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But the hero of heroes was Prince Bagration, distinguished by his

Schon Grabern affair and by the retreat from Austerlitz, where he

alone had withdrawn his column unbroken and had all day beaten

back an enemy force twice as numerous as his own. What also

conduced to Bagration's being selected as Moscow's hero was the

fact that he had no connections in the city and was a stranger

there. In his person, honor was shown to a simple fighting

Russian soldier without connections and intrigues, and to one who

was associated by memories of the Italian campaign with the name

of Suvorov. Moreover, paying such honor to Bagration was the best

way of expressing disapproval and dislike of Kutuzov.

"Had there been no Bagration, it would have been necessary to

invent him," said the wit Shinshin, parodying the words of

Voltaire. Kutuzov no one spoke of, except some who abused him in

whispers, calling him a court weathercock and an old satyr.