by columns capable of quickly assembling out of loose order, leading the aim fire of the riflemen. The idea of the Allies – the dispersal of forces in garrisons, the siege of fortresses, does not lead to the solution of significant tasks, and these goals themselves are not exactly defined. France defends its borders, seizes new territories. The troops are stationed in the defeated countries, they feed themselves at their expense, and huge contributions contribute materially to the Republic itself. Despite the solid subsidies of England, which pays for the blood of soldiers of foreign armies, European monarchies are withdrawing from the war. In 1797 the First Anti-French Coalition disintegrates.
The prepared 60-thousandth Russian expeditionary force does not go beyond the limits of the Russian state for the following internal circumstances:
On the morning of November 5, 1796, in the Winter Palace (St. Petersburg), Empress Catherine II, having drunk coffee, retires to the toilet, lingers there longer than usual. The duty valet, sensing the unkind, opens the door slightly, and discovers the body lying on the floor. From the Empress’s throat there are faint rales. This is an apoplectic stroke, i.e., in the modern sense, a cerebral hemorrhage. She turned her leg, strangely burdened Catherine put on the floor, then transferred to the bedchamber. The heir, the son Pavel, comes urgently. He is already met as an acting emperor.
And, on November 6, at 9:45, he becomes it.
Paul the First enters the throne at age 42, a fully mature man. Previously, the reigning mother removed him from any serious business. According to rumors, a few more hours, and she would have issued a decree appointing Alexander’s beloved grandson the heir to the throne. Most likely, the father of the emperor was not the lover of Catherine, Count Saltykov, and yet, Peter the Third, and Paul is difficult to forgive his murder. In any case, he is going through the death of Catherine II quite calmly.
Paul takes care of ordinary soldiers, but reduces the liberties of the nobility, including the Guards who participated in too many palace coups. For the lower ranks, at last, a garment such as a cloth overcoat with sleeves, replacing the old sleeveless scoop, is introduced, and in especially cold weather, for guards, mandatory – sheepskin coat and felt boots. Those who receive a free certificate to retired soldiers and invalids are paid a pension (ruble or one and a half per year). Corporal punishment is strictly regulated. Mass construction of the barracks begins.
At the same time, having noticed that up to 90% of officers in peacetime are really in their estates, and not in regiments (paying for that with their commander’s salary), Paul tightens discipline. For the slightest mistake, immediate dismissal follows.
Large-scale audits are being carried out. For theft dozens (not hundreds, and not thousands) of the guilty are referred (for several months) to their country estates.
Nobles now pay a tax of 20 rubles per person. Perhaps it is their humiliation, as a symbol of some dependence on the treasury.
About 600,000 state peasants are transferred to the property of the landlords; Paul, very unreasonably, believes that so the first will live better.
Russia participates in the Second Coalition against revolutionary France and its allies.
United and commanded by A. Suvorov, Russian and Austrian troops inflict a number of defeats on the French, and force them out of Italy. The influence of Russia sharply increases in the liberated region. Fearing this, the Allies demand that the troops immediately move to Switzerland and, using this country as a foothold, invade France itself. Suvorov is forced to obey, although with some delay; left by him, in practice, despite the will of the Austrians garrisons, block the movement of French troops (still remaining in Genoa).
There is a strange castling; Austrian troops in Switzerland are urgently sent to Holland, to join with the Anglo-Russian landing force. Their place, in the country not yet liberated from the French, should be occupied by the Russian-Austrian national army. September 21, 1799, Suvorov’s troops begin the Swiss campaign – including the famous crossing over the Alps. Having overcome the path with incredible difficulties, having saved about 20 thousand soldiers, in the Swiss valley surrounded by mountains, the commander learns that the 60,000-strong army of Rimsky-Korsakov is defeated by the 75,000-strong corps of Massena. With a breakthrough from the Mutenskaya Valley, the 15,000-strong French detachment is half destroyed, the Russian troops are losing 700 people, Massena himself is barely escaping, leaving the epaulette in the hands of a certain brave non-commissioned officer. There is another difficult transition: 200 soldiers are killed, half of almost 3 thousand prisoners, the army is also deprived of all its artillery. At the end of September, troops leave for the valley, where people receive warmth, bread, meat and portions of alcohol. There is a connection with the half-reduced body of Rimsky-Korsakov. The army withdraws to the allied Bavaria, where Suvorov, without reacting to the proposals of the Austrian Emperor Franz the First (whom, together with his commander, Archduke Karl considers a traitor) to continue the fighting, waiting for the courier from Paul the First. Russian troops responded to Russia, Suvorov is waning to his estate Kobrin Klyuch (present-day Belarus), for a well-deserved rest. The commander is still vigorous, but the closest adviser to Pavel the First, Count Palen, slanders Suvorov, accusing almost of preparing the insurrection; in St. Petersburg an honest and decisive Generalissimo can prevent a real revolution.
The Anglo-Russian landing in Holland (on English ships) is landed in June 1799. The total number of about 45 thousand, of which 18 thousand – the Russian corps. Soldiers get stuck in numerous canals, spills, suffer from deprivation from the autumn weather. The number of supporters of the restoration of the monarchy in the Netherlands, it turns out, is not great. French troops have strong rear, popular support, excellent supply. Eventually, having lost about 7 thousand people, in hostilities and from diseases, the Allied army is evacuated by the sea. Benefit from the expedition gets only the UK: it manages to capture almost the entire Dutch fleet.
In August 1798, the united Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of Ushakov besieged the island of Corfu, captured by the French (now Greek). The garrison capitulates, the fleet commander is made into admirals. In this area, under the protectorate of Turkey and Russia, the Republic of the Seven Islands is being established, for several years becoming the main base of the Russian Mediterranean squadron. The fleet participates in the siege of Genoa, then relocates to Malta, and halfway receives the order of Paul the First to return to Sevastopol (Austria concludes a separate truce). Human losses of 400 people, all ships are saved.
So, Paul is dissatisfied with the fact that, located in Sicily Malta, the possession of the most ancient knightly order of the Hospitallers, the British not only cleared Napoleon’s troops, but also joined the UK. Russia itself was going to declare a protectorate over this island, with the prospect of becoming one of the provinces, and, at the same time, the erection of a large naval base here. Moreover, having received the regalia of the great master of the Maltese (Enkih French, as a rule) knights, Paul really considers himself so, considering it his personal duty to use all the resources of the Russian Empire for the liberation of the sacred island.
Knights expelled by Napoleon from their places of refuge, find shelter in St. Petersburg, have treasury, office, etc. in the Vorontsov Palace. However, they do not go deep into politics, do not go deep into politics, consider themselves above the subtleties of palace intrigues, and allow his nominal commander to die. Among their later achievements is the establishment of a prestigious Corps of Pages. Where the teaching of not only Catholics and Orthodox (Orthodox) is allowed.
In November 1801 Dagestan (Avar) Ummah Khan decides to support the Georgian prince Alexander Bagrationi in his struggle for the Georgian (Karli-Kakheti) throne. The legitimate monarch – George the Twelfth nominates another heir. Against the 14,000 people of the Avar
