Karamzina Ekaterina Andreevna is the second wife of the famous historian, sister of the poet Pyotr Vyazemsky. Immediately after the death of N. M. Karamzin, she became the mistress of the literary salon. According to contemporaries, it "gathered smart people of various directions." Titov, Mukhanov, Khomyakov, Turgenev, Pushkin, Zhukovsky and many others visited Karamzina. This article will describe a brief biography of Ekaterina Andreevna. So let's get started.
Childhood
Ekaterina Andreevna Karamzina was born in 1780. The girl's father, Andrei Vyazemsky, was a senator and privy councillor. He began his service in Revel. There Vyazemsky met Catherine's mother, Countess Elizabeth Sievers. She was married, so the couple's daughter was considered the fruit of a sinful relationship. Consequently, Andrei Ivanovich could not give her his last name. The girl became Kolyvanova (from the Russian name of the city of Revel -Kolyvan).
First, Vyazemsky gave Ekaterina to be raised by his aunt, Princess Obolenskaya. After retiring, he took his daughter to him. By that time, Andrei Ivanovich had already married and raised his son, Pyotr Vyazemsky, who in the future would become a poet and friend of Pushkin. Catherine sincerely fell in love with her brother. Together they often walked and spent a lot of time in the library, which has more than 17,000 books.
Introducing Karamzin
A famous historian periodically visited the Vyazemskys. Karamzin was struck by Catherine's unique erudition and erudition. Nikolai Mikhailovich was fourteen years older than her and had considerable creative and life experience. Nevertheless, he was shy in front of the young Kolyvanova. Catherine's speech fascinated the historian, and her big eyes kindled a hitherto unknown fire in her soul.
Kolyvanova also had feelings for Karamzin. But she did not dare to confess, as she was aware of the historian's grief for his recently deceased wife. After some time, Nikolai Mikhailovich made an offer to Catherine. The girl gladly agreed, and the newlyweds happily lived together.
History of the Russian State
Soon there was a very important event. Alexander I instructed Karamzin to write the History of the Russian State. Before such a printed edition did not exist, and Nikolai Mikhailovich had to start from scratch. He brought together information from all available sources and presentedeasy-to-read language. Ekaterina Andreevna Karamzina became his assistant.
Nikolai Mikhailovich, together with his wife, created his work for many years. Unfortunately, Karamzin did not have time to complete the chronicle. The historian died in 1826, having barely begun work on the last volume. Karamzin's wife - Ekaterina Andreevna - helped K. S. Serbinovich and D. N. Bludov to complete the main work of her husband's life. And soon the book was published.
Karamzina Ekaterina Andreevna and Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin
The young poet often visited the historian and his wife. Therefore, some researchers believe that Pushkin was passionately passionate about the wife of Nikolai Mikhailovich. Ekaterina Andreevna Karamzina herself treated Alexander like a son. She was nineteen years older than the poet. Also, the woman took the most ardent part in his fate. For the poem "Freedom" Pushkin was threatened with exile, and only the intercession of the Karamzins saved him from punishment. At critical moments, Alexander always turned to the heroine of this article for help. Karamzina Ekaterina Andreevna became one of the few women whom the poet wished to see before his death.
Literary Salon
After the death of Nikolai Mikhailovich, his friends often visited the oppressed widow. Over time, the house of Ekaterina Andreevna turned into a literary salon. She visited poets, scientists, historians, etc. Karamzina also maintained relations with representatives of the imperialyard. But the main social circle of the woman was still the friends of the deceased spouse. Ekaterina Andreevna Karamzina, whose biography is in any historical encyclopedia, kept the traditional views bequeathed by her husband: religiosity, patriotism, monarchism. But such commitments did not at all negate independence of judgment and freedom of opinion. Karamzina's salon was the only place in the capital where they spoke only in Russian (neglecting the fashionable French at that time) and did not play cards.
In the 1830s, Ekaterina Andreevna's establishment was located in a house on Mokhovaya. Then it moved to Mikhailovskaya Square, and then to Gagarinskaya Street. Despite frequent moves, Karamzina always maintained an atmosphere of cordiality and kindness. The literary salon of Ekaterina Andreevna existed until her death in 1851.
