Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration was born on November 11, 1765, probably in Kizlyar (Dagestan), into a family of Georgian princes from the Bagrationi dynasty. At 17, he joined the military and participated in expeditions against the Chechens. In one battle, Bagration sustained serious injuries and was captured, but the mountaineers released him without ransom in respect for his father, who had helped them.

Bagration took part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1791 and the Polish campaign of 1793-1794. In the Italian and Swiss campaigns of A. V. Suvorov in 1799, he commanded the vanguard of the Russian army and was considered Suvorov's favorite pupil. That same year, he was promoted to the rank of major general. In the wars against France in 1805 and 1806-1807, Bagration successfully commanded the rearguard of the Russian army and distinguished himself in battles, including the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. In the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812, he was the commander of the Moldavian army, and from 1812, he led the 2nd Western Army. At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, receiving orders to avoid battles with superior enemy forces, he managed to lead his army to Smolensk to join the 1st Western Army, but opposed the retreat proposed by M. B. Barclay de Tolly. However, this decision saved the Russian army from encirclement. Bagration's popularity among the troops allowed the opposition to use his name against Barclay de Tolly. In the Battle of Borodino on August 26, 1812, his troops defended the left flank of the Russian position, which faced the main assault of the Napoleonic army. The prince personally led his troops in counterattacks and was severely wounded by a shell fragment in the leg. He died from his wounds on September 24, 1812, in the village of Simy, Vladimir province. In 1839, his remains were ceremoniously reburied at Borodino Field.