Just 4 years after Pushkin's death that shocked Russia, a duel took place between M. Yu. Lermontov and retired Major Nikolai Martynov. As a result, the poet was killed, and the second participant in the duel escaped with a three-month arrest and church repentance. Although the last duel of Lermontov, which ended in his death, took place more than 175 years ago, disputes still persist about whether N. S. Martynov really shot a man who discharged a pistol into the air, i.e. committed a murder.
Origin
To better understand the motives of the actions of the man whose bullet put an end to the short biography of M. Yu. Lermontov, you should learn about his origin.
So, N. S. Martynov was from the Moscow nobility. His grandfather made a fortune on wine farming, i.e., for a certain fee, he acquired from the state the right to levy a tax on drinking establishments, in which he was extremely successful. At the end of the 18th century it was believed thataristocrats are not supposed to do such things. However, Mikhail Ilyich, although he was very shy of his, as they would say today, business, nevertheless wanted his son to continue his business, since it provided a stable income. He also called him by a name uncharacteristic for people of his class. Thus, Nikolai Solomonovich Martynov, whose nationality became the subject of speculation immediately after Lermontov's death, is undoubtedly Russian.
Parents and childhood
Martynov's father Solomon Mikhailovich Martynov rose to the rank of State Councilor and died in 1839. His wife Elizaveta Mikhailovna came from a noble Tarnovsky family. In total, the Martynov family had eight children: 4 sons and 4 daughters. They, especially the boys, received an excellent education, had enough money to feel at ease among golden youth, and were distinguished by their attractive appearance.
Nikolai Martynov was born in 1815 and was only a year younger than Lermontov. From childhood he had a talent for literary work and began to write poetry early, imitating the famous poets of his time.
Study
In 1831, Nikolai Martynov entered the School of Guards Ensigns and Cavalry Junkers. Lermontov was there a year later. The latter was forced to file a petition to leave Moscow University due to an unpleasant story with one of the professors, and did not want to enter St. Petersburg University, because there he was offered to start his studies again from the first year.
Nikolaevskoethe cavalry school, in which young people ended up, was one of the most famous in Russia. Only noblemen were accepted into it after studying at the university or in private boarding schools who did not have military training. During their studies, Lermontov and Nikolai Solomonovich Martynov practiced fencing on espadrons more than once and were quite familiar. In addition, the poet was introduced to many members of the Martynov family, and Nikolai's brother, Mikhail, was his classmate. Subsequently, they also wrote that one of Nikolai's sisters even became partly the 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 friend.
Service
After completing his studies, Nikolai Martynov was sent to serve in the then prestigious Cavalier Guard Regiment, in which Dantes was an officer in the same period. During the Caucasian War, he, like many representatives of his generation, volunteered for the front in the hope of becoming famous and returning to the capital with ranks 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 military merits, he was even awarded the Order of St. Anna with a bow, and he was in good standing with the command.
Resignation
Circumstances developed in such a way that Nikolai Martynov could well hope for a successful career. However, for a still unclear reason, in 1841, while inrank of major (recall that practically his peer Lermontov was at that time only a lieutenant), he unexpectedly submitted his resignation. It was rumored that the young man was forced to do this, as he was caught cheating during a card game, which among the officers was considered an extremely shameful phenomenon. 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 vacationers and local Russian society, the former major was known as an eccentric and original, as he dressed up in the clothes of mountaineers and walked around with a huge dagger, causing ridicule from former colleagues.
M. Y. Lermontov in the Caucasus
By 1841, the poet had already become famous throughout 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 business trip did not last long enough, and soon he again shone in the capital's salons. Perhaps everything would have turned out differently if not for a quarrel in the house of the Countess Laval with Ernest de Barante. The son of a French diplomat saw an insult in the epigram, which, as he was told by mutual acquaintances, was written by M. Yu. Lermontov. During the duel, which took place near the place where Pushkin was mortally wounded, nothing tragic happened: the sword of one of the opponents broke, Barant missed, andthe poet fired into the air. However, it was not possible to hide the fact of the duel, and the poet was exiled to the Caucasus, although he made attempts to retire.
Reasons for the duel with Martynov
From the northern capital, the poet first came to Stavropol, where his Tenginsky regiment was stationed, and after a while went on a short vacation to Pyatigorsk. And friends persuaded him not to do this. There he met many of his Petersburg acquaintances, including Martynov. Evil-tongued Lermontov was extremely amused by the militant appearance of a former classmate. The latter, for a long time, harbored a grudge against the poet, since he believed that he ridiculed him in his epigrams, in which the names Martysh and Solomon appeared. Subsequently, the version was also considered as the reason for the duel, according to which Martynov believed that Lermontov had compromised his sister. The rivalry of young people was also indicated over the favor of a French actress named Adele, who was in the Caucasus on tour.
Quarrel
Two days before the tragedy, its main characters met in the house of General Verzilin. The future second of the poet and his old friend Prince Trubetskoy, as well as the wife and daughter of the owner of the house were also present. In their presence, Lermontov began to let out barbs about the ridiculous "highlander". By a tragic accident, the music stopped at these words, and they were heard by everyone, including Martynov, who, as always, was dressed in a Circassian coat. As mutual acquaintances of Lermontov and Martynov later recalled, this was far from the first case,when the poet taunted the retired major. He endured as long as it was possible to pretend that the jokes had nothing to do with him. However, during the musical evening at the Verzilins everything was too obvious, and the duel between Lermontov and Martynov became inevitable. The offended "highlander" loudly declared that he no longer intended to endure ridicule, and left. The poet reassured the ladies that tomorrow he and Nikolai Solomonovich would reconcile, since “this happens.”
Duel between Lermontov and Martynov
In the evening of the same day, Mikhail and Nikolai had an unpleasant conversation, during which a challenge to a duel sounded. The duel took place the next day. According to the generally accepted version, Lermontov did not take everything that was happening seriously and fired into the air. Thus, he angered Martynov even more and received a bullet in the chest. Since no doctor was present during the fight, no medical assistance was provided, although it could hardly have saved Lermontov's life.
After the duel, Martynov was sentenced to deprivation of all the rights of the state and demoted. However, Nicholas II decided to limit the punishment to three months in a guardhouse.
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.
