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Dmitry Milyutin

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Alekseyevich and the family name is Milyutin.

Count Dmitry Alekseyevich Milyutin (Russian: Дмитрий Алексеевич Милютин, tr. Dmitrij Alekseevič Miljutin; 28 June 1816, Moscow – 25 January 1912, Simeiz near Yalta) was a military historian, 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.

Count Dmitry Alekseyevich Milyutin
Дмитрий Алексеевич Милютин
General Dmitry Milyutin in 1865
Minister of War
In office
16 May 1861 – 21 May 1881
MonarchsAlexander II
Alexander III
Preceded byNikolay Sukhozanet
Succeeded byPyotr Vannovsky
Personal details
Born(1816-06-28)28 June 1816
Moscow, Moscow Governorate, Russian Empire
Died25 January 1912(1912-01-25) (aged 95)
Simeiz, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire
Military service
Allegiance Russian Empire
Branch/serviceRussian Empire Russian Imperial Army
Years of service1836-1881
RankField Marshal
Battles/warsCaucasian War
Crimean War
Russo-Turkish War
Awardssee awards

Early career

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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 took part in the capture of Imam Shamil, thus helping bring the prolonged Caucasian War to an end.

Minister of War

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General Dmitry Alekseyevich Milyutin at the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps

Milyutin was Minister of War from 16 May 1861 to 21 May 1881. The military reforms introduced 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 21 for 6 years, instead of the previous 25 years. This applied to all males including nobles. 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. Before his reforms in, the 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.

Milyutin strongly advocated the deportation that formed the latter stage of the Circassian genocide, arguing that "eliminating the Circassians was to be an end in itself – to cleanse the land of hostile elements".[2]

Later life

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General Dmitry Milyutin

After the Congress of Berlin, Milyutin succeeded the ailing Alexander Gorchakov as the leader of the imperial foreign policy. Alexander II's assassination in 1881 rendered his position precarious, however, and 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 to Field Marshal, the first man to receive this honour for many years and the last in the history of the Russian Empire. He died in Simeiz in 1912.

Works

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  • The history of Russia's war with France during the reign of Emperor Paul I in 1799 [История войны России с Францией в царствование Императора Павла I в 1799 году]. "Written by Imperial order of Sovereign Emperor Nicholas I". In five volumes. Saint Petersburg. 1852–1853. Типография штаба военно-учебных заведений.

Honours and awards

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Domestic

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Foreign

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References

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  1. ^ Wiesław Caban, Losy żołnierzy powstania listopadowego wcielonych do armii carskiej, w: Przegląd Historyczny, t. XCI, z. 2, s. 245.
  2. ^ Walter Richmond, The Circassian Genocide (Rutgers University Press, 2013) pp 70-71, 131-32.
  3. ^ Königlich Preussische Ordensliste (in German), vol. 1, Berlin: Gedruckt in der Reichsdruckerei, 1886, pp. 8, 15, 23 – via hathitrust.org
  4. ^ a b "Ritter-Orden", Hof- und Staatshandbuch der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie, 1911, pp. 48, 60, 97, retrieved 14 January 2021
  5. ^ M. Wattel, B. Wattel. (2009). Les Grand'Croix de la Légion d'honneur de 1805 à nos jours. Titulaires français et étrangers. Paris: Archives & Culture. p. 516. ISBN 978-2-35077-135-9.
  6. ^ Sveriges Statskalender (in Swedish), 1905, p. 440 – via runeberg.org
  7. ^ Bille-Hansen, A. C.; Holck, Harald, eds. (1910) [1st pub.:1801]. Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1910 [State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1910] (PDF). Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender (in Danish). Copenhagen: J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri. pp. 3, 6. Retrieved 2 September 2020 – via da:DIS Danmark.
  8. ^ Acović, Dragomir (2012). Slava i čast: Odlikovanja među Srbima, Srbi među odlikovanjima. Belgrade: Službeni Glasnik. p. 623.

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Милютин, Дмитрий Алексеевич" . Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (in Russian). 1906.

Further reading

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  • Forrest A. Miller, Dmitrii Miliutin and the Reform Era in Russia (1968)
  • Walter Richmond, The Circassian Genocide (Rutgers University Press, 2013) online
  • His memoirs have been reprinted. The early years in a volume published by Oriental Research Partners (Newtonville, Mass) in 1978 with a new useful introduction by Prof. Bruce Lincoln. A three volume set of memoirs of his later years was published by Rossiiski arkhiv (Moscow 1999-2006) Pp. 525, 557, 730.
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