Alexander Lvovich Davydov

Davydov was born to the prominent Russian noble family of the Davydovs, and was the half-brother of the noted general Nikolay Raevsky.[1][2] He started his military career around the age of 12, when he enlisted in the Lifeguard Preobrezhansky Regiment as a sergeant.[1] However, he soon transferred to the Life Guard Horse Regiment, of which, in 1799, he became a cornet and several years later, on 7 June 1804, a colonel (polkovnik).[1] Some months later, in 1805, he fought at the Battle of Austerlitz and in the years 1807-09 he served in Poland and in Finland with the Grodno Hussar Regiment.[1] However, on 23 January 1810 he took a discharge, due to poor health.[1] In 1812, amidst the French invasion of Russia by Napoleon, Alexander Davydov returned to the army and served under Mikhail Miloradovich at the battles of Tarutino, Maloyaroslavets, Vyazma, and lastly Krasny.[1] For his efforts at Krasny, he received the Order of St. Vladimir (3rd class).[1] In the ensuing year, in 1813, he served at the battles of Lützen, Bautzen, Dresden (received Order of St. George, 4th class) and lastly Kulm.[1] 1814 would be his last year of military action, and he served at the battles of Bar-sur-Aube, Troyes, Arcis-sur-Aube, Fère-Champenoise and lastly Paris.[1] On 16 June 1815, Alexander Davydov was promoted to the rank of major-general, with, as Prof. Alexander Mikaberidze adds, having "seniority" for this rank since 29 January 1814.[1]

• "Давыдов Александр Львович". polki.mirpeterburga.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 11 December 2016.
• Mikaberidze, Alexander (2005). Russian Officer Corps of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Savas Beatie. ISBN 978-1611210026.
• История кавалергандов и Кавалергардского Ея Величества полка, с 1724 по 1-е июля 1851 года. Санкт-Петербург, Военная типография, 1851 г. (in Russian)
• Pushkin, Alexander (1963). Shaw, J. Thomas (ed.). The Letters of Alexander Pushkin, Volume 1. Indiana University Press.