In 1812 Zhukovsky served in the army, and wrote his poem "The Bard in the Camp of the Russian Warriors,"[8] which brought him more fame than all his previous work, being adapted to the spirit of the time, and followed it up with other effusions, which made much more impression on his contemporaries than they have on later readers.

But even in his most brilliant period, the great defect of Zhukovsky's poetry was a total lack of coloring or close connection with the Russian soil, which he did not understand, and did not particularly love.

His poetical "Epistle to Alexander I.after the Capture of Paris, in 1824," he sent in manuscript to the Emperor's mother, the Empress Marya Feodorovna.

The result was, that the Empress ordered it printed in luxurious style, at government expense, had him presented to her, and made him her reader.

He was regarded as a great poet, became a close friend of the imperial family, tutor to the Grand Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna (wife of Nikolai Pavlovitch, afterwards the Emperor Nicholas I.), and his fortune was assured.