On the question of the appointment of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (the Elder) as Commander-in-Chief of the Danube Army

Abstract

The article highlights the issue of the appointment of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (the Elder) as Commander-in-Chief of the Danube Army by Emperor Alexander II on the eve of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 on the basis of published sources of both official and memoir nature, as well as some archival data. The myth created by Marxist historiography that the Grand Duke had a narrow outlook in military affairs, had neither combat experience nor experience in organizational work, was mediocre, incompetent, etc., is debunked. Meanwhile, Nikolai Nikolaevich received an excellent education, he was taught by the best specialists and professors of that era. He acquired his first practical knowledge of the war and experience as a military engineer in the Crimean War, during the defense of Sevastopol in 1854–1855. The subsequent activity of the Grand Duke in the field of army reform, primarily in engineering and cavalry service, convinces of his undoubted organizational abilities, deep knowledge, true state scope and innovation. He enjoyed great popularity among officers and soldiers of the Russian army, which was greatly facilitated by his character and attentive attitude to people. He knew the upcoming theater of military operations and the future enemy — the Turkish army, because he was able to combine a pilgrimage to the East and the Holy Land in 1872 with reconnaissance purposes. Alexander II, taking into account the totality of the merits of his younger brother, as well as being fully confident in his honest performance of duty, in 1876 appointed the Grand Duke as Commander-in-chief of the Danube Army. At that time, there was no personality equal to him or higher in his qualities as a military commander. The Grand Duke developed operations to force the Danube and the winter crossing of the Balkans and led Russian troops to Constantinople. He received the Field Marshal’s baton and became the 25th and last full knight of the Order of St. George in the history of the Russian Empire.