Military officer.
One of the most prominent Russian war commanders in the Napoleonic Wars. His strategic retreat tactics gave Russia a decisive victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army in 1812.
Background
Lived: 1761-1818.
Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly was born in Lithuania, in a Baltic German noble family of Scottish origin.
Career
Barclay joined the army at an early age and showed great personal courage in the Russo-Turkish War (1787-91) as well as in the Russo-Swedish War (1788-90).
Barclay de Tolly led a campaign against Sweden again in 1808-09. He crossed the ice on the Gulf of Bothnia and made a surprise attack in Finland. Finland was made part of the Russian Empire.
Napoleon’s Invasion
In 1810 Barclay de Tolly was named Russian Minister of War. In 1812, he became in charge of the largest ever Russian Western Army. Russia’s tactics against Napoleon was active retreat. That made de Tolly extremely unpopular among fellow commanders, as well as the public.
Alexander I was under pressure to replace him with Kutuzov. Barclay de Tolly was still commanding the right wing of the Russian army at the Battle of Borodino (1812), where he showed up great personal courage.
After victory, Barclay de Tolly took his joint Prussia-Russian army to win the Battle of Leipzig (1813) and invade Paris in 1814. He was promoted Field Marshal.
Death
Barclay de Tolly died in Insterburg, Prussia and was embalmed and buried in Jõgeveste, Estonia.
Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly
Military officer.
One of the most prominent Russian war commanders in the Napoleonic Wars. His strategic retreat tactics gave Russia a decisive victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army in 1812.
Background
Lived: 1761-1818.
Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly was born in Lithuania, in a Baltic German noble family of Scottish origin.
Career
Barclay joined the army at an early age and showed great personal courage in the Russo-Turkish War (1787-91) as well as in the Russo-Swedish War (1788-90).
Barclay de Tolly led a campaign against Sweden again in 1808-09. He crossed the ice on the Gulf of Bothnia and made a surprise attack in Finland. Finland was made part of the Russian Empire.
Napoleon’s Invasion
In 1810 Barclay de Tolly was named Russian Minister of War. In 1812, he became in charge of the largest ever Russian Western Army. Russia’s tactics against Napoleon was active retreat. That made de Tolly extremely unpopular among fellow commanders, as well as the public.
Alexander I was under pressure to replace him with Kutuzov. Barclay de Tolly was still commanding the right wing of the Russian army at the Battle of Borodino (1812), where he showed up great personal courage.
After victory, Barclay de Tolly took his joint Prussia-Russian army to win the Battle of Leipzig (1813) and invade Paris in 1814. He was promoted Field Marshal.
Death
Barclay de Tolly died in Insterburg, Prussia and was embalmed and buried in Jõgeveste, Estonia.
Decembrist Revolt