Burkhard Christoph von Münnich
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Burkhard Christoph Graf
Early career
Münnich was born at
In 1721, he was invited by the Russian ambassador in
Russian army reformer
Upon the coronation of
Münnich also reformed numerous other military formations as well as the War Collegiate itself. He established a new formation for the Russian army at that time, the Corps which consisted of 12 regiments Cuirassier Cavalry as well as the first Hussar regiments. Münnich revised the table of ranks and evened the salary of the Russian officers with the invited foreign military specialists. He was the first to introduce the sapper regiments to the Russian army as well as founded the Engineer School for Officers. During his administration some 50 other fortresses were erected which substantially improved the well-being of the Russian Armed Forces at that time. Due to the Andrey Osterman affairs, he was released of his duties.
Ottoman campaign of 1734–1739
In 1734, by the reference of Ernst Johann von Biron he was sent to take the city of Danzig (Gdańsk) and after a prolonged siege and evasion of Stanisław Leszczyński was heavily reproached. However, after that in 1733, the Russian Empire was able to install Augustus III of Poland as the King of Poland (ratified in 1736).
In 1736, as the commander of the Russian army, he headed the
Downfall
Marshal Münnich now began to take an active part in political affairs, the particular tone of which was given by his rivalry with Biron, duke of Courland, whom Münnich had arrested in 1740. Münnich's activity was brought to a close in 1741 by the Elizabeth of Russia; he was arrested on his way to the border, and condemned to death. Brought out for execution, and withdrawn from the scaffold, he was later sent to Pelym, Siberia, where he remained for several years, until the accession of Peter III brought about his release in 1762. [4]
Legacy
According to Hermann von Manstein, his aide-de-camp: The Count of Münnich is a real contrast of good and bad qualities. Polite, rude, human, carried away, in turn, nothing is easier for him than winning the hearts of those who deal with him. But suddenly, an instant later, he treats them so harshly that they are forced to hate him, so to speak. In certain conditions, we saw him generous, in others of a sordid greed. He is the man of the world who has the highest soul and yet we have seen him do mean things. Pride is a dominant vice. Constantly devoured by an excessive ambition, he sacrificed everything to the world to satisfy it. One of the best engineers in Europe, he was also one of the greatest captains of his century. Often reckless in his businesses, he has always ignored what the impossible is. With a tall and imposing stature, and a robust and vigorous temperament, he seems to have been born general.
Burckhardt de Münnich is buried in his land of Lunia in Livonia.[5] Despite his role as builder of modern Russia, his tomb was desecrated and partly destroyed by the Soviets.
The Imperial Russia 37th Dragoons Regiment used to bear his name.[4]
Heritage
- Christine Lucretia von Witzleben (1685–1727), his wife.
- Barbara Juliana, Baroness von Krüdenerwas his great-granddaughter.
- Count Johann Ernst Munnich (Sergei Khristoforovich Minikh) (1707–1788), his son, Russian statesman, diplomat, writer, studied jurisprudence, languages, and philosophy.
Further reading
- (in Russian) Burkhard Christoph von Münnich. (1874) Notes of Field Marshal Count Münnich (Записки фельдмаршала графа Миниха) at formats
Notes
- Hotin (Khotin) on 30 August, which surrendered without a fight: almost the entire garrison of the fortress took part in the Battle of Stavuchany.[1]
References
- ^ Trofimov, Anton (28 August 2019). "Битва при Ставучанах. Самая бескровная победа русского оружия". История.РФ (in Russian). Russian Military Historical Society. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^
Carl Arvid von Klingspor (1882). Baltisches Wappenbuch. Stockholm. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-543-98710-5. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- ^ Regarding personal names: Until 1919, Graf was a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin. In Germany, it has formed part of family names since 1919.
- ^ a b c d Chisholm 1911.
- ^ Literary archives of Europe, or, Mixtures of literature, history and philosophy, p. 403
- Attribution
- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Münnich, Burkhard Christoph". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the