Field Marshal Christopher Antonovich Minich. Unified State Exam

In January 1742, Prince Yakov Shakhovsky announced to the arrested dignitaries of Anna Leopoldovna the decree of the new Empress Elizabeth Petrovna on deciding their fate. The condemned met their executor in different ways. Some, sobbing, hugged his knees, others moaned about their bitter fate. And only former Field Marshal Minikh moved towards Shakhovsky, fearlessly awaiting the verdict.

Shakhovskoy, who once served under the command of Minikh, recognized this brave look widely open eyes, “with which I had the opportunity repeatedly in dangerous battles with the enemy, apparently fumigated with gunpowder.”

Yes, Minich was a real daredevil and embodied the then widespread type of landsknecht, a mercenary who was ready to sell his sword to the devil. For him, nothing was sacred except ambition and, of course, money.

Mercenary, informer, engineer

Burchard Christopher Minich was born in the Duchy of Oldenburg in 1683. His father received the nobility after the birth of his son, which is why Minich himself, a commoner by birth, was always eager to prove his superiority to everyone. His father was a military engineer, a builder of dams and canals, and the capable Burchard followed the same path, having adopted considerable knowledge from his father. Over two decades of service, engineer Minich, like many other Landsknechts, changed five armies! His early biography woven from the wars in which he participated, and constant quarrels and duels with his colleagues. At the end of the 1710s, while serving in the Saxon army of Augustus II, he quarreled with his boss, Field Marshal Fleming, and decided to once again change the banner, for which he turned to Peter I, sending him his treatise on fortification.

This is where the Russian biography of Minich began. He was involved in the fortifications of Riga and Kronstadt, and from 1723, the construction of the Ladoga Canal. With the disgrace of Menshikov, Minich's main enemy, in 1727, the latter's career took off sharply: Minich became a count, governor-general of St. Petersburg, and received an estate in Livonia.

And with the beginning of the reign of Anna Ioannovna in 1730, a golden age began for Minich. He quickly became one of the most trusted dignitaries of the new empress. Minikh not only swore in the new empress, Petersburg, entrusted to him, but also denounced Admiral Peter Sivers, who, during the days of Anna Ioannovna’s election to the throne, showed a clear preference for the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth. According to Minich's denunciation, Sievers was stripped of all titles and orders and went into exile for ten years.

There is no doubt that Minich was a good engineer. He successfully completed and opened the Ladoga Canal. It is noteworthy that he not only did his job well, but knew how to present it even better.

Minich inflated such a hype around his success that propagandists of later times might envy him. He personally carried foreign envoys along the canal “to inspect the great and very handsome work there.” In 1732, he even lured Anna Ioannovna, who was not a great travel enthusiast, to the canal. At the same time, he became the head of the military department and received the rank of field marshal.

Charming and deceitful

It would be a mistake to imagine Minich as a rude martinet. The letters he left behind speak of the sophistication of his mind. Minich had a pompous, flowery style. In a letter to Catherine II, he wrote: “Go, high-spirited Empress, through all of Russia, all of Europe, both Indias, look for where you will find such a rare bird... But you will say: “Who is this such an extraordinary person?” How, most merciful Empress! This is the person whom you know better than others, who is constantly at your feet, to whom you extend your hand to lift him up..."

I think that these sublime formulas were tested by their author on many ladies, for which there is evidence. This is what Lady Rondeau wrote to her correspondent in England in 1735: “You say that you imagine him as an old man, whose appearance is characterized by all the rudeness of a soldier who has been in trouble.... He has Beautiful face, very white skinned, he is tall and slender, and all his movements are soft and graceful. He dances well, all his actions emanate youth, with the ladies he behaves like one of the most gallant gentlemen of this court and, being among representatives of our sex, radiates gaiety and tenderness."

Lady Rondo adds that Minich lacks a sense of proportion and seems very deceitful: “Sincerity is a quality with which, in my opinion, he is not familiar.”

This portrait cannot but be considered accurate. To deal with Minich, and especially to serve under his command, meant experiencing humiliation, knowing slander, and being drawn into endless intrigues. Bravery and determination, charm and courtesy were combined in him with incredible aplomb, narcissism, arrogance, arrogance and rudeness.

However, there were limits for Minich. They were installed by another, even more powerful person, whom everyone feared - the favorite of Empress Anna, Duke Biron. A jealous favorite, a purely civilian man, Biron was afraid of losing in Anna’s eyes to this warrior in shining armor. Therefore, the favorite tried to direct all the field marshal’s enormous energy in a different direction - he instructed him to fight on the borders of the empire, away from St. Petersburg.

Troublemaker and lucky

Sent to the Russian-Polish War of 1733-35, Minich then fought almost continuously with the Turks in the south. With his arrival in the army, such quarrels and scandals began among the generals that the Russian army had never known before or after Minich.

Minich had an amazing talent for making mortal enemies for himself: first he brought people closer to him, and then rudely insulted them. There was not a general in the army with whom Minich would not have quarreled. In 1736, a real conspiracy formed in the army against the field marshal, whom the enraged generals were ready to kill.

All this caused concern to the empress. She demanded that the diplomats urgently conclude peace with the Porte, and that the generals demand an end to the quarrel. Minich received the highest reprimand and calmed down a little.

Meanwhile, Minikh himself was a would-be commander. In his actions during the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739. you can see so much gross mistakes, ill-considered decisions, unjustified human losses!

But surprisingly, luck and happiness never left him! More than once he was saved from defeat by a lucky chance or fantastic luck. When he took the Turkish fortress of Ochakov, he was almost defeated. Attacked head-on by Russian regiments, the fortress successfully repelled the assault. Minich, seeing the death of a third of his army, was ready to fall into despair, when suddenly the main powder magazine in the fortress exploded and a monstrous explosion destroyed all the fortifications and half of the Turkish garrison.

Otherwise, Minikh acted like many Russian commanders - he ruined soldiers beyond measure, for which he received the nickname “Flayer” in the army.

With a scythe on his shoulder

In 1740 he finally tried to play a political role. After the death of Anna Ioannovna, he showed himself to be a supporter of the regent Biron, and then unexpectedly hatched a conspiracy and overthrew the temporary worker, arresting him in bed. He expected to take first place under ruler Anna Leopoldovna and receive the coveted rank of generalissimo. But the ruler, based on the principle “I love a traitor - I hate betrayal,” transferred this rank to her husband, Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick.

The disgruntled Minikh defiantly submitted his resignation, which Anna Leopoldovna, who had long suffered from Minikh’s exorbitant ambitions, immediately signed. So, unexpectedly for himself, the field marshal, full of strength and plans, turned out to be a pensioner.

But they were afraid of him: until Minikh moved from the palace where he lived to his own house, the ruler slept in different rooms every night, fearing that Minikh would do to her what he had previously done to Biron.

And then there was a coup in 1741, Elizaveta Petrovna came to power. The ruler's associates were arrested and sentenced to death, including Minich. When they were led to execution in January 1742, Minich behaved better than anyone: fit, clean-shaven, he walked calmly and had a friendly conversation about something with a security officer who may have once served under his command.

I especially emphasize that Minich was shaved, while all the other criminals had overgrown beards - which means that the guards gave the razor to Minich without fear that he, as happened with those sentenced to death, would commit suicide. The guards had no doubts - they knew that the brave warrior would meet death as it should, boldly and courageously. But Elizabeth pardoned Minich and exiled him to Siberia.

And then Shakhovskoy read the verdict. Minikh and his wife got into the sleigh, and they were taken to Siberia, into exile, to Pelym.

People behave differently in exile. Some become drunkards, others run wild, and others die of boredom. Not so Minich! In the difficult conditions of the polar Pelym, he showed courage and patience. He became interested in gardening, and when he got the opportunity to go outside the prison, he took up cattle breeding and field farming. During the long polar nights, by candlelight, the field marshal sorted and sorted seeds and knitted nets.

A lot of work awaited Minich in the barnyard, where he had cows and other animals. In the summer, the Pelym residents could see how Minikh, in a faded field marshal's uniform without insignia, with a scythe on his shoulder, went to the hayfield with the mowers he had hired.

When in the spring of 1762 the longed-for moment of freedom arrived and Minich returned to St. Petersburg, all his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who met the patriarch at the entrance to St. Petersburg, were shocked when a brave, tall old man, straight and cheerful, jumped out of a road caravan in a torn sheepskin coat. He, it seemed, as a contemporary wrote, “was not touched by decay, the upheavals of happiness.” Meanwhile, he was almost 80 years old!

Arriving from Siberia, Minich tried to again take a prominent place at court. It was he who, during the coup of Catherine II in June 1762, advised Peter III in Peterhof to mount a horse, go to St. Petersburg and personally suppress the rebellion. Where there! Peter III was a coward - he did not go himself and did not send Minich.

But in vain! Of course, the elderly field marshal would hardly have defeated the rebels in battle, but under the influence of his bizarre fortune some bridge could have collapsed or something could have fallen on top of the conspirators, and the history of Russia would have taken a different path. But that did not happen. Peter III was successfully overthrown, Catherine II reigned, and Minikh remained a useless old man.

He died in 1767, and we all often pass by the place where he was buried - the Church of St. Catherine on Nevsky Prospekt.

Source - Wikipedia

Burkhart Christopher von Minich German. Burkhard Christoph von Münnich

Minich in 1765
Date of birth: May 9, 1683
Birthplace Berne
Date of death October 16 (27), 1767 (age 84)
Place of death St. Petersburg
Affiliation France, Russian Empire
Years of service 1700-1762
Rank of Field Marshal
Commanded
President of the Military Collegium
Battles/wars
War of the Spanish Succession,
War of the Polish Succession,

Awards and prizes
Band to Order St Andr.png Band to Order St Alexander Nevsky.png Order of the White Eagle
Golden weapon "For bravery" with diamonds

Count Burkhard Christoph von Münnich (German: Burkhard Christoph von Münnich, in Russia was known as Christopher Antonovich Minich; May 9, 1683, Neuenhuntorf, Oldenburg - October 16 (27), 1767, St. Petersburg) - Russian field marshal general (1732), the most active period of which occurred during the reign of Anna Ioannovna, lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment (from 1739 for the victory over Turkey). Father of memoirist Johann Ernst Munnich.

early years
On origin and gender, see Miniha's article. The future field marshal was born in Oldenburg into a family of hereditary engineers involved in water communications. He received a thorough education, mastering the arts of engineering and drawing, mastered Latin and French, and also gained experience in the field of hydraulic engineering.

In the years 1700-1720 he served as an engineer in the French, Hesse-Darmstadt, Hesse-Kassel and Polish-Saxon armies. Under the banners of Prince Eugene of Savoy and the Duke of Marlborough, he participated in the War of the Spanish Succession and in a number of military campaigns in Europe, which gave him combat experience. In Germany he earned the rank of colonel, in Poland he received the rank of major general from Augustus II.

Companion of Peter I
In 1721, at the invitation of the Russian ambassador in Warsaw G. Dolgorukov, Minich arrived in Russia to conduct engineering affairs conceived by Peter I. When he presented the king with a drawing of the new fortification of Kronstadt, satisfied Peter said:

“Thanks to Dolgorukov, he brought me a skilled engineer and general.”

Minich's successful activities in arranging navigation on the Neva, laying roads, building the Baltic port, and constructing the first bypass Ladoga Canal in 1723-1728 brought him the deep respect of the tsar. In 1722 he was promoted to lieutenant general, in 1726, already under Catherine I, to general-in-chief, and was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

It was Minikh, as a talented hydraulic engineer, who proved the impossibility of establishing “water extravaganzas” in Strelna and convinced the tsar to move his country residence to Peterhof, since if the fountain complex was implemented in the Strelna residence, an area of ​​tens of square kilometers would be in danger of flooding.

After Peter's death, his successors Catherine I and Menshikov had no intention of canceling the results of his activities, but such an uncertain situation was created that Peter's decrees were no longer carried out, and Chief of Police Devier often made concessions in this matter. In the spring of 1725, a general flight of people from St. Petersburg began, belonging to any class, who sought to leave the capital for Moscow or the provinces. On February 24, 1728, the young Emperor Peter the Second (October 12, 1715 - January 19, 1730) was crowned in Moscow, and the day before the court moved to it. The emperor completely ceased to be interested in state affairs and led an idle life. No one was paid anything, and everyone stole as much as they could. Petersburg was deserted, and the question was even raised about whether it should remain the capital, since for four years there was no imperial court there.

Digging of the Ladoga Canal
In 1727, Emperor Peter II, who moved with his court to Moscow, appointed Minikh as ruler of St. Petersburg. From 1728 he was Count, Governor-General of Ingria, Karelia and Finland (until 1734).

At this time, he was conducting intensive construction in St. Petersburg, Vyborg and Kronstadt. By this time, Minich had shown himself to be an active, persistent and efficient administrator with very thorough knowledge in the field of hydraulic engineering and military affairs. The completion of work on the Ladoga Canal, which ensured safe navigation bypassing the stormy Lake Ladoga, was extremely great importance for the city’s economy, since it connected it with the central provinces of Russia and expanded the trade turnover of the port. As a result, prices for essential goods became acceptable to the majority of the population.

The beginning of regular sea communication with Europe was laid, and mail and passenger packet boats with a ticket price of 3 rubles began to depart from Kronstadt to Lubeck and Danzig. In the city, the construction of the Building of 12 Collegiums and the construction of stone bastions of the Peter and Paul Fortress were completed. Minich began to think about building a bridge to Stockholm. To revive public life in the capital and maintain its capital status, he often organized balls and gala dinners in his house. On special days - festivals, he held parades and reviews of troops and celebrations during the launching of ships.

Thanks to his energy, St. Petersburg retained its role as the most important Russian city until the actual return of its function as the capital of the state.

During the reign of Anna Ioannovna

On April 28, 1730, Anna Ioannovna (1693-1740), daughter of Peter the Great's brother Ioann Alekseevich, was crowned in Moscow. This event was celebrated in St. Petersburg, where after a gala dinner in Minich’s house in the evening, a fireworks display unprecedented even during Peter’s lifetime was arranged. A year later, Minich was summoned to Moscow, where he was tasked with preparing the St. Petersburg palaces for the return of the court. In the fall of 1731, the guard returned to St. Petersburg. On January 15, 1732, the empress returned to the city, whose official entry was organized with extreme pomp. At the same time, Minikh organized a re-enactment of the capture of the snow fortress on the ice of the Neva.

With the return of the courtyard, temporary desolation gave way to an influx of population, and a housing crisis even began in the city. Urban areas, previously occupied only by detached houses, began to be built up extremely quickly. The border line ran along what is now Zagorodny Prospekt, but beyond it, right up to Smolny and the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, construction was also underway. Minich undertook to drain a significant part of this area with his own funds on the terms of borrowed money and the eternal right to a tenth of the space made suitable for living. In a short time, a vast area on the mainland side of the city, now occupied by the city center, became suitable for development.

After the accession to the throne of Anna Ioannovna, Christopher Antonovich was granted the title of Field Marshal General, President of the Military Collegium, and on February 25 (March 7), 1732, Field Marshal General, in a short time (1730-1732). He was instructed to take measures to improve the plight of the Russian army. Taking up the matter energetically, Minikh put the army's finances in order and founded hospitals for the wounded and garrison schools within the army.

He formed two new guards regiment- Horse Guards and Izmailovsky, (named after the settlement of Izmailovo near Moscow, in which the Empress lived), carried out the reorganization of the guards and army regiments, reformed the Military Collegium; founded in St. Petersburg the first gentry cadet corps in Russia, “so that in it from four to five hundred young nobles and officers’ children could be educated and taught both physical and military exercises, as well as foreign languages, arts and sciences.” Since not all students had a penchant for military service, and the state “needs no less political and civic education“, it was supposed to teach history, geography, law, dancing, music and “other useful sciences.” Cadets had the right to attend lectures by academic professors in order to be able to enter the civil service, and professors and admirals of the Academy were involved in their examinations. Minich looked after the gentry corps for many years, being its chief in 1732-1741.

Minich drew up new states for the army, replacing the old “report card” of 1704, introduced a corps (12 regiments) of heavy cavalry (cuirassier) into the army, created the first regiments of hussars; equalized the salaries of natural Russian officers with invited foreign ones. He created a new branch of the military for Russia - sapper regiments and founded an Engineering School for officers. Under him, 50 fortresses were modernized or built. These and other transformations improved the condition of the Russian army.

Siege of Danzig by Field Marshal Munnich

In 1734, at the suggestion of the Empress's favorite, Duke Biron, Minich was sent to besiege Danzig (present-day Gdansk), where the French protege Stanislav Leszczynski was located. After bloody battles, Danzig was taken, but Minich received reproaches for the long siege and for allowing Leszczynski to escape from the city. Making excuses for his slowness, Minich wrote: “There were thirty thousand armed troops in Danzig, but I did not have even twenty thousand to wage a siege, and yet the encirclement line of the fortress extended for nine German miles” (1 German mile = 10 thousand steps, then there are approximately 8 kilometers). The protégé of Russia and Austria, Saxon Elector Augustus, was placed on the Polish throne.

Russo-Turkish War (1735-1739)
In 1735, it was decided to declare war on Turkey in response to the Crimean Tatars for raids on Russian lands. Minich's ebullient energy and his desire to raise his authority through military victories and surpass Osterman and Biron prompted him to accept the post of commander-in-chief in this war.

Having organized the siege of Azov and Ochakov in the first weeks of the war, the field marshal, at the head of an army of 50,000, moved towards Perekop to conquer Crimea. After a difficult month-long march, on May 21, his troops captured Perekop by storm and entered Crimea. As a result of a difficult and exhausting campaign, Gezlev (present-day Yevpatoria), Ak-Mosque and the capital of the Crimean Khanate, Bakhchisarai, were conquered from the Tatars.

The losses of the Russian army from the outbreak of an epidemic, the spread of diseases, and shortages of food and water were significant, and the field marshal had to turn back to Ukraine, but the path to Crimea was still paved for Russia.

Meanwhile, Field Marshal Peter Lassi captured Azov (June 1736). During the Crimean campaign, about half of the entire army of Minich was out of action (losses in battles did not exceed 2000 people), and the field marshal rejected St. Petersburg’s offer to go to Crimea a second time in the fall.

In 1737, Minikh undertook a new military campaign, this time across the Dnieper to Ochakov. After a stubborn and bloody assault, the fortress was taken (July 13), after an extremely effective action Russian artillery. Moreover, the field marshal set an example of personal courage, commanding a battalion of the Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment; he personally hoisted the guards banner on the main tower of the fortress. During the transition to Ochakov, the losses of Minich's army were great (about a third of the strength) - again due to widespread diseases, typhoid, plague, lack of food and fodder.

IN next year The commander-in-chief led the army to Bendery, but returned to the Southern Bug without reaching the goal, again due to epidemics. The huge losses in the army did not bother either Minich or St. Petersburg, which demanded military victories from the field marshal.

To ensure cooperation with the Austrian troops operating in Wallachia and Bosnia, the Russian commander-in-chief launched an offensive into Moldova at the beginning of 1739 and achieved a turning point in the war. In August, the Russian army defeated Turkish troops in the battle of Stavuchany near Khotyn. Here, a Turkish army of up to 90 thousand surrounded the Russian army. But Minich used a military trick, simulating an attack on the left flank, and then attacking the enemy with his main forces on the right. The Turkish army retreated across the Prut River in disarray; the losses of Minich's army amounted to 13 killed and 54 wounded. Two days later, the Turkish fortress of Khotyn capitulated, and soon most of Moldova was occupied. This victory was glorified by Lomonosov in his first ode, which is considered the first poetic experience in Russian literature.

The threat of attack from Sweden and the withdrawal of Russia's ally, Austria, from the war forced Anna Ioannovna to conclude the Peace of Belgrade with Turkey. This stopped the fighting impulse of the ambitious field marshal, who was preparing for new battles. His awards for his actions in the war were the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment (only the monarch had the right to bear the rank of colonel in this regiment) and a golden sword sprinkled with diamonds.

Overthrow of Biron's power
In 1740, after the death of Anna Ioannovna, according to her will, Duke Biron became regent under the young Emperor John Antonovich. Among the highest nobility, dissatisfaction with the regent was extremely great. On the night of November 8, 1740, Minich, who had once found Anna Leopoldovna in tears due to oppression by Biron and promised her support, ordered his adjutant Manstein, at the head of a team of 20 soldiers, to arrest Biron in his bedroom.

Soon Biron was tried and sentenced to death, commuted to exile to Pelym in Siberia. Anna Leopoldovna did not object to awarding Minich the rank of generalissimo, but he ceded this title to the father of the young emperor, Anton Ulrich of Brunswick, receiving in return the post of first minister for military, civil and diplomatic affairs. However, soon as a result of Osterman’s intrigues, Minich was forced to resign.

Accusation of treason, sentence and exile
In 1741, with the accession of Elizabeth Petrovna, Minikh was put on trial (along with Osterman) and sentenced to death on a series of false charges: high treason, aiding Biron, bribery and embezzlement. Walking from the fortress to the place of execution, Minikh remained in good spirits, talked with the officers accompanying him, recalled the war and the readiness for death that was familiar to a military man. Already on the scaffold, he heard a new sentence: the execution was replaced by exile to Siberia. There, in the village of Pelym, Minikh spent 20 for long years.

Without giving up over the years, he engaged in physical and mental labor, grew vegetables, taught children, and came up with various engineering and military projects (which, however, remained without any application). From time to time, Minikh sent proposals to the capital to appoint him as Siberian governor.

Last years
20 years later, in 1762, the new Emperor Peter III returned 78-year-old Minich to St. Petersburg, returning him all ranks and awards and including him in the Imperial Council.

When the coup began in favor of Empress Catherine, out of gratitude to his liberator, the elderly field marshal advised the emperor to flee to Revel and join the Russian troops stationed in Prussia. After the coup, Minikh was forgiven by Catherine and took the oath to her.

“Not being a son of Russia, he was one of its fathers.”
Catherine II about Minich
Having become governor-general and having received Revel, Kronstadt, Baltic and other ports, as well as the Ladoga Canal, under his command, Minikh zealously continued his work. “Sleep hardly closes my eyes,” he wrote to the empress. “I close my eyes with different plans and again, when I wake up, I turn my thoughts to them.”

In his letters to Catherine, Minich repeatedly advised her to start a new war against the Turks and Crimean Tatars in order to complete what he had started 30 years ago, but did not live to see this advice carried out for one year.

IN last years he was nevertheless appointed, as he once wanted, as governor of Siberia (with residence in St. Petersburg).

Field Marshal Count Munnich died in 1767. Initially, he was buried in Petrikirche on Nevsky Prospekt, but subsequently the ashes were transferred to the count's estate Lunia (Luunya) near Dorpat. IN Soviet time A pigsty was built at the count's resting place.

Performance evaluation

Christopher Antonovich Minich was of German origin, but his military and government talents manifested themselves in Russia, which he served for a long time and zealously as his second homeland. He entered Russian history as an outstanding military and economic figure, an invincible field marshal, and a successor to the work of Peter I.

Minich carried out colossal work to qualitatively improve the Russian army, serfdom and rear services. Minich’s enormous creative activity also concerned the strengthening state system Russian Empire.

The role of Field Marshal Count Minich in the wars of the 18th century and in general in the military history of Russia is very high. Under the command of a field marshal, the Russian army invaded Crimea for the first time and, having successfully and practically without losses repelled and scattered the horde of the Crimean Khan on his own territory, took the capital of the Khanate, Bakhchisarai, and burned it.

For the first time in the history of Russia, Minikh defeated the Turkish army in an open field battle, which was greatly feared and respected in Moscow, especially after the Chigirin campaigns. The myth of the invincibility of the Turks took hold especially strongly after Peter’s unsuccessful Prut campaign. Minikh, in the battle of Stavuchany, put to flight the superior army of Seraskir Veli Pasha of Bendery. This was the first real victory of the Russians over the Turks, marking the beginning of the victorious wars between Russia and the Porte, and it was Field Marshal Minich who first laid the foundation for this page of Russian military glory.

Memory
Monument to Christopher Minich in the village of Luunya
In literature
Field Marshal Minikh is one of the characters in V. Pikul’s novel “Word and Deed” and M.A. Aldanov’s story “Punch Vodka”.
13th Dragoon Regiment of the Military Order of Field Marshal Count Minich

Links
Minich, Burchard Christopher. Eastern literature. Retrieved March 29, 2011. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011.
Report of Field Marshal Minich on the collection and publication of all Russian Decrees and Regulations, submitted on May 14, 1735 // Domestic Notes of P. Svinin, part 5. - St. Petersburg: 1821
Anisimov Evgeniy Soldier of Fortune, or Brave Minich // Weekly “Delo”, No. 8 (305) dated 12/08/2003
Durov N.P. Notes and so on. works of Field Marshal Minich // Russian antiquity 1872 - T. 6. - No. 9. - P. 381-383.
Minich B.K., background. News of Field Marshal Minich about the Ladoga Canal // Son of the Fatherland, 1818. - Part 43. - No. 4. - P. 129-155.
Minich B. von. Field Marshal Minich from Siberia. Letters // Russian Archive, 1865. - Ed. 2nd. - M., 1866. - Stb. 353-382.
Minich B. K. von. Notes of Field Marshal Minich. Extracts / Transl. E. A. Kharitonova // Russian antiquity, 1874. - T. 9. - No. 1. - P. 73-105. - Under cap. Tales of foreigners about Russia in the 18th century.
Minich B. K. von. Minich's conditions with the Russian government in 1721 and 1727. / Publ. M. D. Khmyrova // Russian Archive, 1867. - Issue. 3. - Stb. 321-332.
Minich B. K. von. Translation from a letter to the State Chancellor, Mr. To Alexei Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin from former field marshal gr. Minikha from Pelym dated June 4, 1744, which was given, according to Her Imperial Majesty’s personal verbal command, to His Excellency the State Chancellor through Art. owls Demidov on June 24, 1744 / Communication. S. I. Shubinsky // Russian Archive, 1866. - Issue. 2. - Stb. 171-185.
Minich B.K., background. Disposition and ceremony of the ceremonial entry of Empress Anna Ivanovna into St. Petersburg on January 16, 1732 / Communication. M. D. Khmyrov // Russian Archive, 1867. - Issue. 3. - Stb. 332-341.
Surzhik D.V. Minich Christopher Antonovich. Project of the Russian Military Historical Society and All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company “100 Great Commanders”. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013.

B.K. Minikha a waterway was built

1731 under the leadership of Peter I's associate Count B.K. Minikha a water canal was built along the southern shore of the lake - from the mouth of the Volkhov to the source of the Neva - with a length of 111 km. It was the largest hydraulic structure of that time.

The famous Russian military leader and statesman, who had high titles and ranks, was a purebred German by birth. He served Russia all his life, where they began to call him Minikh Christopher Antonovich. In Russian history he became famous as a talented field marshal, army reformer, winner of the Crimeans and Turks.

Youth

He was destined for an amazing fate for a German - to become a powerful personality in Russia. He was born in Germany on May 9, 1683, in the county of Oldenburg. His father was a hereditary military engineer, who provided his son with first a serious education at home, and then a professional one. As a result, young Minich mastered Latin and French, mastered engineering to perfection, skillfully and competently drew up drawings, and had experience as a hydraulic engineer. For twenty years (from 1700 to 1720) he served in various European armies, took part in campaigns, where he gained military experience and rose to the rank of major general.

Invitation to Russia

In 1721, the Russian ambassador to Poland G. Dolgorukov invited Minich to serve in Russia. At that time, he had grandiose plans for the reconstruction of the country, and in their implementation they needed foreign engineering specialists, experienced military leaders and, in general, fresh brains. Thus began Minich’s brilliant career for the benefit of Russia, which became his second homeland.

Start of activity

Having become familiar with the state of affairs in St. Petersburg, Minikh set to work with enthusiasm. Under his leadership, the Neva became navigable, the Baltic port was built, numerous roads were laid, the first bypass Ladoga Canal was created - and all this in just five years (1723 - 1728). Tsar Peter was pleased. And he expressed his respect by promoting Minikh to lieutenant general, discussing his reform plans with him and encouraging him in every possible way. After the death of Peter, Catherine the First appreciated Minich’s services to Russia, promoting him to the rank of general-in-chief and awarding him.

Results of administrative activities

Peter's death changed a lot. The court gradually moved to Moscow, and Peter the Second left Minich to rule in St. Petersburg. Since 1728, he was already a Russian count and governor-general of Ingermanland, Finland and Karelia. He continued to build and transform St. Petersburg, Vyborg, Kronstadt. The Ladoga Canal provided a connection with the central territories of Russia, which significantly increased the port’s trade turnover, and as a result, prices for many goods needed by everyone fell to quite acceptable prices. Minich established regular sea ​​communication to Europe, mail and passenger ships began to sail from Kronstadt to Danzig and Lubeck.

In addition, it was under Minich that the so-called building of the Twelve Colleges, the stone bastions of the Peter and Paul Fortress were completed, and a grandiose plan for a bridge to Stockholm was hatched for the near future. With all his might, Minikh supported the capital status of St. Petersburg: he organized all kinds of celebrations, parades and reviews of troops. Two years after the coronation, the court returned to St. Petersburg (01/15/1732). The city began to be intensively populated, even leading to a housing crisis. Minich began draining the land for the construction of houses, even investing his personal funds in this business. Thus, modern center Petersburg - these are vast areas once drained by Minikh for the development of residential and other buildings.

Arrangement of the army

Anna Ioannovna, taking into account Minich’s excellent organizational skills, involved him in improving the situation in the army. She granted him the rank of Field Marshal and appointed him President of the Military Collegium - for broad powers. With the energy characteristic of Minich, the newly minted Field Marshal quickly streamlined the financial affairs of the army, organized military hospitals and even garrison schools, founded a new educational institution - the Gentry Cadet Corps, where noble and officer children studied various sciences, foreign languages, jurisprudence and much more, so that graduates can then enter not only the military, but also the civil service.

He also created twelve regiments (corps) of heavy cavalry, regiments of hussars, sappers, and also opened an Engineering School for officers, modernized and built Fifty Fortresses. All this significantly improved the Russian army. Participation in hostilities In 1734, E. proposed sending Minich to the siege of Danzig (now Gdansk). And although Danzig was eventually taken, Minich was reproached for his delay in victory. The following year, 1735, Russia declared war on Turkey. In order to surpass the successes of his ill-wishers - Biron and Osterman - Minikh decided to become commander-in-chief in this war.

The goal of his 50,000-strong army is to take Crimea. After heavy, bloody battles, this task was completed. The losses were enormous: half the army was affected by the epidemic and about two thousand soldiers died. Minikh demonstrated his military talent and personal courage more than once in military campaigns: he took the Ochakov fortress, defeated the Turks in Moldova. This was the victory that he sang in his first ode, and after the conclusion of the Belgrade Peace, Minich was awarded the Order St. Andrew the First-Called, a golden sword encrusted with diamonds and the high rank of lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment (despite the fact that only a monarch could be a colonel here).

At the end of life

In 1740, after the death of Anna Ioannovna, everything changed greatly in Minich’s life. The powerful and cruel Biron pursued a repressive policy on behalf of the new Empress Anna Leopoldovna. Minikh organized the arrest of Biron, who was tried and sentenced to death, but in the end was simply exiled to Siberia. In Minikh's immediate circle there remains one more long-time enemy - Osterman. He forced Minikh to resign, and when Elizabeth Petrovna came to power, Minikh was arrested and falsely accused of all sorts of state crimes.

Even twenty years of exile in Siberia were filled with active activity: growing vegetables, teaching children, and drawing up many engineering and military projects. When the next monarch returned Minich from exile, he was already 78 years old. He managed to serve Russia a lot more. He died at the age of 84 in St. Petersburg on October 16 (27), 1767.

Minikh Christopher Antonovich

Battles and victories

He gained fame as an invincible field marshal, a successor to the work of Peter the Great. Under his command, the Russian army first invaded Crimea and took the capital of the Khanate, Bakhchisarai. It was he who laid the foundation for the victorious wars between Russia and the Porte, opening a new page of Russian military glory.

The most active military leader during the reign of Anna Ioannovna, statesman, engineer.

Christopher Antonovich Minich, aka Count Burchard Christoph von Munnich, although of foreign origin, rightfully became an outstanding military and statesman of Russia. Folk wisdom says: “What is good for a Russian is death for a German!” However, many Germans who dedicated their lives to Russia have proven that this is far from an indisputable statement. Among them is Christopher Antonovich Minikh.

The future famous Russian commander was born in Oldenburg, a Danish possession in Germany. His father gave his son an excellent education, with youth trained him to be an engineer.

In 1701–1716 young Minich was in the Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Kassel service, went from captain to colonel, fought against the French in Italy and the Netherlands, was in French captivity, and upon returning to Germany was engaged in the construction of a lock and canal in Hesse-Kassel. In search of new prospects, he sent his treatise on fortification to Peter I, who was attracted by the abilities of the German engineer, and received an invitation to Russia. In February 1721, his amazing career began on Russian soil.

German precision, extraordinary ability to work, ambition and determination - everything was put at the service of Peter’s Russia, which was catching up with Europe in its development by leaps and bounds. In 1720, Minich received an offer to take the position of general engineer in Russia. Arriving there in 1721, he committed himself in writing to serve for 5–6 years, observing engineering work on the Baltic coast.

And Minikh, in turn, saw enormous development prospects in Russia.

Minich's most important work in the last years of Peter I's life and after his death was the construction of the Ladoga Canal. In 1727, the engineer was appointed chief director of fortification work. A year later, he receives the title of count and the post of governor-general of St. Petersburg, Ingermanland, Karelia and Finland. One after another, his talents are revealed: he carries out intensive construction in St. Petersburg, Vyborg and Kronstadt, shows himself to be an active, persistent and managerial administrator with very thorough knowledge in fortification, hydraulic engineering and military affairs.

“I see that you are a worthy person!”

Peter I about Minich

Its benefit for Russia is undeniable: the completion of work on the Ladoga Canal ensured safe navigation bypassing the stormy Lake Ladoga, which was extremely important for the city’s economy, since it connected it with the central provinces of Russia and significantly expanded the port’s trade turnover. Thanks to the efforts of Minich, regular sea communication between the new Russian capital and Europe begins, the construction of the building of 12 colleges and the construction of stone bastions of the Peter and Paul Fortress are completed.

Peter I highly appreciated the engineering talent of Christopher Minich, declaring in the Senate: “I have found a man who will finish the Ladoga Canal for me. Even in my service I did not have a foreigner who could carry out great plans as well as Minich! You must do everything according to his wishes!”

The zenith of Minich's career was the ten-year reign of Anna Ioannovna. With her accession, he was appointed president of the Military Collegium and field commander general, and in 1732 received the rank of field marshal general. A year before this, Minikh became chairman of a commission whose goal was to streamline the condition of the army and find measures to support the latter without particularly burdening the people. He drew new order for the guard, field and garrison regiments, formed two new guards regiments (Izmailovsky and horse guards), introduced cuirassiers, separated the engineering unit from the artillery, established a land cadet corps, took measures for more correct uniforms and armament of troops, organized twenty regiments of the Ukrainian police from noblemen of the former Belgorod and Sevsky categories.

During the struggle for the Polish throne in 1734, Minich commanded the troops operating in Poland, and in the midst of hostilities he took the city of Danzig. After the end of the War of the Polish Succession, Russia began a new war in 1735 - with the Ottoman Empire. The humiliating Treaty of Prut of 1711, according to which Peter I lost Azov, Taman, and the Azov fleet that had been so laboriously built, was perceived very painfully in Russia. He was not forgotten either under Peter I or under Anna. The command of the army was entrusted to Field Marshal Munnich.

Starting the war with the Turks, he drew up a plan according to which the army had to fight for 4 years, occupy the Northern Black Sea region, Crimea, Moldova, Wallachia and in 1739 enter Constantinople. This grandiose plan was not destined to come true, although at first things went well for the Russian army. The Don army of Lassi easily took Azov, and on May 22, 1736, historical event- for the first time Russian troops entered Crimea. It must be said that this fact was preceded by centuries of Crimean raids on Rus'. Dozens of Russian cities were plundered and set on fire, hundreds of thousands of Russian prisoners were taken away by the Tatars and sold into slavery. Now the time has come to secure Crimea. Russian troops marched through the Crimea with fire and sword in 1736. The Tatars, unable to resist the invasion of the regular army, fled to the mountains. Military operations progressed successfully west of Crimea. In the summer of 1737, Russian troops took the large Turkish fortress of Ochakov. But there was no quick movement to Istanbul. This task was difficult to accomplish: the military power of the Turks had not yet been broken. Under the threat that Russian troops might be trapped, they had to be withdrawn from the peninsula.

Portrait of B. H. Minich. Engraving. 1844

In the summer of 1739, Minich resumed the offensive. At the beginning of June 1739, he crossed the Dnieper, and on August 15 he was already beyond the Dniester. To repel the offensive of the Russian army, the commander-in-chief of the Turkish army, Veli Pasha, concentrated all the troops that he could muster in the region, including the Khotyn garrison, in positions near Stavuchany. The army reached a size of 70–90 thousand people consisting of: 15–20 thousand Janissaries, 8–20 thousand Spakhs and Serbedj, 7 thousand Lipkans and 40–50 thousand Crimean Tatars. The army's artillery consisted of 70 guns. The Russian army numbered 61 thousand people with 250 guns, including 85 field guns. 48 thousand people took part in the battle itself “with a gun in the ranks”.

Waiting for Count Minich's army to approach, Veli Pasha sent the Tatars to the rear of the Russian army, trying to encircle the enemy troops. The commander-in-chief placed the Turkish cavalry on the flanks of his army. Thus, Veli Pasha left about 20 thousand people to defend the main positions, stretching over five miles. To ensure the best defense, the pasha concentrated on defending the western part of his positions, which directly covered the road to Khotyn. To organize the defense, the Turks built 11 batteries in this direction, armed with 60 mortars and cannons, and built a triple line of trenches. The trenches on the right flank adjoined the village of Nedoboevtsy and had a length of 3 miles. The last work on the trenches was carried out on the night of August 28, when the Russian army had already entered the area. As a result, the left section of the trenches, 2 miles long, was not occupied by Turkish troops at all.

Siege of Ochakov. 1737 18th century engraving

On the evening of August 27, the Russian army reached the Shulanets River, where it set up camp. Having carried out reconnaissance, Count Minich became convinced that his army was tightly surrounded. The Russians were surrounded in the rear and on the flanks by Crimean Tatars and Turkish cavalry. Ahead of Minich was 20 thousand Turkish infantry, which “in the mountainous places, which are already very strong and adventurous, were very much disappointed by the situation (they dug in).” But at the same time, the field marshal noted that “the enemy, in front of his right wing, against whom our army stood, continued the work of retrenchments and batteries, and left wing, which, although in an advantageous place (dangerous for a breakthrough), however, was not deceived.”

Having weighed the current situation, realizing the unfortunate location of his camp, which was subjected to artillery fire and attacks by enemy cavalry units, the lack of firewood and fodder, the impossibility of a roundabout maneuver, Count Minich “took a resolution on the 17th to attack the enemy in his camp,” concentrating the blow on the left the enemy's flank. This was also facilitated by the mood of the troops, who, according to the count’s admission, “showed an almost unheard-of eagerness for battle and were very eager to approach the enemy as quickly as possible.” According to the drawn up battle plan, part of the army was supposed to carry out a diversionary maneuver on the enemy’s right flank, and the rest of the army would attack main blow on the left flank. For a diversionary maneuver, a detachment of Lieutenant General Gustav Biron was appointed, consisting of a guard, two dragoons, three infantry regiments and a certain number of irregular troops, with a total number of 9 thousand people, with four howitzers and 30 guns.

Early in the morning, August 28, Gustav Biron's detachment, representing the vanguard of the entire army, crossed the river and stood at a low altitude two miles from the enemy positions. After that it started artillery duel, which lasted until noon, but was ineffective. At noon, Field Marshal Minich ordered the entire army to turn to the right and advance to the confluence of the Shulanets River and the stream that flowed near the village of Dolina. The detachment of General Gustav Biron turned around and crossed back across the river, taking their places in order of battle army. Veli Pasha took such maneuvers as a Russian retreat and even sent news of the victory to Khotyn. The Turks soon realized their mistake and began transferring troops to the left flank, where they began building new batteries. Genzh-Ali Pasha and Kolchak Pasha tried to attack the enemy army with cavalry at the crossing, where the Russians had to climb a low but steep bank.

Victory at Stavuchany. 1739

After the crossing, the Russian army formed into one square, inside which was the entire convoy, and slowly moved towards the enemy. At five o'clock in the afternoon, when the army passed near Stavuchany, the Turks launched a decisive attack. 12–13 thousand Janissaries attacked from the front, and Turkish cavalry from the right flank. The Russian army stopped and, fencing themselves with slingshots, opened rifle and artillery fire. The Turkish cavalry, unable to withstand the fire, turned around and went back across the Stavuchansky stream. Of the Janissaries, only about 3 thousand people reached the slingshots, but, having no success, they fled. Fearing for his convoy, Minikh decided to abandon the pursuit of the enemy. Impressed by the failure of the attack, the Turkish troops occupying the position set fire to their camp and hastily left towards Khotin. Only the cavalry and the Crimean Tatars remained on the field, who were still trying to attack the enemy.

At 7 pm the Russian army reached Turkish positions and occupied the enemy camp. Here Genj Ali Pasha tried to make a last attempt to attack the Russians. But the fire of two artillery brigades upset the Turkish cavalry, which did not have time to enter the battle. After that all Turkish army fled, pursued by Russian troops. The defeat was complete, the Turkish army was scattered. Most of the Turks, including the Khotyn garrison, under the command of Veli Pasha and Genj Ali Pasha went to Bendery, some went to the Prut, and the Tatars went to Budzhak. The winners received 19 copper cannons, 4 mortars, banners, and many shells.

Russian losses amounted to: 13 people killed, including one colonel of the Don Army, and 54 wounded, including 6 officers. Count Minich called courage the reasons for such small losses Russian soldiers and artillery and trench fire, in which they are trained.

The losses of the Ottoman army amounted to more than a thousand people killed, whom they left on the battlefield. The consequence of this victory was the capitulation of Khotin. On August 30, Commandant Kolchak Pasha surrendered the city at the first request of Count Minich.

Moderate in his personal life, he often turned out to be too strict and then merciless with other people subordinate to him. However, due to his straightforwardness, fairness and personal courage, the popularity of Field Marshal B. X. Minich in the army always remained high. Especially among the lower ranks, about whom he carefully cared. The soldiers called the commander "falcon"

Shitov A.V.

Despite the victory of the Russian army at Stavuchany and the occupation of the Khotyn fortress, in 1739 the war ended with the assistance of French diplomacy in the Peace of Belgrade, which was not so beneficial for Russia. Through this world she returned all her conquests to Turkey. However, the significance of this war is great - the road to the Black Sea for the Russian army was now known. The next generation of Russian soldiers and commanders under Catherine II will quickly move along it.

Khotyn Fortress

It should be noted that historians have ambivalent assessments of Minich’s activities in the military field. He is accused of lack of military genius, unwillingness to feel sorry for the soldiers, excessive ambition, and rudeness. However, no matter how they talk about him, he achieved success in all military enterprises, and in the Battle of Stavuchany he showed true tactical skill and won a brilliant victory. The reasons for the numerous losses are revealed partly in his letter: “There were thirty thousand armed troops in Danzig, but I did not have even twenty thousand to wage a siege, and yet the encirclement line of the fortress extended for nine German miles” (1 German mile is approximately equal to 8 kilometers).

It would be a big mistake to imagine Minich as a rude martinet. The letters he left behind testify to the sophistication of the author’s mind and his ability to express himself beautifully. Here is what the Englishwoman Lady Rondeau wrote about him to her correspondent in 1735: “You say that you imagine him as an old man, whose appearance is characterized by all the rudeness of a soldier who has been in trouble... He has a beautiful face, very white skin, he is tall and slender, and that’s all his movements are soft and graceful. He dances well, all his actions emanate youth, with the ladies he behaves like one of the most gallant gentlemen of this court and, being among representatives of our sex, radiates gaiety and tenderness.”

Pelym village

In 1740, Minikh tried to head the government of Anna Leopoldovna, receiving the post of first minister for military, civil and diplomatic affairs. However, soon, as a result of Osterman’s intrigues, Minich was forced to resign, and in 1741, with the accession of Elizabeth Petrovna, he was put on trial and sentenced to death on a series of false charges: high treason, aiding Biron, bribery and embezzlement. .

The court was presided over by Prince Nikita Trubetskoy, who tried to accuse Minikh, but he bitterly remarked to him: “Before the court of the Almighty, my acquittal will be better accepted than before your court!”

Among all those condemned to execution, only Minich retained, as history testifies, courage and cheerfulness, talked with the officers accompanying him, recalled the war and the readiness for death familiar to a military man. As he ascended the scaffold, he was carefully shaven, and a field marshal's red cloak was on the shoulders of the condemned man. Having learned that the death penalty replaced by a link, the German greeted the news without the slightest emotion and just as cheerfully descended from the scaffold as he had ascended to it.

Minikh spent 20 long years in exile, in the village of Pelym. Without giving up over the years, he engaged in physical and mental labor, grew vegetables, taught children, composed various engineering and military projects (which, however, remained without any application), and from time to time sent proposals to the capital to appoint him as Siberian governor.

After a twenty-year exile, Minikh returned to St. Petersburg again at the beginning of 1762 by order of Peter III. In May, the field marshal turned 79 years old, but he was full of strength and creative plans. In the same month, Peter III appointed him a member of the Imperial Council, but Minikh asked for two more positions for himself: the Siberian governor and the chief director of the Ladoga Canal. He was going to manage Siberia without leaving St. Petersburg.

By decree of June 9, 1762, the emperor satisfied both wishes of the active and ambitious old man, entrusting him with the management of the Kronstadt Canal.

M. O. Mikeshin, I. N. Shroeder. Monument "Millennium of Russia". 1862 Fragment

But in the same month there was a new coup, Peter III was overthrown from the throne and was soon killed. Minich remained faithful to the emperor until the last hours of his reign and tried to tell him the way to salvation. But Catherine II, with her characteristic prudence, did not pursue the former supporters of her unfortunate husband. She was emphatically kind to the “patriarch with hair as white as snow” and “the most senior field marshal in Europe,” as Minich called himself in letters to the empress. He was retained as chief director of the Ladoga and Kronstadt canals, and in addition he was tasked with completing the construction of the Baltic port. Minich worked until last months of his life, supervised the construction and repair of the hydraulic structures entrusted to him, and sent proposals to the empress on issues of public policy. On the eve of his 85th birthday, he finally asked for his resignation. The Empress refused, saying that she did not have a second Minich. But the field marshal's days were already numbered, and he soon died.

He left behind works devoted to the structure of Russia, which became everything for him: a place of life and activity, the embodiment of plans and dreams, an arena of ups and downs. One of them - “Essay on the management of the Russian Empire”, or “Essay giving an idea of ​​​​the way of government of the Russian Empire”, was created at the end of the author’s life. In December 1763, Academician G.-F. Miller said in one of his letters: “The Empress was pleased to appoint me to help Field Marshal Minich write his memoirs. This will be a very interesting work. No matter how old the field marshal is, he has an excellent memory and writes French very elegantly. All I can do is correct the dates” (Minikh B.-Kh. Notes of a Field Marshal. St. Petersburg, 1874. P. XVI.). Consequently, Catherine II knew about Minich's work and was interested in it. It is known from other sources that in 1763 one of the versions of the “Essay...” was already completed and sent by the author to the historian A.-F. for review. Buesching. More precise information about the time of creation of the memoirs has not been found, but, apparently, they were written in 1763–1764.

For forty-six years, Count Burchard Christoph von Münnich served Russia honestly, considering it his second homeland, never tired of marveling at its mystery and never ceasing to tirelessly care about its development.

Surzhik D.V.,

Institute general history RAS

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IVAN VI ANTONOVICH (b. 1740 - d. 1764) Nominal emperor in 1740–1741, son of Anna Leopoldovna (niece of Empress Anna Ivanovna) and Duke Anton Ulrich of Brunswick. He was proclaimed emperor at the age of two months, on November 25, 1741, and dethroned by Elizabeth

Field Marshal Minich

(von Münnich, 1683-1767) - Russian statesman. Born in the county of Oldenburg. Minich's father, Anton Gunther, rose to the rank of colonel in the Danish service and received the title of overseer of dams and all water works in the counties of Oldenburg and Delmengort from the Danish king; elevated to the dignity of nobility in 1702. Minich’s initial education was aimed mainly at studying drawing, mathematics and French. At the age of sixteen, he entered the French engineering service, but in view of the war being prepared between France and Germany, he transferred to the Hesse-Darmstadt corps, where he soon received the rank of captain. When, during the War of the Spanish Succession, the Hessian-Kassel corps was hired with Anglo-Dutch money, Minich joined it and fought under the command of Prince Eugene and Marlborough. In 1712 he was wounded and captured, where he remained until the end of the war. In 1716 he entered the service of Augustus II, but did not get along with his favorite, Count Flemming, and began to look for new service, hesitating between Charles XII and Peter I. His choice was decided by the death of Charles XII. Having met the Russian envoy in Warsaw, Prince G. Dolgoruky, Minikh through him passed on his writings on fortification to Peter I, and in 1720 he received an offer to take the position of general engineer in Russia. Minich agreed without even concluding a written condition, and in February 1721 he arrived in Russia.

The rank of lieutenant general that was promised to him was given to him only a year later; At the same time, Minich presented written “conditions”, according to which he pledged to serve Russia for 5-6 years, observing hydraulic work on the Baltic coast. In 1723, he was entrusted by the emperor with finishing the Ladoga Canal, begun under the supervision of Major General Pisarev back in 1710, which absorbed a lot of lives and money and, nevertheless, made little progress. Pisarev was patronized by Menshikov, and therefore in the latter Minikh made himself a sworn enemy. The channel was completed by Minikh after the death of Peter I. With the accession of Catherine I to the throne, Minikh tried to more accurately define his relationship with Russia. He presented the empress with new “standards”, with which he pledged to serve in Russia for another ten years, after which he could leave; At this time he could raise children abroad; demanded a guarantee from Russia of its estates in Denmark and England, in case of war between the latter; agreed to replace them with a corresponding number of estates in Russia; asked for all customs and tavern fees on the Ladoga Canal to be placed at his disposal. These “conditions” were already approved by Peter II, who appointed Minich as chief director of fortifications. In 1728, he entered into a second marriage with the widow of Chief Marshal Saltykov, née Baroness Maltsan, who followed him in all the vicissitudes of his fate.

When the plans of the rulers, at the beginning of the reign of Anna Ioannovna, failed, Minikh became close to Osterman, and through him to the Empress and Biron, and was made a member of the cabinet for military and foreign affairs. In 1731, Minikh was appointed chairman of a special commission whose goal was to streamline the state of the army and find measures to support the latter without much burden from those people. In this rank, he drew up a new order for the guard, field and garrison regiments, formed two new guards regiments - Izmailovsky and horse guards, started a cuirassier, separated the engineering unit from the artillery unit, established a ground cadet corps, took measures to more correctly uniform and armament of troops, organized twenty regiments of the Ukrainian militia, from single-dvorets of the Belgorod and Sevsky categories. Fearing Minich's influence on the empress, Osterman, Biron, and Count Golovkin tried to remove him from St. Petersburg. During the struggle for the Polish throne in 1733, Minich was sent to the theater of war and took Danzig (1734). Soon after that it began Turkish War. Kiev Governor-General von Weisbach was appointed commander-in-chief, but he died on the eve of the campaign; his successor, Leontiev, set out on a campaign in late autumn and lost many soldiers from illness. Then it was ordered that Minich, who was in Poland at that time, move the army to Ukraine and take over the main command of the army. Minikh became friends with the Cossacks and, with their help, began to make campaigns in the Crimea, then took Ochakov, captured Khotin (1739) and so on. He did not spare the soldiers who died in large numbers from hunger, cold and various diseases. The trip to Crimea, for example, cost Russia up to 30 thousand people. During the campaign in Bessarabia (1738), 11,060 soldiers and 5,000 Cossacks died from diseases, especially diarrhea and scurvy. Such treatment of soldiers caused murmurs against Minich both among officers and soldiers, and among Russian society. After the victory at Stavuchany (1739) and the occupation of Khotin, Minikh dreamed of crossing the Danube, the conquest of Constantinople, the formation of a special Moldavian principality under the protectorate of Russia, and he, Minikh, would be the ruler of Moldova, like Biron - the Duke of Courland. Minich's hopes did not come true. Russia's allies, the Austrians, entered into negotiations with Turkey and concluded a peace in Belgrade separately from Russia, and on October 7, 1739, St. Petersburg joined this peace. cabinet (see Peace of Belgrade). Minich's military successes had almost no results for Russia.

Minikh was among the people present at the last hours of Anna Ioannovna’s life; he asked Biron to accept the regency during the childhood of Ivan Antonovich and contributed to the drawing up of Anna Ioannovna’s will in this sense. When Biron became regent, Minikh became close to Anna Leopoldovna and on November 8, 1740 carried out a coup: Biron was arrested and subsequently exiled to Pelym, Anna Leopoldovna was proclaimed ruler, and Minikh was made first minister. Minich was now the most strong man in Russia; but this did not last long. As a result of Osterman's intrigues, between Minich and the ruler's husband, Anton-Ulrich, there were constant disagreements and clashes in relation to the army (Anton-Ulrich was the generalissimo of the Russian troops). These clashes had the consequence of cooling the ruler towards Minich; the latter was forced to resign (March 6, 1741). After the coup that brought Elizabeth Petrovna to the throne, Minikh was sent into exile, to the same Pelym where he exiled Biron.

Minikh spent twenty years in Pelym, praying to God, reading the Holy Scriptures, zealously attending divine services, which, after the death of the pastor who was with him, he performed himself. This did not stop him, however, from sending various projects to St. Petersburg with requests for pardon - and these sendings were so frequent that around 1746 they were even prohibited, but from 1749 they resumed again. By decree of Peter III, Minich was returned from exile in 1762 and restored to all his rights and distinctions. Minich did not get along with Peter III, since he did not sympathize with either the emperor’s war with Denmark or his desire to change clothes and remake the Russian army according to the Prussian model. During the coup on June 28, 1762, Minich was with Peter III and advised him to go to Revel, and from there, on the Russian squadron, abroad and with the Holstein troops to come again to gain the throne. When Peter's case was lost, Minich swore allegiance to Catherine and was appointed commander-in-chief over the ports of Rogervik, Revel, Narva, Kronstadt and the Ladoga Canal. He was mainly engaged in the construction of the Rogerwick harbor, for which he had once drawn up a drawing. Catherine II treated him with attention: she gave one of the first copies of her “Order” to Minich, asking him to read it and tell her his opinion. They also think that the “Notes of Minich,” where he tries to prove the need to establish a state council in order to “fill the void between the supreme power and the power of the Senate,” were written for Catherine and with her consent (opinion of K. N. Bestuzhev-Ryumin). Minikh was buried on his estate Lunia, in Livonia, not far from Dorpat. Minikh's personality has not yet found an impartial assessment in Russian historiography: M. D. Khmyrov exaggerates the significance of facts unfavorable for him; N.I. Kostomarov, on the contrary, tries to present Minich’s personality in the most sympathetic light possible.

"Notes of Field Marshal Count M." ("Ebauche pour donner une idée de la forme du gouvernement de l"empire de Russie") published in the 2nd volume of "Notes of foreigners about Russia in the 18th century" (St. Petersburg, 1874), which also contains: 1) "Excerpt from Minich's diary", covering the time from May 1683 to September 1721; 2) article by M. D. Khmyrov: "Field Marshal of Count Minich" and 3) Index of books and articles about Minich. Cf. Kostomarov, "Field Marshal Minich and its significance in Russian history" ("Russian history in the biographies of its main figures").

N. V-ko.

Encyclopedia Brockhaus-Efron