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{{Short description|Russian general and statesman (1771–1829)}}
{{family name hatnote|Nikolayevich|[[Rayevsky (disambiguation)|Raevsky]]|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
[[File:Rajevskij N N.jpg|thumb|250px|Portrait by [[George Dawe]], before 1825]]

'''Nikolay Nikolayevich Raevsky''' or '''Rayevsky''' ({{langx|ru|Николай Николаевич Раевский}}; {{OldStyleDate|September 25|1771|14}} — {{OldStyleDate|September 28|1829|16}})<ref>[http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/bse/125872/Раевский Раевский Николай Николаевич], [[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]] {{in lang|ru}}</ref> was a Russian general and statesman who achieved fame for his feats of arms during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. His family left a lasting legacy in Russian society and culture.

== Early life ==
Nikolay Raevsky was born in [[Saint Petersburg]].<ref>Sutherland, 13</ref> He descended from the [[:ru:Раевские|Rayevsky noble family]] which has claimed remote Scandinavian and [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish–Lithuanian]] ancestry.<ref>According to family traditions, their ancestors left Denmark to settle in [[Livonia]] during the 14th century and, by the 16th century, had acquired [[Poland|Polish]] nationality. They were granted the [[Łabędź coat of arms]] by [[Sigismund III Vasa|King Sigismund III]], in the early 17th century. See: Sutherland, 12–13.</ref> One of [[Peter the Great]]'s great grandmothers came from the Raevsky family.<ref>See [[:ru:Нарышкина, Анна Леонтьевна]].</ref> Nikolay's grandfather, Semyon Raevsky, was the Prosecutor of the [[Holy Synod]].

The family rose to prominence in Russia when Raevsky's father, Colonel Nikolay Semyonovich Raevsky, commander of the elite [[Izmaylovsky Regiment]], married Ekaterina Samoylova.<ref name="Montefiore, Simon Sebag page 452">Montefiore, Simon Sebag. ''Prince of Princes: The Life of Potemkin'', p. 452 London: Thomas Dunne Books, 2001</ref> Ekaterina was a [[lady-in-waiting]] and close friend of Empress [[Catherine the Great|Catherine II]], and a niece of the Empress’ influential favorite, [[Grigori Alexandrovich Potemkin|Prince Potemkin]].<ref name="Montefiore, Simon Sebag page 452" /><ref>Roosevelt, Priscilla. ''Life on the Russian Country Estate'', p. 182 New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995</ref> Ekaterina's brother was the general and statesman, Count [[Alexander Samoylov]].

Raevsky's father was killed in action in or around [[Iaşi]] during the [[Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)|Russo-Turkish War]] of 1768–1774, several months before the birth of his son.<ref>Sutherland, 14</ref> Not long after his father's death, the Empress arranged for Raevsky's mother to marry a wealthy landowner, Lev Davydov, who proved to be a generous stepfather.<ref>Sutherland, 14, 16–17</ref>

Raevsky was enrolled in the [[Leib-Guard]] [[Semyonovsky Regiment]] at a very early age. On 30 April 1777, he was promoted to [[Sergeant]] and on 1 January 1786 to [[ensign (rank)|Ensign]]. On 23 February 1789 he was transferred to the [[Nizhny Novgorod|Nizhegorodsky]] [[Dragoon]] Regiment with the rank of premier-major. With this regiment he took part in the [[Russo-Turkish War  (1787–1792)|Russo-Turkish War]] of 1787–1792 and distinguished himself at [[Bendery]] and [[Akkerman]]. In recognition of his valor, Raevsky was promoted on 1 September 1790 to [[Lieutenant Colonel]] and became the chief of a [[Cossack]] regiment.

After the peace treaty was concluded, he took part in the [[Polish–Russian War of 1792]] with the Nizhegorodsky Dragoon Regiment. For this campaign he received on 28 June 1792 the [[Order of St. George]] of the 4th degree and the gold sword with an inscription ''for bravery''.

When the [[Russo-Persian War of 1796|war with Persia]] erupted in 1796, Raevsky, under command of Count [[Valerian Zubov]], took part in the [[Storming of Derbent|taking of Derbent]] and in other engagements.

Upon his ascension to the throne, Emperor [[Paul I of Russia|Paul I]] recalled the army to Russia, and had Raevsky dismissed from the military because of his relationship to Prince Potemkin, whom Paul detested. After Paul's murder, and [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]]'s assumption of the throne, Raevsky rejoined the army and was promoted to the rank of [[Major General]].<ref>Sutherland, 17</ref>

== Napoleonic Wars ==
[[File:Raevsky saltanovka.jpg|thumb|275px|Raevsky leading his troops in battle, painting by Nikolay Samokish, 1912]]
[[File:Raevsky-monument-1911.jpeg|thumb|The great monument on the Raevsky redoubt was dedicated by [[Nicolas I]] in 1839]]
After Russia's failures at the outbreak of the [[Napoleonic wars]], Raevsky returned into the field on 25 April 1807. He served with Prince [[Pyotr Bagration]] in the vanguard of the Russian army. During the campaign of 1806–1807, Raevsky distinguished himself in numerous battles, and was awarded the [[Order of St. Vladimir]] of the 3rd degree. Raevsky, who had sustained a wound in the [[Battle of Heilsberg]], commanded chasseurs of the advance guard in the [[Battle of Friedland]].<ref>Sutherland, 19</ref>

After the [[Treaty of Tilsit]] was concluded, Raevsky fought in the [[Finnish War]], and was present at every major engagement. For this campaign, Raevsky received the Order of St. Vladimir of the 2nd degree and obtained the rank of [[Lieutenant General]]. After conclusion of the war with Finland, he followed Count [[Nikolay Kamensky]] to the [[Moldavia]]n army, which took part in the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1806–12]],<ref>Sutherland, 20</ref> taking [[Silistra]].

During [[Napoleon's Invasion of Russia]], Raevsky led the 7th Infantry Corps, a part of the 2nd Army led by Prince Pyotr Bagration.<ref>Seaton, Albert. ''The Russian Army of the Napoleonic Wars'', p. 30. Osprey Publishing, 1979</ref> In the advance guard, Raevsky was responsible for delaying [[Louis Nicolas Davout|Davout]]'s advance towards Moscow. After the [[Battle of Saltanovka]], he retreated to [[Smolensk]], where he took part in the [[Battle of Smolensk (1812)|battle for the city]].<ref>Brett-James, Antony. ''1812: Eyewitness Accounts of Napoleon's Defeat in Russia'', pp. 81–82 London: Reader's Union, 1967</ref> During the [[Battle of Borodino]], he protected the right wing of the Russian Army, better known as the Raevsky Redoubt, winning the Order of St. George of the 3rd degree.<ref name="Montefiore, Simon Sebag page 452" /><ref>Muir, Dr. Rory. ''Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon'', p. 22 Yale University Press, 2000</ref> Later he pursued [[La Grande Armée]] and took part in the [[Battle of Maloyaroslavets]] and [[Battle of Krasnoi]], in which he helped defeat [[Michel Ney|Marshal Ney]].<ref>Schneid, Frederick C. ''Napoleon's Italian Campaigns: 1805–1815'', p. 104 Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 2002</ref><ref>Horricks, Raymond. ''Marshal Ney: The Romance and the Real'', pp. 123–126 London: Midas Books, 1982</ref>

Raevsky commanded a [[Grenadier Corps]] and protected the retreat of main forces during the [[Battle of Bautzen (1813)|Battle of Bautzen]]. After Austria and [[Prussia]] joined the Allies, Raevsky's corps joined the [[Army of Bohemia]] commanded by [[Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg]]. He received the Order of St. Vladimir of the 1st degree for the [[Battle of Kulm]]. Near Wachau, he was seriously injured. For his feats of arms he was promoted to the rank of General (October 8, 1813) and received the Austrian [[Military Order of Maria Theresa]] of the 3rd degree. When the Russian army entered [[Saxony]], Raevsky was forced to return to Russia because of his poor health.

Having recovered from his illness, Raevsky rejoined the army during the [[battle of Leipzig]], commanding two grenadier corps. When at the [[Rhine]], he took over command from [[Peter Wittgenstein]] and leading this army during the [[Battle of Paris (1814)|taking of Paris]].<ref>Davydoff, Alexander. ''Russian Sketches'', p. 23 Tenafly, New Jersey: Hermitage, 1984</ref> After Napoleon's defeat, General Raevsky was given the honor of entering Paris at Alexander I's side on March 31st, 1814.<ref>Sutherland, 21</ref>

== Later years and family ==
In 1794, Raevsky married Sofia Alexandrovna Konstantinova, the granddaughter and heiress of the scientist [[Mikhail Lomonosov]].<ref name="Sutherland, 14-15">Sutherland, 14–15</ref> Sofia brought with her a substantial [[dowry]], consisting of an estate at [[Lomonosov, Russia|Oranienbaum]] with over six thousand serfs.<ref name="Sutherland, 14-15" /> The Raevskys had six children, two sons and four daughters. After the Napoleonic Wars ended, Raevsky settled with his family at Boltyshka, an estate left to him by his stepfather.<ref name="Sutherland, 11, 16">Sutherland, 11, 16, 22–23</ref> Boltyshka was a large estate near the banks of the [[Dnieper River]] in [[Kirovohrad Oblast]], [[Ukraine]]; the land was fertile and there were over ten thousand serfs to cultivate it.<ref name="Sutherland, 11, 16" />

In May 1821, during a visit to the [[Caucasus]], Raevsky befriended a young [[Alexander Pushkin]] and traveled with him to the [[Crimea]].<ref name="Montefiore, Simon Sebag page 452" /> Pushkin would form close friendships with Raevsky's sons, his sons-in-law, and his half-brother, Vasily Davydov – all members of the ''[[Southern Society of the Decembrists|Southern Society]]'' that helped plot the [[Decembrist Revolt]] of 1825.<ref>Sutherland, 56–59</ref><ref name="Davydoff, Alexander pages 14-16">Davydoff, Alexander. ''Russian Sketches'', pp. 14–16 Tenafly, New Jersey: Hermitage, 1984</ref><ref>Roosevelt, Priscilla. ''Life on the Russian Country Estate'', p. 304 New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995</ref> The General's eldest son, Alexander, served as the model for the [[protagonist]] of Pushkin's poem ''The Demon''.<ref>Troyat, Henri. ''Pushkin'', p. 158. New York: Doubleday & Co., 1970</ref> While Raevsky's daughter [[Mariya Volkonskaya|Maria's]] youthful frolics inspired Pushkin to write some of the most famous lines in Russian literature ("[[Eugene Onegin (opera)|Eugene Onegin]]", I-XXXIII).

Raevsky's favorite child, [[Mariya Volkonskaya|Maria]], was wed at the age of nineteen to [[Sergei Volkonsky|Prince Sergey Volkonsky]], a wealthy, liberal aristocrat, who had fought alongside General Raevsky during the Napoleonic Wars.<ref>Sutherland, 19–20 & 78</ref> Raevsky's eldest daughter, Ekaterina, married the wealthy young General [[Mikhail Fyodorovich Orlov]], also a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars.<ref>Sutherland, 61</ref>

Once interested in discussion of liberal reforms, western democracy, and the teachings of the [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] [[philosophers]], by 1825 Raevsky had abandoned his youthful idealism, rejecting the notion that Russia could be anything other than an absolute monarchy.<ref>Sutherland, 19–20</ref> Both of Raevsky's sons and his son-in-law, Mikhail Orlov, withdrew from the ''Southern Society'' long before the Decembrist Revolt occurred, and took no part in the uprising.<ref>Sutherland, 72, 109</ref> Raevsky's half-brother, Vasily Davydov, and Prince Volkonsky, remained in the Society.<ref name="Davydoff, Alexander pages 14-16" /> They were arrested along with their fellow [[Conspiracy (political)|conspirators]] days after the uprising in December 1825, and were taken to Saint Petersburg. They were held for several months, interrogated, tried, and sentenced to hard labor and exile in [[Siberia]].<ref>Sutherland, 5 & 115–119</ref> Against her father's wishes, Maria fought for the right to accompany her husband to [[Siberia]], and managed to personally persuade the Emperor to allow her to share Prince Volkonsky's exile.<ref>Lednicki, Waclaw. ''Russia, Poland, and the West: Essays in Literary and Cultural History'', p. 114 London: Hutchinson, 1954</ref><ref>Sutherland, 119–123</ref> The Volkonskys would remain in Siberia for more than thirty years. They were only allowed to return to European Russia after the death of [[Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas I]], having received a pardon from his son, [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]].<ref>Davydoff, Alexander. ''Russian Sketches'', pp. 15–16 Tenafly, New Jersey: Hermitage, 1984</ref><ref>Sutherland, 311–315</ref> Maria's courage, and that of the other Decembrist wives, was romanticized by [[Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov|Nekrasov]] in the poem "Russian Women".<ref>[[Barbara Heldt|Heldt, Barbara]]. ''Terrible Perfection: Women and Russian Literature'', p. 34. Indiana University Press, 1987</ref>

Raevsky died at Boltyshka four years after the Decembrist Revolt, a broken and embittered man, of pneumonia contracted while travelling to petition the Emperor for leniency on his daughter's behalf.<ref>Sutherland, 199–200</ref> As he lay dying, he is said to have looked at a portrait of his daughter Maria and whispered: "That is the most remarkable woman I have ever known in my life."<ref>Sutherland, 201</ref>

==Legacy==
Since 2014, the FSUE Rosmorport Azovo-Chernomorsky Basin Branch has been operating a tugboat named "General Rayevsky".<ref>Guerre patriotique de 1812 sur les campagnes de libération de l'armée russe de 1813–1814. Sources. Les monuments. Problèmes. Matériaux de la XXIIIe Conférence scientifique internationale, 3-5 septembre 2019. Borodino, 2020. // S. Yu. Rychkov. La mémoire historique des participants à la bataille de Borodino dans les noms des navires. PP.302-329.</ref>

[[File:Battery of Raevsky.jpg|thumb|center|850px|{{center|Raevsky Battery at Borodino, a fragment of [[Franz Roubaud|Roubaud]]'s [[panoramic painting]]}}]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Sources==
* {{RBD}}
* {{Efron|Раевский, Николай Николаевич}}

== External links ==
* {{in lang|ru}} [http://www.museum.ru/museum/1812/Persons/slovar/sl_r02.html Article in the Dictionary of Russian Generals]

== References ==
*Sutherland, Christine. ''The Princess of Siberia: The Story of Maria Volkonsky'', New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1983 {{ISBN|0-7043-8162-1}}

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[[Category:18th-century nobility from the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:19th-century nobility from the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Imperial Russian Army generals]]
[[Category:Russian commanders of the Napoleonic Wars]]
[[Category:Members of the State Council (Russian Empire)]]
[[Category:Russian people of the Polish–Russian War of 1792]]
[[Category:1771 births]]
[[Category:1829 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Saint Petersburg]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Second Degree]]
[[Category:Knights Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa]]
[[Category:People of the Russo-Persian Wars]]