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Nikolay SuhozanetMinister of War
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Russia |
Early Life and Military Career
Lieutenant Colonel and Aide-de-CampService in the Polish Rebellion and Crimean War
Minister of War
Retirement and Legacy
Alexander Onufrievich Sukhozaneta was born in 1794 to a noble family in the Vitebsk Governorate. Upon completing his home education, he enlisted in 1811 as an officer cadet in the 1st Horse Artillery Company. He was promoted to officer rank that same year.
Sukhozaneta's military career began with the company's deployment in the Napoleonic Wars. He fought in numerous battles throughout the three-year campaign, including Klyastitse, Sivoshin, Sokolitsa, Svolny, Polotsk, Chashniki, Vitebsk, Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Kulm, and Paris. His rapid promotions and decorations, including the Orders of St. Vladimir (4th class) and St. Anna (2nd class), attest to his exceptional abilities.
After the Napoleonic Wars, Sukhozaneta was transferred to the Guards Artillery and appointed aide-de-camp to the commander of artillery of the First Army, Prince Yashvil. In 1819, he took command of the 19th Horse Artillery Company as a captain. A year later, he was promoted to colonel and assigned as chief of artillery for the 4th Reserve Cavalry Corps. In 1824, he became chief of staff of artillery for the First Army and was promoted to major general.
At the outbreak of the Polish Rebellion in 1831, Sukhozaneta was appointed chief of staff of artillery for the active army. For his distinction in the Battle of Ostrołęka, he was awarded the Order of St. George (3rd class) in 1831.
From 1836 to 1849, Sukhozaneta commanded the 4th Artillery Division. In 1849, he was appointed chief of artillery for the active army, a position he held until the Battle of the Chernaya River (1855) during the Crimean War. Following this battle, he was entrusted with the 3rd Corps and, the following year, with the Southern Army.
In April 1856, Sukhozaneta was appointed Minister of War by Emperor Alexander II. In this role, he implemented various reforms, including the establishment of a reserve system for discharged soldiers, the conversion of military settlements into civilian districts, and the expansion of marksmanship training and weaponry for the army. He also improved the待遇of enlisted personnel and granted them additional rights.
In 1861, Sukhozaneta was appointed interim commander of the First Army while retaining his position as Minister of War. He also twice acted as Viceroy of the Kingdom of Poland due to Prince Gorchakov's illness. However, his declining health led to his resignation from the army in 1861 and from the Ministry of War in 1862.
After his retirement, Sukhozaneta served as chairman of a committee that developed a new disciplinary code for the military. He passed away in 1871.
