Nikolay Rostov
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Count Nikolay Ilyitch Rostov is a character in Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace. He served in the Russian Army during the struggle against the French. He is known for courageous actions. His first love was his cousin Sonya. He promised to marry her after the wars with Napoleon were over. However, his mother, Countess Natasha Rostova wished for him to marry Princess Marya Bolkonskaya due to her being a wealthy heiress, which would save the family's failing finances. Later, in 1812, he encountered Princess Marya and rescued her. Although he had promised to marry Sonya, she releases him from his vow under pressure from Nikolay's mother. Princess Marya and Nikolay fall in love and eloped in 1813, the same year Nikolay's father, Count Ilya Andreyevich Rostov died.
In 1820, Nikolay has a family and has grown a moustache. Nikolay is determined to work hard, in order to regain the Rostov family estate after it was sold off to pay creditors. Still he remains cheerful, talkative and sometimes argues with his wife.
