Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin, whose biography is presented below, is a poet, translator, playwright and … governor. The years of his life - 1743-1816. After reading this article, you will learn about all these aspects of the activities of such a versatile gifted person as Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. His biography will be supplemented with many other interesting facts.
Origin
Gavriil Romanovich was born near Kazan in 1743. Here, in the village of Karmachi, there was a family estate of his family. The childhood of the future poet passed in it. The family of Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich was not rich, of a noble family. Gavriil Romanovich early lost his father, Roman Nikolaevich, who served as a major. His mother was Fekla Andreevna (maiden name - Kozlova). Interestingly, Derzhavin is a descendant of Bagrim, a Tatar Murza who moved out of the Great Horde in the 15th century.
Studying at the gymnasium, serving in the regiment
In 1757entered the Kazan Gymnasium Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. His biography already at that time was marked by zeal and desire for knowledge. He studied well, but failed to complete his studies. The fact is that in February 1762 the future poet was summoned to St. Petersburg. He was assigned to the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Derzhavin began his service as an ordinary soldier. He spent 10 years in his regiment, and from 1772 he held the position of an officer. It is known that Derzhavin in 1773-74. took part in the suppression of the Pugachev uprising, as well as in the palace coup, as a result of which Catherine II ascended the throne.
Public and literary fame
Public and literary fame came to Gavriil Romanovich in 1782. It was then that his famous ode "Felitsa" appeared, praising the empress. Derzhavin, hot by nature, often had difficulties in life because of his intemperance. In addition, he had an impatience and zeal for work, which was not always welcomed.
Derzhavin becomes governor of Olonets province
By decree of the Empress in 1773, the Olonets province was created. It consisted of one district and two counties. In 1776, the Novgorod governorship was formed, which included two regions - Olonets and Novgorod. The first governor of Olonets was Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. His biography for many years will be associated with administrative activities in this responsible position. According to the law, a very wide circle was assigned to her.responsibilities. Gavriil Romanovich was supposed to observe how the laws were being implemented and how the rest of the officials behaved. For Derzhavin, however, this presented no great difficulty. He believed that restoring order in court and local government depends only on the conscientious attitude of everyone to their business and compliance with the law by officials.
Subordinate institutions a month after the founding of the province were aware that all persons in the service of the state and who violated the law would be severely punished, up to deprivation of rank or place. Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich steadily tried to restore order in his province. The years of his life at this time were marked by the fight against corruption. However, this only led to conflicts and disagreements with the elite.
Governance in the Tambov province
Catherine II in December 1785 issued a decree appointing Derzhavin to the post of governor of the now Tambov province. He arrived there on March 4, 1786.
In Tambov, Gavriil Romanovich found the province in complete disarray. Four chapters have changed over the 6 years of its existence. Disorder reigned in affairs, the boundaries of the province were not defined. Arrears reached enormous proportions. There was an acute lack of education in society as a whole, and in particular the nobility.
Gavriil Romanovich opened classes for young people in arithmetic, grammar, geometry, vocals and dances. The theological seminary and the garrison school gave very poor knowledge. Gabriel Derzhavin decided to open in Jonah's houseBorodin, a local merchant, a public school. Theatrical performances were given in the governor's house, and soon they began to build a theater. Derzhavin did a lot for the Tambov province, we will not list it all. His activities laid the foundation for the development of this region.
Senators Naryshkin and Vorontsov came to revise affairs in the Tambov province. The improvement was so obvious that in September 1787 Derzhavin was awarded an honorary award - the Order of Vladimir of the third degree.
How Derzhavin was removed from office
However, the progressive activities of Gavriil Romanovich in this post collided with the interests of local nobles and landlords. In addition, I. V. Gudovich, the governor-general, took the side of those close to him in all conflicts, who, in turn, covered for local swindlers and thieves.
Derzhavin made an attempt to punish Dulov, the landowner, who ordered a shepherd boy to be beaten for a petty offense. However, this attempt failed, and the hostility towards the governor on the part of the provincial landowners grew stronger. In vain were the actions of Gavriil Romanovich to prevent the theft of the local merchant Borodin, who deceived the treasury by supplying bricks for construction, and then, on unfavorable conditions for the state, received a wine farm.
The flow of slander, complaints, and reports against Derzhavin increased. In January 1789 he was removed from his post. His brief activity brought great benefit to the province.
Return to the capital,administrative activities
In the same year, Derzhavin returned to the capital. He has held various administrative positions here. At the same time, Gavriil Romanovich continued to engage in literature, creating odes (we will talk more about his work a little later).
Derzhavin was appointed state treasurer under Paul I. However, he did not get along with this ruler, because, according to his habit, Gabriel Romanovich often cursed and was rude in his reports. Alexander I, who succeeded Pavel, also did not leave Derzhavin without attention, making him Minister of Justice. However, a year later, the poet was relieved of his post because he served "too zealously." In 1809, Gavriil Romanovich was finally removed from all administrative posts.
Derzhavin's creativity
Russian poetry before Gavriil Romanovich was rather conditional. Derzhavin greatly expanded its themes. Now a variety of works have appeared in poetry, from a solemn ode to a simple song. Also, for the first time in Russian lyrics, the image of the author, that is, the personality of the poet himself, arose. Derzhavin believed that art must necessarily be based on high truth. Only a poet can explain it. At the same time, art can be an imitation of nature only when it is possible to approach the comprehension of the world, to correct the morals of people and to study them. Derzhavin is considered to continue the traditions of Sumarokov and Lomonosov. Hedeveloped in his work the traditions of Russian classicism.
The purpose of the poet for Derzhavin is to condemn bad deeds and glorify the great. For example, in the ode "Felitsa" Gavriil Romanovich glorifies the enlightened monarchy in the person of Catherine II. The fair, intelligent empress is contrasted in this work with the mercenary and greedy court nobles.
Derzhavin viewed his talent, his poetry as a tool given to the poet from above to win political battles. Gavriil Romanovich even compiled a "key" to his works - a detailed commentary that says what events led to the appearance of one or another of them.
Zvanka Estate and the first volume of works
Derzhavin bought the Zvanka estate in 1797 and spent several months there every year. Already in the following year, the first volume of the works of Gavriil Romanovich appeared. It included poems that immortalized his name: "On the death of Prince Meshchersky", "On the birth of a porphyry child", odes "On the capture of Ishmael", "God", "Waterfall", "Nobleman", "Bullfinch".
Derzhavin's dramaturgy, participation in a literary circle
After retiring, almost completely devoted his life to drama Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich. His work in this direction is associated with the creation of several opera librettos, as well as the following tragedies: "Dark", "Eupraksia", "Herod and Mariamne". Since 1807, the poet took an active part inactivities of the literary circle, from which later a society was formed, which gained great fame. It was called "Conversation of lovers of the Russian word." Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich summed up his literary experience in his work Discourse on Lyric Poetry or on an Ode. His work greatly influenced the development of artistic literature in our country. Many poets have relied on him.
Death of Derzhavin and the fate of his remains
So, we told you about such a great man as Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. Biography, interesting facts about him, creative heritage - all this was covered in this article. It remains to tell only about the death of Derzhavin and the further fate of his remains, which was not easy. Only after that it can be considered that the full biography of Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich was presented, although briefly stated.
Derzhavin died on his estate Zvanka in 1816. The coffin with his body was sent along the Volkhov on a barge. The poet found his last refuge in the Transfiguration Cathedral near Veliky Novgorod. This cathedral was located on the territory of the Varlaamo-Khutynsky monastery. The wife of Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich, Daria Alekseevna, was also buried here.
The monastery was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. Derzhavin's grave was also damaged. The reburial of the remains of Gavriila Romanovich and Darya Alekseevna took place in 1959. They were moved to Novgorod Detinets. In connection with the 250th anniversary of Derzhavin in 1993, the remains of the poet were returned to the Varlaamo-Khutynsky monastery.
BIt is not by chance that such a poet as Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich is being taught in schools to this day. His biography and work are important not only from an artistic, but also from an educational point of view. After all, the truths that Derzhavin preached are eternal.
