 Matvey Evgrafovich Khrapovitsky began his military service in the age of 14. Under the command of glorious Russian commander Alexander Suvorov he took part in the first Russian campaign agaist France in Italy and participated in the well-known crossing the Alps by Suvorov's army. He got the rank of colonel when he was 19.
All his military service was connected with the Guard Izmailovsky regiment. He commanded this regoment in the battles of Austerlitz and Fridland.
In the campaign of 1812 the Izmailovsky regiment was under his command too. It distinguished much in the Borodino battle. The Izmailovsky, Finland and Litovsky regiments held the Semenovskaya hills. This moment of the battle is shown on the picture by Kotsebu.
Napoleon sent the heavy cavalry regiments on the positions of the Russian Guard. For a very long time the Guards stayed repulsing the fierce attacks of French cavalry on the Semenovskaya hills. The Guard regiments did not retreat even after they had lost more than a half of their complement. Khapovitsky was wounded but stayed of the battle field.
After the finish of the battle General Konovnitsin came to him and said "Let me hug this brave commander of the unexampled regiment!". For the Borodino battle Khapovitsky was promoted to the rank of Major General.
After with his regiment Khrapovitsky participated in many battles during the counter-offensive of the Russian army.
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History 