In 1686, the embassy of the Commonwealth arrived in Moscow to conclude a peace treaty. The four members of the Russian embassy included the boyar Sheremetev. Under the terms of the agreement, Kyiv, Smolensk, Left-bank Ukraine, Zaporozhye and Seversk land with Chernigov and Starodub were finally assigned to Russia. The treaty also served as the basis for the Russian-Polish alliance in the Great Northern War. As a reward for the successful conclusion of "Eternal Peace", Boris Petrovich was granted a silver bowl, a satin caftan and 4,000 rubles. In the summer of the same year, Sheremetev went with the Russian embassy to Poland to ratify the treaty, and then to Vienna to conclude a military alliance against the Turks. However, the Austrian emperor Leopold I decided not to burden himself with allied obligations, the negotiations did not lead to the desired results.

After returning, Boris Petrovich is appointed governor in Belgorod. In 1688, he took part in the Crimean campaign of Prince V.V. Golitsyn. However, the first combat experience of the future field marshal was unsuccessful. In the battles in the Black and Green valleys, the detachment under his command was crushed by the Tatars.

In the struggle for power between Peter and Sofia, Sheremetev took the side of Peter, but for many years he was not called to the court, remaining the Belgorod governor. In the first Azov campaign in 1695, he participated in a theater of operations remote from Azov, commanding troops that were supposed to divert Turkey's attention from the main direction of the offensive of Russian troops. Peter I instructed Sheremetev to form an army of 120,000, which was supposed to go to the lower reaches of the Dnieper and tie down the actions of the Crimean Tatars. In the first year of the war, after a long siege, four fortified Turkish cities surrendered to Sheremetev (including Kizy-Kermen on the Dnieper). However, he did not reach the Crimea and returned with troops to Ukraine, although almost the entire Tatar army at that time was near Azov. With the end of the Azov campaigns in 1696, Sheremetev returned to Belgorod.

In 1697, the Great Embassy headed by Peter I went to Europe. Sheremetev was also part of the embassy. From the king, he received messages to Emperor Leopold I, Pope Innocent XII, Doge of Venice and Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The purpose of the visits was to conclude an anti-Turkish alliance, but it was not successful. At the same time, Boris Petrovich was given high honors. So, the master of the order laid the Maltese commander's cross on him, thereby accepting him as a knight. In the history of Russia, this was the first time that a Russian was awarded a foreign order.

By the end of the XVII century. Sweden has become very powerful. The Western powers, rightly fearing her aggressive aspirations, were willing to conclude an alliance against her. In addition to Russia, the anti-Swedish alliance included Denmark and Saxony. Such a balance of power meant a sharp turn in Russia's foreign policy - instead of a struggle for access to the Black Sea, there was a struggle for the Baltic coast and for the return of lands torn off by Sweden at the beginning of the 17th century. In the summer of 1699, the Northern Union was concluded in Moscow.

Ingria (the coast of the Gulf of Finland) was to become the main theater of operations. The primary task was to capture the fortress of Narva (Old Russian Rugodev) and the entire course of the Narova River. Boris Petrovich is entrusted with the formation of regiments of the noble militia. In September 1700, with a 6,000-strong detachment of noble cavalry, Sheremetev reached Wesenberg, but, without engaging in battle, retreated to the main Russian forces near Narva. The Swedish king Charles XII with 30,000 troops approached the fortress in November. November 19, the Swedes launched an offensive. Their attack was unexpected for the Russians. At the very beginning of the battle, foreigners who were in the Russian service went over to the side of the enemy. Only the Semyonovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments held out stubbornly for several hours. Sheremetev's cavalry was crushed by the Swedes. In the battle near Narva, the Russian army lost up to 6 thousand people and 145 guns. The losses of the Swedes amounted to 2 thousand people.

After this battle, Charles XII directed all his efforts against Saxony, considering it his main enemy (Denmark was withdrawn from the war as early as the beginning of 1700). The corps of General V.A. was left in the Baltic states. Schlippenbach, who was entrusted with the defense of the border regions, as well as the capture of Gdov, Pechory, and in the future - Pskov and Novgorod. The Swedish king had a low opinion of the combat effectiveness of the Russian regiments and did not consider it necessary to keep a large number of troops against them.

In June 1701, Boris Petrovich was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Baltic. The king ordered him, without getting involved in major battles, to send cavalry detachments to the areas occupied by the enemy in order to destroy the food and fodder of the Swedes, to accustom the troops to fight with a trained enemy. In November 1701, a campaign was announced in Livonia. And already in December, the troops under the command of Sheremetev won the first victory over the Swedes at Erestfer. 10,000 cavalry and 8,000 infantry with 16 guns acted against the 7,000-strong Schlippenbach detachment. Initially, the battle was not entirely successful for the Russians, since only dragoons participated in it. Finding themselves without the support of infantry and artillery, which did not arrive in time for the battlefield, the dragoon regiments were scattered by enemy grapeshot. However, the approaching infantry and artillery dramatically changed the course of the battle. After a 5-hour battle, the Swedes began to flee. In the hands of the Russians were 150 prisoners, 16 guns, as well as food and fodder. Assessing the significance of this victory, the tsar wrote: "We have reached the point that we can defeat the Swedes; while two against one fought, but soon we will begin to defeat them in equal numbers."

For this victory, Sheremetev is awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called with a gold chain and diamonds and is promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. In June 1702, he already defeated the main forces of Schlippenbach at Hummelshof. As in the case of Erestfer, the Swedish cavalry, unable to withstand the pressure, took to flight, upsetting the ranks of their own infantry, dooming them to destruction. The success of the field marshal is again noted by Peter: "We are very grateful for your labors." In the same year, the fortresses of Marienburg and Noteburg (ancient Russian Oreshek) were taken, and the following year, Nienschanz, Yamburg, and others. Livonia and Ingria were completely in the hands of the Russians. In Estonia, Wesenberg was taken by storm, and then (in 1704) Dorpat. The tsar deservedly recognized Boris Petrovich as the first winner of the Swedes.

In the summer of 1705, an uprising broke out in southern Russia, in Astrakhan, led by archers, who were sent there for the most part after the streltsy riots in Moscow and other cities. Sheremetev is sent to suppress the uprising. In March 1706, his troops approached the city. After the bombing of Astrakhan, the archers surrendered. "For which your work," the king wrote, "the Lord God will pay you, and we will not leave." Sheremetev was the first in Russia to be granted the title of count, he received 2400 households and 7 thousand rubles.

At the end of 1706, Boris Petrovich again took command of the troops operating against the Swedes. The tactics of the Russians, who were expecting a Swedish invasion, boiled down to the following: without accepting a general battle, retreat into the depths of Russia, acting on the flanks and behind enemy lines. Charles XII by this time managed to deprive Augustus II of the Polish crown and put it on his protege Stanislav Leshchinsky, and also to force Augustus to break allied relations with Russia. In December 1707 Charles left Saxony. The Russian army of up to 60 thousand people, commanded by the tsar to Sheremetev, retreated to the east.

From the beginning of April 1709, the attention of Charles XII was riveted to Poltava. The capture of this fortress made it possible to stabilize communications with the Crimea and Poland, where there were significant forces of the Swedes. And besides, the road from the south to Moscow would be opened to the king. The tsar ordered Boris Petrovich to move to Poltava to join up with the troops of A.D. Menshikov and thereby deprive the Swedes of the opportunity to break the Russian troops in parts. At the end of May, Sheremetev arrived near Poltava and immediately assumed the duties of commander in chief. But during the battle, he was the commander-in-chief only formally, while the king led all the actions. Driving around the troops before the battle, Peter turned to Sheremetev: "Mr. Field Marshal! I entrust my army to you and I hope that in commanding it you will act according to the instructions given to you ...". Sheremetev did not take an active part in the battle, but the tsar was pleased with the actions of the field marshal: Boris Petrovich was the first in the award list of senior officers.

In July, he was sent by the king to the Baltic at the head of the infantry and a small detachment of cavalry. The immediate task is the capture of Riga, under the walls of which the troops arrived in October. The tsar instructed Sheremetev to capture Riga not by storm, but by siege, believing that victory would be achieved at the cost of minimal losses. But the raging plague epidemic claimed the lives of almost 10 thousand Russian soldiers. Nevertheless, the bombing of the city did not stop. The capitulation of Riga was signed on July 4, 1710.

In December 1710, Turkey declared war on Russia, and Peter ordered the troops stationed in the Baltic to move south. A poorly prepared campaign, lack of food and inconsistency in the actions of the Russian command put the army in a difficult situation. Russian regiments were surrounded in the area of ​​the river. The Prut, which many times outnumbered the Turkish-Tatar troops. However, the Turks did not impose a general battle on the Russians, and on July 12 a peace was signed, according to which Azov returned to Turkey. As a guarantee of the fulfillment of obligations by Russia, Chancellor P.P. was held hostage by the Turks. Shafirov and son B.P. Sheremeteva Mikhail.

Upon returning from the Prut campaign, Boris Petrovich commands troops in Ukraine and Poland. In 1714 the tsar sent Sheremetev to Pomerania. Gradually, the tsar began to lose confidence in the field marshal, suspecting him of sympathy for Tsarevich Alexei. 127 people signed the death sentence for Peter's son. Sheremetev's signature was missing.

In December 1716 he was released from command of the army. The field marshal asked the king to give him a position more suitable for his age. Peter wanted to appoint him governor-general of the lands in Estonia, Livonia and Ingria. But the appointment did not take place: on February 17, 1719, Boris Petrovich died.

PORTRAIT
Chin field marshal general Introduced by Peter I in 1699 instead of the existing post of "Chief Voivode of a Large Regiment". The rank was also established Field Marshal Lieutenant General, as deputy field marshal, but after 1707 he was not assigned to anyone.

In 1722, the rank of field marshal was introduced in the "Table of Ranks" as a military rank of the 1st class. It was assigned not necessarily for military merit, but also for long-term public service or as a sign of royal favor. Several foreigners, not being in the Russian service, were granted this rank as an honorary title.
In total, 65 people were awarded this rank (including 2 Field Marshal Lieutenant General).

The first 12 people were granted by the emperors Peter I, Catherine I and Peter II:

01. gr. Golovin Fedor Alekseevich (1650-1706) since 1700
Copy of Ivan Shpring from an unknown original of the early 18th century. State. Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

02. grts. Croa Charles Eugene (1651-1702) from 1700
Portrait not found. There is only a photograph of his surviving body, which until 1863 lay in a glass coffin in the Reval (Tallinn) Church of St. Nicholas.

03. gr. Sheremetev Boris Petrovich (1652-1719) since 1701
Ostankino Palace-Museum.

04. Ogilvie George Benedict (1651-1710) from 1702 (Field Marshal Lieutenant General)
Engraving from an unknown 18th century original. Source - Beketov's book "Collection of portraits of Russians, famous for their deeds ...", 1821.

05. Heinrich Goltz (1648-1725) from 1707 (Field Marshal Lieutenant General)

06. St. book. Menshikov Alexander Danilovich (1673-1729) from 1709, Generalissimo from 1727
Unknown artist of the 18th century. Museum "Manor Kuskovo".

07. book. Repnin Anikita Ivanovich (1668-1726) since 1724
Portrait of the work of unknown. artist of the early 18th century. Poltava Museum.

08. book Golitsyn Mikhail Mikhailovich (1675-1730) from 1725
Unknown artist of the 18th century.

09. gr. Sapieha Jan Casimir (1675-1730), from 1726 (Great Hetman of Lithuania in 1708-1709)
Unknown artist of the 18th century. Rawicz Palace, Poland.

10. gr. Bruce Yakov Vilimovich (1670-1735) from 1726
Unknown artist of the 18th century.

11. book. Dolgorukov Vasily Vladimirovich (1667-1746) since 1728
Portrait by Groot. 1740s. State Tretyakov Gallery.

12. book. Trubetskoy Ivan Yurievich (1667-1750) from 1728
Unknown artist of the 18th century. State Tretyakov Gallery.

Field Marshals granted the rank by Empresses Anna Ioannovna, Elizaveta Petrovna and Emperor Peter III:

13 gr. Minich Burchard Christopher (1683-1767) from 1732
Portrait by Buchholz. 1764 State Russian Museum.

14 gr. Lassi Petr Petrovich (1678-1751) from 1736
Unknown artist of the 18th century. Source M. Borodkin "History of Finland" vol. 2 1909

15 Ave. Ludwig Wilhelm of Hesse-Homburg (1705-1745) since 1742
Unknown artist ser. XVIII century. Private collection.

16 books Trubetskoy Nikita Yurievich (1700-1767) since 1756
Unknown artist ser. XVIII century. State Museum of Arts of Georgia.

17 gr. Buturlin Alexander Borisovich (1694-1767) from 1756
19th century copy from a painting by an unknown artist of the mid-18th century Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

18 gr. Razumovsky Alexei Grigorievich (1709-1771) since 1756
Unknown artist of the 18th century.

19 gr. Apraksin Stepan Fedorovich (1702-1758) since 1756
Unknown artist of the 18th century.

20 gr. Saltykov Pyotr Semyonovich (1698-1772) since 1759
A copy of Loktev from a portrait by Rotary. 1762 Russian Museum.

21 gr. Shuvalov Alexander Ivanovich (1710-1771) from 1761
Portrait by Rotary. Source - Vel. Book. Nikolai Mikhailovich"Russian portraits of the XVIII-XIX centuries"

22 gr. Shuvalov Petr Ivanovich (1711-1762) since 1761
Portrait by Rokotov.

23 Ave. Peter August Friedrich of Holstein-Beck (1697-1775) from 1762
Tyulev's lithograph from unknown. 18th century original. The source is the book of Bantysh-Kamensky "Biographies of Russian Generalissimos and Field Marshals" 1840.

24 Ave Georg Ludwig of Schleswig-Holstein (1719-1763) from 1762
Tyulev's lithograph from unknown. 18th century original. The source is Bantysh-Kamensky's book "Biographies of Russian Generalissimos and Field Marshals" of 1840. At the link: http://www.royaltyguide.nl/images-families/oldenburg/holsteingottorp/1719%20Georg.jpg - there is another portrait of him of unknown origin and doubtful authenticity.

25 grts. Karl Ludwig of Holstein-Beck (1690-1774) from 1762
He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title. Unfortunately, despite a long search, it was not possible to find his portrait.

Field Marshal General granted the rank by Empress Catherine II and Emperor Paul I. I draw your attention to the fact that c. I.G. Chernyshev was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in 1796. "by fleet".

26 gr. Bestuzhev-Ryumin Alexei Petrovich (1693-1766) c 1762
Copy of G. Serdyukov, from the original by L. Tokke. 1772. State Russian Museum.

27 gr. Razumovsky, Kirill Grigorievich (1728-1803) from 1764
Portrait by L. Tokke. 1758

28 books Golitsyn Alexander Mikhailovich (1718-1783) from 1769
Portrait of the work of unknown. late 18th century artist. State. military history. museum of A.V. Suvorov. St. Petersburg

29 gr. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky Petr Alexandrovich (1725-1796) since 1770
Portrait of the work of unknown. artist. 1770s State Historical Museum.

30 gr. Chernyshev Zakhar Grigorievich (1722-1784) since 1773
Copy from a portrait by A. Roslen. 1776 State. military history. museum of A.V. Suvorov. St. Petersburg

31 lgr. Ludwig IX of Hesse-Darmstadt (1719-1790) from 1774. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.
Portrait of the work of unknown. artist ser. XVIII century. Museum of History. Strasbourg.

32 St. book. Potemkin-Tavrichesky Grigory Alexandrovich (1736-1791) from 1784
Portrait of the work of unknown. artist. 1780s State Historical Museum.

33 books Suvorov-Rymniksky Alexander Vasilievich (1730-1800), from 1794, Generalissimo from 1799
Portrait of the work of unknown. artist (Levitsky type). 1780s State Historical Museum.

34 St. book. Saltykov Nikolay Ivanovich (1736-1816) from 1796
Portrait by M. Kvadal. 1807 State Hermitage.

35 books Repnin Nikolai Vasilievich (1734-1801) from 1796
Portrait of the work of unknown. artist con. XVIII century. State Historical Museum.

36 gr. Chernyshev Ivan Grigorievich (1726-1797), Field Marshal General in the Navy from 1796
Portrait by D. Levitsky. 1790s. Pavlovsk Palace.

37 gr. Saltykov Ivan Petrovich (1730-1805) from 1796
Miniature by A.Kh. Ritt. end of the 18th century. State Hermitage. St. Petersburg

38 gr. Elmpt Ivan Karpovich (1725-1802) from 1797
Tyulev's lithograph from unknown. 18th century original. The source is the book of Bantysh-Kamensky "Biographies of Russian Generalissimos and Field Marshals" 1840.

39 gr. Musin-Pushkin Valentin Platonovich (1735-1804) from 1797
Portrait by D. Levitsky. 1790s

40 gr. Kamensky Mikhail Fedotovich (1738-1809) from 1797
Portrait of the work of unknown. artist con. XVIII century. State. military history. museum of A.V. Suvorov. St. Petersburg

41st de Broglie Victor Francis (1718-1804), from 1797 Marshal of France from 1759
Portrait of the work of unknown. fr. artist con. XVIII century. Museum "House of the Invalides" Paris.

Field Marshal Generals granted the rank by Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I.

42 gr. Gudovich Ivan Vasilyevich (1741-1820) since 1807
Portrait by Breze. Source N. Schilder's book "Emperor Alexander I" v.3

43 books. Prozorovsky Alexander Alexandrovich (1732-1809) since 1807
Portrait of the work of unknown. artist of the end of the XVIII - beginning of the XIX century.

44 St. book. Golenishchev-Kutuzov-Smolensky Mikhail Illarionovich (1745-1813) from 1812
Miniature by K. Rosentretter. 1811-1812 State Hermitage. St. Petersburg

45 books Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich (1761-1818) from 1814
Copy of unknown artist from the original Zenf 1816 State Museum. Pushkin. Moscow.

46 grts Wellington Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852) from 1818 British field marshal from 1813. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.
Portrait by T. Lawrence. 1814

47 St. book. Wittgenstein Peter Khristianovich (1768-1843) from 1826

48 books Osten-Saken Fabian Wilhelmovich (1752-1837) from 1826
Portrait by J. Doe. 1820s Military gallery of the Winter Palace. St. Petersburg

49 gr. Dibich-Zabalkansky Ivan Ivanovich (1785-1831) from 1829
Portrait by J. Doe. 1820s Military gallery of the Winter Palace. St. Petersburg

50 St. book. Paskevich-Erivansky-Varshavsky Ivan Fedorovich (1782-1856) since 1829
Miniature of S. Marshalkevich from the portrait of F. Kruger, 1834 State Hermitage Museum. St. Petersburg

51 arch. Johann of Austria (1782-1859) since 1837 Austrian field marshal since 1836. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.
Portrait by L. Kupelweiser. 1840 Schenna Castle. Austria.

52 gr. Radetzky Josef-Wentzel (1766-1858) since 1849. Austrian field marshal since 1836. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.
Portrait by J. Decker. 1850 Military Museum. Vein.

53 St. book. Volkonsky Petr Mikhailovich (1776-1852) from 1850
Portrait by J. Doe. 1820s Military gallery of the Winter Palace. St. Petersburg

The last 13 people were granted the rank of Field Marshal by Emperors Alexander II and Nicholas II (there were no awards under Emperor Alexander III).

54 St. book. Vorontsov Mikhail Semyonovich (1782-1856) since 1856

55 books Baryatinsky Alexander Ivanovich (1815-1879) from 1859

56 gr. Berg Fedor Fedorovich (1794-1874) since 1865

57 Archgritz Albrecht of Austria-Teschen (1817-1895) from 1872, Field Marshal of Austria from 1863. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.

58 Ave. Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia (Frederick III, imp. of Germany) (1831-1888) from 1872, Prussian Field Marshal General from 1870. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.

59 gr. von Moltke Helmut Karl Bernhard (1800-1891) from 1872, Field Marshal General of Germany from 1871. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.

60 Ave. Albert of Saxony (Albert I, correspondent of Saxony) (1828-1902) from 1872, Field Marshal General of Germany from 1871. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.

61 led. book. Nikolai Nikolaevich (1831-1891) since 1878

62 led. book. Mikhail Nikolaevich (1832-1909) since 1878

63 Gurko Joseph Vladimirovich (1828-1901) since 1894

64 gr. Milyutin Dmitry Alekseevich (1816-1912) from 1898

65 Nicholas I, King of Montenegro (1841-1921) since 1910. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.

66 Karol I, King of Romania (1839-1914) since 1912. He was not in the Russian service, he received the rank as an honorary title.

In 1686, the embassy of the Commonwealth arrived in Moscow to conclude a peace treaty. The four members of the Russian embassy included the boyar Sheremetev. Under the terms of the agreement, Kyiv, Smolensk, Left-bank Ukraine, Zaporozhye and Seversk land with Chernigov and Starodub were finally assigned to Russia. The treaty also served as the basis for the Russian-Polish alliance in the Great Northern War. As a reward for the successful conclusion of "Eternal Peace", Boris Petrovich was granted a silver bowl, a satin caftan and 4,000 rubles. In the summer of the same year, Sheremetev went with the Russian embassy to Poland to ratify the treaty, and then to Vienna to conclude a military alliance against the Turks. However, the Austrian emperor Leopold I decided not to burden himself with allied obligations, the negotiations did not lead to the desired results.

After returning, Boris Petrovich is appointed governor in Belgorod. In 1688, he took part in the Crimean campaign of Prince V.V. Golitsyn. However, the first combat experience of the future field marshal was unsuccessful. In the battles in the Black and Green valleys, the detachment under his command was crushed by the Tatars.

In the struggle for power between Peter and Sofia, Sheremetev took the side of Peter, but for many years he was not called to the court, remaining the Belgorod governor. In the first Azov campaign in 1695, he participated in a theater of operations remote from Azov, commanding troops that were supposed to divert Turkey's attention from the main direction of the offensive of Russian troops. Peter I instructed Sheremetev to form an army of 120,000, which was supposed to go to the lower reaches of the Dnieper and tie down the actions of the Crimean Tatars. In the first year of the war, after a long siege, four fortified Turkish cities surrendered to Sheremetev (including Kizy-Kermen on the Dnieper). However, he did not reach the Crimea and returned with troops to Ukraine, although almost the entire Tatar army at that time was near Azov. With the end of the Azov campaigns in 1696, Sheremetev returned to Belgorod.

In 1697, the Great Embassy headed by Peter I went to Europe. Sheremetev was also part of the embassy. From the king, he received messages to Emperor Leopold I, Pope Innocent XII, Doge of Venice and Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The purpose of the visits was to conclude an anti-Turkish alliance, but it was not successful. At the same time, Boris Petrovich was given high honors. So, the master of the order laid the Maltese commander's cross on him, thereby accepting him as a knight. In the history of Russia, this was the first time that a Russian was awarded a foreign order.

By the end of the XVII century. Sweden has become very powerful. The Western powers, rightly fearing her aggressive aspirations, were willing to conclude an alliance against her. In addition to Russia, the anti-Swedish alliance included Denmark and Saxony. Such a balance of power meant a sharp turn in Russia's foreign policy - instead of a struggle for access to the Black Sea, there was a struggle for the Baltic coast and for the return of lands torn off by Sweden at the beginning of the 17th century. In the summer of 1699, the Northern Union was concluded in Moscow.

Ingria (the coast of the Gulf of Finland) was to become the main theater of operations. The primary task was to capture the fortress of Narva (Old Russian Rugodev) and the entire course of the Narova River. Boris Petrovich is entrusted with the formation of regiments of the noble militia. In September 1700, with a 6,000-strong detachment of noble cavalry, Sheremetev reached Wesenberg, but, without engaging in battle, retreated to the main Russian forces near Narva. The Swedish king Charles XII with 30,000 troops approached the fortress in November. November 19, the Swedes launched an offensive. Their attack was unexpected for the Russians. At the very beginning of the battle, foreigners who were in the Russian service went over to the side of the enemy. Only the Semyonovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments held out stubbornly for several hours. Sheremetev's cavalry was crushed by the Swedes. In the battle near Narva, the Russian army lost up to 6 thousand people and 145 guns. The losses of the Swedes amounted to 2 thousand people.

After this battle, Charles XII directed all his efforts against Saxony, considering it his main enemy (Denmark was withdrawn from the war as early as the beginning of 1700). The corps of General V.A. was left in the Baltic states. Schlippenbach, who was entrusted with the defense of the border regions, as well as the capture of Gdov, Pechory, and in the future - Pskov and Novgorod. The Swedish king had a low opinion of the combat effectiveness of the Russian regiments and did not consider it necessary to keep a large number of troops against them.

In June 1701, Boris Petrovich was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Baltic. The king ordered him, without getting involved in major battles, to send cavalry detachments to the areas occupied by the enemy in order to destroy the food and fodder of the Swedes, to accustom the troops to fight with a trained enemy. In November 1701, a campaign was announced in Livonia. And already in December, the troops under the command of Sheremetev won the first victory over the Swedes at Erestfer. 10,000 cavalry and 8,000 infantry with 16 guns acted against the 7,000-strong Schlippenbach detachment. Initially, the battle was not entirely successful for the Russians, since only dragoons participated in it. Finding themselves without the support of infantry and artillery, which did not arrive in time for the battlefield, the dragoon regiments were scattered by enemy grapeshot. However, the approaching infantry and artillery dramatically changed the course of the battle. After a 5-hour battle, the Swedes began to flee. In the hands of the Russians were 150 prisoners, 16 guns, as well as food and fodder. Assessing the significance of this victory, the tsar wrote: "We have reached the point that we can defeat the Swedes; while two against one fought, but soon we will begin to defeat them in equal numbers."

For this victory, Sheremetev is awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called with a gold chain and diamonds and is promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. In June 1702, he already defeated the main forces of Schlippenbach at Hummelshof. As in the case of Erestfer, the Swedish cavalry, unable to withstand the pressure, took to flight, upsetting the ranks of their own infantry, dooming them to destruction. The success of the field marshal is again noted by Peter: "We are very grateful for your labors." In the same year, the fortresses of Marienburg and Noteburg (ancient Russian Oreshek) were taken, and the following year, Nienschanz, Yamburg, and others. Livonia and Ingria were completely in the hands of the Russians. In Estonia, Wesenberg was taken by storm, and then (in 1704) Dorpat. The tsar deservedly recognized Boris Petrovich as the first winner of the Swedes.

In the summer of 1705, an uprising broke out in southern Russia, in Astrakhan, led by archers, who were sent there for the most part after the streltsy riots in Moscow and other cities. Sheremetev is sent to suppress the uprising. In March 1706, his troops approached the city. After the bombing of Astrakhan, the archers surrendered. "For which your work," the king wrote, "the Lord God will pay you, and we will not leave." Sheremetev was the first in Russia to be granted the title of count, he received 2400 households and 7 thousand rubles.

At the end of 1706, Boris Petrovich again took command of the troops operating against the Swedes. The tactics of the Russians, who were expecting a Swedish invasion, boiled down to the following: without accepting a general battle, retreat into the depths of Russia, acting on the flanks and behind enemy lines. Charles XII by this time managed to deprive Augustus II of the Polish crown and put it on his protege Stanislav Leshchinsky, and also to force Augustus to break allied relations with Russia. In December 1707 Charles left Saxony. The Russian army of up to 60 thousand people, commanded by the tsar to Sheremetev, retreated to the east.

From the beginning of April 1709, the attention of Charles XII was riveted to Poltava. The capture of this fortress made it possible to stabilize communications with the Crimea and Poland, where there were significant forces of the Swedes. And besides, the road from the south to Moscow would be opened to the king. The tsar ordered Boris Petrovich to move to Poltava to join up with the troops of A.D. Menshikov and thereby deprive the Swedes of the opportunity to break the Russian troops in parts. At the end of May, Sheremetev arrived near Poltava and immediately assumed the duties of commander in chief. But during the battle, he was the commander-in-chief only formally, while the king led all the actions. Driving around the troops before the battle, Peter turned to Sheremetev: "Mr. Field Marshal! I entrust my army to you and I hope that in commanding it you will act according to the instructions given to you ...". Sheremetev did not take an active part in the battle, but the tsar was pleased with the actions of the field marshal: Boris Petrovich was the first in the award list of senior officers.

In July, he was sent by the king to the Baltic at the head of the infantry and a small detachment of cavalry. The immediate task is the capture of Riga, under the walls of which the troops arrived in October. The tsar instructed Sheremetev to capture Riga not by storm, but by siege, believing that victory would be achieved at the cost of minimal losses. But the raging plague epidemic claimed the lives of almost 10 thousand Russian soldiers. Nevertheless, the bombing of the city did not stop. The capitulation of Riga was signed on July 4, 1710.

In December 1710, Turkey declared war on Russia, and Peter ordered the troops stationed in the Baltic to move south. A poorly prepared campaign, lack of food and inconsistency in the actions of the Russian command put the army in a difficult situation. Russian regiments were surrounded in the area of ​​the river. The Prut, which many times outnumbered the Turkish-Tatar troops. However, the Turks did not impose a general battle on the Russians, and on July 12 a peace was signed, according to which Azov returned to Turkey. As a guarantee of the fulfillment of obligations by Russia, Chancellor P.P. was held hostage by the Turks. Shafirov and son B.P. Sheremeteva Mikhail.

Upon returning from the Prut campaign, Boris Petrovich commands troops in Ukraine and Poland. In 1714 the tsar sent Sheremetev to Pomerania. Gradually, the tsar began to lose confidence in the field marshal, suspecting him of sympathy for Tsarevich Alexei. 127 people signed the death sentence for Peter's son. Sheremetev's signature was missing.

In December 1716 he was released from command of the army. The field marshal asked the king to give him a position more suitable for his age. Peter wanted to appoint him governor-general of the lands in Estonia, Livonia and Ingria. But the appointment did not take place: on February 17, 1719, Boris Petrovich died.

Author - Bo4kaMeda . This is a quote from this post.

Brought up in battles, in the midst of abusive bad weather | Portraits of Field Marshals of the Russian Army

Russian Army

You are immortal forever, O Russian giants,
In battles, they were brought up in the midst of abusive bad weather!
A. S. Pushkin, "Memories in Tsarskoye Selo"

“In their gigantic millennial work, the creators of Russia relied on three great foundations - the spiritual power of the Orthodox Church, the creative genius of the Russian People and the valor of the Russian Army.”
Anton Antonovich Kersnovsky

His Serene Highness Prince Pyotr Mikhailovich Volkonsky. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1850

In battle and battle, the soldier wins, but it is known that the mass of even excellently trained fighters is worth little if it does not have a worthy commander. Russia, having shown the world an amazing type of ordinary soldier, whose fighting and moral qualities have become a legend, has also given birth to many first-class military leaders. The battles fought by Alexander Menshikov and Pyotr Lassi, Pyotr Saltykov and Pyotr Rumyantsev, Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kutuzov, Ivan Paskevich and Iosif Gurko entered the annals of military art, they were studied and are being studied in military academies all over the world.

Field Marshal General - the highest military rank in Russia from 1700 to 1917. (The Generalissimo was outside the system of officer ranks. Therefore, the field marshal general was actually the highest military rank.) According to the "Table of Ranks" of Peter I, this is an army rank of the 1st class, corresponding to the general admiral in the navy, the chancellor and the actual privy councilor of the 1st class in civilian service. In the military regulations, Peter retained the rank of generalissimo, but he himself did not assign it to anyone, since “this rank only belongs to the crowned heads and great sovereign princes, and especially to the one whose army is. In his non-existence, he gives command over the entire army to his general field marshal.

His Serene Highness Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov (the one whose wife Pushkin molested). The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1856

His Serene Highness Prince Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1929

Count Ivan Ivanovich Dibich-Zabalkansky (a native of Prussia in the Russian service). The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1729.

His Serene Highness Prince Peter Khristianovich Wittgenstein (Ludwig Adolf Peter zu Sein-Wittgenstein). The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1826

Prince Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly. The title of Field Marshal was awarded in 1814

1812 - Most Serene Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov Smolensky. Promoted to Field Marshal 4 days after the Battle of Borodino.

Count Valentin Platonovich Musin-Pushkin. A courtier and a very mediocre commander, whom Catherine II favored for her zeal in enthroning her. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1797.

Count Ivan Petrovich Saltykov. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1796

Count Ivan Petrovich Saltykov.

Count Ivan Grigoryevich Chernyshev - Field Marshal General for the Navy (this is a strange title, awarded in 1796, Paul I came up with for him in order not to give the rank of Admiral General). He was more of a courtier than a soldier.

Prince Nikolai Vasilyevich Repnin. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1796

His Serene Highness Prince Nikolai Ivanovich Saltykov. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1796

Prince Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1794. Five years later, in 1799, he received the title of Generalissimo.

His Serene Highness Prince Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin-Tavrichesky. The title of Field Marshal was awarded in 1784

Count Zakhar Grigorievich Chernyshev. The title of Field Marshal was awarded in 1773

Count Zakhar Grigorievich Chernyshev.

Count Pyotr Alexandrovich Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky. The title of Field Marshal was awarded in 1770

Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Golitsyn. The title of Field Marshal was awarded in 1769

Count Kirill Grigoryevich Razumovsky, the last hetman of the Zaporizhia Army from 1750 to 1764. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1764

Count Alexei Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin. In 1744-1758 - state chancellor. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1762.

Count Alexei Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin.

Duke Peter August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sondergburg-Beck. Quite a "career" general in the Russian service. Governor-General of St. Petersburg from 1761 to 1762. The title of Field Marshal was awarded in 1762

Count Pyotr Ivanovich Shuvalov (Mosaic portrait, workshop of M.V. Lomonosov). The title of Field Marshal was awarded in 1761

Count Pyotr Ivanovich Shuvalov

Count Alexander Ivanovich Shuvalov. The title of Field Marshal was awarded in 1761

Stepan Fyodorovich Apraksin. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1756.

Count Alexei Grigorievich Razumovsky. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1756.

Count Alexander Borisovich Buturlin. Better known as the Moscow mayor. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1756.

Prince Nikita Yurievich Trubetskoy. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1756.

Pyotr Petrovich Lassi. Irish in the Russian service. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1736.

Pyotr Petrovich Lassi.

Count Burchard Christopher Munnich. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1732.

Count Burchard Christopher Munnich.

Prince Ivan Yurievich Trubetskoy. The last boyar in Russian history. The rank of Field Marshal was awarded in 1728.