Where was Platov born? 8 letters. Platov, Matvey Ivanovich. Last years of life. Death

Famous Russian military leader, military ataman of the Don Cossack army (since 1801), cavalry general (1809), count (1812). Took part in all wars Russian Empire late XVIII - early XIX century. In 1805 he founded Novocherkassk, where he moved the capital of the Don Cossack Army. Matvey Ivanovich Platov by birth belonged to the Old Believers-Priests, although due to his position he did not openly declare this. In “Historical Sketches of Priesthood” P. I. Melnikov directly calls Platov an Old Believer. Matvey Platov was born in the capital of the Don Cossacks, Cherkassk (now the village of Starocherkasskaya, Aksai district Rostov region). His father is a Cossack Ivan Fedorovich Platov was a military sergeant major. Mother - Platova Anna Larionovna, born in 1733. Married to Ivan Fedorovich, they had four sons: Matvey, Stephen, Andrey And Peter.

Matvey Ivanovich entered service on the Don in the Military Chancellery in 1766 with the rank of constable, and on December 4, 1769 he received the rank of captain. all of him military career luck was with us. In 1771, he distinguished himself during the attack and capture of the Perekop line and Kinburn. Since 1772 he commanded a Cossack regiment. In 1774 he fought against the highlanders in the Kuban. On April 3, he was surrounded by Tatars near the Kalala River, but managed to fight back and forced the enemy to retreat. Skillfully and independently repelled seven attacks of the “non-peaceful” highlanders on the Cossack camp. For this feat he was awarded a personal gold medal by decree of Empress Catherine II. Then the words of Matvey Ivanovich Platov were heard, which became his life motto:

Honor is more valuable than life!..

In 1774 (according to other sources - in 1775) at the head of his regiment he took part in the pacification Pugacheva. In 1782 - 1783 he fought with the Nogais in the Kuban. In 1784 he participated in the suppression of uprisings of Chechens and Lezgins. Distinguished himself near the city of Kopyl, in battles with the Khan's cavalry Devlet-Gireya. During these years, the young Don officer served under the command of General-in-Chief A.V. Suvorov, having gone through a good combat school in the North Caucasus. In June 1787, Platov received the rank of army colonel. On behalf of G.A. Potemkin he formed four Cossack regiments from single-palace residents of the Yekaterinoslav province.

Platov went through the Russian-Turkish War of 1787 - 1791 from beginning to end. In 1788, he distinguished himself during the assault on Ochakov, for which on April 14, 1789 he was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th class. “For excellent courage shown during the attack on the Ochakov fortress.” His Serene Highness Prince G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky transfers the Don colonel to the Chuguev Cossack regiment. At his head, Platov fought bravely in Bessarabia. In 1789, he distinguished himself in the battle of Causeni (September 13), in the capture of the fortified castle of Palanca, in the capture of Akkerman (September 28) and Bender (November 3). For Kaushany he receives the rank of foreman.

Since 1790 - ataman of the Ekaterinoslav and Chuguev Cossack troops. Participated in the capture of Izmail, was noted by A.V. Suvorov as a valiant warrior and on March 25, 1791 was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd class. “In honor of the diligent service and excellent courage shown during the capture of the city and fortress of Izmail by attack with the extermination of the Turkish army that was there, commanding a column.” On January 1, 1793, he was promoted to major general and awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree. In 1796 he took part in the Persian campaign and was appointed commander of all Cossack units. After the campaign was suddenly canceled by decree from St. Petersburg, having disobeyed the Highest command, he remained with his regiment to guard the headquarters of the commander-in-chief, Count Valeriana Zubova, who was threatened with Persian captivity. For the valor shown during the capture of the ancient fortress of Derbent, he received the Golden Weapon award - a saber decorated with diamonds with the inscription "For bravery".

In 1797, during the reign Paul I, Platov was suspected by the emperor of conspiracy, expelled from service and exiled to Kostroma. In 1800 he was arrested and imprisoned Peter and Paul Fortress. In January 1801, he was released and, by order of Paul I, became a participant in the Indian campaign of the Don Army. Only with the death of Paul in March 1801, Platov, who had already advanced to Orenburg at the head of 27 thousand Cossacks, was returned Alexander I. August 26, 1801 M.I. Platov receives the highest rescript appointing him military ataman of the Don Army. On September 15 of the same year, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, and was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree.

With the rank of ataman, Matvey Ivanovich took up the “improvement” of the Cossack army entrusted to him, doing a lot to improve its military organization and Everyday life. Under his leadership, military command and control were reorganized and the Don artillery was reformed. One of the significant events in the history and biography of Matvey Ivanovich Platov is his founding of the city of Novocherkassk, and the transfer of the capital of the Don Cossack Army to a new city.

Founding of Novocherkassk

The founding of the city of Novocherkassk - the idea and its implementation - belongs to M.I. Platov. The reasons for the founding of the new capital of the Don Cossacks were the following: firstly, the village of Starocherkasskaya is located on the right side of the Don River, and it was almost annually flooded by the waters of the Don flooding in the spring; secondly, in the former Cossack capital, built chaotically, without a master plan, there were frequent fires, in the fire of which up to half of the wooden buildings burned out. In addition, there were no reliable land access routes to Cherkassk.

Ataman Platov had long been nurturing the project of creating a new capital of the Don Cossack Army. In 1804, Emperor Alexander I approved the presentation of M.I. Platov “On the foundation of a new city on the Don, which will be called the new Cherkassy.” A famous French engineer worked on the city plan Franz de Volland. He was the first engineer in the armies G.A. Potemkin, And A.V. Suvorov, the first architect of Voznesenko, Odessa, Novocherskassk, 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 Railways, the first member of the Committee of Ministers of this department. Under his leadership, the Tikhvin and Mariinsk water systems were created.

In 1805, on the day of the Ascension of the Lord, the ceremonial foundation of the new city took place. The festively arranged move to New Cherkassk took place on May 9, 1806 and was marked by 101 gun shots. In the same 1806, Emperor Alexander I entrusted Platov with command of all the Cossack regiments of Russia sent to war. In this regard, he is awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

All-Russian fame

Platov’s talent as a Cossack commander “became visible and noticeable to everyone” during the wars against Napoleonic France. From 1806 to 1807 There is a Russian-Prussian-French war. Fighting on the territory East Prussia showed that the ataman of the Don Army is capable of skillfully managing thousands of irregular cavalry. In the campaign of 1807, Matvey Ivanovich commanded all the Cossack regiments of the active army. After the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, Platov earned all-Russian fame. He became famous for his dashing raids on the flanks French army, inflicted defeat on several separate detachments. After the retreat from Heilsberg, Platov’s detachment acted in the rearguard, taking on constant attacks from those pursuing the Russian army French troops. For successfully covering the Russian army, which was retreating to the city of Tilsit, which stood on the border river Neman, the chieftain was awarded diamond badges to the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In Tilsit, where peace was concluded, Platov met Napoleon, who recognized the chieftain’s military successes. However, the chieftain refused the French Order of the Legion of Honor, saying:

I did not serve Napoleon and cannot serve.

On November 22, 1807, Matvey Ivanovich was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd class “For repeated participation in battles as head of forward posts during the war with the French in 1807.” The Prussian king awarded him the Orders of the Red Eagle and the Black Eagle.

During the Russian-Turkish War of 1806 - 1812. troops under the command of Platov took the city of Babadag and captured the Girsovo fortress by storm, for which the chieftain was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree. Then Platov and his Cossacks contributed to the success of the commander-in-chief of the Russian Moldavian army, general of infantry P.I. Bagration in the battle of Rassevat. The Don Cossacks achieved their greatest victory in that war on September 23, 1809. Then they completely defeated the five thousand strong Turkish corps in a field battle between the enemy fortresses of Silistria and Rushchuk. For this victory, Matvey Ivanovich was promoted to cavalry general on September 27, 1809.

Patriotic War and Foreign Campaign

During Patriotic War In 1812, Matvey Ivanovich Platov first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, covering the retreat of the army, had successful dealings with the enemy near the towns 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 Great 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 join the 1st Army Barclay de Tolly. Bagration was pursued from the west by an army Jerome Bonaparte. On July 1, Bagration’s retreating army headed towards the junction, but on July 3, avoiding a battle with the marshal’s army 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 rested.

Under the command of Platov there were 5.5 Cossack regiments, numbering 2,600 sabers. On July 9, the ataman ordered an ambush and detained the enemy's advance detachment. V. A. Sysoev(Lieutenant General, also a Don Cossack) divided his regiment into three groups: one hundred were 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 positioned. This is how the “Cossack Venter” ambush was prepared. The Polish lancers were ambushed, and during two days of fighting near Mir, 6 lancer 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, the 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.

In the battle near the village of Semlevo, Platov’s army defeated the French and captured a colonel from the marshal’s army Murat. Part of the success belongs to Major General Baron Rosen, to whom Ataman Platov provided complete freedom actions. After the battle of Saltanovka, the ataman covered Bagration’s retreat to Smolensk. On July 27 (August 8) he attacked the general’s cavalry near the village of Molevo Boloto Sebastiani, overthrew the enemy, took 310 prisoners and Sebastiani's briefcase with important papers. After the Battle of Smolensk, Platov commanded the rearguard of the united Russian armies.

From August 17 (29) to August 25 (September 6), Matvey Ivanovich fought daily battles with the French vanguard units. At the critical moment of the Battle of Borodino, together with Uvarov directed to bypass Napoleon's left flank. Near the village of Bezzubovo, the cavalry was stopped by the general's troops Ornano and came back. The chieftain called on the Cossacks to join the militia, and already in Tarutino the Cossack contingent reached 22 thousand people. After the battle of Maloyaroslavets, Field Marshal General M.I. Kutuzov Platov was entrusted with command of the vanguard of the Main Army and the organization of the pursuit of the retreating Great Army. Ataman did this great thing for the history of Russia together with the troops of the general M.A. Miloradovich successfully and efficiently. Strong blows were dealt to the troops of the famous Marshal Davout, from whom the Cossacks recaptured 27 guns near the Kolotsky Monastery.

The Platov cavalry took part in the battle of Vyazma, in which the French marshal corps suffered complete defeat Michel Ney, the same Davout and the Italian viceroy. Then Platov organized the pursuit of the corps Beauharnais. On October 27 (November 8) on the Vop River between Dorogobuzh and Dukhovshchina, the Cossack cavalry cut off part of the Beauharnais corps and took 3.5 thousand prisoners, including the corps chief of staff, General Sansona, and 62 guns. For his merits, by a personal Highest decree of October 29 (November 10), 1812, the ataman of the Don army, cavalry general Matvey Ivanovich Platov, with his descendants, was elevated to count's dignity of the Russian Empire .

On November 8, the flying corps of the cavalry general Count M.I. Platov, while crossing the Dnieper River, completely defeated the remnants of Marshal Ney's corps. Three days later, the Cossacks occupied the city of Orsha. On November 15, they captured the city of Borisov in battle, and the enemy lost about 5 thousand killed and 7 thousand prisoners. The irregular cavalry had great success on November 28 in the battle of the city of Vilno (Nene - Vilnius, Lithuania), where a 30,000-strong enemy corps, which tried to cover the retreat of the remnants of the Great Army beyond the border Neman, was completely defeated. For three days, Platov pursued the retreating enemy army from Vilna to Kovno and, without giving him time to reorganize his forces, on December 3 entered Kovno (modern Kaunas). On that day, the Cossacks successfully crossed the Neman River and moved fighting Russian army into the territory of East Prussia. Emperor Alexander I more than once expressed his royal “favor” to the Cossack commander from the banks of the Don.

The effectiveness of the combat activities of the Cossack troops under the command of Ataman Count M.I. Platov during the Patriotic War of 1812 is amazing. They captured 546 (548) enemy guns, 30 banners and captured more than 70 thousand Napoleonic soldiers, officers and generals; and also recaptured a huge amount of valuables looted in Moscow. Commander M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov wrote to M.I. Platov the following words:

The services you provided to the Fatherland have no examples; you proved to the whole of Europe the power and strength of the inhabitants of the blessed Don...

During the Foreign Campaign, Matvey Ivanovich was at the Main Apartment, and from time to time he was entrusted with the command of individual detachments operating on enemy communications. In 1813, Platov fought in Prussia and took part in the siege of the powerful fortress of Danzig. On September 16, in the first foreign campaign, Platov’s cavalry near the city of Oltenburg (Altenburg) defeated the general’s French corps Lefebvre and pursued him to the city of Zeiss. The reward was a precious portrait (decorated with diamonds) of the All-Russian sovereign to be worn on the chest.

In September, Matvey Ivanovich received command of a special corps, with which he participated in the battles of Leipzig on October 4, 6 and 7, 1813. The Cossack regiments of Ataman Platov's flying corps, pursuing the enemy, captured about 15 thousand soldiers and officers.

For his services, on October 8, 1813, M. I. Platov was awarded the highest award of the Russian Empire - the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. For his persecution of the French, he was given a diamond feather with the monogram of Emperor Alexander I to wear on his headdress. On October 10, the flying corps of the Don Ataman inflicted a new defeat on the French troops of General Lefebvre. The battle took place under German city Weimar. From October 16 to 18, the Cossack regiments provided support to the allied Bavarian troops under the command of General Vrede in the battle of Hanau. Matvey Ivanovich’s golden saber “For Bravery” was decorated with golden laurels.

The year 1814 was marked for the Cossack cavalry under the command of Platov with many victories already on French soil. The Flying Corps distinguished itself in its battles at Laon, Epinal, and Charm. Matvey Ivanovich fought at the head of his regiments during the capture of the fortified city of Nemours (Namur) (February 4), in the defeat of the enemy at Aris, at Arcy-sur-Auba (the battle on March 20-21 between Napoleon’s army and the Main Allied Army on the Ob River during campaign of 1814 in France. It was. last battle Napoleon, where he personally commanded troops before his first abdication), Cezanne and Villeneuve. Near the city of Cezanne, Platov's Cossacks captured a detachment of the selected troops of Emperor Napoleon I - part of the forces of his Old Guard. Then they took the outskirts of the enemy’s capital, the town of Fontainebleau. Ataman M.I. Platov, at the head of his light horse regiments, which surprised Europe for three years - from 1812 to 1814 - as part of the Russian army, solemnly entered defeated Paris. The Donets then set up their bivouac on the famous Champs Elysees.

Also in 1814, after imprisonment Parisian world, cavalry general M.I. Platov accompanied the emperor Alexandra I to London, where he was received special attention. Together with three particularly distinguished commanders of the armies of the anti-Napoleonic coalition - the Russian field marshal Barclay de Tolly, Prussian field marshal Blucher and Austrian field marshal Schwarzenberg received as a reward from the City of London a special honorary saber made of jewelry (located in Novocherkassk in the Museum of the History of the Don Cossacks).

Matvey Ivanovich Platov became the first Russian to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the aristocratic University of Oxford. The royal ship was named after him naval forces, and the London Mint struck bronze medals in his honor.

Last years of life. Death

After 1815, the commander settled on the Don, in the military capital - the city of Novocherkassk, where he worked a lot for the benefit of the city and the entire Don Cossacks. In the last years of his life, Platov founded a gymnasium and a military printing house in Novocherkassk. Matvey Ivanovich died three years later, on January 3 (January 15, new style) 1818. Initially, the ataman was buried in Novocherkassk, in the family crypt near the Ascension Cathedral in 1818. In 1875, his reburial took place at the Bishop's dacha (on the Mishkin farm), and on October 4 (17), 1911, his ashes were transferred to the tomb of the Military Cathedral in Novocherkassk. After October 1917, Platov's grave was desecrated. The ashes were reburied in the same place in the military cathedral on May 15, 1993.

Count family of Platovs

It is known that Matvey Ivanovich Platov was married twice, and from him comes the count family of the Platovs. In February 1777 he married Nadezhda Stepanovna, daughter of the marching chieftain Stepan Efremov and the granddaughter of Major General Daniil Efremov. From his first marriage, Matvey Ivanovich had a son Ivan(Ist) (1777 - 1806). After the death of N.S. Platova (November 15, 1873), M.I. Platov married again.

In 1785 his second wife became Marfa Dmitrievna(b. about 1760 - December 24, 1812/1813), widow of a colonel Pavel Fomich Kirsanov(1740 - 1782), sister of the ataman Andrey Dmitrievich Martynov. She was awarded the Order of St. Catherine of the Minor Cross on August 11, 1809. In his second marriage, Matvey Ivanovich had four daughters and two sons:
Marfa(1786 - 1821) was married to a colonel Stepan Dmitrievich Ilovaisky (1778 — 1816);
Anna(1778 - ?) - married Kharitonov;
Maria(1789 - 1866) - wife of a major general Timofey Dmitrievich Grekov;
Alexandra (1791 — ?);
Matvey(1793 - after 1814) - Major General, awarded the Order of St. George, 4th class. “For distinction in battles with the French” (1813);
Ivan(II) (1796 - 1874) - colonel, participant in the Patriotic War of 1812.

In addition, Marfa Dmitrievna’s children from her first marriage were brought up in the Platov family - Khrisanf Kirsanov, future major general, and Ekaterina Pavlovna Kirsanova, later the wife of the punishment chieftain Nikolai Ilovaisky.

Ataman Platov and the Old Believers

Matvey Ivanovich Platov rendered an invaluable service to the Old Believers: while in Moscow after the expulsion of Napoleon, he donated to the Rogozhsky cemetery at the request of the priest Fr. Ioanna Yastrebova a marching linen church in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, consecrated before Nikon, which, together with an Old Believer priest (possibly a guide), was with his detachment during the campaign against Napoleon. Moscow Old Believers received permission from the authorities to serve liturgy in this church. Before that, the liturgy at Rogozhsky was served secretly and therefore very rarely. Since 1813, liturgy began to be celebrated at the Rogozhskoe cemetery on major holidays, installing a camp church right in the altar. This camp church was later created through the efforts of the Moscow Metropolitan Philareta (Drozdova) taken away from the Old Believers.

Old Believers still preserve the memory of Ataman Platov. So, in 2012, in the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church on Rogozhsky, anniversary celebrations dedicated to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812 took place, and on December 7, 2013, the Metropolitan took part in the grand opening of the monument to Ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov, which was installed in the Cossack Glory Park of the district Lefortovo South-Eastern administrative district Moscow.

Memory of Matvey Platov

In 1853, using public money collected on the Don by subscription, a monument was erected in the city of Novocherkassk (authors P. K. Klodt, A. Ivanov, N. Tokarev) the most famous Cossack chieftain in the history of Russia. The inscription on the monument read “To Ataman Count Platov, for his military exploits from 1770 to 1816, grateful people of the Don.” In 1923, the monument was demolished, and in 1993 it was recreated. Currently, Novocherkassk is the capital of the world Cossacks, and in the center of the city, near the Military Cathedral, there is a monument to the founder of the city - Ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov.

There is also an equestrian monument to M.I. Platov in Novocherkassk, erected in 2003 to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of the ataman. In the same city there is a monument to the All-Great Don Army.

On August 26, 1904, the 4th Don Cossack Regiment began to bear the name of Matvey Ivanovich Platov, as the eternal chief.

The railway brand train “Rostov - Moscow” is named after Matvey Platov.

In Moscow in 1976, Platovskaya Street was named in honor of the chieftain. The name was transferred from the built-up Platovsky Proezd, which was so named back in 1912.

The village of Budyonnovskaya (Proletarsky district of the Rostov region) was formerly called Platovskaya.

September 1, 2008 in the Moscow Cossack Cadet Corps named after. Sholokhov" a bust of M.I. was installed. Platov as part of the “Walk of Russian Glory” project.

Until the first half of the 1920s, there was Platovskaya Street in Novocherkassk, renamed Podtyolkovsky Avenue. Now called Platovsky Prospekt.

The square in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, which previously bore the name of Shchadenko, has been named after Platov since September 2010, on whose instructions the architect De Vollan completed the initial layout of the village of Kamenskaya. A memorial stele and a bronze bust of the ataman are installed on the square.

The well-known Don Cossack Choir, led by Ataman General Platov, was named after N. Kostryukova.

In 2012, the Central Bank Russian Federation A coin was issued (2 rubles, steel with nickel galvanic coating) from the series “Commanders and Heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812” with a portrait of Ataman Platov on the reverse.

Platov’s name was given to a new airport, opened near Rostov-on-Don on December 7, 2017. The decision was made by the Government of the Rostov Region based on the results of a vote held in March 2016; the final decision on the name of the airport was made at the federal level.

The memory of Matvey Platov is preserved not only in Russia, but also abroad. Some personal belongings of Ataman Platov, in particular the saddle and cup, are in the Museum of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment near Paris in France.

M. Kochergin. Platov, Ivan Matveevich (sr.) // Russian Biographical Dictionary: in 25 volumes / Under the supervision of the Chairman of the Imperial Russian Historical Society A. A. Polovtsev. - St. Petersburg, 1905. - T. 14: Plavilshchikov - Primo. — P. 21.
. Sulin I.M. Pages of the past // Don Regional Gazette. 1902. January 1 (No. 1). S. 3.
. V. G. Levchenko. Heroes of 1812: collection. Young Guard, 1987. Pp. 114.
. Matvey Ivanovich Platov. General Ataman. Graph. Founder of Novocherkassk.
. Astapenko M., Levchenko V. M.I. Platov // Heroes of 1812. - M: Young Guard, 1987. - P. 53-118. — 608 p. — (Life of remarkable people). — 200,000 copies.
. Ladies of Cavalry of the Lesser Cross // Court calendar for 1824.

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

Native of Cherkassk Matvey Ivanovich Platov- one of the most famous Don atamans. Having become the hero of Leskov’s “Lefty,” he even ended up in fiction, and such things always emphasize the significance of a historical figure.

Ataman Platov - a life spent in battles

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

Such ups just don’t happen - Platov was literally born for military life. Since 1788, he fought under the command of Suvorov, taking Ochakov and Izmail. The young Cossack general was favored by Empress Catherine II, which backfired on him when Paul ascended the throne and began persecuting his mother’s favorites. Removed from military service, Platov went into exile in Kostroma, and then was completely imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. He was released when Pavel needed an energetic leader for his planned trip to India. The Cossack troops prepared for this purpose were led by Ataman Matvey Platov. The news of the death of Paul I overtook Platov in Orenburg - Alexander I canceled the crazy campaign, and appointed Platov as military chieftain.

Matvey Ivanovich's first most important task in this post was the transfer of the Don capital to a new location and the construction of Novocherkassk. But he did not engage in peaceful affairs for long - in 1805 the war with Napoleon broke out. From then on until 1815, Ataman Platov fought almost without rest - his Cossacks rushed like a whirlwind across the European continent, calming down only, as one would expect, in Paris. All of Europe applauded them, and most of all - Ataman Platov, who, one must think, seemed to foreigners to be an expression of the mysterious Russian spirit.

On April 13, 1813, Emperor Alexander I signed a manifesto “expressing royal gratitude to the Don Army for its services in the Patriotic War”: “The courageous and tireless vigilance of the military ataman Platov,” it said, “as well as all the brave generals who fought with him.” , officers and all Don police officers and Cossacks in general, contributed greatly to overcoming the great enemy forces and to achieving complete and famous victories over them...”

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

Matvey Ivanovich Platov born August 17, 1751. General of the cavalry. 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 rode his horse to participate in the war with Turkey of 1768 - 1774. He was noticed by commander V. Dolgorukov for his valor, promoted to esaul, and commanded a Cossack hundred. In June 1771 he took part in the assault and capture of Perekop, and showed himself bravely in the battle of Kinburn. He was promoted to military sergeant major and became a regiment commander, at which time he was a little over 20 years old. From 1773 he acted in the Kuban. In 1774, while escorting transport, he was surrounded near the Kalalakh River by the troops of the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey, 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 and was awarded a special gold medal.

In 1775, Platov, at the head of a 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 his 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 Ekaterinoslav army of G. Potemkin led a Cossack regiment, with which he courageously acted during the siege and capture of Ochakov (1788), and was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree. Soon he distinguished himself during the capture of Bendery, in the battle of Kaushany, 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 out for the assault on this powerful fortress, during the assault he commanded the column, then the entire left wing, and set a personal example of courage and heroism awarded the order St. George 3rd degree and promoted to major general.

In 1796, Catherine II instructed Platov and the Cossacks to participate in the Persian campaign under the command of V. Zubov. For his distinction in battles with the Persians and highlanders, he received a golden saber with diamonds and the inscription: “For bravery” 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, and then imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. After the Senate court acquitted him, Pavel awarded Platov Order of Malta and ordered to lead the vanguard of the Cossack army for the campaign against India (January 1801). Three months later, Alexander 1 ascended 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 Cossack troops, the development of their weapons, and founded the first gymnasium on the Don.

During the Russian-Prussian-French war of 1806 - 1807. Platov commanded the Cossack corps. With this war, the international military fame of Platov and the Don Cossacks began. The corps took part in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau (January 1807); during the subsequent movement of Napoleon's army, Platov constantly disturbed it with unexpected raids, inflicting significant losses on the enemy in the battles of Landsberg, Gutstadt, Heilsberg; participated in the Battle of Friedland (June 1807). Napoleon called the Cossacks “the fiend of the human race.” For his distinctions in the war, Matvey Ivanovich was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. George, 2nd degree, and the Don Army was awarded a memorial banner.

In Tilsit, where peace was concluded, Platov met Napoleon, who, in recognition of the ataman’s military successes, presented him with a rich snuff box; The ataman refused the French Order of the Legion of Honor, saying: “I did not serve Napoleon and cannot serve.”

At the beginning of 1808, Platov was sent to Moldova for the Russian-Turkish War of 1806 -1812. Fighting in the army of P. Bagration, he took Girsovo, distinguished himself in the battle of Rassevat and during the siege of Silistria, was awarded the rank of cavalry general, and for the battle of Tataritsa was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree. At the end of 1809, Matvey Ivanovich fell ill (suspicion of consumption), returned to the Don, then was treated in St. Petersburg. When they asked him in the capital: “Isn’t it better here than on the Don?”, he answered: “Everything is wonderful here, but it’s better on the Don, there is everything there, except luxury, which we, the Cossacks, do not need.”

With the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, Matvey Ivanovich headed the Cossack corps, which was part of the 1st Army of Barclay de Tolly, but due to its location covered the retreat of Bagration’s 2nd Western Army. Near the town of Mir, on June 27-28, Platov’s corps defeated 9 regiments of the advancing enemy, bringing the Russian army the first victory in the war of 1812. The Cossacks successfully acted against the vanguard French detachments at Romanovka, Saltanovka, near Smolensk.

During the difficult period of retreat, a misfortune almost happened to Platov. At Semlevo, his rearguard allowed the French to advance, and Barclay de Tolly removed him from command of the rearguard. Barclay believed that the chieftain “slept through” the French due to drunkenness, and besides, he did not like Platov for criticizing him in connection with the continuous retreat. Matvey Ivanovich, who had already left for the Don, was returned to the troops by the new commander-in-chief M. Kutuzov (he had known Platov since 1773). In the Battle of Borodino, ten Cossack regiments of Platov fought on the right flank. At one of the critical moments of the battle, they took part in a cavalry raid behind enemy lines, disrupting their ranks.

At the military council in Fili, which decided the fate of Moscow, the brave Don chieftain spoke out in favor of a new battle with Napoleon, but the wise Kutuzov took it upon himself to give the order to retreat. Platov was the initiator of additional mobilization on the Don, and 22 thousand Cossacks arrived at the Tarutino camp, where the Russian army was gathering forces, at the end of August. The chieftain was entrusted with leading the newly arrived Cossack regiments. On October 7, the retreat of the French army from Moscow began, and Platov’s Cossack cavalry took an active part in pursuing and defeating the enemy along Smolensk road, conducted successful military operations near Vyazma, Smolensk, Krasny. At the request of Kutuzov, by the tsar's decree of October 29, the leader of the Cossacks was promoted to count.

Leaving the borders of Russia, Napoleon admitted that it was the Cossacks who destroyed the cavalry and artillery of the retreating French army. In Poland he uttered a phrase that became famous: “ Give me just the Cossacks and I will conquer all of Europe". After the victorious battle for the Polish city of Danzig, Kutuzov wrote to Platov: “ The services you provided to the fatherland in the continuation of the current campaign are unparalleled! You have proven to the whole of Europe the power and strength of the inhabitants of the blessed Don«.

In 1813-1814 Platov was at the imperial headquarters, carrying out important tasks to defeat individual enemy groups. He gained respect in Western Europe not only for his military successes, but also for his humane attitude towards the vanquished. He took part in the famous “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig, which predetermined the decline of Napoleon, and was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Acting in France at the head of a Cossack detachment, he took Nemur by storm. After the conclusion of the Peace of Paris, he accompanied Alexander 1 on a trip to London, where he met with an enthusiastic reception from the British. Together with three particularly distinguished commanders of the Allied armies - Russian Field Marshal Barclay de Tolly, Prussian Field Marshal Blücher and Austrian Field Marshal Schwarzenberg, he received a special honorary saber of excellent work as a reward from the London City Duma (located in Novocherkassk in the Museum of the History of the Don Cossacks). He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Oxford University.

Upon returning to the Don, Matvey Ivanovich studied internal affairs region of the Don Army. -His health declined, and on January 3, 1818 he died. He was buried in the crypt of the Novocherkassk Ascension Cathedral. There he rests next to the remains of three other heroes of the Don - V.V. Orlov, I.E. Efremov and Y.P. Baklanov. On the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Platov under Nicholas 1 in Novocherkassk, the “whirlwind-ataman” was given monument the work of the famous sculptor P. Klodt (after the revolution of 1917 the monument was destroyed).

Matvey Ivanovich always retained the natural qualities of his Don character, he had a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, he loved to joke, in a simple word he knew how to inspire the Cossacks and support their fighting energy, and enjoyed great authority among them. Platov was married to the widow Marfa Dmitrievna Kirsanova, and had two sons (both Ivanov) and four daughters.

Interesting facts from the life of Ataman Platov

Physics and morality are nothing.

In 1814, having visited England in the retinue of Alexander I, Platov brought from there a certain Englishwoman (as he said, as a “companion”). Denis Davydov asked the chieftain how he managed to “campaign” this miss without knowing a word of English. The answer was:

- This is not for physics at all, but more for morality. She is a kind soul and a well-behaved girl. Besides, she’s so white and portly that you can’t beat a Yaroslavl woman. We do not take the liberty of explaining what the ataman meant by the concepts of “physics” and “morality.”

The truth is in the wine

When Platov was introduced to N.M. Karamzin (as a writer), he said:
- Nice to meet you. I've always loved writers because they're all drunks.
Obviously, the chieftain understood the Latin proverb “Truth is in wine” in a broad sense: “In wine there is not only truth, but also success in writing.”

Doesn't he want...

At one of the court balls, Platov assessed some of its participants in the following way: “For example, Veternik (we were talking about the Austrian Chancellor Meternich) - by his coat and nickname. So it spins, whichever way the wind blows. Here comes Sh...conf. He thinks I will bow to him. Doesn't he want to..."

Full of salon conventions, the 19th century did not allow the expressions used by the ataman of the Don army to be reproduced on paper. Instead, there are dots in the original source.

Unfulfilled son-in-law.

The abandonment of Moscow by the Russian army in 1812 hurt the national pride and professional pride of Matvey Ivanovich. In his hearts he swore: “If anyone, even a simple Cossack, brings Bonapartishka to me - alive or dead, I will give my daughter to him!”

One can reasonably assume that this promise was perceived by contemporaries as a stupid boast or an unwitty joke. However, after about a month, some Cossack almost became the Ataman’s son-in-law. This happened under the following circumstances. "Bonapartishka" traveled around the battle area near Maloyaroslavets, accompanied by Marshals Barthier and Murad, General Rapp and several staff officers. A group of horsemen appeared in front of them, whom they considered their own. Suddenly, with a shout of “Hurray!” they rushed towards the imperial cortege.

Who knows how the history of not only Europe, but the whole world would have developed if Platov’s Cossacks (and it was them) had not rushed (if they had approached unidentified, without noise, as long as this was possible). In this case, the French guards rangers and Polish cavalrymen would have had little chance of saving their emperor.

It is noteworthy that the ataman’s promise became known in England and in London a portrait of a girl in a Cossack costume with the inscription “Miss Platov” and the following saying of the “miss” appeared on sale: “For the love of my father I give my hand, and for the love of the fatherland I give my heart.” "

No need to know languages

Platov liked to drink with the Prussian general Blucher. The wine that was loved by the ataman and pleasant for his drinking companion was “Tsimlyanskoe”. Eyewitnesses told how this Russian-Prussian libation took place. The ataman and the general sit and silently sip wine.

Usually Blucher “passed out” at some point and was taken away by adjutants, and Platov lamented:

- I love Blucher! He's a nice, pleasant person. There is one bad thing about it: it doesn’t hold up!
Platov’s adjutant (also translator) Smirnoy once asked his boss:
- Blucher doesn’t know Russian, and you don’t know German.

What pleasure do you get from this acquaintance?

“As if talking is needed here,” answered the chieftain. “I know his soul even without them.” I like him because he is a warm-hearted person.

Duke is nothing compared to Duke

Platov ordered his adjutant Smirny to write a letter to the Duke of Richelieu. The adjutant wrote on the envelope: “To Duke Emmanuel Richelieu.”
“What a duke he is,” Platov remarked. - He's a Duke.

“But it’s the same thing,” explained the adjutant. Matvey Ivanovich was adamant:
- You will teach me. The Duke is nothing compared to the Duke.

Platov was born in the capital of the Don Cossacks, Cherkassk (now the village of Starocherkasskaya, Aksai district, Rostov region). “From the senior children of the Don Army”— his Cossack father was a military foreman. By birth he belonged to the Old Believers-Priests, although due to his position he did not advertise this. Mother - Platova Anna Larionovna, born in 1733. Married to Ivan Fedorovich, they had four sons - Matvey, Stefan, Andrei and Peter.

Matvey Ivanovich entered service on the Don in the Military Chancellery in 1766 with the rank of constable, and on December 4, 1769 he received the rank of captain.

In 1771 he distinguished himself during the attack and capture of the Perekop line and Kinburn. Since 1772 he commanded a Cossack regiment. In 1774 he fought against the highlanders in the Kuban. On April 3, he was surrounded by Tatars near the Kalala River, but managed to fight back and forced the enemy to retreat.

In 1775, at the head of his regiment, he took part in the defeat of the Pugachevites.

Yaik Cossacks on a campaign (watercolor of the late 18th century). Unknown artist

In 1782-1783 he fought with the Nogais in the Kuban. In 1784 he participated in the suppression of uprisings of Chechens and Lezgins.

In 1788 he distinguished himself during the assault on Ochakov. In 1789 - in the battle of Kaushany (September 13) during the capture of Akkerman (September 28) and Bender (November 3). During the assault on Izmail (December 11, 1790) he led the 5th column.

Ya. Sukhodolsky. "Storm of Ochakov"

Engraving by S. Shiflyar “The Assault of Izmail on December 11 (22), 1790” (colorized version). Made according to a watercolor drawing by the famous battle painter M. M. Ivanov. The drawing was based on full-scale sketches made by the artist during the battle.

Since 1790, ataman of the Ekaterinoslav and Chuguev Cossack troops. On January 1, 1793, he was promoted to major general.

In 1796 he took part in the Persian campaign. After the campaign was suddenly canceled by decree from St. Petersburg, having disobeyed the Highest command, he remained with his regiment to guard the headquarters of the commander-in-chief, Count Valerian Zubov, who was threatened with Persian captivity.

Valerian Alexandrovich Zubov

Artist I. M. Grassi, 1796

He was suspected by Emperor Paul I of conspiracy and in 1797 exiled to Kostroma, and then imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. In January 1801, he was released and became a participant in Paul’s most adventurous enterprise—the Indian Campaign. Only with the death of Paul in March 1801, Platov, who had already advanced to Orenburg at the head of 27 thousand Cossacks, was returned by Alexander I.

Triple portrait: M.I. Platov, F.P. Denisov, V.P. Orlov

On September 15, 1801, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed military ataman of the Don Army. Founded in 1805 new capital Don Cossacks - Novocherkassk. He did a lot to streamline army command and control.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov

Matvey Ivanovich Platov

In the campaign of 1807, he commanded all the Cossack regiments of the active army. After the battle of Preussisch-Eylau he earned all-Russian fame. He became famous for his dashing raids on the flanks of the French army, defeating several separate detachments. After the retreat from Heilsberg, Platov’s detachment acted in the rearguard, taking on constant blows from the French troops pursuing the Russian army.

Battle of Preussisch Eylau, Jean-Charles Langlois

Matvey Ivanovich Platov

Battle of Heilsberg

In Tilsit, where peace was concluded, Platov met Napoleon, who, in recognition of the ataman’s military successes, gave him a precious snuff box. The chieftain refused the French Order of the Legion of Honor, saying:

I did not serve Napoleon and cannot serve.

Patriotic War and Foreign Campaign

During the Patriotic War of 1812, he first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, covering the retreat of the army, had successful dealings with the enemy near the towns of Mir and Romanovo. In the battle near the village of Semlevo, Platov’s army defeated the French and captured a colonel from the army of Marshal Murat. Part of the success belongs to Major General Baron Rosen, who was given complete freedom of action by Ataman Platov. After the battle of Saltanovka, he covered Bagration’s retreat to Smolensk. On July 27 (August 8) he attacked the cavalry of General Sebastiani near the village of Molevo Boloto, overthrew the enemy, took 310 prisoners and Sebastiani’s briefcase with important papers.

An outstanding Russian military leader, participant in all Russian wars of the 2nd half of the 18th - early 19th centuries. Ataman of the Don Cossack Army (1801), cavalry general (1809), count (1812). Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812.

Matvey Ivanovich Platov was born on August 6 (17), 1751 in the city of Cherkassk (now the village in) in the family of a military foreman. He began military service in 1766.

M. I. Platov took part in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, in 1769 he was promoted to esaul by the commander-in-chief, Prince V. M. Dolgorukov. He commanded a hundred, and from 1771 - a Cossack regiment. In 1771, he distinguished himself during the attack and capture of the Perekop line and the Kinburn fortress.

In 1775, M.I. Platov participated in the suppression Peasant War under the leadership, liquidated the last rebel detachments in the Voronezh and Kazan provinces.

In 1782-1783, M.I. Platov served in the Kuban and Crimea under the command.

During the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791, M.I. Platov was in the Yekaterinoslav army under the command of, participated in the capture of Ochakov (1788), in the battle of Kaushany (1789), in the capture of Akkerman and Bender. During the storming of Izmail (1790), he successfully commanded a column, and then the entire left wing of the Russian troops. For his actions near Ochakov, M.I. Platov was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, promoted to brigadier and appointed marching ataman of the Don Cossack Army, for participation in the assault on Izmail - the Order of St. George 3rd degree and the rank of major general.

In 1797, M.I. Platov was slandered before the emperor, suspected of conspiracy and exiled first to, and then imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. In January 1801, he was released, awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and appointed chief assistant to the military chieftain of the Don Army. M.I. Platov was supposed to play a leading role in the campaign against India, which was not carried out due to the death of the emperor.

The administrative activities of M. I. Platov were interrupted Napoleonic wars. In the Russian-Prussian-French War of 1806-1807, all the Cossack regiments in the Russian troops were under his command. He took part in the battle of (1807), covered the retreat of the Russian armies to Friedland, to and beyond the Neman.

In June 1807, M.I. Platov was in the retinue during negotiations in Tilsit and was introduced to the emperor. After the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit (1807) he was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree, the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree, and the Order of Saint. The Prussian king Frederick William III granted him the Order of the Red and Black Eagle.

In 1807-1809 M.I. Platov took part in Russian-Turkish War 1806-1812. For his actions near Silistria, he was awarded the rank of cavalry general and the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree.

At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, M.I. Platov first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, being in the rearguard, covered the retreat of the prince’s 2nd Western Army to. In June-July 1812, the Cossack corps under his command had very successful clashes with the enemy at Karelichi, Mir and Romanov.

In the Battle of Borodino on August 26 (September 7), 1812, the Cossacks of M. I. Platov, together with the cavalry corps of F. P. Uvarov, carried out a raid on the rear of the French troops, which influenced the course of the battle.

During the military council in Fili, M.I. Platov spoke out against abandonment and in favor of a new battle. The Cossacks, together with their chieftain, were the last to leave the French troops before the entry.

With the beginning of the general retreat of the Great Army from October 1812, M. I. Platov was entrusted with monitoring the movement of the enemy, but he, not limiting himself to the exemplary performance of his task, did not miss a single opportunity during the entire movement of the enemy, so as not to cause the latter possible harm and defeats. During the entire period of pursuit of the enemy from Kovno by the Cossacks, led personally by M.I. Platov, 50-70 thousand prisoners, more than 500 cannons, 30 banners and almost all the silver and gold looted by the French in .

The brave and decisive actions of M. I. Platov throughout the campaign of 1812 contributed to the defeat of Napoleonic troops and allowed him to gain great popularity among the troops, in Russian society and abroad. As a result of the campaign in December 1812, he received the title of count.

M. I. Platov took part in Traveling abroad Russian army of 1813-1814. In the Battle of Leipzig on October 16-19, 1813, his Cossack regiments were on the right flank of the allied forces. During the campaign of 1814, M.I. Platov distinguished himself during the capture of Nemur and at Arcy-sur-Aube, and was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

In 1814, M. I. Platov accompanied the emperor on a trip to England, where he was awarded many honors, including receiving an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. Upon returning to M.I. Platov took care of the internal well-being of his native land and the Don Army, and was engaged in the improvement of the city.

M. I. Platov died on January 3 (15), 1818 in his estate Elanchinskaya Sloboda (now the village