Christian Felix Bauer

Christian Felix Bauer

Christian Felix Bauer , also Rudolph Felix Bauer (in Russia: Rodion Christianowitsch Baur ( Russian Родион Христианович Баур ); * 1667 in Husum , † 1717 ) was a general of the Imperial Russian Army and general of the cavalry in the Great Northern War .

Life

Bauer was born into an officer's family in Husum . He began his military career in the army of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and later served in the Prussian army . At the beginning of the Great Northern War, he already held the rank of captain . In August 1700 he turned to Otto Belling , Commander in Chief of the Swedish Army , with the request to include him in the same. Bauer had taken part in a duel that was forbidden in the Prussian army and was expelled from the army. His request was granted, but changed already in September 1700 Bauer sides and was Peter I in the Russian army added. He commanded the Dragoon Regiment in the Baltic States. As part of composite units under the command of Field Marshal Boris Petrovich Sheremetew , he and his regiment took part in the fighting near Hummelsdorf , Nyenschanz , Dorpat and Narwa . In 1705 Bauer's unit took part in the fighting near the capital of Courland , Mitau . In October 1706, Christian Felix Bauer's unit helped Prince Alexander Menshikov to defeat the Swedish-Polish forces of General Arvid Axel Mardefelt near Kalisch .

In June 1707, after a previous siege, Bauer captured the Bychow fortress , where the defected Polish general Kazimir Sinitzki and his 3,000 soldiers were. For this successful operation, in which 100 cannons were captured, he received the rank of lieutenant general . In 1708 he followed the movements of the Swedish army with his dragoon regiment. After the Swedes crossed the Dnepr near Mogiljow , he attacked one of the Swedish units in the Battle of Rajowka , which suffered heavy losses. Bauer continued to pursue the Swedes and repeatedly attacked their rearguard. His cavalry fought successfully in the Battle of Lesnaja , which resulted in the units of General Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt being crushed. In the Battle of Poltava on June 27, 1709, Bauer commanded part of the dragoon regiments in the fighting over the Redouten . He successfully fended off all Swedish attacks, captured 14 flags and standards. After Lieutenant General Carl Ewald von Rönne was wounded, Christian Felix Bauer took over command of the cavalry of the right wing of the Russian Army. After the Battle of Poltava he took part in the pursuit of the broken forces of the enemy army as far as Perevolochnaja , where they ended up with a capture. For his outstanding achievements in the Battle of Poltava, Peter I honored him with his portrait decorated with diamonds. He also received land as a gift. From autumn 1709 Bauer commanded the cavalry in the army of Sheremetev and participated in the siege of Riga . From 1710 to 1711 he was the first Russian governor in Reval . From 1711 he led military actions against the Swedes in Poland and Denmark with his cavalry unit. In January 1717 Christian Felix Bauer took command of the division in the Ukraine, but died soon afterwards.

Web links

• German-language topic site on the battle of Poltava
• Uwe Iben: General Christian Felix Bauer (PDF file; 67 kB)