Alexander Menshikov, a favorite of Peter I, according to legend, was the son of a court groom and sold pies in Moscow. As a boy, he was noticed by Franz Lefort, a prominent dignitary of that time. From the entourage of Lefort, Menshikov was taken to his batmen by Peter. He helped the future emperor create "fun" regiments, and then fight. He was the first of the "chicks of Petrov's nest", faithful assistant in all endeavors - from war to dinner.
Illiterate
In our time, when politicians and public figures are regularly caught plagiarizing, and a doctor of historical sciences, who has no idea about the methods of working with sources, has been appointed Minister of Culture due to a criminal misunderstanding, it is hardly surprising that the first Russian member of the Royal Society, according to Apparently, he could neither read nor write. Both foreign diplomats and courtiers, for example, the personal turner of Peter I, Andrei Nartov, testified to the illiteracy of the closest associate of the emperor. And although many “patriotic” historians have appeared (who understand patriotism very wrongly), who are trying to refute the idea of the illiteracy of the most illustrious prince, their arguments are not yet convincing. Historian S.P. Luppov noted: “For many years of work in the archives on the funds of the Petrine era, we were not able to see a single document written by Menshikov, but we had to meet only papers written by other people and only signed by Menshikov’s uncertain hand.” However, the fact that Alexander Danilovich was not literate does not in the least negate his numerous merits in the state field.
Menshikov was selling pies
The question of the origin of the Most Serene Prince still causes a lot of controversy. Menshikov himself persistently promoted the version that he came from the Lithuanian-Polish noble family of Menzhikov. He even got an official paper from the congress of the Lithuanian gentry. However, later, not satisfied with such an origin, Menshikov tried to substantiate his genealogy from the Varangians, close to the Rurik family. The version about the noble origin of Peter's favorite was in doubt even during his lifetime. The idea was very popular among the people that the most illustrious prince came out of the lowest circles, and before being surrounded by the emperor he was a simple peddler of pies. The version about pies, in particular, is confirmed by the testimonies of the turner Nartov. The secretary of the Austrian embassy, Johann Korb, dismissively called Menshikov "Aleksashka" and noted that he "was exalted to the top of enviable power from the lowest fate among people."
Corruptionist
They say that after the death of Lefort, Peter I mournfully remarked: "I have one hand left, thieving, but true." This is about Menshikov. The Most Serene Prince was caught stealing more than once. He obtained his untold wealth in a completely ignoble way: illegally seizing lands, enslaving the Cossacks and directly stealing from the treasury. Menshikov was charged with embezzlement of more than one and a half million rubles, and this at a time when the annual expenses of the state amounted to about 5 million. The prince was saved by friendship with the tsar and the intercession of Catherine. Petitions filed in time significantly reduced the amount of the debt that had to be paid to Menshikov, convicted of theft. Peter could not keep his anger at his pet for a long time. Everyone knew about the theft of Alexander Danilovich, but while the tsar's favor overshadowed him, nothing could be done.
Businessman
Entrepreneurship is here main characteristic Prince Menshikov. And he showed it not only on the battlefield, in state affairs, court intrigues and godless embezzlement. Menshikov was an entrepreneur in the most modern and even positive value word: he was a businessman. To extract profit, the prince used every opportunity. Not satisfied with the standard dues, he organized numerous crafts on his lands for the processing of agricultural products and the extraction of minerals. Brick production, sawing wood, distilleries, salt and fisheries, a crystal factory - this is just an incomplete list of enterprises organized by Menshikov. He also created the first silk manufactory in Russia, modeled on the Parisian one. Why not a young, ambitious startup?
Builder
The Most Serene Prince was a builder approximately in the sense in which Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov was also. As the governor of the Izhora land (today it is St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region), Menshikov was responsible for the construction of Shlisselburg, Kronstadt, Peterhof and St. Petersburg. Naturally, such a position had the best effect on the business of a high-ranking official: in fact, he led the formation of the largest construction market in the Empire, which ensured a steady demand for the products of his numerous enterprises. Traded Menshikov and state food contracts. Prices, of course, were considerably inflated, and contracts were drawn up through nominees. As the investigation found out, Menshikov's net profit for the supply of provisions to the state in 1712 exceeded 60%. The total damage from the food contracting activities of the prince was estimated at 144,788 rubles. However, compared with the amount of direct embezzlement of Menshikov, these are mere pennies.
Insatiable
It's no secret that Menshikov's ambitions had no limits. After the death of Peter, he brought Catherine to the throne and actually became the main person in the state. Menshikov intended to become related to the imperial family by betrothing his daughter to the grandson of Peter the Great. He managed to capture his ambitions even on state coins. In 1726, the Most Serene Prince decided to carry out a monetary reform, lowering the fineness of the silver coin, which was supposed to bring additional profit from minting. In the future, it was planned to generally mint dimes from a cheap alloy of the “new invention”. The new coins were distinguished by an unusual monogram, which consisted not only of the letter “I” (“Empress”) and the letter “E” (“Catherine”), but also included an additional element - the letter “Y”, which had no justification in the name of the Empress. The fact is that in articulation with the letters "I" (the letters "I" and "E" were given in mirror image), "Y" gave "M", that is, "Menshikov". The coins, however, came out of such poor quality that they were completely unsuitable for circulation and were quickly withdrawn. And already in 1727, after the death of Catherine, Menshikov lost in a court fight, was deprived of property, ranks and awards, and exiled to the Siberian city of Berezov, where he died two years later.
Fellow of the Royal Society
Menshikov became the first Russian member of the Royal Society of London. However, it is not necessary to talk about his contribution to science. The decision to elect was primarily a political one. It seems that the members of the Royal Society did not dare to refuse "the most powerful and most venerable lord, Mr. Alexander Menshikov, prince of the Roman and Russian empires, ruler of Oranienburg, first in the Councils of the Royal Majesty, Marshal, Governor of the conquered regions, cavalier of the Order of the Elephant and the Supreme Order of the Black Eagle, etc." , who personally wrote to Newton with a request for election. Moreover, such a high-ranking official could support scientists financially. Perhaps precisely because Menshikov was aware of the modesty of his scientific achievements, he never added these three words to his magnificent title: member of the Royal Society.
"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 College 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 naval 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 scorer 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 stormy 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 ordered the entry of Russian troops into 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.
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Here are collected images of both, and Menshikov, on the acceptance of Menshikov as a member of the Royal Society, as well as some information about, and that time. Look carefully at the portraits of Peter. Can portraits of the king be like that? Their style is almost identical to the style of the portraits of Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the "Society of Jesus" (look, for example, at the portrait of the founder of the Jesuit order). But can the portraits of the tsar and the first persons of the Russian state belong to the pen of "unknown artists"? The collection of images compiled here is obviously not complete. I am sure that the interested reader will be able to find many other interesting images of the time on their own. Igor Agrantsev wrote another book about Menshikov "Alexander Menshikov. Tsarevich without a throne", but it is currently impossible to buy it. 01.08.2009.
Added a new book by Nosovsky G.V. and Fomenko A.T. In addition to the question of whether Peter was king or not, the question of how many were there is of some interest? Yes Yes. Exactly. How many Peters the First were there - one or two? The fact is that some surviving information suggests that there were two of them. Two different Peters. And if this is confirmed, then, probably, Natalya Naryshkina then gave birth to twins. 01.08.2009. Site added"People's Monarchy" by Ivan Solonevich , where the author's opinion about the reign of Peter is given. 05.09.2010. Added by A. Burovsky " Peter the Great. Cursed Emperor". |
Maps of Muscovy of Peter the Great
Peter I - images
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Portrait of Peter I Image taken from website |
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Portrait of Peter I August Tolyander (1835-1910) 1874. Oil on canvas. 140 x 115. Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia. Petrozavodsk |
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Portrait of Peter the Great Image taken from website |
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Portrait of Peter the Great. Image taken from website |
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Portrait of Peter I Image taken from website |
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Portrait of Peter I. Image taken from website |
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Portrait of Russian Tzar Peter I ( the Great) by Godfrey Kneller (1698). Image taken from website |
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Portrait of Peter I Image taken from website |
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Portrait of Peter I Image taken from website |
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The image is taken from the Wikipedia site. |
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Image taken from websiteWikipedia. |
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Two engraved portraits Martina Bernigerota from the magazine "Newly discovered Mirror of the World and Cities". On the left - Pyotr Alekseevich, the Great Tsar-Autocrat and the Grand Duke of Moscow - the "Great Khan Prinador" of Lambert's narration. On the right - "Monsieur Lambert, Moscow General Engineer" himself. V 1711 in the historical-geographical, genealogical, heraldic, political and legal journal "The Newly Discovered Mirror of the World and Cities" published in The Hague, a famous master of engraving Martin Bernigeroth published several portraits of people associated with the history of contemporary Russia. Images and comments to them are taken from the book by Alexander Matveyevich Sharymov "Prehistory of St. Petersburg. 1703. Book of Research.", which is published on the website http://gorchev.lib.ru/ik/. |
Alexander Menshikov - images
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Coat of arms of Menshikov. Image taken from the site |
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The famous lattice The picture and description of the lattice are taken from the State Hermitage Museum website. Two paired the forged railings of the upper vestibule are made of iron tetrahedral bars with volute-shaped curls characteristic of the early 18th century. The lattice pattern is an interlaced double monogram of Peter I (PP - Petrus Primus) and Alexander Menshikov (AM). Unique grilles testify high level metal processing in St. Petersburg at that time and the role of the palace as a center public life cities. Here, Governor-General Menshikov on behalf of Peter I was supposed to arrange solemn receptions for diplomats and festivities on the occasion of military victories. The bars also testify to the closeness of the owner to Peter I, which Menshikov tried to emphasize in every possible way. |
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Martin Bernigeroth.
Portrait of Alexander Menshikov. Image taken from the sitehttp://gorchev.lib.ru/ik/Predystoriya SPb_1703god/B2_Razdel_2/2_2_10.html |
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Alexander Menshikov.
Bust by Rastrelli Image taken from the site |
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Alexander Menshikov.
The engraving was exhibited at the exhibition "PetraCreation…”, dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg. Image taken from website |
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Portrait of His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov. Unknown artist. Berezovsky Museum of Local Lore. Image takenfrom the site |
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Most Serene Prince A.D. Menshikov, Governor General of Ingermanland Image takenfrom the site |
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An interesting collection of images, including portraits of Menshikov's wife and daughters - here - |
Alexander Menshikov - the first Russian member of the Royal Society
An instructive example of the fame and popularity of Newton and the Royal Society he headed at the beginning of the 18th century. serves as a letter (on French) associate of Peter the Great, Prince A.D. Menshikov to Newton dated August 23, 1714 with a request to accept him as a member of the Society. Three drafts of Newton's response letter to Menshikov, written in his hand in Latin, have been preserved. One of these drafts was donated by the Royal Society to the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in 1943 (Fig. 31) and is currently kept in the Archives of the Academy. Here is a translation of this especially valuable document for us:
Thus, A.D. Menshikov became the first Russian member of the Royal Society."To the most powerful and most venerable Vladyka Mr. Alexander Menshikov, Prince of the Roman and Russian Empires, Ruler of Oranienburg ,Isaac Newton sends greetings to the first in the Councils of the Royal Majesty, Marshal, Governor of the conquered regions, holder of the Order of the Elephant and the Supreme Order of the Black Eagle, etc.
Since it has become known to the Royal Society that Your Emperor, His Royal Majesty, with the greatest zeal, develops in his domains the arts and sciences and that you, by your service, help Him not only in the management of military and civil affairs, but above all also in the distribution of good books and sciences, to that extent we were all filled with joy when the English merchants let us know that Your Excellency, due to his highest enlightenment, special desire for science, and also out of love for our people, would like to join our Society. At that time, according to custom, we stopped gathering until the end of summer and autumn. But when we heard about what was said, we all gathered to elect Your Excellency, while we were unanimous. And now, taking advantage of the first meeting, we confirm this election with a diploma, sealed with the seal of our community. The Society also instructed its secretary to send you the diploma and notify you of your election. Be healthy.
Alexander Menshikov - titles
General
Field Marshal General
His Serene Highness Prince Izhora
Menshikov Alexander Danilovich
| November 6, 1673 | was born |
| 1698 | Sergeant of the Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment |
| 1700 | lieutenant of the bombardment company |
| 1702 | Governor of Noteburg (Shlisselburg) |
| November 1702 | Count of the Holy Roman Empire |
| May 10, 1703 | awarded the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called |
| 1703 | Governor General of Ingermanland |
| 1703 - May 1724 | 1st General-Governor of St. Petersburg |
| 1704 | Major General |
| 1704 | Lieutenant General |
| 1704 | Governor-General of Narva and all conquered places; "Chief of the Cavalry" |
| 1705 | received the Polish Order of the White Eagle |
| 1706 | Prince of the Holy Roman Empire |
| 1706 | Lieutenant Colonel of the Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment |
| 1707 | Active Privy Councilor |
| May 20, 1707 |
Highly granted to the Princely Russian dignity with the title of Duke of Izhora and Most Serene |
| 1708 | fleet captain |
| from 1708 | Commander of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment |
| June 27, 1709 | Field Marshal General |
| 1710 | received the Danish Order of the Elephant |
| 1713 | received the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle |
| 1715 | Fleet Schaubenacht |
| December 1717 | Senator |
| 1718 - February 1723 | 1st President of the Military College |
| 1721 | Fleet Vice Admiral |
| in 1723 |
HELL. Menshikov was named: Duke of Izhora, Most Serene Prince of the Roman and Russian States, Reich Marshal, over the troops, the commander of the Field Marshal General, Military College President, Fleet of the All-Russian Vice Admiral, Governor-General of the province of St. Petersburg, Active Privy Councilor, Lieutenant Colonel of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment, Colonel over three regiments and Bombing Campaign Captain |
| from January 1725 | Governor General of St. Petersburg |
| May 21, 1725 | awarded the Order of St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky |
| 1725 | son Prince Alexander Alexandrovich Menshikov was granted the Actual Chamberlain, Lieutenant of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, Cavalier of the Order of St. Catherine |
| from 1726 | Member of the Supreme Privy Council |
| from July 1726 | President of the Military College |
| May 7, 1727 | on the day of the accession to the Throne of Emperor Peter II, he was awarded the title of Fleet Admiral |
| May 12, 1727 | Generalissimo |
| May 25, 1727 | betrothal of Emperor Peter II to Princess Maria Alexandrovna Menshikova |
| May 29, 1727 |
Maria Alexandrovna Menshikova and Varvara Mikhailovna Arsenyeva were awarded the Order of St. Catherine; son Alexander Alexandrovich Menshikov received the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called and the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle |
| 1727 | Roman Emperor Charles VI granted A.D.Menshikov Duchy of Kozel in Silesia |
| September 8, 1727 | the will of the Monarch is announced: "not to enter into any business and not to leave the house" |
| September 9, 1727 | arrested, deprived of ranks, ranks and property with deportation to Ranenburg |
| April 4, 1728 | exiled to Berezov |
| October 22, 1729 | died in exile |
Alexander Menshikov - orders
Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called (1703)
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The first Russian Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called appeared in 1698 or 1699, and Tsar Peter I Alekseevich expressed his intention to establish it during his stay in England. The choice of the heavenly patron of the order is explained by the church tradition about the first preaching of Christianity in the Russian lands by the Apostle Andrei. The introductory part of the draft statute, drawn up in 1720, explained that the Russian order was founded due to the suppression of the ancient Scottish order. The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was awarded to persons for military exploits and public service, "in order, looking at these clear signs of mercy and advantages, to encourage others to brave and faithful services and to other feats in wartime and peacetime ..." The draft statute of 1720 called the head of the order of the king. Sovereign Peter Alekseevich accepted orders in 1703 for the capture of Swedish ships at the mouth of the Neva. In 1699, Admiral-General F.A. became the first holder of the order. Golovin. The statute of 1720 assumed the presence of no more than 24 cavaliers - Russian and foreign equally, but even during the life of Tsar Peter I, their number reached 38 and subsequently was never limited.
Order of the White Eagle (1705)
Presumably, the Order of the White Eagle was established in 1325 by the Polish king Vladislav (the White Eagle is the main element of the Polish coat of arms). The restoration of the order was carried out in 1705 by the Polish king August II (Elector Friedrich of Saxony - August I ). In November 1712, the Polish monarch laid the insignia of the Order of the White Eagle on the Russian Tsar Peter I.
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Here is what he writes about the Order of the Elephant Wikipedia
The Order of the Elephant (Danish: Elefantordenen) is Denmark's highest national award.
Once again, the Order of the Elephant was restored in 1623, when it became a secular court award, and this time only for men. Order star - eight-pointed, sewn from round silver plates. In its center, on a red velvet field, there is a large rosette with a four-pointed cross framed by laurel branches tied at the top and bottom with gold ribbons. In Russia, the first cavalier of the Danish Order of the Elephant was "His Holiness Prince" Alexander Danilovich Menshikov. He was awarded it in 1710, but soon the Danish envoy to Russia established that the prince was violating the order statute, according to which no other could coexist with the signs of the Order of the Elephant on clothes. A. D. Menshikov, at the same time with the Order of the Elephant, attached to his uniform the sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. In 1713, Peter I, A. I. Repnin, the Russian ambassador to the Danish court V. L. Dolgoruky, and V. V. Dolgoruky became holders of the Order of the Elephant.
The statute of the order was revised in 1693 by King Christian V and membership was limited to the monarch, princes of the blood and thirty knights. The order was to be awarded only to sovereigns, Danish and foreign.
An incomplete list of the Knights of the Elephant can be viewed.
Supreme Order of the Black Eagle (1713)
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Images and short description orders of the Black Eagle taken from the site http://awards.netdialogue.com/Europe/Germany/GermanyStates/Prussia/BlackEagle/BlackEagle.htm The description of the order is taken from the site http://text.uuu.ru/orders/Countries/20040930142759Countries.html |
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The first highest award of Prussia was Order of the Black Eagle, established on January 18, 1701 by Frederick I in honor of the proclamation of Prussia as a kingdom. The head of the order was the King of Prussia. Members of the royal family received the badges of the order at birth. Initially, the number of holders of the order was limited to thirty, but later this restriction was removed.
The star of the order is eight-pointed, silver. In its center, in a round medallion, there is an image of a black eagle, surrounded by the motto of the order: "SUUM СUIQUE" ("To each his own").
The badge of the order is a golden Maltese cross covered with blue enamel. In the center of the cross is a medallion with the monogram of Frederick I. Between the sides of the cross are images of black eagles topped with royal crowns.
Order of St. Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky (1725)
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The establishment of the order in the name of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, as a purely military award, was conceived by Tsar Peter I. In 1710, by the will of the sovereign, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (later Lavra) was founded in St. Petersburg. And on August 30, 1724, the solemn transfer of the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir to St. Petersburg took place. But Emperor Peter I died without having time to fulfill his intention. The first awards of the new order took place already under Empress Catherine I on May 26, 1725, on the wedding day of Princess Anna Petrovna and the Schleswig-Holstein Duke Karl-Friedrich (who later established the Order of St. Anna in honor of his wife). Among the 18 gentlemen were not only the military, but also civilians. Thus, the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky became an award awarded both for military merit and for public service. On August 30, 1725, on the anniversary of the transfer of the relics of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, Empress Catherine I placed on herself the insignia of his order, which significantly increased the status of this award.
Alexander Menshikov - coins
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Images and information about the coins are taken from the site |
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The main types of rubles of Peter II with portraits of samples of 1727, 1728 and 1729
If we compare the image of the emperor, displayed on the coins of 1727, with his picturesque interpretation on the official portraits made by Caravaccus and Ludden, then it is problematic to identify their portrait resemblance, with all desire. Thus, the physiognomic features depicted in the portrait of the emperor on the ruble coins of 1727 and 1729, albeit with difficulty, find their explanations. Let's try to put forward a hypothesis that the ruble coins with a portrait of the sample of 1728 depict His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, and consider the prerequisites that give rise to such an assumption. Firstly, the fact that Menshikov previously used the possibilities of the monetary business to perpetuate and glorify his own person has already been proven. V.V.Uzdenikov conducted an original study, testifying that the Most Serene Prince, "violating all the canons, .. is making an attempt to place a combined monogram on a national coin - his own and the empress's." We are talking about a specimen known as "Menshikov dime", which was planned for mass minting in 1726 under Catherine I. |
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"Menshikov dime" 1726 |
Alexander Menshikov - architecture
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Menshikov Palace. Photo taken from the website of the club "New Atlantis" A wonderful gallery of photographs of the interior of the Menshikov Palace -
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House of Peter the Great. Image taken from website |
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Menshikov tower in Moscow. The Church of Antioch Metochion in honor of the Archangel Gabriel is located in Arkhangelsky Lane not far from Chistoprudny Boulevard. The Temple of the Archangel Gabriel is sometimes called the "Menshikov Tower". You can read about the current state of the temple. The picture shows a view of the Church of the Archangel Gabriel before the fire of 1723. The new temple, built by Menshikov on the site of the dilapidated church of the Archangel Gabriel, was three meters higher than the Kremlin bell tower of Ivan the Great. 3 octahedral tiers rose above the massive base - 2 stone and 1 wooden. The tiers had spacious openings, which were an excellent resonator for fifty bells bought in London along with chimes installed on the last tier. The chimes struck every 15 minutes, and at noon all 50 bells played a half-hour concert. This design was crowned with a 13-meter spire with a gilded an angel. Such a spire was the first in Russia, and then appeared on the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. The temple was built quite quickly - in three years by 1707, but did not have this appearance for long - only 16 years. The architectural style of the temple is called "Naryshkin baroque".
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navigation school
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Reverse of a 3-ruble commemorative coin issued in 2001.
Picture taken from the siteCentral Bank of the Russian Federation http://www.cbr.ru Interestingly, on January 14, 1701, by the Highest Decree of Peter I, the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences ("navigation school") was founded, located in the Sretenskaya (later Sukharev) tower. At that time it was the only government secular school. Graduates(sailors, hydrographers, topographers, engineers, gunners, teachers for newly established educational institutions ) were in demand not only in the Navy, but also in other departments. |
| By the way, in the popular bestseller " |
Battleship"Ingermanland". Peter the Great was not only a skilled shipbuilder, but he himself taught this art to Russian craftsmen. His main achievement was the construction of the 66-gun ship "Ingermanland", which he built together with the Englishman Richard Cozens (Richard Cozens), invited to Russia some time before to assist in the construction of the Russian fleet. The ship was laid down on the Admiralty Branches in St. Petersburg on October 30, 1712 and was launched on May 1, 1715. It got its name from the name of the area where it was built - Ingria. A comparison of the dimensions of the two Ingermanlands showed that for a ship of 1715, the length of the gun deck was 151 feet, the theoretical width was 42 feet, and the height of the hold was 18 feet 3 inches. The corresponding measurements for a 1735 ship were as follows: 155 feet, 41 feet 10 inches and 19 feet 8 inches. The most significant part of the ship is always the underwater part of its hull. To this day, the drawing of the Ingermanland, compiled by Gavrila Menshikov, has been preserved in accordance with the proportions set by Peter and the drawings approved by him. This drawing shows how similar the 1735 ship was to the 1715 original. An interesting detail of the drawing is a significant number of signatures affixed to it. different people v different time. Two of them accurately date the drawing to 1732-1733. Admiralty documents of those times show that the decor on the ships of Peter and Menshikov was identical. In his report, Popov characterized the drawing as the work of Peter the Great and Cozens, despite the presence of Menshikov's signature on the drawing and the absence of Cozens' signature, and continued to maintain that the design of the two ships (i.e., the two Ingermanlands) was the same. Written data on the detailing and decoration of the ship's interior has not been preserved. However, there are some records that describe the decor of several Peter's houses. It is known that some ornamental details present in these houses are also present on the "Ingermanland". A lot of gilding was used, and a carved gilded double-headed eagle- the state emblem of Russia, which is an invariable attribute of any royal house. A fragment of the decoration of the stern depicts the scenes present on the medal minted in memory of the actions of the four combined fleets off the coast of Copenhagen in 1716. This decor depicts Neptune |
Nosovsky and Fomenko about Peter
In the book, from the point of view of the New Chronology, the two most interesting and mysterious eras of Russian history are considered - the reign of Ivan the Terrible and the reign of Peter the Great. Both eras are considered a turning point in Russian history, which significantly influenced further development country. And in both - a lot of mysteries and not fully understood events.
The first part of the book is devoted to the reign of Ivan the Terrible. The authors provide new details confirming and supplementing the reconstruction of the reign of Ivan the Terrible proposed by them in 1995 as a sequence of reigns of four different kings.
The second part of the book is devoted to new facts discovered during the study by the authors of the astronomical zodiac of Ivan the Terrible, depicted on the famous bone throne of the Terrible, stored in the Armory of the Moscow Kremlin. It suddenly turned out that in the history of Peter I, a certain secret is hidden related to the substitution of the name of the king. This most likely means that under the name of Peter the Great, a completely different person with a completely different name reigned on the Russian throne. That is, an impostor. Which explains a lot in Russian history.
From the abstract.
Here are some quotes.
So, we must conclude that the birthday of Peter I is NOT RELATED TO the day of his angel. But for all other kings of his era, such a connection obviously exists and obeys the same rules! So what was the real name of Tsar Peter I? And what is behind it?
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St. Isaac's Cathedral - the main cathedral of Romanov Russia. The Romanovs were very reverent and paid great attention to its construction. It is clear that the name of the cathedral was not chosen by chance. But then - why "Isaac's"? It is known that the cathedral is dedicated to St. Isaac of Dalmatia. However, what does Isaac of Dalmatia, who is believed to have lived during the time of the Roman emperor Valens, have to do with the reigning house of the Romanovs? The answer is very interesting. The whole reason, it turns out, is that the DAY OF MEMORY OF ISAACY OF DALMATIA COUNCILATED WITH THE BIRTHDAY OF PETER I.
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But then it is impossible not to recall the dark story with the one and a half year trip of the young Tsar Peter I across Western Europe from March 1697 to August 1698. From which he returned as if a completely different person. And the next day, without EVEN SEEING THE FAMILY, he began to cut the beards of the boyars and introduce Western customs into Russia. At the same time - which is very significant - the "renewed Peter" immediately completely destroyed the Moscow Streltsy army. Then he immediately entered into a SECRET AGREEMENT with Western European sovereigns. ALL HIS CLOSEST RELATIVES - sisters Sophia and Martha and his wife - Peter imprisoned immediately upon his return to a monastery. DID NOT LEAVE ANY PERSON FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY NEAR HIMSELF. The brother and co-ruler of Peter, Tsar Ivan Alekseevich, had already died by this time (in 1696). So maybe it was not Tsar Peter Alekseevich who returned from a trip abroad, but a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON? By the way, as historians themselves admit, he did not have the habits of the king, but rather showed the SIGNS OF A COMMON PEOPLE: illiteracy, a tendency to engage in such crafts that sovereigns do not, etc.
It turns out that the archers who served in the Kremlin directly spoke about the substitution of Peter. This was the reason for the next uprising of the archers, after the return of Peter from a trip abroad. The historian R. Massi, the author of the two-volume book "Peter the Great", describes the conversations of the archers in this way: "it was rumored that Peter was completely Germanized - and MAYBE DIE. The archers excitedly discussed all this - the archers understood what their duty was: to throw off this SUBSTITUTE, NOT REAL KING .
In other words, perhaps there was a HIDDEN PALACE COUP WITH THE SUBSTITUTION OF THE KING. The real Pyotr Alekseevich was first accustomed to drinking, and then quietly removed. Instead, they sent Western Europe A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON WHO RULED THEN ON BEHALF OF PETER. It is clear that this man's name was most likely not Peter. It is likely that his name was Isaac and it was his birthday that fell on May 30th.
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See also Peter's substitutionhttp://www.levashov.info/Articles/History-2.html. Here are just a couple of paragraphs. Peter the Great is a very interesting and controversial historical figure. Take at least rumors about his replacement during the trip of young Peter with the Great Embassy. With the embassy leaving a young man of twenty-six above average height, heavy build, physically healthy, mole on left cheek, having wavy hair, perfectly educated, loving everything Russian, Orthodox (it would be more correct - orthodox) Christian, who knows the Bible by heart, etc. etc. In two years a man who practically does not speak Russian returns, who hates everything Russian, never learned to write in Russian until the end of his life, having forgotten everything he could before leaving for the Great Embassy and miraculously acquired new skills and abilities, no mole on left cheek, with straight hair, a sickly, forty-year-old looking man. Isn't it true, some unexpected changes happened to the young man during his two years of absence. |
Ivan Solonevich about Peter the Great
A. Burovsky "Peter the First. Damned Emperor".
We are taught from school that Peter the Great is the greatest figure in our history. They say that before him, Russia was backward and wild, and Peter, not having time to ascend the throne, immediately carried out grandiose reforms, created a mighty Empire and an invincible army, established new morals in society, worked on enlightenment, etc. and so on ... and in general, what would we all do without him!
But it is worth digressing from school textbooks and analyzing authentic historical sources - and we will find that in pre-Petrine Russia of the 17th century there was already everything that is attributed to Peter: from potatoes and tobacco to an excellent fleet and a completely modern army for that time.
In fact, Peter did not create, but destroyed the Russian fleet. Peter's reforms led to the collapse of the economy, incredible chaos in management and the death of millions of people. And in place of the rich and democratic Muscovy, a poor primitive slave-owning state arose.
The myth of Peter the Great and his "European reforms" still lives in books and in souls. It is high time to destroy this dangerous lie that prevents us from knowing and respecting our ancestors.
From the abstract.
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Under Peter, the state organism that naturally grew "from the bottom up" (including the economy, production, the army, and administration) was forcibly replaced by an artificial "top-down" bureaucratic pyramid. Formally, it looks almost the same, but it works differently. More precisely, it doesn't work. If you describe everything that happened in a few words, then these words are mismanagement and theft at all levels management. Here's to these thieves and their heirs, imitating government, Peter became "Great". And the rest were just taught it at school. And, of course, terror. Artificial state formations cannot live without terror. Terror and the power of the bureaucracy are twin brothers. The stupidity of the elite and the actual introduction of slavery were obscured by fairytale myth. The normal development of the state was interrupted for many decades. Bolshevik fiends used Peter's experience "management"once again - the result is known and we live in it. And the reforms - projects "from above" have no end in sight- historical tradition. |
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 Streltsy "search" (an investigation into the 1698 Streltsy rebellion).
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.
Northern War of 1700-1721Northern War (1700 - 1721) - the war of Russia and its allies against Sweden for dominance in the Baltic Sea. The war began in the winter of 1700 with the invasion of the Danes in Holstein-Gottorp and the Polish-Saxon troops in Livonia ...In 1704, Alexander Menshikov was promoted to major general.
During the Northern War of 1700-1721, Menshikov commanded large infantry and cavalry forces, excelled in sieges and storming 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 Serene 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
Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (1673-1729) - prince, the first oligarch of Russia.
Prince Menshikov A.D., 1727
Since childhood, we have heard "about the chicks of Petrov's nest." Moreover, it was explained to us that "Peter ... from the surrounding society attracted best forces took the best people..."
One of the "chicks" was His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Menshikov. A person about whose origin there is still no consensus. Peter "got it" from Lefort, and he came to Lefort from the "pie-makers" - he was peddling pies. I did not learn to read and write in my entire life and with difficulty "depicted" my signature. Why did Menshikov like Peter?
Well, firstly, Alexander Menshikov had a liveliness and resourcefulness of mind, which helped him carry out the most risky assignments of an impatient master. He also showed personal courage when he "took the sword" of the city.
Secondly, by the fact that he was devoted to Peter both in body and soul. The latter - in the literal sense: he neatly shared with Peter all his mistresses and was himself one of them. It was not for nothing that Peter called Aleksashka "min hertshen" - "my heart". The same Aleksashka "conceded" to Peter the "trophy girl" who became Empress Catherine I (1684-1727).
And finally, the constant readiness to participate in drinking. It is known that Peter pathologically did not tolerate not only teetotalers, but also people who were simply moderate in alcohol consumption.
However, as time went on, Peter moved further and further away from Menshikov. Aleksashka disappeared, with whom Peter went to the German settlement to Anna Mons (1672-1714) and Lefort (1656-1699), stormed Azov and Narva. The embezzler remained - His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, invested with enormous power.
Who knows, if Peter lived a few more years, and A.D. Menshikov would have ended his life on the block. But fate was kind to him. Peter died earlier. However, there are various rumors about his death. Some believe that the emperor was poisoned, and Catherine herself is called the executor, over whom a serious danger also loomed: Peter was tired of the spreading horns with which the empress awarded him. In November 1724, Peter ordered the execution of chamberlain Willim Mons, brother of Anna Mons, for bribes. but main reason Willim's relationship with Catherine was too close.
Menshikov - fulfillment of desires
After the death of Peter, Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was left without a patron, and he began to act. The emperor was to be the grandson of Peter I, the son of Tsarevich Alexei, who was killed by him, also Peter (1715-1730). Catherine could only become a guardian. But for the "chicks of Petrov's nest" such a situation threatened to be excommunicated from power with all the consequences. Someone signed his father's death warrant, and someone participated in his murder. Fearing revenge, they put Catherine on the throne. They were imprisoned, because during the discussion of the future ruler, guards officers appeared in the hall of the palace. When guards regiments appeared in front of the windows, Alexander Menshikov took his sword out of its scabbard, rubbed it with the cuff of his uniform and invited all those who disagreed with the accession to the throne of Mother Empress to speak, adding that "it will be very interesting to listen to all this."
January 28, 1725, on the day of the death of Peter I, Catherine became Empress. Truly, Russia is a country of unlimited possibilities. A former pastry maker puts a former "trophy girl" on the throne. A gloomy realization of the fairy tale about Cinderella.
However, the "chicks" were not going to give power to Cinderella. Already on next year they established or "studied" the Supreme Privy Council. Secret, apparently, because no one was supposed to know what this mafia formation was doing. The Supreme Privy Council was supposed to be under the leadership of Catherine, but she visited him only a few times. During the short "woman's kingdom" Catherine managed to issue a Decree that laid the foundations of Russian office work. In 1726, she ordered "not to give salaries to commanding people, but to be content with them from the affairs of petitioners - who will give what of their own free will."
The first person in the Privy Council was Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov. But this was not enough. He wanted to intermarry with the imperial house. If earlier he was an opponent of the grandson of Peter, now he has become an ardent supporter. The reason was simple: Menshikov decided to marry Peter to one of his daughters. To do this, he achieved from Catherine the inclusion of two points in the will:
- succession to the throne by the minor Peter Alekseevich with guardianship by the Supreme Privy Council;
- a requirement for everyone to facilitate the betrothal and marriage of one of Menshikov's daughters.
Soon after drawing up the will, in May 1727, Catherine I died. She was 43 years old. Evil tongues say that it could not have done without Menshikov. However, this is most likely an exaggeration. She just fell asleep. It was discreetly announced that the Empress had died of "fever". In the same month, Prince A.D. Menshikov received the title of Generalissimo, Peter Alekseevich became Emperor Peter II and was betrothed to Menshikov's daughter Maria (1711-1729), who was four years older than Peter.
It's done. His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov reached the pinnacle of power.
Sunset of the brightest
It seems that Menshikov became not just an eagle, but an autocratic eagle - two-headed. But it only seemed that in state affairs he remained a "chick":
- the tribal nobility in the person of the Dolgorukovs and the Golitsyns did not accept the upstart careerist, anxious to climb higher and grab more. Such a position did not arouse understanding among the boyars, who were inclined to observe clan traditions;
- the guard, also striving to preserve certain traditions, supported Menshikov for some time when the shadow of Peter and Catherine hovered around him. But there appeared, albeit a minor, but the legitimate emperor Peter II;
- there is no need to talk about commonwealth with other "reformers". To paraphrase a well-known expression, one can say: "Menshikov did not have permanent supporters, he had permanent interests." These interests did not mix well with those of others, as his theft bordered on kleptomania.
All this means that Menshikov did not have a "party" on which he could count. He had patrons who allowed him to do what others were decapitated for. Now the boy-emperor could become a patron. But he didn't. Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov considered Peter II a child:
- once Petersburg masons presented Peter with a gift - 9,000 chervonets. Peter ordered to transfer the money to his sister Natalya. However, Menshikov intercepted the messenger in the corridor and ordered him to take the money to his office;
- once A.D. Menshikov scolded the valet when he found out that he had given Peter a small amount of money for petty expenses, without agreeing with him;
- once Alexander Danilovich sat on the throne. They did not fail to report to the emperor about the "fitting of the throne".
There were a lot of those "once".
Peter II himself considered himself emperor. This difference of opinion was resolved in early September 1727:
- On September 6, Peter left the house of A.D. Menshikov on Vasilyevsky Island;
- On September 7, he transferred the guard under his subordination;
- On September 8, in the morning, S.A. appeared to Menshikov. Saltykov (1672-1742) and announced his arrest;
- On September 9, the 13-year-old emperor, by his decree, deprived Menshikov of all titles, awards, positions, property and, accusing him of treason and embezzlement, exiled him to the Siberian town of Berezov, where he arrived in April 1728.
The reaction of Peter II was accelerated by Menshikov's illness in the summer of 1727. During the two weeks of Menshikov's absence from the court, his "well-wishers" found and showed the young emperor the protocols of interrogations of his father, in which Prince Menshikov participated.
Link A.D. Menshikov
They often write briefly: Menshikov was exiled to Berezov. Such brevity does not give an idea of what actually happened:
- On September 11, after depriving, it would seem, of everything that could be deprived, Menshikov was ordered to leave with his family under escort for his estate Ranenburg;
- On September 12, Alexander Danilovich Menshikov set off on four carriages and forty-two wagons. He was accompanied by a detachment of guards of 120 people. Apparently, this was the convoy;
- A few versts from Petersburg, Menshikov was overtaken by a courier who was ordered to take away foreign orders from the exiled. The Russians took away back in St. Petersburg;
- not far from Tver, Menshikov was overtaken by a second courier, who was ordered to transfer everyone from carriages to carts;
- in Ranenburg, Menshikov received a notice of confiscation of his entire fortune and expulsion. They took away a decent dress from him and his family members, dressed him in sheepskin coats, and gave sheep's hats on their heads;
- Menshikov's wife could not survive the grief. She was blinded by tears and, before reaching Kazan, she died. Darya Mikhailovna, nee Arsenyeva, lived with Alexander Danilovich for more than 20 years;
- in Tobolsk, the governor gave Menshikov the money assigned for maintenance. Part of the money was spent on the purchase of food, things for children, saws, shovels, nets. The rest Menshikov ordered to distribute to the poor. They got to the place on open carts.
It is difficult to say why these difficulties were necessary: was it revenge or the usual confusion in an unusual case.
Eight servants arrived with Menshikov, who did not leave their master in trouble. Together with them, he built a house and a church: in the days of his youth, spent with Peter in Holland, Aleksashka not only drank, but also learned to carpentry.
Menshikov endured deprivation and humiliation steadfastly. But six months later, the eldest daughter Maria died. She was buried in the newly built church. Menshikov himself performed the burial ceremony for his daughter. Then he pointed out a place next to his daughter, where he bequeathed to bury him. The shocks were not in vain, in November 1729 Alexander Danilovich Menshikov died of a rush of blood at the age of 56. They buried him at the altar. Time passed, the grave was washed away by the river Sosva.
The son and daughter of Menshikov Alexander and Alexandra survived. In 1731 Empress Anna Ioannovna returned them from exile. The son retained the title and received a fiftieth of the property that belonged to the family. The daughter was assigned to the maid of honor, and in 1732 she was married to Biron's brother, Anna Ioannovna's favorite. In 1736 she died in childbirth. The descendants of Menshikov did not get into history - they lived a normal life.
 D.M. Menshikov, 1725 |
 Maria Menshikova, 1723 |
 Alexandra Menshikov, 1723 |
First oligarch
His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Menshikov is considered the first oligarch. The first not only in order of succession, but also in the order of the stolen. During the implementation of Peter's "reforms" Alexander Danilovich managed to put nine million rubles into his foreign accounts, while in 1724 the budget of the Russian Empire was a little more than six million rubles. Optimists argue that modern "reformers" could not surpass his achievement.
Even short list property makes a strong impression: 90,000 serfs, 6 cities, 99 villages, 13 million rubles, of which 9 million in foreign banks, more than 200 pounds of gold and silver dishes.
In Moscow, Prince Menshikov owned the Lefortovo Palace (2nd Baumanskaya st., 3), the estate at Myasnitskaya, 26, the Church of the Archangel Gabriel) and numerous shops, cellars, warehouses, and mills that were rented out.
The origins of his wealth look very modern:
- use of "administrative resource". The resource was the basis of the "economic" activities of Alexander Danilovich. At the beginning, Peter I himself supervised it, then Mother Empress Catherine I. After the next "art" of Danilych, Peter said to his wife: "If, Katenka, he does not improve, then be without a head," and to the chairman of the commission of inquiry, Prince V.V. Dolgoruky answered: "Not for you, prince, to judge me and Danilych, but God will judge us";
- participation in "national projects": in 1718 Menshikov was instructed to dig a canal from the Volkhov to the beginning of the Neva. More than two million rubles were spent on the construction. The money disappeared, the channel "did not take place";
- "abuse of office". One of the high-profile cases was the sale of private wheat abroad, bypassing the state monopoly. Trade went through the brothers Dmitry and Osip Solovyovs. The first, being chief commissar in Arkhangelsk, bought grain through dummies and, bypassing customs, sent it to Holland. The second, being a Russian representative on the Dutch stock exchange, sold grain and transferred money to London and Amsterdam. Remember the millions of Menshikov? Among them were these "grain" receipts, when instead of state wheat they sold wheat bought by Menshikov's people;
- obtaining a monopoly on some type of activity from the state. The monopoly granted to Menshikov for the extraction of the "sea animal" in the White Sea is known. Naturally, Menshikov's people not only hunted the beast. For a pittance, they bought everything "marine" from local residents and sold it to everyone at monopoly prices. Including the state;
- the use of soldiers from local garrisons as laborers;
- obtaining contracts for deliveries to the treasury.
Since 1714 A.D. Menshikov was almost continuously under investigation. But under Peter, in extreme cases, he paid a fine, which was much less than the appropriated one, and even Peter walked him with a club. The situation changed dramatically shortly after the departure of his patrons. Everything was taken away from the first oligarch, even forced to return deposits in foreign banks.
When, on the way to exile, Menshikov was caught up by a courier with another humiliating demand, Menshikov told him: "I am ready for anything, and the more you take away from me, the less worry you leave me. I only regret those who will take advantage of my fall." Perhaps with these words the first oligarch summed up the sad end of his life and admonished his followers.
Tyutchev spoke about the contribution of Peter and his "chicks" to the development of statehood: "Russian history before Peter the Great is a continuous memorial service, and after - one criminal case."
Dates of life and activity
- 1673. November 6 - the birth of Menshikov.
- 1691. Menshikov - a soldier of "amusing troops".
- 1693. In the batmen of Peter I.
- 1695. Participation in the First Azov campaign as a soldier, batman.
- 1696. Participation of Guards Sergeant Menshikov in the Second Azov campaign.
- 1697-1698. Participation in the Grand Embassy. Menshikov is listed as the first volunteer on the list of the "foreman" of Peter Mikhailov (Peter I).
- 1700. The beginning of the war with Sweden. The defeat of Russian troops near Narva. Menshikov - bombardier-lieutenant of the Preobrazhensky regiment.
- 1702. Participation in the assault on Noteburg (Schlisselburg). Menshikov is the commandant of the fortress. Title of Count of the Holy Roman Empire.
- 1703. Participation of Menshikov with Peter in the capture of two Swedish frigates at the mouth of the Neva. Awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
- 1704 Appointment of Menshikov as governor of St. Petersburg and Ingermanland.
- 1705. Award of the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
- 1706. Wedding with Darya Mikhailovna Arseneva. The victory of the Russian troops under the command of Menshikov over the Swedes at Kalisz.
- 1708. Participation in the victorious battles at Good and Lesnaya. The defeat of Baturin, the residence of the traitor Mazepa.
- 1709. Participation in the Battle of Poltava. The capture of the Swedish army at Perevolochna.
- 1710. Participation in the siege of Riga.
- 1713. Siege and capture of Stettin.
- 1714. Elected a member of the Royal Society in London.
- 1716. Management of the construction of St. Petersburg. The construction of the Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg, before 1722
- 1718. Participation of Menshikov in the investigation of Tsarevich Alexei.
- 1719. Appointment as President of the Military Collegium.
- 1725. Death of Peter I. With the active participation of Menshikov, Catherine I came to the throne.
- 1726. Creation of the Supreme Privy Council under the leadership of Menshikov.
- 1727. May 6 - death of Catherine I. Accession to the throne of Peter II. May 25 - betrothal of Peter II and Menshikov's daughter Maria. September 11 - Menshikov's exile in Rannenburg. Confiscation of property and deprivation of orders.
- 1728. Menshikov's exile with his family to Berezov. Death on the road of the wife of Menshikov Daria Mikhailovna.
- 1729. Death of daughter Maria. November 12 - death of A.D. Menshikov.
- 1731. Return from exile of daughter Alexandra and son Alexander Menshikov.
"At last I will tell you"
About the Most Serene Prince A.D. Much has been written about Menshikov, and the attitude towards him is determined not only by the "wealth" of his nature, but also by his attitude to the time of Peter the Great. For some, he is an associate of Peter, statesman. For others, he is an accomplice in the adventures and sprees of Peter, who, under his patronage, became the first thief of Russia.
But there is one thing that makes A.D. Menshikov our contemporary in the literal sense of the word. This is the Menshikov Tower. Providence has preserved for us the miracle tower, and with it the memory of Menshikov. And as for the fact that it was rebuilt, and Menshikov conceived another Tower. His name turned out to be connected precisely with the existing Tower, and another Menshikov appears before people who come to admire the beauty.
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