Peter I. Bagration

Peter I. Bagration ( 1765-1812), Infantry General of Russian army, hero of Russian Patriotic War of 1812, descendant of Georgian King Vakhtang VI, born in Kizlyar (modern Dagestan), where in 1759 his grandfather Alexandre settled down. In 1782 Peter Bagration enrolled in the army. He served in the troops deployed in the Caucasus; participated in the Russian-Turkish War (1787-91) and Russian Campaign against Poland (1793-94). In 1798 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and was appointed the Commander of the Ustyug Regiment of Chasseurs (later on the regiment was posthumously named after him). In 1799, in the rank of Major General, P. Bagration took part in A. Suvorov’s March to Italy and Switzerland; he headed the avantgarde and showed valor in all fights. In the battle at Schongrabern village during the war against France (1805-1807), he saved the Russian troops from encirclement and was awarded the rank of Lieutenant General. He demonstrated the features of an outstanding commander and warrior in the battles of Austerlitz, Preussisch-Aylau and Friedland. In 1808-1809 he fought in the war with Sweden; commanded army division. During the Russian-Turkish War (1806-1812), P. Bagration served as a Commander of Moldavian Army, Podolsk Army and 2nd Western Army. He proved himself as a courageous and clever commander in the 1812 Patriotic War. In the Borodino battle he commanded the left wing of the Russian Army, which faced the main attack of the French troops. He repelled seven enemy attacks but was badly wounded and died in Sim village of Vladimir Province. He was buried in the same village.

In 1839 Peter Bagration’s body was reburied on the Borodino field.