The Battle of Navarinon

Ariel of Hamble
Jim and Valerie SHURVELL
Sat 25 Aug 2012 18:04

The Battle of Navarinon

 

Saturday 25th August, 2012.

 

The mystery deepens this morning as the police arrived and took two people away and the boat is still secured to the quay!

 

After a great night’s sleep we walked to the castle which was shut and took in the lovely views over the Bay of Navarinon. 

 

At the very time when the Greek forces were at their lowest during the War of Independence the naval engagement in the Bay of Navarinon changed the order of things and won the war.  On the 6th July, 1827 the Treaty of London between Great Britain, France and Russia provided that Greece should be autonomous but under the control of the Turks.  This legal document was implemented so the three powers might remain friendly with Greece and Turkey and allow for their fleets to guarantee the treaty.  The British senior admiral Codrington was given powers of discretion in the policing of the treaty.

 

When the terms of the treaty were presented the Greeks agreed but the Turks didn’t.  Codrington and fellow admirals de Rigny and von Heyden decided to enter the Bay of Navarinon where the Turkey and Egyptian fleet were assembled even though they had 26 ships and 1270 guns and the Turkish and Egyptian fleet numbered 89 ships and 2450 guns even though Codrington’s country was not at war with either. Ibrahim Pasha armada of Turkish and Egyptian ships were anchored in a ¾ circle facing the entrance and once a ship sailed in it would be covered by fire from all sides.  Codrington lead his fleet in with bands playing on the decks and anchored in the middle of the trap. An Egyptian ship fired a shot and the battle began.  The battle continued for 4 hours with all the ships at anchor and it was a battle which was won by the British proving the gun crews were more efficient in the heat of the battle than their eastern counterparts.  Codrington was not disciplined over his action.  France stopped any remaining opposition in the Peloponnisos and Greece was declared free.

 

Here we are in this bay enjoying the scenery and looking out over the mountains.  We have seen several memorials to the battle and it is hard to believe this small town was part of a huge battle.

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image