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Menshikov, His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich. Information for thought

Prince Menshikov A.D., 1727

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (1673-1729) - prince, the first oligarch of Russia.

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. Alexashka 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. However 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 planted it, 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. The very 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 orderly 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 famous expression, we 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 Natalia. 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 high 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 Russian Empire was a little over 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 construction. The money disappeared, the canal "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, wheat bought by Menshikov's people was sold;
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 next to nothing they bought from local residents everything "marine" and at monopoly prices was sold to everyone. 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.

"And in the end I will tell"

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, a 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.

... Lord, You are the Judge of this world,
the sins and wickedness of the fathers
punish in children ...
from a religious text.

If there was a tombstone or a cross on her grave, then a passer-by could read: Menshikova Maria Alexandrovna. December 26, 1711, Petersburg - December 26, 1729, Berezov. There was no tombstone, perhaps there was a cross. /website/

She was a celebrity both during her lifetime and after her death, but only two people buried her: her brother and sister. Then they left these places forever and recalled the time they lived there, like a terrible dream.

Her body was left lying in the permafrost next to the body of her father. Only a hundred years later, people from Russia, who knew about the tragedy of this family, tried to find their graves.

Princess Maria Menshikova, the eldest daughter of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, the first friend and assistant of Emperor Peter the Great, was born and raised in the luxury of the best Petersburg palace, having received at that time more than an excellent education. She knew languages, knew how to dance, keep up a secular conversation. It was a girl of extraordinary beauty. She was destined for a happy future. The richest and most powerful man in Russia at that time, her father, would take care of it. Yes, Alexander Danilovich did not hide the fact that he had high hopes for his favorite.

At the age of sixteen, she became the bride of the young Russian emperor Peter Alekseevich, the grandson of Peter the Great. In a few years, as her father dreamed, she would become the Empress of All Rus'. And why not dream Alexander Danilovich? He was already accustomed to the fact that for 40 years now he had aroused reverent amazement among compatriots and foreigners, because he managed to become the closest friend of the king and earn his trust and gratitude. And after the death of Peter I in 1725, it was he who decided who would get the crown, because the emperor, as you know, did not leave a will.

The will and courage of His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov ensured the succession to the throne of Catherine I. But she did not reign for long. When it became clear that the days of the empress were numbered, Alexander Menshikov took the reins of government into his own hands and tried to ensure the future of his family by the last decree of the sick empress: the legitimate heir from the Romanov family, the eleven-year-old grandson of the late Peter, becomes emperor. This child becomes engaged to Menshikov's daughter, and the prince becomes the king's father-in-law - his "father".

As they say, everything is under control. And it's okay that his daughter Maria has long been the bride of another person. For political reasons, Maria was already married a few years ago. Once her father looked after her groom: he was a handsome man, the Polish count Piotr Sapieha, the only son of a wealthy governor. Old Jan Sapieha hoped to get the Polish crown with the help of Russia, and Menshikov counted on the Duchy of Courland, which was a vassal of Poland.

The young count free time spent at the Menshikovs, and Maria, of course, soon fell in love with him. A few years later, when she was fifteen, Archbishop Feofan Prokopovich, under Catherine the First and the whole court, betrothed the young. The Empress granted the bride one hundred thousand rubles and several villages with land and peasants.

Everything seemed to be going well. But the ways of the Lord are inscrutable, and the happiness of the young princess was envied by forty-two-year-old Catherine: the young Count Sapieha was too good. Very soon, Mary's fiancé becomes the favorite of the Empress. He is constantly with her, Catherine showers him with gifts, writes him a huge house in St. Petersburg with all the furniture. And then she suddenly decided to marry him to her niece Sofya Skavronskaya ...

Alexander Danilovich is indignant and demands "satisfaction". It was then, under the pressure of the “Highest Serenity”, that Catherine signed the will, which said: “The Tsesarevnas and the administration are charged with the obligation to try to marry the Grand Duke with Princess Menshikova.”

How did a young girl survive the involuntary betrayal of her beloved? Somehow survived. But when the father informed his daughter of her fate, she fainted. The historian wrote: “What sadness, what despair took possession of the heart of Princess Maria, who until recently was beating with joy when her father announced to her a decisive, indispensable will, so that she would forget her Sapieha and prepare to be an empress! Tears, beliefs, the illness of the unfortunate - nothing shook the ambitious ... Maria could not love the emperor, giving her heart to another, and Peter II, mutually, looking at her coldness, at the tears that involuntarily rolled from her beautiful eyes, at a forced smile, could not love her ".

A week after the death of Catherine, the betrothal of Maria Menshikova and Peter II, who at that time was twelve years old, took place. Maria began to be titled Imperial Highness. She now had her own yard, for the maintenance of which thirty-four thousand rubles were released - a colossal amount for Russia at that time, but ... ridiculous for her father, who owned millions. But what can you not endure for the sake of a "lofty" goal! And "Danilych" endured, but my daughter ...

A fully developed beauty of sixteen years old, of course, could not have any feeling for her child fiancé. She felt uneasy in his company; she reluctantly took part in his amusements and seemed boring and disgusting to the boy. The young emperor in temperament and character was very much like his grandfather Peter: the same willful, quick-tempered, intolerant. He really wanted to be taken for an adult, and therefore did not tolerate any "educational moments."

And “father” Alexander Danilovich was too carried away by pedagogy, the upbringing of an autocratic youth: he did not allow the use of the treasury without his knowledge, controlled expenses, reproached for squandering, forced him to communicate more often with an uninteresting bride. Naturally, questions arose in the boy’s head: “Who is our emperor here? Me or Menshikov?”

His Serene Highness clearly went too far and ceased to control the “undercover” situation. His luck, influence, career in the literal sense "from rags to riches" has long haunted many people.

Menshikov fell ill. For two weeks, just for two weeks, he left the court. Taking advantage of this, his enemies, the princes Dolgoruky, won over to their side the emperor's educator, Osterman, who had a great influence on the young emperor. The irritation of Peter II against Menshikov reached its climax.

September 8, 1727. A gray, rainy day, typical for early autumn in St. Petersburg. On the morning of this day, the 55-year-old President of the Military Collegium, Generalissimo, His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, the most powerful man in Russia, named father-in-law of Emperor Peter II, received a royal decree on house arrest. When the decree was announced, Menshikov became so ill that the doctor, in order to avoid an apoplexy, was forced to “open” his blood. On that day, the brilliant career of Menshikov was destroyed.

Soon all the Menshikovs were sent into exile. They were followed by 127 servants, the former imperial bride was followed by a chamberlain, a page, four grooms, etc. - her entire former staff. True, about Mary, an order followed: "So that henceforth the betrothed bride should not be mentioned when performing the service of God, and that decrees from the Synod should be sent to the entire state." The groom abandoned the bride. Already the second groom refused ...

The Menshikovs settled in own house, in the small town of the Ryazan province of Ranienburg. But they didn't stay there long. The highest decree was not long in coming, according to which Menshikov with his wife, son and daughters should be exiled to the distant town of Berezov (then extreme northern point Russia) Tobolsk province. Take away all property, leave ten servants.

Three wagons covered with matting stretched along the spring thaw: in the first - the prince and his wife, in the second - the son, in the last - the daughters, Maria and Alexandra. Each wagon was guarded by two soldiers. No sooner had the sad train departed than the captain caught up with them with orders to search the travelers to see if they were carrying anything superfluous. So much was found superfluous that Menshikov was left only in what he was wearing. All warm clothes were taken away from the princesses. Mary was left with a taffeta skirt, a damask black caftan, a white corset and a white satin cap on her head. Having doubted, in case of cold weather they left a taffeta coat. Of the dishes - a copper cauldron, three pans, several pewter bowls and plates, and not a single knife or fork.

In Vyshny Volochek, the exiles received an order to disarm their servants, in Tver - to send back almost all the servants, in Klin - to take away the wedding ring from the former bride ...

Princess Darya Mikhailovna Menshikova, the wife of Alexander Danilovich, slumped under the blows of fate, grew old, and became blind from tears. She could not stand the road and died in the arms of her family in a peasant hut, in the village of Uslon near Kazan. The guards hurried the captives in such a hurry that they did not allow even an hour to stay at the fresh grave. Somehow they buried it on the bank of the river and, weeping, crossing themselves, moved on their way further. Father and three children.

Berezov at that time was a sparsely populated town located among impenetrable swamps. In summer - mosquitoes, in winter - frost of 50 degrees. At first, the Menshikovs lived in a prison, then they moved to a house cut down by Alexander Danilovich himself.

“The eldest daughter, who was betrothed to Peter II, was assigned to cook food for the entire colony,” writes the ubiquitous A. Dumas about the life of the Menshikovs in the book of travel essays “From Paris to Astrakhan ...”. - The second daughter mended clothes, washed and bleached linen. The young man hunted and fished. A certain friend, whose name neither Menshikov nor his children knew, sent them from Tobolsk a bull, four broad-sided cows and all kinds of poultry, and the exiles set up a good barnyard. In addition, Menshikov started a garden, sufficient to provide the family with vegetables for the whole year. Every day in the chapel, in the presence of children and servants, he read aloud a common prayer.

After the luxury and splendor of Petersburg life winter evenings with a torch in a house freezing through, they seemed especially painful. The children read the Holy Scriptures to their father, and he told them about his life. Receiving ten rubles a day for their maintenance, the Menshikovs spent very little on themselves, and therefore they were soon able to build a wooden church in a poor town.

Alexander Danilovich and his thirteen-year-old son, together with carpenters, built the temple with their own hands. Young princesses at that time sewed covers for the altar and clothes for the priest. This is how the life of the exiles flowed. Father, Alexander Danilovich, again showed the wonders of endurance and strength of character. He realized that he was punished by God for his sins, and accepted the blows of fate as a well-deserved punishment from God.

Only he could not come to terms with the unfortunate fate of his children. The father prayed and asked for forgiveness from the Lord not for himself. He called for mercy only for innocent children. Of the three children, he had previously loved the silent beauty Maria the most. That's why I wanted to see her as an empress. And now, when his daughter, twice rejected bride, was slowly fading away in meek anguish, he could not find a place for himself.

The younger children, he had no doubt, could hope for the emperor's forgiveness. And if this had happened during the life of his father, they would have left by crossing themselves. And Mary swore that she would never leave her father. He asked her forgiveness: “I ruined you!” She hugged him and said only: “You are my father. I'm not your judge." And so they disappeared in distant Siberia one after another: he - in November, on his birthday, and she in December - also on her birthday. The father on the day of death turned 56 years old, and the daughter - 18.

They were buried next to the wooden church, which the father built with his own ax in a year to atone for his sins. His prayers were heard by God: a month after last funeral Menshikov's children were forgiven and returned from exile to St. Petersburg. The new queen returned to them a significant part of the property confiscated before. The young Menshikovs became rich and famous again. Life went on.

Many years will pass, and the wonderful Russian artist Ivan Surikov will tell us the tragedy of this family on his famous painting"Menshikov in Beryozov". The idea of this canvas came to the painter in one rainy summer, when he lived near Moscow with his wife and daughters. On one of the rainy days, it seemed to him that, just like he and his family, Alexander Menshikov was once sad in the hut. Sad eyes sitting at the feet of the father eldest daughter, wrapped in a dark fur coat, - the former bride of Peter II, and Menshikov's hand, clenched into a fist in hopeless longing ... With a gentle, almost bloodless face, Maria is still beautiful. The face of this unfortunate, twice betrothed bride remains in memory for a long time.

Once, at the dawn of the stellar career of "Aleksashka" Menshikov, in honor of the brilliant victory over the Swedish army, Tsar Peter ordered the words "Unprecedented happens" to be stamped on a new medal. Such a medal adorned Menshikov's chest. Perhaps the Lord God himself read these words and gave this person so many good and bad things that it is difficult to believe in everything. But it's true.

There is also an assumption that Prince Fyodor Dolgoruky, a relative of Menshikov's enemies, who had long been in love with Mary, came to Berezov after the Menshikovs under a false name. Here they secretly married. Without experiencing happiness herself and without giving it to her beloved, this mysterious beauty died, sick, tormented by grief. Here is how Vs. Solovyov in his chronicle novel “The Young Emperor”: “At this time, the new Princess Dolgoruky, Maria Alexandrovna, was preparing to become a mother. The death of her father had a strong effect on her - she prematurely resolved from the burden of twins and died a day later; the children also died. So they buried her in the same grave with them. It was December 26, and on that day she turned eighteen years old.

When in 1825 they were looking for the grave of Menshikov, they found two small coffins with the bones of babies. The coffins stood on a large coffin made of cedar, in which lay a woman covered with a green satin veil. It was Maria.

After the death of Fyodor Dolgoruky, according to his will, a gold medallion with a strand of light blond hair, which apparently belonged to Maria Menshikova, was sent to the Beryozovskaya church.

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Alexander Danilovich Menshikov was born in 1673 in Moscow. He came from a poor and simple family, and from childhood he began working as an assistant to a pie-maker, selling pies from a stall. By a lucky chance, a lively and witty merchant named Aleksashka (that was the name of the future prince then) met with a high-ranking Mr. F. Ya. Lefort, who was an associate of Peter I himself. passed into the service of Franz Yakovlevich. However, his miraculous ascent to the top did not end there - already at the age of 14, Alexander managed to win over the king himself, soon getting to Peter as batmen.

Being almost inseparable from the tsar, Menshikov eventually became a confidant of Peter, sharing with him the fun, and then the affairs of national importance.

On long years Menshikov remained the tsar's main favorite and his first assistant.

Menshikov served really well - he carried out orders with the necessary diligence and even zeal, he kept secrets zealously, he memorized orders tightly. And, besides, he, like no one else, knew how to pacify the difficult and quick-tempered royal character.

During Northern war, when Russia and Sweden fought for dominance in the Baltic, Menshikov managed to distinguish himself as a talented infantry and cavalry commander, and in the spring of 1703, together with Peter, he won a brilliant and courageous victory at the mouth of the Neva River, for which he received from the hands of the tsar a nominal medal with an engraved text : "The impossible happens."

Later, Menshikov received the post of the first governor-general of St. Petersburg, remaining in office from 1703 until 1727. He supervised city construction, and also built Kronstadt and commanded shipyards.

In the same period, Menshikov commanded troops in battles in Poland and Lithuania, and in 1705 he was awarded the Polish Order of the White Eagle.

In 1706, it was Menshikov who commanded the cavalry troops in the battle of Kalisz, when a brilliant victory was won over the Swedish-Polish corps on October 18, 1706. The royal recognition for the victory in the battle was the decorated precious stones baton and the rank of Colonel of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.

In addition to military awards, the tsar granted quite peaceful ranks to his favorite Menshikov - for example, in 1702 Alexander Danilovich became a count of the Roman Empire, in 1705 he was promoted to the princes of the Roman Empire, and in May 1707 he received the title of His Serene Highness Prince Izhora.

Along with the ranks, Menshikov's well-being also grew.

Menshikov also fought with the Swedish army of Charles XII, when he went to Ukraine and Belarus. In general, the military ingenuity or even the military genius of Menshikov impressed Peter very much - he completely trusted Alexander Danilovich and relied on him. So, it was Menshikov who played a huge role in the Battle of Poltava in the summer of 1709, for which he was granted the rank of Field Marshal.

At the end of the war, in 1716, Menshikov received the rank of rear admiral, and on the day of the conclusion of peace with the Swedes, he became vice admiral.

It is known that despite royal love and trust, Menshikov was convicted of abuse and embezzlement of public funds more than once. However, he could always count on the indulgence of the king, and, as a rule, got off with fines and penalties.

The power of Menshikov, who actually ruled the state after the death of the emperor, when the young Peter II ascended the throne, did not last very long - the reason was his long illness and behind-the-scenes intrigues of the court. Thus, influence on the young emperor was lost, and Menshikov soon lost all his former greatness.

Later, being on the losing side, he was completely arrested and sent into exile. Alexander Danilovich lost all his titles, ranks and wealth, and the city of Berezov, Tobolsk province, became his place of exile. His wife, Princess Darya Mikhailovna, who was once the favorite of Peter himself, died on the way to the places of serving.

It is known that, together with his close associates, Menshikov built himself a simple wooden house, saying then that he had a chance to end the same simple life with which he had once begun.

The smallpox epidemic claimed the life of his daughter, and on November 12, 1729, Alexander Danilovich himself died. They buried him near the altar of the church built by him.

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov

Main events

First member of the Supreme Privy Council (1726)
First Senator (1725-1727)
President of the Military College (1719-1724 and 1726-1727)
St. Petersburg (1703-1724 and 1725-1727)
Field Marshal General (1709)

pinnacle of career

Order of the White Eagle (1705)
Order of the Elephant (Denmark, 1710)
Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia, 1713)

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov- was born in Moscow on November 6, 1673, and died on November 12, 1729, in the city of Berezovo, Siberian province. He served as the first governor-general of St. Petersburg from 1703 to 1724 and from 1725 to 1727. He also served as president of the military collegium from 1719 to 1724 and from 1726 to 1727. He was the only Russian nobleman who managed to receive the title of Duke from the Russian monarch! For his services he was awarded the title of "Generalissimo of the Sea and Land Forces" on May 12, 1727.

Origin and early career

A.D. Menshikov was born in Moscow on November 6, 1673. During his lifetime, there were rumors that his father belonged to the Lithuanian nobility and was in captivity, worked first for A. Mikhailovich, and then Fyodor Alekseevich, who made him a court groom. There are some facts that he took part in exposing the conspiracy against the diplomat F.L. Shaklovity. There is another version that the Menshikov family was even more ancient and its ancestors appeared in Rus' under the Ruriks. Although contemporaries did not doubt its origin. The most truthful information is that Menshikov's father had a small shop selling bread, A. Menshikov, helping his father, carried bread to nearby houses. It is also possible that A. Menshikov's father really served in the royal stables, and attached his son to a bread merchant. A similar origin, as well as Alexander's activities, excluded the possibility of him getting an education, there are also doubts about his ability to read and write!

Although it is known that Alexander Danilovich was a capable person, had a sharp mind and a good memory, he showed himself to be brave and courageous in the future when performing military assignments. His career began with the entry into Peter's "amusing company", and soon he became a government servant of the tsar. In this status, he took a rather active part in the events of 1689, after which Princess S. Alekseevna was removed from power, traveled with the tsar to Pereslavl-Zalessky and Arkhangelsk, participated in the Azov campaigns in 1697-1698.

The beginning of the rise on the career ladder of A. Menshikov

Upon arrival in Russia, Alexander took an active part in the investigation of the "shooter riot" and later claimed that he cut off the heads of 20 archers. The acquaintance of Peter I with Alexander is believed to have taken place through the great military leader Admiral F.Ya. Lefort, who took Alexander Danilovich into his service. There is no doubt that Alexander served in the Preobrazhensky Regiment from its very establishment, for several years he performed the duties of a government servant under Peter and acquired his favor, which turned into close friendship. Since 1697, Menshikov was inseparable from Peter: together with him he made the Azov campaign, went abroad together, participated in the search for archers, and carried out important assignments; his influence in the highest redactions of power began to outweigh even that of Lefort. By this time, he had become a confidant of Peter, accompanied him everywhere, took care of Peter's life. After the Battle of Narva, Alexander Danilovich, together with the tsar, participated in the actions of the Russian army in Ingria, and showed great courage and excellent military talents.

After the capture of Noteburg in 1702, he was appointed commandant of the captured fortress, then governor of the conquered regions. Many of the country's national revenues were transferred by Peter to the so-called Izhora Chancellery under his jurisdiction. Talented and energetic, Alexander Menshikov stopped at nothing to meet the emerging needs. His quick and decisive actions were quite in keeping with the seething energy of the Tsar. Deprived of any even elementary education, he could hardly write his name, Alexander made up for this deficiency with natural quick wit, thereby justifying his post.

In 1700 he received the first land salary in his life, by 1702 he already had the position of chamberlain to Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich. Received an order for construction in Karelia steel plant and prepare a site for the founding of a shipyard in the Baltic. One of the oldest shipbuilding enterprises in Russia. With which Menshikov did an excellent job. For participation in the battle with the squadron of Admiral Numers in May 1703, he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, and after the founding of St. Petersburg he became the first governor of the future second capital.

Under his careful leadership, the construction of the city was carried out. In 1704, A.D. Menshikov distinguished himself in the capture of Narva, successfully defended St. Petersburg, for which he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general. In 1705 he commanded the cavalry in Poland and was awarded the Order of the White Eagle by the Polish king. A year later he received the title of "Prince" of the Holy Roman Empire. Later, Alexander won the Battle of Kalisz. Captured the headquarters of Mazepa Baturin, commanded the cavalry in the Battle of Poltava. Accepted the surrender of the Swedes near Perevolochnaya. At the end of the military campaign of 1709, Menshikov was rewarded with the rank of field marshal and huge land holdings, becoming one of the richest people in Russia.

From 1712, during the year, Menshikov commanded troops in Promerzaniye and led the capture of Tetin. IN next years He did not take part in hostilities during his life, due to the deterioration of his already poor health. He had chronic lung disease!

Relationship with the king

In all positions, A.D. Menshikov showed himself to be a talented, enterprising, energetic, courageous and persistent official. He exactly carried out the orders of the Tsar and proved himself to be his faithful adherent. A. Menshikov's closeness to the tsar intensified after 1702, when he introduced Peter to M. Skavronskaya, who later became Empress Catherine I and defended his interests before the tsar. Received from the king all possible awards and titles, A.D. Menshikov was distinguished by great pride and commercialism. He did not miss a single opportunity for personal enrichment, took bribes and was engaged in theft of money and the treasury of the state. In relations with subordinates, he was harsh and arrogant. Beginning in 1711, the abuses of A.D. Menshikov were reported to the Tsar. Alexander remained one of the closest subjects of Peter I. In 1718 he took part in the investigation of Tsarevich Alexei, was a good teacher for Tsarevich Peter Petrovich. But back in 1714 A.D. Menshikov was under investigation in the case of abuse of office and a fine of about 1.5 million rubles was imposed on him.

In 1717, the so-called Pochepsky criminal case began, connected with the accusation of A.D. Menshikov in the seizure of foreign lands and the enslavement of Ukrainians, which became the subject of proceedings in the Senate and commissions specially created to investigate this violation. As a result, it further undermined the confidence of the king. However, it did not come to a complete break in relations. Peter condescendingly treated the actions of his favorite and in 1720 made him president of the Military Collegium. However, the investigation of A.D. Menshikov continued until the death of the Tsar.

After the death of Peter I

A few years after the death of his patron and mentor (and according to some sources it is known that he was also a lover) became for A.D. Menshikov a time of rise to the heights of power and a rapid fall. In January 1725, he took an active part in deciding the fate of the throne, and in fact, it was thanks to Alexander that Catherine I ascended the throne. From that moment on, he became practically the first person in the state. He initiated the creation of the Supreme Privy Council and became the leader. Alexander regained the position of president of the Military Collegium, lost in 1723, claimed the throne of the Duke of Courland and was going to marry his daughter to Tsarevich Peter Alekseevich, for which in May 1727 he got the empress to write a will in his favor, as well as the arrest of everyone who Alexander's plan did not suit this - Anton Emmanuel De Vieira, Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy and their associates.

By order of Peter II, A.D. Menshikov was appointed to the post of Generalissimo of the Marine and Land Forces of Russia. The engagement of the emperor with Maria Menshikova was announced. However, he soon fell ill and lost control of the emperor from his hands. In September 1727, A.D. Menshikov was placed under house arrest, and then exiled to Ranenburg, but then a new investigation was carried out on him. In the spring of 1728, deprived of all ranks and property, accompanied by only a few assistants, he was sent to Berezovo. Here, in the arms of Menshikov, his daughter died, and soon he himself died.

Many of his contemporaries did not even consider A.D. Menshikov to be the main culprit in the death of Alexei Petrovich. Abuses of office Alexander successfully got away with, getting off with their disclosure at the lowest cost - monetary fines. He successfully drowned his enemies, among whom were sometimes strong and famous people, such as Russian diplomat P.P. Shafirov. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov died on November 12, 1729, in the city of Berezov, now Berezovo, Tyumen Region, where a monument was erected in 1993.

Awards

Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (1703)
Order of the White Eagle (1705)
Order of the Elephant (1710)
Order of the Black Eagle (1713)
Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky (1725)

Family

Spouse: Daria Mikhailovna Arsenyeva
Children: Maria, Alexander, Alexandra

Memory of A.D. Menshikov

In Moscow, the name of the Generalissimo has been preserved by the Menshikov Tower.
In Kolpino (St. Petersburg) in 1997, a bronze bust was erected to the founder of the city, the Duke of Izhora A. D. Menshikov
In the village of Berezovo (Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous region)], where A. D. Menshikov was exiled, in 1993 a monument was erected

Mentions in films

Vladimir Karin-Yakubovsky "Tsarevich Alexei", 1918
Mikhail Ivanovich Zharov "Peter the First", 1937-1938
Vladimir Menshov "The Tale of How Tsar Peter the Black Married", 1976; "Tsarevich Alexei", 1997
Nikolai Eremenko Jr. "Youth of Peter", "At the beginning of glorious deeds", 1980)
Sergey Parshin "Young Russia", 1981
Leonid Kuravlev "Demidovs", 1983

Literature

Project " The best people countries"
Academician (Internet resource)
The free encyclopedia "Wikipedia"
Chronos ( The World History in the Internet)
The mystery of the name (Internet resource)

Image Gallery

Years of life: 1673-1729

Menshikov Alexander Danilovich - an associate of Peter I, a prominent statesman and military figure of the era. He was the closest associate of Peter I. After his death, he helped Catherine I ascend the throne, under which he was the de facto ruler of the country. Menshikov's life ended sadly - he was deposed under Peter II, accused of treason, sent into exile with his family, to Berezov, to Siberia. Starting life as the son of a court groom, ascending to the height of political power, reaching the highest ranks - count (1702), most illustrious prince (1707), generalissimo (1727), - at the end of his life he again became unknown among his contemporaries. However, the people remember Menshikov, honor his deeds. In mind Russian people Menshikov will remain the greatest associate of Peter I.

What are the areas of activity of Menshikov A.D. and its results?

In domestic politics main line of business Menshikova A.D. participated in the government of the country. Throughout his life, he held the most important and responsible positions in the state. He was the first governor-general of St. Petersburg, supervised the construction of shipyards and cannon factories. Despite the complexity of character, irascibility, arrogance, desire for enrichment, sometimes through embezzlement, Peter I greatly appreciated him for his intelligence, diligence, diligence. In all government posts, Menshikov was the right hand of Tsar Peter I, under Catherine I the first among the "supreme leaders".

The result of this activity Menshikov A.D. became a significant contribution to the development of the country, support for the reforms of Peter I, strengthening the economic and military power of the country. However, it is impossible not to note the greed, the desire for luxury. He was one of the richest people time, had several palaces, estates, numerous serfs. For him personally, this is also the result of his activity, although it ended in failure - Siberian exile and the deprivation of all honors and titles.

In foreign policy It should be noted next line of business: Menshikov participated in almost all the most important military events in Russia, was the right hand of the king. These are the Azov campaigns of 1695-1996, and the Great Embassy (1697-1698), the purpose of which is to find allies in the fight against Sweden, during the Northern War (1700-1725) Menshikov's talent as a commander was manifested. He commanded infantry, cavalry, showed fearlessness during battles. During the Battle of Poltava (June 27, 1709), commanding the left flank, Menshikov practically predetermined the course of the battle, defeating Ross's troops. For 7 years he was the president of the military college.

The result of this activity become greatest victories Russian army, expanding the territory of Russia, increasing the international prestige of the country. Menshikov is one of those leaders of the country who, together with Peter I, forged the strength and power of the state. It is no coincidence that in 1727 he was awarded the honorary highest military rank - Generalissimo.

Thus, the name of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov is in the row bright personalities the end of the 17th - the first quarter of the 18th century, associates of Peter I, who increased the glory of Russia, "Petrov's chicks" - Sheremetev B., Tolstoy P., Makarov A.

Material prepared: Melnikova Vera Aleksandrovna

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