Reflections on historical "battles"

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

“The king decided to divide his entire kingdom among his three sons” … This is how fairy tales end with a happy ending. And in history the division of the "Mongol Empire" between the sons of Genghis Khan is presented. An ancient Central Asian proverb says: “If six sons were born from a father, then five of them should be slaves, and one master. If all six are masters at once, then the most extensive mountain valleys will seem cramped to them."

History confirms this custom of “one heir” in old Europe as well. Baldwin I - King of Jerusalem, was born in 1058 from Count Eustathius of Bouillon and the pious Ida of Lorraine. As the younger brother of the famous Gottfried of Bouillon, he was destined for the clergy. But having begged his father, who provided him with knightly armor and a squire, having accepted the knighthood, he went on a crusade to look for his own fiefdom.

Some kind of absurdity with the sons of Genghis Khan, Plano Karpini writes about the Mongol governor Bayu-Noyon who has 18 brothers … And all were military commanders of their Mongolian troops. It is well known from the military history of troops and armies that the Turks had the first regular army in the 15th century, consisting of janissaries, and before that all states and rulers had only mercenaries, which, according to modern terminology, consisted of adventurers and bandits. No need to smile according to the old terminology in old encyclopedias, it sounded like this:

Adventurers (Avanluriers), the name given to mercenary troops in France. These were people who did not know their homeland and fought for the one who gave more.

A gang (lat. Bandum, German. Band), in the Middle Ages, a detachment of knightly cavalry and infantry of the feudal armies, and with the fall of feudalism - a wandering squad of mercenary troops.

The mercenary army was formed from people of different nationalities and different social status. These armies supported themselves by plunder and extortion from civilians, in war they were distinguished by courage and military experience, and at the same time by violence, greed and cruelty. The beginning of the gangs can be considered the Almogavars - light detachments for the outpost service, which appeared in the 13th century. In Italy, where the mercenary detachments of the Condottieri later became notorious. In Germany, the gangs preceded the Landeknechts and sometimes in numbers (eg Magna guardia) reached several thousand. In France, since the time of Philip Augustus, a gang of mercenaries, called there Routiers, Coteros, Ribos, Brabancons, offered their services to the one of the princes who paid the most. In Russia, groups of insurgents during the Polish uprisings were called gangs.

So in the Middle Ages, recruiting a large army required a lot of effort, and equipment and weapons were available only to royal detachments and small groups of protection of large feudal lords, who, by the way, fought not out of altruistic motives, but in anticipation of the extraction or expansion of their lands. Well, supplying a mercenary army with horses is generally out of the ordinary, therefore, the movement of troops was delayed for many months and years. Russian chronicles report:

“The Walking of Metropolitan Pimen to Constantinople” notes that on April 13, 1389, Pimen left Moscow and reached Ryazan (Pereyaslavl Ryazan) by river. From Ryazan to the upper reaches of the Don, we had to go by dry road and carry 4 ships on wheels (“3 plows and nozzles on wheels”). Then he went down the Don to Azov, and from it went by sea past Kafa (Feodosia) and Sudak to Sinop. On June 29 he sailed to Constantinople. Thus, the journey from Moscow to Constantinople took two and a half months.

All military campaigns and battles were seasonal, which was well noted in the Draft Plan of the Russian-French Expedition to India, conceived by Napoleon and the Russian Emperor Paul I at the end of the 18th century. This is the only documentary project when the main passage was to be made on foot, which could serve as an example of comparison with the mythical Campaigns of ancient military campaigns from Alexander the Great to the sinister Timur. In addition to the Russians and the French, Germany was also devoted to the project, only the death of the Russian emperor prevented the implementation of this plan. The plan of the campaign is drawn from the excellent work "India" by Dubois de Jansigny. (Inde: Univers Pittoresque ed. Firmin Diolet 1845.)

The purpose of the expedition

To expel the British irrevocably from Hindustan, to free these beautiful and rich countries from the British yoke, to open up new ways of industry and trade for the enlightened European nations, especially France: this is the goal of an expedition worthy to cover the first year of the nineteenth century with immortal glory and the heads of those governments who conceived this a useful and glorious undertaking.

Participation: The French Republic and the Emperor of Russia - to send a united army of 70 thousand people to the shores of the Indus. The German Emperor allows French troops to pass through his possessions and helps French troops to redeploy down the Danube to its mouths in the Black Sea.

Route of the French army: 35 thousand corps of all kinds of weapons will be separated from the Rhine army. These troops will sail on barges along the Danube and descend on barges along this river to its mouths in the Black Sea. Further, the troops will transfer to transport ships delivered by Russia, cross the Black and Azov Seas and land in Taganrog.

Then, this army corps will follow the right bank of the Don to the Cossack town of Pyatiizbyanka. (Pyatizbyanskaya village, 321 versts from Novocherkassk). Having reached this point, the army will cross the Don and go by dry route to the city of Tsaritsyn, built on the right bank of the Volga. From here the army will go down the river to Astrakhan. Here the troops, having transferred to merchant ships, will sail across the entire length of the Caspian Sea and land in Astrabad, the seaside city of Persia.

As soon as the project of the expedition is finally approved, Paul I will give the order to collect 35 tons of the Russian army in Astrakhan, including 25 thousand regular troops of all kinds of weapons and 10 thousand Cossacks. This army corps will immediately sail across the Caspian Sea to Astrabad to await the arrival of French troops here.

Astrabad will be the headquarters of the allied armies, military and food stores will be set up here, it will become the center of communications between Hindustan, France and Russia. Having united the allied army will move on a campaign, will pass the cities: Herat, Ferah, Kandahar and will soon reach the right bank of the Indus.

Duration of the French campaign.

Sailing down the Danube to its mouths in the Black Sea - 20 days.

From the mouth of the Danube to Taganrog - 16 days.

From Taganrog to Pyatiizbyanka - - 20 days.

From Pyatizbyanka to Tsaritsyn - 4 days.

From Tsaritsyn to Astrakhan - 5 days.

From Astrakhan to Astrabad - 10 days.

From Astrabad to the Indus coast - 45 days.

Total 120 days.

So, the French army will use four months to march from the banks of the Danube to the shores of the Indus, but in order to avoid any intensification of the marches, it is assumed that the march will last a full five months, so if the army sets out at the beginning of May 1801, it must arrive at its destination at the end of September. It should be noted that half of the way will be done by water, and the other half by dry way.

Means of execution

When sailing along the Danube, the French army will carry field guns with ammunition boxes. She won't need any camp supplies. The cavalry is heavy and light, and the artillery should not take horses with them, only load on the barges: saddles, harnesses, packs, strings, reins, reins, etc. and so on. This corps will stock up on bread crumbs for a month.

The commissars, ahead of the army, will prepare and distribute the stages where necessary. Having reached the mouth of the Danube, the army will transfer to transport ships sent from Russia and supplied with provisions for a period of fifteen to twenty days. During the voyage, the commissars and officers of the main headquarters will go by dry route and by post, some to Taganrog and Tsaritsyn, others to Astrakhan.

The commissars sent to Taganrog will enter into an agreement with the Russian commissars regarding the army's land route from Taganrog to Pyatiizbyanka, the preparation of stages and the withdrawal of apartments, finally, a set of horses and carts for transporting artillery and army luggage.

These same commissars will come to an agreement with those sent to Tsaritsyn on the fit of the ships necessary for crossing the Don, which in this place is slightly wider than the Seine in Paris. Commissars in Tsaritsyn should take care in advance:

1) About the connection at three or four points, between the Volga and the Don, all camp supplies and provisions required by the army during its campaign.

2) On the fit to Tsaritsyn of a sufficient number of ships for the French army to cross down the Volga to Astrakhan.

The commissars sent to Astrakhan will keep ready ships for the transport of the army, loaded with provisions for fifteen days. On the departure of the French army to Astrabad, it must be supplied with the following supplies, collected and prepared by the commissars of both governments:

1) All kinds of ammunition, artillery shells and weapons.

Ammunition and guns can be delivered from arsenals: Astrakhan, Kazan and Saratov, abundantly supplied.

2) Draft horses for transporting artillery and ammunition of the united army.

3) Trucks and carts and horses for the carriage of luggage, pontoons, etc.

4) Riding horses for the French cavalry, heavy and light.

Horses can be purchased between the Don and Volga from the Cossacks and Kalmyks, they are found here in countless numbers, are most suitable for service in areas that will be a theater of military operations, and the price of these horses is more moderate than anywhere else.

5) All camp supplies necessary for the French army in the campaign to the shores of the Indus and beyond.

6) Warehouses of cloths, cloths, uniforms, hats, shako, helmets, gloves, stockings, boots, shoes, etc. and so on.

All these items should be found in abundance in Russia, where they are cheaper and cheaper than in other European countries. The French government can contact the directors of the Sarepta colony about their setting - six miles from Tsaritsyn, on the right bank of the Volga. The headquarters of this colony of Evangelists, reputed to be the richest, most industrial and most serviceable for all orders, is located in Saxony, from there an order should be received that the colony of Sarepta undertakes contracts.

7) A pharmacy equipped with all kinds of medicines. It can be delivered by the same colony of Sarepta, where a pharmacy has existed for a long time, which rivals the imperial Moscow pharmacy in the variety and kindness of medicines.

8) Stocks: rice, peas, flour, cereals, corned beef, oil, wines, vodkas, etc.

9) Herds of bulls and sheep. Peas, flour, cereals, corned beef and butter will be delivered by Russia, other items are in abundance in Persia.

10) Stores for fodder, barley and oats. Oats can be obtained in Astrakhan, fodder and barley - in the province.

The route of the allied army from Astrabad to the shores of the Indus, measures for the sure success of the expedition. Before the departure of the Russians to Astrabad, the commissars of the allied governments will be sent to all the khans and minor rulers of the countries through which the army will follow, to instill in them:

“That the army of two peoples, in the entire universe of the most powerful, must pass through their possessions, marching to India, that the only goal of the campaign is to expel from India the British who enslaved these beautiful countries, once so famous, powerful, rich in works - natural and industrial, so that they attracted all the peoples of the earth to participate in deeds and all kinds of bounty, which Heaven pleased to endow these countries, that the terrible state of oppression, misfortune and slavery, in which the peoples of these countries are now groaning, inspired France and Russia with the most lively participation in them, that as a consequence of this, both governments decided to join forces in order to free India from the tyrannical and barbaric yoke of the British,that the princes and peoples of all countries through which the allied army will pass should not fear it in the least, on the contrary, they are offered that they should contribute by all their means to the success of this useful and glorious enterprise, that this campaign is just as fair in its goal as the campaign of Alexander, who wanted to conquer the whole world, was unfair, that the allied army would not collect indemnities, would buy everything by mutual agreement and pay in clean money for all items necessary for her to exist, which in this case will be supported by her strictest discipline, that religion, laws, customs, morals, property, women - will be respected everywhere, spared, and so on. and so on."

With such a proclamation, with honest, frank and straightforward actions, there is no doubt that the khans and other petty princes will freely let the army through their possessions, however, if they are at odds with each other, they are too weak to offer even the slightest significant resistance.

The French and Russian commissars will be accompanied by skillful engineers who will make a topographic survey of the countries through which the allied army will follow, they will mark on their maps: places for halts, rivers through which they will have to cross, cities by which troops will have to pass, points where the wagon train, artillery and ammunition may encounter any obstacles, and at that they indicate the means to overcome these obstacles.

The commissioners will negotiate with the khans, princelings and private owners about the delivery of supplies, carts, wagons, etc., will sign conditions, ask for and receive bail.

Upon the arrival of the first French division in Astrabad, the first Russian division will set off on a campaign, the other divisions of the allied army will follow one after the other, at a distance of five to six leagues from each other, the communication between them will be supported by small detachments of Cossacks.

The vanguard will consist of a corps of Cossacks from four to five thousand people, mixed with light regular cavalry, pontoons immediately follow them, this vanguard, building bridges over rivers, will protect them from enemy attacks and guard the army in case of betrayal or other surprise.

The French government will hand over to the commander-in-chief the weapons of the Versailles factories, such as: guns, carbines, pistols, sabers, etc.; vases and other porcelain items of the Sevres manufacture, pocket and wall clocks of the most skillful Parisian craftsmen, beautiful mirrors, excellent French cloths of different colors: crimson, scarlet, green and blue, especially loved by Asians, especially Persians, velvets, gold and silver brocade, galloons, etc. silk Lyons fabrics, tapestry wallpaper, etc., and so on.

All these items, by the way and at the place, donated to the rulers of these countries with affection and courtesy, so characteristic of the French will give these peoples a high understanding of the generosity, industry and power of the French people, and will subsequently become an important branch of trade.

A society of selected scientists and artists must take part in this glorious expedition. The government will instruct them to take maps and plans of the areas through which the allied army will pass, it will also supply them with notes and especially respected writings concerning these countries. Aeronauts (aeronautics) and pyrotechnics (fireworks makers) will be very useful.

In order to instill in these peoples the highest concept of France and Russia, it will be agreed, before the army and the main apartment from Astrabad, to give in this city several brilliant holidays with military evolutions, similar to the holidays with which great events and worthy epochs are celebrated in Paris.

Having put everything in the above order, there will be no doubt about the success of the enterprise, but it will mainly depend on the intelligence, diligence, courage and loyalty of the bosses, whom both governments entrust the implementation of the project.

Immediately, upon the arrival of the allied army on the banks of the Indus, military operations were to begin. It should be noted that from European places - in India and Persia - the following are especially popular and valued: Venetian Zekhinna, Dutch ducats, Hungarian ducats, Russian imperials and rubles.

(Notes on some articles of this project, it seems, were stated by the first consul Bonaparte as follows):

Bonaparte's remarks

1) Are there enough ships to transport 35 thousand army along the Danube to its mouth?

2) The Sultan will not agree to let the French army down the Danube and will oppose its departure from any port, which is dependent on the Ottoman Empire.

3) Are there enough ships and ships on the Black Sea to cross the army and can the Russian emperor have a sufficient number of them?

4) The corps, upon leaving the Danube to the sea, will not be in danger of being disturbed or scattered by the English squadron of Admiral Keith, who, at the first news of this expedition, will march through the Dardanelles into the Black Sea to block the path of the French army and destroy it?

5) When the allied army in full force gathers in Astrabad, how will it penetrate into India, through almost wild, barren countries, completing a campaign three hundred leagues from Astrabad to the borders of Hindustan?

Objections of Emperor Paul I

1) I think that the required number of ships will be easy to assemble, otherwise the army will land in Brailov - a port on the Danube, in the principality of Wallachia and in Galati - another port, on the same river, in the principality of Moldavia, then the French army will be ferried by ships, equipped and sent by Russia and will continue on its way.

2) Paul I will force Porto to do whatever he wants, his enormous forces will make Divana respect his will.

3) The Russian emperor can easily assemble in his Black Sea ports over 300 ships and vessels of all sizes, the growth of the Russian merchant fleet on the Black Sea is known to the whole world.

4) If Mr. Keith wants to go through the Dardanelles and the Turks do not oppose this, Paul I will oppose, for this he has more real means than they think.

5) These countries are neither wild nor barren, the road is open and spacious for a long time, caravans usually pass in thirty-five, forty days - from the shores of the Indus to Astrabad. The soil, like Arabia and Libya, is not covered with loose sand, rivers irrigate it almost at every step, there is no shortage of forage grasses, rice grows in abundance and is the main food of the inhabitants, bulls, sheep, game are found in abundance, the fruits are varied and excellent.

The only reasonable remark: the length of the path, but this should not serve as a reason to reject the project. The French and Russian armies yearn for glory, they are brave, patient, tireless, their courage, constancy and prudence of military leaders will overcome any obstacles.

A historical event can be cited as confirmation:

In 1739 and 1740, Nadir Shah, or Takhmas Kuli Khan, set out from Delhi with a large army on a campaign against Persia and the shores of the Caspian Sea. His path came true through Kandahar, Ferah, Herat, Meshehed - to Astrabad. All these cities were significant, although they have now lost their former splendor, but still retain most of it.

What the truly Asian army did (that says it all) in 1739-1740, can there be any doubt that the army of the French and Russians could not do that now!

The named cities will serve as the main points of communication between Hindustan, Russia and France, for this it is necessary to establish military post offices, appointing Cossacks to that, as people most capable of this kind of service.

Note. Further, the handwritten letters of Emperor Paul, copied from the originals, were first published in the "Historical Collection" (L., published in 1861, book II, pp. 3 - 6). It is perfectly appropriate to reprint them following the project of the Russian expedition to India in 1800, as the beginning of the implementation of this project. The unexpected and sudden death of Paul I, on the night of March 11-12, 1801, saved England from the Russian invasion of India.

Letters from Emperor Paul to the ataman of the Don army, General of the cavalry Orlov 1st, St. Petersburg, January 12th 1801.

The British are preparing to make an attack with a fleet and an army on me and on my allies - the Swedes and Danes, I am ready to accept them, but they themselves need to be attacked where the blow may be more sensitive and where they are less expected. It’s three months from us to India from Orenburg, but from you there is a month, a total of four. I entrust this entire expedition to you and your army, Vasily Petrovich. Gather you with it and set out on a campaign to Orenburg, from where any of the three roads or all of them will go with artillery straight through Bukharia and Khiva to the Indus River and to the English establishments that lie along it. The troops of that land, theirs of the same kind as yours, so having artillery, you have a complete advancement. Get everything ready for the hike. Send your scouts, prepare or inspect the roads, all the wealth of India will be our reward for this expedition. Gather an army to the back stanitsa, and then, notifying me, expect an order to go to Orenburg, where you came, again expect another - to go further. Such an undertaking will crown you all with glory, earn my special favor according to merit, acquire riches and trade, and strike the enemy in his heart. Here I am enclosing maps, as many as I have. God bless you. I am your benevolent Paul.

NB My cards go only to Khiva and to the Amur River, and then it's up to you to get information about the English institutions and the Indian peoples under their control.

II

St. Petersburg, January 12th 1801.

India, where you are assigned, is ruled by one major owner and many minor ones. The British have their own trading establishments, acquired either with money or weapons, then the goal is to ruin all this, and to liberate the oppressed owners and bring Russia into the same dependence in which they have with the Aglikans and turn the bargaining to us. I entrust you with this fulfillment, I abide to you, my benevolent Paul.

III

St. Petersburg, January 13th 1801.

Vasily Petrovich, I am sending you a detailed and new map of the whole of India. Remember that you only care about the British, and peace with all those who will not help them, so as you pass, assure them of the friendship of Russia and go from the Indus to the Ganges and there to the British. In passing, approve the Byxapia so that the Chinese do not get it. In Khiva, free so many of our captive subjects. If the infantry was needed, then I will send after you, and not otherwise it will be possible to send. But it’s better if you did it by yourself. Your benevolent Paul.

IV.

February 7th 1801. Mikhailovsky Castle.

With that, I am sending you the route that I could get you, he will supplement the map and explain you. The expedition is very necessary, and the sooner the more sure and the better. Your benevolent Paul.

With this route, I do not tie your hands at all, however.

V.

In the Mikhailovsky Castle, February 21, 1801.

(Not with my own hand): Mr. General of the Cavalry Orlov 1st, in response to your report of January 25th, I have nothing else to say to you, but I will test what you have presented. I remain benevolent to you, Paul.

(Handwritten postscript): Take as much as you can. As for the infantry, being your opinion, it is better not to take it.