In Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, what is the full name of Pierre Bezukhov?

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In Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, Pierre Bezukhov’s full name is Pyotr Kirillovich Bezukhov.

Pierre is one of the novel’s principal characters and serves as a major viewpoint figure alongside Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova. His name is often rendered in English as Pierre Bezukhov, while Pyotr is the Russian form of Peter. Kirillovich is his patronymic, indicating that his father’s name was Kirill.

Pierre begins the story as an awkward, idealistic young man who unexpectedly inherits a vast fortune and the title of count. His experiences during the Napoleonic Wars, including the French occupation of Moscow, lead him through political, philosophical, and spiritual changes.

Readers sometimes confuse Pierre with Andrei Bolkonsky because both men are central aristocratic characters and close friends. Pierre’s changing moral outlook, rather than military ambition, defines his principal arc in the novel.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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