Dmitry Milyutin

Dmitry Milyutin
D.A. Milyutin

Count Dmitry Alekseyevich Milyutin (June 28, 1816, Moscow – January 25, 1912, Simeiz near Yalta) was Minister of War (1861–81) and the last Field Marshal of Imperial Russia (1898). He was responsible for sweeping military reforms that changed the face of the Russian army in the 1860s and 1870s.

Contents

Early career

Milyutin graduated from the Moscow University School in 1833 and Nicholas Military Academy in 1836. Unlike his brother Nikolai Milyutin, who chose to pursue a career in civil administration, Dmitry volunteered to take part in the Caucasian War (1839–45). After sustaining a grave wound, he returned to the military academy to deliver lectures as a professor.

In the following years, Milyutin earned a considerable reputation as a brilliant scholar. He emphasized the scientific value of military statistics and authored the first comprehensive study of the subject, which earned him the Demidov Prize for 1847. Milyutin regarded Suvorov as a model for military commanders and the Italian campaign of 1799 as the pinnacle of his career, elaborating these views in a detailed account of the campaign, published in five volumes in 1852 and 1853.

Capitalizing on his knowledge, Milyutin analyzed the causes of Russia's defeat in the Crimean War and framed some radical proposals for military reforms. His ideas were approved by Alexander II, who appointed Milyutin to the post of Minister of War in 1861. Several years earlier, Milyutin had taken part in the capture of Shamil, thus helping bring the prolonged Caucasian War to an end.

Minister of War

Milyutin.jpg

Milyutin was Minister of War from 16 May 1861 to 21 May 1881. The military reforms carried on during Milyutin's long tenure resulted in the levy system being introduced to Russia and military districts being created across the country. Military service was declared compulsory to all males aged 20. The system of military education was also reformed, and elementary education was made available to all the draftees. Milyutin's reforms are regarded as a milestone in the history of Russia: they dispensed with the military recruitment and professional army introduced by Peter the Great and created the Russian army such as it continued into the 21st century until Anatoliy Serdyukov planned military reforms to end in 2020. (See: 2008 Russian military reform) Up to Dmitry Milyutin's reforms in 1874 Russian Army had no constant barracks and was billeted in dugouts and shacks.[1] The success of his reforms was demonstrated during the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878). Milyutin's subtle leadership made itself felt during the peak of the conflict when the Russians failed three times in a row to take Pleven and many experts advised them to retreat. Milyutin promptly ordered the siege to be continued in a more orderly manner which brought the war to a victorious end. At the close of the war, Milyutin set up a commission in order to investigate faulty supply of provisions and other problems that had surfaced during the siege. In recognition of his services, he was made a count and received all the Russian orders, including the Order of Saint Andrew.

Later life

After the Congress of Berlin, Milyutin actually succeeded the ailing Chancellor Gorchakov as the leader of the imperial foreign policy. Alexander II's assassination in 1881 rendered his position precarious, however. After Konstantin Pobedonostsev, intent on reversing the liberal innovations of the previous reign, emerged as the most powerful policy-maker, Milyutin resigned his office. In 1898, when the 80th anniversary of Alexander II was celebrated, he was promoted Field Marshal, the first man to receive this honour for many years and the last in the history of Russia.

References

This article incorporates material from the public domain 1906 Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.

  1. ^ Wiesław Caban, Losy żołnierzy powstania listopadowego wcielonych do armii carskiej, w: Przegląd Historyczny, t. XCI, z. 2, s. 245.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Milyutin — (Russian: Милютин) is a Russian last name and may refer to the following: Dmitry Milyutin (1816 1912) Russian war minister in the reign of Alexander II, notable for introducing conscription in the Russian army and other reforms, brother of… …   Wikipedia

  • Milyutin, Dmitry Alekseyevich, Count — ▪ Russian war minister born June 28 [July 10, New Style], 1816, Moscow, Russia died Jan. 25 [Feb. 7], 1912, Simeiz, near Yalta, Crimea, Russian Empire       Russian military officer and statesman who, as minister of war (1861–81), was responsible …   Universalium

  • Nikolay Milyutin — Not to be confused with Nikolay Alexandrovich Milyutin. Nikolay Milyutin Nikolay Alexeyevich Milyutin (June 6, 1818 – January 26, 1872) was a Russian statesman remembered as the chief architect of the great liberal reforms undertaken during… …   Wikipedia

  • Russia — /rush euh/, n. 1. Also called Russian Empire. Russian, Rossiya. a former empire in E Europe and N and W Asia: overthrown by the Russian Revolution 1917. Cap.: St. Petersburg (1703 1917). 2. See Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 3. See Russian… …   Universalium

  • Imperial Russian Army — Armies of Russia Kievan Rus Druzhina (862–1400s) Voyi …   Wikipedia

  • Alexander II — 1. died 1073, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 1061 1073. 2. (Aleksandr Nikolaevich) 1818 81, czar of Russia 1855 81. * * * I born Aug. 24, 1198, Haddington, Lothian died July 8, 1249, Kerrera Island King of Scotland (1214–49). He came to the throne on …   Universalium

  • List of Russian people — The Millennium of Russia monument in Veliky Novgorod, featuring the statues and reliefs of the most celebrated people in the first 1000 years of Russian history …   Wikipedia

  • Suvorov's Italian and Swiss expedition — The Italian and Swiss expeditions of 1799 and 1800 were undertaken by the Russian commander Alexander Suvorov against French forces in Piedmont and Switzerland as part of the Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars in general and the… …   Wikipedia

  • Dimitri Alexeïevitch Milioutine — Dimitri Alexeïevitch Milioutine, né le 28 juin 1816 à Moscou, décédé le 25 janvier 1912 à Sirmey près de Yalta, était un militaire et un homme politique russe. Il fut ministre de la Guerre de 1861 à …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Pavel Kiselyov — Count Pavel Dmitrievich Kiselyov (Павел Дмитриевич Киселёв), also spelled Kiseleff (8 January, 1788, Moscow 14 November, 1872, Paris), is generally regarded as the most brilliant Russian reformer during Nicholas I s generally reactionary reign.… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”