Only 4 years after the death that shook RussiaPushkin held a duel between M. Yu. Lermontov and the retired Major Nikolai Martynov. As a result, the poet was killed, and the second participant in the fight got off with a three-month arrest and church repentance. Although the last duel of Lermontov, which ended with his death, took place more than 175 years ago, disputes still persist about whether N. Martynov really shot the man who unloaded the pistol into the air, that is, committed the murder.
Origin
In order to better understand the motives behind the actions of a person whose bullet put an end to the short biography of M. Yu. Lermontov, one should learn about his origin.
So, N. S.Martynov was a native of the Moscow nobility. His grandfather earned a fortune on wine levies, that is, for a fee, he acquired from the state the right to levy tax on pubs, in which he was extremely successful. At the end of the 18th century, it was believed that aristocrats should not engage in such matters. However, Mikhail Ilyich, although he was very embarrassed about his business, as they would say today, nevertheless wanted his son to continue his business, since it gave a steady income. He called him by name, uncharacteristic for people of his class. Thus, Nikolai Solomonovich Martynov, whose nationality immediately after the death of Lermontov became the subject of speculation, is undoubtedly Russian.
Parents and childhood
Father Martynov Solomon M. Martynovrose to the rank of State Counselor and died in 1839. His wife, Elizabeth Mikhailovna, came from a noble family of Tarnovskys. In total, the Martynovs had eight children: 4 sons and 4 daughters. They, especially boys, received an excellent education, had enough money to feel at ease among the golden youth, and had an attractive appearance.
Nikolai Martynov was born in 1815 and was only a year younger than Lermontov. Since childhood, he had a talent for literary work and soon began to write poetry, imitating the famous poets of his time.
Study
In 1831, Nikolai Martynov entered the SchoolGuards sub-ensigns and cavalry junkers. A year later, Lermontov appeared there. The latter was forced to submit a petition for leaving the Moscow University because of an unpleasant story with one of the professors, but did not want to enter St. Petersburg, because there he was offered to start training again from the first year.
Nikolaev cavalry school, in whichturned out to be young people, was one of the most famous in Russia. It was only accepted by nobles after studying at a university or in private guesthouses who did not have military training. During their studies, Lermontov and Nikolai Solomonovich Martynov more than once did fencing with espadrones and were quite familiar. In addition, the poet was introduced to many members of the Martynov family, and Nikolai's brother, Mikhail, was his fellow student. Subsequently, they also wrote that one of Nicholas’s sisters even became partly a prototype of Princess Mary. At the same time, it is known that Martynov's mother spoke extremely unflatteringly about Lermontov for his caustic jokes, but her son was delighted with the poetic talent of his school mate.
Service
At the end of his studies, Nikolay Martynov washe was sent to serve in the prestigious Cavalry Guard Regiment at that time, in which he was an officer in the same period Dantes. During the Caucasian War, he, like many members of his generation, volunteered for the front in the hope of becoming famous and returning to the capital with orders and military orders. There, during the military expedition of the Caucasian detachment across the Kuban River, Nikolai Solomonovich Martynov showed himself to be a brave officer. For his military achievements, he was even awarded the Order of St.. Anne with a bow, and he was in good standing with the command.
Resignation
The circumstances were such that NicholasMartynov could well hope for a successful career. However, for still unknown reasons in 1841, being in the rank of major (recall that in practice his peer Lermontov was at that time just a lieutenant), he unexpectedly filed a request for resignation. It was rumored that the young man was forced to do this, as he was caught cheating during a card game, which was considered an extremely shameful phenomenon among the officers. In favor of such rumors, many cited the fact that Nikolai Martynov, who had sufficient financial resources and connections, did not return to the capital, but settled away from society in Pyatigorsk and led a reclusive life. Among the rest and local Russian society, the former major was known as an eccentric and original, as he dressed in the clothes of the mountaineers and walked around with a huge dagger, causing ridicule from former colleagues.
M. Yu. Lermontov in the Caucasus
By 1841, the poet had already become famous onall of Russia thanks to poems about Pushkin. The troubles of his grandmother, who has influential relatives among the courtiers, allowed him to avoid a more serious punishment. He was sent to the Caucasus as an ensign in the Nizhny Novgorod regiment. This trip did not last long enough, and soon he again shone in the capital's salons. Perhaps everything would have been different if it were not for the quarrel in the house of Countess Laval with Ernest de Barant. The son of a French diplomat saw an insult in the epigram, which, as he was shared by mutual friends, was written by M. Yu. Lermontov. During the duel, which took place not far from the place where Pushkin was mortally wounded, nothing tragic happened: the sword of one of the rivals broke, Barant missed, and the poet fired into the air. However, it was not possible to hide the fact of the fight, and the poet was exiled to the Caucasus, although he made attempts to retire.
The reasons for the duel with Martynov
From the northern capital, the poet first came toStavropol, where his Tenginsky regiment stood, and after a while went on a short-term vacation to Pyatigorsk. And his friends persuaded him not to do it. There he met many of his Petersburg acquaintances, including Martynov. Evil in the language of Lermontov extremely amused by the belligerent appearance of a former classmate. The latter had long harbored a grudge against the poet, because he believed that he had ridiculed him in his epigrams, in which the names of Martysh and Solomon appeared. Subsequently, the version according to which Martynov believed that Lermontov had compromised his sister was also considered as the reason for the duel. It also pointed out the rivalry of young people over the favor of a French actress named Adele, who was on tour in the Caucasus.
Quarrel
Two days before the tragedy, its main charactersmet at the house of General Versilin. The future second poet and his longtime friend Prince Trubetskoy were present, as well as the husband and daughter of the host. In their presence, Lermontov began releasing barbs about the ridiculous "highlander." By tragic accident, with these words, the music stopped, and they were heard by everyone, including Martynov, as always, dressed up in a Circassian. As the general acquaintances of Lermontov and Martynov later recalled, this was far from the first time that the poet mocked a retired major. He endured until it was possible to pretend that jokes are not related to him. However, during the musical evening, the Versilins had everything too obvious, and the duel between Lermontov and Martynov became inevitable. The offended "mountaineer" loudly declared that he no longer intended to endure ridicule, and left. The poet reassured the ladies that tomorrow he and Nikolai Solomonovich would make peace, since “it happens.”
Duel Lermontov with Martynov
Вечером того же дня Михаил и Николай имели unpleasant conversation, during which the challenge sounded to a duel. The fight took place the next day. According to the generally accepted version, Lermontov took the matter seriously and fired into the air. Thus, he further angered Martynov and received a bullet in the chest. Since the doctor was not present during the duel, medical assistance was not provided, although she could hardly have saved Lermontov’s life.
After a duel, Martynov was sentenced to deprivation of all state rights and demotion. However, Nicholas II decided to limit the punishment to a three-month imprisonment in the guardhouse.
Quite a little is known about Martynov’s life after the duel. He died at the age of 60 and was buried in his name in Ievlevo.
