V. V. Kalendarova, A. A. Meschenina. The Anglo-Russian War of 1807–1812 and the Russian
Official Press (Based on Materials from the Severnaya Pochta or Novaya Sankt-Peterburgskaya
Gazeta, 1809–1810) // Petersburg Historical Journal, no. 1, 2026, pp. 21–32.

DOI: 10.51255/2311–603X_2026_1_21

Abstract:

Russia’s official foreign policy toward England in late 1809–1810 can be partially traced through publications in the Ministry of Internal Affairs newspaper, “Northern Mail, or New St. Petersburg Newspaper” (Severnaya Pochta, or Novaya Sankt-Peterburgskaya Gazeta). At this time, the few military clashes of the formally ongoing Anglo-Russian War of 1807–1812 were already over, but Russia remained a participant in the Continental Blockade imposed by Napoleon I Bonaparte to isolate Great Britain, undermine its economy, and force its capitulation. An analysis of Severnaya Pochta publications from November 1809 (when the newspaper was first published) to the end of 1810 allows us to conclude that the “hot” phase of the Anglo-Russian conflict at this time gave way to an obvious informational confrontation. The rivalry between the two empires was reflected in accusations that the British were bribing European journalists to foment war on the continent, condemnatory and derisive publications regarding British diplomacy, and descriptions of British military failures.

Key words: Anglo-Russian War of 1807–1812, “Northern Mail, or New St. Petersburg Newspaper”, departmental periodicals, continental blockade.

Author:

Kalendarova, Victoria Vladimirovna — PhD in History, Associate Professor of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Russian Foreign Trade Academy of the Ministry for Economic Development of the Russian Federation (Moscow, Russia).
E-mail: vkalendarova@mail.ru
ORCID: 0009-0000-8241-903X

Author:

Meshchenina, Anastasia Anatolyevna — PhD in History, Associate Professor of the Department of Historical Regional Studies Saint-Petersburg State University (St. Petersburg, Russia).
E-mail: a.mezhenina@spbu.ru
ORCID: 0000-0003-4532–217X

References:
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