Generalissimo Shein biography. The first Russian generalissimo Alexei Semenovich Shein. Again under the walls of Smolensk

Shein, Alexey Semenovich

Close boyar, generalissimo during the reign of Peter the Great, son of the steward Semyon Ivanovich Shein, great-grandson of the famous boyar M. B. Shein, born in 1662, died on February 12, 1700. Shein began his service, according to the custom of that time, at the royal court with the rank of steward. Already in 1672, he was mentioned in “Discharges” when describing various court ceremonies: he decorated wines, looked at the sovereign’s tables at ceremonial court dinners, served as a bell bear when receiving foreign ambassadors, accompanied the tsar during his trips to monasteries and suburban villages, in a word, received active participation in the entire court life of that time. In 1680, Alexey Semenovich was already mentioned among the room steward; in the same year he was sent to the voivodeship in Tobolsk, which was a common step in the career of that time. Returning from Tobolsk to Moscow at the beginning of 1682, Shein quickly began to advance. Already on January 12 of this year, along with other court officials of the Moscow court, he signed a conciliar act on the destruction of localism, and on March 25 of the same year, despite his early age, he was granted a boyar status. After the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, he took part in the coronation of John and Peter Alekseevich, and in 1683 we find him already in the voivodeship in Kursk, where he was tasked with organizing several rifle regiments expelled from Moscow, which seemed dangerous after the riot of 1682. public peace in Moscow. Having fulfilled this order, placing and arranging settlements for the archers, Shein received dismissal from the voivodeship in Kursk. In 1684, when the imminence of war with Turkey and the Crimea had already become clear, Shein was sent to the southern borders to inspect the border fortresses, find out the degree of their combat readiness and prepare them for defense. In 1686, before the first Crimean campaign, Shein gathered Kolomna, Ryazan, Putivl and Kashira servicemen in Kolomna. In 1689, he participated, under the command of Prince V.V. Golitsyn, in the second Crimean campaign. Under the command of Shein in this campaign was the entire Novgorod rank.

We do not know on whose side Shein was during the overthrow of Princess Sophia in 1689, but, apparently, his sympathies were rather on the side of Peter.

After the departure of Peter the Great, Shein, as commander-in-chief, had to very soon again act against the Turks, who were thinking of taking Azov back. First, he spoke out against the Crimean Tatars, who were preparing for a campaign against the German emperor. According to the treaty of alliance, Russia must distract them from the attack, and Shein successfully accomplished this. Having received at this time news of the movement of a large Turkish army towards Azov, he himself moved against it, defeated it near the Kogalnik River and easily brought the Nogais and Tatars living near the Kuban to submission.

Meanwhile, new unrest began among the Streltsy, who had been pacified in 1689. The Streltsy regiments were dissatisfied with the fact that they were sent to different parcels, kept in a garrison in Azov, and sought to move to Moscow, where their settlements were and their families lived. When, instead, in the summer the Streltsy regiments were ordered to move to the Lithuanian border, the Streltsy rebelled. Some of them, having fled to Moscow, brought from there to the Lithuanian border letters from Princess Sophia, who convinced the archers to go to Moscow and ask her for the kingdom. The Sagittarius, under the influence of these letters, finally rebelled and moved towards Moscow. Shein came out to meet them with 4,000 regular troops and 25 cannons. Having met with the archers on June 17, 1698 at the Resurrection Monastery, Shein initially tried to persuade them and sent Gordon and Prince Koltsov-Mosalsky, convincing the rebels to obey the orders of the government and go back. However, the convictions did not work, the archers began to openly speak out against Peter, and Shein was forced to disperse them with cannons. Several volleys of artillery, commanded by the skilled artilleryman de Grage, quickly dispersed the discordant crowds of rebels, and Shein very soon began searching for the instigators. He “sorted out and looked at them, who were thieves, and who were good people, and who were starting a riot in Moscow; and after that there was a great search and cruel torture for them, the archers, and according to that search, many were executed and killed along the way; the rest were sent to prisons and monasteries under guard." However, trying to stop the riot as quickly as possible and punish the perpetrators, Shein carried out the search too quickly and did not reveal the participation of Princess Sophia in it, which was revealed two months later, when Peter himself arrived from abroad. This circumstance was the reason for the king’s strong displeasure with Shein. The Tsar became even more angry with Alexei Semenovich when his abuses were discovered. Shein promoted colonels and officers for money, took bribes from his subordinates, in a word, he did not live up to the hopes that the sovereign had placed on him. However, there was no open gap between them. Shein obeyed all the Tsar’s innovations, was the first to lose his beard, which Peter cut off with his own hand the very next day upon arrival, and at the end of 1699 he traveled with the Tsar to Voronezh. However, after this Alexey Semenovich did not live long: on February 12, 1700, he died and was buried in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Spiridov. "Notes on ancient services of Russian noble families" (Manuscript of the Imperial Publ. Bibl.), V. 331-337; Golikov. "The Acts of Peter the Great" (2nd ed.) vol. VI, VII; Ustryalov. "History of the reign of Peter the Great.", vol. I, II; Soloviev (published by the "General Benefits"), book. III, pp. 1149, 1152, 1157, 1194-1197; Bayer. “A brief description of all cases relating to Azov” (St. Petersburg, 1768); Ruban: “The Campaign of Boyar Shein” (St. Petersburg, 1773); "Tagebuch des Generalen Patrick Gordon"; "Notes of Odessa. General History and Antiquities", vol. VII pp. 135-165; "Journal or daily note of Peter the Great from 1698." (SPb. 1770-72). Korb's Diary (Readings of Moscow. General History and Antiquities 1866, IV, 1867, 1, III); "Historical Acts", V, 78, 89, 90, 508, 511; "Acts of the Archeogr. Expedition", 390, 412, 437, 438, 465, 468; "Addition to historical acts", VII, 360-362; VIII, 46, 47; 50, 177, 238, 240, 282, 325; IX, 64, 159; X, 38-40; "Palace ranks", vol. III and IV; "Monuments of diplomatic relations", vol. VI, VII, VIII and X. Desktop. words F. Toll, vol. III, p. 1038; Reference encyclopedist words K. Kraya, vol. XII, p. 255; Encycloped. words Ephron, half 77, page 363.

E. Reckless.

(Polovtsov)

Shein, Alexey Semenovich

Russian commander. Rod in 1662. In 1695 he was sent to the city of Azov with an army, which included two amusing regiments, Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky; Peter himself was under Sh. with the rank of captain of the Preobrazhensky regiment. Sh. besieged Azov, but only managed to take two towers located above the city; the city itself, guarded by a strong garrison and receiving food and military supplies from the sea, repelled all attacks, and Peter, convinced that without a fleet the capture of Azov was impossible, retreated in order to squeeze the city from the sea and the dry route the next year. In 1696, Sh. again approached Azov and besieged it from a dry route, and Peter blocked the city from the sea, using a fleet built in Voronezh; two months later, Azov surrendered, despite the fact that the Crimean Sultan Nuradin attacked the Russian camp five times with a strong army; all these attacks were repulsed with great damage. In 1698, Sh. was detached with the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments against 4 rebel streltsy regiments, which, taking advantage of the absence of Peter and excited by Princess Sophia, became indignant, seized guns and moved from Toropets to Moscow. On June 18, Sh. met the rebels 46 versts from Moscow, near the Resurrection Monastery, on the banks of the Istra, and at first tried to reason with the rebellious, but then entered into battle with them and defeated them completely. He died in 1700. His journal about the campaign to Azov and the structure of the Taganrog fortress was published in “Ancient Russian Vivliofika” and was especially published by Ruban (St. Petersburg, 1773).

(Brockhaus)

Shein, Alexey Semenovich

boyar, commander-in-chief in the 2nd Azov campaign of Peter I (1696), defeater of the Streltsy in 1698; R. 1642, † 12 Feb. 1700

(Polovtsov)

Large biographical encyclopedia. 2009 .

See what “Shein, Alexey Semenovich” is in other dictionaries:

- (1662 1700) boyar, generalissimo (1696). Great-grandson of M. B. Shein. Voivode in the Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689. Participant in the Azov campaign of 1695. Commander of the ground forces in the Azov campaign of 1696. Army commander and one of the leaders... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Shein (Alexey Semenovich) Russian commander. Born in 1662. In 1695 he was sent to the city of Azov with an army, which included two amusing regiments, Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky; Peter himself was under Sh. in the rank of captain... ... Biographical Dictionary

- (1662‒12.2. 1700), commander and statesman of Russia. Great-grandson of M. B. Shein. Boyar from 1682, close boyar from 1695. In 1683–84, governor in Kursk. One of the governors in the Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689 and in the Azov campaign of 1695. In the Azov campaign of 1696... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Alexey Shein. Shein, Alexey Semyonovich (1662 February 12, 1700) Russian governor, boyar, statesman, first Russian generalissimo. Alexey Shein came from an old boyar family. His great-grandfather Mikhail Borisovich Shein commanded the Russians... ... Wikipedia

Shein, Alexey Semenovich- Shein, Alexey Semenovich SHEIN Alexey Semenovich (1662 1700), boyar, generalissimo (1696). Participant in the Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689 and the Azov campaign of 1695. Commander of the ground forces in the Azov campaign of 1696. He led the army and was one of... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (1662 1700), boyar, generalissimo (1696). Great-grandson of M. B. Shein. Voivode in the Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689. Participant in the Azov campaign of 1695. Commander of the ground forces in the Azov campaign of 1696. Army commander and one of the leaders... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

- ... Wikipedia

On the spring morning of April 28, 1634, Moscow people flocked to Red Square in noisy crowds. Even here, in the capital, accustomed to the sight of executions, the upcoming event caused general excitement - no joke, the main royal governor Shein was supposed to rise to the scaffold, and with him his assistant Artemy Izmailov and his son Vasily. What brought these people, surrounded by honor only yesterday, to the chopping block?

Young careerist - heir to an ancient family

No information has been preserved about where and when voivode Mikhail Borisovich Shein was born, but, according to some data, researchers are inclined to believe that this event occurred in the late 70s of the 16th century. It is known that he came from an ancient family of nobles, the Sheins, mentions of which are found in chronicles starting from the 14th century.

Voivode Shein began his path to the top of the court hierarchy as a squire under Tsar Boris Godunov during his Serpukhov campaign against the Tatar hordes. He strengthened his position by marrying the daughter of one of the tsar’s closest relatives, Maria Godunova. Having thus become related to the autocrat, he rose sharply up the career ladder, and soon received a very honorable position at that time as a chashnik, that is, an official in charge of the sovereign’s wine cellars.

Beginning of the Polish intervention

The young nobleman Mikhail Shein was torn from the barrels of overseas wines by military actions that unfolded in connection with the invasion of Polish-Lithuanian troops in 1604 and the appearance within Russia of the impostor False Dmitry I. Participating in the battle of Novgorod-Seversky, he covered himself with glory, saving him from the inevitable death of the commander of the Russian troops, Prince Fyodor Mstislavovich. For this feat, the sovereign granted him boyarhood and made him the chief commander of the city recaptured from the enemy.

Subsequent events unfolded in such a way that, due to the death of Boris Godunov and the mass transition of a significant number of residents of neighboring cities and villages to the side of False Dmitry I, Shein was also forced to swear allegiance to the impostor, and only the quick fall of the latter saved him from this forced oath.

New battles and another appointment

Voivode Shein also played a very noticeable role in suppressing the uprising of Ivan Bolotnikov, which broke out during the reign of Ivan Shuisky. As part of the troops sent to pacify the rebel, who left only blood and destruction along the route of his hordes, he participated in all the main battles of that campaign. He had a chance to fight near Yelets, and on the Pakhra River, and at the walls of the Moscow Kremlin, where he led a regiment of Smolensk nobles. There was a young governor and among the squad that besieged Tula, which became the last stronghold of the Bolotnikovites.

When in 1607 there was a threat of the capture of Smolensk by King Sigismund, then by decree of the king, governor Shein was appointed head of the city. The defense of Smolensk was the most important strategic task, since it lay on the enemy’s path to Moscow. In this regard, the governor had a great responsibility.

The approach of the enemy army

In anticipation of the enemy's approach, which, according to available data, was expected at the city walls in early September 1609, Governor Shein carried out extensive preparatory work aimed at strengthening the city. In particular, on his order, the fortress wall, erected under Boris Godunov, was built on, and several additional internal defensive lines were created. In order to deprive the enemy of the opportunity to use Zadneprovsky Posad for their deployment, all its buildings had to be burned, and the inhabitants of more than 600 households had to be placed inside the fortress.

In early October, Sigismund's army, numbering 12.5 thousand people, approached Smolensk. They were opposed by 5.5 thousand defenders of the city. The defense of the city, unparalleled in its heroism, began, lasting 20 months. According to the conclusion of many military historians, it was an example of a number of new tactical techniques, little mastered in Russian practice.

Defense that ended in defeat

In particular, we are talking about the so-called underground war that unfolded near the walls of the city, when mine galleries dug under the walls of the fortress opened up and were blown up, causing considerable losses to the Poles. The reflection of numerous assaults undertaken by the besieging troops also went down in history. They also used new tactics for those times, which were developed by governor Shein.

The defense of Smolensk, however, posed an increasingly difficult task with each passing month, since the besieged did not receive outside help, and their own resources were coming to an end. As a result, in the spring of 1611, when out of 5.5 thousand defenders of the fortress only 200 people remained alive, the Poles captured the city.

Captivity and subsequent return to Moscow

Some of the residents, fleeing from enemies, locked themselves in the main city temple - the Monomakh Cathedral, and died as a result of the explosion of the gunpowder magazine located under it. Voivode Shein himself was captured by the Poles and sent to Poland, where he spent eight years in captivity, until the conclusion of the Deulin Truce, one of the conditions of which was the exchange of prisoners.

Governor Shein was among those who returned to their homeland. A photo reproducing his image in a painting by the famous Russian artist Yuri Melkov (placed at the beginning of the article), if it does not pretend to be a portrait likeness, then, in any case, conveys his appearance in the eyes of the people, who saw in him a defender of the Fatherland, similar to the epic heroes. The war was not over, and great hopes were placed on yesterday’s captive.

Again under the walls of Smolensk

In Moscow, governor Shein enjoyed universal respect and the favor of the tsar himself. He was entrusted with leading the detective order, but the governor was eager to join the troops with all his soul, and in 1632, when the Deulin truce expired, he was sent by the sovereign to liberate Smolensk, so memorable to him.

Despite the fact that under his command there was an army that far outnumbered the defenders of the fortress, this task turned out to be impossible for the governor. Researchers who studied this dramatic episode of Russian history put forward several versions to explain what happened.

New defeat

According to many of them, the reason for the failure was the criminal sluggishness of military officials who were responsible for transporting powerful battering guns to besieged Smolensk, with the help of which the besiegers could penetrate the city. Others point to the constant interference in the course of military operations by Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, who was incompetent in this area, and to the mistakes he made. There are also supporters of the version according to which the blame largely lies with governor Shein himself.

One way or another, the moment favorable for the liberation of the city was missed, and the army of many thousands that soon approached the city forced the besiegers to ask him for a truce. It was received and allowed Shein and the troops entrusted to him to leave the walls of Smolensk, but on humiliating conditions for them.

A life ended on the scaffold

In Moscow, the defeated governor received a more than cold reception. All the blame for the military failure was placed on him. In addition, yesterday's favorite of the tsar was charged with treason, based on rumors that allegedly, while in Polish captivity, he swore allegiance to King Sigismund III. Many modern researchers believe that the reason lay in the desire of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich to blame his own mistakes in leading the military operation on the governor under his control. One way or another, an urgently convened boyar commission sentenced him to death.

The news that Voivode Shein was convicted for the defeat he suffered under the walls of Smolensk was received extremely ambiguously by the society of that time. Many of the military men who had previously fought under the command of Shein were openly indignant and threatened to leave the army forever, but there were also those who could hardly restrain their gloating. There were especially many of them around the king. It is possible that it was the once revered governor Shein, whose short biography formed the basis of our story, who fell victim to their intrigues.

KURSK voivode Alexey Semenovich Shein (1662-1700) came from an ancient boyar family. The ancestor of this family is considered to be Mikhail Prushanin, whom the chronicle mentions as “a brave, honest man who left the Prussian lands to visit the Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky.” For a long time, this boyar family had the nickname Moroz, which passed from generation to generation. Boyarin Vasily Mikhailovich Moroz (under the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III) received the nickname Neck, which is where the name Sheynykh came from.

Among the ancestors of Alexei Semenovich, the most famous is his great-grandfather Mikhail Borisovich, whose life, full of ups and downs, deserves a separate description as an example of the injustice of fate. Even in troubled times, he led the most difficult and valiant defense of Smolensk from the Polish-Lithuanian troops, and was in captivity for a long time. Later, in 1632-1634, during the Smolensk War, which did not bypass Kursk, he commanded the entire Russian army. Here luck turned its back on him: after the forced surrender of the army, Mikhail Borisovich was unfairly accused of treason and executed by the verdict of the boyar duma. The Sheyny family was deported to the Alatyr district of the Simbirsk province.

At first, the great-grandson’s career developed like that of many young men of noble families: at the age of ten, Alexey was already listed as a steward, and at less than eighteen, in 1680, he went as a governor to distant and restless Tobolsk. But the final rehabilitation of the Shein family will occur only in 1682, with the award of Alexei as a boyar, and will be secured by a royal decree, which stated: “They (the Sheins) have never committed treason...”

It must be said that in those days, noble youth often began serving in “hot spots” where the boyars matured and gained experience. With such a young man, there was always a “siege leader” who could be relied upon, but the governor was responsible for everything - before the king himself.

Of course, just for having a big name, you won’t be sent to be a governor even to the most seedy province, much less to Siberia. The requirements here were high: you had to know military affairs, fortification, cartography, the code of Russian laws and much more. And, of course, no title of nobility will help if you have poor health from a young age, do not own a weapon, or have already tarnished your reputation.

The voivodes did not sit in one place for a long time - so as not to “warm up”, lose their zeal for service, or steal... Two years later, boyar Alexei Semenovich was recalled to the capital, and then, in 1683, his path lies to the voivodeship in Kursk

It was a promotion. Our city at that time was much larger than Tobolsk; it had not yet completely lost its border significance as one of the outposts on the way of the Crimeans and Nogais to Russia. The people who inhabited the Kursk lands were not distinguished by discipline and law-abiding, to put it mildly. It was in those days that the saying arose: “The white king has no thief worse than a chicken man.”

There was one more circumstance, probably the main one, which assigned special tasks to the new Kursk governor. The fact is that in 1682-1683 there were serious streltsy unrest in Moscow, as a result of which many streltsy were expelled from the capital to “Ukrainian” cities, and Kursk, already a century before, was known as a place for settling all kinds of troublemakers.

"...Send those who were discharged from Sergiev priests (streltsy) with the initial people to Kursk, so that they would go with haste and be all in full force, and if any of them do not go to Kursk or run away from the road, they should be captured and beaten without any mercy and mercy..." The date of this entry is 1683.

At the same time, a reason was invented for the repose of the resettled archers: “..” to tell them that they should be in Kursk for a while - to protect themselves from the arrival of the Tatars...” But the wives and children of the disgraced archers had already been expelled from Moscow and sent on carts with all their belongings: “...Until they build courtyards, give them inns where it’s decent, in the settlements...”

In a word, Alexey Shein had a difficult voivodeship ahead of him, and if the choice fell on him, then, obviously, he managed to show himself worthily in the previous place - in Tobolsk.

So, the new Kursk governor is only twenty-one years old, and his ascent to the top of the career ladder has just begun. However, he has already lived most of his life...

In 1685, Shein returned to Moscow. Apparently, the Kursk voivodeship was not in vain - very soon he headed the Novgorod regiments in the Crimean campaigns of Tsar Peter Alekseevich. These difficult military campaigns of 1687 and 1689 were unsuccessful for Russian weapons, for which there were many reasons, but experience accumulated, and, as you and I know, this will soon have an effect...

Real transformations of all aspects of Russian life are still ahead, but a circle of like-minded people and associates around Peter has already formed: Alexey Shein is one of them...

In the first Azov campaign of 1695, Alexey Semenovich was among the three commanders-in-chief (Lefort, Golovin, Shein), to whom the thirty thousand-strong land army was subordinated. The campaign ended in vain - the fortress, guarded by a strong garrison and receiving food and military supplies from the sea, repelled all attacks . It was possible to take only two towers located above the city. Russia has not solved the problem of removing the threat to its southern borders. Peter did not yet have a real army and navy capable of solving any problems.

Alexey Semenovich proposes his own strategy for solving the Azov problem, one of the components of which will be the Russian fleet. The strategy has been approved at the highest level. In Voronezh, without delay, they begin to build ships that meet the task.

Engraving: Capture of Azov.
Shein is on the left hand of Peter, he is closer to the king than others.
A group of horsemen behind the king (from right to left): Tolstoy. Sheremetev. Lefort, Golovin. Gordon. Russians still dress according to their original traditions.

The second Azov campaign (1696) was successful, Shein’s strategy justified itself - the fortress, densely surrounded by Russians both from land and from water, could not withstand the siege and surrendered two months later. The Crimean Sultan Nuraddin attacked the Russian siege camp five times with a strong army, but all these attacks were repulsed with great damage to the enemy. The personnel of the fortress were allowed to leave with light weapons, “with their estate and belongings.” Residents also received the right of unhindered exit.

In this campaign, Alexei Semenovich already commanded all Russian ground forces (fifteen thousand infantry and ten thousand cavalry). Although Peter tried to keep a low profile, content with the title of “scorer,” it is quite clear that the main orders came from him. However, the young tsar was then no stranger to collegiality and tolerated reasonable objections from his closest associates.

All honors due to the winner as a result of the capture of Azov fell to Shein. The Tsar awarded him a gold medal, a commemorative cup, a caftan embroidered in gold with sables, and an estate of 305 households. When the troops marched solemnly through Moscow, Alexei Semenovich - now a generalissimo - rode on a richly decorated horse, accompanied by musicians and thirty horsemen in armor, and Peter modestly walked on foot in a black German dress. In those years, the title of generalissimo did not have the current meaning; it meant “governor of a large regiment.”

The successful completion of the campaign also affected the tsar’s “career” - the bombardier was promoted to the rank of captain. It must be said that such modesty of the tsar caused a lot of discontent among various layers of Russians who were accustomed to the Byzantine luxury of their crowned princes.

Immediately after the celebrations, Shein, by order of Peter, left for Azov, where he was engaged in the restoration of the fortress and the construction of a harbor in Taganrog. In August 1697, the Generalissimo repelled the attacks of a twenty-thousand-strong army of Turks and Tatars, led by Kaltasultan. The Russians drove the enemy all the way to Kagalnik and took Kuban.

Soon Peter will go abroad to study civilization - there is already someone to leave the country to. Shein is appointed commander-in-chief of the army and one of the leaders of the government.

In 1698, the Streltsy uprising began, threatening to plunge Russia into chaos. The revolt was suppressed thanks to the decisive and timely actions of the commander-in-chief - the rebel troops (four rifle regiments) were defeated by the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments 46 miles from Moscow, near the Resurrection Monastery, on the banks of the Istra. The archers surrendered, “they bowed their banners and left their guns and beat the sovereign with their foreheads.”

A difficult period of “streltsy investigation” and brutal repression began. Within a week, Shein conducted an investigation: he ordered 122 people to be executed, 140 to be whipped, about two thousand were sent to distant cities, and many were sent to prison.

But Peter, who returned from abroad, considered the punishment too lenient and the execution of the instigators hasty. The conclusions were immediately felt. During lunch at Lefort's, in the presence of all the boyars, generals, metropolitan nobility, and diplomats, the tsar started a scandal with Shein. Peter accused him of a mediocre search, of bribes, rushed at Shein with a sword, wounded Zotov, Romodanovsky and Lefort, who tried to calm the king. Shein's life hung by a thread. However, the quarrel was soon forgotten and had no consequences.

Contemporaries wrote that disagreements often arose between Peter and Alexei. Shein did not always share the Western tastes of the monarch and remained a Russian boyar. However, the first beard, which Peter cut with his own hand with the consent of its owner, belonged to the first Russian generalissimo.

Peter's closest companions. those who contributed to the initial stage of his transformations would pass away somehow immediately, when their assistance was especially necessary for the young tsar: Lefort and Gordom - in 1699, and then Shein - on February 11, 1700. Reforms only. began, but the country crossed its Rubicon, behind which a completely different Russia was seen. The Northern War will put everything in its place, and there will be one more great power. Only this will happen without the former Kursk governor.

His ashes rest on the territory of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The Sheyny family of boyars ended with the only son of Alexei Semenovich, Sergei, who left no offspring.

Shortly before his death, Peter discussed the project of a monument to Shein, Gordon and Lefort: “These men, by their loyalty and merit, are eternal monuments in Russia.” Peter wanted to erect the monument in the most revered place - in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. He had already sent sketches to the best sculptors in Rome, but did not have time to realize his plan.

It seems that it would be appropriate to embody, at least partially, the idea of the great emperor in our city, who was touched by the short and glorious life of Alexei Shein. We probably won’t be able to pull off the monument, but we are quite capable of renaming one of the streets in the historical center.

Russian commander, Generalissimo Alexey Semenovich Shein was born in August 1652 g. He came from an ancient old Moscow boyar family, which, according to family legend, traced its origins to a native of Prussia, Mikhail Prushenin, who decided to serve in Russia from the time ofGrand Duke Alexander Nevsky. Mikhail Prushenin was the ancestor of the Morozov boyars, from whom branches of the famous Russian families of the Sheins, Saltykovs and Choglokovs were formed.
The Sheins were one of the sixteen noble families of the ruling elite of the Moscow state and had the right to bypass the lower ranks when promoted to the boyar class. The commander’s grandmother, Maria Borisovna, the wife of the steward’s grandfather Ivan Mikhailovich Shein, was from the Lykov-Obolensky princes, and her mother Anastasia Nikitichna, from the royal family of the First Russian Generalissimo A.S. Shein Romanov, was the niece of the untimely deceasedbeloved wife of Ivan the Terrible and auntTsar Mikhail Fedorovich. The great-grandmother of the commander - Maria Mikhailovna, the wife of his great-grandfather, boyar Mikhail Borisovich Shein, came fromGodunov family. Alexey Semenovich began his service at the royal court in 1672 g. in the positions of sleeping bag and room attendant. IN 1680 - 1682 g.g. - was in the voivodeship in Tobolsk and ruled all of Siberia.
10 April 1682 Mr., one of the nearby stewards, was granted a boyar status in the thirtieth year of his life. IN 1683 - 1684 g.g. Shein was in the voivodeship in Kursk. Participated in the Crimean campaigns in 1687 And 1689 g.g. In the last campaign, Shein led the service people of the Novgorod rank and was the second governor after the commander-in-chief, Prince V.V. Golitsyn, while being called a close boyar and Pskov governor.
After the unsuccessful first Azov campaign 1695 Mr. Alexey Semenovich Shein led the second campaign 1696 which ended with the complete defeat of the enemy on land and in a naval battle, as well as the complete surrender of the garrison of the Azov fortress.Peter the First, Having won his first victory, he awarded the commander the highest military rank - generalissimo.
To welcome the victors returning from the campaign, for the first time in Russia, a triumphal arch was built in Moscow and a ceremonial reception of the troops was organized. A place of honor in this procession was occupied by Generalissimo A.S. Shein, riding on a horse with a white feather on his hat. When the procession reached the triumphal gates, cannon fire thundered, music played and hymns and poems were sung with greetings to the victors and wishes to the troops that they would always return with such victories. At the same time, especially “exalted”» wereLefort and Shein. Alexei Tolstoy in his novel Peter the Great» artistically described the commander at the most solemn moment of his life: “With great pomp... the squat, pompous, with a face that extended wide, rode on a Greek chariot, boyar Shein, the generalissimo, bestowed with this honor before the second Azov campaign... They dragged him along sixteen Turkish banners spread across the ground». For the capture of Azov, the commander was awarded a gold medal in 13 chervontsev, a cup, a brocade caftan with sables and extensive patrimonial land holdings.
The next year, A.S. Shein had to again lead troops in southern Russia and oppose the Turks, who were plotting to retake Azov, and the Crimean Tatars, who were preparing for a campaign against Peter’s Western allies I . According to the agreement, Russia was supposed to distract the enemy from attacking the allies. Upon receiving news of the movement of a large Turkish army to Azov, the troops led by Shein advanced and defeated the enemy at the Kagalnik River, after which they brought the Nogais and Tatars living near the Kuban River to submission. "Third» Azov campaign A.S. Sheina 1697 consolidated Russia's conquests in the south of the state and accelerated the end of the war between Russia and Turkey and the conclusion of the Treaty of Constantinople 1700 of the year.
WITH 1696 By 1700 g.g. Shein headed the Inozemsky, Pushkarsky and Reitarsky orders, which corresponded to the status of the commander-in-chief of all Russian troops.
The last years of the commander's life were devoted to strengthening the southern borders of the Fatherland. Under his leadership, a new Trinity Fortress (city of Taganrog) was built on the Azov coast - the first naval base of Russia, which, according to Peter’s first plans I was to become the new capital of the Russian state. The international situation and the military-political situation in the country did not allow the early plans of the future emperor to come true.
The first Russian generalissimo died 12 February 1700 on 48 year of life and was buried in

Russian commander, Generalissimo Alexey Semenovich Shein was born in August 1652. He came from an ancient Old Moscow boyar family, which, according to family legend, traced its origins to a native of Prussia, Mikhail Prushenin, who decided to serve in Russia from the time of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. Mikhail Prushenin was the ancestor of the Morozov boyars, from whom branches of the famous Russian families of the Sheins, Saltykovs and Choglokovs were formed.

The Sheins were one of the sixteen noble families of the ruling elite of the Moscow state and had the right to bypass the lower ranks when promoted to the boyar class. The commander’s grandmother, Maria Borisovna, the wife of the steward’s grandfather Ivan Mikhailovich Shein, was from the Lykov-Obolensky princes, and her mother Anastasia Nikitichna, from the royal family of the First Russian Generalissimo A.S. Shein Romanov, was the niece of the beloved wife of Ivan the Terrible, who died untimely, and the aunt of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. The great-grandmother of the commander, Maria Mikhailovna, the wife of his great-grandfather, boyar Mikhail Borisovich Shein, came from the Godunov family. Alexei Semenovich began serving at the royal court in 1672. in the positions of sleeping bag and room attendant. In 1680-1682 - was in the voivodeship in Tobolsk and ruled all of Siberia.

April 10, 1682 one of the nearby stewards, in the thirtieth year of his life, was granted a boyar status. In 1683-1684 Shein was in the voivodeship in Kursk. Participated in the Crimean campaigns in 1687 and 1689. In the last campaign, Shein led the service people of the Novgorod rank and was the second governor after the commander-in-chief, Prince V.V. Golitsyn, while being called a close boyar and Pskov governor.

After the unsuccessful first Azov campaign in 1695. Alexey Semenovich Shein led the second campaign in 1696, which ended in the complete defeat of the enemy on land and in a naval battle, as well as the complete surrender of the garrison of the Azov fortress. Peter the Great, who won his first victory, awarded the commander the highest military rank - generalissimo.

To welcome the victors returning from the campaign, for the first time in Russia, a triumphal arch was built in Moscow and a ceremonial reception of the troops was organized. A place of honor in this procession was occupied by Generalissimo A.S. Shein, riding on a horse with a white feather on his hat. When the procession reached the triumphal gates, cannon fire thundered, music played and hymns and poems were sung with greetings to the victors and wishes to the troops that they would always return with such victories. At the same time, Lefort and Shein were especially “great.” Alexei Tolstoy in his novel “Peter the Great” artistically described the commander at the most solemn moment of his life: “With great pomp... riding a Greek chariot, a squat, pompous, with a face that extended wide, boyar Shein, the generalissimo, bestowed with this honor before the second Azov campaign... Behind him, sixteen Turkish banners were dragged along the ground in banners.”

For the capture of Azov, the commander was awarded a gold medal of 13 chervonets, a cup, a brocade caftan with sables and extensive patrimonial land holdings.

The next year, A.S. Shein had to again lead troops in the south of Russia and oppose the Turks, who were plotting to retake Azov, and the Crimean Tatars, who were preparing for a campaign against the Western allies of Peter I. According to the agreement, Russia was supposed to distract the enemy from attacking the allies . Upon receiving news of the movement of a large Turkish army to Azov, the troops led by Shein advanced and defeated the enemy at the Kagalnik River, after which they brought the Nogais and Tatars living near the Kuban River to submission. “Third” Azov campaign A.S. Sheina 1697 consolidated Russia's conquests in the south of the state and accelerated the end of the war between Russia and Turkey and the conclusion of the Treaty of Constantinople in 1700.

From 1696 to 1700 Shein headed the Inozemsky, Pushkarsky and Reitarsky orders, which corresponded to the status of the commander-in-chief of all Russian troops.

The last years of the commander's life were devoted to strengthening the southern borders of the Fatherland. Under his leadership, a new Trinity Fortress (the city of Taganrog) was built on the Azov coast - the first naval base of Russia, which, according to the first plans of Peter I, was to become the new capital of the Russian state. The international situation and the military-political situation in the country did not allow the early plans of the future emperor to come true.

The first Russian generalissimo died on February 12, 1700. at the age of 48 and was buried in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery at the altar of the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (currently the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra in the city of Sergiev Posad, Moscow region).