Rarities of the Presidential Library disclose the details of a fatal Pushkin- d'Anthes duel

February 10, 2017, marks 180 years since the death of the great Russian poet, novelist, playwright, journalist, a founder of modern Russian literature and a creator of the modern Russian literary language Alexander Pushkin. An extensive electronic collection entitled A. S. Pushkin (1799-1837), which presents the creative heritage of the writer, illustrative and biographical sources, including dedicated to the fatal fight and the last moments of life, is in open access on the Presidential Library website.

There are several versions of what was the origin of the duel between Pushkin and Dantes. One of them is the poet's ambition. In the digitized work entitled Life of Pushkin from 1927 its author V. V. Veresaev quotes the evidences of his contemporaries. For instance, Prince Pyotr Vyazemsky writes: “We can prove our individual and overall impression that the duel was not due to any circumstances which could ever be identified and justified. One dirty anonymous letter could not give a reason; third rate equivoques are even less. Pushkin was not consumed with jealousy, but with his waunded to the core pride.” Rather than Georges d'Anthes, Prince blames for the conflict his patron - Baron Jacob van Heeckeren: “The only explanation of Pushkin’s irritation shouldn’t be seen in flirting of young Heeckeren, but in his wife's persuasion by the old one, asking to leave her husband. The old man’s conduct was that deadly insult to Pushkin’s pride, which must have been washed away with blood.” Given in the same edition memories of A. I. Vasilchikova only confirme this version: “Once they were returning home from the theater. Old man Heeckeren, walking behind, whispered to her, when would she finally lean toward his son’s pleas for her? Natalia Nikolayevna has all turned pale and trembled. Pushkin was confused; on his question she repeated him these all blown her away words. Next day Pushkin sent to Heeckeren his highly insulting daring letter.”

Vasilchikova continues: “d'Anthes, who after Pushkin's letters had to defend himself and his step-father, went to Count Stroganov; Stroganov was an old man, who enjoyed a special respect among aristocrats, has an excellent knowledge of all the rules of aristocratic honor and dignity. This exactly elder man emphatically declared Dantes that he should certainly fight in response to that insulting letter, and the case was decided.”

There is an electronic copy of one of the issues of the released in February 1901 “Russkaya Starina” (Russian antiquity) magazine on the Presidential Library website, where we can meet with Georges d'Anthes in the story of Prince A. A. Trubetskoy: “He was a great friend and an exemplary officer. He was very handsome, and continued success beteein the females spoiled him – his attitude toward the ladies in general, as a foreigner’s, was bolder, freer than ours, Russians’, and like a spoiled by them one – more demanding: more impudent, insolent, if you would like, even than it was common in our society.” “Pushkin, well understanding that d'Anthes doesn’t run after his wife, was not jealous, but, as he himself put it, d'Anthes was filled with disgust with all his manners, his less controlled than it should be language, as Pushkin assumed,” - Prince describes.

Going to a place assigned for the duel, the seconds do not lose hope to talk opponents out from encounter. As in already mentioned book Life of Pushkin V. V. Veresaev brings such evidence: “On the Palace Embankment, they met in the equipage Mrs. Pushkin. Danzas recognized her, a hope flashed in him, this meeting could set everything right. But Pushkin's wife was short-sighted, and Pushkin was looking the other way” and “on the day of the duel friends were carrying both opponents through the site of public celebrations, they several times stopped, dropping a weapon on purpose, hoping on a beneficent public interference, but all of their efforts and hints left unsuccessful.” In the same book explanes the dueling arrangements and detailed scheme of the site, where the fatal shot thundered.

“Danzas announced the beginning on the encounter. He waved with his hat, and opponents began converging. They were approaching each other chest to chests. Pushkin at once came very close to his barrier. D'Anthes did four steps. Competitors were getting ready to shoot. A few moments later a shot rang out. D’Anthes fired off. <…> Pushkin fell over Danzas’ coat, which served him as a barrier, and remained motionless with his head in the snow. Falling Pushkin dropped the gun, which has gotten so deep in snow, so that the entire barrel was filled with it. Seconds rushed to him. D'Anthes make some motion in his direction too. After a few seconds of silence and stillness Pushkin rose to half, relying on his left hand, and said: “Wait! I feel strong enough to make my shot.” D’Anthes returned to his position, turned sideways and protected his chest with his right arm. Danzas handed Pushkin a new gun in return for the one, which has been hammered by snow upon the fall. Leaning with his left hand on the ground, Pushkin began aiming and fired from a firm hand. D’Anthes staggered and fell. Pushkin, seeing him falling, forced his gun up and yelled, “Bravo!” – Such picture of the duel P. E. Schegolev defines with the memories of its witnesses in his work entitled The duel and death of Pushkin: the study and sources, published in 1917.

Fatally wounded poet was brought to his apartment on 12 River Moika Embankment. In the September issue of the “Russkaya Starina” (Russian antiquity) in 1875 for the first time published a letter from a witness of last days of Alexander Pushkin. At that time there was not known, who wrote it, and to whom it was addressed. “The first his word to his wife, when they brought him wounded into the room and placed on the sofa, was the following: “How happy I am! I'm still alive, and you're next to me! Do not worry, please: this is not your fault, I know you are innocent.” Meanwhile, he had concealed from her the danger of her wound, which the doctor at his request, openly declared a mortal,” - said in the letter. The eyewitness continues: “We have never herd any complaints, reproach, cold, stale hard word. If he had asked doctors not to care about the continuation of his life, let him die soon, it was only because he was aware of the imminence of his death, and was going through the awful anguish. <…> Saying goodbye to the children, he blessed them with the cross. He several times bid farewell to his wife and every time was with her tender and loving. He said good-bye to us in the midst of the terrible suffering and convulsive movements, but still with a cheerful spirit and a tenderness.”

Alexander Pushkin died on February 10, 1837. “At one minute a strong, tough life, full of genius, bright hopes, was gone, - published in 1905 “Summarized historical anthology” quotes V. A. Zhukovsky, - Russia has lost its dearest national poet.”