Maria Raevskaya: biography, personal life. Volkonskaya Maria Nikolaevna

This slender and beautiful young lady with black curls of thick hair conquered the heart of Pushkin himself, who considered her to be her muse in poetry. The writer Nikolai Nekrasov immortalized her image in the immortal poem "Russian Women". It is in this work that he describes in every detail the character of the Decembrist's wife, who goes on a desperate self-sacrifice for the sake of preserving the family. Maria Raevskaya, a noblewoman by birth, ventured to share the difficult fate of her husband and went after him to the Siberian exile. Undoubtedly, her deed should be regarded as a feat, which only the chosen could perform. And let her not have deep feelings for Prince Volkonsky, but Maria Raevskaya fulfilled her duty to him. What is known about the biography of a noblewoman? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

Years of childhood and adolescence

Volkonskaya Maria Nikolaevna (born Raevskaya) was born on January 6, 1806 in the Voronka estate of the Chernigov province. Her father (Nikolai Nikolayevich) was a renowned officer who participated in the most important military campaigns of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Mother (Sofya Alekseevna) was related to the scientist Mikhail Lomonosov. Parents did everything necessary to ensure that Maria Raevskaya received decent education and education within the walls of the estate. The family, often in Kiev and St. Petersburg, had close ties with educated and intelligent people. In her youth Maria learned to play music on the piano and mastered several foreign languages, she adored reading books from her home library. In front of her father and mother, Masha turned into a slender and beautiful young lady with a smooth and slightly arrogant gait. No wonder that the fifteen-year-old Maria Raevskaya made the heart of the great poet unevenly beat. He literally began to worship her.

Volkonskie and Pushkin

A lot has been written about Alexander Sergeevich's friendship with Raevsky. But when he got acquainted with them - it is still not known for certain. He devoted his best poems to members of this family, not hiding that he was proud of his friendship with them. The poet in a poem dedicated to V. Davydov respectfully calls the family of a Russian officer "Raevskie mine ...". And he addressed a lot of letters to the Voronka estate. Pushkin in a veiled form mentions the family in his poems. Some of the images from the immortal poem "Eugene Onegin" are directly written off from the Raevsky sisters.

Alexander Sergeevich, communicating with the family of the participant of the Borodino battle, wanted to learn the philosophy and deep secrets of the Russian intelligentsia of the 19th century. The poet traveled extensively with Raevsky, having visited Crimea, the Caucasus, and southern Russia.

The daughter of a famous officer and a great poet

Now it is already clear that Maria Raevskaya in Pushkin's life appeared not accidentally.

As far back as 1820 The poet went on a trip with Raevsky to the Caucasus. She was 15 years old, he was 21. Maria Nikolayevna recalled how, traveling in a carriage with her sister, governess and Pushkin, they stopped to admire the sea. The young lady wanted to come closer to the water, and the young Alexander, anticipating her desire, followed her. The poet will later describe his sensual impulse in the first chapter of Eugene Onegin:

"... I remember the sea before the storm:
How I envied the waves,
Running a tumultuous turn
With love lie at her feet! "

This is just one of the many fragments that testify that Maria Raevskaya in the work of Pushkin really played the first violin ...

Unforgettable trip

And then there was a romantic trip to Gurzuf. The poet and the Raevsky family stayed in the luxurious estate of the Duke of Richelieu.

The picturesque nature - mountains, the sea, green gardens - had a romance, and, naturally, Alexander Sergeyevich began to show interest in Maria Nikolaevna. But not to her alone. Her sisters also fascinated Pushkin with youth and beauty. Especially the eldest daughter of Nikolai Nikolaevich, who by nature was a modest and serious young lady. The days spent with the Raevsky family in Gurzuf were the happiest in the life of the great poet. He enjoyed reading the poet's daughters with pleasure, discussed the works of Byron and Voltaire with them.

Did not work out…

But did Pushkin and Maria Raevskaya become closer to each other? The love story of this couple, of course, interested everyone who admired the poet's talent. However, apart from friendship, strong and deep feelings for Alexander Sergeevich, the future wife of the Decembrist did not feel. And Mary noticed that young Alexander is also not indifferent to her sisters. But they also did not take the poet seriously. But Pushkin's poetry for Maria Raevskaya meant very much. She admired the way Alexander masterfully mastered the rhyme and ability to express feelings and emotions on paper. And yet the hobby of the young Masha gradually developed into true love. And Pushkin, being shy with the object of his passion, may, in the end, dare to say about his feelings, but he has not achieved reciprocity. Subsequently, Alexander seriously experienced unrequited love, which, of course, reflected in his work.

That there is only one "Bakhchisaray fountain", which, according to Gustav Olizar, became a bright dedication to Maria Nikolaevna. Pushkin continued to communicate with his muse in the city on the Neva and Moscow.

And yet, according to some experts, there was a period when Raevskaya was not indifferent to the author of "Eugene Onegin". It is about the first half of the 20-ies, when Maria Nikolaevna and Alexander Sergeevich had a meeting in Odessa. Shortly before this girl addressed to Pushkin letter, in which she admitted that she was sorely lacking in his society. However, at that time, Pushkin was already somewhat cool to his museum and decided to tell her about it in person. He did so. After that Maria Raevskaya, whose biography contains many interesting and noteworthy facts, hurried to leave Odessa for Kiev.

The last time the poet saw his muse in the winter of 1826, shortly before her departure to exile. Anyway, but Maria Raevskaya in the life of Pushkin left a big mark.

Unfaithful husband

However, in order to win the attention of the young Masha, Alexander Sergeevich once had a competitor. We are talking about the Polish Count Gustave Olizar, who, like Pushkin, was engaged in poetry. The nobleman was also struck by the appearance of Maria Nikolaevna. In 1824, he even wooed a young lady, but Nikolai Nikolayevich opposed this idea, because he was deeply embarrassed by the Polish roots of a potential son-in-law.

And later, Pushkin repeatedly met with his counterpart and talked with him on literary topics. Whether it was otherwise, but the daughter of General Raevsky did not have a fondness for the Poles Olizar, and he was very upset about this. Maria Nikolaevna did not want to associate her fate with the "straightforward" gentry, because the differences in the Russian and Polish way of life seemed too deep to her.

Prince

After some time, Maria Raevskaya's fate will be reduced to the thirty-six-year-old prince Sergei Volkonsky, who belonged to the noble family. In his youth, he served as a lieutenant of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment. Having gained experience in military affairs, Volkonsky showed himself well in the battles of 1806-1807. Then he participated in the First Patriotic War and foreign campaigns. Having reached the rank of general, Volkonsky returned to his homeland. In the early 20-ies the prince received command of an entire infantry division. His military career could be envied by any officer. The only incident that did not give rest to Sergei Grigorievich was that he led a bachelor life, although he was already over thirty. He, like many representatives of the Russian elite, regularly visited the Masonic lodges.

The prince had a membership in the Southern Society and often visited the city on the Neva River for negotiations. And with his associates, he discussed the idea of destroying monarchs and establishing a republican form of government in the country.

Marriage

In 1824 Sergei Grigorievich hurried to Kiev "on a very important matter." He intended to make an offer to Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya and hoped that her father would bless their union. Prince perfectly knew the family of General Rayevsky and enjoyed visiting their estate, sometimes arranging "magnetic sessions", which in fact were ordinary meetings with members of the Masonic lodge. He asked his colleague, Orlov, to follow him in front of Nikolai Nikolayevich and find out whether he was willing to marry Maria Nikolaevna. And Prince Raevsky finally gave in, because the financial situation of his family was seriously shaken, and Volkonsky was a wealthy man. And although Maria Nikolayevna did not feel anything for Sergei Grigorievich, she decided to obey the will of her father. For the sake of her own family, she sacrificed herself. And after the meeting with Pushkin in Odessa, life for her to some extent lost its meaning.

After some time after the marriage, Volkonskaya Maria Nikolaevna was unwell, and in order to restore her health, she had to go to Odessa. The prince could not accompany her because of the service. And there was no spiritual affinity between Sergei Grigorievich and Raevsky's daughter. He could not take care of her even at the moment when the princess became pregnant. The birth was complicated and negatively affected the health of Maria Nikolaevna.

A sharp twist of fate

And then she found out about the arrest of her husband. The conspirators suffered a severe fate: the emperor ordered them to be sent to Siberia. Sergei Volkonsky was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. Maria decided not to leave her husband and go after him.

However, parents are very critical of her idea. But Volkonska Maria Nikolaevna (the wife of the Decembrist), who inherited her father's character, showed principled principles and ignored her relatives' opinion. She visited both the Blagodatsky mine, the Petrovsky factory, and Chita. The daughter of General Raevsky shared with her husband all the hardships of exile. Truly severe and severe trials suffered Volkonskaya Maria. The princess's children died: first Nikolai, left in the care of relatives, and two years later, and daughter Sofia, born in exile. In the fall of 1829, General Nikolai Nikolayevich Raevsky died.

In Irkutsk, Maria lived in the mayor's house. In the second half of the 30th Princess Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya with her husband and children moved to a settlement in the village of Urik, located near Irkutsk.

The long-awaited freedom

Only in 1856 Volkonsky was allowed to return to his homeland by an amnesty. By that time, Maria Nikolayevna's health had been severely undermined. After coming from Siberia, she began writing autobiographical memoirs. Her "Notes" were reprinted many times.

Death

The Princess died on August 10, 1863. Doctors diagnosed her heart disease. Maria Nikolaevna was buried in her native village of Voronka in the Chernigov province.