Mikhail Miloradovich came from the nobility of Poltava Province and had Serbian roots. He studied at the University of Königsberg as well as in Strasbourg and Metz.
After coming back to Russia in 1787, Miloradovich joined Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment in the rank of a warrant officer. He participated in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790. In 1798 Mikhail Miloradovich was promoted to Major General and appointed Commander-in- Chief of Apsheron Infantry Regiment.
In 1799, the general participated in the Italian and Swiss military campaigns under the command of Aleksandr Suvorov. The expedition through St. Gotthard Pass in the Swiss Alps was associated with an interesting episode. When descending from a steep hill into a valley occupied by the French, the soldiers lead by Mikhail Miloradovich got hesitant. At that point, he exclaimed: ‘Just have a look how your general will be captured! ’ And rolled downhill on his back. The soldiers loved their chief and so followed him.
In 1805, Mikhail Miloradovich was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. Later on he was appointed General of the Infantry. Thus Miloradovich became a four-star general at the age of 38. Over the next several years he held the position of Kiev Governor General.
Since the beginning of the 1812 military campaign, Mikhail Miloradovich had been busy setting up his combat reserves, and in the middle of August they joined the active forces.
During the Battle of Borodino the general led the right flank and received the Order of Saint Aleksandr Nevsky with diamond signs for distinguished conduct under the fire. On August 28, two days after Borodino Battle, Mikhail Kutuzov appointed him Commander of Rearguard Reserves.
It was Mikhail Miloradovich who managed to reach an agreement with Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s Marshal, in order to ensure the unchecked passing of the Russian Army through Moscow. “Otherwise”, he told Joachim Murat, “I will be fighting for each house and street and leave the city in ruins”.
The general lead the advanced guard of the Russian Army when pursuing the enemy. In Vilna (Vilnius) he received the Order of Saint George with diamond signs, 2nd grade, from Aleksandr I personally.
In the beginning of 1813, the troops under the command of Mikhail Miloradovich occupied the Duchy of Warsaw as tasked by the Emperor. They managed to force out the Austrians almost without any losses on the Russian side. The general became entitled to wear the imperial monogram on his epaulettes, which was a rare privilege.
The general was awarded with the Golden Sword of Valor with a laurel wreath for his achievements in the Battle of Kulm on August 17-18. He also received the Order of Saint Andrew for distinguished conduct under fire in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig on October 4-7. Mikhail Miloradovich obtained the title of count for the efficient command of troops in the campaign of 1813.
After coming back to Russia, Count Miloradovich took the lead of the Guards, which was the best part of the Russian Army. In 1818 he was appointed Governor General of Saint Petersburg. In the mid 1820s George Dawe, an English artist, painted the portrait of General Miloradovich for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. The copy created in 1970 is kept in the Battle of Borodino Panorama Museum.
After coming back to Russia in 1787, Miloradovich joined Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment in the rank of a warrant officer. He participated in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790. In 1798 Mikhail Miloradovich was promoted to Major General and appointed Commander-in- Chief of Apsheron Infantry Regiment.
In 1799, the general participated in the Italian and Swiss military campaigns under the command of Aleksandr Suvorov. The expedition through St. Gotthard Pass in the Swiss Alps was associated with an interesting episode. When descending from a steep hill into a valley occupied by the French, the soldiers lead by Mikhail Miloradovich got hesitant. At that point, he exclaimed: ‘Just have a look how your general will be captured! ’ And rolled downhill on his back. The soldiers loved their chief and so followed him.
In 1805, Mikhail Miloradovich was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. Later on he was appointed General of the Infantry. Thus Miloradovich became a four-star general at the age of 38. Over the next several years he held the position of Kiev Governor General.
Since the beginning of the 1812 military campaign, Mikhail Miloradovich had been busy setting up his combat reserves, and in the middle of August they joined the active forces.
During the Battle of Borodino the general led the right flank and received the Order of Saint Aleksandr Nevsky with diamond signs for distinguished conduct under the fire. On August 28, two days after Borodino Battle, Mikhail Kutuzov appointed him Commander of Rearguard Reserves.
It was Mikhail Miloradovich who managed to reach an agreement with Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s Marshal, in order to ensure the unchecked passing of the Russian Army through Moscow. “Otherwise”, he told Joachim Murat, “I will be fighting for each house and street and leave the city in ruins”.
The general lead the advanced guard of the Russian Army when pursuing the enemy. In Vilna (Vilnius) he received the Order of Saint George with diamond signs, 2nd grade, from Aleksandr I personally.
In the beginning of 1813, the troops under the command of Mikhail Miloradovich occupied the Duchy of Warsaw as tasked by the Emperor. They managed to force out the Austrians almost without any losses on the Russian side. The general became entitled to wear the imperial monogram on his epaulettes, which was a rare privilege.
The general was awarded with the Golden Sword of Valor with a laurel wreath for his achievements in the Battle of Kulm on August 17-18. He also received the Order of Saint Andrew for distinguished conduct under fire in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig on October 4-7. Mikhail Miloradovich obtained the title of count for the efficient command of troops in the campaign of 1813.
After coming back to Russia, Count Miloradovich took the lead of the Guards, which was the best part of the Russian Army. In 1818 he was appointed Governor General of Saint Petersburg. In the mid 1820s George Dawe, an English artist, painted the portrait of General Miloradovich for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. The copy created in 1970 is kept in the Battle of Borodino Panorama Museum.
