Ivan Fyodorovich Emme (russian: Иван Фёдорович Эмме; 1763–1839) was a Russian
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
in the
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
.
Early years
Ivan Fyodorovich Emme was born in the
Governorate of Livonia
The Governorate of Livonia, also known as the Livonia Governorate, was a Baltic governorate of the Russian Empire, now divided between Latvia and Estonia.
Geography
The shape of the province is a fairly rectangular in shape, with a maximum ...
as part of the
Emme family on 25 July 1763 to
Fyodor Ivanovich Emme.
Military service
On 2 January 1776, Ivan entered the
Land Gentry Cadet Corps and, after graduating from it on 14 March 1783, was commissioned as a
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
(''Подпору́чик'' or
''Podporuchik'') in the
Tobolsk Musketeer Regiment.
Between 1788–1790, Ivan took part in the
Russo-Swedish War
Wars between Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and ...
. For distinguishing himself at the Battle of Kyummen River, he was awarded of
Order of Saint Vladimir, 4th Degree with a bow. During the
Battle of Kernikoski
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
, he was shot in the right side, with injuries to his right arm, and consequently promoted to
lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...
(''Подполко́вник'' or ''
Podpolkovnik
''Podpolkovnik'' (russian: подполко́вник, lit=sub –, junior – , or lower regimentary) is a military rank in Slavic and nearby countries which corresponds to the lieutenant colonel in the English-speaking states and military.
...
'').
On 10 January 1797, Ivan was promoted to
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
(''Полковник'' or ''
Polkovnik
''Polkovnik'' (russian: полковник, lit=regimentary; pl, pułkownik) is a military rank used mostly in Slavic-speaking countries which corresponds to a colonel in English-speaking states and oberst in several German-speaking and Scandin ...
'') and appointed commander of the
Ryazan Musketeer Regiment. On 16 July 1798, Ivan was transferred to the
Sofia Musketeer Regiment, but only commanded it for little more than a month, as on 26 August he was promoted to
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
(''Генерал Mайор'' or ''General Major'') and appointed as regimental chief of the
Pavlovsky Grenadier Regiment. During the
Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland
The Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland (or Anglo-Russian expedition to Holland, or Helder Expedition) was a military campaign from 27 August to 19 November 1799 during the War of the Second Coalition, in which an expeditionary force of British and ...
, he led hithe regiment during the initial landings. While attacking
Batavian artillery positions near the city of
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom (; called ''Berrege'' in the local dialect) is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.
Etymology
The city was built on a place where two types of soil meet: sandy soil and marine clay. The sandy soil p ...
, he was once again wounded, in the right leg by a musket ball, but refused to leave his troops and continued on. At the
Battle of Alkmaar Ivan was wounded for a third time, this time from a musket ball in his left hand.
After Russian forces withdrew after the
Convention of Alkmaar
The Convention of Alkmaar was a 18 October 1799 agreement concluded between the commanders of the expeditionary forces of Great Britain and Russia on the one hand, and of those of the First French Republic and the Batavian Republic on the other, i ...
, Ivan was ordered to retire on 8 April 1800 to recover from his wounds. On 14 November, he returned to service as a member of the highly esteemed
Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment
The Preobrazhensky Life-Guards Regiment (russian: Преображенский лейб-гвардии полк, ''Preobrazhensky leyb-gvardii polk'') was a regiment of the Imperial Guard of the Imperial Russian Army from 1683 to 1917.
The P ...
. On 4 March 1801, he was appointed regimental chief of the
Vitebsk Musketeer Regiment, but the next day was dismissed for "... filling reports out of form". On 14 March 1801 however, he returned to service in the regiment. On 9 January 1802, he was appointed military commandant of
Riga
Riga (; lv, Rīga , liv, Rīgõ) is the capital and largest city of Latvia and is home to 605,802 inhabitants which is a third of Latvia's population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Ba ...
in the
Governorate of Livonia
The Governorate of Livonia, also known as the Livonia Governorate, was a Baltic governorate of the Russian Empire, now divided between Latvia and Estonia.
Geography
The shape of the province is a fairly rectangular in shape, with a maximum ...
, and on 28 September 1803 was made regimental chief of the Riga Garrison Regiment.
On 26 November 1809, Ivan was awarded the
Order of Saint George, 4th Degree. In 1810 he became general officer of the
14th Infantry Division, and shortly thereafter became Commandant of the Riga Garrison Regiment once again.
In 1812, during the
Siege of Riga, he supervised the construction of fortifications and was engaged throughout the siege in raising local militia forces within the city's vicinity. During the siege, Ivan was on the frontlines and regularly visited the combat positions and artillery batteries while under fire. For his bravery and distinction shown during the siege, he was awarded the
Order of Saint Anna, 2nd Degree, and on 26 December 1812 was promoted to
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
(''генерал-лейтенант'' or ''General-leytenant''). After the French retreat from Russia, Emme took part in the
Battle of Mitava, and later took part in the
Siege of Memel. During the
War of the Sixth Coalition
In the War of the Sixth Coalition (March 1813 – May 1814), sometimes known in Germany as the Wars of Liberation, a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, and a number of German States defeated F ...
(known as the Foreign Campaign in Russia), he was present at the
Siege of Elbing and
Siege of Danzig.
During the Russian's advance into what is now
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, the
26th Infantry Division was reformed under command of Emme, and lead the division during the
Siege of Hamburg
The city of Hamburg was one of the most powerful fortresses east of the Rhine. After being freed from Napoleonic rule by advancing Cossacks and other following Coalition troops it was once more occupied by Marshal Davout
Louis-Nicolas d ...
. On 28 January 1814, Emme was raised to the 3rd class for the Order of Saint George for "excellent feats of courage, bravery, and management shown during the attack on Hamburg on 13 January.".
Following the
Treaty of Fontainebleau, Emme continued to command the 26th Infantry Division until 15 February 1820, when he was posted to the
17th Infantry Division, and shortly thereafter moved to the
5th Infantry Division. On 24 October 1824, he was removed from his post and remained on the half-pay list till 1833.
On 20 December 1833, Emme retired from the army, retaining his uniform and a full pension in honour of his work during the Napoleonic Wars. In his later years he lived in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
, where he died on 12 September 1839, and was buried at the
Inoversky cemetery, though his grave was later lost.
Emme had a brother Fyodor, and a son
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
, both who served in the Imperial Russian Army.
References
* ''olkov S.V.'' Generality of the Russian Empire. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Generals and Admirals from Peter I to Nicholas II. - T. II. L — I. -
M. , 2009.
* Dictionary of Russian generals, participants in the hostilities against the army of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812-1815. // Russian archive. The history of the Fatherland in the evidence and documents of the 18th-20th centuries. : Collection. -
M .: studio " TRITE " N. Mikhalkov , 1996. - T. VII . - S. 626-627 . - ISSN 0869-20011 . (Com. A. A. Podmazo )
* ''Stepanov V.S., Grigorovich P.I.'' In commemoration of the centenary of the Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. (1769-1869). -
SPb. , 1869.
1763 births
1839 deaths
18th-century military personnel from the Russian Empire
19th-century military personnel from the Russian Empire
Russian nobility
Russian commanders of the Napoleonic Wars
Imperial Russian Army generals
French invasion of Russia
Russian military personnel of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)
Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Third Degree
Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class
Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 2nd class
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