Mikhail Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin
Encyclopedia
Count Mikhail Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin (Михаи́л Петро́вич Бесту́жев-Рю́мин) (1688, Moscow
– 1760) was a Russia
n diplomat. He was the son of Pyotr Bestuzhev
and elder brother of the more famous Aleksey Bestuzhev.
Mikhail Bestuzhev was brought up with his brother in Berlin
. In 1705, Peter the Great commanded him to join the Russian embassy in Copenhagen
. Fifteen years later, he became the Russian resident in England
, which — despite an earlier obligation to the contrary — presently entered an alliance with Sweden. As the Great Northern War
between Russia and Sweden was still going on, Bestuzhev attempted to interfere but was ordered by the English government to leave the country.
He then settled in the Hague, until the Peace of Nystad concluded the war in 1721. Thereupon he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary in Stockholm
, a position which he filled with notable success. During his tenure, Sweden recognized Russia as an empire and concluded a defensive alliance with her for 12 years. Catherine I of Russia
, however, ordered him to move to Warsaw
in 1726, while Empress Anna removed him to Berlin
before having him returned to Stockholm in 1732. Although the alliance with Sweden was prolongated, Bestuzhev was exposed to street violence more than once and was briefly taken into custody when the new Russo-Swedish War erupted in 1741.
Upon his release, Bestuzhev proceeded to Hanover
to confer with George II of Great Britain
. At this time, Empress Elizabeth usurped the throne and appointed Bestuzhev her agent in Warsaw. In 1743, he married Golovkin's daughter, who was soon involved into the Lopukhina Affair, which resulted in her tongue being torn out. During the investigation of his wife's behaviour, Bestuzhev was held under house arrest. When he was finally allowed to go abroad, his powerful brother procured for him a series of lucrative appointements. He successively served as the Russian ambassador in Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna
, and Paris
, where he died.
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...
– 1760) was a Russia
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 diplomat. He was the son of Pyotr Bestuzhev
Pyotr Bestuzhev
Count Pyotr Mikhailovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin was a Russian statesman who effectively governed the Duchy of Courland in the name of Anna Ivanovna between 1712 and 1728....
and elder brother of the more famous Aleksey Bestuzhev.
Mikhail Bestuzhev was brought up with his brother in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1705, Peter the Great commanded him to join the Russian embassy in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. Fifteen years later, he became the Russian resident in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which — despite an earlier obligation to the contrary — presently entered an alliance with Sweden. As the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
between Russia and Sweden was still going on, Bestuzhev attempted to interfere but was ordered by the English government to leave the country.
He then settled in the Hague, until the Peace of Nystad concluded the war in 1721. Thereupon he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, a position which he filled with notable success. During his tenure, Sweden recognized Russia as an empire and concluded a defensive alliance with her for 12 years. Catherine I of Russia
Catherine I of Russia
Catherine I , the second wife of Peter the Great, reigned as Empress of Russia from 1725 until her death.-Life as a peasant woman:The life of Catherine I was said by Voltaire to be nearly as extraordinary as that of Peter the Great himself. There are no documents that confirm her origins. Born on...
, however, ordered him to move to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
in 1726, while Empress Anna removed him to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
before having him returned to Stockholm in 1732. Although the alliance with Sweden was prolongated, Bestuzhev was exposed to street violence more than once and was briefly taken into custody when the new Russo-Swedish War erupted in 1741.
Upon his release, Bestuzhev proceeded to Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
to confer with George II of Great Britain
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
. At this time, Empress Elizabeth usurped the throne and appointed Bestuzhev her agent in Warsaw. In 1743, he married Golovkin's daughter, who was soon involved into the Lopukhina Affair, which resulted in her tongue being torn out. During the investigation of his wife's behaviour, Bestuzhev was held under house arrest. When he was finally allowed to go abroad, his powerful brother procured for him a series of lucrative appointements. He successively served as the Russian ambassador in Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he died.