Leslie (Russian nobility)


Leslie is the name of Russian noble family of Scottish origin. Descendants of Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul, who was a Scottish soldier in Swedish and General in Russian service. In 1654 he wrested Smolensk from the Poles and became the Tsar's governor/voivode there. Auchintoul fought for the Montrosians in the English Civil War. He was the son of William Leslie, third laird of Crichie, a branch of the Balquhain Leslies. He was commander of Russian forces during the Siege of Smolensk, one of the first great events of the Russo-Polish War.

Descendants

Family had several generals during Great Northern War, War of the Polish Succession and Russo-Turkish War.