Evgraf Davydov

Evgraf Vladimirovich Davydov
Portrait of E.V. Davydov, as painted by Orest Kiprensky in 1809. Part of the collection of the State Russian Museum.
Native name	Russian: Евгра́ф Влади́мирович Давы́дов
Born	1775 Tula Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	1823 (aged 57-58)
Allegiance	Russian Empire
Service/branch	Imperial Russian Army
Years of service	1791–1823
Rank	major-general
Battles/wars	War of the Third Coalition Battle of Austerlitz War of the Fourth Coalition Battle of Guttstadt-Deppen Battle of Heilsberg Battle of Friedland French invasion of Russia Battle of Ostrovno War of the Sixth Coalition Battle of Kulm Battle of Leipzig
Awards	Order of St. George Order of St. Vladimir Order of St. Anna Order of the Red Eagle Gold Sword for Bravery

Evgraf Vladimirovich Davydov (Russian: Евгра́ф Влади́мирович Давы́дов; b. 1775 - 20 December 1823) was a major-general of the Russian Empire, who served in the era of the Napoleonic Wars. A veteran of the aforementioned wars, present on the battlefield from the War of the Fourth Coalition up to including the War of the Sixth Coalition, Davydov lost one of his arms and legs during the Battle of Leipzig, but remained in military service until his death.

Biography

Evgraf Davydov was born to a noble Russian family in the Tula Governorate. On 9 September 1791, at the age of 16, he became a watch-master (Russian: Ва́хмистр) in the Life-Guard Horse Regiment. Several years later, in 1798, he moved to the Life Guard Hussar Regiment, as a cornet. On 12 April 1803, Davydov was promoted to the rank of colonel (polkovnik), and in 1805 he fought at the Battle of Austerlitz, and two years later, during the War of the Fourth Coalition, at the battles of Guttstadt-Deppen, Heislberg, and Friedland. During the French invasion of Russia by Napoleon, he served, as Prof. Alexander Mikaberidze notes, in the "2nd Brigade of the Guard Cavalry Division of the 1st Reserve Cavalry corps in the First Western Army". In the Battle of Ostrovno, he became severely wounded in the left hand. After having healed, he fought at the battle of Kulm; for his deeds in the latter battle he was promoted to major-general and chef of the Lubensk Hussar Regiment on 5 September 1813, with "seniority", as Mikaberidze states, dating from August 1813. In the Battle of Leipzig, Evgraf Davydov was grievously wounded, and lost his right arm and left leg. He received several decorations in the ensuing weeks, including the Order of St. George (3rd class) on 22 February 1814, as well as the Order of the Red Eagle (2nd class) by the king of Prussia, Frederick William III.

Sources

• Mikaberidze, Alexander (2005). Russian Officer Corps of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1611210026. 
• Polovtsov, A. A., ed. (1900). "Давыдов, Евграф Владимирович". Russian Biographical Dictionary (in Russian). St. Petersburg. 
• "ДАВЫДОВ Евграф Владимирович, генерал-майор". museum.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 16 December 2016.