Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich. Biography
On July 14, Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin (1743-1816), the famous Russian poet of the 18th century, representative of classicism, statesman, Minister of Justice (1802-1803), was born.
Read also -
Derzhavin's fables
Young Derzhavin failed to obtain a brilliant education. His first teachers were clergymen: a sexton and a sexton. Subsequently - a German convict, a teacher at a private school. And, finally, studying at the Kazan gymnasium, which he did not have the opportunity to graduate from. Young Gabriel was called to St. Petersburg in 1762 and assigned to the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment. The future poet labored as a simple soldier for ten years.
Gavriil Romanovich had an explosive, quarrelsome character, but he himself thought that he was suffering “for the truth.” As for literary creativity, Derzhavin believed that this activity is possible only “in free time from work”, “from positions during hours free.” Nevertheless, in terms of the volume of works written, the Russian poet is one of the most productive authors.
Derzhavin's work, which includes elements of novelty, appears to his contemporaries in a different form than the work of his predecessors, mainly the ode writer, Mikhail Lomonosov. The poet himself was aware of this. IN " in expression and calmness he tried to imitate Mr. Lomonosov... but, wanting to soar, he could not withstand the constant splendor and splendor of the uniquely Russian Pindar with a beautiful set of words. And for that, from 1779 he chose a completely different path.”
He demonstrated this “other way” by writing the famous ode “Felitsa”. It would seem that this is also an ode of praise, but, along with the pathos sentiments that usually dominate in the ode, it contains a sharp socio-political pamphlet. The image of Felitsa - Catherine is virtuous, but she is contrasted with the dubious figures of her “Murz”, “Pashas”, in whom one can recognize various representatives of the highest court nobility. “Not imitating your Murzas...”
The syllable in which the ode is written is nontrivial - taken from everyday life, familiar, easy, colloquial speech, the opposite of the pompous bombast of Lomonosov's odes.
"Felitsa" was highly appreciated by his contemporaries.
The praise of Catherine is one of the themes that runs like a red thread in Derzhavin’s works, but along with it, another main motive of his works clearly manifests itself - the theme of a sharply satirical attitude towards the court nobility, towards the boyars.
Derzhavin’s work is multifaceted: it reflects the heroic experiences of his time and class, as well as the familiar life of noble Russia. Derzhavin’s ideal is to be content with little, to stick to “moderation” of the unpretentious family life of the “poor nobleman”. Contrary to this, praising the “harmful luxury of nobles” is completely unacceptable to him.
Derzhavin's creativity is strong in its novelty and truthfulness. The poet is obsessed with the need to tell about Catherine’s time: a period of fabulously magnificent celebrations, “thundering choirs,” an endlessly joyful “radiant” era in the life of the Russian nobility.
Gabriel Romanovich has seen a lot. It was not his eyes that Pugachevism unfolded. He witnessed Catherine's temporary workers soaring high and rapidly falling. And he himself is sometimes on a “horse”, sometimes without it. “I am a king - I am a slave, I am a worm - I am god».
Derzhavin sang the contradictory nature of life in the ode “Waterfall”. What is a waterfall? This is a “diamond mountain”, falling into the valley with a “thundering roar”. It is very easy for her to “get lost” in the shadow of the “dead forest.” The image of the waterfall is similar to the life fate of one of the most prominent figures of the eighteenth century “son of happiness and glory” - “magnificent prince of Taurida”, Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin-Tavrichesky. But not only him. The image of a waterfall is a sign of the times, a symbol of Catherine’s era.
The works of Derzhavin, a chronicler of his era, truthfully recreate the characters and contradictory morals of the 18th century.
“The world marveled at their brave exploits;
Derzhavin and Petrov rattled a song for the heroes
With the strings of thunderous lyres."
A. Pushkin
Whatever Derzhavin wrote - the collection “Antiquity and Novelty”, “Odes Translated and Composed at Mount Chitalagai in 1774”, “Ode to the Wise Kyrgyz-Kaisak Princess Felitsa, written by the Tatar Murza, who has long settled in Moscow, and lives on his own business in St. Petersburg”, “Waterfall”, “On the Birth of a Porphyritic Youth”, “On the Death of Prince. Meshchersky”, “The Key”, odes “God”, “At the Capture of Ishmael”, “Nobleman”, “Bullfinch” - all these works immortalized him. A.S. Pushkin wrote: “Derzhavin, translated over time, will amaze Europe.”
Derzhavin’s work has not been fully studied; scientific research is still waiting in the wings.
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 the further development of 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 a 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
The first educational institution in Derzhavin’s biography was the Orenburg school, after which he continued to study at the Kazan gymnasium.
Gabriel began to be interested in poetry from a young age. 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.
Military 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 important event occurred in Derzhavin’s biography. 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 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.
If you liked Derzhavin’s biography, share it on social networks. If you generally like biographies of great people, subscribe to the site website. It's always interesting with us!
Did you like the post? Press any button.
Gavriil Derzhavin went down in history not only as a writer, he went from a private in the guard to the Minister of Justice of the 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 a 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 for almost 20 years, such as translations from German and my own works 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 title from the empress’s pedagogical work, “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 receive 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 (“Blind Man’s Bluff”, “Choice of a Minister”), and worked on the treatise “Discourse on Lyric Poetry or 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" adhered to conservative views on literary creativity, opposed 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.
Derzhavin, Gabriel Romanovich, famous poet. Born on July 3, 1743 in Kazan, into a family of small landed nobles. His father, an army officer, lived first in Yaransk, then in Stavropol, and finally in Orenburg. Derzhavin’s parents were not educated, but... ... Biographical Dictionary
- - famous poet, statesman and public figure of the second half of the last and first quarter of this century (b. July 3, 1743, d. July 8, 1816). His ancestor, the Tatar Murza Bagrim, in the 15th century, during the reign of Vasily... ... Large biographical encyclopedia
DERZHAVIN Gabriel Romanovich- Gavriil Romanovich (07/3/1743, Kazan (according to other sources, the village of Karmachi or Sokury near Kazan) 07/8/1816, the village of Zvanka, Novgorod district and province), poet, state. activist From a small noble family of Tatars. origin. In 1759 1762 studied at… … Orthodox Encyclopedia
Derzhavin, Gabriel Romanovich- See also (1743 1716). At a public examination at the Lyceum (1814), young Pushkin, in the presence of Derzhavin, read his Memoirs in Tsarskoe Selo. The poet retained the memory of this first performance in the literary field (Message Zhuk., 1816,... ... Dictionary of literary types
Famous poet; genus. July 3, 1743 in Kazan; By origin he belonged to the small landed nobility. His father, an army officer, almost immediately after the birth of the child had to move even further east on business and lived either in Yaransk or in... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Ephron
Derzhavin, Gabriel Romanovich- (1743 1816) began his poetic activity with odes, in which he tried to imitate Lomonosov. However, starting with Felitsa, an ode in honor of Catherine II, the solemn tone of Lomonosov’s lyrics gradually gives way to Derzhavin’s more lively reality... Historical reference book of Russian Marxist
Derzhavin, Gabriel Romanovich- See also (1743 1816). The first book that Goncharov came across outside of class were D.’s works, which he rewrote and learned by heart (Autobiography) ... Dictionary of literary types
Gabriel Derzhavin Portrait by Borovikovsky Date of birth: July 3 (14), 1743 Place of birth: Kazan, Russian Empire Date of death: July 8 (20), 1816 Place of death: Zvanka estate ... Wikipedia
Gabriel Derzhavin Portrait by Borovikovsky Date of birth: July 3 (14), 1743 Place of birth: Kazan, Russian Empire Date of death: July 8 (20), 1816 Place of death: Zvanka estate ... Wikipedia
Books
- Crimea in Russian poetry and art. Anthology, Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich, Annensky Innokenty Fedorovich, Benediktov Vladimir Grigorievich. Crimea - the “Mecca” of Russian poetry and Russian painting - is presented for the first time in the anthology from the first Derzhavin ode of 1783 about the peaceful annexation of Crimea and the first paintings by the artist His Serene Highness...
- Lyric-epic anthem for driving out the French from their fatherland, Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich. IN…
◊ The rating is calculated based on points awarded over the last week
◊ Points are awarded for:
⇒ visiting pages dedicated to the star
⇒voting for a star
⇒ commenting on a star
Biography, life story of Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich
Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich - poet of the Enlightenment, statesman.
Childhood
Gabriel was born on July 3 (July 14, new style) in 1743 in the small village of Sokury (Kazan province). His parents - Fekla Andreevna and Roman Nikolaevich - were small nobles. My father also held the rank of second major. Unfortunately, the head of the family passed away very early. Gabriel never had time to properly get to know his father.
In 1758, Gabriel Derzhavin entered the local gymnasium. It was there that he first showed his extraordinary talents - the ability to perform plastic arts and drawing. In 1760, the director of the gymnasium even took a map of the Kazan province, drawn by Derzhavin, to St. Petersburg to brag to his superior colleagues about the successes of his students.
Service
In 1762, Gabriel, without having time to graduate from high school, was called up for service. He became a guardsman in the Preobrazhensky Regiment (St. Petersburg). Ten years later he became an officer. Around the same time, he began to slowly write poetry, although at that time they had not yet gained much popularity.
In 1777, Derzhavin resigned.
Government activities
After military service was left behind, Gabriel Romanovich took the post of state councilor in the Governing Senate in the Russian Empire.
In 1784, the Olonets province was created (the city of Petrozavodsk). Gabriel Derzhavin was appointed civil governor of this territory. He fulfilled his duties as the head of the city to perfection: as soon as Derzhavin arrived in Petrozavodsk, he immediately got down to business - he organized financial, judicial and administrative institutions, created a city hospital, in a word, he tried to provide the residents of the province with all the conditions for a good life.
In the period from 1786 to 1788, Gabriel Romanovich was the governor of the Tambov province.
From 1791 to 1793, Derzhavin worked conscientiously as the Empress's cabinet secretary.
CONTINUED BELOW
In 1793, Gabriel Derzhavin became a Privy Councilor. In 1795 - president of the Commerce Collegium (an institution in charge of trade).
In 1802, Derzhavin was appointed Minister of Justice of the Russian Empire. A year later, Gabriel Romanovich left public service and retired to a well-deserved retirement.
Literary activity
Derzhavin became famous as a poet in 1782. That year, the ode “Felitsa” was published, which the master of words dedicated.
Throughout his life, Gabriel Romanovich created many works, including: “God” (1784), “Nobleman” (1794), “Waterfall” (1798) and many, many others. After his resignation from government service, Derzhavin became even more intensely involved in literature.
The poet himself believed that his main purpose (like the purpose of any other poet or writer) was to glorify great deeds and condemn unjust deeds, to convey to the people simple truths - what is good and what is bad.
Personal life
In 1778, Gabriel married the sixteen-year-old beauty Bastidon Ekaterina Yakovlevna, the daughter of a former servant of the Russian Emperor Peter III. Alas, their happy family life ended abruptly in 1794 - Catherine died. She was only thirty-four years old. She never managed to give her husband heirs.
For six months, Derzhavin was inconsolable, but then he met Dyakova Dya Alekseevna, the daughter of the Senate Chief Prosecutor Alexei Afanasyevich Dyakov. Gabriel lived with Daria until the end of his days, and he left all his property to her (the Zvanka estate in the Novgorod region). There were no children in this marriage either.
Death
Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin died at home in Zvanka on July 8 (July 20, new style) in 1816. He was buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral (Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery, Novgorod region). In 1959, his remains were reburied in the Novgorod Kremlin (the Transfiguration Cathedral was almost destroyed). However, already in 1993, when the cathedral was completely restored, the remains returned to their original place.
Awards
At one time, Gabriel Derzhavin was awarded several awards, including: two Orders of St. Vladimir (second and third degrees) and the Order of St.
