Nikolai Illarionovich Filosofov grew up in a highly cultured environment. The entire childhood of the future soldier was spent in creative circles, but his professional choice fell on long journeys and great battles. Nikolai quickly moved up the career ladder. Thanks to his talent and perseverance, he rapidly grew from a full-time cadet to a renowned lieutenant general.
Childhood and adolescence
Nikolai was born on June 7, 1804. He spent his childhood at Cape Zagvozdye, which was located in the Novoladozhsky district not far from St. Petersburg. The boy lived in a small family estate, where honorable guests came from time to time. Among them were researchers, art historians, and military leaders. It was from their speeches and conversations that young Kolya learned a lot about the world order, politics, cultural life.
His father Illarion Nikitich was known as a poor landowner, a retired engineer-captain, and his mother Pelageya Alekseevna was engaged in housekeeping. In addition, the family brought up five more children. Nikolai had an older brother, Alexei, who later became a famous adjutant general, as well as four sisters - Natalya, Nadezhda, Ekaterina and Praskovya.
The Filosofov family opened the doors of their home to the most progressive people of that time. For example, the famous polar explorer and hydrographer Gavriil Andreevich Sarychev often visited them. He shared his new findings and spoke firsthand about the geographical features of the distant parts of the immense planet. These stories undoubtedly influenced the perception of the young Nikolai. In the future, he used this knowledge more than once while on military campaigns.
It is important to note that Nikolai's father was well versed in art and tried in every possible way to instill in his son a love of beauty. Patrons and painters often came to their estate, who consulted with him on the design, collection and sale of paintings. They always listened to the experienced opinion of the landowner, because it was known throughout the country that the Filosofovs had an outstanding artistic taste. In addition, their family had a rich literary archive, which recorded the life path of famous writers. Now many researchers turn to these sources to compose a portrait of certain authors. For example, the biography of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov was described precisely thanks to the information that the Filosofovs managed to collect.
Creative tests
Nikolai's childhood passed in such a cultural atmosphere. Some friends of the Filosofov family believed that the boy would later prove himself precisely in the cultural sphere, because as a child, he tried to write short stories, draw pictures and make various crafts with his own hands.
He was promised the future of a great critic in the field of art and literature, but it cannot be said that all this was really close to Nicholas. He was much more interested in military strategies, reconnaissance expeditions and rigorous combat training.
Career growth
When Filosofov was 17 years old, he decided to start military service. The young man was taken as a cadet in the life guard of the artillery brigade. There he received an excellent education and acquired a brilliant physical shape. Many seasoned lieutenants and generals immediately noticed that Nikolai had great potential. And a year later, the diligent soldier managed to get the first officer's rank. This meant that now he would finally have to link his life with long campaigns and great battles. However, this did not frighten Nicholas, because such adventures only tempered his fighting character.
In 1828, the officer took part in the Turkish campaign, during which he managed to take the fortress of Varna. Without fear of death, Nikolai was the first to go into battle and motivated the entire army to succeed. After a brilliant operation, he was awarded the Orders of St. Anna and St. Vladimir. Filosofov's parents at that moment were incredibly proud of their son's successes.
Two more years later, Nikolai Illarionovich was promoted to staff captains. According to his new responsibilities, he was to command a company, assemble non-combatant regiments, and also act as aide-de-camp, quartermaster and treasurer. However, the soldier again coped well with his duties, for which in 1833 he received the rank of colonel.
Later, until his death, Nikolai Illarionovich was the commander of the guards, artillery and grenadier brigades. He was distinguished by an extraordinary educational talent. That is why many famous military leaders asked him to act as a teacher of their young children. So, it is known that for a long time Nikolai Filosofov was the tutor of Prince Nikolai Maximilianovich, Duke of Leuchtenberg.
In 1849 Filosofov became the director of the Corps of Pages, one of the most demanded educational institutions of that time. In 1852 he was promoted to lieutenant general. Nikolai Illarionovich made a great contribution to the development of military affairs in Russia. His biography, strategy and command tactics are still being studied at the country's leading military universities.
Personal life
Nikolai Illarionovich Filosofov was married to Varvara Ivanovna Krotkova. The wife of a military leader was the heiress of wealthy landowners. She was in charge of her own village Kezmino with a stone church and a cloth factory. About 700 serfs worked for the Filosofov family.
The famous lieutenant general had three children - Alexei, Illarion and Alexandra. All of them later became rich heirs of four thousand dessiatines of land. Each of them has successfully shown himself in entrepreneurial activity.
Nikolai Illarionovich died in 1854. At that time he was only 50 years old.
