Denis Davydov - photo, biography, personal life, cause of death, poet, “hussar poetry”

Childhood and youth

Denis Vasilyevich Davydov was a representative of an old noble family; he was born into the family of a regimental brigadier in 1784. A significant part of his early childhood was spent in a Spartan military environment, so the boy was accustomed to strict discipline and work.

The father, named Vasily Denisovich, commanded light horse detachments, when the unit was quartered in Kharkov, the man got a wife. The daughter of the local Governor-General Evdokim Alekseevich Shcherbinin, soon after the wedding, became the mother of two children with a heroic fate.

According to information gleaned from the archives, Denis joined military life early, learned to hold a weapon, march and ride a horse. He loved to listen to stories about battles and long-standing victories of the Russian army, which were told by people admitted to the hospitable family home.

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Portrait of Denis Davydov
As a child, Denis suffered from complexes about his own appearance: he was short and had irregular facial features. Judging by the surviving portraits of representatives of the Davydov family, the commander of the “squadron of flying hussars” was strikingly similar to his father.

At the end of the 18th century, the outstanding commander Alexander Suvorov was the star of the Russian capital and the stronghold of a multinational country. Denis, Evdokim, who was his younger brother, and the neighboring children, seeing the national hero live, were sincerely surprised.

The Generalissimo, who participated in the assault on the impregnable Turkish Ismail, kept the Davydov family under his wing with the permission of Catherine II. He foresaw the future biography of the sons of brigadier Vasily Denisovich and discussed their abilities with a colleague and his legal wife.

When the Russian throne fell into the hands of Emperor Paul I, Suvorov lost his authority and the support of strong friends. The father of the future hussar suffered from the circumstances: he was accused of missing 100 thousand rubles from the government.

In order to pay off his debts, Davydov Sr. sold the estate, the foreman was fired from service and disgraced in front of people. The man collected the remaining funds and bought the village of Borodino in the Moscow region; by this time Denis and Evdokim had ceased to be helpless children.

Personal life

In his youth, Davydov fell in love with a representative of a noble dynasty, but Aglaya de Gramont preferred the son of a general, who was more attractive in appearance. Then a ballet school graduate appeared in the personal life of the young military man; the beautiful Tatyana Ivanova attracted Denis like a magnet.

During his years of service in the vicinity of Kyiv, a matured man became interested in Liza Zlotnitskaya and planned to make her his legal wife. The bride's father set a condition - to receive government subsidies, and the descendant of the Moscow foreman did everything to start a family.

Published by Evelina Avanesova Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Portrait of Sofia Davydova, wife of Denis Davydov

While the necessary papers were being drawn up, the flighty chosen one changed her mind, the cancellation of the wedding was a blow for a resident of the village of Borodino. Friends introduced him to the pretty Sofia Nikolaevna Chirkova, the new novel was worthy of description in books or movies.

By the time he met his future wife, Davydov had become a famous poet; he loved noisy companies, played cards and drank. Because of such addictions, he almost lost his beloved and the chance for a happy relationship that he had been looking for for so long.

Acquaintances averted the threat of breaking the agreed engagement, and in the spring of 1819 Sophia walked down the aisle. When children appeared in the family (five boys and four girls), it turned out that Denis Vasilyevich was a caring and loving father.

In mid-1831, during a visit to a colleague, the poet and hussar fell in love with a girl more than 20 years younger. He risked losing his wife because of this hobby, but in the end he let go of Evgenia Zolotareva and said “no” to the relationship.

Denis Vasilievich Davydov

Portrait of Denis Vasilievich Davydov. George Dow. Military Gallery of the Winter Palace, State Hermitage Museum

Denis Vasilyevich Davydov (1784 - 1839) - lieutenant general. One of the commanders of the partisan movement during the Patriotic War of 1812 and a hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. The poet, who reflected his military career, is known as the author of love lyrics and at the same time a military writer, the author of our first “Experience in the Theory of Partisan Actions.”

Denis Davydov is a descendant of Minchak Kasaevich, from among the people of the Golden Horde, who is considered the ancestor of the Davydov family. In 1793, his father commanded the Poltava light horse regiment, which presented itself for review to Suvorov. Satisfied with the regiment, Suvorov accepted the invitation of the regiment commander and stopped by his house. Then the commander predicted a military fate for Davydov and strengthened the boy’s desire to become a military man. Until the age of 17, Davydov spent his childhood in the village, not forgetting his studies. At the beginning of 1801, he arrived in St. Petersburg, wanting to join the cavalry regiment, as the most brilliant cavalry guards regiment, into which tall and prominent lower ranks were selected. But Davydov was of small stature, although of strong build, and this circumstance served as an obstacle to his enlistment in the cavalry guards. Only on September 28, 1801, he finally managed to join this regiment as an estandard cadet, since he received only home education and was not prepared for military service.

Hood. L. Netsvetaev. Denis the Akhtyrets.

Davydov himself was aware of this gap in his education and decided to fill it with his characteristic energy. On September 9, 1802, Davydov was promoted to cornet, on November 2, 1803 to lieutenant, and on September 13, 1804, for his satirical poems, he was transferred from the cavalry regiment to the then newly formed Belarusian Hussars (then the Hussars of the King of the Netherlands) regiment, then stationed in the Kyiv province, in the vicinity of Zvenigorodka.

The transition from the brilliant St. Petersburg life to Zvenigorodka, with its rustic simplicity, moreover, on the eve of the events of 1805, when the entire guard took part in the events that followed from 1805-1807. wars with Napoleon, Davydov was greatly disobeyed. Davydov did not remain in the Belarusian regiment for long, and on July 4, 1806 he was transferred to the Guards Hussar Regiment stationed in Pavlovsk. In the Belorussian regiment, during its peaceful encampment, Davydov found, in his own words, “more friendship than service, more stories than deeds, more gold in tashki than in tashki, more champagne than sorrow...”. At the end of 1806, Russia again begins a war with Napoleon. Field Marshal Count Mikhail Fedotovich Kamensky, despite his old age, was appointed commander-in-chief of the army opposed to Napoleon. Having no recommendations and burning only with the desire to go to war, hussar lieutenant Davydov, at four o’clock in the morning on November 16, appears without a report to the field marshal, declaring that he has an urgent need to see him. Davydov himself tells the details of this more than strange appeal to the field marshal, who, understandably surprised by such an outburst, asked: “Who are you?” He named himself. - “Which Davydov?” Having learned the name of Davydov’s father, the field marshal softened, remembering his affection for his father and even for Davydov’s grandfather, and promised him an appointment in the army, which followed on January 3, 1807: he was appointed adjutant to Prince. Bagration, who commanded the vanguard of the field army.

Averyanov A. With package

His first impressions of the war were difficult: he saw piles of killed and mutilated bodies; by his own admission, he could not sleep the first nights. In January 1807 he received baptism of fire at Wolsdorf; being in the advanced chain, Davydov boldly led it into the attack and, carried away by the offensive, almost fell into captivity. For his courageous actions, he received his first order - St. Vladimir, 4th degree. Then Denis Vasilyevich took part in the battles of Preussisch-Eylau, Gutstadt, Deppen, Heilsberg (Order of St. Anne, 2nd degree) and Friedland (saber with the inscription: “For bravery”).

In 1808-1809, during the war with Sweden, Davydov, being in the vanguard detachment of Kulnev, made a trip with him to Northern Finland to Uleaborg and the famous passage across the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia to the shores of Sweden. In the same 1809, as Bagration’s adjutant, he took part in hostilities against the Turks on the Danube, and after leaving Bagration’s army, in 1810, he went to Kulnev, with whom, in his own words, “he completed the course of outpost service begun in Finland "

Demakov Evgeny Alexandrovich. Poet, hussar and partisan Denis Davydov in the circle of fellow soldiers

Denis Davydov gained great military fame during the Patriotic War. On April 8, 1812, Davydov was renamed lieutenant colonel and assigned to the Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment, located in the vicinity of Lutsk, receiving command of the 1st battalion of the regiment (the regiment had 2 battalions, 4 squadrons each). On May 18, the Akhtyrsky Regiment set out on a campaign to Brest-Litovsk, in the vanguard, which was under the command of the Adjutant General, Prince. Vasilchikova. Meanwhile, Napoleon's army, poorly supplied with food supplies, was looting, but the residents fled and there was nothing to take.

This circumstance and the information received about the fragility of the French rear base inspired Lieutenant Colonel Davydov with the idea of asking for a special team of good-horse cavalrymen to search the rear of the French troops in order to destroy their food transports. Ardently pursuing this goal, Davydov turned to Prince. Bagration with a request for permission to report to him his thoughts on the partisan war. On August 21 he was accepted by Prince. Bagration and, among other things, told him: “What are the crowds of Cossacks doing at the vanguard? (i.e. in front of the enemy front). Let some of them into the middle of the caravan following Napoleon: they will destroy the sources of strength and life of the enemy army.” The prince liked this idea. Bagration, and he reported this to Kutuzov, who, agreeing with the idea proposed to him, but recognizing the danger of its implementation, allowed only 50 people to be used for this purpose. hussars and 150 Cossacks; but in reality Davydov was given only 50 hussars and 80 Cossacks. Davydov argued that this was too little to do anything noticeable. - “Give me 1000 Cossacks, he said, and you will see what will happen!” “I would give you 3000 the first time, because I don’t like doing things by touch,” said the prince. Bagration. But the always cautious Kutuzov, fearing for the fate of the party allocated behind enemy lines, decided not to increase its composition. Thus, Davydov owns both the idea and its first application on the issue of the development of partisan actions in 1812.

Hood. L. Netsvetaev. Partisans.

Having received permission, Davydov made a detour to Medyn and appeared behind French lines in the village of Skugorev. Amazed by the appearance of Russian uniforms among the French troops, local residents were sure that they were French in disguise, and before they were convinced otherwise, they greeted the Russian military with shots or an ax blow. This misunderstanding was greatly facilitated by the hussar uniform, in which Davydov himself and the hussars who were with them, whose uniforms were similar to French ones, appeared before the residents. Therefore, Davydov grew a beard and put on a peasant's coat, and in this form he gained the full trust of the residents, advising them to attack small enemy detachments and report to him about all the enemy's movements. The results were not slow to appear. So, on September 2, the day Napoleon entered Moscow, Davydov learned that there were French marauders in the village of Tokarev. Having attacked them, he broke the cover guarding the convoy with supplies looted from the residents, recaptured all the loot and took 90 people. captured On the same day, he recaptured another convoy and captured 70 people, then in the evening of the same date he already appeared at Tsarev-Zaimishche, where the enemy transport en route to Moscow was spending the day, under the cover of 250 people. cavalry. In a surprise attack, Davydov recaptured the transport, captured 2 officers and 119 privates, as well as 10 trucks with provisions and one with ammunition. Distributing guns from prisoners and broken cartridges to the residents, he chose several smarter people and explained to them that they should attack separately encountered Frenchmen and small parties of the enemy, and in front of strong parties retreat in different directions, in order to split the enemy into small parties, lure them into ambushes and so on.

In the distance a French convoy crawls. Hood. N. Tropina

Almost not a day passed without either an enemy transport or a convoy with provisions looted by the French being repulsed somewhere. It happened that up to 250 people were captured at once. Other partisan detachments were formed along the retreat path of the French army: Count Orlov-Denisov, Seslavin, Figner and others, which sometimes joined together, forming a detachment of up to 1200 or more people. On October 27, near Lyakhovtsy, they joined the detachment of gr. Orlov-Denisov, consisting of the Pskov dragoon regiment and 6 Cossack regiments, attacked the detachment of General Augereau and forced him to surrender, with 2000 privates and 60 officers. Following this, Kutuzov reinforced Davydov’s detachment with two Cossack regiments, which gave even more independence to his actions. Near Krasny, the partisans captured generals Almeron and Burt, many convoys and up to 200 lower ranks. On November 9, Davydov attacked an enemy cavalry depot near Kopys, guarded by 3,000 men, completely defeating them, capturing the depot and taking 285 men. captured, swam across the Dnieper and sent parties to Shklov and Starosel. After crossing the Berezina, Kutuzov instructed Davydov to make a quick raid on Grodno and seize the supplies collected there, under the protection of a 4,000-strong detachment of Hungarians under General Freilich, from the corps of Prince. Schwarzenberg. Davydov sent a letter to Freilich, offering to surrender the city. Believing that Davydov’s detachment was the vanguard of the Russian army, the Austrian general surrendered Grodno, with all reserves worth more than a million rubles. For his exploits in 1812, Davydov was awarded the following orders: St. George 4th Art. for the case at Kopys, and for other cases with the rank of colonel, and the Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree.

Napoleon sentences the partisans to be shot. Alexander Apsit

In 1813, upon crossing the border, Colonel Davydov’s detachment became part of the corps of Adjutant General Wintzingerode, and took part in the defeat of the Saxons near Kalisz on February 1. Having become accustomed to the independence of his actions, he, without asking for special permission, made a raid with the Cossacks on the capital of Saxony, Dresden, and occupied half of it (Neustadt), on March 10, concluding a capitulation with the French general Durut. This was considered arbitrary, and Davydov was deprived of command of the detachment. But, he says, “the justice of the patron king was a shield.” A fighter like Davydov cannot be kept idle for a long time, and he was soon sent to the detachment of Major General Lansky, removing Winzengerode from the corps, who himself was about to capture Dresden and could not forgive Davydov for warning him in this matter. Being a member of Lansky's detachment, Davydov participated in affairs near Predel, Gartha, Etzdorf, Nasen, Ubigau, Dresden (April 27), Bautzen, Reichenbach and in other affairs, until the conclusion of the truce. Upon the resumption of hostilities on August 15, he again participates in affairs and battles: at Riotau, Lutzen, Zeitz, Altenburg, Penig, Chemnitz, Naumburg, in the battle of Leipzig (4 and 6 Oct.), Kösen, and in almost all avant-garde affairs , to the banks of the Rhine, having received the Highest favor for that.

With a weapon in hand - shoot. Vasily Vereshchagin

In 1814, within France, Davydov commanded the Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment and was with the army of the Prussian Field Marshal Blucher, and participated with his regiment in the affairs of Brienne and Larotiere, for which after (December 21, 1815) he was promoted to general. majors. Then he was in business at Montmiral, Chateau-Thierry, Mereau, Epernay; in the three-day battle of Laon and Ferchampenoise, and finally, after the battle of Craon, commanding a hussar brigade, he entered Paris on March 19, along with other troops. Upon returning to Russia, Davydov went on vacation to Moscow and then served, in 1815, with the head of the 1st Dragoon Division, then, in 1816, with the head of the 2nd Cavalry Division, with the head of the 2nd Hussars divisions; On November 7 he was appointed commander of the 1st brigade of the same division; 19 Feb. 1818 appointed chief of staff of the 7th Infantry. corps, and in 1819 to the same position in the 3rd infantry. body; and on November 14, 1823, due to illness, he was dismissed from service with his uniform.

Partisans. Unknown artist. 1st half of the 19th century

Author of “An Experience in the Theory of Guerrilla Actions”

Davydov's frequent official movements show that he did not find a place for official activities in peacetime. Living in a village or in Moscow, he began compiling notes on partisan warfare in order to show its importance on the course of strategic operations of entire armies. Davydov dedicated this first scientific work: “An Experience on Partisans” to the name of Emperor Alexander I with the inscription on the manuscript: “Je ne suis qu'un soldat et je n'ai que du zèle.” This manuscript is kept in the library of the main headquarters and in 1821 was included in a more extensive work by Davydov, published in Moscow, entitled: “An Experience in the Theory of Guerrilla Action.” In the 1st part of the named work (taken from the manuscript we talked about), partisan actions in the wars of 1618, 1742, 1809 and 1812 are described in great detail. The remaining two parts outline systems of guerrilla operations and cover the rear of the army. This work immediately promoted Davydov to the ranks of talented writers on the art of war, proving his erudition and originality of thinking in applying theory to practice. Davydov argued that Russia has a huge advantage in the organization of Cossack troops, which are of little value to the treasury, capable of rapid movement and courageous by nature, and represent a huge fighting force capable of acting on the message of the enemy army, important for reconnaissance and covering the army’s own rear. This idea was expressed persistently in Davydov’s articles in Otech. Notes" where he wrote his "Diary of Partisan Actions". The thoughts expressed by the famous partisan are even now gaining an increasing number of supporters, and recently, a new fighting force has been created from the Kyrgyz cavalry, organized on the model of the Cossacks and equally suitable for partisan warfare, which brought so much benefit to the Russian troops in the fight against Napoleon. It is understandable, therefore, that Davydov was deeply struck by the words of Napoleon, in his correspondence, where he denies the benefits brought to us by our partisans in the fight against the French. This prompted a response from Davydov in 1825, published in a separate book (65 pages) entitled: “Analysis of three articles in Napoleon’s Notes.”

Peasants near the bodies of killed Frenchmen. Late 19th century

In these “Notes of Napoleon,” by the way, it is said: “during the movement to Moscow, he never had an enemy in his rear. During the twenty-day stay in Moscow, not a single relay race, not a single transport with charges was intercepted; not a single fortified postal station was attacked; artillery transports and military carts arrived unhindered...” It was these words that Davydov objected to, as a partisan of 1812: “I consider myself,” he says, “born solely for the fateful year of 1812.” It is known that Napoleon liked to officially declare even his failures as victories and did not hesitate to mislead France. Even his march from Moscow in 1812, he declared “a change of quarters for the army, since Russian dwellings are not suitable for winter.” But Davydov, considering it “audacity” to refute a great man unfoundedly, cites evidence from French bulletins that the actions of Russian partisans in 1812 caused great harm to the French army. The same, according to him, can be said about the actions of our partisan parties in 1807 in East Prussia, although the actions of these parties were only a matter of private initiative and were not included in the calculations of the commanders-in-chief.

Tarutino camp. Artist: A.Yu.Averyanov, 2002

Davydov worked on his scientific works in his spare time until the war in Persia began in 1826. On the day of his sacred coronation in Moscow, Emperor Nicholas turned to Davydov, who was present at the exit, with the question: “can he serve in active service”? Having received an affirmative answer, he expressed a desire to send him to Georgia. In August 1826, Davydov went to the Caucasus and was appointed temporary commander of the troops located on the border of the Erivan Khanate. After the first meeting with the enemy, September 19. near the village of Atimly and after the construction of the Jalal-Oglu fortress, he went to the Caucasian mineral waters to improve his poor health. In 1827, he returned to Russia and again indulged in family life until the Polish rebellion of 1831. On March 12, he arrived at the main apartment of our army in the town of Shenice and then to Krasnostav, where he took command of a detachment of three Cossack and one dragoon regiments. On April 6, he took the city of Vladimir Volynsky by storm and destroyed a gang of rebels; after that, uniting with Count Tolstoy’s detachment, Davydov threw Khrzhanovsky’s corps back to the Zamosc batteries, and then commanded the vanguard and individual detachments in the corps of General Ridiger, for which he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general, the Order of St. Anne, 1st class. and St. Vladimir 2nd Art. At the end of the war, Davydov again went to his estate in the Simbirsk province, where he died on April 23, 1839.

Orlovsky A.O. Portrait of Denis Davydov 1814

Personal life

The first time Davydov fell in love with Aglaia de Gramont. But she chose to marry his cousin, the tall cavalry guard colonel A.L. Davydov. Then he fell in love with the young ballerina, Tatyana Ivanova. Despite the fact that Denis stood for hours under the windows of the ballet school, she married her choreographer. Davydov was very worried about this.

While serving near Kiev, Davydov fell in love once again. His chosen one was the Kiev niece of the Raevskys - Liza Zlotnitskaya, daughter of General Anton Osipovich Zlotnitsky. At the same time, the Society of Lovers of Russian Literature elected him as a full member. He was very proud, since he himself had not dared to call himself a poet before.

An indispensable condition of Lisa’s parents was that Denis would obtain a government estate for rent from the sovereign (this was a form of state support for people who were not rich but had distinguished themselves in the service). Davydov went to St. Petersburg to do some work. V. A. Zhukovsky, who simply adored Davydov, helped a lot. With his help, Davydov was quickly granted “in connection with his upcoming marriage” to rent the state-owned Balta estate, which brought in six thousand rubles a year.

But then he received a new blow. While he was busy in St. Petersburg, Lisa became interested in Prince Pyotr Golitsyn. The prince was a gambler and a reveler, and besides, he had recently been expelled from the guard for some dark deeds. But he was extraordinarily handsome. Davydov was refused. Moreover, Lisa did not even want to see him, conveying the refusal through her father.

Davydov took Lisa’s refusal very hard. All his friends began to save him and for this they arranged a meeting for him with the daughter of the late General Nikolai Aleksandrovich Chirkov, Sophia (1795-1880). At that time she was already at a mature age - 24 years old. But her friends vying with each other praised her. Pretty, modest, reasonable, kind, well-read. And he made up his mind. Moreover, he was already 35 years old. But the wedding was almost upset, as the bride’s mother, having learned about his “desirable songs,” ordered Davydov to be rejected as a drunkard, a dissolute person and a gambler. Friends of her late husband barely persuaded her, explaining that General Davydov does not play cards, drinks little - and these are only poems. After all, he is a poet! In April 1819, Denis married Sophia. As soon as he and Sophia began to have children, Denis lost the desire to pull the military burden. He wanted to be at home, near his wife. Davydov called in sick every now and then and went on vacations of many months. Even the Caucasian War, where he was sent under the command of General Ermolov, did not captivate him. He stayed in the active army for only two months, and then asked Yermolov for a six-week leave to improve his health. Having stopped by to see the mineral waters, having sent out several letters about his illness (including to Walter Scott) for persuasiveness, he rushed to the Arbat in Moscow, where at that time his three sons and Sophia, who was once again pregnant, were already waiting for him. In total, nine children were born in the marriage of Denis and Sophia.

After the Polish campaign, when he was 47 years old and all he could think about was peace, they finally left him behind. True, he was never allowed to resign, but they did not touch him and his entire service was limited to wearing a lieutenant general’s uniform. D. V. Davydov spent the last years of his life in the village of Verkhnyaya Maza, which belonged to the poet’s wife, Sofya Nikolaevna Chirkova. Here he continued to engage in creativity, conducted extensive correspondence with A.F. Voeikov, M.N. Zagoskin, A.S. Pushkin, V.A. Zhukovsky, other writers and publishers. He visited his neighbors - the Yazykovs, the Ivashevs (in Undory), A.V. Bestuzhev, N.I. Polivanov. Visited Simbirsk. He ordered books from abroad. I was hunting. He wrote military-historical notes. He was involved in raising children and running the household: he built a distillery, set up a pond, etc. In a word, he lived for his own pleasure.

But in 1831 he went to visit a colleague in Penza and fell madly in love with his niece, 23-year-old Evgenia Zolotareva. He was 27 years older than her. Despite the fact that he loved his family very much, he could not help himself. I couldn't hide it either. This passionate affair lasted three years. Then Evgenia married the first groom she came across, and Denis, having let his beloved go this time easily, without pain, returned to the family.

On April 22, 1839, at about 7 o’clock in the morning, at the 55th year of his life, Denis Vasilyevich suddenly died of apoplexy on his estate Verkhnyaya Maza. His ashes were transported to Moscow and buried in the cemetery of the Novodevichy Convent. His wife Sofya Nikolaevna outlived Denis by more than 40 years.

Hood. L. Netsvetaev. D.V. Davydov.

Davydov and Pushkin

Singer-hussar, you sang bivouacs, the expanse of wild feasts, and the formidable fun of fighting, and the curls of your mustache. From the cheerful strings in the days of rest, Blowing away the dust on the march, You glorified, rebuilding the lyre, Love and a peaceful bottle... ...... Eloquent bully, Rake, fiery poet...

This is how young Pushkin perceived Davydov’s “hussar” lyrics, bright and emotional, inspired by the patriotic pathos of the Patriotic War of 1812, of which he was one of the heroes. Later, Pushkin admitted that he did not become an imitator of Batyushkov and Zhukovsky thanks to Davydov, who “gave him the opportunity to be original at the Lyceum.”

Hood. L. Netsvetaev.

The personal acquaintance of the poets began from the time of “Arzamas”, of which they were members. The portrait of Davydov, sketched by Pushkin at the beginning of 1825 in the margins of the manuscript of “Eugene Onegin,” can be associated with memories of meetings in the south. In the 1820s, Davydov lived in Moscow, and Pushkin met with him on his visits here (1829, 1831). The partisan poet wrote about one of the meetings to P. A. Vyazemsky at the beginning of 1830: “Pushkin praised my poems, said that in his youth, because of my poems, he began to write his own more abruptly and adapt to my turns.” In mid-February 1831, Davydov was among the poet’s close friends at a “stag party” on the eve of his wedding to N.N. Goncharova.

During the first half of the 1830s, Davydov lived with his family on his Simbirsk estate and, in extensive correspondence with Vyazemsky and other contemporaries, was invariably interested in Pushkin. He is waiting for the continuation of Onegin and admits that “this beauty” is always in his hands. The catchphrases and sayings he suggested were used by the poet as epigraphs for “The Queen of Spades” and “The Captain’s Daughter.” Davydov spent January 1836 in St. Petersburg and met almost daily with Pushkin and their mutual friends. During one of these meetings, the poet gave his friend “The History of Pugachev”, accompanying it with an address to him:

To you the singer, to you the hero! I couldn’t follow you With the thunder of cannon, in the fire, Ride on a mad horse... Here is my Scarecrow: at first glance He is visible - a rogue, a straight Cossack! In your advanced detachment, Uryadnik would be dashing.

“This is a diploma for immortality for me,” said a touched Davydov. At the same time, Pushkin invited Davydov to participate in Sovremennik and published six of his poems and two articles about the partisan war and the occupation of Dresden in 1813. The tragic death of Pushkin struck Davydov, and in a letter to Vyazemsky he wrote: “What a terrible incident! What a loss for all of Russia!.. But the Bulgarins and Senkovskys are alive and will be alive, because slaps and blows with canes do not kill to death.”

1817 Alexander Pushkin, Denis Davydov and Vasily Lvovich Pushkin

About Davydov's liberalism, Davydov was published in the best magazines and almanacs in the 20s, but many of his poems circulated only in manuscripts. Some of them (“Message to Burtsev” and a number of other hussars) were subsequently included in the lifetime collection of his poems, 1832, others - political fables - saw the light 70 years after they were written, and the satire “Dream” - only in our time . Particularly popular was “Modern Song” (1836), where Davydov, a liberal of the first quarter of the century, ridiculed the new formation of liberals and talkers of Nicholas’s time.

Davydov was the ideologist of that circle of liberal officers, whose free-thinking did not reach the level of real protest, limiting itself to some attempt at liberation from the “shackles of light” and free speech. In accordance with the main themes of his lyrics (glorification of the dashing life of a hussar, mockery of his superiors, of empty conventions, etc.) are the glibness of the verse, the ease of tone and the unceremoniousness of expression. A sharp departure from loud lyrics (Davydov has no odes at all), democratization of style are Davydov’s merits in the history of Russian poetry.

Davydov Denis Vasilievich (engraving). Source of illustration: Yeager O. Recent history / Translated by ed. P.N. Polevoy. -SPb.: Publishing house. A.F. Marx, [1894], 692 p.

Engraving by P.F. Borel. Denis Davydov

Gampeln, Karl - Portrait of Denis Vasilyevich Davydov. Hermitage

Hood. A. Bogolyubov. D. Davydov in Verkhnyaya Maza.

Lit.: Glinka V.M., Pomarnatsky A.V. Davydov, Denis Vasilievich // Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. — 3rd ed. - L.: Art, 1981. - P. 100-102. Gennady Serebryakov Denis Davydov (ZhZL) Zalessky K.A. Napoleonic Wars 1799-1815. Biographical Encyclopedic Dictionary, Moscow, 2003. Kovalevsky N.F. History of Russian Goverment. Biographies of famous military figures of the 18th - early 20th centuries. M. 1997. Gervais V.V., Partisan-poet Davydov, St. Petersburg, 1913; Rozanov I., Poets of the twenties of the 19th century, M., 1925. L.A. Chereisky. Contemporaries of Pushkin. Documentary essays. M., 1999, p. 175-176. Petrov A. Davydov, Denis Vasilievich // Russian Biographical Dictionary: in 25 volumes. - SPb.-M., 1896-1918.

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Military career

Denis Vasilyevich began serving in the Cavalry Regiment of St. Petersburg, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1803. The creation of poems, songs and fables with a satirical content brought inevitable disaster to the military man’s head.

Davydov was fired from the guard and sent to Belarus; during the first war with Napoleon Bonaparte, he asked to go to the front. The appointment to the post of adjutant of General Pyotr Bagration opened a new career horizon for the young hussar.

After fierce battles with the French near modern Kaliningrad, Denis received a personalized saber and orders as a reward for his exploits. Then there were battles with the Turks under the command of the hero Yakov Kulnev, which brought him the position of commander of the battalion of the Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment.

Russian general Denis Davydov.
Was he happy in love? Despite his brilliant success in poetry, Denis Davydov was... Published by History of Stories Saturday, February 23, 2021

Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812 Denis Davydov
From the first days of the Patriotic War of 1812, Davydov and a detachment of subordinates appeared in the most dangerous places. The leader of the people in red uniforms described the clashes with the enemy near the village of Mir and near Smolensk in prose and poetry.

On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, General Mikhail Barclay de Tolly assembled partisan detachments from resourceful and brave soldiers. Having become an outstanding commander of the “squadron of flying hussars,” Denis Vasilyevich received a number of honorary awards for the “case near Lyakhov.”

When the theater of military operations moved to Europe, a man with the rank of lieutenant colonel came out of hiding into the light. In the novel “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy, the image of Davydov was recreated and the events of important years for Russia were described.

After the defeat of Napoleon, the native of Moscow began to have troubles: they wanted to make him a dragoon or leader of the rangers. Not wanting to part with his mustache, an indispensable attribute of a hussar, Denis achieved the favor of Alexander I with the help of high-ranking friends.

Military career and creative path

1801 - began service in the Guards Cavalry Regiment, located in St. Petersburg. True, when Davydov came to be assigned to the regiment, they did not want to accept him because of his short stature. But wit, charm and modesty helped him find patronage.

Alexander Kakhovsky took up the task of filling the gaps in the education of young Davydov. He compiled a special curriculum for the young cavalry guard, dedicated to fortification, military history, cartography, economics and Russian literature.

1802 – promoted to cornet.

1803 - became a lieutenant. At the same time, D. Davydov began writing fables and poetry. In the first, he often ridiculed statesmen. It was because of his satirical poems that he was transferred from the guard to the Belarusian Hussar Regiment. But Denis liked the hussars. Therefore, satirical fables soon replaced “sad songs.” The only thing that depressed Davydov was that his regiment did not take part in the battles with the French. But Denis decided to go to the front at any cost.

1806 - Davydov at night penetrated M. Kamensky, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, to demand sending to the front. But it was in vain, because Kamensky was removed from his post due to clouding of his mind. Some researchers believe that he went crazy after Davydov's overnight visit. The fame of the hussar reached Maria Naryshkina, the tsar's favorite. It was she who helped Davydov go to the front.

1807 - appointed adjutant to P. Bagration. Before this, Davydov, in one of his poems, ridiculed Bagration’s long nose, so he was afraid of meeting the general. Seeing Denis, Bagration mentioned an old joke. But Davydov was not taken aback, answering that he wrote about his nose solely out of envy. Later, when Bagration was informed that enemy troops were “on the nose,” he asked again: “On whose nose? If on mine, then you can have dinner, but if on Davydov’s, then by horse!”

Denis Davydov was under Bagration in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau. According to Bagration, one battle was won only thanks to Davydov, who single-handedly rushed at the French lancers. For this battle, the poet first received the Order of St. Vladimir, a trophy horse and a cloak from Bagration. He distinguished himself in other battles, for which he was awarded a golden saber and orders. During the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit, Denis had a chance to see Napoleon.

1808 - was in the army operating in Finland.

1809 - under Bagration, who commanded troops in Moldova. Denis Davydov took part in military operations against the Turkish army.

1812 - was a lieutenant colonel in the Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment. A few days before the Battle of Borodino, Davydov proposed to Bagration the idea of a partisan detachment. He borrowed it from the Spanish partisans. The logic was simple: Napoleon was confident that he would defeat Russia in 20 days - that’s how much food he took. If you take away fodder, carts and break bridges, then the French will have big problems.

True, at first Davydov’s detachment was ambushed by peasants. As a result, he almost died. After all, the peasants had little understanding of military uniforms, and Russian officers often spoke French. Therefore, Davydov decided to put on a peasant caftan and grow a beard. On one of his detachment’s forays, 370 French were captured. His successes convinced Kutuzov of the importance of guerrilla warfare.

Napoleon hated Davydov and, upon possible arrest, ordered him to be shot immediately. To capture Denis, he allocated a detachment of 2 thousand horsemen. Davydov managed to drive this detachment into a trap. Legends were made about Davydov’s courage. When Russian troops occupied a city, all the residents asked about it. For the battle on the approach to Paris, which decided the outcome of the battle, Davydov was awarded the rank of major general.

Creation

War hero Denis Davydov, as a talented writer, was the author of poems, romances and journalistic works. The man was a member of “Arzamas” and “Conversations of Lovers of the Russian Word” - closed friendly communities created in the mid-1810s.

#Poem_of the day May 4 is the day of memory of Denis Davydov (1784-1839), hussar and poet, member of the Arzamas society (nickname...
Published by the State Pushkin Museum Sunday, May 3, 2021

Alexander Pushkin, Denis Davydov and Vasily Lvovich Pushkin
Notes taken during open and partisan operations formed the basis for memoirs published in the form of diaries. Creativity brought the hussar commander closer to Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, Evgeny Baratynsky and other representatives of cultural circles.

Literary activity

Writing was a real outlet for Davydov, his most important and favorite thing. The main theme of his work was the so-called “hussar lyrics”.

In his works, Denis Vasilyevich surprisingly harmoniously combined lively conversational intonations, rough military jargon with an emotional, subtle poetic style.

Davydov was able to create the image of a warrior - cheerful, energetic, courageous, filled with a sense of duty, who is not alien to human passions. But at the same time, he is in the grip of noble feelings, and the fundamental feeling is his strong love for his homeland.

Death

The news that Alexander Pushkin died in a duel with Georges Charles Dantes undermined Davydov's health and drove him into depression. He was also concerned about the fate of his Decembrist relatives, unable to treat the failure of the uprising as an annoying trifle.

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The grave of Denis Davydov
Public efforts to transfer the ashes of Peter Bagration to the Borodino field, the place of glorious victories, helped to cope with the long-term depression. This is how he celebrated the anniversary of the end of the Patriotic War of 1812, which left an indelible mark on the poet’s heart.

The causes of Denis Vasilyevich’s death at the age of 54 were impaired blood supply to the brain and apoplexy. The body of the poet and commander of the hussar partisan detachment was buried in a grave at the Novodevichy cemetery to the sounds of military fanfare.

Blessing from Suvorov

He was born in Moscow. They write that the Davydovs’ mansion was always illuminated with festive lights; balls, picnics, hound hunting trips - everything was on a grand scale. My father, a wealthy man, was proud of his estates in the Moscow, Oryol, and Orenburg provinces. But the position he held was simple - commander of a cavalry regiment. Denis was his first-born.

In Denis’s family there were captains and governors, the future famous generals Alexei Ermolov and Nikolai Raevsky would become cousins, but our patriot’s great-great-grandfather was, alas, a conqueror - the Golden Horde prince Minchak Kasaevich. But Denis’s fate, when he was 9, was decided personally by Suvorov—an “unsolved meteor,” in his words, that “flew” into the Davydovs’ house for lunch during regular maneuvers.

Works by D. Davydov. 1893

From the memoirs of D. Davydov

“I lived under a soldier’s tent, with my father... Around ten in the morning everything... around... shouted: “He’s galloping, galloping!”... My heart sank... I was all... delighted, and as I see now... Suvorov - on a Kalmyk horse... in a white shirt ... in boots like thin jackboots and a light... soldier's helmet... No ribbon, no crosses... As he rushed past... his adjutant shouted: “Count! Why are you jumping around like that? look at the children of Vasily Denisovich.” - "Where are they? Where?" - he asked and... jumped up to us... He extended his hand, which we kissed, and asked me: “Do you love soldiers, my friend?” A brave and ardent child, I... instantly answered: “I love Count Suvorov; everything is in it - soldiers, victory, and glory.” - “Oh God, have mercy, what a daring fellow!” - he said. - This will be a military man; I won’t die, but he’ll already win three battles!..”

What is it - “I won’t die”? Denis that same evening, imagine, gave three “battles”: waving a saber, he almost gouged out the guy’s eye, pierced the nanny’s head and cut off the tail of a greyhound dog, for which he received triple the rod. But from that day on, he, short-legged, with a “fistula” voice, began to sleep only on boards, douse himself with ice water and fly in the saddle until dawn, which very much “freezed” (irritated) his mother.

And maybe from that moment - I would venture to guess! - the cult of, as they would say today, the “one hundred percent man” (overcome, overtake, win!) began to grow stronger in him.

Reproduction of a painting by an unknown artist. Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, Lieutenant Colonel of the Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment Denis Vasilievich Davydov. Photo: RIA Novosti

Memory

Squares and streets were named in honor of the heroic man, and monuments to Davydov appeared in a number of Russian cities. The image of the poet and military man was used in literature by such authors as Leonid Grossman and Gennady Serebryakov.
The films “Hussar Ballad” and “Squadron of Flying Hussars” preserved for the people the memory of an outstanding native of Moscow. Andrei Rostotsky and Valery Denisov, who played the role of Denis Vasilyevich, immediately became famous in the vastness of the multinational country.