10 interesting facts from the life of Griboyedov – an outstanding writer and diplomat

Most people know about Griboedov only that he wrote “Woe from Wit.” However, his life was not limited to one written comedy. Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov was a multifaceted personality, a brilliant writer and diplomat, playwright and musician, possessed extraordinary talents and a powerful mind.

Having an excellent education and financial independence, the writer used his talents to the fullest. The genius, as often happens, died young – he was only 34 years old. But in this short period of time, he lived such a bright life that most of us can only dream of.

Below are 10 interesting facts from the life of Alexander Griboyedov.

10 Was the great-nephew of Alexander Radishchev

The famous playwright came from the ancient Polish family of Grzybowski. Griboyedov is the Russian adaptation of this surname. The maternal grandmother of the writer was A. Radishchev’s cousin. Thus, Griboedov was the great-nephew of Alexander Radishchev. However, this relationship did not bode well for the nephew, because the author of “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow” was sentenced to death for his work.

That is why Alexander Sergeevich carefully concealed his relationship with Radishchev. However, in the future, the diplomat will follow in the footsteps of a relative and write a scandalous work himself – the comedy Woe from Wit.

9. At the age of 6 he was fluent in three foreign languages

At school they say that the writer knew many languages. However, few people say that he knew foreign languages ​​as a child. So, at the age of six, little Sasha already knew three languages. So Alexander Sergeevich was a real child prodigy.

In the future, the great diplomat will know 10 languages: French, English, German, Italian – the writer will master these languages ​​in his youth, Latin and Greek, and later Persian, Arabic and Turkish – the last three will be noticeably useful to him in the service. This list is impressive, because now it is difficult for us to learn even English.

8. Voluntarily joined the Moscow Hussar Regiment during the War of 1812

In 1812, Griboyedov was 17 years old. During the war, he interrupted his studies and volunteered for the regiment. The young man was accepted into the hussars and given the rank of cornet. However, he, fortunately, did not have to fight. The regiment, which included the future writer, stayed in the rear until the end of the war.

Alexander left military service and entered the Collegium of Foreign Affairs at the insistence of his relatives, who had heard rumors about the secular adventures of the cornet.

7. Participated in the “quadruple duel”

At the age of 23, the writer received a call for a quadruple duel from cornet Alexander Yakubovich. In short, the duel took place because of the young actress. Griboyedov was simply friends with her, the diplomat’s friend had views of the girl, her admirer Sheremetev was very jealous of the actress for Griboyedov, and Yakubovich wove intrigues against the latter.

The first duel took place in 1817. A friend of Griboyedov shot the jealous Sheremetev. He died, having previously reconciled with the writer. The tragedy of a young man dying in agony greatly influenced Griboedov. He felt guilty, although it was not his fault in this situation.

Yakubovich, under the pretext of revenge for a friend (Sheremetev, whose death Griboedov had nothing to do with), challenged the writer to a second duel, which took place in 1818. Griboyedov tried in vain to reason with the “Caucasian”.

During the duel, the playwright missed his opponent’s head. Yakubovich hit the writer in the palm, depriving him of part of his little finger. Later, this injury would prevent Griboedov from playing the piano, so the writer would put a slip on his finger.

6. Member of the Masonic Lodge

Freemasonry was especially popular in the early nineteenth century. Since 1816, Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov was a member of one of the most famous lodges in St. Petersburg called “United Friends”, which is now named after him.. Griboyedov himself wanted to improve the box. The name, according to his idea, would be “Good.”

The lodge was supposed to speak not in French, but in Russian, although there were many foreigners in it. Griboedov’s idea was the enlightenment of Russia and the dissemination of Russian letters.

5. Composed musical works

Alexander Griboyedov was not only a playwright and a diplomat. He was also known as an excellent pianist and composer.. He wrote some wonderful plays that his contemporaries loved to listen to.

Despite the fact that Yakubovich shot off part of Griboyedov’s little finger, Alexander quickly adapted, put on the overlay and resumed playing the piano. After the duel, the pianist’s skill did not decrease at all.

4. “Woe from Wit” – the pinnacle of Russian drama and poetry

During the service, Griboyedov broke his arm and received leave. The playwright immediately took the opportunity and wrote the comedy Woe from Wit, which he had been in the dream about for a long time. The writer really wanted his creation to be appreciated and shown on stage..

First of all, Alexander Sergeevich showed the work to Ivan Krylov. He praised the play, but warned that censorship would not let this pass. And so it happened – the work was forbidden to be printed or staged in the theater. Disillusioned with the fate of his creation, Griboyedov never wrote again.

3. Arrested on suspicion of belonging to the Decembrists

In 1826, the writer was accused of assisting the Decembrists’ conspiracy and arrested.. The writer spent six months in prison. However, weighty evidence in favor of the playwright’s guilt was never found. After spending half a year in the Peter and Paul Fortress, the playwright returned to serve in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. Service and diplomatic travel

Knowledge of ten languages ​​​​and a sharp mind made the writer a very talented diplomat. After Griboyedov was released from prison, he became the chief diplomat under the governor Ivan Paskevich, his cousin’s husband.

It was Alexander Sergeevich who played the main role in the signing of a peace treaty between Persia and Russia in 1828. According to General Paskevich, it was Griboyedov who secured the signing of the agreement. In St. Petersburg, Griboyedov was showered with awards and thanks. So, the diplomat received the Order of St. Anne of the II degree, as well as an increase to the plenipotentiary minister in Persia – that is, the ambassador.

Also during one of his last trips, the writer married the sixteen-year-old princess of Tiflis, Nina Chavchavadze. He knew her as a child – he was friends with the father of the princess. When he saw what a beautiful girl Nina had grown into, he proposed to her. She agreed without hesitation, and loved the writer for the rest of her life.

1. Killed during a massacre at the Russian embassy in Tehran

Before the last trip to Persia, Alexander Griboedov had a bad feeling. He was going there with displeasure, although he had always liked to visit this place before. The hunch turned out to be correct.

Negotiations with Persia were difficult. Alexander had to demand from the Persians the speedy return of the captives of the Russian Empire, among whom were the Armenians – a few months ago, subjects of Persia. This demand was the last straw for the Persian ruler.

Five days before the planned departure, on January 26, 1829, the eunuch Mirza-Yakub appeared to Griboyedov and asked for asylum in the Russian Empire. Alexander, by law, could not refuse his request, so he provided Yakub with asylum. The eunuch had too much dirt on the Persian court, and now it was possible to destroy him only together with the entire Russian embassy. But the people wouldn’t attack the embassy just because of a eunuch.

Then the Persian Shah went to the trick. He sent two of his concubines to Griboyedov, who also asked for asylum. Alexander Sergeevich understood that this was a trap, but according to his job description he had no right to refuse them and took the concubines under protection.

On the morning of January 30, the chief mullah of Tehran stated that the Russians had stolen these women from the harem. Muslims could not forgive such a thing. The already indignant crowd attacked and destroyed the embassy. Thus, the defeat in Tehran occurred due to the fact that, probably, the Persian government did not want to pay huge indemnities. The court itself had nothing to do with it, and the blame for the murders remained with the “mob”.

The crowd tore the diplomat to pieces. For several more days, the dead writer was dragged around the city and mocked at him, after which they were thrown into a common pit. Griboedov’s body was so mutilated that Nina Chavchavadze was able to identify her husband only by the little finger of his hand, which Griboyedov once injured in a duel with Yakubovich.

Nina lost her baby when she found out about the tragedy in Tehran. The seventeen-year-old widow wore mourning for Alexander Sergeevich for another 28 years, that is, until the end of her life. For this she was calledblack rose of Tiflis”.

As a token of apology, the Persian ruler presented Emperor Nicholas I with the famous Shah diamond. However, this gift will never make up for the loss of the true diamond – Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov.