Shuya commander. Skopin-shuisky Mikhail Vasilievich

Mikhail Vasilievich Skopin-Shuisky. Parsuna of the 17th century

(1587-1610) - prince, famous figure in the Time of Troubles. Having lost his father early, Vasily Fedorovich, who played a significant role under Ivan IV the Terrible, and fell into disgrace under Boris Godunov, Skopin-Shuisky was raised under the guidance of his mother and studied “sciences”. Already under Boris Godunov he was a steward; False Dmitry I promoted him to great swordsman and instructed him to bring Queen Martha to Moscow. Under Vasily Shuisky, Skopin-Shuisky, as the Tsar’s nephew, became a close person to the throne. He entered the military field in 1606, with the appearance of Bolotnikov, whom he defeated twice: at the Pakhra River, having at his disposal a small detachment, while shortly before that the main forces of the Moscow army, led by Mstislavsky and other boyars, suffered complete defeat from Bolotnikov , - and at the Kotly tract. After the second defeat, Bolotnikov settled in Tula. During the siege of it here by Moscow troops, Skopin-Shuisky led the vanguard and contributed greatly to the capture of Tula.

M. V. Skopin-Shuisky at the Monument “1000th Anniversary of Russia” in Veliky Novgorod

When Vasily Shuisky decided to turn to the Swedes for help, he sent Skopin-Shuisky to Novgorod to negotiate this. Despite a number of obstacles, the latter managed to achieve his goal. Accompanied by a 12,000-strong detachment of Swedish troops led by Jacob Delagardi, Skopin-Shuisky set out from Novgorod on April 14, 1609 to “save the throne.” By capturing Oreshek, Tver and Torzhok, he cleared the north of enemies, and by defeating Hetman Sapieha at Kalyazin and occupying the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, he forced Sapieha to lift the siege of the Trinity Lavra. The success of Skopin-Shuisky's actions was greatly hampered by the lack of funds to pay salaries to Swedish mercenaries and the need to train troops; nevertheless, the Tushins fled before him, and the people looked at Skopin-Shuisky as their “savior,” “father of the fatherland.” Envoys from Lyapunov came to him with an offer of the royal crown, which he rejected; when he arrived in Moscow, he was given the most solemn welcome. All this aroused the strongest envy of him in his own relatives and especially in his uncle Dimitri Ivanovich Shuisky, who was supposed to cede to him the main command over the Moscow army equipped for Smolensk. Not without the knowledge, it seems, of the tsar himself, it was decided to get rid of Skopin-Shuisky; At a feast at the Vorotynskys, the wife of Dimitry Shuisky brought him poison, from which he died on April 23, after two weeks of suffering. The Tsar ordered to bury him in the Archangel Cathedral, but not next to the royal tombs, but in a special, new chapel. Almost all of his contemporaries speak of him as a great man and testify to his “mind, mature beyond his years,” “strength of spirit,” “affability,” “martial skill and ability to deal with foreigners.” The people retained the best memory of him for a long time, which was expressed in several very widespread songs.

Wed. V. Ikonnikov, "Mikhail Vasilyevich Skopin-Shuisky" ("Ancient and New Russia", 1875, No. 5, 6 and 7); G. Vorobyov, “Boyarin and governor Prince Mikhail Vasilyevich Skopin-Shuisky” (Russian Archive, 1889, vol. III).

Mikhail Skopin Shuisky (1586-1610) is an outstanding military leader and politician who clearly showed himself during the Time of Troubles in the Moscow Kingdom. This outstanding man died at the age of 23 years and 5 months. But in such a short life span, he accomplished many glorious deeds, and the people called him “the hope of Rus'.”

The future famous commander was born in November 1586 in the family of boyar Vasily Fedorovich Skopin-Shuisky and his wife Princess Elena Petrovna, née Tateva. As the legend says, the old prophetic women present at the birth drew attention to the old pearls in the boyar’s house. After the baby made his first cry, he suddenly regained his former shine and seemed to come to life. The old women said that this was a good sign, and the born boy would live a headlong life, filled with military exploits.

The prophets were not mistaken. Contemporaries of Mikhail Vasilyevich noted that he was a young man of tall stature, heroic in stature, possessed of a strong spirit and wisdom. At the age of 17 he received the court rank of steward. In 1606, his uncle Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky took the royal throne, and his young nephew became a governor.

Time of Troubles in Rus'

Historian V. Klyuchevsky wrote: “After the overthrow of the impostor False Dmitry I, Prince Vasily Shuisky was elevated to the throne. But it was erected without the participation of the Zemsky Sobor, but only by a party of noble boyars and Muscovites loyal to the prince.

Having ascended the throne, Tsar Vasily limited his power. He vowed to execute anyone without trial, and to subject the criminal’s relatives to disgrace and to confiscate their property if they did not participate in the crimes. Don’t listen to denunciations, punish false informers, resolve all cases with the help of court and investigation.”

Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky, who was 20 years old at the time, was sent by the Tsar against the army of Ivan Bolotnikov. On the Pakhra River, near Moscow, the young governor won the battle, and the sovereign immediately appointed him to command the army that was besieging Tula. This city was Bolotnikov’s last stronghold.

And again the young prince showed himself to be a talented commander. Tula was defended bravely and stubbornly, but still the city fell. And Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky received the rank of boyar for his valor.

In the spring of 1607, the Polish lords resumed military operations against Russia. This time they nominated False Dmitry II into the political arena. The invaders reached Moscow, besieged it, operated in the north of the country and even appeared in the Volga region. Vasily Shuisky was unable to organize a worthy rebuff to enemy troops.

In March 1608, he instructed boyar Mikhail to conduct political negotiations with the Swedes in Veliky Novgorod. These negotiations were a complete success. The Swedes agreed to act together with Russia against the Poles and False Dmitry II.

After a short time, Mikhail Vasilyevich gathered an army. But it consisted of young and inexperienced nobles, free peasants and Cossacks. There was no time to thoroughly prepare them for military action, since Moscow urgently asked for help.

It was with such an army that Skopin-Shuisky came to the aid of the capital of the Moscow kingdom. Already in July 1609, a young and talented commander liberated Tver. Military success contributed to the fact that detachments from the Volga region, Nizhny Novgorod and northern Russian lands joined the poorly trained army. They consisted of people more experienced in military affairs, and the army soon began to represent a serious military force.

The successful actions of Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky forced the invaders to lift the siege of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, which lasted 8 months. It was after the liberation of the famous monastery that Michael began to be called “the hope of Rus'.”

In March 1610, the young commander defeated enemy troops on the outskirts of Moscow and, at the head of his army, solemnly entered the capital to the ringing of bells. Residents of the Mother See met the liberator with tears of joy in their eyes. But in the royal palace, ill-wishers began to weave intrigues against the successful and talented boyar.

The intriguers were led by Mikhail’s uncles. They began to whisper to the sovereign that the young boyar wanted to take the royal throne. And Vasily Shuisky’s attitude towards his nephew changed dramatically, although until that time the tsar loved his talented relative and generously rewarded him for military and diplomatic successes.

The Polish lords also had a negative attitude towards Skopin-Shuisky. They were afraid of the brilliant Russian commander and decided to strike him preemptively. But not on the battlefield in a fair fight, but meanly and secretly in Moscow itself.

Ekaterina Shuiskaya gives Skopin-Shuisky a cup with poisoned wine

There is an opinion that the Ryazan nobleman Prokopiy Lyapunov was bribed to kill Mikhail Sergeevich. In 1605, he served with False Dmitry I, and during the Bolotnikov uprising he was his right hand. After the defeat of the rebels, Lyapunov defected to Tsar Vasily.

In the days of victorious triumph, when Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky received congratulations from Muscovites, Procopius invited the popular commander to remove the sovereign and sit on the throne himself. After this, rumors about an imaginary conspiracy spread throughout the royal palace. They reached the ears of the king, which greatly frightened him.

In the 18th century, the historian V. Tatishchev wrote that Vasily Shuisky summoned Mikhail Vasilyevich and directly asked whether he wanted to reign and remove his uncle from the throne? To this, the nephew replied that he had never even thought of such a thing. The Emperor pretended to believe his nephew, but in his heart he harbored a grudge against his relative, who was extremely popular among the people.

It was not only Lyapunov who fueled the Tsar’s discontent. Princess Ekaterina Grigorievna Shuiskaya, Mikhail’s aunt, also played a significant role in this. She was the wife of Dmitry Shuisky, the brother of the sovereign, and was the daughter of Malyuta Skuratov (that’s why they called her “Skuratovna” behind her back). There were rumors that at the very beginning of April 1610, a stranger secretly appeared to this woman. She handed the princess a bag of pearls.

It should be noted here that the gift of the seas and rivers in those days was used not only for decorations. In Europe, strong poisons were made, which included pearls processed in a special way. The minerals were kept for several days deep underground in some kind of solution, then crushed into powder and boiled with herbs.

A couple of weeks before the next military campaign, the son of Prince Vorotynsky was baptized. He asked Mikhail Vasilyevich to become his godfather. Ekaterina Shuiskaya became the godmother. During the celebration, she treated her nephew to a glass of intoxicating mead. He drank, but the taste of honey seemed unusual to the young man. After some time, blood started coming from his nose. The boyar was taken home, and after ten days of torment, Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky died.

After the death of the popular commander, unrest began in Moscow. The people blamed Skuratovna for his death. Crowds of people moved to the house of Prince Dmitry Shuisky and Catherine. But a military unit arrived in time and prevented the massacre.

Fall of the Shuiskys

After the death of Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky, dark days came for the Shuisky families. In April 1610, Russian military forces were led by Dmitry Shuisky. But he turned out to be an incompetent military leader. On June 24, 1610, the Russian-Swedish army under the command of Dmitry and the Swedish commander Jacob Delagardie was completely defeated by the Polish army under the command of Hetman Zolkiewski in the Battle of Klushin.

Less than a month after this event, Vasily Shuisky was overthrown. The coup was led by Procopius Lyapunov's brother Zakhary. Boyar rule began in the country. It went down in history as Seven Boyars. Already in August 1610, the newly established government concluded an agreement with the Poles, shameful for the Muscovite kingdom, and the Polish lords entered Moscow.

The former Tsar Vasily and his brothers were captured by the Poles and taken to Warsaw. The overthrown autocrat was imprisoned in Gostynsky Castle, where he died. And Prokopiy Lyapunov was hacked to death by a Cossack with a saber. His brother Zakhary was sheltered by Ekaterina Shuiskaya. She hid this man in the basement of her palace.

But Ekaterina or Skuratovna herself briefly outlived her relatives. She soon died, and rumors spread throughout Moscow that she was poisoned with the same poison with which she poisoned her nephew. As for Zakhary, he was found strangled with a belt on one of the Moscow streets.

When they were sorting out the jewelry left after the death of Ekaterina Shuiskaya, a handful of gray powder was found in one of the boxes. They poured it into the water and gave it to the dog to lap at. She immediately started bleeding from her nose, and soon the poor animal died. So the version that it was Catherine who poisoned Mikhail Vasilyevich looks quite plausible.

Alexey Starikov

Skopin-Shuisky

Mikhail Vasilievich

Battles and victories

Russian statesman and military leader of the Time of Troubles, national hero during the Polish-Lithuanian intervention. In 1610, at the head of the Russian-Swedish army, he liberated Moscow from the siege of the troops of False Dmitry II.

He could have achieved much more; at the time of his death he was only 23 years old...

Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky

at the monument "Millennium of Russia"

Mikhail Vasilyevich Skopin-Shuisky, one might say, is a hereditary commander. The Skopin-Shuisky family goes back to the middle son of Vasily Vasilyevich Shuisky Bledny, Ivan, nicknamed “Oskop”. Ivan’s son, Fyodor, whose activity dates back to approximately the second third of the 16th century, fought with the Kazan and Crimean Tatars, but did not make a big career, compared with the other Shuiskys - he was not able to receive an appointment higher than the governor of the right-hand regiment. Fyodor's son, boyar Vasily, took part in Ivan IV's successful campaign against Livonia in 1577, together with I.P. Shuisky led the defense of Pskov from the troops of Stefan Batory, twice he was the Novgorod governor - a very, very high position. Mikhail was born into his family in 1587 - one of the best Russian commanders during the Time of Troubles.

Being only 23 years old, he was distinguished by his stately appearance, intelligence, mature beyond his years, strength of spirit, friendliness, military skill and ability to deal with foreigners.

Widekind Y., Swedish historian of the 17th century, royal historiographer

Even in his childhood, M.V. Skopin-Shuisky, according to custom, was registered as a “royal tenant” and already in 1604 he became a steward at the royal court. False Dmitry I made him a swordsman, and also entrusted him with a very delicate mission - he sent a deserter to Vyksina for the nun Martha - the mother of the deceased Tsarevich Dmitry Maria Naga, the last wife of Ivan the Terrible. (As you know, upon arrival in Moscow, she “recognized” False Dmitry as her son.) And at the wedding of the newly-crowned Tsar, Mikhail “stood with a sword,” as required by his position as a swordsman.

When False Dmitry was killed, the boyars “shouted out” Mikhail Vasilyevich’s uncle, Vasily Shuisky, as tsar. Now, from a courtier, Skopin-Shuisky becomes a governor. But it is unlikely that the new monarch saw through his talents that had not yet manifested itself; rather, he himself wished to change the royal chambers to the battlefields, especially since military affairs had always interested him. This could not but coincide with the interests of the new king, whose position was very precarious. Very soon a movement began against him, known as the uprising under the leadership of Ivan Bolotnikov, and the latter’s army marched on Moscow. When his men occupied Kaluga, the royal commanders tried to recapture it, but were unsuccessful, although they managed to inflict serious damage on the rebels. It was in this battle that Skopin-Shuisky received his baptism of fire, who proved himself better than other governors.

Soon the 19-year-old military leader, together with the royal brothers Dmitry and Ivan, becomes the head of a new army moving towards Bolotnikov. The battle took place on the river. Pakhra, and this time the rebels were defeated and forced to take a longer route to Moscow, which gave the government a gain in time. True, Shuisky’s governors were unable to use it properly - near the village of Troitsky they were defeated by Bolotnikov’s detachments, which were joined by service people from the southern districts. The rebels approached the capital. Skopin-Shuisky stood at the head of that part of the army that was to make forays against the besiegers. The idea of ​​active defense of the city, as suggested by G.V. Abramovich, belonged to him. Meanwhile, part of the Ryazan nobles and Moscow archers went over to the tsar’s side, and a detachment of 400 Dvina archers approached from the north. Under these conditions, on November 27, the tsarist troops gave battle to the rebels and defeated them, after which detachments of Venev and Kashira nobles led by Istoma Pashkov also went over to their side.

At that time, regiments from Rzhev and Smolensk approached Moscow. Skopin-Shuisky included them in his army, and on December 2 he gave a new battle to Bolotnikov near the village of Kotly. The defeat of the rebels was complete, they were pursued to Kolomenskoye, then the fighting lasted another three days, and only after Skopin ordered to fire hot cannonballs at the enemy, Bolotnikov finally retreated and went to Zagorye. When the Cossack detachment of Mitka Bezzubtsev, defending behind three rows of closely tied, water-soaked and frozen sleighs, offered capitulation on the conditions of preserving the lives of those who surrendered, Skopin-Shuisky accepted these conditions in order to avoid senseless losses. For the victory at Kotly, Vasily Shuisky granted him, who had not yet reached his twentieth birthday, the rank of boyar.

Memory of Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky

Dmitry Shuisky set off in pursuit of Bolotnikov, who had retreated to Kaluga, but he acted extremely unsuccessfully, and the reinforcements sent to help were led by Skopin-Shuisky and F.I. Mstislavsky (the main role was played, of course, by the former). Realizing that the assault on Kaluga could result in huge losses and did not promise success, the young commander decided to act differently: with the help of mobile “tours”, a wood shaft began to move towards the city walls in order to set fire to the wooden Kremlin, where the rebels were holed up, at the right moment. However, this time he was unsuccessful: Bolotnikov, experienced in military affairs, guessed the enemy’s plan and ordered, having made a tunnel, to lay barrels of gunpowder under the siege works, and then to explode at the right moment. The wood shaft and the “tours” went up in the air, all the efforts of the government troops went to waste.

The siege of Kaluga dragged on for three months. His former master, Prince, moved to the aid of the former slave Bolotnikov (the irony of fate!). A.A. Telyatevsky. However, Skopin-Shuisky came forward and defeated his detachment on the river. Vyrke. Telyatevsky did not lose heart and made a new breakthrough attempt, this time successful - on the river. In Pchelna he defeated the royal governors. Confusion began in the ranks of the army stationed near Kaluga, and it stopped the siege. Bolotnikov, whose people were already suffering from hunger, went to Tula to unite with a new impostor - “Tsarevich Peter” (Ileika Muromets). Pursuing the retreating, Skopin-Shuisky occupied Aleksin, and then attacked them from the rear on the river. Voronya, where the enemies hid behind abatis. The muddy banks did not allow the noble cavalry to turn around, and the outcome of the battle was decided by the blow of the archers, who “crossed” the river, dismantled the abatis and opened the way for the main forces. On the shoulders of the rebels, the advanced detachments of Skopin-Shuisky burst into Tula, but they were cut off and destroyed, since they were very few in number, and Vasily Shuisky did not give the order to begin a general assault. A four-month siege of Tula began, during which Skopin-Shuisky commanded one of three regiments. Only on October 10, 1607 did the besieged surrender.

In the same 1607, apparently, it was on his initiative that the “Charter of Military, Pushkar and Other Affairs” was translated from German and Latin. Skopin-Shuisky, who knew military affairs very well, could not help but see that Russia was lagging behind its Western neighbors in this regard, and put a lot of effort into training soldiers according to the European model, not disdaining to personally participate in the training of warriors.

Russian society, muddled and shaken in its foundations, suffered from the lack of a fulcrum, from the absence of a person to whom one could become attached, around whom one could concentrate. Prince Skopin finally appeared as such a person.

Soloviev S.M.

Meanwhile, the need for the military talents and knowledge of the royal nephew became greater and greater. In the south, even during the Bolotnikov uprising, a new impostor appeared - False Dmitry II. In 1608, his troops defeated the regiments of the Tsar's brother Dmitry Shuisky near Bolkhov and marched on Moscow. Skopin moved to cross the path of the enemy, but he was given incorrect instructions - to meet the “tsar” on the Kaluga road, where he did not even think of appearing. There was still an opportunity, taking advantage of the enemy’s delay, to defeat him, but “shakyness” was discovered among the warriors, and many governors - I.M. Katyrev-Rostovsky, I.F. Troekurova, Yu.N. Trubetskoy, who suggested that their soldiers go over to the side of False Dmitry. Skopin-Shuisky arrested the conspirators, they were sent into exile, however, frightened by the specter of treason, the monarch ordered the army to be recalled to Moscow.

During the Time of Troubles. Tushino. Artist Ivanov S.

The impostor approached the capital and camped in Tushino. In July 1608, Vasily Shuisky entered into an agreement with the Poles, according to which they refused to consider False Dmitry II as tsar in exchange for the release of Polish prisoners (including Marina Mnishek) who remained in Moscow after the death of the first impostor. However, Hetman Rozhinsky violated the agreement and, delivering a sudden blow, almost broke through to Presnya.

Under these conditions, Shuisky sent his nephew to Novgorod to conclude an alliance with the Swedes and gather reinforcements. Novgorod, like Ivangorod, had already sworn allegiance to False Dmitry II (and Pskov even accepted his governor F. Pleshcheev). Skopin-Shuisky moved to Oreshek, but the Novgorodians, on the advice of Metropolitan Isidore, persuaded him to return. Here he concluded an agreement with the Swedes, according to which they sent a 5,000-strong corps in exchange for 100 thousand efimki (140 thousand rubles) monthly. In February 1609, under a new agreement, Russia had to renounce its rights to Livonia and transfer Korela with the district to Sweden - it was impossible to pay the entire promised amount. In April 1609, Jacob Delagardie's 12,000-strong army arrived in Novgorod, which, in addition to the 5,000 soldiers specified in the treaty, included many volunteers.

Novgorod essentially turned into a center of the fight against rebels and interventionists. From there, Skopin-Shuisky sent letters to the cities that remained loyal to the tsar, reported on the course of events, and ordered the gathering of soldiers; fortunately, his orders had the force of decrees.

In May 1609, Skopin's army set out from Novgorod. In June, his advanced detachments won a victory near Torzhok, in July the main forces defeated A. Zborovsky’s detachment in a heavy battle near Tver, and from there, bypassing the main forces of the impostor, they moved towards Yaroslavl. Having reached the Makaryev Kalyazin Monastery in the bend of the Volga, the commander turned it into his stronghold. In August, the governor Vysheslavtsev arrived here with the Volga people, while most of the mercenaries left Skopin’s camp, and Delagardi’s detachment was sent to Valdai to cover the routes to Novgorod. On August 18 - 19, the army of Hetman Ya.V. approached Kalyazin. Sapieha. His cavalry attacked the fort, but the Russian infantry, hiding behind slingshots, opened rifle fire and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Attempts to lure her into the field failed, and Sapega ordered to cross the river at night. Zhabna to make a roundabout maneuver. However, Skopin-Shuisky, who foresaw this, launched a pre-emptive strike and forced the enemy to retreat to the Ryabov Monastery. This was a major victory for the commander, although he failed to completely defeat the enemy.

Meanwhile, in September 1609, a Polish army led by King Sigismund III himself entered Russia. The Tushino camp, from where some of the Poles went to the king, moved to Volokolamsk in January 1610. Now Skopin-Shuisky decided to go straight to Moscow. In the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, envoys from one of the leaders of the Ryazan nobles, Prokopiy Lyapunov, a former ally of Bolotnikov, who in November 1606 went over to the side of the tsar, came to him. In a letter addressed to Skopin, he reviled the old monarch and allegedly even offered assistance to the young commander, whom he praised to the skies, in seizing the throne. Skopin, according to the chronicle, did not finish reading it, tore the paper and even threatened to hand over Lyapunov’s people to the tsar, but then relented, although he did not tell his uncle anything. It was, of course, not a matter of his lack of “intentions of ambition,” as N.M. believed. Karamzin - most likely, he simply did not want to deal with the adventurer Lyapunov, and in general, as G.V. reasonably believes. Abramovich hardly needed him, because if he wanted, he would have seized the throne without his help.

However, the king learned about what had happened and was clearly worried. Dmitry Shuisky was even more alarmed, hoping to inherit the crown in the event of the death of Vasily, who had no heirs, and, moreover, was mortally jealous of Skopin’s military glory, since he himself had only defeats to his name.

The young commander was in no hurry to enter Moscow, but sought to cut off the roads along which Shuisky’s enemies could join Sigismund. He sent a detachment of G.L. for reconnaissance. Valuev near the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, still besieged by Sapieha’s people. Valuev did more: he joined the Lavra and, together with the detachment of D.V. Zherebtsov destroyed the Polish camp, capturing many prisoners (the monks gave him and his soldiers the food supplies they had stored and generously paid the foreign mercenaries). Skopin himself occupied Staritsa and Rzhev. He has already begun preparing for the spring campaign. But at this time the tsar ordered him to appear in Moscow to pay honors. Sensing evil, Delagardi, Skopin’s devoted friend, dissuaded him from the trip, but refusal would have looked like a rebellion, which the commander wanted to avoid. On March 12, 1610, he entered the capital. The next logical step was to lift the siege of the Polish army from Smolensk, which had been holding the defense for many months...

Muscovites enthusiastically greeted the winner, fell on their faces in front of him, kissed his clothes, while the envious and narrow-minded Dmitry allegedly shouted: “Here comes my rival!” At the feast, Dmitry's wife (daughter of Malyuta Skuratov!) brought a cup of wine, after drinking from which Skopin-Shuisky felt ill and died on the night of April 24, 1610. The crowd almost tore Dmitry Shuisky to pieces - only a detachment sent by the tsar saved his brother. The commander was buried in the new chapel of the Archangel Cathedral.

And who at the feast honestly gave you an honest drink and from that drink you will not sleep for ever, and as a child in Aleksandrov Sloboda I ordered you not to go to the city of Moscow, because there are fierce beasts in Moscow, and they are full of serpentine venom.

Mother of Skopin-Shuisky according to the “Biography of the book. M. V. Skopina"

The fate of the state does not always depend on one person - too many things influence it. But here the case is special. If Skopin had commanded in the battle of Klushino, where the mediocre tsar’s brother Dmitry suffered a complete defeat, the outcome would probably have been different. But it was precisely this catastrophe that led to the collapse of the throne, complete anarchy reigned in the state, and the country began to be torn apart. All this might have been avoided if we had won.

Skopin-Shuisky was a major commander who, depending on the situation, combined an offensive style (near Moscow in 1606) with caution (the campaign of 1609-1610 from Novgorod to Moscow). He used deft maneuver, engineering structures, and deep reconnaissance. He was the favorite of warriors - both compatriots and foreign mercenaries, whose leader Delagardi became his friend, as they say, from the very first meeting. He could have achieved a lot more (he was only 23 years old at the time of his death!), but he was destined to remain a symbol of the unfulfilled hope of Russia.

Korolenkov A.V., Ph.D., IVI RAS

Literature

Abramovich G.V. Princes Shuisky and the Russian throne. L., 1991

Bogdanov A.P. Mikhail Vasilievich Skopin-Shuisky. M., 1998

Ikonnikov V.S. Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky: Brief biographical sketch. St. Petersburg, 1875

Kargalov V.V. Moscow governors of the XVI-XVII centuries. M., 2002

Internet

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Strategic retreat in the first half of 1812
European expedition of 1812

Bobrok-Volynsky Dmitry Mikhailovich

Boyar and governor of Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy. "Developer" of the tactics of the Battle of Kulikovo.

Minikh Christopher Antonovich

Due to the ambiguous attitude towards the period of Anna Ioannovna’s reign, she is a largely underrated commander, who was the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops throughout her reign.

Commander of Russian troops during the War of the Polish Succession and architect of the victory of Russian weapons in the Russian-Turkish War of 1735-1739.

Loris-Melikov Mikhail Tarielovich

Known mainly as one of the minor characters in the story “Hadji Murad” by L.N. Tolstoy, Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov went through all the Caucasian and Turkish campaigns of the second half of the mid-19th century.

Having shown himself excellently during the Caucasian War, during the Kars campaign of the Crimean War, Loris-Melikov led reconnaissance, and then successfully served as commander-in-chief during the difficult Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, winning a number of important victories over the united Turkish forces and in the third once he captured Kars, which by that time was considered impregnable.

Margelov Vasily Filippovich

Creator of modern airborne forces. When the BMD with its crew parachuted for the first time, its commander was his son. In my opinion, this fact speaks about such a wonderful person as V.F. Margelov, that's it. About his devotion to the Airborne Forces!

Yudenich Nikolai Nikolaevich

October 3, 2013 marks the 80th anniversary of the death in the French city of Cannes of the Russian military leader, commander of the Caucasian Front, hero of Mukden, Sarykamysh, Van, Erzerum (thanks to the complete defeat of the 90,000-strong Turkish army, Constantinople and the Bosporus with the Dardanelles retreated to Russia), the savior of the Armenian people from the complete Turkish genocide, holder of three orders of George and the highest order of France, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honor, General Nikolai Nikolaevich Yudenich.

Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich

He made the greatest contribution as a strategist to the victory in the Great Patriotic War (aka World War II).

Vladimir Svyatoslavich

981 - conquest of Cherven and Przemysl. 983 - conquest of the Yatvags. 984 - conquest of the Rodimichs. 985 - successful campaigns against the Bulgars, tribute to the Khazar Khaganate. 988 - conquest of the Taman Peninsula. 991 - subjugation of the White Croats. 992 - successfully defended Cherven Rus in the war against Poland. In addition, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Batitsky

I served in the air defense and therefore I know this surname - Batitsky. Do you know? By the way, the father of air defense!

Petrov Ivan Efimovich

Defense of Odessa, Defense of Sevastopol, Liberation of Slovakia

Kolchak Alexander Vasilievich

Russian admiral who gave his life for the liberation of the Fatherland.
Oceanographer, one of the largest polar explorers of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, military and political figure, naval commander, full member of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, leader of the White movement, Supreme Ruler of Russia.

Svyatoslav Igorevich

Grand Duke of Novgorod, from 945 of Kiev. Son of Grand Duke Igor Rurikovich and Princess Olga. Svyatoslav became famous as a great commander, whom N.M. Karamzin called “Alexander (Macedonian) of our ancient history.”

After the military campaigns of Svyatoslav Igorevich (965-972), the territory of the Russian land increased from the Volga region to the Caspian Sea, from the North Caucasus to the Black Sea region, from the Balkan Mountains to Byzantium. Defeated Khazaria and Volga Bulgaria, weakened and frightened the Byzantine Empire, opened routes for trade between Rus' and eastern countries

Chapaev Vasily Ivanovich

01/28/1887 - 09/05/1919 life. Head of the Red Army division, participant in the First World War and the Civil War.
Recipient of three St. George's Crosses and the St. George's Medal. Knight of the Order of the Red Banner.
On his account:
- Organization of the district Red Guard of 14 detachments.
- Participation in the campaign against General Kaledin (near Tsaritsyn).
- Participation in the campaign of the Special Army to Uralsk.
- Initiative to reorganize the Red Guard units into two Red Army regiments: them. Stepan Razin and them. Pugachev, united in the Pugachev brigade under the command of Chapaev.
- Participation in battles with the Czechoslovaks and the People’s Army, from whom Nikolaevsk was recaptured, renamed Pugachevsk in honor of the brigade.
- Since September 19, 1918, commander of the 2nd Nikolaev Division.
- Since February 1919 - Commissioner of Internal Affairs of the Nikolaev district.
- Since May 1919 - brigade commander of the Special Alexandrovo-Gai Brigade.
- Since June - head of the 25th Infantry Division, which participated in the Bugulma and Belebeyevskaya operations against Kolchak’s army.
- Capture of Ufa by the forces of his division on June 9, 1919.
- Capture of Uralsk.
- A deep raid of 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.

Kotlyarevsky Petr Stepanovich

Hero of the Russian-Persian War of 1804-1813.
"Meteor General" and "Caucasian Suvorov".
He fought not with numbers, but with skill - first, 450 Russian soldiers attacked 1,200 Persian Sardars in the Migri fortress and took it, then 500 of our soldiers and Cossacks attacked 5,000 askers at the crossing of the Araks. They destroyed more than 700 enemies; only 2,500 Persian soldiers managed to escape from ours.
In both cases, our losses were less than 50 killed and up to 100 wounded.
Further, in the war against the Turks, with a swift attack, 1,000 Russian soldiers defeated the 2,000-strong garrison of the Akhalkalaki fortress.
Then again, in the Persian direction, he cleared Karabakh of the enemy, and then, with 2,200 soldiers, he defeated Abbas Mirza with a 30,000-strong army at Aslanduz, a village near the Araks River. In two battles, he destroyed more than 10,000 enemies, including English advisers and artillerymen.
As usual, Russian losses amounted to 30 killed and 100 wounded.
Kotlyarevsky won most of his victories in night assaults on fortresses and enemy camps, not allowing the enemies to come to their senses.
The last campaign - 2000 Russians against 7000 Persians to the Lenkoran fortress, where Kotlyarevsky almost died during the assault, lost consciousness at times from loss of blood and pain from wounds, but still commanded the troops until the final victory, as soon as he regained consciousness, and then was forced take a long time to heal and retire from military affairs.
His exploits for the glory of Russia are much greater than the “300 Spartans” - for our commanders and warriors more than once defeated an enemy 10 times superior, and suffered minimal losses, saving Russian lives.

Linevich Nikolai Petrovich

Nikolai Petrovich Linevich (December 24, 1838 - April 10, 1908) - a prominent Russian military figure, infantry general (1903), adjutant general (1905); general who took Beijing by storm.

Kutuzov Mikhail Illarionovich

Commander-in-Chief during the Patriotic War of 1812. One of the most famous and beloved military heroes by the people!

Maksimov Evgeniy Yakovlevich

Russian hero of the Transvaal War. He was a volunteer in fraternal Serbia, participating in the Russian-Turkish war. At the beginning of the 20th century, the British began to wage war against the small people - the Boers. Eugene successfully fought against the invaders and in 1900 was appointed military general. Died in Russian Japanese war. In addition to his military career, he distinguished himself in the literary field.

Katukov Mikhail Efimovich

Perhaps the only bright spot against the background of Soviet armored force commanders. A tank driver who went through the entire war, starting from the border. A commander whose tanks always showed their superiority to the enemy. His tank brigades were the only ones(!) in the first period of the war that were not defeated by the Germans and even caused them significant damage.
His First Guards Tank Army remained combat-ready, although it defended itself from the very first days of the fighting on the southern front of the Kursk Bulge, while exactly the same 5th Guards Tank Army of Rotmistrov was practically destroyed on the very first day it entered the battle (June 12)
This is one of the few of our commanders who took care of his troops and fought not with numbers, but with skill.

Momyshuly Bauyrzhan

Fidel Castro called him a hero of World War II.
He brilliantly put into practice the tactics of fighting with small forces against an enemy many times superior in strength, developed by Major General I.V. Panfilov, which later received the name “Momyshuly’s spiral.”

Denikin Anton Ivanovich

One of the most talented and successful commanders of the First World War. Coming from a poor family, he made a brilliant military career, relying solely on his own virtues. Member of the RYAV, WWI, graduate of the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff. He fully realized his talent while commanding the legendary “Iron” brigade, which was then expanded into a division. Participant and one of the main characters of the Brusilov breakthrough. He remained a man of honor even after the collapse of the army, a Bykhov prisoner. Member of the ice campaign and commander of the AFSR. For more than a year and a half, possessing very modest resources and much inferior in numbers to the Bolsheviks, he won victory after victory, liberating a vast territory.
Also, do not forget that Anton Ivanovich is a wonderful and very successful publicist, and his books are still very popular. An extraordinary, talented commander, an honest Russian man in difficult times for the Motherland, who was not afraid to light a torch of hope.

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

He was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War! Under his leadership, the USSR won the Great Victory during the Great Patriotic War!

Rurikovich Yaroslav the Wise Vladimirovich

He dedicated his life to protecting the Fatherland. Defeated the Pechenegs. He established the Russian state as one of the greatest states of his time.

Yaroslav the Wise

Alekseev Mikhail Vasilievich

Outstanding employee of the Russian Academy of the General Staff. Developer and implementer of the Galician operation - the first brilliant victory of the Russian army in the Great War.
Saved the troops of the North-Western Front from encirclement during the “Great Retreat” of 1915.
Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in 1916-1917.
Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army in 1917
Developed and implemented strategic plans for offensive operations in 1916 - 1917.
He continued to defend the need to preserve the Eastern Front after 1917 (the Volunteer Army is the basis of the new Eastern Front in the ongoing Great War).
Slandered and slandered in relation to various so-called. “Masonic military lodges”, “conspiracy of generals against the Sovereign”, etc., etc. - in terms of emigrant and modern historical journalism.

Rokhlin Lev Yakovlevich

He headed the 8th Guards Army Corps in Chechnya. Under his leadership, a number of districts of Grozny were captured, including the presidential palace. For participation in the Chechen campaign, he was nominated for the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, but refused to accept it, stating that “he has no moral right to receive this award for military operations on his own territory.” countries".

Kotlyarevsky Petr Stepanovich

Hero of the Russian-Persian War of 1804-1813. At one time they called Suvorov of the Caucasus. On October 19, 1812, at the Aslanduz ford across the Araks, at the head of a detachment of 2,221 people with 6 guns, Pyotr Stepanovich defeated the Persian army of 30,000 people with 12 guns. In other battles, he also acted not with numbers, but with skill.

Kuznetsov Nikolay Gerasimovich

He made a great contribution to strengthening the fleet before the war; conducted a number of major exercises, initiated the opening of new maritime schools and maritime special schools (later Nakhimov schools). On the eve of Germany's surprise attack on the USSR, he took effective measures to increase the combat readiness of the fleets, and on the night of June 22, he gave the order to bring them to full combat readiness, which made it possible to avoid losses of ships and naval aviation.

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

The greatest Russian commander! He has more than 60 victories and not a single defeat. Thanks to his talent for victory, the whole world learned the power of Russian weapons

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

During the Patriotic War, Stalin led all the armed forces of our homeland and coordinated their military operations. It is impossible not to note his merits in competent planning and organization of military operations, in the skillful selection of military leaders and their assistants. Joseph Stalin proved himself not only as an outstanding commander who competently led all fronts, but also as an excellent organizer who carried out enormous work to increase the country's defense capability both in the pre-war and during the war years.

A short list of military awards of I.V. Stalin received by him during the Second World War:
Order of Suvorov, 1st class
Medal "For the Defense of Moscow"
Order "Victory"
Medal "Golden Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union
Medal "For victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
Medal "For Victory over Japan"

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

An outstanding Russian commander. He successfully defended the interests of Russia both from external aggression and outside the country.

Makarov Stepan Osipovich

Russian oceanographer, polar explorer, shipbuilder, vice admiral. Developed the Russian semaphore alphabet. A worthy person, on the list of worthy ones!

Saltykov Pyotr Semyonovich

The largest successes of the Russian army in the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763 are associated with his name. Winner in the battles of Palzig,
In the Battle of Kunersdorf, defeating the Prussian king Frederick II the Great, Berlin was taken by the troops of Totleben and Chernyshev.

Slashchev Yakov Alexandrovich

Ushakov Fedor Fedorovich

A man whose faith, courage, and patriotism defended our state

Golovanov Alexander Evgenievich

He is the creator of Soviet long-range aviation (LAA).
Units under the command of Golovanov bombed Berlin, Koenigsberg, Danzig and other cities in Germany, striking important strategic targets behind enemy lines.

Yulaev Salavat

Commander of the Pugachev era (1773-1775). Together with Pugachev, he organized an uprising and tried to change the position of the peasants in society. He won several victories over the troops of Catherine II.

Rurikovich Svyatoslav Igorevich

He defeated the Khazar Khaganate, expanded the borders of Russian lands, and successfully fought with the Byzantine Empire.

Slashchev-Krymsky Yakov Alexandrovich

Defense of Crimea in 1919-20. “The Reds are my enemies, but they did the main thing - my job: they revived great Russia!” (General Slashchev-Krymsky).

Stalin (Dzhugashvili) Joseph Vissarionovich

Comrade Stalin, in addition to the atomic and missile projects, together with Army General Alexei Innokentievich Antonov, participated in the development and implementation of almost all significant operations of the Soviet troops in the Second World War, and brilliantly organized the work of the rear, even in the first difficult years of the war.

Sheremetev Boris Petrovich

Stalin (Dzhugashvilli) Joseph

Kolchak Alexander Vasilievich

A person who combines the body of knowledge of a natural scientist, a scientist and a great strategist.

Peter I the Great

Emperor of All Russia (1721-1725), before that the Tsar of All Rus'. He won the Northern War (1700-1721). This victory finally opened up free access to the Baltic Sea. Under his rule, Russia (Russian Empire) became a Great Power.

Kazarsky Alexander Ivanovich

Captain-lieutenant. Participant in the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. He distinguished himself during the capture of Anapa, then Varna, commanding the transport "Rival". After this, he was promoted to lieutenant commander and appointed captain of the brig Mercury. On May 14, 1829, the 18-gun brig Mercury was overtaken by two Turkish battleships Selimiye and Real Bey. Having accepted an unequal battle, the brig was able to immobilize both Turkish flagships, one of which contained the commander of the Ottoman fleet. Subsequently, an officer from the Real Bay wrote: “During the continuation of the battle, the commander of the Russian frigate (the notorious Raphael, which surrendered without a fight a few days earlier) told me that the captain of this brig would not surrender, and if he lost hope, then he would blow up the brig If in the great deeds of ancient and modern times there are feats of courage, then this act should overshadow all of them, and the name of this hero is worthy of being inscribed in gold letters on the Temple of Glory: he is called captain-lieutenant Kazarsky, and the brig is “Mercury”

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich

The only commander who carried out the order of Headquarters on June 22, 1941, counterattacked the Germans, drove them back in his sector and went on the offensive.

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

He led the armed struggle of the Soviet people in the war against Germany and its allies and satellites, as well as in the war against Japan.
Led the Red Army to Berlin and Port Arthur.

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich

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

Platov Matvey Ivanovich

Military Ataman of the Don Cossack Army. He began active military service at the age of 13. A participant in several military campaigns, he is best known as the commander of Cossack troops during the Patriotic War of 1812 and during the subsequent Foreign Campaign of the Russian Army. Thanks to the successful actions of the Cossacks under his command, Napoleon’s saying went down in history:
- Happy is the commander who has Cossacks. If I had an army of only Cossacks, I would conquer all of Europe.

Rurikovich (Grozny) Ivan Vasilievich

In the diversity of perceptions of Ivan the Terrible, one often forgets about his unconditional talent and achievements as a commander. He personally led the capture of Kazan and organized military reform, leading a country that was simultaneously fighting 2-3 wars on different fronts.

Govorov Leonid Alexandrovich

Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich

Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union (1955). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945).
From 1942 to 1946, commander of the 62nd Army (8th Guards Army), which particularly distinguished itself in the Battle of Stalingrad. He took part in defensive battles on the distant approaches to Stalingrad. From September 12, 1942, he commanded the 62nd Army. IN AND. Chuikov received the task of defending Stalingrad at any cost. The front command believed that Lieutenant General Chuikov was characterized by such positive qualities as determination and firmness, courage and a great operational outlook, a high sense of responsibility and consciousness of his duty. The army, under the command of V.I. Chuikov, became famous for the heroic six-month defense of Stalingrad in street fighting in a completely destroyed city, fighting on isolated bridgeheads on the banks of the wide Volga.

For the unprecedented mass heroism and steadfastness of its personnel, in April 1943, the 62nd Army received the honorary title of Guards and became known as the 8th Guards Army.

Stalin (Dzhugashvili) Joseph Vissarionovich

He was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Soviet Union. Thanks to his talent as a Commander and Outstanding Statesman, the USSR won the bloodiest WAR in the history of mankind. Most of the battles of World War II were won with his direct participation in the development of their plans.

Voronov Nikolay Nikolaevich

N.N. Voronov is the commander of artillery of the USSR Armed Forces. For outstanding services to the Motherland, N.N. Voronov. the first in the Soviet Union to be awarded the military ranks of “Marshal of Artillery” (1943) and “Chief Marshal of Artillery” (1944).
...carried out general management of the liquidation of the Nazi group surrounded at Stalingrad.

Baklanov Yakov Petrovich

The Cossack general, “the thunderstorm of the Caucasus,” Yakov Petrovich Baklanov, one of the most colorful heroes of the endless Caucasian War of the century before last, fits perfectly into the image of Russia familiar to the West. A gloomy two-meter hero, a tireless persecutor of highlanders and Poles, an enemy of political correctness and democracy in all its manifestations. But it was precisely these people who achieved the most difficult victory for the empire in the long-term confrontation with the inhabitants of the North Caucasus and the unkind local nature

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

A commander who has not lost a single battle in his career. He took the impregnable fortress of Ishmael the first time.

Kosich Andrey Ivanovich

1. During his long life (1833 - 1917), A.I. Kosich went from a non-commissioned officer to a general, commander of one of the largest military districts of the Russian Empire. He took an active part in almost all military campaigns from the Crimean to the Russian-Japanese. He was distinguished by his personal courage and bravery.
2. According to many, “one of the most educated generals of the Russian army.” He left behind many literary and scientific works and memories. Patron of sciences and education. He has established himself as a talented administrator.
3. His example served the formation of many Russian military leaders, in particular, General. A. I. Denikina.
4. He was a resolute opponent of the use of the army against his people, in which he disagreed with P. A. Stolypin. "An army should shoot at the enemy, not at its own people."

Karyagin Pavel Mikhailovich

Colonel Karyagin's campaign against the Persians in 1805 does not resemble real military history. It looks like a prequel to "300 Spartans" (20,000 Persians, 500 Russians, gorges, bayonet attacks, "This is madness! - No, this is the 17th Jaeger Regiment!"). A golden, platinum page of Russian history, combining the carnage of madness with the highest tactical skill, amazing cunning and stunning Russian arrogance

Field Marshal General Gudovich Ivan Vasilievich

The assault on the Turkish fortress of Anapa on June 22, 1791. In terms of complexity and importance, it is only inferior to the assault on Izmail by A.V. Suvorov.
A 7,000-strong Russian detachment stormed Anapa, which was defended by a 25,000-strong Turkish garrison. At the same time, soon after the start of the assault, the Russian detachment was attacked from the mountains by 8,000 mounted highlanders and Turks, who attacked the Russian camp, but were unable to break into it, were repulsed in a fierce battle and pursued by the Russian cavalry.
The fierce battle for the fortress lasted over 5 hours. About 8,000 people from the Anapa garrison died, 13,532 defenders led by the commandant and Sheikh Mansur were taken prisoner. A small part (about 150 people) escaped on ships. Almost all the artillery was captured or destroyed (83 cannons and 12 mortars), 130 banners were taken. Gudovich sent a separate detachment from Anapa to the nearby Sudzhuk-Kale fortress (on the site of modern Novorossiysk), but upon his approach the garrison burned the fortress and fled to the mountains, abandoning 25 guns.
The losses of the Russian detachment were very high - 23 officers and 1,215 privates were killed, 71 officers and 2,401 privates were wounded (Sytin's Military Encyclopedia gives slightly lower data - 940 killed and 1,995 wounded). Gudovich was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree, all the officers of his detachment were awarded, and a special medal was established for the lower ranks.

Paskevich Ivan Fedorovich

Hero of Borodin, Leipzig, Paris (division commander)
As commander-in-chief, he won 4 companies (Russian-Persian 1826-1828, Russian-Turkish 1828-1829, Polish 1830-1831, Hungarian 1849).
Knight of the Order of St. George, 1st degree - for the capture of Warsaw (the order, according to the statute, was awarded either for the salvation of the fatherland, or for the capture of the enemy capital).
Field Marshal.

Antonov Alexey Innokentievich

He became famous as a talented staff officer. He participated in the development of almost all significant operations of the Soviet troops in the Great Patriotic War since December 1942.
The only one of all Soviet military leaders awarded the Order of Victory with the rank of army general, and the only Soviet holder of the order who was not awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union, Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The brilliant military leadership of the USSR in the Second World War.

Grand Duke of Russia Mikhail Nikolaevich

Feldzeichmeister-General (commander-in-chief of the artillery of the Russian Army), youngest son of Emperor Nicholas I, Viceroy in the Caucasus since 1864. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army in the Caucasus in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Under his command the fortresses of Kars, Ardahan, and Bayazet were taken.

Slashchev Yakov Alexandrovich

A talented commander who repeatedly showed personal courage in defending the Fatherland in the First World War. He assessed rejection of the revolution and hostility to the new government as secondary compared to serving the interests of the Motherland.

General Ermolov

Chichagov Vasily Yakovlevich

Superbly commanded the Baltic Fleet in the campaigns of 1789 and 1790. He won victories in the battle of Öland (7/15/1789), in the Revel (5/2/1790) and Vyborg (06/22/1790) battles. After the last two defeats, which were of strategic importance, the dominance of the Baltic Fleet became unconditional, and this forced the Swedes to make peace. There are few such examples in the history of Russia when victories at sea led to victory in the war. And by the way, the Battle of Vyborg was one of the largest in world history in terms of the number of ships and people.

Dubynin Viktor Petrovich

From April 30, 1986 to June 1, 1987 - commander of the 40th combined arms army of the Turkestan Military District. The troops of this army made up the bulk of the Limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan. During the year of his command of the army, the number of irretrievable losses decreased by 2 times compared to 1984-1985.
On June 10, 1992, Colonel General V.P. Dubynin was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation
His merits include keeping the President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin from a number of ill-conceived decisions in the military sphere, primarily in the field of nuclear forces.

Yudenich Nikolai Nikolaevich

The best Russian commander during the First World War. An ardent patriot of his Motherland.

Peter the First

Because he not only conquered the lands of his fathers, but also established the status of Russia as a power!

Karyagin Pavel Mikhailovich

Colonel, chief of the 17th Jaeger Regiment. He showed himself most clearly in the Persian Company of 1805; when, with a detachment of 500 people, surrounded by a 20,000-strong Persian army, he resisted it for three weeks, not only repelling the attacks of the Persians with honor, but taking fortresses himself, and finally, with a detachment of 100 people, he made his way to Tsitsianov, who was coming to his aid.

Bennigsen Leonty

An unjustly forgotten commander. Having won several battles against Napoleon and his marshals, he drew two battles with Napoleon and lost one battle. Participated in the Battle of Borodino. One of the contenders for the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army during the Patriotic War of 1812!

Izylmetyev Ivan Nikolaevich

Commanded the frigate "Aurora". He made the transition from St. Petersburg to Kamchatka in a record time for those times in 66 days. In Callao Bay he eluded the Anglo-French squadron. Arriving in Petropavlovsk together with the governor of the Kamchatka Territory, Zavoiko V. organized the defense of the city, during which the sailors from the Aurora, together with local residents, threw the outnumbered Anglo-French landing force into the sea. Then he took the Aurora to the Amur Estuary, hiding it there After these events, the British public demanded a trial of the admirals who lost the Russian frigate.

Kolchak Alexander Vasilievich

A prominent military figure, scientist, traveler and discoverer. Admiral of the Russian Fleet, whose talent was highly appreciated by Emperor Nicholas II. The Supreme Ruler of Russia during the Civil War, a true Patriot of his Fatherland, a man of a tragic, interesting fate. One of those military men who tried to save Russia during the years of turmoil, in the most difficult conditions, being in very difficult international diplomatic conditions.

Pozharsky Dmitry Mikhailovich

In 1612, during the most difficult time for Russia, he led the Russian militia and liberated the capital from the hands of the conquerors.
Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky (November 1, 1578 - April 30, 1642) - Russian national hero, military and political figure, head of the Second People's Militia, which liberated Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian occupiers. His name and the name of Kuzma Minin are closely associated with the country’s exit from the Time of Troubles, which is currently celebrated in Russia on November 4th.
After the election of Mikhail Fedorovich to the Russian throne, D. M. Pozharsky plays a leading role at the royal court as a talented military leader and statesman. Despite the victory of the people's militia and the election of the Tsar, the war in Russia still continued. In 1615-1616. Pozharsky, on the instructions of the tsar, was sent at the head of a large army to fight the detachments of the Polish colonel Lisovsky, who besieged the city of Bryansk and took Karachev. After the fight with Lisovsky, the tsar instructs Pozharsky in the spring of 1616 to collect the fifth money from merchants into the treasury, since the wars did not stop and the treasury was depleted. In 1617, the tsar instructed Pozharsky to conduct diplomatic negotiations with the English ambassador John Merik, appointing Pozharsky as governor of Kolomensky. In the same year, the Polish prince Vladislav came to the Moscow state. Residents of Kaluga and its neighboring cities turned to the tsar with a request to send them D. M. Pozharsky to protect them from the Poles. The Tsar fulfilled the request of the Kaluga residents and gave an order to Pozharsky on October 18, 1617 to protect Kaluga and surrounding cities by all available measures. Prince Pozharsky fulfilled the tsar's order with honor. Having successfully defended Kaluga, Pozharsky received an order from the tsar to go to the aid of Mozhaisk, namely to the city of Borovsk, and began to harass the troops of Prince Vladislav with flying detachments, causing them significant damage. However, at the same time, Pozharsky became very ill and, at the behest of the tsar, returned to Moscow. Pozharsky, having barely recovered from his illness, took an active part in defending the capital from Vladislav’s troops, for which Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich awarded him new fiefs and estates.

Gurko Joseph Vladimirovich

Field Marshal General (1828-1901) Hero of Shipka and Plevna, Liberator of Bulgaria (a street in Sofia is named after him, a monument was erected). In 1877 he commanded the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division. To quickly capture some passes through the Balkans, Gurko led an advance detachment consisting of four cavalry regiments, a rifle brigade and the newly formed Bulgarian militia, with two batteries of horse artillery. Gurko completed his task quickly and boldly and won a series of victories over the Turks, ending with the capture of Kazanlak and Shipka. During the struggle for Plevna, Gurko, at the head of the guard and cavalry troops of the western detachment, defeated the Turks near Gorny Dubnyak and Telish, then again went to the Balkans, occupied Entropol and Orhanye, and after the fall of Plevna, reinforced by the IX Corps and the 3rd Guards Infantry Division , despite the terrible cold, crossed the Balkan ridge, took Philippopolis and occupied Adrianople, opening the way to Constantinople. At the end of the war, he commanded military districts, was governor-general, and a member of the state council. Buried in Tver (Sakharovo village)

Kornilov Lavr Georgievich

KORNILOV Lavr Georgievich (08/18/1870-04/31/1918) Colonel (02/1905). Major General (12/1912). Lieutenant General (08/26/1914). Infantry General (06/30/1917). Graduated from the Mikhailovsky Artillery School (1892) and with a gold medal from the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff (1898). Officer at the headquarters of the Turkestan Military District, 1889-1904. Participant in the Russian-Japanese War 1904 - 1905: staff officer of the 1st Infantry Brigade (at its headquarters). During the retreat from Mukden, the brigade got surrounded. Having led the rearguard, he broke through the encirclement with a bayonet attack, ensuring freedom of defensive combat operations for the brigade. Military attaché in China, 04/01/1907 - 02/24/1911. Participant in the First World War: commander of the 48th Infantry Division of the 8th Army (General Brusilov). During the general retreat, the 48th Division was surrounded and General Kornilov, who was wounded, was captured on 04.1915 at the Duklinsky Pass (Carpathians); 08.1914-04.1915. Captured by the Austrians, 04.1915-06.1916. Dressed in the uniform of an Austrian soldier, he escaped from captivity on 06/1915. Commander of the 25th Rifle Corps, 06/1916-04/1917. Commander of the Petrograd Military District, 03-04/1917. Commander of the 8th Army, 04/24-07/8/1917. On 05/19/1917, by his order, he introduced the formation of the first volunteer “1st Shock Detachment of the 8th Army” under the command of Captain Nezhentsev. Commander of the Southwestern Front...

Romanov Pyotr Alekseevich

During the endless discussions about Peter I as a politician and reformer, it is unfairly forgotten that he was the greatest commander of his time. He was not only an excellent organizer of the rear. In the two most important battles of the Northern War (the battles of Lesnaya and Poltava), he not only developed battle plans himself, but also personally led the troops, being in the most important, responsible directions.
The only commander I know of who was equally talented in both land and sea battles.
The main thing is that Peter I created a domestic military school. If all the great commanders of Russia are the heirs of Suvorov, then Suvorov himself is the heir of Peter.
The Battle of Poltava was one of the greatest (if not the greatest) victory in Russian history. In all other great aggressive invasions of Russia, the general battle did not have a decisive outcome, and the struggle dragged on, leading to exhaustion. It was only in the Northern War that the general battle radically changed the state of affairs, and from the attacking side the Swedes became the defending side, decisively losing the initiative.
I believe that Peter I deserves to be in the top three on the list of the best commanders of Russia.

Brusilov Alexey Alekseevich

One of the best Russian generals of the First World War. In June 1916, troops of the Southwestern Front under the command of Adjutant General A.A. Brusilov, simultaneously striking in several directions, broke through the enemy’s deeply layered defenses and advanced 65 km. In military history, this operation was called the Brusilov breakthrough.

Muravyov-Karssky Nikolai Nikolaevich

One of the most successful commanders of the mid-19th century in the Turkish direction.

Hero of the first capture of Kars (1828), leader of the second capture of Kars (the largest success of the Crimean War, 1855, which made it possible to end the war without territorial losses for Russia).

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich

He commanded the tank corps, the 60th Army, and from April 1944 the 3rd Belorussian Front. He showed brilliant talent and particularly distinguished himself during the Belarusian and East Prussian operations. He was distinguished by his ability to conduct highly untimely combat operations. Mortally wounded in February 1945.

Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko (1828-1901)

General, hero of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. The Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, which marked the liberation of the Balkan peoples from centuries-old Ottoman rule, brought forward a number of talented military leaders. Among them should be named M.D. Skobeleva, M.I. Dragomirova, N.G. Stoletova, F.F. Radetsky, P.P. Kartseva and others. Among these illustrious names there is one more - Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko, whose name is associated with the victory at Plevna, the heroic transition through the winter Balkans and victories along the banks of the Maritsa River.

He died at the age of 23, poisoned by envious people and intriguers. If it were possible to characterize his life very briefly, then perhaps there would be only one word for this - “service”. Mikhail Vasilyevich Skopin-Shuisky (11/08/1586 - 04/23/1610), an outstanding military leader, at the turning point of Russia’s fate in the Time of Troubles, turned out to be a man capable of not only bringing her military victories, but also diplomatic victories. His presence inspired the people. People knelt before him and, moved with emotion, kissed the stirrup.

Skopin-Shuisky did not know defeat in battles, actually pursuing foreign policy instead of his ungrateful and ignoble reigning uncle Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky. Maddened by atrocities and fueled by fear, the Tsar-Boyarin deprived the life of not just his nephew, but also the hope of all of Russia.

The biography of Skopin-Shuisky is the subject of this article.

Prologue. Troubled times

After Ivan the Terrible was strangled in 1584 and his 42-year-old son Fyodor was poisoned in 1598, the royal branch of the Rurikovichs was cut short. For the crown - the trump card in the conspiratorial party - the struggle of the boyar clans began: the Godunovs, Mstislavskys, Romanovs, Shuiskys. The first to take the royal throne was in 1598 the former guardsman Boris Godunov.

However, upon reaching adulthood, the son of Ivan the Terrible’s seventh wife, Dmitry, was supposed to become king. The unfortunate teenager was threatened with death at the hands of pretenders to the throne. This is what happened, as Vasily Shuisky, who officially conducted the investigation, subsequently established. Dmitry “playfully, fatally stabbed himself with a knife.”

The intrigue of the boyar struggle for power continued. The fate of Boris Godunov, who “took the monarchy against his rank,” was also a foregone conclusion. On April 13, 1605, 53-year-old Tsar Boris, being in good health, having dined with appetite, climbed the tower to enjoy the overview of Moscow. He soon became ill, his nose and throat began to bleed, and he died. This was the handwriting of the poisoners from the Shuisky family. Everything was done so clumsily and obviously that the boyars had to start a rumor that the “tsar, tormented by his conscience,” himself took poison.

Tsar-schemer

In the same 1605, the impostor False Dmitry came to power over Muscovy for six months. This whole story with the liar was originally orchestrated by the Shuiskys and the Romanovs. It is no coincidence that Grigory Otrepiev was formerly a servant of the Romanovs, and he is accompanied to Lithuania by the trusted monks of the Shuiskys. However, to spite the boyars, False Dmitry, who ascended the throne at their will, showed himself to be an active monarch, not at all willing to give up power.

The conspiratorial boyars killed him too, and then crowned Vasily Shuisky at their secret council. He swore to rule them nominally, subordinate to the boyar Duma. At this time, the hero of our article, Prince Skopin-Shuisky, served under his influential cousin Vasily. He guarded it personally and ensures the safety of the travel of important people.

Bolotnikov's uprising

Soon something happened that neither the Shuisky nor Mstislavsky boyars expected. Cossack Ivan Isaevich Bolotnikov, playing on the Cossacks’ dissatisfaction with the “boyar tsar”, started an uprising.

Initially, the impostor gathered 12,000 Cossacks and enlisted the support of the governor of Putivl, Prince Shakhovsky. The rebels, relying on the masses of discontented peasantry, aimed to capture Moscow and overthrow the boyar tsar Vasily Shuisky. The Rzeczpospolita secretly supported the troublemakers.

The royal army, commanded by the royal brother Fedor, was completely defeated. The rebel Cossack approached Moscow.

“Half-Tsar,” as Vasily was popularly called, made the only wise decision during his reign: he radically changed the court career of his protégé, and nineteen-year-old Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky, like his father and grandfather, became the Moscow governor.

Defense of Moscow

Mikhail was wise beyond his years; he was a tall, strong young man with a direct, piercing gaze. From childhood, he trained himself as a warrior, mastering shooting weapons, combat equestrian dressage, and artillery to perfection.

However, he was not deprived of intelligence either. Skopin-Shuisky immediately upon his appointment showed himself to be a sensitive politician and organizer. It was as if it was given to him from above to feel the spirit of the army and influence it. By that time, the Moscow army was in a sad state; it did not want to shed blood for the “boyar tsar.” Skopin identified and arrested the main troublemakers: Ivan Troekurov, Yuri Trubetskoy, Ivan Katyrev.

During the siege of the army of Ivan Bolotnikov stretched across the capital, Skopin-Shuisky chose a win-win tactic. Rapid forays of heavy cavalry created an overwhelming advantage in the attack sectors.

The Cossacks and other motley infantry of Ivan Bolotnikov did not have time to prepare their artillery for battle and suffered losses.

Mission to the North

Meanwhile, near Novgorod there was a real danger of losing territories and the fall of tsarist power. Tsar Vasily sent his nephew Mikhail there. The governor, who rode to the northern city, discovered that the situation was extremely ambiguous. Bolotnikov’s agents managed to convince some of the local boyars and nobles of the insolvency of the “half-tsar”. The situation was also aggravated by the fact that the neighboring cities of Ivangorod and Pskov had already changed their Moscow citizenship.

Fortunately, the Novgorod governor Tatishchev remained loyal to the tsar, and together with Skopin-Shuisky they developed a plan of action. The embassy from Novgorod, led by the Tsar's missionary, met at negotiations with the head of the Swedish army, Jacob Delagardie, concluding an allied agreement with him against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Skopin-Shuisky strengthened the spirit of the Novgorod army, therefore, when the regiments of the Polish lord Kozinetsky approached the city walls, hoping for an easy victory, they were met not by open gates, but by cannon salvoes from the Novgorod walls. Pan had to return, having slurped unsalted.

Battle of Cauldrons

Returning to Moscow, the Tsar's nephew, skillfully maneuvering, forced the army of Ivan Bolotnikov to a decisive battle near the village of Kotly near Moscow on December 2, 1806. In a fierce battle against the Cossack light cavalry, relying on reserves and expecting a counter cavalry attack from Skopin, as at the walls of Moscow, the young commander used tactics unexpected for the rebels.

Instead of saber cutting, the horse lava was met with grapeshot volleys. The maneuverable artillery, which was lined up in battle formation during the course of the battle (the archers called it “walk-field”), showed its power. Then the formation of demoralized Bolotinsky soldiers was cut along the flank by a directed blow of heavy cavalry.

The army of the Cossack chieftain, having suffered losses, avoiding encirclement, retreated through Serpukhov to Kaluga. However, M.V. Skopin-Shuisky continued to implement his offensive strategy of continuous raids. In June 1607, on the Voronya River, three of his regiments broke through the line of defense of the troublemakers, who retreated to Tula and settled there.

Capture of Tula

The city with solid walls, food and weapons depots turned out to be a tough nut to crack for the royal army. And Ivan Bolotnikov, a man of action, did not look like a whipping boy. Skopin-Shuisky tried to take it by storm, but was repulsed.

The king's nephew understood the advantages of the defenders' position and their artillery. He simulated a siege, actually implementing another, more cunning plan. Commander Skopin Shuisky secretly ordered the construction of a dam upstream of the river on which Tula stood. When the water level rose, it was destroyed. The defenders flooded artillery warehouses and supplies. The subsequent assault on Tula was successful. Bolotnikov's horde was finished.

However, an even greater threat hung over the royal throne in Moscow.

False Dmitry II. War with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Polish magnates, seeing the weakness of Muscovy, did not give up hopes of depriving it of sovereignty. It didn’t take long to find the idea for a new campaign. This is how a protege of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth appeared, an insignificant and controlled person - a cover for a campaign against Moscow. The basis of the army that marched on the fictitious mission was the regiments of Sapieha and Ruzhinsky, numbering 14,000 soldiers. They were joined by the Cossack detachments of Trubetskoy and Zarutsky (who were in the army of the first False Dmitry). This army initially moved towards Tula in order to connect with Bolotnikov, but did not have time.

Tsar Vasily sent Skopin-Shuisky for help to the Novgorod and Swedish allies.

In May 1609, the Russian-Swedish army of Skopin and Delagardi, moving towards Moscow, began to press back the nobles. He was joined by the regiments of the governor of Smolensk Shein.

The interventionists were driven back from Staraya Rusa and Toropets. In the battle of Tver, the tactical talent of the royal nephew was fully demonstrated. Voivode Zborovsky, who believed his deceptive maneuver, lost about 5,000 troops.

However, after such striking victories, the alliance of Jacob Delagardie and Skopin-Shuisky fell apart. The Swedes were indifferent to the political goals of Muscovy, they were interested in trophies. Together with the Russian army, the regiment of Christer Somme, a fifth of the allied army, remained. Thus, the Russian army was outnumbered by the interventionists, but maintaining a unified strategy was more important for Prince Mikhail.

Commander

Skopin-Shuisky by that time was very popular among the people, therefore, after he stopped near Kalyazin and sent out messengers, reinforcements and money began to flow to him from everywhere from communities and monasteries. Meanwhile, the commander successfully trained the motley arriving army for battle according to the Swedish model, achieving discipline and skill. With a lack of cavalry, the emphasis was placed on walk-towns bristling with guns. The infantry learned to deprive the cavalry of maneuver and suppress it with fire.

Under the leadership of Skopin-Shuisky, the battle of Kalyazin took place near the Trinity Monastery (Makaryev) with an army of noblemen Jan Sapieha and Zborovsky equal in strength. The interventionists attacking the Muscovite battle formation suffered significant losses during the seven-hour battle and retreated.

The Russians moved forward, recapturing Pereyaslav-Zalessky and they strengthened: the Moscow governor spent the money granted by the monasteries on Delagardi’s mercenaries.

Meanwhile, the Poles regrouped. 20 thousand selected troops of Sapieha opposed Skopin-Shuisky. However, the battle on the Karinsky field ended in victory for the Russians and Swedes. They stoically withstood the crazy frontal attack of the Polish hussars, holding them back with wooden and earthen fortifications, in order to then overthrow them with flank attacks.

Defeat of Sapieha's troops

The victories of Skopin-Shuisky forced the Polish king to show his true face and declare war on Muscovy, on whose throne he decided to install. He sent his army to the main bridgehead of Muscovy - Smolensk.

However, the greatest danger was not the royal army, but the army of Sapieha, located dangerously close to Moscow, near Tushino (hence the historical nickname of False Dmitry II - “Tushino thief”). However, Prince Mikhail did not leave the enemy alone. The forays of the Skopino governors even before the arrival of the main army forced the Poles to retreat from Tushin to Dmitrov.

In February 1610, Mikhail Vasilyevich Skopin-Shuisky began the decisive battle to relieve Moscow. His swift military leadership is a match for Russia's later military leader, Suvorov. In the shortest possible time, he forms a ski regiment of archers, who, thanks to an unexpected high-speed maneuver, destroy the forward outpost of the Poles and turn their guns in the opposite direction. Immediately (it was February 20), the Russian army arrived in time without losses and immediately overthrew Sapieha’s army, destroying most of it. The surviving nobles flee to Smolensk in order to unite with the royal army.

Instead of a conclusion

Having victoriously completed the winter campaign of 1610, the boyar and governor-prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky returns to Moscow in glory. He was cheerful and cheerful, anticipating the decisive campaign against Smolensk.

The boyars are shocked: this young fair-haired and powerful Russian god of war enjoys such popular love that they have never even dreamed of. They see in him a more obvious competitor to their power than the gentry. Villainy lurks in the plans of the family of the royal brother Dmitry, who lays claim to the throne. He deliberately gives rise to rumors that Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky wants to become a monarch. The “half-king,” being himself a villain by nature, authorizes the murder of his nephew.

Skopin-Shuisky is warned of the danger by his friend, the Swede Jacob Delagardie, persuading him to start an anti-Polish campaign in early spring. However, the young hero is in no hurry.

What was certain was that his murder had been planned in advance. He was appointed during the baptism of the newborn son of Prince Vorotynsky. Skopin-Shuisky was invited to be the godfather, and his poisoner (the wife of Tsarevich Dmitry Ekaterina, daughter of Malyuta Skuratov) to be the godmother. The glass of wine she offered decided everything. The symptoms of poisoning were similar to those manifested by Boris Godunov. However, Prince Mikhail’s powerful body tried to resist the deadly poison for another two weeks.

Thus, the Shuisky brothers, distraught from atrocities, destroyed with their own hands a man capable of saving their dynasty, who was Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky. His life was short but bright. At his death, all of Moscow dressed in mourning, mourning a truly national hero. The Swedish knight Delagardie complained that he could not meet his best friend anywhere, neither in Russia nor in his homeland.

The hero's uncles, his murderers, who had no talent to either rule Muscovy or lead its army, soon found themselves captured by the Poles, and the capital city was taken shamefully, without a fight.

This personality quickly flashed through our history, but with brilliance and glory, he left behind poetic, sad memories. The character of this man, unfortunately, due to the paucity of sources, remains insufficiently clear: the only certainty is that he was a man of extraordinary abilities.

In ancient clan customs, it often happened that one of the members of the clan would receive a nickname, which remains with his direct descendants, and in this way a double surname is formed, consisting of this nickname and the ancient clan name. Thus, in the descendants of the Suzdal princes, who received the name Shuisky, there was a prince nicknamed Skopa, who gave rise to the Shuisky branch, which bore the names Skopin-Shuisky: this branch ended with Skopa’s great-grandson Mikhail Vasilyevich. During the reign of the said Demetrius, Mikhail Vasilyevich was no more than twenty years old, but Demetrius distinguished him and brought him closer to him. He gave him the rank of his royal swordsman and entrusted him with the important task of bringing Queen Martha to Moscow. What kind of relationship Mikhail had to the Shuisky conspiracy - we do not know at all, although there is news that Dimitri, during the attack of the conspirators, did not find his sword, which was kept by Mikhail. When Bolotnikov stood near Moscow and on November 26 was planning to take the capital by storm, Tsar Vasily entrusted Skopin with guarding the Serpukhov Gate. Mikhail carried out his assignment excellently and not only repelled the rebels, but on December 2 struck at Kolomenskoye village and forced Bolotnikov to flee from the capital. Despite the fact that Prince Skopin had already declared his abilities, Shuisky did not give him the main command over the army against the Tushino thief, but entrusted it to his mediocre brother, Dimitri, who shamefully fled and allowed the impostor to reach Moscow. It was clear that the suspicious tsar did not trust Mikhail Vasilyevich and brought him forward only when most of the state fell away from the Moscow tsar and Vasily himself, from day to day, was waiting for death. At this time, Skopin went to Novgorod to conclude an alliance with the Swedes.

Back in February 1607, the Swedes, through the Korelian governor, offered their help to Vasily, but Vasily, faithful to his great-grandfather’s custom of hiding his difficult circumstances to strangers and presenting his situation in the best possible way, ordered the Swedes to express indignation for such an offer. The Swedish king made a similar proposal a second time when Vasily stood near Tula. Vasily replied that he did not require help from anyone and that he had countless armies. Then only, when the impostor was already threatening the capital, Vasily had to tame his pride and grab hold of the remedy that had been offered to him before. He entrusted this important matter to Skopin.

Arriving in Novgorod, Skopin sent his brother-in-law, Semyon Vasilyevich Golovin, to Sweden, while he himself remained in Novgorod; but then he saw that the Novgorodians were worried and the majority were ready to proclaim Demetrius. Already Pskov and other neighboring cities fell away from Shuisky. Skopin had few troops. He left the city, but everything around him was hostile; the border cities of Ivan-Gorod and Oreshek were already beyond Demetrius. Skopin wanted to leave for Sweden, when at the mouth of the Neva the Novgorod elders came to him and asked him to return to Novgorod, promising loyalty to Vasily. Such a change of mood in Novgorod was caused by the convictions of the local Metropolitan Isidore. But when Skopin returned to Novgorod, he heard unexpected news that Colonel Kernozitsky was coming from Tushino to Novgorod with a crowd of Poles and Russian thieves. Novgorod governor Mikhailo Ignatievich Tatishchev volunteered to go against Kernozitsky. Tatishchev was not liked in Novgorod; his ill-wishers came to Skopin and said: “Tatishchev then goes to Lithuania to betray Vasily and surrender Novgorod.”

Skopin, instead of defending Tatishchev or examining the justice of the denunciation, gathered the military Novgorod people and said: “This is what they tell me against Mikhail Tatishchev, judge for yourself.” Tatishchev's enemies raised a cry and armed everyone so much that the crowd rushed at him and tore him to pieces. Skopin buried Tatishchev's body, and ordered the property to be sold at public auction, as was done in the old days in Novgorod after the people's trial. Skopin himself took several things for himself. This case remains obscure both in relation to the personality of Tatishchev and Skopin himself. It must seem strange that Tatishchev, one of the main culprits in the murder of the said Demetrius, a fanatical adherent of Russian customs, could actually attempt to pester the impostor; but then everyone was suspected and few could vouch for themselves. Kernozitsky approached the Khutynsky monastery; After the death of Tatishchev, many of the serving Novgorod people ran over to the enemy, and the gathered peasants came out against Kernozitsky; some of them were captured and, under torture, they said that a large army was coming to Novgorod. Kernozitsky got scared and retreated to Staraya Rusa.

Meanwhile, Golovin concluded an agreement according to which Sweden undertook to deliver five thousand troops to the Moscow State for the first time, for a payment of 32,000 rubles, and in addition, the Moscow State had to give Sweden 5,000 rubles not to be offset. Moreover, the Swedes promised to add more auxiliary troops without money, with the condition that the Moscow sovereign would send his army to Sweden without money in case of need. For this, the Moscow state ceded Korel and its entire district to Sweden. According to the force of this agreement, in the spring of 1609, 5,000 Swedes arrived in Novgorod, and another 10,000 willing people of different tribes were supposed to come after them, but the number of those who came, in fact, turned out to be incomplete. The Swedish army was commanded by Jacob Pontus Delagardie, the son of a French Reformed native. Skopin met him in Novgorod on March 30 with cannon and weapon shots. Both leaders were young: Delagardie was 27 years old, Skopin only 23 years old. The people admired them. Foreigners, describing the Russian leader, say that, despite his youth, he was unusually handsome, stately, friendly and attracted everyone with his intelligence and the strength of his soul that was demonstrated in all his techniques. According to Moscow custom, Skopin, thanking the Swedish king for his help, tried, however, to hide the extreme situation of his fatherland before Delagardie. “Our great sovereign,” he said, “is in prosperity and all his subjects obey him; there are some eight thousand Russian loafers who have stuck to the Poles and Cossacks.” Skopin gave the Swedish leader the money that the Swedes were following not as a credit, but from the amount allocated for the army’s salary, he could only give three thousand, and even then in sable furs; There wasn't enough specie. He reassured his allies with promises; Meanwhile, he sent letters to the northeastern cities, which were less devastated than others, begged them to quickly collect and send money, and at the same time invited them to send military men to him. His plan was to go straight to Moscow, without stopping near the cities, because all the cities, according to his calculations, would have to submit when Moscow was liberated.

The thief sent Zborovsky with the Poles and Prince Shakhovsky with the Russian people against them. The army of thieves destroyed the city of Staritsa, did not take Torzhok, retreated and locked themselves in Tver. Skopin and Delagardi, united, attacked Tver; At first they were repulsed, but then, on July 13, they resumed the attack, drove the enemy out of Tver, chased him and completely defeated him.

Skopin, after this victory, was in a hurry to go to Moscow, but the foreign army rebelled, demanded payment of wages and did not want to go further. Delagardi had to give in, he himself remained near Tver and, for his part, began to demand payment of the salary and return of Korela according to the condition. There was nothing to pay. Delagardie returned to Torzhok, and his hired soldiers began to treat the Russian villagers no better than the Poles.

In this predicament, Skopin did not lose heart. He invited, by a special agreement, a detachment of Swedish troops under the command of Christian Zome and stood near Kolyazin. From here he constantly sent messengers to cities and asked for money and military men. Monasteries: Solovetsky, Pechensky, Ustyug, Spaso-Prilutsky provided him with money. The Perm land annoyed him with its slowness; but the Vologda and Solvychegodsk residents showed themselves to be zealous, especially the Stroganovs, who, in addition to sending money, equipped and sent many military men at their own expense to Skopin. The military men who arrived in Kolyazin were well armed, but did not know military affairs, and Christian Zome trained them. In mid-August, the Tushins, who were besieging Trinity under the command of Sapega and Zborovsky, went against Skopin, but Skopin warned them and on the Zhabna River, which flows into the Volga, struck them and put them to flight. Having received the money, Skopin paid another part of the salary to the Swedish army, sent, on behalf of the Tsar, Fyodor Chulkov to surrender Korela to the Swedes and thereby prompted Delagardie to come to him with an army on September 26. The allies cleared Pereyaslavl of thieves and took Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda in October. Then not only Sapega and Zborovsky, but also the main military leader of the Tushino thief, Rozhinsky, moved towards Skopin; after a bloody battle near Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, they returned back with great losses. Skopin and Delagardi drew up a plan to build abatis one after another and in this way approach Moscow. Skopin himself rushed to the capital, but Delagardie held him back, imagining that he should not leave the enemy behind, but should clear the neighboring country of thieves. Thus, Skopin stood all winter in Alexandrovskaya Sloboda.

His fame spread everywhere. Tsar Vasily was not tolerated, and the Russians began to say that he should be deposed and Mikhail Vasilyevich should be made tsar. Prokopiy Lyapunov sent an embassy to Skopin from the entire Ryazan land and informed that the entire Russian land wants to elect him as king and recognizes that except Mikhail Vasilyevich no one is worthy to sit on the throne. Skopin did not enter into any explanations about this, removed the embassy from himself, but did not execute anyone, did not examine the case and did not notify Tsar Vasily about this.

Meanwhile, the Tushino camp dispersed. Moscow was freed from the siege. Supplies were brought from everywhere to the capital. Skopin and Delagardie went to Moscow and entered it on March 12, 1610. A crowd of Moscow people of both sexes met him outside the city. The boyars brought him bread and salt. Skopin was riding next to Delagardie. The people fell on their faces before him, calling him the liberator and savior of the earth. Tsar Vasily himself publicly hugged and kissed him with tears. Feasts after feasts began. Muscovites, vying one after another, invited the Swedes to their homes and treated them. Skopin wanted to rest in Moscow until it dried out, and then go to Sigismund. But Vasily already hated Mikhail Vasilyevich. The solemn meeting, the constant signs of popular favor that accompanied every appearance of Skopin among the people, inspired fear in him. The Russian people openly said that it was necessary to depose Vasily and elect Skopin as king. Vasily decided to directly explain himself to the latter and express his concerns to him. Prince Mikhail Vasilyevich assured that he was not thinking about the crown, but Vasily could not be assured of this: Vasily himself remembered how, in the old days, he swore his allegiance to Boris and Dimitri. To Vasily’s greater fear, some fortune-tellers prophesied to him that after him Tsar Michael would sit on the throne; and Vasily imagined that this Mikhail was Skopin. But most of all, Skopin was hated by the tsar’s incapable brother, Dimitri Shuisky. Envy tormented him. At a time when all the Moscow people lavished enthusiastic praise on Prince Mikhail Vasilyevich, Dimitri Shuisky filed an accusation against him to the Tsar that he had arbitrarily given Korela and the region to the Swedes. Tsar Vasily knew how to restrain himself better than his brother, and not only acquitted Skopin, but swung his stick at his brother. Nevertheless, everywhere they said that the tsar was preparing a secret death for Mikhail Vasilyevich; and Delagardie himself advised him to quickly get out of Moscow, into the field, in order to avoid harm.

On April 23, Prince Ivan Vorotynsky, brother-in-law of Tsar Vasily, invited Skopin to baptize his baby. At the feast, Mikhail Vasilyevich felt ill. They took him home. Delagardie sent a doctor to him: nothing helped. Mikhail Vasilyevich died in the arms of his mother and wife. When his body lay ready for burial, Delagardie arrived; Muscovites did not want to allow a non-Orthodox person to see the dead man, but Delagardie said that the deceased was his friend and comrade, and was allowed through. He looked at the dead man, shed tears and said:

“Moscow people, not only in your Rus', but also in the lands of my sovereign, I will never see such a person!”

General rumor attributed Skopin’s death to poison, which was allegedly brought to him at a feast “in a drinking bowl” by Dimitry Shuisky’s wife, Ekaterina, daughter of Malyuta Skuratov, “godfather, underwater snake,” as the folk song puts it. The people were so excited that they almost ruined the court of Dmitry Shuisky. Tsar Vasily protected him with military force from the rage of the crowd. Modern foreigners positively claim that Skopin was poisoned on the orders of Tsar Vasily.

Mikhail Vasilyevich’s coffin was carried by the comrades of his exploits. They were followed by widows, sisters and mothers of those killed in battle. They supported Skopin's mother and widow, who had almost lost their memory and feelings from grief. Tsar Vasily was also there, bursting into tears and screaming. They didn't believe him. Skopin failed to sit on the Moscow throne, on which the Russian people so wanted to see him. But his coffin was lowered into the ground in the Archangel Cathedral, among the kings and grand princes of the Moscow state.