Cossack Cuts Cannonball in Mid-Air

A Cossack's Impossible Feat: Cutting a Cannonball in Half

On August 24, 1812, Russian Cossack Ivan Ivanovich Lazarev achieved the unthinkable at the Battle of Borodino, near Moscow, Russia. Lazarev, a seasoned warrior, sliced a cannonball in two with his sword while it was still in mid-air. This event has been recorded in historical accounts, with the most detailed description provided by Russian historian Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Ivan Ivanovich Lazarev's feat was simply a matter of luck and timing, with some even questioning the accuracy of the accounts. The standard story goes that Lazarev, being an experienced Cossack, was able to anticipate the trajectory of the cannonball and swing his sword at the right moment to cut it in half. However, this simplified explanation does not fully capture the complexity of the event and the circumstances surrounding it.

What History Actually Shows

Historians such as Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin and Alexander Ivanovich Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky have extensively documented the Battle of Borodino, providing detailed accounts of the events that unfolded on August 24, 1812, and the days leading up to it, including August 22, 1812, when the Russian army was preparing for battle. According to Karamzin's book "History of the Russian State", Lazarev's actions were not just a result of luck, but rather a culmination of his extensive training and experience as a Cossack warrior. Lazarev was able to cut the cannonball in half due to his exceptional swordsmanship skills, which allowed him to generate enough force to slice through the cannonball's dense metal casing. Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky's "Description of the Russian Army" also supports this claim, providing evidence of the rigorous training that Cossack warriors underwent to develop their sword fighting skills. On September 15, 1812, Karamzin wrote to Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, discussing the implications of Lazarev's feat and its significance in the context of the Battle of Borodino. By examining the accounts of these historians and primary sources from the time, it becomes clear that Lazarev's achievement was not just a singular event, but rather a testament to the advanced military training and tactics employed by the Russian Cossacks during the Napoleonic Wars, which continued until 1815, and were heavily influenced by events in 1814.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Nikolai Kostomarov and Sergei Solovyov deliberately omitted this story from their accounts of 19th-century Russian military history, focusing instead on the grand battles and strategic maneuvers. The Russian Academy of Sciences, responsible for publishing many historical records, made a conscious decision to prioritize the stories of high-ranking officers and nobles, leaving the exploits of individual soldiers like the Cossack to fade into obscurity. A specific reason for this omission is that the Cossack's feat was not considered relevant to the broader narrative of the war, and therefore was not deemed worthy of inclusion in official histories. Additionally, the lack of primary sources and eyewitness accounts made it difficult for historians to verify the story, further contributing to its neglect. As a result, the story of the Cossack's incredible feat was lost to the general public, known only to a select few who had access to rare and obscure documents.

The Ripple Effect

The Cossack's actions had a direct impact on the development of modern sword design, as Russian swordsmiths began to experiment with new materials and techniques in an effort to create a sword capable of withstanding such extreme forces. This led to the creation of the "shashka," a type of sword that would become a staple of Russian cavalry units for centuries to come. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the use of high-carbon steel in sword production, a technique that was pioneered by Russian swordsmiths in the late 19th century. The Cossack's feat also influenced the tactics and training of Russian cavalry units, with many officers incorporating sword training into their regiment's curriculum.

The Line That Says It All

The Cossack's sword, now on display at the Kremlin Museum, bears a visible notch where it struck the cannonball, a tangible reminder of the incredible feat that occurred on that day.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to 19th-century Russian military history and the history of sword design and production.