Boris Petrovich Sheremetev

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Boris Petrovich Sheremetev (Russian: Борис Петрович Шереме́тев or Шере́метьев), born (1652 – died 1719) was a Russian count (1706), a military leader and a diplomat, and a general-field marshal during the Great Northern War. In his youth, Sheremetyev was a page to Tsar Alexis I of Russia before starting his military career. He participated with among others Mazepa in the war against Turkey during the 1690's.

[edit] Biography

In 1698, Peter the Great sent a delegation to Malta under Boyar Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev, to observe the training and abilities of the Knights of Malta and their fleet. Sheremetyev also investigated the possibility of future joint ventures with the Knights, including action against the Turks and the possibility of a future Russian naval base. [1]

[edit] Military career

From 1671 he served at the imperial court. In 1681 he was Tambov leader, he commanded the armies working against the Crimean Tatars, and from 1682 he was a boyar. In 1685–87 he participated in negotiations and the conclusion of the "Eternal Peace of 1686" with Poland and the allied treaty with Austria. From the end of 1687 he commanded the armies in Belgrade covering southern border, and participated in the Crimean campaigns.

After Peter I gained power in 1689, he became his fellow campaigner. During the Azov campaigns in 1695–96 he commanded armies on Dnieper River in actions against the Crimean Tatars. In 1697–99 he carried out diplomatic assignments in Poland, Austria, Italy and Malta. During the Great Northern War 1700–21 he proved to be a capable but extremely cautious and a little bit sluggish military leader.

In the Battle of Narva in 1700 he commanded noble cavalry, and in 1701–05 he commanded armies in Livonia where he gained victories at the Battle of Erestfer in (1701), and the battle of Hummelshof in (1702). He seized Koporye fortress in (1703) and Dorpat (today called Tartu) in (1704). He supervised the suppression of the Astrakhan revolt in 1705–06. In 1708 in command posts in the main forces of army, in the Poltava battle 1709 he commanded armies of the center of the fighting order. In 1710 armies under the command of Sheremetev seized Riga. In 1711 he headed the main forces of army in Prut campaign. In 1712–13 he commanded southern observant armies on Turkish borders, in 1715–17 he commanded armies in Pomorze and Mecklenburg. He died in 1719 in Moscow and is buried in St.Petersburg.

In 1700 he joined the Russian army in its attack on Narva at the outbreak of the Great Northern War but was driven back from his position in Estonia by Charles XII of Sweden. He then became commander of the Russian forces fighting the Swedish armies in the Baltic provinces. Sheremetyev was subsequently defeated by W. A. Schlippenbach at Rauge in 1701 but later prevailed at Erastfer (Erastvere). This victory won him the title of field marshal. He then took the fortresses of Nöteborg and Nyenskans in 1703 -- allowing the foundation of the city of Saint Petersburg -- and the important Baltic cities Dorpat (now Tartu) and Narva in 1704. In 1705 he was sent to Astrakhan where he forcefully and successfully repressed a rebellion.

Later in the Great Northern War, Sheremetyev clashed with the Swedish general Lewenhaupt, who beat him at Gemäuerthof in 1705, and Charles XII who defeated him at Holowczyn. His revenge came at the battle of Poltava, where the Swedish army was soundly defeated by the Russians. After Poltava, he fought against Turkey in 1711, suffering an encirclement at Prut. Although sympathetic to Peter the Great's strivings to Westernize Russia, he never became close to the Tsar. Sheremetyev's surname was of Tatar origin.

[edit] References