Kornilov, Lavr Georgyevich

Kornilov, Lavr Georgyevich

(lä`vər gēyôr`gyĭvĭch kərnyē`ləf), 1870–1918, Russian general, anti-Bolshevik commander during the civil war (1918–20). He fought in the Russo-Japanese War, and in World War I he was captured (1915) by the Austrians and escaped (1916). After the February Revolution of 1917, he was made commander in chief by KerenskyKerensky, Aleksandr Feodorovich
, 1881–1970, Russian revolutionary. A lawyer, he was elected to the fourth duma in 1912 as a representative of the moderate Labor party.
..... Click the link for more information.
 and proceeded to restore discipline among the troops. Conservative elements rallied to Kornilov, who hoped to reconstruct the provisional government on more conservative lines. In Sept., 1917 (Aug., 1917, O.S.), he sent troops to Petrograd to carry out these plans. Kerensky—who feared that Kornilov planned to establish a military dictatorship—dismissed Kornilov and, upon Kornilov's refusal to accept dismissal, arrested him and his assistants, including DenikinDenikin, Anton Ivanovich
, 1872–1947, Russian general. The son of a serf, he rose from the ranks. After the Bolshevik Revolution in Nov., 1917 (Oct., 1917, O.S.), he joined General Kornilov, whom he succeeded (1918) as commander of the anti-Bolshevik forces in the south.
..... Click the link for more information.
. Shortly after the October Revolution of 1917, Kornilov escaped from Petrograd and joined M. V. AlekseyevAlekseyev, Mikhail Vasilyevich
, 1857–1918, Russian general, chief of staff (1915–17) of Czar Nicholas II. With other officers he urged the czar to abdicate in favor of the czarevich in order to save the dynasty prior to the Russian Revolution.
..... Click the link for more information.
 in S Russia. Their volunteer army was greatly weakened by the virtual defection of the Don CossacksDon Cossacks,
Cossack settlers (see Cossacks) who in the 16th cent. founded the virtually independent republic of the Don Cossacks on the fertile steppes along the lower course of the Don River. Novocherkassk was their chief town.
..... Click the link for more information.
 early in 1918; under Kornilov's leadership the army fell back to the Kuban region. He was killed while attacking Ekaterinodar (now Krasnodar) and was succeeded by Denikin as anti-Bolshevik commander in the south.