The conqueror of Napoleon. Reflections on the new biography of M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov
Zemtzov Vladimir
The personality of M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, the victor over Napoleon in 1812, has caused and continues to cause heated debate for over 200 years. The new biography of M. I. Kutuzov, proposed by A. G. Vlasenko and based on an extensive set of documents, many of which are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, is intended to sum up some of these debates. The author's focus was primarily on the history of two wars - 1805 and 1812, and the personalities of two commanders - Kutuzov and Napoleon. Consistently revealing the course of the 1805 campaign, A. G. Vlasenko questioned a number of established stereotypes regarding the Battle of Schöngraben, the position of Alexander I and the position of M. I. Kutuzov regarding the readiness of both to go to the general battle of Austerlitz, and the nature of Napoleon's planning of actions during this battle. Overall, the events of 1805 played a major role in how Alexander I and M.I. Kutuzov would act in 1812. At the same time, the events of the 1812 campaign are also presented in a debatable manner, which, in turn, give rise to the controversy of a number of the author's statements – about the reasons for Napoleon's movement to Smolensk along the southern bank of the Dnieper, the purposes of the construction of the Shevardino redoubt by the Russians, the nature of the assessments of the disposition of Russian troops at Borodino, the actions of M. I. Kutuzov during his contacts with J. A. B. Lauriston and, in particular, explaining the actions of the opponents during the battles on the Berezina. The idealization of the personality and actions of M. I. Kutuzov, initially set by the author, is striking, due to which the genius of Napoleon by definition pales in comparison with the greatness of the merits of the Russian military leader. In general, the work of A. G. Vlasenko will become a noticeable stage in understanding the key events of the era of the Napoleonic wars, the role of Russia and, above all, M. I. Kutuzov in the final outcome of the great confrontation at the turn of the 18th–19th centuries.
The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation, project № 25–18–00510.