During the second year Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812) The squadron of Rear Admiral Semyon Afanasyevich Pustoshkin captured on May 11, 1807 the Turkish fortress of Anapa, located at the junction of the Greater Caucasus and the Taman Peninsula.
The capture of a well-fortified Turkish fortress marked the beginning of Russia's development of the Black Sea strip of the Caucasus, a future resort pearl.
Anapa Fortress was the northernmost fortification of the vast Turkish possessions on the eastern coast of the Black Sea.
For the Port, Anapa was not just a point on the map of the vast Ottoman Empire, not one of the many fortified port cities, but a strategically significant point in the Black Sea basin.
From the port of Anapa, Turkish ships went on predatory campaigns and raids on the lands of the Kuban coast that belonged to Russia.
Experienced in the art of intricate intrigues of eastern diplomacy, the Ottoman Empire skillfully incited the Caucasus mountaineers to forays and attacks on the Russian border territories.
The appearance of a powerful Russian squadron on the Anapa roadstead from 15 ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet led by the flagship 110-gun ship "Ratny" came as a surprise to the Turks.
The aggressively-minded Turks of the Anapa fortress did not allow the Russian envoy to even approach the walls of the fortress to present an ultimatum of surrender. Considering this as a refusal of the Turks to surrender, the Russians began shelling the Anapa fortress from the sea; soon a fire broke out in the fortress and the entire Turkish garrison quickly fled from the city engulfed in flames. Even the Circassians who came to the rescue did not help the Ottomans - their cavalry attack was repulsed by the Russian landing force.
The winners of the battle for Anapa received rich trophies, including two merchant ships stationed in the port, about a hundred cannons and a lot of ammunition. At that time, Russia did not yet have enough forces and means to hold the occupied territory, and in order to eliminate the support base of Turkish rule on the Black Sea coast, the sailors blew up the Anapa fortress.
The lightning capture of Anapa by Russian sailors is a glorious episode during the first Russian-Turkish War in the 19th century (1806 - 1812). Istanbul's connection with the Caucasian mountaineers, who were hostile to the Russian Empire by the Turks, was severed.
A little more than two decades remained before the final annexation of Anapa to Russia (1829). With the entry of Anapa, a former Ottoman fortress, into Russia the dangerous banditry and slave-owning center near the southern borders of our country was eliminated. Thus, the prerequisites were formed for the peaceful development of the lands that became part of Russia and the future transformation of the region into a modern Caucasian resort city.
Treaty of Bucharest 1812.
May 16, 1812 A peace treaty was signed in Bucharest, under the terms of which Russia was to return the Anapa fortress to the Porte, a key point of Turkish possessions in the region.
According to the terms of the Bucharest Peace " All prisoners of war, both male and female, whatever their nationality and condition, located in both empires, must, soon after the exchange of ratifications of this peace treaty, be returned and handed over without the slightest ransom or payment."
The Treaty of Bucharest in 1812 improved the strategic position of Russia, which Bessarabia with the fortresses of Khotyn, Bendery, Akkerman, Kiliya and Izmail.
The Russian-Turkish border was established from now on along the Prut River and the Kiliya channel. Russia has left behind significant territories in Transcaucasia, received the right of commercial navigation along the entire course of the Danube.
Moldavia and Wallachia were returned to Turkey, which, in turn, restored to them all the privileges granted Treaty of Jassy in 1792. Serbia gained autonomy in matters of internal self-government.
The Russian-Turkish War of 1806-1812 became a turning point in the history of many states, and made the Russian Empire a liberator from Turkish rule.
In 1806, Napoleon sought to weaken Russia’s advantageous position in the countries of the Middle East. And in order to remove Russia from military operations in Europe, he took advantage of the tense situation between the Russian state and Turkey. The war began at the end of 1806. England was in an alliance with Russia, and this situation was in order to bring Turkey under its influence. The ultimate goal was the capture of Constantinople. In February, British troops crossed the Dardanelles and entered the Sea of Marmara. The English government demanded that the Sultan reconsider his orientation towards France, and also transfer the Dardanelles into the possession of England.
The Sultan flatly refused to comply with England's demands. With the participation of the French Ambassador in Constantinople, military fortifications of the coastal area were carried out. The English admiral was forced to accept the losing position of his troops and retreat. Since the retreat took place through the Dardanelles, the army came under fire from Turkish batteries and suffered heavy losses. In the spring of 1807, the British army set off for the shores of Egypt, and after landing in Alexandria, it was completely defeated by the Egyptian troops. Next, the army left Egyptian territory in a hurry.
At this time, Turkey was preparing to attack Russia, and troops set out from Constantinople towards the Danube principalities. Turkish troops suffered serious defeats from the very beginning. In the Aegean Sea, the fleet was attacked by Russian troops led by Admiral Senyavin.
In Turkey, against the backdrop of military-political, an uprising was raised against the government, during which Sultan Selim III was overthrown, and supporters of the existing reforms were executed. Sultan Mustafa IV came to power and pledged to restore the ancient customs of Turkey to the fullest extent possible. Military reform was canceled, and the entire old political system was destroyed.
Those who were able to survive after the collapse of the old system created an association in the city of Rushchuk. The head of the association was the very influential Mustafa Pasha Bayraktar. He was very powerful and had military resources. The new political organization set out to return Sultan Selim to power, as well as resume old reforms. Gathering a huge army, Mustafa Bayraktar invaded Istanbul in the summer of 1808 and, together with his supporters, overthrew the Sultan. By that time, Sultan Selim III was already dead, so Mahmud II came to power. All Bayraktar's supporters took positions in the government, and he himself became the vizier. The new government lasted only a few months in power and was overthrown.
The Russian government made peace with Turkey, during which Russian troops left the Moldavian and Romanian lands. Although this provision was not approved by Alexander I, all military operations in these territories were stopped.
The Russian-Turkish War resumed in 1809. At first there was no active military action. This was due to the fact that the situation of Russian troops in Europe was difficult, and Russia could not repel the Turkish attack properly. The Russian troops were not supplied as required. The Turkish troops suffered defeat in 1811, when Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief. The Turkish army was defeated and a peace treaty was signed in Bucharest. This agreement was beneficial for Russia, since it was under a serious threat of invasion by the French army. During the peace treaty, it was indicated that the land of Bessarabia would join Russia. The Russian-Turkish border was established, and the lands of Romania and Moldova were returned to Turkey with enormous political privileges. Romania was granted autonomy.
The Russian-Turkish War of 1806-1812 influenced the course of historical events in many countries. The Bucharest Peace Treaty played a very important role in the political situation that developed after the war in Moldova. The state was divided into two parts. The eastern part was subordinated to the Russian state. Although the division of the state was illegal, Moldova was freed from Turkish sovereignty, under which it had been for several centuries. Now the Russian tax system and judicial practice were gradually introduced here. From the very beginning of the Russian-Turkish War of 1806-1812, the pressure of the policies of the Russian Empire forced Turkey to create a decree with privileges for the state of Moldova.
Russia acquired the territory of lands between the Dniester and the Prut, and the position in part of South-Eastern Europe was strengthened. This territory served as a springboard for the planned advance into the Balkan lands. The policy of the Russian state was perceived not as an action to seize land, but as liberation from the long-term power of the Turkish government. The people of the Balkan Peninsula saw this as their salvation.
Scheme for the Unified State Exam.
The next military conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire occurred in 1806; only in 1812 did the parties come to an agreement and sign the Peace of Bucharest.
At the beginning of the 19th century, France became stronger. Napoleon Bonaparte strives for world domination. The Russian Empire is becoming a strong enemy. Napoleon is looking for a way to reduce Russian influence on the Balkan Peninsula and within the Black Sea. To this end, Bonaparte comes to an agreement with the Ottoman Empire. Alexander I understood that this was a provocation on the part of Turkey. The Sultanate actively begins to interfere in the internal affairs of small states that were under Russian rule. In addition, the Turkish government begins to violate the terms of the previous peace treaty.
Reasons and reason
Alexander I had a negative but patient attitude towards the current situation. But in 1806, without the consent of the Russian emperor, the Sultan removed the heads of Moldavia Alexander Muruzi and Wallachia Constantine Ispilanti from their posts. Such an act was contrary to the terms of the Iasi Peace, according to which such decisions were made only with the consent of Russia. In addition, Türkiye closed the Basphorus and Dardanelles straits to the Russian fleet. The deprivation of the fleet on the Black Sea seriously undermined the economy of the Russian Empire and external security.
The Russian emperor sent troops to these territories under the leadership of General Mekhelson. In addition, Russia sought to support the liberation movements of small peoples on the peninsula. In response to the actions of the Russian emperor, Türkiye declares war, the Sultanate is supported by France.
Participants and goals of the parties
The main rivals were the Russian and Ottoman empires. In addition, Russia was supported by the Moldavian, Abkhazian, Megrelian principalities, and the principality of Wallachia. The latter sought to get rid of the Turkish yoke. The Sultanate was supported by: Persia, the Imeretian kingdom. France had a great influence on the outbreak of the conflict.
Goals of the parties:
Türkiye wanted to reduce the influence of the Russian Empire and gain control over the Black Sea.
The commander-in-chief of the Russian troops was the emperor himself, the army was commanded by Mikhelson, Bagration and Kutuzov.
Turkish command: Selim III, Mustafa IV.
Balance of power
At the initial stage, the Russian army was significantly inferior in number and combat effectiveness to the Turks. The reason for this was military conflicts in the west. But all the detachments sent consisted of experienced soldiers and officers who had already fought with the Turks. In addition, the Black Sea Fleet and the squadron of Admiral Senyavin provided strong support.
The Turkish army was significantly superior in numbers, but there was no agreement between the soldiers, and there was no centralization of military power. The reason for this situation in the army was the motley composition: Janissaries, nomads, riders and others. There was no single command; detachments often acted separately.
Main stages and course of battles (table)
The war took place in two stages.
First stage 1806–1807 At this time, a truce was concluded until March 1809. The reason for this was the Treaty of Tilsit between Russia and France. In addition, at the same time, Turkey started a war with England. A break in the Russian-Turkish war was necessary, both sides realized this.
Second phase 1809–1812 A good period for Russia. Russian troops won a number of major victories and captured Turkish fortresses. During this same period, another change of command occurs. The war ended under the leadership of M.I. Kutuzov.
Russian troops under the leadership of Mekhelson are introduced into the territory of Moldova and Wallachia. The army consisted of only 4 thousand people. |
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Spring 1807 | The Russians were able to occupy Khotyn, Bendery, and Bucharest. Siege of Ishmael. |
Miloradovich's army won a victory near Bucharest. Battle of Obilemti. |
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Battles at sea:
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Resumption of hostilities by Turkey. End of the truce. |
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August 1809 | Russian victory at the village of Frasine. |
September 1809 | Bagration's army defeated the Turks at Rassevat and reached the fortress of Silistria. |
November 1809 | Capture of the Poti fortress by Tormasov. |
Signing of the Treaty of Tilsit between Russia and France. |
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Battle of Bata. Kamensky's liberation of northern Bulgaria from the Turkish yoke. |
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Appointment of M.I. Kutuzov as commander-in-chief. The military leader used cunning and lured Turkish troops to the left bank of the Danube, where they were attacked by the Russian army. Turkish troops suffered a crushing defeat and on November 23 capitulated and agreed to negotiate peace. |
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Signing of the Bucharest Peace Treaty. |
Peace treaty
Peace conditions:
- Bessarabia was ceded to Russia;
- The border in Europe was moved from the Dniester river to the river. Rod;
- Serbia received internal autonomy;
- The Ottoman Empire recognized the expansion of Russia's borders in Transcaucasia;
- The Danube principalities, part of Moldavia and Wallachia went to Turkey;
- Anapa was transferred to Turkey.
The development of the terms of the peace treaty was completed in a short time, as Russia tried to quickly conclude peace and was preparing for war with Napoleon.
results
After the end of the Russo-Turkish War, the Russian Empire expanded its borders in the Balkan Peninsula and the Caucasus. In addition, it has greatly strengthened its own positions in the Black Sea straits. This all contributed to strengthening the military position to fight France. The victorious country received large dividends from the injured party.
The Ottoman Empire did not achieve its goal, and also lost Bessarabia. At the same time, a number of occupied fortresses were returned. Türkiye realized that it could not resist the military power of the Russian Empire without external allies.
After the conclusion of the Bucharest Peace, Russia was able to completely switch to the war with Napoleon, which began a month later.
Meaning
The victory of Russian troops in the war with the Ottoman Empire was of great importance: the Russian Empire proved its superiority over the Turkish army, was able to maintain power in the Black Sea and expand its territories. Russia held its leading position until .
Türkiye prepared for the next war more carefully.
History of the Russian army. Volume two Zayonchkovsky Andrey Medardovich
Russo-Turkish War 1806–1812
Pavel Markovich Andrianov, Lieutenant Colonel of the General Staff
The situation before the war
The forces of the warring parties? Theater of war? Prerequisites for the deployment of military operations by Russia and Turkey
During the brilliant century of the reign of Catherine II, Russia for the first time shook the power of the Turkish Empire.
At the beginning of the 19th century. Russia, as part of a coalition of European states, was passionate about the fight against Napoleon. As a far-sighted and skillful politician, Napoleon sought to weaken Russia, in which he saw his most dangerous enemy, and made every effort to disrupt its peaceful relations with Turkey. The brilliant Austerlitz victory raised Napoleon's prestige and shook the political importance of his enemies. Considering Russia weakened by the fight against Napoleon, Turkey in 1806 sharply changed the course of its policy. Dreaming of the return of Crimea and the Black Sea lands, Turkey is hastily preparing for a new war with Russia, no longer hiding its clearly hostile intentions. Emperor Alexander I, passionate about the fight against Napoleon, understood that a new war with Turkey was untimely for Russia. However, after unsuccessful attempts to force Turkey to fulfill its obligations arising from previously concluded peace treaties, Alexander I had to break the peace. In the fall of 1806, while saving Prussia on the Vistula from its final defeat by Napoleon, Russia was simultaneously forced to become involved in a long and stubborn struggle on the southern front in order to protect its violated interests.
The forces of the warring parties. To fight Turkey, Russia could deploy only a small part of its regular army. The bulk of Russian troops were concentrated in the western region and East Prussia. In October 1806, a 35,000-strong army was moved to Bessarabia under the command of cavalry general Michelson. This small Russian army was distinguished by its excellent fighting qualities. In the ranks of the troops one could count many veterans - participants in Suvorov's campaigns. The previous wars with the Turks served as an excellent combat school for Russian troops. Rational methods of fighting against a unique enemy were developed. The reforms of Emperor Paul did not eradicate in the troops those real combat techniques of warfare and combat, which were acquired by soldiers not during parades and parades, but in difficult campaigns and in the bloody battles of Rumyantsev and Suvorov.
Turkey, as during previous wars with Russia, did not have a permanent regular army. The large corps of Janissaries continued to play a leading role as the country's armed force. The political influence of the Janissaries at this time was very great. The unlimited rulers of the faithful - the Turkish padishahs - had to take into account the mood of the Janissaries in all their affairs in governing the country and even in foreign policy. With their growing political influence, the Janissaries lost those exceptional fighting qualities that at one time gave them the glory of invincibility and made them a threat to the Christian peoples of Southern Europe. Lack of training, lack of unity in action and passivity were noted in previous wars, when the Janissaries had to face a new formidable enemy on the northern front. Nevertheless, even with the indicated shortcomings, the Janissary corps was the core, the basis of the Turkish army. Around the corps of the Janissaries in times of disaster, at the call of the Sultan, an army was gathered, consisting of untrained militias, dashing riders, semi-wild nomads, who appeared at the call of their master from remote places in Asian countries. This crowd was excellent military material, but without the necessary training, without discipline, too susceptible to all military failures and of little use for large offensive operations. In addition to the central army, which came under the jurisdiction of the grand vizier, the rulers of the regions and the commandants of the fortresses had at their disposal troops almost completely independent of the central government. The training, equipment and armament of these provincial troops depended entirely on the talents of their commanders. These troops were extremely heterogeneous, had no cohesion among themselves and acted exclusively to protect regional interests.
As a common feature common to all Turkish troops, it should be noted their exceptional ability to defend both in the field trenches and behind the fortress walls, where they always show stubborn resistance. In a short time, the troops erected masterful engineering fortifications, created artificial barriers in front of the front, etc.
In all periods of the war, the Turkish army significantly outnumbered the Russian army, which could not compensate for the lack of training and the lack of proper unity in management and actions.
Theater of War. The theater of military operations was Bessarabia, which constituted a Turkish province, Moldavia and Wallachia, the so-called Danube principalities, which recognized the supreme power of the padishah, and Danube Bulgaria. The vast theater of military operations was limited in the east by the Dniester River and the Black Sea coast, in the north by the lands of the Hungarian crown, in the west by the Morava River and in the south by the Balkan Range. The terrain is steppe and flat throughout. Only in the north of Wallachia do the spurs of the Transylvanian Mountains rise, and to the south of the Danube not far away do the foothills of the Balkans begin. The only obstacles for the Russian army advancing from the northeast were large rivers: the Dniester, the Prut, the Danube. When moving south of the Danube, the harsh Balkan ridge grew along the way. During the rainy season, dirt roads were covered with a thick layer of stubborn mud. Villages and towns were rarely encountered along the way. Fertile fields provided good harvests, and the troops could count on abundant food supplies. Unhygienic living conditions in populated areas, and at the same time the abundance of earthly fruits, often caused widespread epidemics of dysentery and typhoid.
Theater of military operations in 1806
Owning the region and living among the conquered peoples, the Turks built many fortresses. The Dniester line was covered on the flanks by the fortresses of Khotyn and Bendery. The Danube flowed between a number of fortresses: on its left bank were Turno, Zhurzhevo, Brailov, Izmail and Kilia; on the right - Vidin, Nikopol, Rakhovo, Rushchuk, Turtukai, Silistria, Girsovo, Tulcea, Machin, Isakcha. The key to the Western Balkans was the strong fortress of Shumla, and the western Black Sea coast was strengthened by the fortresses of Kyustendzhi and Varna.
The sympathies of the population in almost the entire theater of war were on the side of the Russian army, the very appearance of which supported in the local residents a joyful hope for a better future, when, with the help of Russia, the heavy chains of slavery would fall.
Plans of the parties. Starting the war only out of necessity, under the pressure of Turkey’s defiant behavior, Russia designated the Danube principalities as the immediate target of action for its army. The capture of the principalities brought Russia closer to the Danube, which Emperor Alexander considered the natural border of the Russian Empire in the southwestern corner.
Turkey, counting on the assistance of Napoleon, hoped to return the Black Sea coast and restore the borders of its possessions to the extent that it occupied before Catherine’s wars. Thus, both sides were preparing to act offensively. With such plans, possession of the Danube River line was especially important for both sides. It was at this great milestone that the bloody events of the coming war took place.
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In the autumn of 1806, the Russian-Turkish war began. Its initiator was Ottoman Turkey. Within two months, the Russian army captured the most important cities in the Danube lowland (Iasi, Bendery, Akkerman, Chilia, Galati, Bucharest) and reached the banks of the Danube. However, Russian troops soon began to go on the defensive. The Danube Army, numbering only about 35 thousand people, did not receive new reinforcements, since at the same time Russia was conducting military operations in East Prussia.
After the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit, the Russian government entered into negotiations with Turkey. In August 1807, a truce was concluded, which Turkey very soon violated, which led to the resumption of hostilities. The siege of the fortresses of Zhurzha and Brailov began.
In the spring of 1809, Russian troops failed near Brailov. This strong fortress was captured only in the fall, when P.I. Bagration took command of the Russian army. By winter, Bagration withdrew his troops to Moldavia and Wallachia.
In the spring of 1810, hostilities resumed. General N.M. Kamensky was appointed commander-in-chief; under his leadership, Russian troops captured Silistria, Turtukai and Bazardzhik and approached the Shumla fortress. Despite the successes achieved, Kamensky withdrew his troops deep into Wallachia to winter quarters. Meanwhile, Russia's relations with France became increasingly tense. War was coming. It was necessary to end the war with Turkey, which had already lasted for the fifth year, as quickly as possible, forcing it to conclude a peace beneficial to Russia, depriving Napoleon of the opportunity to use Turkey as an ally.
In March 1811, M.I. Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Moldavian army. On April 1, 1811, he arrived at the army. The situation was very difficult. In connection with the looming threat of invasion by Napoleonic troops, half of the Moldavian army was transferred to the western borders. Kutuzov had only four divisions, several Cossack regiments and the Danube flotilla at his disposal, a total of 46 thousand people. The Turkish army of 80 thousand people was preparing for the offensive. Kutuzov decided to use completely new tactics in waging war against the Turks. He abandoned the siege of fortresses. His plan was to force the enemy to leave the strong fortress of Shumla to Rushchuk, draw the Turks to the northern bank of the Danube and defeat them there. On July 4, 1811, 4 km south of Ruschuk, on the southern bank of the Danube, a fierce battle broke out. 15 thousand Russian soldiers fought against 60 thousand Turks. After a 12-hour battle, having lost 4 thousand people, the Turks fled all the way to Shumla. For strategic reasons, four days later Kutuzov withdrew his army from Rushchuk to the left bank of the Danube, having previously blown up the fortress. The withdrawal of Russian troops from Rushchuk, as Kutuzov expected, was regarded by the Turkish command as a weakness of the Russians. The vizier occupied the fortress abandoned and destroyed by Russian troops with his troops.
On the night of September 10, Turkish troops numbering 40 thousand people began crossing the Danube to the left bank. By mid-September, they transferred most of their troops across the Danube, leaving a 20,000-strong reserve on the right bank. Kutuzov developed an operation to encircle the main enemy forces and on October 13, 1811, he ordered a 7.5 thousand-strong detachment of infantry and cavalry under the command of General Markov to secretly cross to the right bank of the Danube. On October 20, the detachment suddenly attacked the Turkish camp in Rushchuk, defeated it and turned its guns against the Turkish troops on the left bank. At the same time, the encirclement of the main enemy forces began. There were fierce battles and continuous artillery shelling of the encircled Turkish army for ten days. In these battles the Turks lost more than two-thirds of their strength. Defeated and deprived of its army, Turkey made peace with Russia on May 28, 1812 (the Peace of Bucharest).
Many Decembrists took part in the Russian-Turkish war.
As part of the 13th artillery brigade, Lieutenant A.K. Berstel in 1809, “from September 8 to 14 August, was at the blockade and conquest of the Izmail fortress, where, during a sortie from the fortress to the battery, from September 10 he was in actual battle, for which and awarded the Order of St. Anna of the 4th degree".
Since 1810, the headquarters captain was on the Russian-Turkish front under the commander-in-chief of the Danube Army, General N.M. Kamensky. From June 4 to June 11, he took part in the siege and capture of Silistria, attacked by the Russian army and the Danube flotilla. Volkonsky participated in negotiations on the surrender of Silistria. “When the terms were concluded,” he “was sent to Silistria to receive the keys of the city and military banners.” In June, he was “near the city of Shumla and in many other affairs at this fortress”, he fought in a separate detachment of Lieutenant General A.L. Voinov. Participated in expeditions to the Balkan Mountains, in the battle of Eskistanbul. In July, he fought against Turkish troops under the command of Kushanets Pasha, who dug in on the right bank of the Yantra, near Batin. The battle ended in the complete defeat of the Turkish corps. Then Volkonsky was again at the siege of the Rushchuk fortress. In 1811, for military service, he was promoted to captain and awarded the title of aide-de-camp.
With the appointment of Kutuzov to the post of commander-in-chief, Volkonsky “was under the commander-in-chief of the Danube Army, infantry general Golenishchev-Kutuzov.” He was sent to the most dangerous combat missions. On October 13, as part of the corps of Lieutenant General Markov, he took part in the crossing of the Danube, and on October 14, in the battle of Slobodzeya. The Turkish troops were surrounded, the vizier's camp was stormed, and the vizier himself fled.
Staff captain of the 32nd Jaeger Regiment A.G. Nepenin had been on the Russian-Turkish front since the end of 1809. He participated in many military operations. On June 3, 1810, he was during the assault on the Bazardzhik fortress. For his distinction in this matter, he “received the highest favor and a gold sign on the St. George’s Ribbon.” On July 12-30, Nepenin was among the troops besieging the Varna fortress. “During this time, he was sent with a company through the Black Sea estuary to the mountains to cross communications with the 6th fortress from Shumla and was daily in a skirmish with the Turks, participated in the blockade of Shumla.”
As part of the 37th Jaeger Regiment, ensign K. A. Okhotnikov took part in the siege and then in the capture of the fortress of Silistria on June 11, 1810. Then he was continuously in battles near the city of Shumla, and then during the siege and assault of Rushchuk. He was awarded the rank of second lieutenant. In the campaign of 1811, he took part in the battle on February 12 near the town of Lovchi in the vanguard under the command of General Saint-Prix. On the night of September 9-10, he fought “while crossing the enemy to the left bank of the Danube River, where he received a concussion” in the head. He took part in the siege of the “Turkish camp under the leadership of the Supreme Vizier himself,” and then was “in the capture of all Turkish troops under the protection of Russia,” that is, with the complete surrender of the Turks on December 5, 1811.
Lieutenant of the Moscow Grenadier Regiment I. S. Povalo-Shveikovsky fought “in Moldova, Wallachia and Bessarabia against the Turks” from 1808. The formal list testifies to his extraordinary courage. In April - May 1809 he took part in the blockade of Brailov. On April 28, he was “in the hunters with the Cossacks against the enemy, who made a sortie from the fortress.” On September 10, he voluntarily went on a raid with the Cossacks in the vicinity of the Zhurzhi fortress. Then he fought in the vanguard of the Russian troops under the command of the Cossack colonel Grekov against the Turks under the command of Bishnyak Aga at the village of Deifosiya. In September he was under the fortress of Silistria. On October 10, his unit crossed the Danube to Moldova, where on December 3 he took part in the capture of Brailov. On June 3, 1810, Povalo-Shveikovsky fought in the daylight assault and capture of the Bazardzhik fortress. He was the first to break into the rampart “and thereby contributed to the capture of the city.” For excellent courage he was awarded the Order of Vladimir, 4th degree with a bow. From June 23 to August 4, he took part in the blockade of the Shumla fortress and “the defeat of the enemy corps of 30,000 who made a sortie from the fortress.” For his bravery he was promoted to staff captain.
Povalo-Shveikovsky became famous throughout the army for his bravery. Commander-in-Chief N.M. Kamensky, as a sign of favor, sent him to Alexander I “with a report of victory.”
In 1811, during the assault and capture of the city of Lovchi (February 12), Povalo-Shveikovsky was wounded. “For his distinction he was promoted to captain” and appointed divisional adjutant of the 2nd Grenadier Division. In February and March 1811, he “was sent with two companies” to the Balkan Mountains with the task of observing the enemy in order to prevent him from connecting with reinforcements. On March 12, after this expedition, he crossed the Danube River at the Nikopol fortress in Khotyn, and in September 1811 he was recalled “to his borders to the cantonary quarters in the Kamenets-Podolsk province.”
Lieutenant of the Mingrelian infantry regiment in the Danube Army in May 1810 participated in the siege of Silistria, and in July fought near the city of Shumla. From July 12 to July 22, he was at the siege of Rushchuk, on July 29-30, “during the defeat of the Turks at the Yantra River,” and on September 27, during the assault on the Rushchuk fortress. In 1811 he was in Lesser Wallachia, where he took part in numerous military affairs. For storming the batteries on the island against the Lom Palanka fortress on August 8, Tiesenhausen was promoted to captain. For military services on September 19 in the battle near the village of Kalafat, he was awarded the Order of Vladimir, 4th degree with a bow.
As part of the Kostroma Musketeer Regiment, Staff Captain I. N. Khotyaintsev took part in the siege of the Shumla fortress in April - June 1810, and from July 9 - in the blockade and then the assault on the Rushchuk fortress. For distinction he was promoted to captain.
In the wars of 1805-1811. The older generation of Decembrists participated. They began their combat military career at a very young age, 15-20 years old. This did not stop them from distinguishing themselves in battles, showing extraordinary courage, receiving high awards and promotions, and performing special tasks. Some of them, thanks to their military deeds, became personally known to the high command of the Russian army. Many of them already at that time began to be interested in political problems and be critical of what was happening in Russia. A new generation of patriots, who sought to prove their love for the Motherland with their blood, was preparing to join the older generation that had matured in battle. They understood the inevitability of a clash with Napoleonic France and prepared for it. Hard battles still lay ahead.
One of them was A. N. Muravyov. In 1810, he was accepted into the retinue of the quartermaster unit, which was later transformed into the General Staff. Already at this time he became close to M.F. Orlov, and, that is, with those who later entered the first secret society in Russia.
In 1811, in Moscow, in the house of A.N. Muravyov’s father, N.N. Muravyov Sr., the Mathematical Society met, and then a school of column leaders was opened. Students of the school and members of the Mathematical Society were A. N. Muravyov, M. N. Muravyov, I. G. Burtsov, Pyotr and Pavel Koloshin. They were all friends with each other and showed interest in political problems.
In 1810-1811 In Moscow, a secret circle “Youth Fellowship” was organized - an early pre-Decembrist organization, headed by 16-year-old warrant officer N. N. Muravyov, brother of the Decembrist. Its goal was to organize a new republican society on some remote island, such as Sakhalin. Muravyov wanted to “take reliable comrades with him, educate the inhabitants of the island and form a new republic, for which the comrades ... pledged to be (his) assistants.” He composed the laws of this society, the purpose of which was to create true, free citizens from the inhabitants of the island and to form a republic there on the basis of equality of people. The “Youth Fellowship” included Artamon Muravyov, Matvey Muravyov-Apostol, Lev and Vasily Perovsky. Friends convened meetings, read and discussed the composed laws of their partnership, and developed secret conventional signs that were exchanged between members of the fellowship during meetings. This circle ended its existence with the outbreak of the War of 1812.
Young Vladimir Raevsky and, studying in the 2nd Cadet Corps, “spent whole evenings in patriotic dreams, for the terrible era of 1812 was approaching.” As Batenkov later showed during the investigation, they “developed free ideas for each other,” hated the fruntomania of the Tsar and Tsarevich Konstantin, and dared to speak “about the Tsar as if he were a person and condemn the actions of the Tsarevich.” “Going to war,” Raevsky wrote, remembering Batenkov, “we parted as friends and promised to get together so that when we matured, we would try to put our ideas into action.”
In 1811, in St. Petersburg, he again organized a circle of young officers of the Izmailovsky regiment to study military sciences.
He subsequently recalled: “Two unsuccessful wars with Napoleon, the third, which threatened... the independence of Russia, forced (young) Russian patriots to devote themselves exclusively to military rank. The nobility, patriotically sympathizing with the decline of our military glory in the wars with France of 1805-1807. and foreseeing a quick break with her, he hurried to join the ranks of the army ready to meet Napoleon. All decent and educated young people, despising civil service, joined the military.”
In the answers to the Commission of Inquiry he wrote: “Upon entering service before the War of 1812, I turned all my attention to military sciences.”
