Russian statesman and military leader who enjoyed the enormous trust of Paul I and Alexander I

Alexey Arakcheev

short biography

Count (since 1799) Alexey Andreevich Arakcheev(October 4, 1769, the estate of his father Garusovo in the Novgorod province - May 3, 1834, the village of Gruzino, Novgorod province) - Russian statesman and military leader who enjoyed the enormous trust of Paul I and Alexander I, especially in the second half of the reign of Alexander I (“Arakcheevshchina” ). Reformer of Russian artillery, artillery general (1807), Minister of War (1808-1810), chief commander of the Imperial Chancellery (from 1812) and military settlements (from 1817). The first owner of the palace and park ensemble in Gruzina (not preserved). A big fan of drill and fun.

Place of Birth

He came from a noble family of the Arakcheevs. The exact place of birth was unknown for a long time. The Great Soviet Encyclopedia lists the Novgorod province as his place of birth without specifying it. The Encyclopedia “Domestic History” (Moscow, 1994) does not provide information about the birth. The collection “Famous Russians” (Lenizdat, 1996) also does not contain accurate information. Priest N.N. Postnikov (1913), based on legends collected in the Bezhetsk region, names the village of Kurgany (Tver region) - the ancestral village of the count's mother - as the count's birthplace. One of the early biographers of Count S.N. Shubinsky (1908) names the village of Garusovo, Vyshnevolotsk district, Tver province, as Arakcheev’s birthplace without providing any evidence. Local historian D.L. Podushkov argues in favor of the fact that Count Arakcheev was born and spent his childhood in the village of Garusovo on the shore of Lake Udomlya (today Udomelsky district of the Tver region). The modern biographer of Alexei Andreevich Arakcheev V. A. Tomsinov believes that it is impossible to give an exact answer to the question of where he was born, because no documents about Alexei’s birth have been preserved. His mother Elizaveta Andreevna on September 23, 1769 - the day he was born - could well have been in both Garusovo and Kurgany. And since the Arakcheev family lived alternately in both of these villages, and in the winter they often lived in their refugee house, Alexei’s childhood passed in Garusovo, Kurgany, and Bezhetsk.”

The metric birth record was discovered only in March 2017 by a native of the Tver region, engineer Vladimir Krutov. Entry No. 20 In the section “About those born in 1769” it reads: “on the 5th of October, the landowner Andrei Andreev, Arakcheev’s son, had a son, Alexei.” Thus, the future statesman was born in Garusovo.

early years

Initial education under the guidance of a village sexton consisted of studying Russian literacy and arithmetic. The boy felt a great inclination towards the latter science and studied it diligently.

Wanting to place his son in the artillery cadet corps, Andrei Andreevich Arakcheev (1732-1797) took him to St. Petersburg. The poor landowner had to experience a lot. When enrolling in a military school, you had to pay up to two hundred rubles, but Andrei Andreevich had no money. Andrei Andreevich and his son, who were about to leave the capital, went on the first Sunday to see Metropolitan Gabriel of St. Petersburg, who distributed to the poor the money sent by Catherine II for this purpose. The landowner Arakcheev received three silver rubles from the Metropolitan. Having received some more benefits from Mrs. Guryeva, Andrei Andreevich, before leaving St. Petersburg, decided to try his luck: he came to Pyotr Ivanovich Melissino, on whom the fate of his son depended. Pyotr Ivanovich responded favorably to Andrei Andreevich’s request, and young Arakcheev was accepted into the corps. Rapid progress in the sciences, especially in mathematics, soon (in 1787) earned him the rank of officer.

In his free time, he gave lessons in artillery and fortification to the sons of Count Nikolai Ivanovich Saltykov, to whom he was recommended by his first benefactor, the same Pyotr Ivanovich Melissino.

After some time, the heir to the throne, Pavel Petrovich, turned to Count Saltykov with a demand to give him an efficient artillery officer. Count Saltykov pointed to Arakcheev and recommended him from the best side. Alexey Andreevich fully justified the recommendation by precise execution of the assignments entrusted to him, tireless activity, knowledge of military discipline, and strict subordination of himself to the established order. All this soon endeared the Grand Duke to Arakcheev. Alexey Andreevich was granted commandant of Gatchina and subsequently the head of all ground forces of the heir. Pavel needed him as “an unsurpassed master of drill in Russia.”

Reign of Paul

Upon his accession to the throne, Emperor Pavel Petrovich bestowed a lot of awards, especially to those close to him. Arakcheev was not forgotten: so, being a colonel, he was granted on November 7, 1796 (the year of Emperor Paul’s accession to the throne) by the St. Petersburg commandant; November 8 promoted to major general; November 9 - promoted to major of the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment; November 13 - Knight of the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree; the following year, 1797, on April 5, at the age of 27, he was awarded baronial dignity and the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In addition, the sovereign, knowing the insufficient condition of Baron Arakcheev, granted him two thousand peasants with a choice of province. Arakcheev found it difficult to choose an estate. Finally, he chose the village of Gruzino in the Novgorod province, which later became a historical place. The choice was approved by the sovereign.

But Arakcheev did not have to enjoy the emperor’s favor for long. On March 18, 1798, Alexey Andreevich was dismissed from service, but at the same time awarded the rank of lieutenant general. Within a few months, Arakcheev was accepted back into service. On December 22 of the same 1798 he was ordered to serve as quartermaster general, and on January 4 of the following year he was appointed commander of the guard artillery battalion and inspector of all artillery; January 8 granted commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem; May 5 - Count of the Russian Empire for excellent zeal and work for the benefit of the service. On October 1 of the same year, Arakcheev was dismissed from service once again. This time the resignation continued until the new reign.

Reign of Alexander

In 1801, Emperor Alexander Pavlovich ascended the throne, with whom Alexey Andreevich became close friends through his service even as the heir to the throne.

In 1802, a commission was organized to transform artillery under the chairmanship of Arakcheev, which included famous Russian artillerymen I. G. Gogel, A. I. Kutaisov and X. L. Euler. This commission developed a system of guns, later called the Arakcheevsky or system of 1805: a 12-pound gun has a caliber of 121 mm, a barrel weight of 800 kg, a carriage weight of 670 kg; 6-pound gun caliber 95 mm, barrel weight 350 kg, carriage 395 kg; caliber 1/2-pound unicorn 152 mm, barrel weight 490 kg, carriage weight 670 kg; caliber 1/4-pound unicorn 123 mm, barrel weight 345 kg, carriage 395 kg. On May 14, 1803, Arakcheev was accepted into service with an appointment to his previous place, that is, inspector of all artillery and commander of the Life Guards artillery battalion. In 1805 he took part in the Battle of Austerlitz and commanded an infantry division. Murat attacked the lancers, but this attack failed, and Arakcheev himself was wounded.

From February 4, 1806, he was married to noblewoman Natalya Fedorovna Khomutova, but soon separated from her. In 1807, he was promoted to artillery general, and on January 13 (25), 1808, he was appointed Minister of War; On January 17 (29), he was appointed inspector general of all infantry and artillery, with the commissariat and provisions departments subordinate to him. During the management of the ministry by Arakcheev, new rules and regulations were issued for various parts of the military administration, correspondence was simplified and shortened, reserve recruit depots and training battalions were established; The artillery was given a new organization, measures were taken to increase the level of special education of officers, and the material part was streamlined and improved. The positive consequences of these improvements were quickly revealed during the wars of 1812-1814.

He took an active part in the war with Sweden; in February 1809 he went to Abo. There, some generals, in view of the sovereign's order to transfer the theater of war to the Swedish coast, referred to various difficulties. The Russian troops had to endure many obstacles, but Arakcheev acted energetically.

During the movement of Russian troops to the Åland Islands in Sweden, a change in government followed: instead of Gustav Adolf, who was overthrown from the throne, his uncle, the Duke of Südermanland, became king of Sweden. The defense of the Åland Islands was entrusted to General Döbeln, who, having learned about the Stockholm coup, entered into negotiations with the commander of the Russian detachment, Knorring, to conclude a truce, which was done. But Arakcheev did not approve of Knorring’s action and, during a meeting with General Debeln, told the latter that he was sent from the sovereign “not to make a truce, but to make peace”.

The subsequent actions of the Russian troops were brilliant: Barclay de Tolly made a glorious transition through Kvarken, and Shuvalov occupied Torneo. On September 5, the Russian and Swedish commissioners signed the Treaty of Friedrichsham, according to which Finland, part of Västerbotten up to the Torneo River and the Åland Islands were transferred to Russia.

On January 1, 1810, Arakcheev left the War Ministry and was appointed chairman of the department of military affairs in the then newly established State Council, with the right to be present in the Committee of Ministers and the Senate.

On June 14, 1812, in view of the approach of Napoleon, he was again called upon to manage military affairs; “from that date,” according to Arakcheev, “the entire French war went through my hands, all the secret commands, reports and handwritten commands of the sovereign.”

During the Patriotic War, the main concern of Arakcheev was the formation of reserves and supplying the army with food, and after the establishment of peace, the emperor’s trust in Arakcheev increased to the point that he was entrusted with the fulfillment of the highest plans not only on military issues, but also in matters of civil administration.

At this time, Alexander I became especially interested in the idea of ​​military settlements on a large scale. According to some reports, Arakcheev at first showed clear insympathy with this idea; but in view of the adamant desire of the sovereign, he conducted the matter abruptly, with merciless consistency, not embarrassed by the murmur of the people, forcibly torn away from age-old, historically established customs and the usual way of life. A number of riots among the military villagers were suppressed with inexorable severity; the outer side of the settlements has been brought to exemplary order; Only the most exaggerated rumors about their well-being reached the sovereign, and many even of high-ranking officials, either not understanding the matter, or out of fear of a powerful temporary worker, extolled the new institution with exorbitant praise.

Arakcheev's influence on affairs and his power continued throughout the reign of Emperor Alexander Pavlovich. Being an influential nobleman, close to the sovereign, Arakcheev, having the Order of Alexander Nevsky, refused other orders granted to him: in 1807, the Order of St. Vladimir and in 1808 - from the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called and only left a rescript for the Order of Andrew the First-Called as a souvenir.

In 1814, Arakcheev refused the rank of field marshal.

Having been awarded a portrait of the sovereign, decorated with diamonds, Alexey Andreevich returned the diamonds, but left the portrait itself. They say that Emperor Alexander Pavlovich granted Arakcheev’s mother a lady of state. Alexey Andreevich refused this favor. The Emperor said with displeasure: “You don’t want to accept anything from me!” “I am pleased with the favor of Your Imperial Majesty,” answered Arakcheev, “but I beg you not to grant my parent a lady of state; she spent her whole life in the village; if he comes here, he will attract the ridicule of the court ladies, but for a solitary life he has no need for this decoration.” Recounting this event to those close to him, Alexei Andreevich added: “Only once in my life, and precisely in this case, did I offend my mother by hiding from her that the sovereign favored her. She would be angry with me if she learned that I deprived her of this distinction” (Dictionary of Memorable People of the Russian Land, ed. 1847).

Later years

Arakcheev was dismissed by Nicholas I. Having retained the title of member of the State Council, Arakcheev went to travel abroad; his health was broken by the resignation and murder of Nastasya Minkina (Shumskaya) by the servants in Georgia, Arakcheev’s concubine and manager of his estate. In 1833, Arakcheev deposited 50,000 rubles in banknotes into the state loan bank so that this amount would remain in the bank for 93 years untouched with all interest: ¾ of this capital should be a reward for the one who writes the best history by 1925 (in Russian) reign of Alexander I, the remaining quarter of this capital is intended for the costs of publishing this work, as well as for the second prize, and for two translators in equal parts who will translate from Russian into German and into French the history of Alexander I, awarded the first prize. Arakcheev built in front of the cathedral the temple of his village is a magnificent bronze monument to Alexander, on which the following inscription is made: “To the Sovereign Benefactor, after His death.” Arakcheev’s last deed for the common good was his donation of 300,000 rubles for the education of poor nobles of the Novgorod and Tver provinces from the interest of this capital in the Novgorod Cadet Corps.

Meanwhile, Arakcheev’s health was weakening, his strength was changing. Nicholas I, having learned about his painful condition, sent his physician Villiers to him in Gruzino, but the latter could no longer help him, and on the eve of the Resurrection of Christ, April 21, 1834, Arakcheev died, “without taking his eyes off the portrait of Alexander, in his room, on the very sofa that served as the bed of the All-Russian Autocrat.” The life doctor sent by Nicholas I could do nothing to help him, and he kept shouting for his life to be extended for at least a month. Finally, sighing, he said: “Cursed death,” and died. Arakcheev’s ashes rest in the church in the village of Gruzina, at the foot of the bust of Emperor Paul I.

He died without leaving heirs. Back in 1816, Emperor Alexander I approved Arakcheev’s spiritual will, entrusting the storage of the will to the Governing Senate. The testator was given the opportunity to choose an heir, but Arakcheev did not fulfill this; Arakcheev’s orders said the following: “if his days had ended before he elected a worthy heir, then he would grant this election to the Sovereign Emperor.” As a result of this will of the count, wishing, on the one hand, to strengthen the undivided ownership of the estate of the deceased and the welfare of his peasants, and on the other hand, to preserve the name of Arakcheev in a way that would correspond to his constant desire for public benefit, Nicholas I recognized the best way to give away the Georgian the volost and all movable property belonging to it into the full and undivided possession of the Novgorod cadet corps, which has since received the name Arakcheevsky (later located in Nizhny Novgorod) so that it would use the income received from the estate for the education of noble youth and take the name and coat of arms testator.

Achievement list

In service:

• October 10 (21), 1783 - a cadet in the Artillery Cadet Corps (later the 2nd) Corps;
• February 9 (20), 1785 - promoted to corporal;
• September 27 (October 8), 1785 - sergeant;
• September 27 (October 8), 1787 - promoted to second lieutenant of the army in the same corps;
• January 11 (22), 1789 - renamed lieutenants in the same building;
• June 24 (July 5), 1790 - appointed adjutant, with the rank of army captain, to the headquarters of the artillery general Melissino;
• October 8 (19), 1792 - promoted to captain;
• August 5 (16), 1793 - promoted to major;
• June 28 (July 9), 1796 - promoted to lieutenant colonel, in the battalion of His Imperial Majesty;
• November 8 (19), 1796 - appointed commandant of St. Petersburg and headquarters officer of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment;
• November 8 (19), 1796 - promoted to major general;
• March 18 (29), 1798 - promoted to lieutenant general and retired;
• August 11 (22), 1798 - accepted back from retirement into service with the assignment of seniority, and assigned to the retinue of His Imperial Majesty;
• January 4 (15), 1799 - appointed commander of the guards artillery battalion and inspector of all artillery;
• October 1 (12), 1799 - dismissed from service;
• May 14 (26), 1803 - re-entered into service and appointed inspector of all artillery;
• June 27 (July 9), 1807 - promoted to artillery general;
• January 13 (25), 1808 - appointed Minister of War;
• January 17 (29), 1808 - inspector general of all artillery and infantry;
• January 18 (30), 1810 - appointed to the State Council as chairman of the Military Department (until March 30 (April 11), 1812);
• June 17 (29), 1812 - appointed manager of the Emperor's Chancellery (from December 7 (19), 1812 - His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery)
• August 18 (30), 1814 - appointed as the emperor’s rapporteur on the affairs of the Special Committee to provide assistance to the wounded;
• December 24, 1815 (January 5, 1816) - appointed the emperor's rapporteur on the affairs of the Committee of Ministers and the State Council;
• January 10 (22), 1816 - reappointed to the State Council as chairman of the Military Department;
• February 3 (15), 1821 - appointed chief of the Separate Corps of Military Settlements;
• December 20, 1825 (January 1, 1826) - relieved from the post of manager of His Imperial Majesty's Own Office and from managing the affairs of the Committee of Ministers;
• April 30 (May 12), 1826 - dismissed on leave to “improve poor health”;
• October 23 (November 4), 1826 - dismissed from the post of chief commander of the Separate Corps of Military Settlements;
• April 8 (20), 1832 - order of Emperor Nicholas I: “Do not consider Count Arakcheev as an inspector of artillery and infantry.”
• It has been ordered by the highest to reward his excellent management of the War Ministry that all former military honors be given to him.

Ratings

In his notes, Sablukov says this about Arakcheev’s appearance:

In appearance, Arakcheev looks like a large monkey in a uniform. He was tall, thin and wiry; there was nothing harmonious in his warehouse; since he was very stooped and had a long thin neck, on which one could study the anatomy of veins, muscles, etc. Moreover, he somehow wrinkled his chin convulsively. He had large, fleshy ears, a thick ugly head, always tilted to the side; his complexion was unclean, his cheeks were sunken, his nose was wide and angular, his nostrils were swollen, his mouth was large, his forehead was drooping. To complete his portrait, he had sunken gray eyes, and the whole expression of his face was a strange mixture of intelligence and anger.

From childhood, gloomy and uncommunicative, he remained that way throughout his life. With his remarkable intelligence and selflessness, he knew how to remember the kindness that anyone had ever done to him. Apart from satisfying the will of the monarch and fulfilling the requirements of the service, he was not embarrassed by anything. The time of his almost limitless rule (the last years, the first quarter of the 19th century) was a kind of terror, since everyone was in awe of him. In general, he left behind a bad memory. Numerous memoirs of his subordinates (Arakcheev: Testimony of contemporaries. - M.: New Literary Review, 2000) speak of him as an unusually insensitive and extremely cruel person and boss.

Extensive material for characterizing Count Arakcheev and his time was collected on the pages of “Russian Antiquity” (edition 1870-1890). Also see “Russian Archive” (1866 No. 6 and 7, 1868 No. 2 and 6, 1872 No. 10, 1876 No. 4); “Ancient and New Russia” (1875 No. 1-6 and 10); Ratsch, “Biography of Gr. Arakcheev" ("Military Collection", 1861); Bulgarin, “A Trip to Gruzino” (St. Petersburg, 1861); Glebova, “The Tale of Arakcheev” (“Military Collection”, 1861), etc.

The historian Zubov, in his work “Reflections on the Causes of the Revolution in Russia,” considers military settlements as an attempt by Alexander I to create a class in Russia, based on which the tsar could implement liberal reforms. This is how the author evaluates Arakcheev and his activities:

Arakcheev, a believer and pious Orthodox Christian from a young age, gifted with brilliant organizational skills and administrative talent and, perhaps most importantly, who worked not for the sake of self-interest and glory, but also, like the Emperor, following his moral duty... such an employee was Alexander needs him endlessly. The emperor knew very well the weaknesses and shortcomings of his Gatchina friend - lack of culture, touchiness, envy, jealousy of the royal favor, but all this was outweighed in the eyes of the king by his merits. Alexander, Arakcheev and Prince A.N. Golitsyn, the three of them, made up that powerful lever that almost turned Russia away from the path to national catastrophe outlined by the actions of the “great” monarchs of the 18th century - Peter and Catherine.

- Andrey Zubov. Reflections on the causes of the revolution in RussiaThe reign of Alexander the Blessed. "New World" 2006, No. 7

At the end of the 20th century, domestic historians began to evaluate Arakcheev’s activities differently. During the Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809, Arakcheev perfectly organized the supply of troops, provided reinforcements and artillery. Through his personal participation and organization of military operations, he encouraged the Swedes to begin peace negotiations. The victories of the Russian army of 1812-1813 would not have been so brilliant if Arakcheev had not been in the leadership of the military department, logistics and support. It was the army’s good preparation for combat even before 1812 that contributed to the successful defeat of the enemy in the Patriotic War of 1812.

All his life, Arakcheev fiercely hated bribery, which was traditionally ingrained in Russian society. Those caught red-handed were immediately expelled from their positions, regardless of their faces. He pursued red tape and, as a consequence, extortion for the purpose of obtaining a bribe mercilessly. Arakcheev demanded immediate resolution of issues and strictly monitored deadlines.

And finally, Arakcheev’s integrity is evidenced by the blank forms of decrees signed by Alexander I, which the Tsar left for Arakcheev, often leaving the capital. The temporary worker could use these blank forms for his own purposes to deal with those he disliked, for he had enough enemies. But not a single one of the forms entrusted by the tsar was used by Arakcheev for his own personal purposes.

Modern researchers characterize him “as one of the most effective administrators in Russian history” and believe that he was “an ideal executor capable of realizing grandiose plans.”

Pushkin about Arakcheev

A. S. Pushkin wrote several not entirely censored epigrams on Arakcheev. However, responding to the death of the dignitary, Pushkin wrote to his wife: “I am the only one in all of Russia who regrets this - I was not able to meet with him and talk to him.”

Arakcheevshchina

The regime of reactionary police despotism and brutal militarism associated with the activities of Arakcheev. The term has been used in liberal circles since the end of the first quarter of the 19th century to designate any gross arbitrariness. Arakcheev’s activities were especially categorically negatively assessed by Soviet historians and publicists as an ugly manifestation of Russian autocracy. As a rule, no serious analysis of Arakcheev’s activities as a statesman and military figure has been carried out. Therefore, the term carried a negatively generalizing connotation of the reign of Paul I and Alexander I.

Film incarnations

• Karnovich-Valois, Sergei Sergeevich (“Youth of the Poet” USSR, 1937).
• Astangov, Mikhail Fedorovich ("USSR", 1941).
• Tolubeev, Andrey Yurievich (“Steps of the Emperor” USSR, 1990).
• Itskov, Yuri Leonidovich (“18-14” Russia, 2007).
• Klyuev, Boris Vladimirovich (“1812: Ulan Ballad” Russia, 2012).

Alexey Andreevich Arakcheev was born in September 1769 in the family of a retired guards lieutenant. Thanks to his diligence in science while studying in the cadet corps, he soon received the position of officer, and later ended up in the army created by Paul the 1st during the reign.

Arakcheev's biography and his career success are associated with the ascension to the throne of Paul 1st. Thanks to his efficiency and diligence, he was appointed commandant of Gatchina, and soon the head of all ground forces of Paul the 1st. While touring the troops, Arakcheev mercilessly punished the slightest violation of the rules. However, at the same time, he did not forget to take care of the soldier’s life. He checked whether the soldiers were taken to the bathhouse, whether they were fed well, and punished officers for stealing soldiers’ money. It is known that Arakcheev did not take bribes, despite rather tight financial circumstances.

By the beginning of the reign of Paul I, Arakcheev had the rank of colonel. And in 1796, on November 7, he became the St. Petersburg commandant. On November 8 of the same year he received the rank of major general, and on the 9th - major of the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment. On November 12, Arakcheev became a Knight of the Order of St. Anna 1st degree. On April 5 of the following year, Arakcheev was elevated to baronial dignity and awarded the Order of St. . The emperor also granted him an estate, which Arakcheev personally chose.

After a short disgrace in 1798, Arakcheev was awarded the title of count for his diligence and zeal. But soon he again found himself in disgrace, which lasted until the end of the reign of Paul 1st. It must be said that in his village of Gruzine, Arakcheev took up farming with the same zeal with which he had previously carried out reforms in the army, arranging even the personal lives of the peasants at his own discretion. In 1806, Arakcheev married Natalya Khomutova, the general’s daughter. But a year later, his young wife left his house, unable to bear the rudeness.

After the accession of the new emperor to the throne, the count returned to service (1803). On January 13, 1808, Arakcheev was appointed Minister of War. It should be noted that he simplified and shortened correspondence between battalions, gave a new organization to the artillery, and significantly improved the material part. The changes made by Count Arakcheev had a positive impact already in 1812.

The favor and trust of the emperor soon led to the fact that it was the count who was entrusted with the most responsible and important tasks. One of them was the creation of the notorious military settlements of Arakcheev. By the way, the initiative to create them came from the emperor, and Arakcheev turned out to be the ideal executor for bringing the project to life. The innovation caused riots, which were brutally suppressed by troops. But, assessing Arakcheev’s activities objectively, it is worth saying that many of the settlements flourished.

During the reign of Alexander Pavlovich, Arakcheev reached the pinnacle of power. One of Arakcheev’s most important affairs in that period was the investigation of denunciations and the arrest of the conspirators in 1825. But the emperor died that same year. His death greatly influenced the count, who, having never appeared at the court of his successor, retired from business. Arakcheev died in 1834, on April 21.

2. Brief biography of A.A. Arakcheeva.

Arakcheev Aleksey Andreevich (1769 - 1834) was a prominent military and statesman under Paul I and Alexander I. Born into a family of small landed nobles of the Tver province on September 23, 1769. After learning literacy and arithmetic from a village sexton, he was sent to the gentry artillery in 1783 and the engineering corps in St. Petersburg, where his “successes in teaching” attracted the attention of his superiors. And after 7 months he was transferred to the “upper classes” and was soon brought in to help the corps officers to train “his younger comrades.” In this work, Arakcheev was distinguished by rigor and exactingness. After graduating from the corps in 1787, Arakcheev was retained as an army lieutenant as a teacher of arithmetic, geometry and artillery.

In 1791, Arakcheev, on the recommendation of the head of the corps, General P.I. Melissino was assigned to serve the heir to the throne Paul in Gatchina, where he quickly gained his favor with his stewardship. Pavel entrusted him with the inspection of the Gatchina infantry, artillery and the duties of the commandant of Gatchina. Upon accession to the throne of Paul I, Arakcheev was promoted to major general and appointed commandant of St. Petersburg, and on the day of coronation (04/05/1797) he was granted the rich estate of Gruzino near St. Petersburg. On the same day, Arakcheev was appointed quartermaster general and received the right to “give orders for the army” on behalf of the emperor, becoming a person close to him. However, despite all the successes in career advancement, Arakcheev twice (in 1798 and 1799) fell out of favor: he was removed from business for omissions in his service.

In 1803, Alexander I summoned Arakcheev to St. Petersburg and again appointed him inspector of all artillery. In this post, Arakcheev did a lot to reorganize the artillery and modernize its logistics. In 1807, Arakcheev was appointed general inspector of all infantry and artillery, and in 1808 - minister of war, but in October 1810 he voluntarily resigned and settled on his estate. At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, Arakcheev again began to be constantly under Alexander I, actually performing the duties of the chief of the main staff.

In 1816, on the initiative of Alexander I, military settlements began to be introduced in Russia, headed by Arakcheev, who brutally pacified the peasants and Cossacks who protested against the conversion of military settlers. In 1819, he carried out a brutal massacre of military villagers in Chuguev.

At the end of the reign of Alexander I, Arakcheev became an all-powerful temporary worker with the broadest powers. He served as chairman of the military department of the State Council (from 1810), chairman of the Committee on the Wounded and head of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery (from 1814), “chief of military settlements” (from 1819), and headed the Committee of Ministers .

Since 1822, Arakcheev became the only rapporteur on most ministries and departments, and even on the affairs of the Holy Synod. In 1818, on behalf of the Emperor, Arakcheev participated in the development of a project for the liberation of serfs (he proposed gradually buying them out with small plots to the treasury). In 1825, Arakcheev was entrusted with the responsibility of heading the secret case of uncovering the Decembrist conspiracy based on the denunciations received against them, but “due to family circumstances” at the end of 1825 he withdrew from all matters.

At the beginning of 1826, Nicholas I sent Arakcheev on leave “due to illness.” And Arakcheev left for Carlsbad, upon his return, in 1826, he received complete resignation. Arakcheev settles on his Gruzine estate, where he organizes his farm.

3. State activities of M.M. Speransky
during the reign of Alexander I.

3.1. State structure project.

The years 1807 - 1812, constituting the second period of the reign of Emperor Alexander, are characterized within the state by the influence of Speransky.

One of the greatest statesmen of Russia in the 19th century, Speransky under Alexander acquired extremely versatile significance. In the first days of his closeness to the sovereign, he was intended, apparently, to replace the fallen intimate committee. A practical worker and even a clerk, he seemed capable of actually carrying out the reform that Alexander I dreamed of. Alexander handed him the papers of the committee, outlined his intentions and gave him the authority from a huge number of thoughts, speeches and projects to create a business-like plan for transforming the state order, adapted to Russian practice. . This is how Speransky’s famous “project” arose. At the same time, the versatility of Speransky’s talents, who combined the mind of a theorist - taxonomist with the abilities of an administrator - practice, led to the fact that all current government activities, including foreign policy, came under his influence. Speransky was a codifier and financier; he was entrusted with the organization of Finnish affairs; he designed individual events of the most varied content; he reviewed and restructured existing institutions. In a word, he dealt with everything that interested the sovereign, and became an influential favorite, who, however, knew how to behave not only modestly, but even in solitude.

Speransky’s project of government, or “Introduction to the Code of State Laws,” has the task of reforming the social system and public administration.

3.1.1. Division of society according to Speransky.

Speransky divides society on the basis of differences in rights. “From a review of civil and political rights, it is revealed that all of them, in terms of their membership, can be divided into three classes:

1. Civil rights are general, belonging to all subjects;

2. Civil private rights, which should belong only to those whose way of life and upbringing will be prepared for them;

3. Political rights belonging to those who have property.

From this comes the following division of states:

1. Nobility;

2. People of average wealth;

3. Working people."

Speransky assigns all categories of rights to the nobility, and political rights “only on the basis of property.”

People of average wealth have general civil rights, but no special ones, and have political rights based on their property. The working people have general civil rights, but do not have political rights.

If we remember that Speransky means civil freedom of the individual by general civil rights, and participation in government by political rights, we will understand that Speransky’s project corresponded to Alexander’s liberal aspirations: he rejected serfdom and moved towards representation. But at the same time, drawing two “systems” of fundamental laws, Speransky depicted one of them as destroying autocratic power in its essence, and the other as investing autocratic power with external forms of law while preserving its essence and strength. Pointing out that the second system existed in France (which Alexander I was then keen on), Speransky seemed to seduce Alexander to follow this particular system, because under it the government created by law would in fact be under the influence and completely dependent on the autocratic power. On the other hand, in the sphere of “special” civil rights that belonged to the nobility alone, Speransky retained the right to acquire real estate, but to manage it only in accordance with the law. These reservations gave the future system flexibility and uncertainty, which could be used in any direction. Establishing “civil freedom for landowner peasants,” Speransky at the same time continues to call them “serfs.” Speaking about the “popular idea”, Speransky, even with him, is ready to define the essence of the supreme power as a true autocracy. It is obvious that Speransky’s project, which was very liberal in its principles, could have been very moderate and cautious in its execution.

ARACCHEEEV, ALEXEY ANDREEVICH(1769–1834), count, Russian military officer and statesman. Born September 23 (October 4), 1769 in the village. Garusovo, Vyshnevolotsk district, Tver province, Novgorod province, in a small noble family. The son of retired lieutenant of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment A.A. Arakcheev and E.A. Vetlitskaya. He learned writing and arithmetic from the parish sexton. In 1783 he was accepted into the St. Petersburg Gentry Artillery and Engineering Corps; showed particular interest in mathematics, artillery, fortification and drill training. In September 1787 he graduated with honors and was promoted to second lieutenant. Under the patronage of the vice-president of the Military Collegium, Count N.I. Saltykov, he was retained by the Corps as a geometry teacher; in 1790 he became the senior adjutant of its director P.I. Melissino. Due to excessively strict treatment of cadets, he was transferred to the army in 1791. In September 1792, on the recommendation of P.I. Melissino, he was enlisted in the Gatchina army of Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich as a company commander and then chief of artillery. With his diligence, official zeal and severity towards his subordinates, he won Pavel's favor. From December 1794 - inspector of the Gatchina artillery, from January 1796 - artillery and infantry. He made a dizzying career after the accession of Paul I: on November 7 (18), 1796 he was appointed commandant of St. Petersburg, on November 8 (19) he was promoted to major general, on November 9 (20) he became commander of the combined battalion of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment, on November 13 (24) he was awarded Order of St. Anna, 1st degree, on December 12 (21), awarded to the village of Gruzino in the Novgorod province with two thousand souls. In April 1797 he was appointed quartermaster general of the entire army, received the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and the title of baron; in August 1797 he headed the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Cruelty towards soldiers and rudeness towards officers caused outrage among the troops. On March 18 (29), 1798, after the suicide of an officer he had insulted, he was dismissed by Paul I with the rank of lieutenant general, but on December 22, 1798 (January 2, 1799) he was reinstated as quartermaster general, and on January 4 (15) he became an inspector. all artillery; On May 5 (16), 1799 he was elevated to the dignity of count. On October 1 (12), 1799, for trying to hide his brother’s misconduct, he was again sent into retirement and banned from entering the capital. He managed to justify himself, but remained in disfavor until the end of the reign of Paul I; lived in Gruzino.

Returned to service in May 1803 by the new Emperor Alexander I; reinstated as artillery inspector. Conducted a number of reforms to reorganize and re-equip it; gave artillery units the status of independent combat units, strengthened the artillery park, improved the training of artillery personnel, and developed new regulations. During the 1805 campaign against France, he ensured the rapid supply of troops with artillery ammunition. In 1807 he was promoted to general of artillery. On January 13 (25), 1808 he became Minister of War, on January 17 (29) - Inspector General of all infantry and artillery. He introduced a divisional organization in the army, improved the system of recruiting and training personnel, and streamlined the structure of command and control of troops. On his initiative, the Artillery Committee was created in 1808 and the publication of the Artillery Journal began. In 1808–1809 he exercised general leadership of military operations against Sweden; with his support, the Åland expedition was carried out - the transition of the Russian army from Finland to Sweden across the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia (March 1809). On January 1 (13), 1810, he was relieved of the post of Minister of War, but retained the post of Inspector General of Infantry and Artillery; was appointed chairman of the Department of Military Affairs of the State Council.

During the Patriotic War of 1812 he was the emperor's personal rapporteur on militia affairs; was engaged in recruiting troops, organizing their supplies, and training reservists; did not participate in hostilities. Accompanied Alexander I on the Foreign Campaign of the Russian Army of 1813–1814; gained great influence over him. At the end of 1815 he was entrusted with supervision of the activities of the Committee of Ministers. From that time on, for ten years (1815–1825), he controlled all spheres of domestic politics, imposing Prussian military orders and cane discipline in the army and the police regime in society (Arakcheevism). From 1817, despite his initially negative attitude, he fanatically carried out a project to organize military settlements on state lands in St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Mogilev, Kherson and other provinces, with the goal of creating a special soldier-peasant class; in 1819 he became the chief commander of military settlements, and in 1821 - the chief chief of the Separate Corps of military settlements. Contemporaries considered him the “evil genius” of Alexander’s reign, a symbol of obscurantism and reaction. At the same time, he played an important role in the administrative reform of the army and its technical re-equipment, as well as in the development of military education: with his support, the Engineering (later Nikolaevsky) and Artillery (later Mikhailovsky) schools, the School of Guards Ensigns were organized; founded the Novgorod (later Nizhny Novgorod) cadet corps with his own funds. In 1818, he drew up a project for peasant reform, which provided for the gradual abolition of serfdom.

He was distinguished by his honesty and never took bribes. He was strict with himself; refused awards and titles that he considered undeserved: in 1807 - from the Order of St. Vladimir, in 1809 - from the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, in 1814 - from the field marshal's baton.

Upon the accession of Nicholas I, on December 20, 1825 (January 1, 1826), he was relieved of the leadership of the affairs of the Committee of Ministers, and on April 30 (May 12), 1826, he was dismissed from the posts of chairman of the department of military affairs of the State Council and the chief head of the Special Corps of Military Settlements. He left the court and went abroad for treatment. Upon his return, he lived in Gruzin, where he died on April 21 (May 3), 1834. He was buried in the local St. Andrew's Cathedral. Having no direct heirs, he bequeathed all his property to Nicholas I, which he transferred to the Novgorod Cadet Corps, giving it the name A.A. Arakcheev.

Ivan Krivushin

Arakcheev

Alexey Andreevich

Battles and victories

Count (1799), Russian statesman and military leader, close to Alexander I. Reformer of Russian artillery, artillery general (1807), chief commander of military settlements (since 1817).

Alexey Andreevich Arakcheev called himself an “uneducated Novgorod nobleman,” although he collected one of the best libraries in Russia, subscribed to almost all the scientific journals of that time, and even opened an institute for training teachers in the military settlements he led. And the natural abilities and talents of the Minister of War, who had long been considered an odious figure, became the key to victory over Napoleon in the Patriotic War of 1812.

Arakcheev was born on September 23 (October 4), 1769 on his father’s estate in the Novgorod province. The exact place of birth is unknown. Some researchers called his mother's ancestral village Kurgany, while other biographers believed that he was born in the village of Garusovo on the shore of Lake Udomlya, Vyshnevolotsky district, Tver province (today Udomelsky district, Tver region) and even spent his childhood there. It is apparently impossible to give an exact answer to this question, because no documents about the count’s birth have survived. The Arakcheev family lived alternately in both of these villages, and in winter - in their house in Bezhetsk.

A.A. Arakcheev was one of the largest Russian statesmen and military figures, an artillery general, an associate of Alexander I. He was a prominent participant in the Patriotic War of 1812, Russia's Minister of War in 1808 - 1810, who enjoyed the enormous trust of Alexander I, especially in the second half of his reign . He actively reformed the Russian artillery, became the chief commander of military settlements (since 1817), and in 1823-24. - head of the so-called "Russian party".

However, the name of this major statesman and military figure in the mass consciousness is still associated with such a phenomenon as “Arakcheevism,” understood as a regime of reactionary police despotism and brutal militarism. Such associations with the name of the former favorite of two emperors as “drilling”, “military settlements”, “pacifying rebels”, “temporary worker” seemed to leave no hope of finding anything positive in the life and work of this wonderful man. The term “Arakcheevism” is used to designate any gross tyranny, and was invented by representatives of the progressive public, mainly of a liberal persuasion. Arakcheev's activities were assessed categorically negatively - as an ugly manifestation of Russian autocracy - by socialist and communist historians and publicists. As a rule, no serious analysis of Arakcheev’s activities as a statesman and military figure has been carried out. Therefore, the term carried an abusive general assessment of the reign of Paul I and Alexander I.

The liberal intelligentsia, of course, had a rather negative attitude towards Arakcheev and his memory. Everyone knows the epigram of young A.S. Pushkin on Arakcheev:

Oppressor of all Russia,
Governors tormentor
And he is the teacher of the Council,
And he is a friend and brother to the king.
Full of anger, full of revenge,
Without a mind, without feelings, without honor...

However, the more mature Pushkin liked the dismissed Arakcheev. Responding to the death of Count Arakcheev, Pushkin wrote to his wife: “I am the only one in all of Russia who regrets this - I was not able to meet with him and talk to him.”

Turning to the facts, we see that during the Russian-Swedish war of 1808 - 1809. Arakcheev perfectly organized the supply of troops, providing them with reinforcements and artillery. Through his personal participation and organization of military operations, he encouraged the Swedes to begin peace negotiations. Victories of the Russian army 1812 - 1813 They would not have been so brilliant if Arakcheev had not been in the leadership of the military department, logistics and support. It was the good preparation of the army for combat operations even before 1812 that contributed to the successful defeat of the enemy.

Contrary to the generally accepted point of view and his own statement, Arakcheev was a very educated man, as well as the owner of one of the largest libraries in Russia at that time. The library he collected, according to the catalog of 1824, numbered over 12 thousand books, mainly on Russian history (in 1827, a significant part of it burned down, the surviving books were transferred to the library of the Novgorod Cadet Corps).

Arakcheev received his initial education under the guidance of a village sexton, who taught him grammar and arithmetic (by the way, this sexton was the grandfather of the great Russian chemist D.I. Mendeleev). Later, Arakcheev even seemed to flaunt this circumstance. So, having become the Minister of War in 1808, Alexey Andreevich gathered his subordinates and addressed them with an extravagant statement: “Gentlemen, I recommend myself, I ask you to take care of me, I don’t know much about reading and writing, my father paid 4 rubles in copper for my upbringing.”

It was during his studies “with copper money” that Arakcheev became a big fan of mathematical sciences, which affected his entire future fate.

Even under Emperor Paul I, Arakcheev was appointed inspector of all artillery. He received the same position under Alexander. And here Arakcheev showed himself to the fullest. Thanks to Arakcheev, a reform of Russian artillery was carried out - the number of calibers was reduced, artillery pieces were improved, i.e. lightened without reducing combat power, a constant composition of horses was introduced in all batteries, guns of the same type and caliber were supplied to all batteries. Thanks to Arakcheev's reform, the power of Russian artillery has increased and mobility has increased, and this without switching to any new technologies. And it was precisely thanks to Arakcheev’s reform that Russian artillery in the war of 1812 was not only not inferior to the French, but even superior to it. At the same time, Arakcheev managed to instill an extremely serious attitude towards artillery in the entire command of the Russian army. Thanks to the work of the so-called The Arakcheevsky Commission found that the effectiveness of fire on the battlefield is 6-8 times greater than the effectiveness of rifle fire.

Being involved in the military department, he ensured excellent supplies for the Russian army during the war with Sweden in 1809; It was Arakcheev who was entrusted with providing the Russian army with food and ammunition, training reserves, and he coped with this task perfectly, i.e. During the war, the Russian army had essentially everything it needed, which greatly contributed to the victory of Russian weapons; Finally, he managed to transform the military settlements invented by Alexander I into something acceptable.

Arakcheev was an honest, conscientious officer, always, with all his might, with full dedication, he carried out the orders given to him by the command. One of the richest nobles of his time, Alexei Andreevich was not distinguished by either greed or money-grubbing, refusing most of the awards of Alexander I. When Alexander presented Arakcheev with his portrait, decorated with diamonds, the count left the portrait (he was usually depicted with it in all portraits of the last period his life), and sent the diamonds back. Also in his portraits we will not see the signs of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, granted by Emperor Alexander - the highest of the awards received by Arakcheev from Paul I was the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

So, initial education under the guidance of a village sexton consisted of studying Russian literacy and arithmetic. The boy felt a great inclination towards the latter science and studied it diligently.

Wanting to place his son in a military school, Andrei Andreevich Arakcheev (1732 - 1797) took him to St. Petersburg. In 1783, due to his early age, Arakcheev Jr. could count on being accepted first into the “preparatory” classes of the Artillery and Engineering Corps. Just at this time (November 25, 1782) the previous director of the corps died, and a new one was appointed only on February 22. Andrei Andreevich and his son, who were already preparing to leave the capital, went on the first Sunday to see Metropolitan Gabriel of St. Petersburg, who distributed to the poor the money sent by Catherine II for this purpose. The landowner Arakcheev received three silver rubles from the Metropolitan. Having received some more benefits from Mrs. Guryeva, Andrei Andreevich, before leaving St. Petersburg, decided to try his luck again: together father and son came to the newly appointed director of the corps, Pyotr Ivanovich Melissino. For several months, having submitted a petition and practically starving, they came to the reception every day, silently greeted Mellisino and humbly waited for an answer to their petition to enroll the boy in the corps. One day, on July 19, the child could not stand it, rushed to the general, told about his misfortune and begged Pyotr Ivanovich to accept him into the corps. He was one of those poor nobles for whom only elementary classes opened the way to further study and officer service in the Russian army.

Rapid progress in the sciences, especially in mathematics, soon (in 1787) earned him the rank of officer. Subsequently, P.I. Mellisino, who especially loved Alexei Andreevich for his “properness” in his studies and service, recommended him to the heir to the throne. book Pavel Petrovich to manage the Gatchina artillery. Until the end of his life, Arakcheev appreciated and remembered that it was Mellisino who recommended him, then an unknown officer, to the future emperor.

In his free time, Arakcheev gave lessons in artillery and fortification to the sons of Count Nikolai Ivanovich Saltykov, to whom he was also recommended by Melissino. After some time, the heir to the throne, Pavel Petrovich, turned to Count Saltykov with a demand to give him an efficient artillery officer. Count Saltykov pointed to Arakcheev and recommended him from the best side. In September 1792, at the request of the future Emperor Paul I, Arakcheev was sent to Gatchina, and soon, for his diligence and success in artillery service, he was appointed commander of the Gatchina artillery team. Alexey Andreevich fully justified the recommendation by accurately fulfilling the orders assigned to him, tireless activity, knowledge of military discipline, and strict submission to the established order, which soon endeared him to the Grand Duke.

Since 1794, Arakcheev has been an inspector of the Gatchina artillery, and since 1796, he has also been an inspector of infantry. The new inspector reorganized the Tsarevich's artillery, dividing the artillery command into 3 foot and 1 horse sections (corporals), with a fifth of their staff in auxiliary positions; compiled special instructions for each official in the artillery. Arakcheev developed a plan for deploying artillery squads into companies and creating a four-company artillery regiment, introduced a methodology for practical training of artillerymen and created “classes for teaching military science,” and took an active part in drawing up new regulations. The innovations he proposed were subsequently introduced throughout the Russian army.

Alexey Andreevich was granted commandant of Gatchina and subsequently the head of all ground forces of the heir. Arakcheev loved and respected Emperor Paul and revered his memory.

Three Emperors of Arakcheev -
Pavel I Petrovich

Upon his accession to the throne, Emperor Pavel Petrovich granted Arakcheev many awards: being a colonel, he was granted on November 7, 1796 (on the day of Emperor Paul’s accession to the throne) by the St. Petersburg commandant; November 8 promoted to major general; November 9 - promoted to major of the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment; November 13 - Knight of the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree; the following year, 1797, on April 5, he was awarded baronial dignity and the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In addition, the sovereign, knowing the insufficient condition of Baron Arakcheev, granted him two thousand peasants with a choice of province. Arakcheev chose the village of Gruzino in the Novgorod province.

Strictness and impartiality, adherence to the rule of law and the desire to strictly carry out the decisions of the monarch distinguished Arakcheev when restoring order in the troops. But Arakcheev did not have long to enjoy the favor of the emperor, who was fickle in his passions. On March 18, 1798, Alexey Andreevich was dismissed from service with the rank of lieutenant general.

And then there was a new takeoff. Arakcheev was again accepted into service in the same 1798 and enlisted in the retinue of Emperor Paul I. On December 22, 1798, he was ordered to serve as quartermaster general, and on January 4, 1799, he was appointed commander of the Life Guards Artillery Battalion and artillery inspector. On January 8, 1799, he was granted the command of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and on May 5, 1799, he was awarded the Count of the Russian Empire for excellent zeal and work for the benefit of the service. He was ordered to be present at the Military Collegium and restore order in the Artillery Expedition.

On October 1, 1799, he was dismissed from service by the emperor for the second time and sent to Gruzino. The removal of Arakcheev from St. Petersburg was beneficial to those representatives of the aristocracy who at that time began preparing a conspiracy against Paul I. This time the resignation continued until the new reign.

Three Emperors of Arakcheev -
Alexander I Pavlovich

In 1801, Emperor Alexander Pavlovich ascended the throne, with whom Alexey Andreevich became close friends through his service. In 1802, Alexander again called him to serve, appointing him a member of the Commission for drawing up approximate staff of artillery, and on May 14, 1803 - again inspector of all artillery and commander of the Life Guards Artillery Battalion.

Arakcheev’s experience in the “Gatchina troops” of Tsarevich Pavel came in handy when it was necessary to create the first horse artillery company in the Guards brigade. Horse artillery of the early 19th century is a type of field artillery in which not only guns and ammunition, but also each number of the gun crew were transported by horses, due to which the servants were trained not only to operate with a gun, but also to conduct combat on horseback. Horse artillery was intended to provide fire support for cavalry and create a mobile artillery reserve, so it was armed with lightweight unicorns and six-pound cannons. In 1803 - 1811 Arakcheev prepared and carried out the reform of Russian artillery, as a result of which it turned into an independent branch of the military, its organization was improved (regiments and battalions were replaced by artillery brigades), the first comprehensive artillery weapons system was created (field artillery is limited to guns of four calibers of lightweight design, the ammunition load of each gun was determined , staffing was revised, unified design documentation was introduced, exemplary reference parts were developed for manufacturers, etc.). Army infantry divisions were given 3-company foot artillery brigades (battery and 2 light), and cavalry divisions were given horse artillery companies, and mobile artillery arsenals were created.

Arakcheev established exams for artillery officers and wrote a number of instructions for them. Even upon his arrival in Gatchina to the artillery units of Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich, Arakcheev discovered that there were no instructions: what each number did with the gun. The artilleryman did what the two-gun officer ordered. Arakcheev determined the composition of the teams at the guns, wrote to each number what he was doing, what he was holding in his hands, what bag was hanging on him, etc. The guard officers, naturally, did not like such detailed regulations, the observance of which was entrusted to them.

The converted artillery showed itself successfully during the Napoleonic wars. Strict towards the careless, he did not skimp on rewards for those who performed their service regularly: about 11 thousand rubles were spent on awards in the Artillery Expedition. in year. In December 1807, Arakcheev was appointed to serve under Alexander I “in the artillery unit,” and two days later the emperor ordered that his orders, announced by Arakcheev, be considered personal imperial instructions. In 1804, on his initiative, a Provisional Artillery Committee was formed to consider scientific and technical issues, renamed in 1808 the Scientific Committee for Artillery; The Artillery Magazine began publishing.

In 1805 A.A. Arakcheev was with the sovereign at the Battle of Austerlitz.

In 1807, Arakcheev was promoted to artillery general. To restore order in the military department, on January 13, 1808, Alexander I appointed Arakcheev as Minister of the Military Ground Forces (until 1810), in addition, on January 17 - inspector general of all infantry and artillery (until 1819), with subordination to him commissariat and provisions departments. On January 26, 1808, Arakcheev became the head of the imperial Military Campaign Office and the Correspondent Corps. Under his leadership, the introduction of the divisional organization of the army was completed, its recruitment, supply and training of troops was improved. During the management of the ministry by Arakcheev, new rules and regulations were issued for various parts of the military administration, correspondence was simplified and shortened, recruiting depots and training grenadier battalions were created to prepare reinforcements for the line units. The artillery was given a new organization, measures were taken to increase the level of special education of officers, and the material part was streamlined and improved. The positive consequences of these improvements were quickly revealed during the wars of 1812 - 1814.

Gr. A.A. Arakcheev took an active part in the war with Sweden. Alexander ordered to immediately and decisively transfer the theater of war to the Swedish coast, taking advantage of the opportunity (rare in the history of the usually ice-free bay) to cross there on the ice. Since a number of generals, in view of the sovereign’s order to transfer the theater of war to the Swedish coast, presented various difficulties, Alexander I, extremely dissatisfied with the inaction of the Russian command, sent his Minister of War to Finland. Arriving on February 20, 1809 in Abo, Arakcheev insisted on the speedy implementation of the highest will. Arakcheev literally “pushed” the generals onto the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia. To Barclay de Tolly’s objection that food and ammunition might lag behind, Arakcheev, together with Barclay himself, built a complete diagram of not only troops, but also mobile warehouses, so that they, without falling behind, would move synchronously with the troops.

The Russian troops had to endure many obstacles, but Arakcheev acted energetically, as a result of which the Russian troops that marched to the Åland Islands on March 2 quickly captured them, and on March 7, a small Russian cavalry detachment had already occupied the village of Grisselgam on the Swedish coast (now part of the Norrtälje commune).

During the movement of Russian troops to the Åland Islands in Sweden, a change in government followed: instead of Gustav Adolf, who was overthrown from the throne, his uncle, the Duke of Südermanland, became king of Sweden. The defense of the Åland Islands was entrusted to General Debeln, who, having learned about the Stockholm coup, entered into negotiations with the commander of the Russian detachment, Knorring, to conclude a truce, which was done. But Arakcheev did not approve of Knorring’s action and, during a meeting with General Debeln, told the latter that he was sent by the sovereign “not to make a truce, but to make peace.”

The subsequent actions of the Russian troops were brilliant: Barclay de Tolly made a glorious transition through Kvarken, and Shuvalov occupied Torneo. On September 5, the Russian and Swedish commissioners signed the Treaty of Friedrichsham, according to which Finland, part of Västerbotten up to the Torneo River and the Åland Islands were transferred to Russia. We can safely say that it was Arakcheev’s arrival in the active army as the emperor’s personal representative that accelerated the end of the Russian-Swedish war.

On January 1, 1810, Arakcheev left the War Ministry and was appointed a member of the then newly established State Council (in 1810 - 1812 and 1816 - 1826 he was the chairman of the department of military affairs), with the right to be present in the Committee of Ministers and the Senate. When leaving this position, Arakcheev recommended Barclay de Tolly for the post of Minister of War.

On March 31, Arakcheev was relieved of his post as chairman of the military department of the State Council, and on June 17 he was appointed to the post of head of the office of Alexander I. Now he was aware of all affairs in the country. On December 7, 1812, it was transformed into His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery - a body that, as we know, played a huge role in the history of the country. Arakcheev actually stood at its origins, leading it until 1825. Largely through his efforts, the Russian army was well prepared for the Patriotic War of 1812.

On June 14, 1812, in view of the approach of Napoleon, Count Arakcheev was again called upon to manage military affairs.

From that date on, the entire French war went through my hands, all the secret commands, reports and handwritten commands of the sovereign.

A.A. Arakcheev

Count A.A. Arakcheev.
Artist I.B. Lumpy the Elder

During the Patriotic War, Arakcheev's main concern was the formation of reserves and the supply of food to the army. During the war, he was also in charge of recruiting troops and replenishing artillery parks, organizing militias, etc. After the establishment of peace, the emperor’s trust in Arakcheev increased to the point that he was entrusted with the fulfillment of the highest plans not only on military issues, but also in matters of civil administration. In 1815, Alexey Andreevich was appointed the only rapporteur to the emperor on the affairs of the Committee of Ministers and the State Council. From that time on, Alexander I led the empire through Arakcheev, who regularly reported to him and actually led the country. Arakcheev carried out the development of the necessary regulatory legal acts, transforming all military legislation and thereby completing the reform of the army.

It was Arakcheev who managed to persuade the emperor to renounce his claims to the supreme command of the Russian armies in the Patriotic War. He greatly favored Kutuzov, and it is possible that it was thanks to Arakcheev that Kutuzov was appointed commander of all Russian armies in August 1812.

Arakcheev’s severity and inflexibility in implementing the emperor’s plan became one of the reasons for the formation of a negative attitude towards him personally and the spread of rumors defaming the count. For Alexander I, Arakcheev was a kind of “screen” that shielded the tsar from the indignation of his subjects over his mistakes, blunders, and negative consequences of his reign.

Alexander I spoke about the importance of Arakcheev to P.A. To Kleinmichel, who was then Arakcheev’s adjutant: “You don’t understand what Arakcheev means to me. He takes upon himself everything that is bad, and attributes everything good to me.”

We will do everything: we Russians need to demand the impossible in order to achieve the possible.

A.A. Arakcheev

He was just as demanding, first of all, of himself. This principle allowed Arakcheev to accomplish the impossible, but it also made him extremely unpopular in society.

He himself was well aware of this. D.V. Davydov cites in his “Notes” the words of A.A. Arakcheev, what he said to General A.P. Ermolov: “Many undeserved curses will fall on me.” The phrase turned out to be prophetic.

All his life, Arakcheev fiercely hated bribery, which was traditionally ingrained in Russian society. Those caught red-handed were immediately expelled from their positions, regardless of their faces. Red tape and extortion for the purpose of obtaining a bribe were pursued by him mercilessly. Arakcheev demanded immediate resolution of issues and strictly monitored the fulfillment of deadlines, so the clerical community hated him. Why be surprised that the cross-section of this society determined the mood of the writers and publicists who came up with “Arakcheevism”.

But the main phenomenon in the military life of Russia, with which the name of Arakcheev is associated, is the organization of military settlements. Count Alexei Andreevich is usually considered the creator of this system. However, military settlements were proposed by Alexander I himself, and Arakcheev was against this project. M. M. Speransky formalized the idea into decrees and instructions. Arakcheev became only a performer.

In the War of 1812, Alexander I was faced with a shortage of trained reserves, the difficulty of carrying out more and more new recruitments, and the high cost of maintaining an army. The Emperor put forward the idea that every soldier should be a peasant, and every peasant should be a soldier. Initially this was done through the introduction of soldiers to billet in the village.

Alexander I was interested in the idea of ​​establishing military settlements on a large scale. According to some reports, we repeat, Arakcheev at first showed obvious insympathy with this idea. But in view of the adamant desire of the sovereign - in 1817, Alexander I entrusted him with the development of a plan for creating settlements - he conducted the matter abruptly, with merciless consistency, not embarrassed by the murmur of the people, forcibly torn away from age-old, historically established customs and the usual way of life.

Perhaps the military settlements were an attempt by Alexander I to create a class in Russia, based on which the tsar could carry out liberal reforms.

Arakcheev, a believer and pious Orthodox Christian from a young age, gifted with brilliant organizational skills and administrative talent and, perhaps most importantly, who worked not for the sake of self-interest and glory, but also, like the Emperor, following his moral duty... such an employee Alexander needed him endlessly.

A. Zubov

“The emperor knew very well the weaknesses and shortcomings of his Gatchina friend - lack of culture, touchiness, envy, jealousy of the royal favor, but all this was outweighed in the eyes of the king by his merits. Alexander, Arakcheev and Prince A.N. The three of Golitsyn constituted that powerful lever that almost turned Russia away from the path to national catastrophe outlined by the actions of the “great” monarchs of the 18th century - Peter and Catherine.” ( Zubov A. Reflections on the causes of the revolution in Russia. Reign of Alexander the Blessed. New world. 2006, No. 7).

A number of riots among military villagers were suppressed with inexorable severity. The outer side of the settlements has been brought to exemplary order. Only the most exaggerated rumors about their well-being reached the sovereign. Many of the high-ranking officials, either not understanding the matter, or out of fear of a powerful temporary worker, extolled the new institution with exorbitant praise.

Arakcheev and Speransky -
through the eyes of Pushkin

The idea was the emperor's, the design of this idea into a more or less coherent picture was the work of Speransky, and Arakcheev alone was to blame for everything. He always faithfully carried out all the orders of his emperor, even if he considered them wrong. In those situations where other generals objected to the emperor (Kutuzov), Arakcheev accepted the order for execution and carried it out, making every effort. The honest soldier strictly fulfilled his duty.

The problem was aggravated by the general bribery of superiors, starting with officers: Arakcheev, who demanded from his superiors primarily external order and improvement, could not eradicate general robbery, and only in rare cases were the perpetrators subjected to deserved punishment. It is not surprising that the muted discontent among the military villagers increased every year. During the reign of Emperor Alexander I, it was expressed only in single outbreaks. At the same time, indignation among soldiers and peasants was suppressed by force. In those military settlements that Arakcheev was personally involved in, the soldiers and peasants lived more or less tolerably.

With the accession of Nicholas I to the throne, Count Arakcheev soon retired from business, and Count Kleinmichel was placed at the head of the management of military settlements with the rank of chief of staff of military settlements.

Arakcheev and Speransky -
through the eyes of a contemporary artist

What is less known about Arakcheev is that in 1818, on behalf of Alexander I, he developed one of the projects for the liberation of the peasants, which provided for the purchase by the treasury of landowners' estates together with the peasants "at voluntarily established prices with the landowners" and providing the peasants with personal freedom. Of course, this project, like many similar plans of Alexander’s reign, remained unrealized.

And finally, Arakcheev’s integrity is evidenced by the clean, signed forms of Alexander I’s decrees, which the tsar left with Arakcheev when leaving the capital. The temporary worker could use these blank forms for his own purposes to deal with those he disliked, for he had enough enemies. But not a single one of the forms entrusted by the tsar was used by Arakcheev for personal purposes.

Modern researchers often characterize him as one of the most effective administrators in Russian history, and believe that he was an ideal executor capable of realizing grandiose plans.

Arakcheev's influence on affairs and his power continued throughout the reign of Emperor Alexander Pavlovich. Being the most influential nobleman, close to the sovereign, Arakcheev, having the Order of Alexander Nevsky, refused other orders granted to him: in 1807 - the Order of St. Vladimir, and in 1808 - from the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and only left a rescript of the award as a souvenir. He also did not accept the rank of field marshal general (1814), although his merits in the anti-Napoleonic wars were great. Alexey Andreevich was also awarded the Prussian Order of the Black and Red Eagle, 1st class, the Austrian Order of St. Stephen, 1st class, as well as the above-mentioned portrait, from which he returned the diamonds.

They say that Emperor Alexander Pavlovich granted Arakcheev’s mother a lady of state. Alexey Andreevich refused this favor too. The Emperor said with displeasure: “You don’t want to accept anything from me!” “I am pleased with the favor of Your Imperial Majesty,” answered Arakcheev, “but I beg you not to grant my parent a lady of state; she spent her whole life in the village; if he comes here, he will attract the ridicule of the court ladies, but for a solitary life he has no need for this decoration.” Recounting this event to those close to him, Alexei Andreevich added: “Only once in my life, and precisely in this case, did I offend my mother by hiding from her that the sovereign favored her. She would be angry with me if she knew that I had deprived her of this distinction.”

The Arakcheevsky regiment sponsored by him was named after Arakcheev, and later the Rostov Grenadier Regiment of Prince Friedrich of the Netherlands.

Three Emperors of Arakcheev -
Nicholas I Pavlovich

Alexander I died on November 19, 1825. Arakcheev did not take part in the suppression of the Decembrist uprising, for which he was dismissed by Nicholas I. According to other sources, Arakcheev himself refused the urgent requests of the new emperor to continue serving.

Be that as it may, on December 20, 1825, he was released by Nicholas I, who did not favor him, from the affairs of the Committee of Ministers and expelled from the State Council, and in 1826 he was removed from command over military settlements. He was dismissed on indefinite leave for treatment, and remained in service until 1832. Arakcheev went abroad and voluntarily published there the publication of confidential letters to him from Alexander I, which caused a scandal in Russian society and government circles.

A devoted friend of the monarchs Paul and Alexander, who reached unprecedented heights during their reign, Arakcheev devoted the last years of his life to his Gruzino estate. Returning to the estate in 1827, Alexander Andreevich began to arrange it, opened a hospital, worked on the peasant loan bank he had previously created, and tried to regulate the life of the serfs in accordance with his ideas. His desire to create an exemplary farm in all respects led to the most favorable results. The beginning of the construction of Gruzin marked the brightest and most brilliant period of the heyday of the Russian estate. This estate was the best for its time. Now from the paradise on the bank of the river. There are not even ruins left of Volkhov - all buildings were destroyed during the fighting of 1941-1944.

Having retained the title of member of the State Council, Arakcheev went to travel abroad; his health was already broken. In 1833, Arakcheev deposited 50,000 rubles into the state loan bank. banknotes so that this amount remains in the bank for ninety-three years untouched with all interest. Three quarters of this capital should be a reward for the one who will write by 1925 (in Russian) the best history of the reign of Alexander I. The remaining quarter is intended for the costs of publishing this work, as well as for the second prize, and for two translators in equal shares, who will translate from Russian into German and into French the first prize-winning history of Alexander I. Arakcheev built a magnificent bronze monument to Alexander in front of the cathedral church of his village, on which the following inscription was made: “To the Sovereign-Benefactor, after His death.”

Arakcheev’s last deed for the common good was his donation of 300 thousand rubles for the education of poor nobles of the Novgorod and Tver provinces from the interest of this capital in the Novgorod Cadet Corps, as well as 50 thousand rubles. Pavlovsk Institute for the education of the daughters of nobles of the Novgorod province. After the death of Arakcheev, the Novgorod Cadet Corps received the name Arakcheevsky in connection with the transfer of Arakcheev’s estate and capital in the amount of 1.5 million rubles. Back in 1816, Alexander I approved Arakcheev’s spiritual will, entrusting the storage of the will to the Governing Senate. The testator was given the opportunity to choose an heir, but Arakcheev did not do this. Nicholas I recognized that the best way was to give forever the Georgian volost and all movable property belonging to it into the full and undivided possession of the Novgorod cadet corps, so that it would use the income received from the estate for the education of noble youth and take the name and coat of arms of the testator.

Meanwhile, Arakcheev’s health was weakening, his strength was changing. Nicholas I, having learned about his painful condition, sent his physician Villiers to him in Gruzino, but the latter could no longer help, and on the eve of the Resurrection of Christ, April 21 (May 3), 1834, Arakcheev died, “without taking his eyes off the portrait Alexandra, in his room, on the very sofa that served as the bed of the All-Russian Autocrat.” He kept screaming for his life to be extended for at least a month, and finally, sighing, said: “Damned death,” and died.

Before the funeral, he was put on the canvas shirt in which Emperor Alexander died, and dressed in a ceremonial general's uniform. The ashes of the outstanding military and statesman, count and cavalier Alexei Andreevich Arakcheev, were buried in the village of Gruzino. Count Alexei Andreevich took care of his death and burial long before his death. The tomb with the epitaph was prepared inside the capital-looking St. Andrew's Cathedral next to the monument to Emperor Paul. The Arakcheevsky regiment and an artillery battery were called to the funeral.

Arakcheev’s remains were found as a result of excavations in 2009. Proposals were discussed to rebury them in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg, where many of Arakcheev’s associates are buried, as well as in the ancient St. George’s Monastery of the 12th century. near Veliky Novgorod. At the end of 2008, the administration and public of the Chudovsky district, on whose territory Gruzino is located, turned to the regional leadership with a request to transfer the remains for re-burial on the former count's estate.

Gloomy and uncommunicative from childhood, Arakcheev remained this way throughout his life. With his remarkable intelligence and selflessness, he knew how to remember the kindness that anyone had ever done to him. Apart from satisfying the will of the monarch and fulfilling the requirements of the service, he was not embarrassed by anything. His severity often degenerated into cruelty, and the time of his almost limitless rule (the last years, the first quarter of the 19th century) was characterized by a kind of terror, since everyone was in awe of him. In general, he left behind a bad memory.

The kings appreciated his rigidity, which reached the point of inexorability, experience and knowledge, especially in the field of artillery, using his services when it was necessary to “restore order.” In Soviet times, Arakcheev was constantly defined as “a reactionary, a persecutor of the Suvorov school, a tsar’s servant and a saint.” But already in 1961, in an article about Arakcheev in the Historical Encyclopedia, several lines appeared about his services in the development of Russian artillery. Modern domestic historians, assessing his activities, recognize that Arakcheev was one of the most worthy military and administrative figures in the history of the Russian Empire.

KURKOV K.N., Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of Moscow State Humanitarian University named after. M.A. Sholokhov

Literature

Anderson V.M. Correspondence of Emperor Alexander I with Napoleon and Count Arakcheev. St. Petersburg, 1912

Autobiographical notes of Count Arakcheev. Russian archive. 1866. Issue. 9

From the stories of gr. A.A. Arakcheeva. Historical bulletin. 1894 / T. 58, No. 10

Letters 1796. 1797 Message A.I. Maksheev. Russian antiquity. 1891 / T. 71, No. 8

Letter from Count Arakcheev to Countess Kankrina. Note P.A. Vyazemsky. Russian archive. 1868. Ed. 2nd. M., 1869

Arakcheev A.A., Karamzin N.M. Letters to the Grand Duke Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich. Message G. Alexandrov. Russian archive. 1868. Ed. 2nd. M., 1869

Arakcheev and military settlements: Memoirs of contemporaries: 1. Memoirs of M.F. Borozdina. 2. From von Bradke's notes. Russian reality. Series 1. Vol. 10. M., 1908

Bogdanovich P.N. Arakcheev Count and Baron of the Russian Empire: (1769–1834). P.N. Bogdanovich Gen. Headquarters Col. Buenos Aires, 1956

Bogoslovsky N.G. Arakcheevshchina: Stories. Op. N. Bogoslovsky. St. Petersburg, 1882

Bogoslovsky N.G. Stories about the past: War times. Settlements. Op. Slovsky [pseud.]. Novgorod, 1865

Bulgarin F.G. Trip to Gruzino. St. Petersburg, 1861

Wrangel N., Makovsky S., Trubnikov A. Arakcheev and art. Old years. 1908. No. 7

Count A.A. Arakcheev. (Materials). Russian antiquity, 1900. T. 101. No. 1

Gribbe A.K. Count Alexey Andreevich Arakcheev. (From memories of Novgorod military settlements). 1822–1826. Russian antiquity. 1875. T. 12, No. 1

Davydova, E.E., comp. Arakcheev: evidence from contemporaries. Comp. HER. Davydova et al. M., 2000

Jenkins M. Arakcheev. Reformer-reactionary. M., 2004

Europeus I.I. Memoirs of Evropeus about service in a military settlement and about relations with Count Arakcheev. Russian antiquity. 1872. T. 6, No. 9

Ivanov G. Famous and famous refugees. Vol. 1: From Alexey Arakcheev to Alexey Smirnov. B.M., 2003

Kaygorodov V. Arakcheevshchina. Op. V. Kaygorodova. M., 1912

Kizevetter A.A. Historical silhouettes. Essays. A.A. Kiesewetter; Entry Art. O.V. Budnitsky. Rostov n/d, 1997

Kovalenko A.Yu. The era of Alexander I in the context of state activities by A. A. Arakcheev: Textbook. allowance. Komsomolsk-on-Amur, 1999

Nikolsky V.P. The state of the Russian army at the end of the reign of Alexander I. In the book: History of the Russian army, 1812–1864. St. Petersburg, 2003

Otto N.K. Traits from the life of Count Arakcheev. Ancient and New Russia. 1875. T. 1, No. 1

Panchenko A.M. Library of Count A.A. Arakcheeva in Gruzino. A.M. Panchenko. Berk's readings. Book culture in the context of international contacts. Central Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus; Moscow: Science. Mn., 2011

Podushkov D.L.“He was a real Russian...” (About Count Arakcheev A.A.) Udomel antiquity: Local history almanac. 2000, January. No. 16

Podushkov D.L. The role of Count A.A. Arakcheev in the Patriotic War of 1812. Local history almanac “Udomelskaya antiquity”, No. 29, September 2002

Podushkov D.L.(compiler), Vorobiev V.M. (scientific editor). Famous Russians in the history of the Udomelsky region. Tver, 2009

Ratch V.F. Information about Count Alexey Andreevich Arakcheev. St. Petersburg, 1864

Romanovich E.M. The dying days and death of Count Arakcheev. (From the story of retired staff captain Evgeniy Mikhailovich Romanovich). Message P.A. Musatovsky. Russian archive. 1868. Ed. 2nd. M., 1869

Russian conservatives. M., 1997

Sigunov N.G. Traits from the life of Count Arakcheev. Stories of Major General Nick. Grigor. Sigunova. Message M.I. Bogdanovich. Russian antiquity. 1870. T. 1. Ed. 3rd. St. Petersburg, 1875

Dictionary of Russian generals who took part in the fighting against the army of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812–1815. Russian archive: Sat. M., 1996. T. VII

Tomsinov V.A. Arakcheev (series “Life of Remarkable People”). M., 2003, 2010

Tomsinov V.A. Temporary worker (Historical portrait of A.A. Arakcheev). M., 2013

Troitsky N. Russia at the head of the Holy Alliance: Arakcheevshchina

Ulybin V.V. Betrayed without flattery: the experience of the biography of Count Arakcheev. Vyacheslav Ulybin. St. Petersburg, 2006

Fedorov V.A. MM. Speransky and A.A. Arakcheev. M., 1997

Shevlyakov M.V., ed. Historical people in anecdotes: from the lives of statesmen and public figures. Ed. M.V. Shevlyakova. St. Petersburg, 2010

Shubinsky S.N. Historical essays and stories. St. Petersburg, 1896; 1913

Yakushkin V. Speransky and Arakcheev. St. Petersburg, 1905; M., 1916

Extensive material for characterizing Count Arakcheev and his time is included in the publications: “Russian Antiquity” (1870 - 1890), “Russian Archive” (1866 No. 6 and 7, 1868 No. 2 and 6, 1872 No. 10, 1876 ​​No. 4); “Ancient and New Russia” (1875, Nos. 1 - 6 and 10); Glebov, “The Tale of Arakcheev” (military collection, 1861).

Internet

Ermolov Alexey Petrovich

Hero of the Napoleonic Wars and the Patriotic War of 1812. Conqueror of the Caucasus. A smart strategist and tactician, a strong-willed and brave warrior.

Rurik Svyatoslav Igorevich

Year of birth 942 date of death 972 Expansion of state borders. 965 conquest of the Khazars, 963 march south to the Kuban region, capture of Tmutarakan, 969 conquest of the Volga Bulgars, 971 conquest of the Bulgarian kingdom, 968 founding of Pereyaslavets on the Danube (the new capital of Rus'), 969 defeat of the Pechenegs in the defense of Kyiv.

Kazarsky Alexander Ivanovich

Captain-lieutenant. Participant in the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. He distinguished himself during the capture of Anapa, then Varna, commanding the transport "Rival". After this, he was promoted to lieutenant commander and appointed captain of the brig Mercury. On May 14, 1829, the 18-gun brig Mercury was overtaken by two Turkish battleships Selimiye and Real Bey. Having accepted an unequal battle, the brig was able to immobilize both Turkish flagships, one of which contained the commander of the Ottoman fleet. Subsequently, an officer from the Real Bay wrote: “During the continuation of the battle, the commander of the Russian frigate (the notorious Raphael, which surrendered without a fight a few days earlier) told me that the captain of this brig would not surrender, and if he lost hope, then he would blow up the brig If in the great deeds of ancient and modern times there are feats of courage, then this act should overshadow all of them, and the name of this hero is worthy of being inscribed in gold letters on the Temple of Glory: he is called captain-lieutenant Kazarsky, and the brig is “Mercury”

Uborevich Ieronim Petrovich

Soviet military leader, commander of the 1st rank (1935). Member of the Communist Party since March 1917. Born in the village of Aptandrius (now Utena region of the Lithuanian SSR) in the family of a Lithuanian peasant. Graduated from the Konstantinovsky Artillery School (1916). Participant of the 1st World War 1914-18, second lieutenant. After the October Revolution of 1917, he was one of the organizers of the Red Guard in Bessarabia. In January - February 1918 he commanded a revolutionary detachment in battles against Romanian and Austro-German interventionists, was wounded and captured, from where he escaped in August 1918. He was an artillery instructor, commander of the Dvina brigade on the Northern Front, and from December 1918 head of the 18th Infantry divisions of the 6th Army. From October 1919 to February 1920, he was the commander of the 14th Army during the defeat of General Denikin's troops, and in March - April 1920 he commanded the 9th Army in the North Caucasus. In May - July and November - December 1920, commander of the 14th Army in battles against the troops of bourgeois Poland and the Petliurists, in July - November 1920 - 13th Army in battles against the Wrangelites. In 1921, assistant commander of the troops of Ukraine and Crimea, deputy commander of the troops of the Tambov province, commander of the troops of the Minsk province, led the military operations during the defeat of the gangs of Makhno, Antonov and Bulak-Balakhovich. From August 1921 commander of the 5th Army and the East Siberian Military District. In August - December 1922, Minister of War of the Far Eastern Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the People's Revolutionary Army during the liberation of the Far East. He was commander of the troops of the North Caucasus (since 1925), Moscow (since 1928) and Belarusian (since 1931) military districts. Since 1926, a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, in 1930-31, deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR and chief of armaments of the Red Army. Since 1934 member of the Military Council of NGOs. He made a great contribution to strengthening the defense capability of the USSR, educating and training command staff and troops. Candidate member of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in 1930-37. Member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee since December 1922. Awarded 3 Orders of the Red Banner and Honorary Revolutionary Weapon.

Loris-Melikov Mikhail Tarielovich

Known mainly as one of the minor characters in the story “Hadji Murad” by L.N. Tolstoy, Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov went through all the Caucasian and Turkish campaigns of the second half of the mid-19th century.

Having shown himself excellently during the Caucasian War, during the Kars campaign of the Crimean War, Loris-Melikov led reconnaissance, and then successfully served as commander-in-chief during the difficult Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, winning a number of important victories over the united Turkish forces and in the third once he captured Kars, which by that time was considered impregnable.

Dubynin Viktor Petrovich

From April 30, 1986 to June 1, 1987 - commander of the 40th combined arms army of the Turkestan Military District. The troops of this army made up the bulk of the Limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan. During the year of his command of the army, the number of irretrievable losses decreased by 2 times compared to 1984-1985.
On June 10, 1992, Colonel General V.P. Dubynin was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation
His merits include keeping the President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin from a number of ill-conceived decisions in the military sphere, primarily in the field of nuclear forces.

Budyonny Semyon Mikhailovich

Commander of the First Cavalry Army of the Red Army during the Civil War. The First Cavalry Army, which he led until October 1923, played an important role in a number of major operations of the Civil War to defeat the troops of Denikin and Wrangel in Northern Tavria and Crimea.

Shein Mikhail Borisovich

He headed the Smolensk defense against Polish-Lithuanian troops, which lasted 20 months. Under the command of Shein, multiple attacks were repelled, despite the explosion and a hole in the wall. He held back and bled the main forces of the Poles at the decisive moment of the Time of Troubles, preventing them from moving to Moscow to support their garrison, creating the opportunity to gather an all-Russian militia to liberate the capital. Only with the help of a defector, the troops of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth managed to take Smolensk on June 3, 1611. The wounded Shein was captured and taken with his family to Poland for 8 years. After returning to Russia, he commanded the army that tried to recapture Smolensk in 1632-1634. Executed due to boyar slander. Undeservedly forgotten.

Skopin-Shuisky Mikhail Vasilievich

In the conditions of the disintegration of the Russian state during the Time of Troubles, with minimal material and personnel resources, he created an army that defeated the Polish-Lithuanian interventionists and liberated most of the Russian state.

Alekseev Mikhail Vasilievich

Outstanding employee of the Russian Academy of the General Staff. Developer and implementer of the Galician operation - the first brilliant victory of the Russian army in the Great War.
Saved the troops of the North-Western Front from encirclement during the “Great Retreat” of 1915.
Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in 1916-1917.
Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army in 1917
Developed and implemented strategic plans for offensive operations in 1916 - 1917.
He continued to defend the need to preserve the Eastern Front after 1917 (the Volunteer Army is the basis of the new Eastern Front in the ongoing Great War).
Slandered and slandered in relation to various so-called. “Masonic military lodges”, “conspiracy of generals against the Sovereign”, etc., etc. - in terms of emigrant and modern historical journalism.

Wrangel Pyotr Nikolaevich

Participant in the Russo-Japanese and First World Wars, one of the main leaders (1918−1920) of the White movement during the Civil War. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army in Crimea and Poland (1920). General Staff Lieutenant General (1918). Knight of St. George.

Dragomirov Mikhail Ivanovich

Brilliant crossing of the Danube in 1877
- Creation of a tactics textbook
- Creation of an original concept of military education
- Leadership of the NASH in 1878-1889
- Enormous influence in military matters for a full 25 years

Ermak Timofeevich

Russian. Cossack. Ataman. Defeated Kuchum and his satellites. Approved Siberia as part of the Russian state. He dedicated his entire life to military work.

Brusilov Alexey Alekseevich

One of the best Russian generals of the First World War. In June 1916, troops of the Southwestern Front under the command of Adjutant General A.A. Brusilov, simultaneously striking in several directions, broke through the enemy’s deeply layered defenses and advanced 65 km. In military history, this operation was called the Brusilov breakthrough.

Chichagov Vasily Yakovlevich

Superbly commanded the Baltic Fleet in the campaigns of 1789 and 1790. He won victories in the battle of Öland (July 15, 1789), in the Revel (May 2, 1790) and Vyborg (06/22/1790) battles. After the last two defeats, which were of strategic importance, the dominance of the Baltic Fleet became unconditional, and this forced the Swedes to make peace. There are few such examples in the history of Russia when victories at sea led to victory in the war. And by the way, the Battle of Vyborg was one of the largest in world history in terms of the number of ships and people.

Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich

Commander of the 62nd Army in Stalingrad.

Stalin (Dzhugashvili) Joseph Vissarionovich

Comrade Stalin, in addition to the atomic and missile projects, together with Army General Alexei Innokentievich Antonov, participated in the development and implementation of almost all significant operations of the Soviet troops in the Second World War, and brilliantly organized the work of the rear, even in the first difficult years of the war.

Platov Matvey Ivanovich

Military Ataman of the Don Cossack Army. He began active military service at the age of 13. A participant in several military campaigns, he is best known as the commander of Cossack troops during the Patriotic War of 1812 and during the subsequent Foreign Campaign of the Russian Army. Thanks to the successful actions of the Cossacks under his command, Napoleon’s saying went down in history:
- Happy is the commander who has Cossacks. If I had an army of only Cossacks, I would conquer all of Europe.

Nevsky, Suvorov

Of course, the holy blessed prince Alexander Nevsky and Generalissimo A.V. Suvorov

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

The largest figure in world history, whose life and government activities left a deep imprint not only on the fate of the Soviet people, but also on all humanity, will be the subject of careful study by historians for many more centuries. The historical and biographical feature of this personality is that she will never be consigned to oblivion.
During Stalin's tenure as Supreme Commander-in-Chief and Chairman of the State Defense Committee, our country was marked by victory in the Great Patriotic War, massive labor and front-line heroism, the transformation of the USSR into a superpower with significant scientific, military and industrial potential, and the strengthening of our country's geopolitical influence in the world.
Ten Stalinist strikes is the general name for a number of the largest offensive strategic operations in the Great Patriotic War, carried out in 1944 by the armed forces of the USSR. Along with other offensive operations, they made a decisive contribution to the victory of the countries of the Anti-Hitler Coalition over Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II.

Yudenich Nikolai Nikolaevich

One of the most successful generals in Russia during the First World War. The Erzurum and Sarakamysh operations carried out by him on the Caucasian front, carried out in extremely unfavorable conditions for Russian troops, and ending in victories, I believe, deserve to be included among the brightest victories of Russian weapons. In addition, Nikolai Nikolaevich stood out for his modesty and decency, lived and died as an honest Russian officer, and remained faithful to the oath to the end.

Dokhturov Dmitry Sergeevich

Defense of Smolensk.
Command of the left flank on the Borodino field after Bagration was wounded.
Battle of Tarutino.

Yaroslav the Wise Soviet military leader, major general, Hero of the Soviet Union. Known for successful operations to destroy German troops during the Great Patriotic War. The German command placed a large reward on Dovator's head.
Together with the 8th Guards Division named after Major General I.V. Panfilov, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade of General M.E. Katukov and other troops of the 16th Army, his corps defended the approaches to Moscow in the Volokolamsk direction.

Kolchak Alexander Vasilievich

Russian admiral who gave his life for the liberation of the Fatherland.
Oceanographer, one of the largest polar explorers of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, military and political figure, naval commander, full member of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, leader of the White movement, Supreme Ruler of Russia.

Alekseev Mikhail Vasilievich

One of the most talented Russian generals of the First World War. Hero of the Battle of Galicia in 1914, savior of the Northwestern Front from encirclement in 1915, chief of staff under Emperor Nicholas I.

General of Infantry (1914), Adjutant General (1916). Active participant in the White movement in the Civil War. One of the organizers of the Volunteer Army.

Margelov Vasily Filippovich

Svyatoslav Igorevich

I would like to propose the “candidacies” of Svyatoslav and his father, Igor, as the greatest commanders and political leaders of their time, I think that there is no point in listing to historians their services to the fatherland, I was unpleasantly surprised not to see their names on this list. Sincerely.

Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich

Full Knight of the Order of St. George. In the history of military art, according to Western authors (for example: J. Witter), he entered as the architect of the “scorched earth” strategy and tactics - cutting off the main enemy troops from the rear, depriving them of supplies and organizing guerrilla warfare in their rear. M.V. Kutuzov, after taking command of the Russian army, essentially continued the tactics developed by Barclay de Tolly and defeated Napoleon’s army.

Platov Matvey Ivanovich

Ataman of the Great Don Army (from 1801), cavalry general (1809), who took part in all the wars of the Russian Empire at the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries.
In 1771 he distinguished himself during the attack and capture of the Perekop line and Kinburn. From 1772 he began to command a Cossack regiment. During the 2nd Turkish War he distinguished himself during the assault on Ochakov and Izmail. Participated in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, he first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, covering the retreat of the army, won victories over the enemy near the towns of Mir and Romanovo. In the battle near the village of Semlevo, Platov’s army defeated the French and captured a colonel from the army of Marshal Murat. During the retreat of the French army, Platov, pursuing it, inflicted defeats on it at Gorodnya, Kolotsky Monastery, Gzhatsk, Tsarevo-Zaimishch, near Dukhovshchina and when crossing the Vop River. For his merits he was elevated to the rank of count. In November, Platov captured Smolensk from battle and defeated the troops of Marshal Ney near Dubrovna. At the beginning of January 1813, he entered Prussia and besieged Danzig; in September he received command of a special corps, with which he participated in the battle of Leipzig and, pursuing the enemy, captured about 15 thousand people. In 1814, he fought at the head of his regiments during the capture of Nemur, Arcy-sur-Aube, Cezanne, Villeneuve. Awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich

In front of the Kazan Cathedral there are two statues of the saviors of the fatherland. Saving the army, exhausting the enemy, the Battle of Smolensk - this is more than enough.

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

During the Patriotic War, Stalin led all the armed forces of our homeland and coordinated their military operations. It is impossible not to note his merits in competent planning and organization of military operations, in the skillful selection of military leaders and their assistants. Joseph Stalin proved himself not only as an outstanding commander who competently led all fronts, but also as an excellent organizer who carried out enormous work to increase the country's defense capability both in the pre-war and during the war years.

A short list of military awards of I.V. Stalin received by him during the Second World War:
Order of Suvorov, 1st class
Medal "For the Defense of Moscow"
Order "Victory"
Medal "Golden Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union
Medal "For victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
Medal "For Victory over Japan"

Kutuzov Mikhail Illarionovich

The greatest Commander and Diplomat!!! Who utterly defeated the troops of the “first European Union”!!!

Romodanovsky Grigory Grigorievich

An outstanding military figure of the 17th century, prince and governor. In 1655, he won his first victory over the Polish hetman S. Pototsky near Gorodok in Galicia. Later, as commander of the army of the Belgorod category (military administrative district), he played a major role in organizing the defense of the southern border of Russia. In 1662, he won the greatest victory in the Russian-Polish war for Ukraine in the battle of Kanev, defeating the traitor hetman Yu. Khmelnytsky and the Poles who helped him. In 1664, near Voronezh, he forced the famous Polish commander Stefan Czarnecki to flee, forcing the army of King John Casimir to retreat. Repeatedly beat the Crimean Tatars. In 1677 he defeated the 100,000-strong Turkish army of Ibrahim Pasha near Buzhin, and in 1678 he defeated the Turkish corps of Kaplan Pasha near Chigirin. Thanks to his military talents, Ukraine did not become another Ottoman province and the Turks did not take Kyiv.

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

Well, who else but him is the only Russian commander who has not lost more than one battle!!!

Golenishchev-Kutuzov Mikhail Illarionovich

(1745-1813).
1. A GREAT Russian commander, he was an example for his soldiers. Appreciated every soldier. “M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov is not only the liberator of the Fatherland, he is the only one who outplayed the hitherto invincible French emperor, turning the “great army” into a crowd of ragamuffins, saving, thanks to his military genius, the lives of many Russian soldiers.”
2. Mikhail Illarionovich, being a highly educated man who knew several foreign languages, dexterous, sophisticated, who knew how to animate society with the gift of words and an entertaining story, also served Russia as an excellent diplomat - ambassador to Turkey.
3. M.I. Kutuzov is the first to become a full holder of the highest military order of St. St. George the Victorious four degrees.

The commander, who was repeatedly placed in the most difficult areas, where he either achieved success in the offensive or defensive, or brought the situation out of crisis, transferred a seemingly inevitable catastrophe into non-defeat, a state of unstable equilibrium.
G.K. Zhukov showed the ability to manage large military formations numbering 800 thousand - 1 million people. At the same time, the specific losses suffered by his troops (i.e., correlated with numbers) turned out to be lower over and over again than those of his neighbors.
Also G.K. Zhukov demonstrated remarkable knowledge of the properties of the military equipment in service with the Red Army - knowledge that was very necessary for the commander of industrial wars.

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich

The youngest and one of the most talented Soviet military leaders. It was during the Great Patriotic War that his enormous talent as a commander and his ability to quickly and correctly make bold decisions were revealed. This is evidenced by his path from division commander (28th tank) to commander of the Western and 3rd Belorussian fronts. For successful military operations, the troops commanded by I.D. Chernyakhovsky were noted 34 times in the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Unfortunately, his life was cut short at the age of 39 during the liberation of Melzak (now Poland).

Fedor Ivanovich Tolbukhin

Major General F.I. Tolbukhin distinguished himself during the Battle of Stalingrad, commanding the 57th Army. The second “Stalingrad” for the Germans was the Iasi-Kishinev operation, in which he commanded the 2nd Ukrainian Front.
One of the galaxy of commanders who were raised and promoted by I.V. Stalin.
The great merit of Marshal of the Soviet Union Tolbukhin was in the liberation of the countries of South-Eastern Europe.