Konstantin Danzas

Biography of Konstantin Karlovich Danzas (1824-1882)Konstantin Karlovich Danzas was a distinguished Russian military officer and statesman who played a significant role in the Crimean War. Born on June 28, 1801 in St. Petersburg, Russia, Danzas came from a family with a long military tradition. He graduated from the Page Corps in 1819 and began his military career as a cornet in the Life Guards Horse Regiment.Young Appearance: - Tall and slender - Sharp, intelligent features - Dark hair and piercing blue eyes - Impeccable military bearing and discipline - Known for his elegant and well-groomed appearance, even in the face of adversityCharacteristics: 1. Courage and Bravery: Danzas was known for his fearlessness in battle and his ability to inspire his troops. He consistently led from the front, never asking his men to do more than he would not do himself. 2. Strategic Thinking: As a military commander, Danzas demonstrated exceptional strategic planning and tactical acumen. He was able to analyze complex situations and devise effective strategies to outmaneuver the enemy. 3. Leadership: Danzas was a natural leader who could inspire loyalty and dedication in his subordinates. He was respected for his fairness, honesty, and concern for the welfare of his soldiers. 4.

Konstantin Karlovich Danzas, a Russian officer in the Imperial Army in the 19th century, was known for his impeccable manners and gentlemanly behavior, especially when dealing with ladies. His communication style was characterized by the following: 1. Respect and Courtesy: Danzas always treated ladies with the utmost respect, addressing them formally and using their titles. He was attentive to their needs and made sure that they felt comfortable and at ease in his presence. 2. Chivalry: As a true gentleman, Danzas believed in the importance of chivalry and always conducted himself in a way that protected and honored the ladies. He offered them his arm to see them off, helped them with their coats, and ensured their safety and comfort. 3. Conversation: Danzas was a skilled conversationalist who could discuss a wide range of topics with the ladies. He was interested in their thoughts and opinions and tried to engage them in meaningful discussions. He avoided controversial or inappropriate topics and kept the conversation light and pleasant. 4. Humor: Danzas had a good sense of humor and he used it to make women laugh and feel at ease. His humor was always polite and never overstepped the mark. He understood that humor can be a great icebreaker and help create a friendly atmosphere. 5. Letter: Being a skilled writer, Danzas often corresponded with women through letters. His letters were always well written, thoughtful, and expressive.

a good friend and acquaintance, who writes poems and works known throughout Russia

a modest, charming young man, a friend of Konstantin. Ilya also writes poetry and works

Very little is known about Pushkin's "Lyceum brother" and the story of his days is sad and difficult. It is strange, but even reputable sources do not mention his date of birth, except for the year - 1801 (he was two incomplete years younger than Alexander Pushkin). There is almost no information about his parents, it is only known that he came from an old noble family of Courland. He received his primary education in Moscow, in a university boarding school for nobles, where he was given a good knowledge of literature, calligraphy, the basics of a foreign language and everything that was necessary for a child from a good family. At the request of an influential acquaintance of his father, Major General Karl Danzas, Countess Sophia Vasilievna Stroganova, he was accepted to the Lyceum. Danzas passed the entrance exam with flying colors, but subsequently did not maintain his reputation as a diligent student.

Professor of Russian and Latin literature N. Koshansky assessed him as follows: "Konstantin Danzas, it seems, has few abilities, or they are changeable; he cannot walk with an even step, his diligence depends entirely on the eyes of the overseers; he does not have enough competition to compare with others, nor enough prudence to feel the benefit, which is why his successes are small and weak."

Tutor M. Pilecki expressed himself somewhat more softly: "It cannot be said that he had no abilities, but his inherent clumsiness, sluggishness, awkwardness, and, at the same time, laziness make them fruitless." Red-haired, large, awkward, with perpetually upturned eyebrows, bumping into every corner, Danzas bore the nickname "Bear" at the Lyceum and justified it with his usual everyday indifference to everything that was happening around him. He would hide in some corner and dream of something of his own. But when he was bullied, he would jump up, disheveled, with burning eyes and respond to evil jokes "with an angry shout or a fistfight. And it was impossible to convince him that he was wrong!" (Verbatim testimony of E.A. Engelhardt, director of the Lyceum). However, the "Lyceum bear" was a mountain for his friends.

he stood up for his friends, shared his last with them, the unevenness of his character was gradually smoothed out as a result of the efforts of his mentors and teachers, although he still closed the list of Lyceum students in academic performance. However, maybe the demands of the professors and tutors at the Lyceum were too high, who knows? Considering the brilliant cohort of graduates that emerged from its walls.

In any case, when Professor N. Koshansky reported to the Lyceum director that the Lyceum students had published the magazine "Lyceum Wise Man" (1815-1816) and that Danzas was listed among its "typographers", Yegor Aleksandrovich was not surprised, but only noted with a smile: "Strangely enough, he has quite a lot of inclination towards art." (The teachers encouraged the Lyceum students to study fine arts and literature in every possible way. Such was the spirit of the times and the spirit of the educational institution itself.)

26 years old

Danzas, copying in his beautiful calligraphic handwriting the poems and articles submitted by the "authors" to the magazine, was almost entirely responsible for the selection of materials for the magazine and for their literary and artistic merits. Several books - albums in cherry-colored morocco binding with a gold wreath on the front side of the binding and the inscription: "Lyceum Sage of 1816" have been preserved. At the end of each issue of the magazine are colored drawings by A. Illichevsky, representing either students or teachers in various scenes, partly described in the articles of the magazine. The humorous inscriptions "Printed in Danzas's printing house" and "Printing is permitted. Censor Baron Delvig" completed the painstaking handwritten work of the students.

Danzas often appears in the magazine as a critic and scolds his readers for providing him with little material. "If this continues," he laughingly scares his readers, "I will present you with a soporific poem by Mr. Gesell!" (i.e., Kuchelbecker). The latter was often mocked in the pages of "The Sage." However, completely harmless!

Apart from his passion for the arts and his fiery temperament, Danzas does not stand out in any way. He is one of those people who show their best qualities in action.

Danzas was released from the Lyceum as an officer in the army. In 1817, his service began, full of dangers, trials, frequent quarrels with his superiors. All because of a complete lack of worldly cunning and disregard for the formal side of officer duties. Yes, however, does a man who is brave to the point of selflessness, noble, honest, not accustomed to, unable to live otherwise, need worldly cunning and pretentious pomp?..

Danzas's service record is full of entries about awards: "a gold half-sabre for bravery" (1828); a diamond ring - a rare and highest award for an army officer, probably received on behalf of the emperor. In the official biographies of Danzas, this award is rarely mentioned - atypical for an officer who was later sentenced by the imperial military court for participating in a deadly duel to hanging, which was replaced by two months of arrest in the Peter and Paul Fortress! The same service record also mentions a serious wound to the shoulder in 1828 under the walls of the Brailov fortress (Caucasus): "wounded by a bullet in the left shoulder above the collarbone with a fracture of the bone."

This wound made itself felt in St. Petersburg in 1836-37. Danzas wore his left arm in a sling, and idle gossips after the duel claimed that he had been wounded by Dantes.

Neither the abundance of awards, nor the bullet-shot shoulder, nor even the contusion in the leg could dismiss the bravest officer, selflessly devoted to the army and soldiers, from military service. He was repeatedly offered warm and cushy positions at headquarters, but he invariably refused, knowing in advance that he would not get along with the authorities. The nomadic life was more to his liking. It also led him to Kishinev in 1820, where he met Pushkin. They also met at the celebration of the Lyceum anniversaries - three times. The last time this meeting took place on October 19, 1836. Lieutenant Colonel Danzas was in St. Petersburg awaiting a new appointment.

Of course, when giving testimony to the investigative commission that examined the circumstances of the duel, in the interests of the honor of his deceased friend, Konstantin Karlovich could not say that he knew about the duel in any way in advance.

He said that he accidentally met Pushkin on January 27, 1837 (date old style) on the street, went with him to Wolf's confectionery, then to the French embassy, ​​where Pushkin had a conversation with D'Archiac, D'Anthes's second. Pushkin introduced Danzas as his second. Refusing to participate in the duel was, by all accounts, unthinkable!..

Danzas' mother was Baroness Korff. This noble German family had Livonian and Courland branches, representatives of which went into the service of the Russian Empire. Konstantin's father, Karl Danzas, came from an Alsatian noble family, part of which left France during the Great French Revolution and, like the Korffs, entered the service of Russia. By 1800, Karl Danzas had already become a major general, so the future of his descendants looked quite promising.

The hair is dark chestnut, neatly styled and combed.