"Best Russian General of the Napoleonic Wars?" Topic

Who would you rate as the best?

Barclay de Tolly.

Barclay de Tolly

Must be an echo in here.

Barclay de Tolly

Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte was pretty helpful to the Russians ;)

Barclay de Tolly

Barclay, there were a few Division General who were good seems to me, one which didn't survive the war but escaping me now.

if one understands the political aspect of being a general: Kutuzov.

General of Infantry Mikhail Golenishchev-Kutuzov

Bagration

I suppose someone has to say @General Winter' – so I will!

B de T has my first vote.

Barclay de Tolly

I would have said Kutuzov by reflex but it was Barclay de Tolly who laid the ground work for Kutuzov, so my vote goes to Barclay de Tolly as well

Suvarov

Just to be controversial, Bennigsen because he held Napoleon to a draw at Eylau.

Barclay.

Suvarov

Suvarov here too

Suvarov! Barclay was good too but the Russians did not trust him like their did their "Father" who was one of the best commanders of his era. Sadly dumb Tsar Paul sacked him after the 1799 campaign in Switzerland. He died soon afterwards. Well so did Paul. ;)

Tormasov, to prove I've heard of him.

Tormasov did very very well with very few resources over very great distances.
Also Wittgenstein.
Nevorovskiy was quite good, even with not-so-great troops.
Bagration was very good in operationa movement and meeting engagements
Rayevskiy and Dokhturov earned their fame well, too.
And Kutusov did mange to win, in the end.
And indeed, Suvarov was a "father" of them all (except Wittgenstein) – the man who set the example for all the others.

But the best Russian general was the one whose troops – despite being a despicable rabble of unreliable semi-barbarians – changed the very nature of war-fighting to a paradigm that insured their vistory …. the true "bringer of death" to the French, whose Kalmyk tribesmen were the first to water their ponies at Jardins Luxe. in Paris …. the Ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov

Neverovsky, thats who I was thinking of

Technically, Suvarov was not around for the Napoleon Wars.

If the question had been "Who was the Best Russian General during the Napoleonic Period, 1793-1815", then he would be the best (IMHO).

Barclay de Tolly

For sheer down and dirty fighting, I would have to say Bagration.

@andrew

You are correct. Suvarow is an anachronistic choice.

But the dates were NOT given and the French Rev period is often considered part of the Napoleonic wars so there! ROFL

Isn't history fun? ;)

Adding this in .. ok – if the Napoleonic Wars excludes the French Rev period .. then we should have a separate French Rev Wars forum ;)

As the Revolution period lead straight to the Napoleonic and a direct continuity it has to be same era.

Suvarov. He never lost.

Is'nt it Suvorov, not Suvarov.
He had only one normal Napoleonic big battle, having superiority in numbers, lost it at midday and was saved by Austrians.
But as partisan General against rebellions and Turks, yes, was very talented.

Yes, Suvorov. And he won the three day Battle of the Trebbia vs. MacDonald's superior forces. Russo-Austrian army. Unstoppable. The 1799 campaign in Italy saw his Russians and the Austrians beat three different French armies.

And yet they were strategically defeated and were forced to withdraw.

And without the Austrians Suvorov wouldn't have done so well.

Barclay not only outwitting Boney again and again, but also being one of the driving forces of publishing the so called yellow book – not even Suvorov comes close to him

Barclay not only outwitting Boney again and again…

And when did that supposedly happen?

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Barclay de Tolly

Tchaikovsky.