Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul facts for kids

A portrait of Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul.

Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul (born 1590, died 1663) was a brave Scottish soldier. He served in the armies of Sweden and Russia. He became Russia's first General and helped to modernize their army. He worked with a Russian noble named Boris Morozov to do this.

Alexander was born in Scotland, in a family called the Leslies. His father was William Leslie, the third laird of Crichie. In 1618, he was an officer working for Poland. He was captured by the Russians but later set free. He owned a manor called Gerchikovo and was a governor (called a voivode) of Smolensk.

A Life in the Military

Serving Kings and Tsars

In 1629, Alexander Leslie was a colonel in the Swedish army. The Swedish King, Gustav II Adolf, sent him on a special trip to Moscow. There, Alexander decided to join the Russian Tsar's army. In January 1630, he officially asked King Michael I of Russia for military service in Russia. By March 1630, he was a Colonel in the Russian army.

In April 1631, Leslie went back to Sweden. He told King Gustav Adolf that a war between Russia and Poland was about to begin. Later in 1631, he helped recruit thousands of soldiers from Western countries, including Scotland. He also helped set up the first Russian army units that were organized and armed like Western armies. These were called "foreign order regiments."

Alexander Leslie became a Russian General. He led Russian forces during the Siege of Smolensk (1654). This was an important battle in the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667). After this war, Leslie traveled abroad. In March 1637, King Charles I of England wrote a letter to the Russian Tsar, Mikhail Fyodorovich. The letter supported Leslie, who was returning to Britain for personal reasons. King Charles I praised Leslie and said he was happy that a Scottish subject had achieved such a high rank in Russia.

The Civil War in Scotland

Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul also fought in the Civil War in Scotland. He fought for the Montrosians, who supported King Charles I. He was captured at the Battle of Philiphaugh.

However, he was treated more kindly than other prisoners. This was thanks to Lieutenant General David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark, who spoke up for him. Most other prisoners were executed after the battle, but Alexander Leslie was spared. He was banished from Scotland for the rest of his life.

Return to Russia

After being banished, Alexander Leslie returned to Russia. He had a recommendation from King Charles I. He settled in Russia in 1647. In September 1652, he converted to the Orthodox Christian faith. After this, he received a large sum of money, 23,000 silver rubles. During an earlier battle, the Siege of Smolensk (1609–11), his regiment was the only one that managed to leave the battle with their flags and weapons.

Family Life

Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul, the General and governor of Smolensk, had three sons:

• Alexander (also a Colonel)
• Yakov-John
• Fedor-Theodore (died 1695), who became a Colonel and commander of the Belgorodski Regiment.

One of his sons, John Leslie of Balquhain, was a Scottish cavalry colonel in the Russian army. He was killed during the storming of Igolwitz castle on August 30, 1655. John Leslie married the daughter of a Colonel Crawford in Russia.

See Also

• Clan Leslie
• Leslie baronets
• Leslie of Smolensk
• Scotland and the Thirty Years' War