In the 1819-1829s, George Dawe, an English artist, worked as a court painter in Saint Petersburg. Back then, the artist and his assistant created over three hundred portraits of Russian military commanders who had participated in 1812 Patriotic War. They became a part of the Winter Palace Military Gallery. The Battle of Borodino Panorama Museum keeps a copy of Colonel Khrapovitsky’s portrait, which belongs to this gallery. The colonel was in command of the 2nd Guards Infantry Division and Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment.
Matvey Khrapovitsky was born in 1784 to a noble family in Smolensk Province. His father was the judge of Krasny District and a retired lieutenant. At that time, it was common to begin military service at a very young age, so Matvey entered the Nobility Cadet Corps as early as at six.
In 1797, Matvey Khrapovitsky became a page-boy of Great Prince Konstantin Pavlovich. The Prince joined the army of General Field-Marshal Suvorov and took the boy along. In 1799 Khrapovistky participated in the Italian and Swiss military expeditions of Suvorov’s army. That same year he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment.
In 1803, Matvey Khrapovitsky obtained the rank of Colonel. He participated in 1805-1807 French campaigns, distinguished himself in the Battle of Austerlitz and received the Order of Saint George, Grade 4.
During the campaign of 1812, the 28-year-old colonel was in command of a brigade comprising Izmaylovsky and Lithuanian Life Guards Regiments. On August 26, his brigade joined the Battle of Borodino near Semenovskoye village in the heat of the fight.
After the injury of Commander-in-Chief Bagration, the Russian forces took up their position behind Semenovsky ravine. At that moment they were attacked by the 1st Cavalry Corps of General Nansouty. However, Khrapovitsky’s regiments repelled the assault “first by fire” and then bayonet fighting. The brigade lost up to half of its manpower and successfully defeated the attack. Matvey Khrapovitsky was shot right through his left leg, but did not leave the battlefield. He was promoted to Major General for displayed gallantry.
General Khrapovitsky participated in the foreign campaigns of 1813–1814. At the tense moment during the Battle of Kulm the general personally lead into attack his last reserve, two battalions of Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment. The French columns were defeated by that all-out assault and made a hasty retreat.
Khrapovitsky’s horse was killed in the attack, while he himself was severely wounded in the leg. Only half a year later he recovered and returned to the army. The general received the Order of Saint Anna, Grade 1, for the Battle of Kulm.
Matvey Khrapovitsky was born in 1784 to a noble family in Smolensk Province. His father was the judge of Krasny District and a retired lieutenant. At that time, it was common to begin military service at a very young age, so Matvey entered the Nobility Cadet Corps as early as at six.
In 1797, Matvey Khrapovitsky became a page-boy of Great Prince Konstantin Pavlovich. The Prince joined the army of General Field-Marshal Suvorov and took the boy along. In 1799 Khrapovistky participated in the Italian and Swiss military expeditions of Suvorov’s army. That same year he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment.
In 1803, Matvey Khrapovitsky obtained the rank of Colonel. He participated in 1805-1807 French campaigns, distinguished himself in the Battle of Austerlitz and received the Order of Saint George, Grade 4.
During the campaign of 1812, the 28-year-old colonel was in command of a brigade comprising Izmaylovsky and Lithuanian Life Guards Regiments. On August 26, his brigade joined the Battle of Borodino near Semenovskoye village in the heat of the fight.
After the injury of Commander-in-Chief Bagration, the Russian forces took up their position behind Semenovsky ravine. At that moment they were attacked by the 1st Cavalry Corps of General Nansouty. However, Khrapovitsky’s regiments repelled the assault “first by fire” and then bayonet fighting. The brigade lost up to half of its manpower and successfully defeated the attack. Matvey Khrapovitsky was shot right through his left leg, but did not leave the battlefield. He was promoted to Major General for displayed gallantry.
General Khrapovitsky participated in the foreign campaigns of 1813–1814. At the tense moment during the Battle of Kulm the general personally lead into attack his last reserve, two battalions of Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment. The French columns were defeated by that all-out assault and made a hasty retreat.
Khrapovitsky’s horse was killed in the attack, while he himself was severely wounded in the leg. Only half a year later he recovered and returned to the army. The general received the Order of Saint Anna, Grade 1, for the Battle of Kulm.
