Fyodor Rostopchin
Encyclopedia
Count
Fyodor Vasilyevich Rostopchin ( – ) was a Russian
statesman
, who served as governor
of Moscow
during French invasion of Russia
.
Rostopchin was born in Orel
, son of Vasily Fyodorovich Rostopchin, Lord
of Livna (22 March 1765 - 1810) and ... Krakova. His father was the son of Rastapcha, of Mongolian
descent.
Feodor Rostopchin had great influence over the tsar
Paul I
, who made him in 1796 adjutant general
, grand-marshal of the court, then Foreign Minister
. In 1799, he received the title of count. He was disgraced in 1801 for his opposition to the French
alliance, but was restored to favor in 1810, and was shortly afterwards appointed military
governor
of Moscow
. He was therefore charged with its defence
against Napoleon, and took every means to rouse the population of the town and district against the invader. He has been generally charged with instigating the burning of Moscow
the day after the French had made their entry; it is certain that the prisons were opened by his order, and that he took no means to stop the break out. He defended himself against the charge of arson
in a pamphlet
printed in Paris in 1823, but he subsequently made grave admissions. Shortly after the Congress of Vienna
, to which he had accompanied tsar Alexander I
, he was disgraced. He only returned to Russia
in 1825 and died in Moscow
in February of the next year.
He married Ekaterina Petrovna Protassova (1775–1869), and had five children:
Their daughter Sofiya Feodorovna, the Comtesse de Ségur
, was a noted French
novelist.
He appears as a character in Leo Tolstoy
's War and Peace
, in which he is presented very unfavorably.
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Fyodor Vasilyevich Rostopchin ( – ) was a Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, who served as governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
during French invasion of Russia
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
.
Rostopchin was born in Orel
Orel
Orel or Oryol can refer to:*Oryol, a city in Russia, the administrative center of Oryol OblastIt can also refer to:*Alexander Oryol , Soviet military leader and admiral...
, son of Vasily Fyodorovich Rostopchin, Lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
of Livna (22 March 1765 - 1810) and ... Krakova. His father was the son of Rastapcha, of Mongolian
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
descent.
Feodor Rostopchin had great influence over the tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Paul I
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
, who made him in 1796 adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
, grand-marshal of the court, then Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
. In 1799, he received the title of count. He was disgraced in 1801 for his opposition to the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
alliance, but was restored to favor in 1810, and was shortly afterwards appointed military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He was therefore charged with its defence
Defense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
against Napoleon, and took every means to rouse the population of the town and district against the invader. He has been generally charged with instigating the burning of Moscow
Fire of Moscow (1812)
The 1812 Fire of Moscow broke out on September 14, 1812 in Moscow on the day when Russian troops and most residents abandoned the city and Napoleon's vanguard troops entered the city following the Battle of Borodino...
the day after the French had made their entry; it is certain that the prisons were opened by his order, and that he took no means to stop the break out. He defended himself against the charge of arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
in a pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
printed in Paris in 1823, but he subsequently made grave admissions. Shortly after the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
, to which he had accompanied tsar Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
, he was disgraced. He only returned to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1825 and died in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in February of the next year.
He married Ekaterina Petrovna Protassova (1775–1869), and had five children:
- Count Sergei Fyodorovich Rostopchin
- Countess Natalya Fyodorovna Rostopchine
- Countess Sofiya Fyodorovna Rostopchine
- Countess Lise Fyodorovna Rostopchine
- Count Andrei Fyodorovich Rostopchine, married Evdokia ...vna Sushkova
Their daughter Sofiya Feodorovna, the Comtesse de Ségur
Sophie Rostopchine, Comtesse de Ségur
Sophie, Countess of Ségur was a French writer of Russian birth....
, was a noted French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
novelist.
He appears as a character in Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
's War and Peace
War and Peace
War and Peace is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1869. The work is epic in scale and is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature...
, in which he is presented very unfavorably.