“Fifty battles, never a scratch,” he boasted. Before you stands the bust of Mikhail Andreyevich Miloradovich. It is a silent tribute to a man of daring military exploits and controversial governance.
Mikhail Miloradovich was no ordinary general. Born in Saint Petersburg in 1771, he rose through the ranks during the Napoleonic Wars. Miloradovich descended from Serbian nobles. Peter I recruited them.
Miloradovich’s early education was superficial. Yet, he became a celebrated military figure. He served under Alexander Suvorov. He fought in Italy and Switzerland. His bravery became legendary. Some called him the “Russian Murat.” Others dubbed him the “Russian Bayard.”
Miloradovich’s service extended to wars against France and the Ottoman Empire. He earned distinction in battles such as Amstetten and Borodino. He even captured Bucharest. His battlefield reputation was rivaled only by his personal enemy, Pyotr Bagration.
By 1818, Miloradovich became Governor General of Saint Petersburg. Despite his military fame, he was ill-suited for civil administration. Vladimir Nabokov called him a “gallant soldier, bon vivant and a somewhat bizarre administrator.” Alexander Herzen noted his lack of understanding of public affairs.
Miloradovich’s governorship was marked by anecdotes and artistic encounters. As chief of police, he controlled political surveillance. Yet, he underestimated the threat of the Decembrists. He dismissed them as “young blockheads.”
In December 1825, Miloradovich’s life took a dramatic turn. News of Alexander I’s death reached Saint Petersburg. Miloradovich prevented Nicholas I from ascending the throne immediately. He exercised de facto dictatorial authority for a brief period.
On December 26, 1825, the Decembrist revolt erupted. Miloradovich rode into the rebel ranks. He tried to persuade them to obey. Pyotr Kakhovsky fatally shot him. Yevgeny Obolensky stabbed him.
Before his death, Miloradovich made three requests. He asked to send regards to his relatives. He wanted his serfs freed. He also asked them to not forget the old Maikov. Miloradovich died a hero to some and a flawed figure to others. His legacy remains complex.
The Mikhail Andreyevich Miloradovich bust serves as a reminder. It represents his courage on the battlefield and his tumultuous time as governor. It captures a life filled with glory, controversy, and ultimately, sacrifice. It prompts us to remember a key figure in Saint Petersburg’s history.