The history of Sevastopol began in the distant 1783, when on May 2, 5 frigates, 2 Don ships, 3 armed schooners and one deck boat – under the command of Admiral Fedot Klokachev entered the Ahtiar Bay. Shortly before that, Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, who commanded the Russian troops in the Crimea, spotted this bay. The convenient location of the bay, gave excellent opportunities for basing the fleet in it and building a fortress.
Nature itself determined the destination of the city – Sevastopol was destined to become the main base of the new Russian fleet. Construction of the port and fortress, marinas, warehouses, housing, coastal fortifications began on the shores of Sevastopol Bay. This is how Russian ships first appeared in the Akhtiar Bay. And so, the artist of that time, H.G.Geisler, depicted the Akhtiar (Sevastopol) bay in engraving in 1794.
Originally, the city was called Akhtiar as a Tatar village on the shore of the bay until February 10, 1784, by decree of Catherine II, it was renamed Sevastopol, which means “City of Glory” in Greek.
Sevastopol Bay is a kind of deep, more than 8 kilometers long, a bay where a huge fleet could easily accommodate, and small bay branches extending into the shore provided an invaluable opportunity for the construction of the admiralty, shipyard and port facilities. The great depth of the bay allowed the ships to approach the shore itself, and the wide exit from the bay made it possible for any wind to leave the raid into the sea. In addition, the bay did not freeze all year round. The outposts, built on steep banks, perfectly defended the raid from the attack of the enemy fleet. In addition, in these places a mild warm climate.
A year later, there was a decree on the opening of Sevastopol “for all nations, in friendship with the empire of our residents, in favor of trading them with us.” The military port was also becoming a commercial, commercial port. One after another small enterprises appeared, shipbuilding was carried out.
A significant place in the history of Sevastopol is occupied by events connected with the Crimean War of 1854-1855. The heroic defense, valorous actions of the sailors of the fleet brought the Black Sea stronghold world fame and glory. Since then, Sevastopol in the whole world is known as the Hero City. City legend. Its history is inextricably linked with the history of creation with the names of such prominent Russian naval commanders as F. F. Ushakov, M. P. Lazarev, V. A. Kornilov, P. S. Nakhimov. In honor of their services to the Fatherland, grateful descendants erected monuments.
In 1875, the construction of the railway was completed, connecting the city with Central Russia. Sevastopol is again becoming an important shipbuilding center. The third in Russia – after Petersburg and Moscow – he received electricity and tram. The first telephone station in the Crimea, the telegraph, appeared. By the 20th century, the city, which was the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, became the largest industrial center of Tavria.
During the years of Soviet power, the city changed radically. The industry was reconstructed, equipped with the new technology of the Marine Plant, new enterprises were built, power plants were created, the residential part of the city increased significantly.
During the Great Patriotic War, the defense of Sevastopol was one of the immortal pages of the chronicles of the struggle of the Soviet people against the fascist invaders. The selfless heroism of Sevastopol during the 250 days of the defense of the city, their courage and dedication inspired both those who fought on the fronts of the war and workers of the rear for new feats in the name of sacred victory.
