Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly: brief biography, main dates and events of his life. Faithfully and truly for the Tsar and the Fatherland Barclay de Tolly what army

There is still debate about the exact place and time of birth of Michael Barclay de Tolly. This is due to the lack of sources covering the very first period of the life of the outstanding commander.

Origin

According to the official biography, which appears in most textbooks and reference books, Mikhail Bogdanovich was born on December 16, 1761. This happened in the small Lithuanian estate of Pamushise. This territory belonged to the Duchy of Courland, which was vassal to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1795, this region of Lithuania, together with the estate, became part of Russia, according to the third partition of Poland.

But long before this, the father took the child to be raised with relatives whose nationality can be interpreted differently; he had Norman-German roots. His ancestors moved to Riga from Germany. Mikhail’s grandfather was even the burgomaster of this city. The father of the future commander served in the Russian army and retired with the rank of lieutenant and received noble status. In the family the boy's name was in the German manner - Michael-Anders.

Beginning of a military career

Barclay de Tolly, whose nationality did not prevent him from living in the Russian capital, received an excellent education and knew several European languages. From childhood he became interested in military theory. This is not surprising, because the child was raised in the house of his uncle, a colonel of the Novotroitsk cuirassier regiment.

In 1776, the Pskov Carabinieri Regiment accepted new cadets into its ranks. Among their ranks was the young Barclay de Tolly. His brief biography says that the young man’s career advancement proceeded at a rapid pace. In the Finnish Jaeger Corps, the newly-minted captain became the adjutant of General Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg. This was a distant relative of Empress Catherine II.

In 1787, another war broke out with the Ottoman Empire, in which Barclay de Tolly took part. His brief biography included information about the assault on Ochakov, where the officer received real combat training. For his participation in it, M.B. Barclay de Tolly was awarded his first orders.

In 1789, the major took part in fierce battles with the Turks. At the same time, the Prince of Anhalt-Bernuberg, together with his adjutant, was transferred to the Finnish army. She was already fighting with all her might against the Swedes (the war of 1788-1790). In one of the assaults, Victor Amadeus was mortally wounded, after which M. B. Barclay de Tolly was transferred to the capital.

Then, in 1791, the officer married his cousin Elena. There were several children in their family, but only one son did not die in infancy (Ernst).

Service under Alexander I

Barclay de Tolly, whose brief biography tells of numerous moves, continued to faithfully serve the Russian army. In the 90s of the 18th century, he participated in the suppression of Polish uprisings led by Kosciuszko. In the end he became a major general.

At this time the Napoleonic Wars began. The young emperor entered into yet another campaign. The 1805 campaign found Mikhail Bogdanovich in the army of General Leontius Bennigsen. This formation did not have time to come to the rescue of Kutuzov’s main units near Austerlitz. Therefore, Mikhail Barclay de Tolly returned to Russia without seeing the crushing defeat of the Allied army.

Failure did not break Alexander's desire to defeat Napoleon. Literally a year later, the War of the Fourth Coalition began, when Prussia attacked France, and Berlin eventually fell. Russian units went to the rescue of the Germans.

In February 1807, Barclay de Tolly took part in the Battle of Preussisch-Eylau. He, together with Bagration, led the rearguard of the Russian army, which was hit by the corps of Soult and Murat. Mikhail Bogdanovich was wounded in the right leg, after which he went to Memel for treatment.

Here in April of the same year he met with Alexander I, who at that time was trying to diplomatically soften the defeat from Napoleon. The officer first suggested that the emperor use scorched earth tactics. Under her, the enemy was cut off from his own rear with provisions and resources. At the same time, the enemy had to operate in a territory plundered and devoid of infrastructure. As it turned out in the future, it was precisely this tactic that gave results in the Patriotic War of 1812.

Finnish War

Russia divided Europe with France into zones of influence. This allowed Alexander to send an army to Finland to take it from Sweden. Barclay de Tolly, whose short biography already included many campaigns, was sent to Cupio. His corps took this city and held an important point despite several enemy assaults.

After this, the officer with his Vas corps walked across the ice of the Kvarken Strait and took the defenseless Swedish Umeå. This confirmed the final victory of Russia.

Thanks to his successes, Barclay de Tolly first became the Governor-General of Finland, and then the Minister of War. His rapid rise did not please the envious people, who saw his opponent as nothing more than an upstart. Moreover, Mikhail had German roots, which did not benefit him in the future.

Patriotic War of 1812

When Napoleon attacked Russia in 1812, Mikhail Bogdanovich commanded the First Western Army. He had to retreat in order to lead the enemy deep into the country, where he would be weakened and cut off from his homeland. In Smolensk, he united with the army of Bagration, who soon began to accuse Barclay de Tolly of his inability to lead the army.

As a result, overall command was transferred to Mikhail Kutuzov. In the Battle of Borodino, the officer led the right wing of the army. When the fate of the capital was being decided, Barclay de Tolly was among those who voted to leave Moscow.

When a turning point occurred and the Russian army launched a counter-offensive, the commander received leave, including due to the fact that in the Winter Palace many of his colleagues undeservedly scolded the “German”.

Last years

After World War II, Barclay de Tolly took part in the Foreign Campaign. He attended many battles, including the “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig. For his success and faithful service he became a count and field marshal.

In 1818, the hero of our story asked for leave to go to German mineral waters in order to receive treatment. However, he never managed to reach the goal and died on the way on May 14 (26). The field marshal was buried with full honors, and his ashes were interred on the family estate in the Baltic states. The first monument to Barclay de Tolly appeared already in 1823. At the expense of his widow, a mausoleum was erected, which was plundered during the Second World War.

Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich (Mikhail Andreas) (1761-1818), prince (1815), Russian commander, field marshal general (1814).

Born on December 24, 1761 on the Pamushise estate in Livonia province. Grandson of the mayor of Riga, son of a Russian army officer. He came from a Scottish family in the 17th century. moved to the Baltic states.

He entered military service in 1776. During the storming of Ochakov on December 17, 1788, Barclay de Tolly showed courage and composure, for which he received the rank of second major. After that, he took part in the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790; commanded a battalion of the St. Petersburg Grenadier Regiment during the war with Poland (1792-1794). For the capture of Vilna (now Vilnius) he was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree and another promotion in rank.

In January 1807, in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, he was seriously wounded in the right arm, then was treated in Memel, where Alexander I visited him. From that time on, Barclay enjoyed the personal favor of the emperor.

In 1809, Barclay became an infantry general, commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in Finland and governor-general of this province, and in 1810 he was appointed by the emperor to the post of minister of war. Since March 12, 1812 - he was the commander of the 1st Western Army. Retreat from the borders at the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812. Barclay explained this: “The fate of the empire depended on the preservation of the army entrusted to me... I tired and restrained the enemy.”

After the surrender of Smolensk, many reproaches were brought against the general, including accusations of cowardice and treason. The troops stopped greeting the commander with shouts of “Hurray!” On August 17, a new commander-in-chief, M.I. Kutuzov, arrived in the army, called upon to replace the unpopular general and stop the enemy.

On the day of the Battle of Borodino (August 26, 1812), Barclay, by his own admission, “was looking for death - and did not find it.” Five horses were killed under him. The heroism of Mikhail Bogdanovich was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree. “Providence has spared the life that burdens me,” he wrote to Alexander I shortly after the battle. Illness and a feeling of uselessness forced him to leave the army and the post of minister.

In Kaluga, stones were thrown at the commander’s carriage, and shouts were heard: “Here comes the traitor!” However, Alexander I retained confidence in the military leader and waited for an opportunity to return him to the active army.

On February 16, 1813, Barclay replaced Admiral P.V. Chichagov as commander of the small 3rd Army and began with the successful siege of the Tron fortress, taken on the same day, and the defeat of the French division at Koenigswart. In the Battle of Bautzen (May 8-9, 1813) he prevented the French Marshal M. Ney from bypassing the right wing of the Allies. In May 1813, Alexander I granted the request of the commander-in-chief of the Russian-Prussian army, Count P. X. Wittgenstein, to appoint Barclay to his position.

For participation in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig (October 4-6, 1813), Mikhail Bogdanovich was elevated to the dignity of count. By the end of the war, awards literally showered him: the Prussian Black Eagle ribbon, a sword with diamonds and laurels, the rank of field marshal general (for the capture of Paris), the post of commander-in-chief of the army.

However, by the beginning of 1818, the commander’s health had deteriorated so much that he asked the emperor’s permission to go to Germany for treatment. Died on May 14, 1818 on the way (Stilitzen Manor near Insterburg).

The wonderful poem by A.S. Pushkin “Commander” Gives a sad picture of the end of Barclay de Tolly’s life... Here is the ending...
ъ Oh people! a pitiful race worthy of tears and laughter!
Priests of the moment, fans of success!
How often does a person pass by you
over whom the blind and violent age curses,
But whose high face is in the coming generation
The poet will be delighted and moved!

Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (born Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, German: Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, December 16, 1761 - May 14, 1818) - an outstanding Russian commander, Minister of War, Field Marshal General (from 1814), Prince ( from 1815), hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, full holder of the Order of St. George.

He commanded the entire Russian army at the initial stage of the Patriotic War of 1812, after which he was replaced by M.I. Kutuzov. In the foreign campaign of the Russian army of 1813-1814, he commanded the united Russian-Prussian army as part of the Bohemian army of the Austrian field marshal Prince Schwarzenberg.
According to Western authors, he entered the history of military art 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.
In Russian history he is remembered as a commander who was forced to make a strategic retreat before Napoleon in the Patriotic War of 1812 and for this was unfairly condemned by his contemporaries.

Little Mikhail was the second child in the family, which largely predetermined his future fate. The fact is that Margaret’s sister, Augusta Wilhelmina Vermelein, being married to a young general, suffered from childlessness. According to the tradition of German St. Petersburg families, which prescribes the adoption of young relatives, Misha at the age of 4 was sent to the capital, where he began the life of a noble undergrowth.
First of all, in 1767, Mikhail was enrolled in the Novotroitsk cuirassier regiment, commanded by his uncle, the general. This event can be considered the beginning of the military career of the future commander. The cuirassier regiment was located in Orel, where its commander also departed, and in St. Petersburg, under the guidance of his aunt, the boy learned the basics of educational wisdom. Mikhail was fluent in German and French, and he was taught mathematics by the famous scientist Leonhard Euler. In 1768, Russia entered the war with the Ottoman Empire, and young Barclay eagerly awaited his uncle's letters from the theater of war. General Vermelein returned from the war in 1770. Having retired due to an injury received in the glorious battle on the river. Cahul, he decided to devote himself entirely to raising his nephew. So Mikhail added military history to other sciences. Gradually, life in a general's family led him to the idea that there was no better career than the military. In 1776, the noble son Bakrlai successfully passed the exam for the first officer rank of cornet, and two years later, upon reaching adulthood, he left for his first place of service in the city of Fellin, where the Pskov Carabinieri Regiment was stationed at that time.

Cornet Mikhail Barclay immediately stood out among the officers of the regiment. A love of reading and constant self-education, not very characteristic of a simple officer of the second half of the 18th century, attracted the attention of the commander, Colonel Knorring, to Mikhail, who distinguished himself in the recent campaign of 1768-1774. against the Turks. He appoints a young officer to the post of regimental adjutant. After some time, Barclay becomes the adjutant of the commander of the Livonia division, General Patkul, who promotes the young officer to second lieutenant. Seeing a biased attitude towards the fast career of an adjutant on the part of the regimental commander, and also trying to help the Baltic nobleman, the same Patkul seeks the transfer of Barclay de Tolly to St. Petersburg. In 1786, he was already an adjutant to the chief of the Finnish Jaeger Corps, Count Friedrich Anhalt, with the rank of lieutenant.
At his new duty station, Barclay learns the basics of headquarters service and studies the principles of operation of the Jaeger battalions. One of Mikhail’s textbooks is “Notes on Infantry Service in General and on Jaeger Service in Particular,” compiled by the young Major General M.I. Kutuzov. What he most remembered in the “Note” were the words that formed the basis for his further military service: “The primary reason for the kindness and strength of any military corps is the maintenance of the soldier, and this subject should be considered the most important. Only after establishing the soldier’s well-being should one think about preparing for a military position.”

Soon Barclay goes into the service of Friedrich Anhalt's cousin, the young Lieutenant General Prince Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg, with another promotion to the rank of captain. Together with him, he goes to the theater of military operations of the next Turkish war of 1787-1791, where under the walls of the Ochakov fortress he will take part in hostilities for the first time.

Barclay's complete self-control and calmness in the most difficult, decisive moments were amazing. On the battlefield, he saw everything and with constant composure disposed of everything under the heaviest fire.
IN AND. Kharkevich
Under Ochakov, Captain Barclay de Tolly will be able to put into practice the theoretical calculations obtained during his adjutant years. He will be an eyewitness to the unsuccessful attack of the fortress by General A.V. Suvorov and the intrigues between Suvorov and the army commander, Prince G.A. Potemkin, and also get acquainted with M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov. During the next assault on Ochakov, Barclay will save the wounded Prince of Anhalt from the Turkish scimitars, and the result of the entire campaign will be the awarding of the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree, the motto of which “Benefit, honor and glory” can be applied to the career of Barclay and Tolly. To top it all off, M.B. Barclay will receive a second major, moving to the ranks of staff officers.

In May 1790, Prime Major Barclay de Tolly served in the Tobolsk infantry regiment under the command of Prince Tsitsianov. Together with him, he also participates in the formation of the St. Petersburg Grenadier Regiment, showing himself to be a competent and, a rare quality at that time, an honest administrator. In 1791, together with the St. Petersburg grenadiers, Barclay made a trip to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and settled in apartments in the city of Grodno, where in the spring of 1794 he was caught by the Polish uprising.
From childhood, Barclay considered justice to be the pinnacle of all virtues and was himself a model for officers and soldiers of observing what would later be called the moral code. His regiment lived as a large friendly artel, and this largely determined its success in service. Based on the results of three inspections, the 4th Jaeger Regiment went from good to best, and then to the very best. Pleased with Barclay's actions, the Governor-General of Lithuania, Prince Repnin, promoted him to major general, and on March 24, 1799, Emperor Pavel Petrovich highly approved the production, for he highly valued hard work, pedantry and devotion in officers.

On his way to Tilsit, Alexander I visited the hero Eylau in Memel. In a private conversation, answering the king’s question about the war with the French, Barclay first expressed the plan for the “Scythian war.” Even then, the wounded general noted that in the event of an enemy invasion of Russia, one should use a strategy of retreat deep into the territory, stretching the enemy’s communications, and then, having gathered his strength, deal him a crushing blow. It was then that the young tsar began to single out Barclay de Tolly from the general galaxy of Russian military leaders. Soon he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree, and St. Vladimir, 2nd degree, with promotion to lieutenant general and appointment to the post of commander of the 6th Infantry Division.

A year later, Barclay's division takes part in the last war between Russia and Sweden. Finland, which is well known to Mikhail Bogdanovich, becomes the arena of hostilities. In the first military clashes, the 6th Division, unlike other Russian formations, achieved significant success. However, the failures of Russian troops in other sectors of the front lead to a prolongation of the war. By the end of 1808, Barclay received command of a separate Expeditionary Force and came up with a proposal to strike at the enemy in a place where no one expected him - the Kvarken Strait. The idea was to cross a distance of 100 kilometers on ice in winter conditions. Fellow generals, jealous of Barclay's rapid career, did not dissuade him from the plan, which seemed to them a crazy adventure.
For Lieutenant General Barclay de Tolly, this was a chance to prove himself in leading an independent combat operation. Having spent a month preparing, Barclay's corps managed to cross the strait with minimal losses and show up on the outskirts of the Swedish capital in March 1809, which was the last straw for the start of peace negotiations. In fact, a separate operation resulted in a final victory, which granted the Russian Empire a new territory - Finland. Awarded for his unprecedented transition with the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and the rank of General of the Infantry, Mikhail Bogdanovich became in May 1809 the Finnish Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the troops in Finland.

The Patriotic War of 1812 became the brightest page in the military biography of M.B. Barclay de Tolly. Knowing the strategy of Emperor Napoleon - to defeat the enemy in a general battle on the border and force him to peace - Barclay begins a retreat to unite the scattered Russian forces and prevent the French marshals from breaking them piece by piece. Such actions are met with protest both among the generals and among officers and soldiers. Moreover, not only the commander of the 2nd Western Army, Infantry General P.I., opposes Barclay. Bagration, but also the chief of staff of the 1st Army A.P. Ermolov. Accusations of Barclay of treason are heard from everywhere, complaints and denunciations are written to the emperor. Near Smolensk, where the two Russian armies finally manage to unite, Bagration directly throws the word “traitor” into the face of his boss. In such a situation, Barclay meticulously continues the retreat that became the path of the French conquerors to the grave.
Napoleon's “Grand Army” is forced to catch up with the Russians, plunging into Russian spaces. Its communications are stretched; infantry and cavalry constantly suffer losses due to the harsh climate and unusual food. Already at Smolensk, Napoleon's troops were halved, and the French were unable to take this city on the move. The battle near Smolensk bled Napoleon's troops and forced them to pause the offensive for some time. However, the subsequent withdrawal of the Russian army did not add glory to Commander-in-Chief Barclay. The entire Russian nobility was already demanding his resignation, and the tsar was forced to yield to public opinion by appointing M.I. to this position. Kutuzova. On August 17, 1812, Barclay surrendered the army to the new commander-in-chief. Moreover, he addressed Alexander with a letter in which he asked for dismissal from service, but it remained unanswered.

At the Battle of Borodino, Barclay de Tolly commanded the right flank of the Russian army, and his only desire was to die on the battlefield. This is how eyewitnesses remembered him on that memorable day of August 26: “Dressed in a general’s uniform embroidered with gold, with all the orders and stars, in a hat with a huge black plume - so as to represent a bright, clearly visible target for enemy fire, Barclay led under Borodin’s actions of the 1st Army with such skill, energy and fervor, while at the same time seeking death with a bright, calm face, that he regained the trust of the army and reconciled his main enemy, Bagration, with himself.” After the end of the Borodino battle, at the famous military council in Fili on September 1, 1812, Barclay was the first to speak out in favor of leaving Moscow, however, he also spoke about the possibility of going on the offensive after regrouping forces upon leaving the capital, but his last words were not heard.

This act ended Barclay de Tolly's participation in the Patriotic War. On September 15, 1812, having received notice of his resignation from the post of Minister of War without a single word of gratitude for the work done, he fell ill with a fever and left the ranks of the army. Barclay rode to his mother's estate, showered with curses from the mob and, in some places, stones along the way. He commanded the Russian army for exactly one hundred days, during which he managed to do a lot, virtually predetermining the victorious outcome of the war. The new commander-in-chief enjoyed the fruits of victory, the tree of which was nurtured by Barclay de Tolly. Almost everyone now knows about the famous “hundred days of Napoleon”; few people still know about the “hundred days of Barclay”.

M.B. Barclay de Tolly died on May 14, 1818 in the city of Insterburg. His body was buried at the Bekhof manor in Livonia. At the end of the nineteenth century, the famous historian of the Napoleonic wars, General V.I. Kharkevich gave the following assessment of the actions of Barclay de Tolly: “Barclay was not distinguished by brilliant abilities, but possessed many precious qualities of a commander. His simple, clear and practical mind coldly assessed the situation and made appropriate decisions. His unshakable persistence in pursuing his goal knew no barriers. Complete self-control and calm in the most difficult, decisive moments were amazing. On the battlefield, he saw everything and with constant composure disposed of everything under the heaviest fire. A patriot in the best sense of the word, he did his duty without ever thinking about himself. Contemporary injustice is often the lot of great men, but few have experienced this truth to such a degree as Barclay.”

Russian commander, field marshal general, minister of war, Prince Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly) was born on December 27 (16 old style) December 1761 in the Pamušis estate, near Siauliai, Livonia province (now the village of Pamušis, Siauliai district of Lithuania).

In 1817, Barclay de Tolly accompanied him on a tour of the country undertaken for inspection purposes. Upon his return, after spending a short time in St. Petersburg, in 1818 Mikhail Bogdanovich asked for a vacation to Germany, hoping to restore his strength in mineral waters. Driving through East Prussia, not far from Insterburg (now the city of Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation), he felt unwell. During a forced stop at the Shtilitsen manor (the Zhileitshen estate, now the village of Nagornoye, Chernyakhovsky district), which is six miles from the city of Insterburg, on May 26 (14 according to the old style) May 1818, the commander died. Barclay de Tolly's heart was buried on a small hill 300 meters from Stilitzen Manor, and the embalmed ashes were taken to the estate of his wife Bekhof, 1.5 kilometers from the current Estonian settlement of Jõgeveste.

During his life, Mikhail Barclay de Tolly was awarded many orders of the Russian Empire and foreign countries. He was awarded the Russian orders of St. Andrew the First-Called (1813), St. George I, II, III and IV classes (1813, 1812, 1807, 1794), St. Vladimir I, II and IV degrees (1811, 1807,1788), St. Alexander Nevsky (1809 and 1813), St. Anne's, 1st class (1807).

He was awarded the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle (1813) and the Red Eagle, 1st class (1807), the Swedish Military Order of the Sword, 1st class (1814), the Austrian Order of Maria Theresa (1813), the French Order of St. Louis (1816) and the Legion of Honor, 1st class (1815). ), the English Order of the Bath, 1st class (1815), the Dutch Military Order of William, 1st class (1815), the Saxon Order of St. Henry, 1st class (1815), as well as medals, gold crosses and swords with diamonds.

Michael Barclay de Tolly was married to his cousin Helena Augusta von Smitten (1770-1827). His son, Ernst Magnus (Maxim Mikhailovich) Barclay de Tolly (1798-1871), colonel and aide-de-camp, was married with his first marriage to Baroness Leonilla von Campenhausen, his second marriage to Baroness Alexandra von Tiesenhausen, but both marriages were childless and princely Barclay's title was left as a legacy to his cousin, infantry general Alexander Magnus Friedrich (Alexander Petrovich) von Weimarn (1824-1905).

The memory of the commander was captured in several monuments. The first monument to Barclay de Tolly, on the initiative of King Frederick William III, was built in Germany in 1818 over the burial place of the commander’s heart, at Stilitzen Manor in East Prussia (now Russian territory).

In 1823, at the grave of Barclay de Tolly, his widow built a mausoleum designed by the architect Apollo Shchedrin with a tombstone by the sculptor Vasily Demut-Malinovsky.

In 1837, a monument to Barclay de Tolly (sculptor Boris Orlovsky) was unveiled.

In 1849, a monument to Barclay de Tolly by sculptor Vasily Demut-Malinovsky was erected in Tartu (Estonia).

In 1913, a monument to the commander was unveiled in Riga (Latvia). During the First World War, the monument was lost in 2002 by craftsmen from St. Petersburg at the expense of Riga entrepreneur Evgeniy Gomberg.

In 2007, a monument to Mikhail Barclay de Tolly by sculptor Vladimir Surovtsev was erected in Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad region (formerly Insterburg).

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly was born in 1761. His ancestors were Scots who moved to Russia in the 17th century. They settled in Riga, which soon became part of the Russian Empire. At the age of 6, Mikhail was enlisted in a cuirassier regiment. De facto, he began military service at the age of 15, and two years later became a cornet. Mikhail Bogdanovich participated in. He distinguished himself during the assault on Ochakov, for his services he was promoted to the rank of major and received a memorable award.

Also participated in the suppression of Polish uprisings. In battles on Polish territory, he showed his best side. He quickly advanced through the ranks, and solely on his own merits. During the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, Barclay de Tolly was seriously wounded and underwent long treatment. Having recovered, he took part in the war with the Swedes, became a general and governor of Finland, as well as the commander of Russian troops in the northern part of the Russian Empire.

Soon he took the post of Minister of War in the government cabinet. He held this position until September 1812. Mikhail Bogdanovich did a great job of preparing the Russian army to repel Napoleon’s attacks. Barclay built many fortresses and increased the size of the Russian army. He knew that the war with Napoleon was just around the corner and suggested that the Emperor warn everyone about this by the general, giving them a list of actions in case of invasion. The emperor ignored such an initiative.

The year began in June. Barclay at that time commanded the 1st Western Army of the Russian troops. He skillfully withdrew his troops to Smolensk, connecting without much loss with. Having united, they did not allow the French to defeat the Russian army. Despite some success, Barclay-De-Tolly was losing his influence in the army and society. His decisions were found unpopular. In August, due to the retreat of the Russian army, Alexander removed Barclay from his position. He became the commander-in-chief of the Russian army.

And Kutuzov considered Barclay an experienced warrior, ready to sacrifice himself for the good of Russia. He entrusted the disgraced general with command of large forces of Russian troops in the Battle of Borodino. And he did not disappoint, he desperately beat the French. Eyewitnesses said that Barclay sought death in battle. Under the commander, as many as FOUR (!) horses were wounded or killed! All the general’s adjutants were killed, but he himself remained alive. For the courage shown during this time he received the Order of St. George, second degree.

Mikhail Bogdanovich supported Kutuzov at the council in Fili. Soon he fell ill and left the service for a year. After the death of Kutuzov, Barclay de Tolly became commander-in-chief of the Russian army. He acted successfully, crushing the French throughout Europe, and then Russian troops entered Paris. In 1815, Mikhail Bogdanovich was awarded the princely title. Three years later, the Great Commander passed away.

Barclay de Tolly is a wonderful son of our Fatherland, a brave warrior, a good strategist. The courage of this man knew no bounds. It was people like him who saved our country from the French invaders.