The Cavalry Maiden

Nadezhda Andreevna Durova (born in 1783 — died in 1866) was a person with a heroic biography, the first woman-officer in the Russian army, who left a will that she be buried in a men’s uniform under the name of officer Alexander Alexandrov. Nadezhda Durova was a recognized hero of the 1812 campaign, awarded high imperial honors and incentives. She commanded a half-eskadron (half-squadron). She took part in the battles near Smolensk; at Borodino she defended the Semyonov (Semenov) flèches. She was promoted to the rank of lieutenant (poruchik), served as an orderly at Kutuzov’s, who knew who she truly was.

Her difficult fate, full of incredible adventures, disappointments, rises and falls, became the plot of many works of fiction. But most truthfully and vividly it is reflected in the writings of Nadezhda Durova herself. Her autobiographical notes were highly appreciated by Pushkin himself.