Girls on a medical examination in the army. Conditions of contract service for girls

Among the military awards of the Russian Empire, the most revered was the Order of St. George. Respect for this award was also maintained in the Soviet period - the colors of the guards ribbon that bordered the main soldier's award of the Great Patriotic War, the Order of Glory, are extremely similar to the colors of the ribbon of the Order of St. George. After the Great Patriotic War, one could easily meet veterans who proudly wore St. George's crosses along with Soviet awards.

Several years were being prepared for the establishment of the order.

The idea of ​​establishing a special award, awarded exclusively for military merit, came from Empress Catherine II immediately after the accession. The first draft of the Order of St. George - a Christian martyr, patron of the military, especially revered in Russia - was prepared by 1765. The empress, however, was not satisfied with the proposals, and work on the order lasted another four years.

Officially, the statute of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious was signed by Empress Catherine II in the Winter Palace on November 26 (December 7, new style), 1769.

A divine liturgy was served in the palace church, the signs of the order were consecrated - a cross, a star and a ribbon.

The establishment of the order was accompanied by great celebrations and artillery salutes.

The sign of the order of the 1st degree Catherine II laid upon herself in honor of the establishment of a new award. The self-imposition of the award will be repeated in history only once more - in 1869 Alexander II so will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the order.

The badge of the order was an equal-ended cross with expanding ends, covered with white enamel. In the central medallion on the front side was placed the image of St. George on a white horse, on the reverse side - the monogram "SG", that is, "St. George". Two-color ribbon - three black and two orange stripes. The star was four-pointed, gold, with a monogram and the motto in the center - "For service and courage."

To whom for feats, and to whom for long service

The Order of St. George was the first Russian award that had four degrees.

The cross of the order of the 4th degree was worn on the left side of the chest on a ribbon of order colors, the cross of the 3rd degree - a larger size - was worn on the neck, the cross of the 2nd degree - on the neck, and the star - on the left side of the chest. A cross of the 1st, highest degree of the order was worn on a wide ribbon over the right shoulder, and a star on the left side of the chest. The statute of the order was determined "this order should never be removed."

As already mentioned, the Order of St. George was awarded for military exploits, but there was one exception. The award of the 4th degree could be received by officers for long service, for 25 years of military service in the ground forces, for 18 at least six-month campaigns (that is, campaigns) in the fleet; since 1833, for naval officers who did not participate in battles, awards were also introduced for 20 campaigns. Since 1816, in such cases, inscriptions began to be placed on the cross: “25 years”, “18 campaigns”, later - “20 campaigns”.

In 1855, however, it was decided that such a respected and honorary award could not be awarded for long service, after which the practice of such an award was canceled.

First Cavalier and Great Four

The Order of St. George was awarded exclusively to officers. The first recipient of the award was lieutenant colonel Fyodor Ivanovich Fabritsian. It was impossible to find a more worthy candidate for this. Fyodor Fabritsian, a Courland nobleman, entered the service as a soldier in 1749. Having gone through several military campaigns, Fabrizian rose to high ranks, showing personal courage. Contemporaries noted that he was extremely concerned about the needs of his soldiers, took care of them.

On November 11, 1769, commanding a special detachment of chasseur battalions and part of the 1st Grenadier Regiment of 1,600 people, Lieutenant Colonel Fabrizian defeated a Turkish detachment of 7,000 people and occupied the city of Galati. For this feat, he was awarded the Order of St. George, and not the 4th, but immediately the 3rd degree.

Subsequently, Fedor Fabritsian became a general and commanded the Russian army in the North Caucasus.

In the entire history of the Order of St. George, only 25 people were awarded the 1st degree, 125 people received the 2nd degree award. The 3rd and 4th degrees were awarded much more often, the total number of those awarded is about 10 thousand people. At the same time, most of the orders of the 4th degree, about 8000, were received not for feats, but for length of service.

Cavaliers of the Order of St. George were entitled to an annual pension - 700 rubles for the 1st degree, 400 rubles for the 2nd, 200 and 100 rubles for the 3rd and 4th degrees, respectively.

Cavaliers of all four degrees of the Order of St. George were only four people - Field Marshals General Mikhail Kutuzov, Michael Barclay de Tolly,Ivan Paskevich and Ivan Dibich.

"A bird instead of a horseman"

In 1807 Emperor Alexander I a note was filed with a proposal to "introduce a 5th class or a special branch of the Military Order of St. George for soldiers and other lower military ranks."

In February 1807, Alexander I approved the insignia of the Military Order for the lower ranks “For Fearless Courage”, which later received the unofficial name “Soldier George”. The manifesto ordered the insignia of the Military Order to be worn on a ribbon of the same colors as the Order of St. George.

This award was presented much more often - only during the reign of Alexander I there were more than 46 thousand such awards. Initially, "soldier George" did not have degrees. They were introduced by imperial decree in 1856.

An interesting point is that many Muslims and representatives of other faiths fought in the ranks of the Russian army. Since St. George is a Christian saint, so as not to offend representatives of another faith, the appearance of the award was changed for these cases - it was awarded to non-Christians with the image of a double-headed eagle, and not George the Victorious.

This delicacy, however, was not appreciated by all. The brave highlanders even asked with some resentment: “Why do they give us crosses with a bird, and not with a horseman?”

George Cross

The official name of "soldier George" - the insignia of the Military Order - remained until 1913. Then a new statute of the award was drawn up, and it received a new and more well-known name today - the St. George Cross. From that moment on, the award became the same for all confessions - it depicted St. George.

For exploits in the First World War, about 1.2 million people were awarded the St. George Cross of the 4th degree, a little less than 290 thousand people of the 3rd degree, 65 thousand people of the 2nd degree, 33 thousand people of the 1st degree.

Among the full cavaliers of the St. George Cross will be at least six people who were subsequently awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, including legendary commander of the First Cavalry Army Semyon Budyonny.

During the Civil War in the White Army, the St. George Crosses were also awarded for the fight against the Bolsheviks, but not too actively.

The darkest page in the history of the St. George Cross is its use as an award in the so-called Russian Corps, a formation made up mainly of emigrants that sided with the Nazis during World War II. The corps acted against the Yugoslav partisans. However, the use of the St. George Cross as a reward was an initiative of collaborators, not supported by any laws.

A new history of the award began in 2008

In the new Russia, the St. George Cross as an official award was approved by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1992. At the same time, for a long time the award existed purely formally. The statute of the insignia "St. George's Cross" was approved in 2000, and the first award took place only in 2008. The first St. George's Crosses in the Russian Federation were awarded to servicemen who showed courage and heroism during the armed conflict in South Ossetia in August 2008.

Empress Catherine II, affirming November 23, 1769. the statute of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George, indicated that it "should be considered established from the year 1769 of the month of November from the 26th day, on which day We laid the signs of it on Ourself, granted after a long time with distinction to Us and the fatherland of servants."

The day for the establishment of the order was not chosen by chance: on November 26 (December 9, new style), the Orthodox Church celebrates the consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr George in Kyiv, built in 1036. after the victory over the Pechenegs.

Table medal “In memory of the establishment of the Order of St. George the Victorious. November 26, 1769" Medalist Johann Baltazar Gass, obverse was copied by Ivan Chukmasov, reverse was copied by Pavel Utkin. Copper, 79 mm; 197.65

Table medal "In memory of the 100th anniversary of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. 1769-1869" Obverse: “Signature of the medalist in the cut of the sleeve “V. Alekseev R.”. Reverse: "Medaller's signature below 'P.M.R. (P. Mesharikov cut)'". Silver, 157.28 gr. Diameter 72 mm.

The establishment of a military order was part of the military reforms carried out at the beginning of Catherine's reign, which strengthened the Russian army on the eve of wars that stretched in an endless series until the end of the 18th century, allowed it, under the leadership of P.A. Rumyantseva, G.A. Potemkina, A.V. Suvorov to win a number of brilliant victories. The establishment of a military order was supposed to be a moral incentive for the entire officer corps, and not just the generals, as previously established orders. In order to increase the significance of the order, Catherine II took over her successors "of this order, the Grand Mastership", as a sign of which she placed upon herself the signs of the 1st degree.

The signs of the Order of St. George look more modest than the signs of all other Russian orders: a white enamel cross with a gold border, in the middle of which on the front side is an image of St. George slaying a serpent with a spear, and on the back - the saint's monogram; star of senior degrees gold quadrangular with the saint's monogram in the center and the motto of the order: "For service and courage", a ribbon of two yellow and three black stripes. Cavaliers of the 1st class of the order wore a cross on a wide ribbon worn over the right shoulder and a star on the left side of the chest, 2nd class - the same cross on the same ribbon around the neck and a star on the chest on the left, 3rd class - a smaller cross size on a ribbon of smaller width around the neck, 4th class - the same cross on a ribbon of the same width in the buttonhole of the caftan. Later, the size of the cross and the width of the ribbon became different for each degree.

Badge of the Order of St. George, 2nd or 3rd class. Unknown workshop, France, 1900s. Gold, enamel. Weight 16.73 gr. Size 49x55 mm. Hallmarks on the connecting ring: the export head of Mercury to the left and the firm is illegible.

Sign of the Order of St. George 4th degree. Unknown workshop, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917 Gold, enamel. Weight, 10.46 gr. Size 35x39 mm.

Badge of the Order of St. George 3rd-4th degree. Unknown workshop, St. Petersburg, 1880-1890s. Gold, enamel. Weight 10.39 gr. Size 42x39 mm.

Sign of the Order of St. George the Victorious 4th degree. Firm "Eduard", Petrograd, 1916-1917. Bronze, gilding, enamel. Weight 12.85 gr. Size 41x36 mm.

From 1844 to 1913 on crosses that complained to Muslims, instead of the image of the saint and his monogram, the imperial eagle was placed. The image of the eagle was also supposed to replace the saint's monogram on the order star of the highest degrees of the order when they were awarded to Muslims, however, a review of the lists of holders of these degrees did not reveal a single recipient who could be considered a Muslim.

Sign of the Order of St. George 4th degree. Firm "Eduard", St. Petersburg, 1910-1917 Bronze, gilding, enamel. Weight 12.07 gr. Size 40x35 mm.

Perhaps the main role in the fate of the order was played by the choice of a heavenly patron. Saint George has long been revered as the patron saint of not only warriors, but also kings. The latter circumstance was emphasized by the assignment to the order of a ribbon composed of colors that were considered "imperial" in Russia - black and yellow (gold). In addition, the image of a horseman slaying a serpent has been the emblem of the Muscovite state since the time of Ivan III, although until the beginning of the 18th century. it was personified not as St. George, but as a king (occasionally - the heir to the throne) - the defender of the Russian land. By the time the order was established, this rider, already under the name of St. George, was considered the coat of arms of Moscow and was an attribute of the state emblem of the Russian Empire. St. George was well known to the Russian common people, entered their life and was revered by them as a guardian of fertility and abundance, an accomplice in hunting, a defender of fields and all the fruits of the earth, a guardian of grazing herds, a patron of beekeeping, a snake and wolf shepherd, a protector from thieves and robbers . In a short time, the Order of St. George took a completely exceptional position in the Russian award system and retained it until the end of its existence. The pre-revolutionary historian E. P. Karnovich wrote that "the appearance in society of the Knight of St. George very often draws the attention of those present to him, which does not happen with regard to holders of other orders, even star-bearers," that is, those awarded orders of the highest degrees.

The statute of the order emphasized that it was possible to receive it only for personal merits, "neither a high breed, nor wounds received before the enemy" were taken into account. For officers who came from a non-noble environment, with the establishment of the Order of St. George, a new opportunity opened up for acquiring hereditary nobility. Petrovsky's "Table of Ranks" established the receipt of hereditary nobility (and the rights and benefits associated with it) only upon reaching the VIII class, that is, the rank of second major; published on April 21, 1785. "The letter on the rights of liberties and the advantages of the Russian nobility" also called the awarding of the "Russian cavalier order" one of the fifteen indisputable evidence of the nobility. Thus, a native of the lower classes, having received the Order of St. George, even the 4th degree, became a hereditary nobleman. In addition, the senior cavaliers were entitled to an annual order pension: for the 1st class - 12 people for 700 rubles, for the 2nd class - 25 people for 400 rubles, for the 3rd class - 50 people for 200 rubles . and in the 4th grade - 100 people for 100 rubles. With the receipt of the senior degree, the payment of the pension for the junior degree ceased. The widow of the deceased gentleman received an order pension for another year after his death. Subsequently, when it turned out that the number of living cavaliers of the highest degrees was significantly inferior to the number of vacancies for receiving order pensions for these degrees, they were reduced with a simultaneous increase in vacancies for the 4th degree.

It was possible to receive the Order of St. George not only for personal courage and military leadership, but also for impeccable service in officer ranks in the standing for twenty-five years, and for naval officers - also for eighteen naval campaigns. On the cross of the 4th degree, issued for these merits, since 1816. the corresponding inscription was placed.

Nevertheless, the ego cannot be considered some kind of sign of service: in fact, the length of service or the number of campaigns completed did not always correspond to those indicated on the cross. Not every service was counted in the term of service for receiving the order, and not every voyage was counted towards sea campaigns, but at the same time, participation in some battles and in a number of voyages reduced the term of service. It was also reduced by receiving the orders of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree with a bow, and later of St. Anne of the 3rd and 4th degrees, golden weapons, and also the Highest goodwill. According to the statute of 1833. to receive an order for long-term service, participation in at least one battle was required, an exception was made only for naval officers, but the number of campaigns that needed to be completed was increased to twenty. February 2, 1855 cavaliers who received the order for impeccable service, and then performed a feat that did not fit the rules of the statute of the Order of St. George of the highest degree, but sufficient to award the fourth, received the right to wear their cross with a bow from the sash. There were only four such awards. By personal decree on May 15 of the same year, the awarding of the Order of St. George for impeccable service was canceled.

Initially, submissions for the award of the Order of St. George were made by the Military Colleges, land and sea, and the final decision was made by the Empress. With the establishment of September 22, 1782. of the Order of St. Vladimir, the statute of which established the Order Duma for considering submissions to the Order of the 3rd and 4th degrees, consisting of gentlemen who were in the capital, the same Cavalier Duma was established for the Order of St. George. She was given a room at the Chesme Church of St. John the Baptist to store a seal, a special treasury and an archive. The orders of the deceased cavaliers were to be transferred to the Duma, and the cavalier lists were to be stored there. Now the murals of military personnel who were presented for awarding the Order of St. George of the 3rd and 4th degrees were transferred by the Military Colleges for consideration by the Cavalier Duma, and then the lists of those awarded by the Duma for awarding the order were approved by the Empress. Awarding the order of the 1st and 2nd degrees remained the prerogative of the supreme power.

Upon the accession to the throne of Emperor Paul I, a "Regulation for Cavalier Russian Orders" was developed, which included the statutes of the orders of St. Andrew the First-Called, St. Catherine, St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Anna. True, during the reading of the "Institution" in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin during the coronation ceremony on April 5, 1797. The emperor publicly declared that "the order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George remains on its former basis, as well as its Statute", however, the forms of its existence in the reign of Pavel Petrovich may seem rather strange: although the order's holiday on November 26 was solemnly celebrated with the participation of the Emperor, and Knights of the Order in specially established for them in December 1797. They took part in all the celebrations of the Order in their robes, no one else was awarded the Order. Only December 12, 1801. by the manifesto of Emperor Alexander I, the orders of St. George and St. Vladimir were restored "in all their strength and space."

It is noteworthy that during the first celebration of the day of the establishment of the Order of St. George in his reign, Alexander I wore the signs of the first degree of this order. However, only Emperor Alexander II, the second after the founder of the Order of Empress Catherine II, officially took upon himself the signs of the first degree of the Order of St. George. It happened on the day of the centennial anniversary of the order. Such an act cannot be considered some kind of "self-reward", on the contrary, it meant accepting the order under the personal patronage of the monarch, putting it on a par with the imperial regalia.

Tailcoat badge of the Order of St. George. Unknown workshop, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917 Silver, enamel, 1.69 gr. Size 15x15 mm.

Tailcoat copy of the badge of the Order of St. George. Unknown workshop. Western Europe, 1850s-1860s Silver without test, gilding, enamel. Weight, 1.88 gr. Size 15x17 mm (with eyelet).

Tail coat badge of the Order of St. George. Unknown workshop, Western Europe, 1890-1910s. Silver, gilding, enamel. Weight 1.81 gr. Size 14x17 mm.

Badge of the Order of St. George the Victorious for wearing on award St. George weapons. Firm "Eduard", St. Petersburg, 1910-1916 Gold 56th test, silver without test, enamel. Weight 4.36 gr. Size 17x17 mm.

The first degree of the Order of St. George was awarded to 23 people, the second received 124 people, the third - about 640 and the fourth - about 15 thousand. human. The statistics of awarding the fourth degree of the order is curious. For military distinction, he received over 6,700 awards, for twenty-five years of service - over 7,300, for eighteen campaigns - about 600, and twenty campaigns - only 4. All degrees of the Order of St. George were awarded only to M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, M.B. Barclay de Tolly, I.F. Paskevich and I.I. Dibich, however, they cannot be considered full holders of the order. Such a concept in relation to orders that had degrees simply did not exist then. It was not the number of received degrees of the order that mattered, but the dignity of the eldest of them. In addition, none of the listed gentlemen could simultaneously have signs of all degrees of the order: when receiving a senior degree, the youngest surrendered to the Chapter of Orders. This rule was abolished only in 1857, and the last of those awarded with all degrees of the Order of St. George - I.F. Paskevich - died a year earlier.

Not quite usual, beyond the scope of the statute, are the awards to two women: Queen of the Two Sicilies Maria Sophia Amalia in 1861. and sisters of mercy R.M. Ivanova. It is difficult to understand what motives Alexander II was guided by, awarding the Italian queen with a high military award for the courage shown during the siege of the fortress of Gaeta, because this historical episode had nothing to do with Russia. But the rewarding of R.M. Ivanova was well deserved: after the death of officers, she raised the soldiers on the attack, which ended with the capture of an enemy position, but she paid with her life for her heroic impulse. In accordance with the St. George Statute, introduced in 1913. R.M. Ivanova was awarded posthumously. During the First World War, there was also the only collective award of the Order of St. George, the 4th degree was marked by the courage of the defenders of the French fortress of Verdun, unless, of course, the introduction of the St. George ribbon into the coat of arms of the Russian city of Sevastopol is considered such an award.

The Provisional Government introduced the awarding of the Order of St. George of the 4th degree to the lower ranks who performed the feats provided for by the statute of the Order of St. George, while performing the duties of the respective superiors. In this case, as evidence that this high award was deserved even before the promotion to the officer rank, a white metal laurel branch should have been placed on the ribbon. Reliable information about the awarding of the lower ranks with the Order of St. George is still unknown.

The idea to establish an award given exclusively for military merit belonged to Peter I. However, the idea was brought to life by Catherine II. Paying tribute to the military glory of the Russian army, the empress in 1769 established a new order. “As the glory of the Russian Empire,” his statute said, “mostly spread and exalted the Faithfulness, Courage and Prudent behavior of the military rank: then from our special imperial mercy to those serving in our troops, in rewarding them for the rendered from them in many cases to us and jealousy and service to our ancestors, also to encourage them in the art of war, we wanted to establish a new military order ... This order will be called: the military order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. The statute also stated: "This order must never be removed, for it has been acquired by merit."

The establishment of the Order of George was solemnly celebrated in St. Petersburg on November 26, 1769, and Catherine II, as the founder, placed on herself the signs of the 1st degree on the same day.

The first Knight of St. George to receive this award for a military feat was Lieutenant Colonel Fyodor Ivanovich Fabritsian, who was awarded on December 8, 1769. His detachment, numbering only 1600 people, on November 5, 1769, was surrounded by the Danube River by a seven thousandth Turkish detachment. Despite the apparent inequality of forces, Fabrizian boldly attacked the enemy. The Turks fled, abandoning their guns and losing 1,200 dead. The detachment of Fabrician, pursuing the retreating ones, immediately took the enemy city of Galati. For this distinction, Lieutenant Colonel Fabrician was awarded the Order of St. George immediately of the 3rd degree on July 27, 1770 for a brilliant victory at Larga, won on July 7, the outstanding Russian commander was immediately awarded the Order George 1st degree. At the same time, Generals P. G. Plemyannikov and F.V. Bour. On February 3, 1770, Prime Major R. Patkul became the first holder of the Order of George of the 4th degree.

The fourth degree of the Order of George was also given for long service in officer ranks: 25 years in the field service and 18 campaigns in the sea (subject to participation in at least one battle). At the same time, since 1816, the inscription “25 years” or “18 campaigns” was placed on the signs received for long service, respectively. In 1855, the issuance of orders of George for long service was discontinued. Since 1845, instead of the image of St. George and the monogram, a double-headed eagle was placed on the signs of the order intended for non-Christians.

It was extremely difficult to earn the Order of George. For example, in the first hundred years of the existence of this award, the order of the lowest, 4th degree for military distinctions was received by 2239 people, the 3rd degree - 512 people, the 2nd - 100 people and the highest, 1st degree - 20 people. The highest order of the Russian Empire of St. Andrew the First-Called was received by more than a thousand people, while the Order of St. George of the 1st degree in the entire history of its existence was awarded to 25 people. Among them, in addition to the mentioned P. A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky, General-in-Chief A.G. Orlov-Chesmensky (for Chesma, 1770), Field Marshal G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky (for Ochakov, 1788), general-in-chief (for Rymnik, 1789). A number of holders of the Orders of George of the 1st degree of the 19th century. opens Field Marshal, awarded "for the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." After the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. the order of George of the 1st degree was never issued. Only four people in the entire glorious history of the Russian army and navy became full holders of the order, that is, they had all four degrees: Field Marshals General M.I. Kutuzov-Smolensky, and. Not all holders of the Order of George of the 1st degree were worthy of this award. For example, in 1869, in connection with the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the order, Emperor Alexander II put on himself the insignia of the 1st degree and sent the same award to the Prussian King Wilhelm I.

The only Russian woman (except Catherine the Great) awarded the Order of St. George was Sister of Mercy Rimma Ivanova, who was awarded the 4th degree posthumously during the First World War.

In 1916, the French fortress of Verdun was also awarded the Order of St. George of the 4th degree for the courage of its defenders in the defense of the so-called "Verdun ledge". This is the only case of collective awarding of the Order of St. George.

Knights of the order had a number of privileges. In addition to acquiring hereditary nobility, those awarded with any degree of the order were automatically promoted to the next rank. Having retired, the holders of the order had the right to wear a military uniform (even if they had not served the 10-year term prescribed for this), they could depict the sign of the order on their coats of arms, monograms and seals.

Despite the fact that from April 5, 1797, Emperor Paul I approved certain contributions for receiving orders, and Alexander I increased these contributions by 2-6 times (receiving St. Andrew's regalia, for example, then cost 800 rubles), gentlemen the orders of St. George of all degrees, according to his statute, were exempted from monetary contributions, moreover, when awarding them with other orders for military exploits, it was not supposed to take the indicated amounts from them.

Special mention should be made of "cavalier" pensions. Starting from 1869, payments under the Order of St. George were made from the capital of the Knights of St. George, which was formed on the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the award at the expense of funds transferred from the Chapter of Russian Orders (30 thousand rubles), as well as personal donations of Emperor Alexander II (65 thousand rubles) and the heir to the throne, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich (5 thousand rubles). During the First World War, in order to increase material assistance to the Knights of St. George, the St. George Committee was created. It was headed by the brother of Nicholas II, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. Already during the first year of activity, over 4 million rubles were transferred to the disposal of the committee in the form of donations from military units, various institutions and citizens.

The statute of the Order of St. George provided for the creation of a “Cavalier Duma”, which was supposed to: “Consider award paintings and honor with order honors only those whose excellent actions and services are distinguished from ordinary ones.”

Members of the Duma, gentlemen of this order, publicly discussed at their meetings the submissions received in the name of the emperor. They were also the first instance, which decided the issue of assigning cavalier pensions to specific individuals, providing other assistance to needy cavaliers and their families.

The size and procedure for issuing pensions were reviewed more than once, but there was one invariable rule - they were not supposed to be for everyone. A “set of pensioners for orders” was established - how many holders of a given order and its given degree are entitled to pensions. Enrollment in the "set" was carried out in a sequence that depended on the date of the award.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the schedule of pensions for the Order of St. George was: 1st degree - 6 people, 1000 rubles each, 2nd degree - fifteen people, 400 rubles each, 3rd degree - 50 people, 200 rubles each. and 4th degree - 325 people for 150 rubles. That is, in total, it was encouraged by pensions of 396 cavaliers of the order for a total amount of 70,750 rubles, which was 1/3 of the total amount of pensions for all orders of the Russian Empire.

Vacancies for the inclusion of new persons in the "set of pensioners" were formed both after the death of someone who received order money, and in connection with the decisions of the supreme authority to increase the number of those who were encouraged. In addition, after being awarded an order of a higher degree, the gentleman was transferred to the appropriate group, freeing up his place for a new person.

No one could receive two pensions for the same order (of different degrees) or for several orders at the same time. But this rule did not apply to the Knights of St. George. Having along with the St. George award and other orders, they received payments for several awards.

The “set of pensioners for orders” was repeatedly revised, and, as a rule, the number of awards of higher degrees awarded by money to holders of awards decreased in favor of holders of lower ones. If in 1816 12 people had the right to a pension under the Order of St. George of the 1st degree, then a century later - only six, and the number of pensioners of the Order of St. George of the 4th degree over the same period increased from 100 people to 325 - more than 3 times.

Persons who were awarded the fourth degree of the Order of St. George for the first time were entitled to a one-time monetary reward of 115 rubles.

At the expense of the capital of the Cavaliers of St. George, not only pensions and lump-sum awards were paid. From them, money was also received to cover the costs of educating the children of distinguished children (usually girls). At the end of their studies, the daughters of the gentlemen were paid some amounts from the so-called "dowry capital". The sons of the holders of the order had advantages when entering the cadet corps and cadet schools, and cash benefits were transferred for their education.

SOLDIER'S INSIGNIA OF THE ORDER OF ST. GEORGE

In 1807, the insignia of the Order of St. George was established to reward soldiers and sailors. This award was a silver cross without enamel, it was also worn on the St. George's black and yellow ribbon on the chest. Already in the First Rules regarding the insignia, it was indicated: “It is acquired only in the battlefield, during the defense of fortresses and in naval battles. They are awarded only to those of the lower military ranks who, while serving in the Russian ground and naval forces, really show their excellent courage in the fight against the enemy.

It was possible to earn a distinction - a soldier's St. George's Cross only by accomplishing a feat of arms, for example, capturing an enemy banner or standard, capturing an enemy officer or general, being the first to enter an enemy fortress during an assault or when boarding an enemy ship. The lower rank, who saved the life of his commander in combat conditions, could also receive this award.

Awarding soldier George gave benefits to those who distinguished themselves: an increase in a third of the salary, which remained even upon retirement (after the death of the gentleman, his widow enjoyed the right to receive it for a year); the prohibition of the use of corporal punishment to persons with the insignia of the order; when transferring holders of the St. George Cross of non-commissioned officer rank from army regiments to the guards, the preservation of their former rank, although the guards non-commissioned officer was considered two ranks higher than the army.

From the very moment of its establishment, the insignia of the military order, in addition to the official one, received several more names: St. George's Cross of the 5th degree, soldier's George ("Egoriy"), etc. Napoleon Nadezhda Durova, who began her service as a simple lancer. The most difficult years for Russia, when the people, driven by a sense of patriotism, stood up to defend the Fatherland, were also marked by the largest number of St. George soldier's awards. So, during the Patriotic War of 1812, during the years of the Crimean War of 1833-1856, the main and most striking episode of which was the heroic defense of Sevastopol, tens of thousands of heroes were awarded the insignia of the military order. The largest number of gradeless insignia is 113248. Peter Tomasov received it for bravery during the defense in 1854 of Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka.

In 1839, for distribution to veteran soldiers of the Prussian army who participated in the battles with the Napoleonic troops in 1813-1815, 4500 signs were minted, on which, unlike the usual St. I. 4264 such signs, which had a special numbering, were distributed.

In 1844, a kind of insignia appeared to reward people of non-Christian faith. The state coat of arms was placed on it.

By decree of March 19, 1856, the insignia of the military order was divided into 4 degrees: 1st highest degree - a golden cross on a St. George ribbon with a ribbon bow of the same colors; 2nd degree - the same golden cross on a ribbon, but without a bow; 3rd degree - a silver cross on a ribbon with a bow; 4th degree - the same silver cross, but on a ribbon without a bow. On the reverse side of the cross, the degree of the sign was indicated and, as before, the number under which the recipient was entered in the so-called "eternal list" of St. George's Knights was knocked out.

According to the new regulation of 1856 on the St. George Soldier's Cross, the award began with the lowest, 4th degree, and then, as with the awarding of the officer Order of George, the 3rd, 2nd, and, finally, 1st degree were issued sequentially. The numbering of the crosses was new, and separately for each degree. They wore awards of all degrees on the chest in one row. Already in 1856, 151 people were marked by the soldier George of the 1st degree, that is, they became full cavaliers of St. George. Many of them have earned this award before, but only with the division of the order into degrees were they able to receive a visible difference in uniform. 5

In 1913, a new statute of the insignia of the military order was approved. It began to be officially called the St. George Cross and the numbering of signs issued from that time began anew.

Soldier Georgy of the 1st degree No. 1 received at the very beginning of the World War, in the fall of 1914, ensign Nikifor Klimovich Udalykh, who saved the banner of the 1st Nevsky Infantry Regiment.

In connection with the world war that broke out in 1914, the number of awards with St. George's Crosses increased dramatically. By the beginning of 1917 (already with a new numbering), the 1st degree was issued about 30 thousand times, and the 4th - more than 1 million!

The statute of 1913 did not provide for the awarding of non-Christians with special signs depicting an eagle. The very name "Georgievsky" suggested the image on the cross of St. George. In addition, often the Muslims themselves demanded that they be awarded signs not with an eagle, but with a “jigit” (St. George).

By order of the military department No. 532 of August 19, 1917, a drawing of a slightly modified sample of the St. George award was approved - a metal laurel branch was placed on the ribbon of the cross. Those who distinguished themselves in hostilities were awarded such crosses "by the verdict of the soldiers, and the officer could be marked with a soldier's cross" with a branch ", and the private in the case of the performance of the duties of the chief (order of July 28, 1917 - officer George, the same with a branch attached to the ribbon .

Many Soviet military leaders who started a difficult military school in the fire of the First World War were Knights of St. George. Among them. A full bow, that is, all four soldier's crosses, had the heroes of the civil war S.M. Budyonny, I.V. Tyulenev. IN AND. Chapaev and others.

In the harsh years of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. many soldiers who took part in the First World War proudly wore, next to the Soviet awards, the St. George insignia received many years ago. Full St. George Cavalier Don Cossack K.I. Nedorubov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his distinction in battles with the Nazis. fifteen

Continuing the glorious heroic traditions, in November 1943, the Order of Glory of three degrees was established to reward privates and sergeants of the Red Army who showed glorious feats of courage, courage and fearlessness in battles for their homeland. The badge of the order was worn on the ribbon of St. George's colors, and the statute of the order in many respects resembled the statute of the insignia of the Military Order.

GEORGIEV MEDALS FOR COURAGE

The first Russian medals with the inscription "For Bravery", to be worn on the St. George ribbon, appeared in the 18th century. This is connected with the events of the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790. They were issued to the rangers of the Semyonovsky Guards Regiment for a bold and successful attack by the Swedish batteries at the mouth of the Kumen River.

By the middle of the XIX century. the silver medal "For Courage" on the St. George ribbon becomes an award for lower ranks for various military distinctions. This medal was sometimes awarded to civilians - non-nobles, for courage in a combat situation.

According to the new statute of 1913, the medals "For Courage" of four degrees received the official name "Georgievsky" and could be issued to any lower rank of the army and navy for feats in wartime or peacetime. This medal could also be awarded to civilians for military distinctions in wartime.

GEORGIE GOLD WEAPON "FOR COURAGE"

On June 27, 1720, the Russian galley fleet defeated the Swedish squadron in the naval battle of Grengam Island. The winners were generously awarded. The commander of the Russian forces in this battle, M.M. Golitsyn, was “sent a golden sword with a rich decoration of diamonds as a sign of his military labor.” This is the first known award in the regular Russian troops with golden weapons. In the future, dozens of awards with edged weapons are known as a combat insignia intended only for military personnel. Receiving a sword was regarded as a high combat individual award. Already in the middle of the XVIII century. Imperial Letters were attached to the granted swords, the text of which gives reason to consider the issuance of a sword not as a gift, but as a military award.

In 1775, during the celebration of the anniversary of peace with Turkey after the war of 1768 - 1774, 11 of the most prominent military leaders of the Russian army, including Lieutenant General A.V. Suvorov, were awarded gold swords with diamonds. Later, the great Russian commander was once again awarded a golden sword with precious decorations for the victory at Rymnik in 1789.

Until 1788, only a military leader who had a general's field marshal rank could receive a sword as a reward. At the same time, swords were decorated with diamonds or diamonds. Since 1788, the right to be marked with a sword, but without decorations, was also extended to officers. The inscription "For Bravery" appears on the hilt of the officer's award sword.

In the 19th century the golden weapon "For Courage" became one of the most honorable combat distinctions, which, like the Order of St. George, every commander dreamed of. For battles with Napoleonic troops in 1805-1807. many Russian officers and generals were marked with golden swords and sabers, among them P.I. Bagration, D.V. Davydov, D.S. Dokhturov, A.P. Ermolov and others.

On September 28, 1807, a Decree was signed on classifying officers and generals awarded with golden weapons as holders of Russian orders. The names of persons who received golden weapons were to be entered in the general cavalier list of the Chapter of Orders of the Russian Empire.

In 1855, at the height of the Crimean War, it was ordered to wear a lanyard from the black-and-orange St. The proximity of the Order of St. George and the golden weapons, both in the nature of the celebrated deeds and in the respect that aroused those who had these awards, led to the fact that in the year of the centennial anniversary of the Order of St. George in 1869, all persons awarded with golden weapons were ranked among the holders of this order and their seniority was considered immediately after those who received the Order of George of the 4th degree.

In 1913, a new statute of the Order of St. George appeared, and the golden weapons belonging to this order received a new official name - “Heroic Weapons” and “St. George's Weapons Decorated with Diamonds”. A small enamel cross of the Order of George began to be placed on all types of these weapons, with the difference that the cross was also decorated with precious stones on weapons with diamonds. On the general's weapons, the inscription "For Bravery" was replaced by an indication of the specific feat for which the award was granted. In the world war that began in 1914, the St. George weapon became one of the most honorable awards. The famous General A.A. Brusilov for the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian armies at the end of May 1916 (“Brusilovsky breakthrough”) was marked with a gold St. George saber with diamonds and the inscription: “For the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian armies in Volhynia, in Bukovina and Galicia on May 22-25, 1916” .

COLLECTIVE GEORGIEV AWARDS

In addition to individual St. George awards, in the Russian army there were also collective ones that were awarded to entire military units for special military distinctions: St. George banners and standards, St. George's trumpets and signal horns.

The prototypes of the St. George Banners, special battle banners with inscriptions explaining what feats they were issued for, were established by Paul I, who awarded them in 1800 for military distinctions to four regiments of Tauride, Moscow, Arkhangelsk and Smolensk. Under Alexander I, the award banners got even more different from the simple ones at the top of the staff, instead of the double-headed eagle, they began to attach the image of the cross of the Order of St. George, banner tassels began to be hung not on a silver braid, but on a black-orange St. George ribbon. The first awarding of the St. George banners proper took place in 1806 , when the Pavlograd Hussar, Chernigov Dragoon, Kyiv Grenadier regiments and two Cossack regiments of the Don Army received - the first two - cavalry standards, the rest - banners with St. George's crosses and ribbons, with a commemorative inscription. In the future, dozens of regiments of the Russian army deserved this honorary award.

Issued, but less often, St. George's flags and warships. The first to earn the right to raise the stern St. George flag was the battleship Azov, which, under the command of Captain 1st Rank M.P. Lazarev distinguished himself in the battle of Navarino in 1827 with the Turkish squadron. The second ship in the Russian fleet, which received the right to raise the St. George flag, was the 18-gun brig "Mercury", which, under the command of Captain Lieutenant A.I. Kazarsky withstood the battle on May 14, 1829 with two Turkish battleships. Despite a tenfold superiority in artillery, the Turks failed to capture the Russian brig. On the contrary, with well-aimed shots, the Russian sailors inflicted severe damage on the enemy and forced him to stop fighting. The entire crew of the Mercury was presented for awards (A.I. Kazarsky received the Order of St. George of the 4th degree), and the St. George flag was hoisted at the stern of the brig. At the same time, it was established that the Black Sea squadron should always include a ship with the name "Mercury" or "Memory of Mercury", bearing the stern St. George's flag.

In the Russian army there was another type of collective military award - St. George's silver pipes (in the cavalry - signal horns) with silver St. George's crosses and black-orange ribbons attached to them. The first silver award trumpets, still without additional decorations, were issued in 1737 to a battalion of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment for distinction during the capture of the Ochakov fortress. In 1760, for the capture of Berlin in the Seven Years' War, several dozen award pipes were issued to units of the Russian army, which especially distinguished themselves in this operation. After 1769, with the establishment of the Order of St. George, award trumpets were decorated with St. George's crosses and ribbons.

At present, in Russia, in order to improve the system of state awards, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 08.08.2000 No. 1463, the Order of St. George the Victorious was restored and the Statute of the Order and its description were approved, but until 2008 no awards were made. This was due to the statute of the order, according to which it was possible to receive an award only during hostilities when an external enemy attacked. The Russian Federation has not waged such wars over the past period.

On August 13, 2008, the statute of the order was changed and it became possible to award them for conducting combat and other operations on the territory of other states while maintaining or restoring international peace and security (peacekeeping operations).

The first cavalier of the revived order was the commander of the North Caucasian Military District, Colonel General S.A. Makarov, who was awarded the Order of the 4th degree on August 18, 2008 for the successful implementation of the operation to force Georgia to peace. For participation in the same operation of the Order of St. George 2nd Art. were awarded the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, General of the Army N.E. Makarov, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, General of the Army V.A. Boldyrev, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Colonel-General A.N. Zelin.

From the date of the establishment of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George in 1769, an ode by Empress Catherine the Great, this day, November 26 (December 9, new style), began to be considered the festive Day of the Cavaliers of St. George, which was to be celebrated annually both at the court and “in all those places where the cavalier of the big cross will happen. Since the time of Catherine II, the Winter Palace has become the venue for the main solemn ceremonies associated with the Order. Meetings of the Duma of the Order of St. George were held in St. George's Hall. Solemn receptions were held annually on the occasion of the order holiday, for solemn dinners they used the St. George porcelain service, created by order of Catherine II at the Gardner factory in 1777-1778.

The last time in the Russian Empire the Knights of St. George celebrated their order holiday on November 26, 1916.

In modern Russia, this day is celebrated as the Day of Heroes of the Fatherland. The memorable date "Day of Heroes of the Fatherland" was established by the State Duma of the Russian Federation on January 26, 2007, when Russian parliamentarians adopted the corresponding bill in the first reading. The explanatory note to the document stated the following: "We not only pay tribute to the memory of heroic ancestors, but also honor the living Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation, holders of the Order of St. George and the Order of Glory." In the same place, the authors of the bill expressed the hope that a new memorable date for Russia would contribute to "the formation in society of the ideals of selfless and disinterested service to the Fatherland."

The material was prepared at the Research Institute of Military History of the VAGSh of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

M. I. Kutuzov was one of four people who were awarded all the degrees of the military Order of St. George. All his military career as an officer, from ensign to field marshal, he went along with the Russian army through the fire and smoke of battles.

Participating in the Russian-Turkish wars of the last third of the 18th century, M.I. Kutuzov received orders and other awards, rose to the rank of general, for victories over the Turks on the Danube in 1811 and for the Peace of Bucharest he was awarded the rank and princely dignity, the rank of general received a field marshal for Borodino; honorary prefix "Smolensky" to his surname - for the liberation of the city of Smolensk from Napoleon's troops.

Let us now go back a little and highlight in detail the main stages of the military path of this outstanding Russian commander.

During the war with Turkey in 1768-1774, M. I. Kutuzov took part in the battles at Ryaba Mogila, Larga, and Cahul. In July 1774, the regiment of the Moscow Legion, whose battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel M.I. Kutuzov, rapidly attacked the village of Shumy (not far from Alushta), fortified by Turkish troops.

The battalion crushed the enemy and put him to flight. At the head of the first battalion of the regiment, M. I. Kutuzov burst into Shumy with a banner in his hands, but in this attack he was seriously wounded: a bullet hit him in the left temple and exited at his right eye, which was badly lopsided. To preserve it, he wore a black armband all his life. For this battle, M.I. Kutuzov received his first Order of St. George - a cross of the 4th degree.

After a long treatment, M. I. Kutuzov in 1776 was again assigned to the Crimea, where he became the closest assistant to A. V. Suvorov, who commanded the troops. By the beginning of the second Turkish war, M.I. Kutuzov was already a major general, commander of the Bug Jaeger Corps. In 1788 this corps took part in the siege and capture of Ochakov. On August 18, the garrison of the fortress made a sortie and attacked the battalion of rangers; the four-hour battle, which ended in Russian victory, was personally led by M.I. Kutuzov.

M. I. Kutuzov. Hood. R. Volkov

And again a severe wound: a bullet hit the left cheek and exited the back of the head. Doctors predicted an imminent death, but he not only survived, but also continued his military service: in 1789 he accepted a separate corps, with which Akkerman occupied, fought near Causeni and during the assault on Bendery. By that time, his general's uniform was already decorated with the stars of the orders of St. Anna and St. Vladimir of the 2nd degree.

Field Marshal M. I. Kutuzov. During the assault on Izmail - Major General, commander of the 6th assault column

The next year, 1790, is glorified in Russian military history by the storming of Ishmael. About the actions of M. I. Kutuzov, who commanded one of the assault columns, A. V. Suvorov subsequently wrote: “He walked on my left wing, but was my right hand.” On March 25, 1791, for distinction during the capture of Ishmael, the commander receives a white neck cross - the Order of St. George, 3rd degree, and is promoted to lieutenant general.

In the presentation of M. I. Kutuzov for the award, it was said: “Major General and Cavalier Golenishchev-Kutuzov showed new experiences of art and courage, overcoming all difficulties under the strongest enemy fire, climbed the rampart, took possession of the bastion, and when an excellent enemy forced to stop him, he, serving as an example of courage, held his place, overcame a strong enemy, established himself in the fortress and then continued to hit the enemies. M. I. Kutuzov was appointed commandant of the captured Izmail, and soon all Russian troops on the Danube between the Dniester and the Prut were subordinated to him.

Signs of the Order of St. George 2nd degree - a large neck cross and a star - M. I. Kutuzov receives for the victory at Machin on June 28, 1791. This battle lasted about six hours and ended with the complete defeat of the Turks. The commander of the Russian troops, Field Marshal N.V. Repnin, reported in his report: "The quickness and quick wit of General Golenishchev-Kutuzov surpasses all my praise." Before that, for his valor and brilliant leadership of the troops, which led to the victory at Babadag, Mikhail Illarionovich was awarded the signs of the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

In the 90s of the 18th century, M.I. Kutuzov won brilliant victories already in the diplomatic arena, he also showed himself as an excellent administrator and teacher as Chief Director of the Land Cadet Corps. Under Emperor Paul I, he commanded troops in Finland, was the Lithuanian governor-general and the military governor of St. Petersburg. During these years, he received a large cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (October 4, 1799) and the highest award of the Russian Empire - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (September 8, 1800). To become a knight of all Russian orders, he had to receive only the first degrees of the orders of St. Vladimir and St. George. The Vladimir ribbon over his shoulder was put on by M. I. Kutuzov on February 24, 1806 as a reward for the campaign of 1805, in which he proved himself to be a brilliant commander.

Commander-in-Chief Prince M.I. Kutuzov. 1812. Engraving by B. Chorikov. 19th century

In 1811, M. I. Kutuzov again took part in the war against Turkey, now as the commander-in-chief of the Russian army in Bessarabia. On June 22, 1811, he defeated the Turks near Rushuk, for which Emperor Alexander I granted him his own premium portrait, adorned with diamonds. And the following year, a month before Napoleon's invasion of Russia, M. I. Kutuzov concluded a victorious peace with Turkey.

The role of M. I. Kutuzov in the Patriotic War of 1812 is well known. Being first the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of Russia in the war with Napoleon, and then the commander-in-chief of the allied forces, he showed himself to be a wonderful strategist, a man of great statesmanship and the greatest commander. On December 12, 1812, for "the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia," Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, already in the rank of field marshal, receives the highest military award of Russia - the Order of St. George, 1st degree - and becomes not only a holder of all Russian and many foreign orders, but also the first Full Knight of the Order of St. George.

M. I. Kutuzov led the military operations of the Russian army even after the invaders were expelled from Russia. The great commander died in the small Silesian town of Bunzlau on April 16 (28), 1813. An obelisk was erected there with the inscription: “Until now, Prince Kutuzov-Smolensky brought the victorious Russian troops, but here death put an end to his glorious deeds. He saved his Fatherland and opened the way to the deliverance of Europe. May the hero's memory be blessed."

Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (1761-1818)

The famous Russian commander Field Marshal Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly, a participant in many of the most important battles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was a man of bright and difficult fate. The beginning of his combat biography is associated with participation in the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791: for the assault on Ochakovo, he received his first awards - the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree with a bow and the gold Ochakov Cross. In 1789 he participated in the battle of Kaushany, during the capture of Akkerman and Bendery; in 1794, commanding a battalion, he received the Order of St. George, 4th degree. In 1798, Colonel M. B. Barclay de Tolly was appointed chief of the 4th Jaeger Regiment, a year later this regiment becomes exemplary, and its commander is promoted to major general.

The war with Napoleonic France in 1806-1807 strengthened the glory of M. B. Barclay de Tolly as a skillful and fearless general. In 1806, he was awarded the Order of St. George 3rd degree for excellent command and selfless courage in the bloody battle of Pultusk. In the following 1807, the general brilliantly showed himself in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, where he commanded the rearguard of the Russian army, and was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree. The outstanding military talent of M. B. Barclay de Tolly was fully manifested (and was appreciated) during the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-1809.

A clear practical mind, determination and amazing courage put him in the forefront of Russian military leaders. M. B. Barclay de Tolly commanded a separate detachment, which made the famous crossing over the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia, culminating in the capture of the city of Umea. After this operation, he was promoted to general from infantry and received the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, and in 1810 he was appointed Minister of War.

His work in this post deserves the highest praise. Under him, the "Institution for the management of a large active army" was drawn up, which brought considerable benefits to the Russian army in the Patriotic War of 1812 and in its foreign campaign of 1813; a corps organization was introduced, new fortresses were built, infantry divisions were formed, the allowance of the troops was improved and, most importantly, the training of recruits. The merits of the Minister of War already in 1811 were awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree.

Battle of Preussish-Eylau (1807).

The retreat to Moscow in 1812 aroused dissatisfaction with M. B. Barclay de Tolly both in the army and in Russian society. He was accused of indecision and even of treason. But the commander was firmly committed to the implementation of his deeply thought-out plan of warfare. On August 17, he was forced to transfer command of all the troops to M.I. Kutuzov, while he himself remained at the head of the 1st Army. He was also removed from the leadership of the War Ministry.

Bovine engraving from maps. Zwebach

In the Battle of Borodino, M. B. Barclay de Tolly commanded the right flank and center of the Russian troops. “The cast iron crushed, but did not shake the breasts of the Russians, personally enlivened by the presence of Barclay de Tolly. It is unlikely that there was a dangerous place in the center where he did not dispose of and where the regiment was, not encouraged by his words and example.

Five horses were killed under him, ”one of the participants in the battle later recalled. The fearlessness and composure of the general that amazed everyone (he seemed to be looking for death in battle!) Combined with excellent orderliness, the art of the commander returned to him the unfairly lost confidence in the army. For the leadership of the troops in the Battle of Borodino, M. B. Barclay de Tolly was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree.

M. B. Barkyaay de Tolly Battle of Borodino. Unknown thin 1820s

The commander successfully led the battles during the foreign campaign of 1813, and in May of the same year, a month and a half after the death of M. I. Kutuzov, he took command of the combined forces of the Russian-Prussian army.

He was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called - the highest award of the state. On August 18, in the battle of Kulm, he utterly defeated the corps of the French general F. Vandam and took him prisoner. The Order of St. George 1st degree crowns this feat, and M. B. Barclay de Tolly becomes the full Knight of St. George. On the day of the capture of Paris, March 18, 1814, he received the field marshal's baton, and a little later the title of His Grace Prince.

Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich (1782-1856)

Field Marshal I.F. Paskevich-Erivansky, participating in the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812, rose from captain to major general in five years, at the same time he received his first military awards, among which were the 4th and 3rd -I degree of the Order of St. George. In 1812, I. F. Paskevich was appointed head of the 26th division, commanding which he took part in many battles of the Patriotic War, and in the most important of them - Borodino - he defended the battery of N. N. Raevsky.

However, the further career of I.F. Paskevich was associated not so much with military exploits, but with the favors that the monarchs showered on him. In the first half of the 1820s, he commanded the 1st Guards Division, whose brigades were under the command of Grand Dukes Nikolai and Mikhail Pavlovich.

When Nicholas I became emperor, he continued to call I.F. Paskevich "father-commander", because as a young man he served under him and he was one of his military mentors.

In 1825, I.F. Paskevich was appointed a member of the Supreme Court over the Decembrists, and at the end of his activity, he was appointed governor in the Caucasus instead of General A.P. Yermolov, who was objectionable to the emperor. Here, during the Russian-Iranian war for the capture of the fortress of Erivan, I.F. Paskevich received the Order of St. George of the 2nd degree in 1829, and soon became the full St. Turk. Subsequently, I. F. Paskevich "became famous" for the suppression of the Polish uprising in 1831, and in 1849 - the Hungarian revolution. In 1828 he received the title of "Count of Erivan", and in 1831 - "High Serene Prince of Warsaw".

Field Marshal I. F. Paskevich. Engraving by Yu. Utkin after fig. Reimers. 1832

Ivan Ivanovich Dibich (1785-1831)

I. I. Dibich-Zabalkansky was a contemporary and a kind of rival of I. F. Paskevich. A native of Prussia, he entered the Russian service and, participating against Napoleon in the war of 1805-1807, received the Order of St. George, 4th degree. In 1812, he was awarded the neck St. George Cross for the battle near Polotsk. In 1818, he was promoted to adjutant general, and three years later, Emperor Alexander I took him with him to the Laibach Congress. And from that time on, the dexterous I. I. Dibich became an inseparable companion of the king, confidently making a court career, and at the same time a military career. He also earned the favor of Emperor Nicholas I - with a report on the discovery of the Decembrists' conspiracy, personally taking measures to arrest many of them. I. I. Dibich received his title of Trans-Balkan, as well as the two highest degrees of the Order of St. George, for the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. As Chief of the General Staff, he developed the plan for the 1828 campaign.

The following year, I. I. Dibich was appointed commander-in-chief in the Balkan theater of operations (instead of Field Marshal P. X. Wittgenstein, who was blamed for the army’s unsuccessful actions). Here I. I. Dibich showed great determination. In May, at Kulevcha, he defeated the Turkish army, and this victory brought him the insignia of the Order of St. George, 2nd degree. Then, after the capture of the fortress of Silistria, he crossed the Balkans and, despite the difficult situation of the small Russian army, in the rear of which the Turkish troops remained, he managed to dictate victorious peace conditions to the Turks. This success was marked by the highest degree of the Russian military order.

The Trans-Balkan campaign turned the head of the ambitious I. I. Dibich, and when an uprising broke out in Poland a year later, he self-confidently promised the emperor to end it with one blow. But the campaign dragged on, I. I. Dibich no longer showed decisiveness, and it is not known how the matter would have ended if he had not died of cholera. The work of suppressing the Polish uprising was completed by I.F. Paskevich.

Field Marshal I. I. Dibich-Zabalkansky