Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov (1698-1773) was a Russian field marshal, commander, and participant in the Russo-Swedish War of 1741-1743. During the Seven Years ' War (1756-1763), he was commander - in-chief of the Russian Army. Under his leadership, victories were won over the Prussian troops at Palzig and the army of Frederick II at Kunersdorf. The victory over the outstanding German commander brought PS Saltykov fame throughout Europe and gave him the opportunity to be on a par with the prominent military leaders of that time. In 1764-1771, he served as Commander-in-Chief and Governor-General of Moscow.

In the glorious gallery of Russian field marshals, the personality of Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov occupies a worthy place. It represented a living connection between two schools of Russian military art, two epochs - Peter's and Catherine's. There is no doubt that it was with P. S. Saltykov that the process of forming a new national direction in the development of military art began in Russia.

Back in his young summers, as a soldier of the Guard, Saltykov was sent by Peter I to study navigation, but never gained traction for naval service. He returned to Russia already during the reign of Anna Ioannovna. Pyotr Semyonovich's father was a relative of hers and had rendered important services to the Empress on her accession to the throne, and therefore enjoyed the special favor of the royal person. It also applied to Saltykov Jr., whom Anna Ioannovna called in a relative way - "my cousin". Soon after her accession, her son and father received the title of count, and in 1734

Saltykov Jr. was promoted to Major General.

When Elizabeth Petrovna ascended the throne in 1741, Saltykov's position changed somewhat. He was forced to leave the capital, participated in the war against Sweden, and then in the rank of general-anshef was appointed to the post of head of the Ukrainian landmilitary regiments. Before the Seven Years ' War of 1756-1763, according to the historian D. Bantysh-Kamensky, he was known "more among courtiers than among generals."

In 1759, P. S. Saltykov was appointed to the post of commander-in-chief of the Russian army, General-anshef V. V. Farmer, a German by nationality, which was unexpected for many. To the credit of Pyotr Semyonovich, he managed to rise to the occasion, making a worthy rival of the Prussian King Frederick II - the most outstanding commander of Europe in the middle of the XVIII century. According to a contemporary, the Russian troops "became emboldened and began to look more like an old man, their leader, who, from the very beginning of his arrival, the soldiers fell in love with."

In June 1759, Frederick, with his main forces in Silesia and Saxony, was between the Russian and allied Austrian armies. In addition, a separate corps under the command of the Don operated against the Russians in Poland. Saltykov made a bold decision: to join the allies, advance to the Oder. His path was blocked by the Don corps, which on July 12, on the orders of Frederick II, attacked the Russians at the village of Palzig. The army, which Saltykov had deployed in battle formation in advance, repelled the enemy's attacks in a stubborn battle and inflicted a heavy defeat on him. The way to the Oder to join the Austrians was cleared.

On July 17, the Russians reached the river, but there was still no contact with the Austrians. Saltykov again decided to go along the Oder to Frankfurt and thus create a threat to Berlin. On July 23, the Russians, having occupied Frankfurt, positioned their main forces on the heights near the village of Kunerdorf on the right bank of the Oder. Berlin was just over 80 kilometers away. The threat to the capital provoked an immediate reaction from the enemy. Frederick, with an army of about 48,000 men, decided to attack.

But the Austrians, too, were finally encouraged by the arrival of Russian troops in the Frankfurt area to join them. After that, the Allied forces reached 59 thousand people (including 7-8 thousand irregular cavalry, which was considered unsuitable for use in battle). Saltykov, having learned of Friedrich's approach, took up a position on the Kunersdorf heights with a front to the south and began to equip it. Having arranged the infantry in two lines, the Russian general at the same time departed from the canonical rules for building a linear battle order. He created a very strong reserve behind the right wing from part of the Russian cavalry and the entire Austrian corps. In addition, he provided for the possibility of maneuvering the reserve along the front, which was then carried out.

The Prussian commander crossed the Oder below Frankfurt and on August 1 attacked the position of the Russian-Austrian army. He deployed his troops at right angles to the Allied front and, after heavy artillery preparation, attacked them. Saltykov did not interfere with the enemy's maneuver, he only sought to limit the Prussians ' advance to the west, to the right wing of his position.

Meanwhile, the sweeping attack against the left wing of the Russian position was successful: the regiments of the Observation Corps stationed here were overturned. Friedrich continued the attack, hoping to "wind" the Russian battle formation with a longitudinal blow, like a thread on a reel. In response, Saltykov rebuilt the center, which was commanded by the future Field Marshal P. A. Rumyantsev. The latter, in order to strengthen the resistance of the troops, arranged them in several lines, creating a deep and elastic battle order. Largely due to this, it was possible, despite heavy losses, to hold positions, and after a while go on the counterattack.

The most important role in this phase of the battle was played by Russian artillery. The guns of the system of the future Field Marshal P. I. Shuvalov, having disrupted the maneuver of the enemy, who was trying to bypass the center of the Russian - Austrian troops, successfully fought the Prussian artillery, firing through the battle formations of their infantry.

The battle was clearly breaking point. At the initiative of the commanders of several units, the Russian infantry struck with bayonets. The general counterattack that followed sent the King's infantry into a stampede.

According to Frederick II himself, from the 48-thousandth army he did not have even 3 thousand left, "to tell the truth, I consider everything lost." This was the most severe defeat that he suffered in all his military activity.

As for PS Saltykov, for his glorious victory, on August 18, 1759, he was awarded the rank of Field Marshal General by Elizabeth. The new Emperor Peter III, who ascended the throne in 1761, despite the fact that Peter Semyonovich so thoroughly "patted" his idol Friedrich, favored the commander. But Catherine II, first awarding him a sword with diamonds and appointing him Moscow governor-general, then changed her attitude towards Saltykov. There were, however, reasons for this. Moscow was hit by a plague epidemic, there was excitement among the people, and Saltykov at the same time showed confusion and left for his village of Marfino near Moscow. Having objectively recognized his "distinguished service" in the past, the Empress nevertheless dismissed the old field marshal.

The fame of a worthy opponent of Frederick II did not turn P. S. Saltykov's head at all. Until his death, he remained a simple, accessible person. According to the memoirs of one of his younger contemporaries, the writer A. T. Bolotov, "an old man, gray-haired, small, simple, in a white Landmillian caftan, without any ornaments and without any pomp, he walked through the streets and did not have more than 2-3 people behind him. Accustomed as we were to the pomp and splendor of commanders, this seemed strange and wonderful to us, and we did not understand how such a simple and apparently insignificant old man could have been commander-in-chief of such a great army and led it against such a king who surprised all Europe with his courage, foresight, and knowledge of the art of war.

He seemed like a real chicken to us, and no one dared to think that he could do anything important."

But Saltykov stood out among other commanders by his great energy, deep insight into all the details of the task entrusted to him, common sense and disregard for routine in military affairs, and caring attitude towards the soldier. And so he was able to acquire the glory of the winner of Friedrich himself and thus forever inscribed his name in the history of Russia.

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