Derzhavin G. R. Biography of the poet: milestones

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

In the history of Russian literature, the first writer who became famous throughout the world during his lifetime was Derzhavin G. R. His biography and work became known in Europe thanks to the spiritual ode “God”. It was written by the author at a moment of supreme enlightenment.

Childhood and youth of the poet

Derzhavin's short biography, of course, can only reflect the key moments of his life. Gavrila was born in July 1743 in the village of Karmachi, located in the Kazan province.

His parents came from a noble, but not very we althy, family. The father married the childless widow Fekla Andreevna Gorina. Gavrila was their first child. At the age of 7, the boy was sent to study at the private boarding school of the German Rose. There he spent 4 years. In 1754 the head of the family died. The widow was left with three children in her arms and had nothing to pay even her husband's debts. Neighbors, taking advantage of her helplessness, also took away those lands that belonged to Derzhavins. And yet she managed to identify her sons in the gymnasium, which had just opened in Kazan. Gavrila showed sogreat abilities that the director of the gymnasium mentioned him at a meeting with Shuvalov, a favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. The count immediately ordered that, along with other nobles, Derzhavin G. R. be recorded as the conductor of the Engineering Corps. His biography testifies otherwise. For some reason, the youth was assigned to the Preobrazhensky Regiment as an ordinary private, and in 1762 he was already called to serve in St. Petersburg. Gavrila Romanovich remained in the soldiers for a long 10 years. He has been through a lot over the years.

At that time, a coup d'etat took place, power changed: instead of the murdered Peter III, Catherine II began to rule. But no matter how Derzhavin's day went, at night he read accessible books and composed poetry.

Forced resignation. The Poet's Marriage

Only in 1772 did Derzhavin G. R., whose biography had already been difficult before, finally be promoted to a non-commissioned officer and transferred to the barracks for the nobles. There he became addicted to playing cards. The criminal case initiated against him dragged on for 12 years without ending with anything. The poet first published his translations, poems and odes in 1773. For three years he was in the troops of General Bibikov, who tried to suppress the uprising of E. Pugachev. In his free time, Derzhavin continued to write. Unexpectedly, the authorities dismissed Gavrila Romanovich for his straightforward character. He soon found an influential patron. They became Prince Vyazemsky. He helped Derzhavin get a position in the Senate. However, the poet realized that where there is no truth,he won't be able to work. In 1778, Gavrila Romanovich decided to marry. His chosen one was 18-year-old Ekaterina Yakovlevna Bastidon. In the same period, the poet entered the literary circle. He turned to writing spiritual poetry.

Protection of Catherine II

The appearing "Ode to Felitsa" delighted the Empress. In gratitude, she appointed the poet, first Olonetsky, and then Tambov governor. Here he immediately spread a vigorous activity. In Tambov, he opened a theater, an orphanage, a school, and a people's home. Gavrila Romanovich struggled with bureaucracy and injustice as best he could. The authorities of St. Petersburg did not like this, they complained about it. Catherine decided that it would be safer to keep the poet with her and not entrust him with any business. By her order, Derzhavin arrived in the capital and lived there idly for more than 2 years. Only in 1791 did Catherine give him a position: G. R. Derzhavin now became her personal secretary on complaints. Since then, his biography has noticeably changed. In 1793, Derzhavin became a senator, and then president of the College of Commerce. The poet became rich enough to be able to afford to buy a house on the Fontanka. In the same year, his first wife died. Soon Gavrila Romanovich married again, now to the friend of the deceased - Daria Dyakova.

New Appointments

In 1796, after the death of the Empress, Paul I appointed the poet as the ruler of the Council. Due to impudent behavior, Derzhavin G. R. did not stay there for a long time. True, his biography did not suffer much: as soon as he wrote a laudatory ode to thehe again received several high appointments in succession. When Alexander I became emperor, he gave Derzhavin the post of Minister of Justice. True, Gavrila Romanovich did not stay in this post for a long time, because, according to the ruler, “he served too zealously.”

The last years of Derzhavin's life

In 1809, the poet was finally removed from all affairs. He lived either on the estate or in St. Petersburg. Derzhavin had no heirs of his own. He was involved in raising the children of a deceased friend. He liked to welcome Gavril Romanovich and talented young people. It is known that he approved the first experiments of both Pushkin and many other poets who later became famous. Gavrila Romanovich survived the invasion of Napoleon and the expulsion of his army from the country. The poet Derzhavin, whose biography was so rich, died in the summer of 1816 on his own estate. They buried him in the church of the convent, located near Novgorod.