May 4, 1839
Died Denis Davydov — a legendary Russian hussar. Poet, wit, lieutenant general, one of the partisan commanders during the War of 1812.
Answer to married generals who do not serve in wars: Yes, we bear the same burden, We are of one flock, but my lot is different: You have all been assigned to the tribe, I was sent to the slaughter
Born in 1784. His father commanded the Poltava Light Cavalry Regiment. One day, when he came to visit his father, Suvorov He joked about Denis, saying he'd win three battles. And he predicted success for his brother in civilian life.
At 17, Denis arrived at the Cavalry Regiment. He wasn't greeted with enthusiasm—he was short and had a button nose. The duty officer didn't even want to see him. But the witty young man managed to win over the officers and soon became a cadet.
They tied our young man to a huge broadsword, lowered him into deep jackboots and covered the sanctuary of his poetic genius with flour and a triangular hat. (from autobiography)
In 19, Lieutenant Davydov was "exiled" to the Belarusian Hussar Regiment for satirizing the country's top officials. Cavalry guards were only subjected to such punishment for grave sins. But Davydov liked the hussars.
And tomorrow - damn it! - I'll be so tense I'll fly like a dashing arrow on a troika Having slept off until Tver, I'll get drunk again in Tver And drunk, I’ll gallop to Petersburg to get drunk!
He almost missed the first war with Napoleon; his regiment wasn't called to the front. Meanwhile, his brother had already achieved fame at Austerlitz. Denis snuck into the field marshal's hotel at night. Kamensky — asking to go to the front. It really scared me.
Became an adjutant BagrationAt their first meeting, the general reminded him of a rhyme about his long nose. The hussar laughed it off, saying it was out of envy, since his was a button. Later, when they said "the enemy is right on our nose," the general would ask whose nose it was. If it was Denisov's, then "to the horses," if it was his, then "we'll have time to dine later."
During the War of 1812, Davydov led a partisan detachment and became famous worldwide for his exploits. In the film "The Hussar Ballad," Davydov is the inspiration for the commander Davyd Vasiliev. However, the composite character of Lieutenant Rzhevsky from the same film also bears some of his traits.
