Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir
Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir was a prominent Russian poet and diplomat born in 1708, the son of the Turkish hospodor of Moldavia. After his father's asylum with Czar Peter the Great, Kantemir became a Russian citizen and received an exceptional education, leading to his early participation in literary circles. He began writing poetry in his teens and attracted the attention of significant literary figures, including historian Vasili Tatishchev. In 1730, Kantemir played a role in a political coup that brought Empress Anna to power, and he subsequently served as her resident in London and later as ambassador to France. During his time in Western Europe, he engaged with notable writers and translated various works into Russian, contributing to the evolution of Russian literature. Kantemir is best known for his nine satirical poems, which offered sharp critiques of Russian society while embracing a modern Russian language style. His work marked a departure from the traditional Slavonic chroniclers, blending classical satire with contemporary commentary. He passed away in 1744, leaving behind a legacy that reflected both his literary talent and his insights into societal issues.
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Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir
- Born: September 21, 1708
- Birthplace: Constantinople, Turkey (now Istanbul, Turkey)
- Died: April 11, 1744
- Place of death: Paris, France
Biography
Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir was born in 1708, the son of the Turkish hospodor, or viceroy, of Moldavia (now Moldova), who was an important man of letters in his own right. In 1711, during one of Czar Peter the Great’s campaigns, Kantemir’s father found asylum with the czar and became a Russian citizen. Because his father’s embraced the Russian cause, Kantemir received an excellent education and began writing verse while he was still in his teens. His abilities were sufficient to attract the attention of prominent literary figures, including historian Vasili Tatishchev.
In 1730, Kantemir participated in a coup d’etat that resulted in Anna becoming empress of Russia, an event that coincided with his first attempts to write satire. In the following year, he was dispatched as Empress Anna’s resident in London, and in 1738 he was accredited as her ambassador to France. While stationed in Western Europe, he associated widely with noted writers and translated the work of classical and modern writers into Russian. He also wrote nine satirical poems, all heavily annotated, in which he followed the models of classical satire, while at the same time portraying Russian society with an incisive wit and revealing a set of vices that would continue to plague Russia for centuries. His language clearly departed from the tradition of the Slavonic church chroniclers to embrace a modern Russian idiom, although at times he seemed to be trying to force Russian into the model of Latin, a common failing among intellectuals of his time. He died in 1744.