How did Pushkin's eldest son go down in history: General of the Russian army, father of 13 children, trustee, etc

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Towards the end of his life, retired General Pushkin ironically admitted to his daughter that he saw some disappointment in the eyes of his acquaintances. Alexander Alexandrovich believed that people were looking for in him, the offspring of the great poet, some kind of exclusivity. At the same time, the son of Pushkin himself considered himself an ordinary and nothing outstanding person who disappointed the public. I must say that Alexander Alexandrovich was either shy or underestimated himself. Because he had no merits.

Famous poet father's affection and brilliant education

The eldest son of Pushkin and Natalya Nikolaevna was born in St. Petersburg on July 6, 1833. The Russian classic was very kind to his son. Pushkin's mother, Nadezhda Osipovna, in letters to the poet's sister, described this affection of him. The child, named after the parent, was called "red-haired Sasha" in the family.

Pushkin Sr. always watched how they changed their clothes, put their namesake son to bed, listened to the baby's breathing at night and did not leave the crib for a long time. The famous poet was concerned about the fate of little Alexander and drew parallels with himself. Having lived in the reign of three sovereigns, Pushkin Sr. did not always find a common language with them. In a letter to his wife, he wrote: “God forbid to follow in my footsteps, write poetry and quarrel with the kings! In verses he does not outperform his father, but he won’t beat his butt with a whip…”.

Like other children of Alexander Sergeevich, the eldest son was brought up under the supervision of home tutors. Even after the murder of the head of the family in a duel, Natalya Nikolaevna did not spare funds for the education of children, despite financial difficulties. The house has traditionally been attended by good teachers. The woman told her brother that these expenses would be more than compensated for in children with knowledge and skills. In 1845, Alexander Pushkin Jr. entered the St. Petersburg Preobrazhenskaya Gymnasium, where he was known as a successful and disciplined student. At the age of fifteen he was assigned to the Corps of Pages, from where he came out with a cornet and was sent to the Horse Guards regiment.

Military merit and the image of a gentleman commander

The military career of Alexander Alexandrovich was brilliant. He devoted himself to his beloved business without a trace. Pushkin Jr. distinguished himself from the best side in the Crimean War. During the battles for the liberation of the Balkans, he successfully led the Narva hussar regiment. He was awarded high orders and personalized golden weapons. In 1880, the poet's son was appointed an aide-de-camp of His Majesty, and a month later he was granted a major general of the sovereign's retinue as a divisional commander. Pushkin as a military man corresponded to the model of a gentleman commander, faithful to ancient traditions. As the regimental historian wrote, the officers had tremendous respect for their commander.

He earned even greater respect from his colleagues after the death of his first wife. Left with eleven children in his arms and leading an unsettled semi-nomadic military lifestyle, Pushkin managed to give the children the necessary warmth. In 1891, Alexander Alexandrovich retired. He was assigned the position of a privy councilor and was assigned a substantial pension of more than a thousand rubles a year. The general, who had grown over 30 years of service to the military uniform, asked the imperial permission to wear the uniform in civilian life. The request was granted, therefore, Pushkin was not seen in civilian clothes.

First marriage scandal and single father

Alexander Alexandrovich was married twice, raised 13 children. The first marriage was preceded by an unusual romantic story. His beloved, Sophia Lanskaya, was a quiet and meek girl, which conquered Pushkin to the core. The family greeted the decision of the couple to enter into an official marriage, but the church considered the wedding impossible due to the doubtfully established consanguinity of the lovers. The bride fell into despair, and Alexander said that he would either marry Sophia or would not marry until the end of his days. Frustrated by these events, Natalya Nikolaevna turned to her confessor for help, wrote letters to the Synod, looked for patrons among her acquaintances, but church officials held on relentlessly. The last resort remained - the emperor.

Having collected documentary evidence indicating the absence of blood ties, Pushkina asked for an audience with the sovereign. A woman who deeply loves her son and respects his ardent love managed to touch the heart of Alexander II. An order was sent to the Chief Prosecutor of the Synod, Count Tolstoy, to settle the case in favor of the petitioner. The marriage of Alexander and Sophia turned out to be extremely happy and cloudless. The couple raised 11 healthy children. But Sofya Alexandrovna did not even live up to 40. After her death, the children were looked after in turn by Pushkin's relatives, because he himself often went on military campaigns. In 1883, Alexander Alexandrovich got married again. But the second marriage was far from the former family happiness. The second wife, Maria Alexandrovna, could not become a loving stepmother to the children of the late Sophia, she was burdened by worries and was reputed to be an unkind woman. Not finding mutual understanding and peace in the new family, Pushkin often went to visit his half-sisters abroad, who reminded him of his beloved mother. There he was welcomed and even offered to stay forever, but attachment to Russia prevailed.

Development of female education and the latest news

As strange as it may seem, the brave Russian general in every possible way developed women's education in Russia, defending in strict commissions and high offices the rights of women to benefits, subsidies, scholarships, specialized educational programs, hospitals at institutes and the organization of courses for sisters of mercy. All his life, the stately military intellectual attracted the admiring glances of those around him. Eyewitnesses recalled how the mentors and class ladies who met him in the educational corridors were transformed and tried to curtsey.

General Pushkin, apparently endowed with generic charm, unknowingly turned an ordinary visit to the next educational institution into an enthusiastic event. He was leaving, and the chirping pupils and dignified educators whispered for a long time about the nobility of the trustee. When in 1914 Alexander Alexandrovich received the news of the beginning of the war, he silently went to his office, from which he never left alive.

But about another member of the Pushkin family, everything is not so simple. Too polarized assessments of his personality can be found. So who is, an ordinary drunkard or an underappreciated poet, the younger brother of the great Pushkin.