Alexander Menshikov. "He quickly learned the essence of any new business; he did not know the impossible"

On November 16 (6 old style), November 1673, the future Russian statesman and military leader, favorite and associate of the reformer Tsar Peter I, the first St. Petersburg Governor-General Alexander Menshikov (1673-1729), was born in Moscow. The electronic reading room of the Presidential Library contains a number of research papers dedicated to him, as well as archival documents.

"The extraordinary vicissitudes in the fate of this figure are so interesting in themselves ... that his historical role ... recedes into the background before us, and the brightly outlined historical figure passes into the category of those heroes who are especially willingly utilized by the directors of sensational novels or edifying stories ..." - Porozovskaya writes. And he undertakes the obligation "to keep only the recognized indisputable facts as much as possible, since the popular nature of the essay does not allow it to be cluttered with references and critical analysis of sources". 

Without wondering, due to the lack of documentary evidence, whether Alexander Menshikov was the son of a groom or came from "a noble Lithuanian surname", the author informs things that are indisputable: the future Most Serene Prince, Generalissimo and Knight of the Order of St. Peter practiced military skills. There they became friends.

Menshikov accompanied the tsar on his trips across Russia, on the Azov campaigns and during the Great Embassy (1697-1698) to the countries of Western Europe. Upon his return to Russia, he was appointed sergeant of the Guard of the Preobrazhensky regiment, and then a lieutenant of a bombardier company. With such a busy military life, Menshikov, who became the orderly of the sovereign, did not have time to learn to read and write. He wrote somehow, drawing out almost unreadable scribbles for a long time. "Of the foreign languages ​​Menshikov knew only German, which he learned by ear, of course, and in all likelihood... in the German Sloboda", - says Porozovskaya.

However, Peter himself did not receive a more or less systemic education in his youth, and the fact that he surprised Europeans with the depth of knowledge and breadth of horizons is explained to a greater extent by the passionate curiosity of his extraordinary nature. “The same susceptibility, albeit to a weaker degree, must be assumed in Menshikov”, - writes Porozovskaya in her essay Alexander Menshikov. The Tsar's favorite, his inseparable companion and comrade both at feasts and in his labors, Menshikov studied and developed in parallel with his royal friend: "with the sharpness of a truly Russian person, he quickly learned the essence of any new business, he did not disdain any work, he did not know the impossible".

During the Northern War Menshikov distinguished himself more than once in battles. Thus, in 1702, he, who showed special courage during the capture of the Noteburg Fortress (later renamed Shlisselburg), was appointed its commandant. A year later Menshikov took part in the assault on Nyenschantz, "a small town guarding the mouth of the Neva", and together with Peter won a victory over the Swedes, having sailed on sloops and boarded two enemy ships. This was the first success of the Russians at sea, which in our time began to be celebrated as the Day of the Baltic Fleet. For this victory Menshikov, following the Tsar, was awarded the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

On May 27 (May 16, old style), 1703, a new city was founded on an island at the mouth of the Neva. “This was the famous 'paradise' of Peter the Great, his 'window to Europe', the new capital of Russia - St. Petersburg. <...> Menshikov was appointed the first governor of the city under construction and the newly conquered region”, - writes Prozorovskaya.

“The first successes of Menshikov in the military and administrative field are ... the beginning of a new phase of his life, - continues Prozorovskaya in the publication Alexander Menshikov. - "The famous Aleksashka", having become the governor Menshikov, finally appears on the pages of history. <…> In relation to St. Petersburg, we can safely say that the new capital of Russia owes its creation as much to the creative thought of the sovereign, as much as to the energy, management and skill of its first governor".

Menshikov continued to develop his activities not only as the governor of the new capital. Thus, on the eve of the main battle in the long-term war with the Swedes, the Russian commanders wondered: where did King Karl intend to deal with the Russians?

Peter I assumed that the king would go to Petersburg; a number of generals decided that he would go to Moscow. “Menshikov alone expressed the assumption that the Swedes would enter Little Russia. No one agreed with him, but the consequences proved that his assumption was correct. However, Peter, on his advice, strengthened Kiev even earlier. <...> In April 1709 Karl laid siege to Poltava". Menshikov conceives and carries out a sabotage to strengthen the blocked Poltava division for 1200 people. And on June 27 (according to the old style) "..."the battle broke out, the Poltava battle"... The battle began at 9 am, and after 2 hours everything was over. Peter and Menshikov gave orders in the fire; Peter's hat and saddle were shot through; under Menshikov, who commanded the left wing, 3 horses were killed. <…> The "invincible "fled".

“The victory at Poltava, says Solovyov, was one of the greatest historical events in the world; the power of the Swedes, created artificially through conquest, was crushed; the veil that hid Russia from the rest of Europe disappeared, and a new vast and powerful state appeared before the amazed peoples of the West, which was able to defeat the leader and the army, which was still considered invincible. With the thunder of the Battle of Poltava, a new great people was born for Europe, for a common European life"", - writes, quoting the famous historian, Porozovskaya in the essay Alexander Menshikov.

In the course of his fast-moving career, Menshikov received not only titles for his services, but also financial and property awards. Many people watched, not without envy and anger, as he became one of the richest people in the state.

In 1725, the country faced the choice of a new ruler - Peter I died, a struggle broke out about the succession between the widow of the sovereign, crowned by Peter in 1724, and the emperor's grandson... The throne went to Catherine I. De facto, she entrusted Menshikov to rule the state - who did know the real situation in all areas of life better than him? However, two years later the empress died and the throne passed to Peter II. Menshikov initially managed to maintain his influence, but it was clear that the days of his undivided domination were numbered. In the autumn of 1727, Menshikov was arrested, stripped of all positions, property, titles, awards, and exiled with his whole family to the Tobolsk province in the city of Berezov. On the way there, his wife died. In the new place, Alexander Menshikov built a church and a solid wooden house, where he died at the age of 56 from smallpox.

This is how the beloved "nestling of Petrov's nest" ended his life, possessing boundless ambition, will and personal courage.