Platov Matvei Ivanovich

P Latov (Count Matvei Ivanovich, 1751 - 1818) - the famous ataman of the Don Cossacks, cavalry general; entered the service at the age of 13 and during the first Turkish war, at the time, he already commanded a regiment. During the second Turkish war, he distinguished himself during the assaults on Ochakov and Ishmael. During the Persian War of 1795 - 1796 he was a marching chieftain, and in 1801 he was appointed military chieftain of the Don Army; participated in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, then in the Turkish war. During the Patriotic War, he first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, covering the retreat of the army, had successful business with the enemy under the station. Mir and Romanovo. During the retreat of the French army, Platov, relentlessly pursuing her, inflicted defeats on Gorodnya, the Kolotsk Monastery, Gzhatsk, Tsarevo-Zaimishcha, near Dukhovshchina and while crossing the river. Howl. For these deeds, he was elevated to the dignity of a count. In November, Platov occupied 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 took Namur. At the conclusion of peace, he accompanied the emperor to London, where he was greeted with a noisy ovation. A monument was erected to him in Novocherkassk.

Other interesting biographies.

ataman of the Don Cossack army (since 1801), cavalry general (1809), who took part in all the wars of the Russian Empire in the late 18th - early 19th centuries

Matvey Platov

short biography

Count (1812) Matvei Ivanovich Platov(1753-1818) - chieftain of the Don Cossack army (since 1801), cavalry general (1809), who took part in all the wars of the Russian Empire in the late 18th - early 19th centuries. In 1805 he founded Novocherkassk, where he moved the capital of the Don Cossack army.

Platov was born in the capital of the Don Cossacks, Cherkassk (now the village of Starocherkasskaya, Aksai district, Rostov region) and was baptized in the church of Peter and Paul that has survived to this day.

“From the senior children of the Don Cossacks” - his Cossack father was a military foreman. By birth, he belonged to the Old Believers-priests, although due to his position he did not advertise this. Mother - Platova Anna Larionovna, born in 1733. Married to Ivan Fedorovich, they had four sons - Matvey, Stefan, Andrey and Peter.

Matvey Ivanovich entered the service on the Don in the Military Chancellery in 1766 with the rank of constable, and on December 4, 1769 he received the rank of Yesaul.

In 1771 he distinguished himself during the attack and capture of the Perekop line and Kinburn. Since 1772 he commanded a Cossack regiment. In 1774 he fought against the highlanders in the Kuban. On April 3, he was surrounded by the Tatars near the Kalala River, but managed to fight back and forced the enemy to retreat.

In 1775, at the head of his regiment, he took part in the defeat of the Pugachevites.

in 1782-1783 he fought with the Nogais in the Kuban. In 1784, he participated in the suppression of uprisings of Chechens and Lezgins.

In 1788 he distinguished himself during the assault on Ochakovo. In 1789 - in the battle of Causeni (September 13) during the capture of Akkerman (September 28) and Bender (November 3). During the assault on Ishmael (December 11, 1790), he led the 5th column.

Since 1790, the ataman of the Yekaterinoslav and Chuguev Cossack troops. On January 1, 1793, he was promoted to major general.

In 1796 he participated in the Persian campaign. After the campaign was suddenly canceled by decree from St. Petersburg, disobeying the Highest command, he remained with his regiment to guard the headquarters of the commander of the General-General Count Valerian Zubov, who was threatened with Persian captivity.

He was suspected by Emperor Paul I of conspiracy and in 1797 he was exiled to Kostroma, and then imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. In January 1801, he was released and became a participant in Paul's most adventurous enterprise - the Indian campaign. Only with the death of Pavel in March 1801, Platov, who had already advanced at the head of 27 thousand Cossacks to Orenburg, was returned by Alexander I.

On September 15, 1801, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed military chieftain of the Don Cossacks. In 1805 he founded the new capital of the Don Cossacks - Novocherkassk. He did a lot to streamline the management of the army.

In the campaign of 1807 he commanded all the Cossack regiments of the active army. After the Battle of Preussisch-Eylau, he earned all-Russian fame. He became famous for his dashing raids on the flanks of the French army, inflicted a defeat on several separate units. After the retreat from Heilsberg, Platov's detachment acted as a rearguard, taking on the constant blows of the French troops pursuing the Russian army.

In Tilsit, where peace was concluded, Platov met Napoleon, who, in recognition of the military successes of the ataman, presented him with a precious snuffbox. The chieftain refused the French order of the Legion of Honor, saying:

I did not serve Napoleon and I cannot serve.

Patriotic War and Foreign Campaign

During the Patriotic War of 1812, he first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, covering the retreat of the army, had successful dealings with the enemy near the town 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. Part of the success belongs to Major General Baron Rosen, who was given full freedom of action by Ataman Platov. After the battle of Saltanovka, he covered Bagration's retreat to Smolensk. On July 27 (August 8), he attacked the cavalry of General Sebastiani near the village of Molevo Boloto, overturned the enemy, took 310 prisoners and Sebastiani's briefcase with important papers.

Engraving by S. Cardelli "Matvei Ivanovich Platov", late 18th century. - 1st quarter of the 19th century 75x61

After the Battle of Smolensk, Platov commanded the rearguard of the united Russian armies. On August 17 (29) for "indiscipline" he was replaced by Konovnitsyn and expelled from the army. This was achieved by Barclay de Tolly, who reported to the king:

General Platov, as the head of the irregular troops, is put on too high a level, not having enough nobility in character to correspond to his position. He is an egoist and has become a sybarite to the highest degree. His inactivity is such that I must dispatch my adjutants to him, so that one of them is with him, or at his outposts, in order to be sure that my instructions will be carried out.

The real reason for the expulsion is clarified by Denis Davydov:

Prince Bagration, who always had a great influence on Platov, who loved to indulge in drunkenness, taught him in 1812 to some abstinence from mustard vodka - the hope of soon receiving the dignity of a count. Yermolov managed to deceive Platov for a long time, but the chieftain, finally losing all hope of being a count, began to drink terribly; he was therefore expelled from the army to Moscow.

From August 17 (29) to August 25 (September 6), he fought daily with the French avant-garde units. At the critical moment of the Battle of Borodino, together with Uvarov, he was sent around the left flank of Napoleon. Near the village of Bezzubovo, the cavalry was stopped by the troops of General Ornano and returned.

He called on the Cossacks to join the militia, and already in Tarutino the Cossack contingent reached 22 thousand people.

After the battle of Maloyaroslavets, Platov was instructed to organize the pursuit of the retreating Great Army. Participated in the battle of Vyazma, and then organized the pursuit of the Beauharnais corps. On October 27 (November 8), on the Vop River between Dorogobuzh and Dukhovshchina, he cut off part of the Beauharnais corps and took 3.5 thousand prisoners, including the chief of staff of the corps, General Sanson, and 62 guns. He took part in the battles at the Kolotsky Monastery, Smelev, Smolensk, Krasny.

For merits, by the personal Supreme Decree of October 29 (November 10), 1812, the ataman of the Don army, cavalry general Matvey Ivanovich Platov, was elevated, with his descending offspring, to the dignity of a count of the Russian Empire.

Borisov occupied November 15, and the enemy lost about 5 thousand killed and 7 thousand prisoners. For three days he pursued the retreating army of the enemy from Vilna to Kovno and, without giving him time to reorganize his forces, on December 3 he entered Kovno.

During the campaign of 1812, the Cossacks under the command of Platov took about 70 thousand prisoners, captured 548 guns and 30 banners, and also recaptured a huge amount of valuables stolen in Moscow.

On December 2 (14), he was one of the first to cross the Neman and pursued MacDonald's troops to Danzig, which he overlaid on January 3, 1813.

During the Foreign Campaign, he was at the Headquarters, while from time to time he was entrusted with the command of individual detachments operating on enemy communications. In September, he received command of a special corps, with which he participated in the battle of Leipzig. In pursuit of the enemy, he captured about 15 thousand people. In February 1814, he fought at the head of his regiments during the capture of Nemours (February 4), Arcy-sur-Aube, Cezanne and Villeneuve.

In 1814, after the conclusion of the Paris Peace, he accompanied Emperor Alexander I to London, where he was greeted with a noisy ovation. Together with three particularly distinguished commanders of the armies of the anti-Napoleonic coalition - Russian Field Marshal Barclay de Tolly, Prussian Field Marshal Blucher and Austrian Field Marshal Schwarzenberg, he received a special honorary saber of jewelry work as an award from the City of London (located in Novocherkassk in the Museum of the History of the Don Cossacks). He became the first Russian to be awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Oxford University.

Death

Memorial plaque at the site of the original burial of M. I. Platov. Farm Small Mishkin.

He died on January 3 (January 15 according to the new style), 1818. He was originally buried in Novocherkassk in a family vault near the Ascension Cathedral in 1818. In 1875, he was reburied at the Bishop's Dacha (farm Mishkin), and on October 4 (17), 1911, his ashes were transferred to the tomb of the Military Cathedral in Novocherkassk. After October 1917, Platov's grave was desecrated. The photograph of 1936 shows a shattered monument by I. Martos with the head of a military leader chipped off. The ashes were reburied at the same place in the military cathedral on May 15, 1993.

In service:

• 1766 - entered the service on the Don in the Military Chancellery as a constable;
• December 4 (15), 1769 - Yesaul;
• January 1 (12), 1772 - Colonel of the Don Troops;
• November 24 (December 5), 1784 - prime minister;
• September 20 (October 1), 1786 - lieutenant colonel;
• June 2 (13), 1787 - colonel;
• in 1788 - transferred to the Yekaterinoslav (later - Chuguevsky) Cossack cavalry regiment;
• September 24 (October 5), 1789 - as a brigadier, leaving in the same Chuguev Cossack cavalry regiment;
• January 1 (12), 1793 - major general;
• During the reign of Emperor Paul I, he was expelled from service, exiled to Kostroma and arrested, but then forgiven and ordered to lead a campaign in Orenburg:
• September 15 (27), 1801 - lieutenant general;
• 1801 - assistant to the military chieftain and military chieftain of the entire Don army;
• September 29 (October 11), 1809 - General of the cavalry.

In campaigns and cases against the enemy was:

• in 1771 - during the first Turkish war during the capture of the Perekop line and Kinburn;
• 1774 - in the Kuban, where he distinguished himself at the river. Kalalakh, with weak forces repulsing seven attacks of Khan Devlet-Girey and mountain princes;
• 1775 - during the search for Pugachev and the scattering of his gangs;
• 1782-1783 - in the Kuban;
• 1784 - against Lezgins and Chechens;
• 1788 - during the siege and assault of Ochakov, for which he was awarded on April 14 (25), 1789 the Order of St. George 4th class;
• 1789 - in the battle of Causeni, where he captured 3 guns, 2 banners and 160 prisoners, including Gassan Pasha, for which he was promoted to foreman and appointed field chieftain, during the capture of Ackerman and Bender;
• 1790 - during the assault on Izmail, for which he received the Order of St. George 3rd class on March 25 (April 5), 1791, after which he was appointed ataman of the Yekaterinoslav and Chuguev Cossacks;
• 1796 - in the Persian campaign, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 3 tbsp. and a golden saber with diamonds and the inscription "for bravery";
• 1801 - on a campaign to Orenburg;
• 1807 - in Prussia, commanding all Cossack regiments, in cases against the French at Preussisch-Eylau, Ortelsburg, Allenstein, Heilsberg, retreat after Friedland, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George 2nd class, Vladimir 2nd class. and Alexander Nevsky and Prussian - Red and Black Eagle;
• 1809 - in cases against the Turks: under Babadag, Girsov, Rassevat, Silistria and Tataritsa, for which he was awarded the rank of general from the cavalry and the Order of St. Vladimir 1st class;
• in 1812 - during the invasion of French troops into Russia, he retreated from Grodno to Lida and Nikolaev, from where he sent detachments to open the enemy, had clashes with him at Korelichi, Mir - June 28 and Romanov - July 2; went to Mogilev, where he dealt with the enemy on July 11; passing from there to Dubrovka, he opened a message with the 1st Army; making up the vanguard during the offensive on Rudnya, he defeated two hussar regiments at Molev Bolot, and then covered the army during the retreat to Smolensk; after the battle of Smolensk, he formed the rearguard and held the enemy at Mikhalev and on the banks of the river. axes; On August 26, at Borodino, he attacked the left wing of the enemy from the rear and caused confusion in the wagon trains; from August 27, followed to Moscow, in the rearguard of the army, and after Napoleon's speech from Moscow, he observed the road from Mozhaisk to Kaluga; during the battle at Maloyaroslavets, he observed the road from Borovsk to Maloyaroslavets, and also disturbed the enemy in the rear and right flank; on the night of October 13, he dealt with the enemy at the river. puddle; from October 14, he followed the movements of the enemy and had business with him near the Kolotsk monastery (October 19), at the village. Fedorovsky (October 22), Semlevo, Gusin, Orsha (November 8), Borisov - 6 (November 15), Zenbine, Pogulyanka near Vilna (November 28) and Kovna; at the end of December, occupied Mühlhausen and Elbin; On October 29 (November 10), 1812, he was elevated to the hereditary count of the Russian Empire;
• 1813 - January 3 overlaid Danzig, but was soon recalled to the main apartment; then he participated in the battles at Altenburg, Leipzig and Weimar, for which he received the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (for Leipzig) and a diamond feather with the sovereign's monogram and laurels to wear on his hat; On October 21, he occupied Frankfurt and then pursued the enemy to Mainz, and had a heated affair between Hochheim and the village of Wickert;
• in 1814 - within France, he first constituted the vanguard, keeping communications with Blucher's army, and after joining it with the main army, he was sent in search of the enemy to Nemours, Fontainebleau and Melun; in February he took Nemours (February 4) and Arsis-sur-Aube and had a clash at the city of Villeneuve, and then was called to the main apartment, where he remained until the end of the campaign.

By the highest order on January 26 (February 7), 1818, he was excluded from the lists of the deceased (he died on January 3 (15), 1818).

Family

Lifetime portrait of M. I. Platov, painted during his stay in London (1814)

From M. I. Platov comes the count family of Platovs. He was married twice.

• In February 1777, he married Nadezhda Stepanovna, daughter of the field ataman Stepan Efremov and granddaughter of Major General Daniil Efremov. From his first marriage, Matvey Ivanovich had a son, Ivan (Ist) (1777-1806). After the death of N. S. Platova (11/15/1783), M. I. Platov married a second time.
• In 1785, his second wife was Marfa Dmitrievna (b. ca. 1760 - 12/24/1812/1813), the widow of Colonel Pavel Fomich Kirsanov (1740-1782), the sister of the ataman Andrei Dmitrievich Martynov. On August 11, 1809, she was awarded the Order of St. Catherine of the Small Cross. In the second marriage, Matvey Ivanovich had four daughters and two sons:
  • Marfa (1786-1821) - married to Colonel Stepan Dmitrievich Ilovaisky (1778-1816);
  • Anna (1788-?) - married to Kharitonov;
  • Maria (1789-1866) - wife of Major General Timofey Dmitrievich Grekov;
  • Alexandra (1791-?);
  • Matvey (1793-after 1814) - major general, awarded the Order of St. George, 4th class. "for differences in battles with the French" (1813);
  • Ivan (II-th, 1796-1874) - colonel, participant in the Patriotic War of 1812, holder of the Order of the Legion of Honor.

In addition, the children of Marfa Dmitrievna from their first marriage were brought up in the Platov family - Khrisanf Kirsanov, the future major general, and Ekaterina Pavlovna Kirsanova, later the wife of the chief ataman Nikolai Ilovaisky.

Having been widowed, Platov cohabited with the Englishwoman Elizabeth, whom he met during a visit to London. After his death, she returned to her homeland.

Awards

• Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (10/08/1813)
• Order of St. George 2nd class (11/22/1807) - " For repeated participation in battles in the position of chief of advanced posts in the war with the French in 1807»
• Order of St. George 3rd class (03/25/1791) - " In respect for the diligent service and excellent courage shown during the capture of the city and fortress of Ishmael by storm with the extermination of the Turkish army that was there, commanding the column.»
• Order of St. George 4th class (04/14/1789) - " For excellent bravery during the attack on the Ochakov fortress.»
• Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class (1809)
• Order of St. Vladimir 2nd class (1807)
• Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd class (1796)
• Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (11/18/1806)
• Diamond signs to the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (1807)
• Order of St. Anne, 1st class (1801)
• Order of St. John of Jerusalem, commander's cross (1801)
• Golden saber with diamonds and the inscription "For bravery" (1796)
• Silver medal "In memory of the Patriotic War of 1812"
• Diamond pen with the monogram of Emperor Alexander I and laurels on a shako (1813)
• Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia, 1807)
• Order of the Red Eagle (Prussia, 1807)
• Precious snuffbox presented by the French Emperor Napoleon I (France, 1807)
• Military Order of Maria Theresa, 3rd class (Austria, 1813)
• Austrian Order of Leopold 2nd Class (Austria, 1813)
• Saber adorned with diamonds, from the City of London (Great Britain, 1814);

Refused the Order of the Legion of Honor (1807)

Memory

Monument to M. I. Platov with the words: “To Ataman Count Platov for military exploits from 1770 to 1816 Appreciative Donets”. Novocherkassk.

In 1853, a monument to Platov was erected in Novocherkassk with the money collected by subscription (authors P. K. Klodt, A. Ivanov, N. Tokarev). In 1923, the monument was removed and transferred to the Donskoy Museum, and in 1925, a monument to Lenin was erected on the same pedestal. In 1993, the monument to Lenin was dismantled, and the restored monument to Platov returned to the pedestal. In 2003, an equestrian monument to Platov was erected in the same city. After another 10 years, an equestrian monument to the ataman was also erected in Moscow. As the traditions of the Don Cossacks are restored, the name of one of the most famous chieftains continues to be immortalized both in the Rostov region and beyond.

Some personal belongings of Ataman Platov, in particular a saddle and a goblet, are in the Museum of the Life Guards of the Cossack Regiment near Paris in France.

The role of Platov in the movie "" was played by Yuri Domogarov.

Platov, Count Matvei Ivanovich

Born on August 6, 1751 in the Staro-Cherkasskaya village, on the Don. Platov's father is a military foreman, a very intelligent, respected and strong-willed man, in terms of scientific education, he was not much different from other Don Cossacks, and therefore young Platov's initial education was limited to literacy. Finding from childhood a lively character and a love for militant amusements, P., barely reaching the age of 13, had already entered the royal service as a constable. The outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774, in which P. received his baptism of fire, gave him the opportunity to excel in dealing with the enemy. Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Prince You. Mich. Dolgorukov immediately noticed the young Cossack and distinguished him: P. was promoted to officer and received a Cossack hundred on command.

Soon after, at the request of Prince. Dolgorukov, followed by the Highest permission to promote Platov to the rank of military foreman, in order to entrust him with the command of the Don regiment.

In 1771, P. participated in the capture of the Perekop line, as well as near Kinburn. At the conclusion of peace at Kuchuk-Kainardzhi, P. was sent to the Kuban.

The Crimean Khan Devlet Giray, embittered by the failures in his clashes with the Russian troops, decided to inflict a decisive blow on the troops stationed in the Kuban. The feat of Platov on the heights of the Kalalakh River dates back to this time. Colonel Stremoukhov instructed Platov to deliver transport with provisions and ammunition to the army located in the Kuban. Devlet-Girey, having united with the mountain princes, decided to attack the Russian transport, taking advantage of the weakness of the cover, which consisted of two regiments with one gun and did not have the opportunity to offer strong resistance. The Cossacks, who did not expect an attack, showed, however, a desperate determination to defend themselves. Platov arranged a semblance of a field fortification from the convoy, because of which he repelled seven attacks of the strongest enemy with the Cossacks. At the same time, being surrounded on all sides, he found an opportunity through messengers to inform Colonel Bukhvostov about his hopeless situation, who arrived from the opposite bank of the Kalalakh to rescue the convoy and its defenders. The Tatars were put to flight, the convoy was delivered intact, and Platov's personality, his influence on the Cossacks, resourcefulness and courage aroused general respect.

From here, P. with his regiment was sent to search for Pugachev, and later, when the impostor was caught, to the Voronezh and Kazan provinces, to disperse the Pugachev gangs. After a three-year persecution of the rebels, P. in 1782 and 1783, under the command of Suvorov, was again in the Kuban and the Crimean peninsula and in 1784 was sent against the Lezgins and Chechens. Before the second Turkish war of 1787-1791. P. was already a colonel. In the campaign of 1788, he was in the so-called Yekaterinoslav army, led by Prince Potemkin, and took part in the most prominent moments of this campaign.

During the siege and assault of Ochakov, P. acted with one thousand dismounted and two hundred mounted Cossacks. The attack of the Gassan-Pashinsky castle was given to the column of Major General Baron Palen, which, by the way, included the Cossacks of Colonel Platov. After the assault, the castle was occupied and the Don Cossacks headed by Platov were entrusted with monitoring it. The successful actions of the latter were awarded the Order of St. George 4th degree. On September 13, the Cossacks approached Causeni and made such a quick attack on the Turks that they forced them to flee. The result of the victory was the capture of three guns, two banners and 160 prisoners with Pasha Gassan. For this difference, P. was promoted to brigadier and appointed marching ataman of the Don army.

In the autumn, the occupation of Akkerman was undertaken. Platov was to take possession of Palanka, located on the Dniester, but then he was moved to Akkerman himself, occupied without shedding blood, thanks to successful demonstrations by the Russians. In 1790, P. participated in the capture of Ishmael; during the assault on the fortress, he led 5,000 Cossacks of the fifth column, which had a particularly difficult task. Upon receiving a wound by Major General Bezborodk, the command of both columns, the fourth and fifth, of the left wing passed to Platov, and he, either contributing to the success of other columns, or acting separately with his unit, rendered invaluable merits. "Everything was overturned, beaten, wherever P. appeared, a victorious cheer thundered! He replaced the large number with himself, his fearlessness turned everyone into heroes, and all his orders were crowned with success." The assault on this fortress seemed inevitable to Platov, and he was the first to pronounce this decision at the military council assembled by Suvorov.

For participation in the capture of Ishmael P. was awarded the Order of St.. George 3 tbsp. and promoted to major general.

The war between Russia and Persia, which began in 1796, brought P., for the distinctions rendered to them, the Order of St. Vladimir of the 3rd degree and a saber, decorated with diamonds, with the inscription "for courage".

Since the accession to the throne of Emperor Pavel Petrovich, Platov's fame and fame were already so great that they created many envious people for him and were the reason that P., slandered before Emperor Paul in infidelity to the monarch and treacherous plans against Russia, was first exiled to Kostroma, and then imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. However, false slander was revealed: P. was released and granted the Commander's Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The sovereign personally appointed Platov the main and direct assistant to the military ataman of the Don Cossacks.

The attention and mercy of Paul I to Platov increased; the emperor assigned Platov to the most prominent role in the planned campaign against India and ordered him to immediately go to the Don, where the Imperial decree was already awaiting him: "to gather the entire Don army for assembly places; so that all available chief officers and lower ranks will certainly come out in 6 days about two horses and with a month and a half provisions. P. in January 1801 gathered about 27,000 Cossacks, with whom he went on a campaign, heading towards Orenburg. There he received interpreters from the governor, a caravan of camels, with all the cargo necessary for the campaign, and then went deep into the steppes. Severe trials came for the Cossacks. Frosts hit, diseases appeared, many died from them or froze. The camels fell, and the survivors were secretly taken away by the fleeing Kirghiz guides. The breakdown of spirit in the detachment was complete; dull murmuring turned into cases of open disobedience; the more submissive ones begged their chieftain to come back. The position of the ill-fated detachment was critical, and only the death of Emperor Paul I stopped this useless and painful campaign. In March, a messenger from St. Petersburg caught up with Platov and, informing him of the accession to the throne of the new sovereign, gave him the order to return back to the Don.

In the reign of Emperor Alexander I, after the death of the military ataman of the Don Cossacks, the general of the cavalry Orlov, P., promoted to lieutenant general in 1801, took his place. This appointment was met with enthusiasm by the Don army: Platov's name was then repeated with admiration everywhere - at court, in the army, among the people. And it would be difficult to find a person more in line with the new appointment and more worthy than P. With outstanding military talents, he was distinguished by the typical features of a purely Russian person and knew perfectly well the life and needs of the Cossack army, in which he went through all the steps, from the officer to the military chieftain , having won the unchanging and enthusiastic love of all the Cossacks. Consisting from 1801 as a military ataman, P. devoted all his energy and all his abilities to the military and economic organization of the army. Here his administrative abilities were revealed. At the request of Platov, the regional city of the Don Host, Starocherkassk, was moved to a new place where residents could be safe from the annual destructive floods of the Don - to Novocherkassk. Through the efforts of Platov, the new city was brought to a flourishing state. The Cossack Military Chancellery owes its transformation to Platov. Containing the functions of all provincial offices (the Provincial Administration, the Treasury, the Criminal and Civil Chambers, as well as the Military Administration), the Military Chancellery could not satisfactorily and quickly resolve incoming cases, which caused neglect and disorder in office work. P., with the highest permission, allocated part of the military administration to the so-called Military Expedition, under the direct command of the Military Ataman. Other affairs of the civil administration of the lands of the Don Cossacks were concentrated in the Civil and Economic Expeditions. Affairs in these two Expeditions were to be prepared by clerks, and decided at general meetings by a majority of votes. All three parts of the Military Chancellery - the Military Directorate, the Civil and Economic Expeditions were one inseparable whole, under the chairmanship of the Military Ataman.

Platov's activities also affected the transformations in the combat unit of the Don army. His reforms were mainly expressed in various measures on the recruitment of Don regiments (the number of headquarters and chief officers was calculated for 60 regiments), on rank production ("only for vacancies, not exceeding the set"), on resignations (resignation was allowed not earlier 25-30 years of service) and maintenance.

Platov's administrative and organizational activities were interrupted by the war between Russia and Napoleon, in which the Don Cossacks played a historical role. P. began his exploits with the second war between Russia and Napoleon, when Russia came to the defense of Prussia. Platov was entrusted with the command of all the Cossack regiments.

On the eve of the Preussish-Eilaus battle, Platov arrived at the main apartment and "became a courageous leader who crowned his brow with unfading laurels and led the Don army to repeated victories." The battle took place on January 27, 1807. Platov with his Dons pursued the overturned enemy columns and hit them, capturing up to 500 people. Continuous clashes with the enemy (near Burbusdorf, Berchsdorf, against the village of Ludwigswald, etc.) were very successful, and the honor of these glorious actions rightfully belonged to the Don Cossacks.

The retreat of Napoleon's army after the battle of Preussish-Eylaus was led to the left bank of the river. Passargi, along the Landsberg road. After the departure of the Bagration to St. Petersburg, Platov took command of the vanguard and for several months successfully pursued the French detachments. Clashes and affairs with the French, who occupied the entire space between Wartenburg and Ostroleka, took place every day and usually ended with the capture by the Cossacks and the extermination of enemy squadrons, the repulsion of guns and carts, and in the shortest possible time inspired the French with alarming confidence in the complete impossibility of using what was necessary to restore strength. rest and tranquility. Napoleon himself, in impotent anger, called the Cossacks "a disgrace to the human race." Numerous clashes with the enemy, for all their success, were, so to speak, "between times", since Platov's more serious goal was to maintain communication between the army and the Essen corps, for which it was necessary to restore communication between the scattered detachments that were part of the Essen corps. To counter the enemy, P., according to the order received, had to attack him from Ortelsburg and Wilemburg, which he performed with success and established himself in Passenheim. From here, he continuously disturbed the corps of Marshal Davout. After a number of brilliant clashes with the enemy (the battle of Ortelsburg), in which the French cavalry units were exterminated "on their heads", P. entered into constant contact with the Cossack regiments of Lieutenant General Essen, who were stationed near the city of Ostrolenka. The enemy was driven back to Wilemberg - on the one hand and Allenstein on the other, and Platov moved his apartment to Bitovsburg. From here, the Cossack detachments disturbed the enemy in all directions. Among the countless clashes between the Russians and the French, the following cases should be noted: at the village of Kota, Veselovene, at the village. Malga and Omulei-Ofene, Kleigenau, near the village of Reidikeinen, near Allenstein. P. reported to Empress Maria Feodorovna that “pride, and more audacity of the French was knocked out of their heads, they were brought to exhaustion, their cavalry, impudent by the Don Cossacks, was all exterminated, and they lost a lot of infantry ... They are now sitting, except for Danzig, against us like mice in holes...

In May, the actions of the Don Cossacks were distinguished by their previous success. Their frequent and successful attacks on the French detachments brought forward from the ranks of the Don Cossacks, one after another, brave warriors, whose names became known to everyone, thanks to Platov, who, as a boss, strictly demanded that his subordinates fulfill their duty, but was fair and loved to distinguish worthy ones with sincere and vowel recognition of their merit.

By order of the commander-in-chief, instructions were given regarding further actions. Platov had to cross the river. Alle between Gutstadt and Allenstein and prevent the corps of Marshals Ney and Davout from connecting. Having camped near the old Wartenburg, P. gave orders to the detachments separated from him (the detachment of Ilovaisky 5th - to cross the river Alla to the left; the detachment of Denisov - to the right and, delaying the movement of the French from Allenstein, attack in the rear from Gutstadt), and he himself with his part of the flying detachment, he attacked the enemy in the center. Major General Ilovaisky 5th crossed at dawn with three regiments afloat, under heavy rifle fire from enemy infantry, attacked it at all points and, putting the enemy to flight, pursued more than four miles and dispersed it through the forests. Major General Denisov 6th also arrived at dawn to the Alla River, but, having crossed the river, opened the enemy in large forces of cavalry and infantry with several guns. Having hit the cavalry with three regiments of javelins, he broke the stubborn resistance of the enemy.

At the same time, two regiments, having crossed by swimming, went to attack to the left of Major General Denisov on the 6th. Platov himself followed these two regiments with the rest of the forces.

The enemy, including more than a thousand people, was attacked on the march and partly destroyed, and partly taken prisoner. In addition, the Cossacks captured a large convoy, along with cover, in which, by the way, was the office of Marshal Ney. By evening, P. with all his strength went to p. Alle repulsed the attack of the enemy, which suffered significant damage.

On May 25, P. joined the army located near Geisigenthal and joined the vanguard of Prince Bagration, who was on the right bank of the river. Passargi. On the days of May 25, 26 and 27, the Don Cossack regiments performed many feats of bravery and daring courage, and the name of the ataman became a thunderstorm for the enemy.

One of the episodes of this time was the capture by Major Balabin of the artillery park standing on the river, among 46 decks loaded with firearms, which were immediately blown up by them without any harm to themselves. In general, the actions of the Cossacks were so successful that they forced the enemy to stand idle all night long under arms.

The Battle of Heilsberg was a bloody clash between the Russians and the French. Even before the start of the battle, P. with his Cossacks, covering the army, retreating to Heilsberg from Gutstadt, destroyed the bridge on the river. Alle, cut down the pontoons and withstood a two-hour cannonade of the enemy, and then, when the Russian army took the Heilsberg position, P. very skillfully organized observations of the movements of the enemy, while showing extraordinary dexterity and insight with his Cossacks. The battle at Heilsberg was one of the brilliant proofs Platov's cavalry talents. Not content with repulsing the enemy with damage that was sensitive to him, P. used every convenient moment and attacked the enemy himself, suddenly and unexpectedly changing the direction of the blows either to the flank or to the rear.

During the retreats of the army, the "flying corps" of Lieutenant General Platov took upon himself all the blows of the enemy, and although the rearguard, composed of light troops alone, was too insignificant for the enemy army, the courage and stamina of the Cossacks and the inspired leadership of their ataman Platov did that that the Russian army retreated in good order and without particular losses when circumstances required it (as, for example, during the retreat of the army to Bertenstein, and from there to Shipenbeil and during the movement of Russian troops to Friedland).

Forcing the enemy to linger at every step and waste time deploying his forces, preventing him from approaching the Russian army, burning bridges behind him, Lieutenant General P. acted with the same skill and luck during the retreat of Russian troops to Tilsit and beyond the Neman after the battle at Friedland. This retreat of the army is inextricably linked with the successful actions of Platov's corps and is wholly indebted to him for its success. So, due to the fact that during the speech from Velau Platov's rearguard delivered a swift blow to the enemy columns on the left bank of p. Hello, the Russian army was not delayed on the way. Of the same importance was the clash of Platov's Cossack regiments with the French near the Pregel River and at the Toplaken Dam. The French had to pay especially serious attention to the cover of the Russian army, behind which the latter felt completely safe. Numerous cavalry was advanced against Platov, followed by the French army. But despite the superiority of the enemy forces over the rearguard of the Russian army, despite even some particular failures (in the Kugelk forest, from where the Russian troops were driven out by the French), in general, the result of the clashes was favorable for the Russians and created in them confidence in the safety of the march made under cover P.

The last feats of Platov before the conclusion of the Tilsit Peace were meeting the enemy at Yursaigen, moving (at night) to Taurogen, unnoticed by the French, and skirmishing at Raukotinen, as well as crossing the Neman.

For exploits in the war for the liberation of Prussia P. was awarded the Order of St.. George 2nd class, Order of St. Vladimir 2nd step, and Alexander Nevsky. The Prussian king granted him the Orders of the Red and Black Eagles. The Sovereign Emperor granted Platov's native Don army a letter of commendation and "in fair respect for the excellent exploits of the famous Don army" - a banner depicting his deeds.

The peace of Tilsit, which temporarily suspended the struggle between Russia and Napoleon, did not give the country complete peace and rest. The war with Turkey had been going on for two years. P. was called upon to take part in it and transfer his actions to the banks of the Danube, to the Moldavian army, then led by Field Marshal Prince Prozorovsky, and after the death of the latter by Prince Bagration.

In August, P. with his Don regiments occupied the Babadag fortress, where he found 12 guns and large supplies. After crossing the Danube, the chieftain reached the so-called Trojan wall, and on August 22, after a cannonade from 4 batteries arranged by him, he occupied Girsovo. Guns, ammunition, weapons were found in the fortress, and its occupation opened a completely free path to the Black Sea and established communication between the banks of the Danube, as a result of which bridge building was started.

In the battle of Rassevat, the Russians defeated a 15,000-strong Turkish detachment. The Don Cossacks distinguished themselves especially in pursuing the enemy who fled from the camp, and this completed the defeat of the enemy, which opened the way for the Russians to Silistria.

On September 10, the bombardment of Silistria began. P. came out to meet the Ruschuk Turkish corps, which was marching to the aid of the besieged fortress. By decisive actions of the Cossack regiments, the enemy was scattered, more than 1000 people of the Turkish corps lay down on the spot and up to 1500 were taken prisoner. Among the prisoners, by the way, was Pasha Mahmud. For this victory, Platov was awarded the rank of cavalry general and the Order of St. Vladimir 1st class.

The next defeat to the enemy troops was inflicted by Platov at Tataritsa. Here, the Turkish army of the Supreme Vizier Yusuf Pasha, who also intended to come to the aid of Silistria, was struck. Russian trophies were 16 banners and 200 prisoners.

The deeds under Tataritsa ended Platov's exploits in the war of 1809, and he returned for a while to his Don to improve his badly shaken health.

The valor of Platov and the Donskoy army manifested itself most of all in the Patriotic War of 1812. Their deeds are surrounded by such glory that even the most accurate historical facts are in the nature of something fabulous, not to mention the countless mass of stories and memories that were the fruit of amazement and delight of the people to exploits of the Don Cossacks and their leader.

The ambitious plans of Napoleon I, which prompted him to break Russia, which opposed him, on the one hand, and Russia's dissatisfaction with the terms of the Treaty of Tilsit, on the other, were the cause of the war of 1812.

At the beginning of 1812, Napoleon's "Great Army", consisting of more than 600 thousand people, moved from different parts of Europe to Prussia and the Duchy of Warsaw and occupied the left bank of the Vistula. Russia, on the other hand, could put up only about 200 thousand people on its Western border at that time. 14 regiments of the flying corps of Ataman Platov were part of the 1st Western Army. The remaining Cossack regiments, under the command of major generals Ilovaisky and Tormasov, were distributed between the II and III Western armies. The defensive lines for our army were the rivers Neman, Berezina, Dnieper and Dvina. Platov with seven thousand Cossacks stood in Grodno. He was ordered to hit the enemy's flank as soon as the latter crossed the Neman. Prince Bagration was supposed to provide the rear for Platov's corps. On June 12, the enemy crossed the Neman at Kovna, was met by the Life Cossack patrol, which, consequently, was the first to greet the Great Army.

According to the Supreme Command, Platov now had to "act in accordance with the circumstances and inflict all kinds of harm on the enemy."

Platov sent his entire corps to Lida, taking supplies, government property, the main pharmacy, weapons, ammunition from Grodno and sending the sick inside the state. At this time, he learned about the approach of the King of Westphalia to the Neman and, in order to slow down the movement of the enemy, ruined the bridge across the Neman. The next Highest command ordered Platov to cover the march of Prince Bagration, who was going to join the 1st Army.

Platov set out from Lida to Nikolaev, and since he was instructed to discover the enemy and inform about the movements of his prince Bagration and the main apartment (located between Vidza and Dvina), he sent detachments of Cossacks in different directions, which had very successful clashes with the enemy at Karelichi, Mir and Romanov. The actions of the Cossacks during these clashes with the enemy were distinguished not only by courage and fearlessness, but also by great art. They ambushed the enemy in small detachments, pretending that they were ready to start a deal with him, led him to the place of the ambush and delivered a decisive blow.

P.'s orders in the battle at Mir on June 28 represented a harmonious combination of caution and decisiveness. Trying, first of all, to lure the enemy into the trap set for him, he knew how to instantly assess the situation, and when he was convinced that the enemy, taught by bitter experience, did not give in to deceit, did not waste a minute and, using the superiority of forces, resolutely attacked and beat him.

In the battle of Romanov on July 2, P., convinced of the weakness of the enemy, did not hesitate to leave behind a barrier that was difficult to pass and swiftly attacked the enemy, but then, having come into contact with significant forces, quickly retreat back and put this barrier between themselves and an adversary.

This disastrous tactic so upset the corps of the King of Westphalia that a disgruntled Napoleon removed Hieronymus of Westphalia from command and ordered him to go to his kingdom.

After that, P. was supposed to join the 1st Army. Having crossed the Dnieper, he turned from Bykhov to Chausy and Gorki and occupied all the environs of Mogilev with his Cossacks, which stopped the movement of Marshal Davout from Mogilev anywhere.

The Don army became indispensable, and the commanders-in-chief of the first and second armies, Barclay de Tolly and Bagration, each kept it to themselves, realizing the difficulty of acting against the advancing enemy without the help of Platov's flying corps, which ensured the success of every movement of the Russian army. From Vitebsk, at that time, the chief of staff of the 1st Army, Yermolov, directly wrote to the chieftain: “We have been confronting a large enemy army for the third day. Today, the main battle is inevitable. We are in such a position that it is impossible to retreat without the most terrible danger. If you come, our affairs will not only get better, but will also take on a completely advantageous look. Hurry." But Platov was detained at Mogilev by Prince Bagration, where on the 11th there was, as Platov said, "a decent battle." From here, Platov set out for Dubrovna, crossed the Dnieper again and opened communication with the 1st Army. At this time, Prince Bagration was moving towards Smolensk, and Barclay de Tolly also hurried here to warn Davout here, and on July 22 both armies, including 122 thousand people, joined at Smolensk.

Thus Napoleon's plans were thwarted; he could neither break our armies in parts, nor cut them off from Moscow, nor prevent them from uniting. The position of the Russian army after the connection near Smolensk changed significantly for the better - the split of forces disappeared, reinforcements arrived, and the appointment of General Kutuzov as general commander in chief finally strengthened its position and added chances for success.

The Don Cossack regiments of Platov formed the vanguard of the Russian army when Barclay de Tolly, prompted by Emperor Alexander I and the general demands of the army and the people, decided to go on the offensive and move forward to Rudna. The start of the movement was good. P. opened two French hussar regiments at Molev Bolot, hit on their flank and drove the enemy for two miles, capturing 10 officers and more than 300 privates; he wrote that "the enemy did not ask for a pardon, but the Russian troops, being furious, stabbed and beat him."

The advanced enemy posts retreated along the entire line, except for Porechye. This prompted Barclay de Tolly to go to the Porechenskaya road, but since the enemy was not here, Barclay de Tolly switched back to the Rudny road.

Napoleon at this time concentrated all his forces on our left flank, crossed at Dubrovna and Rosasana to the left bank of the Dnieper and intended to occupy Smolensk in the rear of our army. This prompted Barclay de Tolly to rush to the same place. P. covered the army from Rudnya and Porechye. In three days, from August 1 to August 4, P. managed to make several successful attacks on the enemy advanced units, and the Cossacks captured 1,300 prisoners. On August 4, a battle began near Smolensk, forcing the Russian army to retreat into the interior of the country. P. was the rearguard of the army, as always ready to repel the attack of the enemy.

After the battle at Valutina Gora, Napoleon pursued our army weakly: he had not yet decided whether to stay in Smolensk for the winter or continue the further offensive. The Russian army, having lost Smolensk, considered a decisive battle inevitable. On August 10, Russian troops took up a position near the village of Usvyat, and Platov was instructed to "hold the enemy to the best of his ability." The Cossacks withstood stubborn battles at Mikhalev and on the banks of p. Osms.

On August 17, both Russian armies arrived at Tsarevo-Zaimishch, but the new commander-in-chief, General Kutuzov, found this position uncomfortable and moved on to Borodino, where it was decided to give battle.

On August 26, Napoleon attacked the main position of the Russian forces at Borodino and, after an inconclusive battle (in which both sides lost 40 thousand people), retreated to the position he had previously occupied.

The actions of the Cossacks in the battle of Borodino had an extremely important influence on the fate of the battle. They were at the right end of our position when Kutuzov ordered Platov with the Cossacks and General Uvarov with the cavalry corps to cross the Kolocha above Borodin and attack the left wing of the French. Having crossed the ford through the War, the Cossacks appeared behind enemy lines and caused complete confusion in his wagon trains, turning the cover to flight. The attack of the Cossacks decisively changed the position of the opponents. Napoleon stopped his attacks, and the success that was leaning on his side betrayed him.

Soon, the Don militia joined the Cossack regiments, called to the army by order of Platov. The number of Cossack regiments, together with the new arrivals, increased to 45. All of them, both the former ones, already tested in battle, and the new ones, only carried away so far by the valiant desire to defend the Tsar and the Fatherland, made up one whole both in spirit and in general military methods. used in battle, and by their unanimous reverence for their beloved chieftain.

The position of the French in Moscow, which they had occupied since September 2, was difficult. Napoleon proposed to Emperor Alexander to make peace, but to no avail. By October 20, it was scheduled to complete the concentration of all Russian forces.

After the battle of Tarutino, in which, however, P. did not personally participate, Napoleon was forced to leave Moscow. When news was received of Napoleon's departure from Moscow, everyone expected decisive action from Platov, who, with all the Cossack regiments and a company of horse artillery, was to go to Maloyaroslavets and watch the road from Mozhaisk to Kaluga through Medyn; during the battle at Maloyaroslavets, he was entrusted with monitoring the road from Borovsk to Maloyaroslavets, as well as disturbing the enemy in the rear and on the right flank, to divert Napoleon's attention from the main battle.

On the night of October 12-13, an incident took place near the river. Puddles. The Cossack regiments, having left the camp, moved along the high road in order to attack the enemy detachments, which could move towards Maloyaroslavets. Here they met enemy artillery, which they captured in the number of 50 guns. In the next three cavalry platoons, met by the Cossacks, was Napoleon himself, whom, however, the Cossacks did not recognize in the dark and missed from captivity, attracted by the extraction of enemy carts. Taking advantage of the minute, the French even had the opportunity to start pursuing the scattered Cossacks, but the latter, quickly uniting, repelled the enemy, taking away rich booty in money and 11 guns, and the fire of the Don artillery from the right bank of the Puddle stopped further enemy attempts.

On October 14, the general retreat of the Great Army began. Platov was instructed to follow the movement of the enemy, but he, not limiting himself to the exemplary performance of his task, did not miss a single opportunity during the entire time of the enemy’s movement, so as not to cause the latter the most possible harm and defeat.

During the pursuit of the enemy on the road from Mozhaisk to the Kolotsk Monastery, the Cossacks took away many carts and horses from the French. Marshal Davout became a special target for the pursuit of Platov, and on the march to Vyazma along the Smolensk road, on October 19, the Cossacks inflicted a heavy defeat on the French near the Kolotsk Monastery. The Cossacks exterminated the remnants of the enemy army with great bitterness and instilled such fear in the enemy that, until the end of the persecution, the mere news of the appearance of the Cossacks forced the French to hastily withdraw from their bivouacs and continue their retreat.

The enemy tried to fight back and took up positions on the road to the city of Gzhatsk, but the skillful action of the Cossack detachments and Cossack artillery made his efforts futile. Gzhatsk was occupied by the Cossacks, as well as Teplukhovo and Tsarevo-Zaimishche, where the mission echelons of Davout's corps were completely dispersed. Pressed by Platov, Davout's corps approached the troops of the Viceroy and Poniatowski. With their combined forces, they wanted to keep Vilna behind them and stop the Russians.

On October 22, P., having learned that Miloradovich wanted to cut off Davout's corps with his regular cavalry, attacked the French rearguard at dawn and drove him into the village. Fedorovskoye. Poniatowski and the Viceroy hurried to help Davout. A fierce battle ensued. The corps of Marshal Davout was completely defeated, and the failure had a detrimental effect on the rest of the French army, which finally lost heart. "The enemies are fleeing like no army could ever retreat," reported P. Napoleon himself now hurried Davout to save himself, thinking only of the smallest losses. The Cossacks acted more tirelessly than before and quickly destroyed the Great Army with friendly attacks.

P. took 1,000 prisoners from Semleva, and on the banks of the Vopi inflicted a decisive defeat on the corps of the Viceroy, forcing him to abandon his intention to get to Vitebsk. Trophies were 3,000 prisoners, 62 guns and supplies.

Prince Eugene headed for Smolensk, where on October 31 all Napoleon's corps were concentrated.

On November 2, Napoleon set out from Smolensk to Krasnoy. P. did not cease to disturb the troops of Ney, who replaced the demoralized corps of Davout in the rearguard, prevented them from foraging, took away their weapons in parts and, finally, gradually driving them into the city, separated them from Napoleon's army.

Napoleon's hasty flight from Krasnoye ruined the corps of Marshal Ney, left to his own forces. P. had already occupied the suburbs of the city and, gradually weakening the ill-fated corps, brought it to the point that Nei decided to march from Smolensk. P. also left the city and moved through the Catan to Dubrovna, with the intention of going to Orsha. Ney, leaving Smolensk and seeing the impossibility of breaking through to Krasnoy, decided to cross the Dnieper at Syrokorenye. Moving with heavy losses to Gusinoy, Ney was met by Platov's Cossacks who were waiting for him. A "living likeness of animal persecution" began, ending in the complete destruction of the remnants of Ney's corps.

After the battle near Krasnoye, Platov was instructed to discover the direction of Napoleon's movement - would he go to Borisov or to Senno?

Napoleon hurried to the Dnieper and, on November 7, having spent the night in Dubrovna, on the 8th he went to Orsha and crossed to the right bank. P. overtook the enemy after his performance from Orsha and, having driven out the remaining French rearguard, rushed after Napoleon.

For the French, who had already experienced so many disasters and were finally broken, the Cossacks were the most terrible enemies. One news of the approach of the Cossacks gave the French strength and drove them further, in the hope of finding salvation from the tireless and cruel riders. P., who possessed a special art to quickly open and deliver decisive blows to the pursued enemy, was a real thunderstorm for them. Indeed, hardly any of the Russian heroes of the war of 1812 endured so much uninterrupted work, sleepless nights, all sorts of hardships and showed so much valiant readiness not to spare himself for the sake of saving the motherland, as P. His brilliant deeds attracted the special attention of the emperor Alexander I, and P., in consideration of his merits, was elevated to the dignity of a count of the Russian Empire.

From Orsha, P. drove the French non-stop and could no longer settle accounts with the prisoners he had inherited. "Every day there were at least a thousand of them," and in case of successful clashes with the enemy, the Cossacks took away carts and prisoners of several thousand.

Counting on the fact that Napoleon intended to follow Borisov, a strong vanguard of Count Miloradovich from two corps and Count P. with 35 regiments of Cossacks and 12 infantry battalions were sent on the heels of him, "with the duty to bypass the right flank of the enemy," as well as the detachment of Adjutant General Golenishchev-Kutuzov, who was supposed to be under the command of Count Wittgenstein.

On November 15, P. occupied Borisov, where the French left more than 5,000 dead and 7,000 prisoners. Here there was a connection of the Main and Danube Army with the corps of Count Wittgenstein. On the same day, the Cossack regiments gr. Platova were in the town of Krupki, waiting for Napoleon. But Napoleon, by a lucky chance for him, escaped the almost inevitable captivity and, having crossed the Berezina the next day after the battle of Stakhov and Studyanka, on November 17 he was already on the Vilna road.

P. headed here, taking prisoners and ammunition. His vanguard defeated the enemy at Zembin, and then P. ousted him, together with the vanguard of Admiral Chichagov, from Molodechna. Napoleon from Molodechny fled to France, leaving the army. The pursuit of the enemy was almost over .

Napoleon had to announce his complete defeat and considered the final blow made by the Cossacks. "All our columns, Napoleon informed, are surrounded by Cossacks; like the Arabians in the deserts, they covered the carts ..." What remained of the army, once called the Great, did not represent any force and was exterminated in parts without any difficulty.

Napoleon hoped to gather some forces and, having arranged an army in Vilna, it would be more plausible to retreat from Russia. But still fresh Russian forces were approaching Vilna.

P. went (November 28) to Pogulyanka, on the road from Vilna to Kovna, meaning to cut off the French retreat from Vilna. The bypassed French tried to resist, but it was immediately broken. Having made artillery preparation for the attack, P. swiftly sent detachments of generals Ilovaisky 5th and Dekhterev to the enemy, who broke through the French infantry and inflicted a decisive defeat.

Further orders of the Russian commander-in-chief ordered Platov to finish off the remnants of the Great Army and oust the French marshals who were within Russia. Blizzards, frosts, hunger, illnesses and relentless pursuit turned the mixed and finally demoralized French corps into hungry crowds of unfortunate, with frostbitten limbs, ragamuffins with disabilities, who thought only of escaping from Russia.

Stopping for a short time in Kovna, Ney's rearguard fortified itself on retrenchments and fired cannon fire towards Count Platov approaching the city; but threatened to be cut off by the Cossacks, who were crossing the left bank of the Neman, he left the city by nightfall, but then fell under the blows of Platov. The frenzied French refused to obey the orders of their generals and scattered in different directions.

On December 3, P. entered Kovno, where a thanksgiving service was served, and the enemy was considered finally expelled from our fatherland. During the three-day pursuit of the enemy from Vilna to Kovno, Platov's Cossacks captured up to 5,000 people, 21 guns and a huge amount of ammunition. For all the time of the pursuit of the enemy from Maloyaroslavets to Kovno, the Cossacks, led personally by Platov, captured 50-70 thousand prisoners, more than 500 guns, 30 banners and all the silver and gold looted by the French in Moscow.

Platov's name for everyone, not only in Russia, but also in Europe, became akin to the name of the Cossacks, and the rumor about his personal exploits inseparably merged with the news of the amazing actions of the Don people, who amazed the whole world with their selfless endurance and did not take literally a single day of rest for all the while pursuing the enemy. Their behavior was all the more surprising because they did not receive food at all and had to get it themselves.

P. did not stay long in Kovno; he crossed the Neman and moved through Neustadt, Pilkalen to Instenburg and, without stopping for a single day, followed to the city of Weilau and Ahlenburg. The inhabitants of Prussia met the Cossack regiments of Count Platov as their deliverers.

At this time, Marshal MacDonald, hoping for reinforcements from Danzig, walked from Konigsberg to Mühlhausen. Count P. hurried through Friedland, Domnau and Preussisch-Eylau to Mühlhausen and warned the enemy, occupying the city on December 30th.

MacDonald hurried to Elbing, but P. pursued him in this direction and occupied Elbing from the battle. Not giving the enemy time to rest, P. drove him even further; with a fight followed him across the Vistula to Dirschau, and further to Danzig. And on January 3, 1813, in order to prevent any communication, he surrounded the fortress of Danzig with the troops of his corps from all sides.

Soon, Emperor Alexander I recalled Platov to his main apartment, who, having handed over command to General Loviz, remained with the sovereign until the termination of the Poishvitsky truce.

Upon the resumption of hostilities, Platov was instructed, at the head of various light detachments connected, to act on the messages of the enemy, concentrated at Dresden. P. came out of Bohemia, through Chemnitz, behind enemy lines and on the way, near Altenburg, attacked an 8,000-strong enemy detachment and, quickly knocking him down, pursued with battle to the town of Meiselwitz and further to the city of Zeitz.

Having sent his detachments to Lutzen, Merseburg, Halle, Wurzen and Weissenfeld, Count P. himself went to Lutzen, from where his vanguard sent patrols to Leipzig itself, and also established observation of the movement of Marshal Augereau's corps.

In the famous battle of Leipzig, being on the right flank of our army on October 4, P. noticed in time that the enemy had launched an attack on the corps of Count Klenau, intending to knock him out of position and thereby begin successful operations against our army. Gr. P., being somewhat to the right of Klenau, gave the order to hit the enemy cavalry and overturned it with great damage.

On October 6, Count P. acted against the enemy from the village of Sommerfeld and, together with General Benigsen, captured the Wirtemberg Cavalry Brigade and broke the resistance of 6 battalions of the Saxon infantry with 28 guns.

Upon arrival on the right flank of the Russian army of the Crown Prince of Sweden, P., on his personal orders, acted between the armies of the prince and General Bennigsen and in this space continuously disturbed the enemy to the outskirts of Leipzig.

On October 7, Count P. was summoned to the defense of the city of Weimar, and the sovereign emperor was pleased to personally confirm this order to him, awarding him the Order of St.. Andrew the First-Called.

In Weimar, Count P. overturned Lefebvre's detachment and very vigorously pursued the retreating enemy, almost continuously striking the French and knocking them down all the way to Hanau. For the services rendered at this time, the emperor granted Platov a magnificent diamond feather, to be worn on a hat, with the monogram of the name of His Imperial Majesty and laurels.

Pursuing further the enemy from Hanau, on October 21, the Don Cossacks (with the vanguard of the Austro-Bavarian army under the command of General Bolkmann) arrived at Frankfurt, which they occupied without much difficulty. P. did not leave the enemy with his pursuit and drove him to Mainz; the next day, having crossed the Nida, he pursued it to Hochheim, between which and the village Wickert had heated encounters until the very night.

From November 26, Count Platov's light corps was located in apartments in Zwingenberg. From here, his movement was directed to the side of Switzerland, and then to Epinal.

From the time the allied army entered France, Platov's detachment was ahead of the army, maintaining communications with Blucher, having almost continuous clashes with enemy parties and taking away from them everything that was supposed to go to the French troops. After connecting the main and Silesian army, P. at the head of the 3,000th Cossack detachment was sent in search of Nemours, Fontainebleau and Melun.

Having crossed Iona at the end of January, Count P. followed through Egerville, Malserbe to Nemours. The occupation of this city could open to our troops the entire space between Yona and Luengem, and therefore Napoleon ordered in advance to strengthen it and supply it with an appropriate garrison. The attack began on February 3rd with the capture of the suburbs, and after dark Nemours was taken along with the entire garrison. The dismounted Cossacks broke down the gates broken by the Don artillery and burst into the city with pikes in their hands. From Nemours, Count Platov moved to Fontainebleau, in order to fulfill the order of the sovereign - to release the pope, who was held captive there, but the pope was no longer in Fontainebleau, and the Cossack regiments went from there to Petivier. P., having learned that the enemy intends to cut off his retreat, went on a forced march to Villeneuve-le-Roux. When crossing the river at Villeneuve-le-Roux, Count P. was greeted by the French avant-garde. Despite the superiority of the enemy forces, Count P. made a successful attack and could freely continue his way further through Saint-Florentin to Toner.

On February 19, Count Platov entered the city of Arsis-sur-Aube and captured the garrison retreating from the city with the commandant. After that, Count Platov, by the highest will, arrived at the main apartment and remained there until the very end of the campaign, directly with the person of His Majesty, in whose retinue he was a participant in the solemn entry into Paris.

From the time of the Patriotic War to the conclusion of the Peace of Paris, the Cossacks took more than 800 enemy guns and 100 thousand prisoners, and the military exploits, unparalleled courage and selflessness of the Don people made their name known to the whole world.

From France, the Cossacks made their way back to their homeland, but their glorious chieftain was not with them: at that time he accompanied Emperor Alexander I on his journey to England, which was a series of uninterrupted celebrations in honor of the "Zarein" chieftain.

Hardly any other name of the heroes was as popular among the English people as the name of Platov. They tried in every possible way to prove their enthusiastic surprise at his exploits. Oxford University presented Platov with a doctoral diploma, the city of London - a precious saber in a gold artistic setting, decorated with the enamel coat of arms of Great Britain and Ireland and the monogram of a Russian hero. In the royal palace, the portrait of the chieftain, painted at the request of the prince regent, took the most honorable place. P. did not know a moment of peace, since the desire of the public to see him forced the chieftain against his will to appear in public places, theaters and balls and take delights that surpassed all likelihood. Even Platov's warhorse was immortalized in an image painted by the best artist. Platov presented this horse to the Prince Regent in full Cossack attire. In parting, the Prince Regent granted Platov his portrait, showered with precious stones, "as a token of respect, respect and surprise for the immortal deeds raised for the good of his fatherland and for the salvation of Europe."

Remaining after the departure of the sovereign for some more time in England, P. returned to the main apartment of Field Marshal Count Barclay de Tolly, in Warsaw, and from there went to his "quiet Don".

The Don people were looking forward to their hero. Ovations to the glorious Ataman began long before his entry into Novocherkassk. The delegation was sent to the border of the Cossack lands, to the Voronezh province, and crowds of Cossacks flocked here from all sides.

Arriving at Novocherkassk, Count P. bowed three times to the earth, took a handful of earth and kissed it, greeting his homeland. In the city, Count P. was greeted by the authorities, the clergy, with bells, cannon shots and banners - monuments to the glorious deeds of the Don people. After the service, a manifesto was read, in which the "famous loyal" Don army was expressed "before the whole world" the highest gratitude and favor.

In the campaign of 1815, Platov did not have time to take part, since the battle of Waterloo stopped all attempts by Napoleon to regain his power.

At home, P. devoted himself entirely to the care of the internal well-being of his native land and the Don army. Novocherkassk is entirely indebted to him for its external improvement. The cathedral church, the triumphal gates on the occasion of the arrival of the sovereign in Novocherkassk and other city buildings were the fruit of Platov's care.

Giving all fair respect to the courage and other military virtues of the Cossacks, P. at the same time found it not superfluous to introduce among the Cossack population training in military affairs and especially artillery shooting, to which, based on combat experience, he attached great importance. The father of his Cossacks in the war, Count P., and in a peaceful situation, was imbued with the same cordial feeling towards them. His cherished desire was that not a single Cossack had material shortcomings in his home life and could enjoy well-deserved contentment.

Knowing how many widows and orphans were left on the Don after the war of 1812-1815, P. took their close part in the fate and became a generous benefactor. Taking care of public education, he founded a gymnasium in Novocherkassk, which was under his vigilant supervision. Through his efforts, a printing house was founded in Novocherkassk in 1817.

Both at war and at home, P. enjoyed unlimited respect and influence on those around him. He was distinguished not only by the greatest personal fearlessness, calmness, experience and outstanding abilities of a remarkable commander, but also by other qualities of his character - directness, great cordiality and condescension. Ease of use was his hallmark. He inspired courage and confidence in all who had to deal with him; with simple Cossacks, he was especially able to talk, considering them members of one, his own family. He often entered into their personal affairs and interests, "comprehending the properties of his people" and having one soul with them.

Platov's amazing ability to merge with the soul in general with every ordinary person manifested itself wherever he had to live, and in new places he completely sincerely performed rites and customs alien to him before. Platov's heart was always open to all kinds of requests, and his charity manifested itself endlessly, since he was generous to the point of excess. And only his relatives could never count in advance that P. would do more for them than for others. P. was a completely independent person who knew how to deftly get out of any difficult situation without sacrificing his dignity. His manners were distinguished in many respects by great oddities and originality. P. was a deeply religious man, and devotion to his throne was boundless. He tried to instill these qualities in his children, whom he treated with tender care and at the same time very strictly. He was married twice, but had a small family. He lived very widely, wider than his relatively modest means allowed him, partly from the conviction that his rank requires a certain representativeness and splendor, partly due to his hospitality and cordiality.

By nature, very active and lively, P. and in a peaceful environment could not stand idleness and silence, although secular pleasures tired him and were not to his liking. Ho hunting, fishing, visiting horse farms (Platov was a great connoisseur of horses, knew them and loved them to a passion) were his favorite pastimes. “We were not born to walk on the parquet floor,” he used to say, “our business is to walk across the field, through the swamps, sit in huts or, better still, in the open air, so that both the heat of the sun and any bad weather will not be a burden to us.”

Growing up on a horse, under a hail of bullets and in the fire of battles, Platov endured more labor, deprivation and inconvenience than any other of the Russian heroes. He considered it his duty to share with his subordinates all the hardships of the war and in this respect came close to the image of the great commander-soldier Suvorov. In the same way, he did not separate his glory from his Cossacks, treating them not only with love, but also with gratitude.

As a glorious and famous warrior and general, Platov was the only one of his kind, but he could not be classified among the great commanders, since the strategic side of the most important military operations and decisive battles, as well as the general creation of maneuver marches, did not depend on him. He was only an unusually talented and valiant executor of the plans and tasks that fell to his lot, deciding, however, often with his participation the outcome of hostilities. His literally "flying corps" did wonders. Therefore, as a person who inspired the Cossack forces, led and helped them perform amazing feats that ever fell on light cavalry, P. left a bright and indelible mark on military history. It would be difficult to study his campaigns as one studies science: he is all in one movement, all his military wisdom and art in his very extraordinary personality, in his personal prowess, abilities and rare military experience.

Count Platov died in 1818, on January 3, at the age of 67, and was buried in his native Novocherkassk in a family vault near the cathedral. Emperor Nicholas I immortalized the memory of "Whirlwind-Ataman" with a wonderful monument (the work of Bar. Klodt), erected in Novocherkassk, on Aleksandrovskaya Square. P. is depicted in full growth, in a general's uniform, with a cloak on his shoulders and with a drawn saber.

In honor of Platov, several medals were knocked out: one, gold, to be worn around the neck, refers to 1774, to the feat of the Don army and its colonel on the heights of the river. Kalalah; the other - refers to the time of Platov's stay in London in 1814 and the third - in honor of Platov's same visit to England - tin. In addition, there are several tokens and medallions carved in Russia and abroad and decorated with the image of Count Platov, as well as many of his portraits.

N. F. Smirnoy. "The Life and Exploits of Count Matvey Ivanovich Platov". 1821 - Sun. Mamyshev. "Biography of Russian military leaders", vol. I, no. 3, 1886 - G. Leer. "Encyclopedia of Military and Naval Sciences". - Lettow-Vorbeck, background. "The History of the War of 1806-1807", vol. IV, translated by von Vogt, edited by A. Puzyrevsky, 1898 - A. Starchevsky. "Reference Encyclopedic Dictionary", vol. IX. 1854 - A. F. Petrushevsky. "Generalissimo Prince Suvorov". 1900 - Kharkevich. "Platov's actions in the rearguard of Bagration in 1812". 1901 - A. I. Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, "Description of the Patriotic War in 1812". 1839 - M. I. Bogdanovich. "History of the Patriotic War of 1812" 1859 - "Reading for soldiers", book I, 1854 - "Count Platov, or the exploits of the Don Cossacks" 1813 - "Northern Archive" 1823 - E. Yu. Iversen . "Medals in honor of Russian statesmen and private individuals", no. 3. St. Petersburg. 1881, E. I. Tarasov "Don Ataman Platov. His life and exploits", St. Petersburg. 1902 (This essay contains a fairly detailed bibliography).

M. Kochergin.

(Polovtsov)

Platov, Count Matvei Ivanovich

(1751-1818) - famous ataman of the Don Cossacks, cavalry general; entered the service at the age of 13 and during the 1st Turkish war under Catherine II he already commanded a regiment. During the 2nd Turkish war, he distinguished himself during the assaults on Ochakov and Ishmael. During the Persian war of 1795-96 he was a marching chieftain, and in 1801 he was appointed military chieftain of the Don army; participated in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, then in the Turkish war. During the Patriotic War, he first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, covering the retreat of the army, had successful dealings with the enemy under the station. Mir and Romanovo. During the retreat of the French army, P., relentlessly pursuing her, inflicted defeats on Gorodnya, the Kolotsk Monastery, Gzhatsk, Tsarevo-Zaimishcha, near Dukhovshchina and at the crossing over the river. Howl. For these deeds, he was elevated to the dignity of a count. In November, P. occupied 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 took Namur. At the conclusion of peace, he accompanied the imp. Alexander to London, where he was greeted with a standing ovation. A monument was erected to him in Novocherkassk.

(Brockhaus)

Platov, Count Matvei Ivanovich

General from the cavalry, military ataman of the Don army, hero Fatherland. wars, kind Aug 6 1751 in Art. Staro-Cherkasskaya and was the son of troops. foremen. His original education did not go beyond the element. diplomas; having entered the service of a constable early, he reached an officer. rank thanks to the fights. differences in the tour. war of 1768-1774 Commander-in-Chief V. M. Dolgorukov noticed the capable P. and contributed to his promotion. 20 years old young men P. was already the commander of the Cossack. shelf. According to the conclusion of Kuchuk-Kaynardzhysk. peace P. was sent to the Kuban and here showed himself brilliantly. parties as independent. chief. Accompanying the trans-t with his regiment, he was surrounded on 3 Apr. 1774 huge. crowd of krymsk. Tatars Devlet Giray near the river. Kalalah. P. built a square, the rear of which was covered by a swamp, sides. He covered its faces with carts, and the front with sacks of flour, and behind this fence proved desperate. resistance to the Tatars, repelling up to seven attacks during the day; by night the Tatars retreated. In memory of the battle on Kalalakh, an angry was knocked out. medal. In 1775 P. was sent with his colonel to destroy Pugachevsk. Shaek in Voronezh. and Kazan. provinces. In 1782-1783. P. again fought in the Kuban and in the Crimea under the command of Suvorov, and for distinction received the rank of major in the army (1784), lieutenant colonel. (1786) and Col. (1787). Being with his regiment in the army of Potemkin, P. took part in the 2nd war with the Turks (1787-1791). For the assault on Ochakovo (1788), P. received the Order of St. George, 4th class. The victory at Causeni brought him the rank of brig-pa and the post of march. ataman in Yekaterinoslavsk. Potemkin's army Dec 11 In 1790, during the assault on Ishmael, P. commanded the 5th column, made up of dismounts. Cossacks, and after the injury of Major General Bezborodko - and the 4th column. Despite the inconsistent armament of the Cossacks, P. coped with the difficult. the task of escalating and repelling the attacks of the Turks, having earned the Order of St. George 3rd degree and the rank of major general. For the Persian campaign in 1796 he received a saber with alm. and with overhead "For Courage" and the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class. At the beginning of the reign of Imp. Paul P. became a victim of slander that questioned his pre-st throne; he was exiled to Kostroma, and then imprisoned in Petropavl. fortress. With the accession of Imp. Alexander I P. was produced in g.-l. and after the death of General Orlov appointed. (1801) troops. Ataman Donsk. troops; he remained in this position until his death, leaving the Don only to participate in wars. Time from 1801 to 1806 was devoted to P. energetically. administrative activities in the native army. He moved troops. management in Novocherkassk, safe from destructive. Don spills; reorganized troops. management, gave rights. donsk device. artillery and carried out a number of measures that regulated the service of the Cossacks. In 1806, Mr.. P. was called into the army to command all the Cossacks. p-kami in the theater of the war with Napoleon. From this campaign, the fame of P. began. The Don people of P. had their first prominent success during the persecution of the French. army during its movement from the Preisish-Eylau battlefield for the river. Passargu, but with a special importunity, the Cossacks of P. disturbed the enemy during the winter. a break in the campaign, when the posts of P. were assigned to maintain contact between our main. army and corps of Essen (near Ostrolenka). The most skillful P.'s enterprise was his actions in May on the river. Alle against the scattered parts of Ney's corps, and it means that he was captured. unpleasant convoy When moving to Friedland and further beyond the river. Neman Cossack. corps P., destroying crossings and producing unexpected. raids on the French, provided peace-coin. detachment of the army. For the war of 1806-1807. P. received the orders of St. George and St. Vladimir 2nd degree and Alexander. ribbon, and the banner was granted to the Don army. From Tilsit P. went to the army, which acted against the Turks. Aug 22 1807 P. occupied Girsovo, which made it possible to start building bridges on the Danube. In 1809, Mr.. P. participated in the battle of Rassevata and during the siege of Silistria, while defeating the tour. detachment. After the victorious affairs at the Tataritsa, the ataman, awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the 1st degree and the rank of general from the cavalier., but upset. health returned to the Don. Back to top war, in June 1812, the flying corps of P., with a force of up to 7 thousand horses, was part of the 1st Zap. army of Barclay de Tolly and was located in Grodno. Swiftly. By Napoleon's movement towards Vilna, the Cossacks were cut off from their army and, forced to join Bagration's army, reached the Dnieper with it. On this path, P., who was in the forefront, twice defeated the enemy. kav-rii: June 28 - at Mir and July 2 - under Romanov. Guided by their loved ones and who knew their fights perfectly. skills as an ataman, the Cossacks showed the primordial ability to deceive the enemy with their lava and strike him from skillfully hidden ambushes. After the case at Saltanovka, P. covered the flank with a thick curtain of his Cossacks. march of the army Bagration to Smolensk, while doing well. raid on one of Davout's units. When the Russian armies united near Smolensk and went on the offensive, its beginning was marked by success. case on July 27 at Malevo Bolot, in which P. knocked over the goose. brigade from the Sebastiani division and took more than 300 people. in captivity. After Smolensk. battles he commanded the vanguard united. armies and only for several. days before Borodin was replaced by Konovnitsyn. in Borodino. the battle of the Cossacks P. together with the cavalier. Uvarov's corps made a search in the rear of the lion. flank of the French army, which prompted Napoleon to delay the attack on the Raevsky battery. But in days close to Borodin. battle, an incomparably great service was rendered by P. as the initiator of the rise of the Cossack. militia of the Don; in an order to his fellow countrymen, he demanded from them quickly and almost without exception. exit to the service, indicating and the fastest. the order of following to the army of newly formed regiments. They, including 21, arrived in Tarutino, and 22 thousand soldiers were formed in the army. the mass of Cossacks, so necessary at the ripening will decide. turning point in the campaign. When after the battle Maloyaroslavets determined the separation of the French in Smolensk. road, Kutuzov instructed P. to pursue them directly. Relentlessly following the prot-come as part of the partisans. detachments, then in one mass under the command of the ataman, the Cossacks exterminated the decaying every. French day. army, taking daily trophies in the form of prisoners, weapons, and other booty. Franz. during the persecution, the army gave only into the hands of the Cossacks, personally led by P., over 50 thousand prisoners, 500 op., several. banners and more. the amount of gold and silver looted in Moscow. Oct 22 P. participated in the defeat of the French near Vyazma. From Dorogobuzh, he followed the corps of the Viceroy of Italian. to the Spirituality; under the blows of the Cossacks, the Italians were forced to throw up to 60 op. and October 28, overtaken at the crossing over the river. Vop, lost their convoys. Nov 7 P. completed the destruction of Ney's corps and continued with his tireless. riders to follow Napoleon to the Berezina and beyond. On December 2, near Kovna, he pushed Ney's vanguard out of the Russian. limits. For his services to Fatherland. war P. was awarded the count. title. In December 1812 P. was one of the first to cross the border and pursued MacDonald's troops to Danzig, which on January 3. was surrounded by them. Soon the ataman was recalled to Imp. chapters apartment, where he was during the campaigns of 1813-1814, receiving from time to time in command separately. squads. In the autumn of 1813, he first went to bed. detachments acted on the messages of the French. Near Leipzig 4 Oct. P. attack on the flank of the enemy rendered creatures. , support for the Klenau corps, and on 6 Oct. together with Bennigsen captured Württemberg. brigade. Awarded with the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, P. was sent to defend Weimar; having overturned Lefebvre's troops here, he pursued the French to Hanau and was rewarded with a magnificent. a diamond feather on a cap with a monogram. image name. Continuing the persecution of the retreating French within France and preceding the main. allied army, P. at the end of Jan. was sent from 3 thousand. Cossack a detachment in search of Fontainebleau; 3 fb. the Cossacks, with the assistance of their artillery, stormed Nemours, and returning from the search, on February 19. captured the garrison retreating from Arcy-sur-Aube. After the conclusion of the Paris peace P. accompanied Imp. Alexander in England. Here he was the subject of enthusiastic. applause from the English as one of the most popular. Napoleonic heroes. wars. The Prince Regent granted him his portrait, showered with jewels. stones; London brought him a jewel. saber, Oxford University - Dr. diploma. From abroad, the ataman returned to Novocherkassk and here he continued to devote his concerns to the welfare of the region and the Cossacks, as well as to the improvement of battles. training of the Cossacks, not remaining indifferent to the fate of the orphans of those of them who fell in the wars of 1812-1814. Under him, a gymnasium and troops were founded in Novocherkassk. printing house. P. died on 3 Jan. 1818 Imp. Nicholas I immortalized the memory of "Whirlwind Ataman" with a bar monument. Klodt, put on Alexander. Novocherkassk square. P., who knew his fellow countrymen well, enjoyed a great deal among them. authority and influence and had special. the ability to sincerely speak and merge with the soul with the simple. man. Thanks to this, in Fatherland. war P., with its rare military. experience, was worthy. cossack leader. forces who had the opportunity to inspire the Cossacks, to maintain their energy among the heavy. campaign and combine their efforts to exterminate the enemy with techniques corresponding to the natural properties of the Cossacks. k-tsy. ( N Biographical Dictionary Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Cossack military prowess

Praise, our whirlwind - chieftain,
Leader of the unharmed, Platov!
Your enchanted lasso
Thunderstorm for adversaries.
An eagle rustles through the clouds,
You roam the field like a wolf;
You fly with fear behind enemy lines,
You whistle in their ears with trouble!
They are only to the forest - the forest came to life,
The trees are shooting arrows!
They are only to the bridge - the bridge is gone!
Only to the villages - the villages are bursting!
V.A. Zhukovsky

Matvey Ivanovich Platov was born in 1753 on August 8 in the village of Pribylyanskaya in the town of Cherkassk (now the village of Starocherkasskaya) and spent his childhood here.

The town of Cherkassk at that time was the capital of the Don Cossack Region, and all life in it was imbued with a military spirit. From here came all orders for the military unit, service Cossacks gathered here to go on campaigns. The surroundings, as well as the stories of old warriors about feats of war, had a great influence on young people, imitating the heroes, they spent time in games of a military nature. Horseback riding, catching animals and fish, shooting exercises were her favorite pastimes. Among these young people, the future leader of the Don Cossack army, Matvey Ivanovich Platov, grew up, who already at that time stood out from the general mass with sharpness of mind, agility and dexterity.

His father, Ivan Fedorovich Platov, was a well-known foreman on the Don, but did not differ in material wealth, and therefore he gave his son only the usual education in the Cossacks, teaching him to read and write.
Matvey Ivanovich Platov
Matvey Ivanovich Platov

At the age of thirteen, Matvey Ivanovich was appointed by his father to serve in the military office, where he soon attracted attention and was promoted to constable.

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. Platov was in the ranks of the army under the command of Prince M.V. Dolgorukov, as commander of the Cossack hundreds. For military merit during the capture of Perekop and near Kinburn, he was appointed commander of a regiment of Don Cossacks.

In 1774, even before the conclusion of peace with Turkey at Kuchuk-Kaynardzhi, Platov was instructed to deliver a convoy with food and equipment to the army located in the Kuban. On the way, the brother of the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey attacked the regiments of Platov and Larionov, who left the Yeysk fortification, on the way. Under the green banner of the prophet there were up to 30 thousand Tatars, highlanders, Nogais. The situation in which the convoy found itself was desperate.

Larionov handed over the overall command of the detachment to Platov, not believing that it was possible to resist such a strong force. “Friends,” Platov told the Cossacks, “we will either have a glorious death or victory. We will not be Russians and Donets if we are afraid of the enemy. With God's help, repel his evil plans!

By order of Platov, a fortification was hastily arranged from the convoy. Seven times with a frenzy the Tatars and their allies rushed into the attack on the relatively weak forces of the Cossacks, and seven times the latter threw them back with great damage. At the same time, Platov found an opportunity to report the hopeless situation of the convoy to his troops, who were not slow to come to the rescue. The Tatars were put to flight, and the convoy was delivered intact to its destination. This incident brought Platov fame not only in the army, but also at court.

Platov further served under the command of Prince Potemkin-Tauride and the great Russian commander A.V. Suvorov. Service under the leadership of Suvorov was the best school for Matvey Ivanovich.

During the second Turkish war in 1787-1791. Platov takes part in the battles during the siege and assault of Ochakov, during the attack and occupation of the Gassan-Pashinsky castle.

On September 13, 1789, Platov with his Cossacks and rangers at Kaushany put the Turkish troops to flight and captured the "three-bunch pasha" Zainal-Gassan. For this feat, he was appointed field ataman of the Cossack regiments.

In 1790, Platov was in Suvorov's army near Izmail. On December 9, at the military council, he was one of the first to vote for an immediate assault on the fortress, and on December 11, during the assault itself, he led five thousand Cossacks, who honorably completed the task assigned to them by the great commander Suvorov. Suvorov wrote to Prince Potemkin about Platov and his regiments: "The courage, the swift blow of the Don army cannot be praised enough before your lordship." For services in the capture of Izmail, Matvey Ivanovich was presented by Suvorov for the award of the Order of St. George III degree, and at the end of the war he was promoted to the rank of major general.

In the last years of the reign of Catherine II, Platov took part in the Persian War. Cases under Derbent, Baku, Elizavetpol wove new laurels into Platov's wreath. He was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the III degree, and Catherine II awarded him with a saber in a velvet sheath and a gold frame, with large diamonds and rare emeralds.

The Don writer Dmitry Petrov (Biryuk) in the historical novel “Sons of the Don Steppes” writes that “Matvey Ivanovich Platov made a dizzying career in a short time. Without connections, without education, enlisted at the age of 13 to serve in the Cossack troops, Platov at the age of 19 already commanded a regiment. He participated in all the wars and large campaigns of his time, always standing out, receiving awards, attracting the attention of the largest commanders, politicians of the royal court.

Platov becomes one of the most popular people on the Don and a prominent person in dignitary Petersburg.

Having ascended the throne after the death of Catherine II, Paul I recalls Zubov's army, in which Platov served, from the borders of Persia. Platov is allowed to return to the Don. But then trouble struck. On the way, Matvey Ivanovich was overtaken by the tsar's courier and delivered by order of the tsar to Kostroma, into exile. Then he was taken to St. Petersburg, and imprisoned in the ravelin of the Peter and Paul Fortress. This was in 1797.

The reason for Platov's arrest was a false denunciation. Pavel was told that Platov's enormous popularity had taken on a dangerous character. It must be said that Pavel was generally dissatisfied with the illustrious Cossack general for his closeness to Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, an opponent of the Prussian drill, which Pavel planted in the Russian army.

At the end of 1800, Paul I released Matvey Ivanovich from custody in order to later use him in the implementation of his ridiculous and fantastic plan - the conquest of India. Platov understood that the campaign conceived by Paul would require many sacrifices and would not bring any benefit to Russia, but he did not dare to refuse the tsar's proposal.

In a short time, 41 cavalry regiments and two companies of horse artillery were prepared for the campaign, which amounted to 27,500 people and 55,000 horses.

In early February 1801, the detachment set off.

Severe trials fell on the lot of the Cossacks in this ill-fated campaign. And only the sudden death of Paul I ended their suffering. Alexander I, who ascended the throne, ordered the Cossacks to return home. Thus ended the campaign to India, about which only legends and grief were preserved on the Don.

In August 1801, in the first year of his reign, Alexander I sent a letter to the Don, addressed to Matvey Ivanovich Platov. The letter said that for long-term and impeccable service, he was appointed military ataman of the Don army. Being a military ataman, Platov also discovered his remarkable talents.

On May 18, 1805, on the initiative of Platov, the capital of the Don Cossack Army was moved from Cherkassk to a new location in Novocherkassk. In the same year, Napoleon attacked Austria, which was an ally of Russia. Platov, having formed twelve Cossack regiments and an artillery cavalry battery, set out on a campaign to the Austrian border. However, he did not have to participate in the battles, since soon after Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz, peace was concluded over the allied forces. But the war didn't end there. In 1806 Napoleon attacked Prussia. At Jena and Auerstadt, he inflicted a severe defeat on the Prussian troops. In a few weeks, Prussia was finished, and Napoleon entered Berlin. The Prussian king fled to Konigsberg.

Platov and his Don regiments had to fight a lot in Prussia against the Napoleonic troops. The name of the Don ataman became even more famous not only in Russia, but also abroad.

But now the war is over. On June 25 (July 7), 1807, a meeting of three monarchs was scheduled in Tilsit to sign the peace: Alexander, Napoleon and the Prussian king Friedrich-Wilhelm. Matvey Ivanovich Platov at that time was in Alexander's retinue.

At this time, a characteristic incident occurred. At the request of Napoleon, horse riding was carried out. The Cossacks rode horseback riding, chopped up lozina, shot from under the belly of a galloping horse at a target. The horsemen took out coins scattered on the grass from the saddle; rushing at a gallop, they pierced effigies with darts; some spun in the saddle at this gallop dexterously and so quickly that it was impossible to make out where their hands were and where their legs ...

A lot more was done by the Cossacks, which took the breath away from lovers and connoisseurs of horse riding. Napoleon was delighted and, turning to Platov, asked: “And you, General, can you shoot a bow?” Platov grabbed a bow with arrows from the nearest Bashkir and, having dispersed his horse, fired several arrows at a gallop. They all slammed into the straw dummies with a whistle.

When Platov returned to his seat, Napoleon told him:

Thank you General. You are not only a wonderful military leader, but also an excellent rider and shooter. You have given me much pleasure. I want you to have a good memory of me. And Napoleon handed Platov a golden snuffbox.

Taking the snuffbox and bowing, Platov said to the interpreter:

Convey my Cossack thanks to His Majesty. We, the Don Cossacks, have an old-fashioned custom: to give gifts ... Excuse me, Your Majesty, I don’t have anything with me that would draw your attention ... but I don’t want to remain in debt and I want Your Majesty to do so but remembered me ... Please accept this bow and arrows as a gift from me ...

An original gift, - Napoleon smiled, examining the bow. - Well, my general, your bow will remind me that it is difficult for even a small bird to protect himself from the arrow of the Don chieftain. The well-aimed arrow of the chieftain will overtake her everywhere.

When the translator translated this, Platov said:

Yes, my eye is trained, sharp-sighted, my hand is firm. Not only small, but also large birds need to be wary of my arrow.

The hint was too explicit. Under the big bird, Platov clearly meant Napoleon himself, and a big conflict would not have been avoided if it were not for a resourceful translator.

By 1812, almost all of Western and Central Europe was subject to Napoleon. He reshaped it as he wanted, created new states, put his relatives on the throne in the conquered countries. The Spanish people remained unconquered on the Iberian Peninsula; across the English Channel, England, stubbornly defending its claims to world domination; in the east of Europe - Russia.

Napoleon began to carefully prepare for a campaign against Russia. In June 1812, without declaring war, Napoleon with an army of 420 thousand people with a thousand guns crossed its borders. By August of the same year, another 155,000 had entered Russian territory. By the beginning of the war, Russia could put up no more than 180 thousand people against Napoleon. The huge forces of the vast country had not yet been assembled. But the Russian army had a number of advantages. The morale of the Russian soldiers, selfless patriots of their great homeland, was high... The Russian soldier was notable for his unsurpassed courage and had a sharp mind. Among the regiments there were many participants in the Suvorov campaigns, soldiers of the Suvorov school. Quite a few Suvorov students numbered the brilliant ranks of Russian commanders. At the same time, Russia possessed abundant and strong military means - excellent artillery, strong cavalry, and well-armed infantry.

Such was the balance of forces at the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812.

From the first days, 14 Cossack regiments, united in a cavalry flying corps, took part in the struggle of the Russian people against the Napoleonic hordes. This corps was commanded by Matvey Ivanovich Platov.

In the first period of the war, Platov was in the second army, commanded by Bagration. The army of Bagration went to connect with the 1st army, commanded by Barclay. Platov's cavalry corps was entrusted with the difficult task of following in the rearguard of the army and in every possible way delaying the advance of enemy troops. Departing, the Cossacks incessantly flew in small groups on the enemy's carts, smashing them and instantly disappearing; destroyed the vanguards of the enemy; made raids on the rear, led him astray.

On the day of the Battle of Borodino, according to the plan of M.I. The Kutuzov corps of Platov and General Uvarov crossed the Kolocha River and went deep into the enemy rear, to the location of his carts, where they raised a big commotion.

Observing the actions of the Platov and Uvarov corps, Kutuzov exclaimed with admiration: “Well done! .. Well done! .. How can this valiant service of our army be paid? In all likelihood, he thought that our big force had hit him in the rear. And we will use Bonaparte's embarrassment."

The operation of the cavalry corps of Platov and Uvarov forced Napoleon to suspend the offensive for two whole hours. The Russians during this time managed to bring reinforcements and put up reserve artillery.

In the battle of Borodino, the will and art of Kutuzov defeated the will and art of Napoleon. In the words of Napoleon himself, the Russians acquired the right to be invincible.

On September 3, Platov's Cossacks, exchanging fire with the enemy lancers from Murat's vanguard, were the last to leave Moscow.

Farewell, Mother! We will be back! - said Platov leaving Moscow. In difficult days for Russia, when the Napoleonic army was moving deeper and deeper into its territory, Platov appealed to the inhabitants of the Don to defend their homeland. Don honorably complied with this call. Twenty-four cavalry regiments of the people's militia and six cavalry guns were sent to the active army. Fifteen thousand faithful sons of the quiet Don began to defend the Motherland... Not only men, but also women joined the ranks of the army.

When Platov came to Kutuzov to report the arrival of regiments from the Don, the latter said in a voice trembling with excitement: “Thank you! Thank you, ataman! .. This service will never be forgotten by the fatherland! .. Always, until the hour when God wants to call me to him, gratitude to the Don army for its labors and courage in this difficult time will remain in my heart.

After entering Moscow, the position of the enemy army became more and more difficult. Cossack regiments and partisan detachments of Denis Davydov, Seslavin, Figner surrounded Moscow from all sides, preventing French foragers from getting food and fodder for horses in the surrounding villages, getting even the little that could be found in depopulated and devastated villages. Napoleon's troops were forced to eat horsemeat, carrion. Illnesses have begun. Enemy soldiers were dying by the thousands. The entire Russian people rose to the Patriotic War. Napoleon was soon forced to leave the Russian capital. This event was a signal for the general offensive of Kutuzov's army, which assigned a special and honorable place to the actions of Platov's corps.

Matvei Ivanovich Platov.

Ataman M.I. Platov

Matvey Ivanovich Platov, at the head of his corps, pursued the enemy on his heels. “Now, brothers,” he said to the Cossacks, “our miserable time has come ... Just have time to sharpen your sabers and sharpen your darts ... We will now wipe the snot of the braggart Bonapartishka. Come on, brothers, let's make noise, let our Russian woman know that her sons, dashing Donets, are still alive ... "

And indeed, starting from the Tarutinsky battle, the Cossacks made a noise. Not a day went by that they didn't do something. Everywhere there was only talk about the exploits of the Cossacks. A lot of noise around the country was caused by the news that the Cossacks near Maloyaroslavets almost captured Napoleon himself.

On October 19, in the battle with the corps of Marshal Davout at the Kolotsky Monastery, Platov's Cossacks again distinguished themselves. They defeated Davout's rearguard and captured huge booty. A couple of days after that, the Cossacks encountered the corps of the Neapolitan king, defeated this corps, capturing up to three thousand prisoners and fifty cannons. And three days later, Platov with his regiments overtook the corps of the Italian viceroy near Dukhovshchina and, after a two-day bloody battle, defeated him, again capturing up to three thousand prisoners and up to seventy guns.

These days, Kutuzov's report to Emperor Alexander about the valor of the Platov Cossacks was published in the capital's newspapers: “Great is God, most merciful sovereign! Falling at the feet of Your Imperial Majesty, I congratulate you on your new victory. The Cossacks are doing miracles, beating both artillery and infantry columns!

For a thousand-mile transition from Maloyaroslavets to the borders of Prussia, the Cossacks captured more than 500 guns from the French, a huge number of convoys with things looted in Moscow, more than 50 thousand soldiers and officers captured, including 7 generals and 13 colonels.

By the end of December 1812, the last remnants of Napoleon's army were expelled from Russia.

The wonderful deeds of our ancestors in the Patriotic War of 1812 will forever remain in the memory of the people. The people have not forgotten and will not forget the glorious deeds of the Don Cossacks, whose merits to the fatherland were vividly appreciated by the great Russian commander - M.I. Kutuzov: “My reverence for the Don Army and gratitude for their exploits during the enemy’s campaign, soon deprived of all cavalry and artillery horses, therefore, guns ... will remain in my heart. I bequeath this feeling to my offspring.”

But the war did not end with the expulsion of Napoleon's army from Russia. On January 1, 1813, Russian troops crossed the Neman and moved west, freeing Europe enslaved by Napoleon. The campaign of 1813-1814 began, in which the Cossacks further increased the glory of Russian weapons.

In February, Cossacks and hussars made a raid on Berlin, which did not give direct military results, but made a huge impression on the Prussians. This hastened the turn in Russian politics. Prussia broke off its relations with Napoleon and entered into a military alliance with Russia.

Platov's Cossacks, pursuing the enemy, occupied the cities of Elbing, Marienburg, Marienwerder and others.

“The fall of the glorious fortified cities of Elbing, Marienwerder and Dirschau,” Kutuzov wrote to Platov, “I completely attribute to the courage and determination of Your Excellency and the brave army you lead. The flight of pursuit cannot be compared with any speed. Eternal glory to the fearless Don people!”

The decisive battle of the campaign of 1813-1814. was the largest battle near Leipzig, in which up to 500,000 people participated.

Fighting on the right flank of the Russian army, the Cossacks captured a cavalry brigade, 6 infantry battalions and 28 guns. The Don Cossacks marched through the whole of Europe with battles.

War of 1812-1814 brought worldwide fame to the Cossacks of the Don. Newspapers and magazines of that time were full of reports about the Donets, their military exploits. The name of the Don ataman Platov was very popular.

After the conclusion of the Peace of Paris, Platov visited London, being part of the retinue of Alexander I. London newspapers devoted entire pages to Platov, listing his real and fictitious exploits and merits. Songs were composed about him, his portraits were printed. In London, Platov met with the famous English poet Byron and writer Walter Scott.

Later, when Platov returned to the Don, an English officer arrived and presented him with an honorary doctorate from Oxford University and a saber from the citizens of London.

Participation in the war of 1812, military merits and patriotic deeds did not bring, however, the working Cossacks, like the whole working Russia, a better life. The labor Cossack could rightfully say about himself in the words of Russian soldiers: “We shed blood ... We saved the Motherland from the tyrant (Napoleon), and the Lord is again tyrannizing us.”

Platov devoted the rest of his days to administrative affairs, since the economy of the Don Cossack Region, neglected during the war years, demanded his attention.
Agarkov L.T.
Conference speech, 1955

An outstanding Russian military leader, a participant in all the wars of Russia in the 2nd half of the 18th - early 19th centuries. Military chieftain of the Don Cossack army (1801), cavalry general (1809), count (1812). Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov was born on August 6 (17), 1751 in the city of Cherkassk (now a village in) in the family of a military foreman. Military service began in 1766.

M. I. Platov participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, in 1769 he was promoted to the commander-in-chief, Prince V. M. Dolgorukov, to the captain. He commanded a hundred, from 1771 - a Cossack regiment. In 1771, he distinguished himself during the attack and capture of the Perekop line and the fortress of Kinburn.

In 1775, M. I. Platov participated in the suppression of the Peasant War under the leadership, liquidated the last detachments of the rebels in the Voronezh and Kazan provinces.

In 1782-1783, M.I. Platov served in the Kuban and in the Crimea under the command.

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791, M. I. Platov was in the Yekaterinoslav army under the command of , participated in the capture of Ochakov (1788), in the battle of Kaushany (1789), in the capture of Akkerman and Bender. During the assault on Izmail (1790) he successfully commanded a column, and then the entire left wing of the Russian troops. For actions near Ochakovo, M.I. Platov was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, promoted to foreman and appointed field ataman of the Don Cossack army, for participating in the assault on Izmail - the Order of St. George 3rd degree and the rank of major general.

In 1797, M. I. Platov was slandered before the emperor, suspected of conspiracy and exiled, first to, and then imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. In January 1801, he was released, granted the Commander's Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and appointed chief assistant to the military ataman of the Don army. M. I. Platov was supposed to play a leading role in the campaign against India, which was not carried out due to the death of the emperor.

The administrative activity of M. I. Platov was interrupted by the Napoleonic wars. In the Russian-Prussian-French war of 1806-1807, under his command were all the Cossack regiments in the Russian troops. He took part in the Battle of (1807), covered the retreat of the Russian armies to Friedland, to and beyond the Neman.

In June 1807, M. I. Platov was in the retinue during negotiations in Tilsit, was introduced to the emperor. After the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit (1807), he was awarded the Order of St. George of the 2nd degree, the Order of St. Vladimir of the 2nd degree, and the Order of St. The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III granted him the Orders of the Red and Black Eagles.

In 1807-1809, M. I. Platov took part in the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812. For actions near Silistria, he was awarded the rank of general from the cavalry and the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree.

At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, M. I. Platov first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, being in the rear guard, covered the retreat of the 2nd Western Army of the prince to. In June-July 1812, the Cossack corps under his command had very successful clashes with the enemy at Karelichi, Mir and Romanov.

In the Battle of Borodino on August 26 (September 7), 1812, the Cossacks of M. I. Platov, together with the cavalry corps of F. P. Uvarov, raided the rear of the French troops, which influenced the course of the battle.

During the military council in Fili, M. I. Platov spoke out against the abandonment and for a new battle. The Cossacks, together with their chieftain, were the last to leave the French troops before entering it.

With the beginning of the general retreat of the Great Army from October 1812, M.I. Platov was instructed to monitor the movement of the enemy, but he, not limited to exemplary performance of his task, did not miss a single opportunity during the entire movement of the enemy, so as not to inflict the last possible harm and defeat. For the entire time of the pursuit of the enemy from to Kovno, the Cossacks, personally led by M. I. Platov, captured 50-70 thousand prisoners, more than 500 guns, 30 banners and almost all the silver and gold looted by the French in.

The bold and decisive actions of M. I. Platov throughout the entire campaign of 1812 contributed to the defeat of the Napoleonic troops and allowed him to gain great popularity among the troops, in Russian society and abroad. As a result of the campaign in December 1812, he received the title of earl.

M. I. Platov took part in the foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1813-1814. In the battle of Leipzig on October 16-19, 1813, his Cossack regiments were on the right flank of the Allied forces. In the campaign of 1814, M. I. Platov distinguished himself during the capture of Nemur and at Arcy-sur-Aube, was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

In 1814, M. I. Platov accompanied the emperor on a trip to England, where he was awarded many honors, including an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. Upon returning to M. I. Platov, he took care of the internal well-being of his native land and the Don army, and was engaged in the improvement of the city.

M. I. Platov died on January 3 (15), 1818 in his estate Elanchinskaya Sloboda (now the village