Sebastian

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

DOM, King of Portugal; in Lisbon in 1554; ascended the born throne at three years of age, on the death of his grandfather, John III. Possessed of a romantic and venturesome disposi tion, he determined to carry on war against the Moors in Africa, hoping thereby to effect something for Christianity and the fame of Portugal. He accordingly equipped a fleet and an army, which comprised the flower of the Portuguese nobility, and sailed for Africa in 1578, at the age of 23 years ace at Alcacer-el- . A general engagement soon took place Xebir, and the ardor of the young king bore him into the midst of the enemy. Though Sebastian fought with the most determined bravery, so complete was the slaughter that not more than 50 Portuguese are said to have survived. Sebastian disappeared. The mystery surrounding his fate led several adventurers to assume his person, but there seems to be no doubt that he died on the field of battle. His death is supposed to have occurred August 4, 1578. SEBASTOPOL or SEVASTOPOL, a fortified town and seaport of European Russia, on the W. coast of the Crimea. It stands on a creek on the S. side of one of the finest bays in the world, the Etenus of Strabo, which is defended by strong forts on both sides. In 1853 Russia deguarantees for the rights of the Greek Christians of Turkey, which the Porte believed to involve an actual abdication of its sovereign rights, and which it therefore refused to concede. This led, in the same year, to the beginning of the be Crimean War, in which Eastern or France, England and Sardinia took sides with Turkey, on the ground that the existence of the latter empire, and the equilibrium of political power in Europe, were endangered by Russia. The armies of the allies effected a landing at the Bay of Eupatoria, Sept. 14, 1854. On their southern march toward Sebastopol they encoun- Prince Menzikoff, on the banks of the Alma. A bloody battle was fought (Sept. 20), in which the Russians were compelled to retreat. On Sept. 25 the British forces seized Balaklava, and on Oct. 9 the regular siege of the southern portion of Sebastopol commenced, the Russians having sunk vessels in the entrance to the harbor and thus rendered the city unassailable by maritime force. On Oct. 25 and Nov. 5, the Russians vainly attempted to annihilate the besieging forces in the battles of Balaklava and Inkermann, but afterward confined themselves mainly to the defensive, though making frequent sorties. Among these conflicts some assumed almost the character of regular field battles; for instance, an unsuccessful attack of the French on a new redoubt (Feb. 23, 1855), their first assault on the Malakoff and Redan (June 18), and the battle of the Tchernaya (Aug. 16), in which the Russians, numbering 50,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry, made a last effort to break the aggressive force of the enemy. The trenches having been driven so near the Russian defensive works that another assault could not be ventured, the final bombardment was opened Sept. 5, and lasted for three days. On Sept. 8 the Malakoff and Redan were stormed and taken by the allies after a desperate struggle. The Russians, after ha having blown up their extensive fortifications on the S. shore of the harbor, retreated to the N. side, which the allies never seriously attempted to conquer. The latter, having destroyed the costly docks, arseof Sebastopol, renals, and shipyards of mained inactive in their camps, and, with the exception of the capture and sack of Kertch, on the Strait of Yenikale, no further feats of arms were accomplished. The forces of the allies were withdrawn in the summer and autumn of 1856. Though the allies did not obtain any decided success, Russia suffered immense loss of military prestige, and any further aggression on her part in S. Europe was for a time prevented. By the peace of Paris (1856) Russia lost the right of navigation on the Danube, besides a strip on a also, the unrestricted navigation of the Black sea. In November, 1870, Russia, availing herself of the Franco-Prussian imbroglio, demanded and obtained from the Western Powers a revision of the treaty of Paris, in so far as it affected the restrictions placed on her in the Black The Bolshevist army in November, sea. 1920, occupied Sebastopol after defeating the anti-Red forces under General Wrangel. Pop. about 77,000.