and serves as an excellent refutation of it); Art. A. Sokolova, “On the importance of Admiral P. S. Nakhimov in the Sevastopol defense” (“Yacht”, 1876, No. 7); "Notes" of Ignatiev in the collection "Brotherly Help" (St. Petersburg, 1874).

V. R-v.

(Brockhaus)

Nakhimov, Pavel Stepanovich

Admiral, hero of Navarino, Sinop and Sevastopol. Came from old. noble family, b. in 1803 in the village of Gorodok, Vyazemsk. gone Graduated from the sea. cadet corps in 1818. He continued as a young officer. around the world. sailing on frig. "Cruiser" under com. M. P. Lazarev, with whom he became close friends; His further activities proceeded from heaven to heaven. breaks under the leadership of the same Lazarev. Assigned to Arkhangelsk for newly built. ship "Azov", in 1827 N. went to the Mediterranean. sea, participated in the Battle of Navarino, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree and production. in capt.-lieutenant. After staying a few more times. months on the Azov, N., aged 24, was appointed commander of a captured Egyptian. corv. "Navarin", on which he sailed 1828-1829. in Mediterranean sea ​​and in 1830 returned to Kronstadt. In 1832, N. was given command of a frigate under construction. "Pallada", on which he sailed in the squadron of adm. Bellingshausen, distinguished himself during the accident of the ship "Arsis", when he, with his signal and example, warned the squadron against the danger that threatened it at night. In 1834, by special order. intercessor Lazarev, who was at that time chief. commander Chern. fleet, N. was appointed commander of the 41st fleet. crew with production in cap. 2 ranks, and after 2 years - commander of the ship "Silistria", on which he sailed until promotion to admiralty (1845). Possessing means. organizational talent, N. knew how to get excited about the sea. to the cause of subordinates, to instill in them energy and love for service. His attention to officers and subordinates. the ranks were inexhaustible: as the commander of the ship and crew, he entered into the smallest details of their lives, helped them in word and deed; subordinates, even subordinates. rank., without hesitation, came to N. for advice. This attitude is especially rare during the harsh period of Nikolaevsk. regime, naturally attracted the hearts of his subordinates and colleagues to N.; his popularity in Black. the fleet was so large that it was rare that a sailor did not know the company of the Silistria. In 1845, Rear Admiral N. was appointed commander of the 1st brigade of the 4th fl. divisions. Performing annually practical voyages, during one of which he assisted the Golovinsky fortification against the highlanders, in 1853 he was appointed commander of the 5th division and promoted to vice admiral. In the autumn of the same year, transporting troops of 16,393 people. and 824 hp. from Sevastopol to Anakria, N., despite the storm. autumn time, continued cruising. Having received news of the outbreak of war. action November 1 at Anatoliysk. shore, he immediately announced this to the squadron, which consisted of five 84-guns. ships, signaled and gave an order ending with the words; "I notify Messrs. commanders that, in the event of meeting an enemy superior to us in strength, I will attack him, being absolutely confident that each of us will fulfill his duty." Continuing to cruise, the squadron withstood a severe storm, after which the Turkish fleet was discovered in Sinopsk bay, under the cover of coastal batteries. Having established a close blockade of Sinop, N. began to wait for the return from Sevastopol of 2 ships sent to cordon off; but when on November 16 the squadron of Rear Admiral Novosilsky arrived (three 120-gun ships), N. immediately decided to attack the enemy. On November 18, the squadron entered Sinop. Bay; the battle ended in the complete defeat of the Turks with the capture of the squadron commander and 2 commanders. Returning to Sevastopol, N. rejected all the honors awaiting him. In the rescript to him The name of Emperor Nicholas I said: “By extermination the tour. squadron at Sinop You have decorated the chronicle of Russian. fleet new a victory that will forever remain memorable in the sea. stories. Fulfilling with truths. With joy the decree of the statute, we confer you with the Knight of St. George, 2nd degree greater. cross." The battle of Sinop ended N.'s naval activities. Fulfilling the order of the commander-in-chief, on September 14, 1854, N. ordered all ships in Sevastopol Bay to be scuttled, and their crews to be attached to the garrison. Appointed chief of defense of the southern front of Sevastopol, N. appeared one of the main leaders of its defense. His popularity among the garrison grew every day. Every day he toured the forward positions, constantly risking his life, N. inspired the defenders, arousing their enthusiasm. The best characteristic of the adm-la is the rescript of January 13, 1854. , received by him from General Adm. Grand Prince Konstantin Nikolaevich on the occasion of the Highest award bestowed upon N. - the White Eagle. It says: “I consider it a pleasure to express to you now personally. My feelings and all Balt. fleet. We respect you for your valiant fight; We are proud of you and your glory as the adornment of our fleet. We love you, how honorable. a comrade who has become friends with the sea, who sees his friends in sailors. The history of the fleet will tell our children about your exploits, but it will also say that the sailors of your time fully appreciated and understood you." March 28, after the so-called "second strengthened. bombardment", N. was promoted to the administration. For the "third intensified bombardment" on May 25, brilliantly repulsed along the entire front, N. received his last dying award - rent. On June 28, at 4 a.m., the gesture began . bombardment of the 3rd bastion. In vain, his subordinates tried to restrain N.: he went to the bastion to support and inspire its defenders, from there he went to the Kornilov bastion, on which the enemy had opened a strong attack. rouge fire. Despite the requests of those close to him, N. stood up for the banquet and at that time was mortally wounded. rouge bullet to the temple. Without regaining consciousness, he died 2 days later. N.'s remains were buried in Sevastopol, in the Cathedral of St. Vladimir.

An outstanding Russian naval commander, a hero, an executive officer and a talented leader - all this is about Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov. He more than once showed his courage and bravery in military battles, he was too fearless, which ruined him. He played a huge role in the Sevastopol defense of 1854-1855, defeated Turkish ships during Admiral P. S. Nakhimov was deeply respected and loved by his subordinates. He remained forever in the history of Russia. Today there is even an order named after Nakhimov.

Biography of Admiral Nakhimov

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov was originally from a poor family of Smolensk nobles. His father had the rank of officer and retired as a second major. In his youth, Pavel Nakhimov entered the Naval Cadet Corps. Even during his studies, his natural gift for leadership made itself felt: he was efficient to the point of impeccability, showed extreme accuracy, was always hardworking and did everything to achieve his goals.

He showed excellent results in his studies and at the age of 15 became a midshipman. At the same age, he was assigned to the brig Phoenix, which was to sail in the Baltic Sea. At this time, many pay attention to the 15-year-old midshipman, who shows everyone that naval service is his life’s work. His favorite places in the world were a warship and a port. He didn’t have time to organize his personal life, and he didn’t want to. Pavel Stepanovich never fell in love and never married. He always showed zeal and zeal in his service. The biography of Admiral Nakhimov indicates that maritime craft was not just his hobby, he lived and breathed it. I gladly agreed to Lazarev’s offer to serve on the frigate “Cruiser”. This naval commander played a big role in Nakhimov’s life: he took his example and tried to imitate him. Lazarev became a “second father”, teacher and friend for him. Nakhimov saw and respected in his mentor such qualities as honesty, selflessness, and dedication to naval service.

Ship "Azov"

Nakhimov devoted three years to serving on the Cruiser, during which time he managed to “grow” from midshipman to lieutenant and became Lazarev’s favorite student. The biography of Admiral Nakhimov says that in 1826 Pavel Stepanovich was transferred to Azov and again served under the leadership of the same commander. This ship was destined to take part in the Navarino naval battle. In 1827, a battle took place against the Turkish fleet, where a united Russian, French and English squadron took part. "Azov" distinguished itself in this battle, coming closest to the enemy ships and inflicting great damage on them. Results of the battle: Nakhimov was wounded and many were killed.

Commander Nakhimov

At the age of 29, Pavel Nakhimov became the commander of the Pallada. This frigate had not yet sailed and was only built in 1832. Then “Silistria” came under his command, which plowed the expanses of the Black Sea. Here Nakhimov became 9 years old under the leadership of Pavel Stepanovich “Silistria” carried out the most difficult and quite responsible assignments.

Defense of Sevastopol

In 1854-1855, Nakhimov was transferred to Crimea and, together with Istomin and Kornilov, heroically led the formation of naval battalions, the construction of batteries, and the preparation of reserves. He constantly monitored the interaction between the fleet and the army, the construction of fortifications, and the supply of the defenders of Sevastopol. The story of Admiral Nakhimov suggests that his keen eye always saw how to more effectively use artillery and carry out other military operations. Often Nakhimov himself went to the front line and led military operations. During the first bombardment of the city in 1854, he was wounded in the head, and the following year he received a shell shock. In 1855, on June 6, when the city was stormed, he became the head of the defense of the Ship side. At the peak moment, Nakhimov led a bayonet counterattack of infantry and sailors.

Death

June 28, 1855 should not have been any different from the everyday life of military service. A routine detour was carried out and the Sevastopol fortifications were checked. At 5 pm Nakhimov drove up to the third bastion. After inspecting the enemy positions, he headed towards the Malakhov Kurgan to observe the enemy. The sailors and entourage of Nakhimov very clearly remembered the day of his death. The biography of Admiral Nakhimov is evidence that he was very brave, to the point of recklessness. When a French bullet hit him, piercing through his skull, he stood and looked straight at the enemy. Without hiding or stepping aside despite the admonitions of his subordinates who tried to stop him and not let him near the banquet. He did not die immediately, although without a single groan. The best doctors gathered at his bedside. He opened his eyes several times, but remained silent. Admiral Nakhimov died the next day after being seriously wounded. The funeral took place in the Sevastopol Vladimir Cathedral, where the remains of his teacher Lazarev and military colleagues - admirals Istomin and Kornilov are buried.

Order of Nakhimov

Later an order was established in honor of Admiral Nakhimov. They are awarded to outstanding officers for excellent conduct of naval operations, bold decisions, and good organization. The order has several degrees.

Pavel Stepanovich did not have any qualities for which one could not be awarded. Now this order, as a memory of Admiral Nakhimov, a valiant officer and commander, is awarded to those who show the highest desire to achieve success and excellent results while fulfilling their duty.

Admiral
P.S. Nakhimov Nakhimov Pavel Stepanovich (1802-1855). The outstanding Russian naval commander Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov was born on July 6 (June 23) in the village of Gorodok, Vyazemsky district, Smolensk province (now the village of Nakhimovskoye, Andreevsky district, Smolensk region). After graduating from the Naval Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg (1818), he served in the Baltic Fleet. In 1822-1825. circumnavigated the world as a watch officer on the frigate "Cruiser".

During the Sevastopol defense of 1854-1855. P.S. Nakhimov correctly assessed the strategic importance of Sevastopol and used all the means at his disposal to strengthen the city’s defense. Occupying the position of squadron commander, and since February 1855, commander of the Sevastopol port and military governor, Nakhimov, in fact, from the very beginning of the defense of Sevastopol, led the heroic garrison of the fortress defenders, and showed outstanding abilities in organizing the defense of the main base of the Black Sea Fleet from the sea and from land.

Under the leadership of Nakhimov, several wooden sailing ships were sunk at the entrance to the bay, which blocked access to the enemy fleet. This significantly strengthened the city's defense from the sea. Nakhimov supervised the construction of defensive structures and the installation of additional coastal batteries, which were the backbone of the ground defense, and the creation and training of reserves. He directly and skillfully controlled troops during combat operations. The defense of Sevastopol under the leadership of Nakhimov was highly active. Forays by detachments of soldiers and sailors, counter-battery and mine warfare were widely used. Targeted fire from coastal batteries and ships delivered sensitive blows to the enemy. Under the leadership of Nakhimov, Russian sailors and soldiers turned the city, previously poorly defended from land, into a formidable fortress, which successfully defended itself for 11 months, repelling several enemy assaults.

P.S. Nakhimov enjoyed enormous authority and love from the defenders of Sevastopol; he showed composure and restraint in the most difficult situations, and set an example of courage and fearlessness to those around him. The admiral's personal example inspired all Sevastopol residents to heroic deeds in the fight against the enemy. At critical moments, he appeared in the most dangerous places of defense and directly led the battle. During one of the detours of the advanced fortifications on July 11 (June 28), 1855, P.S. Nakhimov was mortally wounded by a bullet in the head on Malakhov Kurgan.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 3, 1944, the Order of Nakhimov, 1st and 2nd degree, and the Nakhimov Medal were established. Nakhimov naval schools were created. The name of Nakhimov was assigned to one of the cruisers of the Soviet Navy. In the city of Russian glory Sevastopol, a monument to P.S. Nakhimov was erected in 1959.

The military order of Nakhimov has been preserved in the system of state awards of the Russian Federation.

Top career

• Admiral.
• In the event of the absence of V. A. Kornilov, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the fleet and naval battalions

Order of the White Eagle

Order of St. George, 2nd class

Order of St. George, 4th class

Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree

Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree

Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree

Order of St. Anne, 1st class with imperial crown.

Order of St. Anne, 2nd class with imperial crown.

Order of St. Anne, 2nd degree.

Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st degree.

Order of the Bath

Order of the Savior

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov (1802 - 1855) - famous Russian admiral. During the Crimean War of 1853-1856, commanding a squadron of the Black Sea Fleet, Nakhimov discovered and blocked the main forces of the Turkish fleet in Sinop and defeated them in the Battle of Sinop. On June 28 (July 10), 1855, he was mortally wounded by a bullet in the head on Malakhov Kurgan during the defense of Sevastopol.

Biography

P. S. Nakhimov at the Monument “1000th Anniversary of Russia” in Veliky Novgorod

Main dates of life and activity

• 1802, July 5 - Born in the village of Gorodok (now Vyazemsky district, Smolensk region).
• 1813, August 23 - Identified as a candidate for a vacancy in the Moscow Corps.
• 1815, June 26 - Seconded for a training voyage on the brig of the Naval Corps "Simeon and Anna"
• 1815, August 5 - Enrolled as a candidate in the Naval Corps.
• 1815, early August - Promoted to midshipman.
• 1817, June 1 - September 29 - Sailing on the brig "Phoenix" in the Baltic Sea.
• 1818, February 1 - Promoted to non-commissioned officer.
• 1818, February 23 - Promoted to midshipman with assignment to the 2nd naval crew.
• 1820, June 4 - October 13 - Sailed on the tender "Janus" in the Gulf of Finland.
• 1821 - transferred to the 23rd crew.
• 1822 - Made the transition by dry route from Arkhangelsk to Kronstadt.
• 1822, March 25 - Assigned to the frigate "Cruiser".
• 1822, July 6 - 1825, August 19 - Circumnavigated the world on the frigate "Cruiser". During the voyage he was promoted to lieutenant.
• 1825, September 13 - For sailing on the frigate "Cruiser" he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree.
• 1826 - Assigned to the 74-gun ship "Azov", being built in Arkhangelsk.
• 1826, August 17 - October 2 - Made the transition to the Azov from Arkhangelsk to Kronstadt.
• 1827, June 22 - October 10 - On the ship "Azov" as part of the squadron of D.N. Senyavin, and then L.P. Heyden, made the transition from Kronstadt to Navarin.
• 1827, October 20 - Commanding a battery on the ship "Azov", he participates in the Battle of Navarino.
• 1827, October 25 - November 8 - On the ship "Azov" as part of the Russian squadron, he made the transition from Navarin to Malta.
• 1827, December - For the distinction shown in the Battle of Navarino, he was promoted to captain-lieutenant and awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree.
• 1828, April 16 - August 8 - Sailed on the ship "Azov" as part of the Russian squadron in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas.
• 1828, August 27 - Took command of the corvette Navarin.
• 1829, February - December - On the corvette "Navarin" as part of the Russian squadron, he blocked the Dardanelles.
• 1830, January 29 - May 25 - On the corvette "Navarin" as part of M.P. Lazarev's squadron, he crossed from the Aegean Sea to Kronstadt
• 1830, May - September - Sailed on the corvette "Navarin" in the Baltic Sea.
• 1831, September - Commanding the corvette "Navarin", he occupies the post of quarantine guard guard at the Krondstadt roadstead, sailed to Gogland, escorts merchant ships to Libau.
• 1832, January 12 - Appointed commander of the frigate Pallada.
• 1832 - Supervised the construction and finishing of the frigate "Pallada"
• 1833, August 5 - October 23 - commanding the frigate "Pallada", was on a Baltic cruising under the flag of F.F. Bellingshausen.
• 1834, February 5 - Transferred to the Black Sea Fleet. Appointed commander of the ship Silistria.
• 1834 - 1836 - Supervises the construction, equipment and armament of "Sillistria".
• 1836, September 27 - November 30 - Commanding the ship "Sillistria", made the transition Nikolaev - Ochakon - Sevastopol.
• 1837, June 5 - October 8 - Was cruising the Black Sea on the "Sillistria"
• 1828, April 4 - 1839, August 30 - On sick leave.
• 1840, August 11 - September 29 - Supervised the installation of dead anchors in Novosibirsk Bay. Was in the cruising Anapa - Novorossiysk.
• 1841, May 13 - August 31 - Was on the voyage Sevastopol - Odessa - Novorossiysk - Sevastopol.
• 1842, July 27 - September 8 - Was on a practical voyage on the Black Sea.
• 1843, June 26 - October 17 - Transported ground forces from Odessa to Sevastopol. Sailed as part of a practical squadron.
• 1844, July 14 - August 9 - Supervised the work on equipping the Novorossiysk Bay.
• 1844, July 30 - 31 - Assisted, commanding "Sillistria", in repelling the attack of the highlanders on Fort Golovinsky (Caucasian coast).
• 1845, May 13 - September 27 - Was on a practical voyage in the Black Sea. For distinguished service, he was promoted to rear admiral and appointed commander of the 1st brigade of the 4th naval division.
• 1846, March 20 - Having a flag on the frigate "Cahul", he commanded a detachment of ships. He cruised along the eastern coast of the Black Sea, protecting the Caucasus from smugglers.
• 1847, May 15 - July 15 - Having a flag on the ship "Yagudiil", he was sailing in the Black Sea as the second flagship of the practical squadron.
• 1848, May 14 - October 14 - Having a flag on the frigate "Kovarin", he commanded a detachment of ships cruising near the Caucasus.
• 1848, May 24 - August 27 - Supervised the work on raising the tender "Stryuya", which sank in Novorossiysk Bay.
• 1849, February 29 - Appointed junior flagship of the practical squadron.
• 1849, July 20 - September 7 - Was on a practical voyage.
• 1850, May 18 - December 5 - Having a flag on the frigate "Cahul", he commanded a detachment of ships cruising near the Caucasus.
• 1851, May 16 - July 5 - Sailed as the second flagship of the first practical squadron of the Black Sea Fleet
• 1852, April 11 - Appointed commander of the 5th naval division.
• 1854, July 16 - November 6 - Having a flag on the battleship "Twelve Apostles", he commanded a squadron that twice transferred ground forces from Sevastopol to Odessa. Swim in Black for "Practice and Evolution".
• 1852, October 14 - Promoted to vice admiral.
• 1853, May - June - Commanded a squadron cruising at the Kherson lighthouse.
• 1853, September 29 - October 6 - Having a flag on the battleship "Grand Duke Konstantin", he commanded a squadron that transported the 13th Infantry Division from Sevastopol to the Anakria - Sukhum area.
• 1853, October 19 - For the successful transfer of the 13th division he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree of the Grand Cross.
• 1853, October 23 - Having a flag on the battleship "Empress Maria", she went cruising off the Anatolian (Turkey) coast.
• 1853, November 30 - Commanding a squadron, he defeated the Turkish fleet in Sinop Bay.
• 1853, December 4 - Returned with the squadron from Sinop to Sevastopol.
• 1853, December 10 - For the victory at Sinop he was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree of the Grand Cross.
• 1853, December 17 - Appointed commander of a squadron stationed in the roadstead of Sevastopol Bay and at the entrance to the southern bay.
• 1854, September 19 - In case of absence of V.A. Kornilov, he is appointed commander-in-chief of the fleet and naval battalions.
• 1854, October 3 - 5 - Led the formation of naval battalions from coastal and ship teams.
• 1854, October 17 - During the first bombardment of Sevastopol, he was wounded in the head.
• 1854, December 12 - Accepted duties as assistant chief of the Sevastopol garrison (The appointment was approved by Prince Menshikov only in February 1855).
• 1855, January 25 - For distinction during the defense of Sevastopol he was awarded the Order of the White Eagle.
• 1855, March 9 - Appointed commander of the Sevastopol port and temporary military governor of the city.
• 1855, April 8 - Promoted to admiral for distinction in the defense of Sevastopol.
• 1855, June 7 - During the French assault on the Kamchatka lunette, he was shell-shocked.
• 1855, May - early June - Construction of a bridge on barrels across the Southern Bay, which ensured the transfer of reinforcements and ammunition to Malakhov Kurgan.
• 1855, June 18 - Led the defense of the Ship side of Sevastopol during the general assault by Allied troops.
• 1855, July 10 - Mortally wounded in the head by a rifle bullet on the Kornilov bastion of the Malakhov Kurgan.
• 1855, July 12 - Died.
• 1855, July 13 - Buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of St. Vladimir next to M.P. Lazarev, V.A. Kornilov, V.I. Istomin

Childhood and studies

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov was born in the village of Gorodok, Smolensk province, Vyazemsky district, on June 23 (July 5), 1802. His father, Stepan Mikhailovich, a second major, later the district leader of the nobility, had 11 children, six of whom died in childhood. All survivors: Nikolai, Platon, Ivan, Pavel and Sergei were brought up in the naval cadet corps and subsequently served in the navy.

Beginning a career in the Navy

Pavel Stepanovich was assigned to the cadet corps on May 3, 1815. During his stay in the corps, he made practical voyages in the Baltic Sea on the brigs “Simeon and Anna” and “Phoenix”. On the Phoenix, under the command of one of the best naval officers of that time, Dokhturov, among the few best students assigned to the brig by the will of the Sovereign, visited the shores of Denmark and Sweden. Nakhimov graduated from the corps course in 1818 as the sixth graduate and then, on February 9, he was promoted to midshipman and enlisted in the 2nd naval crew.

The end of 1818 and all of 1819, Nakhimov served with his crew in St. Petersburg, in 1820 he sailed around the Baltic on the tender “Janus”, and in 1821 he was sent by land to Arkhangelsk, to the crew of a ship being built there. From Arkhangelsk, he was soon called back to St. Petersburg and assigned to the frigate "Cruiser", intended together with the 20-gun sloop "Ladoga" for a round-the-world voyage. The head of the expedition and the commander of the “Cruiser” was Captain 2nd Rank Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, a later famous admiral, under whose leadership many famous Russian sailors were formed. The “Cruiser” was intended to guard the Russian-American colonies, and the “Ladoga” was intended to deliver goods to Kamchatka and the colonies.

Contemporaries unanimously assert that such an appointment to a person without patronage at a time when circumnavigation of the world was extremely rare serves as irrefutable evidence that the young midshipman attracted special attention to himself. From the first days of the voyage, Nakhimov served “24 hours a day,” without causing reproaches for his desire to curry favor from his comrades, who quickly believed in his calling and dedication to the work itself.

Three-year circumnavigation of the world

On August 17, 1822, the “Cruiser” left Kronstadt and, having visited the ports of Copenhagen and Portsmouth, dropped anchor on December 10 in the Santa Cruz roadstead. Having reloaded in Rio de Janeiro and not hoping, due to the late season, to round Cape Horn, Lazarev considered it best to go to the Great Ocean around the Cape of Good Hope and Australia. On April 18, 1823, we entered the Gobart Town roadstead, where the crews were given rest on the shore and where they prepared for further sailing to the island of Otahiti and further to Novo-Arkhangelsk. At the last point, the “Cruiser” was replaced by our stationer, the sloop “Apollo”, and placed at the disposal of the chief ruler of the colonies. Having sailed to San Francisco in the winter of 1823 to replenish supplies and then remained with the colonies until mid-October 1824, the “Cruiser” was replaced by the sloop “Enterprise” arriving from Russia, rounded Cape Horn, stayed a little in Brazil and arrived in Kronstadt on August 5 1825.

A three-year circumnavigation under the command of Lazarev brought Nakhimov the rank of lieutenant in 1823, and at the end of the expedition - the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree, cultivated in him the qualities of an excellent sailor, brought him closer to Lazarev, who appreciated the talents of his subordinate and mentored him for further service in the fleet. Throughout his subsequent service, Nakhimov was under the command of Lazarev until the death of the admiral, that is, until 1851.

At the end of his round-the-world expedition, Nakhimov was assigned to Arkhangelsk in the same year, 1825, from where the following year he went to Kronstadt on the 74-gun ship Azov under the command of Lazarev.

Service on Azov

Nakhimov was still serving on the Azov under the command of Mikhail Lazarev, when the flagship took an active part in the famous Battle of Navarino. The flagship of the Russian squadron destroyed 5 Turkish ships, including the frigate of the commander of the Turkish fleet, receiving 153 hits, 7 of them below the waterline.

During the Battle of Navarino, future Russian naval commanders, heroes of Sinop and Sevastopol defense, Lieutenant Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov, Midshipman Vladimir Alekseevich Kornilov, Midshipman Vladimir Ivanovich Istomin, showed themselves on the Azov. For military exploits in the battle, the battleship Azov was awarded the stern St. George flag for the first time in the Russian fleet. The Tsar's generous rewards were also distributed to the brave sailors. Nakhimov, who particularly distinguished himself in battle, was promoted to captain-lieutenant and awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, and the Greek Order of the Savior.

Independent sailing and return to Lazarev

Nakhimov spent the entire year of 1828 on long voyages, and the following year he was appointed commander of the 16-gun corvette Navarin, a captured Turkish ship that previously bore the name Nassabih Sabah. In May 1830, on this corvette, Nakhimov returned as part of Lazarev’s squadron to Kronstadt and cruised the Baltic Sea on it during the 1831 campaign.

Command of the Pallas

In 1832, Nakhimov was a member of a committee established to protect Kronstadt from the then emerging cholera epidemic, and soon received command of the frigate Pallada, laid down at the Okhta shipyard. Nakhimov personally supervised the construction of this ship and introduced some first-time improvements on it. On the new frigate, Nakhimov cruised the Baltic in 1833 in the squadron of Admiral Bellingshausen. During the voyage, he personally checked the correct course of the ship sailing in the formation of the squadron; one night he was the first to discover that the course was incorrect and raised the signal: “The squadron is in danger!” The ships quickly changed course, but the leading ship "Arsis", which did not consider Nakhimov's signal, ran into rocks and almost sank. Nakhimov’s reward was the merciful words of the Sovereign: “I owe you the preservation of the squadron. Thank you. I will never forget this."

Transfer to the Black Sea Fleet

In January 1834, Nakhimov was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet, which then came under the command of Vice Admiral Lazarev, and was appointed commander of the 41st naval crew. On August 30 of the same year, he was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank, and in 1836 he was given command of the battleship Silistria, which was under construction. On “Silistria”, while performing ordinary practical voyages, he received the rank of captain 1st rank on December 6, 1837.

Health problems

Continuous long-term voyages, various hardships associated with cruising in distant seas and crossing oceans, participation in hostilities and tireless work undermined Nakhimov’s health. Disdaining all the comforts of life, paying little attention to the advice of doctors, he neglected the beginnings of diseases, which soon assumed a threatening character. Radical treatment became a direct necessity for him, and he had to part with his native element for a while. At the request of the chief of the main naval headquarters, Prince Menshikov, Nakhimov was dismissed in October 1838 with a reduction in his pay abroad, where he stayed for 11 months.

Command of Silistria

Having recovered from his illnesses, Nakhimov again took command of the Silistria, participated on it in 1840 in transporting ground troops to the Black Sea shores of the Caucasus and contributed to the destruction of a smuggling ship, for which he was noted by the Emperor. He spent 1841-1845 cruising the Black Sea and in Sevastopol, providing assistance to the Golovinsky fortification, besieged by the highlanders, on August 30, 1844, for which he again received the highest favor.

On September 13, 1845, Nakhimov was promoted to rear admiral and appointed commander of the 1st brigade of the 4th naval division.

Until 1852 inclusive, he sailed the Black Sea. On March 30, 1852, appointed commander of the 5th Fleet Division, he raised his flag on the ship "Twelve Apostles", and on October 2 of the same year he was promoted to vice admiral with confirmation of his position.

Personal qualities of Nakhimov

By this time, Nakhimov had an excellent reputation in the navy. A convinced bachelor, a man of Spartan habits, who hated luxury, he had no personal interests, was alien to any selfishness and ambition and was selflessly devoted to the maritime cause. Simple-minded and always modest, Nakhimov avoided ostentation both in service and in public life. But everyone who knew the admiral could not help but understand what greatness of soul, what strong character he concealed within himself under his modest and simple-minded appearance.

On the shore, Nakhimov was the senior comrade of his subordinates, and was the patron saint of sailors and their families. He helped officers in word and deed, and often with his own resources; delved into all the needs of the sea brethren. In Sevastopol, on the Grafskaya pier, almost every day one could see the admiral, accompanied by his adjutant, to the crowd of petitioners awaiting him - retired sailors, wretched old people, women, children. These people turned to the “sailor’s father” for more than one material help; sometimes they asked only for advice on all sorts of matters, they asked for arbitration in quarrels and family troubles.

At sea, on a ship, Nakhimov was, however, a demanding boss. His severity and exactingness for the slightest omission or slackness in service knew no bounds. His closest shore friends and interlocutors did not have a moment of moral and physical peace at sea: Nakhimov’s demands increased in the degree of his affection. His consistency and perseverance in this regard was truly amazing. But in moments of rest from official duties, at the dinner table in the admiral’s cabin, Nakhimov again became a good-natured interlocutor.

Demanding of his subordinates, Nakhimov was even more demanding of himself, was the first employee on the squadron, and served as an example of tirelessness and devotion to duty. While sailing on the Silistria as part of a squadron, Nakhimov once suffered an accident. During the evolution of the fleet, sailing on the counter-tack and very close to the Silistria, the ship Adrianople made such an unsuccessful maneuver that a collision turned out to be inevitable. Quickly assessing the situation, Nakhimov calmly gave the command to remove people from the most dangerous place, and he himself remained in this very place, on the quarterdeck, which was soon struck by the Adrianople, which tore off a significant part of the Silistria’s mast and a huge boat. Showered by debris, but not changing his position, Nakhimov only by a lucky chance remained unharmed, and to the officers’ reproaches of carelessness, he didactically replied that such cases are rare and that commanders should use them, so that the ship’s crew would see the presence of spirit in their commander and be imbued with him respect, so necessary in case of hostilities.

Having closely studied shipbuilding techniques and invested a lot of personal creativity into it, Nakhimov had no rivals as a shipmaster. His brainchildren: the corvette "Navarin", the frigate "Pallada" and the ship "Silistria" - were constantly the models that everyone pointed to and which everyone tried to imitate. Every sailor, meeting the Silistria at sea or entering the roadstead where she was showing off, took all measures to appear in the best possible, impeccable form to the vigilant commander of the Silistria, from whom not a single step, not a single slightest flaw could be hidden. , as well as dashing ship control. His approval was revered as a reward that every Black Sea sailor tried to earn. All this led to the fact that Nakhimov acquired the reputation of a sailor, all of whose thoughts and actions were constantly and exclusively aimed at the common good, at tireless service to the Motherland.

Crimean War

On September 13, 1853, with the beginning of the Crimean War in Sevastopol, an order was received from St. Petersburg to immediately transport the 13th Infantry Division with two light batteries, a total of 16,393 people and 824 horses, to Anaklia, with a corresponding amount of military cargo - this heavy task was entrusted to the vice - Admiral Nakhimov and he did it brilliantly. The fleet under his command, consisting of 12 ships, 2 frigates, 7 steamships and 11 transports, prepared for sailing and received the landing in four days, and seven days later, that is, on September 24, the troops were landed on the Caucasian coast. The disembarkation began at 7 a.m. and ended 10 hours later. The manager of operations, Nakhimov, “for excellent diligent service, knowledge, experience and tireless activity,” was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree.

From the Caucasian coast, the fleet immediately returned to Sevastopol, and on October 11, not yet knowing about the declaration of war, Nakhimov went to sea with a squadron, which included: the ships “Empress Maria”, “Chesma”, “Rostislav”, “Svyatoslav” and "Brave", frigate "Kovarna" and steamer "Bessarabia". The squadron was intended to cruise in sight of the Anatolian coast, on the routes of communication between Constantinople and the eastern coast of the Black Sea, and to protect our possessions on this coast from a surprise attack. Nakhimov was given instructions to “repel, but not attack.”

On November 1, the chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet, Kornilov, arrived to Nakhimov on the ship Vladimir and brought a manifesto about the war. Immediately the order was given to the squadron: “War has been declared; serve a prayer service and congratulate the team!” Another order was immediately drawn up, extensive and clearly expressing the admiral’s requirements, from which the following phrase is extracted:

Several more days passed. The weather worsened and a storm broke out on November 8th. The battleships Svyatoslav and Brave, the frigate Kovarna and the steamer Bessarabia suffered such severe accidents that they had to be sent to Sevastopol for repairs. Nakhimov remained with three ships, but did not stop cruising.

At the same time, the Turkish admiral Osman Pasha also appeared in the Black Sea with a squadron consisting of 7 frigates, 3 corvettes, two steamships and two transports, a total of fourteen warships. The storm forced the Turkish admiral to seek shelter. He took refuge in the Sinop roadstead. Nakhimov was not slow to appear at the entrance to the roadstead with three ships, which made up the entire force that was at his disposal at that time. Thinking that the Russian admiral was luring the Turkish fleet into the open sea, Osman Pasha did not dare to leave the harbor. On November 16, Nakhimov’s detachment was joined by Rear Admiral Novosilsky’s squadron, which consisted of the battleships Paris, Grand Duke Constantine and Three Saints and the frigates Kagul and Kulevchi.

The Russian fleet had artillery of 712 guns, the enemy - 476, but the Turks were protected by six coastal batteries, which had 44 large-caliber guns, much more powerful than the then models of ship artillery. On November 17, Nakhimov gathered all the commanders, and then a detailed disposition for the battle was drawn up and an order was given for the squadron. The plan was thought out to the smallest detail and in fact began to be executed as in maneuvers, but it contained an order and the following words:

Battle of Sinop

On the morning of November 18, it was raining and a squally wind was blowing, the most unfavorable for capturing enemy ships, because, broken, they could easily throw themselves ashore. At 9 o'clock in the morning the Russian squadron launched rowing ships, as the wooden fleet usually did before a battle, and at 9:30 the signal was raised to prepare for an attack. At noon the ships headed for the Sinop roadstead. Despite the rain and fog, the enemy soon noticed the attack, and all Turkish ships and coastal batteries opened fire.

At 12:30, the "Empress Maria" under the flag of Nakhimov was bombarded with cannonballs and nipples, most of her spars were broken, and only one intact shroud remained at the mainmast. But the ship, having the wind from the stern, fearlessly moved forward, firing battle fire at the enemy ships it passed by, and dropped anchor against the Turkish admiral frigate Auni-Allah. Unable to withstand half an hour of fire, the Turkish flagship weighed anchor and washed ashore. "Empress Maria" then turned her fire exclusively on the 44-gun frigate "Fazli-Allah" - the Russian "Raphael", captured by the Turks in 1828 - and forced it to follow the example of the first ship.

Other commanders of Russian ships did not lag behind the admiral, showing both courage and skill. The actions of the battleship Paris under the flag of Rear Admiral Novosilsky were especially brilliant. Admiring his wonderful and cold-blooded maneuvers, Nakhimov, in the hottest moment of the battle, ordered to express his gratitude to “Paris”, but there was nothing to raise the signal on; all the Empress Maria's halyards were broken. The complete victory of the Russian fleet soon became evident - almost all the Turkish ships washed ashore and burned there; Only one 20-gun steamer, the Taif, broke through, subsequently bringing sad news to Constantinople.

At 13:30, the frigate “Odessa” appeared at the Sinop roadstead under the flag of Adjutant General Kornilov, and with it the steamships “Crimea” and “Khersones”. The battle continued, but mainly with the coastal batteries. The Turkish warships washed ashore were in the most distress; transport and merchant ships sank from cannonballs. Soon the enemy frigates began to explode, the fire spread to city buildings, and a strong fire broke out. At five o'clock in the evening it was all over: the entire Turkish fleet, except for the steamship Taifa, was destroyed; the destroyed batteries were silent. Up to three thousand Turks were killed; the survivors surrendered along with their admiral, who was wounded in the leg. Our losses were limited to 1 officer and 33 lower ranks killed and 230 wounded.

At night, the steamships took our ships away from the shore to avoid the possibility of the burning remains of ships of the enemy fleet being deposited on them. At the same time, the teams began to repair the main damage, which turned out to be quite significant. The Empress Maria ship alone had 60 holes. All damage, under the direct leadership of Nakhimov himself, was corrected in 36 hours, so much so that the squadron was able to undertake a return voyage across the entire turbulent Black Sea. By the night of November 22, the winners entered the Sevastopol roadstead.

By a diploma on November 28, the Sovereign Emperor, “carrying out the decree of the statute with true joy,” awarded Nakhimov the Order of St. George, 2nd degree.

A very characteristic fact is that in his detailed report on the Sinop battle, Nakhimov completely forgot about himself.

Defense of Sevastopol

On December 23, the Anglo-French fleet with a total force of 89 warships, including 54 steamships, entered the Black Sea, turned Varna into its naval base and began equipping a huge landing force there with a clear threat to the Crimea. The Allies sent strong detachments to the open sea, which were not slow in stopping the movement of merchant ships along the Russian coast. The Russian Black Sea sailing fleet, significantly inferior to the enemy both in number and, especially, in quality, was doomed to passive activity.

On February 9, 1854, a manifesto was issued about the break with England and France, on April 9, the allies bombarded Odessa, and on September 2, the allied army landed in Yevpatoria: 28,000 French, 27,000 British and 7,000 Turks with a corresponding amount of field artillery and 114 siege guns. Immediately after landing, the British and French moved towards Sevastopol.

By the beginning of the Eastern War, Sevastopol was quite strongly fortified on the sea side. The entrance to the raid was fired upon by 8 batteries. Only the outermost batteries - Konstantinovskaya and No. 10 - could operate in the fleet approaching Sevastopol; only part of the guns of the other batteries could help them in this matter.

In the spring of 1854, three more internal batteries were built - the Twelve Apostles, Paris and Svyatoslav - and two external ones, on the sea coast north of Konstantinovskaya. All these batteries were armed with 610 guns. In addition, for the defense of Sevastopol on the water, Nakhimov’s squadron of 8 ships and 6 frigates stood in the roadstead, in full readiness to go to sea; further, at the entrance to the southern bay, Kornilov’s squadron of 4 ships, 1 frigate and 4 steamers, and finally, in the depths of the roadstead, a flotilla of small ships.

On the land side, Sevastopol was almost undefended. On the northern side there was a large but old fortification, erected back in 1818, and on the southern side it was only planned to build a series of bastions and defensive lines connecting them. The fortifications of the land defense began at Kilen Bay with bastion No. 1, it, and then bastion No. 2, Malakhov Kurgan (Kornilovsky Bastion) and bastion No. 3 protected the Ship side of Sevastopol, then bastions No. 4-7 protected the City side.

After an unsuccessful battle for us on September 8 on the Alma River, where the allied army of 62 thousand was met by 34 thousand of our troops, Prince Alexander Sergeevich Menshikov retreated to Bakhchisarai, entrusting temporary control of the defense of the southern side of Sevastopol to Nakhimov, and the northern side to Kornilov. The allies, approaching Sevastopol from the north and inquiring from the Tatars about the complete lack of defense of the southern side, changed the original plan, settled in Kamysheva and Balaklava bays and intended to storm the city from the south. But by this time, on the southern side, through the active efforts of Nakhimov, Kornilov and Totleben, a line of fortifications had already been erected. The enemy did not dare to attack with open force and began a proper siege of the fortress.

The garrison on the southern side consisted of 6 reserve battalions and naval commands, totaling up to 5,000 people. Considering it impossible to defend Sevastopol with such forces, Nakhimov, after Menshikov’s decision to reject Kornilov’s plan to engage the enemy in a naval battle, took measures to scuttle the ships of his squadron, so as not to give them up to the enemy and to prevent the enemy fleet from accessing the roadstead, and on September 14 he gave the following order:

The enemy approaches the city, which has very few garrisons. By necessity, I find myself forced to scuttle the ships of the squadron entrusted to me, and attach the remaining crews with boarding weapons to the garrison. I am confident in the commanders, officers and teams that each of them will fight like a hero. There will be up to three thousand of us. Collection point on Teatralnaya Square. What am I announcing about the squadron? Nakhimov P.S.

Work on the south side is in full swing. Nakhimov, together with Kornilov, vigilantly took care of the delivery of all the assets of the fleet, port and other parts of the naval department to Totleben, who energetically began to strengthen the defensive line. The sailors involved in the work, inspired by the personal example of their worthy boss, were distinguished, according to Totleben, by their special tirelessness, dexterity and efficiency. To ensure communication between the Ship side and the Gorodskaya side, Nakhimov, on his personal initiative, built a bridge across the southern bay, using brigades, schooners and rafts for this purpose.

The memorable day of October 5th arrived - the day of the first bombing of Sevastopol. Clouds of cannonballs and bombs rained down on the bastions, which, having been hastily poured, poorly resisted enemy shells. The strongest battle took place on Malakhov Kurgan and on the 5th bastion. Kornilov went to the first, Nakhimov to the second. Moving from gun to gun, Nakhimov himself aimed the guns, gave advice, monitored the flight of shells, and encouraged the hearts of the fortress defenders. Disdaining any danger, he almost died at the very beginning of the battle: wounded in the head, fortunately wounded lightly, Nakhimov tried to hide it, not wanting to worry the sailors who adored him. “It’s not true, sir!” He answered sharply and with displeasure to one of the officers, who loudly exclaimed: “You are wounded, Pavel Stepanovich!” Fate was not so lenient towards Kornilov, who died that day on the Malakhov Kurgan.

The battle of October 5, waged by the Allies simultaneously from both land and sea, ended with very minor damage to the coastal batteries, but with sad results on the land side. The defensive line was damaged to such an extent that it presented almost no obstacles to the assault. Fortunately, the enemy did not take advantage of this and did not dare to attack. Reinforcements began to approach Sevastopol and the defense was able to become long-lasting and stubborn.

To characterize the personality of Pavel Stepanovich as a defender of Sevastopol, it is enough to cite the following lines of his comrade in arms Eduard Ivanovich Totleben, recognized by the author as only “a weak sketch of what Nakhimov was for Sevastopol”:

Nakhimov walked around the defensive line every day, despising all dangers. With his presence and example, he raised the spirit not only in the sailors, who revered him, but also in the ground forces, who also soon understood what Nakhimov was. Always caring about preserving the lives of people, the admiral did not spare only himself. For example, during the entire siege he alone always wore epaulettes, doing this in order to convey contempt for danger to all his subordinates. No one knew better than him the spirit of the Russian commoner - sailor and soldier, who did not like loud words; therefore, he never resorted to eloquence, but influenced the troops by example and by strictly demanding that they fulfill their official duties. He was always the first to appear in the most dangerous places, where the presence and management of the chief were most needed. Afraid of being late, he even went to bed at night without undressing, so as not to waste a single minute getting dressed. As for the administrative activities of the admiral during the defense, there was not a single part about which he did not care more than anyone else. He himself always came to other bosses, even junior ones, in order to find out if there were any difficulties and to offer them his assistance. In case of disagreement between them, he always acted as a reconciliator, trying to direct each and every one solely to serving the common cause. Wounded officers and lower ranks not only found support and protection in him, but could always count on help from his own poor pocket. Totleben E.I.

According to contemporaries, Nakhimov was the soul of the defense of Sevastopol. But in addition to the moral influence on the garrison, Pavel Stepanovich also played a certain role in organizing the defense. In December 1854, at his insistence, three batteries were built to shell Artillery Bay, into which enemy ships could break through due to damage to the roadstead barrier by storms. In mid-February of the following year, he set up a second line of barriers at the entrance to Sevastopol. At the end of June, allowing, due to the circumstances of that time, the possibility of a breakthrough to the enemy fleet's roadstead, he strengthened the defense of the entrance with three more batteries, of which one, two-tiered for 30 guns, placed on the cape between the Konstantinovskaya and Mikhailovskaya batteries and operated both in the roadstead and against the French siege work at Chersonesos, was later named Nakhimovskaya.

His February commission, which established the general order of service and activities on the bastions, belongs to the category of those historical documents that are worth reading in full:

“The efforts used by the enemy against Sevastopol on October 5 and in the following days give good reason to think that, having decided to continue the siege, our enemies are counting on even more enormous means; but now the six-month work to strengthen Sevastopol is coming to an end, the means of defense ours almost tripled, and therefore - which of us, believers in the justice of God, will doubt the triumph over the daring plans of the enemy? But destroying them with a great loss on our part is not yet a complete triumph, and therefore I consider it my duty to remind all commanders of the sacred duty that lies upon them, namely, to take care in advance that when opening fire from enemy batteries there is not a single extra person not only in open places and idle, but even the servants at the guns and the number of people for work inseparable from the battle was limited by extreme necessity. A caring officer, taking advantage of circumstances, will always find ways to save people and thereby reduce the number of those in danger. The curiosity inherent in the courage that animates the valiant garrison of Sevastopol should especially not be tolerated by private commanders. Let everyone be confident in the result of the battle and calmly remain in the place indicated to him; this especially applies to the years. officers. I hope that Messrs. remote and individual commanders of troops will pay full attention to this subject and divide their officers into lines, ordering those who are free to remain under dugouts and in closed places. At the same time, I ask you to instill in them that the life of each of them belongs to the Fatherland, and that it is not daring, but only true courage that brings benefit to him and honor to those who know how to distinguish it in their actions from the first. I take this opportunity to once again repeat the prohibition of frequent shooting. In addition to the incorrectness of the shots, a natural consequence of haste, the waste of gunpowder and shells is such an important subject that no courage, no merit should justify the officer who allowed it. Let concern for the protection of the city, entrusted by the Sovereign to our honor, be a guarantee for the accuracy and composure of our fellow artillerymen. Nakhimov P.S.

As you know, at the beginning of the defense of Sevastopol, Pavel Stepanovich held the modest position of head of naval teams on the southern side. In this position, on January 11, 1855, he was awarded the Order of the White Eagle. On February 1, Nakhimov was appointed assistant chief of the Sevastopol garrison. This appointment did not, however, open up new activities for the admiral, who from the very beginning of the siege constantly took the closest part in everything related to defense.

From February 18, Nakhimov temporarily served as head of the garrison, following the departure of Prince Menshikov and the appointment of Dmitry Erofeevich Osten-Sacken as commander of the field army. On March 27, he was promoted to admiral. On the night of May 27, during the French assault on the redoubts behind Kilen-balka and on the Kamchatka lunette, Pavel Stepanovich was exposed to great danger: the admiral, who had arrived on the Kamchatka in the evening and personally led the reflection of the assault, stood out with his epaulettes and powerful figure, almost got caught captured The sailors literally tore him out of the hands of the enemy.

Death

Fatal wound

On June 28, Nakhimov, going around the defensive line, headed to the 3rd bastion, and from there to Malakhov Kurgan. Having climbed to the battery banquet in front of the tower, he began to examine the enemy’s work through the telescope. Standing completely openly and standing out sharply from his retinue with the black color of his frock coat and gold epaulettes, Pavel Stepanovich was not slow to turn into a target for the French riflemen. In vain the officers accompanying the admiral begged him to leave the banquet: “Not every bullet is in the forehead, sir!” he answered. Here the bullet hit the earthen bag lying in front of Pavel Stepanovich. Even then he remained in place, calmly saying: “They aim pretty well!” Almost simultaneously with this, the second bullet hit Pavel Stepanovich precisely in the forehead, above the left eye, and pierced the skull obliquely. The admiral fell unconscious into the arms of those accompanying him and was immediately carried to the dressing station of Malakhov Kurgan.

When they sprinkled water on his forehead and chest, he woke up and said something, but it was difficult to make out what exactly. After dressing him, he was carried on a simple soldier's stretcher to Apollo's Beam, and from there on a boat to the North Side. Nakhimov was conscious all the way and whispered something, but in the hospital barracks he lost consciousness again. All the doctors of the garrison gathered at the bedside of the seriously wounded man, and the next day the admiral seemed to feel better. Pavel Stepanovich moved, touched the bandage on his head with his hand, and to attempts to interfere with this he objected: “Oh, my God, what nonsense!” These were the only words that those around him could understand. On June 30 at 11:07 Admiral Nakhimov passed away.

“Providence was pleased to test us with a new grave loss: Admiral Nakhimov, struck by an enemy bullet on the Kornilov Bastion, died on this date. We are not alone in mourning the loss of a valiant colleague, a knight without fear or reproach; all of Russia together with us will shed tears of sincere regret for his death hero of Sinopsky.

Sailors of the Black Sea Fleet! He was a witness of all your virtues, he knew how to appreciate your incomparable selflessness, he shared with you all the dangers, he guided you on the path of glory and victory. The premature death of the valiant admiral places on us the obligation to pay dearly to the enemy for the loss we have suffered. Every warrior standing on the defensive line of Sevastopol yearns - I am undoubtedly sure - to fulfill this sacred duty, every sailor will increase his efforts tenfold for the glory of Russian weapons!

Nakhimov's family after his death

Of the brothers of Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov, Platon Stepanovich (1790 - 1850) left naval service with the rank of captain of the 2nd rank, was an inspector of students at Moscow University, and then the chief caretaker of Count Sheremetev’s Hospice House in Moscow; Sergei Stepanovich (1802 - 1875) also served in the navy until 1855, when, with the rank of rear admiral, he was appointed assistant director of the Naval Corps, and then director; He held the latter position for four years; on January 1, 1864, S. S. Nakhimov was promoted to vice admiral.

Awards

• 1825 - Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree. For sailing on the frigate "Cruiser".
• 1827 - Order of St. George, 4th degree. For the distinction shown in the Battle of Navarino.
• 1830 - Order of St. Anne, 2nd degree.
• 1837 - Order of St. Anne, 2nd degree with imperial crown. For excellent diligent and zealous service.
• 1842 - Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree. For excellent diligent and zealous service.
• 1846 - insignia of impeccable service for XXV years.
• 1847 - Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st degree.
• 1849 - Order of St. Anne, 1st degree.
• 1851 - Order of St. Anne, 1st degree with imperial crown.
• 1853 - Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree. For the successful transfer of the 13th Division.
• 1853 - Order of St. George, 2nd degree. For the victory at Sinop.
• 1855 - Order of the White Eagle. For distinction during the defense of Sevastopol.
• Nakhimov was awarded three orders at once: Russian - George, English - Bath, Greek - Savior.

Memory

In 1959, a monument to Admiral Nakhimov by sculptor N.V. Tomsky (bronze, granite) was erected in Sevastopol. It replaced the monument by Schröder and Bilderling that stood at the Grafskaya pier, which was demolished in 1928 in accordance with the decree of the Soviet government “On the removal of monuments to the kings and their servants” (the statement in Soviet literature that the monument was destroyed by the Nazis during the occupation of Sevastopol is incorrect - a monument to Lenin was erected on the pedestal of the monument to Nakhimov in the early 1930s, and this monument was already destroyed in 1942-1943).

On July 5, 1992, a bust of P. S. Nakhimov was unveiled in his homeland in the city of Vyazma, Smolensk region.

On July 5, 2012, a monument was unveiled in St. Petersburg, on Nakhimov Street, in the Small Havantsy park, near the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel.

During the Great Patriotic War, Nakhimov naval schools were created. In 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the Order of Nakhimov, 1st and 2nd degree, and the Nakhimov Medal.

Streets are named after P. S. Nakhimov in St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Tomsk, Smolensk, Zagoryansky, Feodosia and Minsk, in Moscow - an avenue, in Mariupol - Nakhimov Avenue, and in Sevastopol - an avenue and a square. The longest street on the right bank of the city of Kemerovo also bears the name of the admiral.

Nakhimov and opponents

Crimean historian V.P. Dyulichev describes Nakhimov’s funeral in these words:

From the house to the church itself, the defenders of Sevastopol stood in two rows, taking guns on guard. A huge crowd accompanied the hero's ashes. No one was afraid of either enemy grapeshot or artillery shelling. And neither the French nor the British fired. The scouts certainly reported to them what was going on. In those days, they knew how to appreciate courage and noble zeal, even on the part of the enemy. Military music rang out in full march, farewell gun salutes rang out, the ships lowered their flags to the middle of the masts. And suddenly someone noticed: flags were flying on enemy ships too! And another, snatching a telescope from the hands of a hesitant sailor, saw: the English officers, huddled on the deck, took off their caps, bowed their heads...

Bust of Nakhimov installed near the Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet in Nikolaev

At the same time, during the period when Sevastopol was captured by the Allies, the lids of the admirals’ coffins were broken by marauders who stole golden epaulettes from their uniforms, as evidenced by the “Act on the mockery of the Anglo-French invaders over the graves of Russian admirals M. P. Lazarev, V A. Kornilova, P. S. Nakhimova, V. I. Istomina,” dated April 23 (April 11, old style), 1858, compiled based on the results of an inspection of the tomb of the admirals

Ships

Various warships and civilian vessels bore the name Nakhimov at different times:

• "Nakhimov" - Russian cargo steamer (sank 1897).
• "Admiral Nakhimov" - Russian armored cruiser (killed in the Battle of Tsushima 1905).
• "Chervona Ukraine" - former "Admiral Nakhimov", light cruiser of the "Svetlana" class (died on November 13, 1941 in Sevastopol).
• "Admiral Nakhimov" - Soviet Sverdlov-class cruiser (scrapped 1961).
• Admiral Nakhimov - former Berlin III, Soviet passenger ship (sank in 1986).
• "Admiral Nakhimov" - Soviet large anti-submarine ship (scrapped 1991).
• "Admiral Nakhimov" - former "Kalinin", nuclear-powered missile cruiser of Project 1144 (under modernization).

Geography

• Lake Nakhimovskoye in the Vyborg district of the Leningrad region.
• Nakhimovskoye (Smolensk region) - the village was renamed in 1952 in honor of the 150th anniversary of the birth of P. S. Nakhimov. In the former village of Volochek, Sychevsky district (now Kholm - Zhirkovsky district, Smolensk region), there was the estate of the godfather and uncle of the admiral, and in connection with this, the renaming of this village took place.

Museums

• Youth center-museum named after Admiral Nakhimov in Smolensk
• Museum named after Nakhimov in the admiral’s homeland in Khmelite, Khmelite Museum-Reserve, Smolensk region.

Coins

• In 1992, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation issued a copper-nickel coin with a face value of 1 ruble, dedicated to the 190th anniversary of the birth of P. S. Nakhimov.
• In 2002, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation issued a silver coin (Ag 900) with a face value of 3 rubles, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of P. S. Nakhimov.

In philately

Notes

Literature and sources of information

• Aslanbegov A., article in the “Sea Collection” for 1868, No. 3 (written regarding the “Notes of a Sevastopol resident”, unfavorable for Nakhimov, which appeared in the “Russian Archive” for 1867, and serves as an excellent refutation of it).
• Aslanbegov A. Admiral Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov. (Biographical sketch) // Russian Archive, 1868. - Ed. 2nd. - M., 1869. - Stb. 373-410.
• Admiral P. S. Nakhimov (St. Petersburg, 1872).
• Admiral Nakhimov. Articles and essays. Comp. B. I. Zverev, M., 1954.
• Belavenets P.I., Admiral Nakhimov, Sevastopol, 1902.
• Davydov Yu. V. Nakhimov / Davydov Yuri Vladimirovich. - M.: Mol. Guard, 1970. - 176 pp.: ill., map.
• Journal of military operations in Crimea, September-December 1854 / comp. A. V. Efimov. - Simferopol: Antikva, 2010. - 192 pp.: illus, maps, portraits. - (Archive of the Crimean War 1853-1856). 500 copies
• “Notes” by Ignatiev in the collection “Brotherly Help” (St. Petersburg, 1874).
• Zverev B.I., Outstanding Russian naval commander P.S. Nakhimov, Smolensk, 1955.
• Zonin A.I. The life of Admiral Nakhimov: a novel / Zonin A. - L.: Sov. writer, 1987. - 448 p.
• Zonin A.I. The Life of Admiral Nakhimov: [novel] / Zonin Alexander Ilyich. - L.: Sov. writer. Leningr. department, 1956. - 494 p.
• Lifshits M.N. My land: poems / Author. lane from euros A. Klenova. - M.: Sov. writer, 1965. - 104 p.: ill.
• Mazunin N.P., Admiral P.S. Nakhimov. M., 1952.
• Modzalevsky V.L. A guess about the origin of the Nakhimov family. M., 1915.
• Nakhimov P.S. Letter from P.S. Nakhimov to the widow of M.P. Lazarev / Message, comment. B. A. Perovsky // Russian Archive, 1868. - Ed. 2nd. - M., 1869. - Stb. 410-412.
• Nakhimov P. S. Documents and materials. - M., 1954.
• Polikarpov V.D., P.S. Nakhimov, M., 1960.
• Soviet Historical Encyclopedia / Chapter. ed. E. M. Zhukov. T. 9: Malta - Nakhimov. - M.: Sov. encyclopedia, 1966. - 1000 pp.: ill., maps.
• Sokolov A., article “On the importance of Admiral P.S. Nakhimov in the Sevastopol defense” (“Yacht”, 1876, No. 7).
• Tarle E. V. Nakhimov. / Tarle Evgeniy Viktorovich. - M.: Military. - mor. ed., 1950. - 112 pp.: ill., portrait.
• Cherkashin N. Last flight of "Nakhimov" / Cherkashin N. - M.: Sov. Russia, 1988. - 127 p.
• Kirpichev Yuri. The last autumn of Admiral Nakhimov (documentary history) // almanac “Swan” - May 26, 2013.
• Marine archive - book. No. 400 and 412; *