Slava Kutuzov
Inseparably connected
With the glory of Russia.
A. Pushkin
270 years ago, on September 16, 1745, the great Russian commander, Count, His Serene Highness Prince, Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov was born. The name of Kutuzov is forever inscribed in Russian history and military chronicle. His whole life was devoted to serving Russia. Contemporaries unanimously noted his exceptional intelligence, brilliant military leadership and diplomatic talents and love for the Motherland.
The beginning of the service. War with Turkey
Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov was born on September 5 (16), 1745 in St. Petersburg. The Kutuzov family belonged to the famous families of the Russian nobility. The Kutuzov family considered Gabriel "honest husband" to be its progenitor, according to the legends of ancient genealogists, who left "from Prus" to Novgorod during the reign of Alexander Nevsky in the 13th century. His great-grandson - Alexander Prokshich (nicknamed Kutuz) - became the ancestor of the Kutuzovs, and the grandson of Kutuz - Vasily Ananievich (nicknamed the Boot) - was a Novgorod mayor in 1471 and the ancestor of the Golenishchevs-Kutuzovs.
The father of the great commander was Lieutenant General and Senator Illarion Matveyevich Golenishchev-Kutuzov. He served for thirty years in the Corps of Engineers and became famous as an intellectual with a wide knowledge of military and civil affairs. Contemporaries called him "a reasonable book." Mikhail lost his mother (Anna Illarionovna) in infancy and was brought up under the supervision of one of their relatives.
Mikhail studied, as was customary with the nobles, at home. In 1759 he was sent to the Artillery and Engineering School of the Nobility, where his father taught artillery sciences. The young man took over the abilities of his father. At the age of 15 he became a corporal, was soon promoted to a captenarmus, in 1760 to a conductor, and in 1761 he was released with the rank of ensign engineer, with an appointment to the Astrakhan Infantry Regiment.
The agile young man was noticed by the empress and, at her request, was appointed aide-de-camp to the governor-general of Revel, the prince of Holstein-Beck. After the accession of Catherine II to the throne in 1762, he was awarded the rank of captain. At his request, he was enlisted in the active army. Appointed company commander of the Astrakhan Infantry Regiment, commanded at that time by Colonel A. V. Suvorov. He received his first combat experience in Poland in 1764, where he beat Polish insurgents. In 1767 he was recruited to work in the "Commission for the preparation of a new Code". Apparently, he was involved as a secretary-translator, since Kutuzov knew French, German and Latin well.
In 1770, Kutuzov entered the army of Rumyantsev, was under General-Quartermaster Baur. He distinguished himself in the battle at the Pockmarked Grave, for which he was promoted to the chief quartermaster of the prime-major rank. During the defeat on the Prut, Abda Pasha commanded two companies and repelled the enemy's attack. In the battle of Larga, a grenadier broke into the Tatar camp with a battalion. In the battle at Cahul he distinguished himself again, was promoted to major. In 1771, under the command of Lieutenant-General Essen, he distinguished himself at the Battle of Popesti.
However, due to the discontent of Rumyantsev (a denunciation was filed against Kutuzov), he was transferred to the army of Vasily Dolgorukov in the Crimea. Mikhail Kutuzov mastered this lesson well, after this incident he was extremely cautious in words all his life, never betrayed his thoughts. Kutuzov distinguished himself at Kinburn in 1773. In 1774, he led the vanguard storming the enemy fortification near the village of Shuma. The reinforcement was taken. But Kutuzov himself was seriously wounded: the bullet hit the left temple and flew out at the right eye. The wound was considered fatal, but Kutuzov recovered to the amazement of the doctors.
The Empress awarded Kutuzov with the military order of St. George 4th class and sent for treatment to Austria, taking over all travel expenses. Mikhail Kutuzov visited Germany, England, Holland and Italy, met with many famous people, including the Prussian king Frederick II and the Austrian general Laudon. European doctors ordered to take care of the eyes, not to tire them. After the injury, the right eye began to see poorly. Therefore, Mikhail Illarionovich, who loved books, had to read less.
After returning to Russia in 1776, he again served in military service. At first he formed parts of the light cavalry, in 1777 he was promoted to colonel and appointed commander of the Lugansk pike regiment, which was located in Azov. He was transferred to the Crimea in 1783 with the rank of brigadier with the appointment of the commander of the Mariupol light-horse regiment. He served under the command of Suvorov. Using the smart and executive Kutuzov in various matters, Suvorov fell in love with Kutuzov and recommended him to Potemkin. Having pacified the unrest of the Crimean Tatars in 1784, Kutuzov received, at Potemkin's suggestion, the rank of major general.
Since 1785, he was the commander of the Bug Jaeger Corps formed by him. Commanding the corps and teaching the rangers, Mikhail Kutuzov developed new tactical methods of struggle for them and outlined them in a special instruction. In 1787, during the journey of Empress Catherine to the Crimea, he directed in her presence maneuvers depicting the Battle of Poltava. He was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the 2nd degree. When a new war broke out with Turkey, he covered the border along the Bug with the corps.
In the summer of 1788, with his corps, he took part in the siege of Ochakov, where in August 1788, during a Turkish sortie, he was again seriously wounded in the head. Again everyone despaired for his life. The bullet struck in the cheek and flew into the back of the head. Kutuzov not only survived, but also recovered in military service. “We must believe that fate appoints Kutuzov to something great, for he survived after two wounds that were fatal according to all the rules of medical science,” wrote Masot, the chief physician in the army. The Empress awarded Kutuzov with the Order of St. Anna.
In 1789, Kutuzov guarded the banks of the Dniester and Bug, participated in the capture of Hajibey, fought at Kaushany and during the assault on Bender. In 1790 he guarded the banks of the Danube from Akkerman to Bender, made searches for Ishmael, was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. During the assault on Ishmael, he commanded one of the columns. Having exhausted all the possibilities for the quickest capture of the fortress, he sent the message to Suvorov about the impossibility of defeating the enemy. Tell him, "replied Suvorov," that I favor him as the commandant of Ishmael! " The Turkish fortress was taken. Kutuzov asked Suvorov to explain the strange answer. "God have mercy, nothing," said Suvorov, "nothing: Suvorov knows Kutuzov, and Kutuzov knows Suvorov, and if Izmail had not been taken, Suvorov would not have survived and Kutuzov too!"
Praising the bravery of Kutuzov, Suvorov wrote in a report: “Demonstrating a personal example of courage and fearlessness, he overcame all the difficulties he encountered under heavy enemy fire; jumped over the palisade, warned the aspiration of the Turks, quickly flew up to the rampart of the fortress, took possession of the bastion and many batteries … General Kutuzov walked on my left wing; but was my right hand. " Suvorov said about Kutuzov: "Clever, clever, cunning, cunning … No one will deceive him."
After the capture of Izmail, Kutuzov was promoted to lieutenant general, awarded with George 3rd degree and appointed commandant of the fortress. In 1791, Kutuzov repelled the attempts of the Turks to recapture the fortress, made searches abroad, in June 1791, with a sudden blow, he defeated the Turkish army at Babadag. In the Battle of Machin, under the command of Repnin, Kutuzov dealt a crushing blow to the right flank of the Turkish army. "Kutuzov's quickness and discretion surpass any praise," Repnin wrote. For the victory at Machin, Kutuzov was awarded the Order of George, 2nd degree.
Directly from the banks of the Danube, Kutuzov went over to Poland, where he was in the army of Kakhovsky and with an offensive in Galicia contributed to the defeat of the troops of Kosciuszko. The empress summoned Kutuzov to Petersburg and gave him a new assignment: he was appointed ambassador to Constantinople. Kutuzov showed himself excellently in Turkey, won the respect of the Sultan and the highest dignitaries. Kutuzov amazed those who saw him only as a warrior. During the triumph of the Yassy Peace, the Empress awarded Kutuzov 2,000 souls and made him Governor-General of Kazan and Vyatka.
In 1795, the empress appointed Kutuzov commander-in-chief of all land forces, flotilla and fortresses in Finland and at the same time director of the Land Cadet Corps. Mikhail Illarionovich entered a narrow circle of persons who made up the Empress's elected society. Kutuzov did a lot to improve the training of officers: he taught tactics, military history and other disciplines.
Portrait of M. I. Kutuzov by R. M. Volkov
Paul's reign
Unlike many other favorites of the empress, Kutuzov managed to stay on the political Olympus under the new tsar Paul I and remained close to him until the very end of his reign. I must say that even during the reign of Catherine, Kutuzov tried to maintain good relations with her son Pavel, who lived in isolation in Gatchina.
Kutuzov was promoted to general of infantry, with the rank of chief of the Ryazan regiment and chief of the Finnish division. He held successful negotiations in Berlin: during his two months in Prussia, he managed to win her over to the side of Russia in the fight against France. Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in Holland. But in Hamburg he learned about the defeat of the Russian troops and was recalled by the emperor to the capital. Paul awarded him the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and the order of St. the apostle Andrew. Received the title of Lithuanian military governor and led the army gathered in Volyn. Pavel was pleased with Kutuzov and said: "With a general like Kutuzov, Russia can be calm."
It is interesting that Kutuzov spent the evening on the eve of the death of Empress Catherine in her company, and also talked with him on the evening before the murder of Tsar Paul. The conspiracy against Emperor Paul passed by Mikhail Illarionovich. For the last two years he has hardly been to St. Petersburg - he served in Finland and Lithuania. He saw the discontent of the aristocracy and the guards officers, but no one initiated Kutuzov into a conspiracy. Apparently, everyone saw that the emperor of all the generals singled out Kutuzov. Apparently, Kutuzov realized that England was behind the conspiracy, it was not in vain that he tried not to follow the mainstream of British politics in the future.
Alexander's reign. Wars with Napoleon
Emperor Alexander Kutuzov did not like. But Alexander was always cautious, did not make sudden movements. Therefore, Kutuzov did not immediately fall into disgrace. During the accession of Alexander I, Kutuzov was appointed the Petersburg and Vyborg military governor, as well as the manager of civil affairs in the indicated provinces and the inspector of the Finnish inspection. However, already in 1802, feeling the coldness of the emperor, Kutuzov referred to ill health and was removed from office. He lived on his estate in Goroshki in Little Russia, was engaged in farming.
However, when Alexander dragged Russia into the war with France, they also remembered Kutuzov. He was assigned one of the armies sent to Austria. The war was lost. The Austrians overestimated their strength, fought with Napoleon before the Russian troops approached, and were defeated. Kutuzov saw the mistakes of the Austrian military-political leadership, but was unable to influence the allies. The Russian troops, who were in a hurry to help the Austrians and were greatly exhausted, had to urgently go back. Kutuzov, conducting successful rearguard battles, in which Bagration became famous, skillfully escaped, avoiding the encirclement of superior French forces, commanded by the most illustrious generals of Napoleon. This march went down in the history of military art as a remarkable example of strategic maneuver. The feat of Kutuzov was marked by the Austrian Order of Maria Theresa, 1st degree.
Russian troops were able to connect with the Austrians. Kutuzov led the allied army. However, with her were the emperors Alexander and Franz, as well as their advisers. Therefore, there was no one-man management. Contrary to the will of Kutuzov, who warned the emperors against battle and offered to withdraw the army to the Russian border, so that, after the approach of Russian reinforcements and the Austrian army from Northern Italy, to launch a counteroffensive, it was decided to attack Napoleon. Alexander, under the influence of his advisers, imagined himself to be a great commander and dreamed of defeating the French. On November 20 (December 2), 1805, the Battle of Austerlitz took place. The battle ended with a heavy defeat for the allied army. Kutuzov was wounded and also lost his beloved son-in-law, Count Tiesenhausen.
Emperor Alexander, realizing his guilt, publicly did not accuse Kutuzov and awarded him in February 1806 with the Order of St. Vladimir 1st degree. However, behind the scenes, others were blamed on Kutuzov. Alexander believed that Kutuzov deliberately set him up. Therefore, when the second war with Napoleon began, in alliance with Prussia, the army was entrusted to the decrepit field marshal Kamensky, and then Benningsen, and Kutuzov was appointed military governor of Kiev.
Kutuzov lived in Kiev until 1808, when after the death of Mikhelson, the sick and aged prince Prozorovsky was instructed to wage war with Turkey. He demanded to be Kutuzov's assistants. However, due to disagreements between the commanders (the assault on Brailov, which began despite Kutuzov's warnings, was repulsed with heavy losses and Prozorovsky blamed Kutuzov for the failure) in June 1809, Kutuzov was sent to Vilna by the military governor. Kutuzov was completely satisfied with his stay in "his good Vilna."
Danube Victory
A new war with Napoleon was approaching. Trying to quickly end the war with Turkey, Alexander was forced to entrust this matter to Kutuzov, who knew the Danube Theater and the enemy very well. The war was unsuccessful for Russia and dragged on. Instead of beating the enemy's manpower, our troops were engaged in siege of fortresses, dispersing forces and wasting time. In addition, the main forces of Russia were preparing for battles on the western border. Only comparatively small forces acted against the Ottomans on the Danube.
Several commanders-in-chief had already been replaced, but there was no victory. Ivan Mikhelson died. The aged Alexander Prozorovsky acted unsuccessfully and died in a field camp. Bagration fought skillfully, but because of Alexander's discontent he left the Moldavian army. Count Nikolai Kamensky was a good commander, but was recalled to lead the 2nd Army on the western borders of Russia. He was already sick and died.
Thus, Kutuzov was ordered to go and solve the case with the Ottomans, which his four predecessors could not solve. At the same time, the situation has deteriorated significantly compared to previous years. Encouraged by many years of rather successful struggle, the weakness of the Russian troops in the Danube theater, seeing that Napoleon would soon attack the Russian Empire, the Turks did not think to yield, on the contrary, they themselves were preparing a big offensive. And Kutuzov had only about 50 thousand weary troops for the defense of a vast region. Of these, only 30 thousand could be used in a decisive battle.
However, Kutuzov deceived the enemy. First, he attacked the enemy. In the Battle of Ruschuk on June 22, 1811 (15-20 thousand Russian soldiers against 60 thousand Turks), he inflicted a heavy defeat on the Ottomans. Then he lured the enemy army to the left bank of the Danube with a feigned retreat (retreated after the victory!). Kutuzov laid siege to the Ottoman army at Slobodzeya. At the same time, Kutuzov sent General Markov's corps across the Danube to attack the Ottomans remaining on the southern bank. Russian troops defeated the Turkish camp, captured enemy artillery and turned their cannons on the main camp of the Grand Vizier Ahmed Agha across the river. The Ottomans were completely surrounded. The vizier was able to escape. Soon, famine and disease began in the encircled camp, and thousands of people died. As a result, the remnants of the Ottoman army surrendered.
The emperor awarded Kutuzov with the title of count. Kutuzov forced Turkey to sign the Bucharest Peace Treaty. The port ceded to Russia the eastern part of the Moldavian principality - the territory of the Prut-Dniester interfluve (Bessarabia). The border between Russia and Turkey was established along the Prut River. It was a major military and diplomatic victory that improved the strategic situation for the Russian Empire by the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812: the Ottoman Empire withdrew from the alliance with France, the security of the southwestern borders of Russia was ensured before the start of the war with Napoleon. The Moldavian (Danube) army was liberated and could take part in the fight against the French.
Napoleon was furious: "Understand these dogs, these blockheads Turks, who have the gift of being beaten, and who could have foreseen it, expect it!" He did not know that a year later Kutuzov would do the same with the all-European "Great Army" of Napoleon.
Destruction of Napoleon's "Great Army"
The victory on the Danube did not change the attitude of the Emperor Alexander to Mikhail Kutuzov. Alexander even wanted to take away the winner's laurels by sending a new commander-in-chief of the incompetent Admiral Chichagov to the Moldavian army. However, Kutuzov has already managed to win and make peace with Turkey. He surrendered command to Chichagov and left for his estate in the Volyn province, the village of Goroshki, without any appointment.
Having learned about the entry of enemy troops into the borders of Russia, Kutuzov considered it his duty to arrive in the capital. Aware of the merits of Mikhail Illarionovich, he was assigned to command over the troops in St. Petersburg. In July, he was elected head of the Petersburg militia, and then the Moscow militia. Kutuzov said: "You have adorned my gray hair!" He diligently dealt with the militia, like a simple general. Arriving in the capital, the emperor elevated Kutuzov to princely dignity, with the title of His Serene Highness and appointment as a member of the State Council. A few days later, Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of all the troops operating against Napoleon. In fact, this appointment was forced, under the pressure of the people's will.
August 11, 1812 Kutuzov left Petersburg. On August 17 (29), Kutuzov received the army from Barclay de Tolly in the village of Tsarevo-Zaimishche, Smolensk province. When he examined the army, they saw an eagle in the clouds. In the shelves thundered: "Hurray!" The troops greeted the renowned commander with joy.
Kutuzov, seeing that the enemy has a great superiority of the enemy in forces, and there are practically no prepared reserves, he retained Barclay's strategy. The retreat of the Russian army was hard on the army and society, which were accustomed to the victories of Rumyantsev and Suvorov, but was the only sure way out in the current situation. Napoleon was carried away by the pursuit and destroyed the army. Kutuzov's actions, although they often ran counter to the expectations of the army and society (as well as England), led to the actual death of the Great Army. At the same time, Kutuzov preserved the fighting efficiency of the Russian army, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed.
The battle of Borodino became one of the greatest manifestations of the spirit of the Russian army. Kutuzov assumed responsibility for the abandonment of Moscow: “The loss of Moscow is not the loss of Russia: here we will prepare the destruction of the enemy. Responsibility is on me, and I sacrifice myself to the good of the fatherland. The death of the ancient Russian capital only strengthened the fighting spirit of the army and increased the people's hatred of the invaders. Kutuzov secretly made the famous flanking Tarutino maneuver, leading the army to the village of Tarutino by the beginning of October. Finding himself south and west of Napoleon's army, Kutuzov blocked his path to the southern regions of Russia. He strenuously strengthened the army and diligently incited the people's war. Napoleon waited in vain for peace envoys, and then was forced to flee.
Murat was defeated in the Battle of Tarutino, Napoleon was unable to break through to the south in the bloody battle near Maloyaroslavets. The defeat at Vyazma and the Battle of Krasnoye completed the disorder of the Great Army. Only an accident saved Napoleon on the Berezina. It is believed that Kutuzov deliberately let Napoleon leave in order to maintain a counterbalance to Austria and England. Kutuzov's art, Russian weapons, people's war, famine and Russian expanses destroyed the European army. On December 10, 1812, Kutuzov greeted Emperor Alexander in Vilna, laying his French banners under his feet. “I could call myself the first general, before whom Napoleon runs, but God humbles the proud,” wrote Kutuzov.
After the Battle of Borodino, Kutuzov was promoted to field marshal general. After the victory over Napoleon, Kutuzov was awarded the Order of St. George 1st degree, becoming the first full St. George Knight in the history of the order. Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov was awarded the name "Smolensky".
Kutuzov was opposed to continuing the active war with Napoleon, but was forced to lead the foreign campaign of the Russian army. In January 1813, Russian troops crossed the border. The cities surrendered one by one. The Austrians and Prussians no longer wanted to fight for France. The remnants of the French troops were defeated. In three months, three capitals were occupied and the territory up to the Elbe was liberated. Koenigsberg was occupied, Warsaw surrendered, Elbing, Marienburg, Poznan and other cities submitted. Our troops laid siege to Torun, Danzig, Czestochowa, Krakow, Modlin and Zamosc. In February 1813 they occupied Berlin, in March - Hamburg, Lubeck, Dresden, Luneburg, in April - Leipzig. The alliance with Prussia was renewed, the commander-in-chief of the Prussian army Blucher obeyed Kutuzov. Kutuzov was greeted in Europe: “Long live the great old man! Long live grandfather Kutuzov!"
But the health of the Field Marshal was undermined by hard work for the glory of the Fatherland, and he could no longer see the final victory of the Russian army … The outstanding Russian commander Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov died on April 16 (28), 1813 in Poland, remaining in the memory of the descendants of the legendary and largely mysterious figure.
Military Council in Fili. A. D. Kivshenko, 1812
