Pyotr Saltykov
Encyclopedia
Count
Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov (1697 – 1772) was a Russian
statesman
and a military
figure, russian general-fieldmarshal (18 August 1759), son of Semyon Saltykov.
In 1714, Pyotr Saltykov was sent by Peter the Great
to France
to master the science of navigation
and remained there for some 20 years. In 1759, during the Seven Years' War
of 1756-1763, he was appointed commander-in-chief
of the Russian army
and would soon win a victory at Palzig (Battle of Kay)
and Kunersdorf
.
In 1763, Pyotr Saltykov became commander-in-chief of Moscow
and put in charge of the Moscow Senate Office (Московская сенатская контора). During Saltykov's term, they established a number of new post office
s, restored Golovinsky and Kolomensky Palaces
and a number of city gates. They also repaired most of the worn-out bridge
s across the Moscow River and continued dismantling the walls of the White City (fortification
belt around Moscow) in order to provide building material for the construction of the Orphanage (Воспитательный дом) (ordered by Catherine the Great) and restoration of the Arsenal. In April of 1764, Saltykov reported to Saint Petersburg
about the opening of the Moscow Orphanage. With the purpose of providing Muscovites
with food, Pyotr Saltykov banned the removal of imported bread
from the city and arranged wholesale purchases of bread from landowners. He also secured regular wine
deliveries to Moscow, the need for which had been estimated at 575,000 vedros. Saltykov was also fighting against gambling
.
In 1765, he took part in burning of books "harmful to society" at the order of Catherine II of Russia
. During the plague
outbreak in 1771, which caused mass departure of landowners, city officials, and rich merchants from Moscow, Pyotr Saltykov asked Catherine the Great for a permission to leave the city. Without waiting for her reply, he left for his Marfino estate in the outskirts of Moscow. After the Plague Riot
had broken out in Moscow on 16 September, Saltykov returned to the city. However, Catherine the Great relieved him of his post on 13 November 1771.
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...
Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov (1697 – 1772) was a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
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...
and a 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...
figure, russian general-fieldmarshal (18 August 1759), son of Semyon Saltykov.
In 1714, Pyotr Saltykov was sent by Peter the Great
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
to France
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...
to master the science of navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
and remained there for some 20 years. In 1759, during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
of 1756-1763, he was appointed commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Russian army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
and would soon win a victory at Palzig (Battle of Kay)
Battle of Kay
The Battle of Kay or Battle of Paltzig was a battle fought on July 23, 1759 during the Seven Years' War. It occurred near Kay in the Neumark, now part of Poland....
and Kunersdorf
Battle of Kunersdorf
The Battle of Kunersdorf, fought in the Seven Year's War, was Frederick the Great's most devastating defeat. On August 12, 1759, near Kunersdorf , east of Frankfurt , 50,900 Prussians were defeated by a combined allied army 59,500 strong consisting of 41,000 Russians and 18,500 Austrians under...
.
In 1763, Pyotr Saltykov became commander-in-chief 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...
and put in charge of the Moscow Senate Office (Московская сенатская контора). During Saltykov's term, they established a number of new post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
s, restored Golovinsky and Kolomensky Palaces
Kolomenskoye
Kolomenskoye is a former royal estate situated several kilometers to the south-east of the city-centre of Moscow, Russia, on the ancient road leading to the town of Kolomna...
and a number of city gates. They also repaired most of the worn-out bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s across the Moscow River and continued dismantling the walls of the White City (fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
belt around Moscow) in order to provide building material for the construction of the Orphanage (Воспитательный дом) (ordered by Catherine the Great) and restoration of the Arsenal. In April of 1764, Saltykov reported to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
about the opening of the Moscow Orphanage. With the purpose of providing Muscovites
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...
with food, Pyotr Saltykov banned the removal of imported bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
from the city and arranged wholesale purchases of bread from landowners. He also secured regular wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
deliveries to Moscow, the need for which had been estimated at 575,000 vedros. Saltykov was also fighting against gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
.
In 1765, he took part in burning of books "harmful to society" at the order of Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
. During the plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
outbreak in 1771, which caused mass departure of landowners, city officials, and rich merchants from Moscow, Pyotr Saltykov asked Catherine the Great for a permission to leave the city. Without waiting for her reply, he left for his Marfino estate in the outskirts of Moscow. After the Plague Riot
Plague Riot
Plague Riot was a riot in Moscow in 1771 between September 15 and September 17, caused by an outbreak of bubonic plague.-History:...
had broken out in Moscow on 16 September, Saltykov returned to the city. However, Catherine the Great relieved him of his post on 13 November 1771.