Stepan Stepanovich Apraksin
Encyclopedia
Stepan Stepanovich Apraksin (1757 – 1827) was a Russia
n military commander and aristocrat, the only son of Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin
, likewise a famed military commander and a high-ranking military commander in the Russian army.
Stepan Stepanovich Apraksin was born 1757. He started his military career at the age of ten, after being admitted to the Semenovsky Regiment
. Initially serving with the rank of ensign, he received military training there and in 1772 he started active service with the army in the rank of Captain. Transferred to Kiev
, he served as an officer in the local infantry regiment. With his unit he took part in the Russo-Turkish War
of 1768–1774. For his service in the Crimean campaign, in 1777 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
Quickly rising through the ranks of the tsarist army, in 1783 Apraksin was promoted to the rank of Brigadier
and attached to the 20th Astrakhan
Regiment, with which he fought with distinction in the Caucasus. In 1786 he was again promoted, this time to the rank of Major General. Appointed the commander of Astrakhan Dragoon
Regiment, he took part in the famous siege of Ochakov during the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792. After the end of hostilities Apraksin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and in 1794 he took part in suppression of Kościuszko's Uprising in Poland
. Following the Third Partition of Poland
, he commanded the border troops at the new frontiers with Austria and Turkey.
In 1798, at the age of 41, he retired from active service, supposedly due to serious illness. However, soon after the coronation of Alexander I of Russia
he returned to the army and in 1803 was made the governor of Smolensk
. During the Napoleonic Wars
he again assumed the role of a front-line commander and took part in the fights as a commander of the 16th infantry division. After 1809 he finally retired and settled in Moscow
, where he ultimately died in 1827.
to tsar Alexander I.
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...
n military commander and aristocrat, the only son of Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin
Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin
Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin , a relative of Fyodor M. Apraksin, commanded the Russian armies during the Seven Years' War. He should not be confused with his son Stepan Stepanovich Apraksin, who had a notable military career in the service of Catherine the Great....
, likewise a famed military commander and a high-ranking military commander in the Russian army.
Stepan Stepanovich Apraksin was born 1757. He started his military career at the age of ten, after being admitted to the Semenovsky Regiment
Semenovsky Regiment
Semenovsky Life-Guards Regiment was one of the two oldest guards regiments of the Imperial Russian Army.- History :...
. Initially serving with the rank of ensign, he received military training there and in 1772 he started active service with the army in the rank of Captain. Transferred to Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, he served as an officer in the local infantry regiment. With his unit he took part in the Russo-Turkish War
Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774
The Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 was a decisive conflict that brought Southern Ukraine, Northern Caucasus, and Crimea within the orbit of the Russian Empire.-Background:...
of 1768–1774. For his service in the Crimean campaign, in 1777 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
Quickly rising through the ranks of the tsarist army, in 1783 Apraksin was promoted to the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
and attached to the 20th Astrakhan
Astrakhan
Astrakhan is a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the left bank of the Volga River, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea at an altitude of below the sea level. Population:...
Regiment, with which he fought with distinction in the Caucasus. In 1786 he was again promoted, this time to the rank of Major General. Appointed the commander of Astrakhan Dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
Regiment, he took part in the famous siege of Ochakov during the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792. After the end of hostilities Apraksin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and in 1794 he took part in suppression of Kościuszko's Uprising in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Following the Third Partition of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
, he commanded the border troops at the new frontiers with Austria and Turkey.
In 1798, at the age of 41, he retired from active service, supposedly due to serious illness. However, soon after the coronation of Alexander I of Russia
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 returned to the army and in 1803 was made the governor of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. During the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
he again assumed the role of a front-line commander and took part in the fights as a commander of the 16th infantry division. After 1809 he finally retired and settled 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...
, where he ultimately died in 1827.
Family
Apraksin was married to Ekaterina née Golitsin, a daughter of a mighty Russian aristocratic family. They had three children: two daughters and a son, Vladimir Apraksin (b. 1796), who later became the aideAide
Aide may refer to:* A person who assists another; an assistant. In military contexts; an officer who acts as assistant to a more senior one; an aide-de-camp.* Aide , a purported Basque deity....
to tsar Alexander I.