Konstantin Danzas
Encyclopedia
Konstantin Karlovich Danzas (1801 – February 3, 1870) was a Russia
n Major General
, a friend of Alexander Pushkin, and his second in a duel with d'Anthès.
Danzas was born to a noble Courland
family in 1801. He started his education in Moscow
, but at the request of influential family friend, Countess Sofia Stroganova
, he was accepted to Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum
. Students gave him nickname "Bear". While in the school, Danzas befriended Pushkin. Upon graduation in 1817, Danzas started his military career. Throughout the service Danzas was frequently commended for his outstanding bravery. Among his awards were a golden sword for valor (1828) and a brilliant ring - a very rare decoration for an army officer. Danzas took part in many military campaigns, and in 1828 he was wounded in the left shoulder. He didn't fully recover from this wound, and for the long time was using a sling to support his left hand.
On January 27, 1837 Pushkin asked Danzas to be his second in duel with d'Anthès. Duels were against the law, but being a man of honor, Danzas could not refuse Pushkin. Pushkin was mortally wounded in the duel, and died a few days later. Lying on his death bed, Pushkin said to Zhukovsky
and Vyazemsky
, "Beg for Danzas. He is my soul brother." Danzas was arrested for his role as second in the duel, and confined to the Peter and Paul Fortress
. Initially he was sentenced to death by hanging, but later the sentence was reduced to two months of imprisonment. After release, Danzas continued his army service. He asked to be transferred to the Caucasus
, and took position of a commander of the Tengin regiment, where Mikhail Lermontov
served. Danzas left the army in 1856, in the rank of Major General. He continued to live in solitude, without a family. Over time, he came to blame himself more for Pushkin's death, and this affected his mood. Danzas carefully maintained his own small collection of valuable items related to Pushkin, including Pushkin's death mask
, rare letters and a turquoise
ring that Pushkin himself gave him. Danzas died on February 3, 1870, alone, and was buried at state expense in the Catholic cemetery. In 1936 his remains were moved to the Tikhvin Cemetery
of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, a friend of Alexander Pushkin, and his second in a duel with d'Anthès.
Danzas was born to a noble Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
family in 1801. He started his education in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, but at the request of influential family friend, Countess Sofia Stroganova
Stroganovs
The Stroganovs or Strogonovs , also spelled in French manner as Stroganoffs, were a family of highly successful Russian merchants, industrialists, landowners, and statesmen of the 16th – 20th centuries who eventually earned nobility.-Origins:...
, he was accepted to Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum
Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum
The Imperial Lyceum in Tsarskoye Selo near Saint Petersburg also known historically as the Imperial Alexander Lyceum after its founder the Emperor Alexander I with the object of educating youths of the best families, who should afterwards occupy important posts in the Imperial service.Its...
. Students gave him nickname "Bear". While in the school, Danzas befriended Pushkin. Upon graduation in 1817, Danzas started his military career. Throughout the service Danzas was frequently commended for his outstanding bravery. Among his awards were a golden sword for valor (1828) and a brilliant ring - a very rare decoration for an army officer. Danzas took part in many military campaigns, and in 1828 he was wounded in the left shoulder. He didn't fully recover from this wound, and for the long time was using a sling to support his left hand.
On January 27, 1837 Pushkin asked Danzas to be his second in duel with d'Anthès. Duels were against the law, but being a man of honor, Danzas could not refuse Pushkin. Pushkin was mortally wounded in the duel, and died a few days later. Lying on his death bed, Pushkin said to Zhukovsky
Vasily Zhukovsky
Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky was the foremost Russian poet of the 1810s and a leading figure in Russian literature in the first half of the 19th century...
and Vyazemsky
Pyotr Vyazemsky
Prince Pyotr Andreyevich Vyazemsky or Petr Andreevich Viazemsky was a leading personality of the Golden Age of Russian poetry.- Biography :...
, "Beg for Danzas. He is my soul brother." Danzas was arrested for his role as second in the duel, and confined to the Peter and Paul Fortress
Peter and Paul Fortress
The Peter and Paul Fortress is the original citadel of St. Petersburg, Russia, founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and built to Domenico Trezzini's designs from 1706-1740.-History:...
. Initially he was sentenced to death by hanging, but later the sentence was reduced to two months of imprisonment. After release, Danzas continued his army service. He asked to be transferred to the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, and took position of a commander of the Tengin regiment, where Mikhail Lermontov
Mikhail Lermontov
Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov , a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter, sometimes called "the poet of the Caucasus", became the most important Russian poet after Alexander Pushkin's death in 1837. Lermontov is considered the supreme poet of Russian literature alongside Pushkin and the greatest...
served. Danzas left the army in 1856, in the rank of Major General. He continued to live in solitude, without a family. Over time, he came to blame himself more for Pushkin's death, and this affected his mood. Danzas carefully maintained his own small collection of valuable items related to Pushkin, including Pushkin's death mask
Death mask
In Western cultures a death mask is a wax or plaster cast made of a person’s face following death. Death masks may be mementos of the dead, or be used for creation of portraits...
, rare letters and a turquoise
Turquoise
Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl648·4. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue...
ring that Pushkin himself gave him. Danzas died on February 3, 1870, alone, and was buried at state expense in the Catholic cemetery. In 1936 his remains were moved to the Tikhvin Cemetery
Tikhvin Cemetery
Tikhvin Cemetery is located at the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, in Saint Petersburg, Russia.Established in 1823, some of the notables buried here are:* Mily Balakirev - , composer* Alexander Borodin - , composer...
of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra or Saint Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded by Peter I of Russia in 1710 at the eastern end of the Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg supposing that that was the site of the Neva Battle in 1240 when Alexander Nevsky, a prince, defeated the Swedes; however, the battle...
.