Count Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov-Rymniksky, Prince of Italy^[2][a][b] (24 November [O.S. 13 November] 1729 or 1730 – 18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1800) was a Russian general andmilitary theorist in the service of theRussian Empire.

Generalissimo, Prince Alexander Suvorov Rymniksky
A.V. Suvorov byJoseph Kreutzinger (1799)
Native name	Александр Васильевич Суворов
Other name(s)	Aleksandr Vasilevich Suvorov[1]
Nickname(s)	General Forward Sword of Russia God of War
Born	(1730-11-24)24 November 1730 Moscow,Moscow Governorate,Russian Empire
Died	18 May 1800(1800-05-18) (aged 69) St. Petersburg,Saint Petersburg Governorate, Russian Empire
Buried	Annunciation Church,Alexander Nevsky Lavra, St. Petersburg 59°55′15″N30°23′17″E / 59.92093°N 30.38800°E /59.92093; 30.38800
Allegiance	Russian Empire  Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia
Service/ branch	Imperial Russian Army Imperial Austrian Army
Years of service	1745–1800
Rank	Generalissimus (Russian Empire) Feldmarschall (Holy Roman Empire)
Commands	11th Fanagoriysky Grenadier Regiment Coalition Forces in Italy
Battles / wars	See:§ Military record
Awards	See:§ Progeny and titles
Alma mater	First Cadet Corps
Spouse(s)	Varvara Suvorova [ru] ​ ​ (m. 1774)​
Children	Arkady Suvorov Natalya Zubova [ru]
Signature

Coat of arms of Count Suvorov-Rymniksky, Prince of Italy

Born in Moscow, he studiedmilitary history as a young boy and joined theImperial Russian Army at the age of 17. Promoted to colonel in 1762 for his successes during theSeven Years' War, his victories during theWar of the Bar Confederation included the capture ofKraków and victories atOrzechowo,Lanckorona, andStołowicze. His reputation rose further when, in theRusso-Turkish War of 1768–1774, hecaptured Turtukaya twice and won a decisive victory atKozludzha. After a period of little progress, he was promoted to general and led Russian forces in theRusso-Turkish War of 1787–1792, participating in thesiege of Ochakov, as well as victories atKinburn andFocșani.

Suvorov won a decisive victory at theBattle of Rymnik, and afterwards defeated theOttomans in thestorming of Izmail. His victories at Focșani and Rymnik established him as the most brilliant general in Russia, if not in all of Europe.^[3] In 1794, he put down thePolish uprising, defeating them at thebattle of Praga and elsewhere. AfterCatherine the Great died in 1796, her successorPaul I often quarrelled with Suvorov. After a period of ill-favour, Suvorov was recalled to afield marshal position at the outbreak of theFrench Revolutionary Wars. He was given command of the Austro-Russian army, and after a series of victories, such as thebattle of the Trebbia, he capturedMilan andTurin, and nearly erased all ofNapoleon'sItalian conquests of 1796–97.^[4][5] After an Austro-Russian army was defeated in Switzerland, Suvorov, ordered to reinforce them, was cut off byAndré Masséna and later surrounded in theSwiss Alps. His successful extraction of the exhausted, ill-supplied, and heavily-outnumbered Russian army was rewarded by a promotion toGeneralissimo. Masséna himself would later confess that he would exchange all of his victories for Suvorov's passage of the Alps.^[6] Suvorov died in 1800 of illness inSaint Petersburg. He was instrumental in expanding the Russian Empire, as his success ensured Russia's conquering ofKuban,Crimea, andNew Russia.^[7]

One of the foremost generals in all of military history, and considered the greatest military commander in Russian history, Suvorov has been compared toNapoleon in military generalship. Undefeated, he has been described as the best generalRepublican France ever fought,^[8] and noted as "one of those rare generals who were consistently successful despite suffering from considerable disadvantages."^[9] Suvorov was also admired by his soldiers throughout his whole military life, and was respected for his honest service and truthfulness.^[10]

Alexander Suvorov was born into a noble family originating fromNovgorod at the Moscow mansion inArbat, given as dowry from his maternal grandfather,Fedosey Manukov ^[ru]. His father,Vasily Ivanovich Suvorov ^[ru], was ageneral-in-chief and a senator in theGoverning Senate, and was credited with translatingVauban's works into Russian.^[11] His mother, Avdotya Fedoseyevna (née Manukova), was the daughter of judge Fedosey Manukov, and was an ethnic Russian.^[12][13] According to a family legend his paternal ancestor named Suvor^[14] had emigrated fromKarelia, at the time ruled by theSwedish Empire, with his family in 1622 and enlisted at the Russian service to serveTsarMichael Feodorovich (his descendants becameSuvorovs).^[15][11] Suvorov himself narrated for the record the historical account of his family to his aide, colonelAnthing, telling particularly that his Swedish-born ancestor was of noble descent, having engaged under the Russian banner in thewars against the Tatars andPoles. These exploits were rewarded by Tsars with lands andpeasants.^[16] This version, however, was questioned recently by prominent Russianlinguists, professorsNikolay Baskakov andAlexandra Superanskaya ^[ru], who pointed out that the wordSuvorov more likely comes from the ancient Russian male nameSuvor based on the adjectivesuvory, an equivalent ofsurovy, which means "severe" in Russian. Baskakov also pointed to the fact that the Suvorovs' familycoat of arms lacks any Swedish symbols, implying its Russian origins.^[17] Among the first of those who pointed to the Russian origin of the name wereEmpress Catherine II, who noted in a letter toJohann von Zimmerman in 1790: "It is beyond doubt that the name of the Suvorovs has long been noble, is Russian from time immemorial and resides in Russia", and CountSemyon Vorontsov in 1811, a person familiar with the Suvorovs.^[18] Their views were supported by later historians: it was estimated that by 1699 there were at least 19 Russian landlord families of the same name in Russia, not counting their namesakes of lower status, and they all could not descend from a single foreigner who arrived only in 1622.^[18] Moreover, genealogy studies indicated a Russian landowner named Suvor mentioned under the year 1498, whereas documents of the 16th century mention Vasily and Savely Suvorovs, with the last of them being a proven ancestor of General Alexander Suvorov.^[18] The Swedish version of Suvorov's genealogy had been debunked in theGenealogical collection of Russian noble families by V. Rummel and V. Golubtsov (1887) tracing Suvorov's ancestors from the 17th-centuryTver gentry.^[19] In 1756 Alexander Suvorov's first cousin, Sergey Ivanovich Suvorov, in his statement of background (skazka) for his son said that he did not have any proof of nobility; he started his genealogy from his great-grandfather, Grigory Ivanovich Suvorov, who served as advorovyboyar scion atKashin.^[19]

As a boy, Suvorov was a sickly child and his father assumed he would work in civil service as an adult. However, he proved to be an excellent learner, avidly studying mathematics, literature, philosophy, and geography, learning to read French, German,Polish, and Italian, and with his father's vast library devoted himself to intense study ofmilitary history, strategy, tactics, and several military authors includingPlutarch,Quintus Curtius,Cornelius Nepos,Julius Caesar, andCharles XII. This also helped him develop a good understanding of engineering,siege warfare,artillery, andfortification.^[20] His father, however, insisted that he was unfit for military affairs. However, when Alexander was young,General Gannibal asked to speak to the child, and was so impressed with the boy that he persuaded the father to allow him to pursue the career of his choice.^[11]

Suvorov entered the military in 1745 and served in theSemyonovsky Lifeguard Regiment for nine years.^[21] During this period he continued his studies attending classes atCadet Corps of Land Forces.^[22] He spent most of his time in thebarracks: the troops loved him, though everyone considered him eccentric.^[23] Besides, he was sent with diplomatic dispatches toDresden andVienna; to carry out these assignments on 16 March 1752, he received a diplomatic courier passport, signed by theChancellorCountAlexey Bestuzhev-Ryumin.^[24] From 1756 to 1758 Alexander next worked on theCollege of War; from 1758 he was engaged in formingreserve units, and wascommandant ofMemel.^[25] Suvorov gained his first battle experience fighting against thePrussians during theSeven Years' and theThird Silesian wars (1756–1763).^[c] His first skirmish occurred on 25 July 1759 underCrossen, when Suvorov with acavalrysquadron attacked and routedPrussiandragoons;—he was serving inGeneral-MajorMikhail Volkonsky'sbrigade.^[26][27] The following month Suvorov participated in the complete victory overFrederick the Great at thebattle of Kunersdorf,^[28] after which the so-calledMiracle of the House of Brandenburg happened.

At the time whenPyotr Semyonovich Saltykov, upon hisKunersdorf victory, remained unmoved and did not even sendCossacks to pursue the fleeing enemy, Suvorov said toWilliam Fermor: "if I were commander-in-chief, I would go toBerlin right now". Fortunately for Frederick, he faced not Suvorov.^[29]

Then, Alexander served under the command of General-MajorMaxim Berg ^[ru]. Suvorov successfully defended his positions atReichenbach, but contrary to his future rules did not pursue the retreating enemy, if the only surviving account of this action is accurate. At the skirmish ofSchweidnitz, in a third assault, Suvorov managed to take the hill occupied by thehussarpicket; in this clash 60 Cossacks opposed 100 hussars.^[30] For another example, in the combat ofLandsberg on 15 September 1761, his Cossack-hussar cavalry unit defeated 3 squadrons of the Prussian hussars.^[31] On leaving the Friedberg Forest, he hit GeneralPlaten's side units and took many prisoners.^[30] He also fought minor battles atBunzelwitz, Birstein, Weisentine,^[d]Költsch, and seized the small fortified town of Golnau.^[32] After repeatedly distinguishing himself in battle Suvorov will become a colonel in 1762, aged around 33.^[33] Soon afterwards, following the capture of Golnau, he was given temporary command of theTver Dragoon Regiment ^[ru] until the regimental commander recovered. Prussian observation detachments had spread far fromKolberg; Berg moved there in two columns, the left he led himself, and the right, which consisted of three Hussar, two Cossack, and Tver Dragoon regiments, he entrusted to Suvorov. In the village ofNaugard^[e] the Prussians positioned themselves with 2battalions ofinfantry and a weak dragoon regiment. Forming his unit in two lines, Suvorov began the attack. He felled the dragoons, struck one of the battalions, killed many on the spot and took at least a hundred prisoners. AtStargard, Suvorov attacked therearguard of Platen, during which Suvorov cut into the enemy cavalry and infantry, during which it was reported that "many were taken and beaten from the enemy".^[34] Suvorov managed to avoid heavy losses.^[32] All the battles described took place at the same time as thesiege of Kolberg (1761) inPomerania.

It is stated that Suvorov visited PrussianMasonic lodge. But it is doubtful that he himself was ever aFreemason.^[35][36] Just before his career in 1761, he took part in theraid on Berlin byZakhar Chernyshev's forces (one year after the Kunersdorf). Suvorov took in a young boy, took care of him during the wholecampaign, and on arrival at the quarters sent to the widow, the boy's mother, a letter reading:^[37]

"Dear mother, your little son is safe with me. If you want to leave him with me, he will not lack anything and I will take care of him as if he were my own son. If you wish to keep him with you, you can take him from here or write me where to send him."

Suvorov next served inPoland during theConfederation of Bar. Leading a unit of the army ofIvan Ivanovich Weymarn ^[ru], he dispersed the Polish forces underPułaskiat Orzechowo, capturedKraków (1768), overthrew the Poles of Moszyński nearNawodzice in the spring of 1770, before defeating Moszyński's Polish troops atOpatów in July.^[38] The following year Alexander Suvorov won a small combat withCharles Dumouriez's army atLanckorona, but he failed in thestorming of the Lanckorona Castle, being injured here; and then on 20 May 1771, heunsuccessfully stormed the mountain nearTyniec Abbey, which included a strongredoubt enclosed by apalisade,trous de loup,^[39] and strengthened with two guns.^[40] The Russians under Suvorov andLieutenant Colonel Shepelev captured the fortification twice, but were beaten back. Fearing to lose a lot of troops and time, Suvorov retreated.^[39] It were among the few tactical setbacks in his career, however, these were not field engagements.

Slightly earlier than at Tyniec, however, Suvorov had won small victories over the Confederates atRachów andKraśnik (27 & 28 February 1771), capturing an entirewagon train in the first of these clashes. By a "happy coincidence", Suvorov survived in it. After their failure at theLanckorona Castle, theSuzdals ^[ru] restored their reputation in Suvorov's eyes, not only at Kraśnik but also in Rachów. He wrote to Weymarn:^[41]

The infantry acted with great subordination, and I made my peace with them.

Follow-up clashes rectify Suvorov's situation: thebattle of Lanckorona one day after an incident at Tyniec, where Dumouriez, the future hero of theFrench Republic, was severely defeated; the combat ofZamość on 22 May 1771;^[42] thebattle of Stołowicze; and thesiege of the Wawel Castle (Kraków Castle), where theFrench and theszlachta, under the leadership ofBrigadierMarquess Gabriel de Claude, made asortie from the fortifications, and a force of Tyniec moved towards them – the Poles and their French allies were "defeated by brutal shooting and put to flight",^[43] paving the way for thefirst partition of Poland betweenAustria,Prussia andRussia.^[44] Suvorov meanwhile reached the rank ofmajor-general.^[33]

More than two years after the signing of thetreaty of Iași (Jassy) with theOttoman Empire, Suvorov was yet again transferred to Poland where he assumed the command of one of the corps and led the victorious battles ofDywin,Kobryń,Krupczyce, and thebattle of Brest where he vanquished the forces of the Polish commanderKarol Sierakowski ^[pl]; afterwards, Suvorov won the battleat Kobyłka. The cavalry attacks atBrest andKobyłka resemble of Suvorov's offence atLanckorona 22 years earlier, which ended in the defeat of Dumouriez. The battle showed that there was stability in his tactical rules, and he did not act on momentary impulse.^[45]

Suvorov was praised and exalted, anecdotes were told about him, his letters were quoted. It became known that he wrote a letter toPlaton Zubov, in which, congratulating Zubov "with local victories," he proceeded: "I recommend to your favour my brothers and children, squires of the Great Catherine, who is so illustrious thanks to them". Suvorov sent to his daughter poems, where he described his working life:^[46]

The heavens have given us
Twenty-four hours.
I do not indulge my fate,
But sacrifice it to my Monarch,
And to end [die] suddenly,
I sleep and eat when at leisure.
Hello,Natasha ^[ru] and her household.

On 4 November 1794, Suvorov's forces stormedWarsaw, held byJózef Zajączek's troops, andcaptured Praga, one of its boroughs (a suburb or the so-calledfaubourg). The massacre of 12,000^[47][f] civilians in Praga broke the spirits of the defenders and soon put an end to theKościuszko Uprising. During the event, Russian forces looted and burned the entire borough. This carnage was committed by the troops in revenge for the slaughter of the Russiangarrison in Warsaw during theWarsaw Uprising in April 1794, when up to 4,000 Russian soldiers died.^[49] According to some sources^[50] the massacre was the deed ofCossacks who were semi-independent and were not directly subordinate to Suvorov. Suvorov supposedly tried to stop the massacre and even went to the extent of ordering the destruction of the bridge to Warsaw over theVistula River^[51] with the purpose of preventing the spread of violence to Warsaw from its suburb. Other historians dispute this,^[52] but most sources make no reference to Suvorov either deliberately encouraging or attempting to prevent the massacre.^[53][54][55] "I have shed rivers of blood," the troubled Suvorov confessed, "and this horrifies me".^[20] A total of 11,000 to 13,000 Poles were taken prisoner (approximately 450officers), including captured with weapons, unarmed and wounded. Of the men taken alive and wounded, more than 6,000 were sent home; up to 4,000 were sent toKiev, – from theregular army, without thescythemen, who were set at liberty with other non-military men.^[47]

Many writers call the storming ofPraga a simple slaughterhouse. As historianAlexander Petrushevsky notes, Suvorov'sdispositions of the troops were characterised by remarkable thoroughness; such was that of Praga according to Petrushevsky. "It is homogeneous with theIzmailian at its core and identical to it in many basic details. Both show a remarkable military calculation, which includes not only figures, but knowledge of the enemy's character, properties and general strength, a correct estimation of their own resources, moral and material, and a choice of means based on these data. But even more than the plan (the storming programme), what is striking is its execution, in which some features of the plan turned out to be additional steps to the Russian victory. Only troops who are perfectly trained and between whom and their leader there is complete harmony can act in this way".^[47]

Despite early successes on a battlefield, the organizer of theuprising,Tadeusz Kościuszko, was captured by theDon Cossack generalFyodor P. Denisov ^[ru] at thebattle of Maciejowice, where Kościuszko was defeated at the hand ofBaronFersen's larger forces. Suvorov's and other Russians' victories led to thethird partition of Poland. He sent a report to his sovereign consisting of only three words:^[56]

"Hurrah, Warsaw's ours!" (Russian:Ура, Варшава наша!)

Catherine replied in two words:^[56]

"Hurrah, Field-Marshal!" (Russian:Ура, фельдмаршал! – that is, awarding him this rank)

The newly appointedfield marshal remained in Poland until 1795, when he returned to Saint Petersburg. But his sovereign and friend Catherine died in 1796, and her son and successorPaul I dismissed the veteran in disgrace.^[33]

TheRusso-Turkish War of 1768–1774 saw his first successful campaigns against the Turks between 1773 and 1774, and particularly in thebattle of Kozludža (1774); Suvorov laid the foundations of his reputation there.^[33] During the same conflict, theImperial Russian Navy triumphed over theOttoman Navy at thebattle of Cheshme, andPeter (Pyotr) Rumyantsev, likewise one of the most capable Russian commanders of theera as per statisticianGaston Bodart and historianK. Osipov ^[ru], routed the Ottomans at thebattle of Kagul. Petrushevsky states the following: "The battles ofLarga,Chesma, andKagul were balm for the Russian heart of Suvorov, but at the same time a vexation stirred up in him from the fact that he had not participated there. While in Poland, Suvorov's displeasure, inflated by his self-love and unsatisfied thirst for activity, was fed by news from the Turkishtheatre of war. There was (or he thought there was) what he wanted, that "comfort" about which he wrote toYakov Bulgakov in January 1771. Especially strong was to ignite in Suvorov is the desire to go to the main army afterits glorious deeds of 1770". It was then that he had already started pushing for a transfer from Poland to Turkey.^[57]

His later earned victories against the Ottomans bolstered the morale of his soldiers who were usually outnumbered, such as thestormings of Turtukaya from 21 May to 28 June 1773, and the repelling of theassault on Hirsovo fortress with a subsequent counterattack on 14 September that year.^[58] In Suvorov's firstreconnaissance toTurtukaya the troops pulled up to thetract ofOltenița, not far from theDanube, waiting for dawn. Suvorov stayed at theoutposts, wrapped himself in a cloak and went to bed not far from the Danube shore. It was not yet daybreak when he heard loud shouts: "alla, alla"; jumping to his feet, he saw several Turkish horsemen, who with raised sabres were rushing towards him. He had barely time to jump on his horse and gallop away.Carabiniers were immediately sent to assist the attacked Cossacks, and those first-mentioned attacked the Turks in the flank, while they, having struck down the Cossacks, carried on to the heights. The Turks were repulsed, throwing themselves to the ships and hurriedly departed from the shore; there were only 900 of them, of whom 85 were killed, more were sunk; several men were taken prisoners, including the chief of the detachment. According to the testimony of the prisoners Suvorov managed to find out how many men were in the Turtukaya stronghold,^[59] and following its capture, even before sunrise, Suvorov wrote in pencil on a small piece of paper and sent toLieutenant-GeneralCount Ivan Saltykov, in whosedivision he served, the following short report: "YourExcellency, we have won; thank God, thank you". Suvorov also sent another report to theCommander-in-Chief Rumyantsev, consisting of couplets:^[60][61]

Glory to God, glory to you,
Turtukaya is taken and I am there too.

The war ended with thetreaty of Küçük Kaynarca.

Suvorov's astuteness in war was uncanny and he also proved a self-willed subordinate who acted upon his own initiative. Rumyantsev's putting Suvorov on trial for his arbitrary reconnaissance of Turtukaya belongs to the realm of pure fiction. Rumyantsev was not dissatisfied with Suvorov, but with Ivan Saltykov.^[62] There was inactivity inWallachia after Suvorov's initial capture of Turtukaya; Saltykov did not take advantage of the successful Turtukaya engagement despite the insistence of Rumyantsev; and Ottomancommunications on the Danube became unimpeded. Lieutenant-GeneralMikhail Kamensky, with whose help Suvorov defeated the Turks atKozludzha, not liking Suvorov, at the same time teased Ivan Saltykov with the mention of Alexander Vasilyevich. In one "decent, but rather unpleasant" letter to Saltykov, he amuses himself about the second Turtukaya victory of Suvorov and the inaction of Saltykov himself.^[63] Plus, a little earlier several reconnaissances had been made from Saltykov's division and one of them very unsuccessful. Colonel PrinceRepnin was taken prisoner with 3staff officers, more than 200 Russians were killed and missing, 2 ships, and 2 cannons were recaptured.^[62]

From 1787 to 1791, under the overall command ofGrigory Alexandrovich Potemkin, he again fought theTurks during theRusso-Turkish War of 1787–1792 and won many victories; he was wounded twice at the hard-wonKinburnengagement (1787) and saved only thanks to the intervention of thegrenadier Stepan Novikov. Novikov heard the call of his chief, threw himself at the Turks; he stabbed one, shot another and turned to the third, but that one fled, and with him the rest. The retreating Russian grenadiers noticed Suvorov, shouted: "Brothers, the general stayed in front!" and rushed again upon the Ottomans. The fight resumed, and the bewildered Turkish soldiers began again to rapidly lose onetrench after another.^[64] Suvorov suffered greatly from grievous wounds and huge loss of blood; although he kept on his feet, he often fainted, and this went on for a month.^[65]

Suvorov was also soon involved in the costlysiege of Ochakov (Özi). Energetic and courageous as usual, Alexander Suvorov proposed to take the fortress by storm, but Potemkin was cautious. "That's not how we beat the Poles and the Turks," Suvorov said in a close group of people; "one look will not take the fortress. If you had listened to me,Ochakov would have been in our hands long ago".^[66] The siege that took place wassupported by a blockade of theBlack Seaflotilla ofCharles Henri de Nassau-Siegen underJohn Paul Jones, a renowned fighter forAmerican independence. After a fiercenaval combat, the Russian rowing vessels surrounded theflagship and took it; onlyKapudan-ı DeryaHasan Pasha managed to escape.^[67] However, when great damage was done to the Ottoman fortress plus fleet, "as if inviting" the besiegers to storm, Potemkin still continued the siege, which Rumyantsev wryly called thesiege of Troy, and Suvorov described in couplet that he was:

Sitting on a stone so cold,
Watching Ochakov as of old.^[g]

The mortality rate was extreme, from one cold 30–40 people a day: the soldiers were stiff in theirdugouts, suffering terrible want of essentials, and so were the horses. During Potemkin's visit to the camp, the soldiers took the courage to personally ask him to storm, but this did not work. At last there was a deafening murmur among the whole army. Only having reached such a hopeless situation Potemkin decided to storm, setting it for 17 December,^[69][70] in which Suvorov did not participate due to a bullet wound that penetrated his neck and stopped at the back of his head. This happened during a successful Ottoman sortie from the fortress.^[h][71]

In 1789, after the joint Russian andHabsburg victoriousbattle of Focșani, he and the talentedAustro-Bavarian generalJosias of Coburg fought most decisive victories in their career. First at thebattle of Rymnik, where, despite the vast inferiority in numbers (a Russian–Austrian force of 25,000 against 100,000 Turks), Suvorov persuaded the Austrian commander to attack;^[72] with the boldflanking maneuver of Suvorov and the resilience of the Austrians, together they routed the Ottoman army within a few hours, losing only 500 men in the process. Suvorov earned the nickname "General Forward" in the ranks of the Austrian corps for the latter victory; the word combination came to his attention and gave him sincere pleasure, as he later recalled this martial assessment of his person, smugly grinning.^[73] Suvorov's11th Fanagoriysky Grenadier Regiment was formed from soldiers who took part at Rymnik. Catherine the Great, in turn, made Suvorov a count with the nameRymniksky (orRimniksky^[74]) as avictory title in addition to his own name, and the EmperorJoseph II made him a count of theHoly Roman Empire.^[33]

The second one came at thestorming of Izmail inBessarabia on 22 December 1790. On 20 December Suvorov convened amilitary council. Petrushevsky writes as follows: "Suvorov had nothing to consult about, but by doing so, he acted on the basis of the law and used this means to communicate his decision to others, to make his view their view, his conviction – their conviction." Petrushevsky further observes: "This is very difficult for ordinary commanders who do not tower over their subordinates in anything other than their position; but easy for such as Suvorov. There is no need for ranting, or intricately woven evidence; it is the winning authority that persuades, the unbending will that fascinates". Suvorov spoke a little in council and nevertheless brought everyone into raptures, he enthralled the very people who a few days ago considered the same assault unrealisable. The youngest of those present, BrigadierPlatov, said the wordassault, and the decision to assault was taken by all 13 persons without exception. The council determined:^[75]

"approaching Izmail, according to the disposition to storm it without delay, in order to give the enemy no time for further strengthening, and therefore there is no need for reference to his lordship the commander-in-chief [Grigory Potemkin].Serasker's request is to be refused. The siege must not be turned into a blockade. Retreat is reprehensible toHer Imperial Majesty's victorious troops. By virtue of chapter fourteen ofthe military regulations ^[ru]."

Turkish forces inside the fortress had the orders to stand their ground to the end and haughtily declined the Russianultimatum. Despite the fact thatMehmed Pasha was a resolute and firm commander, and inflicted serious losses on the Russians, his army was destroyed. Their defeat was seen as a major catastrophe in theOttoman Empire, and inRussian military history there has never been a similar instantaneous storming of a fortress in terms of numbers and casualties as that of Izmail, much less without a proper siege. An unofficial Russian national anthem in the late 18th and early 19th centuries "Grom pobedy, razdavaysya!" ("Let the Thunder of Victory Rumble!"; byGavrila Derzhavin andJózef Kozłowski) immortalized Suvorov's victory and 24 December is today commemorated as aDay of Military Honour in Russia. In this warFyodor Ushakov also won many famous naval victories, as in thebattle of Tendra, which deprived the Ottomans of Izmail's support from the Danube. Suvorov announced the capture of Ismail in 1791 to the Empress Catherine in adoggerel couplet.^[76]

The war ended with thetreaty of Jassy.

From 1774 to 1797, Suvorov stayed and served in Russia itself, that is, inTransvolga or "Zavolzhye", inAstrakhan,Kremenchug, theRussian capitalSaint Petersburg; inCrimea, or, more accurately,Little Tartary (Kuban which is in theNorth Caucasus, andKherson); in the recently formerPoland (Tulchin,Kobrin); and in theVyborg Governorate, on the border withSwedish Finland.

In 1774, Suvorov was dispatched to suppressPugachev's Rebellion, whose leaderYemelyan Pugachev claimed to be the assassinated TsarPeter III. CountPyotr Panin, appointed for operations against Pugachev, asked to appoint a general to assist him, who could replace him in case of illness or death. On the very day of the news' arrival of Pugachev's passage to the right bank of theVolga, Rumyantsev sent orders – to send Suvorov to Moscow as soon as possible. Suvorov, who was inMoldavia, immediately rushed out at full speed, met in Moscow with his wife and father. On the order left by Panin, in one caftan and without luggage, raced to the village ofUkholovo, betweenShatsk andPereyaslavl Ryazansky. He arrived in Ukholovo on September 3 (NS), just at the time when Panin received notice of Alexander Vasilyevich's appointment. Panin gave him broad powers and ordered the military and civil authorities – to execute all Suvorov's orders.^[77]

After receiving instructions, Suvorov the same day set out on the road, in the direction ofArzamas andPenza toSaratov, with a small escort of 50 men. Panin reported to the Empress on the rapid performance of his new subordinate, which "promised in the circumstances of the time a lot of good ahead and therefore worthy of attention". Thanking him for such zeal and speed, the Empress granted him 2,000chervonets to equip the crew. Reaching Saratov, Suvorov learned that tirelessIvan Mikhelson, who "like a shadow" followed everywhere after Pugachev and repeatedly defeated him, again defeated him badly. Strengthening his detachment here, Suvorov hurried toTsaritsyn, but a lot of horses went to Pugachev, there was a lack of them, and Suvorov was forced to continue the journey by water. Defeated by Mikhelson, Pugachev slipped away; having somehow crossed the Volga with a small number of his loyalists, he disappeared into the vaststeppe. Hasty arrival of Suvorov in Tsaritsyn drew the attention of the Empress, who announced her pleasure to Count Panin. But Suvorov was still essentially late. However, Suvorov did not stop it, he assigned to his detachment 2squadrons, 2 Cossacksotnias, using horses captured by Mikhelson put on horseback 300 infantrymen, seized 2 light guns, and after spending less than a day on it all, crossed the Volga. Apparently, for reconnaissance on the rebels, he first moved upriver, came to a large village, which kept the Pugachev side, took 50 oxen, and then seeing that around the quiet, turned to the steppe. This vast steppe, which stretched for several hundred km., desolate, woodless, homeless, was a "dead desert, where even without the enemy's weapons was threatened with death". Suvorov had very little bread; he ordered to kill, salt and bake on fire some of the taken cattle and use the slices of meat for people instead of bread, as he did in the last campaign of the Seven Years' War. Thus secured for some time, Suvorov's detachment went deeper into the steppe. "They followed the sun by day and the stars by night; there were no roads, they followed the traces and moved as fast as they could, not paying attention to any atmospheric changes, because there was no place to hide from them". In different places Suvorov was overtaken and joined by several detachments, who went before him from Tsaritsyn; on 23 September, he came to theMaly Uzen River, divided his squad into four parts and went to theBolshoy Uzen in different directions. Soon they stumbled on Pugachev's trail; they found out that Pugachev was here in the morning, that his men, seeing an unstoppable pursuit, lost faith in the success of their cause, revolted, tied Pugachev and took him toYaitsk, to extradite the leader to save themselves. And indeed Pugachev was arrested, as it turned out later, at this time, some 53 km (33 mi) from Suvorov.^[78] Suvorov arrived at the scene only in time to conduct the first interrogation of the rebel leader, but Suvorov missed the chance to defeat him in battle, who had been betrayed by his fellow Cossacks and was eventually beheaded in Moscow.^[33]

As a result of theRusso-Turkish War of 1768–1774, theCrimean Khanate became independent of the Ottomans, but in fact became a Russianprotectorate (1774 to 1783). The Russian-imposedŞahin Giray proved unpopular. TheKubanNogais remained hostile to the Russian government.^[79] From the end of January 1777, Suvorov set about building new fortifications at Kuban, despite the severe cold and predator raids, suggesting that the entire cordon should be shortened, and that it should be connected to theAzov-Mozdok fortified line ^[ru]. There were only about 12,000 men under Suvorov's command. He explored the region, more than 30 fortifications were built, and the order of service at the cordon was changed. Attacks from across the Kuban ceased;Tatars, guarded against the unrest of TurkishZakuban ^[ru] emissaries and from the raids of predators, were pacified, and began to make sure that the Russians really had good intentions towards them. But the peace was short-lived, however. "Intelligent Rumyantsev could not fail to appreciate the fruitful activities of Suvorov in Kuban" and spoke of him with pleasure and praise.^[80]

By 1781, the situation in the Crimean Khanate, especially in theNorth-West Caucasus, had "heated up to the limit". Dissatisfaction with theKhan and the withdrawal of Russian troops led to an uprising of the Kuban Nogais at the beginning of the year. By July 1782, the uprising had spread toCrimea. In September to October 1782, Suvorov was engaged in "restoring order" on the territory of north-west Caucasus. The first insurrection was suppressed by the force of returning Russian troops directly by Alexander Suvorov andAnton de Balmen at the end of 1782 (Balmen put down a rebellion on theCrimean Peninsula territory). In 1783, Suvorov with complete surprise for the rebels crossed theKuban River and in the battle of theLaba on 1 October (nearKermenchik tract) decisively quelled the secondNogai uprising, which, in turn, was triggered by Catherine'smanifesto, declaring Crimea,Taman, and Kuban as Russian possessions.^[79] At the Laba, Nogai losses amounted to 4,000.^[81]

On behalf of Empress Catherine II, Suvorov participated in an incident – the forced resettlement of Christians from Crimea.^[20] The possession of Crimea did not seem secure for Russia at that time. Russia had to extract all it could from Crimea, and this was achieved by resettling Christians, mainly ofGreek andArmenian nationalities, from Crimea: they had industry, horticulture and agriculture, which constituted a significant part of the Crimean Khan's income. The fact that the Crimean Christians were burdened "to the last degree" by the Khan's extortions and, therefore, the tax exemption granted to them in the new place should have inclined them in favor of the measure conceived by the Russian government, was in favor of the feasibility of resettlement. Thus the matter was resolved and Suvorov was entrusted with its execution.^[82] In the second half of September 1778 the resettlement ended. More than 31,000 souls were evicted; the Greeks were mostly settled between the riversBerda ^[uk] andKalmius, along the riverSolyonaya ^[uk] and all the way toAzov; the Armenians nearRostov and generally on theDon. Rumyantsev reported to the Empress that "the withdrawal of the Christians can be regarded as a conquest of a noble province". 130,000rubles were spent for transportation and food. Petrushevsky suggests that food itself cost very cheap, because Suvorov bought from the same Christians 50,000 quarters of bread, which, coming locally to the shops, cost half as much as delivered from Russia, what resulted in savings of 100,000 rubles. "Suvorov's orders were distinguished by remarkable and calculated prudence, he had put his heart into this business". More than half a year later, when the case was almost submitted to the archives, Suvorov still felt as if he had a moral obligation towards the settlers and wrote to Potemkin:^[83]

"The Crimean settlers suffer many shortcomings in their present state; look upon them with a merciful eye, who have sacrificed so much to the throne; relish their bitter remembrance."

After Suvorov organized the resettlement of Armenian migrants displaced from Crimea, Catherine gave them permission to establish a new city, namedNor Nakhichevan by the Armenians. In addition, Alexander Suvorov would later found the city ofTiraspol (1792), now the capital ofTransnistria.

In 1778 Alexander as well prevented a Turkish landing on the Crimean Peninsula, thwarting another Russo-Turkish war.^[20] In 1780 he became alieutenant-general and in 1783 –General of the Infantry, upon completion of his tour of duty in the Caucasus and Crimea.^[33]

Going toKherson (1792), Suvorov received quite a detailed instruction. He was entrusted with command over the troops in theYekaterinoslav Governorate,Taurida Oblast and the territory newly annexed fromOttoman Turkey, with the responsibility to manage the fortification works there.Black Sea Fleet was under the command ofVice-AdmiralNikolay Mordvinov, and a rowing fleet under the command of General-MajorOsip Deribas, who was dependent on Suvorov only for troops in the fleet. Suvorov was ordered to inspect the troops to ascertain their condition and replenish what was missing, to survey the coast and borders, and submit his opinion on bringing them to safety from accidental attack; he was also allowed to change the disposition of the troops without giving any reason for neighbors to think that the Russians were anxious; – finally, he was ordered to collect and submit notifications from abroad.^[84]

Engineering occupied the most prominent place in Suvorov's activities in the south, as well as in Finland. The plans signed by him were preserved: the project of thePhanagoria fortress, three projects of fortifications of theKinburn Spit and theDnieper–Bug estuary, the plan of theKinburn Fortress ^[ru], the mainlogistics center of Tiraspol, thefort ofHacıdere (Ovidiopol) on theDnieper–Bug estuary,Khadjibey (Odessa) andSevastopol (Akhtiar) fortifications. Some of these were built during his time there and have progressed considerably, others had only just begun; there were also fortifications remained in the project due to short time and lack of money. At Sevastopol four forts were started, including 2casemated; in Khadjibey was placed a military harbor with a merchant pier, according toFrançois Sainte de Wollant's plans, under the direct supervision of Deribas and supreme surveillance of Suvorov.^[85]

InTulchin he contributed to the training of troops (1796). On arriving in Tulchin, Suvorov first of all paid attention to the welfare of the soldiers. There were "huge numbers" dying, as in epidemic times, especially at work in theport of Odessa, where the annual percentage of deaths reached up to 1/4 of the entire staff of the troops, and one separate team died out almost entirely. The reason: "many generals were suppliers to the troops"; the builder ofOdessa Deribas capitalised "terribly" on this. Against all the "evils" detected, Suvorov took immediate measures, akin to those of the previous ones, and watched their execution vigilantly. Barely two months have passed before the death rate in Odessa fell fourfold, and in some other places the percentage of deaths was closer to normal, and in August it was below normal.^[86]

A feast was held in Russia to commemorate glorious military exploits, especially the storming of Izmail. A few days before the feast, 6 May 1791, Suvorov received from Potemkin command of the Empress – to go around Finland to the Swedish border, to design a border fortifications. Suvorov went willingly, "just to get rid of his inactivity"; the region was familiar to him, as 17 years ago he had already traveled around the Swedish border, and although the present task seemed more difficult, but with his usual energy and diligence, Suvorov completed it in less than 4 weeks.^[87] The Empress treated with full approval of Suvorov's construction works.^[88]

During the harsh Finnish spring, he traveled in sledges in the wild backwoods of the Russian–Swedish border, enduring hardships that "a military man of high position does not know even in wartime". Repeated the same old thing: Suvorov had already traveled in winter inclement weather, riding on a Cossack horse, without luggage, to Izmail.^[87]

Suvorov, besides building and repairing fortresses, had troops and aflotilla on his hands. The greater part of the rowing flotilla was in theskerries, the smaller onLake Saimaa. At first the flotilla was commanded by Prince Nassau-Siegen, but in the summer of 1791, he absented himself from Catherine on theRhine to offer his services to theFrench princes for the war against theRepublicans. The flotilla was numbering upwards of 125 vessels of various names and sizes, with 850guns; it was under the command ofCounter-Admiral Marquessde Traversay and General-MajorHermann, subordinates to Suvorov. He was responsible for manning ships, for training people, for conducting naval exercises and maneuvers. Suvorov was never a nominal chief; he endeavoured to familiarise himself, as much as possible, with marine speciality. Some practical information he had acquired earlier, in the Dnieper–Bug estuary, where a flotilla was also under his command, and continued in Finland to look into naval affairs. On his first trip here he took private lessons, about which he wrote to Military SecretaryTurchaninov ^[ru]; later, according to some reports, he jokingly asked to test himself in naval knowledge and passed the exam "quite satisfactorily".^[89]

Suvorov lived in different places in Finland, depending on the need: inVyborg,Kymmenegård ^[fi],Ruotsinsalmi. In Kymmenegård he left a memory of his concern for theOrthodox Church: he sent a church choir director from St. Petersburg to train local choristers, bought different church things for several hundred rubles. Here he formed a circle of acquaintances, free from service time spent fun; Suvorov often danced, and in a letter toDmitry Khvostov bragged that once he "contradanced for three hours straight".^[90]

Suvorov remained a close confidant of Catherine, but he had a negative relationship with her son and heir apparentPaul. Paul even had his own regiment of Russian soldiers whom he dressed up in Prussian-style uniforms and paraded around. Suvorov was strongly opposed to these uniforms and had fought hard for Catherine to get rid of similar uniforms that were used by Russians up until 1784.^[33]

When Catherine died of a stroke in 1796, Paul I was crownedEmperor and brought back these outdated uniforms.^[20] It is considered that in the same yearthe Golden Age ^[ru] ofRussian nobility and of the Russian Empire came to an end, along with Catherine the Great.^[91] Suvorov was not happy with Paul's reforms and disregarded his orders to train new soldiers in this Prussian manner, which he considered cruel and useless.^[20] Paul was infuriated and dismissed Suvorov, exiling him to his estateKonchanskoye ^[ru] nearBorovichi and kept under surveillance. His correspondence with his wife, who had remained at Moscow because their marriage was unhappy, was also tampered with. It is recorded that on Sundays he tolled the bell for church and sang among the rustics in the village choir. On weekdays he worked among them in asmock-frock.^[33]

In February 1799, Paul I, worried about the victories ofFrance in Europe during theFrench Revolutionary Wars and at the insistence of thecoalition leaders, was forced to reinstate Suvorov as field marshal.^[33] Alexander Suvorov was given command of the Austro-Russian army and sent to drive France's forces out ofItaly. For subordination of the Austrian soldiers to a general of foreign service, it was deemed necessary to place him a step above the most senior Austrian generals of the army of Italy, also granting thefield-marshal of theHRE.^[92]

Suvorov andNapoleon never met in battle because Napoleon wascampaigning in Egypt and Syria at the time. However, in 1799, Suvorov erased practically all of the gains Napoleon had made for France innorthern Italy during1796 and 1797, defeating some of the republic's top generals:Moreau andSchérer at theAdda River (Lecco,Vaprio d'Adda,Cassano d'Adda,Verderio Superiore), again Moreau atSan Giuliano (Spinetta Marengo^[i]),MacDonald near the rivers ofTidone,Trebbia,Nure at theTrebbia battle, andJoubert along with Moreau atNovi;^[20] but the Russians lost thebattle of Bassignana. All the major battles (Adda, Trebbia, Novi) are of the most decisive nature.^[93] Besides, the following Italian fortresses fell before Suvorov:Brescia (21 April);Peschiera del Garda,Tortona,Pizzighettone (April);Alessandria,Mantua (July). Suvorov capturedMilan andTurin, as well ascitadels of these cities, and became a hero to those who opposed theFrench Revolution. Allied forces also took the towns ofParma andModena, the capitals of theDuchies ofParma–Piacenza andModena–Reggio respectively. The British drawn manycaricatures dedicated to Suvorov's expedition.^[j]

The Frenchclient statesCisalpine Republic andPiedmontese Republic collapsed in the face of Suvorov's onset.Admiral Ushakov, sent to theMediterranean for support to Suvorov, in 1799 completed the five-monthsiege of Corfu (1798–1799) and put an end to theFrench occupation of the Ionian Islands in Greece. On receiving news of the capture ofCorfu, Suvorov exclaimed:^[94]

OurGreat Peter is alive! What he, after defeating the Swedish fleetnear Åland in 1714, said, namely that nature has produced only one Russia: she has no rival, — we see it now. Hooray! To the Russian fleet!.. I now say to myself: why wasn't I at least amidshipman at Corfu?

Thesister republic in the south, theParthenopean, also fell before theBritishRoyal Navy,Ushakov's navalsquadron, and the local rebels, since Jacques MacDonald at the head of theArmy of Naples was forced to abandonsouthern Italy to meet Suvorov at the Trebbia, leaving only weakgarrisons in the Neapolitan lands. MacDonald attackedOtt's small force, whereupon Suvorov quickly concentrated most of his army against MacDonald and threw his men into the fray immediately after a hard march. This confrontation near the Trebbia proved to be the toughest French defeat of Suvorov's Italian campaign: by the end of the retreat, MacDonald had barely 10,000 to 12,000^[k] men left out of an army of 35,000.^[96] The battle of Novi, on the other hand, is the most difficult victory in Suvorov's career, largely because the French had strong defensive positions and the Allies could not fully deploy their superior cavalry as a consequence;^[97] however, the Russo-Austrian victory turned into a completerout for the French army. Its troops lost 16,000 of their comrades-in-arms (in total) and were driven from Italy, save for a handful in theMaritime Alps and aroundGenoa.^[98] But theHofkriegsrat did not choose to take advantage, and sent Suvorov with his Austrian and Russian forces toSwitzerland. Suvorov himself gained the title of "Prince of theHouse of Savoy" and the rank ofgrand marshal of the Piedmont troops from theKing of Sardinia,^[99] and after theTrebbian battle – the title of "Prince of Italy" (orKnyaz Italiysky).^[100]

LikeGustavus Adolphus,Turenne,Frederick II the Great,Alexander the Great,Hannibal, andCaesar, in military affairs Alexander Vasilyevich was not vulnerable at any point, rushing with speed to the most important places, and carefully observed the principle offorce concentration all his life:^[101] atSan Giuliano Vecchio (1st Marengo), for example, his troops gathered more than double superiority,^[102] and at Novi not so considerable, but at least reaching about 38 per cent, which was still offset by the French army's favourable position.^[103] The combat of Lecco, fought as a diversionary maneuver, brought virtually no advantage to either side, but at the beginning, before the reinforcements, the Russian troops were far inferior in numbers. At the combat of Vaprio (part of Cassano), passing through a river obstacle, theCoalition eventually managed to concentrate four thousand more troops in practice than the French did, largely also at the expense of the Cossacks; although in the middle of the battle the French had a twofold preponderance in numbers. In the end there were about 11,000 Austrians and Cossacks versus 7,000 French; but French troops began to give up their footholds before the remaining Austrian battalions arrived. Notwithstanding all, the outcome of the combat at Vaprio d'Adda could have been the only outcome: the timely arrival of 3,000 fromSérurier's division, 6,000 fromVictor's division (2,000 he could have left at Cassano d'Adda on the way), would be 16,000 French, led by Moreau, against 11,000 of the enemy.^[104] At Cassano d'Adda, Suvorov allocated about 13,000 Austrians against approximately 3,000 French from the divisions ofPaul Grenier and Claude-Victor (along with reinforcements), who had taken up strong defences behind the stream; but it was the combat of Vaprio that was decisive and pivotal. AtVerderio the Sérurier detachment, cut off during the combat at Vaprio d'Adda, was surrounded and pinned down by the river. Thus, with roughly equal strength overall, having a minimum of 65,000 men at his disposal against the 58,000 available for active operations in the field^[105] as part of the FrenchArmy of Italy, Suvorov was able to use every advantage he had in thetheater to win a complete victory at the battle of Cassano.^[106] The blame lies with Barthélemy Schérer: he scattered an even cordon along the whole river; on the more important stretch from Lecco to Cassano d'Adda, 42 km (26 mi), there were no more than 12,000; meanwhile Suvorov had 42,000 on the same stretch.^[107]

Near the Trebbia, in contrast to the above, MacDonald had one and a half superiority; this circumstance is explained by the fact thatKray, despite the order of Suvorov, did not send him reinforcements, based on the direct command ofHoly Roman EmperorFrancis II not to separate any forces before the surrender ofMantua. It was too late for the commander-in-chief to find out.^[108] At the battle of the Trebbia on the first day at theTidone River, the French had 19,000 men against his 14–15,000,^[109] and were thrown back. By the Trebbia River itself on the second day the forces were equal, and on the third day Suvorov, with some 22,000 men, beat MacDonald's force of 33,000–35,000. Suvorov then rushed into a fighting pursuit, and at theNure River, similar to Verderio, an entireAuvergne Regiment was captured after a short battle.^[110]

Despite the restraining influence of theHofkriegsrat, Suvorov always held the initiative in his hands when dealing with the enemy. If the French sometimes tried to catch him (e.g., the movements of Moreau and MacDonald to join at Tortona), the Allies concentrated and dealt brutal blows like at the Trebbia. As for Novi, Joubert, advancing from Genoa to Tortona and expecting to catch theAllied Field Army scattered, unexpectedly met Suvorov and his "strike fist" behindNovi Ligure.^[111] But perseverance in the battle of Novi came to the point that when the Russian attacks were unsuccessful, Suvorov got off his horse and, rolling on the ground, shouted: "dig a grave for me, I will not survive this day", and then resumed his attacks. Moreau spoke of Suvorov in this way:^[112]

"What can you say of a general so resolute to a superhuman degree, and who would perish himself and let his army perish to the last man rather than retreat a single pace."

As a disadvantage to his decisiveness,Field Marshal Suvorov, famous for the storming of Izmail, did not want to storm the citadels of Italian cities, and preferred to resort, in accordance with the situation, to blockade and siege.^[113] Nevertheless, during the Italian campaign of 1799 Suvorov's talent expressed itself fully and comprehensively.Nikolay Orlov describes: "When assessing Suvorov's actions, one must always keep in mind the unfavourable situation for the commander, the environment in which he was:—meaning mainly the inconvenience of commanding the Allied troops, originating from the difference in political aspirations of the Allied governments, and the binding influence of theHofkriegsrat".^[114]

The Polish forces had a no small quantity ofmilitias, and the Turks and Tartars were largely "unstable hordes". True, "all these opponents were characterised by fanatical bravery, it was not easy for Suvorov to overcome them; the wars brought Suvorov practice, from which he took out extensive experience, his talent gradually developed and strengthened in this fight, the commander learned the essence, the spirit of war".^[115] In 1799, Suvorov's enemies were troops purelyregular, crowned with the glory of victories over theGerman armies (considered themselves the best in Europe), and were led by some of the best generals of the time,^[114] including Jean Victor Moreau, "a man in the prime of life" (35), who was generally respected in the army, distinguished by his theoretical knowledge of the art of war and combat experience, affability and high intelligence. "He was not a high-minded genius, but the presence of mind and unwavering equanimity gave him the ability to come out with honour from the most critical circumstances. At any rate, after Bonaparte, he was the best French general of the time" (the talentedLazare Hoche was no longer alive),^[116] winning the famous victoryat Hohenlinden a year later. The theater of war was not like thosesteppes, swamps and forests, among which the commander had hitherto fought.^[114] In the war with the French Suvorov was not only commander-in-chief, independently acting in the theater of operations, but in addition he was in charge of the allied army – a matter even more difficult for a commander,^[114] and in the battles of Cassano and Novi the Austrians formed the bulk of the army, while at Cassano onlyirregular Cossack troops participated from the Russian side, including the encirclement of the French detachment at Verderio. It should also be noted that Suvorov, being fiery and irritable, was able to restrain himself in many cases.^[112]

After the victorious Italian theater, Suvorov planned to march on Paris, but instead was ordered to Switzerland to join up with the Russian forces already there and drive the French out. The Russian army underGeneral Korsakov was defeated byAndré Masséna atZürich, andFriedrich von Hotze's Austrian army was defeated byJean-de-Dieu Soult at theLinth River before Suvorov could reach and unite with them all. "…I have defeated myselfJelačić and Lincken who are now pinned down inGlarus. Marshal Suvorov is surrounded on all sides. He will be the one forced to surrender!"—saidGabriel Jean Joseph Molitor toFranz von Auffenberg andPyotr Ivanovich Bagration.^[117]

Surrounded by Masséna's 77,000 French troops,^[118] Suvorov with a force of 18,000 Russian regulars and 5,000 Cossacks, exhausted and short of provisions, led a strategic withdrawal from theAlps while fighting off the French.^[20]

Early on in the path, going to join with the not yet defeated Korsakov, he struggled against generalClaude Lecourbe and overcame theSt. Gotthard andOberalp (that goes roundOberalpsee)mountain passes. Suvorov's troops beat the French out ofHospental (situated in theUrseren valley), followed by the so-calledTeufelsbrücke, or "Devil's Bridge", located in theSchoellenen Gorge, and theUrnerloch rock tunnel. All these interventions were not without great losses for Suvorov; but in his main attack, where he concentrated some 6,700 against 6,000 Frenchmen, he suffered relatively the same casualties as his opponent.^[119] However, Suvorov's troops were at their wits' end.

Russian troops ofAndrey Grigoryevich Rosenberg crossed theLukmanier Pass, Austrian troops of Franz Auffenberg overcame theChrüzli Pass, while Suvorov himself also later traversed more remote passes such asChinzig andPragel (Bragell), before climbing the 8,000-foot mountainRossstock.^[120] Marching over rocks had worn out the soldiers' inadequate footwear, of which many were now even deprived, uniforms were often in tatters, rifles and bayonets were rusting from the constant dampness, and the men were starving for lack of adequate supplies,—they were exhausted, surrounded by impassable mountains in freezing cold, and, one way or another, faced a French army far superior in numbers and equipment. Cossack reconnaissance units instead of the Austrians of Lincken found the French there. France's forces, meanwhile, blocked off many important places for troop movements;^[121] and on September 29 (18OS), still uncertain but informed about the fate of Korsakov and Hotze (from the testimony of French prisoners), Suvorov assembled acouncil of war in the refectory of theFranciscan monastery ofSaint Joseph, which decided to pave the way for the army toward Glarus. During the council the Russian commander showed himself extremely resolute not to surrender, blamed the Austrian allies for all the hardships they were forced to suffer, and proposed what appeared to him to be the only possible solution. Suvorov dictated the disposition: in the vanguard appointed to go Auffenberg, who came out on the 29th, and the next day the rest of the troops, except for Rosenberg's corps andFoerster's ^[ru] division, which remained in the rearguard and must hold the enemy coming out ofSchwyz until all thepacks had passed over the mountain Bragell. Rosenberg was ordered to hold firm,—to repel the French with all his strength, but not to pursue him beyond Schwyz.^[122] Alexander Suvorov's speech was written down from the words of Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration, made a huge impression on everyone who attended^[123] (especially angry and menacing lookedDerfelden and Bagration^[122]):

We are surrounded by mountains… surrounded by a strong enemy, proud of victory… Since thePruth expedition, under the Sovereign Emperor Peter the Great, Russian troops have never been in such a perilous position…^[123] To go back is dishonorable. I have never retreated. Advancing to Schwyz^[l] is impossible: Masséna commands more than 60,000 men and our troops do not reach 20,000. We are short of supplies, ammunition and artillery… We cannot expect help from anyone. We are on the edge of the precipice! All we have left is to rely on Almighty God and the courage and spirit of sacrifice of my troops! We are Russians! God is with us!^[121]

Between 30 September and 1 October 1799, Suvorov'svanguard of 2,100 men, led by Bagration, was able to break through theKlöntalvalley,—withKlöntalersee inside,—and reached the goal. It inflicted 1,000 killed or wounded, and another 1,000 captured to a French force of 6,500 men.^[8] However, Bagration tried to push further than Glarus, failing to do so: he was finally stopped by Molitor's troops.

When Molitor took up a position atNetstal, he held for a long time, in spite of Bagration's persistent attacks. Finally driven out of Netstal with the loss of a cannon, abanner and 300 prisoners, Molitor retreated toNäfels, on both banks of the riverLinth. Here the French took a strong position, where they again repulsed Bagration long and hard. No matter how weakened Bagration's troops were by the previous battles and heavy march through the mountains, they had so far gained superior numbers over Molitor's detachment. Molitor had gone into full retreat, but the long-expected advance troops ofGazan soon came to his aid. The French now received an overwhelming strength and knocked them out of Näfels. Bagration in turn attacked Näfels and drove off the French, who then went on the attack again. Five or six times the village passed from hand to hand, and when last time it was occupied by the Russians, Bagration received orders from Suvorov to withdraw to Netstal, where at that time the rest of Derfelden's troops were already concentrated. It was evening when Bagration came out of Näfels; noticing this, Gazan moved all his forces to the attack and himself led the grenadiers to the bayonets; but this time the French were also repulsed, and Bagration's troops retreated quite calmly to Netstal.^[124]

Meanwhile, on the same days, the rearguard of 7,000 men^[8][125] out of a total of 14,000, commanded by Andrey Rosenberg, who, according to plan, was assigned the task of deterrence,met with Masséna's forces, which numbered up to 15,000 men^[8] out of 24,000 in theMuotatal (Muota valley), formerly Muttental. Suvorov ordered to hold on there at all costs, and the rearguard, suffering 500^[125] to 700^[126] casualties, routed the French by inflicting them between 2,700^[8] and 4,000^[127] losses in two days. More than 1,000 prisoners alone were taken, including a general and 15 officers. Suvorov reported to Paul 6,500 French dead, wounded and prisoners of war in two days of fighting: 1,600 – September 30 and 4,500 – October 1.^[128] While Suvorov was fighting the French, the short-livedRoman sister republic had also fallen before the troops of the restoredKingdom of Naples.

Despite all the Russian successes on the battlefield, they were not going to win the campaign. Suvorov hoped to make the way for his exhausted, ill-supplied troops over the Swiss passes to the Upper (Alpine) Rhine and arrive atVorarlberg, where the army, much shattered after a lot of crossing and fighting, almost destitute of horses and artillery, went into winter quarters.^[33] When Suvorov battled his way through the snow-capped Alps his army was checked but never defeated. Suvorov refused to call it a retreat and commenced a trek through the deep snows of thePanixer (Ringenkopf) Pass and into the 9,000-foot mountains of theBündner Oberland, by then deep in snow. Thousands of Russians slipped from the cliffs or succumbed to cold and hunger, eventually escaping encirclement and reachedChur on theRhine, with the bulk of his army intact at 16,000 men.^[129] After the troops reached Chur, they crossed another pass in the form of theSt. Luzisteig, and hence left the territory of present-day Switzerland.^[120]

For this marvel of strategic retreat, earning him the nickname of the RussianHannibal, Suvorov became the fourthGeneralissimo of Russia on 8 November 1799 (28OS).^[130] HistorianChristopher Duffy, on the back cover of his bookEagles Over the Alps: Suvorov in Italy and Switzerland, 1799, called Suvorov's whole Italian and Swiss adventure a kind of Russian "crusade" against the forces of revolution.^[131]

Recently, beginning with his involuntary stay in the village of Konchanskoye, Suvorov often felt unwell; when he returned to duty, he seemed to have recovered, but by the end of the Italian campaign again began to grow weak. Before the Swiss campaign, his weakness was so great that he could hardly walk, his eyes began to hurt more often than before; making itself felt the old wounds, especially on his leg, so that not always could put on a boot. The Swiss campaign made him sicker; he began to complain of cold, which had never happened before; the cough, which had become attached to him some months before, did not leave him either, and the wind became particularly sensitive.^[132] He was officially promised a militarytriumph in Russia, but Emperor Paul cancelled the ceremony and recalled the Russian armies from Europe, including theBatavian Republic after the unsuccessfulAnglo-Russian invasion of Holland; and ultimately the French would regain all of their conquered possessions on theItalian Peninsula.

The return journey of Suvorov to Russia lasted more than three months.^[133]

Suvorov's name, which had grown during the Italian campaign, took on a double luster after the Swiss campaign, and when he retired from the theatre of war and enteredHoly Roman Empire (Germany), he became the centre of attention. Travellers, diplomats and soldiers flocked to his destinations, especially on his longer stops inLindau,Augsburg andPrague. "A general reverence bordering on awe", ladies sought out the honour of kissing his hand, and he did not particularly resist this. Everywhere he was welcomed and seen off, though he avoided it; every social gathering was eager to have him as its guest.^[134]

Russian society was proud of its hero and worshipped him enthusiastically. The Emperor Paul was a "true" representative of the national mood; he accompanied all his rescripts with expressions of the most gracious disposition to theGeneralissimo, spoke of his unanimity with him, asked advice, and apologised for giving instructions himself. "Forgive me, Prince Alexander Vasilievich," wrote the tsar, "may the Lord God preserve you, and you preserve the Russian soldiers, of whom some were everywhere victorious because they were with you, and others were not victorious because they were not with you". In other rescript it has told:

"…excuse me, that I have taken it upon myself to give you advice; but as I only give it for preservation of my subjects, which have rendered me so much merit under your leadership, I am sure, that you with pleasure will accept it, knowing your affection to me."

In the third:

"I shall be pleased if you will come to me to advice and to love, after you have bring the Russian troops into our borders."

The fourth reads:

"It is not for me, my hero, to reward you, you are above my measures, but for me to feel it and appreciate it in my heart, giving you your due."

The Tsar had extended his courtesy to the point that, in reply to Suvorov's New Year greetings, he asked him to share them with his troops if he, the Tsar, was "worthy of it" and expressed his desire "to be worthy of such an army".^[135]

The famousAdmiral Lord Nelson, who, according to the Russian ambassador in London, was at that time together with Suvorov the "idol" of the English nation, also sent theGeneralissimo an enthusiastic letter. "There is no man in Europe," he wrote, "who loves you as I do; all marvel, like Nelson, at your great exploits, but he loves you for your contempt of wealth". Someone called Suvorov "the land Nelson"; Nelson was very flattered by this. Someone else said that there is a very great similarity in appearance between the RussianGeneralissimo and the British Admiral. Rejoicing at this, Nelson added in a letter to Suvorov that although his, Nelson's, deeds can not equal with those of Suvorov, but he asked Suvorov not to deprive him of the dear name of a loving brother and sincere friend. Suvorov answered Nelson in the same way, and expressed his pleasure that their portraits certify the similarity existing between the originals, but in particular was proud of the fact that the two were alike in their way of thinking.^[136]

He also received a warm welcome from his old associate, the Prince of Coburg. TheGrand Duke Constantine went toCoburg, through whom Suvorov conveyed a letter or bow to the Prince and via the sameGrand Duke received a reply. The Prince called him the greatest hero of his time, thanked him for his memory, lamented the Russian army's removal to the fatherland and lamented the bitter fate of Germany. Suvorov replied to the Prince and said among other things that the entire reason for the failure lies in the differences of systems, and if the systems do not come together, there is no point in starting a new campaign.^[136]

Furthermore, a little earlier he had correspondence withArchduke Charles, which, however, was of a sharp nature.^[137] Suvorov received greetings and congratulations even from strangers.^[136]

Early in 1800, Suvorov returned to Saint Petersburg. Paul, for some reason, refused to give him an audience, and, worn out and ill, the old veteran died a few days afterwards on 18 May 1800, at Saint Petersburg.^[33] The main reason for the newly emerged disfavor of Emperor Paul to Suvorov remains uncertain.^[138] Suvorov was meant to receive the funeral honors of aGeneralissimo, but was buried as an ordinary field marshal due to Paul's direct interference.Lord Whitworth, the British ambassador, and the poetGavrila Derzhavin were the only persons of distinction present at the funeral. Suvorov lies buried in theChurch of the Annunciation in theAlexander Nevsky Monastery, the simple inscription on his grave stating, according to his own direction, "Here lies Suvorov".^[33]

Key to opponent flags

Key to outcome

     Indicates a favorable outcome     Indicates an unfavorable outcome     Indicates an uncertain outcome

Suvorov's full name, titles (according to Russian pronunciation) and ranks are the following: "Aleksandr Vasilyevich Suvorov, Prince ofItaly, Count of theRymnik, Count of theHoly Roman Empire, Prince ofSardinia,Generalissimus of Russia's Ground and Naval Forces,Marshal of theAustrian andSardinian Armies,Grandee of theSpanish Crown";^[155] seriously wounded six times, he was the recipient of various honors, many of which are listed below.^[156]

Medals

• Order of Saint Andrew, the Apostle First-Called (09.11.1787, for the victoryat Kinburn) + the diamond insignia of this order (03.11.1789, for the victoryat Focsani);
• Order of Saint George, the Victory-bearer
  • First Class (18.10.1789, for the victoryat Rymnik),
  • Second Class (30.07.1773, for the victoriesat Turtukaya),
  • Third Class (19.08.1771, for the victories during thewar of the Bar Confederation in 1770 & 1771);
• Order of Saint Vladimir First Class (28.07.1783, "for the accession of variousZakuban ^[ru] peoples to theAll-Russian Empire");
• Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky (20.12.1771, for the victoryat Stołowicze) + the star of this order with diamonds "fromHer Imperial Majesty's own clothes" (24.12.1780);
• Order of Saint Anna First Class (30.09.1770, for the victoryat Orzechowo);
• Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and Grand Commander's Cross (13.02.1799);
• Order of the Black Eagle (07.12.1794) &Order of the Red Eagle (07.12.1794) – Prussia;
• Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation with Grand Cross (23.06.1799) &Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus with Grand Cross (23.06.1799) – Sardinia;
• Military Order of Maria Theresa First Class and Grand Cross (12.10.1799) – Austria;
• Order of Saint Hubert (21.01.1800) – Bavaria;
• Royal Military and Hospitaller Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem united (13.02.1800, from the exiledtitularKing Louis XVIII) – France.

Weapons

• Golden Weapon for Bravery with diamonds (29.07.1775, while celebrating peace with the Ottoman Empire in 1775);
• Golden Weapon for Bravery with diamonds and the inscription "To the victor of theVizier" (26.09.1789, for the victory at Rymnik).

Other honours

• Goldsnuff box with the portrait of Empress Catherine II (1778, for forcing the Ottomansquadron out of theAkhtiar harbour);
• Gold coin (05.11.1784, for the joining Crimea andTaman to Russia in 1783);
• Gold snuff box with themonogram of Empress Catherine II, decorated with diamonds (06.1787);
• Diamond feather to thetricorne with the letter "K", meaning Kinburn (26 [15] April 1789);
• Gold snuff box with the monogram of the AustrianEmperor Joseph II, decorated with diamonds (13.08.1789, for the victory at Rymnik);
• Decision on the establishment of a medal in honour of A. V. Suvorov (25.03.1791, for thecapture of Izmail;analogous medal was established on 02.03.1994);
• The Senate was ordered to compile a letter of commendation with a list of Suvorov's exploits (25.03.1791);
• Diamondepaulettes and ring (02.09.1793, for strengthening the southern borders of Russia);
• Certificate of Appreciation (02.09.1793);
• As a demonstration of the Emperor's confidence, the Order of St. George of the 3rd degree is entrusted to be conferred on the worthiest of Suvorov's choice (02.09.1793);
• Diamond bow to the hat (26.10.1794, for victories atKrupczyce andBrest);
• Three guns from among those captured from Polish insurgents (26.10.1794, for victories at Krupczyce and Brest);
• Gold snuff box from theWarsawmagistrate with the inscription "Warsaw to its deliverer, day 4 November 1794" (15.11.1794, a gift, as only monarchs had the right to award);
• Portrait of the AustrianEmperor Francis II, decorated with diamonds (25.12.1794);
• The Senate was ordered to compose a letter of commendation outlining the merits of A. V. Suvorov in thePolish Campaign (01.01.1795);
• Ring with the portrait of Emperor Paul I (14.05.1799);
• Portrait of Emperor Paul I to wear on the chest (13.07.1799).

Often found in the literature references to the awarding of Suvorov with the Polish Orders of theWhite Eagle andSaint Stanislaus, the PrussianPour le Mérite, the NeapolitanOrder of Saint Januarius and the Bavarian "Order of the Golden Lion" (perhaps referring to theOrder of the Palatine Lion) do not correspond to reality.^[156]

27 (16OS^[157]) January 1774, Suvorov was married toVarvara Ivanovna Prozorovskaya ^[ru] of theProzorovsky andGolitsyn noble families, and had a sonArkadi Suvorov and daughterNatalya Suvorova ^[ru] (in marriageZubova), but his family life was not happy and he had an unpleasant relationship with his wife due to her infidelity. Suvorov's son, Arkadi Suvorov (1783–1811) served as a general officer in the Russian army during theNapoleonic andOttoman wars of the early 19th century, and drowned in the sameriver Rymnik in 1811 that had brought his father so much fame. The drowning of his son in the river is supported byAleksey Yermolov's memoirs,^{[158][self-published source?]} as well as by the military historian Christopher Duffy.^[159] His grandsonAlexander Arkadievich (1804–1882) served asGovernor General ofRiga in 1848–61 and Saint Petersburg in 1861–66. Suvorov's daughter Natalya Alexandrovna (1775–1844) known under her nameSuvorochka married CountNikolay Zubov.

Suvorov was one of the best-educated Russians of his time. He was well versed in mathematics, history and geography; spoke German, French, Italian,Polish,Turkish,Arabic andFinnish; he also had a thorough knowledge of philosophy, ancient and modern literature. His military erudition was impressive. He had studied all the important military works fromPlutarch down to his own contemporaries, mastered the science of fortification and had also passed a naval qualifying examination.^[160]

Contrary to the belief that Suvorov was short, academicVladimir Medinsky stated that Suvorov measured at 177 cm, taller than the average soldier.^[161]

His political views were centered aroundenlightened monarchy. However, Suvorov had no interest in pursuing politics and made his disdain for the court lifestyle and tendencies ofaristocrats well known: he lacked diplomacy in his dispatches, and his sarcasm triggered enmity among some courtiers.^[20] He joked with the men, calling common soldiers "brother" and shrewdly presented the results of detailed planning and careful strategy as the work of inspiration.^[76]

•  
  Graf Aleksandr Vasil'evich Suvorov-Rymnikskiy by Joseph Kreutzinger
•  
  Suvorov byJohn Charles Robinson from a drawing byTaras Shevchenko

Suvorov is widely considered to be the single greatest and most talented military commander in all ofRussian history,^{[162][163][164][165][166]} the most gifted commander of the eighteenth century,^[167] and one of the greatest generals in world history.^{[168][169][170]} Suvorov has also been described as the best generalRepublican France ever fought,^[8] and the bestCoalition general when he was active.^[171] Undefeated in battle,^[9] he led and won 63 battles without suffering a major defeat or setback.^{[20][172][173]}

Suvorov won despite being outnumbered in almost all of his battles,^[172] defeating many of the best commanders of the time period, those beingAndré Masséna,Étienne Macdonald, andJean Victor Marie Moreau of France, andKoca Yusuf Pasha,Cenaze Hasan Pasha, andAydoslu Mehmed Pasha of the Ottoman Empire. Notably, Suvorov defeated theFrench Revolutionary Army multiple times, which was regarded as the best in the world, and Masséna, arguably the best French Revolutionary general, who had superior forces in terms of experience, morale, and numbers.^[174]

Moreau ultimately ranked Suvorov alongsideNapoleon, while also describing Suvorov'svictory at Trebbia as "the height of the art of war", while writerEugen Binder von Krieglstein ranked Suvorov as one of the greatest commanders of all time, alongside Napoleon andFrederick the Great.^[175] Renowned military officer and theoristAntoine-Henri Jomini called Suvorov "the true genius of war".^[176] Naval officerJohn Paul Jones, referred to as the "Father of theAmerican Navy", labeled Suvorov the "greatest warrior" and ranked him alongsideAlexander the Great,Hannibal,Caesar,Gustavus Adolphus and Frederick the Great.^[177] The British historianSimon Sebag Montefiore called Suvorov Russia's most brilliant general and ranked him as one of the modern military geniuses, along with Napoleon and Frederick the Great.^[178]

In 1799, Napoleon himself warned theDirectory that they would not be able to stop Suvorov unless they found generals with "special skill in fighting him".^[179] In 1807, Macdonald declared to the Russian ambassador at a reception with Napoleon and a crowd around that "This crew would never have seen theTuileries if you had had a second Suvorov".^[180]

While on a campaign, he reportedly lived as a private soldier, sleeping on straw and contenting himself with the humblest fare.^[181] Suvorov saw victory as dependent on the morale, training, and initiative of the front-line soldier. In battle he emphasized speed and mobility, accuracy of gunfire and the use of the bayonet, as well as detailed planning and careful strategy.^[33] His motto:coup d'oeil (glazomer), speed (bystrota), impetus (natisk).^[182] He abandoned traditional drills, and communicated with his troops in clear and understandable ways. Suvorov also took great care of his army's supplies and living conditions, reducing cases of illness among his soldiers dramatically, and earning their loyalty and affection.^[33] A master of logistics, Suvorov ordered his officers,quartermasters and doctors to keep the welfare and fitness of the troops in the forefront of their attentions. He severely punished, often withcourts-martial, any officers who senselessly or cruelly drilled their troops or who failed to maintain his high sanitary and health standards. Although a strict disciplinarian, he took extenuating circumstances into account. Once a soldier or officer had been punished or reprimanded, Suvorov would do his utmost to rehabilitate him.^[20]

Suvorov "did not know retreat", he constantly acted offensively and in accordance with the situation was looking for a fight, not evaded it, but he did not overuse the battles, the fight always turned out to be appropriate, necessary in theoperation, and moreover decisive; if he got the chance to confront his enemy, he used it with all the energy.^[111] Suvorov's guiding principle was to detect the weakest point of an enemy and focus an attack upon that area. He would send forth his units in small groups as they arrived on the battlefield to sustain momentum. Suvorov used aimed fire instead of repeated barrages fromline infantry and applied light infantrymen asskirmishers and sharpshooters. He used a variety of army sizes and types of formations against different foes:squares against the Turks,lines against Poles, andcolumns against the French.^[20]

Suvorov believed that "a military man must know the languages of the nations with whom he is fighting," so he developed a fluent command of French, German,Greek,Ottoman Turkish, Italian,Polish andLatin, as well as some knowledge ofArabic,Finnish andPersian. He also rejected a suggestion that the Russian army rid itself ofits musicians, saying,

"music doubles, trebles the force of an army."^[20]

According toD. S. Mirsky, Suvorov "gave much attention to the form of his correspondence, and especially of his orders of the day. These latter are highly original, deliberately aiming at unexpected and striking effects. Their style is a succession of nervous staccato sentences, which produce the effect of blow and flashes. Suvorov's official reports often assume a memorable and striking form. His writings are as different from the common run of classical prose as his tactics were from those ofFrederick orMarlborough".^[183]

Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov declared that he based his teaching on Suvorov's practice, which he held as representative of the fundamental truths of war and of the military qualities of the Russian nation.^[184]

Suvorov's maneuvering of the Alps led him to be called the "RussianHannibal",^[185] and was also referred to as the "RussianMars" and "God of War".^[186] The French king,Louis XVIII, compared Suvorov toAttila.^[187]

Suvorov consideredHannibal,Alexander the Great,Julius Caesar, andNapoleon Bonaparte to be the greatest military commanders of all time. Suvorov is seen as having anticipated Napoleon's tactics, and is regarded as being on par with him in terms of military genius.^{[7][188][189][190]} Like Napoleon, Suvorov believed that opportunities in battle are created by fortune but exploited by intelligence, experience and an intuitive vision. To Suvorov, mastery of the art and science of war was not, therefore, purely instinctive. Suvorov kept up with events in Europe by subscribing to foreign newspapers and journals.^[20] He had written to one of his nephews in 1796:^[191]

"That young Bonaparte, how he moves! He is a hero, a giant, a magician. He overcomes nature and he overcomes men. He turned the Alps^[m] as if they did not exist; he has hidden their frightful rocks in his pocket, and tucked up his army up the right sleeve of his uniform. The enemy scarcely catches sight his soldiers before he throws his troops at them like a thunderbolt fromJupiter, spreading terror in all directions, and crushing the scattered bands of Austrians and Piedmontese. My God, how he moves! The first time he assumed command he cut to the heart of tactics like a sword slashing through theGordian Knot. He disregards the odds against him, he attacks the enemy wherever they are to be found, and hedefeats them in detail. He knows that shock is irresistibe—and that says it all. His enemies will continue in their old routine,subject to the scribblers in the Cabinet, but as for him, he carries his council of war in his head. His operations are as free as the air he breathes… My conclusion is this. That as long as General Bonaparte keeps his wits about him he will be victorious; he possesses the higher elements of the military art in a happy balance. But if, unfortunately for him, he throws himself into the whirlpool of politics, he will lose the coference of his thoughts and he will be lost."

Suvorov held Napoleon in high regard, despite not living to see theNapoleonic Wars. However, Napoleon did not reciprocate Suvorov's esteem, assessing Suvorov as having "the soul of a great commander, but not the brains. He was extremely strong willed, he was amazingly active and utterly fearless—but he was as devoid of genius as he was ignorant of the art of war".^[191] Despite the two never facing each other, military historians often debate between Suvorov and Napoleon as to who was the superior commander.^[20]

Suvorov was buried inSaint Petersburg in theAlexander Nevsky Lavra. His gravestone states simply: "Here lies Suvorov".

Within a year after his death,Paul I was murdered in his bedroom for his disastrous leadership by a band of dismissed officers and his son and successorAlexander I erecteda statue to Suvorov's memory in theField of Mars.

Suvorov's revolutionary methods of waging war endure in his prodigious literary, documentary andepistolary output. He was famed for his military writings, the most well-known beingThe Science of Victory (The Science of Winning) andSuzdal Regulations, and lesser-known works such asRules for the Kuban andCrimean Corps,Rules for the Conduct of Military Actions in the Mountains (written during his Swiss campaign), andRules for the Medical Officers.^[20] Suvorov was also noted for several of his sayings:^[192]

"What is difficult in training will become easy in a battle."

"Perish yourself but rescue your comrade!"

"Fight the enemy with the weapons he lacks."

"One minute can decide the outcome of the battle, one hour — the outcome of the campaign, and one day — the fate of the country."

"He who is afraid is half beaten."

"To me death is better than the defensive."

"A strong pursuit, give no time for the enemy to think, take advantage of victory, uproot him, cut off his escape route."

"When the enemy is driven back, we have failed, and when he is cut off, encircled and dispersed, we have succeeded."

He taught his soldiers to attack instantly and decisively:^[20]

"Attack with the cold steel! Push hard with thebayonet!"

A "Suvorov school" of generals who had apprenticed under him played a prominent role in the Russian military. Among them was future Field MarshalMikhail Kutuzov who led theRussian imperial army against Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars, including theFrench invasion of Russia.^[20] Suvorov, a follower ofPeter I the Great and a pupil of Field MarshalPyotr Alexandrovich Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky, brought up a pleiad of remarkable commanders and military leaders, among whom the most outstanding were, except for Kutuzov, Generals of the InfantryP. I. Bagration,M. A. Miloradovich. On his ideas were brought up Field MarshalD. A. Milyutin, Generals of the InfantryM. I. Dragomirov,M. D. Skobelev,General of the CavalryA. A. Brusilov, and other famous military figures.^[25]

TheSuvorov Museum opened in Saint Petersburg in 1900 to commemorate the centenary of the general's death.^[193] Apart from in St. Petersburg, other Suvorov museums and monuments have feature inFocșani,Ochakiv(-ov) [1907^[n]],Sevastopol [1983],Tulchyn(-in) [1954],Kobryn(-in) [1949; 1950; 1964],Novaya Ladoga [1947],Kherson [1904],Tymanivka or Timanovka [1947; 1950],Simferopol [1984],Kaliningrad [1956], Konchanskoye-Suvorovskoye [1942],Râmnicu Sărat or Rymnik,^[o]Elm andAndermatt which are in theSwiss Alps, etc.

DuringWorld War II, theSoviet Union revived the memory of many pre-1917 Russian heroes to raise patriotism. Suvorov was the Tsarist military figure most often referred to byJoseph Stalin, who also received (but did not personally use) the rank ofGeneralissimo that Suvorov had previously held. TheOrder of Suvorov was established by thePresidium of the Supreme Soviet on 29 July 1942, and it is still awarded to senior army personnel for exceptional leadership in combat operations against superior enemy forces.^[194]

The town ofSuvorovo in Varna Province,Bulgaria, was named after Suvorov during thecommunist period, as was the Russian ship which discoveredSuwarrow Island in the Pacific in 1814.

Various currency notes of theTransnistrian ruble depict Suvorov.^[195][196]

There is aSuvorov Square inTiraspol,Transnistria, named after Alexander Vasilyevich, andanother in Saint Petersburg.

His prowess, military wisdom, and daring remain in high regard. Another of his many utterances are well known in the Russian military:

"Achieve victory not by numbers, but by knowing how."

"The bullet is a mad thing; only the bayonet knows what it is about."

"Train hard, fight easy. Train easy and you will have hard fighting."

"Train hard, fight easy" became a Russianproverb.^[20]

Alexander Petrushevsky in third volume of his workGeneralissimo Prince Suvorov quoted a small song of Russian soldiers about Alexander Suvorov, Pyotr Rumyantsev, and Grigory Potemkin:^[197]

Count Rumyantsev-general
Lost a lot of strength.
ThiefPotemkin-general
Was never in his own regiment,
He neglected all his strength:
Some of it he drank, some of it he squandered,
Some of it he lost at cards.
And Suvorov-general
Proved his strength,
He loaded a small cannon,
He tookthe king prisoner.

In Russia, there are 12 secondary-level military schools calledSuvorov Military School that were established during the USSR. There is also a military school inMinsk named after Suvorov.^[198]

In Soviet times, the 1941 filmSuvorov was made (released in the US asGeneral Suvorov).

Russia's former defence ministerSergei Shoigu has proposed that Suvorov be made a saint in theRussian Orthodox Church.^[199]

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  Bank of Russia coin – Series: "Outstanding Russian Military Commanders";A. V. Suvorov, 3 rubles reverse.
•  
  Bank of Russia coin – Series: "Outstanding Russian Military Commanders";A. V. Suvorov, 25 rubles reverse.
•  
  Bank of Russia coin – Series: "Outstanding Russian Military Commanders";Generalissimo A. V. Suvorov, 50 rubles reverse.

•  
  Transnistria
  5Transnistrian rubles
  Transnistrian Republican Bank. 1994 series.
•  
  Transnistria
  1,000 Transnistrian rubles
  Transnistrian Republican Bank. 1993 series.
•  
  Transnistria
  100,000 Transnistrian rubles
  Transnistrian Republican Bank. 1994 series.
•  
  Transnistria
  500,000 Transnistrian rubles
  Transnistrian Republican Bank. 1997 series.

•  
  USSRstamp, 2 rubles; 150th anniversary of Suvorov's death; Suvorov in the Alps (artistNikolay Mikhailovich Avvakumov ^[ru], 1941, Moscow,Pushkin Museum).
•  
  Capture of Izmail. USSR. 10kopecks. "Death flees the saber and bayonet of the brave." (Alexander Suvorov).
•  
  Russian Postage stamp. 200th anniversary of Suvorov's crossing of the Alps. Suvorov with a group of officers and soldiers of the Russian army.
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  Russian postage stamp, 2005.
•  
  The Monument to Alexander Suvorov and his Swiss assistant Antonio Gamma byDmitry Nikitovich Tugarinov ^[ru]. Bronze. The Gotthard Pass, Switzerland. 31 rubles.
•  
  USSR stamp, 1980. 250th anniversary of Suvorov's birth. 4 kopecks.

• Additional Swiss memorials
•  
  On the Panixer Pass way near ElmGL: a memorial was inaugurated on 6 October 2012 at the Wichlen Shooting Range inGlarus Süd to commemorate the Russian soldiers who marched through here with General Alexander Suvorov during the Second Coalition War. The sculpture of a grenadier was placed on a rock, and a memorial plaque with an inscription is attached to the rock.
•  
  Memorial stone, erected 1957, dedicated to the Russian soldiers of Suvorov's Italian campaign, who died in the hospital of theWeingarten Abbey 1799, and are buried here.Weingarten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
  Russian:Здесь покоятся суворовские чудо-богатыри,lit. 'This is the resting place of Suvorov's wonder-bogatyrs'
  German:Hier Ruhen Suworow-Helden,lit. 'Suvorov's heroes rest here'

Due to "decommunization policies" the street named after Suvorov in (Ukraine's capital)Kyiv was renamed afterMykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko in 2016. Suvorov is not related to communism, but his name was used by the Soviet Union for propaganda purposes.^[200]

In September 2022, a street that was named after Suvorov inDnipro (Ukraine) was renamed to honorAlan Shepard.^[201]

In October 2022, during theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops captured a monument to Suvorov inKherson and took it with them asthey fled the city.^[202]

In December 2022, another street in Kyiv that was still named after Suvorov was renamed toSerhiy Kotenko Street.^[203]

In January 2023, an image of Suvorov on a monument was removed inOdesa.^[204]

In Kherson the Suvorivskyi Raion (urban district), named after General Suvorov, was renamed to Tsentralnyi (Central) Raion in October 2023.^[205]

PoetAlexander Shishkov devoted an epitaph to Suvorov, whileGavrila Derzhavin mentioned him inSnigir (Bullfinch) and other poems, calling Suvorov "anAlexander by military prowess, astoic by valor". Suvorov was mentioned byAlexander Pushkin andMikhail Lermontov and in the numerous works of other Russian poets of the 18th and 19th centuries, such asIvan Dmitriev,Apollon Maykov,Dmitry Khvostov,Yermil Kostrov,Kondraty Ryleyev,Vasili Popugaev. Kostrov, the first translator ofHomer into Russian, wrote anode in honor of Suvorov and anepistolary on the capture of Izmail.^[206] In 1795 poet and soldierIrinarkh Zavalishin ^[ru], who had fought under the command of Alexander Suvorov, wrote a heroic poem titled "Suvoriada", celebrating Suvorov's victories. Suvorov is one of the characters in the drama "Antonio Gamba, Companion of Suvorov in the Alpine Mountains" bySergey Glinka which commemorates the Swiss expedition of 1799.^[207][208] In British literature,Byron caricatured Suvorov in the seventh canto ofDon Juan. InLeo Tolstoy'sWar and Peace, oldPrince Nicholas Bolkonski says: "Suvorov couldn't manage them so what chance hasMichael Kutuzov?". Tolstoy also refers to Suvorov later on in the book. Suvorov is also mentioned by Capt. Ryków inAdam Mickiewicz's poemPan Tadeusz.

• Suvorov Military School
• Suvorov military canals
• Suwarrow
• Suvorov Museum, Saint Petersburg
• Suvorov Museum, Timanivka
• Order of Suvorov
• Medal of Suvorov
• Suvorov (film)
• Russian battleshipKnyaz Suvorov
• Soviet cruiserAleksandr Suvorov
• River cruise shipAleksandr Suvorov
• Russian submarineGeneralissimus Suvorov
• Suvorov's Swiss campaign

• Acerbi, Enrico (2019).The 1799 campaign in Italy. Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4. Bergamo: Luca Cristini Editore.ISBN 978-8893274517.
• Blease, Lyon (1920).Suvorof. London:Constable & Co Ltd. RetrievedNovember 6, 2023.
• Clausewitz, Carl von (2020).Napoleon Absent, Coalition Ascendant: The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland, Volume 1. Trans and ed. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle. Lawrence, Kansas:University Press of Kansas.ISBN 978-0-7006-3025-7.
• Clausewitz, Carl von (2021).The Coalition Crumbles, Napoleon Returns: The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland, Volume 2. Trans and ed. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas.ISBN 978-0-7006-3034-9.
• Macready, Edward Nevil (1851).A sketch of Suwarow and his last campaign : with observations on Mr. Alison's opinion of the Archduke Charles as a military critic, and a few objections to certain military statements in Mr. Alison's History of Europe. London:Smith, Elder.
• DTIC ADA216366:Train Hard, Fight Easy: The Legacy of A. V. Suvorov and His "Art of Victory" by Dr. Bruce W. Menning
• Léger Marie Philippe comte de Laverne,The life of Field Marshal Souvarof; with reflections upon the principal events, political and military, connected with the history of Russia, during part of the eighteenth century (trans. from the French, Baltimore, 1814)
• Duffy C.Russia's Military Way to the West: Origins and Nature of Russian Military Power 1700–1800.Routledge & Kegan Paul Books Ltd. 1985.
• J.F. Anthing,Versuch einer Kriegsgeschichte des Grafen Suworow (Gotha, 1796–1799).
• G. von Fuchs,Suworows Korrespondenz, 1799 (Glogau, 1835).
• Reding-Biberegg,Der Zug Suworows durch die Schweiz (Zürich, 1896).
• F. von Smitt,Suworows Leben und Heerzüge (Vilna, 1833–1834) andSuworow and Polens Untergang (Leipzig, 1858).
• Souvorov en Italie by Gachot, Masséna's biographer (Paris, 1903).
• The standard Russian biographies of Polevoi (1853; Ger. trans., Mitau, 1853); Rybkin (Moscow, 1874), Vasiliev (Vilna, 1899), Meshcheryakov and Beskrovnyi (Moscow, 1946), and Osipov (Moscow, 1955).
• The Russian examinations of his martial art, by Bogolyubov (Moscow, 1939) and Nikolsky (Moscow, 1949).
• "1799 le baionette sagge" by Marco Galandra and Marco Baratto (Pavia, 1999).
• "Suvorov – La Campagna Italo-Svizzera e la liberazione di Torino nel 1799" by Maria Fedotova ed.Pintore (Torino, 2004).

• Alexander V. Suvorov: Russian Field Marshal, 1729–1800
• Speed, Assessment, and Hitting Power: Suvorov's Art of Victory
• State memorial museum of Alexander Suvorov
• Suvorov military museum in Saint Petersburg
• Suvorov's home and family
• Suvorov – the one man who could have stopped Bonaparte
• Aleksandr Suvorov: Count of Rymniksky and Prince of Italy
• Alexander Suvorov:The Science of Victory (Untranslated)