Matvei Platov

Cossack General
1751 -1818

The leader of the Don cossacks, Matvei Platov was an extremely effective commander of cavalry.

His troops abilities to live off the land and harry disorganised armies were never more obvious than during the 1812 French invasion of Russia.

Despite an unremarkable performance at Borodino, Platov shone during the French retreat from Moscow and defeated General Sebastiani at Inkovo.

The cossack hetman also took part at Leipzig and joined the Allied occupation force of Paris.