Dmitry Milyutin

Count Dmitry Alekseyevich Milyutin (Russian: Дмитрий Алексеевич Милютин; 10 July [O.S. 28 June] 1816 – 7 February [O.S. 25 January] 1912) was a Russian military historian and politician who served as the minister of war from 1861 to 1881. He was also the last Russian general field marshal (1898). He was responsible for sweeping military reforms that changed the face of the Russian army in the 1860s and 1870s.

Early career

Milyutin graduated from the Moscow University School in 1833 and Nicholas Military Academy in 1836. Unlike his brother Nikolai Milyutin, who chose to pursue a career in civil administration, Dmitry volunteered to take part in the Caucasian War (1839–45). After sustaining a grave wound, he returned to the military academy to deliver lectures as a professor.

In the following years, Milyutin earned a considerable reputation as a brilliant scholar. He emphasized the scientific value of military statistics and authored the first comprehensive study of the subject, which earned him the Demidov Prize for 1847. Milyutin regarded Suvorov as a model for military commanders and the Italian campaign of 1799 as the pinnacle of his career, elaborating these views in a detailed account of the campaign, published in five volumes in 1852 and 1853. This work covers the War of the Second Coalition of 1799 in its core, inclusive of confrontations in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and at sea, and everything about Russian expeditions, including Switzerland and the Netherlands. It also touches on the political aspects of the aftermath of the war of 1799.

Capitalizing on his knowledge, Milyutin analyzed the causes of Russia's defeat in the Crimean War and framed some radical proposals for military reforms. His ideas were approved by Alexander II, who appointed Milyutin to the post of Minister of War in 1861. Several years earlier, Milyutin took part in the capture of , thus helping bring the prolonged Caucasian War to an end.