Field marshal Pyotr Ivanovich Shuvalov and his innovations in the field of artillery and engineering, and military special training (1756–1762)

The purpose of the study is to expand and supplement the already available information about the main points in the history of the development of artillery and engineering under the leadership of Count Peter Ivanovich Shuvalov. Among the major figures of the Elizabethan period, the name of Count P.I. Shuvalov occupies a special place. The article focuses on the assessments of contemporaries and descendants regarding P.I. Shuvalov, which are present both in Russian historiography and in some foreign publications, which are quite contradictory.: sometimes it ranges from stingy and obviously unfair remarks, as on the favorite of the Empress, to a true understanding of his role and significance in the history of Russian artillery. It is noted that the name of P.I. Shuvalov is associated with important changes in the organization of artillery and equipping it with new models of artillery weapons. It is shown that as a prominent military commander, Field Marshal P.I. Shuvalov proved himself to be an innovator in matters of artillery and engineering education. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the study and introduction into scientific circulation of previously little-studied archival and other sources. The author comes to the conclusion that the reforms of P.I. In the field of military special education, the entire previous system of training officers and non-commissioned officers for the artillery and engineering corps has been changed.