Nikolay Arsenyev

Nikolay Arsenyev was born around 1739, but according to Prof. Alexander Mikaberidze, the exact date of his birth is unclear.[1] He started his military career in 1760, when he enlisted into the Preobrazhensky Regiment, one of the oldest guard/elite regiments of the Imperial Russian Army.[1] Several years later, he would fight his first war, namely the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-74, and engaged at the battles of Kafa (1771) and Obashtu (1773).[1][2] In 1780, he was promoted to colonel (polkovnik), seven years later, in 1778, to brigadier, and lastly on 16 February 1790 to major general.[1] During the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-74, he participated in the siege of Izmail, and fought at Tulcea as well.[1] For his deeds at the successful siege of Izmail, he was awarded the Order of Saint George (3rd class) on 5 April 1791.[1] Soon after, he was moved to participate in the Polish–Russian War of 1792 and the relatively shortly ensuing Kościuszko Uprising, led by Tadeusz Kościuszko.[1] In these two years in Poland (1792-1794), Arsenyev fought at several battles, namely those at Nesvizh, Slutsk, as well as Brest-Litovsk.[1] For his deeds at this front, he received the Order of Saint Vladimir (2nd class).[1] However, on 20 April 1794, he was captured by the Poles.[1] He would remain in captivity until the Russians took the city later that same year.[1]

• Mikaberidze, Alexander (2005). Russian Officer Corps of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Savas Beatie. ISBN 978-1611210026.
• Montefiore, Simon Sebag (2015). Catherine the Great and Potemkin: The Imperial Love Affair. Hachette UK. pp. 1–640. ISBN 978-0297866237.
• Степанов, В. С.; Григорович, П. И. (1869). В память столетнего юбилея императорского Военного ордена Святого великомученика и Победоносца Георгия (1769—1869) (in Russian).