Ataman Platov: from Cossack to Count. Matvey Ivanovich Platov Platov biography and historical heritage

In the photo: "Portrait of Count M. I. Platov" (1814) by Thomas Lawrence.

A native of Cherkassk Matvey Ivanovich Platov- one of the most famous Don atamans. Having become the hero of Leskovsky's "Lefty", he even ended up in fiction, and such things always emphasize the significance of a historical figure.

Ataman Platov - a life spent in battles

Ataman Matvey Platov Born in 1753 in Cherkassk in the family of a military foreman, he was baptized in the Peter and Paul Church. He did not receive any systematic education, but he knew the letter from early childhood, preferring historical novels to any other reading. True, he hardly had much time to read, because almost from the cradle the Cossack sat on a horse. At the age of 13 he was already a constable, at 20 he commanded a Cossack regiment.

It's just that such ups do not happen - Platov was literally born for military life. Since 1788, he fought under the command of Suvorov, took Ochakov and Ishmael. The young Cossack general was treated kindly by Empress Catherine II, which turned out to be sideways to him when Pavel ascended the throne and opened the persecution of his mother's favorites. Detached from military service, Platov went into exile in Kostroma, and then was completely imprisoned in Peter and Paul Fortress. He was released when Paul needed an energetic leader for his planned campaign in India. The Cossack troops, prepared for this, were led by Ataman Matvey Platov. The news of the death of Paul I overtook Platov in Orenburg - Alexander I canceled the crazy campaign, and Platov was appointed military chieftain.

The first important work of Matvey Ivanovich in this post was the transfer of the Don capital to a new location and the construction of Novocherkassk. But for a short time he was engaged in peaceful affairs - in 1805 the war broke out with Napoleon. From that time until 1815, Ataman Platov fought almost without rest - his Cossacks rushed around the European continent in a whirlwind, calming down only, as expected, in Paris. All of Europe applauded them, and most of all, Ataman Platov, who, presumably, appeared to foreigners as an expression of the mysterious Russian spirit.

On April 13, 1813, Emperor Alexander I signed a manifesto “with an expression of royal gratitude to the Don Army for its merits in the Patriotic War”: “The courageous and indefatigable vigilance of the military ataman Platov,” it said, “so did all the troops of this brave generals who joined him , officers and all the Don officers and Cossacks in general, contributed a lot to overcoming the great forces of the enemy and to gaining complete and famous victories over them ... "

Six months earlier, Platov had been elevated to the dignity of a count. By 1816, he had collected all the highest awards, including the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, became a doctor of Oxford University, and even the Ataman Platov ship appeared in the British Navy. It remained to rest on our laurels, but "Vikhor-Ataman" did not know how to do this. Returning to the Don in 1816, Matvey Ivanovich did not live long - in January 1818 he died. His grave is located in the Novocherkassk Ascension Military Cathedral.

Sasha Mitrahovich 04.09.2017 20:04

Speaking of the Cossacks, our contemporaries will most likely describe them with a number of “stamps”, but among them there will definitely be the epithets “dashing” and “daring”. It is curious that foreign generals and officers who had ever engaged in battle with the Cossack detachments characterized them in much the same way. So, the Napoleonic General de Braque, who took part in the “Russian campaign”, wrote in the book Outposts of the Light Cavalry: “The Cossacks are the best light cavalry in Europe ... They have the instincts of a wolf and a fox, they are accustomed to war and are distinguished by their body strength and their horses are overly hardy.”

The general knew what he was talking about. During Patriotic War In 1812 there was one significant case. The famous Cossack ataman Matvey Platov swore to marry his daughter to someone who would capture Napoleon. It was rumored that it was for this reason that the French emperor tried not to move away from his old guard.

Matvey Platov proved with his fate: a Cossack can do anything. "Vikhr-ataman" became a count and professor at Oxford, the British idolized him, and the Cossacks, who fell in love with their hero with all their hearts, composed songs about his victories.

Indian hike

1800 year. Platov is sitting in the Peter and Paul prison because of a denunciation: he allegedly dreams of overthrowing the new emperor from the throne, because by this time the glory of Matvey Ivanovich thundered throughout the empire. Evil tongues said that Paul I was not a nice Don Cossack. However, a year later, Paul I, together with the French, opposes England. The plans include a trip to India, where one of the strongest British colonies was based.

The emperor offers Platov to lead the best Cossack troops. The emperor knew that thousands of Cossacks would follow Platov to hell.

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. The Cossacks with the army went on a long and difficult journey through all of Asia. However, they failed to reach their cherished goal - on the way they received the news of the death of Paul and the accession to the throne of Alexander I. By this time, the Cossack troops had reached Orenburg and were planning a campaign through Bukhara. Already on the Don, Platov received an imperial charter, which said: "Your merits known to me and a long-term immaculate service prompted me to elect you to the army chieftains of the Don Army ...". Thus began the ataman life of Matvey Ivanovich Platov. And the Indian campaign was remembered as a fantastic plan of Paul I.

city ​​planner

Almost every year, the capital of the region of the Don Cossacks - Cherkassk - was flooded. The location on the islands created a lot of problems for both residents of the capital and visitors. Ataman Platov had been hatching a project to create a new capital for a long time. A place for it was found on Biryuchy Kuta ("Wolf's Lair"). In 1804, Emperor Alexander I approved the idea of ​​Matvey Ivanovich "on the foundation of a new city on the Don, which will be called the new Cherkasy."

The city plan was developed by the famous French engineer Franz Devolan. And in 1805, on the day of the Ascension of the Lord, a solemn laying of the city took place, which received the name Novocherkassk.

Rumor has it that when the military cathedral was laid, a golden casket was hidden under it with the inscription "The city of the Don army, called New Cherkassk, was founded in the reign of the Sovereign Emperor and autocrat of All-Russian Alexander the First."

The historic event was marked by 101 shots from guns. To this day, Novocherkassk stands, now the capital of the world Cossacks, and in the center, near the Military Cathedral, there is a monument to the founder of the city - Ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov.

“Tolerate a Cossack, you will be a count!”

There is a proverb “tolerate a Cossack, you will be an ataman”, it accurately characterizes the life of Matvey Ivanovich. From childhood, showing great interest in military affairs, Platov quickly earned his first officer rank.

For heroism, Matvey Ivanovich repeatedly received awards and honors, receiving ranks and titles with surprising speed. Empress Catherine II herself gave him a magnificent saber ...
By 1812, Platov became one of the oldest generals Russian army. The Great War became an opportunity for him to show his strength and skill in spite of all the haters.

It got to the point that the highest ranks accused him of drunkenness, and some directly expressed their distrust in the military abilities of the Cossack ataman.

Contrary to all, Platov was noted for successful military operations that turned Napoleon's troops to the West. Already at the border Russian Empire Platov reached the troops of Marshal Ney and defeated them. For all this, on October 29, 1812, Platov was elevated to the dignity of a count.

Platov and Napoleon

Even before the Great War, Platov met with Napoleon. In 1807, when the Treaty of Tilsit was concluded between Alexander I and Napoleon. Matvey Platov was included in the emperor's retinue. During one of the meetings of the emperors, Napoleon decided to mark the Russian generals with the Order of the Legion of Honor. This number included Platov. Learning about this, the Cossack chieftain said: “Why should he reward me? After all, I did not serve him, and I can never serve him. The officers conveyed these words to Napoleon, who did not make him wait long for an answer.

Getting acquainted with the Russian generals, Napoleon did not honor only one Platov with a handshake. The Don Cossack remembered this insult.

At one of the military reviews, Platov acted more cunningly. He looked long and intently at Napoleon, which excited his vanity. A general from his retinue rode up to Platov and asked: “Ataman doesn’t like the great emperor, why is he looking at him so intently?” “I’ll tell you that I’m not looking at your emperor at all, because there is nothing unusual in him, the same as other people. I look at his horse, and as a connoisseur himself, I really want to know what breed it is, ”Platov answered him.

Only diplomacy stopped Napoleon and Platov from conflict. In the end, they even exchanged gifts. Napoleon presented the Cossack with a snuffbox with his own portrait, and Platov presented the emperor with a combat bow. This snuffbox became for Platov in some way a military trophy. Only after 1814 and the victory over Napoleon, Platov replaced the portrait on the snuffbox with a "more decent antique." So the Don chieftain "replaced" Napoleon.

How the British became Cossacks

When Paris was captured by the Allies, the British invited Alexander I, who was again accompanied by Matvey Platov. In foggy Albion, the news that Platov was traveling with the emperor spread very quickly. Already upon arrival in London, Platov was enthusiastically greeted by the inhabitants of the city. "Hurrah, Platov!" could be heard throughout the city.

The Don Cossack became a living legend for the British. Eyewitnesses of those events said that once, after the service, the crowd carried Platov out of the temple in his arms and carried him to the very carriage.

The visit of the ataman to the theaters suspended the performance. Platov was awarded an honorary doctorate in law from the University of Oxford. Walter Scott, when meeting with the Don Cossack, was surprised by his knowledge of history, he used much of the conversation with Platov in his future works, and the British government gave the newest ship the name "Count Platov". In British society, there was a great interest in the Cossacks, they were so in love with these heroes great war that some British began to call themselves Cossacks. Including the famous Lord Byron once said: “And I am a Cossack!” This is how the British, in love with Platov, became Cossacks.

"Platov" with a face value of 250 rubles

Not only in the paintings, engravings and book covers flaunted the portrait of Ataman Platov. In 1918, Platov's full face was depicted on Don banknotes in denominations of 250 rubles and on coupons of 50 kopecks. At all times Ataman Platov remained a hero for the Cossacks. The money printed by the Rostov office of the State Bank was in use until 1920. Banknotes with Platov could be found in restaurants in Sevastopol or in markets in Central Asia. About 25 million rubles were produced on the Rostov printing press. It was very difficult to forge them, because the banknotes were printed on special paper with watermarks, a unique number and signed by the bank manager R. E. Gulbin. It was planned that Don money was to begin official circulation throughout the South of Russia, but their use ceased in 1920, when the evacuation of whites began. Now "Platov's" 250 rubles is a legend of numismatists and a real historical relic.

Gifts of France on the Don land

Matvey Ivanovich cared about everything, if it concerned the Don region. In every way Platov supported the cultivation of grapes among the Cossacks. The wine made by the Cossacks was famous in the 18th century. For example, in 1772, after traveling along the Don, the French traveler Pallas was so delighted with the noble drink that he compared it with excellent samples of Italian wine. Platov, having read the laudatory notes of the Frenchman, decided that viticulture should be actively developed on the Don. In 1815, a Cossack general brought the best and famous grape varieties from the French province of Champagne, which gave their first harvest a couple of years later. The Cossacks made wine from it together with eminent German winegrowers who came to the Don from the banks of the Rhine at the invitation of Platov. To this day, in different villages and farms, the very bushes of grapes, brought from a military campaign from France, grow. As the historian E. P. Savelyev noted, “white wines of Razdorsky and red Tsimlyansky, with skillful invention, can compete with the best foreign ones.”

Matvey Ivanovich Platov (1753–1818)

The number one Cossack ataman in the history of the Russian state, undoubtedly, was and remains M. I. Platov. He was born on the Don in the village of Pribylyanskaya, descended from "foreman's children of the Don Army." Father - Colonel Ivan Fedorovich Platov, who taught his son all the wisdom of military Cossack skills.

At the age of 13, Matvey Platov was enrolled as a Cossack in the military office. At the age of 15 he became a sergeant and began regimental service. Immediately attracted the attention of the innate features of an equestrian fighter. In 1770 he was promoted to regimental captain, being among the troops of Prince Dolgorukov, the future Dolgorukov-Krymsky.

He received a baptism of fire in a campaign in the Crimea, distinguished himself during the attack of Perekop (Turkish rampart), in the capture of the fortress of Kinburn. Platov was part of those Russian troops who happened to fulfill a truly historic mission - to put an end to the Crimean Khanate, last shard Golden Horde.

In 1772, Matvey Platov received the rank of Cossack colonel and at the same time (at the age of 18!) began to command a Cossack regiment.

... In 1774, in the Kuban, he skillfully and independently repelled seven attacks of "non-peaceful" mountaineers on a Cossack camp on the Kalnakh (Canals) River. For this feat, he was awarded a gold medal by decree of Empress Catherine II. Then the words of Matvey Ivanovich Platov sounded, which became his life motto:

Honor is dearer than life!

The years 1782–1784 at Platov were spent on campaigns in the Crimea, carrying border guard in the Kuban, in military expeditions against the "trans-Kuban peoples" and in Chechnya. He distinguished himself near the city of Kopyl, in battles with the Khan's cavalry Devlet Giray. During these years, the young Don officer served under the command of General-in-Chief A.V. Suvorov, having gone through a good combat school in the North Caucasus.

In June 1787, Platov received the rank of army colonel. On behalf of Catherine's favorite G. A. Potemkin, he formed four Cossack regiments from the same palaces of the Yekaterinoslav province. The Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791 passed from beginning to end. On December 6, 1788, Matvey Platov distinguished himself during the bloody assault on the Ochakovo fortress. A well-deserved award to him was the Order of St. George of the 4th degree.

His Serene Highness Prince G. A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky transfers the Don colonel he liked to the Chuguevsky Cossack regiment. At its head, Platov fought bravely in Bessarabia, near the Bendery fortress, in the battle on September 26, 1789 near Kaushany, in the capture of the fortified Palanka castle. For Causeni he receives the rank of brigadier.

Platov turned out to be one of the heroes of the assault on the Izmail fortress, which has no analogues in world military history. He commanded one of the assault columns, made up of foot Don Cossacks, armed with shortened peaks. In the course of the attack, the Cossack column found itself in a difficult position, subjected to a strong retaliatory blow from the besieged Turks. The counterattacking Ottomans then managed to drive back behind the fortress walls only with the help of a reserve that came to the rescue.

For Ishmael, brigadier M. I. Platov was awarded the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George of the 3rd degree and production in 1793 to the rank of Major General. He was appointed ataman of the Yekaterinoslav and Chuguev Cossacks, awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the 3rd degree.

Platov participated in the Persian campaign of 1796, when the expeditionary corps was commanded by General-in-Chief Valerian Zubov, one of the creators of the "Eastern policy" of Empress Catherine the Great in last years her life. For the valor shown during the capture of the ancient fortress, Derbent received an award Golden weapon - a saber decorated with diamonds with the inscription "For Courage".

During the reign of Paul I, the Cossack general was disgraced, expelled from service and exiled to the city of Kostroma. In 1800 he was arrested and imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress, but then followed by the highest forgiveness. Later, in 1801, Platov received the right to participate in the Indian campaign (or in the campaign against Orenburg) of the Don Cossacks.

On August 26, 1801, M. I. Platov received the highest rescript on his appointment as a military ataman of the Don. On September 15 of the same year, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. At the same time, he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree. In the rank of ataman, Matvey Ivanovich took up the "improvement" of the Cossack army entrusted to him, doing really a lot to improve it. military organization and everyday life.

He founded the city of Novocherkassk in 1805, to which, two years later, the capital of the Don Cossacks was transferred: the village of Cherkasskaya was often flooded. The military administration is being reorganized. The Don artillery is being reformed.

In 1806, Emperor Alexander I entrusted him with the command of all the Cossack regiments of Russia, put up for war. In this regard, he is awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

Platov's talent as a Cossack commander "became visible and noticeable to everyone" during the wars against Napoleonic France, which shook continental Europe for more than a decade. The Russian-Prussian-French War of 1806-1807 begins. The fighting on the territory of East Prussia showed that the ataman of the Don Cossacks is capable of skillfully managing many thousands of irregular cavalry.

Platov distinguished himself with his Cossacks in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau and in the pursuit of the French retreating from Landsberg to Heilsberg. For the successful cover of the Russian army, retreating to the city of Tilsit, which stood on the border river Neman, the ataman complains of diamond signs to the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and an award precious snuffbox with a portrait of Emperor Alexander I Pavlovich.

In November 1807, Lieutenant General M. I. Platov was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree. The Prussian king awarded him the Orders of the Red Eagle and the Black Eagle, a precious snuffbox with his portrait. The Georgievsky award rescript dated November 22 of that year stated the following about the merits of one of the most outstanding generals of the Russian army:

"... For repeated participation in battles in the position of chief of advanced posts in the war with the French in 1807."

The Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812 became a new field of action for the ataman. The troops under his command took the city of Babadag and stormed the fortress of Girsovo, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree.

Then Platov with his Cossacks contributed to the success of the commander-in-chief of the Russian Moldavian army, infantry general P.I. Bagration in the battle of Rassevat.

The Don Cossacks achieved the biggest victory in that war on September 23, 1809. Then they utterly defeated the five thousandth Turkish corps in a field battle between the enemy fortresses of Silistra and Ruschuk. This victory brought Matvey Ivanovich the rank of general from the cavalry. The highest decree on its appropriation was signed by Emperor Alexander I almost immediately after receiving a report from the banks of the Danube about the won victory - on September 26.

Commander's glory came to the three times Knight of St. George, General of the Cavalry M. I. Platov during the Patriotic War of 1812. From the very beginning of the invasion of Russian borders great army the conqueror of Napoleon I, the regiments of the Don Cossacks of the Platov flying (irregular) corps do not leave the battles. The corps covered the retreat of the Russian armies to Smolensk from the side of Rudnya and Porechye.

The list of battles fought by the irregular cavalry in the person of the flying corps of Ataman M.I. Platov in the first period of the war is impressive: these are Karelichi and Mir, Romanovo and Molevo Boloto, Inkovo ​​...

The fact that the Russian 1st Western Army of General of Infantry M.B. Barclay de Tolly and the 2nd Western Army of General of Infantry P.I. Bagration joined in the Smolensk region, a great merit belongs to the flying Cossack corps. After the connection of the two armies and their retreat to Moscow, Platov commands the rearguard battles.

In the battle of Borodino, the corps of General Platov's cavalry was on the right flank of the Kutuzov army, opposing the cavalry of the Italian Viceroy. The Don Cossacks, together with the cavalrymen of Adjutant General F. P. Uvarov, took part in the raid against the left wing of the enemy army. But Platov did not receive an award for Borodino.

After the battle of Borodino, the ataman goes to his native Don, where the Don militia is created in the shortest possible time. And 26 cavalry regiments of the Don militia in a swift forced march arrive at the Tarutinsky camp of the Main Russian Army.

During the retreat of the Russian army from Moscow, the Cossack regiments formed the rearguard forces. They managed to hold back the onslaught of the cavalry of the Marshal of France, King of Neapolitan Joachim Murat, near the city of Mozhaisk.

When the relentless pursuit of the fleeing Napoleonic army began, it was the Cossack commander Platov, the commander-in-chief, Field Marshal M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, Prince of Smolensky, who was entrusted with the command of the vanguard of the Main Army. Platov did this great thing for the history of Russia, together with the troops of General M. A. Miloradovich, successfully and efficiently.

Strong blows are inflicted on the troops of the famous Marshal Davout, from whom, near the Kolotsky Monastery, the Cossacks beat off 27 guns in battle. Then the Platov cavalry takes part in the battle near the city of Vyazma, in which the French corps of marshals Michel Ney, the same Davout and the Italian viceroy are completely defeated.

The Cossack cavalry also won a brilliant victory on October 27 in the case on the banks of the Vop River, defeating the French troops of Marshal Eugene Beauharnais and recapturing 23 artillery pieces from them. For this genuine victory, the ataman of the Don Cossacks was elevated by Alexander I to the dignity of a count of the Russian Empire.

On November 8, the flying corps of cavalry general Count M. I. Platov, while crossing the Dnieper River, utterly defeated the remnants of the corps of Marshal Ney. Three days later, the Cossacks occupied the city of Orsha. On November 15, they captured the city of Borisov with a fight.

The great success of the irregular cavalry was also accompanied on November 28 in the battle near the city of Vilna (now Vilnius, Lithuania), where the 30,000th enemy corps was utterly defeated, trying to cover the retreat of the remnants of the Great Army behind the border Neman.

Then on December 2, the French were defeated near the city of Kovno (modern Kaunas). On the same day, the Cossacks successfully crossed the Neman River and moved fighting Russian army on the territory of East Prussia. Emperor Alexander I repeatedly expressed the monarch's "favor" to the Cossack commander from the banks of the Don.

The effectiveness of combat activities Cossack troops under the command of ataman Count M. I. Platov during the Patriotic War of 1812 is amazing. They captured 546 (548) enemy guns, 30 banners and captured more than 70 thousand Napoleonic soldiers, officers and generals. Commander M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov wrote the following words to the military leader of the Cossacks of Russia:

“The services you rendered to the Fatherland have no examples, you proved to the whole of Europe the power and strength of the inhabitants of the blessed Don ...”>

Platov, a general from the cavalry, fought no less successfully during the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813 and 1814. He participates in the siege of the powerful fortress of Danzig. On September 16, in the first foreign campaign, the Platov cavalry near the city of Oltenburg (Altenburg) defeats the French corps of General Lefebvre and pursues it to the city of Zeiss. The reward was a precious portrait (decorated with diamonds) of the All-Russian Sovereign to be worn on the chest.

The Cossack regiments of the Platov flying corps also distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig on October 4, 6 and 7, 1813. When pursuing the retreating Napoleonic troops, the Cossacks captured about 15 thousand soldiers and officers.

For the Leipzig case, Matvey Ivanovich was awarded the highest award of the Russian Empire - the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. For the persecution of the French, he was awarded a diamond pen (cheling) with the monogram of the sovereign to wear on his headdress. For Russia, this was a rare award, which was traditional in Sultan's Turkey.

On October 10, the flying corps of the Don ataman inflicts a new defeat on the French troops of General Lefebvre. The battle took place near the German city of Weimar.

From October 16 to 18, the Cossack regiments supported the allied Bavarian troops under the command of General Wrede in the battle near the city of Hanau. Now his Golden Saber "For Courage" was decorated with premium gold laurels.

... 1814 was marked for the Cossack cavalry by many victories already on French soil. The flying corps distinguished itself in the battles of Laon, Epinal, Sharm, in the assault on the fortified city of Namur, in defeating the enemy at Aris, Arcy-sur-Aube, Villeneuve ... Near the city of Cezanne, the Platov Cossacks captured a detachment of the elite troops of Emperor Napoleon I - part of his forces Old Guard. Then they took, under the very enemy capital, its suburb - the town of Fontainebleau.

Ataman M. I. Platov, at the head of his light-horse regiments, who surprised Europe for three years - from 1812 to 1814, solemnly entered the defeated Paris as part of the Russian army. The Don people then pitched their bivouac on the famous Champs Elysees.

... From Paris, cavalry general Platov accompanied Emperor Alexander I on his trip to London, where he was received with special attention. The British, admiring the exploits of the Don ataman in the wars against Napoleonic France, presented him with an honorary saber and named a warship after him. Count Matvei Ivanovich Platov was solemnly awarded an honorary doctoral diploma from the aristocratic Oxford University.

After 1815, the commander settled on the Don, in the military capital of the city of Novocherkassk. In the last years of his life, Platov founded a gymnasium and a military printing house in Novocherkassk. Matvey Ivanovich died three years later in the village of Epanchitskaya.

Initially, the ataman was buried in the city itself in a family crypt near the Ascension Cathedral. In 1875, he was reburied at the Bishop's Dacha (on the Mishkin farm). On October 4, the ashes of Ataman Platov were solemnly transferred to the tomb of the Military Cathedral in Novocherkassk.

After the desecration of the grave of the Cossack commander in Soviet time his ashes were reburied for the third time in the same place on May 15, 1993.

... In 1853, with the money collected on the Don by subscription, in the city of Novocherkassk a monument was erected by P. K. Klodt to the most famous Cossack chieftain in the history of Russia. The inscription on the monument read:

"Ataman Count Platov for military exploits from 1770 to 1816, grateful Donets"

In 1923, the monument was demolished, and in 1993 it was recreated.

From August 26, 1904, the 4th Don Cossack Regiment began to bear his name, as an eternal boss.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov is a famous Russian military commander, a participant in many campaigns, one of the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812.

He was born in 1751, in the village of Starocherkasskaya, in the family of a military foreman. Matvei Ivanovich received the usual elementary education and entered the military at the age of 13.

At the age of 19 he went to the first war in his life with Turkey. In battles with the Turks, he showed bravery and courage, for which he was promoted to captain of the Russian army, became the commander of the Cossack hundreds.

The war continued - new battles, new exploits, new successes. Platov became a military foreman, commanded a regiment. But he was still very young, he was just over 20 years old.

In 1774, Matvey Ivanovich became famous in the Russian army. His soldiers were surrounded by the Crimean Khan, accompanied by transport convoys.

Platov set up camp, erected fortifications, and managed to repulse several dashing attacks of the enemy. Reinforcements soon arrived. After this event, he was awarded a gold medal.

In subsequent years, Matvey Ivanovich participated in the defeat of the uprising of Yemelyan Pugachev, successfully fought in the Caucasus with the mountain peoples. For successful military operations, he was granted the rank of colonel in the Russian army.

In 1782, he met Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov, and subsequently they communicated quite a lot.

In 1787 another Russian-Turkish war broke out. Platov's Cossack regiment was part of the army led by Potemkin. The regiment showed itself in the best possible way during the assault on the Ochakov fortress, for which Matvey Ivanovich was awarded the Order of St. George of the fourth degree.

For further successes in the new war with Turkey, Platov was promoted to field atamans. December 1790 came, marked by the resounding and famous victory of the Russian army - the Capture of the Izmail Fortress.

Matvey Ivanovich was one of the first who spoke in favor of storming the powerful fortress. During the assault on Izmail, he commanded one of the attacking columns, and then the entire left flank of the Russian army. During the assault, the ataman led the soldiers on the attack, giving them personal example courage and heroism.

For participation in the Capture of Ishmael, Matvey Platov was awarded the Order of St. George of the third degree.

In 1796, on behalf of Empress Catherine II, he participated in the Persian campaign of the Russian army. For participation in this campaign, he was awarded the golden saber "For Courage" and the Order of St. Vladimir of the second degree.

In 1897, Platov fell out of favor with Emperor Paul I. On suspicion of plotting against the emperor, he was exiled to Kostroma. After Kostroma there was imprisonment in the Peter and Paul Fortress. In 1801, the court acquitted the chieftain, and Paul I recognized the fallacy of his accusations, and granted Matvey Ivanovich the Order of Malta.

After Alexander I became the new emperor of Russia, Platov was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Ataman of the Don Cossacks. In his new position, he managed to do a lot.

The capital of the Don Army was moved from Starocherkassk to Novocherkassk. Here he was actively involved in the development of the Cossack troops, followed their weapons and combat training. Ataman Platov opened the first gymnasium on the Don.

Matvey Ivanovich participated in the Russian-French campaign of 1806-1807. For successes in the war with France, he was awarded the Order of St. George of the second degree and the Order of St. Vladimir of the second degree.

In Tilsit, where the Russian and French emperors signed the Treaty of Tilsit between the powers, Platov personally met Napoleon. Bonaparte gave him a commemorative snuffbox, and was going to grant him the Order of the Legion of Honor - the general refused him: “I did not serve the French, and I cannot serve,” Platov said.

At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, Matvey Ivanovich led the Cossack corps, which was part of the army of Barclay de Tolly. It so happened that Platov's Cossacks had to cover the retreat of the army of Peter Bagration.

On June 27, 1812, a battle took place near the town of Mir, where Platov's Cossacks destroyed as many as nine French regiments. This victory was the first victory of the Russian army in the Patriotic War of 1812.

The Russian troops had a hard time, endless retreats were not easy. It so happened that due to Platov's mistake, the Russian rearguard let the French troops go forward.

Barclay dismissed Matvey Ivanovich from his post. He was already about to return to the Don, but Mikhail Kutuzov, who led the Russian army, returned the experienced warrior to the location of the active army.

Platov participated in the Battle of Borodino, his regiments notably operated on the right flank, over and over again, giving the French a worthy rebuff. At the most critical moment, the Cossack detachments of Matvey Ivanovich carried out a lightning counterattack, upsetting the ranks of the enemy.

After the Battle of Borodino, there was a brief lull in the war. During this period, Ataman Platov initiated the mobilization of the Cossacks on the Don. During the mobilization, 22,000 Cossacks joined the ranks of the Russian army.

For services during the Patriotic War of 1812, Platov was awarded the title of count. In subsequent years, Matvey Ivanovich, together with his Cossack detachments, made a great contribution to the common cause of defeating Napoleon.

Matvey Platov died in January 1818. Under Nicholas I, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Platov, a monument was erected to him in Novocherkassk.

ataman of the Don Cossack army (since 1801), cavalry general (1809), who took part in all the wars of the Russian Empire at the end of the XVIII - early XIX century

Matvey Platov

short biography

Count (1812) Matvey 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 send 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 long time managed to deceive Platov, but the ataman, 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 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 the Cossack regiments, in cases against the French at Preussish-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 - on June 28 and Romanov - on 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 county family Platov. 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.