Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov | |
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Portrait of Field Marshal Kutuzov
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Born |
Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire |
16 September 1745
Died | 28 April 1813 Bunzlau, Kingdom of Prussia (now Bolesławiec, Poland) |
(aged 67)
Buried | Kazan Cathedral, Saint Petersburg |
Allegiance | Russian Empire |
Service/branch | Imperial Russian Army |
Years of service | 1759–1813 |
Rank | Field Marshal |
Commands held | Commander in Chief of Austro-Russian force in the Third Coalition Commander in Chief of Imperial Russian Army in Patriotic war of 1812 |
Battles/wars |
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Awards | Duke of Smolensk 1st class Order of St. George |
Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (Russian: князь Михаи́л Илларио́нович Голени́щев-Куту́зов; 16 September [O.S. 5 September] 1745 – 28 April [O.S. 16 April] 1813) was a Field Marshal of the Russian Empire. He served as one of the finest military officers and diplomats of Russia under the reign of three Romanov Tsars: Catherine II, Paul I and Alexander I. His military career was closely associated with the rising period of Russia from the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century. Kutuzov is considered to have been one of the best Russian generals.
He was born in Saint Petersburg in 1745 to a family of Novgorod nobility. His father was a Russian general and senator. Kutuzov began military schooling at age 12 and joined the Imperial Russian Army in 1759. Three years later Kutuzov became a company commander in the Astrakhan Infantry Regiment under Alexander Suvorov. He took part in crushing the Polish Bar Confederation rebellion. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 he served in the staff of Pyotr Rumyantsev at Moldova for the battles of Larga and Kagul. In July 1774 at Crimea, Kutuzov was severely wounded by a bullet that went through his temple and out near his right eye, which became permanently scarred. He returned to Crimea in 1776 to assist Suvorov and conducted negotiations with the last Crimean khan Girey, convincing him to abdicate and submit to Russia.