Who is Menshikov Alexander Danilovich new look. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov - biography, information, personal life

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was born on November 6 (November 16, according to a new style) in 1673 in Moscow in the family of a court groom. As a child, he was taken into the service of a Swiss military figure in the Russian service, Franz Lefort.

From the age of 13, "Aleksashka" Menshikov served as a young orderly, helped him in creating "amusing regiments" in the village of Preobrazhensky. Since 1693, Menshikov was a bombardier of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, in which Peter himself was considered a captain.

Alexander Menshikov was constantly with the tsar, accompanying him on all trips. The first combat test of Menshikov took place in the Azov campaign of 1695-1696. After the "capture" of Azov, Menshikov took part in the Great Embassy of 1697-1698, then - in the "search" of the archers (the investigation into the rebellion of the archers in 1698).

For a long time, Menshikov did not hold official posts, but, using the trust and friendship of Peter I, he exerted a significant influence on court and state affairs.

After the death of Lefort in 1699, Menshikov became one of the closest associates of Peter I. In 1702 he was appointed commandant of Noteburg. Since 1703 - the governor of Ingermanland (later the St. Petersburg province), supervised the construction of St. Petersburg, Kronstadt, shipyards on the Neva and Svir.

In 1704, Alexander Menshikov was promoted to major general.

During Northern war In 1700-1721, Menshikov commanded large forces of infantry and cavalry, distinguished himself in sieges and during the assaults of fortresses, showed fearlessness and composure, tact, skill and initiative.

In 1705 he led the fighting against the Swedish army in Lithuania, in 1706 he defeated the corps of the Swedish general Mardefeld at Kalisz. In September 1708, Menshikov made a great contribution to the victory of the Russian troops in the battle of Lesnaya, which Peter I called "the mother of the Poltava battle." In November 1708, Menshikov occupied Baturin, a residence that housed large stocks of food and ammunition.

Menshikov played a large role in, where he commanded first the vanguard, and then the left flank. At the very beginning of the general battle, Menshikov managed to defeat the detachment of the general and the corps of General Ross, which greatly facilitated the task of Peter I, who led the battle. Pursuing the retreating Swedish army, Menshikov forced General Levengaupt, who led it, to surrender at the crossing across the Dnieper. For the victory at Poltava, Menshikov was promoted to field marshal.

The awards received by Menshikov were not only military. Back in 1702, at the request of Peter, he was granted the title of count of the Roman Empire, in 1705 he became the prince of the Roman Empire, and in May 1707 the tsar elevated him to the dignity of His Serene Highness Prince of Izhora. Gradually, the material well-being of the most illustrious prince, the number of estates and villages granted to him, also grew.

In 1709-1713, Alexander Menshikov commanded the Russian troops, liberating Poland, Courland, Pomerania, Holstein from the Swedes.

Since 1714, he managed the lands conquered from the Swedes (the Baltic States, the Izhora land), and was in charge of collecting state revenues. During the departures of Peter I, he headed the administration of the country.

In 1718-1724 and 1726-1727 Menshikov was president of the Military Collegium.

At the same time, since 1714, Alexander Menshikov was constantly under investigation for numerous abuses and theft, and was subjected to large fines. The intercession of Peter I saved Menshikov from the trial.

Intercession also played a big role in the fate of Menshikov: in memory of the fact that it was Menshikov who introduced her to Peter the Great in 1704, Catherine I trusted the prince and supported him.

After the death of Peter I in 1725, relying on the guards, Menshikov provided decisive support to Catherine I in establishing herself on the throne and during the years of her reign was the de facto ruler of Russia.

Shortly before the death of Catherine I, Menshikov obtained her blessing for the marriage of his daughter Maria with a potential contender for the throne, the grandson of Peter I, Peter Alekseevich.

With the accession to the throne of Peter II, Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was awarded the rank of full admiral and the title of generalissimo. However, representatives of the old aristocracy hostile to Menshikov, the princes Golitsyn and Dolgoruky, managed to influence Peter II in such a way that on September 8, 1727, Menshikov was accused of treason and embezzlement of the treasury and exiled with his family to the Siberian city of Berezov.

All of Menshikov's property was confiscated.

Alexander Menshikov died on November 12 (November 23, according to the new style), 1729, and was buried at the altar of the church he had cut down with his own hands. Menshikov's children - son Alexander and daughter Alexander - were released from exile by Empress Anna Ioannovna in 1731.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

"Happiness minion rootless, semi-powerful ruler"

With this post, I think to start a series of articles about famous figures of the past, regardless of what time and in what countries they lived. And today we will talk about Prince Menshikov, who was a favorite and associate of Peter I the Great, especially since today is his birthday.

Count, prince, field marshal general, first St. Petersburg governor general, president of the Military Collegium and the only Russian nobleman who received the title of duke from the monarch (“Duke of Izhora”), “first senator”, “first member of the Supreme Privy Council”, generalissimo maritime and ground forces, who became the de facto ruler of Russia in 1725-1727 - this is far from full list all the regalia and merits of A.D. Menshikov.

Biography

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was born on November 6, 1673 in Moscow. The chroniclers did not leave any written sources about his youth and relatives. The "pie" version also gives cause for serious reflection. The historian Kostomarov embellished Menshikov's employment with Franz Lefort. Poet A.S. Pushkin gave a poetic refutation of Kostomarov's fabrications and argued that the "story with pies" was invented by the prince's enemies.

From the age of fourteen, Menshikov began working for Lefort. Then he was appointed to the royal drabants, shared all the difficulties with Peter the Great, and also became an ally in all his undertakings and undertakings. Menshikov accepts the most active cooperation in the formation of future Preobrazhensky. Since 1693, he has been a bombardier of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, then he receives the rank of sergeant, and from 1700 he rises to the rank of lieutenant of a bombardment company.

Menshikov is constantly with the tsar, accompanying him on trips around Russia, in the Azov campaigns of 1695-96, in the "Great Embassy" in 1697-98 in Western Europe, helping Peter build a navy. When Lefort died, he became the main assistant and favorite of the king. Alexander did everything with special zeal, knew how to keep secrets, and, like no one else, could soften the irascible temper of the king.

During the Northern War (1700-1721) Menshikov commanded large army forces, distinguished himself in many battles during the siege and storming of fortresses.

In 1703, Menshikov received the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called as a reward and was appointed the first governor-general of the newly built St. Petersburg. Formed the Ingrian Infantry and Ingrian Dragoon Regiments.

November 30, 1705 Menshikov was promoted to general of the cavalry, and in the summer of 1706 he was entrusted with the leadership of the entire Russian regular cavalry.

Near Poltava, Prince Menshikov gave orders to the advance detachment. Captured General Schlippenbach and destroyed Ross' compound. At the place of the crossing over the Dnieper, he captured the remnants of the Swedish army, as a result of which more than 16 thousand Swedes were captured.

For victories at Poltava, Menshikov was awarded the rank of Field Marshal.

Rise and fall

But as usual in our state, over time, Prince Menshikov became a bribe taker and embezzler. Peter I repeatedly punished Menshikov with a ruble for his financial fraud and even beat him in public for theft, but then also repeatedly forgave him. But the tsar's patience still snapped, and in 1724 Menshikov was deprived of power in the territory. Russian Empire and all major posts.

He was forgiven only before the death of the king. In January 1725, Peter admitted Menshikov to his deathbed.

However, immediately after the death of Peter, Menshikov again launched a storm of activity: relying on the guards and senior government officials, in January 1725 he enthroned the wife of the late emperor Catherine I and became the de facto ruler of the country, concentrating enormous power in his hands and subjugating the army . In January 1725, he regained the post of St. Petersburg Governor-General, in 1726 - the post of President of the Military Collegium. On August 30, 1725, the new Empress Catherine I made him a holder of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In 1726, Menshikov participated in the negotiations on the conclusion of the Russian-Austrian alliance, in 1727 he gave the order to enter Russian troops to Courland.

With the accession of Peter II to the throne on May 6, 1727, Menshikov initially retained his influence: on May 6 he was awarded the rank of full admiral, on May 12 he was granted the rank of generalissimo, and his daughter Maria was betrothed to the young emperor. However, having underestimated his ill-wishers, and due to a long illness, he lost his influence on the young emperor and was soon removed from government.

... Lord, You are the Judge of this world,
the sins and wickedness of the fathers
punish in children ...
from a religious text.

If there was a tombstone or a cross on her grave, then a passer-by could read: Menshikova Maria Alexandrovna. December 26, 1711, Petersburg - December 26, 1729, Berezov. There was no tombstone, perhaps there was a cross. /website/

She was a celebrity both during her lifetime and after her death, but only two people buried her: her brother and sister. Then they left these places forever and recalled the time they lived there, like a terrible dream.

Her body was left lying in the permafrost next to the body of her father. Only a hundred years later, people from Russia, who knew about the tragedy of this family, tried to find their graves.

Princess Maria Menshikova, eldest daughter Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, the first friend and assistant of Emperor Peter the Great, was born and raised in the luxury of the best St. Petersburg palace, having received at that time more than an excellent education. She knew languages, knew how to dance, keep up a secular conversation. It was a girl extraordinary beauty. She was destined for a happy future. the richest and influential person Russia of that time, her father, will take care of it. Yes, Alexander Danilovich did not hide the fact that he had high hopes for his favorite.

At the age of sixteen, she became the bride of the young Russian emperor Peter Alekseevich, the grandson of Peter the Great. In a few years, as her father dreamed, she would become the Empress of All Russia. And why not dream Alexander Danilovich? He was already accustomed to the fact that for 40 years now he had aroused reverent amazement among compatriots and foreigners, because he managed to become the closest friend of the king and earn his trust and gratitude. And after the death of Peter I in 1725, it was he who decided who would get the crown, because the emperor, as you know, did not leave a will.

The will and courage of His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov ensured the succession to the throne of Catherine I. But she did not reign for long. When it became clear that the days of the empress were numbered, Alexander Menshikov took the reins of government into his own hands and tried to ensure the future of his family by the last decree of the sick empress: the legitimate heir from the Romanov family, the eleven-year-old grandson of the late Peter, becomes emperor. This child becomes engaged to Menshikov's daughter, and the prince becomes the king's father-in-law - his "father".

As they say, everything is under control. And it's okay that his daughter Maria has long been the bride of another person. For political reasons, Maria was already married a few years ago. Once her father looked after her groom: it was a handsome man, the Polish Count Piotr Sapieha, The only son rich governor. Old Jan Sapieha hoped to get the Polish crown with the help of Russia, and Menshikov counted on the Duchy of Courland, which was a vassal of Poland.

The young count free time spent at the Menshikovs, and Maria, of course, soon fell in love with him. A few years later, when she was fifteen, Archbishop Feofan Prokopovich, under Catherine the First and the whole court, betrothed the young. The Empress granted the bride one hundred thousand rubles and several villages with land and peasants.

Everything seemed to be going well. But the ways of the Lord are inscrutable, and the happiness of the young princess was envied by forty-two-year-old Catherine: the young Count Sapieha was too good. Very soon, Mary's fiancé becomes the favorite of the Empress. He is constantly with her, Catherine showers him with gifts, writes him a huge house in St. Petersburg with all the furniture. And then she suddenly decided to marry him to her niece Sofya Skavronskaya ...

Alexander Danilovich is indignant and demands "satisfaction". It was then, under the pressure of the “Highest Serenity”, that Catherine signed the will, which said: “The Tsesarevnas and the administration are charged with the obligation to try to marry the Grand Duke with Princess Menshikova.”

How did a young girl survive the involuntary betrayal of her beloved? Somehow survived. But when the father informed his daughter of her fate, she fainted. The historian wrote: “What sadness, what despair took possession of the heart of Princess Maria, who until recently was beating with joy when her father announced to her a decisive, indispensable will, so that she would forget her Sapieha and prepare to be an empress! Tears, beliefs, the illness of the unfortunate - nothing shook the ambitious ... Maria could not love the emperor, giving her heart to another, and Peter II, mutually, looking at her coldness, at the tears that involuntarily rolled from her beautiful eyes, at a forced smile, could not love her ".

A week after the death of Catherine, the betrothal of Maria Menshikova and Peter II, who at that time was twelve years old, took place. Maria began to be titled Imperial Highness. She now had her own yard, for the maintenance of which thirty-four thousand rubles were released - a colossal amount for Russia at that time, but ... ridiculous for her father, who owned millions. But what can you not endure for the sake of a "lofty" goal! And "Danilych" endured, but my daughter ...

A fully developed beauty of sixteen years old, of course, could not have any feeling for her child fiancé. She felt uneasy in his company; she reluctantly took part in his amusements and seemed boring and disgusting to the boy. The young emperor in temperament and character was very much like his grandfather Peter: the same willful, quick-tempered, intolerant. He really wanted to be taken for an adult, and therefore did not tolerate any "educational moments."

And “father” Alexander Danilovich was too carried away by pedagogy, the upbringing of an autocratic youth: he did not allow the use of the treasury without his knowledge, controlled expenses, reproached for squandering, forced him to communicate more often with an uninteresting bride. Naturally, questions arose in the boy’s head: “Who is our emperor here? Me or Menshikov?”

His Serene Highness clearly went too far and ceased to control the “undercover” situation. His luck, influence, career in the literal sense "from rags to riches" has long haunted many people.

Menshikov fell ill. For two weeks, just for two weeks, he left the court. Taking advantage of this, his enemies, the princes Dolgoruky, pulled over to their side the educator of the emperor - Osterman, who had big influence to the young emperor. The irritation of Peter II against Menshikov reached its climax.

September 8, 1727. A gray, rainy day, typical for early autumn in St. Petersburg. On the morning of this day, the 55-year-old President of the Military Collegium, Generalissimo, His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, the most powerful man in Russia, named father-in-law of Emperor Peter II, received a royal decree on house arrest. When the decree was announced, Menshikov became so ill that the doctor, in order to avoid an apoplexy, was forced to “open” his blood. On that day, the brilliant career of Menshikov was destroyed.

Soon all the Menshikovs were sent into exile. They were followed by 127 servants, the former imperial bride was followed by a chamberlain, a page, four grooms, etc. - her entire former staff. True, about Mary, an order followed: "So that henceforth the betrothed bride should not be mentioned when performing the service of God, and that decrees from the Synod should be sent to the entire state." The groom abandoned the bride. Already the second groom refused ...

The Menshikovs settled in own house, in the small town of the Ryazan province of Ranienburg. But they didn't stay there long. The highest decree was not long in coming, according to which Menshikov with his wife, son and daughters should be exiled to the distant town of Berezov (then the northernmost point of Russia) of the Tobolsk province. Take away all property, leave ten servants.

Three wagons covered with matting stretched along the spring thaw: in the first - the prince and his wife, in the second - the son, in the last - the daughters, Maria and Alexandra. Each wagon was guarded by two soldiers. No sooner had the sad train departed than the captain caught up with them with orders to search the travelers to see if they were carrying anything superfluous. So much was found superfluous that Menshikov was left only in what he was wearing. All warm clothes were taken away from the princesses. Mary was left with a taffeta skirt, a damask black caftan, a white corset and a white satin cap on her head. Having doubted, in case of cold weather they left a taffeta coat. Of the dishes - a copper cauldron, three pans, several pewter bowls and plates, and not a single knife or fork.

In Vyshny Volochek, the exiles received an order to disarm their servants, in Tver - to send back almost all the servants, in Klin - to take away ex-fiancee wedding ring...

Princess Darya Mikhailovna Menshikova, the wife of Alexander Danilovich, slumped under the blows of fate, grew old, and became blind from tears. She could not stand the road and died in the arms of her family in a peasant hut, in the village of Uslon near Kazan. The guards hurried the captives in such a hurry that they did not allow even an hour to stay at the fresh grave. Somehow they buried it on the bank of the river and, weeping, crossing themselves, moved on their way further. Father and three children.

Berezov at that time was a sparsely populated town located among impenetrable swamps. In summer - mosquitoes, in winter - frost of 50 degrees. At first, the Menshikovs lived in a prison, then they moved to a house cut down by Alexander Danilovich himself.

“The eldest daughter, who was betrothed to Peter II, was assigned to cook food for the entire colony,” writes the ubiquitous A. Dumas about the life of the Menshikovs in the book of travel essays “From Paris to Astrakhan ...”. - The second daughter mended clothes, washed and bleached linen. The young man hunted and fished. A certain friend, whose name neither Menshikov nor his children knew, sent them from Tobolsk a bull, four broad-sided cows and all kinds of poultry, and the exiles set up a good barnyard. In addition, Menshikov started a garden, sufficient to provide the family with vegetables for the whole year. Every day in the chapel, in the presence of children and servants, he read aloud a common prayer.

After the luxury and splendor of Petersburg life winter evenings with a torch in a house freezing through, they seemed especially painful. The children read to their father Holy Bible and he told them about his life. Receiving ten rubles a day for their maintenance, the Menshikovs spent very little on themselves, and therefore they were soon able to build a wooden church in a poor town.

Alexander Danilovich and his thirteen-year-old son, together with carpenters, built the temple with their own hands. Young princesses at that time sewed covers for the altar and clothes for the priest. This is how the life of the exiles flowed. Father, Alexander Danilovich, again showed the wonders of endurance and strength of character. He realized that he was punished by God for his sins, and accepted the blows of fate as a well-deserved punishment from God.

Only he could not come to terms with the unfortunate fate of his children. The father prayed and asked for forgiveness from the Lord not for himself. He called for mercy only for innocent children. Of the three children, he had previously loved the silent beauty Maria the most. That's why I wanted to see her as an empress. And now, when his daughter, twice rejected bride, was slowly fading away in meek anguish, he could not find a place for himself.

The younger children, he had no doubt, could hope for the emperor's forgiveness. And if this had happened during the life of his father, they would have left by crossing themselves. And Mary swore that she would never leave her father. He asked her forgiveness: “I ruined you!” She hugged him and said only: “You are my father. I'm not your judge." And so they disappeared in distant Siberia one after another: he - in November, on his birthday, and she in December - also on her birthday. The father on the day of death turned 56 years old, and the daughter - 18.

They were buried next to the wooden church, which the father built with his own ax in a year to atone for his sins. His prayers were heard by God: a month after last funeral Menshikov's children were forgiven and returned from exile to St. Petersburg. The new queen returned to them a significant part of the property confiscated before. The young Menshikovs became rich and famous again. Life went on.

Many years will pass, and the wonderful Russian artist Ivan Surikov will tell us the tragedy of this family in his famous painting “Menshikov in Berezovo”. The idea of ​​this canvas came to the painter in one rainy summer, when he lived near Moscow with his wife and daughters. On one of the rainy days, it seemed to him that, just like he and his family, Alexander Menshikov was once sad in the hut. The sad eyes of the eldest daughter sitting at the feet of her father, wrapped in a dark fur coat - the former bride of Peter II, and Menshikov's hand, clenched into a fist in hopeless longing ... With a tender, almost bloodless face, Maria is still beautiful. The face of this unfortunate, twice betrothed bride remains in memory for a long time.

Once, at dawn stellar career“Aleksashki” Menshikov, in honor of the brilliant victory over the Swedish army, Tsar Peter ordered the words “Unprecedented happens” to be stamped on the new medal. Such a medal adorned Menshikov's chest. Perhaps the Lord God himself read these words and gave this person so many good and bad things that it is difficult to believe in everything. But it's true.

There is also an assumption that Prince Fyodor Dolgoruky, a relative of Menshikov's enemies, who had long been in love with Mary, came to Berezov after the Menshikovs under a false name. Here they secretly married. Without experiencing happiness herself and without giving it to her beloved, this mysterious beauty died, sick, tormented by grief. Here is how Vs. Solovyov in his chronicle novel “The Young Emperor”: “At this time, the new Princess Dolgoruky, Maria Alexandrovna, was preparing to become a mother. The death of her father had a strong effect on her - she prematurely resolved from the burden of twins and died a day later; the children also died. So they buried her in the same grave with them. It was December 26, and on that day she turned eighteen years old.

When in 1825 they were looking for the grave of Menshikov, they found two small coffins with the bones of babies. The coffins stood on a large coffin made of cedar, in which lay a woman covered with a green satin veil. It was Maria.

After the death of Fyodor Dolgoruky, according to his will, a gold medallion with a strand of light blond hair, which apparently belonged to Maria Menshikova, was sent to the Beryozovskaya church.

Historians claim that many documents about the life of Alexander Menshikov still remain unexplored, although films are made about him, articles and books are written. Close friend Petra, hero of Poltava, favorite, generalissimo and admiral of the white flag, the first builder of St. Petersburg ... His services to Russia were enormous, his life was amazing, his personal fortune was one of the largest in the empire, his greed knew no bounds. Among the "chicks of Petrov's nest" this is the most controversial figure.

Origin of A.D. Menshikov is not known for certain. Many researchers are inclined to believe that he was born in 1673 in the family of a groom, and as a child he sold pies from a stall. The agile boy was noticed by a foreigner in the Russian service, Franz Lefort, who took Alexander into his service. At the age of 20 in 1693, Alexander Menshikov became the "royal amusing warrior" - the bombardier of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. He accompanied the king on all his trips, participated in all the sovereign's amusements, turning from a batman into true friend and an ally. Menshikov became an active participant in the Azov campaigns of 1695 and 1696, where he distinguished himself with courage in the capture of the Turkish fortress of Azov. Menshikov, together with Peter, visited Europe as part of the Great Embassy in 1697-1698. The military career of Alexander Danilovich is closely connected with the Northern War, when Russia opposed the Swedish Empire in the Baltics. Menshikov led the cavalry.

In 1702-1703. the fortresses Noteburg and Shlisselburg were taken. The capture of these fortresses meant the actual transfer of the entire Ingermanland under the control of Russia. A.D. was appointed governor of this region. Menshikov, who actively showed himself in any role. Being a faithful executor of the will, Menshikov did not forget to show his personal qualities. For example, during the siege of the Narva fortress, he managed to outwit the experienced royal general Gorn, the commandant of the city, by dressing Russian soldiers in a uniform similar to Swedish. In Ingermanland, Menshikov first declared himself as a military leader. For the victory over the army of General Maydel, who was going to take over the building of St. Petersburg, Menshikov was awarded the title of Governor-General of Narva and all the conquered lands near the Gulf of Finland. At the same time, he becomes a general over the entire Russian regular cavalry.

It was the troops under the command of Menshikov who inflicted a number of defeats on the army of Charles XII in Lithuania. For services to the Polish crown in 1705, Menshikov was awarded the Polish Order of the White Eagle, and the following year, thanks to Peter's efforts, Alexander Danilovich Menshikov became the Most Serene Prince. At the same time, the Polish king Augustus, who constantly suffered defeat from the Swedes, decided to attract Menshikov to the Polish service, granting Alexander Danilovich the title of commander of the Fleminsky infantry regiment, which was renamed the regiment of Prince Alexander.

However, the real glory of Menshikov was yet to come. Menshikov decides to attack the Swedish-Polish positions near Kalisz, and on October 18, 1706, he utterly defeats the enemy forces. For this success, Peter I granted Alexander Danilovich the commander's baton according to his own drawing. The precious wand was decorated with a large emerald, diamonds and the princely coat of arms of the Menshikov family. This work of jewelry art was estimated at a huge amount for that time - almost three thousand rubles. During the war in the Polish lands, His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Menshikov was elevated to the real Privy Councilors and became the Prince of Izhora. And again for military merit in the confrontation with the Swedish king Charles XII.

In Ukraine, they tried to use the confrontation between Sweden and Russia in their own interests. Hetman Mazepa prepared food and supplies for the army of Charles XII in the city of Baturin. But Menshikov took the city by storm and upset the plans of the enemy.

The decisive land battle between Russian and Swedish troops took place on June 27, 1709 at Poltava. The cavalry under the command of Menshikov bravely fought against the advancing Swedes. For participation in the Battle of Poltava, the sovereign awarded Menshikov the title of Field Marshal. Prior to this, only Boris Vasilyevich Sheremetev had such a rank in the Russian army.

Menshikov after the defeat ground forces Swedes made a lot of efforts to ensure that Russia fulfilled its allied obligations to the Commonwealth and Denmark, so until 1713 he commanded the Russian troops, liberating from Swedish troops Poland, Courland, Pomerania, Holstein. For the siege of the fortified city of Riga, he received the Order of the Elephant from the Danish king Frederick IV. The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm awarded the Russian Field Marshal with the Order of the Black Eagle.

Since 1714 A.D. Menshikov was engaged in governor-general affairs in St. Petersburg, and also managed the Baltic states and Izhora land, and was in charge of collecting state revenues. During the frequent departures of Peter I, he headed the administration of the country and was twice president of the Military Collegium (1718-1724 and 1726-1727)

However, a native of the very bottom of Russian society, Menshikov could not miss the opportunity not to get his hands on this or that amount. And, starting from 1714, Alexander Danilovich was constantly under investigation for numerous abuses and theft. He was repeatedly subjected to huge fines by Peter I. But this did not affect the personal condition of Menshikov, who was the second landowner in Russia after the sovereign himself.

After the death of Peter the Great in 1725, Menshikov's position was strengthened: having enthroned Empress Catherine I, the Most Serene Prince became her favorite, the de facto head of state, without whom not a single issue could be resolved.

However, due to illness, he was unable to resist the influence of the princes Golitsyn and Dolgoruky on the new Russian monarch. September 8, 1727, Menshikov was accused of high treason and embezzlement of the treasury. He is subjected to royal disgrace, and then to arrest. All property was confiscated, and Menshikov and his family were exiled to the prison Berezov, where he soon died. Empress Anna Ioannovna allowed the children of the prince - Alexander and Alexandra - to return from exile.

Russian statesman and military figure, closest associate and favorite of Peter I, generalissimo, admiral, first St. Petersburg governor-general, president of the Military Collegium

Alexander Menshikov

short biography

Count (1702), prince (1705), most illustrious (1707) Alexander Danilovich Menshikov(6 (16) November 1673, Moscow - 12 (23) November 1729, Berezov, Siberian province) - Russian statesman and military leader, closest associate and favorite of Peter I, Generalissimo (May 12-September 8, 1727), admiral (May 6 - September 8, 1727), the first St. Petersburg Governor-General (1703-1724 and 1725-1727), President of the Military Collegium (1719-1724 and 1726-1727).

After the death of Peter I, he contributed to the accession of Catherine I, became the de facto ruler of Russia (1725-1727): "the first senator", "the first member of the Supreme Privy Council" (1726), under Peter the Second - the generalissimo of the sea and land forces (May 12, 1727). September 8, 1727 was disgraced, deprived of property, titles and awards. Under arrest from September 8, 1727 to April 4, 1728, then exiled with his family to Siberia, where he died a year and a half later.

Origin

There is no reliable documentary information about the origin of Menshikov, the opinions of historians on this matter are very contradictory. Father, Danila Menshikov, died in 1695. According to the version popular among the people, before getting into the environment of F. Ya. Lefort, the future "semi-power ruler" sold pies in the capital. Here is how N. I. Kostomarov cites this story:

The boy was distinguished by witty antics and jokes, which was the custom of Russian pedlars, with this he lured buyers to him. He happened to pass by the palace of the famous and strong Lefort at that time; seeing a funny boy, Lefort called him into his room and asked: "What will you take for your whole box of pies?" - “If you please, buy pies, but I don’t dare to sell boxes without the permission of the owner,” answered Alexander - that was the name of the street boy. "Do you want to serve me?" Lefort asked him. “I am very glad,” he answered, “only it is necessary to move away from the owner.” Lefort bought all the pies from him and said: "When you leave the pie-maker, come to me at once." Reluctantly, the pie-maker let the boy go and did it only because the important gentleman took him as his servant. Menshikov went to Lefort and put on his livery.

- Kostomarov N.I. Russian history in the biographies of its main figures. - The second section: The dominance of the Romanov dynasty before the accession to the throne of Catherine II. - Issue. sixth: 18th century

During Menshikov's lifetime, it was believed that he came from Lithuanian nobles, although this version is traditionally doubted by historians. The legend about the seller of pies, however, could be put into circulation by the opponents of the prince in order to belittle him, as A. S. Pushkin pointed out:

... Menshikov came from Belarusian nobles. He was looking for his family estate near Orsha. He was never a footman and never sold hearth pies. This is a joke of the boyars, accepted by historians as the truth.

- Pushkin A. S. History of Peter. preparatory texts. Years 1701 and 1702

Foreign observers represented Menshikov as a completely illiterate person, which is now disputed; nevertheless, for N. I. Pavlenko, the illiteracy of the “most serene” is obvious: “Among the tens of thousands of sheets preserved in the Menshikov family archive, not a single document written by the prince’s hand was found. There were no traces of editing and editing of the compiled documents. Even hundreds of letters to Daria Mikhailovna, first a concubine, and then a wife, not to mention thousands of letters to the tsar and nobles, every single one was written by clerks.

It is known about the three sisters of Menshikov: Tatyana, Martha (Maria) and Anna, who married (against his will) the Portuguese Anton Devier. Marfa was married off by her brother to Major General Alexei Golovin (d. 1718), who was captured by the Swedes near Poltava; her daughter Anna Yakovlevna in her first marriage was to the royal relative A.I. Leontiev, in the second - to another naval officer, Mishukov.

Elevation

M. van Musscher. Portrait of A. Menshikov, painted in Holland during the Great Embassy (1698).

At the age of 14, Alexander was accepted by Peter as orderly, managed to quickly gain not only the trust, but also the friendship of the tsar, become his confidant in all undertakings and hobbies. He helped him in creating "amusing troops" in the village of Preobrazhensky (since 1693 he was listed as a bombardier of the Preobrazhensky regiment, where Peter was the captain of the bombardment company; after participating in the massacre of archers, he received the rank of sergeant, since 1700 - lieutenant of the bombardment company). In 1699 he received the title of ship's apprentice.

Menshikov was constantly with the tsar, accompanying him on trips around Russia, in the Azov campaigns (1695-96), in the "Great Embassy" (1697-98) in Western Europe. After Lefort's death, Menshikov became Peter's first assistant, remaining his favorite for many years. Endowed by nature with a sharp mind, an excellent memory and great energy, Alexander Danilovich never referred to the impossibility of fulfilling an order and did everything with zeal, remembered all orders, knew how to keep secrets, like no one else (at that time), could soften the hot-tempered character of the king.

Among the people, the rapid rise of Menshikov was attributed to his sexual relationship with the tsar; for spreading rumors about the "prodigal life" of Peter and Menshikov (he allegedly dragged Peter to his bed "like a whore") were arrested in 1698 by the merchant G. R. Nikitin (one of the richest entrepreneurs in the country), in 1702 - by the captain of the Preobrazhensky regiment named Boyarkinsky, and in 1718 - the manager of the estates of the nobleman Kikin.

Commander under Peter I

During the Northern War (1700-1721), Menshikov commanded large infantry and cavalry forces, distinguished himself during the siege and assault of fortresses, as well as in many battles.

The initial stage of the Northern War

At the beginning of the war, he held the rank of lieutenant of the bombardment company of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. He did not participate in the Battle of Narva (1700), having left the army together with the tsar on the eve of the battle.

In 1702, during the capture of Noteburg, he arrived in time with fresh forces to M. M. Golitsyn, who launched the assault. In 1703 he participated in the siege of Nyenschantz, and on May 7, 1703, acting with Peter at the mouth of the Neva and commanding a detachment of 30 boats, he won the first naval victory over the Swedes, capturing two enemy ships with a bold boarding attack - the Gedan galliot and the Astrild shnyava ". The king ordered to knock out a medal with a laconic inscription: “ The impossible happens". Menshikov was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (No. 7, simultaneously with Peter I - Knight No. 6). In the award decree issued on May 10 (21), 1703 - 6 days before the official date of the founding of St. Petersburg, Menshikov was already called the Governor General.

By decree of Peter I dated July 19, 1703, in order to form the regiment of Governor Menshikov, it was instructed to "pick up from all ranks a thousand people of the kindest and best people." In terms of money and grain salaries, this regiment was equal to the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky. In the future, the regiment was named Ingrian.

Menshikov became the first governor-general of St. Petersburg (from 1703 and, with a short break, until his disgrace in 1727), supervised the construction of the city, as well as Kronstadt, shipyards on the Neva and Svir rivers (Olonets shipyard), Petrovsky and Povenets cannon factories . In addition to the Ingermanland Infantry, he formed the Ingermanland Dragoon Regiment as governor-general.

Continuing to participate in hostilities, he contributed to the conquest of Narva and Ivangorod, was awarded the rank of lieutenant general (1704). When, in February-March 1705, Tsar Peter I ordered Menshikov to inspect the Russian army, Field Marshal B.P. Sheremetev, stationed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, he visited Vitebsk, Polotsk, Vilna and Kovno.

In 1705, he was among the first to become a Knight of the Polish Order of the White Eagle.

From Kalisz to Poltava

On November 30, 1705, Menshikov was promoted to cavalry general, and soon came into conflict with the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Field Marshal-Lieutenant G. B. Ogilvy, which almost caused the defeat of the Russian army near Grodno.

In the summer of 1706, he was entrusted with the command of the entire Russian regular cavalry, and proved to be an excellent cavalry commander. At the head of the corvolant, he was sent to help the Saxon elector and the Polish king Augustus II in Poland, defeated the Swedish-Polish corps near Kalisz on October 18, 1706, which became the first victory of the Russian troops in the “right battle”: the enemy could not resist the rapid attack of the Russian dragoons and was defeated. At the decisive moment, he himself rushed into battle, dragging his subordinates with him. The Swedes lost several thousand people, the commander, General A. Mardefelt, was captured. The losses of the Russian troops were insignificant. As a reward for this victory, Menshikov received from the tsar a rod decorated with precious stones, and the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment (Tsar Peter himself accepted the rank of colonel).

The awards received by Menshikov were not only military. Back in 1702, at the request of Peter, he was granted the title of Count of the Holy Roman Empire. By the letter of the Roman Emperor Leopold I, dated January 19 (30), 1705, cavalry general of the Roman Empire, Count Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, was elevated, with his descendants, to the princely dignity of the Roman Empire.

By the highest command of Tsar Peter I, dated May 30, 1707, General of the Cavalry, Prince of the Roman Empire Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was elevated, with his descendants, to the princely dignity of the Russian Tsardom, with the title " Prince of Izhora"and the title" lordship". In addition, on May 30 (June 10), 1707, Menshikov was granted the rank of sea captain. Gradually, the material well-being of the most illustrious prince, the number of estates and villages granted to him, also grew.

In 1707, again at the head of the cavalry, he moved to Lublin, and then to Warsaw, where he remained until September. On September 28 (October 9), 1708, he took part in the battle near Lesnaya, which became, in the words of Peter I, "the mother of the Poltava victory." During the time between Lesnaya and Poltava, Menshikov often showed that perspicacity and swiftness that Field Marshal Sheremetev, who shared with him the highest command in the army, lacked. Having received news of the betrayal of Hetman Mazepa, he took by storm the capital of the hetman - the city of Baturin, ruined it, and interrupted and intercepted most Cossacks who were going to leave with the hetman to the Swedish king. For this, Peter I granted the prince the village of Ivanovskoye with villages that belonged to Hetman Mazepa.

In many military matters, Peter I completely trusted the intuition and prudent mind of his favorite, almost all the instructions, directives and instructions that the tsar sent to the troops passed through the hands of Menshikov. He was like Peter's chief of staff: having given an idea, the tsar often instructed his closest assistant to develop it, and he found a way to translate it into action. His quick and decisive actions were quite consistent with Peter's ebullient energy.

Menshikov played big role in Poltava battle June 27 (July 8), 1709, where he commanded first the vanguard, and then the left flank of the Russian army. Even before the main forces entered the battle, he defeated the detachment of General Schlippenbach, capturing the latter. At the time of the collision of the armies, it fell on the corps of General Roos, dispersing it, which largely predetermined the victory of the Russian army. During the battle of Menshikov, three horses were killed.

Pursuing, together with Golitsyn, the Swedish army that had fled from the battlefield, Menshikov overtook it at the crossing over the Dnieper near Perevolochna and forced it to capitulate. He reported from under Perevolochna: “ Here we overtook the enemy fleeing from us, and just now the king himself with the traitor Mazepa in small people was saved by leaving, and they took all the exhausted Swedes alive to the chord in full, which will be about ten thousand in number, between which General Levengaupt and Major General Kreutz. Guns, I also took all the ammunition". In fact, more than 16 thousand Swedes were captured.

For Poltava, Menshikov was awarded the rank of Field Marshal. In addition, the cities of Pochep and Yampol with extensive volosts were transferred to his possession, which increased the number of his serfs by 43,000 male souls. In terms of the number of serfs, he became the second soul owner in Russia after the tsar. At the solemn entry of Peter into Moscow on December 21, 1709, he was at the right hand of the king, which emphasized his exceptional merits.

The final stage of the Northern War

In 1709-1713, Menshikov commanded troops operating in Poland, Courland, Pomerania and Holstein, received the Order of the Elephant (Denmark) and the Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia) from European monarchs.

In 1709 he was listed as a ship master.

In 1712 he had the rank of captain-commander.

In February 1714 Menshikov returned to St. Petersburg; this ended it military career. He concentrated on questions of the internal structure of the state, touching, due to his proximity to the king, all the most important state concerns.

In 1715, Menshikov, having a braided pennant on the ship Shlisselburg, arrived in Revel with the fleet. For participation in maritime affairs against the Swedes and taking care of the fleet on February 2, 1716, he was promoted to shautbenachty. In March, while in Revel, he had the main supervision of the construction of the harbor. Menshikov, as governor general, paid special attention to St. Petersburg, the importance of which had especially increased since 1713, when the court, the Senate and the diplomatic corps moved there. In April 1715, in the absence of Count Apraksin, he took over the main command of the Kronstadt squadron, was in charge of all Admiralty affairs and the construction of the Admiralty fortress in St. Petersburg.

In 1718, having a flag on the ship "Saint Alexander", Menshikov was sailing with the fleet to Revel and Gangut. In 1719, according to the schedule, he was assigned to have a flag on the same ship, but he was not on a campaign with the fleet. On October 11, 1719, he was appointed to manage the construction of stone houses on Kotlin Island.

In 1721, having a flag on the Friedrichstadt ship, Menshikov commanded the fleet at Krasnaya Gorka. In August, during the approximate naval battle, commanded part of the ships representing the enemy, while the other part was commanded by Vice Admiral Pyotr Mikhailov (sovereign). October 22, 1721 Menshikov was promoted to vice admiral.

abuse

Menshikov was repeatedly accused of misappropriating state funds and paying heavy fines. “Where it is a matter of the life or honor of a person, then justice requires weighing on the scales of impartiality both his crimes and the merits he rendered to the fatherland and the sovereign ... - considered Peter - ... and I still need him."

In January 1715, the official abuses of Menshikov were revealed. The fixed capital was taken away under various pretexts of land, estates, villages. He specialized in taking escheated property from heirs. Menshikov also hid schismatics, runaway peasants, charging them for living on their lands.

After the death of Lefort, Peter said about Menshikov: "I have one hand left, thieving, but true."

The case of abuse dragged on for several years, a large penalty was imposed on Menshikov, but by actively participating in the condemnation of Tsarevich Alexei to death in 1718 (his signature was the first in the verdict), he regained his royal grace. With the creation of the State Military Collegium (1719) he was made its first president, with the retention of the post of St. Petersburg Governor-General, he was responsible for the arrangement of all the armed forces of Russia. After the conclusion of the Nystadt peace, which ended the long war with the Swedes, Menshikov was promoted to vice admiral on October 22, 1721.

In 1722, new abuses of Menshikov were revealed, but even now he managed to maintain his influence, thanks to Peter's wife Ekaterina.

In 1723, Menshikov had his own flag on the Friedrichstadt ship. On August 11, 1723, during the ceremony of meeting the boat, the “grandfather of the Russian fleet”, by the fleet, he corrected the position of the pilot on it and abandoned the lot.

In May 1724, Menshikov was present at the coronation of Catherine I by Peter as empress, walking on the right hand of the tsar.

Nevertheless, it was in 1724 that the patience of Peter I snapped: for significant abuses, Menshikov finally lost his main posts: President of the Military Collegium (replaced by A.I. Repnin in January 1724) and Governor-General of the St. P. M. Apraksin in May 1724). However, in January 1725, Peter admitted Menshikov to his deathbed, which was regarded as forgiveness.

Actual government of the country

Immediately after the death of Peter, Menshikov, relying on the guards and the most prominent state dignitaries, in January 1725 enthroned the wife of the late emperor Catherine I and became the de facto ruler of the country, concentrating enormous power in his hands and subjugating the army. In January 1725, he regained the post of St. Petersburg Governor-General, in 1726 - the post of President of the Military Collegium. On August 30, 1725, the new Empress Catherine I made him a holder of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. In 1726 he participated in negotiations on the conclusion of the Russian-Austrian alliance, in 1727 he ordered the entry of Russian troops into Courland.

With the accession of Peter II (the son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich) on May 6, 1727, Menshikov initially retained his influence: on May 6 he was awarded the rank of full admiral, on May 12 he was granted the rank of generalissimo, his daughter Maria was betrothed to the young emperor. However, underestimating his ill-wishers, and due to a long illness (historians of medicine suggest that he suffered from tuberculous arthritis), he lost influence on the young emperor and was soon removed from government.

Link and death. Descendants

V. I. Surikov. "Menshikov in Beryozov" (1883)

On September 8, 1727, Menshikov was arrested, according to the results of the work of the investigative commission of the Supreme Privy Council without trial, by decree of the 11-year-old boy-emperor Peter II, sent into exile. After the first exile to his estate - the fortress of Ranenburg (in the modern Lipetsk region), on charges of abuse and embezzlement, he was deprived of all his positions, awards, property, titles and exiled with his family to the Siberian town of Berezov, Siberian province. Menshikov's wife, the favorite of Peter I, Princess Darya Mikhailovna, died on the way (in 1728, 12 versts from Kazan). In Berezovo, Menshikov built himself a village house (together with 8 faithful servants) and a church. His statement of that period is known: "I started with a simple life, and I will finish with a simple life."

Later, a smallpox epidemic broke out in Siberia. He died on November 12, 1729 at the age of 56. A little later, on December 26, 1729, his eldest daughter Maria died. Menshikov was buried at the altar of the church built by his hands; then the Northern Sosva river washed away this grave.

Of the descendants of Alexander Danilovich, his great-grandson, Admiral Prince A.S. Menshikov, a naval figure, commander-in-chief of land and maritime forces in Crimean War 1853-1856. In 1863, he built a chapel over the grave of his great-grandmother in the village of Verkhny Uslon. The princely family of Menshikovs was cut short in the male generation in 1893.

Performance evaluation

Peter considered Menshikov an indispensable ally. Undoubtedly, Menshikov had a mind, seething energy, acumen and intuition. “Happiness is a minion of a rootless, semi-powerful ruler,” as A. S. Pushkin called Menshikov in the poem “Poltava”. After the death of Lefort, Peter said about Menshikov: "I have one hand left, thieving, but true." At the same time, his embezzlement of public funds and, according to his enemies, treasonous relations with the enemies of Russia (there was no evidence of this) forced Peter, especially in last years his life, to keep the former favorite at a distance, almost on the verge of disgrace. During the reign of Empress Catherine I, incapable of state affairs, Menshikov became the de facto ruler of the state for two years, but due to immoderate ambition, even arrogance, he made many enemies for himself and at the end of his life lost all his acquisitions.

Royal Society of London

In 1714, Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was elected a member of the Royal Society of London. The letter of acceptance was written to him personally by Isaac Newton, the original letter is stored in the archives of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Menshikov became the first Russian member of the Royal Society of London.

Two consequences of Menshikov's entry into the Royal Society can also be identified from the documents of Menshikov's archival fund. On the one hand, the diploma of the Royal Society issued to Menshikov was preserved in the fund, on the other hand, the documents of the same fund reflected a curious detail: Danilych never ventured to mention his membership in the Royal Society and decorate his title with three more additional words: member of the Royal Society. Modesty Menshikov did not differ, but in this case common sense took over vanity.

- Pavlenko N.I. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov. - M.: Nauka, 1983.

Awards

• Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (May 10, 1703)
• Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky (August 30, 1725)
• Order of the White Eagle (Rzeczpospolita, November 1, 1705)
• Order of the Elephant (Denmark, 1710)
• Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia, 1713)

Estates

• Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg
• Oranienbaum with the Great Menshikov Palace
• Palace in Kronstadt
• Palace in Moscow
• Alekseevsky Palace near Moscow (not preserved)
• Ranenburg fortress (almost not preserved)

Memory of Menshikov

• In Moscow, the name of the Generalissimo has been preserved by the Menshikov Tower.
• In St. Petersburg in 1903, Menshikovsky Prospekt appeared.
• In Kolpino (St. Petersburg) in 1997, a bronze bust was erected to the founder of the city, Duke of Izhora A. D. Menshikov (sculptor A. S. Charkin, architect V. S. Vasilkovsky).
• On November 15, 2002, a bronze bust of Menshikov was unveiled in the court d'honneur of the Menshikov Palace (sculptor M. T. Litovchenko, architect O. A. Brunina).
• In the village of Berezovo (Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous region), where A. D. Menshikov was exiled, in 1993 a monument was erected to him (sculptor A. G. Antonov, architect N. A. Mamaev).

Movie incarnations

• Vladimir Karin-Yakubovsky (Tsarevich Alexei, 1918)
• Mikhail Ivanovich Zharov ("Peter the Great", 1937-1938)
• Vladimir Menshov (“The Tale of How Tsar Peter the Black Married”, 1976; “Tsarevich Alexei”, 1997)
• Nikolai Eremenko Jr. ("Youth of Peter", "At the beginning of glorious deeds", 1980)
• Sergei Parshin (Young Russia, 1981)
• Leonid Kuravlev (The Demidovs, 1983)
• Helmut Grim ("Peter the Great"), "Peter the Great", USSR - USA, 1985)
• Sergei Shakurov ("Secrets of palace coups", 2000-2001)
• Andrei Ryklin (“Servant of the Sovereigns”, 2007; “Notes of the Expeditor of the Secret Office”, 2010)
• Sergei Makovetsky ("Peter the Great. Testament", 2011)