People of Russia

Apraxine Spiridonov (30/07/1702 – 26/08/1760) – son of the equerry, was born July 30, 1702.

He was brought up by his kinsman, gr. Petra Apraxin as Spiridonov a very young age lost his father.

By custom of the time, he joined the service of a soldier in the regiment of the Transfiguration and in the reign of Peter II was already a captain. Then he moved to the Semenov regiment, and received from the Empress Anna rank second major, was on the march under the command of Field Marshal Miniha – when taking Ochakov in 1737, for which was awarded the rank of Prime Minister Major and villages.

Then, in 1739 was promoted to major general and on September 10, which brought to St. Petersburg the news about taking Khotin was granted the Order of St.. Alexander Nevsky. In 1741, Spiridonov met on the border of the embassy Tahmas-Where will Hanna, consisting of 2,200 men too. Following the departure (in 1742) Embassy of Persia, Spiridonov was sent as ambassador to Persia, and then was general krigskomissarom, vice-president of the Military Collegium.

In 1746 received the rank of lieutenant colonel and made generalanshefa Semenov regiment. In 1751 he was awarded the Order of St. Apostle Andrew, and in 1756, September 6, Spiridonov was granted a field marshal.

When Russia took up arms against against Prussia, the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna Apraksin entrusted the Russian army. Upon entry into Prussia, Apraxine separated part of the troops led by General Farmer to occupy Memel and gathered all his strength (about 80 tons a person) in the place where the river empties into Russa Kurishgavsky bay.

Apraxine had to deal with the Prussian Field Marshal Løvald, experienced captain, who, under the command consisted of up to 22 tons a person, cavalry and artillery Russian conceded Prussian. Løvald received orders to attack the Russian, and he decided to do it in der. Gros Egersdorfe.

August 19 Prussians opened the battle, when the Russian had not yet lined up. Winning hesitated a long time. The enemy has all the power consumed to break into the ranks of our own and embrace both wings of the Russian army, but the line (second), led by Rumyantsev, met the Prussians in the forest with fixed bayonets and put them to flight.

According Apraksin: "these things decided to victory"; enemy has lost in killed, wounded and captured up to 10 tons a person. In addition to 29 guns got Russian. On our side of those killed was the commander in chief Vasily Avramovic Lopukhin, a nephew of Tsarina Evdokiya first wife of Peter I.

This brave general who commanded the left wing, was wounded by three bullets. His dying words were: "I drive the enemy"? When he learned of the victory, then said: "Now die quietly, giving my duty Most Gracious Majesty"! August 27 Apraksin crossed back over Pregel with such haste that one might have thought that the Russian defeat.

Some explain this lack of effect of food, others say that if the Chancellor gr. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, for the sake of a great book. Peter Fedorovich, gravitating to Frederick the Great, ordered Apraksin retreat. But according to the dictionary compiler memorable people of Russian land, the story Bishinga in this case thoroughly: Bestuzhev; hated led Duke. Peter Fedorovich, decided to erect the throne of his sons, Crown Prince Paul Petrovich, under the guardianship of Katherine.

Serious illness of the Empress Elizabeth presented him a chance to fulfill the intention of the brave, believing that Elizabeth is on her deathbed, he withdrew his friend, Marshal Apraksin, to the limits of Russia to have before his army.

Empress freed from the disease, removed the Chancellor in the village, where he remained in the reign of Peter III. Artist will the first minister, who had lost the fruits of his victory, was also summoned to answer and imprisoned in a small palace near St. Petersburg in a place called Three hands for about three years it languished under the court and died suddenly on Aug. 26, 1760

On his death remained a legend, like the Empress, dissatisfied with the slow production of the investigation, asked: why so long does it matter? She replied that Marshal is not recognized by anything and that does not know "what to do with it.""Well," – replied the Empress – "remains the last resort, to stop the investigation and to justify the innocent."

After this conversation, the first meeting of the Commission of Inquiry, Field Marshal still maintained his innocence, "and so – said one of the members – remains to us now to use the last resort …". Before he could finish the words, when the stroke cast Apraksin dead on the ground (The experience of history. Pedigrees Apraksin, Op. K. Borozdina, St. Petersburg., 1841).