Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin was born in the village of Karmachi, Kazan Province, on July 3, 1743, into the family of a poor army officer. In 1750, the boy was sent to a German boarding school in Orenburg, where he learned German.
After the death of his father in 1754, the family moved to Kazan, and Gavrila and his brother entered the Kazan gymnasium. Upon its successful completion, the future poet enrolls in the soldiers. His Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment takes part in the coup that brought Empress Catherine II to the throne. In the service of Gavrila Romanovich, he became addicted to the game, began to write poetry. He also did not abandon science, read a lot, began to translate "Messiad" and "Telemachus" in verse.
His quarrelsomeness and irascibility, combined with an unsuccessful guarantee for someone else's gambling debt, cost Derzhavin a military career. In the same year, 1773, his first work, an excerpt from Ovid's Metamorphoses, was published without a signature.
Gavrila Romanovich also loses his position in the Senate after his resignation due to his irreconcilable love of truth. In 1778, he marries 16-year-old III Ekaterina Yakovlevna Bastidon, daughter of Peter III's valet.
The year 1779 was marked by a departure from the Lomonosov traditions in his work - Derzhavin creates his own style, which will be recognized as the standard of philosophical lyrics. In 1782, touched by the "Ode to Felitsa", Catherine II gives the poet a golden snuffbox with diamonds and five hundred chervonets inside.
1784 - Derzhavin is appointed Governor of Olonets. He immediately clashes with Tutolmin, the governor of the region. The transfer to the governor's position in Tambov leads to a similar story and an early dismissal.
In 1791 - 1793, he served as Catherine II's office secretary, annoying her with upholding justice. As a result, she removes Derzhavin from service with the Order of Vladimir II degree and the rank of Privy Councilor.
In 1793, the poet's muse, his wife, dies. In 1795, he marries Daria Alekseevna Dyakova without much love.
During the reign of Paul I (1796 - 1801), Gavriil Romanovich became a knight of the Order of Malta, received the positions of state treasurer and ruler of the office of the Senate. He managed to change the initial disgrace of the monarch due to another harshness by writing a magnificent ode to the accession of Paul to the throne.
Already under Alexander I, in 1802-1803, Derzhavin served as Minister of Justice.
Having retired in 1803, the poet completely devoted himself to creativity. Turns to drama, prepares a collection of works for publication. At the exam in 1815 at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, he notices the young Pushkin (the lines "Old Derzhavin noticed us and, descending into the coffin, blessed us" are dedicated to Gavriil Romanovich).
The poet and truth-lover died on July 8, 1816. Wise and poetic statements of Derzhavin, aphorisms and quotations from his works are still relevant and accurate!
Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin, whose biography is presented below, is a poet, translator, playwright and ... governor. The years of his life - 1743-1816. After reading this article, you will learn about all these aspects of the activities of such a versatile gifted person as Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. His biography will be supplemented by many other interesting facts.
Origin
Gavriil Romanovich was born near Kazan in 1743. Here, in the village of Karmachi, there was a family estate of his family. The childhood of the future poet passed in it. The family of Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich was not rich, of a noble family. Gavriil Romanovich early lost his father, Roman Nikolaevich, who served as a major. His mother was Fekla Andreevna (maiden name - Kozlova). Interestingly, Derzhavin is a descendant of Bagrim, a Tatar murza who emigrated from the Great Horde in the 15th century.
Education in the gymnasium, service in the regiment
In 1757, Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin entered the Kazan Gymnasium. His biography already at that time was marked by zeal and desire for knowledge. He studied well, but failed to complete his studies. The fact is that in February 1762 the future poet was summoned to St. Petersburg. He was assigned to Derzhavin and began serving as an ordinary soldier. He spent 10 years in his regiment, and from 1772 he held the position of an officer. It is known that Derzhavin in 1773-74. took part in the suppression and also in the palace coup, as a result of which Catherine II ascended the throne.
Public and literary fame
Public and literary fame came to Gabriel Romanovich in 1782. It was then that his famous ode "Felitsa" appeared, praising the empress. Derzhavin, hot by nature, often had difficulties in life because of his intemperance. In addition, he had an impatience and zeal for work, which was not always welcomed.
Derzhavin becomes governor of the Olonets province
By decree of the Empress in 1773, the Olonets province was created. It consisted of one district and two counties. In 1776, the Novgorod governorship was formed, which included two regions - Olonets and Novgorod. The first governor of Olonets was Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. His biography for many years will be associated with administrative activities in this responsible position. She had a wide range of responsibilities under the law. Gavriil Romanovich was supposed to observe how the laws were being implemented and how the rest of the officials behaved. For Derzhavin, however, this presented no great difficulty. He believed that restoring order in court and local government depends only on the conscientious attitude of everyone to their business and compliance with the law by officials.
Subordinate institutions already a month after the foundation of the province were aware that all persons in the service of the state and who violated the law would be severely punished, up to deprivation of rank or place. Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich steadily tried to restore order in his province. The years of his life at this time are noted. However, this only led to conflicts and disagreements with the elite.
Governorate in Tambov Governorate
In December 1785, Catherine II issued a decree appointing Derzhavin to the post of governor of the now Tambov province. He arrived there in 1786.
In Tambov, Gavriil Romanovich found the province in complete disarray. Four chapters have changed over the 6 years of its existence. Disorder reigned in affairs, the boundaries of the province were not defined. Arrears reached enormous proportions. There was an acute lack of education in society as a whole, and in particular the nobility.
Gavriil Romanovich opened classes for young people in arithmetic, grammar, geometry, vocals and dances. The theological seminary and the garrison school gave very poor knowledge. Gabriel Derzhavin decided to open a public school in the house of Iona Borodin, a local merchant. Theatrical performances were given in the governor's house, and soon they began to build a theater. Derzhavin did a lot for the Tambov province, we will not list it all. His work laid the foundation for the development of this region.
Senators Naryshkin and Vorontsov came to revise affairs in the Tambov province. The improvement was so obvious that in September 1787 Derzhavin was awarded an honorary award - the Order of Vladimir of the third degree.
How Derzhavin was removed from office
However, the progressive activity of Gavriil Romanovich in this post collided with the interests of local nobles and landlords. In addition, I.V. Gudovich, the governor-general, took the side of his close associates in all conflicts, who, in turn, covered for local swindlers and thieves.
Derzhavin made an attempt to punish Dulov, the landowner, who ordered the beating of a shepherd boy for a petty offense. However, this attempt failed, and the hostility towards the governor on the part of the provincial landowners grew stronger. In vain were the actions of Gavriil Romanovich to stop the theft of the local merchant Borodin, who deceived the treasury by supplying bricks for construction, and then received a wine farm on unfavorable conditions for the state.
The flow of slander, complaints, and reports against Derzhavin was constantly increasing. In January 1789 he was removed from his post. His brief activity brought great benefit to the province.
Return to the capital, administrative activities
In the same year, Derzhavin returned to the capital. He has held various administrative positions here. At the same time, Gavriil Romanovich continued to engage in literature, creating odes (we will talk more about his work a little later).
Derzhavin was appointed state treasurer under Paul I. However, he did not get along with this ruler, because, according to his habit, Gabriel Romanovich often cursed and rude in his reports. Alexander I, who succeeded Pavel, also did not leave Derzhavin without attention, making him Minister of Justice. However, a year later, the poet was relieved of his post because he served "too zealously." In 1809, Gavriil Romanovich was finally removed from all administrative posts.
Creativity Derzhavin
Russian poetry before Gavriil Romanovich was rather conventional. Derzhavin greatly expanded its themes. Now a variety of works have appeared in poetry, from a solemn ode to a simple song. Also, for the first time in Russian lyrics, the image of the author, that is, the personality of the poet himself, arose. Derzhavin believed that art must necessarily be based on high truth. Only a poet can explain it. At the same time, art can be an imitation of nature only when it is possible to approach the comprehension of the world, to correct the morals of people and to study them. Derzhavin is considered to continue the traditions of Sumarokov and Lomonosov. He developed in his work the traditions of Russian classicism.
The purpose of the poet for Derzhavin is to condemn bad deeds and glorify the great ones. For example, in the ode "Felitsa" Gavriil Romanovich glorifies the enlightened monarchy in the person of Catherine II. The fair, intelligent empress is contrasted in this work with the mercenary and greedy court nobles.
Derzhavin regarded his talent, his poetry as a tool given to the poet from above for victory in political battles. Gavriil Romanovich even compiled a "key" to his works - a detailed commentary that says what events led to the appearance of one or another of them.
The Zvanka estate and the first volume of works
Derzhavin bought the Zvanka estate in 1797 and spent several months there every year. Already in the following year, the first volume of the works of Gavriil Romanovich appeared. It included poems that immortalized his name: "On the death of Prince Meshchersky", "On the birth of a porphyry child", odes "On "God", "Waterfall", "Nobleman", "Bullfinch".
Derzhavin's dramaturgy, participation in a literary circle
After retiring, Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich devoted his life almost entirely to dramaturgy. His work in this direction is associated with the creation of several opera librettos, as well as the following tragedies: "Dark", "Eupraksia", "Herod and Mariamne". Since 1807, the poet took an active part in the activities of the literary circle, which later formed a society that gained great fame. It was called "Conversation of lovers of the Russian word." Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich summed up his literary experience in his work Discourse on Lyric Poetry or on an Ode. His work greatly influenced the development of artistic literature in our country. Many poets have relied on him.
The death of Derzhavin and the fate of his remains
So, we told you about such a great man as Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. Biography, interesting facts about him, creative heritage - all this was covered in this article. It remains to tell only about the death of Derzhavin and the further fate of his remains, which was not easy. Only after that it can be considered that the full biography of Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich was presented, although it was briefly stated.
Derzhavin died on his estate Zvanka in 1816. The coffin with his body was sent along the Volkhov on a barge. The poet found his last refuge in the Transfiguration Cathedral near Veliky Novgorod. This cathedral was located on the territory of the Varlaamo-Khutynsky monastery. The wife of Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich, Daria Alekseevna, was also buried here.
The monastery was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. Derzhavin's grave was also damaged. The reburial of the remains of Gavriila Romanovich and Darya Alekseevna took place in 1959. They were moved to Novgorod Detinets. In connection with the 250th anniversary of Derzhavin in 1993, the remains of the poet were returned to the Varlaamo-Khutynsky monastery.
It is no coincidence that such a poet as Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich is being taught in schools to this day. His biography and work are important not only from an artistic, but also from an educational point of view. After all, the truths that Derzhavin preached are eternal.
Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich, whose biography formed the basis of this article, forever went down in Russian history not only as an outstanding poet and playwright, but also as a statesman who went from a private guard 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.
Childhood of a young poet
Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin was born on July 14, 1743 in his family village of Sokura 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 hampered by frequent relocations caused by various everyday circumstances.
Nevertheless, studying at the Orenburg school, and then at the Kazan gymnasium, young Gavriil 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 also belong to this time. However, the early poems of the novice poet came out somewhat clumsily and awkwardly - the lack of knowledge of the basics of versification and the opportunity to consult with someone more experienced in this area affected.
Army service
In 1762, Gavriil Derzhavin was appointed as a private in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment, who took part in the coup d'état, 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 bleak period of his life. The hard military service took almost all the time and effort, allowing me to write poetry only in rare free moments.
Subsequently, Gavriil Derzhavin, briefly describing in his memoirs the features of army life, said that in those years he often attached himself to the common vice of the guards regiments - playing cards. Moreover, having got into an environment where cheating flourished, he himself quickly learned their picaresque tricks, and only thanks to “God and motherly prayers” - that's what he wrote in his memoirs, did not slide to the bottom of society.
Looking forward to a future career
Starting from 1772, the further biography of Gabriel Derzhavin took a different direction: he was promoted to officer, and in the period 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, Gavriil Romanovich turned to the Empress herself for help, since in those days the autocrats did not disdain to read the letters of their subjects. His direct superior, Commander-in-Chief General-in-Chief A. Bibikov, attached his own report to the message, in which he praised Derzhavin's merits in "establishing law-abidingness among the Kalmyks." As a result, very soon the young man was granted the rank of collegiate adviser and became the owner of 300 serf souls, bestowed on him personally by the Empress.
First marriage and creative maturity
In the same 1775, another important and joyful event took place 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 sovereign Peter III, and whose mother was the breadwinner of the future Emperor Paul I. As befits a true poet, Derzhavin sang his chosen one in verse, calling her Plenira - from the verb ".
Most researchers of the poet's work consider these years to be the period when he acquired his own literary style, which made it possible to create a cycle of outstanding works in the genre of philosophical lyrics. At the same time, his works began to be published for the first time, but did not bring the author wide fame in literary circles.
Golden snuffbox from the hands of the Empress
Glory 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, was not left without due reward. The “Mother of Nations” granted the poet a golden snuff-box studded with diamonds and filled with gold coins, after which the career of Gavriil Romanovich went uphill. 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 governorship, and by decree of the Empress, Gabriel Derzhavin was appointed its first governor. His duties, among other things, included monitoring the observance of the law by all officials subordinate to him. This was the cause of many of the troubles that followed soon after.
In those early years, embezzlers of public funds were not yet called corrupt officials, but this did not make them less. Theft was ubiquitous, and even the expression "take according to rank" came into use. This meant that petty bureaucrats could swipe 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 that’s all, “the greedy crowd standing at the throne,” as M.Yu. wrote. Lermontov, - with impunity they put their hand into the treasury up to the very elbow.
It was with these lawlessness that once happened in Russia that Gavriil Romanovich encountered in his new post. Being a decent and law-abiding person, he did his best to fight the evil that surrounded him, but as a result he only amassed numerous ill-wishers both in his subordinate structures and in court circles, which caused 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. So, 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 to work.
Cabinet secretary of the Empress
The next step on the career ladder of Gabriel Derzhavin was the service as a personal office-secretary of Catherine II. Ignoring the slanders that rained down on the poet from all sides, the Empress brought him closer to her as a token of gratitude for the ode once written in her honor.
But even in this position, Gavriil Romanovich did not hold out for a long time, since he used to report on all matters, presenting them in a true, and sometimes unsightly, light, which greatly upset his benefactor. He bothered her with constant petitions for those in need and suffering from injustice. It ended up that the empress got 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 “Thunder of victory, resound.” Set to music by composer Osip Kozlovsky, over the next 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, the wife of Gavriil Romanovich died - the muse that he once sang in verse, giving her the romantic name Plenira. After a year, the still far from old widower remarried. He joined his fate with Daria Alekseevna Dyakova, who also became the heroine of his poems, this time under the name of 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 College of Commerce and state treasurer, and Alexander I, who ascended the throne after that, appointed him minister of justice. But wherever he happened to serve, Gavriil Romanovich tried with all his might to eradicate bribery and embezzlement, which invariably made enemies for himself. In 1803, he petitioned for the highest name and ended his state activity, devoting himself entirely to literature.
The subsequent life and work of the poet
Even before his resignation, Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin loved Zvanka, an estate that belonged to his second wife, Daria Alekseevna. In it, he spent the last years of his life, writing about 60 poems and preparing the first volume of his works for publication. In addition to poetic works, works in the field of dramaturgy are associated with his name. These include librettos created for several operas, as well as tragedies: "Herod and Marianne", "Eupraksia" and "Dark".
Derzhavin's poetry had a huge influence on the early work of A. S. Pushkin, who read his poems from childhood and studied them at the Lyceum in the lessons of Russian literature. They only met once. In 1815, Derzhavin was invited to the lyceum exam, where the still very young Alexander Pushkin read his famous poem “Memories of Tsarskoye Selo” in his presence. A reproduction from the painting by I. E. Repin, reproducing this episode, is presented in the article. The venerable master, having seen his brilliant successor in the swarthy young man and touched to the depths of his soul by his poems, wanted to hug Pushkin, but he ran away, unable to restrain his sobs.
The death of the poet and the subsequent fate of his remains
Death overtook him in 1816 at the Zvanka estate, which, as mentioned above, Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin loved until his retirement, often visited, and where 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-Khutynsky Monastery. Later, his second wife, Daria Alekseevna, was also buried there.
During the Great Patriotic War, the monastery was in the war zone and was completely destroyed. The grave of the Derzhavins was also badly damaged. In 1959, their remains were reburied, placed in the Novgorodsky detinets, and in 1993, when the 250th anniversary of the poet was celebrated, they were returned to the Varlaamo-Khutynsky monastery, which had been revived by that time.
Among the names of outstanding Russian poets who brought fame to Russian literature, Gavriil Derzhavin is invariably mentioned, whose brief biography was set out in this article. The study of his life and work is of great importance not only from the aesthetic side, but also from the educational side, since the truths that he preached are eternal.
In this article we will tell you briefly about the life and work of Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin, an educator and representative of Russian classicism.
G.R. Derzhavin (1743-1816) was a Russian poet and playwright, as well as a statesman of the 18th century under Catherine II.
A life
Gabriel was born on July 3 (14), 1743 in a family of noblemen who suffered poverty in the Kazan province. Derzhavin began his studies at home, on the estate in the village of Sokuru, and at the age of 16 he entered the local gymnasium. In 1762, Gabriel became an ordinary guardsman in the Preobrazhensky Regiment, and 10 years later he received his first officer rank. A year later, as part of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, he began the suppression of the Pugachev uprising, which lasted until 1775.
At the age of 34, Gavriil Romanovich became a state councilor, and in 1784-1788 he served as governors: first of Olonets, then of Tambov. Derzhavin was an active official - he was engaged in improving the economy of the region, contributed to the formation of the necessary state institutions.
In 1791, at the age of 48, Derzhavin became Catherine II's Cabinet Secretary, and two years later he was appointed her Privy Councilor, and two years later, President of the College of Commerce. For about a year, already at the beginning of the 19th century, he served as Minister of Justice.
Derzhavin's career as an official can be called outstanding, and given the fact that at that time he was also engaged in literature, it can even be called breathtaking.
In 1803, Gavriil Romanovich finished his service, having retired in order to concentrate entirely on literary activity. At the same time, Derzhavin traveled a lot in the last years of his life. Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin died on his estate on July 8 (20), 1816.
Creation
Derzhavin devoted a lot of time to work and made an impressive career. At the same time, he is considered the largest representative of Russian classicism.
Gavriil Romanovich began to write during his military service. The debut took place in 1773 - then a translation of an excerpt from the works of Ovid appeared. A year later, Derzhavin's "Ode to Greatness" and "Ode to Nobility" were published. The first collection of poems was not long in coming - it appeared in 1776.
Wide literary fame was brought to the poet by the ode "Felitsa", which he dedicated to the empress. It is worth noting that this happened 9 years before Derzhavin was appointed cabinet secretary of Catherine II.
After that, other now-famous works by Derzhavin appeared: "The Nobleman", "On the Death of Prince Meshchersky", "God", "Dobrynya", "Waterfall" and others.
