Alexander Prozorovsky
Encyclopedia
Prince Alexander Alexandrovich Prozorovsky (1732–1809) was the only Field Marshal
from the Prozorovsky family
.
He gained distinction in the Seven Years' War
and the conquest of Crimea
. Prozorovsky's career was furthered by his maternal Galitzine
relatives, who helped him to get appointed to the office of Kursk
's governor in 1780. He resigned two years later and spent the following years at his country estates.
In 1790 he returned to the active service as the Governor General of Moscow
. Emperor Paul, however, couldn't get along with him and discharged Prozorovsky from his office. His ancient services were recalled in 1808, when the Russian army resumed its hostilities against Turkey
, and Prozorovsky became its Commander-in-Chief.
His reputation suffered a blow when his storm of Brailov
ended in his army being repelled at enormous loss of life on Russian side. The old and ailing general asked Alexander I
to dispatch a younger and more energetic Mikhail Kutuzov to his aid.
Two months later, when Prozorovsky's army was crossing the Danube
, the Field-Marshal died. His body was transported to St Petersburg and interred in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
from the Prozorovsky family
Prozorovsky
Princes Prozorovsky were a Russian noble family of Rurikid stock descending from medieval rulers of Yaroslavl and Mologa. Their name is derived from the village of Prozorovo near Mologa, which used to be their only votchina in the 15th century...
.
He gained distinction in the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
and the conquest of Crimea
Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774
The Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 was a decisive conflict that brought Southern Ukraine, Northern Caucasus, and Crimea within the orbit of the Russian Empire.-Background:...
. Prozorovsky's career was furthered by his maternal Galitzine
Galitzine
For Orthodox clergyman and theologian, see Alexander Golitzin.The Galitzines are one of the largest and noblest princely houses of Russia. Since the extinction of the Korecki family in the 17th century, the Golitsyns have claimed dynastic seniority in the House of Gediminas...
relatives, who helped him to get appointed to the office of Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
's governor in 1780. He resigned two years later and spent the following years at his country estates.
In 1790 he returned to the active service as the Governor General of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Emperor Paul, however, couldn't get along with him and discharged Prozorovsky from his office. His ancient services were recalled in 1808, when the Russian army resumed its hostilities against Turkey
Russo-Turkish War, 1806-1812
The Russo-Turkish War was one of many wars fought between Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire.- Background :The war broke out in 1805–1806 against the background of the Napoleonic Wars...
, and Prozorovsky became its Commander-in-Chief.
His reputation suffered a blow when his storm of Brailov
Braila
Brăila is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County, in the close vicinity of Galaţi.According to the 2002 Romanian census there were 216,292 people living within the city of Brăila, making it the 10th most populous city in Romania.-History:A...
ended in his army being repelled at enormous loss of life on Russian side. The old and ailing general asked Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
to dispatch a younger and more energetic Mikhail Kutuzov to his aid.
Two months later, when Prozorovsky's army was crossing the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, the Field-Marshal died. His body was transported to St Petersburg and interred in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra or Saint Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded by Peter I of Russia in 1710 at the eastern end of the Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg supposing that that was the site of the Neva Battle in 1240 when Alexander Nevsky, a prince, defeated the Swedes; however, the battle...
.