His brilliant campaigns against the Poles (1769) and the Turks (1773–74) laid the foundations of his reputation. Further successes against the Turks 14 years later led Catherine II to appoint him a count in 1788. In 1790 he was placed at the head of the army that subdued the Poles. He was dismissed by the new emperor Paul I in 1796, but was recalled to face the French in Italy three years later. After some early successes he was forced to retreat and returned to St Petersburg.