Some statesmen will always be remembered. One of these odious figures was Arakcheev. A brief biography will not reveal all the facets of this reformer and close associate of Alexander the First, but will allow you to get acquainted with the main areas of activity of the talented Minister of War. Usually his surname is associated with drill. He really liked order.
Short biography
Arakcheev Alexey Andreevich was born into a noble family. For a long time, the place of his birth was not fully established. Today they believe that it happened in Garusovo on September 23, 1769.
Primary education was provided to the young Arakcheev by a rural deacon. In order to enter the artillery cadet corps, two hundred rubles were required. This amount was unbearable for an impoverished family. Help was provided by Petr Ivanovich Melissino.
The young man not only studied. He gave lessons to the sons of Count S altykov. This helped him infurther career. It was S altykov who introduced Alexei Andreevich as an artillery officer for the heir to the throne. Pavel Petrovich valued him as a "master of drill".
During the reign of Paul
When Pavel Petrovich ascended the throne, the biography of Arakcheev changed significantly. Briefly, we can say that he received a new rank, was awarded several awards, he was granted the title of baron.
The most important reward was the provision of land with two thousand peasants. Alexey Andreevich chose the village of Gruzino, where he spent the last years of his life.
The position of the ruler was short-lived. In 1798, Arakcheev was removed from service, making him a lieutenant general. Relations with the emperor can hardly be called stable. Arakcheev was continually dismissed and resumed in the service. In 1799 he was granted the title of count.
During the reign of Alexander
During his service, Alexei Arakcheev, whose brief biography we are considering, became close to Alexander Pavlovich. In 1801 he ascended the throne.
Arakcheev became chairman of a special commission for the transformation of artillery. Weapons have been upgraded.
In 1805 he personally took part in the Battle of Austerlitz. His infantry division attacked Murat's lancers. The mission failed and the commander was wounded.
In 1808 he was appointed Minister of War. A brief biography and reforms of Arakcheev were associated withmilitary affairs. So he simplified and shortened correspondence, established training battalions, raised the level of special education for artillery officers, and improved the material part of the troops. All these actions had a positive impact on the wars of subsequent years.
Role in the war with Napoleon
Patriotic war with Napoleon did not bypass the biography of Arakcheev. Briefly, we can say that he was engaged in supplying the Russian army with food and reserves. It was he who provided the rear with everything necessary. Through the hands of the count passed the secret orders of the sovereign. He was the one who organized the militias.
Arakcheev was able to persuade the emperor not to become the supreme commander of the Russian army. Perhaps he was one of those who influenced the decision of the sovereign that Kutuzov became the commander. There is evidence that the count treated Kutuzov very well.
Military settlements
A short biography of Arakcheev would not be complete without mentioning the military settlements. It is he who is credited with this crazy idea. In fact, Alexander the First proposed it. Designed the idea Speransky. Arakcheev, contrary to his opinion, was entrusted to implement it. Why were military settlements needed?
The War of 1812 showed how important it is to have a trained reserve. But it was very costly for the state. And it was getting harder and harder to get recruits. The emperor decided that a soldier could become a peasant and vice versa.
In 1817, Arakcheev began to embody the desire of the emperor in life. He did it with merciless consistency, notworrying about people's gossip.
Many military settlements were created according to the same plan. They housed people with families. Life was strictly regulated, that is, painted to the smallest detail. People had to wake up at a strictly appointed time, eat, work, and so on. The same was true for children. Men had to be trained in military affairs and run the household, providing themselves with food. They were supposed to live in the settlements forever, and if necessary, they went to war.
The problem was that artificially created settlements did not take into account the human factor. People could not live under constant control. Many found a way out in alcohol, others committed suicide.
The idea failed not only because of the ill-conceived details. There has always been a problem of bribery in Russia. Arakcheev could not eradicate it. In those settlements that he personally de alt with, soldiers and peasants lived quite well, while in the rest, riots were often staged due to hunger, humiliation, and poverty. They were suppressed by force. After a while, Count Kleinmichel was appointed to manage everything.
Under Nicholas
Alexander the First died in 1825. Nicholas I came to power. His reign began with the Decembrist uprising. Some of the officers wanted to prevent the troops and the Senate from swearing allegiance to the tsar. This would have prevented Nicholas I from assuming the throne and would have allowed the establishment of a provisional government. So the rebels wanted to begin the liberalization of the Russian system.
Count Arakcheev,whose brief biography is considered in the article, refused to take part in the suppression of the uprising. As a result, the king dismissed him. Participants in the uprising were sent into exile, and five of the most ardent activists were executed.
Count was dismissed on indefinite leave for treatment. He was in the service until 1832.
The Count's personal life did not work out. In 1806 he married Natalya Khomutova from a noble family. But soon they parted. In Gruzino, he cohabited with Nastasya Shumskaya, who ran the entire household on the estate while the owner was away. She was killed by peasants in 1825 for countless bullying.
From 1827, he took care of his estate in Gruzino. Arakcheev opened a hospital there, improved the life of the peasants.
Alexey Andreevich passed away 1834-21-04. The ashes were buried in Gruzino. The estate itself was completely destroyed during the Great Patriotic War.
Activities
Arakcheev, whose brief biography and activities are connected with the reign of Alexander the First, was distinguished by honesty and integrity. He fought bribery.
The main directions of its activities:
- public service;
- military service;
- army reform;
- creation of military settlements;
- project to grant freedom to serfs.
At different times, a person was evaluated as a cruel executor of the royal will, a royal serf, a reactionary. Over time, this opinion has changed. Today he is considered a worthy military figure in the history of Russia.
