Kutusov, Prince de Smolensk

Mikhail Ilarionovitch Kutuzov, Prince of Smolensk, Russian field marshal
Saint Petersburg, 1745 Bunzlau (Silesia), 1813

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia, seeking to fight. Kutuzov, commander in chief of the Russian army, sneaked away from him.

Kutuzov, son of a military engineer, embraced a military career at the age of twelve. He knew six languages, arithmetic, and geography. Beginning in Catherine the Greatþs artillery corps, he took part in campaigns in Poland an the Ukraine before taking part in the war against the Turks in 1770. A ball went through his head in 1773; he lost his right eye. Later he served under his master in thinking, Suvorov. In 1788 he foiled death another time. He recovered in time to take an active part in the last battles against the Turks.

Between 1793 and 180 Kutuzov was given various diplomatic missions. In 1801 as military governor of Saint Petersburg he refused to participate in the plot against Paul I. When Alexander became Czar Kutusov was removed from every important position.

In 1805 when the Third Coalition was formed against France Kutusov was 60. He was a popular leader and in spite of his immoderate thirst for alcohol and women all the world agreed in finding him courteous, cultivated, crafty. Alexander gave him the task of supporting the Austrians against Napoleon. Kutuzov defeated Mortier at Duernstein in November of 1805. At Austerlitz he advised against delivering battle, but the czar, who was present on the battlefield, turned a deaf ear. After the defeat Kutusov, who had made the mistake of being right, again fell into disfavor. He was assigned to positions of minor importance.

In 1811 the decisive victories he led against the Turks in Moldavia resulted in the Treaty of Bucharest. The czar agreed to trust him again with the command of the Russian army when the French invaded Russia. Kutusov employed at that time the scorched earth policy. He let the French reach Moscow, avoiding facing them. The Cossacks harassed the French troops by brief actions reminiscent of the Spanish guerrillas. There was one battle, that of the Moscow River, which had an indecisive result. After it Kutusov followed the army in retreating. At the crossing of the Beresina the debris of the great army escaped him just in time. He had driven the French out; he thus won his title of prince, less than a year before his death in April, 1813.