Davydov Denis Vasilyevich
Denis Vasilyevich Davydov is a Russian poet, lieutenant general, one of the commanders of the partisan movement in the Patriotic War of 1812, a prominent representative of "Hussar poetry".
Years of life: July 16 (27), 1784, Moscow — April 22 (May 4), 1839, Verkhnyaya Maza village, Simbirsk province
Military career
Davydov was born into a noble military family (his father served under A.V. Suvorov; according to legend, Suvorov himself, upon seeing young Denis, predicted his military fate).
Key stages of the service:
The beginning of the journey. At the age of 17, he began his service as a cadet cadet in a Cavalry regiment. For poems that were considered inappropriate, he was transferred to the Belarusian Hussar Regiment — but it was there that he really got used to the hussar environment.
The wars of the early 19th century. Participated in campaigns against the French (including the Battle of Preussiche‑Eilau in 1807), was an aide-de-camp to P. I. Bagration. For bravery, he received orders and a golden saber "For Bravery."
1812 and partisan glory. Shortly before the Battle of Borodino, Davydov proposed to Bagration the idea of guerrilla operations behind enemy lines; Kutuzov approved the idea. After receiving 50 Hussars and 80 Cossacks, he launched raids that quickly became effective: he captured wagons, prisoners, and disrupted French communications. Following his example, other army partisan detachments were deployed.
Foreign campaigns and late campaigns. He continued to fight in 1813-1814 (in particular, he distinguished himself at La Rotière), participated in the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828) and in the suppression of the Polish Uprising (1830-1831). In 1831, he was promoted to Lieutenant General.
Literary creativity
Davydov also went down in history as a poet: his "hussar" poems combined bravado, military life and lyrics, and the language was lively and colloquial — this set him apart from the more "ceremonial" poetry of the era.
Characteristic motives. The celebration of Hussar freedom, friendship, wine, danger; at the same time, there is patriotic pathos and subtle irony in the best things. Examples of recognizable lines: "I love a bloody battle, / I was born to serve the tsar!"
Social circle. He communicated closely with Pushkin, Vyazemsky, Boratynsky, and Yazykov; Pushkin highly appreciated Davydov and even called him his teacher in the "simplicity and freedom" of poetic speech.
Prose and military theory. He wrote memoirs and articles about guerrilla warfare, which are interesting as evidence of the era and as early attempts to understand the tactics of small detachments.
Cultural image and memory
Painting and ceremonial portraits. The portrait of Davidov by George Doe is in the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace (Hermitage) among 332 generals who participated in the wars with Napoleon.
Movie. The film "Squadron of Flying Hussars" (1980) romanticizes the image of the poet-partisan; songs based on Davydov's poems (and in the style of his lyrics) have become part of the cultural code.
Monuments and places of remembrance. Monuments have been erected in various cities (including Penza and Ufa); commemorative events and "Davidov Readings" are held in libraries and museums (for example, on Borodino Field).
Connection with literature. There is a version that Denis Davydov partly served as the prototype of Vasily Denisov in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace".
Recent years
After his active service, Davydov lived in his estate Verkhnyaya Maza. He wrote a lot, corresponded with writers, was engaged in farming (built a distillery, equipped a pond) and raising children (he had 9 children in his marriage with Sofia Nikolaevna Chirkova). He died in 1839; he was buried in Moscow at the cemetery of the Novodevichy Monastery.