Don Ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov. Platov Matvey Ivanovich

Introduction

1 At the beginning of military affairs

3 Founder of Novocherkassk

4 Patriotic War of 1812

5 Return to Novocherkassk

Conclusion

Introduction

It so happened in historical literature, local history research and public consciousness that the founder of the city of Novocherkassk, the world-famous Army Ataman, holder of many domestic and foreign orders, Matvey Ivanovich Platov, had several dates of birth, among which the most popular are two: August 6, 1753. and August 8, 1753. The first roams from edition to edition from the first biographer N. Smirnago, who wrote the book "The Life and Exploits of Count Matvei Ivanovich Platov", consisting of 3 parts and published in Moscow three years after his death, i.e. e. in 1821

From him, the date of birth, August 6, 1753, migrated to the works of L.M. Savelov, A. Strusevich, P.N. Krasnov, and other pre-revolutionary authors, and from them to Soviet encyclopedias and dictionaries. But already in the 1910s, there were reports that a register of births had been found, from which a different date of birth of M.I. Platov. “In fact, the time of his birth is precisely known: according to the parish registers of the church of St. Apostle Peter and Paul in Cherkassk, p. son Matthew was born.

This is the future military ataman, who has acquired unfading fame and worldwide fame for himself and the entire Don. Historians, local historians, public figures, such as A.A. Kirillov, P.Kh. Popov, and others adhered to this date later.

1 At the beginning of military affairs

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, on the vast expanses of the Don steppes, gangs of free people appeared, fleeing from the feudal oppression that reigned in the Muscovite state. Everyone fled here who valued a minute of liberty more than a year of slave life. They began to be called "Cossacks" - free people, brave warriors.

The Cherkasy town, in which Matvey Platov was born, was founded by the Cossacks in 1570, and since 1644 became the capital of the Don - the "Main Army". The Cossack Circle operated here - the highest body of legislative power among the Don - from here the Cossacks went on sea and land campaigns, here they remembered the times of holy liberty, when the Cossacks themselves ruled the Don, living according to their own laws and customs. Foreign ambassadors were received here, and Cossack embassies were sent from here to neighboring peoples. Here appeared the first temples on the Don, the first schools, teachers and doctors, here for the first time in the history of Russia a military salute was given in honor of the Azov victory over the Turks in 1696.

The Platov family appeared on the Don at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The Platov brothers, one of whom was Ivan Fedorovich, Matvey's father, came to Cherkassk with rafts of timber that had been rafted down the Don. From here, according to the researchers, the surname arose - PLOTOV, which later turned into PLATOV. This surname became known on the Don in the middle of the eighteenth century. It was at this time that the names of the three Platov brothers: Ivan, Dmitry and Demyan Fedorovich are found in the confessional registers of the Peter and Paul Church in the city of Cherkassk. The eldest of the brothers was Ivan Fedorovich - Matvey's father. The year of birth of the father of the future hero is unknown, but based on the confessional paintings of the Peter and Paul Church, it can be assumed that Ivan Fedorovich was born between 1720 and 1723.

Ivan Platov, upon his arrival to the Don, soon left the craft of a timber rafting and took up a more profitable trade - fishing, and around 1742 he entered the military service.

First, Ivan Fedorovich was with a Cossack regiment on the Crimean line, then in the so-called Ostsee provinces, then in Georgia, from where he was transferred with the regiment to Prussia, where battles flared with the troops of the warrior king and philosopher Frederick II. As part of the Cossack regiment under the command of the Don military ataman Stepan Efremov, he participated in many battles of this war and especially distinguished himself in the battle of Kustrin on August 4, 1758. On business matters, Platov Sr. traveled to St. Petersburg several times, then he was appointed tax collector from free Little Russians who entered the ranks of the Don Cossacks.

The exemplary service of Ivan Platov was later highly awarded with two nominal sabers and a silver medal. In the early seventies, he received the rank of military foreman and went with the regiment to the Petrovsky fortress, which was part of the Dnieper fortified line. A year later, he was transferred to Lithuania, where he took part in battles against the Poles in the so-called Confederate War. During the Pugachev uprising, he, with the Don Cossack regiment, covered the Kolomensky, Kasimovsky and Vladimir highways leading to Moscow. Ivan Fedorovich died after 1778 with the rank of prime major in the Russian army.

About the mother of Matvey Platov, Anna Larionovna, who was born in 1733, the details of the biography have not been preserved. It is only known that she was buried in the village of Starocherkasskaya in the cemetery of the Transfiguration Church.

In addition to the elder Matvey, three more sons grew up in the Platov family. Stefan was nine years younger than Matvey, Andrei and Peter were twelve and fifteen years younger than their older brother, respectively.

Since ancient times, the Don Cossacks had a peculiar ritual of celebrating the birth of the first-born in the family, therefore, when Matvey was born to the Platovs, relatives and acquaintances of the Cossacks came to visit them. Each of them brought to the newborn some object “by the teeth”: an arrow, a bullet, a bow, and the brothers of Ivan Fedorovich brought a gun to their nephew. The satisfied father laid out these items and hung them in the room where the newborn lay.

As soon as forty days had passed after the birth of Matvey, Anna Larionovna went to the church of Peter and Paul, where her son was baptized, and underwent a ritual of cleansing prayer. Upon returning home, according to Cossack customs, her husband joyfully met her and congratulated her on her first-born son. Ivan Fedorovich carefully took the baby in his arms, carefully put a saber on him and, despite the protests of his wife, put his son on a horse: such was the ancient Cossack custom!

When Matthew's first teeth erupted, his father and mother, putting him on a horse, took him to the Peter and Paul Church, of which they were permanent parishioners. Here the priest served the due prayer before the icon of John the Warrior, whom the father asked to make his son a brave, valiant and successful Cossack warrior and send him for long years life. All the upbringing of his son in those short days when he was at home, Ivan Fedorovich directed to ensure that Matvey became a real warrior. It is not surprising that the first words he uttered were "pu" - to shoot and "chu" - to go. At the age of three, Matvey, like many of his peers, rode a horse around the yard, and at five, he fearlessly rode a horse through the streets and participated in children's maneuvers.

Life in the Cossack capital of that time was interesting and original. An inquisitive natural mind, tirelessness forced Matvey to visit different parts hometown, to observe his seething life, to take part in it yourself. It was especially interesting during the holidays. Nimble Matveyka ran around all the streets of Cherkassk on such days. Everywhere he met festively dressed Cossacks and Cossacks. The youth was engaged in wrestling, playing ball, leapfrog, grandmas, aidanchiks (small bones from lamb legs). Adult Cossacks gathered in a circle, and a song about Father Quiet Don flowed over the city.

Since the streets of Cherkassk were cramped for cheerful and active boys and young men, companies of youngsters went outside the city to the front garden and fortress walls. Here they set a goal and, some with guns, others with bows, competed in shooting accuracy. Some, especially well-aimed young men, could at a distance knock out a large coin with a bullet, which his fearless comrade held with his fingers above his head. After the shooting, sham battles were arranged.

A large crowd of youngsters in homemade military armor, with banners made of painted paper, with toy lances, were divided into two groups. Each had its chieftain. At the sign of the judge from adult Cossacks, both detachments converged in hand-to-hand combat. Often, the youngsters got really excited, and the battle sometimes took a serious turn. Finally, one of the parties could not withstand the intensity of the struggle and rushed to their heels. The "winners" pursued the "enemy", took them "prisoner", captured trophies and banners. To the sounds of tambourines and the sound of fanfare plates, the Cossacks entered the city, causing the praise of the old people.

At that time, the Cossacks held horse races in high esteem, which were organized many times in the vicinity of Cherkassk. The winners of the races gained fame and popularity among the Cossacks. Cossack children arranged their races through the streets. In every house, from dawn to dusk, ceaseless firing from rifles, pistols and small cannons was heard. Those who did not have weapons drilled “seeds” in the empty bones of large animals or loaded reeds.

One of the indispensable elements of military education among the Don Cossacks was hunting for game on horseback. It contributed to the development of dexterous horseback riding and accuracy of shooting from various weapons among youngsters. Around the hometown of Matvey Platov there was a vast place where hares, foxes, wolves, wild boars, leopards, deer and other living creatures were found in abundance. Hundreds of Cossacks gathered to hunt, which was usually opened by three rifle shots. Hunting developed in young Cossacks vigilance of the eye, sensitivity of the ear, accuracy and firmness of hands, courage and courage.

During the hours of rest and entertainment, the Cossacks were divided into groups, set up shields with targets, and shooting from bows and guns at them began. Next to the adults arranged their games and children. Their indispensable participant was the frisky and smart beyond his years Matveyka Platov.

The Cossacks constantly took care of the military replenishment of their ranks. For this purpose, on the orders of the military ataman, young Cossacks gathered annually for a review in the vicinity of the Cherkasy town. They arrived on the best horses, armed with lances, sabers and guns. In a vast clearing not far from the capital city of the Don Cossacks, a camp was set up, and here, for several weeks, military games took place in the presence of the military ataman Stepan Danilovich Efremov. One group of young Cossacks competed in the races, revealing the speed of the horse and the skill of the rider, his dexterity. Other youngsters at full gallop shot at the target or, throwing a whip or a large coin on the ground on the ground, picked them up at a gallop. Many Cossacks, standing on a horse, could attack the enemy, firing from guns and bows.

The Cossack cavalry rushed into the river in a swift avalanche, trying to overcome it faster and attack the "enemy". The ataman gave bridles or weapons to the Cossacks who distinguished themselves in marksmanship. These awards were highly valued by the Don people, because they indicated the accuracy, dexterity and courage of their owner - the main qualities that are extremely respected and valued among the Cossacks.

With the onset of evening, exciting fights began - fistfights. The winners traditionally received awards.

This is how young Platov prepared for his future combat life. His parents were not rich people, so they could not give their son a good education, and at that time there were no permanent schools on the Don land. But, as Platov's biographer N. Smirny notes, Matvey learned to read and write. From childhood, he was distinguished by dexterity, ambition, courage and sharpness of mind. Parents tried their best to raise their son in the spirit of love for native land, the glorious fighting traditions of the Don Cossacks. And their efforts were not in vain: Matvey grew up as a bold and brave Cossack, a true patriot of the Don and Russia.

In the fifteenth year of his life, Matvey was appointed to serve in the military office, and soon he received the rank of constable. All this time he read a lot, improving his knowledge. The biographer of the famous chieftain Nikolai Smirny noted that "such a school, not inferior to any other, soon made a rather educated warrior out of a simple Cossack, refined him, developed his abilities and prepared a hero for the future in him."

The second half of the eighteenth century in the history of the Russian state is characterized, first of all, by fierce and lengthy wars that were waged with eternal tenacity by its adversary - the Ottoman Porte, the Brilliant Porte, as its statesmen liked to call Turkey. At that time, the Black Sea problem acquired special significance for Russia. The Russian population, and with it the Russian landlord colonization, mastering the fertile lands of southern Russia, gradually moved towards the borders of the Crimean Khanate. But this development of the southern Russian steppes was constantly hindered by the almost incessant Turkish-Tatar raids and attacks. For the Russian merchants and nobility at that time, access to the Black Sea for the export of agricultural and industrial products, the demand for which remained insufficient due to the weak purchasing power of the Russian population, became more and more important and necessary. The northern ports of Russia could no longer meet the needs of Russian exports. In addition, the main sales markets were not in the north, but in the countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean basins. But the Turks did not allow Russian merchants into the Black Sea. There was a way of trade by land through Poland, but such trade was extremely unprofitable, and therefore did not receive proper development. The key to the Black Sea was the Crimea, so all these problems could be solved either by annexing the Crimea to Russia, or by granting independence to the Crimean Khanate from Turkey, which was becoming more and more aggressive, because it enjoyed the broad support of France, who feared the strengthening of Russia in Western Europe and in the Middle East.

The Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739 did not solve those foreign policy problems that faced Russia. New wars with Turkey were inevitable. And one of these wars soon broke out ...

In the winter of 1769, the Tatar cavalry made an unexpected devastating raid on Ukraine and the Lower Don. Active military operations of the Russian troops against the Turks and Tatars began. To fight Turkey, the Russian command formed two armies under the command of general-generals P.A. Rumyantseva and A.M. Golitsyn. These armies included up to ten thousand Don Cossacks under the command of marching atamans Sulin, Pozdeev, Grekov and Martynov.

The war found nineteen-year-old Matvey Platov on the shores of the Sea of Azov, where, on the orders of his father, who was in St. Petersburg, he watched his fishing industry. Matvey decided that it was his duty as a Cossack to be at war! Leaving the household in the care of the clerk, he rode on a frisky horse to Cherkassk, where he joined the Cossack regiment, which was sent to the theater of operations, towards battles and glory ...

The army, where Matvey arrived, by that time was commanded by General-in-Chief V.M. Dolgorukov, in whose retinue Platov was at first. Then he moved to the active regiment and on the night of July 14, 1771, took part in the assault on Perekop. Evpatoria fell under the blows of the Russians on the twenty-second of June, and Kafa on the twenty-ninth. At the end of the month, the Crimea was in the power of Russian troops, and Khan Sahib Giray was forced to sign an agreement under which he agreed to enter into an alliance with Russia.

For differences in battles with the Basurmans, the twenty-two-year-old Platov received the rank of Yesaul. A year later, he was promoted to foreman, giving command of a Cossack regiment.

And the battles started again. Together with the regiments of Uvarov, Bukhvostov and Danilov, Platov attacked the superior enemy forces concentrated in the area of the city of Kopyl. The stubborn battle ended with the defeat of the Circassians and the capture of Kopyl. In addition to the mass of prisoners, the winners got four serviceable guns, which, with the general consent of Platov, sent to Cherkassk to strengthen their native city.

The capture of Kopyl greatly pleased the Commander-in-Chief of the Second Army, General Dolgorukov, who, in a special order for the army, declared "the most sensitive gratitude" to the troops participating in this heated affair.

military campaign 1771 brought a number of significant successes to the Russians, which forced the Turkish command to request a truce signed on May 19, 1772 in Zhurzh and lasted a year. Platov's regiment during this time was transferred to the Kuban.

He quickly built a defensive circle from wagons and fought with the Turks of Khan Devlet Giray, who outnumbered the Cossacks by more than 20 times, until the arrival of the Cossack regiment called for help. The Turks were defeated, and the khan was soon arrested for defeat and taken to Turkish sultan to Constantinople. In 1775-1776, the father and son of Platov pursued the scattered detachments of E. Pugachev in the central districts of Russia, capturing one of the leaders of Rumyanchikhin and up to 500 Pugachevites. For this, the father and son of Platov were awarded gold medals. It was one of the first significant awards of Matvey Platov. He also distinguished himself on September 13, 1789, when in the battle of Koushany he managed to defeat a large detachment of Turks and capture the three-bunch pasha Zeynal-Hassan Bey of Anatolia. For this feat, M.I. Platov was given the rank of brigadier of the Russian army.

2 Was Platov objectionable to the courtiers

The accumulated combat and managerial experience put forward a young capable Cossack commander as the organizer of a new direction of the Cossacks. In January 1788, Prince Gr. Potemkin instructed M.I. Platov in three months to pick up 5,000 people. for the formation of several new Cossack regiments, the so-called Sloboda Ukraine. Platov called from the Don to help himself 4 military foremen, 7 lower officers and 507 best Cossacks as instructors. Already on May 9, he reported to Prince Gr. Potemkin about the formed Cossack regiments. The new Cossack army was named Yekaterinoslavsky, and M.I. Platov for his skillful leadership was appointed his Army Ataman (1790) and presented for awarding the Order of St. Vladimir 4th degree.

With the newly formed Cossack regiments M.I. Platov falls into the army of A.V. Suvorov near Izmail. On December 9, at the Military Council, he was the first to vote for an immediate assault on the heavily fortified Turkish fortress, for which he was appointed head of the 5th assault column. When the neighboring assault column of Orlov began to die, and the Cossacks of his column stopped in indecision, Matvey Platov was the first to climb the assault ladder to the walls of the fortress and thereby ignited the victory of his donets and rangers with fire.

For the assault and capture of Izmail M.I. Platov was awarded the Order of St. George of the 3rd degree, and at the end of this military campaign he was promoted to major general. Prince Gr. Potemkin described his actions near Izmail as follows: "Platov was present everywhere and set an example of courage." All this allowed Potemkin in 1791 to introduce the young hero to Empress Catherine 11 in St. Petersburg, where, with his intelligence and resourcefulness, he received from her the right to stay in her palace during his visits to Tsarskoye Selo.

The next year, M.I. Platov already participated in the hostilities on the Caucasian line. In 1796, on the idea of Prince P.A. Zubov, Russian troops moved to conquer Persia, with the prospect of reaching Tibet. Matvey Ivanovich was appointed head of all irregular (i.e. Cossack) troops of Zubov's army. For active and skillful fighting near Derbent, M.I. Platov was awarded the Order of Vladimir, 2nd degree, and also received from Empress Catherine 11 "a magnificent saber in a velvet sheath, gold frame, with large diamonds and rare emeralds," which is now on display at the Museum of the History of the Don Cossacks .

After the death of Catherine 11 (1796), Emperor Paul 1 ascended the throne, who was suspicious and disapproving of all the associates of the Empress, such as Gr. Potemkin, Field Marshal A.V. Suvorov and others. He actually sent P.A. Zubov abroad, and withdrew his army from the borders of Persia. Therefore, in 1797 M.I. Platov received permission to return to the Don. But envious people in the capital and on the Don, using the unfriendly attitude of Paul 1 towards the associates of Catherine 11, set the Emperor to decide on the need to arrest M.I. Platov. Pavel 1 dismissed M.I. Platov from military service by his rescript of July 23, 1797, and ordered to send him to the Don under the supervision of the Army Ataman Orlov. But soon this measure of arrest was replaced by exile in the city of Kostroma.

Since the Petersburg court did not see any particular guilt for Platov, his personal weapons, including a combat saber, were returned to him. Taking it, Matvey Ivanovich said: "She will help me justify" or "She will justify me." Naturally, the scammers immediately interpreted these words to Paul 1 as a hidden threat to the Emperor, although Platov most likely meant that his fighting "girlfriend" would help him again show his best qualities skillful commander and return the trust of Paul 1. Only on October 9, 1800, M.I. Platov left Kostroma, but not to be released, but to be sent to St. Petersburg.

After 3 years and 9 months of imprisonment, M.I. Platov is not released, but by order of Paul 1, he is imprisoned in the Alekseevsky ravelin of the Peter and Paul Fortress. But crowded over M.I. Platov, the clouds soon dissipated thanks to the same Paul 1, who, having concluded an agreement with Napoleon, decided to fight against the British on the territory of their largest colony, i.e. India. Therefore, on January 12, 1801, the Emperor sent a rescript to the Don on the immediate and complete campaign of the Cossacks, led by Ataman Orlov, on a campaign against India. The Don people were given a loan in the amount of 2.5 million rubles, so that after the campaign and capture of production in India, they would return the entire loan to the treasury to the penny.

In connection with the emerging campaign, Paul 1 released M.I. Platov, had a personal conversation with him about the upcoming campaign, appeased him, as if with his good attitude and personally laid on him the commander's cross of the Order of Malta (St. John of Jerusalem). Favored by the Emperor, M.I. Platov quickly returned to the Don and, having received from Ataman Orlov the first 13 regiments (out of the 41st scheduled for the campaign), as well as 12 guns, on February 27, 1801, he set out on a campaign. But on March 23, when the Cossacks had already suffered from many days of exhausting daily crossings, a messenger from St. Petersburg unexpectedly caught up with Platov, who brought news of the death of Paul 1 and the accession of Alexander 1, who canceled the order of Paul 1 to march on India. The Cossacks gladly returned to the Don.

By a rescript dated August 12, 1801, Emperor Alexander 1 appoints M.I. Platov ("for the death of Orlov") as the Army Ataman. Matvey Ivanovich took part in the solemn coronation of Alexander 1, where he was awarded the Order of St. Anna 1st degree. Ataman used his visit to St. Petersburg to solve the urgent problems of the city of Cherkassk, the main of which was the annual flooding of the Cossack capital. Alexander 1 allowed M.I. Platov to carry out large-scale work to protect Cherkassk from spring waters, up to clearing the mouth of the Don River, in order to large quantity melt water could be dumped into the Sea of Azov and less flooded Cherkassk. Engineer de Romano organized in 1802 waterproofing works. But they gave little for the security of Cherkassk. Therefore, M.I. Platov gradually came to the idea of transferring the Cossack capital to another place.

Platov Cossacks Ataman

3 Founder of Novocherkassk

By a rescript dated August 23, 1804, Alexander 1 allowed the transfer of the capital, provided that a convenient place was chosen, and the military engineer General F.P. Devolan. And already on December 31 of the same 1804, the Emperor approved the chosen M.I. Platov place and city plan, developed by F.P. Devolan. On May 18, 1805, grandiose celebrations took place to consecrate the site of New Cherkassk on a hill called Biryuchy Kut (wolf's lair).

For its construction and arrangement, M.I. Platov formed two Cossack working regiments, invited the architect Russko from St. natural materials- woods, local stone, limestone, etc. The Cossacks were reluctant to leave their well-equipped houses and farmsteads in Cherkassk, but the Army Ataman was inexorable. And gradually a new city, built according to the most modern models European type urban planning, filled with life.

At the same time, M.I. Platov contributed to the solution of the issue of strengthening civil government in the army, the opening in Cherkassk in 1805 of the first male gymnasium on the Don, the creation of the Society of Don Merchant Cossacks (September 12, 1804), the beginning of the construction of the stone Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk, the resettlement of Kalmyks in the Zadonsk steppes and the organization of Kalmyk villages, etc.

4 Patriotic War of 1812

But the course of political events did not allow the administrative abilities of the Military Ataman M.I. to be deployed in full force. Platov. In 1805, the war with Napoleon began in Europe. Platov with the Don Cossack regiments was called to the Austrian border, but did not participate in the hostilities, however, he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In 1806, during the Prussian military campaign, M.I. Platov showed his outstanding abilities. So, during the attack, he was able to capture the well-fortified city of Preussisch-Eylau and capture more than 3 thousand Frenchmen. Soon, in the battle of Heiselberg, he was able to put to flight "the entire French cavalry", destroy the enemy's infantry division and take the city by evening, cross the Alle River and burn all the bridges.

Often he had to mislead the enemy by lighting a lot of fires around the cities he besieged. The ingenuity paid off. French resistance weakened and Platov captured one city after another. When peace was concluded, M.I. Platov was awarded diamond badges for the Order of Alexander Nevsky and a precious snuff box with the face of Alexander 1, and the Prussian king awarded the brave Donets with the Orders of the Red and Black Eagle, as well as a snuff box with his image. Characterizes M.I. Platov and the fact that he persistently interceded and achieved the rewarding of a number of distinguished Cossack officers by the Prussian king.

It is also interesting that after the conclusion of peace with Napoleon in 1807 and the meeting of the warring Emperors in Tilsit, M.I. Platov refused to accept the order from the French Emperor: "I will not accept him: Why should he reward me?: I have not served him and I can never serve." And when he was asked if he liked Napoleon, whom M.I. Platov, he replied: "I'm not looking at your emperor at all; there is nothing unusual in him: I look at the horse like a connoisseur, I want to guess what breed it is." One way or another, Napoleon for the excellent archery demonstrated by M.I. Platov, at the insistence of Alexander 1, awarded him a snuffbox with precious stones and your image. Platov later "broke out" the stones and "replaced the portrait of Napoleon with some kind of cameo."

In 1809 M.I. Platov accompanied Alexander 1 to a meeting of the Finnish Diet in Borgo, after which he was released to the Don, but was soon appointed to the Moldavian army. With the beginning of active hostilities against the Turks, M.I. Platov captures the city of Girsovo on August 19, for which he is awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the 1st degree, and on September 4 he defeats a large detachment of Turks at Rassvevat. On September 23, 1809, he defeated a five thousandth corps of Turks between Silistria and Ruschuk, for which he was promoted to general of the cavalry, i.e. became a full general.

Severe malaria and some signs of consumption forced M.I. Platov to go to the Don at the beginning of 1810 in order to improve his health, which had been shaken by endless hostilities. But the best doctors were in St. Petersburg and therefore the Ataman leaves for the capital in the summer of the same year, where the life physician Ville managed to improve his health. He lived at that time in St. Petersburg, Tsarskoye Selo, Pavlovsk and often hosted the highest capital society. Communication with the Don was carried out mainly through correspondence with Nakazny Ataman Kireev, in which the issues of building Novocherkassk, deepening the Aksai River, etc. were discussed.

Since the beginning Patriotic War 1812 M.I. Platov joined the Russian army, leaving behind him Ataman A.K.Denisov on the Don. On the evening of July 12, 1812, Napoleon began crossing to Russia across the border river Neman. In the very first battles with the troops of Napoleon, the flying corps of M.I. Platov participated. The Don Cossacks of Platov often had to deal with the French cavalry, Polish lancers, etc. And, as a rule, the Cossacks won brilliant victories, using such purely Cossack military techniques as “lava”, “venter”, ambushes. But the personal hostility of the commander of the Russian army, General Barclay de Tolly, to Matvey Ivanovich, whom he accused, for example, of alcohol abuse, often became an obstacle to the possible victories of the Cossacks.

Moreover, he achieved the recall of M.I. Platov from the army, who was forced to surrender his cavalry corps to Rosen. But with the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army M.I. Kutuzov, the Troop Ataman M.I. Platov was in demand and arrived in the army. Cossacks of M.I. Platov participated in famous battle at Borodino, where for several hours they diverted the reserves of the French army from participating in the attack on the Russian fortifications and captured the main convoy of the Napoleonic army. True, this was precisely what served as a new accusation against M.I. Platov, since some officers argued that he could not keep the Cossacks from robbing the enemy convoy.

The Russian army retreated. Napoleon entered Moscow. But everyone believed that M.I. Kutuzov would still win. Platov waited and received 26 additional Cossack regiments from the Don, which sparked tears of joy in the eyes of Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, who highly appreciated the merits of the Cossacks in the fight against Napoleon. In the first battle at Tarutino, the Don people utterly defeated the troops of Marshal Murat. Napoleon realized that this was the beginning of an inglorious end and left the burning Moscow. Later, M.I. Platov defeated the troops of Marshal Davout near the walls of the Kolotsky Monastery (October 19), the detachment of the Neopolitan king Murat near Dukhovshchina and on Ponar Mountain near Vilna.

On December 2, M.I. Platov overtook the troops of Marshal Ney who retreated to the border and defeated them. The war on the territory of Russia was victoriously ended. Platov, for brilliant military successes in the fight against the troops of Napoleon and, especially near the town of Krasnoye, on October 29, 1812, was elevated to the dignity of a count. And soon, on January 1, 1813, he was awarded the Honorary Rescript of Emperor Alexander 1.

Participating in foreign campaigns, M.I. Platov captured the city of Marienburg already on the night of New Year 1813, then occupied the town of Dirsh and besieged the fortress of Danzig, which later surrendered to the mercy of the winner. On April 13, 1813, "in Dresden, Emperor Alexander 1 gave a gracious manifesto to the Don Army, praising his contribution and merits in the liberation of Russia from Napoleon's troops. On September 13, M.I. Platov won a brilliant victory near Altenburg, and on October 4 he participated in the famous "Battle of the Nations" near Leipzig.

Here, on October 6, he captured an entire cavalry brigade, 6 infantry battalions and 28 guns, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called here on the battlefield. On October 20, Platov occupied Frankfurt am Main, where the main headquarters and leaders of the allied states were located . Here M.I. Platov was granted a monogrammed diamond feather with laurels for wearing on a shako. (headdress). In 1814, during the battles in France, M.I. Platov "marked himself with exploits under Laon, Epinal, Sharm and occupied Fontainebleau on February 2," in which he was supposed to release the pope from imprisonment.

But the head of the Catholics was secretly taken out before the arrival of the Cossack troops. Later M.I. Platov occupied the heavily fortified city of Namur. On March 19, 1814, the Allies entered Paris. The Cossacks settled down on champs elysees. This is the end of the military exploits of Matvey Ivanovich Platov, since in the hostilities of 1815. he did not participate.

The British allies warmly welcomed the Army Ataman M.I. Platov in London, where he accompanied Emperor Alexander 1. Enthusiastic Londoners carried the Don hero from ship to shore in their arms, showing him all the attention and respect. The enthusiasm of the London ladies was so great that they cut off part of the tail of M.I. Platov's horse and dismantled the hair for souvenirs. The prince-regent, immoderately admiring the ataman horse "Leonid", received it as a gift from M.I. Platov. And the Ataman, in turn, was gifted with a portrait of the Prince Regent with diamonds to wear on his chest on the ribbon of the Order of the Garter.

In London, Count M.I. Platov personally met the writer W. Scott, the author of The History of Napoleon and many other popular historical books. Oxford University brought M.I. Platov doctoral diploma. The city of London presented M.I. Platov with a specially made saber. An English ship was named after him. And the portrait of M.I. Platov was placed in the royal palace. Porcelain, carpets and decorations with images of M.I. Platov appeared in many European countries. Platov's name is also associated with the legend that he assured Alexander 1 that Russian masters were no worse than English ones and ordered the Tula Levsha to shoe a flea, which he did, shoeing a flea on both legs.

5 Return to Novocherkassk

Returning to the Don after military campaigns, Matvey Ivanovich Platov was solemnly greeted by a deputation of the townspeople on the outskirts of Novocherkassk, and then, with a chime of bells, with a large gathering of people, he drove into the Cossack capital he founded. Turning to the administrative management of the Don Territory, Matvey Ivanovich got acquainted with its economic situation and issued an order in which he noted the enormous merits of the Cossack women, who had endured all the hardships of 3 years of management in wartime, when the Don Cossacks almost without exception fought with Napoleon's troops.

Platov paid attention not only to the region and its civil rule, further development horse breeding and viticulture, but also the development of the city of Novocherkassk. In particular, under him in the fall of 1817, in connection with the expected arrival of Emperor Alexander 1 in Novocherkassk, two capital stone triumphal arches were built. But on September 16, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich (the Emperor's brother) arrived, who was solemnly greeted by the Army Ataman, the Cossacks and the public at the Triumphal Arch on St. Petersburg Descent (now Herzen's Descent.). Alexander 1 visited Novocherkassk in 1818, but by that time the famous Donets was gone. Platov died on January 3, 1818 in his settlement Elanchitskaya and on January 10 was buried under the walls of the stone Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk, which was under construction.

It would seem that after such a stormy, controversial, but glorious and brilliant life, the ashes of the great son of Don rested under the vaults Orthodox church. But the waves of historical events and destinies were so high and sometimes insidious that the remains of the famous chieftain for about 100 years will seek their resting place. Due to the fact that the Ascension Cathedral under construction, near the walls of which Matvey Ivanovich and members of his family were buried, collapsed twice (1846 and 1863), the relatives of M.I. Platov achieved the highest permission (1868) to transfer the ashes of M.I. Platov to the territory of his suburban Myshkinsky estate, popularly referred to as the Golitsinsky dacha (by the name of the son-in-law of Prince Golitsin) or the Bishop's dacha (in fact, the dacha was donated to the Novocherkassk bishop). In 1875 these wishes were realized in the family vault under the church in Hut. Mishkino, the remains of M.I. Platov and members of his family who had died by that time were transported from Novocherkassk.

But the ashes of the hero of the Don and Russia did not rest on this either. In 1911, in connection with the preparations for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812, the Cossacks decided to bring from different places and rebury the remains of the greatest people of the Don. October 4 in the tomb under the stone Voznesensky cathedral in Novocherkassk, the remains were solemnly reburied: Generals Platov, Orlov-Denisov, Efremov and Baklanov, as well as Archbishop John, especially loved by the townspeople. Then the February and October revolutions of 1917, Civil War on the Don, the demolition of the monument to M.I. Platov in Novocherkassk in 1923. In 1992, the city Cossacks, who obtained permission to inspect the graves in the tomb of the cathedral, were shocked by what they saw. The opened graves turned out to be defiled, clogged with rubbish, etc. On May 16, 1993, the grandiose opening of the finally reconstructed monument to the Count and Army Ataman, holder of many domestic and foreign orders, Matvey Ivanovich Platov, took place.

Conclusion

Matvey Ivanovich Platov - an original phenomenon in military history Russia and an exceptional phenomenon in the military history of the Don Cossacks. This is due not only to the outstanding personal qualities of Platov - they are indisputable - but also to the conditions of that era, especially the era of the Napoleonic wars, in which the activities of the legendary ataman unfolded.

According to the descriptions of contemporaries who knew Platov well, he was tall, swarthy and black-haired, "with an infinitely kind expression on his face and very amiable." General Alexey Ermolov, who knew Matvey Ivanovich well, wrote that "the ataman belonged to the number of people who are very smart and very perceptive."

By nature, Platov was very quick-tempered, and all his life he brought himself up in the spirit of suppressing these unexpected outbursts of rage and succeeded a lot in this.

“He knew how to deal with people very skillfully and could charm anyone,” his biographer E. Tarasov wrote about Platov. - He was cunning, resourceful and an excellent diplomat. With simple Cossacks, he knew how to deal simply and was always affectionate. Ataman liked to tell anecdotes from military life, as well as about real military events, his stories made a great impression on the audience.

His favorite phrase "I'll tell you" richly equipped his stories and conversations. His speech was very peculiar, in a Cossack way, and he spoke very convincingly and energetically. Instead of "Warsaw" he said "Arshava", instead of "quartermaster" - "planner", instead of "pursue" - "push", instead of "search" - "rummage around".

In relation to his subordinates, the ataman was quite objective, he knew how to encourage and exact, making it clear to the Cossacks that he was destroying shortcomings, and was not looking for a reason to humiliate a person just because he had power over him.

Matvey Ivanovich was distinguished by a great love for everything native, Russian, as a result of which he had some hostility towards foreigners and their dominance in the high command of the Russian army. He especially disliked the Germans, their pedantry and doctrinairism. By nature, the ataman was a cheerful person, he loved a pleasant company, but a noisy and distracted life was not in his nature.

Being, like most Cossacks, a believer, Platov made rich contributions to churches and monasteries. However, he believed in dreams and premonitions.

IN last years his daily routine was quite rigid. He devoted most of his time to business. He slept from four in the morning until eight in the morning, but after waking up he liked to lie in bed for some time, while solving practical matters.

In food, Platov was distinguished by moderation, loved simple meals, which is not surprising for a person whose life was almost completely spent in the conditions of campaigns and battles. From drinks he loved coffee (“coffee”) and tea.

Occupying the high post of the Don military ataman, being a member of the imperial palace and the highest statesmen of Russia, he did not patronize his relatives, rightly believing that they themselves, following his example, should make their own career and on their own. But about outsiders who were distinguished by talent, courage and honesty, Matvey Ivanovich constantly bothered with the higher authorities.

In the military history of Russia, Platov is known as a talented and original commander, personally a brave warrior. He participated in almost all the wars waged by the Russian Empire, from the second half of the 18th century until the end of the era of the Napoleonic wars. Platov passed military science on the battlefields, having entered the service for fifteen years. He was a born warrior, and from the very beginning his combat activity was distinguished by originality, the ability to make the only right decisions in the most difficult combat situation, and his courage was an example for his subordinates.

The early period of Platov's military activity is characterized by the battle on the Kalalakh River, when he, surrounded by a numerically superior enemy, made the only right decision in this situation: having sent for help, he himself began to fend off the enemy behind the carts built in a circle.

characteristic feature Platov's military talent was his ability to inspire the Cossacks in critical moments of the battle: the danger gave even greater clarity to his mind and amazing calmness. These qualities of Platov were highly appreciated by the great Suvorov.

In the conduct of hostilities, Platov adhered to the tactics of lightning strikes. So he acted in the campaign of 1807 against the French. However, if the enemy was ready to repulse the swift blow of the Cossacks, the ataman changed the battle pattern depending on the situation.

Platov's military talent sparkled with new facets during the Patriotic War of 1812, when he showed himself to be an outstanding cavalry commander, and his Cossacks successfully fought against the best cavalry in Europe, exhausting it in continuous battles, and then finishing it off with a decisive offensive. During the counter-offensive of the Russian army, Platov's corps successfully fought in isolation from the main forces of the army, which was a new phenomenon in the practice of combat use of cavalry.

Years have passed, epochs have changed, much has been forgotten, but the memory of Platov's heroic life full of incredible adventures, the courage and heroism of his Cossacks will forever remain in the memory of the Russian people, because the memory of a real feat does not die, it is eternal, like the human race is eternal ...

List of used literature

1. Astapenko M. Ataman Platov. Historical narration. Rostov-on-Don. NPK Gefest, 2003

2. Collection of the Regional Army of the Don Statistical Committee. Issue X1, Novocherkassk, 1912

3. Smirny N. Life and exploits of Count Matvey Ivanovich Platov. Parts 1 and 3. St. Petersburg, 1911

4. Saveliev E.P. Ataman M.I. Platov and the founding of Novocherkassk. Novocherkassk, 1906

5. Kirsanov E.I. Novocherkassk. Brief historical sketch 1805-1995 Novocherkassk, 1995

Heroes of Imperial Russia

Platov Matvei Ivanovich

Count Matvey Ivanovich Platov (1751–1818) - ataman of the All-Great Don Army (since 1801), cavalry general (since 1809), who took part in all wars Russian Empire late 18th - early 19th century. Founder of the city of Novocherkassk. According to the metric books of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the city of Cherkassk, at number 22, it appears that the foreman Ivan Fedorov Platov had a son, Matvey, on August 8, 1751. This is the future military ataman, who has acquired unfading fame and worldwide fame for himself and the entire Don.

The Cherkasy town, in which Matvey Platov was born, was founded by the Cossacks in 1570, and since 1644 became the capital of the Don - the "Main Army". The Cossack Circle acted here - the highest body of legislative power among the Don; from here the Cossacks went on sea and land campaigns, here they remembered the times of holy liberty, when the Cossacks themselves ruled the Don, living according to their own laws and customs. Foreign ambassadors were received here, and Cossack embassies were sent from here to neighboring peoples. Here appeared the first temples on the Don, the first schools, teachers and doctors, here for the first time in the history of Russia a military salute was given in honor of the Azov victory over the Turks in 1696.

The Platov family appeared on the Don at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The Platov brothers, one of whom was Ivan Fedorovich, Matvey's father, came to Cherkassk with rafts of timber that had been rafted down the Don. Hence, according to the researchers, the surname “Plotovs” arose, which later turned into “Platovs”. This surname became known on the Don in the middle of the eighteenth century. It was at this time that the names of the three Platov brothers: Ivan, Dmitry and Demyan Fedorovich are found in the confessional registers of the Peter and Paul Church in the city of Cherkassk. The eldest of the brothers was Ivan Fedorovich - Matvey's father.

Ivan Platov, upon his arrival to the Don around 1742, entered the military service. First, Ivan Fedorovich was with a Cossack regiment on the Crimean line, then in the so-called Ostsee provinces, then in Georgia, from where he was transferred with the regiment to Prussia, where battles flared with the troops of the warrior king and philosopher Frederick II. As part of the Cossack regiment under the command of the Don military ataman Stepan Efremov, he participated in many battles of this war and especially distinguished himself in the battle of Kustrin on August 4, 1758.

As soon as forty days had passed after the birth of Matvey, Anna Larionovna went to the church of Peter and Paul, where her son was baptized, and underwent the ritual of cleansing prayer. Upon returning home, according to Cossack customs, her husband joyfully met her and congratulated her on her first-born son. Ivan Fedorovich carefully took the baby in his arms, carefully put a saber on him and, despite the protests of his wife, put his son on a horse: such was the ancient Cossack custom!

When Matthew's first teeth erupted, his father and mother, putting him on a horse, took him to the Peter and Paul Church, of which they were permanent parishioners. Here the priest served the due prayer before the icon of John the Warrior, whom the father asked to make his son a brave, valiant and successful Cossack warrior and send him long life. All the upbringing of his son in those short days when he was at home, Ivan Fedorovich directed to ensure that Matvey became a real warrior. It is not surprising that the first words he uttered were "pu" - to shoot and "chu" - to go. At the age of three, Matvey, like many of his peers, rode a horse around the yard, and at five, he fearlessly rode a horse through the streets and participated in children's maneuvers.

The Cossacks constantly took care of the military replenishment of their ranks. For this purpose, on the orders of the military ataman, young Cossacks gathered annually for a review in the vicinity of the Cherkasy town. They arrived on the best horses, armed with lances, sabers and guns. In a vast clearing not far from the capital city of the Don Cossacks, a camp was set up, and here, for several weeks, military games took place in the presence of the military ataman Stepan Danilovich Efremov. One group of young Cossacks competed in the races, revealing the speed of the horse and the skill of the rider, his dexterity. Other youngsters at full gallop shot at a target or, throwing a cloak, a whip or a large coin on the ground, raised them at a gallop. Many Cossacks, standing on a horse, could attack the enemy, firing from guns and bows.

This is how young Platov prepared for his future combat life. His parents were not rich people, so they could not give their son a good education, and at that time there were no permanent schools on the Don land. But Matthew learned to read and write. From childhood, he was distinguished by dexterity, ambition, courage and sharpness of mind. Parents tried their best to raise their son in the spirit of love for the native land, the glorious fighting traditions of the Don Cossacks. And their efforts were not in vain: Matvey grew up as a bold and brave Cossack, a true patriot of the Don and Russia.

In the fifteenth year of his life, Matvey was appointed to serve in the military office, and soon he received the rank of constable. All this time he read a lot, improving his knowledge.

The second half of the eighteenth century in the history of the Russian state is characterized primarily by fierce and lengthy wars waged with eternal tenacity by its adversary - the Ottoman Porte, the Brilliant Porte, as its statesmen liked to call Turkey. At that time, the Black Sea problem acquired special significance for Russia. The Russian population, and with it the Russian landlord colonization, mastering the fertile lands of southern Russia, gradually moved towards the borders of the Crimean Khanate. But this development of the southern Russian steppes was constantly hindered by the almost incessant Turkish-Tatar raids and attacks. For the Russian merchants and nobility at that time, access to the Black Sea for the export of agricultural and industrial products, the demand for which remained insufficient due to the weak purchasing power of the Russian population, became more and more important and necessary. The northern ports of Russia could no longer meet the needs of Russian exports. In addition, the main sales markets were not in the north, but in the countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean basins. But the Turks did not allow Russian merchants into the Black Sea. There was a way of trade by land through Poland, but such trade was extremely unprofitable, and therefore did not receive proper development. The key to the Black Sea was the Crimea, so all these problems could be solved either by annexing the Crimea to Russia, or by granting the Crimean Khanate independence from Turkey, which was becoming more and more aggressive, because it enjoyed the broad support of France, who feared the strengthening of Russia in Western Europe and the Middle East. East.

The Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739 did not solve those foreign policy problems that faced Russia. New wars with Turkey were inevitable. And one of these wars soon broke out ...

The war found nineteen-year-old Matvey Platov on the shores of the Sea of Azov, where, on the orders of his father, who was in St. Petersburg, he watched his fishing industry. Matvey decided that it was his duty as a Cossack to be at war! Leaving the household in the care of the clerk, he rode on a frisky horse to Cherkassk, where he joined the Cossack regiment, which was sent to the place of hostilities, towards battles and glory ...

For differences in battles with the Basurmans, the twenty-two-year-old Platov received the rank of Yesaul. A year later, he was promoted to foreman, giving command of a Cossack regiment.

The military campaign of 1771 brought a number of significant successes to the Russians, which forced the Turkish command to request a truce signed on May 19, 1772 in Zhurzh and lasted a year. Platov's regiment during this time was transferred to the Kuban.

In 1774 M.I. Platov for the first time showed the remarkable abilities of a cold-blooded and skillful military leader, who did not lose his head when his detachment and convoy were ambushed in the Kuban. He quickly built a defensive circle from wagons and fought with the Turks of Khan Devlet Giray, who outnumbered the Cossacks by more than 20 times, until the arrival of the Cossack regiment called for help. The Turks were defeated, and the khan was soon arrested for defeat and taken to the Turkish sultan in Constantinople. In 1775-1776, Platov's father and son pursued scattered units of E. Pugachev in the central districts of Russia, capturing one of the leaders, Rumyanchikhin, and up to 500 Pugachevites. For this, the father and son of Platov were awarded gold medals. It was one of the first significant awards of Matvey Platov. He also distinguished himself on September 13, 1789, when in the battle of Koushany he managed to defeat a large detachment of Turks and capture the three-bunch Pasha Zeynal-Hassan Bey of Anatolia. For this feat M.I. Platov was given the rank of brigadier of the Russian army.

The accumulated combat and managerial experience put forward a young capable Cossack commander as the organizer of a new direction of the Cossacks. In January 1788, Prince G. Potemkin instructed Matvey Platov to recruit 5,000 people in three months to form several new Cossack regiments, the so-called Sloboda Ukraine. Platov called from the Don to help himself 4 military foremen, 7 lower officers and 507 best Cossacks as instructors. Already on May 9, he reported to Prince Potemkin about the formed Cossack regiments. The new Cossack army was named Yekaterinoslavsky, and M.I. Platov for his skillful leadership was appointed his Army Ataman (1790) and presented for awarding the Order of St. Vladimir 4th degree.

With the newly formed Cossack regiments M.I. Platov enters the army of A.V. Suvorov near Izmail. On December 9, at the Military Council, he was the first to vote for an immediate assault on the heavily fortified Turkish fortress, for which he was appointed head of the 5th assault column. When the neighboring assault column of Orlov began to die, and the Cossacks of his column stopped in indecision, Matvey Platov was the first to climb the assault ladder to the walls of the fortress and thereby ignited the victory of his donets and rangers with fire.

For the assault and capture of Izmail M.I. Platov was awarded the Order of St. George of the 3rd degree, and at the end of this military campaign he was promoted to major general. Prince G. Potemkin described his actions near Izmail as follows: "Platov was present everywhere and set an example of courage." All this allowed Potemkin in 1791 to introduce the young hero to Empress Catherine in St. Petersburg, where, with his intelligence and resourcefulness, he received from her the right to stay in her palace during his visits to Tsarskoye Selo.

The next year, M.I. Platov had already participated in the fighting on the Caucasian line. In 1796, according to the idea of Prince P.A. Zubov, Russian troops moved to conquer Persia, with the prospect of reaching Tibet. Matvey Ivanovich was appointed head of all irregular (i.e. Cossack) troops of Zubov's army. For active and skillful military operations near Derbent M.I. Platov was awarded the Order of Vladimir of the 2nd degree, and also received from Empress Catherine "a magnificent saber in a velvet sheath, gold frame, with large diamonds and rare emeralds," which is now on display at the Museum of the History of the Don Cossacks.

After the death of Catherine (1796), Emperor Paul I ascended the throne, who was suspicious and disapproving of all the associates of the Empress, such as G. Potemkin, Field Marshal A.V. Suvorov and others. He actually expelled P.A. Zubov abroad, and withdrew his army from the borders of Persia. Therefore, in 1797 M.I. Platov received permission to return to the Don. But envious people in the capital and on the Don, using the unfriendly attitude of Paul I towards Catherine's associates, set the emperor to decide on the need to arrest M.I. Platov. Paul I dismissed M.I. Platov from military service with his rescript of July 23, 1797 and ordered him to be sent to the Don under the supervision of the Army Ataman Orlov. But soon this measure of arrest was replaced by exile in the city of Kostroma.

Since the Petersburg court did not see any particular guilt for Platov, his personal weapons, including a combat saber, were returned to him. Taking it, Matvey Ivanovich said: "She will help me justify" or "She will justify me." Naturally, the scammers immediately interpreted these words to Paul I as a hidden threat to the emperor, although Platov most likely meant that his fighting “girlfriend” would help him again show his best qualities as a skilled commander and regain the trust of Paul I. Only October 9, 1800 year M.I. Platov left Kostroma, but not to be released, but to be sent to St. Petersburg.

After 3 years and 9 months of imprisonment, M.I. Platov is not released, but by order of Paul I, he is imprisoned in the Alekseevsky ravelin of the Peter and Paul Fortress. But crowded over M.I. Platov, the clouds soon dissipated thanks to the same Paul I, who, having concluded an agreement with Napoleon, decided to fight against the British on the territory of their largest colony, i.e. India. Therefore, on January 12, 1801, the emperor sends a rescript to the Don on the immediate and complete action of the Cossacks, led by Ataman Orlov, on a campaign against India. The Don people were given a loan in the amount of 2.5 million rubles, so that after the campaign and the capture of prey in India, they would return the entire loan to the treasury to the penny.

In connection with the emerging campaign, Paul I released M.I. Platov, had a personal conversation with him about the upcoming campaign, personally laid on him the commander's cross of the Order of Malta (St. John of Jerusalem). Caressed by the Emperor M.I. Platov quickly returned to the Don and, having received from Ataman Orlov the first 13 regiments (out of the 41st scheduled for the campaign), as well as 12 guns, on February 27, 1801, he set out on a campaign. But on March 23, when the Cossacks had already suffered from many days of exhausting daily crossings, a messenger from St. Petersburg unexpectedly caught up with Platov, who brought news of the death of Paul I and the accession of Alexander I, who canceled Paul I's order to march on India. The Cossacks gladly returned to the Don.

By a rescript dated August 12, 1801, Emperor Alexander I appoints M.I. Platov ("behind the death of Orlov") Army Ataman. Matvey Ivanovich took part in the solemn coronation of Alexander I, where he was awarded the Order of St. Anna 1st degree.

Ataman used his visit to St. Petersburg to solve the urgent problems of the city of Cherkassk, the main of which was the annual flooding of the Cossack capital. Alexander I allowed Platov to carry out large-scale work to protect Cherkassk from spring waters, up to clearing the mouth of the Don River, so that more melt water could be discharged into the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov and less flooded Cherkassk. Engineer de Romano organized in 1802 waterproofing works. But they did little to secure Cherkassk. Therefore, Platov gradually came to the idea of transferring the Cossack capital to another place.

By a rescript dated August 23, 1804, Alexander I allowed the transfer of the capital, provided that a convenient place was chosen, and the military engineer General F.P. Devolan. And already on December 31 of the same 1804, the emperor approved the chosen M.I. Platov place and city plan, developed by F.P. Devolan. On May 18, 1805, grandiose celebrations took place to consecrate the site of New Cherkassk on a hill called Biryuchy Kut (wolf's lair).

For its construction and arrangement M.I. Platov formed two Cossack workers' regiments, invited the architect I.I. Russian, Lieutenant Colonel I.-Yu. Peiker, obliged many villages of the Don to supply materials to Novocherkassk - wood, local stone, limestone, etc. The Cossacks were reluctant to leave their well-equipped houses and farmsteads in Cherkassk, but the Army Ataman was inexorable. And gradually the new city, built according to the most modern models of the European type of urban planning, was filled with life.

At the same time, M.I. Platov contributed to the solution of the issue of strengthening civil rule in the army, the opening in Cherkassk in 1805 of the first male gymnasium on the Don, the creation of the Society of Don Merchant Cossacks (September 12, 1804), the beginning of the construction of the stone Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk, the resettlement of Kalmyks in the Zadonsk steppes, organizations Kalmyk villages, etc.

But the course of political events did not allow the administrative abilities of the Military Ataman M.I. Platov in full force. In 1805, the war with Napoleon began in Europe. Platov with the Don Cossack regiments was called to the Austrian border, but did not participate in the hostilities; nevertheless, for services to the Fatherland, he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In 1806, during the Prussian military campaign, M.I. Platov showed his outstanding abilities. So, during the attack, he was able to capture the well-fortified city of Preussisch-Eylau and capture more than 3 thousand Frenchmen. Soon, in the battle of Heiselberg, he was able to put to flight "the entire French cavalry", destroy the enemy's infantry division and take the city by evening, cross the Alle River and burn all the bridges.

Often he had to mislead the enemy by lighting a lot of fires around the cities he besieged. French resistance weakened, and Platov captured one city after another. When peace was concluded, M.I. Platov was awarded diamond badges for the Order of Alexander Nevsky and a precious snuff box with the face of Alexander I, and the Prussian king awarded the brave Donets with the Orders of the Red and Black Eagle, as well as a snuff box with his image. Characterizes M.I. Platov and the fact that he persistently interceded and achieved the rewarding of a number of distinguished Cossack officers by the Prussian king.

Platov and his Don regiments had to fight Prussia against the Napoleonic troops a lot. The name of the Don ataman became even more famous not only in Russia, but also abroad. But now the war is over. On June 25, 1807, a meeting of three monarchs was scheduled in Tilsit to sign peace: Alexander, Napoleon and the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm. Matvey Ivanovich Platov at that time was in Alexander's retinue.

It is also interesting that after the conclusion of peace with Napoleon in 1807 and the meeting of the warring emperors in Tilsit, M.I. Platov refused to accept the order from the French emperor: "I will not accept him: Why should he reward me? I have not served him and can never serve." And when he was asked if he liked Napoleon, whom M.I. Platov, he replied: "I'm not looking at your emperor at all; there is nothing unusual in him: I look at the horse like a connoisseur, I want to guess what breed it is."

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

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

- Thank you, general. You are not only a wonderful military leader, but also an excellent rider and shooter. You have given me much pleasure. I want you to have a good memory of me. And Napoleon handed Platov a golden snuffbox. (Platov later broke out the stones and replaced the portrait of Napoleon). Taking the snuffbox and bowing, Platov said to the interpreter:

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

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

When the translator translated this, Platov said:

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

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

In 1809 M.I. Platov accompanied Alexander I to a meeting of the Finnish Diet in Borgo, after which he was released to the Don, but was soon appointed to the Moldavian army. With the beginning of active hostilities against the Turks, M.I. On August 19, Platov captures the city of Girsovo, for which he is awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree, and on September 4, he defeats a large detachment of Turks at Rassvevat. On September 23, 1809, he defeated a five thousandth corps of Turks between Silistria and Ruschuk, for which he was promoted to general from the cavalry, that is, he became a full general.

Severe malaria and some signs of consumption forced M.I. Platov at the beginning of 1810 to go to the Don in order to improve his health, which had been shaken from endless hostilities. But the best doctors were in St. Petersburg, and therefore the ataman leaves for the capital in the summer of the same year, where the life physician Ville managed to improve his health. He lived at that time in St. Petersburg, Tsarskoye Selo, Pavlovsk and often hosted the highest capital society. Communication with the Don was carried out mainly through correspondence with Nakazny Ataman Kireev, in which the issues of building Novocherkassk, deepening the Aksai River, etc. were discussed.

With the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, M.I. Platov joined the Russian army, leaving behind Ataman A.K. on the Don. Denisov. On the evening of July 12, 1812, Napoleon began crossing to Russia across the border river Neman. In the very first battles with the troops of Napoleon, the flying corps of M.I. Platov. The Don Cossacks of Platov often had to deal with the French cavalry, the Polish uhlans. And, as a rule, the Cossacks won brilliant victories, using such purely Cossack military techniques as "lava", "venter", ambushes. But the personal hostility of the commander of the Russian army, General Barclay de Tolly, to Matvey Ivanovich, whom he accused, for example, of alcohol abuse, often became an obstacle to the possible victories of the Cossacks.

After the battle of Smolensk, Platov was expelled from the active army for "indiscipline". This was achieved by Barclay de Tolly, who reported to the tsar: “General Platov, as the head of irregular troops, was put on too high a level, not having enough nobility in character to correspond to his position. He is an egoist and has become a sybarite to the highest degree. His inactivity is such that I must dispatch my adjutants to him, so that one of them is with him, or at his outposts, in order to be sure that my instructions will be carried out. The real reason for the expulsion is clarified by Denis Davydov:

“Prince Bagration, who always had a great influence on Platov, who loved to indulge in drunkenness, taught him in 1812 to some abstinence from mustard vodka - the hope of soon receiving the dignity of a count. Yermolov for a 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.

With the advent of the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army M.I. Kutuzova Troop Ataman M.I. Platov was in demand and arrived in the army. Cossacks M.I. Platova took part in the famous battle near Borodino, where for several hours they diverted the reserves of the French army from participating in the attack on the Russian fortifications and captured the main convoy of the Napoleonic army. True, this was precisely what served as a new accusation against M.I. Platov, as some officers argued that he could not keep the Cossacks from robbing the enemy convoy.

December 2 M.I. Platov overtook the troops of Marshal Ney who had retreated to the border and defeated them. The war on the territory of Russia was victoriously ended. October 29, 1812 for brilliant military successes in the fight against the troops of Napoleon and, especially, for the battles near the village. Krasnoe Platov was elevated to the dignity of a count. And soon, on January 1, 1813, he was awarded the Honorary Rescript of Emperor Alexander I. On the march, the chieftain learned that the emperor had granted him the title of count. The coat of arms also relied on the title, the motto on which was: "For loyalty, courage and tireless work." Kutuzov wrote to Platov on this occasion: “What I wanted, God and the sovereign fulfilled, I see you as a count of the Russian Empire ... My friendship with you has never changed since the seventy-third year, and that now and henceforth something pleasant will happen to you, I participate."

During the foreign campaign M.I. Platov already on the night of the New Year 1813 captured Marienburg, then occupied the place of Dirsh and besieged the fortress of Danzig, which later surrendered to the mercy of the winner. On April 13, 1813, in Dresden, Emperor Alexander I gave a gracious manifesto to the "Don Army", praising his contribution and merits in the liberation of Russia from Napoleon's troops. September 13 M.I. Platov won a brilliant victory near Altenburg, and on October 4 he participated in the famous "Battle of the Nations" near Leipzig.

Here, on October 6, he captured an entire cavalry brigade, 6 infantry battalions and 28 guns, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called here on the battlefield. On October 20, Platov occupied Frankfurt am Main, where after that the main headquarters and leaders of the allied states were located. Here M.I. Platov was granted a monogrammed diamond feather with laurels to wear on a shako (headdress). In 1814, during the battles in France, M.I. Platov "marked himself with exploits under Laon, Epinal, Sharm and occupied Fontainebleau on February 2," in which he was supposed to release the pope from imprisonment.

But the head of the Catholics was secretly taken out before the arrival of the Cossack troops. Later M.I. Platov occupied the heavily fortified city of Namur. On March 19, 1814, the Allies entered Paris. The Cossacks settled down on the Champs Elysees. This is the end of the military exploits of Matvey Ivanovich Platov, since he did not participate in hostilities.

The British allies warmly welcomed the Army Ataman M.I. Platov in London, where he accompanied Emperor Alexander I. Enthusiastic Londoners carried the Don hero from ship to shore in their arms, showing him all the attention and respect. The enthusiasm of the London ladies was so great that they cut off part of the tail of M.I. Platov and dismantled the hair for souvenirs. The Prince Regent, who immoderately admired the Ataman horse "Leonid", received it as a gift from M.I. Platov. And the ataman, in turn, was gifted with a portrait of the Prince Regent with diamonds to wear on his chest on the ribbon of the Order of the Garter.

In London, Count M.I. Platov personally met the writer V. Scott, the author of The History of Napoleon and many other popular historical books. Oxford University brought M.I. Platov doctoral diploma. The city of London presented him with a specially made saber. An English ship was named after him. And the portrait of M.I. Platov was placed in the royal palace. Porcelain, carpets and decorations with images of M.I. appeared in many European countries. Platov. Platov's name is also associated with the legend that he assured Alexander I that Russian craftsmen were no worse than English ones and ordered the Tula Levsha to shoe a flea, which he did, shoeing a flea on both legs.

Platov paid attention not only to the region and its civil rule, the further development of horse breeding and viticulture, but also to the development of the city of Novocherkassk. In particular, under him in the fall of 1817, in connection with the expected arrival of Emperor Alexander I in Novocherkassk, two capital stone triumphal arches were built. But on September 16, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich (the emperor's brother) arrived, who was solemnly greeted by the Army Ataman, the Cossacks and the public at the Triumphal Arch on St. Petersburg Descent (now Herzen's Descent).

Alexander I visited Novocherkassk in 1818, but by that time the famous Donets was gone. Platov died on January 3, 1818 in his settlement Elanchitskaya and on January 10 was buried under the walls of the stone Ascension Cathedral in Novocherkassk, which was under construction. It would seem that after such a stormy, controversial, but glorious and brilliant life, the ashes of the great son of the Don rested under the vaults of an Orthodox church. But the waves of historical events and destinies were so high and sometimes insidious that the remains of the famous chieftain for about 100 years will seek their resting place. Due to the fact that the Ascension Cathedral under construction, near the walls of which Matvey Ivanovich and members of his family were buried, collapsed twice (1846 and 1863), relatives of M.I. Platov achieved the highest permission (1868) to transfer the ashes of M.I. Platov to the territory of his suburban Myshkinsky estate, popularly referred to as the Golitsinskaya dacha (by the name of the son-in-law of Prince Golitsin) or the Bishop's dacha (in fact, the dacha was donated to the Novocherkassk bishop). In 1875, these wishes came true and the remains of M.I. Platov and the members of his family who had died by that time.

In 1992, the city Cossacks, who obtained permission to inspect the graves in the tomb of the cathedral; they were shocked by what they saw. The opened graves turned out to be defiled, clogged with rubbish. On May 16, 1993, there was a grand opening of the finally recreated monument to the Count and Army Ataman, holder of many domestic and foreign orders, Matvey Ivanovich Platov.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov is an original phenomenon in the military history of Russia and an exceptional phenomenon in the military history of the Don Cossacks. This is explained not only by the outstanding personal qualities of Platov, they are indisputable, but also by the conditions of that era, especially the era of the Napoleonic wars, in which the activities of the legendary ataman unfolded.

According to the descriptions of contemporaries who knew Platov well, he was tall, swarthy and black-haired, “ with an infinitely kind expression and very amiable". General Alexey Ermolov, who knew Matvey Ivanovich well, wrote that " the ataman belonged to the number of people who are very smart and very perceptive».

By nature, Platov was very quick-tempered, and all his life he brought himself up in the spirit of suppressing these unexpected outbursts of rage and succeeded a lot in this. “He knew how to deal with people very skillfully and could charm everyone,” contemporaries wrote about Platov. He was cunning, resourceful, an excellent diplomat. With simple Cossacks, he knew how to deal simply and was always affectionate. Ataman liked to tell anecdotes from military life, as well as about real military events, his stories made a great impression on the audience.

His favorite phrase I will tell you richly equipped his stories and conversations. His speech was very peculiar, in the Cossack way, and he spoke very convincingly and energetically. Instead of "Warsaw" he said "Arshava", instead of "quartermaster" - "planner", instead of "pursue" - "push", instead of "search" - "to rummage around".

Being, like most Cossacks, a believer, Platov made rich contributions to churches and monasteries. However, he believed in dreams and premonitions.

In the last years of his life, his daily routine was quite rigid. He devoted most of his time to business. He slept from four in the morning until eight in the morning, but after waking up he liked to lie in bed for some time, while solving practical matters.

In food, Platov was distinguished by moderation, he loved simple dishes, which is not surprising for a person whose life was almost completely spent in the conditions of campaigns and battles. From drinks he loved coffee (“coffee”) and tea.

In the military history of Russia, Platov is known as a talented and original commander, a brave warrior. He participated in almost all the wars waged by the Russian Empire, from the second half of the 18th century until the end of the era of the Napoleonic wars. Platov passed military science on the battlefields, having entered the service for fifteen years. He was a born warrior, and from the very beginning his combat activity was distinguished by originality, the ability to make the only right decisions in the most difficult combat situation, and his courage was an example for his subordinates.

Years have passed, epochs have changed, much has been forgotten, but the memory of Platov's heroic life full of incredible adventures, the courage of the heroism of his Cossacks will forever remain in the memory of people, because the memory of a real feat does not die, it is eternal, like the human race is eternal ...

IN different eras historians described the life and deeds of M.I. Platov, sometimes distorting, sometimes holding back the controversial facts of his biography, trying to create an idealized or negative image of the Don hero. For example, little is known about the fact that, together with his father, young Platov took part in the suppression of the uprising of E. Pugachev, for which both were awarded gold medals. Or about the fact that during the atamanism of Platov on the Don, the military foreman received a new social status and was legally equalized in rights with the Russian nobility. Platov himself had large land holdings and several hundred bonded (serfs) peasants. These contradictions are largely due to the conditions of the era in which he lived.

Not to M.I. Platov, not after him was there an ataman on the Don with such an independent, free temper in his behavior and actions. Paradoxically, that is why he was sometimes compared with Stepan Razin. And the tsarist government took all measures to ensure that such wayward atamans would not appear on the Don in the future. Matvey Ivanovich Platov did so much for the glory of the Don Cossacks, Russia, that this more than covers his shortcomings, and this he earned the noble memory of his descendants.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov is a famous Russian military leader, a participant in many campaigns, one of the heroes.

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

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 rout, 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 m, subsequently they communicated quite a lot.

In 1787, another one struck. 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 loud and famous victory of the Russian army -.

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, setting them a personal example of 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 Persian campaign 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 the emperor. 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 withdrawal of the army.

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 having led the Russian army, he returned an experienced warrior to the location of the active army.

Platov participated in, his regiments notably operated on the right flank, over and over again, giving the French a fitting rebuff. At the most critical moment, the Cossack detachments of Matvey Ivanovich carried out a lightning-fast 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.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov

PLATOV Matvei Ivanovich(6.08.1751-3.01.1818), hero Patriotic War of 1812 , military ataman of the Donskoy Cossack army(since 1801), cavalry general (since 1809), count (since 1812). Member of the Russian-Turkish wars of 1768-1774 and 1787-1791, associate A. V. Suvorova, participated in the capture of Ochakov (1788) and Ishmael (1790). At Paul I was in disgrace, was exiled to Kostroma . In 1806-1807 he participated in the war with France, in 1807-1809 - with Turkey. In the battle of Borodino on August 26, 1812, he made a successful raid in the rear of the French army, which stopped the enemy’s attack on the center of defense of the Russian troops (Raevsky’s battery) for two hours. In the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1814, Platov commanded a Cossack corps.

V. A. Fedorov

Platov Matvey Ivanovich (1751, the village of Starocherkasskaya - 1818, Novocherkassk) - the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. The son of a military foreman, Platov was taught only to read and write. 13 years old entered the military; service. Having distinguished himself in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768 - 1774, he was promoted to officer, commanded a Cossack regiment. In 1774 he participated in the defeat of E.I. Pugachev. In 1782-1783 he served in the Kuban and in the Crimea under the command A.V. Suvorov . During the Russian-Turkish war of 1787 - 1791 for military distinction during the assault on Ochakov and Izmail, he was awarded the Order of St. George and the rank of major general. In 1796, for participation in the Persian campaign, Rus. troops received a saber for bravery. In 1797 he was suspected of conspiracy, exiled Paul I to Kostroma, then imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. In Jan. 1801 was released and placed at the head of the Cossacks, aimed at conquering India. In March 1801 he was returned by Alexander I, promoted to lieutenant general and appointed military chieftain of the Don Cossacks. In 1806-1807 he fought with Napoleon , commanding all the Cossack regiments. After conclusion Peace of Tilsit participated from 1807 to 1809 in the Russian-Turkish war of 1806 - 1812, rising to the rank of general from the cavalry. During the Patriotic War of 1812 he commanded the Cossack regiments on the border, covered the retreat P.I. Bagration to Smolensk. In the Battle of Borodino, he made a swift raid in the rear of the left flank of the French army. The assessment of this raid is ambiguous. M.I. Kutuzov reported to the emperor that the Cossacks "did not act." He became famous for his courage and martial arts during the pursuit of the retreating army of Napoleon, for which he received the title of count. Platov distinguished himself during the Russian campaign abroad. armies in Prussia and France . After the conclusion of peace, he accompanied Alexander I to England, where Platov was awarded many honors, and Oxford University presented him with a doctorate. Scientific biography P. has not yet been created.

Used materials of the book: Shikman A.P. Figures of national history. Biographical guide. Moscow, 1997

Count Platov - Cossack chieftain. London. 1815
Etching and chisel engraving with coloring in watercolor after the original by Phillips. MGOMZ.

PLATOV Matvey Ivanovich, hero of the Fatherland, war of 1812, military ataman of the Don Cossack army (since 1801), cavalry general (1809). From the age of 13 to the military. service. During the Russian tour. war of 1768-74 was promoted to officer, commanded a hundred, from 1771-kav. regiment. In 1775 he took part in the suppression of the Peasant War led by E. I. Pugachev. In 1782-1783 he served in the Kuban and in the Crimea under the command of A. V. Suvorov. During the Russian tour. In the war of 1787-91, he fought during the capture of Ochakov and at Kaushany (1789). Since 1788, the marching ataman of the Don army. In 1790, during the assault on Ishmael, he successfully commanded a column, and then the entire left wing, for which he was promoted to major general. In 1796 he took part in the Persian campaign Rus. troops. In 1797 he was suspected of conspiracy by Paul I, exiled to Kostroma, and then imprisoned in Peter and Paul Fortress. In Jan. 1801 released and appointed Ch. pom. military chieftain of the Don army, and soon - military chieftain. In 1806-07 he participated in the war with France, in 1807-09 with Turkey. He skillfully led the fighting of the Cossack troops near Preussisch-Eylau (1807) and at the Danube theater of war. actions. During the Patriotic War of 1812, he initially commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, at the head of the Cossack corps, covered the withdrawal of the 2nd Western Army of P.I. Bagration to Smolensk, inflicted a number of defeats on enemy troops. In the Battle of Borodino, he successfully commanded the Det. Cossack corps. His troops fought for Smolensk, Vilna and Kovno. P. skillfully acted in the campaigns of 1813-14. The troops under his leadership, following to Paris, took Namur. Skillful leadership Cossack units in the Patriots, the war of 1812, the humane attitude towards the vanquished earned P. great prestige among the Cossacks and popularity in Russia and the West. Europe. Platov accompanied Alexander I on a trip to Great Britain; was solemnly greeted and received an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. He was buried in Novocherkassk, where a monument was erected to P..

Used materials of the Soviet military encyclopedia in 8 volumes, volume 6.

PLATOV Matvey Ivanovich (6.8.1751, the village of Pribilyanskaya - 3.1.1818, the settlement of Epanchitskaya, near Taganrog), count (12.29.1812), cavalry general (29.9.1809). From a Cossack senior family. The son of a military foreman. Service began in 1766 as a constable in the Don military office. On December 4, 1769, he was promoted to Esauly. He distinguished himself in the capture of the Perekop line and in the battle of Kinburg (1771). Since 1772 the commander of the Cossack regiment named after him. In 1774 he fought against the highlanders, and in 1782-88 he fought in the Kuban. He proved to be a brilliant Cossack commander. 3/4/1774 was surrounded by the river. Kalalakh Tatars, but managed to fight back and force the enemy to retreat. In 1775, at the head of his regiment, he took part in the defeat of E.I. Pugachev. In 1784 he participated in the suppression of uprisings of Chechens and Lezgins. For distinction during the assault on the fortress Ochakov (1788) he was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree. He distinguished himself in the battles of Bendery and Causeni. On September 24, 1789, he was promoted to foreman and appointed field ataman of the Yekaterinoslav army. During the assault on the fortress, Izmail (12/11/1790) led the 5th column. For differences in May 1791 he was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd degree.

Since 1790, the ataman of the Yekaterinoslav and Chuguev Cossack troops. On January 1, 1793, he was promoted to major general. During the reign of Paul I, he fell into disgrace, was fired and exiled to Kostroma, and then arrested and placed in the Peter and Paul Fortress. Soon, however, he was released and brought closer to himself by the emperor. P. was instructed to gather all the Don Cossacks to take part in the campaign to India. In Jan. 1801 at the head of 27 thousand Cossacks P. advanced to Orenburg. The operation was canceled in March. On September 15, 1801, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed military ataman of the Don army. He moved the capital to Novocherkassk and did a lot to streamline the management of the army. In the campaign of 1806 he commanded all the Cossack regiments of the active army. After the battle at Preussisch Eylau earned worldwide fame. He became famous for his dashing raids on the flanks of the French. army, defeated several separate detachments. After the retreat from Heilsberg, the P. detachment acted as a rearguard, taking on the constant blows of the French pursuing the Russian army. troops.

For the campaign of 1807 he was awarded on 11/22/1807 the Order of St. George, 2nd degree. In 1809 he fought against Turkish troops. With the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, he headed the Cossack corps, which united 14 Cossack regiments (about 7 thousand sabers). The corps was part of the 1st Western Army and was located in Grodno. In the first days of the war, P., being cut off from his army, was forced to join the 2nd Western Army. During the retreat he was in the rearguard. Defeated the French. troops in the battles of Mir (June 28) and Romanov (July 2) - these were the first victories of the Russian army. After the battle of Saltanovka, Gen. P.I. Bagration to Smolensk. July 27 (Aug. 8) attacked the cavalry of the gene near the village of Molevo Boloto. Sebastiani, overturned the enemy, took 310 prisoners and Sebastiani's briefcase with important papers. After leaving Smolensk, P. commanded the rearguard of the united Russian armies, and only a few days before the battle of Borodino, the gene was replaced. P. P. Konovnitsyn.

From 17(29) Aug. to 25 Aug. (Sept. 6) fought daily with the French avant-garde units. At the critical moment of the Battle of Borodino, together with F.P. Uvarov sent to bypass the left flank of Napoleon. Near the village of Bezzubovo, the cavalry was stopped by the troops of Gen. F. Ornano and returned back. At the council in Fili 1 (13) Sept. spoke out against the abandonment of Moscow and for a new battle. Enjoying great prestige and love of the Don, P. called on the Cossacks to join the militia, and already in Tarutino the Cossack contingent reached 22 thousand people. After the battle of Maloyaroslavets, P. was instructed to organize the pursuit of the retreating great army. Participated in the battle of Vyazma, and then organized the pursuit of E. Beauharnais's corps. Oct 27 (8 Nov.) on the river. The scream between Dorogobuzh and Dukhovshchina cut off part of the Beauharnais corps and took 3.5 thousand prisoners (including the chief of staff of the corps, General N. Sanson) and 62 guns. Took part in the battles at the Kolotsky Monastery, Smelev, Smolensk, Krasny, 15 November. P. occupied Borisov, and the enemy lost approx. 5 thousand killed and 7 thousand captured. For 3 days he pursued the retreating enemy army from Vilna to Kovno and, without giving him time to reorganize his forces, on December 3. entered Kovno.

During the campaign of 1812, the Cossacks under the command of P. took approx. 70 thousand prisoners, captured 548 guns and 30 banners, and also recaptured a huge amount of valuables stolen in Moscow. Both in Russia and in European countries, he became one of the most popular Russian generals. Dec 2(14) one of the first to cross the Neman and pursued the troops of Marshal MacDonald to Danzig, which overlaid 3/1/1813. In 1813-14 he was at the Main Apartment, while from time to time he was entrusted with the command of individual detachments operating on enemy communications. In the campaign of 1813 he distinguished himself in the battles of Altenburg and Leipzig. In 1814 he fought at Nemur, Arcy-sur-Aube, Cezanne, Villeneuve. After the end of the war, he accompanied Alexander I to London, where he received an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. Then he returned to the Don, where he held the post of ataman until his death.

Materials of the book were used: Zalessky K.A. Napoleonic Wars 1799-1815. Biographical Encyclopedic Dictionary, Moscow, 2003

Matvey Ivanovich Platov 1751 -1818 Cavalry general. Ataman Platov, the hero of the Don, was born in Starocherkassk into the family of a military foreman, who gave him his initial education and taught him military affairs. At the age of 19, he went on his horse to participate in the war with Turkey in 1768 - 1774, for valor he was noticed by the commander V. Dolgorukov, promoted to captain, commanded a hundred Cossacks. In June 1771, he participated in the assault and capture of Perekop, bravely proved himself in the battle of Kinburn. He was promoted to military foreman and became a regiment commander, at that time he was a little over 20 years old. From 1773 he acted in the Kuban. In 1774, accompanied by transport, he was surrounded by the troops of the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey near the Kalalakh River, having built a fortified camp, repulsed eight enemy attacks and held out until reinforcements arrived. After this feat, he became famous in the Russian army, was awarded a special gold medal.

In 1775, Platov at the head of the regiment was sent to the Voronezh and Kazan provinces, where he pacified the last armed detachments of Pugachev's supporters. From 1778 to 1784 he participated in numerous campaigns and battles in the Caucasus against the Chechens, Lezgins and other mountain peoples. Here in 1782 he met Suvorov, who commanded the Kuban corps. For distinction he received the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel and colonel.

With the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. Matvey Platov in the Yekaterinoslav army of G. Potemkin headed the Cossack regiment, with which he courageously acted during the siege and capture of Ochakov (1788), was awarded the Order of St. George of the 4th degree. Soon he distinguished himself in the capture of Bender, in the battle of Causeni, was promoted to brigadier and marching atamans, and participated in the capture of Akkerman. In December 1790, at a military council with Suvorov, when deciding on the capture of Izmail, Platov was the first to speak in favor of storming this powerful fortress, during the storm he commanded a column, then the entire left wing, set a personal example of courage, was awarded the Order of St. George of the 3rd degree for heroism and promoted to major general.

In 1796, Catherine II instructed Platov with the Cossacks to participate in the Persian campaign under the command of V. Zubov. For distinction in battles with the Persians and highlanders, he received a gold saber with diamonds and the inscription: "For courage" and the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree.

At the beginning of the reign of Paul 1, the valiant Cossack general became a victim of accusations of abuse and disrespect for the throne, was exiled to Kostroma, then imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. After the Senate court acquitted him, Pavel awarded Platov with the Order of Malta and instructed him to lead the vanguard of the Cossack army for a campaign against India (January 1801). Three months later, Alexander 1 came to the throne and stopped this difficult and senseless campaign.

Upon returning to his homeland, Matvey Ivanovich was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed ataman of the Don Army (instead of the deceased ataman V. Orlov). Platov remained in this position until his death, leaving the Don only to participate in wars. In 1805, he moved the capital of the Army from Starocherkassk to Novocherkassk, which he founded. He was engaged in combat training of the Cossack troops, the development of their weapons, founded the first gymnasium on the Don.

During the Russian-Prussian-French war of 1806-1807. Platov commanded the Cossack corps. This war began the international military fame of Platov and the Don Cossacks. The corps took part in the battle at Preussisch-Eylau (January 1807), during the subsequent movement of Napoleon's army, Platov constantly disturbed it with unexpected raids, inflicted significant losses on the enemy in battles near Landsberg, Gutstadt, Heilsberg; participated in the Battle of Friedland (June 1807). Napoleon called the Cossacks "a fiend of the human race." For distinction in the war Matvei Ivanovich awarded with orders Saint Alexander Nevsky and Saint George of the 2nd degree, and a commemorative banner was granted to the Don Army.

Unknown artist. Portrait of M.I. Platova ( early XIX V.)

Platov! Europe already knows
That you are a terrible leader of the Don forces.
By surprise, as if a sorcerer, everywhere
You fall like snow from clouds or rain.

G.R. Derzhavin (1807)

In 1801, Emperor Paul I was seized by the idea, together with the French army, to oppose England and go on a campaign to India, which was one of the strongest British colonies.

Platov was asked to lead the Cossack army - he was very popular at that time among the Don Cossacks. Now this idea of a campaign in India seems fantastic, but then they were seriously preparing for it: the Cossack army consisted of 27,500 people and 55,000 horses. But when the Cossacks reached Orenburg, news came of the death of Paul I and the accession to the throne of Alexander I. The campaign was canceled, and Platov was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed military chieftain of the Don Cossacks.

Unknown artist. Portrait of M.I. Platov on horseback (1810)

This is just one episode from the life of Ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov, full of events, adventure and heroic deeds. "Whirlwind-ataman" - this is how the poet V. Zhukovsky called him. And the Cossacks devoted to him composed songs about his military victories.

From the biography

Bust of M. I. Platov in the village of Starocherkasskaya (Rostov region)

Matvey Ivanovich Platov was born in the family of a military foreman in Cherkassk, the capital of the Don Cossacks, in 1751.

village Starocherkasskaya(then until 1805) Cherkassk) is located in the Aksai district of the Rostov region. Here, besides M. Platov, many other Don heroes were born.

Church of Peter and Paul (St. Starocherkasskaya)

And in this temple was baptized in 1751 M.I. Platov, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812

It was during the Patriotic War of 1812 that Platov's name became popularly known, although as a brave commander he distinguished himself even in the rank of Yesaul in 1771 during the attack and capture of the Perekop line and Kinburn. Since 1772, he began to command a Cossack regiment, and already in the second Turkish war(1787-1791) distinguished himself during the assault on Ochakov, for which on April 14, 1789 he was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th class.

Ya. Sukhodolsky "Storm of Ochakov"

Then M. Platov participated in Persian War 1795-1796 in the rank of marching ataman. But in 1797, Paul I suspected him of plotting against the emperor and exiled him to Kostroma, and then imprisoned him in the Peter and Paul Fortress. But in January 1801, by decree of Paul I, M. Platov took part in a campaign in India.

Founding of Novocherkassk

The foundation of this city - the idea and its embodiment - belongs to M.I. Platov.

What was it for?

Stanitsa Starocherkasskaya

The village of Starocherkasskaya is located on the right bank of the Don River, and almost every year it was flooded with the waters of the Don flooding in the spring. Another reason was the frequent fires in the former Cossack capital, built randomly, without a master plan, in the fire of which up to half of the wooden buildings burned out. In addition, there were no reliable land access roads to Cherkassk.

Ataman Platov has long been hatching a project to create a new capital of the Don Cossack army. In 1804, Emperor Alexander I approved M. I. Platov's proposal "on the founding of a new city on the Don, which will be called the new Cherkasy."

Unknown artist. Portrait of Franz de Vollan (Devolan, circa 1805)

The famous French engineer Franz Devolan worked on the plan of the city. He was the first engineer in the armies of G. A. Potemkin and A. V. Suvorov, the first architect of Voznesensk, Odessa, Novocherkassk, Tiraspol, Ovidiopol and other cities, the builder of the first cast iron bridge in St. Petersburg, the first engineer at the head of the Department of Communications, the first member Committee of Ministers from this department. Under his leadership, the Tikhvin and Mariinsky water systems were created. In 1805, on the day of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, a solemn laying of the new city took place. A festively arranged move to New Cherkassk took place on May 9, 1806 and was marked by 101 shots from guns. At present, Novocherkassk is already the capital of the world Cossacks, and in the city center, near the Military Cathedral, there is a monument to the founder of the city - ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov.

Monument to Ataman M.I. Platov in Platov Square (Novocherkassk)

There is also an equestrian monument to M.I. Platov.

Equestrian monument to M.I. Platov (Novocherkassk)

Monument to the Great Don Army (Novocherkassk)

Patriotic War of 1812

During the Patriotic War of 1812, Platov first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then covered the retreat of the army, while simultaneously undertaking successful battles with the French (near the town of Mir and Romanovo).

The battle near Mir in July 1812 is called "the case of Platov's Cossacks."

The main forces of the French Grand Army crossed the Neman in Lithuania, the 1st and 2nd Russian armies stationed there were separated by the advancing French. The commander of the 2nd Army, Bagration, who was in Volkovysk, received an order to urgently move to connect with the 1st Army of Barclay de Tolly. From the west, Bagration was pursued by the army of Jerome Bonaparte.

On July 1, the retreating army of Bagration headed towards the formation, but on July 3, avoiding a battle with the army of Marshal Davout, turned back to Nesvizh. On July 8, Bagration's army stopped to rest near Nesvizh, and Bagration ordered Ataman Platov to send patrols and hold back the enemy's movement while the army was resting.

Under the command of Ataman Platov, there were 5.5 Cossack regiments numbering 2,600 sabers. On July 9, Ataman Platov ordered an ambush and detain the advance detachment of the enemy. V. A. Sysoev (lieutenant general, also a Don Cossack) divided his regiment into three groups: one hundred was defiantly put forward; two hundred were placed before the World; on the road south of Mir, the main Cossack forces with mobile artillery were secretly located. So the ambush "Cossack Venter" was prepared. Polish lancers were ambushed, during two days of fighting near Mir, 6 lancers regiments were defeated; Platov captured 18 officers and 375 lower ranks. Almost all the prisoners were wounded due to the extremely fierce battle.

Platov's rearguard battle delayed the movement of Napoleon's troops and ensured the withdrawal of Bagration's 2nd Army to Slutsk. Napoleon Bonaparte was furious, he blamed his own brother Jerome, commander of the right wing of the army, for the defeat of the division, and he returned to the Kingdom of Westphalia. Marshal Davout took command of Jerome's troops.

Ataman M.I. Platov. Engraving by S. Cardelli (early 19th century)

In the battle near the village of Semlevo, Platov's army defeated the French and captured a colonel from the army of Marshal Murat. Platov shared this success with Major General Baron Rosen.

D. Dow "Portrait of G.V. Rosen". Hermitage (St. Petersburg)

During the retreat of the French army, Platov pursued her and inflicted defeats on her at Gorodnya, the Kolotsky Monastery, Gzhatsk, Tsarevo-Zaimishcha, near Dukhovshchina and while crossing the Vop River. For his merits, by the personal decree of 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. In November, Platov occupied Smolensk from battle and defeated the troops of Marshal Ney near Dubrovna.

In 1813 M. Platov fought in Prussia; in September, he received command of a special corps, with which he participated in the battle of Leipzig and, pursuing the enemy, captured about 15 thousand people. In 1814, he fought at the head of his regiments during the capture of Nemur, at Arcy-sur-Aubes (battle on March 20-21 between the army of Napoleon and the Main Army of the Allies on the river Aube during the campaign of 1814 in France. This was the last battle Napoleon, where he personally commanded the troops before his first abdication), Cezanne, Villeneuve. He was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

After the conclusion of peace, M.I. Platov accompanied Emperor Alexander I to London, where he was greeted with a noisy ovation. He became the first Russian to be awarded an honorary doctorate from Oxford University (although Platov was only taught to read and write).

A royal ship was named after him. naval forces, and bronze medals were minted in his honor by the London Mint.

Medallion in honor of Platov (1814)

M.I. Platov died on January 15 (according to New Style), 1818. Several times his ashes were reburied, but finally reburied at the same place in the military cathedral on May 15, 1993 (Novocherkassk).

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

Legend

It is impossible to imagine that the life of a person who had such a stormy temperament and such a heroic biography would not be overgrown with all sorts of myths and legends. But after all, not everyone makes up legends, only about those who deserve them. Or maybe it's not a legend at all, but a true story. But they talk about the meeting between Platov and Napoleon like this.

They met back in 1907, at the conclusion of the Tilsit peace. M.I. was present in the retinue of Emperor Alexander I. Platov. He watched the meetings of the two emperors on the Neman River. During one of these meetings, Napoleon decided to award the Russian generals with the Order of the Legion of Honor. Platov was also among those awarded. Upon learning of this, the Cossack chieftain said indignantly: “Why should he reward me? After all, I did not serve him and I can never serve him. Of course, these words were immediately conveyed to Napoleon, who at the meeting, getting to know the Russian generals, did not honor only Platov with a handshake. But Platov reminded him of this insult.

D. Serangeli "Farewell of Napoleon to Alexander I in Tilsit" (Palace of Versailles)

At one of the military reviews, Platov looked at Napoleon for a long time and intently, which affected his pride. Napoleon sent a general from his retinue to Platov. The general asked: “Ataman does not like 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, he is 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.

But this conflict ended quite peacefully, namely: the exchange of gifts. Napoleon presented Platov with a snuffbox with his own portrait, and Platov presented the emperor with a combat bow. But in 1814, Platov replaced the portrait of Napoleon on a snuffbox with a "more decent antique." Platov always remained himself.

Monument to M.I. Platov in Moscow