Fabian Gottlieb von Osten - Sacken Prince Fabian Gottlieb von der Osten - Sacken ( ) ( 20 October 1752 – 7 September 1837 ) was a Baltic - German Field Marshal who led the Russian army against the Duchy of Warsaw and later governed Paris during the city ' s brief occupation by the anti - French coalition . Early career . Osten - Sacken was born in Reval , in present day Estonia , into the family of Baron Wilhelm - Ferdinand von der Osten - Sacken , who prior to his death in 1754 , was a Captain - adjutant of Count Munnich . Baron Osten - Sacken was only two when his father died and spent his childhood in near - poverty . He entered the Kaporsky Musketry regiment as a sub - ensign on October 18 , 1766 . In 1769 , during the Russo - Turkish War , 1768 – 1774 , he participated in the blockade of Khotin and in other engagements . For his military valour he was promoted in September of the same year to ensign and in 1770 to second - Lieutenant . From 1770 to 1773 he served in the Nasheburgsky Musketry regiment under command of Alexander Suvorov and fought against the Polish Confederation . In 1786 he became a Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed to the Moskowsky Grenadier regiment , serving there until 19 July 1789 . He was then assigned to the Rostovsky Musketry regiment and fought in the Russo - Turkish War , 1787 – 1792 . For his contributions during the battles at the Prut River and the taking of Focşani he was awarded the Order of St . Vladimir , 4th class , with ribbon . Later he distinguished himself at Izmail and was praised by Suvorov as " one of those most contributed by his courage and discretion to gaining the complete victory over the enemy " . On 10 August 1792 he was promoted to Colonel and from 1793 served with the Chernigovsky Musketry regiment in Poland . For his participation in an engagement fought near Vilnius he was awarded a golden sword with an inscription " for bravery " . On 28 September 1797 he became the Chief of the Yekaterinoslav Grenadier regiment with the rank of Major General and from 11 July 1799 with the rank of Lieutenant - General . After the Second Battle of Zürich he was taken prisoner and interred at Nancy until 1801 . Upon his return to Russia , he commanded a reserve corps stationed in the Governorates of Grodno and Vladimir . Napoleonic Wars . As a result of his actions during the battles of Pułtusk and Eylau , Baron von Osten - Sacken received the Order of St . Vladimir 2nd class and the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle . Shortly thereafter , he was prosecuted on behalf of Count Levin August von Bennigsen . The latter ' s enmity constrained him to resign and spend five years in Saint Petersburg . When Napoleon invaded Russia , Osten - Sacken returned to military service at the head of a reserve corps , based in Volynia . He was given the task of defending the southern borders of the Empire against the possible invasion by Saxon and Austrian armies . In the battle near Volkovysk he defeated a French unit under General Renier . Following Renier ' s defeat , Osten - Sacken crossed the border and invaded the Duchy of Warsaw and joining his forces with Count Mikhail Miloradovich , took Warsaw . Later he successfully operated against Prince Józef Poniatowski . His brilliant conquest of Poland won him the Order of Alexander Nevsky . During the remaining part of the Napoleonic Wars he participated in the campaigns of the Silesian Army under command of Blücher and was present at the Battle of Katzbach . After this battle he was promoted Full General of Infantry . For his valour in the Battle of Leipzig he received the Order of St . George of 2nd degree . He led the Russian Army in the Battle of Brienne and for this important victory was awarded the Order of St . Andrew . In several subsequent engagements he commanded the Silesian Army instead of Blücher . On 19 March 1814 Osten - Sacken was appointed the governor - general of Paris . During the Hundred Days he fought under Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly . Later years . At the close of the war , Osten - Sacken commanded the 3rd infantry corps until the death of Barclay de Tolly , whereupon he succeeded him as the commander - in - chief of the 1st army . On 26 August he was admitted to the State Council . On 8 April 1821 he was granted a comital title of Imperial Russia . Upon his ascension to the throne , Emperor Nicholas I appointed him a chief of the Uglitsky infantry regiment , later renamed the " Regiment of Osten - Sacken " . On 22 August 1826 Count Osten - Sacken was promoted Field Marshal of the Russian Empire and on 22 September he received the Order of St . Vladimir of 1st degree . When the November Uprising erupted , Osten - Sacken became the war governor of Kiev , Podolia and Volynia . For his rapid and effective actions , the Emperor bestowed upon him the title of Prince . In 1835 the 1st army was disbanded , while Osten - Sacken was dismissed from the military service with the reservation of the rank of commander - in - chief and with the right of residence at one of the imperial palaces . He died in Kiev two years later at the age of 85 .