The outstanding Russian commander, the second field marshal general after M. Kutuzov, Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly, had to put up with the completely unfair attitude of his environment all his life. A participant in many of the most important battles of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, he was a man of bright and difficult fate.
Heir to the Scots
Michael Barclay de Tolly (a short biography is described in the article) came from the German de Tolly family, which was related to the old noble family of Scotland, the Barclays, with Norman roots. One of his ancestors moved to Riga at the end of the seventeenth century from a German city that was part of the Hanseatic League, a political and economic association of trading cities. The grandfather of M.B. Barclay de Tolly, whose brief biography will be outlined below, was the mayor of Riga.
The father of the outstanding commander, Weingold Gotthard, left the service as a lieutenant, receiving the rank of nobleman. Mikhail's mother was the daughter of a priest and came from a family of Estonian landowners. Mikhail Bogdanovich himself (his father took the name Bogdan) is called Michael-Andreas in family chronicles.
Date and place of birth
The date of birth of the commander has not been reliably established. In the lifetime edition of “Galleries... of portraits of generals, officers, etc.” it was indicated that Mikhail Bogdanovich was born in 1755. Biographers also indicate the year 1755, and the Military Form of 1817 names the field marshal general’s date of birth as 1759.
Another date appears in later sources. It is indicated that Mikhail was born on December 16 (27th according to the new calendar) December 1761 in Siauliai district of Lithuania. But still, the officially recognized year of birth of the commander is considered to be 1757.
The birthplace of Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly is also unknown, whose short biography begins to present mysteries. The commander himself wrote that he was born in Riga; later biographical publications say that the Lude Groshof estate near Valka, a city that was later divided between Estonia and Lithuania, should be considered the place of his birth. In 1970, the family moved to Pamushis, a place many authors point to as the birthplace of the future military leader.
Mikhail was the second son of Weingold Gotthard's four children. In those days, there was no other path prepared for the sons of a retired officer other than the military. The entire system of Weingold's sons followed exactly this pattern: Ivan became an outstanding military analyst, Andrei left the service as a major, and Mikhail managed to glorify his family throughout the Russian Empire and Europe.
Six year old corporal
All the sons of a Russian nobleman and retired military man did not have any privileges. Mikhail, Ivan and Andrey began their military careers from the lower ranks, achieving fame and material well-being solely on their own.
At a very young age, Mikhail Bogdanovich left his home, going to St. Petersburg. He was brought up in the family of his own aunt, who was the wife of a colonel of the Novotroitsk regiment. As soon as Mikhail's uncle became the regiment commander, the boy was registered as a corporal. Afterwards, the commander left for a unit near Orel, and young Mikhail Bogdanovich remained in the capital. Then he studied the proper sciences under the close supervision of his loving aunt.
Two years later, the boy received his first promotion and became a sergeant. He learned military history under the guidance of his uncle, who had retired by that time, and was taught mathematics by the outstanding scientist of that time, Leonhard Euler. Mikhail also became fluent in German (his native), Russian and French (necessary for any decent person of that time) languages.
In 1776, fourteen-year-old Barclay de Tolly (a brief biography of the commander in several sources then repeatedly focused on this very moment - a boy with excellent characteristics began his service) entered the Pskov regiment. Twenty-four months later he received his first officer rank.
First years of service
Lieutenant Barclay de Tolly (a short biography is posted here) achieved his next rank only eight years later, and became a colonel another twenty years later. The reasons for such slow promotion were poverty, ignorancy and modesty. Nevertheless, Mikhail, accustomed to discipline since childhood, could not go unnoticed. There was no promotion, but the young man received the necessary experience in conducting military operations.
During the years of service, M.B. Barclay de Tolly (a brief biography of the commander demonstrates a turn towards success) was an adjutant to notable military leaders, for example, Bogdan Knorring, who showed himself well in the Russian-Turkish campaign, Gregory von Patkul - Knight of the Order of St. George, Count Fedor Anhalt - head of the Finnish Corps.
At Count Feodor of Anhalt, Barclay de Tolly met Mikhail Kutuzov. Perhaps it was at that time that he adopted one of the main rules of the famous commander, which he used throughout his entire military career: Mikhail Bogdanovich never forgot about his subordinates.
Awards and promotion
On the recommendation of the commander, Barclay de Tolly (brief biography) went to serve Prince Victor of Khoimsky, the cousin of Fyodor Anhalt. During the war against the Russians of 1878-1791, he received baptism of fire near Ochakov and his first award - the Ochakov Cross.
During the first campaign, Mikhail Bogdanovich managed to receive the Order of St. Vladimir and met Suvorov. Later, the military man was sent to Finland, where on the fields of the Russian-Swedish war he first fully demonstrated his talents. In 1970, Michael Barclay de Tolly received the highest award - the Order of St. George. He earned the next order in 1807, then in 1812.
“For courage” near Borodino
When hostilities with France began, Mikhail Bogdanovich commanded the brigade. In 1806-1807 he was the commander of the vanguard, but during the battle of Preussisch-Eylau he was seriously wounded. Recovering from a battle wound, Mikhail met with Emperor Alexander II, with whom he shared his vision of the further course of the war with Napoleon.
Barclay then suggested that the emperor use the “scorched earth” tactic - destroying all objects during the retreat so that they would not fall to the enemy.
Later, Mikhail Bogdanovich attended many more battles and was appointed to the post of Minister of War. Two days before the famous battle of Borodino, Barclay de Tolly was removed from his high position, and during the battle he took command of the right wing of the troops. He showed courage and outstanding knowledge of the art of war.
Many eyewitnesses pointed out that the military man was repeatedly exposed to enemy fire during the battle. He was tired of moral stress and condemnation in his direction (the soldiers believed that it was Mikhail Bogdanovich, as a military commander and minister, who was responsible for several devastating battles that had occurred earlier).
In October 1812, Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly was awarded the honorary Order of St. George for courage in the Battle of Borodino. The news of the award overtook him already at the Bekhof estate in Livonia.
Return to duty
Barclay returned to the troops only almost a year later. He took command of the army in the campaign against Napoleon. Mikhail Bogdanovich managed to regain his military glory after several successful battles, justifying the scorched earth tactics and receiving the post of commander of the Russian-Prussian army.
The last award awaited the commander in 1815. After the final defeat of Napoleon, Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (his short biography as a military leader ended at this point) was granted the princely title.
After just three years, the great commander felt unusually tired. He received leave and went to mineral waters in Germany. On the way there, Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly died prematurely at the age of 56.
Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (born Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, German: Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, December 16, 1761 - May 14, 1818) - an outstanding Russian commander, Minister of War, Field Marshal General (from 1814), Prince ( from 1815), hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, full holder of the Order of St. George.
He commanded the entire Russian army at the initial stage of the Patriotic War of 1812, after which he was replaced by M. I. Kutuzov. In the foreign campaign of the Russian army of 1813-1814, he commanded the united Russian-Prussian army as part of the Bohemian army of the Austrian field marshal Prince Schwarzenberg.
According to Western authors, he entered the history of military art as the architect of the “scorched earth” strategy and tactics - cutting off the main enemy troops from the rear, depriving them of supplies and organizing guerrilla warfare in their rear.
In Russian history he is remembered as a commander who was forced to make a strategic retreat before Napoleon in the Patriotic War of 1812 and for this was unfairly condemned by his contemporaries.
Little Mikhail was the second child in the family, which largely predetermined his future fate. The fact is that Margaret’s sister, Augusta Wilhelmina Vermelein, being married to a young general, suffered from childlessness. According to the tradition of German St. Petersburg families, which prescribes the adoption of young relatives, Misha at the age of 4 was sent to the capital, where he began the life of a noble undergrowth.
First of all, in 1767, Mikhail was enrolled in the Novotroitsk cuirassier regiment, commanded by his uncle, the general. This event can be considered the beginning of the military career of the future commander. The cuirassier regiment was located in Orel, where its commander also departed, and in St. Petersburg, under the guidance of his aunt, the boy learned the basics of educational wisdom. Mikhail was fluent in German and French, and he was taught mathematics by the famous scientist Leonhard Euler. In 1768, Russia entered the war with the Ottoman Empire, and young Barclay eagerly awaited his uncle's letters from the theater of war. General Vermelein returned from the war in 1770. Having retired due to an injury received in the glorious battle on the river. Cahul, he decided to devote himself entirely to raising his nephew. So Mikhail added military history to other sciences. Gradually, life in a general's family led him to the idea that there was no better career than the military. In 1776, the noble son Bakrlai successfully passed the exam for the first officer rank of cornet, and two years later, upon reaching adulthood, he left for his first place of service in the city of Fellin, where the Pskov Carabinieri Regiment was stationed at that time.
Cornet Mikhail Barclay immediately stood out among the officers of the regiment. A love of reading and constant self-education, not very characteristic of a simple officer of the second half of the 18th century, attracted the attention of the commander, Colonel Knorring, to Mikhail, who distinguished himself in the recent campaign of 1768-1774. against the Turks. He appoints a young officer to the post of regimental adjutant. After some time, Barclay becomes the adjutant of the commander of the Livonia division, General Patkul, who promotes the young officer to second lieutenant. Seeing a biased attitude towards the fast career of an adjutant on the part of the regimental commander, and also trying to help the Baltic nobleman, the same Patkul seeks the transfer of Barclay de Tolly to St. Petersburg. In 1786, he was already an adjutant to the chief of the Finnish Jaeger Corps, Count Friedrich Anhalt, with the rank of lieutenant.
At his new duty station, Barclay learns the basics of headquarters service and studies the principles of operation of the Jaeger battalions. One of Mikhail’s textbooks is “Notes on Infantry Service in General and on Jaeger Service in Particular,” compiled by the young Major General M.I. Kutuzov. What he most remembered in the “Note” were the words that formed the basis for his further military service: “The primary reason for the kindness and strength of any military corps is the maintenance of the soldier, and this subject should be considered the most important. Only after establishing the soldier’s well-being should one think about preparing for a military position.”
Soon Barclay goes into the service of Friedrich Anhalt's cousin, the young Lieutenant General Prince Victor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg, with another promotion to the rank of captain. Together with him, he goes to the theater of military operations of the next Turkish war of 1787-1791, where under the walls of the Ochakov fortress he will take part in hostilities for the first time.
Barclay's complete self-control and calmness in the most difficult, decisive moments were amazing. On the battlefield, he saw everything and with constant composure disposed of everything under the heaviest fire.
IN AND. Kharkevich
Under Ochakov, Captain Barclay de Tolly will be able to put into practice the theoretical calculations obtained during his adjutant years. He will be an eyewitness to the unsuccessful attack of the fortress by General A.V. Suvorov and the intrigues between Suvorov and the army commander, Prince G.A. Potemkin, and also get acquainted with M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov. During the next assault on Ochakov, Barclay will save the wounded Prince of Anhalt from the Turkish scimitars, and the result of the entire campaign will be the awarding of the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree, the motto of which “Benefit, honor and glory” can be applied to the career of Barclay and Tolly. To top it all off, M.B. Barclay will receive a second-major, having already moved to the staff officer ranks.
In May 1790, Prime Major Barclay de Tolly served in the Tobolsk infantry regiment under the command of Prince Tsitsianov. Together with him, he also participates in the formation of the St. Petersburg Grenadier Regiment, showing himself to be a competent and, a rare quality at that time, an honest administrator. In 1791, together with the St. Petersburg grenadiers, Barclay made a trip to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and settled in apartments in the city of Grodno, where in the spring of 1794 he was caught by the Polish uprising.
From childhood, Barclay considered justice to be the pinnacle of all virtues and was himself a model for officers and soldiers of observing what would later be called the moral code. His regiment lived as a large friendly artel, and this largely determined its success in service. Based on the results of three inspections, the 4th Jaeger Regiment went from good to best, and then to the very best. Pleased with Barclay's actions, the Governor-General of Lithuania, Prince Repnin, promoted him to major general, and on March 24, 1799, Emperor Pavel Petrovich highly approved the production, for he highly valued hard work, pedantry and devotion in officers.
On his way to Tilsit, Alexander I visited the hero Eylau in Memel. In a private conversation, answering the tsar’s question about the war with the French, Barclay first expressed a plan for a “Scythian war.” Even then, the wounded general noted that in the event of an enemy invasion of Russia, one should use a strategy of retreat deep into the territory, stretching the enemy’s communications, and then, having gathered his strength, deal him a crushing blow. It was then that the young tsar began to single out Barclay de Tolly from the general galaxy of Russian military leaders. Soon he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree, and St. Vladimir, 2nd degree, with promotion to lieutenant general and appointment to the post of commander of the 6th Infantry Division.
A year later, Barclay's division takes part in the last war between Russia and Sweden. Finland, which is well known to Mikhail Bogdanovich, becomes the arena of hostilities. In the first military clashes, the 6th Division, unlike other Russian formations, achieved significant success. However, the failures of Russian troops in other sectors of the front lead to a prolongation of the war. By the end of 1808, Barclay received command of a separate Expeditionary Force and came up with a proposal to strike at the enemy in a place where no one expected him - the Kvarken Strait. The idea was to cross a distance of 100 kilometers on ice in winter conditions. Fellow generals, jealous of Barclay's rapid career, did not dissuade him from the plan, which seemed to them a crazy adventure.
For Lieutenant General Barclay de Tolly, this was a chance to prove himself in leading an independent combat operation. Having spent a month preparing, Barclay's corps managed to cross the strait with minimal losses and show up on the outskirts of the Swedish capital in March 1809, which was the last straw for the start of peace negotiations. In fact, a separate operation resulted in a final victory, which granted the Russian Empire a new territory - Finland. Awarded for his unprecedented transition with the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and the rank of General of the Infantry, Mikhail Bogdanovich became in May 1809 the Finnish Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the troops in Finland.
The Patriotic War of 1812 became the brightest page in the military biography of M.B. Barclay de Tolly. Knowing the strategy of Emperor Napoleon - to defeat the enemy in a general battle on the border and force him to peace - Barclay begins a retreat to unite the scattered Russian forces and prevent the French marshals from breaking them piece by piece. Such actions are met with protest both among the generals and among officers and soldiers. Moreover, not only the commander of the 2nd Western Army, Infantry General P.I., opposes Barclay. Bagration, but also the chief of staff of the 1st Army A.P. Ermolov. Accusations of Barclay of treason are heard from everywhere, complaints and denunciations are written to the emperor. Near Smolensk, where the two Russian armies finally manage to unite, Bagration directly throws the word “traitor” into the face of his boss. In such a situation, Barclay meticulously continues the retreat that became the path of the French conquerors to the grave.
Napoleon's “Grand Army” is forced to catch up with the Russians, plunging into Russian spaces. Its communications are stretched; infantry and cavalry constantly suffer losses due to the harsh climate and unusual food. Already at Smolensk, Napoleon's troops were halved, and the French were unable to take this city on the move. The battle near Smolensk bled Napoleon's troops and forced them to pause the offensive for some time. However, the subsequent withdrawal of the Russian army did not add glory to Commander-in-Chief Barclay. The entire Russian nobility was already demanding his resignation, and the tsar was forced to yield to public opinion by appointing M.I. to this position. Kutuzova. On August 17, 1812, Barclay surrendered the army to the new commander-in-chief. Moreover, he addressed Alexander with a letter in which he asked for dismissal from service, but it remained unanswered.
At the Battle of Borodino, Barclay de Tolly commanded the right flank of the Russian army, and his only desire was to die on the battlefield. This is how eyewitnesses remembered him on that memorable day of August 26: “Dressed in a general’s uniform embroidered with gold, with all the orders and stars, in a hat with a huge black plume - so as to represent a bright, clearly visible target for enemy fire, Barclay led under Borodin’s actions of the 1st Army with such skill, energy and fervor, while at the same time seeking death with a bright, calm face, that he regained the trust of the army and reconciled his main enemy, Bagration, with himself.” After the end of the Borodino battle, at the famous military council in Fili on September 1, 1812, Barclay was the first to speak out in favor of leaving Moscow, however, he also spoke about the possibility of going on the offensive after regrouping forces upon leaving the capital, but his last words were not heard.
This act ended Barclay de Tolly's participation in the Patriotic War. On September 15, 1812, having received notice of his resignation from the post of Minister of War without a single word of gratitude for the work done, he fell ill with a fever and left the ranks of the army. Barclay rode to his mother's estate, showered with curses from the mob and, in some places, stones along the way. He commanded the Russian army for exactly one hundred days, during which he managed to do a lot, virtually predetermining the victorious outcome of the war. The new commander-in-chief enjoyed the fruits of victory, the tree of which was nurtured by Barclay de Tolly. Almost everyone now knows about the famous “hundred days of Napoleon”; few people still know about the “hundred days of Barclay”.
M.B. Barclay de Tolly died on May 14, 1818 in the city of Insterburg. His body was buried at the Bekhof manor in Livonia. At the end of the nineteenth century, the famous historian of the Napoleonic wars, General V.I. Kharkevich gave the following assessment of the actions of Barclay de Tolly: “Barclay was not distinguished by brilliant abilities, but possessed many precious qualities of a commander. His simple, clear and practical mind coldly assessed the situation and made appropriate decisions. His unshakable persistence in pursuing his goal knew no barriers. Complete self-control and calm in the most difficult, decisive moments were amazing. On the battlefield, he saw everything and with constant composure disposed of everything under the heaviest fire. A patriot in the best sense of the word, he did his duty without ever thinking about himself. Contemporary injustice is often the lot of great men, but few have experienced this truth to such a degree as Barclay.”
Barclay de Tolly took part in the Russian-Prussian-French and Russian-Swedish wars.
In 1810-1812 he was Minister of War and (from 1810) a member of the State Council. At this time, Barclay de Tolly carried out a number of reforms aimed at increasing the size of the army. IN March 1812 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the 1st Western Army and at the beginning Patriotic War 1812 successfully carried out the retreat of the Russian army to Smolensk, where he united with the 2nd Western Army Bagration.
In the last years of his life, Barclay de Tolly was engaged in combat training of the army units entrusted to him, which made up the majority of Russian field formations.
Danilov A.A. History of Russia IX - XIX centuries. Reference materials. M., 1998.
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Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich (1761-1818) - an outstanding Russian commander. Field Marshal General (1814). Prince (1815). He began serving in the Russian army in 1776. He distinguished himself during the storming of Ochakov during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791, during the Russian-Swedish War of 1788-1790. and in the Polish campaign of 1792-1794. Participated in wars with France and Sweden at the beginning of the 19th century. Since 1809, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Governor-General of Finland. In January 1810 - September 1812 - Minister of War, member of the State Council. Author of military reforms of 1810-1812. With the beginning of the Patriotic War, he was left by the emperor as responsible for directing military operations (he did not have the official status of commander-in-chief). He managed to achieve the unification of the Russian armies near Smolensk, thwarting Napoleon's plans to break the Russian forces separately. He initiated the creation of the first partisan formations. Barclay de Tolly's attempts to preserve the army at any cost aroused discontent and reproaches against him. He was even accused of treason. With appointment Kutuzova commander in chief, Barclay de Tolly remained commander of the 1st Army. Distinguished himself during Battle of Borodino. At the council in Fili, he came up with the idea of leaving Moscow in order to save the army and, on the instructions of Kutuzov, led the withdrawal of the army from Moscow. During the foreign campaign of the Russian army, he commanded the 3rd Army. Since 1813, commander-in-chief of all Russian and Prussian armies. After the conclusion of the Paris Peace - Commander-in-Chief of the 1st Army. After the war, having retired, he opposed the creation of military settlements. He proposed that soldiers who had served their time be given land and enrolled in free cultivators .
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Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich, prince, famous Russian commander, of Scottish origin. During the turmoil of the 17th century, one of the members of this family left the fatherland and settled in Riga; his descendant was Barclay de Tolly. He was born in 1761, as a child he was enrolled in the Novotroitsk Cuirassier Regiment and in 1778 he was promoted to cornet. In 1788, Barclay de Tolly, as an adjutant of the Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, took part in the assault on Ochakov, and in 1789 in the defeat of the Turks near Causeni and in the capture of Ackerman and Bendery. In 1790, Barclay de Tolly, together with the prince, participated in cases against the Swedes, and in 1794 - in military operations against the Poles. During the 1806 campaign, Barclay de Tolly especially distinguished himself in the battles of Pułtusk, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George 3rd degree, and at Gough, where he withstood the pressure of almost the entire army of Napoleon; near Preussisch-Eylau he was wounded in the right arm with a broken bone. In the Swedish War of 1808, Barclay de Tolly first commanded a separate detachment, but due to a disagreement with General Buxhoeveden, he left Finland; in 1809 he was sent there again, made the famous crossing of Kvarken and captured the mountains. Umeå, the consequence of which was the conclusion of peace with Sweden. Promoted to General of the Infantry, Barclay de Tolly was appointed Governor-General of Finland and Commander of the Finnish Army, and on January 20, 1810, took over the post of Minister of War. Under him, an “Institution for the Management of a Large Active Army” was drawn up, and significant improvements were introduced in various branches of military administration, which turned out to be especially useful in view of the impending war with Napoleon: the army was almost doubled; New fortresses were put into a defensive state and armed, food supplies were stockpiled, arsenals were replenished, and ammunition parks were established. Before the start of the Patriotic War, Barclay de Tolly took command of the 1st Western Army. He clearly foresaw that the war would be “most terrible in intention, unique in its kind and most important in its consequences,” but for the sake of caution, he did not consider it possible to “previously warn the public about the critical situation of the fatherland” and preferred to endure insults and attacks, “calmly awaiting justification from the very consequences.” ". Napoleon's forces turned out to be so great that it was impossible to wage, as previously assumed, even a defensive war. Barclay de Tolly’s brilliant plan to retreat and “having lured the enemy into the depths of the fatherland itself, force him, at the cost of blood, to acquire every step, every means of reinforcement and even his existence, and, finally, exhausting his strength with as little shedding of his blood as possible , to deal him a decisive blow,” was not understood, and reproaches even for treason were heard at the commander’s address; even those who understood the plan sometimes echoed the public voice. As a result, Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of the armies, but he was forced to follow his predecessor's plan and retreat. In the Battle of Borodino, Barclay de Tolly commanded the right wing of the army and appeared, as if seeking death, in the most dangerous places; he personally led the regiments into the attack, and they enthusiastically greeted him, as if instinctively realizing their previous wrong. All the insults and unrest he experienced affected the health of Barclay de Tolly, and he left the army in the Tarutino camp. He returned to the troops already in 1813, accepting first the 3rd and then the Russian-Prussian army. On May 8 and 9, near Bautzen, he repelled Napoleon's main attacks; On August 18, near Kulm, he completed the defeat of Vandam (awarded the Order of St. George, 1st degree), and in the “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig he was one of the main culprits of the victory; For this campaign, Barclay de Tolly was elevated to the dignity of count. During the campaign of 1814, the battles of Brienne, Arcy-on-Aube, Fer-Champenoise and Paris brought Barclay de Tolly the field marshal's baton. In 1815, Barclay de Tolly, as commander-in-chief of the 1st Army, again entered France, where, after a review at Vertue, he was elevated to princely dignity. Upon his return to Russia, Barclay de Tolly continued to command the 1st Army. Having gone abroad due to poor health, he died on the way in the city of Insterburg; his body was brought to Russia and buried on May 14, 1818 in the town of Bekgof, in Livonia. A monument to Barclay de Tolly was erected in St. Petersburg; The 4th Nesvizh Grenadier Regiment is still called after him. - Compare: Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, “Military Gallery of the Winter Palace”.
Other biographical materials:
Orlov A.S., Georgieva N.G., Georgiev V.A. Russian statesman ( Orlov A.S., Georgieva N.G., Georgiev V.A. Historical Dictionary. 2nd ed. M., 2012).
Kovalevsky N.F. His name became a symbol of the retreat of the Russian army ( Kovalevsky N.F. History of Russian Goverment. Biographies of famous military figures of the 18th - early 20th centuries. M. 1997).
Zalessky S.A. Showed personal courage, perseverance and skill in commanding troops ( Soviet historical encyclopedia. In 16 volumes. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1973-1982. Volume 2. BAAL - WASHINGTON. 1962).
Telitsyn V.L. Field Marshal General, Count, Prince ( Russian historical encyclopedia. T. 2. M., 2015).
Fedorov V.A. From an old Scottish family ( Encyclopedic Dictionary of Russian Civilization).
Shikman A.P. Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812 ( Shikman A.P. Figures of Russian history. Biographical reference book. Moscow, 1997).
From an ethnological point of view ( Lev Gumilev. Encyclopedia. / Ch. ed. E.B. Sadykov, comp. T.K. Shanbai, - M., 2013).
Read further:
Bantysh-Kamensky D.N. Biographies of Russian generalissimos and field marshals: At 4 o'clock. Reprint. reproduction ed. 1840 Part 3-4.-M.: Publishing house. Society "Culture", 1990. -4.3.- P. 159-235.
Vasiliev A. Barclay’s Sorrow: (Strokes to the portrait of the commander) // Motherland. - 1992. -№6-7.-S. 44-45.
Knights of St. George: Collection in 4 volumes. T. 1: 1769 - 1850 / Comp. A.V. Shishov. - M.: Patriot, 1993.-S. 256 - 262.
Kochetkov A.N. M.B. Barclay de Tolly. - M.: Moscow. worker. 1970. -80 p.- (Heroes of the Fatherland, wars of 1812).
Marx K., Barclay de Tolly, in the book: Marx K. and Engels F., Works, 2nd ed., vol. 14;
Polevoy N.A. Russian commanders or the life and exploits of Russian commanders from the time of Emperor Peter the Great to the reign of Emperor Nicholas 1. - St. Petersburg: type. K. Zhernakova, 1845. - P. 231 - 256.
Thalberg F. Barclay de Tolly and the Baltic region. Riga, 2003;
Tartakovsky A.G. Unsolved Barclay: Legends and reality. 1812 - M.: Archaeogr. center, 1996. - 367 p.
Tarle E.V., Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. 1812, 2nd ed., M., 1943.
Totfalushin V.P. M.B. Barclay de Tolly in the Patriotic War of 1812.-Saratov: Sarat Publishing House. Univ., 1991.-131 p.: ill.
Troitsky N.A. Letter to the editor. How to correctly write the name M.B. Barclay de Tolly // History of the USSR. 1988. N 2.
Ushakov S.I. The deeds of Russian commanders and generals who marked themselves in the memorable war of 1812, 1813, 1814 and 1815. Part 1.-SPb.: type. K. Kraja, 1822.-S. 117-160.
Kharkevich V.I. Barclay de Tolly in the Patriotic War after the connection of armies near Smolensk. St. Petersburg, 1904.
- princes and nobles.
This surname is of Scottish origin.
Their ancestor, a Scot from the surname Barclay of Tolly, left his fatherland during the troubles in Great Britain in the 17th century and settled in Riga. One of his descendants was a burgomaster in Riga and had a son who was in military service and acquired the dignity of nobility (nobility was then acquired by the rank of officer).
The latter left sons Eric-John, who served as an engineer-major general, Heinrich, an artillery major, and Prince Mikhail Bogdanovich, later a famous commander who became famous in 1812 and 1813. — Prince Mikhail Bogdanovich was born in 1761, in the seventh year of his age he was enrolled as a corporal in the Novotroitsk cuirassier regiment, and on April 28, 1778 he was promoted to cornet.
The outstanding abilities of the young officer were noticed by the head of the Livland division, General. Patkul, who took him as his adjutant, and then recommended gr. Anhalt, who transferred him in 1786 to the Finnish Jaeger Corps.
In 1788, B., appointed adjutant to the Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, took part in the assault on Ochakov, and in 1789 - in the defeat of the Turks near Causeni, during the capture of Ackerman and Bendery.
In 1790, B., together with the Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, went to Finland, where military operations were taking place at that time; and at the end of the Swedish War he was transferred to the St. Petersburg Grenadier Regiment. Here, commanding a battalion, he took part in the military operations of 1794 against the Poles and for special distinctions rendered during the storming of the fortifications of Vilna and during the extermination of Grabovsky’s detachment near Grodna, he was awarded the Order of St. George 4th Art. Then promoted to lieutenant colonel with a transfer to the Estonian Jaeger Corps, he was appointed commander of the 1st battalion, renamed upon the accession of the emperor. Pavel to the 4th Jaeger Regiment; in 1798, already with the rank of colonel, he was appointed chief of this regiment, for the excellent condition of which in 1799 he was promoted to major general. - During the campaign of 1806, B. especially distinguished himself in the battle of Pułtusk, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George 3rd Art. January 24, 1807 B., commanding the rearguard during the Russian retreat. army to Landsberg and Preussisch-Eylau, made it possible for Bennigsen to concentrate on a position near this city, withstanding the pressure of almost the entire army of Napoleon at Gough.
In the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, B. was wounded in the right arm with a broken bone and was forced to retire from the army, receiving, among other awards, the rank of lieutenant general.
In the Swedish campaign of 1808, B. first commanded a separate detachment; but in disagreement with the general. Buxhoeveden left Finland.
However, in 1809 he was sent there again, made his famous crossing of Kvarken (March 7, 8 and 9) and took possession of the city of Umeå on the Swedish coast. The consequence of this was the conclusion of peace with Sweden.
Produced to gen. from the infantry, B. was appointed Governor-General of Finland and Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Army. On January 20, 1810, B. took the post of Minister of War, and under him the well-known “Institution for the management of a large active army” was compiled. In addition, significant improvements were made in various branches of military administration, which turned out to be especially timely and useful in view of the gigantic struggle that was being prepared against Napoleon.
At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, B. was appointed commander-in-chief of the 1st Western Army.
Considering the circumstances, he retreated before the disproportionately superior forces of the enemy, not giving the latter anywhere the opportunity to achieve decisive success; Having united with Bagration's army near Smolensk, he continued to retreat to Tsarev Zaymishche, where he intended to give battle.
This retreat, however, aroused displeasure among the troops who were eager to fight the enemy, and restored public opinion against B., as a result of which he was replaced by Kutuzov and came under his command.
In the Battle of Borodino he commanded the right flank.
The skillful orders and selfless courage he showed in this battle brought B. the Order of St. George 2nd Art. - At the famous military event. At the council in the village of Fili, he proved the disadvantages of the position in front of Moscow and proposed to retreat without a fight. After the Battle of Borodino, B. fell ill, and in the Tarutino camp his illness became so severe that he had to leave the army. On February 4, 1813, he took command of the 3rd Army; during the battle of Bautzen (May 8 and 9) he commanded rights. the flank where Napoleon's main attack was directed; and after the Battle of Bautsen he took command of the Russian-Prussian army; Aug 18 near Kulm, completed the defeat of Vandomme, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George 1st class; in the Battle of Leipzig 4, 5 and 6 approx. commanded the center and was one of the main culprits of the victory.
For these new merits, B. was elevated to the dignity of count.
In 1814 he commanded the Russian. troops in the battles: at Brienne, Arcis-sur-Aube, Fer-Champenoise, during the capture of Paris, which brought him a field marshal's baton. Upon returning to Russia, B. was appointed commander-in-chief of the 1st Army, with which he entered France in 1815; but the battle of Waterloo stopped further Russian movement. troops. Aug 30 In 1814, after the famous review of Vertue, B. was elevated to princely dignity.
After his return to Russia, the main apartment of his army was located in Mogilev-on-Dniester, but the distressed health of the commander-in-chief forced him to go to the German mineral waters, on the way to which he died in the city of Insterburg. On May 14, 1818, B. was buried at the Bekhof estate in Livonia.
A monument was erected to him on Kazan Square in St. Petersburg. (Brockhaus)