Why in Europe Suvorov was nicknamed "throat" and other little-known facts about the great commander

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Alexander Suvorov is known as a great Russian commander. Under his command, the Russian army did not lose a single battle. Suvorov was responsible for the creation of an innovative method of conducting combat - bayonet attacks that resist even rifle fire. The commander introduced new combat tactics, which included a surprise attack and a powerful onslaught. Read how Suvorov's military career developed and why in Europe he was nicknamed "the throat-general."

Rapid military career, despite the disfavor of Paul I

The father of the future commander was General Vasily Suvorov, who was the godson of Peter I himself. Alexander was born in Moscow on November 24 and received his name in honor of Alexander Nevsky. As a young boy, Sasha was actively interested in military affairs, and when he grew up, he entered the Semenovsky regiment. Although his health was not very good.

Suvorov participated in the Seven Years War, defending Russian cities and fortresses. When Alexander was 32 years old, he received the rank of colonel. Catherine II greatly appreciated the military successes of this man. Quickly enough, he became Field Marshal. His high-profile victories at Rymnik (1789) and the storming of the Izmail fortress (1790) will forever remain in the military history of Russia.

When Paul I came to power, the situation changed a little - Suvorov fell out of favor. But the emperor nevertheless perfectly understood that no one could compare in military affairs with Alexander Vasilyevich. Therefore, he changed his anger to mercy, made Suvorov generalissimo and presented him with the princely title. By the way, during his life the commander "accumulated" many titles, some were quite interesting. For example, he was called the Prince of Italy, Field Marshal General of the Holy Roman Empire, Count Suvorov-Rymnik, the grandee of the Sardinian kingdom.

Europe about the "monster Suvorov"

Suvorov was respected in Russia. This could not be said about Europe. There, the commander was attacked, criticized and accused of various sins. Historians say this was due to jealousy and fear. When in 1800 a book about Suvorov was published in Amsterdam and Paris, the military received the titles "monster" and "warlike barbarian" in it. The authors wrote that this man is characterized by innate malice and ferocity, they called him a show-off general. However, the brightness and dignity of his victories were recognized.

The Austrians criticized Suvorov's military tactics, which did not correspond to the recognized canons. They said that he was incompetent, and won by chance. The only thing that the Europeans liked was a respectful attitude towards local customs and authorities, suppression of attempts by Suvorov to steal and loot.

Was Suvorov cruel: about the storming of Prague

Accusations of cruelty against Suvorov began to appear in large numbers after the storming of Prague in 1794. This was the right-bank suburb of Warsaw, which was under siege until the appearance of Suvorov. The commander did not like this option, and he ordered a decisive offensive. In addition, Russian soldiers wanted to avenge their dead friends - in the battles at the beginning of the Polish uprising, about four thousand compatriots laid down their heads.

Suvorov knew how the soldiers were disposed. That is why he issued an order prohibiting entry into the homes of local residents, as well as declaring the inviolability of unarmed and women. The commander promised protection to the inhabitants of Poland who would come to the Russian camp.

But the Poles fiercely resisted and did not ask for mercy. The storming of Prague was later compared to the capture of Ishmael. They managed to take Prague, but the losses were impressive: about 2 thousand Russian soldiers and 13 thousand Poles were wounded, and 10 thousand Polish rebels and about 500 Russians were killed. After that Warsaw surrendered without a fight, and General Suvorov received a souvenir key with the inscription: "The Deliverer of Warsaw", and also tasted Polish bread and salt.

How did the nickname "gulp general" appear and were the accusations of the Europeans justified?

After the capture of Prague and the surrender of Warsaw, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ceased to be a dangerous enemy of Russia. Europe was seething, the name of Suvorov was on the lips, but not laudatory words were spoken about him and written in the newspapers, but criticized and given offensive nicknames, for example, "bloodthirsty monster." A large number of cartoons have appeared.

The most famous of them belongs to the Scotsman Isaac Krushenk. He noticed that the name Suvorov "Suwarrow" is similar to the word "swallow", which is translated from English as to swallow. Therefore, the artist hastened to draw a commander with a huge mouth in which soldiers flounder. This is where the nickname "General Glotka" came from. Graphic prints of this caricature began to disperse throughout Europe.

A little later, cartoonist James Gilray also drew Suvorov. He portrayed him as a terrible aggressor with a bloody saber. The storming of Prague, by the way, was called the “Prague massacre” in Europe, and Suvorov and his soldiers were called ruthless killers.

Were such accusations justified? According to research, no. On the contrary, the general was worried about the local residents, this, for example, explained his order to destroy the bridges across the Vistula. This was done to prevent the fighting from spreading to Warsaw, increasing the number of casualties. For the same reason, barriers were erected on the way to the capital. Suvorov forbade his soldiers to take revenge on the Warsaw people for the death of their compatriots. A large number of Warsaw residents were freed after surrender. For comparison, according to research, the Polish general Wawrzecki did not allow the population of Prague to leave their homes before the battle, although they very much asked. This is where the question arises, who was the "bloodthirsty monster"?

The personality of the generalissimo was very bright. He did not eat dinner, and at the ball he punished Potemkin himself.