Pyotr Bagration

Lore & Background

Pyotr Bagration was born in 1765 in Kizlyar to Colonel Prince Ivane Bagrationi, a member of the Mukhrani branch of the Bagrationi dynasty. He enlisted in the Imperial Russian Army in 1782 as a sergeant, serving in the Russo-Circassian War, the Siege of Ochakov in 1788, and the suppression of the Kościuszko Uprising in 1794. He rose through the ranks, becoming a major-general in 1799 after serving under Suvorov in the Italian and Swiss campaigns. In 1800, Emperor Paul recognized his princely title and arranged his marriage to Countess Catherine Pavlovna Skavronskaya, a union that failed; Catherine later fled to Vienna and had an affair with Prince Clemens von Metternich. Bagration was a heavy gambler, losing up to 80,000 roubles.

Reader's Guide

Bagration's significance lies in his role as a capable and aggressive commander during the Napoleonic Wars. At Schöngrabern in 1805, his successful defense against forces five times his own allowed the main Russian army under Kutuzov to withdraw and unite with reinforcements. He later commanded the allied right wing at Austerlitz and fought bravely at Eylau, Heilsberg, and Friedland. During the French invasion of Russia in 1812, he commanded the Second Western Army and advocated for a major battle against Napoleon, though he ultimately ceded overall command to Barclay de Tolly. At Borodino, he led the left wing and constructed the Bagration flèches, where he was mortally wounded. His death two weeks later marked a significant loss for the Russian army. Originally buried at a local church, he was reburied on the Borodino battlefield in 1839.

Did You Know?

• Bagration did not know French, unlike many other Russian aristocrats.
• He was the alleged lover of Emperor Paul's daughter Catherine.
• His wife, Catherine Pavlovna Skavronskaya, served as an agent of Russian intelligence and diplomacy in Vienna.
• He was promoted to full general of infantry after leading the Russian army at Rassowa and Tataritza.