 The French rule, however, did not last as Russia allied with the Ottoman Empire in September 1798 and in 1799 a Russo-Ottoman naval expedition captured the islands.With the signing of a treaty between Russia and the Porte on 21 March 1800, an independent island republic under the protection of both the empires was established.The name of the new state was agreed to be the ""Septinsular Republic"" and included all the territories of the three former French departments except for the continental possessions of Parga, Preveza, Vonitsa and Butrint.