Count Fedor Alekseyevich Golovin: biography, features of activity and interesting facts

Golovin Fyodor Alekseevich (1650-1706 gg.) Lived at the turn of two epochs: the medieval and new periods in the history of Russia. This man did not stand out in the battles, and his talents were largely overshadowed. In this regard, the column of Fedor Alekseevich Golovin has less open information than about other contemporaries of Peter the Great. Nevertheless, this figure played a far from last role in the Russian state.

Golovin Fedor Alekseevich: short biography

About the childhood and adolescent years of the figure, not so much information has been preserved. Golovin was born in 1650. He received his primary education in his father's house. From a young age Fedor showed curiosity, was very sensitive to knowledge, which he successfully perfected throughout his life. His written Russian speech was impeccable. In his childhood he was taught Latin. His teacher was the translator Andrei Belobotsky. At an older age, Fyodor Alekseyevich Golovin freely read the classics and corresponded in Latin. Subsequently, he independently learned English and Mongolian. In 1681, being a solicitor, Golovin was in Astrakhan with his father. Subsequently, he was awarded the rank of steward.

First diplomatic mission

In the middle of the 17th century, the active development of the Amur lands - Dauria began. The tribes living there paid an annual yasak worth 7,000-9,000 rubles. The Russian government, in turn, actively contributed to the colonization of the Amur Region to form the food base of Eastern Siberia. In 1654, here was built Albazinsky prison. Several times he was attacked. The last took place in 1686. The onslaught of the enemy was held by 826 people for 10 months. As a result, 70 of them survived. The Russian government did not have an opportunity at that time to provide effective support to the population in Dauria. In 1685, Emperor Kang-si addressed Peter with the question of delimitation of borders. The Russian government took advantage of this and sent a diplomatic mission to conclude a peace treaty. December 25, 1685 Golovin Fyodor Alekseevich was appointed plenipotentiary ambassador to China. The way to Dauria took 21 months with stops. Arriving in Tobolsk, Golovin assembled a regiment of Cossacks from 1400 people. Among them were the fallen peasants, criminal and political exiles. Meanwhile, the situation in the Baikal region was heating up. In January 1688, the Mongolian Khan demanded the transfer of citizenship to the citizenship and besieged Udinsk and Selenginsk. In September, the detachment Golovin drove away the invaders, defeated the river. Hilok army taisha, eliminating the threat of Transbaikal. After that, the mission went to Nerchinsk. Negotiations took place in this city. On August 12, the Russian and Chinese ambassadors met for the first time.

Nerchinsk Treaty

On August 27, the third meeting of the ambassadors took place. At the meeting, the text of the treaty was read in three languages: Manchu, Latin and Russian. In the articles of the agreement, borders were established between the states along the river. Gorbice, Stone Mountains (Sian Ridge) and the Sea of Okhotsk. Russia, for its part, committed to destroy the fortifications of the province of Albazin and withdraw its subjects. With military superiority, the Chinese government was able to suspend the colonization of the Far East for some time by the Russians. Together with this, Fyodor Alekseevich Golovin defended the right of the empire to the territory of Transbaikalia and the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk. The exact boundary between the states was established only in the middle reaches of the Amur River. Russia was the first country in Europe to agree on free trade relations with China. Russian diplomats insistently demanded that the relevant article be included in the treatise. The long-term peace established by the treaty had a special political significance for Russia. Some of his articles acted before the ratification of the Aigun Agreement of 1858.

Interesting Facts

Fedor Alekseevich Golovin personally supervised the fortification of Nerchinsk. In addition, under his leadership was built a wooden fortress in Udinsk. Payments of fur tax from the Oncot, brotherly, Tungus, tabunut tribes were also restored. Under the leadership of Golovin, the attacks of the Mongolian bandits in the territories controlled by Russia were repulsed. In 1689, he sent an expedition to the upper reaches of the river. Arguni. Silver ore was discovered here .

Azov campaign

In scientific publications there are still disputes about the participation of the diplomat in battles. Meanwhile, he played a significant role in the procurement of ammunition and provisions for the Russian army, as well as in ensuring the positive opinion of European courts on Russia's intentions in the 2nd Azov campaign. On May 3, 1696, the squadron commanded by Admiral Fyodor Golovin moved from Voronezh. On the gallery "Princepumum" a meeting was held. On it, it was decided to attack two ships that were standing in the roadstead below Azov. However, after reconnaissance, it turned out that there were 24 small ships and 13 Turkish galleys. The operation was decided to be postponed. On May 20, the Cossacks detachment Minyaev attacked the Turks fleet in the roadstead. Some of the ships were burned, some were scattered. On July 19, the Azov garrison capitulated.

"The Great Embassy"

After the princess Sophia was tonsured into nuns, and VV Golitsyn was exiled, the ambassadorial order and the government were formally headed by LK Naryshkin, the uncle of the tsar. However, being a drunkard and a sybarite, he devoted little time to business. All in place of him, in fact, was governed by EI Ukraintsev - the Duma clerk. It was he who in early December 1696 announced the Emperor's Decree about equipping the mission with European countries. Its goal was to consolidate forces in the fight against the aggression of the Turks. In addition, Peter counted on financial and military-technical support of Christian states. Preparation and organization of the mission was entirely on Golovin. March 10, 1697 diplomats left the village. Nikolsky. On May 18, the mission arrived in Koenigsberg, on August 16 - in Amsterdam, on June 16 - in Vienna. Everywhere Russian ambassadors were given a magnificent reception. Diplomats, and in particular Count Fedor Alexeyevich Golovin, received many gifts and souvenirs. However, the purpose of the mission was never achieved. As soon as it came to direct negotiations, the kings and kings of European states confined themselves to verbal promises that were not backed up by any written agreements. Nevertheless, the work of ambassadors contributed to overcoming the political isolation of the Russian Empire, as well as its inclusion in global trade in Europe. In addition, Fyodor Alekseevich Golovin personally supervised and directed the recruitment to the Russian service of about 800 engineers, doctors, officers. With his participation, tens of thousands of rifles with bayonets, which were not in Russia, were purchased. For Golovin, this mission has become a kind of school of European diplomacy. In Vienna he received a blessing from the monarch and many gifts. Golovin after Menshikov became the second subject of Russia, erected in the count's title of the Holy Roman Empire.

Administrative activity

After the return of the Great Mission, Golovin took command over the Novgorod, Malorossiisk, Ustyug, Smolensk, Yama orders, the Mint, the Galician Quarter, the Chamber of Silver and Gold Affairs, and the Armory Chamber. Such an exaltation testifies not only to the unlimited confidence of Peter, but also about his personal talents, exceptional responsibility and efficiency of the diplomat. Nevertheless, Golovin continued to pay great attention to the material and technical support of the army. On February 19, 1699, he became the chief of the Posolsky's order. A year earlier - on December 11, 1698 - he headed the Military Maritime Department. It should be noted that Golovin did not possess either proper knowledge or experience in naval affairs. In this regard, he did not intervene in direct marine activities. His tasks included recruitment of personnel for the fleet and the army, control over the production and purchase of weapons, transportation, etc.

War with Sweden

Preparation for battles was very active in Russia, but it was hampered by a number of economic problems. Before the direct intervention of the Russian troops, a colossal diplomatic work was carried out. It should be noted that foreign countries did not show a desire to support Russia. Nevertheless, the embassies of the empire appeared in Austria, Turkey, Holland, Poland. So the corps of diplomats began to form, according to their skills and knowledge, they did not differ from the Western ones. The efforts of the figures allowed to reduce the activity of Charles XII, which enabled Peter to restore the army after the defeat at Narva. The war has significantly depleted the state. In 1699 a draft of the stamped paper was sent to Golovin. As the head of the Mint, he managed to re-mark the efimks in Russian coins. Due to a decrease in the share of silver, financial stability was achieved for a short time.

Last years

The rhythm of Golovin's life was very tense. In the spring of 1706 Peter was in Ukraine, awaiting the invasion of the Swedes. From there he demanded Golovin to himself. In May, he wrote to Sheremetyev that he was going to Kiev. However, some urgent cases detained him. Only by the end of June he was able to leave Moscow. In Nizhyn he suddenly fell ill and on July 30 died in Glukhov. On the occasion of his death, a mourning ceremony was held in the Navy. The funeral took place only on February 22, 1707, a few months after his death. By personal order of Peter was made an engraving. It shows that the funeral was very lush.