Derzhavin is all about him. Valentin Kruglov

The poet Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich was born on July 3 (July 14), 1743 in the Kazan province into a family of impoverished nobles. His childhood was spent on a family estate in the village of Sokury. Since 1759, Derzhavin studied at the Kazan gymnasium.

In 1762, the future poet entered service as an ordinary guardsman in the Preobrazhensky Regiment. In 1772 he was promoted to ensign, receiving his first officer rank. In 1773 - 1775, Derzhavin, as part of the regiment, participated in the suppression of the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev.

Civil service

Since 1777, Derzhavin entered the civil service in Governing Senate with the rank of state councilor. In 1784 - 1788 he held the post of ruler of the Olonetsky, and then the Tambov governorship. Even in a brief biography of Derzhavin, it is worth mentioning that he was actively involved in improving the economy of the region and contributed to the formation of provincial administrative, judicial and financial institutions.

In 1791, Derzhavin was appointed cabinet secretary of Catherine II. Since 1793, the poet has served as the empress's secret adviser. In 1795, Derzhavin received the post of president of the Commerce Collegium. From 1802 to 1803 he served as Minister of Justice.

Last years of life

In 1803, Derzhavin retired and settled on his Zvanka estate in the Novgorod province. The poet devotes the last years of his life literary activity. In 1813, Derzhavin, whose biography was full of trips even during this period, went to Ukraine to visit V.V. Kapnist. In 1815 he attended the exam in Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, listening to the works of young Alexander Pushkin.

On July 8 (July 20), 1816, Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin died on his estate. The poet was buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery near Veliky Novgorod.

Creation

The work of Gabriel Derzhavin is considered the pinnacle of Russian classicism. The poet's first works appeared during his military service. In 1773, Derzhavin made his debut in the magazine “Antiquity and Novelty” with a translation of the excerpt “Iroizha, or Letters of Vivlida to Kavno” from the works of Ovid. In 1774, the works “Ode on Greatness” and “Ode on Nobility” saw the light of day.

In 1776, the poet’s first collection of poems, “Odes Translated and Composed at Mount Chitalagoe,” was published.

Since 1779, Derzhavin has been moving away from the traditions laid down by Sumarokov and Lomonosov, working on philosophical lyrics. In 1782, the ode “Felitsa” was published, dedicated to Empress Catherine II, which brought the poet wide literary fame. Soon other famous works of Derzhavin appeared - “The Nobleman”, “Eugene. Life of Zvanskaya”, “On the Death of Prince Meshchersky”, “God”, “Dobrynya”, “Waterfall”, “Herod and Mariamne”, etc.

In 1808, a collection of Derzhavin’s works was published in four volumes.

Chronological table

Other biography options

The Derzhavin family originates from the son of the Tatar Murza Bagrim, who bore the name Derzhava.
The first wife of G.R. Derzhavin was Ekaterina Bastidon, the daughter of the Portuguese Bastidon, the former valet of Peter III.
Derzhavin studied German from the age of seven, read Klopstock, Gellert, Kleist, Haller, Gagedorn in the original, which significantly affected his literary work.
Derzhavin’s poem “The Thunder of Victory, Ring Out!”, created in 1791, became the first unofficial anthem of Russia.
For differences in public service Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich was awarded the Order

Private, gambler, collegiate adviser
“Felitsa” and the first anthem of Russia

Gavriil Derzhavin went down in history not only as a writer, he went from a private in the guard to the Minister of Justice Russian Empire. He was the governor of two regions and personal assistant to Catherine II. He wrote the first unofficial anthem of Russia, participated in one of the first literary circles of the 18th century, and then created his own - “Conversation of Lovers of the Russian Word.”

Gabriel Derzhavin was born in 1743 near Kazan. His father died early, and it was difficult for his mother to give her sons good education. The family moved often. First, Derzhavin studied at an Orenburg school, then at a Kazan gymnasium. Here he became acquainted with the poetry of Mikhail Lomonosov, Alexander Sumarokov, Vasily Trediakovsky and tried to write poetry himself. Vladislav Khodasevich wrote about his first works: “It came out clumsy and clumsy; neither a verse nor a syllable was given, and there was no one to show it to, no one to ask for advice and guidance.”.

Since 1762, Gabriel Derzhavin served as an ordinary guardsman in the Preobrazhensky Regiment. The poet recalled this time as the most joyless period of his life. He carried out heavy military service, and in rare free moments he wrote poetry. In part, Derzhavin became addicted to cards, he wrote in his autobiography: “I learned conspiracies and all sorts of gamer scams. But, thank God, my mother’s conscience, or better yet, her prayers, never allowed her to indulge in brazen theft or treacherous betrayal.”. Because of his destructive hobby, Derzhavin was once almost demoted to soldier: he was so carried away by the game that he did not return from discharge on time.

Ivan Smirnovsky. Portrait of Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin. 1790

Having decided to end his wild life, Derzhavin moved to St. Petersburg. At this time, the plague was raging in Russia, and at the quarantine outpost - at the entrance to the capital - the poet was forced to burn all his papers: “Everything that I scribbled throughout my youth after almost 20 years, such as: translations from German language and his own writings in prose and poetry. Whether they were good or bad, it is now impossible to say; but among his close friends who read it... they praised him very much.”. Many of the lost poems were later reproduced by Gabriel Derzhavin from memory.

During the Peasant War (1773–1775), Gabriel Derzhavin served on the Volga and worked on the commission to investigate the cases of Emelyan Pugachev’s accomplices. He wrote an “exhortation to the Kalmyks,” in which he called on them to repent and not support peasant unrest. The commander-in-chief of the troops, Alexander Bibikov, sent this message along with a report to Catherine II. Derzhavin's financial situation was difficult, and soon he wrote a letter to the Empress listing his merits. The poet was appointed collegiate adviser and was granted 300 souls. And four years later a book with odes to Derzhavin was published.

Soon, Gabriel Derzhavin married Ekaterina Bastidon, the daughter of the former valet of Peter III and nurse of Paul I. Derzhavin called his wife Plenira - from the word “to captivate” - and dedicated many poems to her. It was during these years that he acquired his own literary style. He wrote philosophical lyrics - odes “On the Death of Prince Meshchersky” (1799), “God” (1784), the poem “Autumn during the Siege of Ochakov” (1788).

“Felitsa” and the first anthem of Russia

Derzhavin published, but he was not very well known in literary circles. Everything changed in 1783, when the poet wrote the ode “Felitsa” with a dedication to Catherine II. The poet took the name from pedagogical essay Empress - “Tales of Prince Chlorus.” In his poem, the “princess of the Kyrgyz-Kaisak horde” turned into the ideal of an enlightened ruler, the mother of the people. For the ode, Derzhavin was awarded a gold snuffbox studded with diamonds, containing 500 chervonets. And after a loud poetic performance, the poet began to be awarded high positions. However, Derzhavin’s principled character prevented him from getting along with officials, and he was often transferred from place to place.

“As soon as some injustice or oppression meted out to someone touches his ears or, on the contrary, some feat of philanthropy and good deed - immediately his cap is askew, it comes to life, his eyes sparkle, and the poet turns into an orator, a champion of the truth.”
Stepan Zhikharev

Salvator Tonchi. Portrait of Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin. 1801

In 1784 he was appointed Olonets governor in Petrozavodsk, and in 1785 he was transferred to Tambov. This region was then one of the most backward in the country. Derzhavin built a school, a hospital, an orphanage in Tambov, opened a city theater and the first printing house in the city.

Six years later, the poet went into the service of the Empress personally: he became her cabinet secretary. But since honest Derzhavin reported more “every kind of unpleasant thing, that is, petitions for injustice, rewards for merit and favors due to poverty”, Catherine II tried to contact her assistant as rarely as possible, and soon he was completely transferred to serve in the Senate.

In 1791, Derzhavin created the first anthem of Russia, albeit unofficial. There was a war with Turkey, Russian troops led by Alexander Suvorov took the Izmail fortress. Inspired by this victory, Derzhavin wrote the poem “The Thunder of Victory, Ring Out!” The poem was set to music by composer Osip Kozlovsky. Only 15 years later, “Thunder of Victory” was replaced by the official anthem “God Save the Tsar!”

After the death of his first wife, the poet married a second time - to Daria Dyakova. Derzhavin did not have children in any marriage. The couple took care of the children of a deceased family friend, Pyotr Lazarev. One of his sons, Mikhail Lazarev, became an admiral, discoverer of Antarctica, and governor of Sevastopol. Daria Dyakova’s nieces were also raised in the family.

Under Paul I, Derzhavin served in the Supreme Council, was president of the Commerce Collegium and state treasurer. Under Emperor Alexander I - Minister of Justice of the Russian Empire. All this time the poet continued to write. He created the odes “God”, “Nobleman”, “Waterfall”. In 1803, Gabriel Derzhavin finally left government service.

I didn't know how to pretend
Look like a saint
To inflate yourself with an important dignity,
And the philosopher takes the form...
...I fell, I got up in my age.
Come on, sage! on my coffin there is a stone,
If you're not human.
Gabriel Derzhavin

“Conversation among lovers of the Russian word”

After his resignation, Gabriel Derzhavin devoted himself entirely to literature. He wrote tragedies, comedies and operas for the theater, and created poetic translations of Racine. The poet also composed fables (“Dead Man’s Bluff”, “Choice of a Minister”), worked on the treatise “Discourse on lyric poetry or about an ode." “Notes,” as the author called them, contained the theory of versification and examples of poetry from different periods, starting with ancient Greek. In 1812, the poet wrote the fairy tale “The Tsar Maiden”.

Gabriel Derzhavin organized the literary circle “Conversation of lovers of the Russian word.” It included writers Dmitry Khvostov, Alexander Shishkov, Alexander Shakhovskoy, Ivan Dmitriev.

“His head was a repository of comparisons, comparisons, maxims and pictures for his future poetic works. He spoke abruptly and not eloquently. But the same man spoke for a long time, sharply and passionately when he recounted some dispute on an important matter in the Senate or about court intrigues, and sat until midnight at the paper when he wrote a vote, conclusion or draft of some government decree. .
Ivan Dmitriev

Besedchiki held conservative views on literary creativity, opposed the reforms of the Russian language - they were defended by supporters of Nikolai Karamzin. The Karamzinists were the main opponents of Beseda; later they formed the Arzamas society.

Gabriel Derzhavin’s last work was the unfinished poem “The River of Times in its Aspiration...”. In 1816, the poet died on his Novgorod estate Zvanka.

Immortal Tonchi! you are mine
In that face, I hear you write,
Whatever your skill is
In the ancient Omir, Aristides,
Socrates and Cato forever
The descendants of the later ones were surprised;
It shone in the gray hairs of my bald head,
And a person would mature in him,

Don't scare your wife, friends,
Give me a little tenderness:
So that I can be kind to children,
Only in office would I judge everyone strictly;
So that the heat boils in my blood,
And the eyes shone with softness;
The beauties would sigh for me,
At least in platonic love.

November 1801

Source: G.R. Derzhavin. Complete collection of poems. – L.: Soviet writer, 1957, pp. 285–286. Notes
2. Tonchiyu.– first published: An. p., p. 105. Print. according to Ed. 1808, vol. 3, p. 121.
When the famous Italian artist Salvator Tonchi (1756–1844), who arrived in Russia in the mid-1790s, began to paint a portrait of Derzhavin, some advised him to depict the poet in a uniform and in all orders, others - without any decorations. Tonchi turned to Derzhavin himself, “who, in order to satisfy both sides of the debaters, ordered to present himself as he is described in this ode.” That is, the poet composed his “instruction” for him in poetic form.
Poem written as “a program for a portrait of the author (Derzhavin), given to this painter on November 1801” (Ob. D., 718). The artist accurately embodied the poet’s intention, conveying in the painting the content of the 4th and 5th stanzas of the poem. He even tried to convey the content of the line “To walk, we are only led by nature” by depicting Derzhavin’s footprints in the snow. The painting is kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Total Tonchi created 3 portraits of Derzhavin: a sketch (presented on this page) and 2 paintings, one of which was sent as a gift to the Irkutsk millionaire Sibiryakov (the same one who sent an expensive gift to the capital - a sable fur coat and a hat - to the first poet, who was Gavrila Derzhavin in 1801) . A painting from the State Tretyakov Gallery after the opening of the Museum of G.R. Derzhavin and Russian literature of his time in St. Petersburg is in

Gabriel Derzhavin is an outstanding Russian poet, playwright, prose writer and statesman. He was a true patriot of his Motherland, which he often extolled in his works.

His work had a great influence on further development Russian literature, which was recognized by all subsequent writers.

Biography of Derzhavin is somewhat different from classical writers, and is somewhat reminiscent of another great poet and diplomat -.

So, here is the biography of Gabriel Derzhavin ().

Childhood and youth

Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin was born on July 3, 1743 in the village of Sokury, Kazan province. He grew up in large family with a very modest income.

His father, Roman Nikolaevich, served as a second major. He died at an early age, so Gabriel barely remembered him.

In this regard, the mother, Fekla Andreevna, had to work hard to feed her children.

Education

First educational institution Derzhavin’s biography included the Orenburg school, after which he continued to study at the Kazan gymnasium.

Gabriel began to be interested in poetry from youth. Most of all he liked the work of Trediakovsky and Sumarokov.

Remembering by heart many of the poems of these poets, he begins to compose poems himself. And this is immediately easy for him.

Army service

In 1762, Gabriel Derzhavin served as an ordinary guardsman in the Preobrazhensky Regiment.

Derzhavin in his youth

It is interesting that in the future the regiment will take an active part in the coup d'etat, as a result of which it will come to power.

Army service did not bring any pleasure to the future poet, since he did not have free time to write works.

In addition, Derzhavin became addicted to playing cards.

To beat his opponents, he had to cheat. It is worth noting that because of this he experienced serious remorse.

When, over time, he manages to leave this severe dependence, Derzhavin will thank God for this.

Second marriage

In 1794, a tragedy occurred in Derzhavin’s biography. His wife Ekaterina, with whom he lived for 19 years, died.

A year later, the poet married Daria Dyakova. He also had no children in this marriage. As a result, the couple raised the children of their family friend, Peter Lazarev.

An interesting fact is that one of these children, Mikhail, in the future became a famous admiral, scientist, governor and discoverer of the Arctic.

Career peak

During the reign of Paul 1, Derzhavin served as president of the Commerce College and state treasurer.

When he became the next emperor, the poet found himself in the position of Minister of Justice. It is worth noting that in both the first and second cases he managed to cope with his duties perfectly.

In 1803, another thing happened in Derzhavin’s biography. important event. He decided to end his government activities and devote himself entirely to literature.

Derzhavin's creativity

Shortly before his resignation, Gabriel Derzhavin lived for a long time on the estate that belonged to his second wife. There he wrote more than 60 poems and published the first volume of his works.

It is interesting that in addition to unusually deep and philosophical poems, Derzhavin wrote several plays.

It is important to note that Derzhavin’s work was admired by Derzhavin, who first met him at a lyceum exam. Then Gavriil Romanovich was among the commission members.

The still very young Pushkin made a wonderful impression on him. Derzhavin even wanted to hug the unusually gifted applicant, but he hastily left the room where the exam was taking place, as he was unable to hold back his tears.

Death

Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin died on July 20, 1816 at the age of 73. He was buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral.

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Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich, whose biography formed the basis of this article, forever entered the Russian history not only as an outstanding poet and playwright, but also as statesman, past the path from a guard private to the head of the Ministry of Justice. Having had a huge influence on the further development of Russian literature, he at the same time became a model of a true citizen and patriot.

The childhood of a young poet

Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin was born on July 14, 1743 in the family village of Sokury near Kazan. The family had many children, and due to the early death of its head, Roman Nikolaevich, the mother of the future poet, Fyokla Andreevna, could not give the children a proper education. This was also hampered by frequent moves caused by various everyday circumstances.

Nevertheless, while studying at an Orenburg school and then at a Kazan gymnasium, young Gabriel Derzhavin early became addicted to classical Russian poetry, the highest examples of which at that time were the poems of M. Lomonosov, V. Trediakovsky and A. Sumarokov. His first own poetic experiments date back to this time. However, the early poems of the novice poet came out somewhat clumsily and clumsily - this was due to the lack of knowledge of the basics of versification and the opportunity to consult with someone more experienced in this area.

Army service

In 1762, Gabriel Derzhavin was assigned as a private in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment, which took part in the coup d'etat, which resulted in the accession to the throne of Empress Catherine II. The years spent in the army, by the poet’s own admission, were the most joyless period of his life. Heavy military service took up almost all of his time and energy, allowing him to write poetry only in rare free moments.

Subsequently, Gabriel Derzhavin, briefly describing in his memoirs the features of army life, said that in those years he often indulged in a common vice of the guards regiments - playing cards. Moreover, having found himself in an environment where cheating flourished, he himself quickly learned their trickster tricks, and only thanks to “God and his mother’s prayers” - that’s exactly what he wrote in his memoirs - did he not slide to the bottom of society.

Looking ahead to your future career

Beginning in 1772, the further biography of Gabriel Derzhavin took a different direction: he was promoted to officer, and from 1773 to 1775 he took part in the work of the state commission investigating the circumstances of the Pugachev rebellion.

Experiencing severe financial difficulties, Gabriel Romanovich turned to the empress herself for help, since in those days the autocrats did not yet disdain to read the letters of their subjects. His direct superior, Commander-in-Chief of the troops, Chief General A. Bibikov, attached his own report to the message, in which he highly appreciated Derzhavin’s merits in “establishing law-abidingness among the Kalmyks.” As a result, very soon the young man was awarded the rank of collegiate adviser and became the owner of 300 serf souls, bestowed upon him personally by the empress.

First marriage and attainment of creative maturity

In the same year, 1775, another important and joyful event occurred in the life of Gabriel Derzhavin - he got married. His wife was the sixteen-year-old girl Ekaterina Bastidon, whose father was once the valet of the murdered Emperor Peter III, and whose mother was the nurse of the future Emperor Paul I. As befits a true poet, Derzhavin sang his chosen one in poetry, calling her Plenira - from the verb “to captivate” "

Most researchers of the poet’s work consider these years to be the period when he found his own literary style, which made it possible to create a cycle of outstanding works in the genre philosophical lyrics. At the same time, his works began to be published for the first time, but did not bring the author widespread fame in literary circles.

Golden snuffbox from the hands of the Empress

Fame came to Derzhavin only after writing the ode “Felitsa”, dedicated to Empress Catherine II. In this work, filled with the most loyal feelings, the author presented the Russian autocrat as the ideal of an enlightened ruler and mother of nations.

Such obvious flattery, dressed in a highly artistic form, did not go without due reward. The “Mother of Nations” granted the poet a golden snuff-box studded with diamonds and filled with chervonets, after which Gabriel Romanovich’s career took off sharply. Appointments to various high positions followed one after another, but Derzhavin’s character traits prevented him from getting along with other officials and caused frequent transfers from place to place.

At the head of the Olonets region

In 1776, the previously created Olonets province was transformed into a governorate, and by decree of the Empress, Gabriel Derzhavin was appointed its first governor. His responsibilities, among other things, included monitoring compliance with the law by all officials subordinate to him. This turned out to be the cause of many troubles that soon followed.

In those early years, embezzlers were not yet called corrupt officials, but this did not make them less numerous. Theft was widespread, and the expression “take according to rank” even came into use. This meant that petty bureaucrats could “grasp” with impunity only a small fraction of what they had access to. Middle-level officials were secretly allowed to profit in a much larger volume, but everyone, “a greedy crowd standing at the throne,” as M.Yu. Lermontov, - they plunged their hand into the treasury up to the elbow with impunity.

It was these lawlessnesses that once happened in Russia that Gabriel Romanovich encountered in his new post. Being a decent and law-abiding person, he tried his best to fight the evil that surrounded him, but as a result he only made numerous ill-wishers both in the structures under his control and in court circles, which was the reason for his subsequent resignation.

Nevertheless, during the years spent as governor, and having a residence first in Petrozavodsk and then in Tambov, Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin managed to do many good deeds before his resignation. Thus, through his efforts, the first Tambov theater was opened, a city school was built, a hospital for the poor opened its doors, and a printing house began operating.

Cabinet Secretary of the Empress

The next step on the career ladder of Gabriel Derzhavin was service as the personal office secretary of Catherine II. Ignoring the slander that rained down on the poet from all sides, the Empress brought him closer to her as a sign of gratitude for the ode he had once written in her honor.

But Gabriel Romanovich did not stay in this position for long, since he had the habit of reporting on all matters, presenting them in a true, and sometimes unsightly, light, which greatly upset his benefactress. He also bothered her with constant petitions for those in need and suffering from injustice. It ended with the Empress getting tired of him, and she sent him out of sight - transferred to the Senate.

Creator of the first Russian anthem

While in this honorable exile, Derzhavin created his most famous work. In 1791, inspired by the news of the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov, he wrote the poem “The Thunder of Victory, Ring Out.” Set to music by composer Osip Kozlovsky, over the following years it was the official anthem of Russia, which was replaced only in 1833 by the famous “God Save the Tsar,” written by another outstanding Russian poet, V. Zhukovsky, in collaboration with composer A. Lvov.

Remarriage

In 1794, Gabriel Romanovich’s wife, the muse he once sang in poetry, died, giving her the romantic name Plenira. After a year, the not-so-old widower married again. He united his fate with Daria Alekseevna Dyakova, who also became the heroine of his poems, this time under the name Milena.

Both marriages of the famous poet, although filled with love, turned out to be childless. Having no offspring of their own, the couple raised the children of the deceased family friend P. Lazarev. One of them, Mikhail, later became a famous admiral, discoverer and explorer of the Arctic.

Career peak

During the reign of Paul I, Derzhavin served as president of the Commerce Collegium and state treasurer, and Alexander I, who subsequently ascended the throne, appointed him minister of justice. But wherever he served, Gabriel Romanovich tried with all his might to eradicate bribery and embezzlement, which invariably made enemies for himself. In 1803, he submitted a petition to the highest name and ended his government activities, devoting himself entirely to literature.

Subsequent life and work of the poet

Even before his resignation, Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin loved Zvanka, an estate that belonged to his second wife Daria Alekseevna. In it he spent recent years his life, writing about 60 poems and preparing the first volume of his works for publication. In addition to poetic works, his name is associated with works in the field of drama. These include librettos created for several operas, as well as tragedies: “Herod and Marianne”, “Eupraxia” and “The Dark One”.

Derzhavin's poetry had a huge influence on the early work of A. S. Pushkin, who read his poems from childhood and studied them in Russian literature classes at the Lyceum. They only got to see each other once. In 1815, Derzhavin was invited to the Lyceum exam, where the still very young Alexander Pushkin read his famous poem “Memories of Tsarskoe Selo” in his presence. A reproduction from a painting by I. E. Repin reproducing this episode is presented in the article. The venerable master, seeing his brilliant successor in the dark young man and deeply touched by his poems, wanted to hug Pushkin, but he ran away, unable to hold back his sobs.

The death of the poet and the subsequent fate of his remains

Death overtook him in 1816 on the Zvanka estate, which, as mentioned above, Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin loved before his retirement, often visited, and in which he spent the rest of his life. His ashes, transported along the Volkhov to Veliky Novgorod, were buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral, located on the territory of the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery. Later, his second wife, Daria Alekseevna, was buried there.

During the Great Patriotic War the monastery found itself in a combat zone and was completely destroyed. The Derzhavins' grave was also badly damaged. In 1959, their remains were reburied, placed in the Novgorod Detinets, and in 1993, when the poet’s 250th anniversary was celebrated, they were returned to the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery, which had been revived by that time.

Among the names of outstanding Russian poets who brought glory to Russian literature, Gabriel Derzhavin, short biography which was presented in this article. The study of his life and work has great value not only from the aesthetic side, but also from the educational side, since the truths that he preached are eternal.