Webinar of Presidential Library tells about life and military exploits of Alexander Suvorov

On September 18, 2024 at 10:30, the online webinar I Am Proud to Be Russian: The Life and Work of Commander Alexander Suvorov will be broadcast in the TV Channel section of the portal of the Presidential Library. This event is timed to coincide with the 225th anniversary of the heroic march of the Russian army under the command of Alexander Suvorov through the Alps, which took place from September 21st to October 8th, 1799.

The collection of the Presidential Library contains many materials related to the life, work, and name of the great commander, including illustrations: ceremonial portraits, engravings, and sets of postcards and posters. These materials can be accessed through remote access centers of library resources in various regions of Russia and abroad. Some materials are also available in the electronic collection Alexander Suvorov (1730-1800) posted on the Presidential Library's portal.

During the webinar, participants will learn about the main stages of the life of the commander. According to the historical account published in the essay Prince of Italy, Count Suvorov-Rymniksky: Generalissimo of the Russian troops (1873), Abram Hannibal played a significant role in the life of Alexander. Hannibal, familiar with Suvorov's father, drew attention to the smart boy who understood tactical maneuvers. He convinced Suvorov's father to choose a military career for his son, and Alexander Suvorov joined the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment as a private at the age of 12 in order to become an officer. Readers can learn more about the early years of Suvorov's service from the book by Alexander Gerua, Suvorov as a Soldier. 1742-1754: The Results of Archival Data on His Service as a Lower Rank (1900).

During the webinar, participants will learn about A. V. Suvorov's participation in the battles of the Seven Years' War and the victories he achieved during the suppression of Bar Confederation forces, the Russian-Turkish wars in the second half of the 18th century, and the uprising led by Tadeusz Kościuszko in 1794.

Suvorov shared his experience in training and educating soldiers and developing combat tactics in his work The Art of Victory. The Presidential Library's portal presents an electronic copy of this work, published in 1913, which will be discussed during the webinar.

Another important historical source is Biography of Alexander Suvorov written by himself in 1786. This document includes an autobiographical essay and copies of Suvorov's highest decrees, patents, and letters of awards from various ranks and orders.

In early February 1799, Alexander Suvorov led the Russian-Austrian forces in a campaign against the French in Italy. Later, Russian troops under his command were transferred to Switzerland to fight the French. This period in his life and service is described in two books: Suvorov's Campaigns in Italy and Switzerland by Modest Bogdanovich (1846) and "The History of the Russian-Austrian Campaign of 1799" by Yegor Fuchs (1826). These books are available at the Presidential Library's remote access center.

The webinar I Am Proud to Be Russian: The Life and Work of Commander Alexander Suvorov will be broadcasted online on September 18 at 10:30 Moscow time in the TV Channel section of the Presidential Library portal.

All information about past and future webinars on the Presidential Library's portal in the Webinars section, as well as information about remote access centers on the Remote Access Centers page.