Alexander Rodzyanko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Rodzyanko
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| Born | 26 August 1879 Russian Empire |
| Died | 6 May 1970 (aged 90) New York City, United States |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Service/ |
Imperial Russian Army White Movement (Northwestern Army) |
| Years of service | 1897–1920 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | World War I Russian Civil War Estonian War of Independence |
| Awards | Order of Saint Vladimir Order of Saint Anna Order of Saint Stanislaus Cross «13 may 1919» |
Alexander Pavlovich Rodzyanko (Russian: Александр Павлович Родзянко) was a brave officer in the Imperial Russian Army during World War I. He later became a top leader, a lieutenant-general, in the White Army during the Russian Civil War. He was also an amazing horse rider who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.
Contents
About Alexander Rodzyanko
Early Life and Family Background
Alexander Rodzyanko was born on August 26, 1879. He came from an old Ukrainian noble family. His father, Pavel Rodzyanko, owned a lot of land. His uncle, Mikhail Rodzianko, was a very important person. He led the State Duma, which was like a parliament, from 1911 to 1917.
Education and Horse Riding Skills
Alexander went to a special military school called the Page Corps in Russia. He also studied at a famous cavalry (horse riding) school in Saumur, France, called the Cadre Noir. After that, he joined an elite Russian army group known as the Chevalier Guard regiment.
He was an excellent horse rider. He even spent a year studying at a cavalry school in Italy. There, he learned from Captain Federico Caprilli, who was known for creating a new, modern way of riding horses.
Olympic Games and Competitions
Alexander was a very talented equestrian sportsman. In 1911, he won the King Edward VII Cup in London. The next year, in 1912, he competed for Russia at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. His team placed fifth in the jumping event. Much of what we know about his horse riding career was shared by Max E. Amman, who was the secretary of the FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports).
Military Career in World War I
In 1912, Alexander Rodzyanko became a Colonel. He then took part in World War I. In 1914, he was sent to the front lines. He served in different Cossack regiments and led the 16th Don regiment. He also worked with the 8th Army.
From May 1916, he was in charge of the Cavalry Officers School. This school trained officers to ride and fight with horses. In 1917, he led the soldiers in Riga for a short time. Later that year, his cavalry division was disbanded, and he was held by the Germans.
Role in the Russian Civil War
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russia changed a lot. Alexander Rodzyanko tried to get help from Britain for those who were against the new government. In 1918, he lived in Riga and got help from Germany to gather volunteers for anti-Bolshevik groups.
In 1919, General Nikolay Yudenich made Rodzyanko his assistant. Rodzyanko was then the commander of the Northern Corps of the White Army. He led attacks against the Reds and took part in an attempt to capture Petrograd, which was not successful.
Life After the War
After the White Army was pushed back, General Yudenich sent Alexander Rodzyanko to England in November 1919. His mission was to find money to continue fighting against the Bolsheviks. However, he was not successful.
After this, he decided not to return to Estonia. Instead, he lived in the United Kingdom for a while and later moved to the United States. His brother, Pavel Rodzyanko, also moved to the United States after working as a horse riding instructor in Ireland.
Alexander Pavlovich Rodzyanko became the president of the Chevalier Guards association. He also wrote down his memories in a book. He passed away in New York City on May 6, 1970, at the age of 90. He is buried in the Novo-Diveevo cemetery in Nanuet, Rockland County, New York.
Honours and Awards
Alexander Rodzyanko received several important awards for his service:
- Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class with Swords (1913)
- Order of St. Anna, 3rd class (1913)
- Order of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd class (1913)
- Order of St. Anna, 4th class (1915)
He also received more than seven medals.
