Capture of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco
Encyclopedia
Early in 1793, during the War of the First Coalition, the French Navy
made a concerted assault on the island of Sardinia
, then a possession of the House of Savoy
.
A French fleet bombarded the chief city on the island, Cagliari
, but was repelled by the locals and withdrew. On quitting Cagliari, the French entered the gulf of Palmas and took the islands of San Pietro
and Sant'Antioco
, where they established garrisons. As a diversion, a second fleet, carrying a division from Corsica
, anchored at Le Tigge off the island of La Maddalena
on Sardinia's northern coast on 22 February. The French attempted to take the Maddalena archipelago
, but though it obtained partial success, the spirited resistance of the locals drove them off with the loss of 200 men, their artillery and stores. The incident, though trifling in itself, is remarkable from this having been the scene of the first actual service of Napoleon Bonaparte. Without endeavouring more, the fleet stationed at San Pietro, claiming the uncertain situation at home, then sailed for Toulon
.
The two islets remained in the possession of the French until the arrival of a Spanish fleet of twenty-four ships of the line on 25 May, at the sight of which the French garrison, consisting of about 800 men, surrendered. The two frigate
s the French had left behind to protect the garrison were both lost: the Helène
, carrying thirty-six cannons, was taken whilst endeavouring to make her escape, and the other, the Richmond
, was set fire and scuttle
d by her crew as part of the terms of surrender. The total number of French prisoners grew to 1,300.
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
made a concerted assault on the island of Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, then a possession of the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
.
A French fleet bombarded the chief city on the island, Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
, but was repelled by the locals and withdrew. On quitting Cagliari, the French entered the gulf of Palmas and took the islands of San Pietro
San Pietro Island
San Pietro Island is an island approximately 7 km off the South western Coast of Sardinia, Italy, facing the Sulcis peninsula. With 51 km² it is the sixth largest island of Italy by area. The approximately 6,000 inhabitants are mostly concentrated in the fishing town of Carloforte, the...
and Sant'Antioco
Sant'Antioco
Sant'Antioco is the name of both an island and a municipality in southwestern Sardinia, in the Province of Carbonia-Iglesias, in Sulcis zone. With a population of 11,730, the municipality of Sant'Antioco it is the island's largest community...
, where they established garrisons. As a diversion, a second fleet, carrying a division from Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, anchored at Le Tigge off the island of La Maddalena
La Maddalena
La Maddalena is a town and comune located on the island with the same name, in northern Sardinia, part of the province of Olbia-Tempio, Italy.-The town:...
on Sardinia's northern coast on 22 February. The French attempted to take the Maddalena archipelago
Maddalena archipelago
The Maddalena Archipelago is a group of islands in the Straits of Bonifacio between Corsica and north-eastern Sardinia, Italy. It consists of seven main islands and numerous other small islets.-Geography:...
, but though it obtained partial success, the spirited resistance of the locals drove them off with the loss of 200 men, their artillery and stores. The incident, though trifling in itself, is remarkable from this having been the scene of the first actual service of Napoleon Bonaparte. Without endeavouring more, the fleet stationed at San Pietro, claiming the uncertain situation at home, then sailed for Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
.
The two islets remained in the possession of the French until the arrival of a Spanish fleet of twenty-four ships of the line on 25 May, at the sight of which the French garrison, consisting of about 800 men, surrendered. The two frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s the French had left behind to protect the garrison were both lost: the Helène
French frigate Hélene (1791)
The Hélene was a 34-gun Charmante class frigate of the French Navy.In 1793 she was captured by the Spanish Navy whilst endeavouring to make her escape, and was renamed Sirena.She was broken up in 1807....
, carrying thirty-six cannons, was taken whilst endeavouring to make her escape, and the other, the Richmond
HMS Richmond
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Richmond, after the English town of Richmond, or numerous holders of the title of Duke of Richmond:...
, was set fire and scuttle
Scuttle
Scuttle may refer to:*Scuttling, the deliberate sinking of one's own ship*Coal scuttle, a bucket-like container for coal*Shaving scuttle, a teapot-like container for hot water*Scuttle, a fictional character in Disney's The Little Mermaid...
d by her crew as part of the terms of surrender. The total number of French prisoners grew to 1,300.