More than one hundred and seventy years have passed since Lermontov died. During this time, many researchers tried to penetrate the secret of the mysterious death of the poet. It is known that he was killed in a duel by a close friend - Nikolai Martynov. But under what circumstances this fatal clash arose - it is not clear even now. How and where Lermontov died will be described in this article.
Longtime buddy
Martynov and Lermontov were close friends until their last date in Pyatigorsk. Friendship between them began in the cadet school. Despite lengthy and frequent partings, friends managed to maintain good relations. It is known that in 1840, during his stay in Moscow, the poet often visited the Martynov family. At this time, Nikolai Solomonovich himself served in the Caucasus. When Mikhail Yuryevich arrived in Pyatigorsk and found out that Martynov was there, he was looking forward to meeting with his old friend. It was May 13, 1841. Exactly two months later (July 13), Lermontov died in a duel.
Secret resentment
Researchers suggest that Martynov could quarrel with Lermontov for various reasons. One of them is the desire to protect the honor of his own sister. The fact is that Mikhail Yuryevich not only often visited the family of a friend, but also courted Natalia Solomonovna Martynova. She, according to some eyewitnesses, was even in love with the poet. Known for his difficult character, Lermontov did not inspire sympathy for his mother Martynov. In her letters, she wrote that her daughters love to be in the company of Mikhail Yuryevich, but the poet’s evil tongue may not spare these young beauties. Who knows, maybe her fears were not in vain? Over time, this version was declared insolvent.
Payed assassin
There are undocumented assumptions of individual biographical novelists that Lermontov died in a duel for a reason. Martynov allegedly knew about a negative attitude towards the poet in the highest aristocratic circles and was ready to destroy an old friend, pursuing selfish goals. Perhaps he thereby tried to restore his ruined military career. However, this version does not stand up to criticism. The duel in those days was punished very hard. Nikolai Solomonovich (after Lermontov died) at best could count on service in the Caucasian army as a simple soldier. The worst option could be a link to Siberia.
Fatal wit
The most common version regarding the causes of the duel is that Mikhail Yuryevich had a difficult disposition and often made fun of others around him. Contemporaries of the poet testify that he often chose a target for merciless witticisms among his friends. For example, according to the memoirs of Satin N. M., this quality did not allow Lermontov to draw closer to Pyatigorsk in 1837 with the exiled Decembrists and Belinsky. In the summer of 1841, Martynov became another victim of the poet's wit. Mikhail Yuryevich gave him the nicknames "man with a dagger" and "highlander" and drew many sarcastic cartoons on this subject. A whole hail of ridicule fell on the head of Nikolai Solomonovich. They say that Lermontov simply depicted a characteristic curved line and a long dagger, and everyone immediately understood who he was drawing. Martynov tried in every way to laugh it off, but in vain - it was impossible to compete with the wit of the poet. This fact is the main answer to the question of how Lermontov died.
Other factors
So, Mikhail Yuryevich possessed an evil language and a very unrestrained disposition. Thanks to these qualities, in his short life he managed to make many enemies. Nobody knows who these people are and what motives they were guided by. The most authoritative researcher of the poet's life - P. A. Viskovatov - claims that the intrigue was wandering in the chambers of General Merlini. Perhaps the famous Office of Benckendorf entered the game. It is known that another target for the ridicule of the poet - a certain Lisanevich - was often persuaded to challenge Mikhail Yuryevich to a duel. But he invariably refused. In the case of angry around the world, forced for unknown reasons, Martynov to resign, the situation was different. It was not difficult to convince him to fight the offender in an honest duel. Lermontov’s death was almost inevitable. In 1841, July 13, Nikolai Solomonovich challenged him to a duel.
Circumstances of the quarrel
Prince Vasilchikov writes in his memoirs that on that day at a reception with Generals Verzilina, Mikhail Yuryevich released another sharpness to Martynov. The wife of Lermontov’s relative and friend, E. A. Shan-Girey, testifies that Nikolai Solomonovich turned pale and reminded the poet in a restrained voice that he always asked him to refrain from such ridicule at the ladies. He subsequently repeated this remark several more times, after which Mikhail Yuryevich himself invited him to demand satisfaction. Martynov immediately appointed a day for the fight. At first, the friends of the duelists did not attach any significance to this fleeting quarrel. Apparently, the conflict could be resolved at any moment. But Mikhail Yuryevich did not take any steps towards reconciliation.
Negotiations with Martynov
Witnesses and eyewitnesses to the death of M. Yu. Lermontov claim that they tried to dissuade Nikolai Solomonovich from a duel. But he was adamant. Perhaps Martynov was influenced by some instigators who convinced him that consenting to reconciliation would make him ridiculous in the eyes of the “light." Many assume that the ubiquitous Third Division played a role here. There are cases when the Office of Benckendorff prevented an upcoming duel. And it was probably notified of the duel. No wonder the next day Pyatigorsk was simply teeming with gendarmes. However, to prevent the death of Lermontov was not in their interests.
Violations in a duel
Friends of Mikhail Yuryevich did not doubt the peaceful outcome of the match. They thought the duel would be formal. Infrequently, friends shoot themselves to death for nothing. A witness of the death of Mikhail Lermontov, Prince Vasilchikov, until the last minute believed that the poet did not take seriously the upcoming battle. There were no clearly defined seconds in the duel, there was no doctor, and even, in violation of all generally accepted canons, spectators were present. Lev Sergeyevich Pushkin, who was friends with Mikhail Yuryevich, in his notes on how Lermontov died, directly stated that the fight was committed “against all rules and honor”. Many wanted to laugh at Martynov, who had a reputation as a timid man. This circumstance did not allow him to withdraw the barrel of the gun from an old friend.
Circumstances of the duel
Prince Vasilchikov, recalling how Lermontov died, wrote the following. The seconds measured thirty steps and set the last barrier at ten steps. Then they led the opponents to extreme distances and ordered them to converge on the command: “March!” After that, the seconds loaded the pistols, distributed them to the duelists and ordered: “Get together!” Mikhail Yuryevich remained in place, shielded from the sun, cocked the trigger and raised the gun with the muzzle up. There was a calm, almost cheerful expression on his face. In turn, Martynov quickly approached the barrier and immediately fired. The poet has fallen. Viskovatov adds to the circumstances of how M. Lermontov died, an important detail. He testifies, according to Vasilchikov, that the sight of Martynov rushing towards him caused a contemptuous grin on the face of Mikhail Yuryevich. The poet extended his hand up, but did not have time to shoot into the air.
Lermontov's behavior
The poet's behavior raises a number of questions. What Mikhail Yuryevich made a target for his ruthless wit Martynov, was commonplace. But why did the sincere resentment of a longtime friend not stop the poet from further bullying? After all, Lermontov, despite the difficult nature, was very kind to friends. There are cases when Mikhail Yuryevich immediately apologized to a person who was offended by him. Why, in the case of Martynov, did he actually ask for a duel? In addition, if Lermontov did not consider the reasons for the duel serious, why didn’t he immediately shoot into the air? These features in the poet's behavior are still unclear.
Lermontov and Pechorin
Mikhail Yuryevich repeatedly emphasized that neither the circumstances of the novel “A Hero of Our Time” nor the character of Pechorin had anything to do with him. Nevertheless, the psychological analysis to which the protagonist of the novel exposes others is undoubtedly close to Lermontov himself. After all, to reveal the inner world of his characters is his profession. So, perhaps, in this capacity lies the main secret of how Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov died? Perhaps he just played with a psychological experiment on his longtime friend? In fact, Martynov’s behavior has something from Grushnitsky. He also tries to hide behind the mask of a romantic hero, and in the eyes of the poet probably looks ridiculous and ridiculous. It also challenges Lermontov to a duel when he cannot defeat his opponent in any other way. Why is Mikhail Yuryevich trying to shoot into the air at the very last moment, when there is no longer any doubt that Martynov wants to kill him? He, like Pechorin, plays with death, but, unlike his character, dies. This answer to the question “why did Lermontov die” is offered by one of the researchers of his work - V. Levin. His article “The Duel of Lermontov” contains many interesting psychological details of the poet’s behavior in the last days of his life.
The death of Lermontov
The poet died a few minutes after being wounded, without regaining consciousness. Vasilchikov rushed to the city for a doctor, but returned with nothing - due to severe bad weather, no one agreed to go with him. According to eyewitnesses, on the day Lermontov died, heavy rain was falling. After that, Stolypin and Glebov hired a cart in Pyatigorsk and sent her to the place of the duel between Ivan Vertyukov (poet's coachman) and Ilya Kozlov (Glebov's servant). While the murdered man lay in the place of the duel, many came up to find out how M. Lermontov died and look at his body. Mikhail Yuryevich was brought to the apartment at about eleven o'clock in the evening. He was buried in 1841, July 17, at the Pyatigorsk cemetery. There, the body of the poet lay for 250 days. His grandmother, E. A. Arsenyeva, managed to obtain permission from the emperor and transport the remains of her grandson to her homeland. In April 1842, the poet Mikhail Yuryevich was buried in Tarkhany, next to his grandfather and mother.
The fate of Martynov
Lermontov's death caused great indignation in the progressive circles of Russian society. His killer was sharply criticized by many enlightened people of that time. At first, he was sentenced by a military court to deprivation of his entire fortune and demotion. However, the final sentence was milder. According to him, Martynov spent three months at the guardhouse, was subjected to church repentance, and then served his penance in Kiev for several years. Subsequently, he wrote memoirs of how Lermontov died at his hand. Nikolai Solomonovich himself died in 1875, at the age of 60, and was buried in a family crypt near the village of Ievlevo. His grave has not been preserved. In 1924, the Alekseevsk school colony MONO was placed in the Martynov family estate. Its inhabitants ravaged the crypt, and the remains of Nikolai Solomonovich were drowned in a local pond. Such was the retribution for the murder of the great poet.
Now you know how and where Lermontov died. This gifted man combined great creative talent and the fearlessness of a real military officer. His life was short, but bright, he managed to write many outstanding works. The name of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov is one of the most famous and revered in Russian literature.