Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin briefly. Literary and historical notes of a young technician

Made a huge contribution to Russian culture Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin(1766-1826). The famous compatriot was a publicist, a gifted writer, a sentimentalist writer, a court historiographer, and was involved in reforms of the Russian language. Here is a selection of the most memorable facts from the life of this great man:

The ancestors of the Karamzin family were Crimean Tatars. Nikolai Mikhailovich's father was a retired military man and had an estate in the Simbirsk province. Little Nikolai was raised by tutors and his father, since his mother passed away when he was 2 years old. Best friends young Karamzin became books.
Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment in St. Petersburg - the place where the writer spent three years. Here he was able to rise to the rank of lieutenant. Before this, Karamzin studied at Moscow University.
Nikolai Mikhailovich was able to travel around Europe, he witnessed many historical events. This is the great French revolution, the fall of the Bastille. His interlocutor here was Immanuel Kant himself. After returning to his native land, Karamzin wrote a lot about this trip (“Letters of a Russian Traveler”).
One of the issues of the Moscow magazine published one of the most famous works Karamzin "Poor Liza". This sentimental story is still a true masterpiece to this day.
The historical monumental work “History of the Russian State” became the most with great difficulty throughout the life of the great historian. After its release, Emperor Alexander awarded Karamzin the title of chief historiographer. During his lifetime, 11 volumes of this grandiose work were published, the 12th volume was published after the death of Nikolai Mikhailovich.
N.M. Karamzin was not a supporter of reforms and had conservative views. But the writer could not come to terms with many things, especially theft.
The famous historiographer was the owner of two orders: St. Anne, 1st degree, St. Vladimir III degrees. He also held the rank of state councilor.
Many believe that the heroine of the story “Poor Liza” was named after the wife of Elizaveta Ivanovna Protasova. But they lived only a year; Elizaveta Ivanovna died after giving birth. She gave birth to Karamzin's daughter Sofia.
In his youth, Karamzin attended a circle of Masons. Spiritual self-improvement of man is the basis that they preached. Intellectual and spiritually developed Masons had high morals and principles. Communicating with such people, Nikolai Mikhailovich himself became an extraordinary person.
A certain period in the work of N.M. Karamzin was marked by the release of almanacs. The most famous of them are the three-volume set “Aonida” and “Aglaya”.
Historical story“Marfa the Posadnitsa” by Nikolai Mikhailovich is imbued with antiquity and high morality. Here he reflected on the monarchical republic, the importance of leaders, and the role of the people in history. This is a kind of story about how the Novgorodians did not reproach the Moscow authorities.
Karamzin’s second wife was Ekaterina Andreevna Kolyvanova. She was the illegitimate daughter of Prince A. Vyazemsky. The woman was famous for her beauty, was the owner of a salon in St. Petersburg, and a lover of social evenings.
Being married to Ekaterina Andreevna, the writer became a father nine times. They had 5 boys and 4 girls.
Daughter Sophia was born in her first marriage. Having grown up, she lived at the imperial court and was a maid of honor. I talked very often with Lermontov and Pushkin.
Nikolai Mikhailovich was the teacher of Alexander Sergeevich, he watched with pleasure the development of the poet’s talent. Pushkin often visited the writer’s house, and even managed to fall in love with Karamzin’s wife. He wrote to her love confession. But Karamzin reacted with understanding to the act of the amorous poet, although their relationship became cooler.

We often use familiar words like charity, attraction, and even love. But few people know that if it were not for Nikolai Karamzin, then perhaps they would never have appeared in the Russian dictionary. Karamzin's work was compared with the works of the outstanding sentimentalist Stern, and even put the writers on the same level. Possessing deep analytical thinking, he managed to write the first book, “History of the Russian State.” Karamzin did this without describing a separate historical stage, of which he was a contemporary, but by presenting a panoramic image historical painting states.

Childhood and youth of N. Karamzin

The future genius was born on December 12, 1766. He grew up and was brought up in the house of his father, Mikhail Yegorovich, who was a retired captain. Nikolai lost his mother early, so his father was completely involved in his upbringing.

As soon as he learned to read, the boy took books from his mother’s library, among which were French novels, works by Emin and Rollin. Nikolai received his primary education at home, then studied at the Simbirsk noble boarding school, and then, in 1778, he was sent to the boarding school of Professor Moskovsky.

Even as a child, he began to be interested in history. This was facilitated by a book on the history of Emin.

Nikolai's inquisitive mind did not allow him to sit still for long; he began studying languages and went to listen to lectures at Moscow University.

Carier start

Karamzin's creativity dates back to the time when he served in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment in St. Petersburg. It was during this period that Nikolai Mikhailovich began to try himself as a writer.

Words and the acquaintances he made in Moscow contributed to the formation of Karamzin as an artist. Among his friends were N. Novikov, A. Petrov, A. Kutuzov. During the same period, he became involved in social activities - he helped in the preparation and publication of the children's magazine “Children's Reading for the Heart and Mind.”

The period of service was not only the beginning of Nikolai Karamzin, but also shaped him as a person and gave him the opportunity to make many acquaintances that were useful. After the death of his father, Nikolai decides to quit his service, never to return to it. In the world at that time, this was regarded as insolence and a challenge to society. But who knows, if he had not left the service, he would have been able to publish his first translations, as well as original works, which show a keen interest in historical topics?

Trip to Europe

Karamzin’s life and work radically changed their usual structure when, from 1789 to 1790. he travels around Europe. During the trip, the writer visits Immanuel Kant, which made a remarkable impression on him. Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, chronological table which is replenished by his presence in France during the Great French Revolution, subsequently writes his “Letters of a Russian Traveler”. It is this work that makes him famous.

There is an opinion that it is this book that opens the countdown new era Russian literature. This is not unreasonable, since such travel notes were not only popular in Europe, but also found their followers in Russia. Among them are A. Griboedov, F. Glinka, V. Izmailov and many others.

This is where the comparison between Karamzin and Stern “grows.” " Sentimental Journey The latter’s theme is reminiscent of Karamzin’s works.

Arrival in Russia

Returning to his homeland, Karamzin decides to settle in Moscow, where he continues his literary activity. Moreover, he becomes professional writer and a journalist. But the apogee of this period is, of course, the publication of the Moscow Journal - the first Russian literary magazine, which published Karamzin’s works.

At the same time, he published collections and almanacs that strengthened him as the father of sentimentalism in Russian literature. Among them are “Aglaya”, “Pantheon of Foreign Literature”, “My Trinkets” and others.

Moreover, Emperor Alexander I established the title of court historiographer for Karamzin. It is noteworthy that after that no one was awarded a similar title. This not only strengthened Nikolai Mikhailovich, but also strengthened his status in society.

Karamzin as a writer

Karamzin joined the writing class while already in the service, since attempts to try himself in this field at the university were not crowned with great success.

Karamzin’s creativity can be conditionally divided into three main lines:

literary prose, which forms a significant part of the heritage (listed: stories, novellas);
poetry - there is much less of it;
fiction, historical works.

In general, the influence of his works on Russian literature can be compared with the influence of Catherine on society - changes took place that made the industry humane.

Karamzin is a writer who became the starting point of new Russian literature, the era of which continues to this day.

Sentimentalism in the works of Karamzin

Karamzin Nikolai Mikhailovich turned the attention of writers, and, as a result, their readers, to feelings as the dominant feature of human essence. It is this feature that is fundamental to sentimentalism and separates it from classicism.

The basis of a normal, natural and correct existence of a person should not be a rational principle, but the release of feelings and impulses, the improvement of the sensual side of a person as such, which is given by nature and is natural.

The hero is no longer typical. It was individualized and given uniqueness. His experiences do not deprive him of strength, but enrich him, teach him to feel the world subtly and respond to changes.

“Poor Liza” is considered to be the programmatic work of sentimentalism in Russian literature. This statement is not entirely true. Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, whose work exploded literally after the publication of “Letters of a Russian Traveler,” introduced sentimentalism precisely with travel notes.

Karamzin's poetry

Karamzin's poems occupy much less space in his work. But their importance should not be underestimated. As in prose, Karamzin the poet becomes a neophyte of sentimentalism.

The poetry of that time was guided by Lomonosov and Derzhavin, while Nikolai Mikhailovich changed course towards European sentimentalism. There is a reorientation of values in literature. Instead of the external, rational world, the author delves into inner world man, is interested in his spiritual powers.

Unlike classicism, the heroes become characters of simple life, everyday life; accordingly, the object of Karamzin’s poem is simple life, as he himself claimed. Of course, when describing everyday life, the poet refrains from pompous metaphors and comparisons, using standard and simple rhymes.

But this does not mean at all that poetry becomes poor and mediocre. On the contrary, be able to select available ones so that they produce proper effect and at the same time conveyed the hero’s experiences - this is the main goal pursued poetic creativity Karamzin.

The poems are not monumental. They often show ambivalence human nature, two views on things, unity and the struggle of opposites.

Karamzin's prose

Displayed in prose aesthetic principles Karamzin are also found in his theoretical works. He insists on moving away from the classicist fixation on rationalism to the sensitive side of man, his spiritual world.

The main task is to incline the reader to maximum empathy, to make him worry not only about the hero, but also with him. Thus, empathy should lead to an internal transformation of a person, forcing him to develop his spiritual resources.

The artistic side of the work is structured in the same way as that of the poems: a minimum of complex speech patterns, pomp and pretentiousness. But so that the same traveler’s notes are not dry reports, in them the focus on displaying mentality and characters comes to the fore.

Karamzin's stories describe what is happening in detail, focusing on the sensual nature of things. But since there were many impressions from the trip abroad, they were transferred to paper through the sieve of the author’s “I”. He does not become attached to associations that are firmly established in his mind. For example, he remembered London not for the Thames, bridges and fog, but in the evenings, when the lanterns are lit and the city shines.

The characters find the writer themselves - these are his fellow travelers or interlocutors whom Karamzin meets during the journey. It is worth noting that these are not only noble people. He communicates without hesitation with both socialites and poor students.

Karamzin - historian

The 19th century brings Karamzin to history. When Alexander I appoints him court historiographer, Karamzin’s life and work again undergoes dramatic changes: he abandons literary activity completely and immerses himself in writing historical works.

Oddly enough, but the first one historical work, “A Note on Ancient and New Russia in its Political and Civil Relation,” Karamzin dedicated to criticism of the emperor’s reforms. The purpose of the “Note” was to show conservative-minded sections of society, as well as their dissatisfaction with liberal reforms. He also tried to find evidence of the futility of such reforms.

Karamzin - translator

Structure of the “History”:

introduction - describes the role of history as a science;
history up to 1612 from the time of nomadic tribes.

Each story or narrative ends with conclusions of a moral and ethical nature.

The Meaning of "Stories"

As soon as Karamzin completed his work, “The History of the Russian State” literally sold out like hot cakes. Within a month, 3,000 copies were sold. Everyone was engrossed in “history”: the reason for this was not only the filled-in blank spots in the history of the state, but also the simplicity and ease of presentation. Based on this book, more than one was later created, since “History” also became a source of plots.

“History of the Russian State” became the first analytical work on the subject. It also became a template and example for further development interest in history in the country.

"History of Russian Goverment"
is not only the creation of a great writer,
but also a feat of an honest man.
A. S. Pushkin

Karamzin Nikolai Mikhailovich (1766 1826), writer, historian.

Born on December 1 (12 NS) in the village of Mikhailovka, Simbirsk province, in the family of a landowner. Received a good home education.

At the age of 14 he began studying at the Moscow private boarding school of Professor Schaden. Having graduated from it in 1783, he came to the Preobrazhensky Regiment in St. Petersburg, where he met the young poet and future employee of his “Moscow Journal” Dmitriev. At the same time he published his first translation of S. Gesner’s idyll “The Wooden Leg”. Having retired with the rank of second lieutenant in 1784, he moved to Moscow and became one of active participants magazine "Children's Reading for the Heart and Mind", published by N. Novikov, and became close to the Freemasons. He began translating religious and moral works. Since 1787, he regularly published his translations of Thomson's The Seasons, Genlis's Country Evenings, W. Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar, Lessing's tragedy Emilia Galotti.

In 1789, the first original story Karamzin "Evgeniy and Yulia". In the spring, he went on a trip to Europe: he visited Germany, Switzerland, France, where he observed the activities of the revolutionary government. In June 1790 he moved from France to England.

In the fall he returned to Moscow and soon undertook the publication of the monthly “Moscow Journal”, in which it was published most of"Letters of a Russian Traveler", the stories "Liodor", "Poor Liza", "Natalia, the Boyar's Daughter", "Flor Silin", essays, short stories, critical articles and poems. Karamzin attracted Dmitriev and Petrov, Kheraskov and Derzhavin, Lvov Neledinsky-Meletsky and others to collaborate in the magazine. Karamzin’s articles asserted new literary direction sentimentalism. In the 1790s, Karamzin published the first Russian almanacs “Aglaya” (part 1 2, 1794 95) and “Aonids” (part 1 3, 1796 99). The year 1793 came, when at the third stage of the French Revolution the Jacobin dictatorship was established, which shocked Karamzin with its cruelty. The dictatorship aroused in him doubts about the possibility for humanity to achieve prosperity. He condemned the revolution. The philosophy of despair and fatalism permeates his new works: the story “The Island of Bornholm” (1793); "Sierra Morena" (1795); poems “Melancholy”, “Message to A. A. Pleshcheev”, etc.

By the mid-1790s, Karamzin became the recognized head of Russian sentimentalism, which opened new page in Russian literature. He was an indisputable authority for Zhukovsky, Batyushkov, and young Pushkin.

In 1802 1803 Karamzin published the journal "Bulletin of Europe", in which literature and politics predominated. In Karamzin’s critical articles, a new aesthetic program, which contributed to the formation of Russian literature as nationally distinctive. Karamzin saw the key to the uniqueness of Russian culture in history. The most striking illustration of his views was the story “Marfa Posadnitsa”. In his political articles, Karamzin made recommendations to the government, pointing out the role of education.

Trying to influence Tsar Alexander I, Karamzin gave him his “Note on Ancient and New Russia” (1811), causing his irritation. In 1819 he submitted a new note, “Opinion of a Russian Citizen,” which caused even greater displeasure to the Tsar. However, Karamzin did not abandon his belief in the salvation of an enlightened autocracy and later condemned the Decembrist uprising. However, Karamzin the artist was still highly valued by young writers, even those who did not share his political convictions.

In 1803, through M. Muravyov, Karamzin received the official title of court historiographer.

In 1804, he began to create the “History of the Russian State,” which he worked on until the end of his days, but did not complete. In 1818, the first eight volumes of "History" - Karamzin's greatest scientific and cultural feat - were published. In 1821 the 9th volume was published, dedicated to the reign of Ivan the Terrible, in 1824 the 10th and 11th, about Fyodor Ioannovich and Boris Godunov. Death interrupted work on the 12th volume. This happened on May 22 (June 3, n.s.) 1826 in St. Petersburg.

It turns out that I have a Fatherland!

The first eight volumes of the History of the Russian State were published all at once in 1818. They say that, having slammed the eighth and final volume, Fyodor Tolstoy, nicknamed the American, exclaimed: “It turns out that I have a Fatherland!” And he wasn't alone. Thousands of people thought, and most importantly, felt this very thing. Everyone was engrossed in History: students, officials, nobles, even society ladies. They read it in Moscow and St. Petersburg, they read it in the provinces: distant Irkutsk alone bought 400 copies. After all, it is so important for everyone to know that he has it, the Fatherland. Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin gave this confidence to the people of Russia.

Need a story

In those days, at the beginning of the 19th century, ancient, age-old Russia suddenly turned out to be young and new. She was about to enter Big world. Everything was born anew: the army and navy, factories and manufactories, science and literature. And it might seem that the country has no history; was there really anything before Peter, except dark ages backwardness and barbarism? Do we have a story? “Yes,” answered Karamzin.

Who is he?

We know very little about Karamzin’s childhood and youth; no diaries, letters from relatives, or youthful writings have survived. We know that Nikolai Mikhailovich was born on December 1, 1766, not far from Simbirsk. At that time it was an incredible wilderness, a real bear corner. When the boy was 11 or 12 years old, his father, a retired captain, took his son to Moscow, to a boarding school at the university gymnasium. Karamzin stayed here for some time, and then entered active military service - this was at the age of 15! The teachers prophesied for him not only Moscow Leipzig University, but somehow it didn’t work out.

Karamzin's exceptional education is his personal merit.

Writer

I didn’t go to military service; I wanted to write: compose, translate. And at the age of 17, Nikolai Mikhailovich was already a retired lieutenant. Ahead whole life. What should I dedicate it to? Literature, exclusively literature decides Karamzin.

And what was she like, Russian? literature XVIII centuries? Also young, a beginner. Karamzin writes to a friend: “I am deprived of the pleasure of reading much on native language. We are still poor in writers. We have several poets who deserve to be read." Of course, there are already writers, and not just some, but Lomonosov, Fonvizin, Derzhavin, but there are no more than a dozen significant names. Are there really not enough talents? No, they exist, but the matter has become language: the Russian language has not yet adapted to convey new thoughts, new feelings, or describe new objects.

Karamzin focuses on the lively spoken language of educated people. He writes not scholarly treatises, but travel notes ("Notes of a Russian Traveler"), stories ("Bornholm Island", "Poor Lisa"), poems, articles, and translates from French and German.

Journalist

Finally, they decide to publish a magazine. It was called simply: "Moscow Journal". The famous playwright and writer Ya. B. Knyazhnin picked up the first issue and exclaimed: “We didn’t have such prose!”

The success of the "Moscow Magazine" was enormous - as many as 300 subscribers. At that time very big number. This is how small not only writing and reading Russia is!

Karamzin works incredibly hard. Collaborates in the first Russian children's magazine. It was called "Children's Reading for the Heart and Mind." Only FOR this magazine Karamzin wrote two dozen pages every week.

Karamzin was the number one writer for his time.

Historian

And suddenly Karamzin takes on the gigantic task of compiling his native Russian history. On October 31, 1803, Tsar Alexander I issued a decree appointing N.M. Karamzin as a historiographer with a salary of 2 thousand rubles a year. Now for the rest of my life I am a historian. But apparently it was necessary.

Chronicles, decrees, codes of law

Now write. But for this you need to collect material. The search began. Karamzin literally combs through all the archives and book collections of the Synod, the Hermitage, the Academy of Sciences, Public library, Moscow University, Alexander Nevsky and Trinity-Sergius Lavra. At his request, they are looking for it in monasteries, in the archives of Oxford, Paris, Venice, Prague and Copenhagen. And how many things were found!

Ostromir Gospel of 1056 1057 (this is still the oldest dated Russian book), Ipatiev and Trinity Chronicles. Code of Law of Ivan the Terrible, work ancient Russian literature"The Prayer of Daniel the Imprisoner" and much more.

They say that having discovered the new chronicle of Volynskaya, Karamzin did not sleep for several nights with joy. Friends laughed that he had become simply unbearable because he only talked about history.

What will it be like?

The materials are being collected, but how to take on the text, how to write a book that even the simplest person can read, but from which even an academician will not wince? How to make it interesting, artistic, and at the same time scientific? And here are these volumes. Each is divided into two parts: in the first a detailed story written by a great master this is for the common reader; in the second detailed notes, links to sources this is for historians.

This is true patriotism

Karamzin writes to his brother: “History is not a novel: a lie can always be beautiful, but only some minds like the truth in its garb.” So what should I write about? Set forth in detail the glorious pages of the past, and only turn over the dark ones? Maybe this is exactly what a patriotic historian should do? No, Karamzin decides, patriotism does not come at the expense of distorting history. He doesn’t add anything, doesn’t invent anything, doesn’t glorify victories or downplay defeats.

By chance, drafts of the VIIth volume were preserved: we see how Karamzin worked on every phrase of his “History”. Here he writes about Vasily III: “in relations with Lithuania, Vasily... always ready for peace...” It’s not the same, it’s not true. The historian crosses out what was written and concludes: “In relations with Lithuania, Vasily expressed peace in words, trying to harm her secretly or openly.” Such is the impartiality of the historian, such is true patriotism. Love for one's own, but not hatred for someone else's.

Ancient Russia seemed to be found by Karamzin, like America by Columbus

It is written ancient history Russia, and modern things are being done around: Napoleonic wars, Battle of Austerlitz, Peace of Tilsit, Patriotic War of the 12th year, fire of Moscow. In 1815, Russian troops enter Paris. In 1818, the first 8 volumes of the History of the Russian State were published. Circulation is a terrible thing! 3 thousand copies. And everything sold out in 25 days. Unheard of! But the price is considerable: 50 rubles.

The last volume stopped at the middle of the reign of Ivan IV, the Terrible.

Some said: Jacobin!

Even earlier, the trustee of Moscow University, Golenishchev-Kutuzov, submitted to the Minister of Public Education a document, to put it mildly, in which he thoroughly proved that “Karamzin’s works are filled with freethinking and Jacobin poison.” “If only he should have been given an order, it would have been time to lock him up long ago.”

Why is this so? First of all, for independence of judgment. Not everyone likes this.

There is an opinion that Nikolai Mikhailovich has never betrayed his soul even once in his life.

Monarchist! - exclaimed others, young people, future Decembrists.

Yes, main character"Stories" of Karamzin Russian autocracy. The author condemns bad sovereigns and sets good ones as examples. And he sees prosperity for Russia in an enlightened, wise monarch. That is, we need a “good king”. Karamzin does not believe in revolution, much less a quick one. So, before us is truly a monarchist.

And at the same time, the Decembrist Nikolai Turgenev would later remember how Karamzin “shed tears” when he learned about the death of Robespierre, the hero of the French Revolution. And here is what Nikolai Mikhailovich himself writes to a friend: “I do not demand either a constitution or representatives, but in my feelings I will remain a republican, and, moreover, a loyal subject of the Russian Tsar: this is a contradiction, but only an imaginary one.”

Why then is he not with the Decembrists? Karamzin believed that Russia’s time had not yet come, the people were not ripe for a republic.

Good king

The ninth volume has not yet been published, and rumors have already spread that it is banned. It began like this: “We begin to describe the terrible change in the soul of the king and in the fate of the kingdom.” So, the story about Ivan the Terrible continues.

Previous historians did not dare to openly describe this reign. Not surprising. For example, Moscow’s conquest of free Novgorod. Karamzin the historian, however, reminds us that the unification of the Russian lands was necessary, but Karamzin the artist gives a vivid picture of exactly how the conquest of the free northern city was carried out:

“John and his son were tried in this way: every day they presented to them from five hundred to a thousand Novgorodians; they beat them, tortured them, burned them with some kind of fiery mixture, tied them with their heads or feet to a sleigh, dragged them to the bank of the Volkhov, where this river does not freeze in winter, and entire families were thrown from the bridge into the water, wives with husbands, mothers with infants. Moscow warriors rode in boats along the Volkhov with stakes, hooks and axes: whoever of those thrown into the water surfaced was stabbed and cut into pieces. These murders lasted five weeks and consisted of general robbery."

And so on almost every page - executions, murders, burning of prisoners upon the news of the death of the tsar's favorite villain Malyuta Skuratov, the order to destroy an elephant who refused to kneel before the tsar... and so on.

Remember, this is written by a man who is convinced that autocracy is necessary in Russia.

Yes, Karamzin was a monarchist, but during the trial the Decembrists referred to the “History of the Russian State” as one of the sources of “harmful” thoughts.

December 14

He didn't want his book to become a source of harmful thoughts. He wanted to tell the truth. It just so happened that the truth he wrote turned out to be “harmful” for the autocracy.

And then December 14, 1825. Having received news of the uprising (for Karamzin this is, of course, a rebellion), the historian goes out into the street. He was in Paris in 1790, was in Moscow in 1812, in 1825 he goes towards Senate Square. “I saw terrible faces, heard terrible words, five or six stones fell at my feet.”

Karamzin, of course, is against the uprising. But how many of the rebels are the Muravyov brothers, Nikolai Turgenev Bestuzhev, Kuchelbecker (he translated “History” into German).

A few days later Karamzin would say this about the Decembrists: “The delusions and crimes of these young people are the delusions and crimes of our century.”

After the uprising, Karamzin fell fatally ill; he caught a cold on December 14. In the eyes of his contemporaries, he was another victim of that day. But he dies not only from a cold; the idea of the world has collapsed, faith in the future has been lost, and a new king has ascended to the throne, very far from ideal image enlightened monarch.

Karamzin could no longer write. The last thing he managed to do was, together with Zhukovsky, he persuaded the tsar to return Pushkin from exile.

A Volume XII froze on the interregnum of 1611 1612. And so last words last volume about a small Russian fortress: “Nut did not give up.”

Now

More than a century and a half has passed since then. Modern historians know much more about ancient Russia than Karamzin, how much has been found: documents, archaeological finds, birch bark letters, finally. But Karamzin’s book history-chronicle is one of a kind and there will never be another like it.

Why do we need it now? Bestuzhev-Ryumin said this well in his time: “A high moral feeling still makes this book the most convenient for cultivating love for Russia and goodness.”

Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin is a famous Russian writer, a representative of sentimentalism, an outstanding historian and thinker, and educator. His main service to his native Fatherland, the pinnacle of his life’s journey, is the 12-volume work “History of the Russian State.” Perhaps the only Russian historian who was treated kindly by the highest royal favor, who had the official status of a historiographer, created especially for him.

Biography of Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin (12/1/1776 - 22/5/1826) briefly

Nikolai Karamzin was born on December 1, 1766 in the family estate of Znamenskoye, not far from Simbirsk in a rich noble family. He received his primary education, which was very comprehensive, at home. At the age of 13 he was sent to the private boarding school Schaden in Moscow. In 1782, his father, a retired officer, insisted that his son try himself in military service, so for two years Nikolai ended up in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment. Realizing that a military career is not at all interesting to him, he retires. Not feeling the need to do something he doesn't like to earn his daily bread, he begins to do what interests him - literature. First as a translator, then he tries himself as an author.

Karamzin - publisher and writer

During the same period in Moscow, he became close to a circle of Freemasons and was friends with the publisher and educator Novikov. Is interested in studying the most different directions in philosophy and for a more complete acquaintance with French and German enlighteners goes to Western Europe. His journey coincided with the Great French Revolution; Karamzin even witnesses these events and, at first, perceives them with great enthusiasm.

Returning to Russia, he publishes “Letters of a Russian Traveler.” This work is a reflection thinking man about destinies European culture. The medieval dogma of man as subordinate to someone's supreme reason has been toppled from its pedestal. It is being replaced by the thesis about personal freedom as such, and Karamzin welcomes this theory with all his heart. In 1792, he published in his own literary magazine “Moscow Journal” the story “Poor Liza”, in which he develops the theory of personal equality, regardless of social status. In addition to the literary merits of the story, it is valuable for Russian literature because it was written and published in Russian.

The beginning of the emperor’s reign coincided with the beginning of Karamzin’s publication of the journal “Bulletin of Europe,” whose motto was “Russia is Europe.” The materials published in the magazine appealed to the views of Alexander I, so he responded favorably to Karamzin’s desire to write the history of Russia. He not only gave permission, but by personal decree appointed Karamzin as a historiographer with a decent pension of 2000 rubles, so that he could work with all dedication on a grandiose historical work. Since 1804, Nikolai Mikhailovich has been engaged only in compiling the “History of the Russian State”. The Emperor gives him permission to work to collect materials in the archives. He was always ready to provide an audience and be sure to report the slightest difficulties if they arose.

The first 8 volumes of “History” were published in 1818 and were sold out in just a month. called this event “absolutely exceptional.” The interest in Karamzin’s historical work was enormous, and although he managed to describe historical events from the first mention of the Slavic tribes only to the Time of Troubles, which amounted to 12 volumes, the importance of this historical work cannot be overestimated. This grandiose work formed the basis of almost all subsequent fundamental works on the history of Russia. Unfortunately, Karamzin himself did not see his work published in full. He died from a cold, which he received after spending the whole day on Senate Square in St. Petersburg during. This happened on May 22, 1826.

Minakov A. Yu.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, writer, poet, journalist, historian, one of the founders of Russian conservatism.

N.M. Karamzin came from the Crimean Tatar family of Kara-Murza (known since the 16th century). He spent his childhood on the estate of his father, Mikhail Egorovich, a landowner mediocre- the village of Znamenskoye, then was brought up in the private boarding school of Fauvel in Simbirsk, where they taught in French, then in the Moscow boarding school of prof. THEM. Shadena. Schaden was an apologist for the family, saw in it the guardian of morality and the source of education, in which religion, the beginning of wisdom, should occupy leading place. Best form government structure Schaden believed that a monarchy, with a strong nobility, was virtuous, sacrificial, educated, and prioritized the public good. The influence of such views on K. is undeniable. At the boarding school K. learned French and German languages, studied English, Latin and Greek. In addition, K. attended lectures at Moscow University. Since 1782, K. served in the Preobrazhensky Regiment. At the same time it begins literary activity. K.'s first printed work was a translation from German of S. Gessner's “Wooden Leg.” After the death of his father, K. retired in 1784 and went to Simbirsk, where he joined the Masonic lodge of the Golden Crown. A year later, K. moved to Moscow, where he became close to Moscow masons from N.I. Novikov’s entourage, under whose influence his views and literary tastes were formed, in particular, interest in the literature of the French “Enlightenment”, “encyclopedists”, Montesquieu, Voltaire and etc. Freemasonry attracted K. with its educational and charitable activities, but repelled him with its mystical side and rituals. At the end of the 1780s. K. participates in various periodicals: “Reflections on the works of God...”, “Children’s reading for the heart and mind”, in which he publishes own compositions and translations. By 1788, K. was losing interest in Freemasonry. In 1789-1790 he made an 18-month trip abroad, one of the motivations for which was K.’s break with the Freemasons. K. visited Germany, Switzerland, revolution-ridden France and England. Witnessing the events in France, he repeatedly visited the National Assembly, listened to Robespierre's speeches, and made acquaintances with many political celebrities. This experience had a huge impact on the further evolution of K., laying the foundation for a critical attitude towards “advanced” ideas. Thus, in “Melodor and Philalethe” (1795) K. clearly expressed the rejection and shock caused by the implementation of the ideas of the “Enlightenment” in practice, during the so-called “Great French Revolution”: “The Age of Enlightenment! I don’t recognize you - in blood and flame I don’t recognize you - among murders and destruction I don’t recognize you!

Upon returning from abroad, he published the “Moscow Journal” (1791-1792), the album “Aglaya” (1794-95), the almanac “Aonids” (1796-99), “Pantheon of Foreign Literature” (1798), the magazine “Children’s Reading” for the heart and mind” (1799), publishes “Letters of a Russian Traveler” (1791-1792), which brought him all-Russian fame, becomes close to the conservative G.R. Derzhavin and finally breaks with Freemasonry. During this period, K. experiences increasing skepticism towards the ideals of the “Enlightenment”, but in general remains in a Westernizing, cosmopolitan position, being confident that the path of civilization is the same for all humanity and that Russia should follow this path: “everyone the people are nothing compared to the people. The main thing is to be people, not Slavs” (Letters of a Russian Traveler. L., 1987. P.254). As a writer, he creates a new direction, the so-called sentimentalism, carries out a large-scale reform of the Russian language, on the one hand, orienting it towards French literary models, on the other, bringing it closer to the spoken language, while believing that the Russian everyday language has yet to be created. Sentimentalism was most reflected in such a work as “Poor Liza” (1792). K.'s desire to “Frenchize” the Russian language should not be exaggerated. Back in 1791, he argued: “in our so-called good society without French You will be deaf and dumb. Isn't it a shame? How can you not have people's pride? Why be parrots and monkeys together?” (Ibid. P.338.) In addition, the cosmopolitanism of K. at that time was combined with a peculiar literary struggle for a return to Russian origins. For example, his story “Natalya, the Boyar’s Daughter” (1792) began with the words: “Who among us does not love those times when Russians were Russians, when they dressed up in their own clothes, walked with their own gait, lived according to their own customs, spoke in their own language and according to your heart..? (Notes of an old Moscow resident. M., 1988. P.55).

In April 1801, K. married Elizaveta Ivanovna Protasova, who died a year later, leaving a daughter, Sophia.

The accession to the throne of Alexander I marked the beginning of a new period in ideological evolution K. In 1802, he published the “Historical Word of Praise to Catherine the Second,” written in 1801, which was an order to the new tsar, where he formulates a monarchical program and clearly speaks out in favor of autocracy. K. launched an active publishing activity: he re-published the “Moscow Journal”, undertook the publication of “Pantheon” Russian authors, or a collection of their portraits with comments,” published his first collected works in 8 volumes. The main event of the first years of the 19th century was the publication of the “thick” magazine “Bulletin of Europe” (1802-1803), published twice a month, where K. acted as political writer, publicist, commentator and international observer. In it, he clearly formulates his statist position (previously for him the state was a “monster”). It is also noteworthy that in his articles K. quite sharply opposes the imitation of everything foreign, against the education of Russian children abroad, etc. K. unambiguously expresses his position with the formula: “The people are humiliated when they need someone else’s mind for education” (Bulletin of Europe. 1802. No. 8. P. 364). Moreover, K. calls for stopping the reckless borrowing of the experience of the West: “The patriot hastens to appropriate to the fatherland what is beneficial and necessary, but rejects slavish imitation in trinkets... It is good and should be studied: but woe<...>to the people who will be an everlasting student” (Oc.: B 2 vol. L., 1984. Vol. 2. P. 230.) K. is critical of the liberal undertakings of Alexander I, forming a position that can be described as proto-conservative, since K. himself still remains a “republican at heart.” K. did not abandon literature either - in 1803 he published “Marfa Posadnitsa” and a number of other works. It is especially worth highlighting “My Confession” (1802), where he sharply polemicizes with the entire educational tradition - from the “encyclopedists” to J.J. Rousseau. His conservative-monarchist views are becoming more and more clear.

Back in the late 90s. XVIII century K.'s interest in Russian history became apparent. It creates several small historical works. On September 28, 1803, K. turned to the Ministry of Public Education to the trustee of the Moscow educational district M.N. Muravyov with a request for his official appointment as a historiographer, which was soon granted by a special decree of November 31. In the same year, A.S. Shishkov’s book “Discourse on the old and new syllable” was published Russian language”, in which a prominent Russian conservative accused Karamzin and his followers of spreading gallomania (See Shishkov). However, K. himself has no participation in literary polemics didn't accept. This can be explained by the fact that K. was not only busy with historiographical developments, “he took monastic vows as a historian” (P.A. Vyazemsky), his position, including linguistic, under the influence of his studies in Russian history, began to move closer to the position of Shishkov.

In 1804, K. married for the second time - to Ekaterina Andreevna Kolyvanova. His life was filled with hard work; in the winter he lived in Moscow, in the summer in Ostafyevo.

From 1803 to 1811, K. created five volumes of “History of the Russian State,” simultaneously discovering and using for the first time the most valuable historical sources.

At the end of 1809, K. was first introduced to Alexander I. By 1810, K., under the influence of his studies in Russian history, became a consistent conservative patriot. At the beginning of this year, through his relative F.V. Rostopchin, he met in Moscow the leader of the then “conservative party” at court - Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna and began to constantly visit her residence in Tver, where her husband, Prince of Oldenburg, was a general -governor. Salon Grand Duchess then represented the center of conservative opposition to the liberal-Western course, personified by the figure of M.M. Speransky. In this salon, K. read excerpts from “History...” in the presence of Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, and then he met the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, who since then has become one of his patrons. In 1810, Alexander I granted K. the Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree. On the initiative of Ekaterina Pavlovna, K. wrote and submitted in March 1811 to Alexander I, during the readings in Tver of the next fragment from his “History...”, the treatise “On Ancient and New Russia in its Political and Civil Relations” - the most profound and a substantive document of emerging Russian conservative thought. Along with a review of Russian history and criticism of the state policy of Alexander I, the “Note” contained a complete, original and very complex in its theoretical content, the concept of Autocracy as a special, original Russian type of power, closely connected with Orthodoxy and the Orthodox Church.

From K.’s point of view, autocracy is a “smart political system”(Note on ancient and new Russia. M., 1991. P.22), which went through a long evolution and played a unique role in the history of Russia. This system was “the great creation of the princes of Moscow” (Ibid. P.22), starting with Ivan Kalita, and, in its main elements, it had the quality of objectivity, that is, it was weakly dependent on the personal properties, mind and will of individual rulers, since was not a product of personal power, but a rather complex construction based on certain traditions and state and public institutions. This system arose as a result of the synthesis of the autochthonous political tradition of “unique power”, dating back to Kievan Rus and some traditions of the Tatar-Mongol khan power. Conscious imitation of the political ideals of the Byzantine Empire also played a big role (Ibid. p.23).

Arose in the conditions of the most difficult struggle with Tatar-Mongol yoke autocracy was unconditionally accepted by the Russian people, since it not only eliminated foreign power, but also internal civil strife. “Political slavery” (P.22.) did not seem in these conditions to be an excessive price to pay for national security and unity.

The entire system of state and public institutions was, according to K., “an outpouring of royal power” (Ibid. P.24), the monarchical core permeated the entire political system from top to bottom. At the same time, autocratic power was preferable to the power of the aristocracy. The aristocracy, acquiring self-sufficient importance, could become dangerous for statehood, for example, during the appanage period or during the Time of Troubles of the 17th century (Ibid. P.28). The autocracy “built” the aristocracy into the system of state hierarchy and strictly subordinated it to the interests of monarchical statehood.

According to Karamzin, an exceptional role in this system was played by Orthodox Church. She was the “conscience” (Ibid. p. 36.) of the autocratic system, setting the moral coordinates for the monarch and the people in stable times, and, in particular, when their “accidental deviations from virtue” occurred (Ibid.). K. emphasized that spiritual power acted in close alliance with civil power and gave it religious justification. In his “History...” K. emphasized: “history confirms the truth<...>that faith is a special state power” (History of the Russian State: In 4 books. M., 1989. T.6. P.224).

The autocratic system of political power, according to K., was also based on traditions, customs and habits generally recognized by the people, what he designated as “ancient skills” and, more broadly, “the people’s spirit”, “attachment to our special” (Note on the ancient and new Russia. M., 1991. P.32).

Karamzin categorically refused to identify “true autocracy” with despotism, tyranny and arbitrariness. He believed that such deviations from the norms of autocracy were due to chance (Ivan the Terrible, Paul I) and were quickly eliminated by the inertia of the tradition of “wise” and “virtuous” monarchical rule. This tradition was so powerful and effective that even in cases of a sharp weakening or even complete absence of the supreme state and church power (for example, during the Time of Troubles), it led within a short historical period to the restoration of autocracy (Ibid. p.49).

Due to all of the above, autocracy was the “palladium of Russia” (Ibid. P.105), the main reason for its power and prosperity. From K.’s point of view, the basic principles of monarchical rule should have been preserved in the future, only supplemented by proper policies in the field of education and legislation, which would not lead to the undermining of the autocracy, but to its maximum strengthening. With such an understanding of autocracy, any attempt to limit it would be a crime against Russian history and the Russian people.

K. was one of the first in Russian thought to raise the question of negative consequences the reign of Peter I, since the desire of this emperor to transform Russia into the likeness of Europe undermined the “people's spirit,” that is, the very foundations of autocracy, the “moral power of the state.” The desire of Peter I “towards new customs for us crossed the boundaries of prudence” (Ibid. P.32). K. actually accused Peter of the forcible eradication of ancient customs, the fatal socio-cultural split of the people into a higher, “Germanized” layer and a lower, “common people”, the destruction of the Patriarchate, which led to a weakening of faith, the transfer of the capital to the outskirts of the state, at the cost of enormous efforts and sacrifices ( Ibid., pp. 32-37). As a result, K. argued, Russians “became citizens of the world, but in some cases ceased to be citizens of Russia” (Ibid. p. 35).

The main elements of the concept of autocracy in one form or another were developed by subsequent generations of Russian conservatives: S.S. Uvarov, L.A. Tikhomirov, I.A. Ilyin, I.A. Solonevich and others

In the “Note” K. formulated the idea of “Russian law”, which has not yet been implemented in practice: “the laws of the people must be extracted from their own concepts, morals, customs, and local circumstances” (Ibid. P.91). “Russian law also has its origins, like Roman law; define them and you will give us a system of laws” (P.94). Paradoxically, to some extent (but far from complete) K. took advantage of his recommendations already during the reign of Nicholas I ideological opponent M.M. Speransky in the process of codification of Russian legislation.

Among other things, the “Note” contained classical principles Russian conservatism: “we demand more guardian wisdom than creative wisdom” (Ibid. P.63), “every news in state order there is an evil that must be resorted to only when necessary” (Ibid. P. 56), “for the firmness of the state’s existence, it is safer to enslave people than to give them freedom at the wrong time” (Ibid. P. 74).

The “note” was received coldly by the emperor, but subsequently, he clearly took into account its main provisions. After the fall of Speransky, K.’s candidacy for the post of State Secretary of the State Council was considered along with A.S. Shishkov. Preference was given to the latter, as a military man, which was important in the conditions of the impending war with Napoleon.

K.’s work on “History of the Russian State” was temporarily interrupted Patriotic War 1812 K. himself was ready to fight in the Moscow militia and in the last moments before Napoleon entered the capital he left the city. K. spent 1813 in evacuation, first in Yaroslavl, and then in Nizhny Novgorod. K. returned to Moscow in June 1813 and continued work on “History...”, despite the fact that his library burned down in the Moscow fire of 1812. At the beginning of 1816, K. came to St. Petersburg to ask for funds to publish the first eight volumes. With the support of Empresses Elizaveta Alekseevna and Maria Fedorovna, after a reception with A.A. Arakcheev, Alexander I honored K. with the highest audience, as a result of which the necessary funds were allocated and the written volumes of “History...”, without censorship, were published in 1818 . (The 9th volume was published in 1821, the 10th and 11th in 1824, the last, 12th volume was published posthumously). “The History of the Russian State” was a huge success. From 1816 until the moment of his death, K. lived in St. Petersburg, communicating with V.A. Zhukovsky, S.S. Uvarov, A.S. Pushkin, D.N. Bludov, P.A. Vyazemsky and others. At the suggestion of Alexander I, K. began to spend every summer in Tsarskoe Selo, which increasingly strengthened his closeness to the royal family. The Emperor repeatedly talked with K. during walks in the Tsarskoye Selo park, constantly read “History...” in the manuscript, and listened to K.’s opinions on current political events. In 1816, K. was granted state councilor and awarded the Order of St. Anna 1st class, in 1824 he became a full state councilor. In 1818 K. was accepted as a member of the Imperial Russian Academy. In 1818, eight volumes of “History...” were published in a circulation of three thousand copies, which quickly sold out in 25 days. The significance of this grandiose work was accurately expressed by P.A. Vyazemsky: “Karamzin’s creation is our only book, truly state, folk and monarchical” (Vyazemsky P.A. Complete Works. St. Petersburg, 1879. T.2. P.215 ).

The death of Alexander I shocked K., and the rebellion on December 14 finally broke K.’s physical strength (on that day he caught a cold on Senate Square, the illness turned into consumption and death).

The role of K. as a figure of culture and Russian historiography as a whole is recognized in Russian thought. However, the significance of K. as a conservative thinker who had a decisive influence on Russian conservative-patriotic thought has yet to be revealed by historians and philosophers.

Works by N.M. Karamzin:

Bulletin of Europe. M., 1802. No. 1-24; 1803. No. 1-22;

Note on ancient and new Russia M., 1991.

Notes of an old Moscow resident. M., 1986.

History of the Russian State, 2nd ed., vol. 1-12, St. Petersburg, 1818-29; 5th ed., books 1-3 (T.1-12). St. Petersburg, 1842-43 (reprint - M., 1988-89);

Essays. T.1-11. M., 1803 - 1815.

Unpublished writings and correspondence. St. Petersburg, 1862. Part 1;

Letters to I.I. Dmitriev. St. Petersburg, 1866;

Letters to P.A. Vyazemsky. 1810-1826. St. Petersburg, 1897.

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Pointers:

Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin: Index of works, literature about life and creativity. 1883-1993. M., 1999. -

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