Alexander Suvorov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov
Born	(1730-11-24)24 November 1730 Moscow, Moscow Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	18 May 1800(1800-05-18) (aged 69) Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Buried	Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Allegiance	Russian Empire  Holy Roman Empire
Service/branch	Imperial Russian Army
Years of service	1746–1800
Rank	Generalissimo
Battles/wars	Seven Years' War Battle of Kunersdorf Raid on Berlin Siege of Kolberg War of the Bar Confederation Battle of Lanckorona Battle of Stołowicze First Russo-Turkish War Battle of Kozludzha Second Russo-Turkish War Battle of Kinburn Siege of Ochakov Battle of Focșani Battle of Rymnik Siege of Izmail Kościuszko Uprising Battle of Brest Battle of Maciejowice Battle of Praga War of the Second Coalition Battle of Trebbia Battle of Novi Battle of Cassano Suvorov's Swiss expedition
Awards	Order of St. Andrew Order of St. George Order of St. Vladimir Order of St. Alexander Nevsky Order of St. Anna Order of the Black Eagle Order of the Red Eagle Order of the White Eagle Order of Sts. Maurice and Lazarus Order of St. John of Jerusalem Order of St. Hubert Order of St. Stanislaus Military Order of Maria Theresa Pour le Mérite

Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Суво́ров, r Aleksandr Vasil‘evich Suvorov; 24 November [O.S. 13 November] 1729 or 1730 – 18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1800) was a Russian military leader, considered a national hero. He was the Count of Rymnik, Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Prince of Italy, and the last Generalissimo of the Russian Empire.

Suvorov was born in Moscow in 1729. He studied military history as a young boy and joined the Imperial Russian Army at the age of 17. During the Seven Years' War he was promoted to colonel in 1762 for his success on the battlefield. When war broke out with the Bar Confederation in 1768, Suvorov captured Kraków and defeated the Poles at Lanckorona and Stołowicze, bringing about the start of the Partitions of Poland. He was promoted to general and next fought in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774, winning a decisive victory at the Battle of Kozludzha. Becoming the General of the Infantry in 1786, he commanded in the Russo–Turkish War of 1787–1792 and won crushing victories at the Battle of Rymnik and Siege of Izmail. For his accomplishments, he was made a Count of both the Russian Empire and Holy Roman Empire. Suvorov put down a Polish uprising in 1794, defeating them at the Battle of Maciejowice and storming Warsaw.

While a close associate of Empress Catherine the Great, Suvorov often quarreled with her son and heir apparent Paul. After Catherine died of a stroke in 1796, Paul I was crowned Emperor and dismissed Suvorov for disregarding his orders. However, he was forced to reinstate Suvorov and make him a field marshal at the insistence of the coalition allies for the French Revolutionary Wars. Suvorov was given command of the Austro-Russian army, captured Milan, and drove the French out of Italy at the Battles of Cassano d'Adda, Trebbia, and Novi. Suvorov was made a Prince of Italy for his deeds. Afterwards he became surrounded in the Swiss Alps by the French after a Russian army he was supposed to unite with was routed before he could arrive. Suvorov led the strategic withdrawal of Russian troops while fighting off the four times as large French forces and returned to Russia with minimal casualties, for which he became the fourth Generalissimo of Russia. He died in 1800 of illness in Saint Petersburg.

Suvorov is considered one of the greatest commanders in Russian history. He was awarded numerous medals, titles, and honors by Russia, as well as by other countries. Suvorov secured Russia's expanded borders and renewed military prestige and left a legacy of theories on warfare. He was famed for his military manual The Science of Victory and noted for several of his sayings. Several military academies, monuments, villages, museums, and orders are dedicated to him. He never lost a single major battle he had commanded.

Images for kids

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  Suvorov speaking with General Gannibal

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  Suvorov entering Warsaw in 1794

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  An exiled Suvorov receiving orders to lead the Russian Army against Napoleon

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  Suvorov in Milan, April 1799 by Adolf Charlemagne

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  Russian troops under Generalissimo Suvorov crossing the Alps in 1799 by Vasily Surikov

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  In 1792, Suvorov founded Tiraspol, today the capital city of Transnistria. An equestrian statue of Suvorov sits in the central square of the city.

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  A.V. Suvorov by Charles de Steuben

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  Suvorov monument in the Swiss Alps

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  Suvorov's tomb at Alexander Nevsky Lavra

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  Monument to Suvorov as youthful Mars, the Roman god of war, by Mikhail Kozlovsky in St. Petersburg (1801)

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  The Suvorov Museum

See also

• In Spanish: Aleksandr Suvórov