There are few people in the world who do not know for what merits Mikhail Illarionovich received laurels of honor. This brave man was sung in praises not only by the poet, but also by other literary geniuses. The field marshal, as if possessing the gift of foresight, won a crushing victory in the Battle of Borodino, freeing the Russian Empire from its plans.
Childhood and youth
September 5 (16), 1747 cultural capital Russia, the city of St. Petersburg, Lieutenant General Illarion Matveevich Golenishchev-Kutuzov and his wife Anna Illarionovna, who, according to documents, came from the family of the retired captain Bedrinsky (according to other information, the woman’s ancestors were noblemen Beklemishev), had a son named Mikhail .
Portrait of Mikhail Kutuzov
However, there is an opinion that the lieutenant had two sons. The second son's name was Semyon; he allegedly managed to receive the rank of major, but due to the fact that he lost his mind, he was under the care of his parents for the rest of his life. Scientists made this assumption because of a letter written by Mikhail to his beloved in 1804. In this manuscript, the field marshal said that upon arriving at his brother, he found him in his previous condition.
“He talked a lot about the pipe and asked me to save him from this misfortune and got angry when he began to tell him that there was no such pipe,” Mikhail Illarionovich shared with his wife.
The father of the great commander, who was a comrade-in-arms, began his career under. After graduating from military engineering Educational establishment, began to serve in engineering troops. For his exceptional intelligence and erudition, contemporaries called Illarion Matveyevich a walking encyclopedia or a “reasonable book.”
Of course, the field marshal’s parent made a contribution to the development Russian Empire. For example, even under Kutuzov Sr. he compiled a model of the Catherine Canal, which is now called the Canal.
Thanks to the project of Illarion Matveevich, the consequences of the flood of the Neva River were prevented. Kutuzov's plan was carried out during the reign. As a reward, Mikhail Illarionovich's father received a golden snuffbox decorated with precious stones.
Illarion Matveevich also took part in the Turkish War, which lasted from 1768 to 1774. From the outside Russian troops Alexander Suvorov and commander Count Pyotr Rumyantsev commanded. It is worth saying that Kutuzov Sr. distinguished himself on the battlefield and gained a reputation as a person knowledgeable in both military and civil affairs.
Mikhail Kutuzov’s future was predetermined by his parents, because after the young man finished home schooling, in 1759 he was sent to the Artillery and Engineering Noble School, where he showed extraordinary abilities and quickly advanced through the ranks. career ladder. However, one should not exclude the efforts of his father, who taught artillery sciences at this institution.
Among other things, since 1758 in this noble school, which now bears the name of the Military Space Academy named after. A.F. Mozhaisky, lectured on physics and was an encyclopedist. It is worth noting that the talented Kutuzov graduated from the academy as an external student: the young man, thanks to his extraordinary mind, spent a year and a half on the school bench instead of the required three years.
Military service
In February 1761, the future field marshal was awarded a matriculation certificate, but remained at the school because Mikhail (with the rank of ensign engineer), on the advice of Count Shuvalov, began teaching mathematics to the academy students. Next, the capable young man became the aide-de-camp of Duke Peter August of Holstein-Beck, managed his office and showed himself to be a diligent worker. Then, in 1762, Mikhail Illarionovich rose to the rank of captain.
In the same year, Kutuzov became close to Suvorov because he was appointed company commander of the Astrakhan 12th Grenadier Regiment, which at that time was commanded by Alexander Vasilyevich. By the way, Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration, Prokopiy Vasilyevich Meshchersky, Pavel Artemyevich Levashev and other famous personalities once served in this regiment.
In 1764, Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov was in Poland and commanded small troops against the Bar Confederation, which in turn opposed the comrades of the Polish king Stanislav August Poniatowski, a supporter of the Russian Empire. Thanks to his innate talent, Kutuzov created victorious strategies, made rapid forced marches and defeated the Polish Confederates, despite a small army, inferior in number to the enemy.
Three years later, in 1767, Kutuzov joined the ranks of the Commission for the Drawing up of a New Code - a temporary collegial body in Russia, which was engaged in developing the systematization of the codes of laws that took place after the Tsar adopted the Council Code (1649). Most likely, Mikhail Illarionovich was brought into the board as a secretary-translator because he was fluent in French and German languages, and also spoke Latin fluently.
The Russian-Turkish wars of 1768–1774 are a significant milestone in the biography of Mikhail Illarionovich. Thanks to the conflict between the Russian and Ottoman empires, Kutuzov gained combat experience and proved himself to be an outstanding military leader. In July 1774, the son of Illarion Matveyevich, commander of a regiment intended to storm enemy fortifications, was wounded in a battle against the Turkish landing in the Crimea, but miraculously survived. The fact is that the enemy bullet pierced the commander’s left temple and exited near his right eye.
Fortunately, Kutuzov’s vision was preserved, but his “squinting” eye reminded the field marshal all his life of the bloody events of the operation of the Ottoman troops and navy. In the fall of 1784, Mikhail Illarionovich was awarded the primary military rank of major general, and also distinguished himself in the Battle of Kinburn (1787), the capture of Izmail (1790, for which he received military rank Lieutenant General and was awarded the Order of George, 2nd degree), showed courage in the Russian-Polish War (1792), the War with Napoleon (1805) and other battles.
War of 1812
The genius of Russian literature could not ignore the bloody events of 1812, which left a mark on history and changed the fate of the countries participating in the Patriotic War - France and the Russian Empire. Moreover, in his epic novel “War and Peace,” the author of the book tried to scrupulously describe both the battles and the image of the leader of the people, Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, who in the work took care of the soldiers as if they were children.
The reason for the confrontation between the two powers was the refusal of the Russian Empire to support the continental blockade of Great Britain, despite the fact that the Peace of Tilsit was concluded between Napoleon Bonaparte and Napoleon Bonaparte (in force since July 7, 1807), according to which his son undertook to join the blockade. This agreement turned out to be unfavorable for Russia, which had to abandon its main business partner.
During the war, Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian armies and militias, and thanks to his merits, he was awarded the title of His Serene Highness, which raised the morale of the Russian people, because Kutuzov acquired a reputation as an undefeated commander. However, Mikhail Illarionovich himself did not believe in a grandiose victory and used to say that Napoleon’s army could be defeated only through deception.
Initially, Mikhail Illarionovich, like his predecessor Barclay de Tolly, chose a policy of retreat, hoping to exhaust the enemy and gain support. But Alexander I was dissatisfied with Kutuzov’s strategy and insisted that Napoleon’s army not reach the capital. Therefore, Mikhail Illarionovich had to give a general battle. Despite the fact that the French outnumbered and outgunned Kutuzov's army, the field marshal managed to defeat Napoleon in the Battle of Borodino in 1812.
Personal life
According to rumors, the commander’s first lover was a certain Ulyana Alexandrovich, who came from the family of the Little Russian nobleman Ivan Alexandrovich. Kutuzov met this family as a little-known young man with a low rank.
Mikhail began to often visit Ivan Ilyich in Velikaya Krucha and one day he took a fancy to a friend’s daughter, who responded with mutual sympathy. Mikhail and Ulyana began dating, but the lovers did not tell their parents about their affection. It is known that at the time of their relationship the girl fell ill with a dangerous disease for which no medicine could help.
Ulyana's desperate mother swore that if her daughter recovered, she would definitely pay for her salvation - she would never get married. Thus, the parent, who delivered an ultimatum to the girl’s fate, doomed the beauty to the crown of celibacy. Ulyana recovered, but her love for Kutuzov only increased; they say that the young people even set a wedding day.
However, a few days before the celebration, the girl fell ill with a fever and, fearing God's will, rejected her beloved. Kutuzov no longer insisted on marriage: the lovers parted ways. But the legend says that Alexandrovich did not forget Mikhail Illarionovich and prayed for him until the end of her years.
It is reliably known that in 1778 Mikhail Kutuzov proposed marriage to Ekaterina Ilyinichna Bibikova and the girl agreed. The marriage produced six children, but the first-born Nikolai died in infancy from smallpox.
Catherine loved literature, theaters and social events. Kutuzov’s beloved spent more money than she could afford, so she repeatedly received reprimands from her husband. Also, this lady was very original; contemporaries said that already in old age, Ekaterina Ilyinichna dressed like a young lady.
It is noteworthy that the little future great writer who invented the nihilist hero Bazarov managed to meet Kutuzov’s wife. But because of her eccentric outfit, the elderly lady, whom Turgenev’s parents revered, made an ambiguous impression on the boy. Vanya, unable to withstand his emotions, said:
“You look just like a monkey.”
Death
In April 1813, Mikhail Illarionovich caught a cold and went to the hospital in the town of Bunzlau. According to legend, Alexander I arrived at the hospital to say goodbye to the field marshal, but scientists have refuted this information. Mikhail Illarionovich died on April 16 (28), 1813. After the tragic event, the field marshal's body was embalmed and sent to the city on the Neva. The funeral took place only on June 13 (25). The tomb of the great commander is located in the Kazan Cathedral in the city of St. Petersburg.
In memory of the talented military leader, artistic and documentaries, monuments were erected in many cities of Russia, and a cruiser and a motor ship were named after Kutuzov. Among other things, in Moscow there is the Kutuzov Izba museum, dedicated to the military council in Fili on September 1 (13), 1812.
- In 1788, Kutuzov took part in the assault on Ochakov, where he was again wounded in the head. However, Mikhail Illarionovich managed to cheat death, because the bullet passed along the old path. Therefore, a year later, the strengthened commander fought near the Moldavian city of Causeni, and in 1790 he showed bravery and courage in the assault on Izmail.
- Kutuzov was a confidant of the favorite Platon Zubov, but to become an ally of the most influential person in the Russian Empire (after Catherine II), the field marshal had to work hard. Mikhail Illarionovich woke up an hour before Platon Alexandrovich woke up, made coffee and took this aromatic drink to Zubov’s bedchamber.
Cruiser-museum "Mikhail Kutuzov" - Some are accustomed to imagining the appearance of a commander with a bandage over his right eye. But there is no official confirmation that Mikhail Illarionovich wore this accessory, especially since this bandage was hardly necessary. Associations with the pirate arose among history buffs after the release of Vladimir Petrov’s Soviet film “Kutuzov” (1943), where the commander appeared in the guise in which we are accustomed to seeing him.
- In 1772 it happened significant event in the biography of the commander. While among his friends, 25-year-old Mikhail Kutuzov allowed himself a daring joke: he acted out an impromptu skit in which he mimicked the commander Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev. Amid general laughter, Kutuzov showed his colleagues the count's gait and even tried to copy his voice, but Rumyantsev himself did not appreciate such humor and sent the young soldier to another regiment under the command of Prince Vasily Dolgorukov.
Memory
- 1941 – “Commander Kutuzov”, M. Bragin
- 1943 – “Kutuzov”, V.M. Petrov
- 1978 – “Kutuzov”, P.A. Zhilin
- 2003 – “Field Marshal Kutuzov. Myths and facts”, N.A. Trinity
- 2003 – “Glory Bird”, S.P. Alekseev
- 2008 – “The year 1812. Documentary chronicle”, S.N. Iskul
- 2011 – “Kutuzov”, Leonty Rakovsky
- 2011 – “Kutuzov”, Oleg Mikhailov
Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov, since 1812 His Serene Highness Prince Golenishchev-Kutuzov-Smolensky. Born on September 16, 1745 in St. Petersburg - died on April 28, 1813 in Boleslawiec (Poland). Russian commander, field marshal general from the Golenishchev-Kutuzov family, commander-in-chief of the Russian army during Patriotic War 1812. The first full holder of the Order of St. George.
Father - Illarion Matveevich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1717-1784), lieutenant general, later senator.
Mother, Anna Illarionovna, belonged to the Beklemishev family, but surviving archival documents indicate that her father was retired captain Bedrinsky.
Until recently, the year of Kutuzov’s birth was considered to be 1745, indicated on his grave. However, data contained in a number of formal lists of 1769, 1785, 1791 and private letters indicate the possibility of attributing his birth to 1747. It is 1747 that is indicated as the year of birth of M.I. Kutuzov in his later biographies.
From the age of seven, Mikhail was educated at home; in July 1759 he was sent to the Artillery and Engineering Noble School, where his father taught artillery sciences. Already in December of the same year, Kutuzov was given the rank of 1st class conductor with an oath of office and a salary. A capable young man is recruited to train officers.
In February 1761, Mikhail graduated from school and with the rank of ensign engineer was left with it to teach students mathematics. Five months later he became the aide-de-camp of the Revel Governor-General, Prince of Holstein-Beck.
Efficiently managing the office of Holstein-Beck, he quickly earned the rank of captain in 1762. In the same year, he was appointed company commander of the Astrakhan Infantry Regiment, which at that time was commanded by Colonel A.V. Suvorov.
Since 1764, he was at the disposal of the commander of the Russian troops in Poland, Lieutenant General I. I. Weimarn, and commanded small detachments operating against the Polish Confederates.
In 1767, he was brought in to work on the “Commission for the Drafting of a New Code,” an important legal and philosophical document of the 18th century that established the foundations of an “enlightened monarchy.” Apparently, Mikhail Kutuzov was involved as a secretary-translator, since his certificate states that he “speaks French and German and translates quite well, and understands the author’s Latin.”
In 1770, he was transferred to the 1st Army of Field Marshal P.A. Rumyantsev, located in the south, and took part in the war with Turkey that began in 1768.
Great importance in the formation of Kutuzov as a military leader, he had combat experience accumulated during the Russian-Turkish wars of the 2nd half of the XVIII century under the leadership of commanders P. A. Rumyantsev and A. V. Suvorov. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774, Kutuzov took part in the battles of Ryaba Mogila, Larga and Kagul. For his distinction in battles he was promoted to prime major. As chief quartermaster (chief of staff) of the corps, he was an assistant commander and for his successes in the battle of Popesty in December 1771 he received the rank of lieutenant colonel.
In 1772, an incident occurred that, according to contemporaries, had a great influence on the character of Kutuzov. In a close circle of comrades, 25-year-old Kutuzov, who knew how to imitate his behavior, allowed himself to imitate Commander-in-Chief Rumyantsev. The field marshal found out about this, and Kutuzov was sent to the 2nd Crimean Army under the command of Prince V.M. Dolgorukov. From that time on, he developed restraint and caution, he learned to hide his thoughts and feelings, that is, he acquired those qualities that became characteristic of his future military leadership. According to another version, the reason for Kutuzov’s transfer to the 2nd Army was the words he repeated from Catherine II about His Serene Highness Prince G. A. Potemkin, that the prince is brave not in his mind, but in his heart.
In July 1774, Devlet Giray landed with troops in Alushta, but the Turks were not allowed to go deep into Crimea. On July 23, 1774, in a battle near the village of Shuma north of Alushta, a three-thousand-strong Russian detachment defeated the main forces of the Turkish landing. Kutuzov, who commanded the grenadier battalion of the Moscow Legion, was seriously wounded by a bullet that pierced his left temple and exited near his right eye, which was “squinted,” but his vision was preserved, contrary to popular belief.
In memory of this injury, there is a monument in Crimea - the Kutuzov Fountain. The Empress awarded Kutuzov the Military Order of St. George, 4th class, and sent him to Austria for treatment, bearing all the expenses of the trip. Kutuzov used two years of treatment to complete his military education. While staying in Regensburg in 1776, he joined the Masonic lodge “To the Three Keys”.
Upon returning to Russia in 1776, again military service. At first he formed light cavalry units, in 1777 he was promoted to colonel and appointed commander of the Lugansk pikeman regiment, with which he was in Azov. He was transferred to Crimea in 1783 with the rank of brigadier and appointed commander of the Mariupol Light Horse Regiment.
In November 1784 he received the rank of major general after successfully suppressing the uprising in Crimea. From 1785 he was the commander of the Bug Jaeger Corps, which he himself formed. Commanding the corps and training the rangers, he developed new tactical fighting techniques for them and outlined them in special instructions. He covered the border along the Bug with his corps when the second war with Turkey broke out in 1787.
On October 1, 1787, under the command of Suvorov, he participated in the battle of Kinburn, when the 5,000-strong Turkish landing force was almost completely destroyed.
In the summer of 1788, with his corps, he took part in the siege of Ochakov, where in August 1788 he was seriously wounded in the head for the second time. This time the bullet passed almost through the old channel. Mikhail Illarionovich survived and in 1789 took over a separate corps, with which Akkerman occupied, fought near Kaushany and during the assault on Bendery.
In December 1790, he distinguished himself during the assault and capture of Izmail, where he commanded the 6th column that was going on the attack. This is how General Kutuzov outlined the actions in his report: “Showing a personal example of courage and fearlessness, he overcame all the difficulties he encountered under heavy enemy fire; jumped over the palisade, forestalled the aspirations of the Turks, quickly took off onto the ramparts of the fortress, captured the bastion and many batteries... General Kutuzov walked on my left wing; but was my right hand".
According to legend, when Kutuzov sent a messenger to Suvorov with a report about the impossibility of holding on to the ramparts, he received an answer from Suvorov that a messenger had already been sent to St. Petersburg with news to Empress Catherine II about the capture of Izmail.
After the capture of Izmail, Kutuzov was promoted to lieutenant general, awarded George 3rd degree and appointed commandant of the fortress. Having repelled the attempts of the Turks to take possession of Izmail, on June 4 (16), 1791, he defeated a 23,000-strong Turkish army at Babadag with a sudden blow. In the Battle of Machinsky in June 1791, under the command of N.V. Repnin, Kutuzov dealt a crushing blow to the right flank of the Turkish troops. For the victory at Machin, Kutuzov was awarded the Order of George, 2nd degree.
In 1792, Kutuzov, commanding a corps, took part in the Russian-Polish war and the following year was sent as ambassador extraordinary to Turkey, where he resolved a number of important issues and significantly improved my relationship with her. While in Constantinople, he was in the Sultan's garden, visiting which was punishable for men death penalty. Sultan Selim III chose not to notice the insolence of the powerful ambassador.
Upon returning to Russia, Kutuzov managed to flatter the then all-powerful favorite P. A. Zubov. Referring to the skills he acquired in Turkey, he came to Zubov an hour before he woke up in order to in a special way brew coffee for him, which he then took to his favorite in front of many visitors. As a result, Kutuzov in 1795 was appointed commander-in-chief over all ground forces, flotilla and fortresses in Finland and at the same time director of the Land Cadet Corps. He did a lot to improve the training of officers: he taught tactics, military history and other disciplines. Catherine II invited him into her company every day, and he spent the last evening with her before her death.
Unlike many other favorites of the empress, Kutuzov managed to hold out under the new Tsar Paul I and remained with him until last day his life (including having dinner with him on the eve of the murder). In 1798 he was promoted to infantry general. He successfully completed a diplomatic mission in Prussia: during his two months in Berlin he managed to win her over to the side of Russia in the fight against France. On September 27, 1799, Paul I appointed commander of the expeditionary force in Holland instead of infantry general I. I. German, who was defeated by the French at Bergen and taken prisoner. Awarded the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. On the way to Holland he was recalled back to Russia. He was a Lithuanian military governor (1799-1801). On September 8, 1800, the day the military maneuvers in the vicinity of Gatchina ended, Emperor Paul I personally awarded Kutuzov the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Upon the accession of Alexander I, he was appointed military governor of St. Petersburg and Vyborg (1801-1802), as well as the manager of the civil part in these provinces and inspector of the Finnish Inspectorate.
In 1802, having fallen into disgrace with the Tsar, Kutuzov was removed from his post and lived on his estate in Goroshki (now Volodarsk-Volynsky, Ukraine, Zhitomir region), continuing to be listed in active military service as the chief of the Pskov Musketeer Regiment.
In 1804, Russia entered into a coalition to fight Napoleon, and in 1805 the Russian government sent two armies to Austria; Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of one of them. In August 1805, a 50,000-strong Russian army under his command moved to Austria. The Austrian army, which did not have time to unite with the Russian troops, was defeated in October 1805 near Ulm. Kutuzov's army found itself face to face with an enemy with significant superiority in strength.
Retaining his troops, Kutuzov in October 1805 made a retreat march-maneuver stretching 425 km from Braunau to Olmutz and, having defeated I. Murat near Amstetten and E. Mortier near Dürenstein, withdrew his troops from the looming threat of encirclement. This march went down in the history of military art as a wonderful example of strategic maneuver. From Olmutz (now Olomouc), Kutuzov proposed to withdraw the army to the Russian border so that, after the arrival of Russian reinforcements and the Austrian army from Northern Italy, go on a counter-offensive.
Contrary to the opinion of Kutuzov and at the insistence of Emperors Alexander I and Franz II of Austria, inspired by the slight numerical superiority over the French, the allied armies went on the offensive. On November 20 (December 2), 1805, the Battle of Austerlitz took place. The battle ended in the complete defeat of the Russians and Austrians. Kutuzov himself was wounded by a shrapnel in the cheek, and also lost his son-in-law, Count Tiesenhausen. Alexander, realizing his guilt, did not publicly blame Kutuzov and awarded him the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree, in February 1806, but never forgave him for the defeat, believing that Kutuzov deliberately framed the Tsar. In a letter to his sister dated September 18, 1812, Alexander I expressed his true attitude towards the commander: “from memory of what happened at Austerlitz because of the deceitful character of Kutuzov.”
In September 1806, Kutuzov was appointed military governor of Kyiv. In March 1808, he was sent as a corps commander to the Moldavian Army, but due to disagreements that arose regarding the further conduct of the war with the Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal A. A. Prozorovsky, in June 1809, Kutuzov was appointed Lithuanian military governor.
In 1811, when the war with Turkey reached a dead end and the foreign policy situation required effective action, Alexander I appointed Kutuzov as commander-in-chief of the Moldavian army instead of the deceased Kamensky. In early April 1811, Kutuzov arrived in Bucharest and took command of the army, weakened by the recall of divisions to defend the western border. He found less than thirty thousand troops throughout the conquered lands, with which he had to defeat one hundred thousand Turks located in the Balkan Mountains.
In the Battle of Rushchuk on June 22, 1811 (15-20 thousand Russian troops against 60 thousand Turks), he inflicted a crushing defeat on the enemy, which marked the beginning of the defeat of the Turkish army. Then Kutuzov deliberately withdrew his army to the left bank of the Danube, forcing the enemy to break away from their bases in pursuit. He blocked part of the Turkish army that crossed the Danube near Slobodzeya, and in early October he himself sent General Markov’s corps across the Danube in order to attack the Turks remaining on the southern bank. Markov attacked the enemy base, captured it and took the main camp of the Grand Vizier Ahmed Agha across the river under fire from captured Turkish cannons. Soon hunger and disease began in the surrounded camp, Ahmed Agha secretly left the army, leaving Pasha Chaban-oglu in his place. Even before the surrender of the Turks, named By the highest decree, from October 29 (November 10), 1811, the commander-in-chief of the army against the Turks, general of the infantry, Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov was elevated, with his descendants, to the dignity of count of the Russian Empire. On November 23 (December 5), 1811, 1811 Shepherd-oglu surrendered a 35,000-strong army with 56 guns to Count Golenishchev-Kutuzov. Türkiye was forced to enter into negotiations.
Concentrating his corps to the Russian borders, Napoleon hoped that the alliance with the Sultan, which he concluded in the spring of 1812, would bind the Russian forces in the south. But on May 16 (28), 1812 in Bucharest, Kutuzov concluded a peace under which Bessarabia and part of Moldova passed to Russia (Bucharest Peace Treaty of 1812). This was a major military and diplomatic victory, which shifted the strategic situation for Russia for the better at the beginning of the Patriotic War. After the conclusion of peace, the Danube Army was led by Admiral Chichagov, and Kutuzov was recalled to St. Petersburg, where, by decision of the Emergency Committee of Ministers, he was appointed commander of the troops for the defense of St. Petersburg.
At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, General Kutuzov was elected in July as the head of the St. Petersburg and then the Moscow militia. On initial stage During the Patriotic War, the 1st and 2nd Western Russian armies found themselves under pressure from Napoleon's superior forces. The unsuccessful course of the war prompted the nobility to demand the appointment of a commander who would enjoy the trust of Russian society. Even before the Russian troops left Smolensk, Alexander I appointed infantry general Kutuzov as commander-in-chief of all Russian armies and militias. 10 days before the appointment, by personal Highest decree of July 29 (August 10), 1812, infantry general Count Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov was elevated, with his descendants, to the princely dignity of the Russian Empire, with the title of lordship. The appointment of Kutuzov caused a patriotic upsurge in the army and the people. Kutuzov himself, as in 1805, was not in the mood for a decisive battle against Napoleon. According to one piece of evidence, he expressed himself this way about the methods he would use against the French: “We will not defeat Napoleon. We will deceive him."
On August 17 (29), Kutuzov received an army from Barclay de Tolly in the village of Tsarevo-Zaimishche, Smolensk province.
The enemy's great superiority in forces and the lack of reserves forced Kutuzov to retreat deeper into the country, following the strategy of his predecessor Barclay de Tolly. Further withdrawal implied the surrender of Moscow without a fight, which was unacceptable from both a political and moral point of view. Having received minor reinforcements, Kutuzov decided to give Napoleon a general battle, the first and only one in the Patriotic War of 1812. battle of Borodino, one of the largest battles of the era Napoleonic wars, occurred on August 26 (September 7). During the day of the battle, the Russian army inflicted heavy losses on the French troops, but according to preliminary estimates, by the night of the same day it itself had lost almost half of the regular troops. The balance of power obviously did not shift in favor of Kutuzov. Kutuzov decided to withdraw from the Borodino position, and then, after a meeting in Fili (now a Moscow region), left Moscow. Nevertheless, the Russian army showed itself with dignity under Borodino, for which Kutuzov was promoted to field marshal general on August 30 (September 11).
After leaving Moscow, Kutuzov secretly carried out the famous Tarutino flank maneuver, leading the army to the village of Tarutino by the beginning of October. Finding himself south and west of Napoleon, Kutuzov blocked his routes to the southern regions of the country.
Having failed in his attempts to make peace with Russia, Napoleon began to withdraw from Moscow on October 7 (19). He tried to lead the army to Smolensk by the southern route through Kaluga, where there were supplies of food and fodder, but on October 12 (24) in the battle for Maloyaroslavets he was stopped by Kutuzov and retreated along the devastated Smolensk road. Russian troops launched a counteroffensive, which Kutuzov organized so that Napoleon's army was under flank attacks by regular and partisan detachments, and Kutuzov avoided a frontal battle with large masses of troops.
Thanks to Kutuzov's strategy, Napoleonic's huge army was almost completely destroyed. Kutuzov in pre-Soviet and post-Soviet times was repeatedly criticized for his reluctance to act more decisively and aggressively, for his preference for a certain victory at the expense of loud glory. Prince Kutuzov, according to contemporaries and historians, did not share his plans with anyone, his words to the public often differed from his orders for the army, so true motives The actions of the famous commander give rise to different interpretations. But the final result of his activities is undeniable - the defeat of Napoleon in Russia, for which Kutuzov was awarded the Order of St. George, 1st degree, becoming the first full Knight of St. George in the history of the order. By a personal Highest decree of December 6 (18), 1812, Field Marshal General, His Serene Highness Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov was granted the name “Smolensky”.
Napoleon often spoke contemptuously about the commanders opposing him, without mincing words. It is characteristic that he avoided giving public assessments of Kutuzov’s command in the Patriotic War, preferring to blame the “harsh Russian winter” for the complete destruction of his army. Napoleon's attitude towards Kutuzov can be seen in a personal letter written by Napoleon from Moscow on October 3, 1812 with the aim of starting peace negotiations: “I am sending one of My adjutant generals to you to negotiate many important matters. I want Your Lordship to believe what he tells you, especially when he expresses feelings of respect and special attention which I have had for you for a long time. Having nothing else to say with this letter, I pray to the Almighty that he will keep you, Prince Kutuzov, under his sacred and good protection.”.
In January 1813, Russian troops crossed the border and reached the Oder by the end of February. By April 1813, troops reached the Elbe. On April 5, the commander-in-chief caught a cold and fell ill in the small Silesian town of Bunzlau (Prussia, now the territory of Poland).
According to legend, refuted by historians, Alexander I arrived to say goodbye to the very weakened field marshal. Behind the screens near the bed on which Kutuzov was lying was the official Krupennikov who was with him. Kutuzov’s last dialogue, allegedly overheard by Krupennikov and relayed by Chamberlain Tolstoy: “Forgive me, Mikhail Illarionovich!” - “I forgive, sir, but Russia will never forgive you for this.” The next day, April 16 (28), 1813, Prince Kutuzov passed away. His body was embalmed and sent to St. Petersburg.
The journey was long - through Poznan, Riga, Narva - and took more than a month. Despite such a reserve of time, it was not possible to bury the field marshal in the Russian capital immediately upon arrival: they did not have time to properly prepare everything necessary for burial in the Kazan Cathedral. Therefore, the famous commander was sent “for temporary storage” - the coffin with his body stood for 18 days in the middle of the church in Trinity - the Sergius Hermitage, several miles from St. Petersburg. The funeral in the Kazan Cathedral took place on June 11, 1813.
They say that the people dragged a cart with the remains folk hero. The Emperor retained Kutuzov as his wife full content husband, and in 1814 he ordered Finance Minister Guryev to issue more than 300 thousand rubles to pay off the debts of the commander’s family.
During his lifetime he was criticized for his obsequiousness, manifested in his obsequious attitude towards the royal favorites, and for his excessive predilection for female. They say that while the already seriously ill Kutuzov was in the Tarutino camp (October 1812), Chief of Staff Bennigsen reported to Alexander I that Kutuzov was not doing anything and was sleeping a lot, and not alone. He brought with him a Moldavian woman, dressed as a Cossack, who “warms his bed.” The letter reached the military department, where General Knorring imposed the following resolution on it: “Rumyantsev carried them in fours. It's none of our business. And what sleeps, let him sleep. Every hour of this old man’s [sleep] brings us inexorably closer to victory.”
Kutuzov family:
The noble family of Golenishchev-Kutuzov traces its origins to the Novgorodian Fyodor, nicknamed Kutuz (XV century), whose nephew Vasily had the nickname Golenishche. Vasily’s sons were in the royal service under the name “Golenishchev-Kutuzov”. M.I. Kutuzov’s grandfather only rose to the rank of captain, his father already became a lieutenant general, and Mikhail Illarionovich earned hereditary princely dignity.
Illarion Matveevich was buried in the village of Terebeni, Opochetsky district, in a special crypt. Currently, there is a church at the burial site, in the basement of which a crypt was discovered in the 20th century. The expedition of the TV project “Seekers” found out that Illarion Matveyevich’s body was mummified and thanks to this it was well preserved.
Kutuzov got married in the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village of Golenishchevo, Samoluksky volost, Loknyansky district, Pskov region. Nowadays, only ruins remain of this church.
The wife of Mikhail Illarionovich, Ekaterina Ilyinichna (1754-1824), was the daughter of Lieutenant General Ilya Alexandrovich Bibikov and sister A.I. Bibikov, a major statesman and military figure (marshal of the Legislative Commission, commander-in-chief in the fight against the Polish Confederates and in the suppression of the Pugachev rebellion, friend of A. Suvorov). She married thirty-year-old Colonel Kutuzov in 1778 and gave birth in happy marriage five daughters (the only son, Nikolai, died of smallpox in infancy, was buried in Elisavetgrad (now Kirovograd) on the territory of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary).
1. Praskovya (1777-1844) - wife of Matvey Fedorovich Tolstoy (1772-1815);
2. Anna (1782-1846) - wife of Nikolai Zakharovich Khitrovo (1779-1827);
3. Elizabeth (1783-1839) - in her first marriage, the wife of Fyodor Ivanovich Tizenhausen (1782-1805); in the second - Nikolai Fedorovich Khitrovo (1771-1819);
4. Catherine (1787-1826) - wife of Prince Nikolai Danilovich Kudashev (1786-1813); in the second - Ilya Stepanovich Sarochinsky (1788/89-1854);
5. Daria (1788-1854) - wife of Fyodor Petrovich Opochinin (1779-1852).
Lisa’s first husband died fighting under the command of Kutuzov, Katya’s first husband also died in battle. Since the field marshal left no offspring male line, the surname of Golenishchev-Kutuzov in 1859 was transferred to his grandson, Major General P. M. Tolstoy, the son of Praskovya.
Kutuzov also became related to the imperial house: his great-granddaughter Daria Konstantinovna Opochinina (1844-1870) became the wife of Evgeniy Maximilianovich of Leuchtenberg.
Kutuzov's awards:
M.I. Kutuzov became the first of 4 full St. George Knights in the entire history of the order.
Order of St. George, 4th class. (11/26/1775, No. 222) - “For the courage and bravery shown during the attack of the Turkish troops who landed on the Crimean shores near Alushta. Having been dispatched to take possession of the enemy’s retangement, to which he led his battalion with such fearlessness that a large number of the enemy fled, where he received a very dangerous wound.”
- Order of St. George, 3rd class. (25.03.1791, No. 77) - “In respect for the diligent service and excellent courage rendered during the capture of the city and fortress of Izmail by storm with the extermination of the Turkish army that was there”
- Order of St. George 2nd class. (03/18/1792, No. 28) - “In honor of the diligent service, brave and courageous exploits with which he distinguished himself in the battle of Machin and the defeat of the large Turkish army by Russian troops under the command of General Prince N.V. Repnin”
- Order of St. George, 1st class. bol.kr. (12/12/1812, No. 10) - “For the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812”
- Order of St. Anne 1st class. - for distinction in the battles near Ochakov (04/21/1789)
- Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class. - for the successful formation of the corps (06.1789)
- Order of St. Alexander Nevsky - for battles with the Turks near Babadag (07/28/1791)
- Order of St. John of Jerusalem Grand Cross (04.10.1799)
- Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (09/08/1800)
- Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class. - for battles with the French in 1805 (02/24/1806)
- Portrait of Emperor Alexander I with diamonds to be worn on the chest (07/18/1811)
- Golden sword with diamonds and laurels - for the battle of Tarutino (10/16/1812)
- Diamond signs for the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (12/12/1812)
- Holstein Order of St. Anne - for the battle with the Turks near Ochakov (04/21/1789)
- Austrian Military Order of Maria Theresa 1st class. (02.11.1805)
- Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, 1st class.
- Prussian Order of the Black Eagle (1813)
Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov - Russian Field Marshal General, His Serene Highness Prince, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian troops in the Patriotic War of 1812, became the first full holder of the Order of St. George.
Biography
Childhood
Father, Illarion Matveevich Golenishchev-Kutuzov, was a lieutenant general (later a senator). There are several opinions about the origin of the mother, Anna Larionovna: some sources indicate that her maiden name was Beklemisheva; others - Bedrinskaya. There was also confusion with Kutuzov’s year of birth: the year 1745 is indicated on the grave, but according to the official lists, he was born in 1747.
Education
Kutuzov was educated at home until 1759, and then studied at the Noble Artillery and engineering school, which he graduated in 1761 with the rank of ensign engineer.
Career
After graduating from school, Mikhail was left with her as a mathematics teacher, but Kutuzov did not work in this position for long: he was soon invited to act as an aide-de-camp to the Prince of Holstein-Beck. In 1762, the precociously intelligent adjutant received the rank of captain and commanded one of the companies of the Astrakhan Infantry Regiment, which at that moment was headed by Colonel A.V. Suvorov. In 1770 he was transferred to the south into the army under the command of P. A. Rumyantsev, in which he took part in the Russian-Turkish war.
Russo-Turkish wars
In the first Turkish campaign, from 1770 to 1774, Mikhail Illarionovich distinguished himself in the battles of Ryaba Mogila, Kagul, Larga, Popeshty and Shuma. In the battle of the village of Shuma, Kutuzov received his first facial wound. He ended the war with the rank of lieutenant colonel and was sent for treatment to Austria by Catherine II herself.
In 1777, Kutuzov became a colonel and was given command of the Lugansk pikemen regiment in Azov. In 1783 he commanded the Mariupol Light Horse Regiment. In 1784 he managed to suppress the uprising in Crimea, for which he received a major general. In 1785 he formed the Bug Jaeger Corps and developed new tactics. In 1787, the second Russian-Turkish war broke out.
In this campaign, Kutuzov takes part in the battles of Kinburn, Kaushany and Baghdad, in the siege of Ochakov, Bender, Izmail. Becomes right hand A.V. Suvorov, who led the Russian army. During the siege of Ochakov he received a second facial wound. He defeated the Turkish army in the Battle of Machinsky, putting an end to the war.
When a new war with Turkey broke out in 1811, Kutuzov saved the situation by concluding the beneficial Bucharest Peace Treaty with the Turks.
Russo-French War
Kutuzov was Catherine’s favorite and was able to establish relations with Paul, but Alexander I clearly did not favor the commander. In 1805, Mikhail Illarionovich was appointed commander-in-chief of one of the armies sent to Austria for the war with Napoleon. The Austrian troops were defeated, and the emperor insisted on a battle, which took place near Austerlitz and was lost.
In the Patriotic War of 1812, Kutuzov, appointed commander-in-chief first of the militias and then of the entire army, withstood the Battle of Borodino, in which the Russian troops held out with dignity. With his wisdom, the commander-in-chief in the famous councils in Fili insists on leaving Moscow. It was this tactical move that became decisive in the victory over Napoleon. He led the foreign campaign of the Russian army, where he died.
Personal life
Kutuzov's first love was Ulyana Ivanovna Alexandrovich, who shared his feelings. A wedding day was set, but the tragic circumstances of Ulyana’s illness separated them. The girl remained faithful to her lover until the end of her days, never getting married.
In 1778, Kutuzov married Ekaterina Ilyinichna Bibikova. The marriage produced five children. It is known that while Kutuzov was on campaign, his wife lived in grand style, and Alexander I himself patronized her.
Death
In the spring of 1813, Kutuzov, while on a trip abroad, caught a cold and fell ill. At the end of April, in the Prussian city of Bunzlau, the great commander died. His body was transported to St. Petersburg and buried in the Kazan Cathedral.
Kutuzov's main achievements
- The Russian army, led by Kutuzov as commander-in-chief, won the war with Napoleon in 1812.
- Kutuzov was a participant in such historical battles as the storming of Izmail, the Battle of Austerlitz, and the Battle of Borodino.
- He was awarded the Orders of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, St. Alexander Nevsky, St. John of Jerusalem, St. George I, II, III, IV degrees, St. Vladimir I and II degrees, St. Anna I degree, Red and Black Eagles, as well as the Grand Cross of the Military Order Maria Teresa.
Important dates in Kutuzov’s biography
- 1745 (1747) year - birth
- 1759–1761 - training at the Noble Artillery and Engineering School
- 1761 - aide-de-camp to the Prince of Holstein-Beck
- 1762 - captain of the Astrakhan infantry regiment
- 1764 - service in Poland
- 1770–1774 - participation in the Russian-Turkish war
- 1774 - first wounded
- 1774–1776 - treatment in Austria
- 1777 - Lugansk pikemen regiment in Azov
- 1778 - marriage to E. I. Bibikova
- 1783 - Mariupol Light Horse Regiment
- 1784 - suppression of the uprising in Crimea
- 1785 - Bug Chasseur Regiment
- 1787–1991 - second Russian-Turkish war
- 1788 - second wound
- 1790 - capture of Izmail
- 1791 - Battle of Machinsky
- 1805 - Battle of Austerlitz
- 1811 - third Russian-Turkish war
- 1812 - Treaty of Bucharest, Battle of Borodino
- 1813 - death
- Kutuzov lost an eye at the age of 29 (Russian-Turkish War, battle near the village of Shumy in 1774), when a bullet hit the left temple, pierced the nasopharynx and flew out through the right eye, knocking it out. 13 years later, in 1788, in a battle with the Turks near Ochakov, a grenade fragment hit Kutuzov in the right cheekbone, went through his head, flew out of the back of his head, knocking out almost all his teeth. Doctors considered both wounds fatal. In the Battle of Austerlitz, a bullet once again injured the commander’s face: it hit him in the right cheek, but did not cause serious damage.
- Very often in films and in portraits, Kutuzov is depicted wearing a bandage over his injured eye. This is the speculation of directors and artists: Mikhail Illarionovich never wore it in his life.
- Kutuzov met with Germaine de Stael, a famous French writer, who noted that Mikhail Illarionovich spoke French much better than Napoleon.
- While in Constantinople on a diplomatic mission, Kutuzov managed to visit the harem of the Turkish Sultan and even communicate with its inhabitants, although this was punishable by death in Turkey.
- Kutuzov had a talent for imitation and often, in his youth, entertained his friends by brilliantly parodying either Rumyantsev or Catherine the Great herself.
Contrary to popular belief, Kutuzov was not one-eyed. We are, of course, talking about Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov, who commanded the Russian troops in 1812. About that same Kutuzov, whose cunning Napoleon was amazed, calling the Russian field marshal “fox” and “devil.” And about the same one that modern films and illustrations in books constantly depict either with one eye or with an eyepatch.
However, there is not a single historical confirmation of either “one-eyed” or wearing a blindfold. In all lifetime images claiming to be portrait likenesses, M.I. Kutuzov with both eyes. True, on some it is noticeable that the right eye is very “squinty”, but there are no bandages anywhere!
Kutuzov himself, being already at an advanced age, sometimes complains in private letters to his wife, Ekaterina Ilyinichna, about eye fatigue, using precisely plural, for example, in 1800: “I am healthy, but my eyes have a lot of work.” And in 1812, in a letter to his daughter Elizabeth: “...my eyes are very tired; don’t think that they hurt me, no, they are just tired from reading and writing...”
However, the myth of the “one-eyed commander” did not arise out of nowhere. Kutuzov was repeatedly wounded in the head and had every chance of losing not only his eye, but also his life itself.
The first time this happened near Alushta in 1774, when Kutuzov, at that time still a prime major, commanded a grenadier battalion. Author of the biographical book “The Life of Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov” F.M. Sinelnikov reports that the bullet hit “the left temple and came out near the right eye, but did not destroy it,” the eye was only “slightly squinted.” Sinelnikov was a close friend of Kutuzov, he began work on his book during the life of the commander, and, of course, he knew such details without any speculation.
Even with the current level of medicine, the likelihood of surviving such an injury is microscopically small. Kutuzov not only survived, but also retained both eyes. Moreover, his vision did not appear to have deteriorated much.
The second time Kutuzov’s head was damaged during the siege Turkish fortress Ochakov in 1788. Describing this wound, sources differ in details, showing unanimity that it was also very heavy, and a bullet or grenade fragment went right through the head. However, even after this, Kutuzov saw with both eyes for a long time, and the wounded eye began to “close” only during the campaign of 1805.
In 1805, he was wounded in the head for the third time, this time lightly: during the battle of Austerlitz, his cheek was damaged.
For a combat officer, Kutuzov lived quite a life long life. Having survived severe wounds to the head, he died in April 1813 during a foreign campaign of the Russian army from complications resulting from a common cold. By this time, Kutuzov was at the height of his glory as the conqueror of Napoleon, and the rulers of the countries participating in the anti-Napoleonic alliance wanted to see him at the head of the allied forces. Exact date The birth of the great commander has not been established, based on different sources, historians determine the time of his birth approximately in the interval 1745-1747. Thus, death took Kutuzov when he was over 65 years old.
Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1745-1813) - Russian field marshal general from the Golenishchev-Kutuzov family, commander-in-chief during the Patriotic War of 1812. He also proved himself as a diplomat (he brought Prussia to the side of Russia in the fight against France, signed the Bucharest Peace Treaty of 1812). The first full holder of the Order of St. George.
Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov was born into a family belonging to an ancient noble family. His father, Illarion Matveevich, was a high-ranking officer in the Russian army. My military service he graduated with the rank of lieutenant general, and then was a member of the Senate for several years.
Less certain information has been preserved about the mother. For a long time, family biographers believed that Anna Illarionovna came from the Beklemishev family. However, facts established by family biographers not so long ago showed that she was the daughter of retired captain Bedrinsky.
It turned out to be a difficult task to accurately establish the year of birth of the commander. In many sources and even on his grave, the year 1745 is indicated. At the same time, in private correspondence, in some formal lists and according to Mikhail Illarionovich himself, he was born in 1747. This date is in Lately is increasingly perceived by historians as more reliable.
The general's son received his initial education at home. At the age of twelve, he was enrolled in the Artillery and Engineering Noble School, of which his father was a teacher. Having proven himself to be a gifted student. Mikhail Illarionovich in 1759 received the rank of 1st class conductor, took the oath and was even involved in training officers.
After graduating from school, he remains within its walls for further service and teaches mathematics. A few months later he was transferred as an aide-de-camp to the Governor-General of Revel, Prince P. A. F. of Holstein-Beck. Having proven himself well in this field, in 1762 the young officer received the rank of captain and was assigned to the Astrakhan Infantry Regiment as a company commander.
For the first time, M.I. Kutuzov took part in hostilities in Poland, in the troops of Lieutenant General I.I. Weimarn in 1764. His detachment repeatedly participated in skirmishes with the Confederates. Excellent knowledge foreign languages Mikhail Illarionovich helped to take part in the development of the new Code of 1797 as a secretary.
War with Turkey in 1768-1774.
In 1770, in the third year of the next Russian-Turkish war, M. I. Kutuzov was sent to the 1st active army under the command of Field Marshal P. A. Rumyantsev. He gradually gained combat experience, participating in a number of battles at Kagul, Ryabaya Mogila and Larga. Each time, demonstrating outstanding tactical thinking and personal courage, he successfully advanced through the ranks. For his distinction in these battles, he was promoted to prime major, and after the victory in the Battle of Popesti at the end of 1771, he received the rank of lieutenant colonel.
According to the legend successful development military career in the first army was interrupted by a parody of the commander, shown in a narrow friendly circle. Nevertheless, P. A. Rumyantsev became aware of it, and he did not like such jokes. Soon after this, the promising officer was transferred to the 2nd Crimean Army at the disposal of Prince P. P. Dolgorukov.
The summer of 1774 was marked by fierce battles in the vicinity of Alushta, where the Turks landed a large landing force. In the battle near the village of Shuma on July 23, M.I. Kutuzov took part at the head of the Moscow battalion and was dangerously wounded in the head. A Turkish bullet pierced the left temple and exited near the right eye. For this battle the officer was awarded the Order of St. George 4th century. and was sent to Austria to restore his health. Mikhail Illarionovich spent two years of his stay in Regensburg studying military theory. At the same time, in 1776, he joined the Masonic lodge “To the Three Keys”.
Upon returning to Russia, M.I. Kutuzov was engaged in the formation of new cavalry units. In 1778, the thirty-year-old commander married Ekaterina Ilyinichna Bibikova, the daughter of Lieutenant General I. A. Bibikov. She was the sister of the prominent statesman A.I. Bibikov, a friend of A.V. Suvorov. In a happy marriage he became the father of five daughters and a son, who died in early childhood during the smallpox epidemic.
After being awarded the next rank of colonel, he takes command of the Lugansk Pike Regiment, stationed in Azov. In 1783, already with the rank of brigadier, he was transferred to Crimea as commander of the Mariupol light cavalry regiment. The commander takes part in the suppression of the Crimean uprising of 1784, after which he receives another rank of major general. In 1785, he headed the Bug Jaeger Regiment and served on the southwestern border of the empire.
Turkish War 1787–1791
In 1787, Mikhail Illarionovich again took part in the war with Turkey, winning a brilliant victory near Kinburn. During the siege of Ochakov in 1788, Kutuzov was again wounded in the head and again it was as if he was “born in a shirt.”
Having recovered from a terrible wound, he takes part in the battles for Akkerman, Kaushany and Bendery. During the storming of Izmail in 1790, the general commanded the sixth column. For his participation in the capture of the fortress, M. I. Kutuzov received the Order of St. George 3rd degree, the rank of lieutenant general and the position of commandant of Izmail.
The Russian army in 1791 under his command not only repelled all attempts by the Turks to return the fortress, but also delivered a crushing retaliatory blow near Babadag. In the same year, in a joint operation with Prince N.V. Repnin, M.I. Kutuzov won a brilliant victory near Machin. This success in the theater of military operations brought the commander the Order of St. George 2 tbsp.
Diplomatic Service
After the end of the war, M.I. Kutuzov clearly demonstrated his abilities in the diplomatic field. Appointed ambassador to Istanbul, he successfully contributed to the resolution of complex international problems with benefits for Russia. M. I. Kutuzov fully demonstrated his audacity and courage in the capital Ottoman Empire. Despite the strict ban on men visiting the garden at the Sultan's palace, he did not fail to do so with impunity.
Upon returning to Russia, the general brilliantly used his knowledge of Turkish culture. The ability to brew coffee correctly made an indelible impression on Catherine II’s favorite P. Zubov. With his help, he gained the favor of the empress, which contributed to his obtaining high positions. In 1795, Kutuzov was simultaneously appointed commander-in-chief of all branches of the military in the Principality of Finland and director of the Land Cadet Corps. Ability to please strong world This helped him maintain his influence and important positions under Emperor Paul I. In 1798, he received another rank - general of infantry.
In 1799 he again carried out an important diplomatic mission in Berlin. He managed to find convincing arguments for the Prussian king in favor of Prussia entering into an alliance with Russia against France. At the turn of the century, M.I. Kutuzov occupied the post of military governor, first in Lithuania, and then in St. Petersburg and Vyborg.
In 1802, Mikhail Illarionovich’s fully accomplished life came to black line. Having fallen out of favor with Emperor Alexander I, he lived for several years on his estate in Goroshki, formally remaining the commander of the Pskov Musketeer Regiment.
First war with France
In accordance with the agreement with the countries of the anti-Napoleonic coalition, Russian troops entered the territory of Austria-Hungary. During this war, the Russian army won two victories at Amstetten and Dürenstein, but suffered a crushing defeat at Austerlitz. The assessment of the role of M. and Kutuzov in this failure is contradictory. Many historians see its reason in the commander’s compliance with the crowned heads of Russia and Austria-Hungary, who insisted on a decisive offensive without expecting reinforcements. Emperor Alexander I subsequently officially admitted his mistake and even awarded M.I. Kutuzov the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class, but in his heart he did not forgive the defeat.
Turkish War 1806–1812
After the sudden death of the commander of the Moldavian Army N.M. Kamensky, the emperor instructed Kutuzov to lead the Russian troops in the Balkans. With an army of 30,000 people, he had to confront a hundred thousand Turkish troops. In the summer of 1811, two armies met near Rushchuk. The tactical ingenuity demonstrated by the commander helped defeat the forces of the Turkish Sultan, which outnumbered him three times.
The defeat of the Turkish troops was completed by a cunning operation on the banks of the Danube. The temporary retreat of the Russian troops misled the enemy, divided Turkish army was deprived of logistical support, blocked and defeated.
As a reward for victory in this war, even before the formal conclusion of peace, M.I. Kutuzov and his children were granted counthood. According to the soon concluded Peace of Bucharest in 1812, Bessarabia and part of Moldavia went to Russia. After this military and diplomatic victory, Count Kutuzov was recalled from the active army to organize the defense of St. Petersburg.
Patriotic War of 1812
Mikhail Illarionovich met the beginning of a new war with the Emperor of France in the position of chief of the St. Petersburg, and a little later, Moscow militia. In mid-summer, at the insistence of part of the nobility, he was appointed commander-in-chief of all armed forces Russia. At the same time, he and his descendants were granted the title of His Serene Highness. The army was headed by M. I. Kutuzov on August 17, 1812.
The onslaught of superior enemy forces forced Russian troops to retreat deeper and deeper into their territory. The Russian commander for the time being sought to avoid a decisive open clash with the French. The general battle in the vicinity of Moscow took place on August 26 near the village of Borodino. For organizing this stubborn battle and maintaining a combat-ready army, Kutuzov was awarded the rank of Field Marshal. Although the Russian army was able to inflict significant damage on the interventionists, the balance of power after the battle was not in its favor, and the retreat was continued. After the famous meeting in Fili, it was decided to leave Moscow.
Having occupied the former capital, Napoleon waited in vain for more than a month for Russia’s capitulation and, in the end, due to poor supplies, was forced to leave Moscow. His plans to improve the supply of the army at the expense of the southwestern Russian cities soon failed. Russian troops, having completed the famous Tarutino maneuver, blocked the path of the French army near Maloyaroslavets on October 12, 1812. French troops were forced to return to the war-ravaged areas of the country.
Subsequently, M.I. Kutuzov again sought to avoid major battles, preferring numerous small operations to them. As it turned out, such tactics subsequently brought victory. The huge army, invincible until that time, was defeated and was eventually forced to retreat from Russia in a disorderly manner. For commanding the Russian army in 1812, Field Marshal Kutuzov received the Order of St. George I Art. with a contradictory and paradoxical formulation: “For the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia” and became its first full cavalier in history.
In the January days of 1813, the Russian army crossed the border of its country and in mid-spring reached the Elbe. On April 5, near the town of Bunzlau in Silesia, the field marshal caught a bad cold and took to bed. Doctors were powerless to help the hero of 1812, and on April 16, 1813, His Serene Highness Prince M.I. Kutuzov died. His body was embalmed and sent with honors to St. Petersburg, where he was buried in the Kazan Cathedral.
The role of the personality of M. I. Kutuzov in historical events
Opinions of historians and contemporaries about Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov as historical figure radically diverged during his lifetime. Not only court ill-wishers, but also many famous military officers questioned his military genius, especially after the defeat at Austerlitz and for the lack of decisive action at the end of the War of 1812.
Heroes of the Patriotic War N. E. Raevsky, P. T. Bagration, M. B. Barclay de Tolly. A.P. Ermolov spoke impartially of him as a person prone to intrigue, capable of appropriating other people's ideas and merits. The famous historian Academician E. Tarle also expressed the opinion that the fame of Kutuzov’s military talent is greatly exaggerated and spoke about the impossibility of considering him equal to A.V. Suvorov or Napoleon.
At the same time, it is impossible to deny his military successes during numerous campaigns against the Ottoman Empire. Evidence of his talent as a commander are also awards from foreign countries: Prussia, Austria-Hungary, and the Duchy of Holstein. The extraordinary diplomatic skills of M. I. Kutuzov contributed to the resolution of complex issues international relations Russia not only with Turkey, but also with other European countries.
In short periods of peaceful life, Mikhail Illarionovich proved himself capable statesmen, holding the post of Governor General in various regions of the country. He used his knowledge and invaluable experience in organizing military education in the Russian Empire.
The memory of the outstanding Russian commander is immortalized in numerous monuments and street names of cities in Russia and abroad, in the name warship and an asteroid.
