Grand along with comic: The Presidential Library reveals unknown facts from the lives of famous people

The electronic holdings of the Presidential Library, which today feature over 600 000 storage units, are not by accident called the national treasury of the history of Russia, while the documents and books digitized by the librarians have been "written in eternity". Here you may find royal decrees, first editions of Ivan Fyodorov's printing house, official biographies of outstanding statesmen, and little-known facts from their lives. This "history in gigabytes" also features amusing events and funny things which happened to the great ones.

In particular, the Presidential library gives a chance to learn about Generalissimo Suvorov.

... Once during the Italian campaign after the capture of Turin by Austrian General Kaim, Suvorov glorified his strategic talent and drank for his health. One of the generals who descended from a distinguished Austrian family said: "Do you happen to know that from the lowest class and ordinary soldiers Kaim rose to the rank of a general?" "Yes," replied Suvorov, "his family tree is not overshadowing him. But after this feat I would be honored if he could be at least my cousin. "

The general, concerned with the issues of estate genealogy, did not know that after the joint military actions on the approaches to Turin, Kaim and Suvorov had already learnt the price of each other and felt almost companions in aims. A rare translated edition «Suvorov’s exploits in Italy and Switzerland» (1806), an electronic copy of which is available on the Presidential Library’s website, reads: "Suvorov, having discovered the successes of the Army of Naples, left Turin with his troops, and leaving the siege of the citadel to General Kaim, sent him the following note: "My dear General Kaim! I'm going to Piacenza to defeat MacDonald. Hurry up to take the citadel of Turin, so that I do not sing a thanksgiving prayer before you. "

The French general Sérurier, who was taken by Suvorov in captivity during the Italian war and who was encouraged by his extremely kind greeting, said to the field marshal: "I wonder that you had decided to attack me with such a small army." "We Russians are queer fellows," answered Suvorov. "We do everything with no rules, with no tactics."

Alexander Suvorov almost did not exaggerate, because there is a case when Paul I, known for possessing militaristic Prussian spirit, ordered Suvorov to bring "plans and reconnaissance" of the Russian army before one of the military campaigns. What was the Emperor's astonishment, when the general with prizes and having a field marshal's baton entered the royal apartments ... with a pile of white paper and started scattering the sheets in front of the nobles.

"Alexander Vasilyevich, they say you don’t know the tactics," one general, who was not very successful in the science of victory, told him. "Well - replied Suvorov - I do not know the tactics, but the tactics know me. While you know neither tactics, nor practice. "

The book «Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov»  (1873) by E. Zhelyabuzhskiy features such a recognition of the commander: "Tsars praised me, soldiers loved me, my friends were surprised at me, enemies scolded me, the Royal court laughed at me. At court I was Aesop, I told the truth by fables, I was Balakirev for the benefit of the Fatherland and I sang like a rooster, awakening the sleepy ones," said Suvorov, describing himself – this strange man who used to amaze the whole Europe, which tried to unriddle him though in vain."

It was impossible to perceive Suvorov’s tactics either in battle or in the judgments. Though the vector was one - as Alexander Vasilyevich said addressing his "epic heroes" before crossing the Alps: "There will be no stop - this is not my habit."

... Comic and dramatic, little-known and so popular that they are attributed to folk art, but invariably real facts from national history can be found in unique editions stored in the Presidential Library's holdings.