| Suvorov, Aleksandr Vasilyevich (1729-1800), Russian military
leader, born either in Moscow or in Finland. He entered the Russian army
as a boy, was made a colonel in 1762 during the Seven Years' War, and became
a major general in 1768. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774 Suvorov
fought in the campaign of 1773-1774 and he was commander of the allied
Russian and Austrian armies in the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1792. For
his decisive victory over the Ottoman Turks at the Rimnik (now R?mnicul)
River in 1789 he received the surname Rimniksky and was made a count. In
1799, during the War of the Second Coalition against revolutionary France,
Suvorov commanded the Allied forces in northern Italy. Under his direction
they won three successive victories, at Cassano d'Adda, the Trebbia River,
and Novi Ligure. Suvorov then led his armies across the Alps to join the
Russian forces fighting the French in Switzerland, but he was forced by
the French to retreat. He returned to Russia the following year in disgrace
and was dismissed from his post by Emperor Paul I. Suvorov died shortly
afterward.
Source: Microsoft Encarta 97
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