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Prince '''Nikolai Vasilyevich Repnin''' ([[March 11]], [[1734]] N.S. — [[May 12]], [[1801]] N.S.) was a [[Russia]]n statesman and general from the [[Repnin]] princely family. He is best known for his key role in the downfall of [[Polish]] statehood. |
Prince '''Nikolai Vasilyevich Repnin''' ([[March 11]], [[1734]] N.S. — [[May 12]], [[1801]] N.S.) was a [[Russia]]n statesman and general from the [[Repnin]] princely family. He is best known for his key role in the downfall of [[Polish]] statehood. |
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Prince Repnin served under his father, Prince Vasily Anikitovich, during the [[War of the Austrian Succession|Rhenish campaign of 1748]] and subsequently resided for some time abroad, where he acquired "a thoroughly sound German education." He also participated in the [[Seven Years' War]] in a subordinate capacity. [[Peter III of Russia|Peter III]] sent him as ambassador in 1763 to [[Berlin]]. The same year [[Catherine I of Russia|Catherine]] transferred him to [[Warsaw]] as minister plenipotentiary, with |
Prince Repnin served under his father, Prince Vasily Anikitovich, during the [[War of the Austrian Succession|Rhenish campaign of 1748]] and subsequently resided for some time abroad, where he acquired "a thoroughly sound German education." He also participated in the [[Seven Years' War]] in a subordinate capacity. [[Peter III of Russia|Peter III]] sent him as ambassador in 1763 to [[Berlin]]. The same year [[Catherine I of Russia|Catherine]] transferred him to [[Warsaw]] as minister plenipotentiary. In effect, due to the level of Russian control of the Polish government, he was an effective ruler of the country[http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0520027752&id=ynM3Jd9TK6QC&pg=PA189&lpg=PA189&dq=Repnin+Poland&sig=4WMfOVbGjdlLTHSdjrRrR5RRixI] [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0801856663&id=3qs26FfbHzgC&pg=RA34-PA356&lpg=RA34-PA356&dq=Repnin+Poland&sig=LPRBXKFpwAwBo9SDJg2Kqi2IAT4] with special instructions to form a Russian party in [[Poland]] from among the dissidents, who were to receive equal rights with the Catholics. Repnin convinced himself that the dissidents were too poor and insignificant to be of any real support to Russia, and that the whole agitation in their favor was factitious. At last, indeed, the [[dissidents]] themselves even petitioned the empress to leave them alone. In order to further Russian goals, he encouraged the formation of two protestant [[konfederacja]]s (of [[Sluck]] and [[Torun]]) and later, one Catholic ([[Radom Confederation]], led by [[Karol Stanisław "Panie Kochanku" Radziwiłł]]) [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0198207018&id=ySzrq3JwjBEC&pg=PA169&lpg=PA169&dq=Repnin+Poland&sig=0Bxt16H98TPzTXWxvISsVeieWSw]. It is clear from his correspondence that Repnin, a singularly proud and high-spirited man, much disliked the very dirty work he was called upon to do{{fact}}. Nevertheless he faithfully obeyed his instructions, and, by means more or less violent or discreditable, forced the diet of 1767-1768 ([[Repnin Sejm]]) to concede everything. Before the Sejm, he ordered the capture and exile to Siberia of some vocal opponents of his policies[http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN052179269X&id=lc8EMD0JYUAC&pg=PA182&lpg=PA182&dq=Repnin+Poland&sig=VSKuu8NyPzm00Z6Rw1BNdGb0FP4] [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN1842125117&id=OA0yDoVBW0QC&dq=Repnin+Poland&lpg=PA200&pg=PA201&sig=OlhRVplX0vAbWGC6sGAuh6UHqD4], namely [[Józef Andrzej Załuski]][http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0140439153&id=-0F8CRLDPv4C&pg=PA528&lpg=PA528&dq=1773+Siberia+Sejm&sig=LzpFpeGuq9h3dWWoWnEqqiUu0QY] and [[Wacław Rzewuski]]The immediate result was the [[Confederation of Bar]], which practically destroyed the ambassador's handiwork. |
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[[Image:Nikolai Vasilyevich Repnin.jpg|166px|right|thumb|Prince Nicholas Repnin]] |
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Repnin convinced himself that the dissidents were too poor and insignificant to be of any real support to Russia, and that the whole agitation in their favor was factitious. At last, indeed, the [[dissidents]] themselves even petitioned the empress to leave them alone. It is clear from his correspondence that Repnin, a singularly proud and high-spirited man, much disliked the very dirty work he was called upon to do. Nevertheless he faithfully obeyed his instructions, and, by means more or less violent or discreditable, forced the diet of 1768 to concede everything. The immediate result was the [[Confederation of Bar]], which practically destroyed the ambassador's handiwork. |
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Repnin resigned his post for the more congenial occupation of [[Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774|fighting the Turks]]. At the head of an independent command in [[Moldavia]] and [[Walachia]], he prevented a large Turkish army from crossing the [[Pruth]] (1770); distinguished himself at the actions of [[Larga]] and [[Kagul]]; and captured [[Izmail]] and [[Kilia]]. In 1771 he received the supreme command in Walachia and routed the Turks at [[Bucharest]]. A quarrel with the commander-in-chief, [[Rumyantsev]], then induced him to send in his resignation, but in 1774 he participated in the capture of [[Silistria]] and in the negotiations which led to the [[Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji|peace of Kuchuk-Kainarji]]. In 1775-76 he was ambassador at the [[Porte]]. |
Repnin resigned his post for the more congenial occupation of [[Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774|fighting the Turks]]. At the head of an independent command in [[Moldavia]] and [[Walachia]], he prevented a large Turkish army from crossing the [[Pruth]] (1770); distinguished himself at the actions of [[Larga]] and [[Kagul]]; and captured [[Izmail]] and [[Kilia]]. In 1771 he received the supreme command in Walachia and routed the Turks at [[Bucharest]]. A quarrel with the commander-in-chief, [[Rumyantsev]], then induced him to send in his resignation, but in 1774 he participated in the capture of [[Silistria]] and in the negotiations which led to the [[Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji|peace of Kuchuk-Kainarji]]. In 1775-76 he was ambassador at the [[Porte]]. |
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On the outbreak of the [[war of the Bavarian Succession]] he led 30,000 men to [[Breslau]], and at the subsequent [[congress of Teschen]], where he was Russian plenipotentiary, compelled [[Austria]] to make peace with [[Prussia]]. During the |
On the outbreak of the [[war of the Bavarian Succession]] he led 30,000 men to [[Breslau]], and at the subsequent [[congress of Teschen]], where he was Russian plenipotentiary, compelled [[Austria]] to make peace with [[Prussia]]. During the second Turkish war (1787-92) Repnin was, after [[Suvorov]], the most successful of the Russian commanders. He defeated the Turks at Salcha, captured the whole camp of the seraskier, Hassan Pasha, shut him up in Izmail, and was preparing to reduce the place when he was forbidden to do so by [[Potemkin]] (1789). On the retirement of Potemkin in 1791, Repnin succeeded him as commander-in-chief, and immediately routed the grand vizier at Machin, a victory which compelled the Turks to accept the truce of Galatz (31st of July 1791). |
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In 1794 he was made governor-general of the newly acquired Lithuanian provinces. The emperor Paul raised him to the rank of [[field-marshal]] (1796), and, in 1798, sent him on a diplomatic mission to [[Berlin]] and [[Vienna]] in order to detach Prussia from France and unite both Austria and Prussia against the [[Jacobins]]. On his return unsuccessful, he was dismissed the service. Upon his death, as the male line of the Repnins became extinct, [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] permitted his grandson Prince |
In 1794 he was made governor-general of the newly acquired Lithuanian provinces (after the [[Second Partition of Poland]]), where he also commanded the Russian forces during the [[Kosciuszko Insurrection]]. The emperor Paul raised him to the rank of [[field-marshal]] (1796), and, in 1798, sent him on a diplomatic mission to [[Berlin]] and [[Vienna]] in order to detach Prussia from France and unite both Austria and Prussia against the [[Jacobins]]. On his return unsuccessful, he was dismissed the service. Upon his death, as the male line of the Repnins became extinct, [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] permitted his grandson Prince [[Nikolai Volkonsky]] to take the name Repnin and [[coat of arms]] of his grandfather. |
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== See also == |
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*[[Heinrich, count von Brühl]] |
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== References == |
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<references/> |
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* {{1911}} |
* {{1911}} |
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[[Category:Russian diplomats|Repnin, Nikolai]] |
[[Category:Russian diplomats|Repnin, Nikolai]] |
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Revision as of 13:46, 22 March 2006
Prince Nikolai Vasilyevich Repnin (March 11, 1734 N.S. — May 12, 1801 N.S.) was a Russian statesman and general from the Repnin princely family. He is best known for his key role in the downfall of Polish statehood.
Prince Repnin served under his father, Prince Vasily Anikitovich, during the Rhenish campaign of 1748 and subsequently resided for some time abroad, where he acquired "a thoroughly sound German education." He also participated in the Seven Years' War in a subordinate capacity. Peter III sent him as ambassador in 1763 to Berlin. The same year Catherine transferred him to Warsaw as minister plenipotentiary. In effect, due to the level of Russian control of the Polish government, he was an effective ruler of the country[1] [2] with special instructions to form a Russian party in Poland from among the dissidents, who were to receive equal rights with the Catholics. Repnin convinced himself that the dissidents were too poor and insignificant to be of any real support to Russia, and that the whole agitation in their favor was factitious. At last, indeed, the dissidents themselves even petitioned the empress to leave them alone. In order to further Russian goals, he encouraged the formation of two protestant konfederacjas (of Sluck and Torun) and later, one Catholic (Radom Confederation, led by Karol Stanisław "Panie Kochanku" Radziwiłł) [3]. It is clear from his correspondence that Repnin, a singularly proud and high-spirited man, much disliked the very dirty work he was called upon to do[citation needed]. Nevertheless he faithfully obeyed his instructions, and, by means more or less violent or discreditable, forced the diet of 1767-1768 (Repnin Sejm) to concede everything. Before the Sejm, he ordered the capture and exile to Siberia of some vocal opponents of his policies[4] [5], namely Józef Andrzej Załuski[6] and Wacław RzewuskiThe immediate result was the Confederation of Bar, which practically destroyed the ambassador's handiwork.
Repnin resigned his post for the more congenial occupation of fighting the Turks. At the head of an independent command in Moldavia and Walachia, he prevented a large Turkish army from crossing the Pruth (1770); distinguished himself at the actions of Larga and Kagul; and captured Izmail and Kilia. In 1771 he received the supreme command in Walachia and routed the Turks at Bucharest. A quarrel with the commander-in-chief, Rumyantsev, then induced him to send in his resignation, but in 1774 he participated in the capture of Silistria and in the negotiations which led to the peace of Kuchuk-Kainarji. In 1775-76 he was ambassador at the Porte.
On the outbreak of the war of the Bavarian Succession he led 30,000 men to Breslau, and at the subsequent congress of Teschen, where he was Russian plenipotentiary, compelled Austria to make peace with Prussia. During the second Turkish war (1787-92) Repnin was, after Suvorov, the most successful of the Russian commanders. He defeated the Turks at Salcha, captured the whole camp of the seraskier, Hassan Pasha, shut him up in Izmail, and was preparing to reduce the place when he was forbidden to do so by Potemkin (1789). On the retirement of Potemkin in 1791, Repnin succeeded him as commander-in-chief, and immediately routed the grand vizier at Machin, a victory which compelled the Turks to accept the truce of Galatz (31st of July 1791).
In 1794 he was made governor-general of the newly acquired Lithuanian provinces (after the Second Partition of Poland), where he also commanded the Russian forces during the Kosciuszko Insurrection. The emperor Paul raised him to the rank of field-marshal (1796), and, in 1798, sent him on a diplomatic mission to Berlin and Vienna in order to detach Prussia from France and unite both Austria and Prussia against the Jacobins. On his return unsuccessful, he was dismissed the service. Upon his death, as the male line of the Repnins became extinct, Alexander I permitted his grandson Prince Nikolai Volkonsky to take the name Repnin and coat of arms of his grandfather.
See also
References
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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