Prince Valerian (Rustam or Rostom) Grigorievich Madatov was born in 1782 in Karabakh, in the village of Avetaranots (Chanakhchi), not far from Shusha. He belonged to a fairly famous Armenian family. In 1797 (according to another version - in 1799) his uncle Dzhemshid, or Jimmy Shah-Nazarov, the ruler of Karabakh, went to St. Petersburg at the head of the Armenian delegation. He also took his nephew with him. The young man was delighted with the splendor of the Russian capital and applied for military service. However, he was refused. But when he had already gone home to the Caucasus, he was intercepted by a courier with the Emperor’s order to return to St. Petersburg: Pavel remembered the young highlander. Madatov became a belt-ensign of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment, where he served until 1802. From there, with the rank of second lieutenant, he transferred to the Pavlovsk Grenadier Regiment. Where he served until 1807 and became a lieutenant. In 1807 he transferred to the Mingrelian regiment, with a promotion, and a year later received the rank of captain.
In 1808, his military journey began in the Russian-Turkish war, on the fields of Moldavia and Wallachia. Being in the vanguard of Platov, under the command of P.I. Bagration, 26-year-old Madatov took part in a number of battles, showing extraordinary bravery and courage. For the courage shown in the battles near Brailov, he was awarded his first Order of St. Anna, III degree. Then he showed himself bravely in the battles of Machin, Babadag, and Girsovo. On August 30, he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, IV degree, for the battle during the capture of Kyustendzhi. Near Rasevat, Madatov with two squadrons put to flight a four-thousand-strong detachment of enemy cavalry. "Incredible!" - exclaimed Bagration, who was watching his attack. For this battle, Madatov was awarded a golden sword with the inscription “For bravery.” In the battle between the villages of Kalipetro and Kanakli, he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, II degree.
In March 1810, at his own request, he was transferred as a captain to the Alexandria Hussar Regiment, where he was promoted to major for his distinction.
In the first battle on July 12, 1810, Valerian Madatov, near the village of Chaushkoy, recaptured a Turkish gun with his squadron. On August 26, near Batin, where the Alexandrians acted as part of the detachment of Lieutenant General Ilovaisky, with two squadrons he completely defeated a four-thousand-strong cavalry detachment of the Turks. Contemporaries say that when the battle of Batin began, Madatov asked Lansky: “Tell me, what should I do to receive the St. George Cross?” - “Break them here!” - Lanskoy said and jokingly pointed out to him a column of thousands of Turkish horsemen advancing from Shumla. For this case, Madatov was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
However, he still received the coveted white cross for his previous feat. This is what was written in the personal rescript (dated April 11, 1811) for the award:
“To our Lieutenant Colonel Prince Madatov. The excellent courage and bravery you showed in the battle against the Turks on July 12th last near the village of Chaushkoy, where you and your squadron attacked the enemy infantry and took a gun from the enemy, deserve to be awarded the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George, and therefore We most mercifully bestow upon you a holder of this order of the fourth class, and forwarding this sign, we command you to place it on yourself and wear it according to the establishment, however, We have certified that you, having received such an excellent honor, strive to be further worthy of the Monarchship by continuing your diligent service. Our mercy. We are with you, Alexander."
Contemporaries characterized his participation in the battles with the Turks beyond the Danube as follows: “During the entire campaign, he was used by the commanders wherever a faithful eye and a bold chest, prudent calculation and reckless onslaught were required,” and the expression “I was in business with Prince Madatov” meant : “I was in front and closest to the enemy.” “We know,” the soldiers said, “that not a single person will go to waste with him.” They heard Madatov’s famous words: “I take care of the regiment like a bride; but the hour will come - and I will not spare either people or horses.”
In 1812, the Black Hussars were in the vanguard of the 3rd Western Army, under the command of General Lambert, Prince Madatov was already a battalion commander and led the vanguard vanguard. He attacked the enemy wherever he met him: he knocked him out of Ustilug, on July 13 he was the first to enter Brest-Litovsk, and on July 15 he distinguished himself in the battle of Kobrin.
There was a Saxon garrison in the city under the command of General Klengel, who competently organized the defense and bravely defended their positions. The Russian cavalry, which included 7 squadrons of the Alexandrian Hussars, surrounded the city. Lambert sent Madatov with two squadrons of Alexandrians and a hundred Don Cossacks across the Mukhavets River to take the road to Pruzhany. The hussars forded the river and defeated two Saxon squadrons in hand-to-hand combat. Then two more squadrons of the Alexandria Regiment, two squadrons of the Starodubov Dragoon Regiment, and a squadron of the Tatar Uhlan Regiment approached Madatov. The enemy, who was trying to escape along the Pruzhany road, subjected Madatov’s detachment to heavy artillery fire. A platoon of our horse artillery came to the rescue. Supported by his fire, the dragoons dismounted to attack and shot down the enemy's cannons. This cut off the garrison's escape route. Soon Russian troops burst into the city and forced the Saxons to capitulate. 2 generals, 76 staff and chief officers and 2,382 lower officers were captured. 8 guns and 4 banners were captured.
For this battle, Prince Madatov received the Order of St. Anna, 2nd degree with diamonds.
Then Madatov distinguished himself at Pruzhany and Gorodechno, where, with two squadrons, he overthrew the Austrian cavalry with an attack from the flank and rear, for which he received the rank of colonel, at Kaidanov and Borisov. Then he was sent to Poland to destroy enemy arsenals and supplies. On November 11, 1812, near Borisov, General Palen's detachment came across a large force of retreating French and was defeated. He retreated in disorder along a long bridge cluttered with guns and abandoned convoys. He was covered by the Alexandria Hussars Regiment. The vanguard suffered heavy losses and was in danger of destruction. Words from an eyewitness about Madatov’s actions in this episode:
"...Coming out of the forest and having lined up the squadrons (he) flies along the front. “Hussars,” he says, “I’m galloping towards the enemy, if you fall behind, then captivity or death awaits me, do you really want to destroy all yours in one day?” commanders?" The hussars, inspired by these words, rushed forward and thereby allowed order to be restored."
The Alexandrians suffered heavy losses, but the success of the regiment allowed them to preserve their artillery and enabled the infantry to withdraw in an orderly manner.
Then Madatov, near the town of Pleshchenitsy, defeated a detachment of enemy troops, capturing two generals, 25 officers, 400 soldiers, and was one of the first to enter Vilna. For this feat, he was awarded a golden saber, decorated with diamonds, with the inscription “For bravery.” During the campaign of the Russian army abroad, Prince Valerian was the first to cross the Neman, and then the Vistula, being “the harbinger of the invincible troops that Providence determined to overthrow Napoleon and give freedom to Europe.”
An important moment in the career of Prince Madatov and the history of the Black Hussars was the battle of Kalisz, February 1, 1813. He, at the head of two squadrons of the Alexandrian Hussars and the Don Cossack Semenchikov Regiment, attacked the enemy cavalry, which was significantly superior in number, overturned and scattered it. As a result of this attack, two Saxon battalions with two guns were cut off from the main forces. They, having reformed into marching order, began to retreat. Madatov decided to attack, although he had neither infantry nor artillery. The enemy could not withstand the fierce hussar attack and surrendered. Madatov received the Order of St. George, III degree. The rescript said:
“In reward for your zealous service and the distinction rendered in the battle against the French troops on February 1, 1813 near the city of Kalisz, where you served in the Alexandria Hussar Regiment with the rank of colonel, having been sent to the left flank with two squadrons of the Alexandria Hussars and Semenchikov's Don Cossack regiment and the enemy cavalry that came out of the village of Barkov struck with undaunted courage, overthrew it and took many prisoners, then cut off the enemy column's path, and the Saxon general Nostitz surrendered to prisoners of war with two battalions, two cannons and one banner, We most mercifully granted You on the 22nd day of February 1813, a Knight of the Order of St. George, third class..."
Then he took part in the capture of Dresden, in the battles of Bautzen and Lützen. In this battle, Madatov, being in the rearguard, covered the retreat of the Russian troops (Order of St. Vladimir). In 17 days, he participated in heated battles nine times, captured approximately 1,200 people, 25 officers, one colonel, and destroyed 200 enemy charging boxes. Another brilliant hussar, Denis Davydov, called Madatov, whom he knew from the Foreign Campaign, “an incredibly fearless general.”
On August 14, 1813, the Alexandrians, consisting of 5 squadrons, fought on the Katzbach River with MacDonald's corps. Then the 2nd Hussar Division (Alexandrian, Mariupol, Belorussian and Akhtyrsky regiments) was part of the army of the famous Prussian general Blucher. On this day it was raining heavily, and the French infantry squares could not fire at the mass of Russian cavalry. Major General Yurkovsky with the Alexandrians and Mariupol attacked the French from the front, Lanskoy with the Akhtyrtsy and Belorussians - from the flank, and 6 Cossack regiments of Major General Karpov - from the rear. The Russians captured 50 enemy cannons and about 5 thousand prisoners. Losses amounted to about 100 people killed, about 400 wounded and up to 100 people missing.
In this battle, all four regiments were the first of the Russian hussars to receive insignia on their shakos. These signs were made of white copper in the form of a ribbon and had an embossed inscription: “For Distinction on August 14, 1813.” Later the words “for Katzbach” were added to it.
On this day, the Alexandrians received their wonderful nickname - the Immortal Hussars. After the battle, Blucher drove up to the Alexandria regiment, which had especially distinguished itself. The Alexandrians wore black dolmans, and here the battle was going on in pouring rain, so that the regiment “from the horse’s hooves to the tops of the shakos was covered in mud and even up close seemed completely black. Was it on purpose, or quite possibly, that in fact, by mixing it up, the general Blücher pretended that he mistook our hussars for his favorite Prussian Tod Husaren (“Hussars of Death” - that was the name of the Prussian hussar regiment, dressed all in black). So he turned to the Alexandrians, thanking them for their brave deed: “Greetings to you, Hussars of Death!" General "Bryukhov" The Russian troops loved and valued his praises. But "Hussars of Death" did not sound very Christian, and besides, "tod huzaren" could easily be confused with "tans huzaren" ("hussars-dancers") - 11th Prussian Hussar Regiment. And Prince V.G. Madatov remembered the name of the Persian Xerxes Guard - “immortals.” “Not the Hussars of Death,” he answered Blucher, “but the Immortal Hussars!”
In the “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig, in a dashing hussar attack, Madatov was seriously wounded by a bullet in his left arm, “but did not get off his horse, did not leave the battlefield, and until the very end of this famous battle he continued to inspire the Alexandria Hussar Regiment by example.” For this battle, Valerian Grigorevich received the rank of major general. He was treated for his wounds in the city of Halle, in the liberation of which he had previously participated. Residents of the city showed special honors to the hero: as a sign of gratitude, they carried him in their arms to the house assigned to him. Madatov, having not completed his recovery, caught up with his Immortal Hussars by the time they entered Paris. As commander of the hussar brigade of the occupying forces, he remained in France until 1816, when he was called to the Caucasus.
Ermolov appointed an energetic hussar general to the post of commander of the troops in Karabakh, which Madatov left 20 years ago. In 1817, Madatov became the military district commander in the Shchekino, Shirvan and Karabakh khanates and immediately stopped raids on the regions he controlled by the Caucasian Tatars, Persians, and Turks. The detachments led by the prince made quick and fearless raids, getting in the way of the robbers. In addition to leading military operations, he was heavily involved in organizing the peaceful life of the mountaineers. One of his associates recalled: “The warlike character of Prince Madatov, his knowledge of local languages ​​and customs, the mixture of Asian habits with European ones made him invaluable in the areas controlled by him. With one of the owners he seemed friendly and frank; he encouraged another with the promise of flattering rewards for him and to his subjects; he gave protection and justice to the third. A flexible mind, insight and deep knowledge of circumstances were visible in all his actions.”
“A woman in Karabakh can walk safely with a golden dish on her head” - such a proverb developed among the mountaineers under Madatov. He led the courts ("divans"), took care of the development of trade and the improvement of mountain roads, the spread of sericulture and the improvement of the breed of the famous Karabakh horses. He also conducted military operations against the khans of Karakaitak and Kazikumyk, and suppressed the actions of warlike and rebellious tribes with a harsh hand. In this new title, Madatov “was greatly assisted by his knowledge of Asian customs and oriental languages, especially Tatar, in which he spoke not only fluently, but even eloquently.
But it was not this information alone that contributed to Prince Madatov’s excellent improvement in his position; his prudent orders and open, noble character, more than anything else, earned him the love and trust of the khans.” From the notes of Van Galen, a major in Prince Madatov’s detachment: “With one of these owners he seemed friendly and frank, another he reassured with the attention of the Russian monarch, the promise of flattering rewards to him and his subjects, to the third he offered the defense of justice - in all his actions one could see insight, a deep knowledge of circumstances, morals, and that flexibility of mind which is necessary in relations with Asian peoples."
In 1818 A.P. Ermolov took decisive measures to pacify the Chechens in order to stop their robberies and raids on peaceful Caucasians. 1818-1820 Madatov fought in Dagestan. In three months, with a very small detachment in an unfamiliar and mostly inaccessible area, he conquered the entire Tabasaran region and Karandike (Order of St. Anne, 1st degree). Then he defeated the Akushians (Order of St. Anna, 1st degree with diamonds). And in two weeks he conquered the Kazykumyk Khanate (Order of St. Vladimir), thus completing the complete conquest of Northern Dagestan, and with “very little bloodshed.” Madatov’s military skill is evidenced, in particular, by his victory over Surkhat Khan (the two-week conquest of Karandayk), a typical ratio of losses between Russians and enemies. "The enemy's losses were enormous - up to 1,500 killed alone, the Russians - 17 killed, and the Tatar cavalry - 46 people."
At the beginning of August 1819, Madatov took command of an expeditionary force assigned to defend the rich Cuban province. Ermolov did not consider Madatov’s detachment capable of conducting serious offensive operations and therefore recommended that the prince limit himself to observing Tabasaranya, where the uprising of the highlanders was brewing.
Madatov, however, had intelligence that the enemy was not yet ready for active action, and decided to transfer the fight to his own territory in order to defeat the enemy before he gathered his strength. Madatov’s plan was quite risky, and Valerian Grigorievich did not even consider it necessary to inform Ermolov about it, since he valued every minute, and took full responsibility for the operation upon himself. The Russian detachment suddenly crossed the Samur River and, quickly passing the Kyura Khanate, stood on the very border of southern Tabasarani.
To hide his intentions, Madatov spread a rumor that he was going to Derbent, but at night he captured Marata - a junction of roads that diverged from there to Cuba, Derbent and Karakaytag. No matter how hard the two-day forced march to Maratu was for his troops, Madatov did not give his subordinates rest. Residents of the villages through which the Russian troops passed had already sent messengers to the village of Khoshni, where several thousand rebels were located, to warn their leaders about the approach of the Russians.
It was decided that same night to launch an attack on the rebellious highlanders to capture the main leaders of the uprising. The village of Khoshni was about 30 kilometers away. In order to surprise the attack, Madatov’s detachment had to cover this distance in just one night. Setting out on a campaign, the prince selected only 500 fighters from the entire detachment, on whose strength, will and unconditional courage he could fully rely. In addition, Madatov took with him three guns, a hundred Don Cossacks and native cavalry. The troops marched to Khoshni in a forced march, without halts, in complete silence. In order to conceal movement, the wheels of the guns were wrapped in soldiers' greatcoats.
At dawn they were there. The mounted warriors began to descend into the hollow where the village was located. The infantry, forgetting about fatigue, followed them at a run. The cavalry quickly burst into the enemy camp and created complete confusion in it. Gunfire, groans and wild screams came from all sides. The stunned rebels began to scatter in different directions. Thus, with one decisive and bold blow, almost without shedding blood, all of Tabasaran was pacified. Madatov returned to Maraga and from there, in the name of the emperor, announced forgiveness to all those who participated in the rebellion. Then, with the thunder of cannons, the Tabasarans were solemnly led to the oath of allegiance to the Russian Tsar.
Ermolov was extremely pleased with the actions of Prince Valerian. “I kiss you, my dear Madatov, and congratulate you on your success,” he wrote to him, “you undertook a bold task and finished it gloriously...”
In the same year, on December 19, Madatov became famous in the battle near Lavashi during Yermolov’s campaign against Akusha, where he commanded a bypass column that decided the success of the battle.
Prince Madatov always conducted negotiations with the enemy personally, “not fearing the treachery of the highlanders, appearing at the places appointed for meetings, without weapons, to show that he did not suspect any treason, and was firmly convinced that, having changed his course of action in this, he would lose the influence that he managed to acquire over these peoples."
In the summer of 1826, the Persian crown prince Abbas Mirza invaded Karabakh with a huge army. Its main forces, under the personal command of the prince, besieged Shusha, and the advanced detachment of troops was sent to Tiflis. Madatov was summoned by Ermolov to Tiflis and sent with a small detachment to meet the enemy. Madatov was undergoing treatment at the Caucasian mineral waters when the order came. The prince caught up with the detachment already on the march. The soldiers were exhausted, they had run out of food, but the news of who had been appointed their commander invigorated and stirred everyone up. An eyewitness recalled: “I am unable to describe our delight... “Thank God,” the soldiers shouted, “we are honored to be under his command.” He acted decisively and courageously, his very name inspired the soldiers and frightened the enemies. When the Persians sent fire, they told him: “They see you, they are targeting you,” he answered: “It’s all the better that they see me, they’ll run away sooner.”

Near Shamkhor, Madatov completely defeated Persian troops, five times superior to his forces - 10,000 Persians against 2,000 Russians. It would seem that there is no hope for success, but Russian soldiers boldly went against the enemy, believing in their commander. Suddenly, clouds of dust appeared in the rear of the Russian troops - it seemed that large reserves were approaching. The Persians fled, not knowing that they mistook for a reserve the convoy specially left by Madatov in the rear and at the right moment, at his command, began to advance to the battlefield. The Shamkhori victory saved the fortress of Shusha, besieged by the Persians. Congratulating his subordinates, the prince proclaimed: “You are Russian warriors, with you I will never be defeated!”
The Russian losses in this battle amounted to 27 people, and the Persians about 2,000 killed and 1,000 prisoners), thereby forcing Abbas-Mirza to lift the siege of Shushi and move with the main forces to Elisavetpol, where a general battle took place.
Madatov commanded the first line of troops and bore the brunt of the battle, and then pursued the defeated enemy, who abandoned artillery and convoys and sought salvation in flight beyond the Araks. Although the honor of this victory was attributed to Paskevich, many contemporaries believed that he owed his success not to his own military talents, but to the “excellent Yermolov troops” and the “skillful and courageous” actions of the generals subordinate to him. For this victory, which decided the outcome of the war, Madatov was promoted to lieutenant general and awarded a second golden saber, decorated with diamonds, with the inscription “For bravery.”
The Persians suffered a crushing defeat and fled from Russia, managing to burn Madatov’s family estate in Avetaranots (Chanakhchi) on the orders of Abbas Mirza.

But his further relationship with the commander-in-chief, who did not like the “Yermolov spirit,” did not work out. Paskevich certified him “only as a brave hussar, who does not have his abilities at his disposal,” and assigned him purely rear service - the duties of a provisions master. Unable to bear such an insult, the prince applied for leave and left for St. Petersburg. Madatov was removed from office and, only after several months of disgrace and forced idleness, at his own request, he was sent to the Balkans. A new war with Turkey called him to the glorious, but final deeds of his life.
Prince Valerian Madatov returned to the battlefields where his glory began. On May 27, he took part in the famous crossing of the Danube, under the command of the emperor. Nicholas I personally instructs Madatov, who knows the language and customs of the Turks well, to negotiate with them, which he did brilliantly - he convinced the Turks to surrender the Isakchu fortress without a fight. On June 4, Prince Madatov besieged the Girsovo fortress, but he had no more than 2,000 people. Then the prince resorted to military stratagem: he ordered his detachment, changing uniforms many times, to parade in front of the besieged fortress, while he himself, during the negotiations, played the role of translator. On June 11, the fortress surrendered by agreement! For this, Prince Madatov was declared royal favor.
Madatov proved himself not only from the military side. When the Turkish garrison of Varna, which upon the surrender of the fortress was allowed to return to the Balkans, passed through the location of his detachment, Madatov showed that he was as philanthropic as he was brave. By his order, the Turks, who were dying in droves from cold and hunger, were provided with all possible assistance.
This was followed by the distinction of Seeing Off - he defeated 6,000 Turks, three times the size of his squad, losing only 37 people. On November 10, General Dibich appointed Madatov as head of the 3rd Hussar Division. On April 5, 1829, Madatov marched with his division, and here he still fought with great skill and courage, winning a number of victories, the most outstanding of which was the battle of the Shumla clan. For the brilliant cavalry attack of the Alexandrians and the capture of enemy redoubts by dismounted hussars near the Shumly fortress, Madatov was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
He had long been ill with throat consumption, and now, due to the harsh conditions of camp life, the disease flared up with particular force. He overcame himself, wanting to serve out the military campaign, but the disease won and in a few days took to the grave a man who had been spared death so many times on the battlefield. On September 4, 1829, Lieutenant General Prince Madatov died. He was only 47 years old.
Paying tribute to the memory of the legendary brave man, the Turks invited the Russian command to bury Madatov in the fence of the Christian Church of the city of Shumla, which was then besieged by the Russian army. The gates of the impregnable fortress were temporarily opened, and a small detachment with his body and an honorary squadron from a platoon of hussars was allowed inside to give the last military honors. “The death of Prince Madatov saddened the Russian army, was mourned by his subordinates, and inspired regret even in the enemies whom he always defeated.
A life filled with wonderful exploits was about to culminate in an unexpected triumph, and the bravest of the Turks, Rashid and the famous Hussein, who had a dangerous opponent in Prince Madatov, as a sign of extraordinary respect for the ashes of the hero, opened the gates of the impregnable Shumla for him. The prince's body was carried alternately from the camp to the church by all the officers of the 3rd Infantry Corps. At the gates of Shumla the sad procession stopped; Church singing was heard, the troops bowed their banners and weapons before him, artillery salvos paid the last earthly honor to his ashes, the gates opened, and the procession entered the city. Of the entire convoy, the Turks allowed in only a platoon of hussars from the Prince of Orange Regiment with their trumpeters. The spectacle of a magnificent Christian burial, unusual for the Turks, and the very appearance of the Russians inside Shumla, where an armed enemy had never penetrated, all this together attracted and amazed the inhabitants. People flocked in droves; The Turkish warriors hurried to look at the one who had previously been so terrible for them. The windows, roofs, and fences of the houses were covered with women who forgot both the strict customs of their country and their hatred of the Russians in order to better look at this touching and, at the same time, majestic picture, which was just as unusual for them. The deep silence and general silence were occasionally interrupted by the sad sound of trumpets... The procession stretched slowly along the narrow streets of Shumla, with great difficulty reaching the fence of the Christian Church of St. George the Victorious, where the remains of the brave warrior were interred,” wrote his adjutant A.S. Khomyakov and I.M. Bakunin.
A few years later, the ashes of Prince Valerian Madatov, with the highest permission, were transported by his wife Sofia Alexandrovna to St. Petersburg and solemnly reburied in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where his grave is now located. Sofya Alexandrovna Madatova (née Mukhanova; 1787 - 1875), reverently in memory of her husband, she compiled, with the assistance of M. R. Kotzebue, A. S. Khomyakov and I. M. Bakunin, the book “The Life of Lieutenant General Prince Madatov” (St. Petersburg, 1837; 3rd ed. 1874). She was a maid of honor to Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna. Her memoirs were published in Russian Antiquity (1884, vol. 44).
Contemporaries highly appreciated Madatov's military talents and brilliant personal qualities. Under his command, the soldiers always boldly walked forward, knowing that with him not a single person would go to waste.
“Only those who saw him in the heat of battle,” wrote Van Galen, “can know to what extent his fearlessness extended - there was some kind of inspiration in his calm courage, in his instant determination.” Field Marshal I.I. Diebitsch called him the Russian Murat. The Encyclopedia of Military and Naval Sciences, edited by Lieutenant General Leer, notes that he was “the general of the Suvorov school that gave the Russian army Bagration, Miloradovich, Ermolov, Denis Davydov, Kotlyarevsky...”.
A half-length portrait of Madatov, by Doe, is in the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. His name appears three times among the names of heroes of the Patriotic War, carved on the marble walls of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

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Biography

Service

From 1797 - in military service.

In 1802 - second lieutenant in the Pavlovsk Grenadier Regiment.

In 1807 - staff captain in the Mingrelian regiment.

He gained his first combat experience in campaigns (1805-1807) with the French.

Participation in the Russian-Turkish War (1806-1812)

In 1808 - captain.

In March 1810 - at his own request, he was transferred from the infantry as a captain to the Alexandria Hussar Regiment, where he was promoted to major for distinction.

July 12, 1810 - in a battle near the village of Chaushkoy, he recaptured a Turkish gun with his squadron. On August 26, near Batin, where the Alexandrians acted as part of the detachment of Lieutenant General Ilovaisky, with two squadrons he completely defeated a four-thousand-strong Turkish cavalry detachment advancing from Shumla. For these exploits he was awarded the St. George Cross, IV degree, and the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Participation in the Patriotic War (1812) and foreign campaigns of the Russian army (1813-1814)

Commanding a forward detachment, he successfully acted near Kobrin, Gorodechny and Borisov, as well as during the occupation of Vilna. After the French crossed the Berezina, Madatov received orders to get ahead of the enemy columns, destroy bridges on the route of their escape and slow down their movement in every possible way. He carried out this task brilliantly, capturing hundreds and thousands of prisoners every day and tirelessly pursuing the enemy all the way to Vilna. For these battles, he was promoted to colonel and awarded a golden saber decorated with diamonds with the inscription: “For bravery.”

Along with other advanced units of the Russian army, Madatov’s regiment crossed the Neman at the end of December and took part in the battle of Kalisz. The Saxon troops were defeated, and Madatov, who captured the column of General Nostitz, was awarded the St. George Cross, III degree.

Madatov was promoted to major general after the battle of Leipzig (1813), during which he was wounded in the arm and did not leave the battlefield.

Military and administrative activities of V.G. Madatova in the Caucasus

In 1817, by Decree of the Sovereign Emperor, he was approved as the military district commander and ruler of the three Transcaucasian Muslim khanates - Karabakh, Sheki and Shirvan.

In 1818, Ermolov undertook the conquest of the Chechens, and his main assistant was Madatov, who conquered the rebel residents of the Tabasaran region, residents of the Karakaydak province; then he helped Yermolov win a brilliant victory over the Akushians near Lavashya and occupy their main fortification, Akusha.

To complete the defensive line on Sunzha, Ermolov needed to keep semi-aligned Dagestan from betrayal. For this, an experienced general was needed, enterprising, decisive and quick in movement. The choice fell on Major General V.G. Madatov, and in 1819 he was sent to Dagestan to subjugate the local khans to Russian influence. He coped with this task.

In 1820, Madatov was again sent to Northern Dagestan to pacify Surkhai, Khan of Kazikumykh. With one blow under Khozrek, he broke the power of the khan and prompted the Kazikumykh people to ask for their acceptance into Russian citizenship.

After the end of the campaign, Madatov returns to Karabakh and begins the affairs of the district commander. During this five-year period of peace, before the start of the war with Persia, he showed himself as an extraordinary organizer and business executive. In an effort to “pacify” the region, he himself always negotiated with the leaders of the mountain tribes and, ignoring alarming warnings, often appeared on a meeting with them, alone and unarmed. In the khanates entrusted to his direct management, he was present in the courts (“divans”), took care of the construction of bridges on mountain roads, the improvement of the breed of the famous Karabakh horses, and the spread of sericulture.

In 1823 - Madatov began to clarify the borders between Russia and Persia, participated in the compilation of the book “Description of the Shirvan Province,” etc.

Participation in the Russian-Persian War (1826-1828)

In 1826, Madatov’s peaceful activities were interrupted by the Persian invasion of Russian borders. He was placed at the head of a detachment of 9 infantry companies, 6 guns and sent to meet the Persians in the Kazakh district.

September 15, 1826 - a combined detachment under the command of General V. G. Madatov (6,300 soldiers and mounted militia) at Shamkhor (Azerbaijan) defeated the 20,000-strong Persian army moving to Tiflis. The enemy lost about 2,000 people in killed alone. The losses of the combined detachment were only 27 people. This victory forced Abbas Mirza to lift the siege of Shushi and move towards Elisavetpol.

Madatov was preparing for a new meeting with the enemy under the walls of this city when he received an order from Paskevich, who arrived in the Caucasus to relieve Ermolov, to wait for him near Elisavetpol. Paskevich, due to the disproportion of his forces with the forces of the Persians, intended to limit himself to defense and avoid battle, and only at the insistence of Madatov decided to accept the battle. In the battle, which ended in the complete defeat of the Persians, Madatov commanded the 1st line and bore the brunt of the battle (for this victory, which decided the outcome of the war, he was promoted to lieutenant general and awarded a second golden saber, decorated with diamonds, with the inscription “For bravery").

April 22, 1827 Adjutant General I.F. Paskevich removes Lieutenant General Prince Madatov from command and appoints him to the post of provisions master, which was a direct insult to the military general. Suspected by Nicholas I of freethinking, like General Ermolov, General Madatov was removed from affairs in the Caucasus, his Karabakh possessions were taken away from him. In search of the truth, he travels to St. Petersburg, where he learns about the beginning of the war with Turkey and does everything to participate in hostilities.

Participation in the Russian-Turkish War (1828-1829)

Madatov was appointed to the Danube Front as commander of an infantry corps.

On May 27, 1828, he took part in the famous crossing of the Danube, under the command of the emperor. Nicholas I personally instructs Madatov, who knows the language and customs of the Turks well, to negotiate with them, which he did brilliantly - he convinced the Turks to surrender the Isakchu fortress without a fight.

On June 4, Prince Madatov besieged the Girsovo fortress, but he had no more than 2,000 people. Then the prince resorted to military stratagem: he ordered his detachment, changing uniforms many times, to parade in front of the besieged fortress, while he himself, during the negotiations, played the role of translator. On June 11, the fortress surrendered by agreement! For this, Prince Madatov was declared royal favor.

Madatov proved himself not only from the military side. When the Turkish garrison of Varna, which upon the surrender of the fortress was allowed to return to the Balkans, passed through the location of his detachment, Madatov showed that he was as philanthropic as he was brave. By his order, the Turks, who were dying in droves from cold and hunger, were provided with all possible assistance.

This was followed by the distinction of Seeing Off - he defeated 6,000 Turks, three times the size of his squad, losing only 37 people.

April 5, 1829 - Madatov sets out with his division, and here he still fought with great skill and courage, winning a number of victories, the most outstanding of which was the battle of Shumla.

Achievements

• Lieutenant General (28.09.1826)

Awards

Miscellaneous

• On his father's side, he is a descendant of the Armenian family of Mehrab-bek Hasan-Jalalyan. He took the surname of his mother, who belonged to the noble family of melik Baghi Melik-Shahnazaryan. His uncle Dzhemshid, or Jimmyt Shah-Nazarov, ruler of Karabakh.
• According to the famous Caucasus expert Veidenbaum, the real name of Prince Madov is Grigoryan. Disputes about the origin of Madatov are still ongoing and there is no consensus on this matter. According to Weidenbaum, the father of the future general was a groom for a Varaidian melik. How did Rostom Grigoryan turn into Valerian Madatov? He adopted his mother's surname immediately after joining the Russian Guard. According to another version, the princely title was bestowed upon the very young Rostom Madatov by the emperor himself when he was enlisted in the Guards Corps.
• Wife - Sofya Alexandrovna Madatova (1787-1875). She was a maid of honor to Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna.
• “The loyalty of his vision never betrayed him,” says A. S. Khomyakov (Madatov’s adjutant). - The clarity of his thoughts often surprised even those to whom she was already familiar... He was bold in his decision, he was unusually quick in carrying out his intentions... The soldiers loved him and believed in him: “We know,” they said, “that with him, not a single person will be wasted.” In the “Encyclopedia of Military and Naval Sciences,” edited by Lieutenant General Leer, it is noted that he was “the general of the Suvorov school that gave the Russian army Bagration, Miloradovich, Ermolov, Denis Davydov, Kotlyarevsky...”.
• For the humane attitude Madatov showed towards the Turkish population during the Tirniv campaign, the Grand Vizier Huseyn Pasha, as a sign of respect for the ashes of the late lieutenant general, opened the doors of the fortress. Shumla (Shumen) and let in the funeral procession for burial in the fence of the Orthodox Church of St. George the Victorious in compliance with Christian rites. A few years later, the ashes of Prince Valerian Madatov, with the Highest permission, were transported by his wife Sofia Alexandrovna to St. Petersburg and solemnly reburied at the Tikhvin cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where his grave is still located.
• Death on the battlefield spared him, and he accepted it on his peaceful bed in field conditions. Khachatur Abovyan wrote about him in his work “Wounds of Armenia”: “The world can turn upside down, but the memory of him is indelible in our people and in our country.”
• His name appears three times among the names of heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812, carved on the marble walls of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
• On May 31, 2007, in the center of the Bulgarian city of Shumen (Shumla), the grand opening of the monument to the invincible Russian commander, Lieutenant General Prince Valerian Grigorievich Madatov (1782-1829), took place. The monument is a gift from Gevorg Harutyunovich Kesoyan to the city of Shumen (sculptor Georgy Frangulyan / Personal website).
• He was buried with honors by his comrades in the local Christian cemetery. Later, his widow, maid of honor to Empress Elizabeth Alekseevna, Princess Sofya Alexandrovna Madatova-Sablukova (11/21/1787-09/04/1875), transported his ashes to St. Petersburg and reburied him at the Tikhvin cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
• The Military Gallery of the Winter Palace (now the Hermitage) houses a picturesque portrait of Lieutenant General Prince V.G. Madatov (1824-1825) by artist George Dow.

Images

MADATOV VALERIAN GRIGORIEVICH

Madatov, Valerian Grigorievich, prince - lieutenant general (1782 - 1829). During the Patriotic War, commanding a vanguard detachment, he successfully acted near Kobrin, Gorodechny and Borisov, as well as during the occupation of Vilna. In 1813 he was wounded near Leipzig. In 1816, Madatov was appointed commander of the troops in the Karabakh Khanate. In 1818, he was Ermolov's main assistant; he helped Ermolov win a brilliant victory over the Akushins near Lavasha and occupy their main fortification - Akusha. In 1820, Madatov defeated the Kazykumyk Khan Surkhai. In 1826, he defeated the Persians at Shamkhor, ousted Nazar Ali Khan from Elisavetpol and helped Paskevich defeat Shah Abbas Mirza and occupy the Shusha fortress. Having transferred, in 1828, to the army operating in European Turkey, he won two victories over the Turks, near Pravody and near Shumla, but soon died. - Wed. Dubrovin "V.G. Madatov" ("Russian World", 1872, ¦ 297); Madatov "Prince V.G. Madatov" ("Russian Antiquity", 1873, ¦ 1); "The Life of Lieutenant General Madatov" (St. Petersburg, 1874).

Brief biographical encyclopedia. 2012

See also interpretations, synonyms, meanings of the word and what MADATOV VALERIAN GRIGORIEVICH is in Russian in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books:

• VALERIAN in the Directory of Characters and Cult Objects of Greek Mythology:
  Publius Licinius Roman Emperor 253-259. Genus. OK. 193 Died after 260 Valerian came from a noble Italian ...
• VALERIAN in the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary:
  (Valerianus) (193-260) Roman emperor from 253, ruled jointly with his son Gallienus. During his reign, persecution of Christians took place. Died in captivity...
• MADATOV
  Valerian Grigorievich - prince, lieutenant general. (1782-1829). He distinguished himself for the first time during the Turkish War (1807-12). During the Patriotic War, commanding a vanguard detachment, with...
• VALERIAN in the Big Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary:
  VALERIAN Publius Licinius (Valerianus) (193-260), rom. Emperor from 253, ruled jointly with his son Gallienus. During his reign, persecution of Christians took place. ...
• MADATOV
  Valerian Grigorievich? Prince, Lieutenant General (1782-1829). He distinguished himself for the first time during the Turkish War (1807-12). During the Patriotic War, commanding a vanguard detachment, with...
• VALERIAN in Collier's Dictionary:
  (Publius Licinius Valerianus) (d. c. 269), Roman emperor in 253-260. A prominent senator, one of the initiators of supporting Gordian I in ...
• VALERIAN in the Russian Synonyms dictionary:
  valerian...
• VALERIAN in the Complete Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language:
  Valerian, (Valerianovich, Valerianovna), Valeryan, (Valeryanovich, ...
• VALERIAN in the Modern Explanatory Dictionary, TSB:
  (Valerianus) (193-260), Roman emperor from 253, ruled jointly with his son Gallienus. During his reign, persecution of Christians took place. Died in …
• VISSARION GRIGORIEVICH BELINSKY in the Wiki Quote Book:
  Data: 2009-07-15 Time: 00:20:04 Navigation Topic = Vissarion Belinsky Wikipedia = Belinsky, Vissarion Grigorievich Wikiteka = Vissarion Grigorievich Belinsky Wikimedia Commons ...
• TERNOVSKY SERGEY GRIGORIEVICH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree.
• TERNOV ALEXANDER GRIGORIEVICH
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". Ternov Alexander Grigorievich (1874 - after 1931), priest. Born in 1874, in the village...
• NOVITSKY VALERIAN VASILIEVICH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". Novitsky Valerian Vasilievich (1897 - 1930), priest, martyr. Memory of February 10 and...
• MASLOV MIKHAIL GRIGORIEVICH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". Maslov Mikhail Grigorievich (1874 - 1938), priest, martyr. Memory March 9,...
• GORBACHEV ALEXEY GRIGORIEVICH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". Gorbachev Alexey Grigorievich (1892 - 1937), psalm-reader, martyr. Memory November 10,...
• VALERIAN OF TREATZUND in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". Valerian of Trebizond (+ 303), martyr. Memory January 21. He suffered for his faith in Christ...
• VALERIAN OF TOMY in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". Valerian of Tomia (+ IV century), martyr. Memory 13 September. He suffered for his confession of faith in...
• VALERIAN OF SCYTHOPOLI in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". Valerian of Scythopolis (beginning of the 4th century), martyr. Memory May 4, May 5 (Greek). Injured in...
• VALERIAN OF ROMAN in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". Valerian of Rome, name of several martyrs: Martyr. Valerian of Rome (+ 166, commemorated June 1). ...
• VALERIAN (NOVITSKY) in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
  Open Orthodox encyclopedia "THREE". See Novitsky Valerian Vasilievich DREVO - an open Orthodox encyclopedia: http://drevo.pravbeseda.ru About the project | Timeline | Calendar …
• GALLIENUS, PUBLIUS LICINIUS VALERIANUS EGNATIUS in biographies of Monarchs:
  Roman Emperor in 253-268. Genus. in 218 Died 268 Son and co-ruler of Emperor Valerian. In 253...
• VALERIAN, PUBLIUS LICINIUS in biographies of Monarchs:
  Roman Emperor in 253-259. Genus. OK. 193 Died after 260 Valerian came from a noble Italian family. First …
• YABLONOVSKY ALEXANDER VALERIAN
  Yablonovsky (Alexander Valerian) - Polish historian. Born 1829; studied at the universities of Kiev and Dorpat. Traveled a lot: visited South Slavic...
• SHEFFER VALERIAN ALEXANDROVICH in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia:
  Sheffer (Valerian Alexandrovich, 1864 - 1900) - philologist, son of Professor Alexander Alexandrovich Sheffer. Completed a course at Kiev University on...
• CHERNYAEV VALERIAN VASILIEVICH in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia:
  Chernyaev (Valerian Vasilievich) is a well-known figure in the agricultural field. The son of a professor of botany (1844 - 1892), he received his special education in Petrovskaya ...
• CHERNY VALERIAN ALEXANDROVICH in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia:
  Cherny (Valerian Alexandrovich, 1853 - 1886) - writer. He published articles and essays, mostly of humorous content, in “Dragonfly”, “Jester”, “Alarm Clock”, “Petersburg...
• KHOMUTOV MIKHAIL GRIGORIEVICH in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia:
  Khomutov (Mikhail Grigorievich, 1795 - 1864) - adjutant general, cavalry general. Upon completion of the course in the page corps, I participated in all...
• TATARINOV VALERIAN ALEXEEVICH in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia.
• SMIRNOV VALERIAN NIKOLAEVICH in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia:
  Smirnov (Valerian Nikolaevich) - better known in medical literature under the pseudonym "Dr. Idelson" - is a doctor, Russian emigrant and publicist. Was born …
• RUBINSTEIN ANTON GRIGORIEVICH in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia:
  Rubinstein (Anton Grigorievich) is a Russian composer and virtuoso, one of the greatest pianists of the 19th century. Born November 16, 1829 in...
• PEROV VASILY GRIGORIEVICH in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia:
  Perov (Vasily Grigorievich) - one of the best Russian painters of modern times, was born in Tobolsk on December 23, 1833. Completed the course...
• SHUKHOV VLADIMIR GRIGORIEVICH
  Vladimir Grigorievich, Soviet engineer and scientist, honorary academician (1929; corresponding member ...
• KHLOPIN NIKOLAY GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Nikolai Grigorievich, Soviet histologist, academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences (1945). Major General of Medical Service. ...
• FRIKH-HAR ISIDOR GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Isidor Grigorievich [b. 5(17).4.1893, Kutaisi], Soviet sculptor, Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1969). Self-taught. Master of ceramic sculpture, also works in wood, stone, …
• FEDOROV VLADIMIR GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Vladimir Grigorievich, Soviet scientist and designer, founder of the national school of automatic small arms, professor (1940), lieutenant general...
• STOLETOV ALEXANDER GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Alexander Grigorievich, Russian physicist. Born into a merchant family. After graduating from Moscow University (1860) he was...
• OKNOV MIKHAIL GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Mikhail Grigorievich, Soviet metallurgist. After …
• MESHCHERYAKOV MIKHAIL GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Mikhail Grigorievich [b. 4(17).9.1910, p. Sambek, now Rostov region], Soviet physicist, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1953). Member of the CPSU since 1940. Graduated...
• MAYKOV VALERIAN NIKOLAEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Valerian Nikolaevich, Russian literary critic and publicist. Academician's son...
• KUCHEROV MIKHAIL GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Mikhail Grigorievich, Russian organic chemist. In 1871 he graduated from the St. Petersburg Agricultural (from 1877 - Forestry) Institute...
• KASSIN NIKOLAY GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Nikolai Grigorievich, Soviet geologist, Honored Scientist of the Kazakh SSR...
• ZBRZHEK FEDOR GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Fedor Grigorievich, Russian hydraulic engineer. In 1872 he graduated from the St. Petersburg Institute of Railway Engineers (from 1887 professor...
• ZAKHAROV VLADIMIR GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Vladimir Grigorievich, Soviet composer and musical figure, People's Artist of the USSR (1944). ...
• GRIGORIEV SERGEY GRIGORIEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Sergei Grigorievich, Soviet geographer. In 1897 he graduated from Moscow University, and from 1909 he taught geography there...
• WEBER VALERIAN NIKOLAEVICH in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
  Valerian Nikolaevich, Soviet geologist and paleontologist, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences (1937), Honored Worker of Science and Technology...
• VALERIAN, ROMAN EMPEROR in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron:
  (Publius-Aurelius-Licinius-Valerius Valerianus) - Roman emperor (253-260), a Roman of noble family, in 238 he was princeps, Senatus, then, under the emperor Decius, when ...
• VALERIAN, PUBLIUS AURELIUS LICINIUS VALERIUS in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedia:
  (Valerianus) ? Roman emperor (253?260), a Roman of noble family, in 238 he was princeps, Senatus, then, under the emperor Decius, when temporarily ...

Relations between the Russian government and the Armenian people have a rich and long history. A new level of Russian-Caucasian interaction begins in the 18th century, when Russia is actively involved in solving its geopolitical problems in the North Caucasus, and then in Transcaucasia. The brutal treatment of the Armenian people by the Turks and Persians increasingly turned their attention to the young Russian Empire. Moreover, unlike the Islamic states - the Ottoman Empire and Persia, Russia was a Christian state, which brought it even closer to the Armenians.

An important consequence of Russian-Armenian interaction was military cooperation. The military command had a need to find people who could provide information about the enemy in the territory where the power of the Russian government was established. It is well known that for these purposes Armenians were involved, who established themselves as excellent intelligence officers, and their trading activities were a good cover. The first Russian Emperor Peter the Great came up with the idea of ​​​​creating a military unit from Armenians to serve in the Russian army. In 1723, after Turkey captured Georgia and Armenia, many Georgians and Armenians left their homeland and went to Gilan. In 1723, “at the admonition of Levashov,” the Armenians “entered the Russian service, and, reaching up to 700 people, made up several companies or squadrons of irregulars.”

Gradually, an increasing number of representatives of Transcaucasia and the North Caucasus begin to serve in the Russian army, both as privates and in officer ranks. It should be noted that officer ranks were received, for the most part, only by representatives of the nobility. Thus, the Armenian aristocracy had access to education and perfectly adapted to any conditions and hardships of military service, where it was necessary to be able to quickly make decisions on which the lives of subordinates depended.

One of the prominent representatives of the Armenian people was the Russian officer Valerian Grigorievich Madatov. Originally from the Armenian princes of the Karabakh Khanate. The purpose of our research, using the biographical method, is to consider the military biography of the prince, which will allow a more objective assessment of his services to Russia and show how difficult his service to his new homeland was.

In 1797, he was recruited into the service of Russia, and for 29 years of service he received the rank of lieutenant general. From the beginning of his service, Valerian Grigorievich was distinguished by his courage and prudence. Madatov was an example for many soldiers and officers. As captain of the Mingrelian regiment in 1808, he participated in the attack of Brailov, in the capture of Kistenji and in the case of Tataritsa. After this, an expression appeared that was pronounced with pride: “I was in business with Madatov” - this meant I was ahead.

His wife, Princess S.A. Madatova, described all the campaigns in which he took part: military operations against Turkey in 1808-1810, the Patriotic War of 1812, military campaigns from 1813 to 1815, military operations in Dagestan in 1819-1820, the conquest of the Tabasaran region, actions against the Terekemen villages, Bashly and Yengikent, the battle of Lavashya, the conquest of the Akushians, the capture of Khozrek by attack, the occupation of Kazykumyk, the victory over the Persians near Shamkhor in 1826, the liberation of Elisavetpol, the battle of Elisavetpol, the campaign to Meshkin, the case at the Khodoperinsky bridge, the capture of the fortresses of Isakchi and Girsovo, command of the Pravod detachment in European Turkey, repelling the Turks from Pravod, capturing the redoubts near Shumla.

To understand the degree of importance of Prince Madatov’s service in the Russian army and his personal contribution to the establishment of a pro-Russian orientation among the peoples of the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, it is necessary to examine in detail some military enterprises in more detail.

First of all, it should be noted that he voluntarily submitted a request to enlist in the Russian army after he saw “brilliant guard regiments” in St. Petersburg.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, Valerian Grigorievich bravely fought against the French troops and their allies as part of the troops of Count Lamberg, and then in the Vintzingorod corps.

M.I. Bogdanovich in his work highly appreciated Madatov’s role in the campaign against Surkhai Khan in 1820.

For the campaign in Dagestan, Valerian Grigorvech was given a detachment of regular troops consisting of 2,500 people. Thanks to the prince, 500 Karabakh horsemen, 300 Sheki and 400 Shirvan horsemen joined him. And upon arrival in Cuba, the detachment was joined by another 800 horsemen of Colonel Aslan Khan of Kyura and his brother Major Hasan Agha. It should be noted that Madatov commanded a detachment in which half were Mohammedans. The success of his detachment’s actions speaks of his military leadership and diplomatic talents.

On the way to Dagestan, the army had to overcome the Caucasus ridge. There was an abyss on their way, and the bridge to cross to the other side was very narrow. To encourage his subordinates, Prince Madatov was the first to ride along it.

Valerian Grigorievich also distinguished himself during the Russian-Persian War of 1826-1828. On September 15, 1826, near the village of Shamkhor, Russian troops under the command of General Prince Madatov utterly defeated the Persian army, which outnumbered the Russian army five times. Thanks to the swift attack, Madatov’s detachment lost 27 people killed. The general himself rode ahead of the troops and led the soldiers into battle.

In addition to the military activities of V.G. Madatov also showed himself to be a good administrator, although he had never encountered such work before. He began organizing the khanates entrusted to him. Madatov “established provincial courts, strengthened trade and industry, built a large road from Elisavetpol to Shusha and provided it with Cossack posts, propagated mulberry gardens, horse farms and much more.”

In 1816 V.G. Madatov was appointed to the Separate Caucasian Corps; after Ermolov’s appointment as commander-in-chief, he became subordinate to him. From 1818 to 1823, he was one of the most active officers who participated in the conquest and pacification of the Caucasian mountaineers.

The position of the prince changes dramatically due to the change of commander-in-chief Ermolov to Paskevich. On September 8, 1826, a detachment under the command of Madatov defeated the advanced forces of Abas Mirza near the town of Shamkhora. Apparently, the new boss and V.G. did not really like this. Madatov was removed from command of the detachment, but despite his successful actions, he was then given the duties of a provisions master.

Moreover, Paskevich noted in his letters to the emperor that Madatov was hated in the provinces he ruled for being too harsh in his policies. The final blow was the sale of the prince's house in Tiflis and the clarification of the question of whether he legally owned the estate in Karabagh. This blow was struck precisely at the moment when Valerian Grigorievich was fighting with the Turks.

His contemporaries appreciated his work. Thus, in the “Military Encyclopedic Lexicon...” it is written about the death of the prince - on September 4, 1829, “on the way back to the corps, the brave Madatov died and was, with the consent of the vizier, buried in Shumla.”

Thus, we see that the service of representatives of the peoples of the Caucasus and Transcaucasia was not always easy and brilliant. Despite all the difficulties, the new officers proudly served Russia and its interests in all areas of its policy. Prince Madatov was one of those prominent representatives of the Transcaucasian peoples, thanks to whom Russian power was strengthened in the territory of Transcaucasia and the Caucasus not only by force of arms. He bravely defended his new homeland from any enemies who encroached on its territory. Despite all the difficulties in his life as an officer, he proudly bore the name of a Russian officer.

Bibliography

1. Bogdanovich M.I. The history of the reign of Alexander I and Russia in his time. – St. Petersburg, 1871. – P. 310-311.

2. Butkov P.G. Materials for the new history of the Caucasus from 1722 to 1803. – St. Petersburg. – 1869. – P. 57.

3. Military encyclopedic lexicon. – St. Petersburg. – 1855. T VIII. – P. 391.

4. Military encyclopedic lexicon published by the society of military men and writers and dedicated to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Alexander Nikolaevich. – St. Petersburg. – 1857. T. XIII. – P. 159.

5. History of the Fatherland in testimonies and documents of the 18th-20th centuries: Almanac. - M.: 1996. – T. VII. P. 496.

6. Potto V.A. The Caucasian War in individual essays, episodes, legends and biographies. The Persian War of 1826-1828 - St. Petersburg, 1888. - T. 3. P. 143.

7. Russian antiquity. – St. Petersburg, - 1873. – T VII. – pp. 87-89.