Derzhavin Gavrila Romanovich (1743-1816), Russian poet. Born into a poor noble family on July 3 (14), 1743 in the village of Karmachi, Kazan province. Derzhavin lost his father early, and his mother had to endure severe humiliation in order to raise her two sons and provide them with a more or less decent education. In those years, it was not easy to find truly qualified teachers outside of St. Petersburg and Moscow. However, Derzhavin’s persistence and exceptional abilities helped him learn a lot, despite difficult circumstances, poor health, semi-literate and strange teachers.
In 1759-1762 studied at the Kazan gymnasium. Derzhavin’s childhood and youth made it absolutely impossible to discern in him a future genius and reformer of literature. The knowledge that young Derzhavin received at the Kazan gymnasium was fragmentary and chaotic. He knew very well German, but did not speak French. I read a lot, but had a vague idea about the rules of versification. However, perhaps it was precisely this fact that in the future made it possible for the great poet to write without thinking about the rules and breaking them to suit his inspiration. Friends-poets often tried to edit Derzhavin’s lines, but he stubbornly defended his right to write as he pleased, not always following ossified rules.
Derzhavin began writing poetry while still in high school, but his studies were unexpectedly and prematurely interrupted. Due to a clerical error, the young man was called to St. Petersburg in 1762 military service a year ahead of schedule and, moreover, enrolled, albeit in the Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment, however, a soldier. Also in 1762, as part of the regiment, he participated in palace coup which led to the accession of Catherine II. Due to the difficult financial situation, the lack of high patrons and an extremely quarrelsome disposition, Derzhavin not only had to wait ten years officer rank, but even, unlike other noble children, they live in the barracks for quite a long time. There was not much time left for poetic studies, but the young man composed comic poems that were popular among his fellow soldiers, wrote letters at the request of female soldiers, and, for the sake of his own self-education, studied Trediakovsky, Sumarokov and especially Lomonosov, who was his idol at that time and an example to follow. Derzhavin also read German poets, trying to translate their poems and trying to follow them in own writings. However, the career of a poet did not seem to him at that moment the main thing in his life. After the long-awaited promotion to officer, Derzhavin tried to advance in his career, hoping in this way to improve his financial affairs and serve faithfully to his fatherland.
Already as an officer, in 1773-1774, Derzhavin took an active part in suppressing the Pugachev uprising. It was by the 70s that Derzhavinsky’s poetic gift first truly manifested itself. In 1774, during the Pugachev uprising with his people near Saratov, near Mount Chatalagai, Derzhavin read odes Prussian king Frederick II and translated four of them. Published in 1776, the Chatalagai Odes attracted the attention of readers, although the works created in the 70s were not yet truly independent. Regardless of whether Derzhavin translated or composed his own odes, his work was still under strong influence Lomonosov and Sumarokov. Their high, solemn language and strict adherence to the rules of classicist versification fettered the young poet, who was trying to write in a new way, but was not yet clearly aware of how to do this.
Despite the activity shown during Pugachev’s uprising, Derzhavin, all because of the same quarrelsome and hot-tempered disposition, did not receive the long-awaited promotion. He was transferred from military service to civilian service, and received as a reward only three hundred souls of peasants.
Significant changes in Derzhavin’s life and work occurred in the late 70s. He served briefly in the Senate, where he came to the conviction that “he cannot get along there, where they do not like the truth.” In 1778, he passionately fell in love at first sight and married Ekaterina Yakovlevna Bastidon, whom he would then glorify in his poems for many years under the name Plenira. Happy family life ensured the personal happiness of the poet. At the same time, friendly communication with other writers helped him develop his natural talents. His friends are N.A. Lvov, V.A. Kapnist, I.I. Chemnitzer were highly educated people with a keen sense of art. Friendly communication was combined in their company with deep discussions about ancient and new literature, – vital for replenishing and deepening the education of Derzhavin himself. The literary environment helped the poet to better understand his goals and capabilities.
As Derzhavin himself wrote, since 1779 he chose “his own special path.” The strict rules of classicist poetry no longer constrained his work. After composing “Ode to Felitsa” (1782), addressed to the Empress, he was awarded by Catherine II. Appointed governor of Olonets (from 1784) and Tambov (1785-88).
From that moment until 1791, the main genre in which Derzhavin worked and achieved greatest success, became an ode - a solemn poetic work, whose sonorous and measured form has always been close to representatives of classicist poetry. Derzhavin, however, managed to transform this traditional genre and breathe into it completely new life. It is no coincidence that the outstanding literary critic Yu.N. Tynyanov wrote about “Derzhavin’s revolution.”
Having been appointed cabinet secretary of Catherine II (1791-93), Derzhavin did not please the empress and was dismissed from serving under her. Subsequently, in 1794, Derzhavin was appointed president of the Commerce College. In 1802-1803 - Minister of Justice. Since 1803 he was retired.
The new features that appeared in Derzhavin’s work in the 70s and 80s intensified significantly in the last decades of his life. The poet refuses odes, in his later works the lyrical beginning clearly predominates. Among the poems created by Derzhavin in late XVIII – early XIX centuries – friendly messages, humorous poems, love lyrics- genres located in the classicist hierarchy much lower than odic poetry. The poet, who became almost a classic during his lifetime, is not at all embarrassed by this, since this is exactly how he can express his individuality in poetry. He sings simple life with its joys, friendship, love, mourns its short duration, mourns its departed loved ones.
Despite the innovative nature of Derzhavin’s work, at the end of his life his literary circle consisted mainly of supporters of the preservation of the ancient Russian language and opponents that easy and an elegant style, in which at the beginning of the 19th century Karamzin, and then Pushkin, began to write. Since 1811, Derzhavin was a member of the literary society “Conversation of Lovers of Russian Literature,” which defended the archaic literary style.
This did not prevent Derzhavin from understanding and highly appreciating the talent of young Pushkin, whose poems he heard during an exam in Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. Symbolic meaning This event will become clear only later - the literary genius and innovator welcomed his younger successor.
Gavrila Romanovich died on July 8 (20), 1816 in his beloved estate Zvanka, Novgorod region.
Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin, whose biography is presented below, is a poet, translator, playwright and... governor. The years of his life are 1743-1816. After reading this article, you will learn about all these aspects of the activities of such a multi-talented person as Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin. His biography will be supplemented with many other interesting facts.
Origin
Gabriel Romanovich was born near Kazan in 1743. Here, in the village of Karmachi, was the family estate of his family. The future poet spent his childhood there. The family of Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich was not rich, noble family. Gabriel Romanovich lost his father early, 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.
Study at the gymnasium, service in the regiment
In 1757, Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin entered the Kazan gymnasium. His biography already at this time was marked by diligence 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 Derzhavin and began serving as an ordinary soldier. He spent 10 years in his regiment, and from 1772 served as an officer. It is known that Derzhavin in 1773-74. took part in the suppression and also in the palace coup, as a result of which Catherine II ascended the throne.
Public and literary fame
Gabriel Romanovich came to public and literary fame in 1782. It was then that his famous ode “Felitsa” appeared, praising the empress. Derzhavin, hot-tempered by nature, often had difficulties in life due to 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, the Olonets province was created in 1773. It consisted of one district and two counties. In 1776, the Novgorod governorate was formed, which included two regions - Olonets and Novgorod. Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin became the first governor of Olonets. His biography on long years will be associated with administrative activities in this responsible position. According to the law, she was entrusted with a great deal wide circle responsibilities. Gabriel Romanovich had to observe how the laws were implemented and how other officials behaved. For Derzhavin, however, this did not present any great difficulties. He believed that restoring order in court and local government depended only on everyone’s conscientious attitude to their work and compliance with the law by officials.
Subordinate institutions already a month after the founding of the province were aware that all persons in the service of the state who violated the law would be severely punished, including deprivation of rank or place. Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich steadily tried to restore order in his province. The years of his life at this time were marked. However, this only led to conflicts and disagreements with the elite.
Governorship in Tambov province
In December 1785, Catherine II issued a decree appointing Derzhavin to the post of governor of the now Tambov province. He arrived there in 1786.
In Tambov, Gabriel Romanovich found the province in complete disorder. Four chapters have changed in the 6 years of its existence. There was chaos in affairs, the boundaries of the province were not defined. Arrears have reached enormous proportions. There was an acute lack of education in society as a whole, and in particular among the nobility.
Gabriel Romanovich opened arithmetic, grammar, geometry, vocal and dance classes for youth. The theological seminary and garrison school provided very poor knowledge. Gabriel Derzhavin decided to open a public school in the house of Jonah Borodin, a local merchant. Theatrical performances were given in the governor's house, and soon a theater began to be built. 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 audit cases in the Tambov province. The improvement was so obvious that in September 1787 Derzhavin was awarded honorary award- Order of Vladimir, third degree.
How Derzhavin was removed from office
However, the progressive activities of Gabriel Romanovich in this post collided with the interests of local nobles and landowners. In addition, I.V. Gudovich, the governor-general, took the side of those close to him in all conflicts, who, in turn, covered up local swindlers and thieves.
Derzhavin attempted to punish Dulov, the landowner who ordered the shepherd boy to be beaten for a minor offense. However, this attempt failed, and hostility towards the governor on the part of the provincial landowners grew stronger. The actions of Gabriel Romanovich to stop the theft of the local merchant Borodin, who deceived the treasury by supplying bricks for construction, and then received a wine payoff on unfavorable terms for the state, also turned out to be futile.
The flow of slander, complaints, and reports against Derzhavin increased. In January 1789 he was removed from his post. His short activity brought great benefit to the province.
Return to the capital, administrative activities
In the same year, Derzhavin returned to the capital. He held various administrative positions here. At the same time, Gabriel Romanovich continued to engage in literature, creating odes (we will tell you 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 the habit that had formed in him, Gabriel Romanovich often cursed and was rude in his reports. Alexander I, who replaced Paul, also did not ignore Derzhavin, making him Minister of Justice. However, a year later the poet was relieved of his post because he served “too zealously.” In 1809, Gabriel Romanovich was finally removed from all administrative posts.
Derzhavin's creativity
Russian poetry before Gabriel Romanovich was quite conventional. 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 lyric poetry, the image of the author, that is, the personality of the poet himself, arose. Derzhavin believed that art must 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 come closer to comprehending the world, to correcting the morals of people and to studying them. Derzhavin is considered a continuator of the traditions of Sumarokov and Lomonosov. He developed the traditions of Russian classicism in his work.
The purpose of the poet for Derzhavin is to censure bad deeds and glorify the great. For example, in the ode "Felitsa" Gabriel Romanovich glorifies the enlightened monarchy in the person of Catherine II. The fair, intelligent empress is contrasted in this work with the selfish and greedy court nobles.
Derzhavin looked at his talent and his poetry as a weapon given to the poet from above to win political battles. Gabriel 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.
The Zvanka estate and the first volume of works
Derzhavin bought the Zvanka estate in 1797 and spent several months there every year. Already in next year The first volume of Gabriel Romanovich's works appeared. It included poems that immortalized his name: “On the death of Prince Meshchersky,” “On the birth of a porphyry-born youth,” odes “On God,” “Waterfall,” “Nobleman,” “Bullfinch.”
Derzhavin's dramaturgy, participation in a literary circle
After retiring, he devoted his life almost entirely to dramaturgy Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich. His work in this direction is associated with the creation of several librettos of operas, as well as the following tragedies: “Dark”, “Eupraxia”, “Herod and Mariamne”. Since 1807, the poet took an active part in the activities literary circle, from which a society was later formed that gained great fame. It was called "Conversation of lovers of the Russian word." In his work "Discourse on lyric poetry or about an ode" summarized his literary experience Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich. His work greatly influenced the development of artistic literature in our country. Many poets were guided by him.
The death of Derzhavin and the fate of his remains
So, we told you about such a great man as Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin. Biography, Interesting Facts about him, creative heritage- all this was covered in this article. All that remains to be told is the death of Derzhavin and future fate his remains, which was not easy. Only after this can we consider that a complete biography of Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich, albeit briefly presented, was presented.
Derzhavin died on his Zvanka estate in 1816. The coffin with his body was sent along the Volkhov on a barge. The poet found his final refuge in the Transfiguration Cathedral near Veliky Novgorod. This cathedral was located on the territory of the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery. The wife of Derzhavin Gabriel 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 Daria Alekseevna took place in 1959. They were moved to Novgorod Detinets. In connection with the 250th anniversary of Derzhavin in 1993, the poet’s remains were returned to the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery.
It is no coincidence that to this day such a poet as Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich is taught in schools. 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.
Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich, whose biography formed the basis of this article, forever entered the Russian history not only how outstanding poet and playwright, but also how statesman, past the path from a guard private to the head of the Ministry of Justice. Having a huge impact on further development Russian literature, he at the same time became a model of a true citizen and patriot.
The childhood of a young poet
Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin was born on July 14, 1743 in the family village of Sokury near Kazan. The family had many children, and due to the early death of its head, Roman Nikolaevich, the mother of the future poet, Fyokla Andreevna, could not give the children a proper education. This was also hampered by frequent moves caused by various everyday circumstances.
However, while studying at an Orenburg school and then at a Kazan gymnasium, young Gabriel Derzhavin early became addicted to classical Russian poetry, the highest examples which at that time included poems by M. Lomonosov, V. Trediakovsky and A. Sumarokov. His first own poetic experiments date back to this time. However, the early poems of the novice poet came out somewhat clumsily and clumsily - this was due to the lack of knowledge of the basics of versification and the opportunity to consult with someone more experienced in this area.
Army service
In 1762, Gabriel Derzhavin was assigned as a private in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment, which took part in coup d'etat, which resulted in the accession to the throne of Empress Catherine II. The years spent in the army, by the poet’s own admission, were the most joyless period of his life. Heavy military service took up almost all of his time and energy, allowing him to write poetry only in rare free moments.
Subsequently, Gabriel Derzhavin, briefly describing in his memoirs the features of army life, said that in those years he often indulged in a common vice of the guards regiments - playing cards. Moreover, having found himself in an environment where cheating flourished, he himself quickly learned their trickster tricks, and only thanks to “God and his mother’s prayers” - that’s exactly what he wrote in his memoirs - did he not slide to the bottom of society.
Looking ahead to your future career
Beginning in 1772, the further biography of Gabriel Derzhavin took a different direction: he was promoted to officer, and from 1773 to 1775 he took part in the work state commission, which was investigating the circumstances of the Pugachev riot.
Experiencing severe financial difficulties, Gabriel Romanovich turned to the empress herself for help, since in those days the autocrats did not yet disdain to read the letters of their subjects. His direct superior, Commander-in-Chief of the troops, Chief General A. Bibikov, attached his own report to the message, in which he highly appreciated Derzhavin’s merits in “establishing law-abidingness among the Kalmyks.” As a result, very soon the young man was granted the rank of collegiate adviser and became the owner of 300 serf souls, bestowed upon him personally by the empress.
First marriage and attainment of creative maturity
In the same year, 1775, another important and joyful event occurred in the life of Gabriel Derzhavin - he got married. His wife was the sixteen-year-old girl Ekaterina Bastidon, whose father was once the valet of the murdered Emperor Peter III, and whose mother was the nurse of the future Emperor Paul I. As befits a true poet, Derzhavin sang his chosen one in poetry, calling her Plenira - from the verb “to captivate” "
Most researchers of the poet’s work consider these years to be the period when he found his own literary style, which made it possible to create a cycle of outstanding works in the genre philosophical lyrics. At the same time, his works began to be published for the first time, but did not bring the author widespread fame in literary circles.
Golden snuffbox from the hands of the Empress
Fame came to Derzhavin only after writing the ode “Felitsa”, dedicated to Empress Catherine II. In this work, filled with the most loyal feelings, the author presented the Russian autocrat as the ideal of an enlightened ruler and mother of nations.
Such obvious flattery, dressed in a highly artistic form, did not go without due reward. The “Mother of Nations” granted the poet a golden snuff-box studded with diamonds and filled with chervonets, after which Gabriel Romanovich’s career took off sharply. Appointments to various high positions followed one after another, but Derzhavin’s character traits prevented him from getting along with other officials and served as the reason frequent transfers from place to place.
At the head of the Olonets region
In 1776, the previously created Olonets province was transformed into a governorate, and by decree of the Empress, Gabriel Derzhavin was appointed its first governor. His responsibilities, among other things, included monitoring compliance with the law by all officials subordinate to him. This turned out to be the cause of many troubles that soon followed.
In those early years, embezzlers were not yet called corrupt officials, but this did not make them less numerous. Theft was widespread, and the expression “take according to rank” even came into use. This meant that petty bureaucrats could “grasp” with impunity only a small fraction of what they had access to. Middle-level officials were secretly allowed to profit in a much larger volume, but everyone, “a greedy crowd standing at the throne,” as M.Yu. Lermontov, - they plunged their hand into the treasury up to the elbow with impunity.
It was these lawlessnesses that once happened in Russia that Gabriel Romanovich encountered in his new post. Being a decent and law-abiding person, he tried his best to fight the evil that surrounded him, but as a result he only made numerous ill-wishers both in the structures under his control and in court circles, which was the reason for his subsequent resignation.
Nevertheless, during the years spent as governor, and having a residence first in Petrozavodsk and then in Tambov, Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin managed to do many good deeds before his resignation. Thus, through his efforts, the first Tambov theater was opened, a city school was built, a hospital for the poor opened its doors, and a printing house began operating.
Cabinet Secretary of the Empress
The next step on career ladder Gabriel Derzhavin began to serve as the personal office secretary of Catherine II. Ignoring the slander that rained down on the poet from all sides, the Empress brought him closer to her as a sign of gratitude for the ode he had once written in her honor.
But Gabriel Romanovich did not stay in this position for long, since he had the habit of reporting on all matters, presenting them in a true, and sometimes unsightly, light, which greatly upset his benefactress. He also bothered her with constant petitions for those in need and suffering from injustice. It ended with the Empress being tired of him, and she sent him out of sight - she transferred him to the Senate.
Creator of the first Russian anthem
While in this honorable exile, Derzhavin created his most famous work. In 1791, inspired by the news of the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov, he wrote the poem “The Thunder of Victory, Ring Out.” Set to music by composer Osip Kozlovsky, over the following years it was official anthem Russia, which was replaced only in 1833 by the famous “God Save the Tsar,” written by another outstanding Russian poet - V. Zhukovsky in collaboration with composer A. Lvov.
Remarriage
In 1794, Gabriel Romanovich’s wife, the muse he once sang in poetry, died, giving her the romantic name Plenira. After a year, the not-so-old widower married again. He united his fate with Daria Alekseevna Dyakova, who also became the heroine of his poems, this time under the name Milena.
Both marriages famous poet, although they were filled with love, they turned out to be childless. Having no offspring of their own, the couple raised children dead friend family of P. Lazarev. One of them - Mikhail - later became famous admiral, discoverer and explorer of the Arctic.
Career peak
During the reign of Paul I, Derzhavin served as president of the Commerce Collegium and state treasurer, and Alexander I, who subsequently ascended the throne, appointed him minister of justice. But wherever he served, Gabriel Romanovich tried with all his might to eradicate bribery and embezzlement, which invariably made enemies for himself. In 1803 he filed a petition for highest name and finished government activities, devoting himself entirely to literature.
Subsequent life and work of the poet
Even before his resignation, Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin loved Zvanka, an estate that belonged to his second wife Daria Alekseevna. In it he spent last years his life, writing about 60 poems and preparing the first volume of his works for publication. Except poetic works His name is associated with works in the field of drama. These include librettos created for several operas, as well as tragedies: “Herod and Marianne”, “Eupraxia” and “The Dark One”.
Derzhavin's poetry had a huge influence on early work A. S. Pushkin, who read his poems from childhood and studied them at the Lyceum in Russian literature classes. They only got to see each other once. In 1815, Derzhavin was invited to the Lyceum exam, where he young Alexander Pushkin read his famous poem"Memories of Tsarskoye Selo". A reproduction from a painting by I. E. Repin reproducing this episode is presented in the article. The venerable master, seeing his brilliant successor in the dark young man and deeply touched by his poems, wanted to hug Pushkin, but he ran away, unable to hold back his sobs.
The death of the poet and the subsequent fate of his remains
Death overtook him in 1816 on the Zvanka estate, which, as mentioned above, Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin loved before his retirement, often visited, and in which he spent the rest of his life. His ashes, transported along the Volkhov to Velikiy Novgorod, was buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral, located on the territory of the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery. Later, his second wife, Daria Alekseevna, was buried there.
During the Great Patriotic War, the monastery found itself in a combat zone and was completely destroyed. The Derzhavins' grave was also badly damaged. In 1959, their remains were reburied, placed in the Novgorod Detinets, and in 1993, when the poet’s 250th anniversary was celebrated, they were returned to the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery, which had been revived by that time.
Among the names of outstanding Russian poets who brought glory to Russian literature, Gabriel Derzhavin, short biography which was presented in this article. The study of his life and work has great importance not only from the aesthetic side, but also from the educational side, since the truths that he preached are eternal.
Gabriel (Gavrila) Romanovich Derzhavin is a Russian poet, a major figure in Russian classicism and literature of the Enlightenment. He was born on July 14 (July 3, O.S.) 1743 on a family estate in the village of Karmachi, Kazan province. He was the son of a poor landowner and a descendant of a family whose founder, according to family legend, was the Tatar Murza. Having no education themselves, Derzhavin’s parents made sure that their children were well-mannered and educated. In 1750, Gavrila was sent to a German boarding school, and from 1759 to 1762 he was a student at the Kazan gymnasium.
As a nineteen-year-old youth, Derzhavin entered military service and served in the Preobrazhensky Regiment as a soldier of the Life Guards; as part of this military formation took part in the coup d'etat, as a result of which the throne went to Catherine P. In 1772, Derzhavin received an officer position, but his military career developed in such a way that he had to resign and enter the civil service.
In 1773, the magazine “Antiquity and Newness” published “Iroida, or Letters of Vivlida to Kavno” - the debut work of Gabriel Derzhavin, which was a translation from a German excerpt from Ovid. At first, creating in line with the traditions laid down by Lomonosov and Sumarokov, in 1779 he began to follow his own literary path, creating works in a style that was then revered as an example of philosophical lyricism.
The ode “Felitsa” glorifying Catherine II, written in 1782, changed further biography Derzhavin, bringing him fame - not only literary, but also social. Thanks to this, in 1784 he was granted the position of governor of the Olonets province, granted by the empress, which he held only until 1785 due to a conflict with local authorities. He also did not have a good relationship with Tambov officials when in 1786 he was appointed governor of the Tambov province, so in the post of G.R. Derzhavin held out until 1788, until he was recalled by the empress to the capital. During his short term as governor, the poet proved himself an irreconcilable opponent of various abuses by officials, and did a lot in the path of educating the population.
In 1789 Derzhavin returned to the capital. In 1791-1793 was the cabinet secretary of Catherine II, after which the empress deprived him of his post for excessive zeal. Accustomed to telling the truth to his face, too independent and active, Derzhavin acquired many ill-wishers during his civil service. From 1793 he sat in the Senate, from 1794 he served as president of the College of Commerce, in 1802-1803. - Minister of Justice, after which he resigned at the age of 60.
Having left the civil service, Gabriel Romanovich lives not only in St. Petersburg, but also in the Novgorod province, where he had the Zvanka estate. Even as an official, he did not stop literary activity, wrote many odes, and after resigning he had the opportunity to concentrate entirely on it. Closer to the end creative path Gabriel Romanovich tried his hand at the genre of drama, writing a number of tragedies. In 1808, a collection of his works was published in four volumes.
Derzhavin’s St. Petersburg house was a meeting place for writers; in 1811, the circle of regulars became officially registered literary society“Conversation of lovers of the Russian word”, the head of which was himself and A.S. Shishkov. His views on language and literature were quite conservative, but this did not prevent Derzhavin from being interested and favorable towards innovative phenomena in poetry. A widely known fact is from the biography of Pushkin, when “old man Derzhavin” noticed him and “went to his grave and blessed him.” His work in line with classicism became the soil on which the poetry of Pushkin, Batyushkov, and the Decembrist poets grew.
Derzhavin died on July 20 (July 8, O.S.) 1816 on his estate. He was buried not far from Veliky Novgorod, in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery. The burial place during the Great Patriotic War turned into ruins due to artillery shelling. Only in 1959 were the remains of Derzhavin and his wife reburied in the Novgorod Detinets, but in 1993 they were returned to old place when the cathedral was restored.
Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin was born in the village of Karmachi, Kazan province, on July 3, 1743, into the family of a poor army officer. In 1750, the boy was sent to a German boarding school in Orenburg, where he learned German.
After the death of their father in 1754, the family moved to Kazan, and Gavrila and her brother entered the Kazan gymnasium. According to her successful completion the future poet enlists as a soldier. His Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment took part in the coup that brought Empress Catherine II to the throne. While in the service, Gavrila Romanovich became addicted to gaming and began writing poetry. He also did not abandon science, read a lot, and began to translate the Messiad and Telemachus in verse.
Difficulty and temperament, combined with an unsuccessful guarantee for someone else's gambling debt, cost Derzhavin military career. In the same 1773, his first work was published without a signature - an excerpt from Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Gavrila Romanovich also loses the position he received in the Senate after his resignation due to his irreconcilable love of truth. In 1778 he married 16-year-old III Catherine Yakovlevna Bastidon, daughter of the valet of Peter III.
The year 1779 was marked by a departure in creativity from the Lomonosov traditions - Derzhavin creates his own style, which will be recognized as the standard of philosophical lyricism. In 1782, moved by the “Ode to Felitsa,” Catherine II gave the poet a golden snuffbox with diamonds and five hundred chervonets inside.
1784 - Derzhavin is appointed governor of Olonets. He immediately conflicts with Tutolmin, the governor of the region. A transfer to a gubernatorial position in Tambov leads to a similar story and quick dismissal.
In 1791 - 1793, he served as Catherine II's cabinet secretary, boring her with upholding justice. As a result, she removes Derzhavin from service with the Order of Vladimir II degree and the rank of Privy Councilor.
In 1793, the poet's muse, his wife, died. In 1795, he married Daria Alekseevna Dyakova without much love.
During the reign of Paul I (1796 - 1801), Gabriel Romanovich became a Knight of the Order of Malta, received the positions of state treasurer and ruler of the Senate Chancellery. He managed to change the monarch’s initial disfavor due to yet another harshness by writing a magnificent ode to Paul’s accession to the throne.
Already under Alexander I, in 1802 - 1803, Derzhavin served as Minister of Justice.
Having retired in 1803, the poet devoted himself entirely to creativity. Turns to drama, prepares collected works for publication. During the 1815 exam at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, he noticed the young Pushkin (the lines “Old Derzhavin noticed us and, going to his grave, blessed us”) are dedicated to Gabriel Romanovich.
The poet and lover of truth died on July 8, 1816. Derzhavin’s wise and poetic statements, aphorisms and quotes from his works are still relevant and accurate today!