Naval officer Rumyantsev Petr Alekseevich biography. Field Marshal Rumyantsev. From rogue to sage
The founder of Russian military doctrine was Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev. Always and first of all looking at the root of the matter, he understood the originality of Russia and all the differences between the Russian and European military systems - the difference that flowed from this originality.
In the era of domination throughout Europe of soulless Prussian theories, formalism and automatic - “fukhtelny” - training, Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev was the first to put forward moral principles as the basis for the education of troops, and he separated education, moral training from “physical” training. The 60s - 70s of the 18th century are rightly called the “Rumyantsev” period of history Russian army, a period of brilliant victories for the most advanced army in the world.
The future commander was born in 1725. His father was Alexander Ivanovich Rumyantsev, one of the associates of Peter I, and his mother was Maria Andreevna, the granddaughter of the famous boyar Matveev. In his sixth year, the boy was enrolled as a soldier in the guard, and then the training began.
His teacher was the Ukrainian teacher Timofey Mikhailovich Senyutovich, who took a course at the Chernigov “collegium” and then studied “in foreign lands.” different languages" In 1739, young Pyotr Rumyantsev was sent to Berlin to acquire diplomatic service skills under Russian embassy. However, he did not so much study in the capital of Prussia as lead a wild life.
In 1740, Rumyantsev entered the Noble Land Cadet Corps, but studied there for only four months. An ardent young man, free from his father’s care (A.I. Rumyantsev then headed the embassy in Constantinople) could not bear the monotony of his activities.
However, he did not remain ignorant, for he was constantly engaged in self-education and was very fond of reading books. Later, pointing to books, he repeatedly said: “These are my teachers.”
During the Russian-Swedish War of 1741–1743, Rumyantsev was in the active army and already had the rank of captain. The war ended with the signing of a peace treaty with Sweden in Abo, beneficial for Russia.
The Russian delegation at the negotiations was headed by Alexander Ivanovich, who sent his son to the capital with the text of a peace treaty. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna was so pleased with the cessation of hostilities that she granted her father the dignity of count and promoted her son to colonel.
The colonel was only 19 years old. He stood out for his daring, was a favorite of women and knew no bounds in his pranks. The adventures of Pyotr Rumyantsev became known to the empress, and she sent the culprit to his father for paternal indoctrination. Chief General Rumyantsev decided that Colonel Rumyantsev would benefit from the rod. The lesson, apparently, turned out to be timely.
Pyotr Rumyantsev met the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) as a major general, from which time his ascent to the heights of military glory began.
Russian soldiers and officers were afraid of the Prussians, for the army of Frederick the Great was rightly considered the strongest in Europe. In August 1757, Russian and Prussian troops met in the battle of Gross-Jägernsdorf. Rumyantsev, who led the vanguard infantry, led the soldiers in a bayonet attack and decided the fate of the battle in favor of the Russians.
The first victory had the most beneficial effect on the soldiers. She showed that the Prussians could be beaten.
The Russian cavalry also distinguished itself, providing invaluable support to the infantry throughout the war. Her training turned out to be excellent both on horseback and on foot. During the withdrawal of Russian troops after the battle of Zorndorf to Pomerania, twenty dismounted dragoon and horse-grenadier squadrons of Rumyantsev’s detachment detained the twenty-thousand-strong Prussian corps at Pass Krug for the whole day.
Dragoon training (the ability to operate on foot) and the presence of horse artillery made the Russian cavalry capable of doing things that no foreign cavalry could do. Lieutenant General Rumyantsev proved himself to be a wonderful cavalry commander.
However, he received independent command only in 1761, when he led a 24,000-strong corps that besieged the city of Kolberg. Despite the order of Field Marshal Buturlin to stop the siege due to the onset of cold weather, Pyotr Alexandrovich took the fortress on December 5: 2903 prisoners, 146 guns, 20 banners became trophies of that day.
Under Peter III, Rumyantsev became a full general, holder of the Order of St. Anna and St. Andrew the First-Called. The emperor appointed him commander-in-chief of the army sent to Holstein for the war with Denmark.
Rumyantsev was preparing for new victories, but a coup took place in the capital, and Catherine II ascended the throne. The chief general did not swear allegiance to her until he was convinced of Peter’s death. For two years after that he remained out of work.
In 1764, the Empress appointed Rumyantsev Governor-General of Little Russia, giving him the task of helping to eliminate Ukrainian autonomy. In 1765, he traveled all over Ukraine, and on his initiative a population census was conducted. The general fully justified the choice of the monarch: he decisively eliminated the abuses of officials, and with strict justice gradually won the trust of the Ukrainian population.
In 1768, the war with Turkey began. Catherine II appointed Rumyantsev commander of the 2nd Army, which was tasked with protecting the borders from raids Crimean Tatars. The 1st Army was commanded by Prince A.M. Golitsyn, but he acted too cautiously. The Empress was dissatisfied and on September 16, 1769, replaced him with Rumyantsev.
Arriving at the 1st Army at the end of October, the new commander began to restore order. In winter, the troops were actively engaged in combat training. The plan for the 1770 campaign was drawn up by Rumyantsev himself, who obtained from the empress non-interference in his actions. He believed it was necessary to act offensively and energetically. The first decisive battle took place on July 7 on the Larga River. Pyotr Aleksandrovich, having 25 thousand soldiers, attacked the 55 thousand-strong Turkish-Tatar corps at dawn and put the enemy to flight. The Crimean Khan with his cavalry fled to Lake Yaltukh, where he stood until the end of the campaign, inactive.
The victory won over a ten times stronger enemy at Cahul on July 21 glorified the name of Rumyantsev even more.
The Russian army attacked the Turks in three columns and overthrew their crowds. However, a sudden counterattack by 10 thousand Janissaries who attacked the division of General Plemyannikov was almost successful.
Rumyantsev personally rushed into the fray, and his thunderous “Stop, guys!” saved the situation. The destruction of the Janissaries ended the defeat of the Turkish army.
Vizier Moldavanchi, who commanded the army, fled, the Tatar khan followed his example. The Turkish army lost 20 thousand killed and wounded, over 2000 prisoners, up to 300 banners and badges, 203 guns. Russian losses amounted to 960 people. The pursuit of the retreating forces was carried out vigorously.
The cavalry vanguard of General Bauer overtook the Turks at the crossing of the Danube and near Kartal finished off the frustrated hordes, capturing the rest of the artillery (150 guns).
Having crossed the Danube, the vizier was able to gather only 10 thousand people from the entire 150,000-strong army.
After this victory, the fate of the war was decided, but it lasted another three years due to the persistence of the Sultan. The Turkish army was never able to recover from the Cahul defeat. P. A. Rumyantsev followed on the heels of the enemy and successively occupied Izmail, Kiliya, Akkerman, Brailov, Isakcha, and Bendery.
In 1771, he moved hostilities beyond the Danube, and in 1773, successful battles of Russian troops continued. However, the year ended with generally no results.
In 1774, Rumyantsev with a 50,000-strong army opposed the 150,000-strong Turkish army, which concentrated on the heights near Shumla.
The Russian commander with part of his army bypassed the Turkish camp, cut off the vizier's communication with Andrianople, and captured artillery and convoys.
Panic began in the Turkish army. The vizier spoke of peace and accepted all the conditions dictated to him by the winner. So on July 10, the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi peace was concluded.
Count Rumyantsev received the field marshal's baton, the title of Transdanubian, and other awards.
His victories were immortalized by obelisk monuments in St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo. Catherine II wanted the commander to enter Moscow on a triumphal chariot through the triumphal gates, but the field marshal refused.
Further, Field Marshal Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky again ruled Little Russia and contributed to the introduction of all-Russian orders there. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1787–1791, he commanded the 2nd Army, came into conflict with Commander-in-Chief G. A. Potemkin and actually resigned from command.
In 1794, he was nominally listed as the commander of the army operating against Poland, but due to illness he did not leave the estate.
Rumyantsev died in 1796.
The activities of Field Marshal P. A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky largely determined the development of Russian military art in the second half of the 18th century.
For the first time, he used battalion columns for maneuvering on the battlefield and attack; he created light battalions that operated in loose formation. This meant the birth of a new tactic.
The generalship of Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev was characterized by the use of mobile squares, skillful alternation of frontal and flank attacks, the creation and use of tactical reserves, and the organization of interaction between military branches.
The field marshal paid great attention to the material support and education of soldiers. He outlined his ideas in a number of works published in the 60s and 70s of the 18th century.
It is no coincidence that when Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky visited Berlin, all the generals and officers of the Prussian General Staff came to him with hats in hands - “with respect and congratulations,” and the elderly Frederick the Great himself personally commanded a training exercise at the Potsdam training ground in honor of the Russian field marshal , representing the Battle of Cahul.
Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky Pyotr Aleksandrovich had one of the most difficult tasks - in the conditions of dominance in the Russian army of foreigners and admirers of Western European military doctrine, to stubbornly fight for the revival and development of advanced views on military affairs in Russia. Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev (“Russian Belisarius”) became Russia’s first great military leader and administrator rolled into one.
The son of Peter I's associate A.I. Rumyantsev was enrolled in the guard as a child, in 1740 he was promoted to officer and during the Russian-Swedish war of 1741-1743. was in the active army under his father. He brought the text of the Abos peace treaty of 1743 to St. Petersburg, for which he received the rank of colonel and was appointed commander of an infantry regiment. During the Seven Years' War, he successfully commanded a brigade near Gross-Jägersdorf (1757) and a division in the Battle of Kunersdorf. Commanding the corps, he led the siege and capture of the Kolberg fortress (1761).
Rumyantsev's activities as a commander largely determined the development of Russian military art in the 2nd half. XVIII - beginning XIX centuries IN European countries in the second half of the 18th century. The so-called cordon strategy with linear tactics of troops continued to dominate. This meant that the commanders distributed troops with cordons (barriers) evenly along the entire front line. The troops were maneuvering, the war was going on to exhaust the enemy’s forces. Fortresses were considered the main points of defense. On the battlefield, armies were lined up in two lines, each of which had three ranks: infantry in the center, cavalry on the sides, and artillery between them. Large reserves and regiments in reserve were not left, since it was believed that their introduction into battle would disrupt the formation and interfere with the lines’ movement. The cordon strategy was born in Germany, and the famous Prussian army of Frederick II the Great adhered to it.
An integral part of this strategy, and indeed of the entire Prussian military school, was strict discipline of soldiers. The troops were literally trained, ensuring that the general's orders were strictly followed by the officers, and the officers' orders by the soldiers. The private initiative of officers, and even more so of privates, was perceived as an offense for which it should be punished. “A soldier should fear the corporal’s stick more than the enemy,” this formula of the enlightened King Frederick II clearly shows what the emphasis was on when training and educating troops.
Under Peter III, a passionate admirer of Frederick II, in Russia they tried to organize the Russian army according to Prussian principles, which in many respects diverged from the foundations of the Russian army laid by Peter I regular army. The victories of the Russian army in the Seven Years' War caused a skeptical attitude of the Russian military towards the Prussian military school.
General P.A. Rumyantsev began to abandon the cordon doctrine and linear tactics. He was the first to gather troops into a strike group on a decisive sector of the front. In the field command of troops, Rumyantsev carried out reasonable decentralization, trusting commanders to make decisions independently, encouraging the private initiative of officers and soldiers in achieving victory over the enemy. Rumyantsev’s views were shared by the majority of prominent Russian military men: Orlov, Potemkin and, of course,.
This strategy gave brilliant results during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774. The Russian army under the command of Rumyantsev (up to 38 thousand people) in June 1770 defeated the Turks (70 thousand people) at Ryabaya Mogila. And then she won a brilliant victory at the confluence of the Larga and the Prut. Russia's opponents left about 1,000 people killed on the battlefield, while Russian losses amounted to 29 people.
However, the most big victory Rumyantsev won at the river. Cahul. With only 27 thousand soldiers and 118 guns, he completely defeated the 150 thousand strong Turkish army with 150 guns. The success of the Russian army was due to the fact that Rumyantsev ignored the rules of linear construction. He advanced the main forces to the battlefield in several columns under the cover of advanced detachments. This made it possible to strike the Turks with such force that they did not expect. To repel a possible attack by the Turkish cavalry, the Russians formed a special battle formation - a divisional square (a rectangular formation of infantry, artillery was installed in its corners, and cavalry was located inside).
For these victories, General Rumyantsev was awarded the Order of St. George, 1st degree, and promoted to field marshal. Later, for actions on the river. Danube, he was awarded the title of Count of Transdanubia.
Pyotr Rumyantsev: how a hooligan and rowdy became the best commander in Europe On January 15, 1725, Pyotr Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky was born - a commander who created a new Russian school of military strategy and tactics. Tags: Pyotr Rumyantsevhistory of Russiawar with Prussia Illegitimate son of the emperor
When it comes to talking about the most famous and successful commanders in the history of Russia, the name of Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev is rarely mentioned among the first. Meanwhile, it was he who was the founder of the principles of offensive strategy and tactics that brought glory to the Russian army.
But it’s not that Rumyantsev himself was spared fame, but he clearly received it to a lesser extent than he deserved. There were many reasons for this, including the difficult character of the military leader himself...
Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev was born on January 15, 1725 in the family of General-Chief Alexander Ivanovich Rumyantsev and his wife Maria Andreevna Rumyantseva.
According to the widespread version, Pyotr Rumyantsev was born in Transnistria, in the village of Stroentsy, where Maria Rumyantseva was waiting for the return of her husband, sent by Emperor Peter I on a diplomatic mission to Turkey. However, according to another version, Pyotr Rumyantsev was born in Moscow.
Belonging to the ancient Rumyantsev family promised little Petya a great career in public service. Some, however, believe that his origins were even more noble.
The fact is that, according to contemporaries, Peter the Great had the most tender feelings for the wife of his associate Alexander Rumyantsev. Simply put, Maria Rumyantseva was called the emperor's mistress. In this regard, some believed that Petit’s father was not Chief General Rumyantsev, but Peter I.
Hooligan and spendthrift
The newborn was indeed named in honor of the emperor, and his godmother was the wife of Peter I, the future Empress Catherine I.
With the accession of Empress Anna Ioannovna in 1730, the Rumyantsevs fell into disgrace and spent several years in exile on the territory of the Sarov district.
Article on the topic Operation “Successor”. Why didn't Peter the Great prepare a replacement for himself? This, however, did not prevent 10-year-old Petya from enlisting in the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment.
At the same time, the boy himself did not strive to live up to either his high origin or the high hopes of his parents. Peter grew up as a real hooligan who terrified the area and made his father and mother blush with shame.
In 1739, a 14-year-old teenager, educated at home, was assigned to serve in the Russian diplomatic mission in Berlin.
The father hoped that this status would bring his son to reason, but it turned out the other way around - the European air of freedom hit Peter’s head, and the young man went into all sorts of troubles. A year later, Pyotr Rumyantsev was dismissed from the diplomatic mission with the wording “for extravagance, laziness and bullying.” The hooligan and troublemaker were assigned for training to the Land Noble Corps.
And in vain - the only person who found control over him was Rumyantsev Sr. Dad simply flogged his son like Sidorov’s goat, and for a while it helped.
And in the gentry corps, without the supervision of his father, Pyotr Rumyantsev continued to have fun, so much so that in just four months the most experienced and persistent teachers howled at his pranks, begging - take him away from us, for God’s sake, while educational institution at least there's something left.
From second lieutenant to colonel in two years
In 1741, Pyotr Rumyantsev was promoted to second lieutenant and sent to the active army, to the Russian-Swedish war. And here the unexpected happened - yesterday’s hooligan turned into a very capable and courageous young officer who showed himself excellently at Vilmanstrand and Helsingfors.
The 16-year-old second lieutenant shared the hardships of service with his soldiers, did not disdain to eat from the soldier’s cauldron, and strictly ensured that his subordinates were always dressed, shod and fed.
During the two years of the war, Pyotr Rumyantsev rose in the rank of captain and was awarded the high honor - he was tasked with delivering to St. Petersburg a report on the conclusion of the Abos peace, which ended the Russian-Swedish war.
Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, the young officer received the rank of colonel and was appointed commander of the Voronezh infantry regiment.
Article on the topic Chief in the city. Why Prince Golitsyn became the favorite governor of Moscow One could say that Empress Elizaveta Petrovna considered the 18-year-old officer to have a gift for leadership, but in fact it was dizzying career growth Pyotr Rumyantsev was obliged in this case to his surname. Elizaveta Petrovna, unlike her predecessor, favored the Rumyantsevs, especially Peter’s father, and it was with this that the appropriation was connected high rank son.
“Either sew up your ears, or renounce you...”
In 1744, the parents married the 19-year-old colonel to Ekaterina Golitsyna, the daughter of another Peter the Great’s associate and outstanding Russian commander, Prince Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn.
This marriage turned out to be unsuccessful - the young people did not experience any feelings for each other, and their relationship always remained cold, despite the fact that they had three sons.
Pyotr Rumyantsev went on sprees from his unloved wife, and on such wild sprees that all of Russia gossiped about them. The Empress herself, in letters to Rumyantsev Sr., advised flogging the colonel, who had lost all shame. And Alexander Ivanovich Rumyantsev once said bitterly to his son: “It came to me: either sew up my ears and not hear your bad deeds, or renounce you...”
In 1749, Alexander Ivanovich Rumyantsev died. And only then it became clear how much he meant to his son. The death of his father turned out to be a real shock for Pyotr Rumyantsev, after which he completely changed. Yesterday's reveler became a serious man who devoted himself entirely to military service.
At the beginning of glorious deeds
In 1755, Pyotr Rumyantsev was awarded the rank of major general, and a year later the Seven Years' War began, during which his gift as a commander was fully revealed.
On August 30, 1757, in the battle with the Prussian army at Gross-Jägersdorf, General Rumyantsev commanded a reserve of four infantry regiments - Grenadier, Trinity, Voronezh and Novgorod - which was located on the other side of the forest bordering the Jägersdorf field.
Article on the topic Traitor to the Motherland. How Field Marshal Apraksin deprived Russia of a historic victory At the height of the battle, when the Russian right flank began to retreat under the attacks of the Prussians, Rumyantsev, without orders, on his own initiative, threw his fresh reserve against the left flank of the Prussian infantry. The volley and bayonet attack of Rumyantsev's soldiers tipped the scales of the battle in favor of the Russian army. Pyotr Rumyantsev was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of a division.
In 1758, the name of Rumyantsev began to strike fear among experienced Prussian military leaders. Already in January of that year, the troops of Russian generals Rumyantsev and Saltykov occupied the entire East Prussia. In the summer of 1758, General Rumyantsev, at the head of the cavalry, covered the maneuvers of the Russian army and did not give the Prussians a single chance to strike at the main forces.
After the Battle of Zorndorf, General Rumyantsev once again demonstrated his ability to baffle the Prussians: covering the withdrawal of the main forces, 20 dismounted dragoons and horse-grenadier squadrons of Rumyantsev’s detachment detained the 20,000-strong Prussian corps for the whole day.
How General Rumyantsev destroyed the pride of the Prussian army
On August 12, 1759, the Battle of Kunersdorf took place, in which the best forces of the Prussian army of Frederick II were opposed by the allied Russian-Austrian forces.
Rumyantsev's division was located in the center of Russian positions, at the height of the Big Spitz. The Prussian army broke through the left flank and hit Rumyantsev's division. Enemy artillery fell on his soldiers, after which the famous Prussian heavy cavalry under the command of Friedrich Seydlitz delivered its terrible blow.
It seemed impossible to withstand this onslaught, but the Russians did not give up their positions. And at the decisive moment, Pyotr Rumyantsev personally led his soldiers in a bayonet counterattack. Frederick's army began to retreat, and then completely ran. The Prussian king also fled, having lost his famous cocked hat on the battlefield, which became a trophy of the Russian army. And Seydlitz's cavalry, the pride of the Prussian army, was completely defeated.
For the victory at Kunersdorf, Pyotr Rumyantsev was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.
Rumyantsev acted unconventionally on the battlefield, forcing the enemy to get confused in his own rearrangements. His actions not only led to the defeat of the Prussian army, they completely dispelled the myth that the strategy and tactics of Frederick II's army were the best in the world.
Capture of Kohlberg
In 1761, General Rumyantsev played a key role in the last major battle of the Seven Years' War - the siege and capture of Kolberg. Rumyantsev with 18 thousand Russian troops, separately from the rest of them, approached Kolberg and attacked the fortified camp of the Prince of Württemberg (12 thousand people), which covered the approaches to the city. By capturing the camp, Rumyantsev began the siege of Kolberg. The Baltic Fleet assisted him in the blockade of the city. The siege lasted 4 months and ended on December 16 with the surrender of the garrison. The siege turned out to be difficult - the fortress was powerful, had large reserves of food and ammunition, and Prussian troops operated effectively in the rear of the Russian troops. During these 4 months, the Military Council decided three times to lift the blockade, the same recommendation was given by the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops, Buturlin, but Rumyantsev, in defiance of everyone, continued the siege, forcing Kolberg to capitulate. After the victory, 3,000 prisoners, 20 banners, 173 guns were taken.
Reproduction from the painting “The Capture of the Kolberg Fortress” by Alexander Kotzebue Rumyantsev was talked about as the best commander in Europe, who replaced existing military models with completely new tactical and strategic techniques, in particular the conduct of high-speed maneuverable warfare. These techniques were subsequently developed and perfected by Alexander Suvorov.
King Frederick II of Prussia considered the war lost and was thinking about abdicating the throne. Only a miracle could save him. That's what happened. The seriously ill Empress Elizaveta Petrovna managed to receive a report from Rumyantsev about the capture of Kolberg, but died the next day.
Commander against the coup
Question and answer What reforms did you want to carry out? Peter III? The new Emperor Peter III, a passionate admirer of Frederick II, immediately stopped the war, returned all the territories conquered by the Russians, and offered military assistance to the Prussians in the fight against Russia's former allies. The Russian Guard took this as an insult. What emotions Pyotr Rumyantsev himself experienced inside is known only to him. But here's a strange thing - yesterday's hooligan, who did not recognize any rules, this time turned out to be one of those Russian generals who followed the old military wisdom“Orders are not discussed - orders are carried out.”
Rumyantsev, promoted to general-in-chief, was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army in Pomerania and was preparing, together with yesterday’s enemies, to invade Denmark.
Article on the topic From Fike to the Mistress of Russia. 10 facts about the early years of Catherine the Great The coup of 1762, during which Catherine II ascended the throne, caught him behind this preparation. And again, General Rumyantsev behaved in a way that was not expected from him - he did not swear allegiance to the new empress until the death of Peter III became known.
Such demonstrative disapproval of the coup could have resulted in serious consequences for Pyotr Rumyantsev. Without waiting for them, the general resigned, believing that his career was over.
However, the new empress considered that losing such a valuable person as Rumyantsev was unacceptable, despite the fact that she, of course, was not very pleased with the general’s behavior during the coup.
Governor-General of Little Russia
In 1764, Pyotr Rumyantsev was appointed governor-general of Little Russia with instructions to promote a closer unification of Little Russia with Russia administratively. Pyotr Rumyantsev held this position until his death.
Rumyantsev proved himself to be a talented administrator, starting, so to speak, with taking inventory. A “general inventory” of Little Russia was carried out, which went down in history under the name of the Rumyantsev inventory. This made it possible for the first time to establish the exact population of the region, as well as its property status.
Under Rumyantsev, Little Russia, which previously was, as they now say, a “subsidized region,” turned into a developed “donor region.”
Article on the topic Prince of Tauride. The genius and vanity of Grigory Potemkin In 1768, the Russian-Turkish war began, at the first stage of which Rumyantsev was entrusted with command of the Second Army, which was entrusted with auxiliary functions.
However, the slowness and indecision of the commander of the main forces, Prince Golitsyn, forced Catherine II to replace him with Rumyantsev.
Rumyantsev remained faithful to the tactics that brought him success during the Seven Years' War - he needed to act quickly, decisively, moving forward.
Turkish nightmare
On July 18, 1770, at Larga, Rumyantsev’s 25,000-strong corps defeated the 80,000-strong Turkish-Tatar corps.
On August 1, 1770, on the Cahul River, Rumyantsev’s 32,000-strong army, which had 118 guns, fought a battle with a 150,000-strong Turkish-Tatar army, which had 140 guns. Despite the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy, Rumyantsev's well-trained and well-organized soldiers defeated the enemy, putting him to flight. The ratio of losses looked simply incredible - less than 400 for the Russians versus 20,000 for the Turks.
Even his old enemy, the Prussian King Frederick, congratulated Rumyantsev on this victory with a personal letter.
Rumyantsev continued to pursue the Turks, taking city after city, leading the enemy army into complete disorder.
The war, however, dragged on for several years, since the Turks, having a large reserve of manpower, counted on a radical change in the situation.
In 1774, Rumyantsev with a 50,000-strong army opposed the 150,000-strong Turkish army, which, avoiding battle, concentrated on the heights near Shumla. Rumyantsev with part of his army bypassed the Turkish camp and cut off the vizier's communication with Adrianople, which caused such panic in the Turkish army that the vizier accepted all peace terms.
Question and answer To whom and for what is the Order of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called awarded? On July 21, 1775, the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty was concluded. On the same day, Empress Catherine II, by personal Highest Decree, ordered Field Marshal Count Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev to add the name “Zadunaysky” to his surname (“to glorify the dangerous crossing of the Danube”) and to be called Count Rumyantsev-Zadunaysky; granted a certificate describing his victories, a field marshal's baton with diamonds (“for reasonable military leadership”), a sword with diamonds (“for brave enterprises”), laurel and Maslenitsa wreaths decorated with diamonds (“for victories”), and the same cross and the star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. The Empress also presented the commander with a village in Belarus of 5 thousand souls, 100 thousand rubles from his office to build a house, a silver service and paintings for decorating the rooms. The Empress also immortalized Rumyantsev’s victories with obelisk monuments in Tsarskoe Selo and St. Petersburg. He was even offered to “enter Moscow on a triumphal chariot through the ceremonial gates,” but Rumyantsev refused.
Rumyantsev and favorite
Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev reached the zenith of his fame. To the post of Governor-General of Little Russia, he added the posts of governor of Kursk and Kharkov, thanks to which he soon became the owner of a huge fortune and huge land holdings. At the same time, which is typical, the territories entrusted to his leadership successfully developed and did not fall into decay.
Article on the topic “Crimea is yours”. This is what Potemkin wrote to Catherine II back in 1782. With the outbreak of the new Russian-Turkish war in 1787, Rumyantsev was again appointed commander of the second army, this time under the commander main army Grigory Potemkin.
However, the new campaign did not bring glory to Rumyantsev - the 62-year-old military leader became very fat, became inactive, and was often sick. But most importantly, Rumyantsev did not have a good relationship with Potemkin. Peter Alexandrovich did not consider the empress’s favorite a professional military man and was burdened by subordination to him. Potemkin, in turn, dreamed of personal triumphs, on the way to which he considered Rumyantsev an obstacle.
In fact, thanks to Potemkin, Rumyantsev was deprived of any powers and was bound in his actions. In 1789, the field marshal submitted his resignation, which was granted.
Special honor
He left for Little Russia, to the Tashan estate, which he never left. In 1794, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army operating against Poland, but in reality this was a nominal appointment - Rumyantsev did not leave his estate.
He lived in complete solitude, not even accepting his own children, and died on December 19, 1796. The commander was buried in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
Two episodes testify to Rumyantsev’s authority in Europe. Austrian Emperor Joseph II behind his dining table he always kept an extra utensil - as he said, for Rumyantsev, mentally believing him to be present at his meal.
When Field Marshal Rumyantsev arrived in Berlin in 1776, his old enemy, King Frederick II of Prussia, gave him a reception that no crowned person had ever received. In honor of the hero of Kunersdorf and Cahul, the regiments of the Prussian army marched in front, and the entire German generals were required to attend the military review.
Count PETER ALEXANDROVICH RUMYANTSEV-ZADUNAYSKY, 1725-1796, was born in 1725 from the marriage of Peter I’s orderly Alexander Ivanovich Rumyantsev with Countess Marya Andreevna Matveeva. Peter 1, who arranged the wedding of Rumyantsev with his frivolous and unfaithful mistress, Matveeva, showed great affection for the young Rumyantseva after this marriage. P. A. Rumyantsev, according to legend, the son of the Great Transformer of Russia, saw the light in the Moldavian village of Stroentsy at a time when his mother was traveling to meet her husband, for a long time who was absent, in Constantinople; Ekaterina I was his godmother. Enlisted in the regiment in 1731, Rumyantsev in 1740 was sent as a nobleman at the embassy to Berlin “to acquire diplomatic skills”; but the young man insisted that “he has no inclination towards the civil rank and training for it,” and was distinguished by such “wastefulness and laziness that Envoy Brakel hastened to get rid of him. Placed in the Noble Corps in 1740, Rumyantsev did not get along there either and entered active military service, in which after 4 years he reached the rank of colonel. In the Seven Years' War, he took part in the rank of major general (from December 25, 1755), commanding a separate corps, and at Gross-Egersdorf he decided the victory in favor of the Russians and took Kolberg. Having received from Elizabeth the rank of lieutenant general (January 5, 1758) and the Order of Alexander Nevsky (August 18, 1759), Rumyantsev became the favorite of her successor, who granted him the rank of general-in-chief and holder of orders. St. Anna 1 tbsp. and intended to make him commander-in-chief in the war he had planned against Denmark. Catherine 2, wanting to take advantage of Rumyantsev’s talents, hastened to dissuade him that “his former favourite, would serve him as a disgrace.” In 1764, Rumyantsev was appointed governor-general of Little Russia and for 30 years he was an active assistant to Catherine in carrying out reforms aimed at eradicating Ukrainian separatism, this “innermost hatred of the local people against the local (Great Russian) people.”
At the beginning of the Turkish War Rumyantsev was appointed head of the second army, which served for defensive purposes. Dissatisfied with the slowness of Prince Golitsyn, Catherine appointed Rumyantsev commander-in-chief in August 1769. Having crossed the Dniester in May 1770, Rumyantsev had to conduct a campaign in extremely unfavorable conditions, with forces several times smaller than the enemy, in a little-studied country, with a shortage of provisions and with a raging plague. “I’m trying,” Rumyantsev wrote to Ekaterina, “to put more thoughts into the enemy than the essence of my direct forces, and to cover up the lack thereof with the guise of offensive actions.” This tactic gave Rumyantsev two famous victories at Larga (July 7) and at Cahul (July 21), for which he received; under the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi peace, Rumyantsev received title of "Transdanubian" and diamonds decorated with a field marshal's baton, a sword, a laurel wreath, an olive branch and diamonds insignia of the Order of St. Andrey; a medal with his image was stamped in his honor; “for his amusement” he was granted 3000 souls, 100/t. rubles, silver service and paintings. Upon returning to Little Russia, the Field Marshal continued to enjoy the favors of the Empress: in 1782. .
, in 1784 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Horse Guards; During the second Turkish war, they did not dare to bypass Rumyantsev directly, but entrusted him with only nominal leadership of the armies. Catherine, calling him to his face “the adored Belisarius,” behind his back expressed a desire to sell him off, finding “his stay in the army harmful to her affairs.”
Rumyantsev survived Catherine by one month: on December 4, 1796, he was struck by a stroke, from which he died on December 8 in his Little Russian estate of Taman; buried in the Great Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
Count Rumyantsev enjoyed a reputation as a great commander. Frederick 2 told his generals: “Beware, as much as possible, of this dog - Rumyantsev, others are not dangerous for us”; before the second Turkish War, Turkish spies found out whether Rumyantsev was alive. He possessed extraordinary “military agility,” intelligence and energy, and enjoyed enormous authority among the troops as a “straightforward soldier” exposed to all the dangers of battle. One of his shouts: “Stop, guys,” could stop the ranks of soldiers crushed by the enemy. He had “the fastest flow of thoughts and the most expansive gift of speech,” “he knew the laws of our country perfectly,” he read all the papers himself and had the reputation of a person who always “manages to unsubscribe.” Panegyrists found in him, with the “bravery of Achilles,” and the “virtue of Aeneas”; but impartial people argued that, although he was a “great commander,” he was a “small soul,” an envious, proud, stingy and generally vicious person. In general, Count Rumyantsev was a major figure, a historical figure and had some similarities with the monarch who patronized his mother. Both Peter 2 and Rumyantsev had the talents of a ruler and commander, personal courage and love of education. Like Peter, Rumyantsev admired foreign science and military art. Neither Peter nor Rumyantsev possessed the “virtues of Aeneas,” purity of morals and affection for the family. Like Peter, Rumyantsev was a “fiery” young man who wanted to unleash his valiant prowess to the fullest extent in revelries and excesses “with soldiers, lackeys and other idle people,” with the only difference that everyone bowed to the “fun” of the monarch, while for the subject it was was considered “the most disgusting pranks,” for which he had to answer to some envoy Brakel. Obedient to parents, like all people of the old upbringing, Petr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev, like Peter, abandoned his “submissive and faithful” wife and was extremely indifferent to his children.
Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev was one of the outstanding Russian commanders. His successes in the wars with Prussia and Turkey marked the beginning of the glory of Russian weapons in Europe. He gave rise to future successes and.
In August 1756, the Seven Years' War began in Europe. On one side were the participants in the Whitehall Treaty of England and Prussia, on the other side were the participants in the Triple Alliance of Russia, Austria and France. On August 19, 1757, the first battle between the Russian army and Prussian troops took place.
The Russian losses were huge, vanity and confusion began. The outcome of the battle was decided by Rumyantsev, who, without an order from the commander-in-chief, reorganized the infantry under artillery fire and led it through the forest to the rear of the enemy. The Prussian army did not expect such a turn of events, and was swept away by Russian soldiers.
Pyotr Alexandrovich was entrusted with command of the cavalry corps. In a war situation, he had to study new sciences, establish order and discipline, and solve economic problems. He coped well with all the difficulties, and he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general.
In the seven-year war he showed himself with best side. The cavalry detachment under his leadership fearlessly went on the attack and mercilessly pricked the enemy. For his successes at the front, he was awarded the Order of the Saint, and received cash gift from the Austrian Archduchess Maria Theresien. And for the capture of the Kolberg fortress in December 1761, he was worthy of the title of general-in-chief.
After the war, by order of Catherine II, he became closely involved in the affairs of the army. He formed new principles of warfare. Made the army more mobile and flexible. On September 25, 1768, the war began with Ottoman Empire. A year after its start, Rumyantsev takes command of the first army to lead fighting in Moldavia and Wallachia.
The governor won his first victory in this company over the enemy in June 1770 over a united army of Turks and Crimean Tatars twice as numerous. A little later, between the Largo and Bibikul rivers, Russian troops discovered the enemy and defeated him. The Turks fled, leaving 33 cannons on the battlefield. On July 21, the Battle of Cahul took place. The Russian army defeated selected detachments of the Turks, who outnumbered them.
The Battle of Cahul greatly changed the course of the war. The Russians practically occupied Turkish fortresses without firing a single shot.
The winner was well rewarded. Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev now began to be honorably called Transdunaysky. The military leader received the cross and star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, a village in Belarus, and a monetary award. He lived another 20 years, but after the war with the Turks, he no longer participated in military campaigns.
