28 January — Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich was born in Saint Petersburg, the fourth son of Paul I and Maria Fyodorovna, Mikhail Pavlovich.
29 November — Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov was born in Saint Petersburg into the family of Pavel Ivanovich Bryullo, an “academician of ornamental sculpture.” Russian architect and artist. Professor of architecture at the Imperial Academy of Arts, elder brother of Karl Pavlovich Bryullov.
In June, the French landed near Alexandria and, having routed the Mamluk cavalry in several battles, seized Egypt, but found themselves cut off from France, since in August 1798 the French fleet was defeated by Nelson’s British squadron at Aboukir. After an unsuccessful campaign in Syria (1799) and amid an intensifying struggle for power in France, Bonaparte left the army and returned to Paris in October 1799. In 1801, the French forces in Egypt capitulated.
Having become convinced that it was advantageous for Turkey to maintain peace with Russia, Sultan Selim III broke the three-hundred-year alliance with France and on 23 December concluded an eight-year defensive treaty with Russia. This treaty confirmed all previous agreements and provided for mutual protection against enemy attacks. Russia gained the right of free passage through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.
George XII ascended the Georgian throne and persistently appealed to Emperor Paul to take Georgia under his protection and provide it with armed assistance. As a result, and in view of Persia’s clearly hostile intentions, Russian troops in Georgia were significantly reinforced.