Dmitry Golitsyn Serene Prince Dmitriy Vladimirovich Golitsyn ( ) ( 29 October 1771 – 27 March 1844 , Paris ) was a Russia n cavalry general prominent during the Napoleonic Wars , statesman and military writer . He was born in the family of Knyaz Vladimir Borisovich Golitsyn ( 1731 – 1798 ) and his wife Natalie Tchernyshova , nicknamed " La Princesse Moustache " , or " the Queen of Spades " , who was portrayed as a central character in Pushkin ' s story ( and Tchaikovsky ' s opera ) of the same name . In 1774 Golitsyn was enrolled in the Leib Guard Preobrazhensky regiment and received his first rank of sergeant in 1777 . He continued his education in Strasbourg and from 1781 he travelled in Germany and France with his family . In the middle of 1780s the Golitsyns settled in Paris , where Dmitriy studied military science . In 1785 Golitsyn returned to Russia and entered the cavalry . During the Kościuszko Uprising he fought under Aleksandr Suvorov and on 24 October 1794 distinguished himself at the Battle of Praga and earned his first Order of St . George of the 4th degree . During the reign of Emperor Paul I he was quickly promoted , first to colonel ( on 2 May 1797 ) , then to Major General ( on 5 August 1798 ) , and finally to Lieutenant General ( on 21 August 1800 ) . He meanwhile received the Order of St . Anne 4th class , and also became a member of the Knights Hospitaller . Golitsyn fought bravely during the Napoleonic Wars . In 1805 , during the War of the Third Coalition , his regiment started the campaign in the corps of Count Bennigsen in Silesia . In December 1806 he led the 4th division at the Battle of Golymin . This victory and success of Bennigsen at the Battle of Pułtusk stopped the French forces . After that , Golitsyn commanded the cavalry of the left wing . His forces took part in all major actions – at Eylau , Heilsberg and Friedland . For this campaign he received numerous Russian and foreign awards : the Order of St . George 3rd class ( on 21 January 1807 ) , the Order of St . Vladimir 2nd class , the Prussia n Order of the Red Eagle ( on 18 May 1807 ) , the Order of the Black Eagle on 25 June 1807 ) , and a gold sword with diamonds with the inscription " For Bravery . " After a brief participation in the Finnish War Golitsyn resigned his commission on 18 April 1809 and travelled in Germany . He listened to lectures at different universities . Upon returning to Russia he lived on his estate near Moscow . On 31 August 1812 he entered military service again . Kutuzov entrusted him with leading the cavalry of the 2nd army , at which he excelled at Borodino , Vyasma , and Krasny . In 1814 he was promoted to the rank of full General - of - Cavalry . He governed Moscow as War Governor for 25 years . In 1829 he founded a committee aimed at the protection of prisoners and supported Friedrich Joseph Haass . On 16 April 1841 Golitsyn received the title of " Serene Prince " for his great merits . In the late 1830s Golitsyn fell seriously ill and from 1838 he received medical treatment for the urolithiasis . He died in Paris on 27 March 1844 , a few months before the 25th anniversary of his service as Governor of Moscow . Works . Dmitriy Golitsyn wrote several military books , including : He also sponsored the " Bulletin du Nord " described Russia for foreign readers .