St. George ribbons occupy the most honorable place among the numerous collective awards (distinctions) of the units of the Russian army.
The Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George (Order of St. George) is the highest military award of the Russian Empire. In an expanded sense, it is an all-encompassing set of distinctions for officers, lower ranks and military units.
D.G. Levitsky. Portrait of Empress Catherine II.
Established by Empress Catherine II on November 26 (December 7), 1769 in honor of St. George to distinguish officers for merit on the battlefield and abolished in 1917 after the October Revolution. More than 10 thousand people were awarded the order, 25 were holders of the order of the first degree, of which only four became full holders. Since 2000, the Order of St. George has been a military award of the Russian Federation.
The Order of St. George stood out by its statute among other Russian orders as an award for personal valor in battle, and the merits for which an officer could be awarded were strictly regulated by the statute of the order. By status, it was given only for specific feats in wartime "to those who ... distinguished themselves by a special courageous act or gave wise and useful advice for our military service." It was an exceptional military award.
He had four degrees of distinction.
1st degree: a star on the left side of the chest and a large cross on a ribbon over the right shoulder,
700 rub. annual pension.
2nd degree: a star on the left side of the chest and a large cross on the neck ribbon,
400 rub. annual pension.
3rd degree: small cross on a neck ribbon, 200 rubles. annual pension.
4th degree: a small cross in a buttonhole or on a block, 100 rubles. annual pension.
Those awarded with several degrees were entitled to a pension only to the highest degree. After the death of the gentleman, his widow received a pension for him for another year. Orders after the death of the owner surrendered to the Military Collegium (until 1856). It was forbidden to decorate order signs with precious stones. The order also gave the privilege of entering public events along with the colonels for the Knights of St. George of the 3rd and 4th classes, even if their rank was younger.
E. D. Kamezhenkov. Unknown officer with the Order of George IV degree. Early 1790s
Since when the order of the highest degree was presented, the lowest degree was no longer awarded, out of 25 cavaliers of the 1st degree, only four people became full cavaliers of the Order of St. George (awarded with all 4 degrees):
* Prince, Field Marshal M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov-Smolensky;
* Prince, Field Marshal M. B. Barclay de Tolly;
* Count, Field Marshal I. F. Paskevich-Erivan Prince of Warsaw;
* Count, Field Marshal I. I. Dibich-Zabalkansky.
Three people were awarded the Order of St. George from the 3rd to the 1st degree:
* Prince, Field Marshal G. A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky;
* Prince, Generalissimo A. V. Suvorov-Rymniksky;
* Count, General of the Cavalry L. L. Bennigsen.
Volkov R.M. Portrait of M.I. Kutuzov.
Although formally in seniority the Order of St. George of the 1st degree was lower than the highest order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the generals valued him above any other award. From a letter from the great commander A. V. Suvorov to his daughter dated November 8, 1789: [Received] the signs of St. Andrew, fifty thousand, and above all, my dear, First class of St. George. That's what your daddy is like. For a good heart, I almost died of joy.
Surikov V.I. Generalissimo Suvorov.
As a sign of special distinction, for personal courage and selflessness, the Golden Weapons were awarded - a sword, a dagger, and later a saber. One of the first authentically known cold steel awards dates back to the Petrine era. On June 27, 1720, Prince Golitsyn was sent a golden sword with rich diamond decorations as a sign of his military labor for the defeat of the Swedish squadron at Grengam Island. In the future, there are many awards with gold weapons with diamonds for generals, and without diamonds for officers with various honorary inscriptions (“For Bravery”, “For Courage”, as well as some indicating the specific merits of the recipient).
The black and orange colors of the St. George Ribbon have become a symbol of military prowess and glory in Russia. There are different opinions about the symbolism of the St. George ribbon. For example, Count Litta wrote in 1833: "The immortal legislator, who established this order, believed that its ribbon connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire ...".
Rokotov F. Catherine II with the Order of St. George 1st class. 1770
However, Serge Andolenko, a Russian officer who later became a general of the French army and compiled the most complete collection of drawings and descriptions of the regimental badges of the Russian army, does not agree with this explanation: "In reality, the colors of the order have been state colors since the time when the double-headed eagle became the Russian national emblem on a golden background ... This is how the Russian coat of arms was described under Catherine II: "The eagle is black, on the heads is a crown, and at the top in the middle is a large Imperial crown - gold, in the middle of the same eagle is George, on a white horse, defeating a serpent, an epancha and a spear are yellow , the crown is yellow, the snake is black. "Thus, the Russian military order, both in its name and in its colors, had deep roots in Russian history."
The St. George's Ribbon was also assigned to some insignia awarded to military units. In 1805, another collective award appeared - St. George's pipes. They were made of silver, but unlike silver pipes, which had previously been an award in the Russian army, the St. George cross was applied to the body of the pipe, which increased their rank as an award. An inscription was often applied to the body of the pipe, telling for which battle and in which year the regiment won the award. An officer's St. George's cross was attached to the pipe, and a lanyard from a ribbon of order colors with silver tassels. By 1816, two types of St. George's pipes were finally installed - infantry, curved several times and straight cavalry. An infantry regiment usually received two trumpets as a reward, a cavalry regiment three for each squadron, and a special trumpet for the regimental headquarters trumpeter. The first St. George trumpets in the history of the Russian Empire was awarded to the 6th Chasseur Regiment for the Battle of Shengraben. The body of each pipe was surrounded by the inscription "For the feat at Shengraben on November 4, 1805 in the battle of 5 tons of the corps with the enemy, consisting of 30 tons."
In 1806, award St. George banners were introduced in the Russian army. At the top of the banner
the St. George's cross was placed, under the pommel a black-orange St. George's ribbon with banner tassels 1 inch wide (4.44 cm) was tied. The first St. George banners were issued to the Kiev Grenadier, Chernigov Dragoon, Pavlograd Hussars and two Don Cossack regiments for distinction in the campaign of 1805 with the inscription: “For exploits at Shengraben on November 4, 1805 in the battle of 5 thousand corps with the enemy, consisting of 30 thousand soldiers. » In 1819, the sea St. George's stern flag was established. The first such flag was received by the battleship Azov under the command of Captain 1st Rank MP Lazarev, who distinguished himself in the Battle of Navarino in 1827. In 1855, during the Crimean War, lanyards of St. George's colors appeared on premium officer's weapons. Golden weapons as a kind of award were no less honorable for a Russian officer than the Order of George.
If a person was awarded an order he already had, but of a higher degree, then the signs of a lower degree were not put on and were surrendered to the Chapter of Orders. In 1856, it was allowed to wear the signs of all degrees of the Order of George at the same time. From February to May 1855, there was a version of the order of the 4th degree with a bow from the St. George ribbon, which testified that his gentleman was awarded twice - for long service, and later for distinction in battle. For the knights of the order, “a special cavalry attire was provided, consisting in an orange velvet supervest, with black wide front and back velvet crosses; the supervest is sheathed with a circle of gold with a fringe fringe "
After the end of the Russian-Turkish war (1877 - 1878), Emperor Alexander II ordered the preparation of performances to reward the most distinguished units and divisions. Information from the commanders about the exploits performed by their units was collected and submitted to the Cavalier Duma of the Order of St. George. The report of the Duma, in particular, said that the most brilliant feats in the war were the Nizhny Novgorod and Seversky Dragoon Regiments, which already have all the established awards: St. George's standards, St. George's pipes, double buttonholes "for military distinction" on the uniforms of headquarters and chief officers , St. George buttonholes on the uniforms of the lower ranks, insignia on headdresses.
By personal decree on April 11, 1878, a new insignia was established, the description of which was announced by order of the Military Department of October 31 of the same year. The decree, in particular, stated: “Sovereign Emperor, bearing in mind that some regiments already have all the insignia established as a reward for military exploits, the Highest deigned to establish a new highest distinction: St. granted, in accordance with the description and drawing attached to this. These ribbons, being part of the banners and standards, are in no case removed from them. " Until the end of the existence of the Russian imperial army, this award with wide St. George ribbons remained the only one. These ribbons were received by the Nizhny Novgorod and Seversk Dragoon Regiments.
Louis Ersan. Portrait of Maria Amalia, Queen of the Two Sicilies 1830, Condé Museum, Chantilly.
It is known that two women were awarded the Order of George (after Catherine II). Orders of the 4th degree were awarded to:
* Maria Sofia Amalia, Queen of the Two Sicilies - February 21, 1861, "For the courage shown during the siege of the fortress of Gaeta from November 12, 1860 to February 13, 1861";
* Rimma Mikhailovna Ivanova (posthumously), sister of mercy - September 17, 1915, “For courage and selflessness shown in battle, when, after the death of all commanders, she took command of the company; died of her wounds after the battle. The deceased nurse was awarded the order by decree of Nicholas II, which violated the status of the order as an exception.
From the date of the establishment of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George on November 26, 1769, by Empress Catherine the Great, this day began to be considered the festive Day of the Cavaliers of St. George, which was to be celebrated annually both at the Highest Court and “in all those places where the Knight of the Grand Cross happens” . Since the time of Catherine II, the Winter Palace has become the venue for the main solemn ceremonies associated with the Order.
George's Hall in the Winter Palace.
Meetings of the Duma of the Order of St. George were held in St. George's Hall. Solemn receptions were held annually on the occasion of the order holiday, for ceremonial dinners they used the St. George porcelain service, created by order of Catherine II (Gardner factory, 1777-1778).
In addition to the St. George's Hall in the Winter, there is the St. George's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, construction began in 1838 in the Moscow Kremlin according to the project of the architect K. A. Ton. On April 11, 1849, a decision was made to perpetuate the names of the Knights of St. George and military units on marble plaques between the twisted columns of the hall. Today, they contain over 11 thousand names of officers awarded various degrees of the order from 1769 to 1885.
George Hall. Grand Kremlin Palace.
During the Great Patriotic War, continuing the military traditions of the Russian army, on November 8, 1943, the Order of Glory of three degrees was established. His statute, as well as the yellow and black colors of the ribbon, were reminiscent of the St. George Cross. Then the St. George ribbon, confirming the traditional colors of Russian military prowess, adorned many soldier and modern Russian award medals and badges.
On March 2, 1992, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR "On State Awards of the Russian Federation", a decision was made to restore the Russian military order of St. George and the insignia "St. George's Cross". The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1994 states: "The military Order of St. George and the Insignia -" St. George's Cross "are preserved in the system of state awards.
The rarity and significance of this award is evidenced by the fact that during the war of 1812 only one person was awarded this award - Field Marshal Prince M.I. Kutuzov. None of the participants in the Russo-Japanese War and the First World War received George I degree.
Only Cavaliers Order of St. George I degree received all the signs of the order: a ribbon, a star and a cross. Throughout history, only 25 people have been awarded his I degree.
1.Catherine II the Great (1729-1796).
Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, born Anhalt-Zerbskaya. Established the order on November 26, 1769. She put on the signs of the newly established order of the 1st degree.
In addition, Catherine was awarded the Order of St. Catherine (02/10/1744), the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (06/28/1762), the Swedish Order of the Seraphim (11/21/1763), the Polish Order of the White Eagle (1787), the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle (1762).
The Catherine era was marked by the maximum enslavement of the peasants and the comprehensive expansion of the privileges of the nobility.
Under Catherine the Great, the borders of the Russian Empire were significantly moved to the west (sections of the Commonwealth) and to the south (annexation of Novorossia).
2. Rumyantsev - Zadunaisky Peter Alexandrovich (1725-1796).
Count, field marshal general from 1770. On July 27, 1770, in the rank of general-general, he was awarded the Order of St. George I degree "... in the Turkish war, leading the First Army for the famous victory won over the enemy on July 21, 1770 near Cahul." In 1774, in the rank of Field Marshal, he was awarded a golden sword with diamonds and the St. George lanyard.
3. Orlov - Chesmensky Alexei Grigorievich (1737-1807).
Count since 1762, general-in-chief since 1769. For the victory at Chesma he received the title of Chesme. On September 22, 1770, in the rank of general-in-chief, he was awarded the Order of St. George I degree "... for the brave and reasonable leadership of the fleet and the victory of the famous victory over the Turkish fleet on the coast of Assia and completely destroyed it."
4. Panin Petr Ivanovich (1721-1789).
General-anshef since 1762. Count from 1770
On October 8, 1770, he was awarded the Order of St. George I degree "... for the courageous and prudent leadership of the army entrusted to him in the Turkish war against the Bendery fortress defended by the enemy so desperately and with great strength and conquering it with its castle."
On August 9, 1775, he received a golden weapon - a sword with diamonds, with the inscription "For the victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774."
5. Dolgorukov - Krymsky Vasily Mikhailovich (1722-1782).
Prince, general-anshef. On the day of the signing of the peace treaty on July 10, 1775, he received the title of Crimean. Cavalier of golden weapons - swords with diamonds - and the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
On July 18, 1771, he was awarded the Order of St. George I degree "... in the Turkish war, leading the Second Army, and for the famous victories he won during the capture of Perekop and Kafa in 1771 on June 14 and 29."
6. Potemkin Grigory Alexandrovich (1739-1791).
His Serene Highness Prince from 1776, Tauride from 1781, Field Marshal General from 1784.
An outstanding Russian commander and statesman. Member of the Russian-Turkish troops of 1768-1774 and 1787-1791, the hero of the battles of Larga, Cahul, the assault on Ochakov. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army in 1787-1791. Governor of Little Russia, founder of Kherson, Nikolaev and Sevastopol. Cavalier of all Russian orders.
On July 27, 1770, with the rank of major general, he was awarded the Order of St. George III degree for the battles at Larga and Cahul. In 1774, being a lieutenant general, he received the golden St. George weapon - a sword with diamonds - for the battle of Kozlukchi. On November 26, 1775, the count with the rank of general-in-chief was awarded the Order of St. George II degree "... for the heroic deeds performed by him in the Turkish war under all articles of the statute on the military order for courageous deeds over the enemy."
On December 16, 1778, His Serene Highness Prince General-Field Marshal was awarded the Order of St. George I degree “... in retribution of zeal for the Fatherland, art and excellent courage, with which, leading the Yekaterinoslav army and fleet on the Black Sea and defeating important surfaces over the enemy of Russia and all Christianity , succeeded in subduing the city and the fortress of Ochakov with weapons.
7. Suvorov Alexander Vasilyevich (1730-1800).
Count Rymnitsky from 1789, Prince of Italy from 1799, Generalissimo from 1799. The great Russian commander, holder of all Russian orders of the 1st degree. Twice - in 1774 and 1789 - he was awarded a golden weapon - a sword adorned with diamonds, and a St. George lanyard.
On August 19, 1771, he was awarded the Order of St. George III degree for the Polish campaign of 1770-1771. July 30, 1773 he was awarded the Order of George II degree for the victory at Turtukay in May 1772.
On October 18, 1789, with the rank of Field Marshal, he was awarded the Order of St. George I degree for the victory at Rymnik.
8. Chichagov Vasily Yakovlevich (1726-1809).
Admiral, naval commander, commander-in-chief of the Russian fleet in the war with Sweden in 1788-1790, hero of the Eland 1789 and Revel 1790 sea battles. In 1773, with the rank of rear admiral, he was awarded the Order of St. George IV degree for 18 campaigns.
On June 26, 1790, with the rank of admiral, he was awarded the Order of St. George, I degree.
9. Repnin Nikolai Vasilyevich (1734-1801).
Prince, field marshal since 1794. Member of the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763, the Russian-Turkish wars of 1768-1774, 1787-1791. Cavalier of all Russian orders.
June 27, 1770 was awarded the Order of St. George II degree for the battle of Cahul.
On July 15, 1791 he was awarded the Order of St. George I degree for the victory at Machin.
10. Golenishchev-Kutuzov Mikhail Illarionovich (1745-1813).
His Serene Highness Prince Smolensky from 1812, Field Marshal General from 1812. The great Russian commander, cavalier of all Russian orders of the 1st degree, the first full cavalier of the Order of St. George of all degrees from I to IV. The military geography of the commander: Alushta, Ochakov, Akkerman, Kaushany, Bendery, Ishmael, Austerlitz. The pinnacle of his glory is the war of 1812 and the battles until April 1813.
On November 26, 1775, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he received St. George IV degree for the assault on the village of Shumla, fortified by Turkish troops.
On March 25, 1791, with the rank of major general, he was awarded the Order of St. George III degree for the assault on the fortress of Izmail.
On March 18, 1792, in the rank of lieutenant general, he received the Order of St. George II degree for his exploits in the battle of Machin.
On December 12, 1812, His Serene Highness Prince, with the rank of Field Marshal General, was awarded the Order of St. George I degree "For the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia."
In 1812 he received the golden St. George weapon "For Courage" - a sword with a diamond laurel wreath.
11. Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich (1761-1818).
Prince from 1815, Field Marshal General from 1815. Outstanding Russian commander, cavalier of all Russian orders of the first degrees, second full cavalier of the Order of St. George I-IV degrees.
In December 1788, with the rank of lieutenant, he received a gold cross on the St. George ribbon with the inscription "Ochakov was taken on December 6, 1788."
September 16, 1794 for the Polish company was awarded the Order of St. George IV degree.
In 1807 - George III degree for the battle of Pultusk on December 14, 1806.
On October 21, 1812 he was awarded the Order of St. George II degree for the battle of Borodino on August 26, 1812.
On August 19, 1813 he was awarded the Order of St. George I degree for the battle of Kulm on August 17 and 18, 1813.
Continued here
Among the military awards of the Russian Empire, the most revered was the Order of St. George. Respect for this award was also maintained in the Soviet period - the colors of the guards ribbon that bordered the main soldier's award of the Great Patriotic War, the Order of Glory, are extremely similar to the colors of the ribbon of the Order of St. George. After the Great Patriotic War, one could easily meet veterans who proudly wore St. George's crosses along with Soviet awards.
Several years were being prepared for the establishment of the order.
The idea of establishing a special award, awarded exclusively for military merit, came from Empress Catherine II immediately after the accession. The first draft of the Order of St. George - a Christian martyr, patron of the military, especially revered in Russia - was prepared by 1765. The empress, however, was not satisfied with the proposals, and work on the order lasted another four years.
Officially, the statute of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious was signed by Empress Catherine II in the Winter Palace on November 26 (December 7, new style), 1769.
A divine liturgy was served in the palace church, the signs of the order were consecrated - a cross, a star and a ribbon.
The establishment of the order was accompanied by great celebrations and artillery salutes.
The sign of the order of the 1st degree Catherine II laid upon herself in honor of the establishment of a new award. The self-imposition of the award will be repeated in history only once more - in 1869 Alexander II so will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the order.
The badge of the order was an equal-ended cross with expanding ends, covered with white enamel. In the central medallion on the front side was placed the image of St. George on a white horse, on the reverse side - the monogram "SG", that is, "St. George". Two-color ribbon - three black and two orange stripes. The star was four-pointed, gold, with a monogram and the motto in the center - "For service and courage."
To whom for feats, and to whom for long service
The Order of St. George was the first Russian award that had four degrees.
The cross of the order of the 4th degree was worn on the left side of the chest on a ribbon of order colors, the cross of the 3rd degree - a larger size - was worn on the neck, the cross of the 2nd degree - on the neck, and the star - on the left side of the chest. A cross of the 1st, highest degree of the order was worn on a wide ribbon over the right shoulder, and a star on the left side of the chest. The statute of the order was determined "this order should never be removed."
As already mentioned, the Order of St. George was awarded for military exploits, but there was one exception. The award of the 4th degree could be received by officers for long service, for 25 years of military service in the ground forces, for 18 at least six-month campaigns (that is, campaigns) in the fleet; since 1833, for naval officers who did not participate in battles, awards were also introduced for 20 campaigns. Since 1816, in such cases, inscriptions began to be placed on the cross: “25 years”, “18 campaigns”, later - “20 campaigns”.
In 1855, however, it was decided that such a respected and honorary award could not be awarded for long service, after which the practice of such an award was canceled.
First Cavalier and Great Four
The Order of St. George was awarded exclusively to officers. The first recipient of the award was lieutenant colonel Fyodor Ivanovich Fabritsian. It was impossible to find a more worthy candidate for this. Fyodor Fabritsian, a Courland nobleman, entered the service as a soldier in 1749. Having gone through several military campaigns, Fabrizian rose to high ranks, showing personal courage. Contemporaries noted that he was extremely concerned about the needs of his soldiers, took care of them.
On November 11, 1769, commanding a special detachment of chasseur battalions and part of the 1st Grenadier Regiment of 1,600 people, Lieutenant Colonel Fabrizian defeated a Turkish detachment of 7,000 people and occupied the city of Galati. For this feat, he was awarded the Order of St. George, and not the 4th, but immediately the 3rd degree.
Subsequently, Fedor Fabritsian became a general and commanded the Russian army in the North Caucasus.
In the entire history of the Order of St. George, only 25 people were awarded the 1st degree, 125 people received the 2nd degree award. The 3rd and 4th degrees were awarded much more often, the total number of those awarded is about 10 thousand people. At the same time, most of the orders of the 4th degree, about 8000, were received not for feats, but for length of service.
Cavaliers of the Order of St. George were entitled to an annual pension - 700 rubles for the 1st degree, 400 rubles for the 2nd, 200 and 100 rubles for the 3rd and 4th degrees, respectively.
Cavaliers of all four degrees of the Order of St. George were only four people - Field Marshals General Mikhail Kutuzov, Michael Barclay de Tolly,Ivan Paskevich And Ivan Dibich.
"A bird instead of a horseman"
In 1807 Emperor Alexander I a note was filed with a proposal to "introduce a 5th class or a special branch of the Military Order of St. George for soldiers and other lower military ranks."
In February 1807, Alexander I approved the insignia of the Military Order for the lower ranks “For Fearless Courage”, which later received the unofficial name “Soldier George”. The manifesto ordered the insignia of the Military Order to be worn on a ribbon of the same colors as the Order of St. George.
This award was presented much more often - only during the reign of Alexander I there were more than 46 thousand such awards. Initially, "soldier George" did not have degrees. They were introduced by imperial decree in 1856.
An interesting point is that many Muslims and representatives of other faiths fought in the ranks of the Russian army. Since St. George is a Christian saint, so as not to offend representatives of another faith, the appearance of the award was changed for these cases - it was awarded to non-Christians with the image of a double-headed eagle, and not George the Victorious.
This delicacy, however, was not appreciated by all. The brave highlanders even asked with some resentment: “Why do they give us crosses with a bird, and not with a horseman?”
George Cross
The official name of "soldier George" - the insignia of the Military Order - remained until 1913. Then a new statute of the award was drawn up, and it received a new and more well-known name today - the St. George Cross. From that moment on, the award became the same for all confessions - it depicted St. George.
For exploits in the First World War, about 1.2 million people were awarded the St. George Cross of the 4th degree, a little less than 290 thousand people of the 3rd degree, 65 thousand people of the 2nd degree, 33 thousand people of the 1st degree.
Among the full cavaliers of the St. George Cross will be at least six people who were subsequently awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, including legendary commander of the First Cavalry Army Semyon Budyonny.
During the Civil War in the White Army, the St. George Crosses were also awarded for the fight against the Bolsheviks, but not too actively.
The darkest page in the history of the St. George Cross is its use as an award in the so-called Russian Corps, a formation made up mainly of emigrants that sided with the Nazis during World War II. The corps acted against the Yugoslav partisans. However, the use of the St. George Cross as a reward was an initiative of collaborators, not supported by any laws.
A new history of the award began in 2008
In the new Russia, the St. George Cross as an official award was approved by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1992. At the same time, for a long time the award existed purely formally. The statute of the insignia "St. George's Cross" was approved in 2000, and the first award took place only in 2008. The first St. George's Crosses in the Russian Federation were awarded to servicemen who showed courage and heroism during the armed conflict in South Ossetia in August 2008.
Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George
| A country | Russia |
| Type | Order |
| Date of establishment | November 26, 1769 |
| First award | November 26, 1769 |
| To whom is awarded | Army and Navy officers |
| Grounds for awarding | For military exploits |
"For Service and Courage"
Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George (Order of St. George)- the highest military order of the Russian Empire, which has no analogue in other countries. The holders of this award have always enjoyed respect and honor in society. The ultimate dream of every Russian officer.
History of the order
The founder and holder of the order of the 1st degree, Empress Catherine II.
The Order of St. George was established by Empress Catherine II on November 26, 1769, as a special award for military exploits. Saint George the Victorious, who has long been revered in Rus', was chosen as the heavenly patron of the order.
During the solemn ceremony and the consecration of the badges of the order in the Winter Palace, the empress put on herself the badge of the order of the 1st degree, denoting the significance of this award.
Since this was the first order to encourage personal courage and military exploits, Empress Catherine divided it into 4 degrees. This was done in order to celebrate the merits of not only the high command, but also junior officers.
Over its 148-year history, less than 12,000 officers were awarded the order, which only raised its status among other awards of the Russian Empire.
A total of 25 people received the highest degree of the Order of St. George, of which 23 - for military exploits and 2 - laying on. 123 awards were made with the 2nd degree of the order and 652 - with the 3rd degree. About 11 thousand officers became holders of the 4th degree of the order, of which about 8,000 for long service, 4 for 20 naval campaigns, and about 600 for 18 naval campaigns. As of 1913, 2504 people received this award for military exploits.
Despite the fact that 25 people became cavaliers of the 1st degree, only four of them were awarded all four degrees of the order. Full cavaliers of the Order of St. George were: M. I. Kutuzov, M. B. Barclay de Tolly, I. F. Paskevich-Erivansky and I. I. Dibich-Zabalkansky.
In 1849, after the construction of the Grand Palace in the Moscow Kremlin, one of the halls was named the Order of St. George. On the walls of this hall, on marble boards, inscriptions were made in gold: 11381 names of the holders of the order, who were awarded by him from 1869 to 1885.
Every year on November 26, in the St. George Hall of the Winter Palace, the Knights of St. George gathered for celebrations on the occasion of the order holiday. Knights of the Order of St. George were invited to a festive dinner, for which Empress Catherine ordered a special porcelain service. St. George's service consisted of plates, biscuits, cream bowls and was designed for 80 people. Over the years, the service has been constantly updated with new instruments.
The last time for the celebration of the order holiday, the cavaliers gathered on November 26, 1916. After the October Revolution, the order was abolished.
Description of the order
Appearance
The Statute of 1769 described the order as:
The sign of the Order of St. George was made in the form of an equilateral gold cross, covered with white enamel on both sides, and having a gold border around the edges of the rays. In the center of the cross there was a medallion, on the obverse of which there was an image of St. George, striking a serpent with a spear, and on the reverse was the monogram "SG".
The signs of the order from the 1st to the 4th degree differed only in size.
So the order of the 4th degree had dimensions of 34 × 34 mm, the order of the 3rd degree had large dimensions, which at different periods of manufacture ranged from 43 to 47 mm.
The signs of the order of the 1st and 2nd degree also did not have strict frames and were made in sizes from 51 to 54 mm.
The order of the 1st and 2nd degree was accompanied by a gold star of the order, which is a diamond-shaped star, consisting of 32 divergent rays. Initially, the Star of the Order of St. George was made by embroidery, but since 1854 they began to be made of gold.
The production of order signs was entrusted to the Chapter of the order, but orders made in private jewelry workshops are not uncommon.
Wearing rules
Rules for wearing the degrees of the Order of St. George (from left to right from 4th to 1st).
Like all orders of the Russian Empire, the Order of St. George had its own special order of wearing.
The sign of the order of the 4th degree was worn on the left side of the chest in a buttonhole, on an order ribbon 22 mm wide.
Order of the 3rd degree - on the neck sash 32 mm wide.
On a neck ribbon 50 mm wide, the badge of the Order of the 2nd degree was also worn, but at the same time, the Star of the Order was worn on the left side of the chest.
The badge of the Order of St. George, 1st class, was worn on a wide ribbon (100-110 mm) over the right shoulder, at the hip. The star of the order, as for the 2nd degree, was worn on the left side of the chest.
In addition, the knights of the order were allowed never to remove the signs of the order from the military uniform, and also to wear a uniform even after retirement.
Statute of the Order
Badge of the Order of St. George 4th degree for 25 years of service in officer ranks.
Badge of the Order of St. George 4th class for 18 campaigns.
Badge of the Order of St. George 4th class for 20 campaigns.
During its history, the Order of St. George had three statutes.
The first was signed by Catherine II at the solemn ceremony of establishing the order in 1769. The Statute of Empress Catherine stated:
According to the Statute, the awarding of orders of the 1st and 2nd degree was carried out personally by the emperor and at his discretion.
The awarding of the 3rd and 4th degrees of the order was carried out by the Military and Naval Colleges, and since 1782 - the St. George Duma, consisting of holders of this order.
Also, the Statute stipulated the deadlines for submitting a submission for awarding the order - no more than 4 weeks after the accomplishment of the feat.
In cases of awarding the Order of St. George of the 4th degree, the commanders of armies or corps were allowed not to collect the St. George Duma, but to award the award at their discretion. At the same time, each such award had to be approved by the emperor.
There was a separate paragraph that described the privileges of order bearers.
In addition, each officer awarded the Order of St. George received a promotion in rank.
Despite the fact that it was a military order, the Statute provided for the award of the 4th degree of the order for 25 years of impeccable service in officer ranks or for participating in 18 naval campaigns. At the same time, 6 months of pure sailing were considered for one campaign. The signs of these orders had the corresponding inscription on the horizontal rays: "25 years" and "18 camp."
Terms of service could be reduced. For example, participants in such battles as the assault on Ochakov in 1788 or the capture of Ishmael in 1790 had their term of service reduced by 3 years. Also, 3 years were reduced for officers who received the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree with a bow for military exploits, and those who were awarded the golden weapon “For Courage” - 2 years each.
Later, this list also included holders of the Order of St. Anne of the 3rd degree with a bow, for which the term of service was reduced by 1 year. Naval officers who participated in outstanding naval battles were reduced their term of service by 1 campaign, holders of the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree with a bow - by 2 campaigns, the Order of St. Anne of the 3rd degree with a bow and golden weapons "For Courage" - by 1 campaign .
On December 6, 1833, Emperor Nicholas I issued a new Statute. The statute determined the procedure for awarding the order. Now the awarding was carried out sequentially starting from the 4th degree. The changes also affected the rules for awarding the Order of St. George for impeccable service. Now, in addition to 25 years of impeccable service, to receive the 4th degree of the order, the main condition was the mandatory participation in at least one battle. For naval officers who did not take part in the battles, they provided for the award of the order for 20 campaigns.
In addition, the new Statute has a detailed description of the feats that give the right to be awarded the order.
Starting from August 9, 1844, Russian subjects and foreigners, persons of non-Christian faith began to be awarded orders, on which, instead of the image of St. George and his monogram, the imperial double-headed eagle was depicted.
Since 1845, officers awarded any degree of the Order of St. George received the right to hereditary nobility, and could also have the right to display the signs of the order on their family coat of arms.
On May 15, 1855, Emperor Alexander II abolished the awarding of the Order for long service and for naval campaigns.
Badge of the Order of St. George 4th class for non-Christians.
The third time the statute was rewritten under Nicholas II in 1913. However, the main changes affected the awards for the lower ranks - the Insignia of the Military Order of St. George and the Medal For Bravery.
Award examples
First degree
The first awarding took place on November 26, 1769 - Empress Catherine II laid on herself the signs of the order of the 1st degree. On July 27, 1770, the first awarding of the Order of the 1st degree for military merit took place. For victories over the Turkish army at Larga and Cahul, he was awarded Field Marshal Count P. A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky. The last to be awarded the Order of St. George 1st degree on November 29, 1877 was Field Marshal Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (senior), for the capture of the city of Plevna.
Cavalier of the Order of St. George, 1st Class, Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzov.
Cavalier of the Order of St. George, 2nd degree, Admiral S.K. Greig.
CAVALIERS OF THE ORDER OF SAINT GEORGE I DEGREE
| № | Full Name | Title | Rank | Delivery date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALEXANDER II | emperor | major general | 26.11.1869 |
| 2 | Barclay de Tolly M. B. | prince | field marshal general | 19.08.1813 |
| 3 | L. L. BENNIGSEN | graph | cavalry general | 22.07.1814 |
| 4 | M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov | Most Serene Prince | field marshal general | 12.12.1812 |
| 5 | DIBICCH-ZABALKANSKY I. I. | graph | field marshal general | 12.09.1829 |
| 6 | V. M. Dolgorukov-Krymsky | prince | general-in-chief | 18.07.1771 |
| 7 | EKATERINA II | empress | colonel of the guard | 26.11.1769 |
| 8 | MIKHAIL NIKOLAEVICH | Grand Duke | field marshal general | 09.10.1877 |
| 9 | NIKOLAI NIKOLAEVICH (senior) | Grand Duke | field marshal general | 29.11.1877 |
| 10 | A. G. ORLOV-CHESMENSKY | graph | general-in-chief | 22.09.1770 |
| 11 | P. I. Panin | graph | general-in-chief | 08.10.1770 |
| 12 | Paskevich Erivansky I. F. | Most Serene Prince | field marshal general | 27.07.1829 |
| 13 | G. A. POTEMKIN-TAVRICHESKY | Most Serene Prince | field marshal general | 16.12.1788 |
| 14 | REPNIN N.V. | prince | field marshal general | 15.07.1791 |
| 15 | RUMYANTSEV-ZADUNAYSKY P. A. | graph | field marshal general | 27.07.1770 |
| 16 | Suvorov-Rymniksky A.B. | prince | generalissimo | 18.10.1789 |
| 17 | CHICHAGOV V. Ya. | admiral | 26.06.1790 | |
| 18 | ALBERT OF AUSTRIAN | archduke | field marshal | 20.06.1870 |
| 19 | ANGULEMSKY A.A. | duke | 22.11.1823 | |
| 20 | Blucher G. A. | prince | field marshal general | 08.10.1813 |
| 21 | WELLINGTON A.B. | duke | field marshal general | 28.04.1814 |
| 22 | WILHELM I OF PRUSSIA | king | 26.11.1869 | |
| 23 | CARL XIV JOHAN | King of Sweden and Norway | 30.08.1813 | |
| 24 | RADETSKY I. | graph | field marshal general | 07.08.1848 |
| 25 | SCHWARZENBERG K. F. | generalissimo | 08.10.1813 |
Second degree
Cavalier of the Order of St. George, 2nd Class, Infantry General H.H. Yudenich.
Prior to the outbreak of the First World War, only 121 people were awarded the 2nd degree of the order. And despite the scale of the battles on the fields of the First World War, only 4 people were awarded this award during this period.
The first to be awarded the Order of St. George 2nd degree were Generals N.V. Repnin, P.G. Plemyannikov and F.V. Bour. They distinguished themselves by commanding troops at the Battle of Larga in 1770.
The last holder of the order of the 2nd degree was General of Infantry H.H. Yudenich, who received all 3 crosses during the period of command of the Caucasian Front in the First World War. 4th degree - for the Sorokomysh operation, 3rd degree - for the defeat of the right wing of the Turkish 3rd army in 1915 and 2nd degree - for the Erzurum operation.
Third degree
However, the very first military award of the Order of St. George was made precisely in the 3rd degree. Distinguished Lieutenant Colonel F.I. Fabrician, for personal bravery during the assault on the Turkish fortress of Galati. The first gentleman received the award on December 8, 1769.
The glorious commander, Generalissimo A.V. Suvorov was immediately awarded the 3rd degree of the order, bypassing the 4th. This is due to the fact that at the time of the award, Suvorov had the rank of major general, and the award of the 4th degree would not have corresponded to the rank. He received his award on August 30, 1772.
fourth degree
On February 3, 1770, the first awarding of the Order of the 4th degree was made. The first gentleman was Prime Major R. Patkul.
Lieutenant-General I. Shpringer was the first to be awarded the Order for long service. Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I also had the badge of the order for long service.
For "18 naval campaigns" the first was awarded Lieutenant Commander I.D. Durov. In addition, admirals V.Ya. had the same order. Chichagov, A.V. Voevodsky, I.A. Povalishin, as well as famous navigators F.F. Bellingshausen, V.M. Golovnin, I.F. Kruzenshtern, M.P. Lazarev, G.A. Sarychev, F.P. Litke.
Since 1913, the Statute of the Order provided for the posthumous awarding of the Order. So among the first to be awarded the Order of St. George of the 4th degree, the pilot P. N. Nesterov posthumously became, for committing the first air ram.
Two women received this award. The first was the Queen of the Two Sicilies Maria-Sofia-Amalia in 1861, the second was the sister of mercy Rimma Ivanova, who replaced the killed officer and led the company on the attack. During this attack, she was mortally wounded, so her award became posthumous.
NUMBER OF ORDERS OF ST. GEORGE GIVEN DURING SOME WARS
| 1st st. | 2nd st. | 3rd st. | 4th st. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriotic War of 1812-1814, including foreign nationals |
7 4 |
36 12 |
156 33 |
618 127 |
| Crimean War 1853-1856 | - | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Russian-Turkish war 1877-1878, including foreign nationals |
2 - |
11 2 |
40 3 |
353 35 |
| Hike to China 1900-1901 | - | - | 2 | 30 |
| Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 | - | - | 10 | 256 |
| World War I, including foreign nationals |
- - |
4 - |
53 - |
3643 8 |
see also
- Naval officers holders of the Order of St. George for the Campaign in China 1900 - 1901
Notes
List of sources
Literature
- Gladkov N.N. The history of the Russian state in awards and signs. Volume 1. In 2-. St. Petersburg: Polygon, 2004.
- Durov V.A. Order of the Russian Empire. - M .: Bely Gorod, 2003.
- Kuznitsov A.A. Orders and medals of Russia. - M .: MGU, 1985.
- Shishkov S.S. Russian awards. 1698-1917. T. II.-D.: Art-Press, 2003.
Links
Image gallery
M. I. Kutuzov was one of four people who were awarded all the degrees of the military Order of St. George. All his military career as an officer, from ensign to field marshal, he went along with the Russian army through the fire and smoke of battles.
Participating in the Russian-Turkish wars of the last third of the 18th century, M.I. Kutuzov received orders and other awards, rose to the rank of general, for victories over the Turks on the Danube in 1811 and for the Peace of Bucharest he was awarded the rank and princely dignity, the rank of general received a field marshal for Borodino; honorary prefix "Smolensky" to his surname - for the liberation of the city of Smolensk from Napoleon's troops.
Let us now go back a little and highlight in detail the main stages of the military path of this outstanding Russian commander.
During the war with Turkey in 1768-1774, M. I. Kutuzov took part in the battles at Ryaba Mogila, Larga, Cahul. In July 1774, the regiment of the Moscow Legion, whose battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel M.I. Kutuzov, rapidly attacked the village of Shumy (not far from Alushta), fortified by Turkish troops.
The battalion crushed the enemy and put him to flight. At the head of the first battalion of the regiment, M. I. Kutuzov burst into Shumy with a banner in his hands, but in this attack he was seriously wounded: a bullet hit him in the left temple and exited at his right eye, which was badly lopsided. To preserve it, he wore a black armband all his life. For this battle, M.I. Kutuzov received his first Order of St. George - a cross of the 4th degree.
After a long treatment, M. I. Kutuzov was again assigned to the Crimea in 1776, where he became the closest assistant to A. V. Suvorov, who commanded the troops. By the beginning of the second Turkish war, M.I. Kutuzov was already a major general, commander of the Bug Jaeger Corps. In 1788 this corps took part in the siege and capture of Ochakov. On August 18, the garrison of the fortress made a sortie and attacked the battalion of rangers; the four-hour battle, which ended in Russian victory, was personally led by M.I. Kutuzov.
M. I. Kutuzov. Hood. R. Volkov
And again a severe wound: a bullet hit the left cheek and exited the back of the head. Doctors predicted an imminent death, but he not only survived, but also continued his military service: in 1789 he accepted a separate corps, with which Akkerman occupied, fought near Causeni and during the assault on Bendery. By that time, his general's uniform was already decorated with the stars of the orders of St. Anna and St. Vladimir of the 2nd degree.
Field Marshal M. I. Kutuzov. During the assault on Izmail - Major General, commander of the 6th assault column
The next year, 1790, is glorified in Russian military history by the storming of Ishmael. About the actions of M. I. Kutuzov, who commanded one of the assault columns, A. V. Suvorov subsequently wrote: “He walked on my left wing, but was my right hand.” On March 25, 1791, for distinction during the capture of Ishmael, the commander receives a white neck cross - the Order of St. George, 3rd degree, and is promoted to lieutenant general.
In the presentation of M. I. Kutuzov for the award, it was said: “Major General and Cavalier Golenishchev-Kutuzov showed new experiences of art and courage, overcoming all difficulties under the strongest enemy fire, climbed the rampart, took possession of the bastion, and when an excellent enemy forced to stop him, he, serving as an example of courage, held his place, overcame a strong enemy, established himself in the fortress and then continued to hit the enemies. M. I. Kutuzov was appointed commandant of the captured Izmail, and soon all Russian troops on the Danube between the Dniester and the Prut were subordinated to him.
Signs of the Order of St. George 2nd degree - a large neck cross and a star - M. I. Kutuzov receives for the victory at Machin on June 28, 1791. This battle lasted about six hours and ended with the complete defeat of the Turks. The commander of the Russian troops, Field Marshal N.V. Repnin, reported in his report: "The quickness and quick wit of General Golenishchev-Kutuzov surpasses all my praise." Before that, for the displayed valor and brilliant leadership of the troops, which led to the victory at Babadag, Mikhail Illarionovich was awarded the signs of the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
In the 90s of the 18th century, M.I. Kutuzov won brilliant victories already in the diplomatic arena, he also showed himself as an excellent administrator and teacher as Chief Director of the Land Cadet Corps. Under Emperor Paul I, he commanded troops in Finland, was the Lithuanian governor-general and the military governor of St. Petersburg. During these years, he received a large cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (October 4, 1799) and the highest award of the Russian Empire - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (September 8, 1800). To become a knight of all Russian orders, he had to receive only the first degrees of the orders of St. Vladimir and St. George. The Vladimir ribbon over his shoulder was put on by M. I. Kutuzov on February 24, 1806 as a reward for the campaign of 1805, in which he proved himself to be a brilliant commander.
Commander-in-Chief Prince M.I. Kutuzov. 1812. Engraving by B. Chorikov. 19th century
In 1811, M. I. Kutuzov again took part in the war against Turkey, now as the commander-in-chief of the Russian army in Bessarabia. On June 22, 1811, he defeated the Turks near Rushuk, for which Emperor Alexander I granted him his own premium portrait, adorned with diamonds. And the following year, a month before Napoleon's invasion of Russia, M. I. Kutuzov concluded a victorious peace with Turkey.
The role of M. I. Kutuzov in the Patriotic War of 1812 is well known. Being first the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of Russia in the war with Napoleon, and then the commander-in-chief of the allied forces, he showed himself to be a wonderful strategist, a man of great statesmanship and the greatest commander. On December 12, 1812, for "the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia," Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, already in the rank of field marshal, receives the highest military award of Russia - the Order of St. George, 1st degree - and becomes not only a holder of all Russian and many foreign orders, but also the first Full Knight of the Order of St. George.
M. I. Kutuzov led the military operations of the Russian army even after the invaders were expelled from Russia. The great commander died in the small Silesian town of Bunzlau on April 16 (28), 1813. An obelisk was erected there with the inscription: “Until now, Prince Kutuzov-Smolensky brought the victorious Russian troops, but here death put an end to his glorious deeds. He saved his Fatherland and opened the way to the deliverance of Europe. May the hero's memory be blessed."
Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (1761-1818)
The famous Russian commander Field Marshal Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly, a participant in many of the most important battles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was a man of bright and difficult fate. The beginning of his combat biography is associated with participation in the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791: for the assault on Ochakovo, he received his first awards - the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree with a bow and the gold Ochakov Cross. In 1789 he participated in the battle of Kaushany, during the capture of Akkerman and Bendery; in 1794, commanding a battalion, he received the Order of St. George, 4th degree. In 1798, Colonel M. B. Barclay de Tolly was appointed chief of the 4th Jaeger Regiment, a year later this regiment becomes exemplary, and its commander is promoted to major general.
The war with Napoleonic France in 1806-1807 strengthened the glory of M. B. Barclay de Tolly as a skillful and fearless general. In 1806, he was awarded the Order of St. George 3rd degree for excellent command and selfless courage in the bloody battle of Pultusk. In the following 1807, the general brilliantly showed himself in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, where he commanded the rearguard of the Russian army, and was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree. The outstanding military talent of M. B. Barclay de Tolly fully manifested (and was appreciated) during the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-1809.
A clear practical mind, determination and amazing courage put him in the forefront of Russian military leaders. M. B. Barclay de Tolly commanded a separate detachment, which made the famous crossing over the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia, culminating in the capture of the city of Umea. After this operation, he was promoted to general from infantry and received the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, and in 1810 he was appointed Minister of War.
His work in this post deserves the highest praise. Under him, the "Institution for the management of a large active army" was drawn up, which brought considerable benefits to the Russian army in the Patriotic War of 1812 and in its foreign campaign of 1813; a corps organization was introduced, new fortresses were built, infantry divisions were formed, the allowance of the troops was improved and, most importantly, the training of recruits. The merits of the Minister of War already in 1811 were awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree.
Battle of Preussish-Eylau (1807).
The retreat to Moscow in 1812 aroused dissatisfaction with M. B. Barclay de Tolly both in the army and in Russian society. He was accused of indecision and even of treason. But the commander was firmly committed to the implementation of his deeply thought-out plan of warfare. On August 17, he was forced to transfer command of all the troops to M.I. Kutuzov, while he himself remained at the head of the 1st Army. He was also removed from the leadership of the War Ministry.
Bovine engraving from maps. Zwebach
In the Battle of Borodino, M. B. Barclay de Tolly commanded the right flank and center of the Russian troops. “The cast iron crushed, but did not shake the breasts of the Russians, personally enlivened by the presence of Barclay de Tolly. It is unlikely that there was a dangerous place in the center where he did not dispose of and where the regiment was, not encouraged by his words and example.
Five horses were killed under him, ”one of the participants in the battle later recalled. The fearlessness and composure of the general that struck everyone (he seemed to be looking for death in battle!) Combined with excellent orderliness, the art of the commander returned him the unfairly lost confidence in the army. For the leadership of the troops in the Battle of Borodino, M. B. Barclay de Tolly was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree.
M. B. Barkyaay de Tolly Battle of Borodino. Unknown thin 1820s
The commander successfully led the battles during the foreign campaign of 1813, and in May of the same year, a month and a half after the death of M. I. Kutuzov, he took command of the combined forces of the Russian-Prussian army.
He was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called - the highest award of the state. On August 18, in the battle of Kulm, he utterly defeated the corps of the French general F. Vandam and took him prisoner. The Order of St. George 1st degree crowns this feat, and M. B. Barclay de Tolly becomes the full Knight of St. George. On the day of the capture of Paris, March 18, 1814, he received the field marshal's baton, and a little later the title of His Grace Prince.
Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich (1782-1856)
Field Marshal I.F. Paskevich-Erivansky, participating in the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812, rose from captain to major general in five years, at the same time he received his first military awards, among which were the 4th and 3rd -I degree of the Order of St. George. In 1812, I. F. Paskevich was appointed head of the 26th division, commanding which he took part in many battles of the Patriotic War, and in the most important of them - Borodino - he defended the battery of N. N. Raevsky.
However, the further career of I.F. Paskevich was associated not so much with military exploits, but with the favors that the monarchs showered on him. In the first half of the 1820s, he commanded the 1st Guards Division, whose brigades were under the command of Grand Dukes Nikolai and Mikhail Pavlovich.
When Nicholas I became emperor, he continued to call I.F. Paskevich "father-commander", because as a young man he served under him and he was one of his military mentors.
In 1825, I.F. Paskevich was appointed a member of the Supreme Court over the Decembrists, and after the end of his activity, he was appointed governor in the Caucasus instead of General A.P. Yermolov, who was objectionable to the emperor. Here, during the Russian-Iranian war for the capture of the fortress of Erivan, I.F. Paskevich received the Order of St. George of the 2nd degree in 1829, and soon became the full St. Turk. Subsequently, I. F. Paskevich "became famous" for the suppression of the Polish uprising in 1831, and in 1849 - the Hungarian revolution. In 1828 he received the title of "Count of Erivan", and in 1831 - "High Serene Prince of Warsaw".
Field Marshal I. F. Paskevich. Engraving by Yu. Utkin after fig. Reimers. 1832
Ivan Ivanovich Dibich (1785-1831)
I. I. Dibich-Zabalkansky was a contemporary and a kind of rival of I. F. Paskevich. A native of Prussia, he entered the Russian service and, participating against Napoleon in the war of 1805-1807, received the Order of St. George, 4th degree. In 1812, he was awarded the neck St. George Cross for the battle near Polotsk. In 1818, he was promoted to adjutant general, and three years later, Emperor Alexander I took him with him to the Laibach Congress. And from that time on, the dexterous I. I. Dibich became an inseparable companion of the king, confidently making a court career, and at the same time a military career. He also earned the favor of Emperor Nicholas I - with a report on the discovery of the Decembrists' conspiracy, personally taking measures to arrest many of them. I. I. Dibich received his title of Trans-Balkan, as well as the two highest degrees of the Order of St. George, for the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. As Chief of the General Staff, he developed the plan for the 1828 campaign.
The following year, I. I. Dibich was appointed commander-in-chief in the Balkan theater of operations (instead of Field Marshal P. X. Wittgenstein, who was blamed for the army's unsuccessful actions). Here I. I. Dibich showed great determination. In May, at Kulevcha, he defeated the Turkish army, and this victory brought him the insignia of the Order of St. George, 2nd degree. Then, after the capture of the fortress of Silistria, he crossed the Balkans and, despite the difficult situation of the small Russian army, in the rear of which the Turkish troops remained, he managed to dictate victorious peace conditions to the Turks. This success was marked by the highest degree of the Russian military order.
The Trans-Balkan campaign turned the head of the ambitious I. I. Dibich, and when an uprising broke out in Poland a year later, he self-confidently promised the emperor to end it with one blow. But the campaign dragged on, I. I. Dibich no longer showed decisiveness, and it is not known how the matter would have ended if he had not died of cholera. The work of suppressing the Polish uprising was completed by I.F. Paskevich.
Field Marshal I. I. Dibich-Zabalkansky
