Mikhail Kutuzov

Mikhail Kutuzov was a Russian field marshal best known for commanding Russian forces during Napoleon’s invasion of 1812. His strategy around Borodino, the evacuation of Moscow and the pursuit of the retreating French made him a central figure in Russian patriotic memory.

Mikhail Kutuzov also held the offices or ranks of knyaz, ambassador of the Russian Empire, and member of the State Council of the Russian Empire. Mikhail Kutuzov belonged to the House of Golenishchev-Kutuzov and operated within Russian Empire. Mikhail Kutuzov was born in Saint Petersburg and died in Bolesławiec.

Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace portrays Mikhail Kutuzov as the ageing Russian commander whose patience and understanding of army morale contrast with grandiose schemes for controlling events, especially during the 1812 invasion. G. A. Henty’s Through Russian Snows places its fictional adventures alongside Kutuzov’s command as the Russian army retreats, regroups and pursues Napoleon. Richard Woodman’s The Battle of Borodino examines Kutuzov’s decision to make a major stand before Moscow and the brutal battle that failed to destroy either army. The Battle of the Berezina follows the later pursuit, when Kutuzov’s forces sought to turn Napoleon’s retreat into a decisive destruction of the Grande Armée.