The meaning of Artamon Sergeevich Matveev in a brief biographical encyclopedia. Matveev artamon sergeevich Boyarin artamon matveev

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ARTAMON SERGEEVICH MATVEEV

Artamon Sergeevich Matveev - a talented diplomat, scribe, writer, historian, founder of the Russian court theater, was born in 1625 in the family of a clerk. Little is known about his childhood and youth. The story has survived to this day that at the age of 13, young Artamon was taken to the palace. Being four years older than Tsarevich Alexei, he grew up and was brought up with him. Closeness to the prince determined that at the age of 16 Artamon Matveev received his first palace position - the rank of solicitor. And at the age of 17 he was appointed head of the Streltsy in the Moscow garrison. And subsequently Matveev confidently climbs the career ladder thanks to his abilities, intelligence and erudition.
Of course, not only these qualities ensured his success. Probably, personal devotion to Alexei Mikhailovich, repeatedly proven by deeds, played a big role here. In addition, it is important to note that Matveev tried not to spoil relations with the court nobility. Being a person very close to the tsar, for a long time he held the modest rank of colonel and head of the Moscow archers. Even after heading the two most important orders - Little Russian and Ambassadorial, he remained in the rank of Duma nobleman. Only in 1672, in honor of the birth of Tsarevich Peter, 47-year-old Artamon Sergeevich Matveev was granted okolnichy, and three years later, in 1675, on the occasion of the christening of Princess Theodora, he was promoted to near boyar. True, one circumstance should be noted - Matveev’s successes were also to a large extent connected with the fact that he was the teacher of Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina, the second wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Tsar Alexei, widowed in 1669, married Matveev’s pupil in January 1671, and already in February Matveev headed the Ambassadorial Prikaz.
However, by this time Matveev already had a strong reputation as a skilled diplomat. The reunification of Ukraine with Russia can rightfully be credited to his credit. The embassy he headed to Bohdan Khmelnytsky ensured that on January 9, 1654, the reunification of Ukraine with Russia was solemnly proclaimed. On January 11, Matveev went to the Tsar with a report on the Pereyaslav Rada that took place. And subsequently Matveev actively participated in Little Russian affairs, thanks to which in 1669 he was placed at the head of the Little Russian order. During Matveev's tenure in this post, his authority as a skilled diplomat was further strengthened. Having become the head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz, he develops not only the traditional relations of Russia with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sweden, Turkey, Austria, and the German lands, but also tries to establish diplomatic and trade contacts with the Mughal Empire and China.
Matveev's interests were not limited to politics. He pays a lot of attention to such dissimilar areas as medicine, theater, history. So, in the 70s. he headed the Pharmacy Order. This position was considered responsible, because it was about the health of the king and his loved ones. At that time, a kind of medical practice existed at the court, which obliged the doctor, the head of the Pharmacy Department and people from the king’s inner circle to take the medications prescribed to the sovereign. At the same time, Matveev creates a “comedy group” that gives theatrical performances. In addition, Matveev is known in the cultural life of Russia as one of the authors of books on the official history of the Russian state. On his initiative, literature of a religious and moralizing nature was translated in the Ambassadorial Prikaz.
Matveev’s active work was interrupted after the death of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich as a result of the intrigues and machinations of the influential boyar families of Miloslavsky and Khitrovo. He was deprived of his boyar rank, estates, estates, yards, people and all property. And he himself was sent into exile to a remote and hungry region - the small village of Pustozersk, where fishermen and exiles lived. Only after the election of 10-year-old Peter to the royal throne did his mother Natalya Kirillovna, Matveev’s pupil, return him to Moscow. However, this return turned out to be tragic for Matveev. He was killed during the Streltsy riot in May 1682.
Much of the literature about Artamon Sergeevich Matveev was published in the pre-revolutionary period. This circumstance makes it inaccessible to wide readership interested in the history of Russia in the 17th century. In the works of V. O. Klyuchevsky, K. Valishevsky and S. M. Solovyov, little is said about this statesman. Thus, V. O. Klyuchevsky mentions A. S. Matveev, discussing scientific knowledge in Russia in the 17th century. (2). S. M. Solovyov included information about Matveev in the general story about the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich (4, 5). To a large extent, the gap regarding the personality of Artamon Sergeevich Matveev is filled by the book “The Eye of All Great Russia” (3). It has a special section entirely dedicated to this statesman. The basis for its writing was the work of historians of the 18th-19th centuries, as well as archival materials. This essay pays attention not only to Matveev’s service in various positions, but also to his, so to speak, non-state interests - his passion for theater and history.

FACTS AND OPINIONS

“The name of A. S. Matveev is mentioned in the affairs of the Pharmacy Order in 1673-1675, and in 1676 he was placed at the head of this order. He followed the development of medicine abroad, subscribed to books by foreign doctors, tried to have the latest medicines in his pharmacies, and personally compiled lists of medicines in Slavic and Latin with their prices indicated. He was also involved in issues of medical equipment and personnel selection. In general, the activities of A. S. Matveev in the Pharmacy Department greatly advanced domestic medicine.
The versatility of Artamon Sergeevich’s interests was explained by his extensive reading, desire for education, and craving for Western culture and its achievements. His petitions, written to Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich from exile, are filled with excerpts from the works of Aristotle and Socrates, which indicates his familiarity with philosophy. He also knew Greek and Roman history. Matveev's house was decorated in a European style, decorated with paintings, clocks, and various overseas curiosities. They often received guests here, exchanged thoughts and news. A. S. Matveev’s wife was not a recluse and participated in conversations, which went against the customs of that time. It was here, in the free atmosphere of this house, that the mother of the future Tsar Peter I spent her childhood and youth.
...Trying to keep up with the times, A.S. Matveev started a “comedy group” of his own courtyard people and foreigners. The first mention of the creation of a court theater dates back to the beginning of 1672. In May of this year, the tsar issued a decree on the allocation funds for the construction and decoration of the theater at the court of Prince Miloslavsky. Matveev was ordered to replenish the troupe of court actors... Matveev monitored the troupe, repertoire, costumes, reviewed and approved the cost estimates. A theater school was opened in the German settlement for Russians and foreigners."
Rogozhin N. M.

“...Boyarin Artamon Sergeevich Matveev, the sexton’s son, another favorite of the tsar, the first Muscovite to open in his European-style house something like zhurfixes, meetings for the purpose of talking, exchanging thoughts and news, with the participation of the hostess and without drinking parties, organizer of the courtier theater."
Klyuchevsky V. O.

“Artamon Matveev was the son of a simple clerk, and we do not know how he managed to become an intimate friend of the sovereign. Without a doubt, Morozov, along with Ordyn-Nashchokin, Rtishchev and others... of the same dark origin are to blame for this.
Matveev showed himself to be a strong supporter of Western innovations... A determined but cautious careerist, even after he became the sovereign's favorite, his father modestly faded into insignificance in the insignificant rank of the official hierarchy; having achieved succession to Ordyn-Nashchokin in foreign relations and in the department of Little Russia, he appears in the Duma only as a simple nobleman, and only two years after the birth of Peter the Great he receives the title of boyar.”
Valishevsky K.

(1625-1682) - son of a clerk, served in Ukraine, participated in the wars with the Poles and the siege of Riga (1657). It is unknown when and how Matveev’s rapprochement with Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich occurred; the latter became very attached to his “Sergeich” and placed complete trust in him. In Matveev’s house, the sovereign met his pupil, Natalia Kirillovna Naryshkina, his second wife. In the modest rank of a Duma nobleman, Matveev managed the Little Russian and then embassy orders. Artistic, he did not boast of his influential position as a royal friend, and did not quarrel with the nobility. In 1672, on the occasion of the birth of Tsarevich Pyotr Alekseevich, Matveev was elevated to the rank of okolnichy, and to the rank of boyar at the end of 1674. One of the first “Westernizers,” Matveev valued communication with foreigners and willingly transplanted overseas innovations to Russian soil. His house was decorated in a European style, with a painted ceiling, German paintings depicting saints, and a clock of such intricate design that even foreigners paid attention to them. Matveev's wife appeared in male society; son Andrei (q.v.) received a thorough education in the European style; From the courtyard people, Matveev formed a troupe of actors and amused the sovereign with theatrical performances. An educated man, Matveev wrote several literary works (which have not reached us), mainly of historical content, among other things: “The history of Russian sovereigns, glorious in military victories, in persons” and “The history of the election and crowning of Mikhail Fedorovich.” The death of Tsar Alexei (1676) led to the fall of Matveev. They say he tried to place the young Peter on the throne; but, it is more likely that the Miloslavskys, who had once again gained dominance at court, decided to destroy Matveev out of revenge and a sense of self-preservation. Accused of witchcraft and evil intentions for the life of Tsar Feodor, Matveev was exiled with his entire family to Pustozersk. In 1680 he was transferred to Mezen, and in January 1682, thanks to the intercession of the royal bride, Marfa Matveevna Apraksina, Matveev's goddaughter, to Lukh. The death of Tsar Fedor and the election of Peter to the throne (April 27, 1682) transferred power into the hands of the Naryshkins. The first order of business of the new government was to summon Matveev and return him to his previous honors. Matveev arrived in Moscow on the evening of May 11, and on May 15 the Streletsky riot broke out, one of the first victims of which was Matveev: he was killed in front of the royal family, on the Red Porch, thrown down onto the square and chopped to pieces. The monument over his grave was erected by State Chancellor Count N.P. Rumyantsev.

Literature.“The Story of the Innocent Imprisonment of Boyar A.S. Matveev” (ed. 2, M., 1785); "Notes of Russian People", ed. Sakharov (St. Petersburg, 1841); Stahlin, "Originalanekdoten von Peter d. Grossen" (1785); Reutenfels, “De rebus Moscoviticis” (1680, “J. M. H. Pr.”, 1839, 7); Lyseck, "Relatio etc." (1676; "J. M. H. Pr.", 1837, 11); Tanner, "Legatio Polono-Lithuanica" (1689; "Readings of General History and Ancient." and department M., 1891); Klenk, "Historisch Verhael, of Beschryving van de Voyagie" (1677); Lałuski, "Epistolae" (1709, vol. I, p. 600); "Narratio rerum quae post obitum Alexii geslae sunt" (1829, and in Clampi, "Bibliografia crilica", I, 75-79; Russian translation in "J. M. N. Pr." 1835, part V); Miller, "The Education of Peter Vel." (Tumansky, "Collected Notes", V); Tereshchenko. "An experience of reviewing the lives of dignitaries" (I); Solovyov, “History of Russia” (XII, 326; XIII, 309-310); Pogodin, “17 first years in the life of Peter the Great.”; Zamyslovsky, "The Reign of Fyodor Alekseevich."

Encyclopedia Brockhaus-Efron

Matveev Artamon Sergeevich(1623–15.5.1682, Moscow), statesman and military leader, diplomat, close boyar (1674 or 1675), okolnichy (1672). The son of clerk O. Matveev, who carried out diplomatic assignments under Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. Matveev was brought up at the royal court together with Tsarevich Alexei (future Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich). Solicitor (1641), Streltsy head (chief of the Streltsy garrison) in Moscow (1642). After the accession of Alexei Mikhailovich in 1645, the steward and colonel. In 1653, he was part of the embassy to the Ukrainian hetman B. M. Khmelnytsky with the aim of developing conditions for Ukraine’s entry into the Moscow state. He participated in the Pereyaslav Rada of 1654, after which he was sent with a report to Moscow. During the Russian-Polish War of 1654–1667. participated in the siege of Smolensk and Chertkov (1655); commanded a detachment that covered the retreat of the Russian army of Prince G. G. Romodanovsky from near Lvov. At the head of the Streletsky Prikaz (regiment), he participated in the suppression of the “Copper Riot” (1662). In 1667, during the conflict between Patriarch Nikon and the Tsar, on behalf of Alexei Mikhailovich, he negotiated with the Patriarchs of Antioch and Alexandria, who arrived in Moscow to participate in a church council. In 1669, he successfully negotiated with the Ukrainian Cossacks at the Glukhov Rada, achieved the election of D.I. Mnohogreshny as hetman of Left-Bank Ukraine and the preservation of Russian garrisons in Ukrainian cities.

Upon returning to Moscow in April of the same year, Matveev was appointed head of the Little Russian Prikaz, and from February 1671 he simultaneously led the Ambassadorial Prikaz and a number of other government institutions. Matveev’s position at court was especially strengthened after the marriage of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich to his distant relative and pupil, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. Matveev became the tsar's confidant and the most influential figure in the Russian government. The most important documents were signed with a special formula: “by decree of the great sovereign and by order of boyar Artamon Sergeevich Matveev.” At the head of the Streltsy regiment he participated in the suppression of the Razin uprising (1670–1671). In 1673, he achieved the extradition to the Moscow authorities of the impostor “Tsarevich Simeon”, who fled from Astrakhan to the Zaporozhye Sich and declared himself the son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Matveev considered the main task of Russian foreign policy to be the annexation of all of Ukraine to Russia, and to solve it he believed it was possible to temporarily abandon the struggle with Sweden for access to the Baltic Sea. In 1672, during negotiations with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, he secured Kiev for Russia and insisted on transferring Right Bank Ukraine to it. In June 1674, thanks to the efforts of Matveev, I. S. Samoilovich, a supporter of Russia, was elected hetman of Left-Bank Ukraine. To neutralize the actions of the Ottoman Empire, on October 12, 1675, an agreement was concluded with Austria on mutual military assistance of the two states in the event of an attack by a third party. He contributed to the revitalization of trade and diplomatic relations with the Bukhara and Khiva khanates. In 1675, an embassy was sent to China, headed by the translator of the Ambassadorial Order, N. G. Spafariy. At Matveev’s initiative, some changes were made to Russian diplomatic etiquette: in relation to the Moscow Tsar, the title of the head of a great state began to be used - “Majesty” (instead of “Most Serene Sovereign”); a rule was introduced for foreign ambassadors to remove their hats at the royal reception. In 1675, Matveev was promoted to butler and received the honorary right to be called the Serpukhov governor. Matveev was one of the most educated people of his time, he collected an extensive library, and advocated the spread of European technical and cultural achievements in Russia. Matveev paid special attention to the development of medicine and the dissemination of medical knowledge; from 1673 he participated in the work of the Pharmacy Order, and from 1676 he was its head. Thanks to Matveev’s activities, the delivery of medicines and medical books from abroad has been established. For the first time in Russia, Matveev organized a private theater: having assembled a “comedy group” from his courtyard people and foreigners, he contributed to the organization of a theater at the royal court (1672). Matveev participated in the work of writing the official history of the Moscow state: he supervised the compilation of the “Titular Book” (1672), “The Book on the election of Mikhail Fedorovich, the autocrat of all great Russia, to the highest throne of the great Russian kingdom”; was the initiator of writing “History of the Tsars and Grand Dukes of the Russian Land” and “Genealogy of the Grand Dukes and Tsars of Russia.”

Under the leadership of Matveev, the Ambassadorial Prikaz carried out the translation of religious and moral works: “The Book of the Sibyls”, “Chrismologion” (a book about four monarchies), “Vasiliologion” (a book about kings), “Arithmology”, “The Book of Hieroglyphics”, “The Book of about the nine muses and the seven free arts”, etc.

After the death of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in 1676, he fell into disgrace, was sent by the governor to Verkhoturye, was soon accused of distributing “black books”, and was deprived of ranks and lands. He was detained in Kazan, then in Pustozersk, and in 1680 he was transferred to Mezen. In 1682, by decree of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, Matveev was returned part of the lands and allowed to move to Kostroma district. After the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich in May 1682, by order of Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna, he returned to Moscow with the intention of suppressing the unrest of the Streltsy, but he himself was captured by the Streltsy in the royal palace in the Kremlin and thrown from the Red Porch onto the pikes.

National history. M., BRE, vol. 3, 2000

Artamon Sergeevich Matveev

MATVEEV Artamon Sergeevich (1625-1682) - statesman and military leader, diplomat. He was brought up at the royal court together with the future Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. He participated in the Pereyaslav Rada of 1654, the suppression of the “Copper Riot” of 1662, the uprising of 1670-1671, and led the country’s foreign policy. I was brought up in his house N. K. Naryshkina- second wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and mother Peter I. After the death of Alexei Mikhailovich (1676) he fell into disgrace. Returned by Tsarina Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina to Moscow and died on the Streltsy Peaks, thrown from the Red Porch of the Kremlin during the Streltsy uprising in 1682.

Orlov A.S., Georgieva N.G., Georgiev V.A. Historical Dictionary. 2nd ed. M., 2012, p. 303.

Matveev Artamon Sergeevich (1625-05/15/1682), a major political figure and diplomat. Son of a clerk. One of the most educated people of the 17th century. Was the tutor of the king's second wife Alexey Mikhailovich- Natalya Kirillovna, nee Naryshkina, who grew up in his house.

In 1654 Matveev participated in the embassy that arrived at Pereyaslavl Rada. In 1656-57 he traveled as part of the embassy to Poland. In 1662 he commanded one of the streltsy regiments that suppressed the Moscow uprising “Copper Riot”. In 1669 he received the rank Duma nobleman and was placed at the head of the Little Russian order . Then he received the rank of okolnichy, and in 1674 - boyar .

Matveev believed that Russia should concentrate all its forces on solving the most important problem - the annexation of Right Bank Little Russia. In 1671, after Alexei Mikhailovich’s marriage to Natalya Kirillovna, Matveev’s weight at the royal court became very large. He changed A.L. Ordin-Nashchokina as head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz.

After the death of Alexei Mikhailovich and accession Fedor Alekseevich in 1676, as well as the coming to power of the Miloslavsky princes, Matveev was deprived of government positions and sent into exile. In 1682, with the Naryshkins coming to power, he was returned from exile. He was killed by Streltsy during the Streltsy riot.

Matveev had one of the largest libraries in Russia. He was the organizer of the theater at the royal court. Under his leadership, a reference book on diplomatic correspondence was compiled - “Titular Book”, as well as “The History of Russian Sovereigns, Glorious in Military Feats, in Persons” and “The History of the Election and Wedding of Mikhail Fedorovich to the Kingdom”.

O.M. Rapov

Matveev Artamon Sergeevich (1625-82) - Russian statesman and diplomat. In 1654 he was part of the Russian delegation to the Pereyaslav Rada, and in 1656-1657 he was part of the embassy to Poland. At the head of the Streltsy order (regiment), he actively participated in the suppression of the Moscow uprising of 1662. From 1669 he headed the Little Russian Prikaz, and from 1671 he simultaneously led the Ambassadorial Prikaz and a number of other central institutions. Matveev considered the main task of Russian foreign policy to be the annexation of all of Ukraine to Russia, and to achieve this, he believed it was possible to temporarily abandon the fight with Sweden for the Baltic shores. In 1672, during negotiations with Poland, he secured Kyiv for Russia and insisted on transferring right-bank Ukraine to it. Matveev was related and close to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. After his death he fell into disgrace and was exiled (1676). He returned to Moscow in May 1682 with the intention of suppressing the unrest of the Streltsy, but a few days later he himself became one of the victims of the rebels. Matveev was a very educated person for his time, had a large library, and was the initiator of the compilation of the “Titular Book” - a reference book on diplomatic correspondence. Matveev supervised the compilation of “The History of Russian Sovereigns, Glorious in Military Deeds and Personalities” and “The History of the Election and Crowning of Mikhail Fedorovich,” which have not reached us.

A. L. Goldberg. Leningrad.

Soviet historical encyclopedia. In 16 volumes. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1973-1982. Volume 9. MALTA - NAKHIMOV. 1966.

Matveev Artamon Sergeevich (1623-05/15/1682), statesman and diplomat, “close boyar” of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The son of a clerk, he was brought up together with Tsarevich Alexei. In 1642 he was assigned to the court with the rank of solicitor, in 1643 he was promoted to the head of the Streltsy, in 1653 - to the head of the Moscow Streltsy. In the same year, he traveled to Little Russia and brought Little Russians into Russian citizenship. During the war with Poland, Matveev contributed to the surrender of Smolensk, led the battle of Kamenets-Podolsk, besieged Lvov and, together with Prince. F. Yu. Romodanovsky captured Chernigov. Subsequently, he traveled twice to Lithuania and Poland to negotiate with Hetman Gonsevsky about the election of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich as Polish king. In 1669 he was sent with the rank of steward to the Glukhov Rada, where he defended the non-return of Kyiv to the Poles. Upon returning from Glukhov, he headed the Little Russian Order. Unlike the then head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz, A.L. Ordyn-Nashchokin, who sought an alliance with Poland against the Swedes and the acquisition of Livonia, who considered Little Russia “a great burden for the state treasury,” Matveev saw in the annexation of Little Russia “the attachment of a natural branch to its historical root " He believed that the concession of Kyiv to the Poles was “terrible to even think about,” and contributed greatly to the streamlining of Little Russian affairs and the strengthening of Moscow power in Little Russia. Differences in the views of Matveev and Nashchokin caused a struggle between them, which ended with the appointment of Matveev in 1671, then already a Duma nobleman, as “guardian of state embassy affairs” instead of Nashchokin.

In the same year, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich entered into a second marriage with Matveev’s pupil and sister-in-law of his wife, née Hamilton, N.K. Naryshkina. Since that time, Matveev's influence and powers have expanded enormously. In Little Russia, Poland and abroad he was called the chancellor of the Moscow Tsar, his first minister (primarius minister). In addition to external affairs, he was in charge of the Polish and Little Russian orders, as well as the most extensive Novgorod order with the quarters of Vladimir and Galician. Matveev was entrusted with the Pharmacy order. In 1674, he received the rank of boyar and the title of governor of Serpukhov, head of the Court of the Coinage and Streletsky Order, as well as the Order of the Kazan Palace, etc. Matveev concluded an agreement with Brandenburg regarding assistance to Poland in the fight against the Turks (1673), he negotiated with the Polish, Swedish and Austrian ambassadors, contributed to the election of Ivan Samoilovich as hetman and persuaded hetman P. D. Doroshenko to transfer to Moscow citizenship.

After the death of Alexei Mikhailovich, Matveev’s position began to shake. Enemies, mainly the Miloslavskys, accused him of plotting against Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, and the latter appointed him governor of the Siberian city of Verkhoturye (in the fall of 1676), but on the way from Kazan, Matveev was sent into exile to the Pustozersky fort (1677), from where he was transferred to Mezen (1680). From exile, he wrote many letters and submitted petitions to the Tsar, but to no avail, until the widowed Fyodor Alekseevich chose Matveev’s goddaughter, Marfa Matveevna Apraksina, as his wife. There was an order to return Matveev, but he returned to Moscow after the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, on May 12, 1682, and died three days later during the Streltsy uprising prepared by the Miloslavskys. He had a penchant for literature. His works: “He led everyone. book Moscow and all Russia Autocrats both title and press"; “Election and sending to Kostroma... and about the campaign to Moscow, after the crowning of Tsar Michael”; “The description of everyone was led. book and Russian tsars, glorious in military victories, in faces with stories.” He is also credited with the “Chronicle of Rebellions,” published by Prince. Shcherbatov.

Materials from the site Great Encyclopedia of the Russian People were used.

Read further:

Matveev Andrey Artamonovich (1666-1728), statesman, diplomat. Companion of Peter I, son of Artamon Sergeevich.

Literature:

Shchepotyev L., Close boyar A. S. Matveev as a cultural politician. figure of the 17th century, St. Petersburg, 1906; Matveev P., A.S. Matveev in the order of Little Russia and its relationship to the affairs and people of this region, "RM", 1901, No. 8-9; Starostina T.V., About the disgrace of A.S. Matveev in connection with the detective case of 1676-77 about the storage of conspiracy letters, "Uch. Zap. Karelo-Fin. University", Petrozavodsk, 1948, vol. 2, v. 1.

Artamon Sergeevich Matveev is a famous Russian statesman. He held the post of head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz, was the head of the Russian government at the end of the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. He is considered one of the first “Westernizers”, who, long before Peter I, called for paying more attention to foreign experience and actively adopting it. In addition, Matveev was a fan of art and stood at the origins of the court theater.

Career

Artamon Sergeevich Matveev was born in 1625. His father was a clerk who carried out diplomatic missions. In particular, in 1634 he was in Turkey, and in 1643 - in Persia.

At the age of twelve, the hero of our article was assigned to live in the royal palace and was brought up together with the future Tsar Alexei. In his youth, Artamon Sergeevich Matveev was sent to serve in Little Russia, took part in wars with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and in 1656 besieged Riga.

With the rank of colonel and streltsy head of the third order as part of the regiment of Prince Alexei Nikitich, Trubetskoy besieged Konotopa. This was one of the key battles of the Russian-Polish war of 1654-1667. Trubetskoy was opposed by Hetman Vygovsky. The noble cavalry, being ambushed, was defeated, after which Trubetskoy was forced to retreat. Vygovsky's local success did not radically affect the situation. After their defeat, he participated in negotiations with hetmans Gonsevsky and Vygovsky.

In 1654, Artamon Sergeevich Matveev took part in the Pereyaslav Rada. It was a meeting of Zaporozhye Cossacks led by Bogdan Khmelnitsky, at which the decision was finally made to join the Zaporozhye army to the Russian kingdom. After this, the Cossacks swore allegiance to the king.

The king's close associate

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who knew Artamon Matveev since childhood, contributed to the advancement of his career. In 1666-1667, the hero of our article was invited to the Great Moscow Council, convened by the sovereign. On it, Alexey Mikhailovich actually staged a trial of Patriarch Nikon, accusing him of schismatics.

As part of this council, Artamon Matveev accompanied the Eastern Patriarchs in Moscow, who specially came to Russia.

In 1669, together with Prince Grigory Grigoryevich Romodanovsky, he participated in the organization of the Glukhov Rada. When he returned to Moscow, he was appointed head of the Little Russian Prikaz instead of Afanasy Lavrentievich Ordin-Nashchokin. In this position, he oversaw the management of the territories that are part of Left Bank Ukraine.

An important event in the biography of Artamon Sergeevich Matveev occurred in 1671, when he was appointed head of the Ambassadorial Prikaz. In this position, he was in charge of relations with foreign states, the exchange and ransom of prisoners, as well as the management of a number of territories in the southeast of the country. In the same year he received the rank of Duma nobleman. A year later, a okolnichy, then a nearby okolnichy, and finally a nearby boyar in 1674.

The king's wife

It was in the house of boyar Artamon Matveev that Alexey Mikhailovich met a relative of his wife, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. At that time, the girl was raised in the chambers of Matveev’s wife. Naryshkina became the second wife of Alexei Mikhailovich, the mother of the future Russian Emperor Peter I.

All this brought the sovereign even closer to the hero of our article. Their friendship is evidenced by the letters that the tsar wrote to Matveev. For example, he asked Artamon Sergeevich to come to them, claiming that the children were orphaned without him, and he himself had no one else to consult with.

Westernism

Boyar Artamon Sergeevich Matveev especially valued relationships and communication with foreigners. I was always happy when some overseas innovations took root on Russian soil. For example, they organized a printing house, thanks to which they managed to collect an extensive library. There is another remarkable episode in the biography of Artamon Matveev - he was among the organizers of the first pharmacy in Moscow.

His house was furnished and decorated according to the European fashion of that time. With German paintings, painted ceilings, clocks of the most intricate design. All this was so relevant that even foreigners paid attention.

Relationships in the family were also built according to the Western model. The wife often appeared in male society. He gave his son Andrei an education according to the European model.

It is noteworthy that at the same time he paid attention not only to the Western direction in Russian foreign policy. For example, he concluded an agreement on trade in Persian silk with Armenian merchants that was beneficial for the court. It was Matveev who initiated the Moldavian boyar Nikolai Spafariy to go to reconnoiter the route to China.

While conducting international affairs, the hero of our article tried in every possible way to avoid conflicts with the Swedes. He looked farsightedly into the future, seeing them as assistants in neutralizing the influence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Dnieper region.

Passion for art

When telling even a short biography of Artamon Sergeevich Matveev, it is necessary to pay enough attention to his love for art. It was he who suggested that the translator of the Ambassadorial Prikaz and teacher from the German settlement, Yuri Mikhailovich Givner, assemble a troupe of actors to amuse the Tsar with theatrical performances.

With his participation, the first play of the Russian theater was staged in 1672 by Lutheran pastor Johann Gregory from the Holy Roman Empire. It was called "Artaxerxes' action." It is interesting that until the middle of the 20th century this work was officially considered lost. But in 1954, information was discovered about two of his lists, preserved in different libraries.

The play was performed in German, its plot was an adaptation of the biblical Book of Esther. The duration of the play was ten hours, and the actors played without intermission. It was first staged in the Preobrazhensky Palace.

Being an educated man, Matveev himself wrote literary works. Mostly they were of historical content. It is believed that none of them has survived to this day. It is known that among them were “The History of the Election and Crowning of Mikhail Fedorovich” and “The History of Russian Sovereigns in Military Victories and Persons.”

In addition, he was involved in the creation of the “Tsar’s Titular Book”. This is a reference book dedicated to monarchs and other top officials of Russia and foreign countries.

Opal

Soon after Alexei Mikhailovich died in 1676, Matveev fell into disgrace. There is a version that he tried to place the young Peter on the throne, opposing the supporters of his brother Fyodor.

There is another assumption. If you believe him, the decisive role in the fall of Matveev was played by the Miloslavskys, who began to have too much influence at court. They decided to destroy the boyar out of revenge, remembering his old grievances.

In the short biography of Artamon Matveev, you can find information that he was formally accused of insulting a foreign ambassador, for which he was exiled along with his entire family to Pustozersk. This is a small settlement on the territory of the modern Nenets Autonomous Okrug. A few years later he was transferred to Mezen, located within the Arkhangelsk region.

At the same time, Matveev still had many supporters at court who supported him in every possible way. One of them was Fyodor Alekseevich’s second wife, Marfa Matveevna Apraksina, goddaughter of the hero of our article. Thanks to her intercession, the disgraced boyar was transferred to the village of Lukh in the Ivanovo region.

Death of a boyar

After the election of Peter to the throne in 1682, power was in the hands of the Naryshkins. They were on good terms with Matveev, so they began by bringing him back from exile, giving him the same honors that befitted his status.

On May 11, 1682, Matveev arrived in Moscow, and four days later the Streletsky riot broke out in the capital. Artamon Sergeevich became one of the first victims of this uprising. He attempted to convince the archers not to oppose the ruler, but was killed in front of the royal family.

This happened on the Red Porch. The boyar was thrown down onto the square and chopped to pieces. Matveev was 57 years old.

He was buried in Armenian Lane at the Church of St. Nicholas in Pillars. At the beginning of the 19th century, a monument to his grave was erected by his direct descendant, Count Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev, who at that time served as state chancellor. The church where Matveev's grave was located was demolished by the Soviet authorities in 1938.

Personal life

Artamon Matveev's wife Evdokia Hamilton came from an old Scottish noble family. She died in 1672 several years before her husband fell into disgrace.

The granddaughter of the hero of our article, Maria Andreevna Matveeva, married the military leader and diplomat Alexander Ivanovich Rumyantsev, became the mother of the famous commander, hero of the Seven Years and Russian-Turkish War Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky. Moreover, there were persistent rumors that she gave birth to him not from her legal husband, but from Peter the Great.

Diplomat son

His son Andrei, who was awarded the title of count in the Holy Roman Empire, built a successful career. There he remained for a long time in the status of permanent envoy of Russia.

Andrei Artamonovich was an associate of Peter I, who remembered how his father opposed the archers. In addition, Andrei was Matveev’s only son. However, he was never particularly close to the king and did not take part in his military fun. But he had first-class teachers who taught the young man foreign languages ​​and even Latin.

After becoming an ambassador, I constantly heard rave reviews about my education. He is considered one of the first Russian memoirists. He wrote interesting notes about the court of the French king Louis XIV. Like his father, he was a representative of Westerners and had one of the best private libraries in the country.

Portraits and images

Apparently, the image of Matveev and his wife Evdokia can be seen on the icon of Christ Emmanuel by an unknown court painter. Presumably, it was written in 1675-1676. Currently located in the Kolomenskoye museum-estate.

The icon depicts the bowed figures of a woman and a man. The man is with a beard and in a magnificent robe, and the woman is in a long veil. To assume that a boyar couple is depicted here, and not saints, allows us to deviate from the accepted and approved iconographic scheme, which at that time happened extremely rarely and only in exceptional cases. In addition, the names Evdokia and Artamon are inscribed above the heads of the couple.

The first suggestion that Matveev is depicted on the icon was put forward by the Soviet restorer and architect Pyotr Dmitrievich Baranovsky.

The figure of the boyar can be seen on the monument “1000th Anniversary of Russia”, which was erected in Veliky Novgorod in 1862.

Incarnations on the screen

More than once the character of Matveev was of interest to directors of historical films. In 1980, in the biographical drama “The Youth of Peter” by Sergei Gerasimov, he is played by Honored Artist of the RSFSR Dmitry Dmitrievich Orlovsky.

The film tells about the early years of the future Russian emperor, including the Streletsky revolt, of which the hero of our article became a victim.

In 2011, in Nikolai Dostal’s historical series “Raskol,” Matveev is played by Ilya Kozin.