Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen Biography

Birth of Levin August Gottlieb Theophil von Bennigsen

Promoted to Brigadier

Member of a court cabal who assassinate Peter I

Appointed Governor General of Lithuania

Appointed General of the Cavalry

Appointed General of the Cavalry

When the French arrived in Poland, the local people hailed them as liberators. The Russian general Bennigsen worried that French forces might cut him off from Buxhoevdens army, so he abandoned Warsaw and retreated to the right bank of the Vistula. French troops under Murat enter Warsaw

Fights at the Battle of Pultusk

The Tsar awards Bennigsen command of the Russian Armies. Claims a Russian victory

After the Battle of Pultusk is awareded the Order of St. George of the Second Degree

The French pursued the fleeing Russians from Warsaw and a significant battle developed around Pultusk. The result remained in doubt, but Bennigsen wrote to the Tsar that he had defeated 60,000 French troops, and as a result he gained overall command of the Russian armies in Poland

The French pursued the fleeing Russians from Warsaw and a significant battle developed around Pultusk. The result remained in doubt, but Bennigsen wrote to the Tsar that he had defeated 60,000 French troops, and as a result he gained overall command of the Russian armies in Poland

A fierce struggle ensued, made worse by a blinding snowstorm on the battlefield. The French found themselves in dire straits until a massed cavalry charge, made by 10,700 troopers formed in 80 squadrons, relieved the pressure on the centre.

Davouts arrival meant the attack on the Russian left could commence, but the assault was blunted when a Prussian force under Lestoq suddenly appeared on the battlefield and, with Russian help, threw the French back.

Ney came too late to effect any meaningful decision, so Bennigsen retreated. Casualties at this indecisive battle were horrific, perhaps 25,000 on each side. The lack of a decisive victory by either side meant that the war would go on

The Russians fought Soults corps for possession of Eylau. Daybreak on February 8 saw 44,500 French troops on the field against 67,000 Russians. Napoleon hoped to pin Bennigsens army long enough to allow Neys and Davouts troops to outflank the Russians.

After the battle of Eylau awarded Order of St. Andrew, the highest order in the Russian empire

After several months of recuperating from Eylau, Napoleon ordered the Grande Armee on the move once again.

In fact, the French ran into the entire Russian army of over 50,000 men and 150 artillery guns.

Learning that the Russians had encamped at their operational base in the town of Heilsberg, by the Alle River, Napoleon decided to conduct a general assault in the hopes of dislodging what he thought was the rearguard of the Russian army.

Repeated and determined attacks by the French failed to dislocate the Russians, who were fighting inside elaborate earthworks designed to prevent precisely the kind of river crossing Napoleon was attempting. French casualties soared to 10,000 while the Russians lost about 6,000.

The Russians eventually withdrew from Heilsberg as their position became untenable, prompting Napoleon to chase after them once again

The advance guard of Marshal Lannes reported seeing large numbers of Russian troops at the town of Friedland. Both sides engaged one another for the remainder of the day with no result. Crucially, Bennigsen believed he had enough time to cross the Alle the following day, to destroy the isolated units of Lannes, and to withdraw back across the river without ever encountering the main French army

Benningsen was trapped and had to fight. Having thrown all of his pontoon bridges at or near the bottleneck of the village of Friedland, Benningsen had unwittingly trapped his troops on the west bank.

Both sides now used their cavalry freely to cover the formation of lines of battle, and a race between the rival squadrons for the possession of Heinrichsdorf ended in favor of the French under Grouchy and Nansouty.

Lannes held Benningsen in place until the French had massed 80,000 troops on the left bank of the river.

The French engaged the Russians first in the Sortlack Wood and in front of Posthenen in the early hours of the 14th.

The Russians suffered heavy losses in the disorganized retreat over the river

After defeat at the Battle of Friedland Czar Alexander sent an envoy to seek an armistice with the French

After defeat at the Battle of Friedland Czar Alexander sent an envoy to seek an armistice with the French

Bennigsen had met with the crushing defeat of Friedland. The direct consequence of which is the Treaty of Tilsit

Defeats Murat

Commands the Russian centre at Borodino

Commands Russian army on the right wing