Denis Davydov: biography, poems and photos

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Davydov Denis Vasilyevich is a truly unique person. During the Patriotic War of 1812, he was the commander of the partisan movement, his ideological inspirer. Denis Davydov is known for writing beautiful poems, mainly on military and partisan topics. In his literary works, he liked to sing of the exploits of the Russian hussars.

Facts of life

The biography of Denis Davydov is conditionally divided into several stages. Each of them can be attributed to a separate branch of the life of this great man. In the article we will get acquainted with the childhood years of Denis Davydov, learn about his military career, literary work and personal life.

Childhood

The first years of life were spent on the territory of Ukraine. Denis's father was a military man, perhaps this fact later determined the poet's choice of a creative genre. Military affairs attracted Denis from childhood, and Alexander Suvorov, who was the commander of his father, was the ideal commander for the boy. Denis met Suvorov at the age of 9, andthen the great commander noticed in the boy the future noble military man. During the reign of Peter the Great, the Davydov family was forced to sell the estate and purchase a small house in the village of Borodino. In the same period, Denis Davydov joined the ranks of the cavalry guards (thanks to his father).

Military career and literary work

Serving in the guards regiment of cavalry guards of St. Petersburg was given to Davydov with great difficulty, because the growth of the guy did not meet the requirements for admission to the service. Only modesty and natural charm helped Denis join the ranks of the guards. A year after entering the service, he received the rank of cornet, and in 1803 he was elevated to the rank of lieutenant. In the same year, Denis Davydov first discovered his talent as a writer.

The fables of Denis Davydov were satirical, with elements of mockery of political and statesmen. This led to the fact that the military was transferred to the regiment of hussars. The young poet liked the service, and now his work was more and more reduced to composing ballads and poems about hussar life. At the same time, Davydov dreamed of participating in battles with the French troops, but for some reason their regiment was not sent into battle. Denis wanted to get to the front by any means.

Bagration and Davydov as two symbols of the same era

In 1806, a hussar secretly infiltrates the chief commander of the Russian army in order to get sent to the front. Such an act, however, did not provide Davydov with a successful solution to the problem. The thing isthat the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops, Kamensky, was removed from office during this period, because he became weak in mind. Nevertheless, Davydov managed to get to the front, largely thanks to the patronage of one of the tsar's favorites, Naryshkina. Maria accidentally found out about the brave and brave hussar. The girl decided to help him.

In 1807, Denis Davydov became the adjutant of General Bagration. More recently, in his fables and rhymes, he scoffed at the main flaw in Bagration's appearance - a disproportionately large nose. That is why the meeting with the general caused some fear in Davydov. But the acquaintance went well, largely due to Denis's sense of humor and resourcefulness. Naturally, the general remembered the rhyme about his nose, but the poet managed to turn the conversation in his favor. The poet did not deny the existence of a poetic caricature, however, he noted that such creativity was due to envy. In one of the battles under the leadership of General P. Bagration, Davydov received a distinctive pleasant award - the Order of St. Vladimir.

Bagration himself for the brilliantly conducted battle near Preussisch-Eylau presented his student with a cloak and a horse from the collection of trophies. After other battles, carried out no less successfully, Denis managed to receive several more award orders and a saber made of pure gold. Davydov took part in the battles as part of the Finnish army, was the commander of the Moldovan troops, and participated in hostilities against the Turkish troops. In 1812, a few days before the battle with Napoleon's troops, Davydov offers hiscommander, General Bagration, the idea of creating a partisan detachment that would help to quickly defeat the French army. Davydov became enemy No. 1 for Napoleon, ballads and songs were composed about the brave hussar. Denis emerged victorious from the battle on the approaches to Paris. He was awarded the rank of Major General.

Post-war

A brief biography of Denis Davydov in the post-war period is not too rosy in terms of career. For some reason, his rank of major general was recognized as erroneously issued, Davydov was transferred to serve in the Oryol province, where he was to command a brigade of horse rangers. However, Denis did not like the new position, since the rangers were not allowed to wear mustaches - the main feature of all hussars. Indignant, Davydov wrote a letter to the tsar himself, where he outlined the essence of his problem.

The result of the correspondence was the return of Davydov to the hussar activities and his restoration to the rank of major general. Throughout 1814, Denis served as commander of a hussar regiment, successfully fighting near La Rotierre. In 1815, he was admitted to the Arzamas circle, and famous Russian poets Vyazemsky and Pushkin became his allies. In the same period, Davydov was appointed chief of staff in the infantry corps.

From 1827 to 1831, Denis Davydov fought several successful battles against Persian troops and rebel Poles. By the way, the fight with the Poles was the last in his career for Davydov, since he did not want to fight anymore and take part in bloody battles.

Literary creativity

PoemsDenis Davydov were fanned with a military spirit. He was engaged in writing not only poems, he wrote several articles in prose. Denis Davydov composed songs, thanks to which he received the glory of a warrior-singer. On his creative path, he had several assistants and true friends, among them - Alexander Pushkin. In his creations, Davydov liked to sing of the hussar spirit and way of life. In the work of the writer-warrior, all the charms of the hussar life were reflected: love, wine rivers and reckless hussar evenings. Among the most famous poems of the poet dedicated to the hussar life, the following can be identified: “The Song of the Old Hussar”, “The Hussar Feast”, “Song”, “Message to Burtsov”.

In his declining years, Davydov increasingly favored writing beautiful, romantic and loving poems. The works of this period include "W altz", "Sea". Davydov also worked on articles-translations according to Delisle, Arno. Denis Davydov's prose included memoir articles ("Meeting with the great Suvorov", "Tilsit in 1807", "Memories of the battle near Preusit-Eylau") and articles with elements of historical controversy. For the first time, professional clichés were noticed in his work. Later, professionalism found a response in Pushkin's poems.

Private life

In the life of Denis Davydov there were several beloved women. First love - Aglaya de Gramont. Unfortunately, this beauty preferred his cousin to the brave hussar. Tanya Ivanova, a successful ballerina, also captivated the hussar's heart. But even here Davydov was disappointed - the girlchose as her companion not a brave warrior, but a choreographer. The next chosen one is Lizaveta Zlotnitskaya. The parents of the marriageable young lady demanded that Davydov apply for a state estate. Denis fulfilled this request, but then another love disappointment came - Elizabeth preferred Prince Golitsyn to him.

The meeting with the next chosen one, Sonya Chirikova, happened thanks to Denis's friends. Already in 1819, the wedding of this couple took place, and after the appearance of the child, Denis completely stopped thinking about military battles. Marriage with Chirikova gave the hussar nine children. In 1831, the union was under threat, more precisely, it broke up for three whole years. The cause of the crisis was a new passion for Denis Davydov - Evgeny Zolotarev, the niece of one of Davydov's colleagues. The big age difference (the girl was 27 years younger than Davydov) did not prevent this couple from being together for a long 3 years. Then Zhenya married another, and Denis decided to reunite with his family.

Recent years

During the last years Denis Davydov lived in the small village of Upper Maza. Here, in a quiet corner of nature, the poet completely indulged in creative impulses. He loved to hunt, was engaged in winemaking, even built his own small distillery. Denis conducted extensive work on the compilation of military notes, and at the same time as creative activity - active correspondence with other talented writers. Among them were Alexander Pushkin, Vasily Zhukovsky.

Denis Davydov died on April 22, 1939 in his estate, located in the village of Upper Maza.

Conclusion

Denis Davydov (the photo has not been preserved, since the first daguerreotypes only appeared in the year of his death) was popular with critics and writers. Poems were written about him, articles were written. Thanks to one poem by Hussar Davydov (“Decisive Evening”), we know who Lieutenant Rzhevsky is.

The prototype of Denis Davydov was used by L. Tolstoy when writing the novel "War and Peace". In 1980, many viewers were able to watch a film about the poet. It was called "Squadron of flying hussars". Soon after the release, the tape gained immense popularity. Until now, the “Squadron of Flying Hussars” is considered an unsurpassed classic, fully reflecting the life of the brave and defeated hussars.