Miscellaneous 2024, November

Lovelace, Maecenas, Silhouette and other surnames of famous people who have lost the capital letter, becoming common nouns

Lovelace, Maecenas, Silhouette and other surnames of famous people who have lost the capital letter, becoming common nouns

In history, there are many ways to create a miraculous monument to man. You can, for example, write a book about him, call a street or even a city after him. But, probably, one of the most durable is linguistic memory, when the name of a hero or villain is preserved in the language itself, passing into the category of common nouns. At the same time, the loss of a capital letter is a small price, because such a word can live for centuries and even millennia

How, when and why the Russian language changed and absorbed foreign words

How, when and why the Russian language changed and absorbed foreign words

The actual always seems to be unshakable, what should be and what has always been. First of all, this is how the perception of language works, which is why it is so difficult to get used to new words - borrowings or neologisms. We absorb language together with the laws of nature: it is dark at night, light during the day, words in a sentence are built in a certain way. In fact, the Russian language changed several times, and each time the innovations that have now become part of our ordinary speech were perceived by many very painfully

How 100 years ago Russian young ladies served in the navy, and What "riots on the ship" had to be suppressed by the authorities

How 100 years ago Russian young ladies served in the navy, and What "riots on the ship" had to be suppressed by the authorities

The formation, which consisted of patriotic young ladies, could hardly provide real assistance to the country. Nevertheless, 35 determined ladies had a different opinion - dressed in sailor uniforms, they learned the charter, went in the ranks, carried out orders and prepared to die for the Fatherland on the fronts of the First World War. However, fate decreed otherwise: the first attempt of the fair sex to serve in the navy failed literally a month after the official creation "

Funny and funny stories with the legendary Faina Ranevskaya, which only added to her popularity

Funny and funny stories with the legendary Faina Ranevskaya, which only added to her popularity

Soviet actress Faina Ranevskaya is considered a movie legend. Despite the fact that she was a supporting actress, Ranevskaya sometimes overshadowed the game of the main characters. Difficulties of character and manner of speaking directly and openly, often involved her in various anecdotal stories. And her "catch phrases", sounded in films and life, have long been in the public domain

How Soviet tanker Alexandra Rashchupkina successfully pretended to be a man for 3 years

How Soviet tanker Alexandra Rashchupkina successfully pretended to be a man for 3 years

It was in February 1945 in Poland when Soviet tanks broke into Bunzlau. One of our combat vehicles was ambushed by the fascist "Tigers" and was knocked out. Crew member, driver-mechanic Alexander Rashchupkin received a thigh wound and concussion. Comrades pulled him out of the burning T-34. The fighter Viktor Pozharsky cut his clothes on to bandage the wound, and then he discovered that in front of him was not Sashka the tomboy, as they used to call Rashchupkin in the regiment, but … a woman

What Soviet women dreamed of, or Scarce goods that were chased in the USSR

What Soviet women dreamed of, or Scarce goods that were chased in the USSR

Today, the concept of scarcity is a thing of the past. Stores are filled with goods ranging from cosmetics to clothing of any brand - there would be money. But those people who were lucky enough to live during the Soviet Union remember well how difficult it was to get some things and food. Lines were a distinctive feature of the Soviet system, and mostly women stood in them. Read, what all the women of the USSR dreamed about, what perfume they used to scent, what outerwear was a welcome gift and from what

8 Legendary Women of the First World War: Feats of War and Post-War Fate

8 Legendary Women of the First World War: Feats of War and Post-War Fate

The First World War fell on a pivotal time in itself: women began to drive cars, conquer the sky on still imperfect planes, got involved in political struggle, and conquered science long ago. It is not surprising that many women showed themselves very actively during the war, and some even became legends

Why Leo Tolstoy wanted to write a novel about Peter I, and then changed his mind

Why Leo Tolstoy wanted to write a novel about Peter I, and then changed his mind

Leo Tolstoy at one time decided to write a huge heroic novel about the most titanic figure among the Russian tsars - Peter I. The writer studied archives, memoirs, letters for a long time and at the end of the ends wrote in his diary in the most harsh terms that he would not write about such a person. Peter I seemed to him a disgusting and evil person. Why? There are several reasons

The man in the iron mask, dog shelters and other things that Peter I found as a contemporary

The man in the iron mask, dog shelters and other things that Peter I found as a contemporary

Peter I is one of the most famous Russian sovereigns in the world. Still - he occupied the royal throne for a long time, actively contacted Europe and, in general, was an ambiguous, but bright figure. But few people think that many stories known from books and films took place, although not near Peter, but with his figure as a historical background. For example, Peter's contemporary was the Man in the Iron Mask, who was hidden in a French prison

How a fragile 18-year-old girl managed to destroy almost 80 fascists: Sniper Aliya Moldagulova

How a fragile 18-year-old girl managed to destroy almost 80 fascists: Sniper Aliya Moldagulova

There are many cities in Russia that have Moldagulova Street. The name is well-known, but not everyone knows who she is - Aliya Moldagulova, whose memory is immortalized in different parts of the country. Meanwhile, this is a heroic sniper girl. A fragile 18-year-old girl who managed to shoot 78 fascists during the Great Patriotic War

How does a "girl in a red bikini" live today, who escaped from the USSR by swimming more than 40 years ago

How does a "girl in a red bikini" live today, who escaped from the USSR by swimming more than 40 years ago

At one time, the escape of Liliana Baronetskaya (surname at birth) from the Soviet Union made a lot of noise in the Western press. An 18-year-old graduate of the Odessa vocational school, who served as a waitress on a cruise ship in the port of Sydney, got out through the cabin window in only one red bikini, swam across the Sydney Bay and was able to obtain refugee status in Australia. How was the further fate of the desperate fugitive, whom the world recognized as Liliana Gasinskaya?

7 nuns in world history who became famous not only in the field of religion

7 nuns in world history who became famous not only in the field of religion

For a long time, most women had only one chance to get an education and make a normal career - to go to a monastery. It is not surprising that among the most famous female names of the past, there are many names of nuns. But even in the days of women's education, there were very cool nuns - the whole thing, of course, is in the personality

5 bravest spies to kill Nazis during World War II

5 bravest spies to kill Nazis during World War II

Intelligence has always been considered a purely male business, but history knows many cases when it was women who became fearless spies. They sometimes did the impossible and carried out incredible intelligence operations. Every scout during the Second World War was ready to perform a feat for the sake of defeating the Nazis. It didn’t matter if she worked for British intelligence or Soviet

What was Princess Diana treated for, and is a genetic catastrophe threatening the British royal family?

What was Princess Diana treated for, and is a genetic catastrophe threatening the British royal family?

“I was probably the first in the royal family who ever experienced depression or expressed it openly. This gave everyone a reason to say that "Diana is mentally unstable" and "Diana is not all right with her head." And, unfortunately, it became so attached to my person that I had to live with it all these years …”complained the“queen of human hearts”in an interview with the BBC in November 1995. Today, the question of the mental illness of Princess Diana remains relevant, because her son may soon

Because of what the German relatives of Peter I lost power over the Russian Empire and what a tragedy it turned out to be for them

Because of what the German relatives of Peter I lost power over the Russian Empire and what a tragedy it turned out to be for them

They did not have time to really enter the history of Russia, despite the fact that they already almost held power over the empire in their hands. Fate laughed cruelly at the Brunswick family, first raising it to the level of the heirs of Peter the Great, and then pushing it into the abyss of despair and hopelessness. In addition to the Duke and his wife Anna Leopoldovna, the disgraced family included five more children, the eldest of whom, forever separated from his parents, for many years lived in the same house as his parents, behind a blank wall

Queen of Kukui, beloved of Peter I and mistress of Lefort: The tragedy of the brilliant Anna Mons

Queen of Kukui, beloved of Peter I and mistress of Lefort: The tragedy of the brilliant Anna Mons

This was, apparently, not the first and certainly not the last time when a European young lady charmed a Russian man, herself remaining indifferent to him. And if the reasons why they fell in love with Anna Mons were enough, then it is rather difficult to explain the inability of the applicant to evoke reciprocal feelings in her heart, because Tsar Peter I himself was such a contender

The offspring of Peter I: How were the fates of the numerous sons and daughters of the first Russian emperor

The offspring of Peter I: How were the fates of the numerous sons and daughters of the first Russian emperor

If you forget for a minute about how the history of the Russian state developed, in what order the Russian monarchs inherited the throne, you can see behind the official annals the usual human inclinations, affections and antipathies, those that led to the birth of future great monarchs or became the cause of disgrace and the deaths of promising contenders for the throne. Peter I is known as the main Russian reformer and, in general, a figure of great magnitude. Much less often he is described as a person who is carried away

Why the eldest son of Sergei Yesenin was shot, and how the fate of the other children of the poet developed

Why the eldest son of Sergei Yesenin was shot, and how the fate of the other children of the poet developed

Sergei Yesenin never tried to be good: he drank, hooliganed, fell in love and quickly cooled down to women, without whom, as it seemed to him before, he could not live. But everyone forgave him, they adored him. And by the age of 30, the poet could boast of not sickly victories on the love front. Only officially he tied the knot three times. In addition, he had three more unofficial wives, and this is not counting fleeting connections. After himself, Yesenin left four children. True, each of them had to face him in life

The short life of Chukovsky's little muse, for whom he wrote his best fairy tales

The short life of Chukovsky's little muse, for whom he wrote his best fairy tales

We all know and love the tales of Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky from childhood. Several generations of children have already grown up on his unique melodic poems, so he remained in the memory of people more as a children's writer. However, in the life of a poet, publicist, literary critic, translator, literary critic and journalist, wonderful works for the youngest readers were "born" for only about ten years, and they were written for one girl - the youngest daughter of the writer Maria, who is all in the family

Why do they say that children are "found in cabbage", and Who are the cabbage

Why do they say that children are "found in cabbage", and Who are the cabbage

Cabbage is a vegetable that has been grown in Russia since ancient times, is respected, and unusually tasty dishes are prepared from it. It was the basic garden crop that helped the peasants survive during the long, cold winters. Cabbage contains vitamins, fiber, trace elements, and this was very important for maintaining the health of adults and children. Although in ancient times they did not know about the chemical composition of cabbage, the peasants discovered the beneficial effect of the vegetable on the work of the body empirically. The cabbage was fermented with many p

For which Mary I of England received the nickname "Bloody Mary": Bloodthirsty fanatic or victim of political intrigue

For which Mary I of England received the nickname "Bloody Mary": Bloodthirsty fanatic or victim of political intrigue

Mary was the first Queen of England to rule on her own, best known as the "Bloody Mary". She received this unfortunate nickname thanks to the fanatical persecution of Protestants, whom she burned at the stake by the hundreds as heretics. But was she really such a bloodthirsty religious fanatic? Yes, she executed many dissidents, but other monarchs executed no less. Maybe the fact is that Mary was a Catholic, who was inherited by a Protestant, in a country

Why did the Grand Embassy of Peter I go to Europe and what did the police officer Peter Mikhailov do on the trip?

Why did the Grand Embassy of Peter I go to Europe and what did the police officer Peter Mikhailov do on the trip?

The history of Russia was turned upside down - or vice versa - by the eighteen months that Peter I spent in Europe. And now it already seems that the tsar went abroad precisely for the sake of such historical changes written down in textbooks. But what really drove the young ruler, who, in the absence of education, experience and even the slightest serious plan of action, embarked on this long journey? The fact that throughout the history of mankind influences the actions of the greats stronger than logic and

KGB VS CIA: What intelligence secrets during the Cold War of the two countries are known today

KGB VS CIA: What intelligence secrets during the Cold War of the two countries are known today

The arms race between the USSR and the United States during the Cold War forced both sides to intensify not only technological development, but also intelligence. The latter also required a very serious investment. Moreover, both scientific and financial. Considering the love of the Soviet side for military cunning and the principle "in war, all means are good" sometimes among the developments there were not only miracles of engineering, but also very funny little things. So what were the Soviet intelligence officers armed with?

Coincidences in the fates of the most famous twins of Russian cinema Tatyana and Olga Arntgolts

Coincidences in the fates of the most famous twins of Russian cinema Tatyana and Olga Arntgolts

Tatiana and Olga Arntgolts are unique twin sisters in the film industry. Basically in the world of cinema, sisters and brothers became popular precisely through the roles of twins. Tatiana and Olga managed to build each of their careers, independently of each other, but still maintaining a strong kinship. On their thirty-eighth birthday, the sisters told their fans that each of them had a joyful event this year - the birth of a child. Twenty days apart, the twins gave birth to sy

What are the descendants of children's writers famous for: Filming in "Game of Thrones", engagement with a princess and more

What are the descendants of children's writers famous for: Filming in "Game of Thrones", engagement with a princess and more

Who grow up children and grandchildren of children's writers - people who sow good and eternal? This question is often of interest to children. And adults too, so we found several descendants of famous children's authors, whose fate in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries is known

The Heirs of Russian Empires: What the Children of 7 Russian Oligarchs Do

The Heirs of Russian Empires: What the Children of 7 Russian Oligarchs Do

Their parents achieved unprecedented success in business and were able to provide a comfortable existence not only for themselves, but also for their children and grandchildren. Naturally, the public's attention has always been and will be riveted to the lives of the owners of multibillion-dollar fortunes. How do the representatives of the younger generation of the richest and most successful businessmen in Russia live and what do they do?

10 best Italian love movies to make you believe it exists

10 best Italian love movies to make you believe it exists

Those who have visited Italy at least once will hardly be able to forget the incredible romantic atmosphere, which is literally the hallmark of this amazing sunny country. It is as if everything is saturated with romance here. Perhaps that is why Italian films convey to each viewer the special mood of the southern country, which many call the land of love

How deviators, deserters and self-gunners appeared in the Russian army during the First World War

How deviators, deserters and self-gunners appeared in the Russian army during the First World War

The First World War became a terrible test for Russian soldiers. In addition to the enemies behind the front line, there were others, closer ones: hunger, poor weapons, crumbling uniforms and lack of confidence in their commanders and comrades. According to rough estimates, about two million people fled home from the trenches in different ways and ways. Most, of course, after February 1917, but the desertion process began much earlier

Irina, Agafya and Natalia: Three queens who opened windows to Europe even before Peter I

Irina, Agafya and Natalia: Three queens who opened windows to Europe even before Peter I

There is a myth that before Peter the Russian tsars did not look in the direction of Europe: there is only one shame and demonic technical progress. And only Peter suddenly realized that it was possible to take technology and education from the West. But Peter did not dawn out of the blue: before him, at least three queens were actively interested in Europe and carried European trends to Russia (and their husbands)

Was Catherine II's daughter really replaced by a boy, the future Emperor Paul I?

Was Catherine II's daughter really replaced by a boy, the future Emperor Paul I?

All sorts of rumors and legends arise about almost each of the monarchs - most often concerning the circumstances of his birth or death, and also the authenticity of his personality. Many of these versions are seriously or not discussed by historians. The theme of the birth of one of the most controversial and unloved rulers in Russian history, Paul I, was no exception. There were such rumors about how the son of Empress Catherine II came to this world

What sweets and wine did the Russian tsars love, and what are “daddies” for common people

What sweets and wine did the Russian tsars love, and what are “daddies” for common people

In Russia in the 18th-19th centuries, there were favorable conditions for the development of business. Anyone could open their own enterprise, be it a merchant, a foreigner or a former serf peasant. Thanks to resourcefulness, talent and passion for their work, some entrepreneurs of that time created large brands that are still popular not only at home, but also abroad. Since 1917, factories were transferred to state ownership and renamed in honor of the Bolsheviks. Some

What was the person who brought up the genius of Russian literature: Sergei Lvovich Pushkin

What was the person who brought up the genius of Russian literature: Sergei Lvovich Pushkin

The biography of Sergei Lvovich Pushkin was destined to be forever driven into four words: "the father of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin." To himself, probably, such a laconic summing up of life's path would have seemed offensive and unfair. No, in his own eyes, Pushkin the father was a figure quite worthy of a separate mention in books - including as the author of numerous poems

How Queen Victoria of England nearly became Queen of Nigeria due to translation difficulties

How Queen Victoria of England nearly became Queen of Nigeria due to translation difficulties

Probably few people have not heard of the Victorian era. This time is named in honor of Queen Victoria, who was one of the most prominent monarchs in England. This ruler also received the nickname "grandmother of Europe" for the fact that she united Great Britain with family ties with many European countries. There is one very interesting historical episode connected with Queen Victoria. Once she almost became the wife of the African king Eyamb V

How "someone else's age was seized," and Why in the old days there were so many old beggars

How "someone else's age was seized," and Why in the old days there were so many old beggars

Memory is arranged like this: the further the past, the brighter it was, kinder and dearer to the heart. This works not only with individuals, but also with nations. Everyone, for example, is sure that in the old days grandparents were treated with special respect. But the popular print crumbles, it is worth reading the classics of literature and ethnographers: it was not so simple in the old days with the old people

How was the life of Vasily Shukshin's daughter from her second marriage, and why she did not watch her father's films for a long time

How was the life of Vasily Shukshin's daughter from her second marriage, and why she did not watch her father's films for a long time

He was called a unique phenomenon in Russian culture, noting the multifaceted talent of Vasily Makarovich as an actor, director and writer. Much has already been written and said about his life, and he himself was often defenseless against circumstances and feelings. In his life, in addition to Lydia Fedoseeva, there were three more women, and a daughter was growing up, born in the second marriage of the writer to Victoria Sofronova. How was the life of Vasily Shukshin's eldest daughter, what memory did she keep about her brilliant father?

Why a submerged medieval village began to rise to the surface

Why a submerged medieval village began to rise to the surface

A medieval Italian village that has been submerged under a lake for decades is now rising to the surface again. The earth's crust is in constant motion, undergoing significant changes. Some of them are caused by our mother nature, and some are caused by people. One such change is the construction of dams designed to supply water and electricity. Now this village looks strange and even creepy

Who besides Meghan Markle was mixed race in the British royal family?

Who besides Meghan Markle was mixed race in the British royal family?

When Prince Harry announced his engagement to actress Meghan Markle, the world froze. Many immediately began to analyze what it would mean for a mixed-race woman to be prominent in the British royal family. Markle, whose mother is African American and whose father is white, has been hailed by some as Britain's first "black princess". This marked a very important milestone in the history of the English royal house, which for centuries encouraged slavery and colonialism. But according to some historians, such a case

What phobias did Peter the Great have, and how he fought with them

What phobias did Peter the Great have, and how he fought with them

When they talk about the innovations of Peter I, many remember the famous beard tax, which is considered one of the elements of the "Europeanization" of Russia. But it turns out that not only this reason prompted the king to fight against facial hair. There were personal reasons and fears. Read in the material what phobias the ruler suffered, why he forced his subjects to shave, and what insects, especially cockroaches, have to do with all this

How was an ordinary day of Emperor Peter I, and what professions he managed to master during his life

How was an ordinary day of Emperor Peter I, and what professions he managed to master during his life

Sometimes people think that the life of royalty is a serene existence, devoid of everyday worries, filled with bright colors of permissiveness and luxury. That is, continuous rest and entertainment. But if we turn to the biography of Peter I, it becomes clear that it is difficult to find a more hardworking person. Read in the material why the king got up when the roosters had not yet crowed, what he did all day and what unusual hobbies he had

How did the fates of the favorite favorites of Peter I develop: profitable marriages, a monastery and a block

How did the fates of the favorite favorites of Peter I develop: profitable marriages, a monastery and a block

According to the historian Nikolai Karamzin, Tsar Ivan the Terrible was distinguished by his insatiable love for women, and he was married 8 times. It combined incredible toughness and sensuality. Another king that everyone knows about without exception is Peter the Great. How was he doing on the love front? Has he outdone his royal predecessor or not? Read how many favorites Peter had, how they became them, whom he sent to the monastery, and whom he executed without regret