Of all the foreigners in my service, he is the best at undertaking and producing great things. Help him in everything!

Peter the Great

Minich Burchard Christoph (Christopher Antonovich) (1683-1767), Russian field Marshal, associate of Peter the Great In the Russian service since 1721 as an engineer-general. Since 1728 - Governor-General of St. Petersburg, Governor of Karelia and Finland. Since 1732 - President of the Military College. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1735-1739, he commanded troops in the Crimea and Bessarabia. In 1742-1762, he was exiled, then returned to the court with all ranks and awards preserved. In the last years of his life, he was the Chief Director of the Revel and Narva Harbors. The Kronstadt and Ladoga canals.

Among the many names that made the Russian Empire famous in the XVIII century, the name of Field Marshal Minich occupies a well-deserved place. It is not easy to recreate the historical portrait of this figure, a portrait that has been hidden from posterity for many years.

The fate of Minich before his appearance in Russia did not differ much from the fate of young foreign officers at the turn of the XVII - XVIII centuries, for whom almost the whole of Europe became a continuous theater of military operations. Minich Burchard Christoph (later known in Russia as Christoph Antonovich) was born in Germany, in the county of Oldenburg in 1683. His father, a lieutenant colonel in the Danish service, a hydraulic engineer, was raised to the nobility only at the end of his life. Young Minich begins serving as a military engineer in 1700. He, of course, gets information about Russia, Peter I. Burchard was full of ambition at the time. At the beginning of the Northern War, could a novice officer have expected such a successful appearance in Russia before the Emperor Peter? He served in the French, Polish-Saxon armies, and was listed in the troops of small German states... One of these references to the appearance of Minich in Russia belongs to A. K. Nartov: "His Majesty, showing me a drawing of the new fortification of Kronstadt, invented by Lieutenant-General Minich, and praising him for the defense of guesswork, said: "Thank you to Dolgorukov. He brought me this skilful engineer and general. When the Saxons and Poles did not know how to keep him in their service, so I will show them that I know how to reward worthy and knowledgeable generals." After that, he instructed Minich to make projects for the Rogervik Harbor and the Ladoga Canal." A "skilful engineer and general" under Peter I, he supervised the construction of locks on the Tosna River, the laying of the Shlisselburg Highway, and since 1723 he has been in charge of work on the Ladoga Canal. It is known what role Peter I assigned to the canals, especially the Ladoga Canal, in his reforms. It began to be built in 1710, but did not achieve much success.

After the appointment of Minich, the situation on the construction of the Ladoga Canal immediately improved. The then middle-aged emperor personally supervised the construction, participated in the discussion of various innovations. One day, Peter hugged Minich and told him that "his work" restored him to health: "I hope in time to go with you by water from St. Petersburg and become a resident of the Golovinsky Garden by the Yauza River in Moscow." The work was successfully completed in 1728. The" post-Petrine " period of Minich's life began.

The death of Peter the Great and the changes in Russia did not affect the career of a capable administrator: since 1727, he has been the superintendent of fortifications. The Peter and Paul Fortress is being reconstructed (the Ioannovsky and Alekseyevsky ravelins are being built according to Minich's project), and the Kronstadt Fortress is being built (led by Minich). Hristofor Antonovich actively participates in the design of the fortifications of Vyborg and Shlisselburg. Minich's active mind is also responsible for the first project of protecting St. Petersburg from floods.

In many studies, historical novels, films, and textbooks of the Soviet era, Minich is presented as a temporary worker, adventurer, conspirator, tyrant, incompetent commander, or his personality is completely "absent" on the stage. Is this correct? Let's turn to the facts.

In 1732, Minich assumed the duties of president of the Military College. It was during his time that the staff of field and garrison regiments was revised, the Izmailovsky and Cuirassier life Guards were formed, 20 regiments of the Ukrainian militia from odnodvortsy were formed, a reform was carried out in the cavalry, and heavy cavalry - cuirassiers-was created.

Reforms also affected the training of personnel - in 1732, the Land Gentry (cadet) Corps was opened in St. Petersburg. At the initiative of Field Marshal Minich, garrison schools were created at the regiments, foreign officers were equalized in salary with Russians, caning punishments for lower ranks were abolished, new field regulations for infantry and cavalry were adopted, the number of fortresses increased to 82 (against 31). It was under Khristofor Antonovich that fortified lines with strong points appeared in Russia, following the example of Western Europe: Ukrainian (from the mouth of the Seversky Donets River west to the Orel River, 268 versts), Zakamskaya, Tsaritsynskaya, Orenburg, Uyskaya, Tobolo-Ishim, Irkutsk, Kolyvanskaya. The merits of Field Marshal Minich in the field of improving the activities of military command bodies and improving the overall defense structure of Russia are obvious. A separate issue is the field marshal's commanding qualities. And in this case, it is necessary to study the facts.

Perhaps the closest assessment of the field marshal to the truth belongs to the Prussian King Frederick II. He called Minich "the Russian Prince Eugene" (Savoy), " who had all the qualities and shortcomings of great generals: skilful, gifted and happy, but at the same time proud, haughty, proud and often autocratic, he did not hesitate to sacrifice soldiers to his ambition."

The peak of the field Marshal's military activity can be considered the Russo-Turkish war of 1735-1739.

In 1736, Minikh's Ukrainian (or Dnieper) army stormed the Perekop fortifications, invaded the Crimea, and, skilfully bypassing the enemy from the rear, captured the capital of the Crimean Khanate, Bakhchisarai. In 1737, Minich and his troops successfully crossed the Dnieper at Perevolochny and in July stormed the Ochakov fortress. Moreover, the assault on the powerful fortress walls in accordance with the bold plan of the commander was carried out on the move, without prolonged artillery preparation. The success was complete: the Turks lost more than 16 thousand people killed. The losses of the Russian troops were four times less.

The most successful year for Minich was 1739. In August, his troops defeated the Turkish army at Stavuchany and stormed the fortress of Khotyn. By September 1739, the Russian army had occupied most of Moldavia and was preparing to march on Constantinople, but the Peace of Belgrade with Turkey in 1739 prevented it.

It was in this war that Minich's generalship talent was clearly manifested. According to historians, a characteristic feature of his style was energetic and active actions, quick "fire and physical" contact with the enemy. At the same time, he himself constantly rebuilt the troops in order to find the most optimal order of battle. So, from the formation of troops in a line, the field marshal moved to the formation of a battle order in the form of squares, supporting each other with fire and maneuver. At the same time, Minich himself, like many "chicks of Petrov's nest", sought to be ahead, in the thick of the battle.

Documentary evidence of Minich's personal participation in the battles has been preserved. The Military Encyclopedia for 1914 wrote:: "On July 10, 1737, he approached Ochakov and stormed it on the 12th, and he himself set an example of personal bravery to the troops, exposing himself to danger..."

Highlighting the main thing in the activities of Minich as a statesman, it is impossible not to note his concern for the welfare of Russia and its subjects. Minich, although he helps establish Biron as regent under the young Ivan Antonovich, is simultaneously plotting against the Courland adventurer. It was his officers who arrested Biron on the night of November 9, 1740. Minich was appointed First Minister for Military, Civil and Diplomatic Affairs... But the intrigues of the court led to the fact that Minich fell into disgrace. November 1741 was dramatic for him. Arrest, imprisonment in the Peter and Paul Fortress (irony of fate) and trial. He was sentenced to death by quartering, and only on the scaffold in January 1742 was the decree of pardon and exile to Pelym announced. Almost 20 years of exile did not break the warlord. Maybe "Petrovskaya zakalka" kept and protected it? In 1761, by decree of Peter III, Minich was returned to the capital, restored to his rank. He did not get a position: his age was approaching 80! Probably, Minich, knowing about the preparation of a coup d'etat, remained loyal to Peter III, probably even advised him to break through to Kronstadt and attack St. Petersburg. Later, he swore allegiance to Empress Catherine II, was appointed to command the Revel, Rogervik, Narva and Kronstadt ports and the Ladoga Canal, and led the construction of the Rogervik Harbor. According to contemporaries, Catherine and the court respected the old commander, but Count Minich did not touch state affairs, although until his death he tempted "Mother Empress" with his long - standing dream-to conquer Constantinople.

Minich died in 1767. He was buried near Dorpat in the Lunia estate.

Such, in brief, is the long life of a skilful military engineer, Field Marshal General, Knight of the highest Order of St. Andrew the First-Called in Russia, President of the Military College Burchard Christoph Minich, full of glorious achievements, merits and undeserved humiliations. The foreigner, who proudly considered himself a Russian military commander, devoted to the cause of Peter, his new homeland, survived many temporary workers, but it is safe to say that he himself was never a temporary worker.

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