Alexander Kutaisov was born in 1784 in the family of Count Ivan Kutaisov, the valet and favorite of Paul I. His father’s position helped Alexander to start his military career early.
In 1793, Kutaisov was enlisted as a vice-warrant officer in the Guards, three years later he graduated as a captain to the Velikolutsky Infantry Regiment. In 1799, being only 15 years old, Kutaisov was already a colonel. He was transferred to the Guards Artillery and appointed an aid-de-camp to the state and military official Alexei Arakcheev.
During the war of the Fourth Coalition against France, Kutaisov commanded an artillery regiment. In 1806, he was promoted to Major General. For distinguished conduct in the battle of Preussisch Eylau - the biggest battle of the time - Kutaisov was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd class. And for the battle of Friedland, which was decisive for the signing of the Tilsit Peace Treaty, he received a gold sword with diamonds and the inscription “For bravery”.
In 1810-1811, the young man studied architecture, fortification and artillery in Europe. He applied this knowledge when he participated in the drafting of the “Institutions for the management of a Large Active Army”. He was also one of the founders of the Artillery Magazine, which was the official organ of the Artillery Department of the Russian Empire.
In early 1812, Kutaisov became Chief of Artillery of the 1st Western Army. In the summer, the Major General was in command of the Army rearguard troops and participated in the battles at Kochergishki, Kakuvyachin (where he received a bullet injury in his right leg, but remained on the battle field), on the river Luchesa, at Smolensk, and in the skirmishes at Valutina Gora and Solovyova crossing.
In the Battle of Borodino on August 26, Kutaisov was in command of all the artillery forces of the Russian troops. He was killed during the counterattack against the French who had seized the Kurgan Battery, also known as the Raevsky Battery, which was a most important stronghold of the Russian defense. Kutaisov did not live just four days to his 28th birthday.
The portrait of Kutaisov was painted in the workshop of the English artist George Dawe between 1820 and 1825. It is believed that Francesco Vendramini’s engraving based on a drawing by Franz Ferrier was used as a prototype. The portrait was included in the War Gallery of the Winter Palace, which glorified the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. The Museum-Panorama ‘Battle of Borodino’ holds a copy of Kutaisov’s portrait that was painted in 1964.
In 1793, Kutaisov was enlisted as a vice-warrant officer in the Guards, three years later he graduated as a captain to the Velikolutsky Infantry Regiment. In 1799, being only 15 years old, Kutaisov was already a colonel. He was transferred to the Guards Artillery and appointed an aid-de-camp to the state and military official Alexei Arakcheev.
During the war of the Fourth Coalition against France, Kutaisov commanded an artillery regiment. In 1806, he was promoted to Major General. For distinguished conduct in the battle of Preussisch Eylau - the biggest battle of the time - Kutaisov was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd class. And for the battle of Friedland, which was decisive for the signing of the Tilsit Peace Treaty, he received a gold sword with diamonds and the inscription “For bravery”.
In 1810-1811, the young man studied architecture, fortification and artillery in Europe. He applied this knowledge when he participated in the drafting of the “Institutions for the management of a Large Active Army”. He was also one of the founders of the Artillery Magazine, which was the official organ of the Artillery Department of the Russian Empire.
In early 1812, Kutaisov became Chief of Artillery of the 1st Western Army. In the summer, the Major General was in command of the Army rearguard troops and participated in the battles at Kochergishki, Kakuvyachin (where he received a bullet injury in his right leg, but remained on the battle field), on the river Luchesa, at Smolensk, and in the skirmishes at Valutina Gora and Solovyova crossing.
In the Battle of Borodino on August 26, Kutaisov was in command of all the artillery forces of the Russian troops. He was killed during the counterattack against the French who had seized the Kurgan Battery, also known as the Raevsky Battery, which was a most important stronghold of the Russian defense. Kutaisov did not live just four days to his 28th birthday.
The portrait of Kutaisov was painted in the workshop of the English artist George Dawe between 1820 and 1825. It is believed that Francesco Vendramini’s engraving based on a drawing by Franz Ferrier was used as a prototype. The portrait was included in the War Gallery of the Winter Palace, which glorified the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. The Museum-Panorama ‘Battle of Borodino’ holds a copy of Kutaisov’s portrait that was painted in 1964.
