Northern Tars in Southern Waters: The Russian Fleet in the Mediterranean, 1806-1810

Translated for the first time into English in their entirety, the memoirs of Vladimir Bronevskiy describe the actions and movements of Russian Admiral Dmitriy Senyavin’s squadron and the infantry at his disposal in the Adriatic and Aegean Seas between the years of 1805 and 1810. The story moves from Kronstadt to Corfu, to the siege of Ragusa and battle at Mount Athos, to the chaotic reshuffling of alliances with the signing of the Treaty of Tilsit and the ill-fated dispersion of the fleet among the British, French, and Austrians. Straddling the Wars of the Third and Fourth Coalitions and the Russo-Turkish War, Senyavin carefully manoeuvred around multiple threats from all sides with limited resources and came through with minimal losses, though political circumstances ultimately robbed him of the laurels. Told from the perspective of a midshipman aboard the frigate Venus, but augmented and expanded with archival data and interviews with his comrades and acquaintances, Bronevskiy illuminated an often-overlooked theatre of war and sought to teach his readership about the myriad cultures and rich history of the region, transforming his personal journals into a comprehensive history of the campaign. His scope varies from personal interactions with civilians and tours of local landmarks to the diplomatic correspondence of general and admirals and the combat actions of whole squadrons and corps. Unabridged, illustrated with all the original engravings, featuring newly translated maps and annotated throughout with notes and corrections, Boland’s translation brings Bronevskiy to a new, wider audience in a faithful but approachable presentation.