Pavel Nakhimov

Lore & Background

Nakhimov was born in the village of Gorodok in the Vyazma district of the Smolensk Governorate into a noble Russian family, the seventh of eleven children. He entered the Naval Academy for the Nobility in Saint Petersburg in 1817, made his first sea voyage aboard the frigate Feniks, and was promoted to non-commissioned officer. In 1822, he joined the frigate Kreiser on a round-the-globe expedition under Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, earning promotion to lieutenant and the Order of Saint Vladimir IV degree. He later served on the warship Azov, which distinguished itself at the Battle of Navarino in 1827, where Nakhimov was promoted to captain of a trophy ship and decorated by allied governments.

During the Crimean War, Nakhimov defeated the Ottoman fleet at Sinope in 1853, commanding six battleships, two frigates, and three steamers. After the Ottomans refused to surrender, his squadron destroyed all Ottoman ships except the frigate Taif, which escaped to Istanbul. Nakhimov was criticized for attacking civilians during the battle, as he kept firing despite Ottoman ships being ablaze, burning parts of the city. He later argued he sought to 'destroy the Ottoman fleet.'

His finest hour came during the Siege of Sevastopol, where he and Admiral V. A. Kornilov organized the land defense of the city and port. As commander of the port and military governor, he became head of naval and land defense forces. On July 10, 1855, while inspecting forward positions on Malakhov Kurgan, he was fatally wounded by a sniper and died two days later.

Reader's Guide

Nakhimov's significance lies in his decisive naval victory at Sinop and his organizational role in the defense of Sevastopol, which became central to Russian national memory. After his death, he was glorified as part of the 'Sevastopol myth,' with writers like Leo Tolstoy presenting him as a 'friend of the common people' and 'the soul of the defense of Sevastopol.' However, the Imperial government did not officially recognize him, even forcing artists to remove his figure from a panoramic painting. During World War II, the Soviet Union under Stalin elevated Nakhimov to national hero status alongside figures like Kutuzov and Suvorov. His legacy includes the Order of Nakhimov (established 1944), the Nakhimov Medal, and Nakhimov Naval Schools for teenagers. Multiple ships have been named after him, including a Kirov-class battlecruiser. Monuments include a statue in Sevastopol and busts in Dnipro (removed in 2021). He is buried in St Vladimir's Cathedral in Sevastopol alongside Lazarev, Kornilov, and Istomin.

Did You Know?

• Nakhimov was the seventh of eleven children; six of his siblings died as infants.
• He was criticized early in his career for 'brutality towards sailors.'
• Only 33–36 Russian sailors and one officer died at the Battle of Sinop.
• A Soviet film called 'Admiral Nakhimov' was made in 1947 about his life.