User:Tbeaisasn579779257/Pavel Nakhimov

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming conventions, the patronymic is Stepanovich and the family name is Nakhimov.

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov (Russian: Павел Степанович Нахимов, pronounced [ˈpavʲɪl sʲtʲɪˈpanəvʲɪtɕ nɐˈxʲiməf]; July 5 [ O.S.June 23] 1802 – July 12 [ O.S. June 30] 1855) was a Russian Admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy known for his victory in the Battle of Sinop and his leadership in the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855) during the Crimean War.

He joined the imperial Russian Navy and moved up the ranks serving in the Greek War of Independence and the Russo-Turkish War (1828–29). At the beginning of the Crimean War, he delivered a significant victory at the Battle of Sinop against the Ottoman Empire. Afterward, he was a leader in the defense of Sevastopol against British, French, and Ottoman forces, during which a sniper wounded him, and he died a few days later.

After his death, he became a hero in Russia, with medals and ships named after him. Especially during Soviet times, starting with Stalin. Also, a Soviet Film called Admiral Nakhimov was made in 1947 about his life.

Early Military Career
Early in his career, Nakhimov was criticized for “brutality towards sailors,” despite this allegation it wouldn't impact him in the public perspective of being a popular commander.

Battle of Sinope
During the Crimean War of 1853-1856 Nakhimov distinguished himself by winning against the Ottoman fleet at Sinope in 1853.

Before the battle, the Russian fleet in the Black Sea was divided into two groups, one led by Nakhimov and the other V. A. Kornilov. Nakhimov was tasked with the eastern part of the sea. Meanwhile, the Ottomans knew Russian forces had been in the open sea since November 23. Still, for various reasons, including fear of facing Russia in the open sea, they decided to stay in port. Nakhimov asked for reinforcements which he got on November 27, 1935, when a squadron led by Admiral Fyodor Mihailovich Novosilskiy joined the Nakhimov's squadron. By the time of the battle, Nakhimov helped organize six battleships, two frigates, and three streamers, along with the Russians outgunning the Ottomans with weapons such as Paixhans guns.

On November 30th, 1853, the Nakhimov's squadron entered the bay where the Ottoman fleet led by admiral Osman Pasha was. At first, the Russian squadron demanded the surrender of the Ottoman fleet. After the Ottomans refused to surrender, a firefight broke out. At first, the Ottoman ships were doing well against Nakhimov's forces. However, the battle quickly turned against the Ottomans as the Russian guns proved too much, and in just a few hours, the Ottoman fleet was on fire. One ship, the Ottoman frigate Taif, started to head to Istanbul. Despite the attempts of the Russians, they were unable to capture the ship, even with the efforts of the Russian Admiral V. A. Kornilov, who arrived with reinforcements but was unable to capture the ship. The Taif would arrive in Istanbul, delivering the news of Naknimov's victory on December 2nd. During the fight, all the Ottomans ships in the fleet, except for the Taif, were "devastated." Alongside the damage to the ships, many Ottoman sailors died, although there is no agreement on exactly how many. Only an estimated 33-36 Russians Sailors and one officer died during the battle. Admiral Osman was wounded in the foot and captured along with four other officers. Admiral Osman and the four officers remained a prisoners of war until he was released in 1855.

Nakhimov kept firing during the battle despite most of the Ottoman ships ablaze. It resulted in the burning of parts of the city, and its leaders and the Muslim population fleeing. Thus he's been criticized for attacking civilians during the battle. However, he later tried to explain his actions by sending an envoy to the city, arguing that he was seeking to "destroy the Ottoman fleet."

Glorification
In the aftermath of his death, Naknimov faced a movement of glorification, which included misrepresenting facts. Becoming a part of the "Sevastopol myth," in which Russian figures presented glorification of the defense of the city. This populist movement glorification of the battle was conducted alongside writers such as Leo Tolstoy. In publications, Naknimov was represented as a "friend of the common people" and "the soul of the defense of Sevastopol." Despite his popularity with populist factions, the Imperial government didn't recognize Nakhimov, as evident of the government's efforts to force artists of the panoramic painting "Defense of Sevastopol, 1854-5" to remove his figure and replace it with Mikhail Dmitrievich Gorchakov.

Despite him not being included in official government accounts, he was later honored in the Soviet Union by propagandists. During World War 2, Naknimov was turned into a national hero by the Soviet Union and Stalin alongside other figures like Prince Pyotr Bagration, Mikhail Kutuzov, Aleksandr Nevsky, and Aleksandr Suvorov.

In Popular Culture
A 1947 Soviet movie Admiral Nakhimov (film), directed by Vsevolod Pudovkin, is about the life of Nakhimov. Soviet actor Aleksei Dikiy played Nakhimov. The movie covers Nakhimov's victory in the Battle of Sinop and his defense of Sevastopol. The film had to be remade by Pudovkin as the Communist party viewed it as having too much "dancing" and misrepresenting historical facts. Pudovkin then removed the love story and limited many of the dance and other scenes viewed negativity by the party.