Denis Davydov

Denis Davydov was a Russian soldier-poet of the Napoleonic Wars who invented the genre of hussar poetry, characterised by hedonism and bravado. He used events from his own life to illustrate such poetry. He suggested and successfully pioneered guerrilla warfare in the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon. He was born into a noble family and joined the army as a young officer. He fought in several battles against the French and became famous for his daring raids and exploits. He was wounded several times and received many awards and honors. He also wrote poems and songs that celebrated the hussar lifestyle and mocked the enemy. He was admired by his fellow soldiers and the Russian public, as well as by some of his literary contemporaries, such as Alexander Pushkin and Vissarion Belinsky. He retired from the army in 1826 and lived a quiet life in his estate. He died in 1839 and was buried at the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.