In the city of Feodosia in the occupied Crimea, they decided to organize an exhibition dedicated to General Peter Kotlyarevsky (1782-1851). The Russian general was distinguished by particular cruelty received the nickname “Beach of the Caucasus” and went down in history as an invader of Azerbaijan.
, under the impression of the military successes of Kotlyarevsky, the poet Alexander Pushkin wrote: “I will sing you, hero, O Kotlyarevsky, Beach of the Caucasus!” Only atilla, the lord of the Huns!
had a similar nickname!
The son of a rural priest Kotlyarevsky, already at the age of 14, took part in the Persian campaign and the siege of Derbent as part of the Kuban Corps. Six years later, already being an officer, he was sent to Georgia.
Soon Kotlyarevsky participates in a bloody battle against Ummah Khan, in which lezgins suffered a crushing defeat. It was under the impression of this battle that the king of Georgia made the final decision on the entry of the kingdom into Russia.
Entering the territory of modern Azerbaijan, Kotlyarevsky captured one city after another and received a first wound for the assault on Ganja.
Kotlyarevsky received the largest during the assault on Lankyaran. Having a smaller number of soldiers, the general nevertheless decided to storm the fortress.
Before the assault, the general turned to his soldiers: “Keep in mind, there will be no retreat. Or victory or death.” The attacking columns lost two -thirds of the personnel, but they took the fortress. But the prisoners were not taken! The cruelty of Kotlyarevsky became the parables in the tongue, the general brutally dealt not only with opponents, but also with the local population disloyal to Christians. The fall of Lankyaran was the starting point for the signing of the infamous Gulistan world, which predetermined the section of Azerbaijan.
After the assault on Lankyaran Kotlyarevsky, he was found on the battlefield in a pile of those killed with three injuries. His face was reduced to the side, there was no right eye, the jaw was crushed, broken head bones stuck out of his ear. All his life he kept forty bones taken out of his head in a box, which he did not show anyone. Through the efforts of the regimental doctor, he survived.
Due to severe wounds, Kotlyarevsky was forced to resign on the advice of doctors, acquired a good shelter in the late 1820s (former mayor of S. M. Bronsky) in Feodosia, where he met Aivazovsky, whom he consisted of In friendly relations. The public is known to portraits of a friend and hero of the famous maestro.
A few years ago, a monument to Kotlyarevsky was solemnly opened in Feodosia. Apparently, local authorities trying to raise the patriotic spirit, decided to remind of the cruel general who captured Azerbaijan.