An international squadron was formed by a number of Great Powers during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 to blockade the island of Crete, which was then in the midst of a native Greek rebellion against Ottoman rule, and to protect their citizens there. Participating nations included Britain, France, Russia, Austro-Hungarian Empire and others. Some of the participating British ships included the battleships HMS Revenge (1892) under Rear-Admiral Alfred Taylor Dale, Hood and Empress of India, present in the area from Feb 1897 to Dec 1898.