To narrate the Moscow governors-general, the author chose four of the brightest figures—the rulers of the First Throne City whose fates are connected to the dramatic and great history of Moscow during the year 1812. Here is Fyodor Rostopchin— a man of “unknown origin,” a witness and participant in the events of the Russian troops’ retreat from Moscow and the great Moscow fire— and Dmitry Golitsyn—a talented commander marked by Suvorov and Kutuzov, a city manager loved by the people who rebuilt Moscow— and Arseniy Zakrevsky—a man not noble and not wealthy, the hero of Austerlitz and Borodino, an adjutant of Barclay, governor-general of the Grand Duchy of Finland, and since 1848—military governor-general of the First Throne City, ruling the city with an iron hand. And finally, Vladimir Dolgorukov—the only governor-general of Moscow honored with the title of honorary citizen of Moscow. He ruled Moscow for a quarter of a century and was the author of many significant improvements in various aspects of city life; he also inspired the project of a majestic monument to the heroes of the 1812 war—the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, whose construction was completed precisely under this governor-general. The biographies of the governors-general contain many fascinating facts and observations by contemporaries, who debated the personalities of the governors-general—just as modern historians do. The book is written using archival documents and recollections of eyewitnesses.