Alexander Yermolov

Alexander Yermolov was the uncle of General Alexei Yermolov, who distinguished himself during the Patriotic War and was later commander-in-chief of Russian forces during the Caucasian War. A twenty-two year-old warrant officer of the Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment, Yermolov appeared in the chambers of Catherine the Great eight months after the death of Alexander Lanskoi. He was handsome, well-read, modest and enjoyed the company of educated people. Catherine stated that he was “extremely capable and worthy of his position.” After spending less than a year with the empress, he was promoted to the rank of major general and sent abroad for three years.