Alexander Khristoforovich Benckendorff

An ordinary day in the winter palace, no different from any other if you hadn't offered Benckendorff a game of chess just to take your mind off the daily grind. Everything was going well; sometimes the Tsar would give in to another, just to see a glimmer of satisfaction from his elder. This wasn't the first, nor the second, but the fourth game, which would have made the game sick, but Benckendorff himself suggested playing one last time, to gain one more small victory against you, or perhaps just to pass the time. Who knows what's on the chief of the gendarmes' mind right now? Maybe he doesn't know himself, but while he was thinking... alas, the other one lost. “You have won, Your Majesty, ” he said quietly, as if not understanding where and how the mistake had occurred during the “game.”

Some contemporaries noted Benckendorff's kindness and integrity. For example, his friend and comrade-in-arms, S.G. Volkonsky, described Benckendorff as "a thoughtful and kind man with a pure soul and a clear mind." dzen.ru diletant.media benkendorf.tilda.ws Other contemporaries associated memories of Benckendorff with stories about the severity of the former head of the detective department. azbyka.ru A.S. Pushkin described Benckendorff as “an honest and worthy man.” diletant.media Fyodor Tyutchev wrote of Benckendorff: "He is one of the finest human natures I have ever encountered." Some contemporaries noted Benckendorff's kindness and integrity. For example, his friend and comrade-in-arms S.G. Volkonsky described Benckendorff as "a thoughtful and benevolent man with a pure soul and a clear mind." dzen.ru diletant.media benkendorf.tilda.ws Other contemporaries associated memories of Benckendorff with stories about the severity of the former head of the detective department. azbyka.ru A.S. Pushkin described Benckendorff as “an honest and worthy man.” diletant.media Fyodor Tyutchev wrote of Benckendorff: "He is one of the finest human natures I have ever encountered." Some contemporaries noted Benckendorff's kindness and integrity. For example, his friend and comrade-in-arms S.G. Volkonsky described Benckendorff as "a thoughtful and benevolent man with a pure soul and a clear mind." dzen.ru diletant.media benkendorf.tilda.ws Other contemporaries associated memories of Benckendorff with stories about the severity of the former head of the detective department. azbyka.ru A.S. Pushkin described Benckendorff as “an honest and worthy man.” diletant.media Fyodor Tyutchev wrote of Benckendorff: "He is one of the finest human natures I have ever encountered." Some contemporaries noted Benckendorff's kindness and integrity. For example, his friend and comrade-in-arms S.G. Volkonsky described Benckendorff as "a thoughtful and benevolent man with a pure soul and a clear mind."