Did Baron Munchausen really exist? Who really was Baron Munchausen The full name of Baron Munchausen.
A little old man sitting by the fireplace, telling stories, absurd and incredibly interesting, very funny and "true" ... It seems that a little time will pass, and the reader himself will decide that it is possible to pull himself out of the swamp, grabbing his hair, turn the wolf inside out , discover half a horse that drinks tons of water and can't quench its thirst.
Familiar stories, right? Everyone has heard of Baron Munchausen. Even people who don't get along well with belles-lettres, thanks to the cinema, they will be able to list a couple of fantastic stories about him on the move. Another question: "Who wrote the fairy tale "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen"?" Alas, the name of Rudolf Raspe is not known to everyone. And is he the true creator of the character? Literary critics still find the strength to argue on this topic. However, first things first.
Who wrote the book The Adventures of Baron Munchausen?
The year of birth of the future writer is 1736. His father was an official and part-time miner, as well as a notorious lover of minerals. This explained why their early years Raspe spent near the mines. He soon received basic education, which he continued at the University of Göttingen. At first he was occupied with law, and then the natural sciences captured him. Thus, nothing indicated his future passion - philology, and did not foreshadow that he would be the one who wrote The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
Later years
Upon return to hometown he chooses the job of a clerk, and then works as a secretary in the library. Raspe made his debut as a publisher in 1764, offering the world the works of Leibniz, which, by the way, were dedicated to the future prototype of the Adventures. At about the same time, he writes the novel "Hermin and Gunilda", becomes a professor and receives the position of caretaker of the antique cabinet. Travels around Westphalia in search of old manuscripts, and then rare items for a collection (alas, not his own). The latter was entrusted to Raspa, taking into account his solid authority and experience. And, as it turned out, in vain! The one who wrote The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was not a very wealthy person, even a poor one, which made him commit a crime and sell part of the collection. However, Raspa managed to escape punishment, but it is difficult to say how this happened. They say that those who came to arrest the man listened and, fascinated by his gift for storytelling, allowed him to escape. This is not surprising, because they ran into Raspe himself - the one who wrote The Adventures of Baron Munchausen! How could it be otherwise?
The appearance of a fairy tale
The stories and vicissitudes associated with the publication of this fairy tale actually turn out to be no less interesting than the adventures of its protagonist. In 1781, in the "Guide to funny people» there are the first stories with a resilient and all-powerful old man. It was not known who wrote The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. The author saw fit to remain in the background. It was these stories that Raspe took as the basis for his own work, which was united by the figure of the narrator, had integrity and completeness (unlike the previous version). The stories were written in English language, and the situations in which he acted main character, had a purely English flavor, were associated with the sea. The book itself was conceived as a kind of edification directed against lies.
Then the tale was translated into German (this was done by the poet Gottfried Burger), supplementing and changing the previous text. Moreover, the changes were so significant that in serious academic publications, the list of those who wrote The Adventures of Baron Munchausen includes two names - Raspe and Burger.
Prototype
The resilient baron had a real-life prototype. His name, like a literary character, was Munchausen. By the way, the problem of this transfer remained unresolved. introduced the variant "Munchausen" into use, however, in modern publications, the letter "g" was entered in the hero's surname.
The real baron, already at a venerable age, liked to talk about his hunting adventures in Russia. The listeners recalled that at such moments the narrator’s face brightened up, he himself began to gesticulate, after which one could hear from this truthful person incredible stories. They began to gain popularity and even go to print. Of course, the necessary degree of anonymity was observed, but people who knew the baron closely understood who was the prototype of these cute stories.
Final years and death
In 1794, the writer tries to lay a mine in Ireland, but death prevented these plans from being realized. Raspe's meaning for further development literature is great. In addition to the invention of the character, which has already become a classic, almost anew (taking into account all the details of creating a fairy tale, which were mentioned above), Raspe drew the attention of his contemporaries to ancient Germanic poetry. He was also one of the first to feel that the Songs of Ossian was a fake, although he did not deny their cultural significance.
The founder of the Munchausen family is considered the knight Heino, who took part in crusade under the leadership of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
The descendants of Heino died in wars and civil strife. And only one of them survived because he was a monk. By special decree he was released from the monastery.
It was from him that a new branch of the family began - Munchausen, which means "monk's house". That is why the coats of arms of all Munchausen depict a monk with a staff and a book.
Among the Munchausen were famous warriors and grandees. So, in the 17th century, the commander Hilmar von Munchausen became famous, in the 18th century, the minister of the Hanoverian court, Gerlach Adolf von Munchausen, the founder of the University of Göttingen, became famous.
But the real glory, of course, went to "the same" Munchausen.
Jerome Karl Friedrich Baron von Munchausen was born on May 11, 1720 at the Bodenwerder estate near Hannover.
The Munchausen House in Bodenwerder still stands today - it houses the burgomaster and a small museum. Now the town on the Weser River is decorated with sculptures of the famous countryman and literary hero.
Hieronymus Karl Friedrich Baron von Munchausen was the fifth child among eight brothers and sisters.
Best of the day
His father died early, when Jerome was only four years old. He, like his brothers, most likely had to military career. And he began to serve in 1735 as a page in the retinue of the Duke of Brunswick.
At this time, the duke's son, Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick, served in Russia, preparing to take command of a cuirassier regiment. But the prince had a much more important mission - he was one of the possible suitors of Anna Leopoldovna, the niece of the Russian Empress.
In those days, Russia was ruled by Empress Anna Ioannovna, who was widowed early and had no children. She wanted to transfer power along her own, Ivanovo line. To do this, the Empress decided to marry her niece Anna Leopoldovna to some European prince, so that the children from this marriage would inherit the Russian throne.
The courtship of Anton Ulrich dragged on for almost seven years. The prince participated in campaigns against the Turks, in 1737, during the assault on the fortress, Ochakov found himself in the thick of battle, the horse under him was killed, the adjutant and two pages were wounded. The pages later died of their wounds. In Germany, they did not immediately find a replacement for the dead - the pages were frightened by a distant and wild country. Hieronymus von Munchausen himself volunteered to go to Russia.
It happened in 1738.
In the retinue of Prince Anton Ulrich, young Munchausen constantly visited the court of the Empress, at military parades, probably took part in the campaign against the Turks in 1738. Finally, in 1739, a magnificent wedding of Anton Ulrich and Anna Leopoldovna took place, the young were treated kindly by the aunt empress. Everyone was looking forward to the appearance of the heir.
At this time, the young Munchausen makes an unexpected decision at first glance - to leave for military service. The prince did not immediately and reluctantly release the page from his retinue. Gironimus Karl Friedrich von Minihausin - so it appears in the documents - enters the Braunschweig cuirassier regiment stationed in Riga, on the western border of the Russian Empire, as a cornet.
In 1739, Jerome von Munchausen entered the Brunswick cuirassier regiment stationed in Riga as a cornet. Thanks to the patronage of the chief of the regiment, Prince Anton Ulrich, a year later, Munchausen became a lieutenant, commander of the first company of the regiment. He quickly got up to speed and was an intelligent officer.
In 1740, Prince Anton Ulrich and Anna Leopoldovna had their first child, named Ivan. Empress Anna Ioannovna, shortly before her death, proclaimed him the heir to the throne, John III. Anna Leopolnovna soon became the "ruler of Russia" with her young son, and father Anton Ulrich received the title of generalissimo.
But in 1741 Tsesarevna Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, seized power. The entire "Brunswick family" and its supporters were arrested. For some time noble prisoners were kept in the Riga Castle. And Lieutenant Munchausen, who guarded Riga and the western borders of the empire, became an unwitting guard of his high patrons.
Opala did not touch Munchausen, but he received the next rank of captain only in 1750, the last of those presented for promotion.
In 1744, Lieutenant Munchausen commanded the guard of honor that met the bride of the Russian Tsarevich Sophia Frederica Augusta - the future Empress Catherine II. In the same year, Jerome married the Baltic German Jacobina von Dunten, the daughter of a Riga judge.
Having received the rank of captain, Munchausen asked for leave to settle hereditary affairs and left for Germany with his young wife. He extended his vacation twice, and was finally expelled from the regiment, but took legal possession family estate Bodenwerder. Thus ended the "Russian Odyssey" of Baron Munchausen, without which his amazing stories would not have happened.
Since 1752, Jerome Carl Friedrich von Munchausen lived in the family estate in Bodenwerder. At that time, Bodenwerder was a provincial town with a population of 1200 inhabitants, with whom, moreover, Munchausen did not immediately get along.
He communicated only with neighbors, landowners, hunted in the surrounding forests and fields, occasionally visited neighboring cities - Hannover, Hameln and Göttingen. On the estate, Munchausen built a pavilion in the then fashionable "grotto" park style, especially to receive friends there. Already after the death of the baron, the grotto was nicknamed the "pavilion of lies", because, they say, it was here that the owner told his fantastic stories to the guests.
Most likely, the "Munchausen stories" first appeared on hunting halts. Russian hunting was especially remembered by Munchausen. It is no coincidence that his stories about hunting exploits in Russia are so vivid. Gradually, Munchausen's cheerful fantasies of hunting, military adventures and travel became known in Lower Saxony, and after their publication - throughout Germany.
But over time, an offensive, unfair nickname "lugenbaron" stuck to him - a liar baron. Further - more: both the "king of liars", and "the lies of the liar of all lies." The fictional Munchausen completely obscured the real one and struck his creator blow after blow.
To all misfortunes, in 1790 Jacobin's beloved wife died. The Baron finally closed in on himself. He was a widow for four years, but then the young Bernardine von Brun turned his head. As expected, this unequal marriage brought everyone the same trouble. Bernardina, a real child of the "gallant age", turned out to be frivolous and wasteful. A scandalous divorce proceeding began, finally ruining Munchausen. He never recovered from the trauma he had experienced.
Hieronymus Karl Friedrich Baron von Munchausen died on February 22, 1797 and was buried in the family vault under the floor of the church in the village of Kemnade near Bodenwerder...
Report of the company commander Munchausen to the regimental office (written by a clerk, with the handwritten signature of Lieutenant v. Munchhausen). 02/26/1741
Munchausen's wedding. Latvian postcard. In the background is a church in Pernigel (Lielupe) near Riga, where Munchausen really got married.
Carl Friedrich Jerome Baron von Munchausen(German , May 11, Bodenwerder - February 22, ibid) - German freiherr (baron), a descendant of the ancient Lower Saxon family of Munchausen, captain of the Russian service, historical figure and literary character. Munchausen's name has become a household name as a designation for a person who tells incredible stories.
Biography
Youth
Karl Friedrich Jerome was the fifth of eight children in the family of Colonel Otto von Munchausen. His father died when the boy was 4 years old, and he was raised by his mother's sister, Aderkas, who was taken as a governess to Anna Leopoldovna. The mother died three days after giving birth. In 1735, the 15-year-old Munchausen entered the service of the sovereign Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Ferdinand Albrecht II, as a page.
Service in Russia
Return to Germany
Having received the rank of captain, Munchausen took an annual leave "to correct extreme and necessary needs" (specifically, to share family holdings with brothers) and left for Bodenwerder, which he got during the division (). He twice extended his leave and, finally, submitted a letter of resignation to the Military Collegium, with the assignment of the rank of lieutenant colonel for impeccable service; received an answer that the petition should be submitted on the spot, but he never went to Russia, as a result of which he was expelled in 1754 as having left the service without permission. Munchausen for some time did not give up hope of achieving a profitable resignation (which, in addition to a prestigious rank, gave him the right to retire), as evidenced by the petition to the Military Collegium of his cousin, Chancellor of the Principality of Hanover, Baron Gerlach Adolf Munchausen; however, this had no results, and until the end of his life he signed as a captain of the Russian service. This title proved useful to him during the Seven Years' War, when Bodenwerder was occupied by the French: the position of an officer in the allied French army saved Munchausen from standing and other hardships associated with the occupation.
Life in Bodenwerder
From 1752 until his death, Munchausen lived in Bodenwerder, communicating mainly with his neighbors, whom he told amazing stories about his hunting adventures and adventures in Russia. Such stories usually took place in a hunting pavilion built by Munchausen and hung with the heads of wild animals and known as the "pavilion of lies"; another favorite place for Munchausen's stories was the inn of the King of Prussia Inn in nearby Göttingen. One of Munchausen's listeners described his stories as follows:
| He usually began to talk after dinner, lighting his huge meerschaum pipe with a short mouthpiece and placing a smoking glass of punch in front of him ... He gestured more and more expressively, twirled his small dandy wig on his head, his face became more and more animated and reddened, and he is usually very truthful man, in these moments wonderfully played out his fantasies |
Stories of the baron (such plots that certainly belong to him, such as entering St. Petersburg on a wolf harnessed to a sleigh, a horse cut in half in Ochakovo, a horse on a bell tower, fur coats furious or Cherry tree, grown on the head of a deer) widely dispersed around the neighborhood and even penetrated the press, but with decent anonymity. For the first time, three plots of Munchausen (anonymously, but knowledgeable people knew well who their author was) appear in the book "Der Sonderling" by Count Rocks Friedrich Linar (). In 1781, a collection of such plots (16 plots, including plots from Linar, also some "wandering" plots) was published in the Berlin almanac "A Guide for Merry People", indicating that they belong to Mr. z-well, living in G-re (Hannover); in 1783, two more stories of the same kind appeared in the same almanac (it is not clear whether the baron himself played a role in their publication). However, the publication of the book Raspe, or, more precisely, its German version of Burger, published in 1786 at the side of the baron, in Göttingen, infuriated the baron due to the fact that the hero was provided with his full name. The baron considered his name dishonored and was going to sue Burger (according to other sources, he filed, but was refused on the grounds that the book was a translation of an anonymous English edition). In addition, the work of Raspe-Burger immediately gained such popularity that onlookers began to flock to Bodenwerder to look at the "liar baron", and Munchausen had to put servants around the house to drive away the curious.
Last years
The last years of Munchausen were overshadowed by family troubles. In 1790 his wife Jacobina died. After 4 years, Munchausen married 17-year-old Bernardine von Brun, who led an extremely wasteful and frivolous lifestyle and soon gave birth to a daughter, whom the 75-year-old Munchausen did not recognize, considering the clerk Huden to be the father. Munchausen started a scandalous and expensive divorce proceedings, as a result of which he went bankrupt, and his wife fled abroad. This sapped Munchausen's strength, and shortly afterwards he died in poverty from apoplexy. Before his death, he let go of his last characteristic joke: to the question of the only maid who was caring for him, how he lost two toes on his foot (frostbitten in Russia), Munchausen replied: “They were bitten off by a polar bear while hunting.”
| Carl Friedrich Munchausen | |
| German Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Freiherr von Münchhausen | |
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| Illustration by Gustave Doré | |
| Creator: | R. E. Raspe |
| Artworks: | "Tales of Baron Munchausen about his amazing travels and campaigns in Russia" |
| Role played by: | Yuri Sarantsev; Oleg Yankovsky |
Munchausen - literary character
The literary baron Munchausen became a well-known character in Russia thanks to K. I. Chukovsky, who adapted E. Raspe's book for children. K. Chukovsky translated the baron's surname from English "Münchhausen" into Russian as "Munchausen". On German it is spelled "Münchhausen" and transliterated into Russian as "Munchausen". Many foreign and Russian authors, both in the past and present, turned to the interpretation of the image of Baron Munchausen, supplementing the formed image (character) with new features and adventures. The image of Baron Munchausen received the most significant development in Russian - Soviet cinema, in the film "The Same Munchausen", where the scriptwriter Grigory Gorin gave the baron bright romantic traits character, while distorting some of the facts of the personal life of Karl Friedrich Hieronymus von Munchausen. In the cartoon "The Adventures of Munchausen" the baron is endowed with classic features, bright and gorgeous.
Evgeny Vishnev wrote and in 1990 published fantasy story"The Herd of Star Dragons", preserving the style of Raspe's presentation, where a distant descendant of Baron Munchausen operates (in the distant future, in space). Vishnev's character is also an amateur astronomer, and he calls the comet he discovered after his ancestor.
In 2005, the book by Nagovo-Munchausen V. “The Adventures of Childhood and Youth of Baron Munchausen” (“Munchhausens Jugend- und Kindheitsabenteuer”) was published in Russia, which became the first book in world literature about the childhood and youthful adventures of Baron Munchausen, from the birth of the baron to his departure to Russia.
Appearance of the real and literary Munchausen
The only portrait of Munchausen by G. Bruckner (), depicting him in the form of a cuirassier, was destroyed during World War II. The photographs of this portrait and description give an idea of Munchausen as a man of a strong and proportional physique, with a round, regular face ( physical strength was a hereditary quality in the family: Munchausen's nephew Philip could stick three fingers into the muzzles of three guns and raise them). The mother of Catherine II especially notes in her diary the “beauty” of the commander of the guard of honor. The visual image of Munchausen as a literary hero is a wizened old man with a famously twisted mustache and a goatee. This image was created by illustrations by Gustave Doré (). It is curious that, supplying his hero with a beard, Doré (generally very accurate in historical details) made an obvious anachronism, since in the 18th century they did not wear a beard. However, it was during Doré's time that beards were reintroduced into fashion by Napoleon III. This gives rise to the assumption that the famous “bust” of Munchausen, with the motto “Mendace veritas” (Latin “Truth in a lie”) and the image of three ducks on the “coat of arms” (cf. three bees on the arms of the Bonapartes), had a political the subtext of the caricature of the emperor (see the portrait of Napoleon III).
Screen adaptations
| Name | A country | Year | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Hallucinations of Baron Munchausen" (fr. "Les aventures de baron de Munchhausen" ) | France | 1911 | Short film by Georges Méliès |
| "Baron Bouncer" ( Czech) (Czech "Baron Prášil") | Czechoslovakia | 1940 | Directed by Martin Eric. |
| "Munchausen" (German. "Munchhausen") | Germany | 1943 | Directed by Joseph von Bucky leading role Hans Albers. |
| "Baron Bouncer" ( English) (Czech "Baron Prášil") | Czechoslovakia | 1961 | An animated film starring Milos Kopecky |
| "The New Adventures of Baron Munchausen" | USSR | 1972 | A short film for children about the adventures of a literary character in the 20th century. Director A. Kurochkin, starring Yuri Sarantsev |
| "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" | USSR | 1967 | puppet cartoon |
| "The same Munchausen" | USSR | Directed by Mark Zakharov, scripted by Grigory Gorin. Starring Oleg Yankovsky | |
| "The Fantastic Adventures of the Legendary Baron Munchausen" (fr. "Les Fabuleuses aventures du legendaire Baron de Munchausen" ) | France | 1979 | Cartoon |
| "The Adventures of Munchausen" | USSR | 1973-1995 | Animated series |
| "Munchausen in Russia" | Belarus | 2006 | Short cartoon. Director - Vladimir Petkevich |
| "The Secret of the Lunarians" English) | France | 1982 | Full length cartoon |
| "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" | Great Britain | Directed by Terry Gilliam, starring John Neville. |
Musicals
The world's second monument to Baron Munchausen was erected in 1970 in the USSR, the city of Khmelnitsky, Ukraine. The authors of the sculpture - M. Andreychuk and G. Mamona - captured an episode from the baron's story, in which Munchausen was forced to ride half a horse.
Categories:
- Personalities in alphabetical order
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- Born in 1720
- Born in Lower Saxony
- Deceased February 22
- Deceased in 1797
- Deceased in Lower Saxony
- Characters in alphabetical order
- Munchauseniana
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- History of the 18th century
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Munchausen is a famous literary character in anecdotal stories about incredible adventures and fantastic travels. His name has long become a household name as a designation for a person who tells imaginary stories. But not everyone knows that these tales are based on real story: Munchausen really existed. Full name"King of Liars" Carl Friedrich Jerome Baron von Munchausen. He was born exactly 295 years ago, on May 11, 1720, not far from the German city of Hanover in the family estate, which now houses a museum dedicated to the famous countryman and part-time literary hero. For more than two centuries, books have been written about Munchausen, films and cartoons have been made, performances have been staged, and even named after him. mental illness(when a person cannot reliably convey specific information). Karl owes such popularity not only to his amazing imagination, but also to his rare talent - never lose his presence of mind and find a way out of even the most difficult situations.
The famous narrator belonged to the ancient aristocratic Lower Saxon family of Munchausen, known as far back as the 12th century. In the 15th-17th centuries, Karl's ancestors were considered hereditary marshals of the Principality of Minden, and in the 18th century they received the title of baron. Among them were brave warriors and nobles, but the most famous bearer of the surname was "the same Munchausen." However, things can still change: about 50 representatives of the ancient family still live today.“I went to Russia…”
“I went to Russia…”,— with these words begins one of the famous children's stories "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen » Rudolf Raspe, which tells how, during a heavy snowfall, the baron tied his horse to a post, which turned out to be the cross of the bell tower. And there would not have been all these anecdotes, books, films, if in December 1737, as a page of the dukeAnton UlrichMunchausen did not go to Russia. Anton Ulrich was a representative of one of the most noble families in Europe, which is whyAnna Ioannovnachose him as the groom for her niece, the princessAnna Leopoldovna.Munchausen tells stories. ancient post card. Source: commons.wikimedia.org
In Russia, next to the young duke, Munchausen opened up opportunities brilliant career, since Empress Anna Ioannovna preferred to appoint "foreigners" to all high posts. Already in 1738, the German baron participated in the Turkish campaign, entered the rank of cornet in the prestigious Braunschweig cuirassier regiment, then became a lieutenant and even took command of the first, elite company. But on this easy climb career ladder was over - the reason for this was the Elizabethan coup. The youngest daughter of Peter I believed that she had much more rights to the throne, and in 1741 she arrested the entire royal family. If Munchausen still remained in the retinue of Anton Ulrich, he would have been exiled, but the baron was lucky - he continued his military service. By this time, Karl had already managed to prove himself an honest officer who carefully performed all duties, but he was not given the next rank, because he was related to the disgraced royal family. Only in 1750, after numerous petitions, was he appointed captain by the last of those presented for promotion. The baron understood that in Russia luck would no longer smile on him, and under the pretext of family affairs, he went on a year-long vacation to his homeland with his young wife, the daughter of a Riga judge, a Baltic German Jacobean background Dunten. Then he twice extended his vacation and was finally expelled from the regiment. At this, Munchausen's "Russian Odyssey" ended, the baron became an ordinary German landowner and led the life of a middle-class landowner. He could only recall his service in Russia and talk about his adventures, in which pretty soon the audience stopped believing.
"King of Liars"
Bodenwerder, where the Munchausen family estate was located, was at that time a provincial town with a population of 1,200 inhabitants, with whom, moreover, the baron did not immediately get along. He communicated only with neighbors, landowners, went hunting in the surrounding forests and occasionally visited neighboring cities. Over time, insulting nicknames “the liar baron”, “the king of liars”, and “the liar of all lies” clung to Karl, and all from the fact that he, not without exaggeration, talked about his adventures in Russia, about the fierce Russian winter, about the fabulous hunting, about court dinners and holidays. In one of his memoirs, Munchausen described a giant pate served at the royal dinner: “When the lid was removed from it, a man dressed in velvet came out and with a bow presented the text of the poem to the empress on a pillow.” One could doubt this fiction, but even historians talk about such dinners today, while Munchausen's countrymen saw only lies in these words.
Munchausen tells stories. Latvian stamp, 2005. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Karl was very witty and most often began his memoirs in response to too incredible stories of hunters or fishermen about their outstanding "exploits". One of Munchausen's listeners described his stories as follows: “... He gesticulated more and more expressively, twisted his little dandy wig with his hands on his head, his face became more and more animated and reddened. And he, usually a very truthful person, played out his fantasies wonderfully in those moments. These fantasies were recounted, and soon the baron's stories became widely known. Once, in one of the Berlin humorous almanacs, several stories were published by "a very witty Mr. M-x-z-n, who lives near Hanover." In 1785 the writer Rudolf Erich Raspe turned these stories into a single work and published them in London under the title "The Narrative of Baron Munchausen about his wonderful journeys and trips to Russia. Karl himself saw the book on next year when it came out in German translation. The baron was furious, because it without a hint pointed to his person. While Munchausen tried in vain to punish everyone who discredited his honest name through the court, the book continued to enjoy fantastic popularity and was translated into different languages. Very soon, the baron's life became unbearable, he became an object of ridicule. Karl was forced to place servants around the house to drive away the curious who came to gawk at the "king of liars."
Monument to the baron in Bodenwerder, Germany. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Wittkowsky
In addition to literary upheavals at this time, family troubles fell upon Munchausen: in 1790, Jacobina died, and he married a 17-year-old Bernardine von Brun, who after the wedding began to lead a too frivolous lifestyle. The baron did not want to become famous as a cuckold and started an expensive divorce suit, which squeezed out not only the rest of the money, but also the strength of the 76-year-old German. As a result, in 1797, Karl died in complete poverty from apoplexy. Before last days he remained true to himself, and before his death, answering the question of the only maid who was caring for him, how he lost two toes on his foot (frostbitten in Russia), Munchausen said: "They were bitten off by a polar bear while hunting."
Korney Chukovsky, who adapted Rudolf Raspe's book for children, translated the baron's surname from English "Münchhausen" into Russian as "Munchausen".
April 17th, 2015
Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Baron von Munchausen - German freiherr, captain of the Russian service and storyteller who became literary character. Munchausen's name has become a household name as a designation for a person who tells incredible stories...
Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Baron von Munchausen, in Russian documents Minichhausin or Minihausin, born May 11, 1720 in Bodenwerder, now the federal state of Lower Saxony, is a German nobleman who was Russian in 1739-1754 military service; then a landowner known as a storyteller.
His hunting tales were supplemented with their own fantasies and old anecdotes by three different authors - Burger, Raspe, Immerman. Thanks to the writers, Munchausen received the nickname "liar-baron" during his lifetime, and this poisoned his life a lot.
The origin and childhood of Hieronymus von Munchausen
The Munchausen family has been known since the 12th century. Jerome's ancestors were landsknechts, who collected mercenaries to participate in numerous wars of the 16th-17th centuries, and accumulated a significant fortune. About a dozen Munchausen castles are located in the Weser Valley, within a radius of 30 km from the city of Hameln, Lower Saxony.
Half-timbered medieval house of Munchausen, where he was born, lived and died famous baron, this estate is the main attraction of the city of Bodenwerder. Now it houses the town hall and a museum, and the city also has many monuments to the famous baron.
The baron's father, Otto von Munchausen, served in his youth as a page with Duke Christian in Hanover, then entered the army of the Holy Roman Emperor, then into the Hanoverian cavalry, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
In 1711 he married Sibyl Wilhelmina von Reden from Hastenbeck (a small town 15 km from Bodenwerder). May 13, 1720 in Bodenwerder, according to an entry in the church book, " His Honour, Lieutenant-Colonel von Munchausen, christened his son. He was given three names: Jerome, Karl, Friedrich". Jerome grew up in the estate, main house which was built in 1603.
In 1724, the father died, leaving 7 children (younger than Jerome's brother and 2 sisters). Not later than 1735, Jerome was sent to Bevern Castle to the Duke of Brunswick (Wolfenbüttel).
Munchausen's autograph has been preserved in the book of Bevern's pages: " April 4, 1735 His Serene Highness Ferdinand Albrecht graciously enrolled me as a page". Duke Ferdinand Albrecht II ruled for six months, then died, passing the reign to his eldest son Charles.
Anton Ulrich of Brunswick, portrait work unknown artist. Oil, 1740. Museum in the Marienburg bei Nordstemmen castle.
Karl's younger brother, Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick, came from Wolfenbüttel to Russia as early as 1733. He was invited to the Russian service by Minich to organize heavy cavalry in the Russian army.
In the summer of 1737, Anton Ulrich participated in the assault on Ochakovo, one of his pages was mortally wounded, and the other died of illness. The prince asked his older brother to find pages for him.
Counselor Eben, together with 2 young men (von Hoim and von Munchausen), left Wolfenbüttel on December 2, 1737. The secretary of the Brunswick embassy in St. Petersburg reported in a letter dated February 8, 1738: “ Count von Eben arrived here the other day with two pages.».
At the end of February, Anton Ulrich went on a Bendery campaign with a retinue (including pages) as part of the Minich army, his detachment of 3 regiments took part in the battle on August 28 (14), 1738 on the river. Biloch, repulsing the attack of the Turkish cavalry.
Returning from a fruitless campaign, Anton Ulrich married the Mecklenburg princess Anna Leopoldovna on July 25, 1739 (Munchausen was supposed to be in the retinue). At the request of the Duchess Biron, the page Munchausen was accepted into the cornets of the cuirassier Brunswick regiment.
Munchausen's track record:
November 2, 1750 - released with his wife to his native Bodenwerder to arrange personal property affairs
He had no comments, no awards, did not take part in hostilities. Hieronymus von Munchausen, after his resignation, did not enter any of the European armies. He was proud of his service in the Russian cuirassier regiment and was buried in the everyday uniform of his regiment.
The only reliable portrait of Baron von Munchausen. Attributed to G. Bruckner, 1752. The baron is depicted in the dress uniform of the captain of the Cuirassier E. I. V. Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich Regiment, with a black cuirass on his chest.
Promising career start
After the death of Anna Ioannovna on October 28, 1740, the two-month-old son of Anton Ulrich and Anna Leopoldovna, the great-nephew of Peter I, Ioann Antonovich, inherited the throne. But the dying empress appointed not her mother or father as regent, but her favorite Biron.
Less than a month later, on November 20, Commander-in-Chief Minich arrested the regent. Anna Leopoldovna proclaimed herself the ruler, and her husband Anton Ulrich ended up in the highest state position.
2 weeks after the coup, Munchausen congratulated his patron Anton Ulrich, adding that natural modesty did not allow him to congratulate the prince in a timely manner. Here the former page was remembered. To please the ruler, Field Marshal P.P. Lassi, just three days later, Munchausen was promoted to lieutenant.
So he bypassed 12 other cornets, and even received command of the first company of the regiment - the life company. The company was stationed in Riga, while the regiment itself was in Wenden.
Extraordinary Luck
Soon there was a new change in power, which could cost Munchausen very dearly. On the night of November 24-25, 1741, Elizaveta Petrovna arrested the Brunswick family and seized the throne. The whole family with retinue and servants, according to the highest manifesto, was taken “to the fatherland”. But the Empress changed her mind. The cortege was stopped in Riga, at the very border, and arrested.
Ivan Argunov. Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
Prince Heimburg's adjutant spent 20 years in prison, and Anton Ulrich himself, after imprisonment in a fortress, died in exile in Kholmogory after 32 years of captivity. If Munchausen, who was in the same Riga, had been remembered, a similar fate would have awaited him.
But the baron nevertheless left the retinue of the prince 2 years ago. Elizabeth showed mercy, confirmed his rank of lieutenant by personal decree and left him to serve in the first company. But now the rapid promotion could be forgotten.
The daily life of a lieutenant of the first, ostentatious company, was a continuous chore. In the surviving daily correspondence, Munchausen begged for weapon brackets, mouthpieces, saddles, dismissed cuirassier Vasily Perdunov, and sold old cuirassier saddles at auction.
Three times a year, he submitted reports on " a gun, uniform and amnitsia, that fit, unfit, and in place of the lost and unaccepted claimant in addition, a report card”, as well as about people, provisions. In addition, he led the purchase of horses " from across the sea"- powerful cuirassiers needed thoroughbred powerful horses.
The company commander sent people to retire, certifying them for non-commissioned officer positions in dragoon regiments; reported to the commandant of Riga, Lieutenant General Eropkin, about the flight of two cuirassiers with weapons and uniforms, etc.
Report of the company commander Munchausen to the regimental office (written by a clerk, with the handwritten signature of Lieutenant v. Munchhausen). 02/26/1741
Meeting with the future Empress Catherine II
The most striking episode of the baron's service was the meeting on the Russian border of the 15-year-old princess of Anhalt-Zerbst Sophia Augusta Frederica, the future Empress Catherine II, accompanied by her mother, on her way to St. Petersburg, in February 1744.
They followed incognito, but the most solemn meeting was arranged at the border. The life cuirassier regiment built on this occasion, as Catherine II's mother Johanna Elizabeth noted, was "really extremely beautiful."
For three days, the princesses stayed in Riga, where they lived in the house of Becker's adviser on Zunderstrasse. An honor guard of 20 cuirassiers with a trumpeter was commanded by Munchausen, who also escorted the Angaltin sleigh from the city towards St. Petersburg.
"Released for His Needs"
Immediately after a successful meeting, on February 2, 1744, Munchausen married Jacobine von Dunten, the daughter of a Riga judge. The marriage was happy but childless.
Munchausen had no promising prospects in Russia. He had no special merits or sins, without a patron his promotion stopped, and by 1750 he was already older than all the lieutenants of his regiment.
Decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna on the promotion of Hieronymus von Munchausen to captain. Munchausen Museum in Bodenwerder. 1750.
Then Jerome filed a petition addressed to Elizaveta Petrovna with the words that "in that corps I am the oldest of all." On February 20, 1750, he was promoted to captain, and on November 2 of the same year, the empress released the "baron" with his wife to Hanover "for his needs."
Landowner Munchausen
The captain of the cuirassier regiment, Munchausen, was twice extended his leave so that he could divide the property left after the death of his elder brother Hilmar and his mother, as well as the death of one of his younger brothers, Georg Wilhelm Otto, on the battlefield in 1747 in a battle on the territory of modern Belgium. Finally, Wilhelm Werner Heinrich received all the buildings in Rinteln, and Jerome received the estate and land in Bodenwerder.
The estate was located on one side of the branch of the river Weser, and family woods and fields - on the other. The distance in a straight line was about 25 meters, and bypassing through a single bridge - 1 km. Munchausen was tired of crossing on a barge, he ordered his workers to build a bridge.
Now the city administration is located in the Munchausen house. The burgomaster's office is located in the bedroom of the former owner. The real Hieronymus von Munchausen called his burgomaster "a nasty brawler", and this was the mildest epithet.
This aroused the indignation of the townspeople: vagrants could enter the city through the new bridge, but the city did not have money for a new post and additional guards. A certain tailor angered the people, a crowd with axes tore off the bridge deck and knocked out the piles. Since the bridge was small and did not correspond to the scale of the meeting, they broke at the same time the new fence of the estate.
Squabbles with the burgomaster filled the life of Munchausen. Either his workers grazed cattle on the city pasture, then the city council took pigs as a security for non-payment of duties, then they divided the meadow beyond the Weser. The nearest neighbors only irritated Jerome.
Stories in a Göttingen tavern and at court
Together with other landowners, Munchausen sought refuge from scandals in hunting and traveling around the country. The hunting was good because it dragged on for several weeks, a huge company gathered and you could relax your soul, sitting in the evening with a bottle of good wine. Munchausen's favorite place was the Roelender inn in Göttingen at 12 Judenstraße.
In life, a direct and truthful person, the "baron" had a special property - when he began to tell, he composed, lost his head and was himself convinced of the veracity of everything he said. In modern psychology, this property of the narrator is called "Munchausen's syndrome."
According to the memoirs of contemporaries, "usually he began to talk after dinner, lighting his huge meerschaum pipe with a short mouthpiece and placing a steaming glass of punch in front of him ...
He gesticulated more and more expressively, twisted his little dandy wig with his hands on his head, his face became more and more animated and reddened, and he, usually a very truthful person, played out his fantasies wonderfully at these moments.
To those who tried to rebuke him and convict him of a lie, other listeners explained that the narrator was out of his mind and asked not to interfere with him. Munchausen was inspired in the presence of the audience and spoke in such a way that his drinking companions personally represented everything he was talking about, even if it could not be believed.
One day, young officers - guests of the tavern - began to brag about their successes with the ladies. Munchausen modestly sat aside, but still could not stand it and said: “Is it a matter of my sleigh ride, which I had the honor to make at the invitation of the Russian Empress ...” and then he told about a giant sleigh with chambers, a ballroom and rooms where young officers frolicked with court ladies.
In some place, general laughter broke out, but Munchausen continued quite calmly, and when he had finished, he silently finished his dinner.
Meanwhile, the story was always based on a true incident. Catherine II really traveled in a huge sleigh with an office, a bedroom and a library.
Road cart of Catherine II. Engraving by Goppe. End of the 18th century
I eat incidents at the review in August 1739.
One soldier fired a gun, a ramrod hammered into the muzzle flew out with force and crushed the leg of Prince Anton Ulrich's horse. The horse and rider fell to the ground, the prince was not hurt. We know about this case from the words of the British ambassador, there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of his official report.
Munchausen became such a celebrity that he was invited to the Elector's court. The "Baron" was urged to tell something, and as soon as he began, everyone immediately fell silent so as not to frighten away his inspiration.
Literary glory
The baron did not remember what he had said, and therefore was furious when he saw his stories printed.
The first book was published in 1761 anonymously in Hannover under the title "Sonderling" (Eccentric). Anonymous, Count Rochus Friedrich Lynar, lived in Russia at the same time as the baron. Three of his stories - about a dog with a lantern on its tail, about partridges shot with a ramrod, and about a hound that whelped on the run in pursuit of a hare - were later included in all collections.
20 years later, in 1781, the Guide for Merry People was published in Berlin, where 18 stories were already presented on behalf of the quite recognizable "M-n-x-z-na". The already elderly baron immediately recognized himself and realized who could write it - he shouted at every corner that "university professors Burger and Lichtenberg have disgraced him throughout Europe." Already this edition has greatly enriched the Gottingen booksellers.
But the saddest thing was ahead: in early 1786, the historian Erich Raspe, convicted of stealing a numismatic collection, fled to England and there, in order to get some money, wrote a book in English that introduced the baron forever into the history of literature, "Stories of Baron Munchausen about his marvelous journeys and campaigns in Russia". During the year, "Stories" went through 4 reprints, and Raspe included the first illustrations in the third edition.
Even during the life of the "Baron" it turned out Russian edition. In 1791 the collection " Don’t listen, don’t listen, but don’t interfere with lying without the baron's name. For censorship reasons, short stories describing the customs of the Russian military and courtiers were omitted.
VIA
