Nikolai Petrovich Arkharov is a Russian official, Chief of Police from Moscow. The years of his life fall at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. According to one version, this man is the founder of the concept of "Arkharovtsy". What is meant by this word? Who are the Archers? There are several versions.
"Arkharovtsy" is a colloquial and outdated concept that denoted hooligans, mischievous, dissolute and desperate people. Besides, that's what the police used to be called. These are the main versions of what "Arkharovets" means. We invite you to get to know this word better.
First version
According to the first version, the concept we are interested in comes from the surname Arkharov. In the Russian Empire in the 18th century there lived an infantry general, chief police officer of Moscow. The surname of this person formed the basis for the meaning of the word "Arkharovets". It had an ironic connotation and was used to refer to a policeman, a servant of law and order. It is known that Nikolai Arkharov (his portrait is presented above) was of noble birth. In order to get an officer's rank, he joined the guard, after which he was a soldier of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. It is also known that Nikolai Petrovich Arkharov's patrons became famous for their "non-traditional" methods of investigation. In the past, some of them were hooligans and thieves at all. Although these policemen repented, they did not forget their former "rough tricks". That's who the Arkharovites are.
Second version
The second version is also based on the surname Arkharov. However, the interpretation of this surname is different. At the end of the 18th century, presumably, soldiers belonging to the Moscow garrison were called Arkharovtsy. In Moscow at that time, power was in the hands of two Arkharov brothers (first one, and then the second), who were governors general. This position assumed command of the Moscow regiment. Since the existence of the archery troops, regiments have traditionally been named after the commanders who led them. That is why the Moscow garrison regiment was called Arkharovsky. Accordingly, the soldiers who served in it began to be called the word of interest to us.
Third version
There is another version of who the Arkharovites are. This word was used by some people to refer to mountain sheep hunters. After all, this rather mobile and dexterous animal is called nothing more than argali.
The use of the word "Arkharovtsy" in our time
And today, many people know who Arkharovtsy are. This concept may refer tocolloquially joking form) to fidget children, naughty children, mischievous people, etc. This word can be used both in a condescending tone and in a joking, sometimes even condemning one. For example, in the TV series “Streets of Broken Lights”, Oleg Grigorievich Solovets, played by Alexander Polovtsev, sometimes called his subordinates that way - detectives Volkov, Dukalis, Larin and Kazantsev. He put an expressively mocking and condemning connotation into the concept of "Arkharovets". The meaning of the word we are interested in became known to many thanks to this series.
