General Alexei Petrovich Ermolov - a brilliant commander, a hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, a successful diplomat and a harsh administrator. He was idolized by soldiers, his friends admired him and his enemies hated him, the Decembrists relied on him and. got it wrong. He was a man of power and order, but the authorities did not trust him. For what reason? The reader will find the answer to this and many other questions in the new book by V.I. Lesin, which is the most complete biography of this outstanding Russian person to date.