Mikhail Kutuzov
Mikhail Kutuzov was born in Saint Petersburg on the 16th of September 1745. His father served for thirty years with the Corps of Engineers and saw action against the Turks under Peter the Great. His mother Anna Illarionovna Beklemisheva came from a family of high Russian nobility. This background gave him early contact with the imperial Romanov family. At age twelve he entered an elite military-engineering school as a cadet private. He quickly became popular with peers and teachers alike while proving himself highly intelligent. He showed bravery during numerous horse-races held by the school. Kutuzov studied both military and civil subjects there to prepare for his future career. He learned to speak French, German and English fluently before moving on to other languages. Later studies included Polish, Swedish and Turkish which served him well throughout his long life.
In October 1768 the Ottoman Empire declared war on Empress Catherine the Great. Two years later Kutuzov joined Count Pyotr Rumyantsev's army to fight the Turks in the south. Though he served valiantly he received no medals because another officer reported that Kutuzov mocked Rumyantsev behind his back. He was transferred to Prince Vasily Dolgorukov-Krymsky's Second Army fighting Tatars in Crimea. In 1774 he was ordered to storm the town of Alushta on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula. When his troops faltered Kutuzov grabbed the fallen regimental standard and led the attack forward. While charging he was shot in the left temple by an almost certainly fatal wound at the time. The bullet went right through his head and exited near the right eye. He slowly recovered though frequently overcome by sharp pains and dizziness. His right eye remained permanently twisted after the injury. He left the army later that year due to this severe wound. His pain did not subside so he decided to travel to Western Europe for better medical care. He arrived in Berlin in 1774 where he spent much time with King Frederick the Great of Prussia. They discussed tactics weaponry and uniforms during long periods together. He then travelled to Leyden in Holland and London in England for further treatment. In London he first learned of the American Revolutionary War.
Kutuzov returned to the Russian Army in 1776 and served under Suvorov again in the Crimea for six years. By 1782 he had been promoted to brigadier general as Suvorov recognised his potential as a shrewd leader. Suvorov wrote that he would not even have to tell Kutuzov what needed done for him to carry out objectives. In 1788 he was wounded again in the left temple almost exactly the same place as before. Doctors feared for his life yet he recovered despite worse head-pains. His right eye became even more twisted than before. In 1784 he became a major general and governor-general of the Crimea by 1787. Under Suvorov he won considerable distinction at the taking of Ochakov Odessa Bender and Izmail. He fought in battles of Rymnik in 1789 and Mashin in July 1791. He became lieutenant-general in March 1791 and successively occupied positions including ambassador at Istanbul. He commanded Russian forces in Finland and served as commandant of the corps of cadets at Saint Petersburg. He acted as ambassador at Berlin and finally became governor-general of Saint Petersburg from 1801 to 1802. In 1798 he became a general of the infantry. He was a favourite of Tsar Paul I who reigned from 1796 to 1801.
In 1805 Kutuzov commanded the Russian corps to oppose Napoleon's advance on Vienna. The Austrians were quickly defeated at Ulm in mid-October before they could meet their Russian allies. Kutuzov was present at the battle of Austerlitz on the 2nd of December 1805. On the eve of battle he tried to convince Allied generals of the necessity of waiting for reinforcements. Alexander believed that waiting would be seen as cowardly by his enemies. Kutuzov quickly realised he no longer had any power with Alexander or Austrian chief of staff Franz von Weyrother. When he asked where Alexander planned to move troops he was told it was none of his business. Alexander's orders made clear Russians should move off strategic Pratzen Plateau despite Kutuzov's objections. Kutuzov stalled for as long as possible since he recognised the advantage Napoleon would gain from this high ground. Finally Alexander forced him to abandon the Plateau and Napoleon seized the ridge immediately. French artillery now commanded the battlefield from the Pratzen Plateau and broke Allied lines. Over 27,000 Russian and Austrian soldiers became casualties in the lost battle. Kutuzov was put in charge of organising army retreat across Hungary back into Russia while Alexander remained overcome by grief.
When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly chose scorched earth principles over major battles. His strategy aroused grudges among most generals and soldiers who wanted to fight. As Alexander needed a new general after Smolensk there was only one choice: Kutuzov. He was popular among troops mainly because he was Russian unlike most foreign commanding officers. He looked out for troops' well-being and strongly believed in the Russian Orthodox Church. Nobles and clergy also regarded him highly so when appointed commander-in-chief on the 17th of August support grew. He joined the army on the 29th of August 1812 at Tsaryovo-Zaymishche though Alexander did not celebrate his commission. Within a week Kutuzov decided to give major battle on approaches to Moscow. Two huge armies clashed near Borodino on the 7th of September 1812 involving nearly quarter million soldiers. French losses reached near third of their army killed or wounded despite higher Russian casualties. On Sunday afternoon military council at Fili discussed risks and agreed to abandon Moscow without fighting. After losing Moscow whose population evacuated Kutuzov withdrew to rich southeast of city. On the 3rd of October he and entire staff arrived at Tarutino where surrounding hills protected them from attack.
Early in 1813 Kutuzov fell ill and died on the 28th of April 1813 at Bunzlau in Silesia then part of Kingdom of Prussia. Today that location is Bolesławiec Poland. Memorials have been erected there and at Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow before Kazan Cathedral in Saint Petersburg. He is buried at Kazan Cathedral by sculptor Boris Orlovsky. He had five daughters with spouse Princess Catherine Ilytchina Kutuzova née Bibikova who lived from 1754 to 1824. His only son Nicolay died of smallpox as infant so estates passed to Tolstoy family through eldest daughter Praskovya. She married Count Matvei Fyodorovich Tolstoy between 1772 and 1815. Alexander I awarded him victory title of His Serene Highness Knyaz Golenishchev-Kutuzov-Smolensky for Battle of Krasnoi at Smolensk in November 1812. The word Smolensky literally means of Smolensk. This honor came after he successfully executed strategy of attrition warfare against Napoleon's Grande Armée.
Today Kutuzov remains held in high regard alongside Barclay de Tolly and his mentor Suvorov. Alexander Pushkin addressed Field Marshal in famous elegy on Kutuzov's sepulchre while Leo Tolstoy clearly idolised him. In War and Peace published 1869 elderly sick Kutuzov plays major role during war sections. He portrayed as gentle spiritual man far removed from cold arrogance of Napoleon yet with clearer vision of true nature warfare. Tolstoy wrote that sentiment elevated Kutuzov to high pinnacle of humanity where he employed efforts not to kill but save men. During World War II Soviet government established Order of Kutuzov which preserved among highest military awards in Russia today. One key strategic operation named Orel Strategic Offensive Operation Kutuzov ran from the 12th of July to the 18th of August 1943. No less than ten Russian towns named Kutuzovo during Soviet era honored general including former German town Schirwindt now Kutuzovo. Largest prospekt of Moscow bears name since 1952 while Sverdlov-class cruiser commissioned 1954 now museum ship in Novorossiysk. At least twenty-four ships identified across United Kingdom United States Russian Empire Soviet Union and Russia bore his name from May 1813 to 2020.
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Common questions
When and where was Mikhail Kutuzov born?
Mikhail Kutuzov was born in Saint Petersburg on the 16th of September 1745. His father served for thirty years with the Corps of Engineers and his mother Anna Illarionovna Beklemisheva came from a family of high Russian nobility.
What happened to Mikhail Kutuzov during the storming of Alushta in 1774?
While charging at the town of Alushta, Mikhail Kutuzov was shot in the left temple by an almost certainly fatal wound that went right through his head and exited near the right eye. He slowly recovered though frequently overcome by sharp pains and dizziness while his right eye remained permanently twisted after the injury.
Why did Mikhail Kutuzov lose power before the battle of Austerlitz on the 2nd of December 1805?
Mikhail Kutuzov lost power because Emperor Alexander believed waiting for reinforcements would be seen as cowardly and ordered troops off the strategic Pratzen Plateau despite Kutuzov's objections. When Kutuzov asked where Alexander planned to move troops he was told it was none of his business and Napoleon seized the ridge immediately.
When did Mikhail Kutuzov become commander-in-chief of the Russian army in 1812?
Mikhail Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief on the 17th of August 1812 and joined the army on the 29th of August 1812 at Tsaryovo-Zaymishche. He decided to give a major battle on approaches to Moscow two weeks later when two huge armies clashed near Borodino on the 7th of September 1812.
Where and when did Mikhail Kutuzov die during the year 1813?
Mikhail Kutuzov died on the 28th of April 1813 at Bunzlau in Silesia which is now Bolesławiec Poland. He is buried at Kazan Cathedral by sculptor Boris Orlovsky after falling ill early in 1813.