Denis Davydov

For other uses, seeDenis Davydov (disambiguation).

Denis Davydov
Денис Давыдов
Portrait byGeorge Dawe
Born	27 July 1784 Moscow,Russian Empire
Died	4 May 1839 (aged 54) Syzransky Uyezd,Simbirsk Governorate,Russian Empire
Known for	Hussarpoetry Guerrilla Warfare
Signature

Denis Vasilyevich Davydov(Russian:Дени́с Васи́льевич Давы́дов,pronounced[dʲɪˈnʲisvɐˈsʲilʲjɪvʲɪdʑdɐˈvɨdəf];27 July [O.S.16 July] 1784 – 4 May [O.S.22 April] 1839) was a Russian soldier-poet of theNapoleonic Warswho invented the genre ofhussarpoetry, characterised byhedonismand bravado. He used events from his own life to illustrate such poetry. He suggested and successfully pioneeredguerrilla warfarein thePatriotic War of 1812againstNapoleon.

Biography

Davydov stemmed from a family ofRussian nobilitywith, as he claimed,Tatarroots.After gaining celebrity as a guerrilla leader in theFrench invasion of Russiahe became one of the most popular men in the country.Young men ofPushkin's circle viewed him as a modelromantic heroand theDecembristsprized his company as well.

He was high-spirited, healthy, virile, unromantic, and shallow. He was great wits and fond of fun, in life as well as in literature. His early and most popular verses are in a style of his own making, known as the “hussar style.” In them he sings the praise of reckless valor, on the field of battle as well as before the bottle. The diction in some is rather unconventional, and occasionally his words have to be replaced by dots, but it is always full of spirit and great rhythmical go. His later poems are inspired by a late love for a very young girl. They are passionately sentimental and as vivid and alive in diction and rhythmical.Alexander Pushkinhad a high opinion of his poetry and said that Davydov had showed him the way to be original.

His poems were admired byVissarion Belinskyfor their organic quality and "Russianness".

Davydov fought in theRusso-Iranian War of 1826-1828.

His grave, with his statue above it, is situated next to the exit door of theKatholikonof theNovodevichy Convent.

Guerrilla warfare

During the French invasion of the Russian Empire Lieutenant-Colonel Davydov suggested to his general,Pyotr Bagration,the strategy of using a small force of at least 3,000 horsemen to attack the supply trains ofNapoleon's invadingGrande Armée.The Russian Commander-in-chiefMikhail Kutuzov(in office from 29 August [O.S.17 August] 1812) agreed and gave an order for 200 to increase hisattrition warfare against Napoleon.Davydov started with 135 horsemen as a separate command in the rear of theGrande Armée.They wore peasant clothes and beards to get the immediate support of the Russian people. They gave captured food and French weapons to the peasants and taught them how to fight a people's war. They captured French forage-expeditions, supply-trains with food, horses, weapons and ammunition, freed Russian prisoners and integrated them as volunteers with French horses, uniforms and weapons into their raiding party. These actions set off an avalanche ofguerrilla warfarethat became an important part of Kutuzov'sattrition warfare.

In popular culture

Aeroflot Boeing 777-300ER D. Davydov at John F. Kennedy Intl Airport in NYC bound for departure to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Intl Airport

ABoeing 777-300ERoperated by Russia'snational airlineAeroflotis named "D. Davydov" as part of a tradition in naming their fleet after historical Russian figures. The name is printed as part of the aircraft'snose art.

In the 20th and 21st century, at least 4 ships associated with the name of D. Davydov as an object of intangible heritage.

References

• Avery, Peter; Hambly, Gavin; Melville, Charles, eds. (1991).The Cambridge History of Iran (Vol.7).Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0521200950.
• Davidov, Denis (1999).In the Service of the Tsar Against Napoleon, 1806–1814.Greenhill Books.ISBN1-85367-373-0.
• Dickinson, Sara (2006).Breaking Ground: Travel and National Culture in Russia from Peter I to the Era of Pushkin.ISBN9789042019492.Retrieved29 March2021.
• Mirsky, D.S. (2012).A History Of Russian Literature.Retrieved29 March2021.
• Zamoyski, Adam (1980).Moscow 1812: Napoleon's Fatal March.ISBN9780061075582.Retrieved29 March2021.

Further reading

• Denis Davidoff (2012).Essai sur la guerre de partisans, Traduction d'Héraclius de Polignac, Avant-propos du général Fortuné de Brack.ISBN979-10-91815-00-0.
• Stefan Berger & Alexei Miller (2014).Nationalizing Empires.ISBN978-9633860168.
• Бондаренко А. Ю. (2012).Денис Давыдов.ISBN978-5-235-03539-3.
• Барков А.С. (2002).Денис Давыдов.ISBN5-88010-150-9.

External links

• Poems(in Russian)