Spy passions: Count Chernyshev - Napoleon's favorite and reliable scout
Spy passions: Count Chernyshev - Napoleon's favorite and reliable scout

Video: Spy passions: Count Chernyshev - Napoleon's favorite and reliable scout

Video: Spy passions: Count Chernyshev - Napoleon's favorite and reliable scout
Video: Литва: Беларусь здорового человека | Евросоюз, реформы и убежище для оппозиции - YouTube 2024, November
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Left: Count Alexander Chernyshev, Right: Napoleon Bonaparte
Left: Count Alexander Chernyshev, Right: Napoleon Bonaparte

No matter what war was fought, there were always those who supplied valuable information while in the camp of the enemy. One of these scouts was Count Alexander Chernyshev … He was one of the confidants of Napoleon Bonaparte. The officer led a riotous life, won ladies' hearts and, at the same time, obtained the most "necessary" information for the Russian side.

Portrait of Alexander Ivanovich Chernyshev
Portrait of Alexander Ivanovich Chernyshev

Alexander Ivanovich Chernyshev belonged to an old noble family. Under the patronage of his father, he was appointed as a junker chamberlain to Emperor Alexander I. A little later, the young man was sent as an officer to the Horse Guards.

After the outbreak of war with France in 1805, Chernyshev was awarded the St. George Cross and a golden sword with an engraving "For Bravery." After the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit, the emperor sent a gallant officer to France to Napoleon with a letter. During one of the conversations, Napoleon spoke sharply about the failure of the Russian troops. Alexander Chernyshev began to fend off the French emperor. It was unheard of insolence, but Napoleon liked the Russian officer.

Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte

Some time later, when the situation between France and Russia began to escalate again, in 1810 Chernyshev went to Paris as a diplomat. He lived on a grand scale, conquered women's hearts, boozed. In general, he created for himself the image of such a dim-witted rake. Chernyshev earned the favor of the emperor, thanks to the fire. While at a reception at the Russian embassy, the count carried out of the fire two of Napoleon's sisters: Caroline Murat and Pauline Borghese.

Alexander Ivanovich Chernyshev (1785-1857)
Alexander Ivanovich Chernyshev (1785-1857)

In fact, the riotous life distracted the attention of those around him from the real affairs of the count. Chernyshev received the necessary information from talkative French ministers and the military during joint feasts. Napoleon himself unwittingly gave him his secrets. Alexander Chernyshev created a whole network of informants, one of whom was an official of the Ministry of War, who supplied the Russian officer with reports on the whereabouts of the French troops.

Russian spy during the Patriotic War of 1812 Alexander Chernyshev
Russian spy during the Patriotic War of 1812 Alexander Chernyshev

Counterintelligence reported to Napoleon about Chernyshev, but the emperor refused to the last to believe in his involvement in espionage. In February 1812, a search was carried out in the apartment of a Russian officer and incriminating papers were found. Napoleon tore and threw himself, but Chernyshev was already far from Paris.

Battle for Maloyaroslavets in 1812 Averyanov A. Yu., 1992
Battle for Maloyaroslavets in 1812 Averyanov A. Yu., 1992

After the end of the war, Alexander Chernyshev was awarded the rank of general, and then became Minister of War. The count was unable to completely retire from "espionage" affairs. From time to time he trained officers for secret missions. In the Soviet Union there were also many intelligence officers working for the good of the country. One of them was the legendary Richard Sorge is a German spy working for the USSR.

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