And what did Menshikov do. Royal Society of London. The final stage of the Northern War

Historians claim that many documents about the life of Alexander Menshikov still remain unexplored, although films are made about him, articles and books are written. A close friend of Peter, the hero of Poltava, favorite, generalissimo and admiral of the white flag, the first builder of St. Petersburg ... His services to Russia were enormous, his life was amazing, his personal fortune was one of the largest in the empire, his greed borders. Among the "chicks of Petrov's nest" this is the most controversial figure.

Origin of A.D. Menshikov is not known for certain. Many researchers are inclined to believe that he was born in 1673 in the family of a groom, and as a child he sold pies from a stall. The agile boy was noticed by a foreigner in the Russian service, Franz Lefort, who took Alexander into his service. At the age of 20 in 1693, Alexander Menshikov became the "royal amusing warrior" - the bombardier of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. He accompanied the king on all his trips, participated in all the sovereign's amusements, turning from a batman into a true friend and ally. Menshikov became an active participant Azov campaigns 1695 and 1696, where he distinguished himself with courage in the capture of the Turkish fortress of Azov. Menshikov, together with Peter, visited Europe as part of the Great Embassy in 1697-1698. The military career of Alexander Danilovich is closely connected with the Northern War, when Russia opposed the Swedish Empire in the Baltics. Menshikov led the cavalry.

In 1702-1703. the fortresses Noteburg and Shlisselburg were taken. The capture of these fortresses meant the actual transfer of the entire Ingermanland under the control of Russia. A.D. was appointed governor of this region. Menshikov, who actively showed himself in any role. Being a faithful executor of the will, Menshikov did not forget to show his personal qualities. For example, during the siege of the Narva fortress, he managed to outwit the experienced royal general Gorn, the commandant of the city, by dressing Russian soldiers in a uniform similar to Swedish. In Ingermanland, Menshikov first declared himself as a military leader. For the victory over the army of General Maydel, who was going to take over the St. Petersburg under construction, Menshikov was awarded the title of Governor-General of Narva and all the conquered lands near the Gulf of Finland. At the same time, he becomes a general over the entire Russian regular cavalry.

It was the troops under the command of Menshikov who inflicted a number of defeats on the army of Charles XII in Lithuania. For services to the Polish crown in 1705, Menshikov was awarded the Polish Order of the White Eagle, and the following year, thanks to Peter's efforts, Alexander Danilovich Menshikov became the Most Serene Prince. At the same time, the Polish king Augustus, who constantly suffered defeat from the Swedes, decided to attract Menshikov to the Polish service, granting Alexander Danilovich the title of commander of the Fleminsky infantry regiment, which was renamed the regiment of Prince Alexander.

However, the real glory of Menshikov was yet to come. Menshikov decides to attack the Swedish-Polish positions near Kalisz, and on October 18, 1706, he utterly defeats the enemy forces. For this success, Peter I granted Alexander Danilovich the commander's baton according to his own drawing. The precious wand was decorated with a large emerald, diamonds and the princely coat of arms of the Menshikov family. This work of jewelry art was estimated at a huge amount for that time - almost three thousand rubles. During the war on the Polish lands, His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Menshikov was elevated to active Privy Councilors and became Prince of Izhora. And again for military merit in the confrontation with the Swedish king Charles XII.

In Ukraine, they tried to use the confrontation between Sweden and Russia in their own interests. Hetman Mazepa prepared food and supplies for the army of Charles XII in the city of Baturin. But Menshikov took the city by storm and upset the plans of the enemy.

The decisive land battle between Russian and Swedish troops took place on June 27, 1709 at Poltava. The cavalry under the command of Menshikov bravely fought against the advancing Swedes. For participation in the Battle of Poltava, the sovereign awarded Menshikov the title of Field Marshal. Prior to this, only Boris Vasilyevich Sheremetev had such a rank in the Russian army.

Menshikov, after the defeat of the land forces of the Swedes, made a lot of efforts for Russia to fulfill its allied obligations to the Commonwealth and Denmark, therefore, until 1713, he commanded the Russian troops, liberating Poland, Courland, Pomerania, Holstein from the Swedish troops. For the siege of the fortified city of Riga, he received the Order of the Elephant from the Danish king Frederick IV. The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm awarded the Russian Field Marshal with the Order of the Black Eagle.

Since 1714 A.D. Menshikov was engaged in governor-general affairs in St. Petersburg, and also managed the Baltic states and Izhora land, and was in charge of collecting state revenues. During the frequent departures of Peter I, he headed the administration of the country and was twice president of the Military Collegium (1718-1724 and 1726-1727)

However, a native of the very bottom of Russian society, Menshikov could not miss the opportunity not to get his hands on this or that amount. And, starting from 1714, Alexander Danilovich was constantly under investigation for numerous abuses and theft. He was repeatedly subjected to huge fines by Peter I. But this did not affect the personal condition of Menshikov, who was the second landowner in Russia after the sovereign himself.

After the death of Peter the Great in 1725, Menshikov's position was strengthened: having enthroned Empress Catherine I, the Most Serene Prince became her favorite, the de facto head of state, without whom not a single issue could be resolved.

However, due to illness, he was unable to resist the influence of the princes Golitsyn and Dolgoruky on the new Russian monarch. September 8, 1727, Menshikov was accused of high treason and embezzlement of the treasury. He is subjected to royal disgrace, and then to arrest. All property was confiscated, and Menshikov and his family were exiled to the prison Berezov, where he soon died. Empress Anna Ioannovna allowed the children of the prince - Alexander and Alexandra - to return from exile.

The generalissimo and the admiral were under arrest by order of the young grandson of Peter the Great and were deprived of all positions, titles and ranks. Experts note that the role of Menshikov in the history of Russia is "easier to underestimate than to overestimate." About the life, merits and reasons for the disgrace of a powerful courtier - in the material RT.

On April 11, 1728, Alexander Menshikov was sent into exile in Siberian Berezov. In the Petrine era, he actually ruled all of Russia, but after the death of the great reformer, he fell into disfavor with his young grandson. According to historians, the excellent strategist and master of political games became a victim of personal hostility.

Becoming a courtier

There are no reliable data on the origin of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov today at the disposal of historians. According to the official version of the time of Peter the Great, the father of the future prince was a Lithuanian nobleman from an ancient family, was captured during the Russian-Polish war and entered the service of the sovereign Alexei Mikhailovich, and his mother was the daughter of a famous merchant. However, Menshikov's noble origins have been questioned by many historians, in particular by Professor Nikolai Pavlenko. According to contemporaries, Menshikov sold pies as a child.

“Menshikov, even if he was the son of an employee and a merchant, as a child he could well sell pies somewhere. This story lived in Moscow long years. Its reliability has been testified by many people - including well-known diplomats, ”said Pavel Krotov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of St. Petersburg State University, in an interview with RT.

At the age of 14, Alexander became Peter I's batman and quickly won his trust. Menshikov participated in the creation of amusing troops, in the Azov campaigns and the suppression Streltsy rebellion, traveled with the king in Western Europe, helped him create a navy. In 1700, he received the extremely high rank of lieutenant of the Bombardier Company of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, which was captained by Peter himself.

Nothing was impossible for Menshikov. He always undertook the execution of any order of the sovereign. A valuable quality for the courtier was that he knew how to amuse the quick-tempered monarch and quickly "extinguish" his anger. According to the story of the historian Andrei Nartov, Peter somehow got angry with Menshikov and promised to send him back to sell pies. Alexander Danilovich immediately jumped out into the street and defiantly returned to the tsar with a box of pies in his hands. Peter laughed and forgave his companion.

Military glory

Menshikov took an active part in the Northern War and achieved considerable success in military affairs. In 1702, he provided serious support to Prince Mikhail Golitsyn during the capture of Notenburg (now the Oreshek fortress), bringing on his own initiative to help the commander at the decisive moment of the battle of the guards. In 1703, together with Peter, he participated in a naval battle with the Swedes at the mouth of the Neva, which ended in victory for the Russian fleet. In the same year, even before the official laying of St. Petersburg, Menshikov became its governor-general. He stayed in this position for many years, supervised the construction of the city, shipyards and arms factories.

In 1702, Menshikov was elevated to the rank of count, and in 1705 - to the princely dignity.

During his lifetime and after his death, many rumors discrediting him were spread about Alexander Danilovich Menshikov. One of the most unpleasant is about the illiteracy of Peter I's assistant. Historian Pavel Krotov completely refutes these statements.

“Such conversations are the fruit of the activities of Menshikov's political opponents. And even a part believed in them modern researchers, who drew attention to the fact that instead of Menshikov himself, as a rule, his assistants wrote the documents. However, the fact that the courtier did not write himself is most likely a consequence of the fact that in this way Menshikov emphasized his high status. And also the fact that he had very little time. Signatures made by Menshikov personally, deduced explicitly sure hand. In addition, his very speech, recorded in documents, and fluency German testify to the fact that he was a literate person. Although his main teacher, of course, was life itself,” said Krotov.

According to the expert, Menshikov's contribution to the history of Russia is "easier to underestimate than to overestimate."

“Without such an assistant, Peter, most likely, would not have become the Great, but would have remained simply the First,” summed up Krotov.

According to the head of the HSE School of Historical Sciences, Doctor of Historical Sciences Alexander Kamensky, the fundamental assessment of the activities of Alexander Menshikov depends on the assessment of the reforms of Peter I himself.

“Menshikov is difficult to evaluate in the category of “positive” or “negative”. He was big statesman, one of the closest associates of the king, on whom the monarch could always rely. Peter's reforms themselves are today the subject of heated debate among historians. And if we evaluate them positively, then we should also evaluate the activities of Menshikov, if in some other way, then the activities of the associate of Peter appear before us in a different light, ”summed up the historian.

Menshikov

Alexander Danilovich

Battles and victories

Russian statesman and military leader, His Serene Highness Prince, associate and favorite of Peter I, in 1725-1727 - head of the Supreme Privy Council and de facto ruler of Russia, president of the Military Collegium, Governor-General of St. Petersburg, Field Marshal General (1709), under Peter II - Generalissimo of the sea and land forces (1727), holder of many other titles and positions.

Among his many battles and victories, here we will devote Special attention battle near Kalisz - it is forgotten, but in vain!

"Most Serene Saint of Rome and Russian state prince and duke of Izhora; in Dubrovna, Gory-Gorki and in Pochep, the count, hereditary master of Ariniburg and Baturinsky, his imperial majesty commander of the All-Russian troops, Generalissimo, Supreme Privy Councilor, President of the State Military Collegium, Governor-General of the province of St. Petersburg, lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhenskaya Life Guards, colonel over three regiments, captain of the bombardment company, from the fleet of the All-Russian vice admiral of the white flag, holder of orders St. Andrew the Apostle, the Danish Elephant, the Polish White and Prussian Black Eagles and St. Alexander Nevsky Cavalier, ”such was the full title of A.D. Menshikov in 1727

Truly a "semi-powerful ruler", as A.S. wrote about him. Pushkin.

Most Serene Prince A.D. Menshikov

Unknown artist.

First quarter of the 18th century

The origin of Alexander Danilovich is still controversial among historians. Someone considers him to be from the lower classes, and someone who has roots in the impoverished family of Lithuanian nobles. An associate of Peter the Great was born in 1673 in Moscow. Data about his childhood and youth are vague, but be that as it may, in 1686 he enters the inner circle of the young Tsar Peter and soon becomes his batman. Thanks to his great capacity for work, outstanding talents and tireless service for the good of the Fatherland, he enjoyed the special favor of Peter I, having achieved a high position in society. Menshikov owes his rapid rise, first of all, to selfless courage, courage, outstanding talents of a military leader, unparalleled energy and loyalty to the cause of the reformer tsar Peter I.

According to the well-known historian Buganov:

Until the death of Peter the Great, Menshikov remained his shadow.

Peter enrolled his favorite in the Preobrazhensky Regiment with the rank of bombardier. For almost forty years, Alexander Danilovich will follow the reformer tsar, acquiring practical skills in military and state activities.

The future Most Serene Prince received his baptism of fire during the Azov campaigns of 1695 and 1696. against Turkey. On the walls of the strongest enemy fortress of Azov, he showed exceptional courage and courage. In 1696-1697. HELL. Menshikov accompanied the tsar on the Grand Embassy to Western Europe, studied shipbuilding with him at the shipyards of Saardam (Zaandam), Amsterdam and London, mastered the “profession” of a diplomat.

Back to top Northern war(1700-1721) "Danilych" or "min hertz", as the sovereign affectionately called him, was already a lieutenant of the Preobrazhensky regiment. Together with the tsar, he will leave the camp of Russian troops near Narva in November 1700 on the eve of the battle and together with him will drink the whole cup of shame.

He will follow the tsar from Narva to Novgorod, from Novgorod to Moscow, Voronezh and Arkhangelsk, carrying out all the orders of the monarch. A man of extraordinary mind, although absolutely illiterate, he will rigorously support Peter the Great in all his undertakings, making enemies for himself among the old well-born aristocracy.

During the siege of Noteburg in October 1702, Menshikov commanded a reserve column, which finally turned success to the side of Russian weapons. For the courage shown in the battle, he was granted the rank of Shlisselburg commandant and in the same year received the title of count. In April-May 1703, together with Field Marshal B.P. Sheremetev, led the siege of the Nyenschanz fortress on the river. Neva. On May 1, the fortress surrendered and was renamed Schlotburg by Peter I; the tsar appointed A.D. Menshikov.

On May 2, scouts reported to the tsar about the appearance of the Swedish squadron of Nummers in the Gulf of Finland. On May 5, the Swedish admiral sent two ships for reconnaissance - the 8-gun shnyava Astrel and the 12-gun boat Gedan, which entered the mouth of the Neva in the evening and anchored there. Nummers, apparently, did not have information that the entire Neva River was already under the rule of the Russians, and brought his ships to the seaside.

Peter I and A.D. Menshikov quickly collected 30 small boats and on the night of May 7, after dark, placing guards on them, decisively attacked the Swedes. In a stubborn battle, Astrid and Gedan were cut off from the squadron, boarded, and their crews were almost completely killed. Of the 79 crew members of the ships, only 12 survived.

In honor of this victory, the tsar ordered a commemorative medal with a brief inscription:

The impossible happens.

Medal "The Unprecedented Happens". 1703

For the heroism shown, the tsar and A.D. Menshikov were granted the 6th and 7th cavaliers of the first (and later - the highest) Russian Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

May 16, 1703 A.D. Menshikov participated in the laying of the fortress of St. Petersburg ("St. Peter Burkh"), which became the capital of Russia a few years later. A.D. became the governor-general of Ingermanland (Izhora land) and St. Petersburg returned from the Swedes. Menshikov.

HELL. Menshikov courageously led the defense of St. Petersburg from the Swedish fleet in May-June 1704, for which he was granted a lieutenant general. In 1704 he took part in the second siege and assault on Narva. Under the walls of the fortress, a staged battle was played between Russian and Swedish troops - in order to lure part of the Narva garrison to help "their own". The "Swedes" were commanded by the tsar, the Russians - by A.D. Menshikov. After the capture of this fortress, he was appointed governor-general of "Narva and all the conquered lands."

On the faithful "Danilych" Peter laid the heavy duty of forming the Russian regular cavalry. Menshikov was one of its founding fathers. If in 1700 there were only two dragoon regiments, then in 1709 the cavalry already consisted of 3 equestrian grenadier and 30 dragoon regiments, as well as 3 separate squadrons: Menshikov General Squadron, Kozlovsky and Domovoy Field Marshal B.P. Sheremetev.

In 1705, Peter sent his closest associate at the head of a cavalry corps to help his ally, the Polish king and Saxon Elector Augustus II the Strong. For successful fighting against the Swedish protege Stanislav Leshchinsky A.D. Menshikov was awarded the highest Polish Order of the White Eagle by Augustus II. In the same year, at the request of Peter I, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I granted A.D. Menshikov with a princely title.

In the early spring of 1706, the prince organized the rescue of the 40,000th Russian army from Grodno, which was blocked by the Swedes, led the construction of the Pechersk fortress in Kyiv to defend the city from the Swedish troops; commanded the Russian cavalry in Poland.

The bright crown of the prince’s military leadership talents is the battle of Kalisz on October 18 (29), 1706. It occupies a prominent place among the major field battles of the Northern War - Narva (1700), Fraushtadt (1706), Golovchinskaya, near the village of Lesnaya (1708) and Poltava ( 1709). It gave the Russians the first major field victory over the troops of Sweden - a victory prepared by the systemic military reform carried out by Peter I. Near Kalisz, the “observation corps” of the Swedish king was completely destroyed and the banners of the “anti-king” Stanislav I (Leshchinsky) were scattered.

The campaign of the Russian cavalry deep into Poland in the summer and autumn of 1706 seemed to have only an indirect relation to the conquest of the Baltic states, being conceived by the Russian command as a means to keep August II the Strong in the anti-Swedish alliance. But the success near Kalisz strengthened the confidence of the Russian command in the combat capability of their army, and Peter I - in the military art of the Russian military. The Battle of Kalisz proved that the Russian army was amazingly quickly on a par with the best European armies. There was no more Russian "fear" of the "enchanted" Swedes. And this had a positive effect on all areas of activity of Tsar Peter and the Russian army, including the Baltic.

If Peter I rightly called the battle of Lesnaya the "mother" of the Poltava victory, then according to V. Artamonov, the Battle of Kalisz has a "grandfather" degree of kinship with Poltava.

When, after the Grodno episode, the threat of a Swedish invasion of Russia subsided, Peter I withdrew about 20 thousand troops from Western Dvina for the siege of Vyborg, and forced his favorite Prince A.D. Menshikov, on the basis of the remnants of the army that left Grodno, to prepare a cavalry corps intended for military operations in Poland, to “maintain the pants” of the inglorious ally Augustus.

The training of horsemen in the city of Fastov was very difficult. Remembering the defeat of B. Sheremetev at Gemauerthof, where the cavalry, in disarray, rushed to the attack with shouting and whooping, the royal favorite managed to drum in his subordinates the most important thing - to attack in formation without breaking away from the infantry. The dragoons learned to keep the line on horseback and on foot, practiced firing from muskets, owning broadswords and hitting the flank of the enemy, but with difficulty reorganized from marching to battle formation and could hardly keep the formation, closing knee after knee, like the Swedes. Limped discipline. The guards were exhibited "slipshod". The cavalrymen were supplied with sufficient flour, crackers, buckwheat and oatmeal, but they did not have enough meat, and they hunted in the huts for chickens, geese, ham and gorilka. Those unfit for cavalry service had to be expelled as soldiers.

But already on July 20, the Russian cavalry was able to go west. The cavalry corps, which was supposed to inspire optimism in the Saxons and Sandomirans, consisted of 17 regiments and totaled 8756 dragoons. An unprecedented number of irregular horsemen were attached to the corps - 6,000 Don Cossacks and 4,000 Kalmyks, whom the Poles were to see for the first time. An ally of Peter and Augustus, the Lithuanian hetman G.A. Oginsky asked to bring to the aid of the Kalmyks, who inspire greater fear in the enemy.

The Swedish command, as it seems to us, showed myopia and did not give due attention to this Russian offensive. For a holiday in Saxony, Charles XII, at the risk of losing control of Poland, took his entire army with him. At the extreme border of Poland along the river. Varte, the Swedish king left a 5,000-strong observation corps of General Arvid Axel Mardefelt (1660-1708) put together according to the "residual principle". Next to the Swedish regiments near the Vistula were 112 light banners of the cavalry of the "Kiev governor" and the crown hetman Jozef Potocki (1673-1751). In total, then, on the side of Leshchinsky, there were about 15 thousand Poles, ready at any moment to either desert or go over to the Sandomierians.

Running like a hare from the Swedes, King-Elector Augustus was at that time near Krakow. He had about 6,000 Saxons and 10,000 Poles with him, but he did not even think of putting up at least some kind of shield in front of Saxony, but took refuge in the north-east of Poland, near Novogrudok, rounding the weak Swedish detachment at Brest. Therefore, when on September 11, Charles XII, together with several banners of Leshchinsky, crossed the border of Saxony, this electorship, unlike Russia, Poland and Lithuania, surrendered to the Swedes without firing a shot. Therefore, on September 13, in the castle of Altranstadt near Leipzig, Karl Pieper and Karl Rehnschild, together with Saxon diplomats, signed "eternal, firm and true peace and friendship." From that time on, Augustus' diplomacy was reduced to a particularly virtuoso deception of the Swedes, Russians and Poles.

On September 16 (27), Russians, Poles and Saxons united near Lublin. Three days later, a general review of the troops took place with cannon and rifle salutes and subsequent libations. After the "fun", which both August and Menshikov loved so much, they got down to business.

Menshikov, in a letter to the tsar, gave vent to his irony over the king of Poland:

Royal Majesty greatly misses money and with tears alone asked me, he became impoverished so that there was nothing ... Evo poverty, seeing, I gave him my money 10 thousand efimki.

In fact, Augustus II received 6,000 efimki from him, but from the royal treasury, the prince, who was not inferior in roguery to his partner, expected to compensate 10,000.

Menshikov knew that Mardefelt had fewer troops than him, but he had to reckon with the possibility of assistance from Charles XII of Saxony. Distracting march of General A.L. From September 20, Menshikov did not take Levengaupt into account from Courland to Kovno and Vilna (and further, according to rumors, to Polotsk) - Levengaupt did not have time to save Mardefelt. The fighting spirit of the Swedish units remaining in Poland was not high.

Meanwhile, Menshikov, contrary to Augustus, continued to pull all his forces to Kalisz, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich, according to his intelligence, there were up to 8 thousand Swedes and 15 thousand Stanislav Poles. On October 17, the Russian-Polish-Saxon allies crossed the shallow Prosna, agreed on the deployment of regiments and stood in battle formation 5 km south of Kalisz. From the north, the city was blocked by irregular units. Part of the Poles crossed the Prosna only the next morning, on the day of the battle. Mardefelt lined up troops behind the stream flowing through the village of Dobzhets, with the front to the south and with the support of the left flank on Prosna. All night both sides stood in combat readiness. The opponents did not think about an unexpected night or morning attack: Mardefelt, completely devoid of the tactical audacity of Charles XII, gave all the initiative to the enemy, August II held back Menshikov to the last.

On the morning of October 18, the allies held a military council, after which, despite the delays of Augustus, the regiments began to move in two columns to a more advantageous western position, in front of which there were no water barriers. 10 thousand Cossacks and Kalmyks blocked the rear of the Swedes behind the right swampy bank of Prosna and from the east of Kalisz. Mardefelt, driven into a corner, deployed a 3-kilometer front between the villages of Koscielna Ves and Dobzhets, facing west, with the rear to Prosnya, surrendering all the initiative to the enemy.

The Allies did not have a unified command. Augustus never led troops in battle and, having been ousted from the crown by the Swedes, formally had no right to command them. He handed the order to the Saxons to Lieutenant General Holsteiner M. Brandt, who was hired in the Crown Army in 1692 and managed to make some war with the Turks, Tatars and Swedes. In order not to create the impression of a complete removal from the battle, Augustus, contrary to his usual habit, rode into the field as an ordinary rider.

The Sandomierz people were commanded by the great crown hetman Adam Nikolai Senyavsky, one of the leaders of the Sandomierz Confederation, an ambitious but mediocre military leader. The initiator of the Kalisz battle, A.D., became the de facto commander in chief. Menshikov, who went to the field with complete faith in victory. Being 13 years younger than Mardefelt, the Russian general was not very much inferior to him in military experience.

On a dry autumn afternoon on October 18, the Allies began to prepare for battle. With a total number of 34,000 people, about 24 thousand horsemen were put up in the lines (Cossacks and Kalmyks did not participate in the battle).

Assuming the offensive best view defense, the Swedish general did not think about defense and did nothing for the engineering preparation of the battlefield. He did not cover the infantry behind the walls of Kalisz - the autumn-winter bad weather, most likely, would have forced the allies to abandon the siege. In the heads of the Swedish commanders, the template was firmly set - to break up the enemy line with a swift attack. So it was in all field battles up to the Poltava upheaval. Only in Finland, starting from 1713, the Swedes began to hold out against the Russians with defensive tactics. Therefore, Mardefelt did not move the Poles back, like Menshikov, but placed them next to the Swedish regiments.

Due to the sabotage of Augustus, the battle began late, when it was already getting dark. With this, Augustus gave the enemy an additional chance to reduce losses and, perhaps, slip away, taking advantage of the darkness. The three-hour "full battle" began between three and four o'clock with cannon fire. The Russian-Saxon allies moved first, but Mardefelt immediately sent his motley army forward. The field resounded with a loud cry "With God's help!".

On the dry, flat field, the long lines approached evenly, although the black smoke of the guns and the rising dust made the squadrons barely see each other. As soon as the lines approached within a rifle shot, both Polish wings collapsed almost simultaneously. The battalion of the second line, with shots, threw back several Saxon squadrons, but this could no longer help the Swedes. The inglorious behavior of the Poles "brave" Potocki largely predetermined the defeat of Mardefelt.

Swedish pressure did not impress the Russians. Their line sprang - Menshikov and Brandt took part of the center of the first line to the range of a rifle shot. The officers kept firm order, and the dragoons regularly fired from their horses and slowly drove off.

Meanwhile, two regiments of dismounted Russian dragoons stopped the enemy infantry, and the horsemen began to enter the flank of the Swedish battalions:

... General Menshikov soon ordered several squadrons of dragoons to dismount against the Swedish infantry, and the cavalry to attack it from the right wing ...

Brandt, following the example of Menshikov, also hurried part of the cavalry, but repeating the coverage of the Swedes on the left, did not show much zeal. After the flank coverage of the Swedes by Russians and Saxons, the Sandomir cavalry set off in pursuit of the escaped Stanislavites and surrounded Wagenburg. The losses of the Sandomirians amounted to no more than a hundred people.

All European historians noted the betrayal of Augustus before the battle, but no one, starting from the beginning of the 18th century, indicated that his treachery continued into the battle itself. “The behavior of the Russian regiments exceeded all expectations, while the Saxons were very indifferent to the matter,” said the British envoy Charles Whitworth in his report dated November 13, 1706. In all likelihood, Augustus gave his commanders the installation “not to be zealous”, so as not to infuriate the “northern Alexander of Macedon” (Charles XII), who was in charge in Saxony. Negligible losses of 120 people. and the capture on the battlefield of only 4 Swedish captains and 3 captains, confirm the "restraint" of the Saxons in the battle.

For almost an hour, the Swedish horsemen rushed about, cut off from the infantry and surrounded by superior forces. The commanders were losing their units. Russian dragoons, having complete freedom of maneuver on the field, dissected, surrounded, knocked out cavalrymen and captured them.

Many who have been in other battles said they had never seen such fire.

- admits N. Yullensherna.

The defeat of the Swedes became obvious, and it was possible to capitulate. The agony of the remnants of the Swedish regiments took place almost in the dark: mixed infantry and cavalry units fired back and rushed at the enemy, coming from the flanks and rear. The Swedes answered the first demand of the Russians to surrender with a volley. Then Menshikov, just as the Swedes did near Narva in relation to the resisting Preobrazhenians and Semenovites, ordered the cannons to be pulled up, to shoot at the left flank of the square and throw grenades. Hertz's Bavarians immediately scattered, and the battalion "surrendered, attacked and overturned by the enemy. Then the colonel and all the others who were not killed were taken prisoner by the Russians, with which the shooting stopped. Keeping in mind the peace with Saxony and the advances of Augustus II, the Swedish commander hoped to save himself in the Saxon " good hands". The threat of the final execution by Russian cannons of the helplessly huddled remnants of the human mass made the surrender drum signal beat in pitch darkness. The Swedes lost all cannons, banners, timpani, drums. In Russian hands were 1769 Swedes, Germans, Swiss and French, among them 94 officers. Russian troops they took 3 regimental copper cannons, 26 banners, 3 pairs of timpani, 22 drums, 400 soldier's rifles and 13 military bandsmen onto the battlefield.

Mardefelt was finally sent to Augustus, who greeted him kindly with the words: "Welcome, he will only stay with me." Together with other officers, the general, under a Saxon escort, was placed in a barn with an order not to let either Russians or Poles near him - "even if it's a general."

On the morning of October 19, Menshikov generously allowed Brandt to accept the surrender of the remnants of the Stanislavites, as well as the Swedes who had taken refuge in Kalisz. So the Saxons got 829 Swedish prisoners who surrendered to the "accord", 54 Polish, 5 dragoon banners and 5 thousand wagons. The Poles were not considered honorary prisoners and were not noted in the reports. The Saxons tore off their caftans and forced them to undress to their underwear. The highest degree of courtesy was shown to the captured Swedish officers, doctors were assigned and a promise was made not to extradite to the Russians. Immediately after the victory, Augustus sent his "sincere" condolences to Charles XII, blaming the Russians and Poles for dragging him into the battle against their will.

In total, 2598 prisoners were captured from the Swedish regiments - the most big number in the Northern War, following the massacre of 1709 in Perevolochna near the Dnieper (about 16,000) and near Poltava (2977). Such a number of surrendered testifies to the insufficient stamina of the Swedish regiments. In the battle itself, about 1260 people were killed.

The victory was won with little bloodshed. According to the "Table of Losses", on December 20, 1706, the Russians had 7 killed and 20 wounded officers, and a total of 450 people. The losses of the Saxons were 3%, and the Sandomierans were even less - 1%. Most likely, most of the Russian and Saxon losses occurred in the first minutes of the battle, when the first line moved back in front of the Swedes.

In general, we have to conclude that only the Russians fought for real, while the Saxons and Poles initially acted “in a slipshod manner”.

After the Kalisz victory in Europe, the stereotype of the invincibility of the Swedes in field battles collapsed and the authority of the Russian army straightened out. Swedish influence in the Polish-Lithuanian state declined sharply. Apart from a small garrison in Posen, the Swedes had no forces left in Poland. The owners there until the second invasion of the Swedish army in the summer and autumn of 1707 were Menshikov and Peter I.

For his courage and bravery, Menshikov was awarded a precious cane, made according to Peter I's own drawing. August II presented the Most Serene Prince with the town of Orsha, from where, according to legend, the Menshikov family originated. In honor of the victory, a special award medal was minted.

In the campaign of 1707-1708. the prince was outright outplayed by King Charles XII, which led to a series of defeats for the Russian army. He managed to rehabilitate himself only in the Battle of Lesnaya on September 28, 1708, where he commanded the vanguard of a corvolant (a flying detachment formed from dragoons and foot soldiers mounted on horses).

On November 2, 1708, troops under the command of A.D. Menshikov was stormed by Baturin, the residence of the Hetman of the Left-Bank Ukraine I. Mazepa, who had gone over to the side of Charles XII. The Swedes lost huge stocks of food, fodder and ammunition on the eve of a harsh winter.

In the Poltava battle, which decided the fate of the Northern War and Russia, the Most Serene Prince, as always - at the head of the cavalry, was in the thick of the battle, three horses were killed under him.

The army of Charles XII fled to the town of Perevolochna on the Dnieper. Menshikov and General Prince M.M. Golitsyn, at the head of the cavalry units, caught up with the Swedes and forced the strongest army in Europe to surrender without firing a shot. 16,000 Swedes were taken prisoner, including the entire general staff. For Poltava and Perevolochna A.D. Menshikov was granted the rank of second Field Marshal.

In April-June 1710, Menshikov led the siege of Riga, then ruled St. Petersburg and the province, supervised the construction navy and supreme body government controlled- The Senate.

In 1712-1713. was the commander of Russian troops in Pomerania (Northern Germany). HELL. Menshikov, together with the allied Danish-Saxon troops, took the Swedish fortresses of Stralsund and Stettin, for which he was awarded the highest Danish Order of the White Elephant and the highest Prussian Order of the Black Eagle.

This was the prince's last military campaign. For the next six years he was engaged in the construction of St. Petersburg. Demonstrating devotion to the tsar, he was the first to put his signature on the death sentence of the Senate to Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich. In 1719 he was appointed president of the Military Collegium. In 1721 he was granted the rank of vice admiral.

After the death of Peter I, A.D. Menshikov, relying on the guards, on January 28, 1725, enthroned Catherine I and became the de facto ruler of Russia. Thanks to Menshikov's great diplomatic experience, Russian-Austrian relations, interrupted in connection with the case of Tsarevich Alexei (1718), were normalized, and an alliance treaty was concluded (1726). This union, with various changes and additions, remained in force until the middle of the 19th century.

Shortly before the death of Catherine I, A.D. Menshikov received from her consent to the marriage of his daughter Maria with the declared heir to the throne - Grand Duke Peter Alekseevich. May 13, 1727 A.D. Menshikov received the rank of generalissimo from the young emperor Peter II, and on May 25, his daughter was betrothed to the emperor. This led to a conspiracy against the prince of the highest aristocracy.

On the morning of September 8, General S.A. Saltykov, on behalf of Peter II, announced to His Serene Highness Prince about house arrest, and the next day the emperor signed the prepared by A.I. Osterman decree on exile without trial and investigation by A.D. Menshikov and his family in Ranenburg (now - Chaplygin, Lipetsk region). The Most Serene Prince was deprived of all ranks and orders ("cavalry"), all his documents were sealed.

If during the life of Peter the Great, the prince, who was repeatedly brought to court for embezzlement of state money and embezzlement, got away with it, now political opponents were able to recall to him everything that actually happened, and attribute something that was not even mentioned.

Deprived of all ranks, awards and property, the disgraced nobleman was exiled to Berezov. HELL. Menshikov lived in Berezov for less than a year and a half, but left a good memory of himself with local residents. He died at the age of 56, on November 12, 1729, and was buried at the altar of the wooden Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos built by his own hands.

BESPALOV A.V., Doctor of History, Professor

Literature

Anisimov E.V. Russia without Peter. SPb., 1994

Bantysh-Kamensky D.N. 3rd Field Marshal Count Boris Petrovich Sheremetev // Biographies of Russian Generalissimos and Field Marshals. In 4 parts. Reprint reproduction of the 1840 edition. Part 1-2. M., 1991

Bespalov A.V. Battles of the Northern War (1700-1721). M., 2005

Bespalov A.V. Battles and sieges of the Great Northern War (1700-1721). M., 2010

Bespyatykh Yu.N. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov: Myths and reality. SPb., 2005

History of the Russian State: Biographies. XVIII century. M., 1996

History of the Northern War 1700-1721. Rep. ed. I. I. Rostunov. M., 1987

Maslovsky D. North War. Documents 1705-1708. SPb., 1892

Pavlenko N.I. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov. M., 1983

Pavlenko N.I. Menshikov: Semi-power ruler. 2nd ed. M., 2005

Letters and papers of Emperor Peter the Great. v. 1-9. St. Petersburg, 1887-1950

Northern War 1700-1721 Collection of documents. v. 1., IRI RAN. 2009

Internet

Prince Monomakh Vladimir Vsevolodovich

The most remarkable of the Russian princes of the pre-Tatar period of our history, who left behind great fame and a good memory.

Shein Mikhail Borisovich

He led the Smolensk defense against the Polish-Lithuanian troops, which lasted 20 months. Under the command of Shein, repeated attacks were repulsed, despite the explosion and a breach in the wall. He held and bled the main forces of the Poles at the decisive moment of the Time of Troubles, preventing them from moving to Moscow to support their garrison, creating an opportunity to assemble an all-Russian militia to liberate the capital. Only with the help of a defector, the troops of the Commonwealth managed to take Smolensk on June 3, 1611. The wounded Shein was taken prisoner and was taken away with his family for 8 years in Poland. After returning to Russia, he commanded an army that tried to return Smolensk in 1632-1634. Executed on boyar slander. Undeservedly forgotten.

Ermak Timofeevich

Russian. Cossack. Ataman. Defeated Kuchum and his satellites. Approved Siberia as part of the Russian state. He devoted his whole life to military work.

Uborevich Ieronim Petrovich

Soviet military leader, commander of the 1st rank (1935). Member Communist Party from March 1917. Born in the village of Aptandriyus (now the Utena region of the Lithuanian SSR) in the family of a Lithuanian peasant. He graduated from the Konstantinovsky Artillery School (1916). Member of the 1st World War 1914-18, second lieutenant. After October revolution 1917 was one of the organizers of the Red Guard in Bessarabia. In January - February 1918 he commanded a revolutionary detachment in battles against the Romanian and Austro-German invaders, was wounded and captured, from where he fled in August 1918. He was an artillery instructor, commander of the Dvina brigade on the Northern Front, from December 1918 the head of the 18 rifle division 6th army. From October 1919 to February 1920 he was commander of the 14th Army during the defeat of the troops of General Denikin, in March - April 1920 he commanded the 9th Army in the North Caucasus. In May - July and November - December 1920 the commander of the 14th Army in battles against the troops of bourgeois Poland and the Petliurists, in July - November 1920 - the 13th Army in battles against the Wrangelites. In 1921, assistant commander of the troops of the Ukraine and Crimea, deputy commander of the troops of the Tambov province, commander of the troops of the Minsk province, led the fighting in the defeat of the gangs of Makhno, Antonov and Bulak-Balakhovich. From August 1921 commander of the 5th Army and the East Siberian Military District. In August - December 1922, Minister of War of the Far Eastern Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the People's Revolutionary Army during the liberation Far East. He was commander of the North Caucasian (since 1925), Moscow (since 1928) and Belorussian (since 1931) military districts. Since 1926 he was a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, in 1930-31 he was deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR and head of armaments of the Red Army. Since 1934 he has been a member of the Military Council of the NPO. He made a great contribution to the strengthening of the defense capability of the USSR, the education and training of command personnel and troops. Candidate member of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) in 1930-37. Member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee since December 1922. He was awarded 3 Orders of the Red Banner and Honorary Revolutionary Weapons.

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

The Soviet people, as the most talented, a large number of outstanding military leaders, but the main one is Stalin. Without him, many of them might not have been in the military.

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich

Successfully commanded the Soviet troops during the Great Patriotic War. Among other things, he stopped the Germans near Moscow, took Berlin.

Spiridov Grigory Andreevich

Became a sailor under Peter I, an officer participated in the Russian-Turkish war (1735-1739), Seven Years' War(1756-1763) graduated as Rear Admiral. The pinnacle of his naval and diplomatic talent reached during Russian-Turkish war 1768-1774. In 1769, he led the first transition of the Russian fleet from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the difficulties of the transition (among those who died from diseases was the son of the admiral - his grave was recently found on the island of Menorca), he quickly established control over the Greek archipelago. The Chesme battle in June 1770 remained unsurpassed in terms of loss ratio: 11 Russians - 11 thousand Turks! On the island of Paros, the Aouz naval base was equipped with coastal batteries and its own Admiralty.
The Russian fleet withdrew from the Mediterranean Sea after the conclusion of the Kuchuk-Kainarji peace in July 1774. The Greek islands and the lands of the Levant, including Beirut, were returned to Turkey in exchange for territories in the Black Sea region. Nevertheless, the activities of the Russian fleet in the Archipelago were not in vain and played a significant role in world naval history. Russia, having made a strategic maneuver with the forces of the fleet from one theater to another and having achieved a number of high-profile victories over the enemy, for the first time forced to talk about itself as a strong maritime power and an important player in European politics.

Oktyabrsky Philip Sergeevich

Admiral, Hero Soviet Union. During the Great Patriotic War, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet. One of the leaders of the Defense of Sevastopol in 1941 - 1942, as well as the Crimean operation of 1944. During the Great Patriotic War, Vice Admiral F.S. Oktyabrsky was one of the leaders of the heroic defense of Odessa and Sevastopol. Being the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, at the same time in 1941-1942 he was the commander of the Sevastopol Defense Region.

Three orders of Lenin
three orders of the Red Banner
two orders of Ushakov 1st degree
Order of Nakhimov 1st class
Order of Suvorov 2nd class
Order of the Red Star
medals

Chapaev Vasily Ivanovich

01/28/1887 - 09/05/1919 life. Head of a division of the Red Army, participant in the First World War and the Civil War.
Cavalier of three St. George's crosses and the St. George medal. Cavalier of the Order of the Red Banner.
On his account:
- Organization of the county Red Guard of 14 detachments.
- Participation in the campaign against General Kaledin (near Tsaritsyn).
- Participation in the campaign of the Special Army against Uralsk.
- An initiative to reorganize the Red Guard detachments into two regiments of the Red Army: them. Stepan Razin and them. Pugachev, united in the Pugachev brigade under the command of Chapaev.
- Participation in battles with the Czechoslovaks and People's Army, which recaptured Nikolaevsk, renamed in honor of the brigade in Pugachevsk.
- Since September 19, 1918, the commander of the 2nd Nikolaev division.
- From February 1919 - Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Nikolaevsky district.
- From May 1919 - brigade commander of the Special Alexander-Gai Brigade.
- Since June - the head of the 25th Infantry Division, which participated in the Bugulma and Belebeev operations against Kolchak's army.
- The capture by the forces of his division on June 9, 1919 of Ufa.
- The capture of Uralsk.
- A deep raid by a Cossack detachment with an attack on the well-guarded (about 1000 bayonets) and located in the deep rear of the city of Lbischensk (now the village of Chapaev, West Kazakhstan region of Kazakhstan), where the headquarters of the 25th division was located.

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich

To a person to whom this name does not say anything - there is no need to explain and it is useless. To the one to whom it says something - and so everything is clear.
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front. The youngest front commander. Counts,. that of the army general - but before his death (February 18, 1945) he received the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.
He liberated three of the six capitals of the Union Republics captured by the Nazis: Kyiv, Minsk. Vilnius. Decided the fate of Keniksberg.
One of the few who pushed back the Germans on June 23, 1941.
He held the front in Valdai. In many ways, he determined the fate of repelling the German offensive on Leningrad. He kept Voronezh. Freed Kursk.
He successfully advanced until the summer of 1943. Having formed the top of the Kursk Bulge with his army. Liberated the Left Bank of Ukraine. Take Kyiv. Repelled Manstein's counterattack. Liberated Western Ukraine.
Carried out the operation Bagration. Surrounded and captured by his offensive in the summer of 1944, the Germans then humiliatedly marched through the streets of Moscow. Belarus. Lithuania. Neman. East Prussia.

Kolchak Alexander Vasilievich

Alexander Vasilievich Kolchak (November 4 (November 16), 1874, St. Petersburg, - February 7, 1920, Irkutsk) - Russian oceanographer, one of the largest polar explorers of the late XIX - early XX centuries, military and political figure, naval commander, active member of the Imperial Russian geographical society(1906), admiral (1918), leader white movement, Supreme Ruler of Russia.

Participant Russo-Japanese War, Defense of Port Arthur. During the First World War, he commanded the mine division of the Baltic Fleet (1915-1916), the Black Sea Fleet (1916-1917). Georgievsky Cavalier.
The leader of the White movement both on a national scale and directly in the East of Russia. As the Supreme Ruler of Russia (1918-1920), he was recognized by all the leaders of the White movement, "de jure" - by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, "de facto" - by the Entente states.
Supreme Commander of the Russian Army. Kotlyarevsky Petr Stepanovich

General Kotlyarevsky, son of a priest in the village of Olkhovatka, Kharkov province. Went from Private to General tsarist army. He can be called the great-grandfather of the Russian special forces. He carried out truly unique operations ... His name is worthy of being included in the list of the greatest commanders of Russia

Karyagin Pavel Mikhailovich

The campaign of Colonel Karyagin against the Persians in 1805 does not look like a real one military history. It looks like a prequel to "300 Spartans" (20,000 Persians, 500 Russians, gorges, bayonet charges, "This is crazy! - No, this is the 17th Jaeger Regiment!"). A golden, platinum page of Russian history, combining the slaughter of madness with the highest tactical skill, delightful cunning and stunning Russian impudence

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich

The commander, who over and over again was placed in the most difficult areas, where he either achieved success in the offensive or in defense, or brought the situation out of crisis, translated a seemingly inevitable catastrophe into non-defeat, a state of unstable balance.
G.K. Zhukov showed the ability to manage large military formations numbering 800 thousand - 1 million people. At the same time, the specific losses suffered by his troops (that is, correlated with the number) turned out to be lower over and over again than those of his neighbors.
Also G.K. Zhukov demonstrated remarkable knowledge of the properties of the military equipment in service with the Red Army - knowledge that is very necessary for the commander of industrial wars.

Marshal F.I. Tolbukhin

Hero of the First and Second World Wars, a commander who symbolizes the path of our army from the double-headed eagle to the red banner ...

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (1673-1729) - Russian statesman and military leader, favorite and ally of Peter I, the very first governor-general of St. Petersburg, president of the Military Collegium.

Menshikov was the only Russian nobleman who in 1707 was awarded the ducal title - "Duke of Izhora". After the death of Emperor Peter I, during the reign of Catherine I, Menshikov actually ruled the state (1725-1727). Under Peter II, he was generalissimo of the naval and land forces.

There were many versions about the origin of Alexander Menshikov, but it is considered more reliable that his father had a small shop where he sold pies, and his son delivered them.

Such a low origin and occupation exclude the possibility of obtaining a good education. It is known that Alexander knew how to put his signature, but he hardly knew how to write and read. However, one thing is indisputable: Menshikov had great abilities, had a sharp mind, an excellent memory, was a talented administrator and a fearless military man. Having started his career with the amusing company of Peter I, he soon became his batman, traveling everywhere with the tsar and taking part in diplomatic ceremonies. After the founding of St. Petersburg, he was appointed to the post of governor and was engaged in the construction of the city. His career quickly went uphill, military successes, as well as awards followed one after another.

In 1709, Menshikov was elevated to the rank of field marshal, while receiving huge land holdings. So he became one of the richest people Russia. No matter what positions Peter appointed him to, Menshikov acted boldly, persistently and energetically, showing all his talent as an initiative organizer. Exactly following the orders of the king, he proved himself a faithful and devoted supporter of his. In 1702, it was he who introduced Peter to Martha, who became Empress Catherine I.

Despite the fact that Menshikov had high titles and all kinds of awards, he did not miss a single opportunity for his enrichment, he did not disdain bribes, he could put his hand into the treasury. The man of dark origin was a real virtuoso of theft. Peter tried to stop him, even beat him with a club, but it was all in vain. With subordinates behaved sharply and arrogantly. The king heard rumors about the behavior of his entourage, but he condescendingly treated his tricks.

After the death of Peter, his favorite made every effort to ensure that Catherine I ascended the throne. As soon as this happened, he initiated the formation of the Supreme Privy Council, becoming its leader. After the accession to the throne of Peter II, Menshikov rose even higher, becoming a generalissimo and a full admiral.

In the early autumn of 1727, Menshikov came under house arrest, then he, along with his family, was exiled to Ranenburg, after a new investigation, already without ranks and property, he was transferred to Berezov, where his daughter died in the arms of A. Menshikov, and soon died and he himself.

And he had many awards! Moreover, all these awards were honestly deserved by him, because he is one of two people who turned the medieval Moscow kingdom into a powerful Russian empire. It's about about Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, the Most Serene Prince of the Russian and Roman Empires, the first Russian Generalissimo.

Most clearly, the "semi-power ruler" showed himself in the Northern War of 1700-1721 against the Kingdom of Sweden. In the very first, unsuccessful for Russia, battle of Narva, only two of his regiments - Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky - repelled all Swedish attacks and remained undisturbed.

After that, Menshikov participated in the hostilities that unfolded in Ingria (a Swedish province located on the territory of modern Leningrad region). In 1702, Russian troops under the command of Count Sheremetev attacked the strong Swedish fortress of Noteburg, the assault took place in front of the tsar. At a certain moment, the attack bogged down: it seemed that the Swedes repulsed the assault. Menshikov, under a hail of bullets and buckshot, rushed into battle with fresh troops, the attack broke out with new force and the fortress was taken. As a reward, Peter appointed his favorite as the commandant of the city.

Soon Meshikov was appointed governor of Ingermanland, and later of the St. Petersburg province. In this high position, he also manifests himself with better side. During the construction of St. Petersburg and Kronstadt, he managed to provide housing and supply the serf builders with everything necessary - Peter himself considered this an impossible task. Thanks to his organization, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Admiralty, the first palace in the city were quickly built. Menshikov supervised the construction of shipyards on the Neva and Svir rivers. He personally designed the Olonets shipyard. When the Baltic Fleet, which was under construction, needed iron and cannons, the future Most Serene Prince personally organized the search for ores and began the construction of two factories.

In 1703, Menshikov captured the Swedish fortification Nyenschantz. Then, near it, together with the king, he boarded 2 enemy ships, the crews of which did not know about the fate of the fortress. It was the first ever victory of the Russian fleet. At the same time, Menshikov independently commanded sailing ship- according to most evidence, except for him and Peter himself, no one in Russia could do this. The presented facts clearly show that his illiteracy is a myth invented by envious people after his exile.

The capture of Narva is, in my opinion, the most romantic battle in history. According to Menshikov's plan, part of the Russian troops changed into Swedish uniforms and went to "liberate" the fortress. The Swedes, seeing the approaching troops, sent a significant detachment from the fortress, which as a result was surrounded. A battle ensued at the fortress gates. The Swedes, in order to hold the gate, were forced to send significant reinforcements there, as a result of which the walls were weakened. Having guessed the moment, Menshikov commanded the assault. As a result of a fierce battle, the fortress fell.

In 1706, the main actions of the Northern War moved to the Polish-Belarusian borderlands. In addition, a significant part of the Russian troops fought in Poland along with the Polish king Augustus the Strong. There, the new Russian regular army won its first major victory in the field battle near Kalisz. His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov commanded the troops. The Swedes then occupied strong position, located on a hill and covered from the flanks by the river and swamps.

The prince, by a cunning maneuver, forced the Swedes to leave the fortifications and fell upon them with a powerful attack along the front. A fierce battle ensued, which lasted until nightfall. In the midst of the battle, Menshikov ordered his dragoons to dismount, and during the next cavalry attack, he sent "infantry" to help the cavalry. The Swedes were driven out of their fortifications. The winners lost only 408 people (the losses of the Swedes were more than 5000). After that, Menshikov's troops were in danger of being surrounded - the Swedish king decided to take him into the "pincers". However, his Serene Highness Prince with a cunning maneuver led the troops out of the encirclement - when the Swedish "pincers" closed, there was no one inside them.

In 1708, Peter led the tactics of "scorched" earth. This bore fruit - the Swedish army that occupied Mogilev was tormented by hunger. The corps of General Levenhaupt was moving towards her from Riga. Menshikov met Levengaupt near the village of Lesnoy. He and Peter attacked the corps with two columns and defeated it. Then the prince revealed the betrayal of Hetman Mazepa and, by order of the tsar, seized his headquarters Baturin. Then he started the battle of Oposhnya, as a result of which it became possible to send reinforcements to the garrison of the besieged Poltava.

In the Battle of Poltava, the dragoon commander was in the first roles. They drew up a battle plan. Menshikov's cavalry was the first to enter the battle, thereby eliminating the suddenness of the Swedish attack. When Charles XII threw a detachment of General Ross around the Russian redoubts, Menshikov rushed to cut him off. “If this is Menshikov’s idea,” wrote Voltaire, “then Russia owes him its salvation, and if Peter ordered it, then he did not yield to Karl.” After the dispersal of the Ross detachment, there was a danger of the Swedes being bypassed by the cavalry of the most serene prince. This created confusion in their ranks. Peter noticed this and ordered a general offensive. The Swedes wavered and ran. Menshikov's cavalry pursued them. His Serene Highness Prince has the honor of accepting the surrender of the Swedish army at Perevolochina. For the Poltava victory, Menshikov was awarded the rank of Field Marshal.

After Poltava, Menshikov until 1713 commanded the Russian troops, liberating Poland, Courland, Pomerania, Holstein from the Swedes. He participated in the capture of the fortresses of Teningen and Stetin. He concluded penalty agreements with the cities of Hamburg and Lübeck - they pledged to pay Russia a significant amount. Since 1714, he was engaged in governor-general affairs in St. Petersburg. During the frequent absences of the king, he headed the administration of the country.

Menshikov's contribution to the victory over Sweden, to the construction of St. Petersburg and to the transformation of Russia is beyond doubt. And who knows, if the Tsar of Moscow Pyotr Alekseevich had not become friends with the son of the groom Aleksashka, would he have become Peter the Great, the Emperor of All Russia?