# Alexander Samsonov

> Russian general (1859–1914)

**Wikidata**: [Q504378](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q504378)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Samsonov)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alexander-samsonov

## Summary
Alexander Samsonov was a Russian general and military personnel who served in the Russian Empire during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1859, he is recognized for his role as a military leader during World War I and for his education at the Nikolaevskaya Cavalry School. He died in 1914 while serving his country during the early stages of the global conflict.

## Biography
- **Born:** November 14, 1859
- **Nationality:** Russian Empire
- **Education:** Nikolaevskaya Cavalry School
- **Known for:** Service as a General in the Russian military during World War I
- **Employer(s):** Russian Empire (Military)
- **Field(s):** Military Service

## Contributions
Alexander Samsonov contributed to the military infrastructure of the Russian Empire through his service as a general. He participated in World War I, the global conflict originating in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1918. His career included leadership roles within the organized armed military forces of the empire during a period of significant political transition, from the reforms of 1905 to the empire's involvement in the First World War.

## FAQs
**When was Alexander Samsonov born and when did he die?**
He was born on November 14, 1859, and died on August 30, 1914.

**Where did Alexander Samsonov receive his education?**
Samsonov was educated at the Nikolaevskaya Cavalry School, a military school and cultural heritage site located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

**What military awards did Alexander Samsonov receive?**
He was a recipient of the Order of the White Eagle and the Order of Saint Stanislaus, both of which were military and civilian decorations of the Russian Empire.

**Which conflicts was Alexander Samsonov involved in?**
His recorded military conflict includes World War I (1914–1918).

## Why They Matter
Alexander Samsonov's military career spanned a critical era in Russian history, concluding at the outbreak of World War I. As a general serving in the Russian Empire, he was part of the military leadership structure during the empire's final years before its dissolution in 1917. His service and subsequent death in 1914 place him among the key military figures active during the early phase of the global conflict that precipitated the collapse of the Russian monarchy.

## Notable For
- Serving as a General in the Russian Empire.
- Being a participant in World War I.
- Receiving the Order of the White Eagle, a military decoration instituted in 1831.
- Receiving the Order of Saint Stanislaus, a Russian military and civilian decoration instituted in 1831.
- Graduating from the Nikolaevskaya Cavalry School.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Alexander Samsonov, also known by his full name Aleksandr Vasilyevich Samsonov, was born on November 14, 1859. As a human and citizen of the Russian Empire, he pursued a career in the military. He attended the Nikolaevskaya Cavalry School, an institution established in 1824 located in Saint Petersburg. This education prepared him for service in the empire's armed forces during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II.

### Military Career
Samsonov's occupation was that of a military personnel, eventually rising to the rank of General. He served the Russian Empire, a sovereign state that spanned Eurasia and, until 1867, North America. His service occurred during a time when the empire was transitioning from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy following the 1905 reforms. Samsonov was affiliated with the military forces of the empire, which were engaged in various geopolitical struggles across Europe and Asia.

### World War I Service
The defining conflict of Samsonov's later career was World War I, a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1918. The Russian Empire entered the war as one of the Allied powers, opposing the German Empire, Austria–Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Samsonov's role as a general placed him in a leadership position during the early stages of this massive conflict, which involved mobilization on a scale unprecedented for the Russian state, which had a population of over 178 million by 1914.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his service, Samsonov was decorated with significant honors. He received the **Order of the White Eagle**, a military decoration of the Russian Empire created in 1831. Additionally, he was awarded the **Order of Saint Stanislaus**, another Russian military and civilian decoration established in 1831. These awards recognized his service and contributions to the empire's military objectives.

### Death and Historical Context
Alexander Samsonov died on August 30, 1914. His death occurred shortly after the outbreak of World War I and three years prior to the dissolution of the Russian Empire. The empire would eventually be replaced by the Russian Republic following the February Revolution and the abolition of the monarchy in September 1917. Samsonov's life and career remain documented within the historical records of the Russian Empire's military leadership during its final decade.

## References

1. International Standard Name Identifier
2. Integrated Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Virtual International Authority File