118 исторических миниатюр и 108 авторских текстов на 13 иностранных языках. Сборник
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Vladimir Zalesski,
10/12/2017 09:17
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224, 2017 - 301, 2017
12.10.2017 09:17.
Владимир
Zalesski Vladimir Vladimirovich 'The Tale of Confucius' (Translation from Russian language into English language).
XXXI. Dialogue about Catherine the Great
(Phased translation from Russian into English).
Vladimir Vladimirovich Zalesski
In one of the rooms of the publishing house V. A. Kamensky saw V.V. Ogarkov. Ogarkov stood near the window and looked on the street.
– Do you think about the next project?
– asked Kamensky.
– Ivanov is working on a book about Peter the Great, - Ogarkov replied.
– I was asked to write a biographical essay about Catherine the Great. I'm thinking over the proposal ...
– About Catherine the Great? Interesting time, - stated Kamensky.
– Pay attention, Mr. Ogarkov, to the sequence of first faces after Peter the Great.
The Russian Imperial Guard introduced Catherine I into the power in 1725. (Marta Helena Skowronska; was christened (baptized) into Orthodoxy (1707 or 1708), and changed her name to Catherine Alekseyevna; second wife of Peter the Great; Empress of Russia from 1725 until her death in 1727).
After Catherine I in 1727 came Peter II. Peter II remains in power not long, he dies at the age of 14 years.
The Supreme Privy Council invites Anna Ioannovna to the throne in 1730. She rule during a very long period of about 10 years.
In the years 1740-1741 appear and disappear Regents - Biron and Anna Leopoldovna - at the emperor-baby Ivan VI Antonovich.
The Russian Imperial Guard introduced in 1741 in power Elizabeth Petrovna, the daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine I. Elizabeth Petrovna was in power during a very impressive period - more than 10 years.
The legitimate heir of Elizabeth I, Peter III, reigns about half a year. Then again the Guard speaks its own word, and in 1762 Catherine II the Great comes to power. She rules until 1796. Her reign lasted 34 years.
So, for the period from 1725 to 1796, which is about 70 years, for about 60 years the rulers were mostly women. (Numbers are rounded for clarity).
– That historical epoch is interesting, - Ogarkov has agreed.
– However, I confess to you, Mr. Kamensky, there is no special desire to write a biographical essay about Catherine the Great. One way or another, it is necessary to characterize her personal life. If the details of her personal life fill the book, then I will become the author of not a historical but an artistic work. Biographical material has its own energy. Material - I have a premonition - will prevail over the author. Again, to write according to the standard scheme? Poor German princess? Perhaps, the illegitimate daughter of the king of Prussia? Became on a whim of fate the wife of the Russian heir to the throne? Lovers? With the help of the Russian Imperial Guard seized power? Again lovers? Victory over the Ottoman armies? Matushka- Empress? ..
Somehow there is no desire, Mr. Kamensky, to repeat all these well-known statements. Is it possible to write something new? Not sure. I'm thinking about plans ...
– Pay attention to Andrey Ivanovich Osterman. He - Heinrich Johann Friedrich, - advised Kamensky.
– The son of a Lutheran pastor. After 1703 into the Russian service. He served under the leadership of Peter the Great. Actively participated in the conclusion of the Peace of Nystadt (1721). Since 1723, Vice-President of the College of Foreign Affairs, in 1725-1741, Vice-Chancellor. Since 1731, he was the actual head of Russia's foreign and domestic policy. After the palace coup in 1741, who elevated Elizaveta Petrovna to the throne, Osterman was put on trial, sentenced to death, replaced by a life-long exile in Berezov (Beryozovo on the Ob River), where he died.
A. I. Osterman - a native of Westphalia.
If to look at dates, the activities of Andrey Ivanovich Osterman covered the period of activity of Peter the Great (from 1703 year) and the periods of the reign of Catherine I, Peter II, Anna Ioannovna , and regents at the emperor-baby Ivan VI Antonovich.
The rulers are different, but on one of the most important positions - the same person.
Reading about epoch Anna Ioannovna, we meet many critical judgements concerning prevalence, predominance of people from "German environment".
However, the period of Elizabeth Petrovna's reign passes, and on the throne appears Catherine II, which born in the city of Stettin. She originating from the poor German princely family. In history came in as Catherine the Great. At first glance, it is a paradox.
It's a strange "perseverance of history." The women - is almost totaly. Representatives of "the German environment" - is rather appreciable...
– Ivanov plans to touch on the theme of "coalition" in his essay on Peter the Great. Will the readers become interested in this?
– Ogarkov expressed doubts.
– First, how accurate is this concept?
– Kamensky have reacted.
– Secondly, the volume of "representation" of this concept in the biographical essay can be different.
Thirdly, as spoke to me , at Ivanov among the directions of mental reflections - there is also Siberia in addition, - have answered Kamensky.
– Ivanov may have some grounds for singling out the "European" direction, "Ottoman" direction, "Siberian" direction.
More or less distinctly these directions "appear" during Ivan IV Vasilyevich's era.
If to speak about " the European direction ", what we see?
Actions on the "European direction" into the public consciousness are connected with complex historical associations, thought's links.
Confrontations in this direction were long, the results of confrontations - changeable.
A particularly strong influence on the collective historical memory could have the events of the Livonian war that took place in the era of Ivan IV Vasilyevich.