Demidovs
14.99 €
In stock
Demidovs
14.99 €
The Demidov family began with Nikita Demidovich Antyufeyev. This simple blacksmith from Tula impressed Tsar Peter with his skill and became one of the most influential people of his time. Many dark legends are associated with him and his descendants, such as the story of workers drowned in the basements after their employer ordered them to mint counterfeit coins, or the story of how an entrepreneur burned down a house he had built, which had previously housed an official investigating him. Over time, the Demidovs became true aristocrats and intermarried with the most distinguished families of the Russian Empire.
Among them were eccentrics, dandies who squandered their wealth without reserve, scholars, generous philanthropists, and excellent managers. For example, Prokofiy Demidov sent a piglet to his son-in-law who invited him to dinner, despite being an accomplished botanist. His distant relative, Pavel Pavlovich, notorious for his extravagance, was an excellent chess player and corresponded with leading grandmasters. Pavel Pavlovich's father, Pavel Nikolaevich, was the governor of Kursk and eradicated bribery among his subordinates, while his daughter, Aurora, became a femme fatale who captivated her contemporaries.
Unfortunately, later generations of these once-thrifty industrialists withdrew from the family business, resulting in its gradual decline. The establishment of Soviet power deprived the family of their source of income and forced many of its members into exile, but Russia inherited factories, as well as astonishing stories and legends.
Among them were eccentrics, dandies who squandered their wealth without reserve, scholars, generous philanthropists, and excellent managers. For example, Prokofiy Demidov sent a piglet to his son-in-law who invited him to dinner, despite being an accomplished botanist. His distant relative, Pavel Pavlovich, notorious for his extravagance, was an excellent chess player and corresponded with leading grandmasters. Pavel Pavlovich's father, Pavel Nikolaevich, was the governor of Kursk and eradicated bribery among his subordinates, while his daughter, Aurora, became a femme fatale who captivated her contemporaries.
Unfortunately, later generations of these once-thrifty industrialists withdrew from the family business, resulting in its gradual decline. The establishment of Soviet power deprived the family of their source of income and forced many of its members into exile, but Russia inherited factories, as well as astonishing stories and legends.
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author
- All books in the series Dynasties of Russia