Mediterranean campaign of 1793–1796

The Mediterranean campaign of 1793–1796 is a major theater of conflict in the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars.

Fought during the War of the First Coalition, the campaign is primarily contested in the Western Mediterranean between the French Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, based at Toulon in Southern France, and the British Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, supported by the Spanish Navy and the smaller navies of several Italian states.

Major fighting is concentrated in the Ligurian Sea, and focused on British maintenance of and French resistance to a British close blockade of the French Mediterranean coast.

Additional conflict spreads along Mediterranean trade routes, contested by individual warships and small squadrons.

The campaign begins early in the War of the First Coalition, with an unsuccessful French attack on the neutral island of Sardinia in December 1792.

In February 1793, France declares war on Great Britain, and Britain dispatches a fleet to the Mediterranean under Admiral Lord Hood to protect its trade routes in the region.

The French Navy is in a state of disorder due to the ongoing social upheaval, and is initially unable to oppose the British and their allies.

In August 1793, Hood and his Spanish and Italian allies are able to seize Toulon and the entire French fleet after a Royalist uprising in the town, followed by a four month siege by French Republican armies.

The allies are eventually driven out and the French fleet recaptured, although nearly half have been destroyed by the retreating British.

While the French repair, Hood devotes 1794 to capturing the island of Corsica, intending to use it as a forward base for the blockade of Toulon.

This takes longer than expected, and by 1795 Hood has retired, replaced by William Hotham.

Hotham faces the repaired French fleet under Pierre Martin, who leads several sorties from Toulon, leading to two inconclusive British victories at the battles of Genoa and the Hyères Islands.

Martin now deploys smaller squadrons on destructive operations against British commerce.

Due to military success in Italy and diplomatic negotiations with Spain, by 1796 Britain's allies have broken away; Spain declares war on Britain in September, leaving the British fleet exposed between two powerful enemies.

Unwilling to risk destruction of their fleet in the Mediterranean, the Admiralty withdraws the British, now under the command of Sir John Jervis, to the Tagus, abandoning the Mediterranean.

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