Semyon Budyonny was born into a family of nonresident peasant and Cossack in the Salsk district (the Don Cossack Host). A participant of the Russo-Japanese War and World War I, a senior non-commissioned officer. During World War I, he became a full Knight of the Order of St. George. In August 1917, Budyonny took part in the disarmament of the Kornilov units that were advancing from Mogilyov via Orsha during Lavr Kornilov affair.

After the October coup of 1917, he returned to the Don as a member of the Executive Committee of the Salsk District Soviet, head of the District Land Department. In February 1918, Budyonny formed and headed the Platov Cavalry Detachment, and launched anti-Whites military operations on the Don. Deputy Commander of the 1st Socialist Peasant Cavalry Regiment (June–September). Deputy Commander of the 1st Don Soviet Cavalry Brigade (September–December). Since January 1919, Commander of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Consolidated Cavalry Division. In 1918 – early 1919, he conducted successful operations against Pyotr Krasnov near Tsaritsyn and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner (1919).

In March–August 1919, he held the post of the Chief of the 4th Cavalry Division. In June–November 1919, Budyonny was the Commander of the Cavalry Corps. He was involved in operations against the Pyotr Wrangel’s forces in the upper Don and Anton Denikin’s forces near Voronezh and Kastornaya, defeating the enemy. In 1919, he joined the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) – RCP(b).

From November 1919 to October 1923, he was the Commander of the First Cavalry Army, which played a key role in the victory over the Armed Forces of the South of Russia. During the Polish-Soviet War, he took part in the Kyiv operation and carried out the Zhitomir breakthrough (1920). He took part in defeating Nestor Makhno’s forces. He also took part in suppressing anti-Bolshevik uprisings in the Don and Kuban.

In 1921–1923, Budyonny was a member, and later then Deputy Commander of the Revolutionary Military Council of the North Caucasus Military District. Since 1923, he was deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Red Army, in charge of cavalry. A member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. In 1924–1937, he was Inspector of the cavalry of the Red Army. Marshal of the Soviet Union (1935). In 1937–1939, Budyonny was the Commander of the Moscow military district. Since August 1940, he was First Deputy People’s Commissar of Defense of the USSR. He was a member of the Stavka [Headquarters] of the Supreme High Command. Three-time Hero of the USSR. He was buried in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis.