Prince Mikhail Petrovich Dolgorukov (Russian: Князь Михаил Петрович Долгоруков; 1780—1808) was a Russian prince and general who died at the Battle of Virta Bridge against the Swedes on 27 October 1808.

Biography

The son of General Prince Peter Petrovich Dolgorukov, Mikhail Petrovich was born into the Rurikid family of

Dolgorukov The House of Dolgorukov () is a princely Russian family of Rurikid stock. They are a cadet branch of the Obolenskiy family (until 1494 the rulers of Obolensk, one of the Upper Oka Principalities) and as such claiming patrilineal descent from ...

. In 1796, he fought in the Russian-Persian War on the

Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia ...

. After being promoted to major in 1798, he joined the Chevalier Corps and then the Life Guard Regiment in 1799 where he became a colonel in 1800. In the early 1800s, he travelled around Europe for four years before returning to Russia in 1805. After successful action at Pultusk, Mohrungen, Passenheim, Wolfsdorf and Eylau, he was promoted to major general in 1807. In 1808, he led the Russian troops against the Swedes during the Russian advance to Gamlakarleby, attacking the Swedes near Himango on 27 October 1808 where he was killed by a cannonball at the Battle of Virta Bridge. Shortly before his death in 1808, Prince Dologukov challenged Gen. Nikolay Tuchkov to a duel. It happened amidst the Finnish War, so Tuchkov proposed that instead of a conventional duel, they make a joint appearance on the frontline, so that injuries might be blamed on an enemy bullet. So was their decision, and Dolgorukov was soon killed by a cannonball launched from Swedish lines.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dolgorukov, Mikhail Petrovich 1780 births 1808 deaths Russian princes Imperial Russian Army generals Russian commanders of the Napoleonic Wars People of the Russo-Persian Wars Russian military personnel of the Finnish War Burials at the Annunciation Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra