Aleksandr Bibikov

Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Bibikov ( – ) was an officer of the Imperial Russian Army, who saw service during the Russo-Swedish War and the Napoleonic Wars. He was ambassador to several countries, and also served as a senator in the Governing Senate.

Born into a noble family as the son of an eminent general of Empress Elizabeth's service, Aleksandr Bibikov was enrolled into the lists of the Izmaylovsky Regiment at just three years old. After his father's death on campaign in 1774, the younger Bibikov was promoted to officer status at nine years old, and by the time he was old enough to join the ranks of his regiment, he already held the rank of captain. He served in the Empress Catherine's retinue for a time, before taking part in the Russo-Swedish War, and seeing action on a number of occasions. Wounded in battle, and presented several awards, he entered the civil service during the years of peace, and was given various state and diplomatic appointments by the Emperor Paul I. After a series of brief postings to the Portuguese court and the Electorate of Saxony, he was for a time unemployed during the early reign of Emperor Alexander I, though he eventually returned to serve in various diplomatic and civil service roles.

With Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, Bibikov petitioned to serve in the army once more, and was appointed to command various militias, including those of St Petersburg and Novgorod. He and his forces distinguished themselves at the Second Battle of Polotsk, and at the Battle of Smoliani, where he was wounded in the leg. Unable to ride or walk, he fought the next two battles, at Borisov and Berezina, from a sleigh, and when his horses were killed at Berezina, he leant against one of his adjutants. His forces pursued the French on their retreat from Russia, though Bibikov was forced eventually to resign due to ill health. He returned to his political duties for a time in St Petersburg, and wrote an account of his father's life and campaigns. He died in 1822 while seeking treatment abroad, and was interred in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Family and early life Bibikov was born into an ancient dvoryan family on 7 January 1765; the son of the distinguished general Aleksandr Ilyich Bibikov, who had served Empress Elizabeth of Russia, and his wife, Princess Anastasia Semyonovna Kozlovskaya. He was also the nephew of Mikhail Kutuzov, another distinguished military commander. The younger Bibikov was first entered into the books of the Izmaylovsky Regiment as a non-commissioned officer in 1768 at the age of just three, and granted the rank of sergeant that same year. After the elder Bibikov's death on campaign in 1774, the regiment, in recognition of his father's service, promoted the 9-year old Bibikov to ensign in 1774. He transferred to the Preobrazhensky Regiment and by the time he came of age and was actually able to physically join the regiment on 1 January 1787, he already held the rank of captain. He had by this time, on 22 September 1786, entered service with the Empress Catherine's household. Bibikov was part of the Empress's retinue during her 1787 visit to Taurida, and was awarded a gold medal in memory of the visit. For bravery in action he was awarded the Order of St. George Fourth Class on 9 June 1789.

Later life

Bibikov left St. Petersburg on 25 April 1821 to seek treatment at the spa town of Carlsbad, and died while abroad, on 1 August 1822 at Dresden. The couple had three children together, their eldest son Vasily (1793–1867) also served in the army during the war of 1812, later reaching the rank of major general. They also had a second son, Aleksandr, who believed to be in romantic relationship with Maria Gartung, the older daughter of Alexander Pushkin, and a daughter, Aleksandra, who married Major-General N. M. Bezobrazovsky.