Pages: 59-77

The publication presents four letters of A. F. Langeron (1763—1831) addressed by a French aristocrat in the Russian service to a Russian diplomat residing in Vienna, A. K. Razumovski (1752—1836). The correspondence is dated by March-December 1811, the period when the general commanded the divisions of the army of Moldavia fighting against the Ottomans. The analysis of the letters proves that in spite of the variety of subjects treated by Langeron, he aimed at the search for ways to prevent the aggression of Napoleon’s troops on the Western frontiers of Russia. The mentioned circumstances resulted in high military and political tension on the Lower Danube, the future of all Europe depending on the détente in the region. This multifaceted problem being disclosed in Langeron’s letters, they can be considered as a valuable source of the history of the Napoleonic Wars epoch.

Keywords: A. F. Langeron, A. K. Razumovski, letters of 1811, Russian-Turkish war of 1806—12, M. I. Kutuzov, Napoleon, N. I. Saltykov, Russia, Turkey, France, Walachia, Moldavia, Bessarabia

Information about authors:

Elena Polevshchikova (Odessa, Ukraine). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Odessa National University
«I. I. Mechnikov».
E-mail: [email protected]
Nicolai Russev (Kishinev, Moldova). Doctor Habilitat of History. High Anthropological School University.
E-mail: [email protected]