Playwright, poet, diplomat Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov was born on January 4 (15), 1795 in Moscow into a noble family. At the age of fifteen he graduated from Moscow University. During the Napoleonic invasion he was enrolled in the army and served two years in a cavalry regiment. In June 1817, Griboyedov entered the service of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs; in August 1818 he was appointed secretary of the Russian diplomatic mission in Persia.
From 1822 to 1826, Griboyedov served in the Caucasus at the headquarters of A.P. Yermolov, from January to June 1826 he was under arrest in the case of the Decembrists.
Since 1827, under the new governor of the Caucasus, I.F. Paskevich, he was in charge of diplomatic relations with Turkey and Persia. In 1828, after the conclusion of the Turkmenchay peace, in which Griboedov took an active part and brought the text to St. Petersburg, he was appointed "minister plenipotentiary" to Persia to ensure the fulfillment of the terms of the agreement.
In the same year, in August, Alexander Griboedov married the eldest daughter of his friend, the Georgian poet and public figure Alexander Chavchavadze, Nina, whom he had known since childhood, often studied music with her. Having matured, Nina evoked in the soul of Alexander Griboedov, a man already mature, a strong and deep feeling of love.
They say she was a beauty: a slender, graceful brunette, with pleasant and regular features, with dark brown eyes, charming everyone with her kindness and meekness. Griboedov called her Madonna Murillo. On August 22, 1828, they were married at the Zion Cathedral in Tiflis. An entry has been preserved in the church book: "Minister Plenipotentiary in Persia of His Imperial Majesty, State Councilor and Cavalier Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov entered into a legal marriage with the girl Nina, daughter of Major General Prince Alexander Chavchavadzev ...". Griboyedov was 33 years old, Nina Alexandrovna was not yet sixteen.
After the wedding and several days of celebrations, the young spouses left for the estate of A. Chavchavadze in Kakheti in Tsinandali. Then the young couple went to Persia. Not wanting to endanger Nina in Tehran, Griboedov left his wife for a while in Tabriz, his residence of the plenipotentiary representative of the Russian Empire in Persia, and went to the capital alone to present to the Shah. In Tehran, Griboyedov was very homesick for his young wife, worried about her (Nina was very difficult to endure pregnancy).
On January 30, 1829, a mob, instigated by Muslim fanatics, defeated the Russian mission in Tehran. During the defeat of the embassy, the Russian envoy Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov was killed. The rampaging crowd dragged his mutilated corpse through the streets for several days, and then threw it into a common pit, where the bodies of his comrades were already lying. Later, he was identified only by the little finger of his left hand mutilated in a duel.
Nina, who was waiting for her husband in Tabriz, did not know about his death; worried about her health, those around her hid the terrible news. On February 13, at the urgent request of her mother, she left Tabriz and went to Tiflis. Only here she was told that her husband was dead. The stress caused her to give birth prematurely.
On April 30, the ashes of Griboyedov were brought to Gergery, where the coffin was seen by A.S. Pushkin, who mentions this in his Journey to Arzrum. In June, Griboedov's body finally arrived in Tiflis, and on June 18, 1829, it was interred near the church of St. David, according to the desire of Griboedov, who once jokingly said to his wife: "Do not leave my bones in Persia; if I die there, bury me in Tiflis, in the monastery of St. David. Nina fulfilled the will of her husband. Buried him where he asked; Nina Alexandrovna erected a chapel on her husband's grave, and in it - a monument depicting a woman praying and crying before the crucifixion - the emblem of herself. On the monument is the following inscription: "Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory; but why did my love survive you?"
Griboedov Alexander Sergeevich (01/04/1795 - 01/30/1829) - a famous Russian diplomat, playwright, poet, author of the famous play "Woe from Wit" (f. 1). He received the rank of state councilor in 1828.
Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov was born on January 4 (15 according to a new style) in Moscow in a well-born noble family. Griboedov spent his childhood and youth in his mother's house at 17 Novinsky Boulevard (f. 2-6). He received a comprehensive home education. According to relatives, in childhood Alexander was very concentrated and unusually developed. Even as a child, he was fluent in foreign languages: French, English, German and Italian. In his youth, he already knew six foreign languages perfectly, in particular, during his studies at the university, he studied ancient Greek and Latin well, and later - Persian, Arabic and Turkish. In 1803, Alexander was given to the Moscow University Noble Boarding House, the building of which was located along Tverskaya Street, 7, on the site of the modern Central Telegraph Office (not preserved). And three years later, in 1806, Griboedov became a student at Moscow University (f. 7-10, Mokhovaya St., 11), entering the verbal department of the Faculty of Philosophy. Even in his student years, he began to write literary works. During the years of university studies, Griboyedov's scientific interests, which he retained for the rest of his life, and his poetic abilities are manifested. In addition, at the university, Griboedov stood out for his versatile talent, outstanding musical abilities, and good command of several European languages. In his student years, he communicated with future Decembrists: the brothers Muravyov, Yakushkin. Subsequently, he was close to P.Ya. Chaadaev. By the way, during his lifetime, Griboyedov had many friends who were attracted by his charm. In 1808, he received the title of candidate of verbal sciences, but did not leave his studies, but entered the legal department and received a second diploma - a candidate of rights in 1810. After graduating from the law department, student Griboedov continued to study at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, which was unusual for noble youth.
Later, after graduating from the university, A.S. Griboyedov devoted himself to military and diplomatic service. In 1812, he volunteered for the army (cornet of the Moscow Hussar Regiment, adjutant of the cavalry general A.S. Kologrivov). The cavalry units in which he was a member were in reserve and did not take an active part in hostilities with the enemy.
After the end of the war with Napoleon, Griboedov lived in St. Petersburg, where he met A.S. Pushkin, V.K. Kuchelbecker, P.Ya. Chaadaev. However, the writer repeatedly visited Moscow on short trips and, arriving for a short time, stayed at his mother's house (in August 1818 before leaving for Iran as part of the Russian diplomatic mission), but more often with his friend Stepan Nikitich Begichev. Their friendship began in 1813 while serving in the Irkutsk hussar regiment. In 1814-1815. Griboyedov collaborated in the journals Vestnik Evropy and Son of the Fatherland, published critical articles on literature and translations. The comedies “Young Spouses” (1815), “Own Family” (co-authored with A.A. Shakhovsky and N.I. Khmelnitsky), as well as “Student” (1817, co-authored with P.A. Katenin).
In 1817, Alexander Sergeevich was enrolled in the Collegium of Foreign Affairs. In 1818 he was appointed secretary of the Russian diplomatic mission in Tehran, and since 1822 he was in Tbilisi in the state "for the diplomatic part" under the commander of the Russian troops in the Caucasus A.P. Yermolov. After 5 years in Iran and the Caucasus, Griboedov, having received a vacation, came to Moscow, stayed with his friend S.N. Begichev (Myasnitskaya street, 42, f. 11-15). This building is well known in Moscow under a different name - Baryshnikov's estate. The fact is that in 1823 the ownership passed to Stepan Nikitich Begichev when he married the daughter of I.I. Baryshnikov - Anna Ivanovna. A retired major, a wealthy landowner and owner of factories and factories, Ivan Ivanovich Baryshnikov, ordered the construction of his estate to the famous Moscow architect Matvey Fedorovich Kazakov. The manor was built in the classical style between 1793 and 1802. Under the new owner, Begichev, the house on Myasnitskaya became the cultural salon of Moscow. The poets D. Davydov and V. Kuchelbecker, the writer Prince V. Odoevsky, the composer A. often visited here. Among Griboyedov's Moscow acquaintances and friends are P.A. Vyazemsky, V.F. Odoevsky, A.A. Alyabiev, A.N. Verstovsky. A.S. Griboyedov stayed at Begichev's house in the winter of 1823-1824, bringing with him two acts of the play Woe to Wit. Comedy in verse" (later known as "Woe from Wit"), and continued to work on this work. Griboedov's rooms, where he worked on his comedy, were on the left side of the building. Currently, the premises of the former estate of Baryshnikov-Begichev are occupied by the editorial office of Arguments and Facts.
It is well known that the action of Griboedov's famous play takes place in Moscow. The characters, types, speech and judgments of the comedy characters so reproduce the atmosphere and life of noble Moscow in the 1920s. XIX century, which brought to life the concept of "Griboedov's Moscow". And the names of many heroes became common nouns: Famusov, Molchalin, Skalozub, Repetilov, etc. In addition, many specific expressions entered the national vocabulary, including those from Moscow with a topic. For example: “And all the Kuznetsk bridge and the eternal French! From here fashions come to us, and authors, and muses, lovers of pockets and hearts ... "; “All Moscow people have a special imprint,” etc. The author also put judgments about Moscow and the mores of the then metropolitan beau monde into the mouth of the characters (introducing into the comedy the motive of opposing “lordly”, conservative Moscow and more dynamic, progressive St. Petersburg). In 1824, the writer Griboedov was accepted as a member of the Free Society of Lovers of Russian Literature.
At the end of September 1825, Griboyedov returned to the Caucasus. By this time, he had matured the ideas of new works, which have come down to us only in fragments: this is the plan of the drama "1812" and excerpts from the tragedy "Georgian Night". And at the end of January 1826, A.S. Griboyedov was arrested and interrogated on charges of belonging to the Decembrist organizations. General Yermolov warned him of impending arrest, and the writer managed to destroy the dangerous papers. On the way to St. Petersburg, where Griboyedov was brought from the Caucasus, accompanied by a courier, he stopped in Moscow for several hours at the house of his brother S.N. Begichev - Dmitry Nikitich Begichev (f.16-19, Begichev's estate - A.O. Gunsta, Starokonyushenny lane, 4). The mansion was built in 1817 by A.V. Davydova, the sister of the famous partisan poet Denis Davydov, who married D.N. Begichev. Griboyedov, Odoevsky, Kuchelbecker, Verstovsky often visited here. At the end of the XIX century. the site became owned by the architect A. O. Gunst, who built an elegant fence with a gate and a gate decorated with forged ribbons in the Art Nouveau style. In 1900, on the other side of the site, which overlooks Khrushchevskiy Lane, he built a building for furnished rooms, which were allowed in by acquaintance, mainly teachers, doctors, lawyers. I. A. Bunin often stopped here. In 1903, a three-story volume was added to the old mansion on the right according to the project of A. O. Gunst. In the house of the Gunsts there was also a theater studio, where E. B. Vakhtangov taught. The estate of the Begichevs - A. O. Gunst (1st half of the 19th - early 20th centuries) is a cultural monument of regional significance. Now the building houses the Representative Office of the Vologda Region under the President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation.
During the investigation, Griboedov maintained a complete denial of his participation in the conspiracy. The tsarist commission of inquiry failed to prove anything, he was found not guilty and released. In 1826-1828. Griboyedov was the head of the diplomatic office of the chief executive in Georgia. In 1827 he was ordered to be in charge of diplomatic relations with Persia and Turkey. With his active participation on February 10, 1828. The Turkmenchay peace, beneficial for Russia, was concluded, which ended the Russian-Persian war of 1826-1828. And during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. Griboyedov ensured the neutrality of Persia. In July 1828, in the rank of "plenipotentiary minister" Griboyedov was sent to Persia to ensure the fulfillment of the terms of the Turkmanchay Treaty. Departing as the plenipotentiary ambassador of Russia to Iran, Griboedov visited Moscow for the last time. This time I stayed at the house of S.N. Begichev on Bolshaya Dmitrovka, 15 (this house has not been preserved).
Griboyedov's life was cut short in the most tragic way. On January 30, 1829, the Persian authorities provoked an attack on the Russian embassy in Tehran. A mob of Muslims, incited by fanatics, burst into the embassy building and massacred everyone who was there, including Griboyedov. The Russian government, not wanting a new military conflict with Persia, was satisfied with the Shah's apologies. Griboyedov's body was brought to Tiflis (Tbilisi) and buried in the monastery of St. David.
In Moscow, at the beginning of Chistoprudny Boulevard, not far from the exit of the metro station of the same name, a monument to the writer and diplomat Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov was erected (f.20-24). The place was not chosen by chance, since Alexander Sergeevich, as already mentioned, lived for some time a few minutes walk from this place - in house number 42 on Myasnitskaya Street. The sculptural monument to the playwright was erected in 1959, when the country celebrated the 130th anniversary of his tragic death. The monument was made by the sculptor Apollon Alexandrovich Manuilov and the architect Alexander Alekseevich Zavarzin. The bronze figure of Griboyedov is presented in full growth on a high cylindrical pedestal with a rectangular base, which makes it majestic and sublime. The sculpture depicts the writer in deep thought. The attire corresponds to the traditions of the nineteenth century. In the lower part of the monument, on a round pedestal with a half-open stage curtain, the heroes of Griboedov's immortal work Woe from Wit are depicted. Panels with scenes from the writer's famous play are cast in bronze and are located along the perimeter.
Very little remained of Griboedov's Moscow. This is how the house in Moscow where Griboyedov, Pushkin, Alyabyev and other great Russian people used to be was gone. This is the house of M.I. Rimskaya-Korsakova, better known as the "Famusov House", stood on Pushkinskaya Square, 3 until the 70s of the XX century, and in 1975. on the site of the demolished house, a new building of the Izvestia publishing house was built.
Speaking about the places in Moscow connected with the life and work of Griboedov, it is possible to add the following to the addresses already mentioned by me in the work, keeping the memory of the playwright and diplomat: Armenian lane, 2 (f. 25-27). This is the former building of the Lazarev Institute, where famous writers visited at different times: V.A. Zhukovsky, A.S. Pushkin, M.Yu. Lermontov, N.V. Gogol, A.S. Griboyedov and others. At present, this building is occupied by the Embassy of Armenia. And you can also call the house of P.A. Vyazemsky in Voznesensky lane, 9 (f. 28-29), which is not only a monument of architecture of the XIX century, but also a monument of history. The mansion of P. A. Vyazemsky for many years was the center of Moscow literary life. Almost all major representatives of art and literature visited his house: I.I. Dmitriev, A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, D.V. Davydov, N.V. Gogol. It was here, according to local historians, that Griboedov read "Woe from Wit", and Pushkin - the tragedy "Boris Godunov" and, a few years later, in 1830, the poet himself lived in this house for some time. About the events connected with the life and work of A.S. Pushkin, evidenced by a memorial plaque on the house (f. 30). But, unfortunately, there is no memorial plaque certifying that Griboyedov visited here, as well as on many other houses I mentioned in the work (Myasnitskaya street, 42; Armenian lane, 2; Voznesensky lane, 9; Starokonyushenny lane, 4).
A few words about perpetuating the memory of A.S. Griboyedov in Moscow. His name was given to two Moscow libraries: Central Library No. A.S. Griboyedov (Bolshaya Pereyaslavskaya, 15) and the Central Children's Library. A.S. Griboedov No. 46 (Sushchevsky Val, 66). The Griboedov Library on B. Pereyaslavskaya carries out memorial activities dedicated to the life and work of the Russian writer, diplomat A.S. Griboyedov; the memorial Griboyedov exposition is opened here. There is also the Institute of International Law and Economics named after A.S. Griboyedov (highway Entuziastov, 21), which was created in 1993. and provides students with higher education in law, economics, management, journalism and linguistics. Griboyedov's name is also GBOU Moscow Gymnasium No. 1529 named after A.S. Griboyedov in the Central Administrative District.
Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov was a versatile educated person, a bright and multifaceted personality: a well-known diplomat, a talented pianist, and a brilliant writer. And although his life path was short-lived, he nevertheless managed to leave a significant mark on the history of the Russian state. As ambassador, Griboyedov pursued a firm policy. “... Respect for Russia and its demands, that's what I need,” he said. A.S. Griboyedov was also musically gifted: he played the piano, flute, and composed music himself. The few musical works written by him possessed excellent harmony, harmony and conciseness. He is the author of several piano pieces, among which two waltzes for piano are the most famous. Waltz in E minor of his composition is considered the first Russian waltz that has survived to this day. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, Alexander Sergeevich was a wonderful pianist, his playing was distinguished by genuine artistry. Most of all, Griboyedov is known as the writer of one book, the brilliantly rhymed play Woe from Wit, which was included in the collection of classics of Russian literature. The play served as a source of numerous catchphrases, it is still very often staged in the theaters of Russia.
Russian playwright, diplomat and composer Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov was born on January 15 (4 according to the old style) 1795 (according to other sources - 1790) in Moscow. He belonged to a noble family, received a serious home education.
In 1803, Alexander Griboyedov entered the Moscow University noble boarding school, in 1806 - at Moscow University. In 1808, having graduated from the verbal department with the title of candidate, he continued to study at the ethical and political department.
He spoke French, English, German, Italian, Greek, Latin, and later mastered Arabic, Persian, and Turkish.
With the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, Griboyedov left his academic studies and joined the Moscow hussar regiment as a cornet.
At the beginning of 1816, having retired, he settled in St. Petersburg and entered the service of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs.
Leading a secular lifestyle, he moved in the theatrical and literary circles of St. Petersburg. He wrote the comedies "Young Spouses" (1815), "His Family, or a Married Bride" (1817) in collaboration with playwrights Alexander Shakhovsky and Nikolai Khmelnitsky, "Student" (1817) together with the poet and playwright Pavel Katenin.
In 1818, Griboyedov was appointed secretary of the Russian mission to Persia (now Iran). Not the last role in this kind of exile was played by his participation as a second in the duel of the chamber junker Alexander Zavadsky with officer Vasily Sheremetev, which ended in the death of the latter.
Since 1822, Griboyedov in Tiflis (now Tbilisi, Georgia) served as secretary for diplomatic affairs under the commander of Russian troops in the Caucasus, General Alexei Yermolov.
In Tiflis, the first and second acts of Griboedov's famous comedy "Woe from Wit" were written. The third and fourth acts were written in the spring and summer of 1823 on vacation in Moscow and on the estate of his close friend retired colonel Stepan Begichev near Tula. By the autumn of 1824, the comedy was completed, and Griboedov traveled to St. Petersburg, intending to use his connections in the capital to obtain permission for its publication and theatrical production. Only excerpts published in 1825 by Faddey Bulgarin in the anthology "Russian Thalia" could be passed through censorship. Griboedov's creation was distributed among the reading public in handwritten lists and became an event in Russian culture.
Griboedov also composed pieces of music, among which two waltzes for piano are popular. He played the piano, organ and flute.
In the autumn of 1825 Griboyedov returned to the Caucasus. At the beginning of 1826, he was arrested and taken to St. Petersburg to investigate alleged connections with the Decembrists, the instigators of the uprising in the capital on December 14, 1825. Many of the conspirators were close friends of Griboedov, but in the end he was acquitted and released.
Upon his return to the Caucasus in the autumn of 1826, he took part in several battles of the Russian-Persian war that had begun (1826-1828). Having brought to St. Petersburg the documents of the Turkmenchay peace treaty with Persia in March 1828, Griboedov was awarded and was appointed minister plenipotentiary (ambassador) to Persia.
On his way to Persia, he stopped for a while in Tiflis, where in August 1828 he married 16-year-old Nina Chavchavadze, the daughter of the Georgian poet, Prince Alexander Chavchavadze.
In Persia, among other things, the Russian minister was involved in sending captive subjects of Russia home. The appeal to him for help by two Armenian women who fell into the harem of a noble Persian was the reason for the reprisal against the diplomat.
Reactionary circles in Tehran, dissatisfied with the peace with Russia, set the fanatical crowd on the Russian mission.
On February 11 (January 30, old style), 1829, during the defeat of the Russian mission in Tehran, Alexander Griboyedov was killed.
Together with the Russian ambassador, all the employees of the embassy were killed, except for the secretary Ivan Maltsev, and the Cossacks of the embassy convoy - a total of 37 people.
The ashes of Griboyedov were in Tiflis and interred on Mount Mtatsminda in a grotto at the Church of St. David. The tombstone crowns a monument in the form of a weeping widow with the inscription: "Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you?"
Griboyedov's son, baptized Alexander, died before he lived a day. Nina Griboedova never married again and never took off her mourning clothes, for which she was called the Black Rose of Tiflis. In 1857, she died of cholera after refusing to leave her sick relatives. She was buried next to her only husband.
Biography and episodes of life Alexandra Griboyedov. When born and died Alexander Griboedov, memorable places and dates of important events in his life. playwright quotes, images and videos.
“Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you?”
The inscription made by the wife of A. Griboyedov on his tombstone
Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov left a mark in Russian literature as the author of one work - the famous play "Woe from Wit". Everything he wrote before this thing was still youthfully immature, and the author did not have time to finish what he wrote after. Meanwhile, Griboyedov was a man of brilliant mind and versatile talents: he composed music, played the piano beautifully, wrote critical articles and essays, and advanced in the diplomatic service. Perhaps, if his life had not ended so tragically, today Griboyedov's descendants would have inherited a much more extensive legacy.
Griboedov was born in Moscow, into a wealthy family, and from childhood he was distinguished by a lively and sharp mind and learning abilities. At the age of 6, Griboyedov was fluent in three foreign languages, and later learned three more.
There, in Tiflis, Griboyedov married a beautiful and noble girl, Princess Nina Chavchavadze. Alas, the young managed to live together for only a few months.
Griboedov's death in the prime of his life was sudden and tragic. A mob of religious fanatics destroyed the Russian embassy in Tehran and killed everyone who was there. Griboyedov's body was so mutilated that he could only be identified by the trace of a duel wound on his arm.
Griboyedov was buried in Tiflis, near the Church of St. David on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda. On the centenary of his death in 1929, a pantheon was opened at the burial place of the playwright and his wife, where the remains of many prominent public figures of Georgia rested.
January 4, 1795 Date of birth of Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov.
1803 Admission to the Moscow University noble boarding school.
1805 Work on the first poems.
1806 Admission to the verbal department of Moscow University.
1808 Obtaining the title of candidate of verbal sciences, continuing education in the moral and political, and then in the physics and mathematics departments.
1812 Entry into the Volunteer Moscow Hussar Regiment of Count Saltykov.
1814 The first literary experiences (articles, essays, translations) while serving as a cornet.
1815 Moving to Petersburg. Publication of the comedy "The Young Spouses".
1816 Retirement from military service. Entry into the Masonic lodge. The appearance of the idea of comedy in the verses "Woe from Wit".
1817 Entering the diplomatic service (provincial secretary, later - translator of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs).
1818 Appointment to the position of secretary in Tehran (in Persia).
1821 Transfer to Georgia.
1822 Appointment to the post of secretary under General Yermolov, commander of the Russian army in Tiflis.
1823 Return to the homeland, life in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
1824 Completion of the comedy "Woe from Wit".
1825 Return to the Caucasus.
1826 Arrest on suspicion of belonging to the Decembrists, investigation in St. Petersburg, release and return to Tiflis.
1828 Appointment as resident minister in Iran, marriage to Princess Nina Chavchavadze.
January 30, 1829 Date of death of Alexander Griboyedov.
June 18, 1829 The funeral of Griboyedov in Tiflis, near the church of St. David.
1. House number 17 on Novinsky Boulevard in Moscow, where Griboyedov was born and raised (a replica of the original building).
2. Moscow University, where Griboyedov studied.
3. House No. 104 (Valkha apartment building) on nab. Griboyedov Canal (formerly the Catherine Canal) in St. Petersburg, where the playwright lived in 1816-1818.
4. House number 25 on Kirov Ave. (former hotel "Afinskaya") in Simferopol, where Griboedov lived in 1825.
5. House number 22 on the street. Chubinashvili in Tbilisi (formerly Tiflis), now the house-museum of Ilya Chavchavadze, where the wedding of his granddaughter Nina and Griboyedov took place.
6. Pantheon Mtatsminda in Tbilisi, where Griboyedov is buried.
In 1817, the famous quadruple duel took place with the participation of Griboyedov, the cause of which was the famous ballerina Istomina. Griboyedov and his opponent Yakubovich fired a year later than the first pair of duelists, and in this duel Griboedov was wounded in the arm.
The famous E-minor waltz written by Griboedov is considered the first Russian waltz whose score has survived to this day.
By the time of her wedding with Griboyedov, Nina Chavchavadze was only 15 years old, but after the death of her husband, she remained faithful to him and mourned him until her own death at the age of 45, rejecting all courtship. Loyalty to her deceased husband earned his widow respect and fame among the people of Tiflis.
"Blessed is he who believes, he is warm in the world."
"Happy hours are not observed."
"The pleasure of life is not the goal,
Our life is not a consolation."
Two waltzes by A. Griboyedov
“I never happened in my life to see in any nation a person who would so ardently, so passionately love his fatherland, as Griboyedov loved Russia.”
Faddey Bulgarin, writer and critic
“The blood of the heart always played on his face. No one will boast of his flattery; no one dares to say that he heard a lie from him. He could deceive himself, but never deceive.
Alexander Bestuzhev, writer and critic
“There is something wild in Griboedov, de farouche, de sauvage, in self-esteem: it rears up at the slightest irritation, but he is smart, fiery, it is always fun to be with him”
Pyotr Vyazemsky, poet and critic
The beginning of the creative biography of Griboyedov
The famous Russian playwright, author of Woe from Wit, Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov was born on January 4, 1795 (the year of birth, however, is debatable) into a Moscow noble family. His father, a retired second-major Sergei Ivanovich, a man of little education and modest origin, rarely visited the family, preferring to live in the countryside or indulge in a card game that drained his funds. Mother, Nastasya Fedorovna, who came from a different branch of the Griboyedovs, richer and nobler, was a domineering, impulsive woman, known in Moscow for her intelligence and harshness of tone. She loved her son and daughter, Maria Sergeevna (two years younger than her brother), surrounded them with all kinds of cares, gave them an excellent home education.
Portrait of Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov. Artist I. Kramskoy, 1875
Maria Sergeevna was famous in Moscow and far beyond its borders as a pianist (she also played the harp beautifully). Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov spoke French, German, English and Italian from childhood and played the piano perfectly. Prominent teachers were chosen as his educators: first Petrozilius, the compiler of the catalogs of the library of Moscow University, later Bogdan Ivanovich Ion, a pupil of Goettingen University, then he studied in Moscow and was the first to receive a doctorate in law at Kazan University. Griboyedov's further upbringing and education, at home, school and university, went under the general guidance of the well-known professor of philosopher and philologist I. T. Bule. From early childhood, the poet moved in a very cultural environment; together with his mother and sister, he often spent the summer with his wealthy uncle, Alexei Fedorovich Griboedov, at the famous Khmelity estate in the Smolensk province, where he could meet with the families of the Yakushkins, Pestels and other later public figures. In Moscow, the Griboedovs were related by family ties to the Odoevskys, Paskeviches, Rimsky-Korsakovs, Naryshkins and were familiar with a huge circle of the capital's nobility.
In 1802 or 1803, Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov entered the Moscow university noble boarding school; On December 22, 1803, he received "one prize" there at a "lesser age". Three years later, on January 30, 1806, Griboyedov was admitted to Moscow University at the age of about eleven. On June 3, 1808, he was already promoted to candidate of verbal sciences and continued his education at the Faculty of Law; June 15, 1810 received the degree of Candidate of Laws. Later, he still studied mathematics and natural sciences, and in 1812 he was already "ready for the test for admission to the rank of doctor." Patriotism attracted the poet to military service, and the field of science was abandoned forever.
On July 26, 1812, Griboedov was enrolled as a cornet in the Moscow hussar regiment of Count P. I. Saltykov. However, the regiment did not get into the active army; all autumn and December 1812 he stood in the Kazan province; in December, Count Saltykov died, and the Moscow regiment was attached to the Irkutsk hussar regiment as part of the cavalry reserves under the command of General Kologrivov. For some time in 1813, Griboyedov lived on vacation in Vladimir, then came to the service and ended up as adjutant to Kologrivov himself. In this rank, he took part in the recruitment of reserves in Belarus, about which he published an article in Vestnik Evropy in 1814. In Belarus, Griboyedov became friends - for life - with Stepan Nikitich Begichev, also Kologrivov's adjutant.
Having not been in a single battle and bored with service in the provinces, Griboyedov submitted a letter of resignation on December 20, 1815 "to determine the state affairs"; On March 20, 1816, he received it, and on June 9, 1817, he was accepted into the service of the State Collegium of Foreign Affairs, where he was listed along with Pushkin and Kuchelbecker. He arrived in St. Petersburg as early as 1815, and here he quickly entered social, literary and theatrical circles. Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov moved among the members of the emerging secret organizations, participated in two Masonic lodges (“United Friends” and “Good”), got acquainted with many writers, for example, Grechem, Khmelnitsky, Katenin, actors and actresses, for example, Sosnitsky, Semyonovs, Valberkhovs and others. Soon Griboyedov also appeared in journalism (with the epigram "From Apollo" and anti-criticism against N. I. Gnedich in defense of Katenin), and in dramatic literature - with the plays The Young Spouses (1815), The Own Family (1817; in collaboration with Shakhovsky and Khmelnitsky), Feigned Infidelity (1818), Intermedia Test (1818).
Theatrical hobbies and intrigues involved Griboyedov in a difficult story. Because of the dancer Istomina, a quarrel arose and then a duel between V. A. Sheremetev and gr. A.P. Zavadovsky, which ended in the death of Sheremetev. Griboedov was closely involved in this case, he was even accused as an instigator, and A.I. Yakubovich, a friend of Sheremetev, challenged him to a duel, which did not take place then only because Yakubovich was exiled to the Caucasus. Sheremetev's death had a strong effect on Griboyedov; He wrote to Begichev that "a terrible longing came over him, he constantly sees Sheremetev before his eyes, and his stay in St. Petersburg became unbearable for him."
It happened that around the same time, Griboyedov's mother's funds were greatly shaken, and he had to seriously think about the service. At the beginning of 1818, a Russian representation was organized at the Persian court in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. S. I. Mazarovich was appointed Russian attorney under the Shah, Griboedov was appointed secretary under him, and Amburger was appointed clerk. At first, Griboedov hesitated and refused, but then he accepted the appointment. Immediately, with his characteristic energy, he began to study Persian and Arabic with prof. Demange and sat down to study literature about the East. At the very end of August 1818, Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov left Petersburg; on the way, he stopped by Moscow to say goodbye to his mother and sister.
Griboyedov and Amburger arrived in Tiflis on October 21st, and here Yakubovich immediately again challenged Griboedov to a duel. It took place on the morning of the 23rd; the seconds were Amburger and H. H. Muraviev, a famous Caucasian figure. Yakubovich fired first and wounded Griboyedov in the left hand; then Griboyedov fired and missed. Opponents immediately reconciled; Griboyedov's duel went off safely, but Yakubovich was expelled from the city. The diplomatic mission stayed in Tiflis until the end of January 1819, and during this time Griboedov became very close to A.P. Yermolov. Conversations with the "Proconsul of the Caucasus" left a deep impression in Griboyedov's soul, and Yermolov himself fell in love with the poet.
In mid-February, Mazarovich and his retinue were already in Tabriz, the residence of the heir to the throne, Abbas Mirza. Here Griboyedov first met the British diplomatic mission, with whom he was always on friendly terms. Around March 8, the Russian mission arrived in Tehran and was solemnly received by Feth Ali Shah. In August of the same 1819, she returned to Tabriz, her permanent residence. Here Griboyedov continued his studies in oriental languages and history, and here for the first time he laid down on paper the first plans for Woe from Wit. According to the Gulistan Treaty of 1813, the Russian mission had the right to demand from the Persian government the return to Russia of Russian soldiers - prisoners and deserters who served in the Persian troops. Griboyedov warmly took up this matter, found up to 70 such soldiers (Sarbaz) and decided to bring them to Russian borders. The Persians were embittered about this, in every possible way prevented Griboedov, but he insisted on his own and in the fall of 1819 led his detachment to Tiflis. Yermolov greeted him kindly and presented him for an award.
In Tiflis, Griboyedov spent Christmas time and on January 10, 1820, set off on his return journey. Having visited Etchmiadzin on the way, he established friendly relations with the Armenian clergy there; in early February he returned to Tabriz. At the end of 1821, a war broke out between Persia and Turkey. Griboedov was sent by Mazarovich to Yermolov with a report on Persian affairs, and on the way he broke his arm. Referring to the need for prolonged treatment in Tiflis, he asked his ministry through Yermolov to appoint him under Alexei Petrovich as secretary for foreign affairs, and the request was respected. From November 1821 to February 1823, Griboyedov lived in Tiflis, often traveling with Yermolov around the Caucasus. With H. H. Muravyov, Griboyedov studied oriental languages, and shared his poetic experiences with V. K. Kuchelbeker, who arrived in Tiflis in December 1821 and lived until May 1822. The poet read Woe from Wit to him, scene after scene, as they gradually built up.
After Kuchelbecker left for Russia, Griboedov became very homesick for his homeland and, through Yermolov, applied for a vacation to Moscow and St. Petersburg. At the end of March 1823, he was already in Moscow, in his own family. Here he met with S. N. Begichev and read to him the first two acts of Woe from Wit, written in the Caucasus. The second two acts were written in the summer of 1823 on the estate of Begichev, in the Tula province, where a friend invited Griboedov to stay. In September, Griboedov returned to Moscow with Begichev and lived in his house until the next summer. Here he continued to work on the text of the comedy, but already read it in literary circles. Together with the book P. A. Vyazemsky Griboedov wrote the vaudeville “Who is the brother, who is the sister, or deception after deception”, with music by A. N. Verstovsky.
From Moscow, Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov moved to St. Petersburg (at the beginning of June 1824) in order to achieve censorship permission for Woe from Wit. In the northern capital, Griboedov received a brilliant reception. He met here with ministers Lansky and Shishkov, a member of the State Council, Count Mordvinov, Governor General Earl Miloradovich, Paskevich, was introduced to Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich. In literary and artistic circles, he read his comedy, and soon the author and the play became the center of everyone's attention. It was not possible to carry out the play on the stage, despite influential connections and efforts. The censors let only excerpts go to print (7-10 events of the first act and the third act, with large cuts). But when they appeared in the almanac F. V. Bulgarina"Russian Thalia for 1825", this caused a whole stream of critical articles in St. Petersburg and Moscow magazines.
The bright success of the comedy brought Griboyedov much joy; this was also joined by a passion for the dancer Teleshova. But in general the poet was gloomy; he was visited by fits of melancholy, and then everything seemed to him in a gloomy light. To get rid of this mood, Griboedov decided to go on a trip. It was impossible, as he thought at first, to go abroad: the official leave was already overdue; then Griboedov went to Kyiv and the Crimea to return to the Caucasus from there. At the end of May 1825, Griboyedov arrived in Kyiv. Here he eagerly studied antiquities and admired nature; from acquaintances met with members of the secret Decembrist society: Prince Trubetskoy, Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Sergey and Artamon Muravyov. Among them, the idea arose to involve Griboyedov in a secret society, but the poet was then too far from political interests and hobbies. After Kyiv, Griboyedov went to the Crimea. Within three months he traveled all over the peninsula, enjoyed the beauty of the valleys and mountains and studied historical monuments.
The gloomy mood, however, did not leave him. At the end of September, Griboedov traveled through Kerch and Taman to the Caucasus. Here he joined the detachment of Gen. Velyaminov. In the fortification of the Stone Bridge, on the Malka River, he wrote the poem "Predators on Chegem", inspired by the recent attack of the highlanders on the village of Soldiers. By the end of January 1826, Yermolov, Velyaminov, Griboyedov, Mazarovich gathered from different parts of the Grozny fortress (now Grozny). Here Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov was arrested. In the commission of inquiry on the case of the Decembrists, Prince. Trubetskoy testified on December 23: “I know from the words Ryleeva that he received Griboedov, who is with General Yermolov”; then book. Obolensky named him on the list of members of the secret society. Uklonsky, a courier, was sent for Griboyedov; he arrived in Groznaya on January 22 and presented Yermolov with an order for the arrest of Griboyedov. It is said that Yermolov warned Griboedov so that he could destroy some of the papers in time.
On January 23, Uklonsky and Griboedov left Grozny, on February 7 or 8 they were in Moscow, where Griboedov managed to see Begichev (they tried to hide the arrest from his mother). On February 11, Griboyedov was already sitting in the guardhouse of the General Staff in St. Petersburg, together with Zavalishin, the Raevsky brothers and others. Both at the preliminary interrogation by General Levashov, and later at the Investigative Commission, Griboedov resolutely denied belonging to a secret society and even assured that he knew absolutely nothing about the plans of the Decembrists. Ryleev's testimony, A. A. Bestuzheva, Pestel and others were in favor of the poet, and the commission decided to release him. On June 4, 1826, Griboyedov was released from arrest, then he received a "cleansing certificate" and running money (for returning to Georgia) and was promoted to court advisers.
Thoughts about the fate of the motherland also constantly worried Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov. During the investigation, he denied belonging to secret societies, and indeed, knowing him, it is difficult to admit this. But he was close to many of the most prominent Decembrists, no doubt, he knew perfectly well the organization of secret societies, their composition, action plans and projects of state reforms. Ryleev testified during the investigation: “I had several general conversations with Griboyedov about the situation in Russia and gave him hints about the existence of a society aimed at changing the form of government in Russia and introducing a constitutional monarchy”; Bestuzhev wrote the same thing, and Griboedov himself said about the Decembrists: “in their conversations I often saw bold judgments about the government, in which I myself took part: I condemned what seemed harmful, and wished for the best.” Griboyedov spoke out for freedom of printing, for a public court, against administrative arbitrariness, abuses of serfdom, reactionary measures in the field of education, and in such views he coincided with the Decembrists. But it is difficult to say how far these coincidences went, and we do not know exactly how Aleksandr Sergeevich Griboedov felt about the constitutional projects of the Decembrists. There is no doubt, however, that he was skeptical about the feasibility of a conspiratorial movement and saw many weaknesses in Decembrism. In this, however, he agreed with many others, even among the Decembrists themselves.
Let us also note that Griboyedov was strongly inclined towards nationalism. He loved Russian folk life, customs, language, poetry, even dress. When asked by the Commission of Inquiry about this, he answered: “I wanted Russian dress because it is more beautiful and calmer than tailcoats and uniforms, and at the same time I believed that it would again bring us closer to the simplicity of domestic customs, extremely dear to my heart.” Thus, Chatsky's philippics against imitation in customs and against the European costume are the cherished thoughts of Griboyedov himself. At the same time, Griboyedov constantly showed dislike for the Germans and the French, and in this he drew close to the Shishkovists. But, in general, he stood closer to the group of Decembrists; Chatsky is a typical representative of the progressive youth of that time; It was not for nothing that the Decembrists intensively distributed lists of "Woe from Wit".
June and July 1826 Griboyedov still lived in St. Petersburg, at Bulgarin's dacha. It was a very difficult time for him. The joy of liberation dimmed at the thought of friends and acquaintances executed or exiled to Siberia. To this was added anxiety for his talent, from which the poet demanded new high inspirations, but they, however, did not come. By the end of July, Griboyedov arrived in Moscow, where the entire court and troops had already gathered for the coronation of the new emperor; I. F. Paskevich, a relative of Griboyedov, was also here. Unexpectedly, the news came here that the Persians had violated the peace and attacked the Russian border post. Nicholas I was extremely angry about this, blamed Yermolov for inaction and, in derogation of his power, sent Paskevich (with great authority) to the Caucasus. When Paskevich arrived in the Caucasus and took command of the troops, Griboedov's position turned out to be extremely difficult between the two warring generals. Yermolov was not formally dismissed, but he felt the disgrace of the sovereign in everything, constantly clashed with Paskevich and, finally, resigned, and Griboedov was forced to go to the service of Paskevich (which his mother asked him to do back in Moscow). The troubles of his official position were joined by another physical ailment: with the return to Tiflis, Griboedov began to have frequent fevers and nervous attacks.
Having assumed control of the Caucasus, Paskevich entrusted Griboyedov with foreign relations with Turkey and Persia, and Griboedov was drawn into all the worries and difficulties of the Persian campaign of 1826-1828. He conducted a huge correspondence with Paskevich, participated in the development of military operations, endured all the hardships of a marching life, and most importantly, he took upon himself the actual conduct of diplomatic negotiations with Persia in Deykargan and Turkmanchay. When, after the victories of Paskevich, the capture of Erivan and the occupation of Tabriz, the Turkmanchay peace treaty was concluded (February 10, 1828), which was very beneficial for Russia, Paskevich sent Griboyedov to present a treatise to the emperor in St. Petersburg, where he arrived on March 14. The next day, Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov was received by Nicholas I in an audience; Paskevich received the title of Count of Erivan and a million rubles of reward, and Griboyedov received the rank of State Councilor, an order and four thousand chervonets.
Again Griboyedov lived in St. Petersburg for three months, moving in government, public and literary circles. He complained to his friends about being very tired, dreamed of rest and office work, and was about to retire. Fate decided otherwise. With the departure of Griboedov to Petersburg, there was no Russian diplomatic representative left in Persia; meanwhile, Russia had a war with Turkey, and the East needed an energetic and experienced diplomat. There was no choice: of course, Griboyedov was supposed to go. He tried to refuse, but it did not work, and on April 25, 1828, Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov was appointed Minister-Resident in Persia by the highest decree, while Amburger was appointed Consul General in Tabriz.
From the moment of his appointment as envoy, Griboyedov became gloomy and experienced severe forebodings of death. He constantly told his friends: “There is my grave. I feel that I will never see Russia again.” On June 6, Griboedov left Petersburg forever; a month later he arrived in Tiflis. Here an important event took place in his life: he married Princess Nina Alexandrovna Chavchavadze, whom he knew as a girl, gave her music lessons, followed her education. The wedding took place in the Zion Cathedral on August 22, 1828, and on September 9, the departure of the Russian mission to Persia took place. The young wife accompanied Griboedov, and the poet wrote enthusiastic letters about her to his friends from the road.
The mission arrived in Tabriz on October 7, and Griboyedov immediately fell upon heavy worries. Of these, two were the main ones: firstly, Griboedov had to insist on paying indemnities for the last campaign; secondly, to search for and send to Russia Russian subjects who fell into the hands of the Persians. Both that, and another was extremely difficult and caused bitterness both in the people, and in the Persian government. To settle things, Griboyedov went to the Shah in Tehran. Griboyedov arrived in Tehran with his retinue by the New Year, was well received by the Shah, and at first everything went well. But soon clashes began again because of the prisoners. Two Armenian women from the harem of the Shah's son-in-law, Alayar Khan, turned to the patronage of the Russian mission, wishing to return to the Caucasus. Griboyedov received them into the mission building, and this excited the people; then Mirza Yakub, the eunuch of the Shah's harem, was accepted into the mission at his own insistence, which overflowed the cup. The mob, incited by the Muslim clergy and agents of Alayar Khan and the government itself, attacked the premises of the embassy on January 30, 1829 and killed Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov along with many others ...
Monument to Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov on Chistoprudny Boulevard, Moscow
Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov lived a short but rich life. From a passion for science at Moscow University, he moved on to a carefree living through life in military service and then in St. Petersburg; Sheremetev's death caused an acute crisis in his soul and prompted him, in the words of Pushkin, to "a sharp turn", and in the East he inclined towards self-deepening and isolation; when he returned from there to Russia in 1823, he was already a mature man, strict with himself and people, and a great skeptic, even a pessimist. The social drama of December 14, bitter thoughts about people and the homeland, as well as anxiety for his talent caused Griboyedov a new spiritual crisis, which threatened to resolve itself in suicide. But late love brightened up the last days of the poet's life.
Many facts testify how passionately he could love - his wife, mother, sister, friends, how rich he was in strong will, courage, hot temperament. A. A. Bestuzhev describes him in this way in 1824: “A man of noble appearance, of medium height, in a black tailcoat, with glasses over his eyes, entered ... In his face one could see as much sincere participation as in his methods of the ability to live in good company, but without any affectation, without any formality; it can even be said that his movements were somehow strange and jerky, and with all that, decent as much as possible... society. The bonds of petty propriety were unbearable to him, even because they are bonds. He could not and did not want to hide his mockery at the gilded and self-satisfied stupidity, neither contempt for low search, nor indignation at the sight of a happy vice. The blood of the heart always played in his face. No one will boast of his flattery, no one will dare to say that he has heard lies from him. He could deceive himself, but never deceive. Contemporaries mention his impetuosity, sharpness in address, biliousness along with softness and tenderness and a special gift to please. Even people who were prejudiced against him succumbed to Griboyedov's charm. His friends loved him selflessly, just as he knew how to love them passionately. When the Decembrists got into trouble, he did his best to alleviate the plight of anyone he could: Prince. A. I. Odoevsky, A. A. Bestuzhev, Dobrinsky.
Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov began to publish in 1814 and since then did not leave literary studies until the end of his life. However, his creative heritage is small. There is absolutely no epic in it, and almost no lyrics. Most of all in the work of Griboyedov are dramatic works, but all of them, with the exception of the famous comedy, are of low dignity. The early plays are interesting only because Griboyedov's language and verse were gradually developed in them. In form they are quite ordinary, like hundreds of plays in the genre of light comedy and vaudeville of that time. The content is much more significant than the plays written after Woe from Wit, such as: 1812, Radamist and Zenobia, Georgian Night. But they have come down to us only in plans and fragments, from which it is difficult to judge the whole; it is only noticeable that the dignity of the verse in them is greatly reduced and that their scenarios are too complex and extensive to fit into the framework of a harmonious stage play.
Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov entered the history of literature only with "Woe from Wit"; he was a literary one-thinker, homo unius libri (“a man of one book”), and put into his comedy “all the best dreams, all the bold aspirations” of his work. But he worked on it for several years. The play was completed in rough form in the village of Begichev in 1823. Before leaving for St. Petersburg, Griboedov presented Begichev with a manuscript of the comedy, a precious autograph, which was then kept in the Historical Museum in Moscow (“Museum Autograph”). In St. Petersburg, the poet again reworked the play, for example, he inserted a scene of Molchalin's flirting with Lisa in the fourth act. A new list, corrected by Griboedov's hand, was presented to him in 1824 by A. A. Gendru ("The Gendre Manuscript"). In 1825 excerpts from the comedy were published in Bulgarin's Russkaya Talia, and in 1828 Griboedov presented Bulgarin with a new copy of Woe from Wit, revised again (the Bulgarin List). These four texts form the chain of the poet's creative efforts.
Their comparative study shows that Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov made especially many changes in the text in 1823-1824, in the Museum autograph and the Zhandrovskaya manuscript; only minor changes were made to later texts. In the first two manuscripts we see, firstly, a stubborn and happy struggle with the difficulties of language and verse; secondly, the author abbreviated the text in several cases; Thus, Sophia's story about a dream in Act I, which took 42 verses in the Museum's autograph, was later reduced to 22 verses and greatly benefited from this; the monologues of Chatsky, Repetilov, the characterization of Tatiana Yuryevna were shortened. There are fewer inserts, but among them there is such an important one as the dialogue between Molchalin and Lisa in the 4th act. As for the composition of the characters and their characters, they remained the same in all four texts (according to legend, Griboyedov at first wanted to bring out several more people, including Famusov's wife, a sentimental fashionista and a Moscow aristocrat). The ideological content of the comedy also remained unchanged, and this is very remarkable: all the elements of social satire were already in the text of the play before Griboyedov got acquainted with the social movement in St. Petersburg in 1825 - such was the maturity of the poet's thought.
Ever since "Woe from Wit" appeared on the stage and in print, history has begun for him in posterity. For many decades it exerted its strong influence on Russian drama, literary criticism and stage figures; but so far it has remained the only play where everyday pictures were harmoniously combined with social satire.
