In the history of the first half of the 19th century century, a number of brilliant geographical studies are known. Among them, one of the most prominent places belongs to Russian trips around the world.

Russia at the beginning XIX century occupies a leading position in organizing and conducting circumnavigations and ocean research.

The first voyage of Russian ships around the world under the command of captain-lieutenants I.F. Krusenstern and Yu.F. Lisyansky lasted three years, like most circumnavigations of that time. This journey in 1803 begins an entire era of remarkable Russian expeditions around the world.

Yu.F. Lisyansky received orders to go to England to purchase two ships intended for circumnavigation. Lisyansky bought these ships, Nadezhda and Neva, in London for 22,000 pounds sterling, which was almost the same amount in gold rubles at the exchange rate of that time.

The price for the purchase of "Nadezhda" and "Neva" was actually equal to 17,000 pounds sterling, but for corrections they had to pay an additional 5,000 pounds. The ship "Nadezhda" has already been three years old since its launch, and the "Neva" is only fifteen months old. "Neva" had a displacement of 350 tons, and "Nadezhda" - 450 tons.

In England, Lisyansky bought a number of sextants, lel-compasses, barometers, a hygrometer, several thermometers, one artificial magnet, chronometers by Arnold and Pettiwgton, and more. The chronometers were tested by academician Schubert. All other instruments were Troughton's work.

Astronomical and physical instruments were designed to observe longitudes and latitudes and orient the ship. Lisyansky took care to purchase a whole pharmacy of medicines and anti-scorbutic agents, since in those days scurvy was one of the most dangerous diseases during long voyages. Equipment for the expedition was also purchased in England, including comfortable, durable and suitable for various climatic conditions team clothing. There was a spare set of underwear and dresses. Mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets were ordered for each of the sailors. The ship's provisions were the best. The crackers prepared in St. Petersburg did not spoil for two whole years, just like solonia, which was salted with domestic salt by the merchant Oblomkov. The Nadezhda crew consisted of 58 people, and the Neva crew of 47. They were selected from volunteer sailors, of whom there were so many that everyone who wanted to participate in a trip around the world could be enough to staff several expeditions. It should be noted that none of the team members participated in long voyages, since in those days Russian ships did not descend south of the northern tropic. The task that faced the officers and crew of the expedition was not easy. They had to cross two oceans, go around the dangerous Cape Horn, famous for its storms, and rise to 60° N. sh., visit a number of little-studied coasts, where mariners could expect uncharted and undescribed pitfalls and other dangers. But the command of the expedition was so confident in the strength of its “officers and enlisted personnel” that they rejected the offer to take on board several foreign sailors familiar with the conditions of long voyages. Among the foreigners on the expedition were naturalists Tilesius von Tilenau, Langsdorff and astronomer Horner. Horner was of Swiss origin. He worked at the then famous Seeberg Observatory, whose director recommended him to Count Rumyantsev. The expedition was also accompanied by a painter from the Academy of Arts.

The artist and scientists were with the Russian envoy to Japan, N.P. Rezanov, and his retinue on board the large ship Nadezhda. "Nadezhda" was commanded by Krusenstern. Lisyansky was entrusted with command of the Neva. Although Krusenstern was listed as the commander of the Nadezhda and the head of the expedition at the Naval Ministry, in the instructions given by Alexander I to the Russian ambassador to Japan, N.P. Rezanov, he was called the main commander of the expedition. This dual position was the reason for the emergence of conflictual relationships between Rezanov and Krusenstern. Therefore, Kruzenshtern repeatedly submitted reports to the Directorate of the Russian-American Company, where he wrote that he was called upon by the highest command to command the expedition and that “it was entrusted to Rezanov” without his knowledge, to which he would never agree, that his position “does not consist only to watch the sails,” etc. Soon the relationship between Rezanov and Kruzenshtern became so tense that a riot occurred among the Nadezhda crew.

The Russian envoy to Japan, after a series of troubles and insults, was forced to retire to his cabin, from which he did not leave until his arrival in Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka. Here Rezanov turned to Major General Koshelev, a representative of the local administrative authorities. An investigation was ordered against Krusenstern, which took on an unfavorable character for him. Considering the situation, Kruzenshtern publicly apologized to Rezanov and asked Koshelev not to allow the investigation to proceed further. Only thanks to the kindness of Rezanov, who decided to drop the case, Kruzenshtern avoided major troubles that could have had fatal consequences for his career.

The above episode shows that the discipline on the Nadezhda ship, commanded by Kruzenshtern, was not up to par if such a high-ranking person vested with special powers as the Russian envoy to Japan could be subjected to a number of insults from the crew and the captain of the Nadezhda himself. It is probably no coincidence that the Nadezhda was in a very risky position several times during its voyage, while the Neva only landed once. coral reef and, moreover, in a place where it could not be expected from the maps. All this leads to the assumption that the generally accepted idea of ​​Kruzenshtern’s leading role in the first Russian trip around the world does not correspond to reality.

Although the ships were supposed to make the first part of the journey to England, and then across the Atlantic Ocean, bypassing Cape Horn, together, then they had to separate at the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands. "Nadezhda", according to the expedition plan, should have gone to Kamchatka, where she was supposed to leave her cargo. Then Kruzenshtern should have gone to Japan and delivered there the Russian ambassador N.P. Rezanov and his retinue. After this, "Nadezhda" had to return to Kamchatka again, take a cargo of furs and take it to Canton for sale. The Neva's route, starting from the Hawaiian Islands, was completely different. Lisyansky was supposed to go "north-west, to the island of Kodiak, where the main office of the Russian-American company was located at that time. The Neva was supposed to winter here, and then it was supposed to take a cargo of furs and deliver it to Canton, where it was assigned meeting of both ships - "Neva" and "Nadezhda". From Canton, both ships were supposed to head to Russia past the Cape of Good Hope. This plan was carried out, although with retreats caused by storms, which separated the ships long ago, as well as long stops for necessary repairs and food replenishment.

Naturalists present on the ships collected valuable botanical, zoological and ethnographic collections, made observations of sea currents, temperature and density of water at depths of up to 400 m, tides and barometer fluctuations, systematic astronomical observations to determine longitudes and latitudes and established the coordinates of the whole a number of points visited by the expedition, including all the harbors and islands where there were anchorages.

If the special tasks of the expedition in the Russian colonies were successfully completed, then the same cannot be said about that part of the expedition’s plans that was associated with the organization of the embassy to Japan. The embassy of N.P. Rezanov was unsuccessful. Although he was surrounded by attention and all kinds of signs of honor and respect upon his arrival in Japan, he failed to establish trade relations with this country.

On August 5, 1806, the Neva arrived safely at the Kronstadt roadstead. Cannon salutes from the Neva and response salvos from the Kronstadt Fortress rang out. Thus, the Neva spent three years and two months at sea. On August 19, Nadezhda arrived, which had been on a circumnavigation for fourteen days longer than Neva.

The first Russian circumnavigation constituted an epoch in the history of the Russian fleet and brought to world geographical science a number of new information about little-explored countries. A whole series of islands that were visited by Lisyansky and Kruzenshtern had only recently been discovered by sailors, and their nature, population, their customs, beliefs and economy remained almost completely unknown. These were the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands, discovered in 1778 by Cook, less than thirty years before they were visited by Russian sailors. Russian travelers could observe the life of the Hawaiians in its natural state, not yet changed by contact with Europeans. The Marquesas and Washington Islands, as well as Easter Island, have been little studied. It is not surprising that the descriptions of the Russian trip around the world made by Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky aroused keen interest among a wide range of readers and were translated into a number of Western European languages. The materials collected during the voyage of the Neva and Nadezhda were of great value for the study of the primitive peoples of Oceania and the North Pacific Ocean. Our first Russian travelers observed these peoples in the stage of tribal relations. They were the first to describe in detail the peculiar, ancient Hawaiian culture with its immutable laws of “taboo” and human sacrifice. The rich ethnographic collections collected on the ships "Neva" and "Nadezhda", together with descriptions of the customs, beliefs and even the language of the Pacific islanders, served as valuable sources for the study of the peoples inhabiting the Pacific islands.

Thus, the first Russian trip around the world played a big role in the development of ethnography. This was greatly facilitated by the great observation and accuracy of the descriptions of our first travelers around the world.

It should be noted that numerous observations of sea currents, temperature and water density, which were made on the ships Nadezhda and Neva, gave impetus to the development of a new science - oceanography. Before the first Russian voyage around the world, such systematic observations were not usually made by navigators. Russian sailors turned out to be great innovators in this regard.

The first Russian circumnavigation opens a whole galaxy of brilliant trips around the world made under the Russian flag.

During these travels, an excellent cadre of sailors was created who acquired long-distance navigation experience and high qualifications in the art of navigation, which is difficult for a sailing fleet.

It is interesting to note that one of the participants in the first Russian circumnavigation of the world, Kotzebue, who sailed as a cadet on the ship "Nadezhda", subsequently himself carried out an equally interesting circumnavigation on the ship "Rurik", equipped at the expense of Count Rumyantsev.

The expedition on the ships "Neva" and "Nadezhda" paved a new route to the Russian North American colonies. Since then, their supply of necessary food and goods has been carried out by sea. These continuous long-distance voyages revived colonial trade and in many ways contributed to the development of the North American colonies and the development of Kamchatka.

Russia's maritime ties with the Pacific Ocean have strengthened, and foreign trade has developed significantly. With a series of valuable observations along long-distance routes, the first Russian voyage around the world laid a solid scientific foundation for the difficult art of long-distance navigation.

Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern and Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky were combat Russian sailors: both in 1788–1790. participated in four battles against the Swedes. The voyage of Krusenstern and Lisyansky is the beginning new era in the history of Russian navigation

Purpose of the expedition

Route and map of the round-the-world expedition of Krusenstern and Lisyansky

Make the first circumnavigation in history Russian fleet. Deliver and pick up goods from Russian America. Establish diplomatic contacts with Japan. Show the profitability of direct trade in furs from Russian America to China. Prove the benefits of the sea route from Russian America to St. Petersburg in comparison with the land route. Conduct various geographical observations and Scientific research along the expedition route.

Expedition composition

The expedition started from Kronstadt on July 26 (August 7), 1803. under the leadership of , who was 32 years old. The expedition included:

• Three-masted sloop "Nadezhda", with a displacement of 450 tons, a length of 35 meters. Purchased in England specifically for the expedition. The ship was not new, but it endured all the difficulties of sailing around the world. The total number of the team is 65 people. Commander - Ivan Fedorovich Krusenstern.
• Three-masted sloop "Neva", displacement 370 tons. Purchased there specifically for the expedition. He endured all the difficulties of circumnavigating the world, after which he was the first Russian ship to visit Australia in 1807. The total number of the ship's crew was 54 people. Commander - Lisyansky Yuri Fedorovich.

Emperor Alexander I personally inspected both sloops and allowed military flags to be raised on them Russian Empire. The emperor accepted the maintenance of one of the ships at his own expense, and the costs of operating the other were covered by the Russian-American Company and one of the main inspirers of the expedition, Count N.P. Rumyantsev.

Every single one of the sailors were Russian - this was Kruzenshtern’s condition

Results of the expedition

And in July 1806, with a difference of two weeks, the Neva and Nadezhda returned to the Kronstadt roadstead, completing the entire journey in 3 years 12 days. Both of these sailing ships, like their captains, became famous throughout the world. The first Russian round-the-world expedition had enormous scientific significance on a global scale. The research conducted by Krusenstern and Lisyansky had no analogues.
As a result of the expedition, many books were published, about two dozen geographical points were named after famous captains.

On the left is Ivan Fedorovich Krusenstern. On the right is Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky

The description of the expedition was published under the title “Journey around the world in 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806 on the ships “Nadezhda” and “Neva”, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Kruzenshtern,” in 3 volumes, with an atlas of 104 maps and engraved paintings, and has been translated into English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian and Danish.

But the further fate of the sailing ships “Nadezhda” and “Neva” was not very successful. All that is known about the Neva is that the ship visited Australia in 1807. “Nadezhda” perished in 1808 off the coast of Denmark. A Russian training sailing ship, the frigate Nadezhda, is named after the sloop Nadezhda. And the legendary bark “Kruzenshtern” bears her name, truly a great captain.

Film about the first Russian trip around the world

Film "Neva" and "Nadezhda". The first Russian voyage around the world." Channel "Russia"

Filming took place in places associated with the expedition. This is 16 geographical points- from Alaska to Cape Horn. The viewer will have a clear opportunity to appreciate the scale of the accomplishment of Russian sailors. Filming also took place on the sailing ship Kruzenshtern. Instruments, household items, maritime traditions - everyone will be able to imagine themselves in the role of a participant in the hike, to feel the hardships that befell them.
For the first time, engravings made by members of the expedition and brought to life using computer graphics will be shown. Some scenes were filmed in specially built pavilions and stylized as a movie from the early 20th century. For the first time, the diaries of the participants in the voyage will also be heard: they are read in the film by peers of the heroes - famous actors.
The travel narrative is not limited to the historical film genre. The description of the voyage is interspersed with a story about the present day of the most important stopping points of the expedition.

Introduction

The 19th century was the time of the greatest geographical discoveries committed by Russian researchers. Continuing the traditions of their predecessors - explorers and travelers of the 17th-18th centuries, they enriched Russians’ ideas about the world around them and contributed to the development of new territories that became part of the empire. For the first time, Russia realized an old dream: its ships entered the World Ocean.

The purpose of my work is to study and determine the contribution to the development of geography - works, expeditions, studies of Russian voyages around the world.

The first Russian trip around the world I.F. Krusenstern and Yu.F. Lisyansky

In 1803, at the direction of Alexander I, an expedition was undertaken on the ships Nadezhda and Neva to explore the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. This was the first Russian round-the-world expedition, which lasted 3 years. It was headed by Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern, the largest navigator and geographer of the 19th century.

Small ships were purchased from Great Britain. Before sailing, Emperor Alexander I personally inspected the sloops purchased from the British in Kronstadt. The Emperor allowed military flags to be raised on both ships and the costs of maintaining one were taken at his own expense, while the other was paid for by the Russian-American Company and one of the main inspirers of the expedition, Count N.P. Rumyantsev.

The first half of the voyage (from Kronstadt to Petropavlovsk) was marked by the eccentric behavior of Tolstoy the American (who had to be landed in Kamchatka) and the conflicts of I.F. Kruzenshtern with N.P. Rezanov, who was sent by Emperor Alexander I as the first Russian envoy to Japan to establish trade between the countries.

The expedition left Kronstadt on July 26 (August 7), 1803. She called at Copenhagen and on September 28 arrived in Falmouth, where she had to once again caulk the entire underwater part of both ships. Only on October 5, the expedition went further to the south and entered the island of Tenerife; On November 14, at 24° 20" west longitude, she crossed the equator. The Russian flag flew for the first time in the southern hemisphere, which was celebrated with great solemnity.

Having reached 20° south latitude, Kruzenshtern searched in vain for Ascension Island, the position of which was very confusing. Repairing the ship Neva forced the expedition to stay off the Brazilian coast from December 9 to January 23, 1804. From here, the voyage of both ships was at first very successful: on February 20 they rounded Cape Horn; but they were soon met by strong winds with hail, snow and fog. The ships separated and on April 24 Kruzenshtern alone reached the Marquesas Islands. Here he determined the position of the islands of Fetuga and Ouaguga, then entered the port of Anna Maria on the island of Nukagiwa. On April 28, the ship Neva also arrived there.

On the island of Nukagiwa, Kruzenshtern discovered and described an excellent harbor, which he called the port of Chichagova. On May 4, the expedition left the Washington Islands and on May 13, at 146° west longitude, again crossed the equator towards the north; On May 26, the Hawaiian (Sandwich) Islands appeared, where the ships separated: “Nadezhda” headed for Kamchatka and further to Japan, and “Neva” headed to explore Alaska, where it took part in the Battle of Arkhangelsk (Battle of Sitka).

Taking from the ruler of the Kamchatka region P.I. Kosheleva guard of honor (2 officers, a drummer, 5 soldiers) for the ambassador, "Nadezhda" headed south, arriving at the Japanese port of Dejima near the city of Nagasaki on September 26, 1804. The Japanese forbade entry into the harbor, and Kruzenshtern dropped anchor in the bay. The embassy lasted six months, after which everyone returned back to Petropavlovsk. Kruzenshtern was awarded the Order of St. Anne, II degree, and Rezanov, as having completed the diplomatic mission entrusted to him, was released from further participation in the first round-the-world expedition.

"Neva" and "Nadezhda" returned to St. Petersburg on different routes. In 1805, their paths crossed in the port of Macau in southern China. "Neva" after entering Hawaii provided assistance to the Russian-American company led by A.A. Baranov in the recapture of the Mikhailovsky Fortress from the natives. After an inventory of the surrounding islands and other research, the Neva carried goods to Canton, but on October 3 it ran aground in the middle of the ocean. Lisyansky ordered the rostras and carronades to be thrown into the water, but then a squall landed the ship on a reef. To continue sailing, the team had to throw even such necessary items as anchors into the sea. The item was subsequently picked up. On the way to China, the coral island of Lisyansky was discovered. "Neva" returned to Kronstadt before "Nadezhda" (July 22).

Leaving the shores of Japan, “Nadezhda” went north along the Sea of ​​Japan, almost completely unknown to Europeans. On the way, Kruzenshtern determined the position of a number of islands. He passed the La Perouse Strait between Iesso and Sakhalin, described Aniva Bay, located on the southern side of Sakhalin, the eastern coast and Terpeniya Bay, which he left on May 13. The huge amount of ice he encountered the next day at 48° latitude prevented him from continuing his voyage to the north, and he descended to the Kuril Islands. Here, on May 18, he discovered 4 stone islands, which he called “Stone Traps”; near them he encountered such a strong current that, with a fresh wind and a speed of eight knots, the Nadezhda ship not only did not move forward, but was carried onto an underwater reef.

With difficulty, having avoided trouble here, on May 20 Kruzenshtern passed through the strait between the islands of Onnekotan and Haramukotan, and on May 24 he again arrived at the port of Peter and Paul. On June 23 he went to Sakhalin. To complete the description of its shores, 29 passed the Kuril Islands, the strait between Raukoke and Mataua, which he named Nadezhda. On July 3, he arrived at Cape Terpeniya. Exploring the shores of Sakhalin, he walked around the northern tip of the island, descended between it and the coast of the mainland to latitude 53° 30" and in this place on August 1 found fresh water, according to which he concluded that the mouth of the Amur River was not far, but due to the rapidly decreasing depth he did not dare to go forward.

Sloop "Nadezhda".

The next day he anchored in a bay, which he called the Bay of Hope; On August 4 he went back to Kamchatka, where repairs to the ship and replenishment of supplies delayed him until September 23. When leaving Avachinskaya Bay, due to fog and snow, the ship almost ran aground. On the way to China, he searched in vain for the islands shown on old Spanish maps, withstood several storms and arrived in Macau on November 15. On November 21, when the Nadezhda was completely ready to go to sea, the ship Neva arrived with a rich cargo of fur goods and stopped in Whampoa, where the ship Nadezhda also went. At the beginning of January 1806, the expedition completed its trading business, but was detained by the Chinese port authorities for no particular reason, and only on January 28 did the Russian ships leave the Chinese shores.

Coming out of the Sunda Strait, the ship "Nadezhda" again only thanks to the rising wind managed to cope with the current into which it fell and which carried it to the reefs. On April 3, Nadezhda separated from Neva; After 4 days, Kruzenshtern rounded the Cape of Good Hope and on April 22 arrived at St. Helena Island, having traveled from Macau in 79 days. After 4 days, Kruzenshtern left and on May 9 again crossed the equator at 22° west longitude.

Even on the island of St. Helena, news was received about the war between Russia and France, and therefore Krusenstern decided to go around Scotland; On July 5, he passed between the islands of Fair Isle and Mainland of the Shetland archipelago and, having sailed for 86 days, arrived on July 21 in Copenhagen, and on August 5 (17), 1806 in Kronstadt, completing the entire journey in 3 years 12 days. During the entire voyage on the Nadezhda ship there was not a single death, and there were very few sick people, while on other ships then many people died during inland voyages.

Emperor Alexander I awarded Krusenstern and his subordinates. All officers received the following ranks, commanders of the Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree and 3000 rubles each, lieutenants 1000 each, and midshipmen 800 rubles for life pension. Lower ranks, if desired, were dismissed and awarded a pension of 50 to 75 rubles. By the highest order, a special medal was knocked out for all participants in this first trip around the world.

A description of this expedition was printed at the expense of the imperial office under the title “Journey around the world in 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806 on the ships “Nadezhda” and “Neva”, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Kruzenshtern,” in 3 volumes, with an atlas of 104 maps and engraved paintings, St. Petersburg, 1809.

This work has been translated into English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian and Danish. Republished in 2007.

Kruzenshtern's journey constituted an era in the history of the Russian fleet, enriching geography and natural sciences with much information about countries that were little known. This voyage is an important milestone in the history of Russia, in the development of its fleet; it made a significant contribution to the study of the world ocean and many branches of the natural and human sciences.

From this time on, a continuous series of Russian trips around the world began; The management of Kamchatka has changed for the better in many ways. Of the officers who were with Kruzenshtern, many later served with honor in the Russian fleet, and cadet Otto Kotzebue was himself later the commander of a ship that sailed around the world.

During the voyage, more than a thousand kilometers of the coast of Sakhalin Island were mapped for the first time. The participants of the trip left many interesting observations not only about Far East, but also about other areas through which they sailed. The commander of the Neva, Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky, discovered one of the islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, named after him. A lot of data was collected by the expedition members about the Aleutian Islands and Alaska, the islands of the Pacific and Arctic oceans.

The results of the observations were presented in a report by the Academy of Sciences. They turned out to be so significant that I.F. Krusenstern was awarded the title of academician. His materials were the basis for what was published in the early 20s. "Atlas of the South Seas". In 1845, Admiral Krusenstern became one of the founding members of the Russian Geographical Society. He trained a whole galaxy of Russian sailors and explorers.

Expedition route.

Kronstadt (Russia) - Copenhagen (Denmark) - Falmouth (Great Britain) - Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) - Florianopolis (Brazil, Portugal) - Easter Island - Nukuhiva (Marquesas Islands, France) -- Honolulu (Hawaii Islands) -- Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russia) -- Nagasaki (Japan) -- Hakodate (Hokkaido Island, Japan) -- Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Sakhalin Island, Russia) -- Sitka (Alaska, Russia) - Kodiak (Alaska, Russia) - Guangzhou (China) - Macau (Portugal) - St. Helena Island (UK) - Corvo and Flores Islands (Azores, Portugal) - Portsmouth (Great Britain) - Kronstadt (Russia).

The story of the first round-the-world expedition of I.F. Krusenstern and Yu.F. Lisyansky. About how two captains went around Earth for the first time under the flag of the Russian navy, despite the cruel circumstances that hindered their dream.

Background and purpose of the expedition

The petitions of Captain Ivan Kruzenshtern gathered dust in the desks of Admiralty officials. The chief executives considered Russia a land power and did not understand why it was necessary to go to the ends of the world to compile herbariums and maps?! Desperate, Kruzenshtern gives up. Now his choice is marriage and a quiet life... And Captain Kruzenshtern’s project would probably have been lost in the distant drawers of Admiralty officials, if not for private capital - the Russian-American Company. Its main business is trade with Alaska. At that time, the business was extremely profitable: a sable skin bought in Alaska for a ruble in St. Petersburg could be sold for 600. But here’s the problem: the journey from the capital to Alaska and back took... 5 years. What kind of trade is there!

On July 29, 1802, the company turned to Emperor Alexander I, also, by the way, its shareholder, with a request to authorize a round-the-world expedition based on Kruzenshtern’s project. The goals are to deliver the necessary supplies to Alaska, pick up goods, and at the same time establish trade with China and Japan. The petition was submitted by a member of the company's board, Nikolai Rezanov.

On August 7, 1802, just a week after the petition was submitted, the project was approved. It was also decided to send an embassy to Japan with the expedition, which was to be headed by Nikolai Rezanov. Captain-Lieutenant Krusenstern was appointed head of the expedition.

Left - Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern, right - Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky

Expedition composition, preparation for voyage

In the summer of 1803, two sailing sloops, Nadezhda and Neva, left the Kronstadt harbor. The captain of Nadezhda was Ivan Krusenstern, the captain of the Neva was his friend and classmate Yuri Lisyansky. The sloops “Nadezhda” and “Neva” are three-masted ships of Krusenstern and Lisyansky, capable of carrying up to 24 guns. They were bought in England for 230,000 rubles, originally called “Leander” and “Thames”. The length of "Nadezhda" is 117 feet, i.e. about 35 meters with a width of 8.5 meters, displacement 450 tons. The length of the Neva is 108 feet, displacement is 370 tons.

On board the Nadezhda were:

midshipmen Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Otto Kotzebue, who later glorified the Russian fleet with their expeditions

Ambassador Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov (to establish diplomatic relations with Japan) and his retinue

scientists Horner, Tilesius and Langsdorf, artist Kurlyantsev

mysteriously, the famous brawler and duelist Count Fyodor Tolstoy, who went down in history as Tolstoy the American, also ended up on the expedition.

Ivan Krusenstern. 32 years. Descendant of the Russified German noble family. Released from the Naval Corps early due to the Russian-Swedish War. Repeatedly participated in naval battles. Knight of the Order of St. George, IV degree. Served as a volunteer on ships English fleet, visited the shores of North America, South Africa, the East Indies and China.

Ermolai Levenstern. 26 years. Lieutenant of Nadezhda. He was distinguished by poor health, but performed his service efficiently and carefully. In his diary he described in detail all the incidents of the expedition, including curious and indecent ones. He gave unflattering characteristics to all his comrades, with the exception of Krusenstern, to whom he was sincerely devoted.

Makar Ratmanov. 31 year. First Lieutenant of the sloop Nadezhda. Krusenstern's classmate in the Naval Corps. The most senior of the expedition officers. participated in the Russian-Swedish war, then, as part of Fyodor Ushakov’s squadron, in the capture of the fortress of Corfu and the Ionian Islands. He was distinguished by rare courage, as well as directness in his statements.

Nikolay Rezanov. 38 years. From an impoverished noble family. He served in the Izmailovsky Life Guards Regiment, then as secretary of various offices. Having aroused the jealousy of the empress's favorite Platon Zubov, he was sent to Irkutsk to inspect the activities of entrepreneur Grigory Shelikhov. He married Shelikhov's daughter and became a co-owner of huge capital. He obtained permission from Emperor Paul to found the Russian-American Company and became one of its leaders.

Count Fyodor Tolstoy, 21 years old. Guard lieutenant, member of Rezanov's retinue. He became famous in St. Petersburg as an intriguer, adventurer and sharper. He got into the expedition by accident: he challenged his regiment commander to a duel, and in order to avoid trouble, by decision of his family, he ended up on the voyage instead of his cousin.

Wilhelm-Theophilus Tilesius von Thielenau. 35 years. German doctor, botanist, zoologist and naturalist. An excellent draftsman who compiled a hand-drawn chronicle of the expedition. Subsequently he will make a name for himself in science. There is a version that many of his drawings were copied from the works of his colleague and rival Langsdorff.

Baron Georg-Heinrich von Langsdorff, 29 years old. M.D. He worked as a doctor in Portugal, in his free time he conducted natural science research and collected collections. Full member Physical Society of the University of Göttingen. St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

Johann-Caspar Horner, 31 years old. Swiss astronomer. Called from Zurich to participate in the expedition as a staff astronomer. He was distinguished by rare calm and self-control.

Sloop "Nadezhda"

Sloop "Neva": Commander - Lisyansky Yuri Fedorovich.

The total number of the ship's crew is 54 people.

Yuri Lisyansky. 29 years. Since childhood I dreamed of the sea. At the age of 13, he was released early from the St. Petersburg Naval Corps in connection with the Russian-Swedish War. Participated in several battles. At the age of 16 he was promoted to midshipman. Knight of the Order of St. George, 4th degree. He was distinguished by exceptional demands on himself and his subordinates.

Preparing for the expedition

At the beginning of the 19th century, there were white spots on the maps of the Atlantic and, most importantly, the Pacific oceans. Russian sailors had to cross the Great Ocean almost blindly. The ships were supposed to go through Copenhagen and Falmouth to the Canaries, then to Brazil, then to Easter Island, the Marquesas Islands, Honolulu and Kamchatka, where the ships would split up: the Neva would go to the shores of Alaska, and the Nadezhda to Japan. In Canton (China) the ships must meet and return to Kronstadt together. The ships sailed according to the regulations of the Russian navy. Twice a day - in the morning and late in the evening - exercises were carried out: setting and cleaning the sails, as well as alarms in case of fire or breach. For the team's lunch, hanging tables attached to the ceiling were lowered in the cockpits. At lunch and dinner they were given one dish - cabbage soup with meat or corned beef or porridge with butter. Before the meal, the team received a glass of vodka or rum, and those who did not drink were paid nine kopecks monthly for each glass not drunk. At the end of the work they heard: “Sing and have fun for the team!”

The sloops "Neva" and "Nadezhda" during a circumnavigation. Artist S.V.Pen.

Route of the expedition of Krusenstern and Lisyansky

The expedition left Kronstadt on July 26, old style (August 7, new style), heading for Copenhagen. The route then followed the scheme Falmouth (Great Britain) - Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands) - Florianopolis (Brazil) - Easter Island - Nukuhiwa (Marquesas Islands) - Honolulu (Hawaii Islands) - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Nagasaki (Japan) - Hokkaido Island (Japan) - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Sitka (Alaska) - Kodiak (Alaska) - Guangzhou (China) - Macau (Portugal) - St. Helena Island - Corvo and Flores Islands (Azores) - Portsmouth (UK). On August 5 (17), 1806, the expedition returned to Kronstadt, completing the entire journey in 3 years and 12 days.

Description of swimming

Equator

On November 26, 1803, ships flying the Russian flag “Nadezhda” and “Neva” crossed the equator for the first time and entered the Southern Hemisphere. By maritime tradition Neptune's festival was held.

Cape Horn and Nuka Hiva

Neva and Nadezhda entered the Pacific Ocean separately, but the captains foresaw this option and agreed in advance on the meeting place - the Marquesas archipelago, Nukuhiva Island. But Lisyansky decided on the way to also stop by Easter Island to check if the Nadezhda had landed there. “Nadezhda” safely rounded Cape Horn and on March 3, 1804, entered the Pacific Ocean, and in the early morning of Easter Sunday, April 24, 1804, on the 235th day of the voyage, land appeared in the sunny haze. Nuka Hiva today is a small sleepy island. There are only two roads and three villages, one of which is the capital called Taiohae. There are 2,770 souls on the entire island who are slowly engaged in copra production and housekeeping. In the evenings, when the heat subsides, they sit outside the houses or play petanque, a pastime brought by the French for adults... The center of life is a tiny pier, the only place where you can see several people at once, and only then early on Saturday morning, when fishermen bring food for sale. fresh fish. On the 4th day of the stay at Nuku Hiva, a messenger from the king arrived to the captain with urgent news: at dawn they saw from the mountain far out to sea big ship. This was the long-awaited Neva.

Equator

Alaska

Russian America from 1799 to 1867 was the name given to the possessions of the Russian Empire in North America, - the Alaska Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands, the Alexander Archipelago and some settlements on the Pacific coast. "Neva" safely reached its goal and approached the shores of Alaska on July 10, 1804. Destination - Pavlovskaya Bay on Kodiak Island, the capital of Russian America. After Cape Horn and the island of cannibals, this part of the voyage seemed quiet and boring to the sailors... But they were wrong. In 1804, the crew of the Neva found themselves in the very center of hostilities here. The warlike Tlingit tribe rebelled against the Russians, killing the small garrison of the fort.

The Russian-American trading company was founded in 1799 by the “Russian Columbus” - merchant Shelikhov, father-in-law of Nikolai Rezanov. The company traded in harvested furs, walrus tusks, whalebone, and blubber. But its main task was to strengthen distant colonies... The manager of the company was Alexander Baranov. The weather in Alaska, even in summer, is changeable - sometimes rain, sometimes sunny... It’s understandable: north. The cozy town of Sitka today lives on fishing and tourism. There is also a lot here that reminds us of the times of Russian America. Lisyansky hurried here to help Baranov. The detachment under the command of Baranov, who went to Sitka, consisted of 120 fishermen and about 800 Aleuts and Eskimos. They were opposed by several hundred Indians, fortified in a wooden fortress... In those cruel times, the tactics of the opponents were the same everywhere: they did not leave anyone alive. After several attempts at negotiations, Baranov and Lisyansky decide to storm the fortress. A landing party - 150 people - Russians and Aleuts with five cannons - lands on the shore.

Russian losses after the assault amounted to 8 people killed (including three sailors from the Neva) and 20 wounded, including the head of Alaska, Baranov. The Aleuts also counted their losses... For several more days, the Indians besieged in the fortress confidently shot at Russian longboats and even at the Neva. And then suddenly they sent a messenger asking for peace.

Sloop "Neva" off the coast of Alaska

Nagasaki

The Russian embassy of Nikolai Rezanov and Ivan Krusenstern was awaiting the shogun's response off the coast of Japan. Only two and a half months later, Nadezhda was allowed to enter the port and approach the shore, and Krusenstern’s ship with Ambassador Rezanov entered Nagasaki harbor on October 8, 1804. The Japanese said that in 30 days a “big man” would arrive from the capital and announce the will of the emperor. But week after week passed, and “ big man“It still didn’t happen... After a month and a half of negotiations, the Japanese finally allocated a small house to the envoy and his retinue. And then they fenced off a garden for exercise near the house - 40 by 10 meters.

The ambassador was told: there was no way to receive him at court. Also, the shogun cannot accept gifts because he will have to respond in kind, and Japan does not have large ships to send to the king... The Japanese government cannot conclude a trade agreement with Russia because the law prohibits relations with other nations... And for the same reason, all Russian ships were henceforth forbidden to enter Japanese harbors... However, the emperor ordered to supply the sailors with provisions. And he gave out 2000 bags of salt, 2000 silk rugs and 100 bags of millet. Rezanov's diplomatic mission was a failure. For the Nadezhda crew, this meant: after many months on the Nagasaki roadstead, they could finally continue sailing.

Sakhalin

"Nadezhda" went around the entire northern tip of Sakhalin. Along the way, Krusenstern named the open capes after his officers. Now on Sakhalin there is Cape Ratmanov, Cape Levenshtern, Mount Espenberg, Cape Golovachev... One of the bays was named after the ship - Nadezhda Bay. Only 44 years later, Lieutenant Commander Gennady Nevelskoy will be able to prove that Sakhalin is an island by sailing a ship through a narrow strait that will receive his name. But even without this discovery, Kruzenshtern’s research on Sakhalin was very significant. For the first time, he mapped a thousand kilometers of Sakhalin coastline.

To Macau

The next meeting place of the Neva and Nadezhda was determined to be the nearby port of Macau. Krusenstern arrived in Macau on November 20, 1805. A warship could not stay in Macau for long, even with a cargo of furs on board. Then Kruzenshtern stated that he intended to buy so many goods that they would not fit on his ship, and he needed to wait for the arrival of the second ship. But week after week passed, and still there was no Neva. In early December, when the Nadezhda was about to go to sea, the Neva finally appeared. Her holds were filled with fur: 160 thousand skins of sea beaver and seal. Such an amount of “soft gold” was quite capable of bringing down the Canton fur market. On February 9, 1806, “Nadezhda” and “Neva” left the Chinese coast and headed for their homeland. “Neva” and “Nadezhda” sailed together for quite a long time, but on April 3, at the Cape of Good Hope, in cloudy weather they lost each other. Krusenstern appointed the island of St. Helena as the meeting place for such a case, where he arrived on April 21.

Bypassing the English Channel

Kruzenshtern, in order to avoid meeting with French privateers, chose a roundabout route: around the northern tip of Scotland into the North Sea and further through the Kiel Strait into the Baltic. Lisyansky, in the Azores region, learned about the start of the war, but still went across the English Channel, risking meeting the French. And he became the first captain in world history to make a non-stop passage from China to England in 142 days.

What Ivan Krusenstern and Yuri Lisyansky discovered

New islands, straits, reefs, bays and capes were added to the world map

Fixed inaccuracies in Pacific Ocean maps

Russian sailors compiled a description of the coast of Japan, Sakhalin, the Kuril ridge and many other areas
Krusenstern and Lisyansky conducted comprehensive studies of ocean waters. Russian navigators managed to study various currents and discover inter-trade countercurrents in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans

The expedition collected a wealth of information about transparency, specific gravity, density and temperature sea ​​water at various depths

The expedition collected a wealth of information about climate, atmospheric pressure, tides in various regions of the oceans and other data that laid the foundation for a new marine science - oceanography, which studies phenomena in the World Ocean and its parts.

The significance of the expedition for the development of geography and other sciences

The first Russian round-the-world expedition made a huge contribution to geographical science: it erased non-existent islands from the world map and clarified the coordinates of real islands. Ivan Kruzenshtern described part of the Kuril Islands, the islands of Japan and the coast of Sakhalin. A new science appeared - oceanology: no one before Kruzenshtern had conducted research into the depths of the sea. The expedition members also collected valuable collections: botanical, zoological, ethnographic. Over the next 30 years, 36 more Russian voyages around the world were completed. Including with the direct participation of Neva and Nadezhda officers.

Records and Awards

Ivan Kruzenshtern was awarded the Order of St. Anne, II degree

Emperor Alexander I royally awarded I.F. Kruzenshtern and all members of the expedition. All officers received the following ranks:

commanders of the Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree and 3000 rubles.

lieutenants 1000 each

midshipmen 800 rubles lifetime pension

lower ranks, if desired, were dismissed and awarded a pension of 50 to 75 rubles.

By the highest order, a special medal was knocked out for all participants in this first trip around the world

Yuri Lisyansky became the first captain in world history to make a non-stop transition from China to England in 142 days.

A short information about the life of the expedition participants after its completion

Participation in this campaign changed the fate of Langsdorff. In 1812, he would be appointed Russian consul in Rio de Janeiro and organize an expedition to the interior of Brazil. The herbariums and descriptions of the languages ​​and traditions of the Indians he collected are still considered a unique, unsurpassed collection.

The first crossing of the equator by Russian sailors

Of the officers who circumnavigated the world, many served with honor in the Russian fleet. Cadet Otto Kotzebue became the ship's commander and later traveled around the world in this capacity. Thaddeus Bellingshausen later led a round-the-world expedition on the sloops Vostok and Mirny and discovered Antarctica.

For his participation in the trip around the world, Yuri Lisyansky was promoted to captain of the second rank, received from the emperor a lifelong pension of 3,000 rubles and a one-time reward from the Russian-American Company of 10,000 rubles. After returning from the expedition, Lisyansky continued to serve in Navy. In 1807, he led a squadron of nine ships in the Baltic and went to Gotland and Bornholm to observe English warships. In 1808 he was appointed commander of the ship Emgeiten.

And I would be happy to write letters to you,

Many readers of the magazine ask to talk about the origins of domestic trips around the world. This request is supplemented by other letters from our readers who would like to see an essay about the first Russian round-the-world expedition on the pages of the magazine.

Background of long-distance voyages

In the summer of 1803, two Russian ships set sail under the command of naval officers, captain-lieutenants of the fleet Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern and Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky. Their route was amazing; it was laid out, as they used to say at that time, “around the world.” But, talking about this voyage, one cannot help but notice that the traditions of “long-distance voyages” date back to times much older than early XIX century.

In December 1723, Admiral Daniel Wilster's wagons arrived in Rogwerik, which lay not far from Revel. Here the admiral was met by members of the expedition. In the bay, drawn in thin ice, there were two ships. Peter's secret decree was read in the cabin of flag captain Danila Myasnoy. Captain-Lieutenant Ivan Koshelev, the “Russian under the Swede” adviser to the expedition, was also present. “You will go from St. Petersburg to Rogverik,” the decree said, “and there board the frigate “Amsterdam Galley” and take the other “Dekrondelivde” with you, and with God’s help, embark on a voyage to the East Indies, namely to Bengal." They were to be the first to cross the “line” (equator). Alas, the plan to “do business” with the “great mogul” failed.

The ships set out on December 21, but due to a leak that formed during the storm, they returned to Revel. And in February of the following year, Peter I canceled the voyage until “another favorable time.”

Peter also had a dream to send ships to the West Indies. That is why he decided to establish trade relations with the mistress of the “Gishpan lands” in America. In 1725 and 1726, the first trade voyages took place to Cadiz, a Spanish port near Gibraltar. The ships prepared for the voyage “to Bengal”, to which the Devonshire was added, also came in handy. A detachment of three ships with goods in May 1725 was led by Ivan Rodionovich Koshelev. After returning home, the former adviser was promoted to captain of the 1st rank, “while he was in Spain with Russian ships was the first." This was the beginning of the tradition of ocean voyages of Russian ships.

But when did the idea of ​​circumnavigating the world arise in Russian minds?

250 years ago, a well-thought-out plan for a trip around the world was first drawn up: the minutes of the Senate meeting of September 12, 1732 are known. Senators puzzled over how to send the Bering expedition to the East, by sea or by land. “For the council, members were called to the Senate of the Admiralty Collegium, who presented that it was possible to send ships to Kamchatka from St. Petersburg...” The authors of the project are Admiral N. F. Golovin, President of the Admiralty Collegiums and Admiral T. P. Sanders. Golovin himself wanted to lead the voyage. He considered such swimming the best school, for “...in one such journey those officers and sailors can learn more than ten years at the local sea.” But the senators preferred the dry route and did not listen to the advice of eminent admirals. Why is unknown. Apparently there were good reasons. They doomed Vitus Bering to incredible hardships with transporting thousands of pounds of equipment to Okhotsk, where the construction of ships was planned. That is why the epic of the Second Kamchatka lasted for a good ten years. But it could have been different...

And yet, let us remember, this was the first project of a trip around the world.

In the chronicles of long voyages, the year 1763 stands out for two remarkable events. The first took place in St. Petersburg. Mikhailo Lomonosov proposed to the government a project for an Arctic expedition from Novaya Zemlya to the Bering Strait through the North Pole. The following year, three ships under the command of Captain 1st Rank Vasily Chichagov made the first attempt to penetrate the polar basin north of Spitsbergen. The transpolar transition failed. The meeting between Chichagov and the leader of the Aleutian expedition, Krenitsyn, scheduled in the Bering Strait did not take place. After the departure of both expeditions, it was planned to send two ships around the world from Kronstadt with a call at Kamchatka. But preparations for the approach were delayed, and the Russian-Turkish war forced to completely cancel the trip to sea.

Also in 1763, in London, Ambassador A.R. Vorontsov received consent from the board of the East India Company to send two Russian officers on the ship Spike. So in April 1763, midshipman N. Poluboyarinov and non-commissioned lieutenant T. Kozlyaninov went to Brazil. They were destined to become the first Russians to cross the equator. Midshipman Nikifor Poluboyarinov kept a journal, which conveyed to posterity the impressions of this year and a half voyage to the shores of Brazil and India...

The Russians' long voyage from Kamchatka around Asia and Africa took place in 1771-1773. Colonel of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Confederation Moritz Beniovsky, exiled to Bolsheretsk for speaking out against the authorities, rebelled. Together with his exiled accomplices, he captured a small ship, the galliot “St. Peter”, who stood for the winter at the mouth of the river. About 90 Russians, among whom, in addition to the exiles, were free industrialists and several women, went into the unknown - some voluntarily, some under threat of reprisals, and some simply out of ignorance. The ship of fugitives was led by sailors Maxim Churin and Dmitry Bocharov.

In the Portuguese colony of Macau, Beniovsky sold a Russian ship and chartered two French ones. In July 1772, the fugitives arrived at a French port in southern Brittany. From here

16 people who wished to return to Russia set off on foot 600 miles to Paris. In the capital, permission was obtained through the ambassador and famous writer Fonvizin. Among the returning sailors was a navigator's student, the commander of the Okhotsk ship "St. Ekaterina" Dmitry Bocharov. Later, in 1788, he will become famous in a remarkable voyage to the shores of Alaska on the galiot “Three Saints”, carried out on the instructions of “Columbus of Russia” Shelikhov together with Gerasim Izmailov. No less interesting is the fact that women participated in this voyage. One of them, Lyubov Savvishna Ryumina, is probably the first Russian woman to visit the southern hemisphere of the Earth. By the way, the adventures of the fugitives were most reliably told by the husband of the brave traveler in “Notes of the Clerk Ryumin...”, published half a century later.

The next attempt to go “near the light” was the closest to being realized. But this was again prevented by the war. And it was like that. In 1786, the personal secretary of Catherine II, P. P. Soimonov, submitted to the Commerce Collegium a “Note on trade and animal trades on the Eastern Ocean.” It expressed concerns about the fate of Russian possessions in America and proposed measures to protect them. Only armed ships could contain the expansion of the British. The idea was not new either to the maritime or trade departments and their leaders. By decree of the Empress dated December 22, 1786, the Admiralty was ordered to “immediately send two ships from the Baltic Sea, armed following the example used by the English Captain Cook and other navigators for similar discoveries...”. The 29-year-old experienced sailor Grigory Ivanovich Mulovsky was appointed to lead the expedition. The ships most capable of discoveries were hastily prepared: “Kholmogor”, “Solovki”, “Falcon”, “Turukhtan”. The expedition route was laid out “meeting the sun”: from the Baltic Sea to the southern tip of Africa, then to the shores of New Holland (Australia) and to Russian lands in the Old and New Worlds. At the Olonets plant they even cast cast iron coats of arms and medals for installation on the newly discovered lands, but the war with Turkey began again. A decree followed: “...due to the present circumstances, we order that the expedition be cancelled.” Then Mulovsky’s squadron was scheduled to be sent on a campaign to the Mediterranean Sea to fight the Turkish fleet, but... war broke out with Sweden. Having suddenly attacked Russian positions and ships, the Swedish king Gustav III intended to return all pre-Petrine possessions, destroy St. Petersburg and put his autograph on the recently opened monument to Peter I. So in the summer of 1788, Mulovsky was appointed commander of the Mstislav. The 17-year-old midshipman Ivan Kruzenshtern, released early (due to the war), arrived on the same ship. When the 36-gun Mstislav forced the surrender of the 74-gun Sophia-Magdalena, Mulovsky instructed the young officer to take the flags of the ship and the Swedish admiral Lilienfield. Mulovsky’s dreams of an ocean voyage sank into Krusenstern’s heart. After the death of Mulovsky in battle on July 15, 1789, a series of failures ends and the story of the first Russian journey “around the whole world” begins.

Three years in three oceans

The project for the first round-the-world flight was signed by Kruzenshtern on January 1, 1802. The conditions for the implementation of the project were favorable. Naval Minister Nikolai Semenovich Mordvinov (by the way, included by the Decembrists in the future “revolutionary government”) and Minister of Commerce Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev (founder of the famous Rumyantsev Museum, whose book collections served as the basis for the creation State Library USSR named after V.I. Lenin) supported the project and highly appreciated the progressive initiative of the 32-year-old lieutenant commander. On August 7, 1802, Kruzenshtern was approved as the head of the expedition.

It is known that most of the funds for equipping the expedition were allocated by the board of the Russian-American Company. The haste in preparations and the generosity of the company were the reason that the ships decided not to build, but to purchase abroad. For this purpose, Krusenstern sent Lieutenant-Commander Lisyansky to England. For 17 thousand pounds sterling, two rather old, but with a strong hull, two three-masted sloops “Leander” and “Thames” were purchased, which received new names “Nadezhda” and “Neva”.

The peculiarity of the campaign was that the ships carried naval flags and at the same time performed the functions of merchant ships. A diplomatic mission headed by one of the directors of the company, Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, was heading to Japan on Nadezhda...

The historical day came on August 7, 1803. Pushed by a light tailwind, “Nadezhda” and “Neva” left the Great Kronstadt Roadstead. After visiting Copenhagen and the English port of Falmouth and surviving the first severe storm, the ships made their last “European” stop in Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

On November 26, 1803, the Nadezhda and Neva guns saluted the Russian flag for the first time in the southern hemisphere of the Earth. A holiday was held on the ships, which became traditional. The role of the “sea lord” Neptune was played by the sailor Pavel Kurganov, who “welcomed the Russians on their first arrival in the southern Neptunian regions with sufficient decency.” After stopping in Brazil and replacing part of the rigging, the ships rounded Cape Horn on March 3, 1804 and began sailing to Pacific Ocean. After a separate voyage, the ships met near the Marquesas Islands. In an order for sailors, Kruzenshtern wrote: “I am sure that we will leave the shore of this quiet people, without leaving behind a bad name.” A humane attitude towards the “wild” - the tradition laid down by our sailors was strictly observed by all subsequent Russian expeditions...

Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky have already done a lot for science: for the first time, hydrological observations were carried out, as well as magnetic and meteorological ones. In the area of ​​Cape Horn, the current speed was measured. During the Neva's stay near Easter Island, Lisyansky clarified the coordinates of the island and drew up a map. A collection of weapons and household items was collected in the Marquesas Islands. In early June 1804, the sailors reached the Hawaiian Islands. Here the ships separated for almost a year and a half. The meeting was scheduled for November 1805 near the Chinese port of Canton.

On the way to Petropavlovsk, Nadezhda, according to instructions, passed the ocean area southeast of Japan and dispelled the myth about the supposedly existing lands here. From Kamchatka, Krusenstern sailed a ship to Japan to deliver envoy Rezanov there. A severe typhoon caught sailors off the eastern coast of Japan. “You must have the gift of a poet in order to vividly describe his fury,” Kruzenshtern wrote in his diary and lovingly noted the courage and fearlessness of the sailors. The Nadezhda stayed in the Japanese port of Nagasaki for more than six months, until mid-April 1805. Rezanov's mission was not accepted by the authorities, who adhered to an archaic law that had been in force since 1638 and prohibited foreigners from visiting the country “while the sun shines on the world.” On the contrary, ordinary Japanese on the day of departure of the Nadezhda, showing sympathy for the Russians, saw off the ship in hundreds of boats.

Returning to Kamchatka, Kruzenshtern took the ship on courses completely unknown to Europeans, along the western shores of the Land of the Rising Sun. For the first time, a scientific description of the island of Tsushima and the strait separating it from Japan was made. Now this part of the Korea Strait is called the Krusenstern Passage. Next, the navigators made an inventory of the southern part of Sakhalin. Crossing the ridge of the Kuril Islands through the strait now named after Krusenstern, the Nadezhda almost died on the rocks. We entered Avachinskaya Bay at the beginning of June, when floating ice was visible everywhere and the solid banks were white.

Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov left the ship in Petropavlovsk. On one of the company's ships he went to Russian America. We must pay tribute to this active man, who has done a lot for the development of fisheries in the waters of Russian possessions. Rezanov was also involved in choosing the location for the southernmost Russian settlement in America, Fort Ross. The story of Rezanov’s engagement to the daughter of the Spanish governor Jose Arguello Conchita is also romantic. At the beginning of 1807, he went to Russia to seek permission to marry a Catholic. But in March 1807, Nikolai Petrovich suddenly died in Krasnoyarsk on his way to St. Petersburg. He was 43 years old. A year later, his betrothed in the New World received news of the death of the groom and, fulfilling her vow of fidelity, went to a monastery.

Kruzenshtern again devoted the time remaining before the meeting with the Neva to surveying Sakhalin. It just so happened that Sakhalin, discovered back in the 17th century, was considered an island and no one seemed to doubt it. But the French navigator La Perouse, exploring the Tatar Strait from the south on an expedition of 1785-1788, mistakenly considered Sakhalin to be a peninsula. Later the mistake was repeated by the Englishman Broughton. Kruzenshtern decided to penetrate the strait from the north. But, having sent Lieutenant Fyodor Romberg on the boat, Kruzenshtern gave the order to the boat to return to the ship ahead of time with a cannon signal. Of course, fearing for the fate of the sailors in unknown places, the head of the expedition hurried. Romberg simply did not have time to go far enough south to discover the strait. The decreasing depths seemed to confirm the conclusions of previous expeditions. This delayed the opening of the mouth of the Amur and the restoration of the truth for some time... Having completed over one and a half thousand miles of route survey with many astronomical definitions, “Nadezhda” dropped anchor in Petropavlovsk. From here the ship, after loading furs for sale, headed to the meeting place with the Neva.

The voyage of the Neva was no less complex and interesting. The silhouette of the Nadezhda disappeared over the horizon, and the crew of the Neva continued to explore the nature of the Hawaiian Islands. Everywhere, local residents warmly welcomed the kind and attentive envoys of the northern country. The sailors visited the village of Tavaroa. Nothing reminded us of the tragedy 25 years ago when Captain Cook was killed here. The hospitality of the islanders and their constant help made it possible to replenish the ethnographic collections with samples of local utensils and clothing...

After 23 days, Lisyansky led the ship to the village of Pavlovsky on Kodiak Island. The Russian residents of Alaska solemnly welcomed the first ship that had made such a difficult and long journey. In August, the sailors of the Neva, at the request of the main ruler of the Russian-American Company, Baranov, participated in the liberation of the inhabitants of Fort Arkhangelskoye on the island of Sitkha, captured by the Tlingits, who were led by American sailors.

For more than a year, the Neva was off the coast of Alaska. Lisyansky, together with navigator Danila Kalinin and co-navigator Fedul Maltsev, compiled maps of numerous islands and made astronomical and meteorological observations. In addition, Lisyansky, studying the languages ​​of local residents, compiled “ Brief dictionary languages ​​of the northwestern part of America with Russian translation." In September 1805, having loaded furs from Russian fisheries, the ship headed for the shores of southern China. On the way, the Neva ran into a sandbank near an island hitherto unknown to seafarers. In stormy conditions, the sailors selflessly fought to save the ship and won. On October 17, a group of sailors spent the entire day on the shore. In the very middle of the island, the discoverers placed a pole, and under it they buried a bottle with a letter that contained all the information about the discovery. At the insistence of the team, this piece of land was named after Lisyansky. “This island, other than obvious and inevitable death, promises nothing to the enterprising traveler,” wrote the commander of the Neva.

The passage from Alaska to the port of Macau took three months. Severe storms, fogs and treacherous shoals required caution. On December 4, 1805, the sailors of the Neva happily looked at the familiar silhouette of the Nadezhda, which congratulated them with flag signals on their safe return.

Krusenstern and Lisyansky

Having sold furs in Canton and taken on a cargo of Chinese goods, the ships weighed anchor. Through the South China Sea and the Sunda Strait, travelers entered the Indian Ocean. On April 15, 1806, they crossed the meridian of the Russian capital and thus completed their circumambulation of the globe.

Here we must remember that the round-the-world route for Krusenstern personally closed in Macau in November 1805, and for Lisyansky on the meridian of Ceylon a little later. (Both commanders, while sailing abroad on English ships, visited the West Indies, the USA, India, China and other countries in the period 1793–1799.)

However, the concept of traveling around the world has changed over time. Until recently, circumnavigating the world meant completing the circle of the route. But in connection with the development of the polar regions, traveling around the world according to such criteria has lost its original meaning. Now a more strict formulation is in use: the traveler must not only close the circle of the route, but also pass near antipodal points lying at opposite ends of the earth's diameter.

At the Cape of Good Hope, in thick fog, the ships parted. Now, until the return to Kronstadt, the ships sailed separately. When Kruzenshtern arrived on the island of St. Helena, he learned about the war between Russia and France and, fearing a meeting with enemy ships, proceeded to his homeland around British Isles with a stop in Copenhagen. Three years and twelve days later August 19, 1806 “Nadezhda” arrived in Kronstadt, where the “Neva” had been waiting for her for two weeks.

After leaving the flagship in the fog, Lisyansky, having carefully checked the supplies of water and food, decided on a non-stop journey to England. He was confident that “... the brave enterprise will bring us great honor; for not a single navigator like us has ever ventured on such a long journey without stopping somewhere to rest.” The Neva traveled from Canton to Portsmouth in 140 days, covering 13,923 miles. The Portsmouth public enthusiastically greeted Lisyansky's crew and, in his person, the first Russian circumnavigators.

The voyage of Krusenstern and Lisyansky was recognized as geographical and scientific feat. A medal was struck in his honor with the inscription: “For traveling around the world 18031806.” The results of the expedition were summarized in extensive geographical works by Krusenstern and Lisyansky, as well as natural scientists G. I. Langsdorf, I. K. Horner, V. G. Tilesius and other participants.

The first voyage of the Russians went beyond the scope of a “long-distance voyage.” It brought glory to the Russian fleet.

The identities of ship commanders deserve special attention. There is no doubt that they were progressive people for their time, ardent patriots who tirelessly cared for the fate of the “servants”-sailors, thanks to whose courage and hard work the voyage was extremely successful. The relationship between Krusenstern and Lisyansky, friendly and trusting, contributed decisively to the success of the business. The popularizer of Russian navigation, a prominent scientist Vasily Mikhailovich Pasetsky, cites in a biographical sketch about Kruzenshtern a letter from his friend Lisyansky during the preparation of the expedition. “After lunch, Nikolai Semenovich (Admiral Mordvinov) asked if I knew you, to which I told him that you are a good friend. He was happy about this, spoke about the merits of your pamphlet (that’s what Kruzenshtern’s project was called for his free-thinking! V.G.), praised your knowledge and information, and then ended by saying that he would consider it a blessing to know you. For my part, in front of the whole meeting, I did not hesitate to say that I envy your talents and intelligence.”

However, in the literature about the first voyages, at one time the role of Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky was unfairly belittled. Analyzing the “Log of the ship “Neva””, researchers at the Naval Academy made interesting conclusions. It was found that out of 1095 days of historical voyage, only 375 days the ships sailed together, the remaining 720 Neva sailed alone. The distance traveled by Lisyansky’s ship is also impressive: 45,083 miles, of which 25,801 miles were independently. This analysis was published in 1949 in the Proceedings of the Naval Academy. Of course, the voyages of “Nadezhda” and “Neva” are, in essence, two voyages around the world, and Yu. F. Lisyansky is equally involved in the great feat in the field of Russian maritime glory, as is I. F. Kruzenshtern.

In their finest hour they were equal...

Vasily Galenko, long-distance navigator