In the history of Russian literature, the first writer who became famous throughout the world during his lifetime was G. Derzhavin. His biography and work became known in Europe thanks to the spiritual ode “God”. It was written by the author at the time of the highest enlightenment.
The childhood and youth of the poet
Derzhavin’s short biography, of course, can reflect only 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 wealthy, family. The father married the childless widow Fekla Andreevna Gorin. Gavrila was their first child. At 7 years old, the boy was sent to study in a private boarding house for a German Roze. 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 for her husband's debts. The neighbors, taking advantage of her helplessness, also took away the lands that belonged to the Derzhavins. Nevertheless, she managed to identify her sons in the gymnasium, which had just opened in Kazan. Gavrila showed such great abilities that the director of the gymnasium mentioned him at a meeting with Shuvalov, favorite of Empress
Elizabeth Petrovna. The Count immediately ordered that, along with other nobles, the conductor of the Engineering Corps be recorded and
Derzhavin G.R. His biography testifies to another. For some reason, the youth was assigned to the
Preobrazhensky Regiment as an ordinary private, and in 1762 he had already been called up for service in St. Petersburg. Gavrila Romanovich remained in the soldiers for a long 10 years. He had a lot to go through 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 passed, at night he read accessible books and composed poems.
Forced resignation. The poet's marriage
Only in 1772 did Derzhavin G.R achieve, whose biography had not been easy before that, so that he would finally be promoted to non-commissioned officer and transferred to the barracks for the nobles. There, he became addicted to playing cards. The criminal case brought against him lasted 12 years, without ending in 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 crush the rebellion of E. Pugachev. In his spare time, Derzhavin continued to write. Unexpectedly, the authorities dismissed Gavril Romanovich for his straightforward nature. He soon found an influential patron. They became Prince Vyazemsky. He helped Derzhavin get a post in the Senate. However, the poet realized that where there is no truth, he will not 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.
Patronage of Catherine II
The appeared "Ode to Felitsa" enthralled the Empress. In gratitude, she appointed the poet first Olonetsky, and then Tambov governor. Here, he immediately launched a lively activity. In Tambov, he opened a theater, an orphanage, a school, and a people's house. Gavrila Romanovich struggled with bureaucracy and injustice as best he could. The authorities of St. Petersburg did not like it, they complained about it. Catherine decided that it would be safer to keep the poet with him and not charge him any business. By her order, Derzhavin arrived in the capital and lived idle for more than 2 years. Only in 1791 Catherine gave him a position: Her Derzhavin G.R. now became her personal secretary for complaints. His biography has since changed significantly. In 1793, Derzhavin became a senator, and then the president of the college of commerce. The poet became quite wealthy and was able to afford to buy a house on the Fontanka. In the same year, his first wife died. Soon Gavrila Romanovich married again, now on the deceased's girlfriend - Daria Dyakova.
New appointments
In 1796, after the death of the empress, Paul I identified the poet as ruler of the Council. Due to impudent behavior, G. Derzhavin did not stay there for a long time; however, his biography, however, was not particularly affected: as soon as he wrote a laudable ode to the emperor, he again received several high appointments in a row. When Alexander I became emperor, he gave Derzhavin the post of Minister of Justice. True, Gavrila Romanovich did not stay at 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 on the estate, then in St. Petersburg. Derzhavin did not have his heirs. He was engaged in raising the children of a deceased friend. He loved 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 in his own estate. He was buried in the church of the convent, located near Novgorod.