War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy [833]
Soult, Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu (1769–1851): Served in the French republican armies of the Rhine and the North; made major general in 1799. Fought in Switzerland under Masséna, whom he joined later in Italy, where he was taken prisoner at the siege of Genoa. In 1804 he was made marshal of the empire. Fought at Austerlitz and Eylau, and was made duke of Dalmatia after the peace of Tilsit in 1807. Took part in all the campaigns in Spain and Portugal (1808–11), but in 1812 was defeated by Wellington at Salamanca.
Speransky, Mikhail Mikhailovich (1772–1839): Son of a village priest, educated at a Petersburg seminary, his intellectual abilities were quickly noticed, and he became secretary to Prince Kurakin. As adviser to the young Alexander I, he made plans for broad liberal reforms in Russia, with a code of law, a constitution, an assembly, and a state council, of which only the state council came into being (1810). From 1809 to 1812, Speransky was the most powerful man in Russia, but owing to the “French” tendencies of his reforms, he fell into disfavor and was accused of treason and exiled. His ideas continued to influence later Russian reformers.
Stein, Baron Heinrich Friedrich Karl von (1757–1831): German statesman who went into service in Prussia. After the peace of Tilsit (1807), which was disastrous for Prussia, Stein, who had been a severe critic of Prussian policy, was called by the king to serve with very broad powers and for a time became virtual dictator, but was forced to flee by Napoleon, who confiscated his lands. In 1812 Alexander I invited him to Petersburg, and after the French retreat, Stein urged the emperor to continue the war in Europe.
Stroganov, Count Pavel Alexandrovich (1774–1817): Russian general and statesman, one of the four members of the privy committee that advised Alexander I on liberal reform at the start of his reign. Commanded an infantry division during the war with Napoleon.
Sukhtelen, Pavel Pavlovich (1788–1833): Russian general. At the age of seventeen he took part in Deprerodovich’s famous cavalry charge at Austerlitz, was gravely wounded and taken prisoner. He went on to fight against Napoleon in 1807, and in 1811 was sent on a diplomatic mission to London. Became adjutant general in 1828.
Suvorov, Alexander Vassilievich (1729–1800): Known as “the general who never lost a battle,” gained the highest distinctions in service to Catherine the Great, was dismissed by Paul I, then called back to fight against the French revolutionary forces in northern Italy, where he won a string of brilliant victories. Betrayed by the Austrians in Switzerland, he was forced to retreat over the Alps, which ironically became his most famous deed, and for the success of which he was promoted to generalissimo. He was promised a military triumph in Petersburg, but on his return in 1800, the emperor cancelled it and refused to see him. Suvorov died a few days later.
Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles-Maurice de (1754–1838): Bishop of Autun under the ancien régime, member of the Constituent Assembly (1791), became a constitutional bishop, then abandoned the Church altogether. Was minister of foreign relations under the Directoire, the Consulat, and the empire. Rallied to the Bourbons in 1814, and played a brilliant role at the Congress of Vienna (1814–15), where he was chief negotiator for France.
Tarutino: Scene of a battle on 6 October 1812 between Russian troops under Bennigsen and Miloradovich and Murat’s 20,000-man corps. The Russians attacked by surprise and took the camp, many prisoners, and thirty-eight guns, but Murat’s troops re-formed and returned fire, killing Bagovut among others, and eventually managed to retreat.
Thiers, Adolphe (1797–1877): French historian and liberal politician, author of A History of the French Revolution (1823–27) and A History of the Consulate and the Empire (1845–62). Thomas Carlyle said of his historical accuracy: “He