Kelly Laurence, Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran
Подождите немного. Документ загружается.
J.A. Zhandr’s account: Sosnovsky (P.P. Karatygin), ‘Aleksandr
Sergeyevich Griboyedov’ (see Bibliography), pp.161–3; Przhetslavsky,
‘Begliye ocherki’ (see Bibliography), pp.384–6; ‘Veliky Knyaz’
Konstantin Pavlovich v somneniyakh i otritsaniyakh sovremennykh
emu poryadkov (Iz perepiski egos N.M. Sinyaginym)’. Sinyaginym’s
letter of 14 November 1917: Russkaya Starina, 102 (see Bibliography);
Pylyaev, ‘Znamenitiye dueli v Rossii’ (see Bibliography), pp.497–502.
On the Griboyedov–Yakubovich duel: N.N. Muravyov-Karsky, ‘Iz zapisok’
in Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography), pp.41–5.
1. For the unsavoury and greedy exploitation of her serfs in the province
of Kostroma by Griboyedov’s mother, and Griboyedov’s tacit acceptance
of this by accepting ‘tainted’ revenue as income to support himself in
St Petersburg: ‘Griboyedov and serfdom’ in Piksanov, Griboyedov:
Researches (see Bibliography), pp.83–158. The second part of the
article deals with Griboyedov’s views as expressed in writings and his
play, and starkly refutes Nechkina, on the essence of her case that Woe
from Wit is a denunciation of serfdom, in line with Decembrist
doctrine and later Soviet doctrines about the Revolution. Nechkina
ignores all this evidence inconvenient to her.
2. On 9 June 1817, Griboyedov, together with Pushkin and
Küchelbecker, was enrolled as a trainee diplomat at the Collegium of
Foreign Affairs, Arkhivny Yunost: Nabokov in Pushkin, Eugene Onegin,
tr. Nabokov (see Bibliography), vol. 3, pp.119–20. The finest authority
on this institution, its customs and procedures and training methods,
and the policies of its ministers at the time (notably Count Nesselrode,
Count Capodistrias, reporting directly to Tsar Alexander I) is Grimsted,
The Foreign Ministers (see Bibliography).
3. The confusing division of work between Capodistrias and Nesselrode
and the difficulty of foreign diplomats in St Petersburg in addressing
the correct Minister on any given issue: Grimsted, The Foreign
Ministers (see Bibliography), pp.250, 275. Nesselrode became sole
director of Foreign Policy from summer of 1822: ibid., p.276. For the
trainee system at Tsarskoye Selo under Capodistrias: ibid., note p.241,
and Griboyedov’s languid complaint that he studied only the Trojan
War. At the Foreign Ministry: Fomichev, Griboyedov in Petersburg (see
Bibliography), p.40; for his new friendship with Count Zavadovsky:
pp.21–2.
4. Pushkin’s description of the blows of fate, namely the consequences for
Griboyedov of the death of Sheremet’yev, in the famous duelling partie
carrée of 1817: Pushkin, A Journey (see Bibliography), pp.46–7.
5. To reconstruct events in the partie carrée – without question one of the
most exciting events in Griboyedov’s until then blood-free life up to
1817, but treated as a marginal event by serious literary historians –
detailed detective work across a variety of sources is needed to
re-establish the chronology of events. Chief witnesses are Zhandr’s
report to D.A. Smirnov, and Beguichov, for the sake of any future
Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran
234
scriptwriter making a film of this thrilling event, in its way the most
famous of duels in Russia, except for the killing of Pushkin by d’Anthés
in 1836, and Lermontov by Martynov. One of the few consecutive
accounts is in Fomichev, Griboyedov in Petersburg (see Bibliography),
pp.45–9. See also Gordin, Dueli (see Bibliography), pp.66–75, for quite
a full account. Nabokov in Pushkin, Eugene Onegin, tr. Nabokov (see
Bibliography), pp.42–51, has some very useful comments to make on
duelling in Russia, including that which killed Pushkin; see also
pp.54–6. For Beguichov’s description of Count Sheremet’yev: Fomichev
and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography), pp.26–7.
6. Pushkin’s stanza describing Istomina dancing, in his Eugene Onegin,
tr. Johnston (see Bibliography), pp.43. Nabokov’s general description
about Istomina, Nabokov in Pushkin, Eugene Onegin, tr. Nabokov,
pp.88–90, vol. 2, p.86. For Pushkin’s ribald verses, years later about
Istomina in another context:
Orlov s Istominoi v postel
V ubogoi nagote lezhal:
Ne otlichisya v zharkom dele
Nash postoianny general.
Ne dumav milogo obidet’,
Vzyala Laisa mikroskop
I govorit: ‘Pozvol’ uvidet’
Chem ty menia, moi mily, yob
[Orlov in bed with Istomina
In abject nakedness lay:
He had not distinguished himself in the hot battle,
Our inconstant general.
With no thought of offending her lover
Laisa took a microscope
And said: ‘Permit me to inspect
What it was, my dear, you fucked me with.]
From Tsyavlovsky (ed.), Pushkin’s Complete Works (see Bibliography),
with a learned note explaining it was first published in a booklet
(sbornik) by N.P. Ogaryov entitled Lost Russian Literature in London 1861.
This was from a copy obtained from Bartenev, ‘K biografii Griboyedova’
(see Bibliography), vol. 1, p.685. Cross, ‘Pushkin’s bawdy notes from
the Literary Underground’ (see Bibliography), pp.216–7 for translation.
7. The attribution to Zavadovsky of qualities of an Englishman not unlike
Repetilov in Woe from Wit: see Griboyedov, Woe from Wit, tr. Waring (see
Bibliography), p.93. For more details about Zavadovsky’s family and
spoilt background: Vigel’, Zapiski (see Bibliography), p.60; Madariaga,
Russia (see Bibliography), pp.353–4; Haslip, Catherine the Great
(see Bibliography), pp.260–1; Lermontovskaya Encyclopaedia (see
Bibliography), p.172.
235
Notes on the Text
8. Zavadovsky’s disreputable ‘proposals of love’ to Istomina: for
Istomina’s terrified confession to Sheremet’yev that Zavadovsky had
enjoyed her favours: Zhandr in Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds),
Griboyedov (see Bibliography), p.242; for the sleuthing of her by
Sheremet’yev, in particular the recollections of V. Sheremet’yev: ibid.,
p.270. Also interview of Zhandr with D.A. Smirnov on 9 June 1858:
pp.239–42. It is the first time Yakubovich says the insult deserves a
partie carrée and ‘bullets only will settle the matter’, see pp.240–3,
including the duel itself.
9. About the other participants, especially Pushkin’s fascination with
Yakubovich: Tsyavlovsky (ed.), Pushkin’s Complete Works (see
Bibliography). For his draft short story The Adventures of a Russian
Pelham, ibid., vol. 1, p.766, Pushkin names Yakubovich directly and
describes others of Griboyedov’s immediate St Petersburg circle, such
as Ilya Dolgorukov, S. Trubetskoy, all members of the ‘Circle or Society
of the Clever Ones’; Nikita Muravyov, another prominent Decembrist,
is in the list: see vol. 1, p.775, and notes, pp.366, 774–5.
10. More about Yakubovich, the duel and his career in Fomichev and
Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography), notes, pp.353–4. These
notes refer for the first time to the memoirs of O.A. Przhetslavsky in
Russkaya Starina of 1883, suggesting that Griboyedov at the duel
insisted Sheremet’yev reject the proposal by Zavadovsky for a truce,
which would have saved his life; this version was corroborated by
Yakubovich for Zhandr’s evidence quoting Dr John, also an eye-witness:
Gribo in ibid., p.242.
11. Zavadovsky’s crying ‘à la barrière’: ibid., p.242. For Fomichev’s details:
Fomichev, Griboyedov in Petersburg (see Bibliography), pp.41, 44–7.
12. The hidden presence of Kaverin at the duel: Kaverin was a former
Göttingen student (1810–1), of whom Pushkin says (c. 1817), in an
inscription to his portrait:
In him there always boils the heat of punch and war;
a warrior fierce he was in fields of Mars;
‘mid friends, staunch friend; tormentor of the fair;
and everywhere hussar!
Kaverin was able to stow away at one meal four bottles of champagne
one after the other, and leave the restaurant at a casual stroll. For
Pushkin’s verses about him: Nabokov in Pushkin, Eugene Onegin, tr.
Nabokov (see Bibliography), vol. 2, pp.71–2. For Kaverin’s comment
‘Vot tebe i repka’: Zhandr in Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov
(see Bibliography), p.242.
13. Evidence that Griboyedov told Sheremet’yev to reject a truce, Fomichev
and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography), pp.352–3. Views of
Muravyov-Karsky quoting from Przhetslavsky explaining the circum-
stances of the second duel in Tiflis resulting from the impossibility of
holding it in 1818, because of Sheremet’yev’s death.
Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran
236
14. Details of the ensuing official inquiry, and the possibility that the Tsar
personally exempted Griboyedov from any formal punishment,
Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography), p.27.
Chapter V: Into Exile
1. Griboyedov’s appalling gloom (uzhasnaya toska) and grief after the
duel, and his friend’s death, Beguichov: Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds),
Griboyedov (see Bibliography), p.27. In Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds),
Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 1, p.28, Piksanov’s
biographical sketch states in a letter to Beguichov that apart from
this sorrow, Griboyedov could not dismiss nor forget the sight of the
dying Sheremet’yev.
2. Griboyedov paying the price for participating in the duel by involuntary
exile, joining Mazarovich’s mission to Persia as a junior official:
Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography), pp.343–4.
Also his letter to Beguichov describing his impertinent repartee with
Minister Nesselrode: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected
Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, pp.128–9.
3. Griboyedov’s musical accomplishments and passion for the piano: S.
Bulich in Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works (see
Bibliography), vol. 1, pp.305–28. There are even facsimile reproductions
of some of his waltzes.
4. Ksenofont Polevoi’s recollections of Griboyedov accompanying the bari-
tone Tosi: Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography),
p.161. For his complaint that Mozart was being murdered in The Magic
Flute, pp.164–5: ‘better play Boieldieu, rather than play Mozart badly;
they will understand that,’ he added contemptuously about the aver-
age audience, see p.165.
5. Oliver Williams’s comments: private letter to the author.
6. Bestuzhev’s remarks about Griboyedov’s dismissive quotation about
womankind from Lord Byron: Bestuzhev in Fomichev and Vatsuro
(eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography), p.102. Alexander Bestuzhev’s
nickname was ‘Marlinsky’ and he should be distinguished from Peter
Bestuzhev, who was his brother.
7. Zavalyshin’s statement that Griboyedov in his early St Petersburg
years lived a very dissolute life, with many adulterous affairs, a
claim quite unsubstantiated: Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds),
Griboyedov (see Bibliography), pp.128–43. Zavalyshin, an ardent
Decembrist, is especially interesting about Griboyedov’s relationships
with other prominent future Decembrists, such as Bestuzhev and
A.I. Odoyevsky.
8. Griboyedov’s letter of 18 April 1828 to Beguichov about ‘Didon’, and
his income through Ogaryov: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete
Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, pp.132–4.
237
Notes on the Text
9. Griboyedov’s reference to his Moscow contemporaries as ‘the local
Hottentots’: letter of 5 September to Beguichov in Piksanov and
Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3,
p.131. Also for insult levelled against Kokoshkin the actor: ibid.,
vol. 3, p.133.
10. Griboyedov’s important admission that Moscow was ‘my country, my
family, my home’: letter of 18 September to Beguichov sent from
Voronesh in Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works
(see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.133; also for the anecdote that his mother was
sarcastic about his literary efforts and poetry, and for the admission
that Zhandr alone took him at his own valuation. The same letter
refers for the first time to his travelling companion, the future Head
of Chancery and junior archivist in Mazarovich’s ministry,
Amburgherr, p.134.
11. Griboyedov’s promise to reform and treat his mother better on return
from Persia: letter of 18 September in Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds),
Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.133.
12. Griboyedov’s ‘Travel Notes’, in practice the equivalent of a prose letter
to Beguichov dated October 1818 from ‘The Caucasus – from Moscow
to Tiflis’: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works
(see Bibliography), vol. 3, pp.30–4. For the remainder of the journey,
Kumbaleyevka, Terek, Vladikavkaz, Kazbek, the Daryal Gorge and
Kashaur Pass, pp.31–3, until arrival in Tiflis, p.33. He arrived on 21
October 1818, p.368.
13. ‘What an absurd country’: letter to Beguichov of 5 September from
Moscow; this was a rumour based on a report of a certain Heier in
Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works (see
Bibliography), vol. 3, p.132.
14. Obstacles to crossing the main Caucasian passes, slippery trails, ice
and snow, see ‘Travel Notes to Stepan Beguichov’: Piksanov and
Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3,
pp.30–4.
15. The complaint that there were pheasants in the Caucasian countryside
but nowhere to eat them: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete
Collected Works (see Bibliography), p.31.
Reference has already been made to Griboyedov’s intention to avoid
sentimentalism and romantic clichés in his ‘Travel Notes’, on p.40 of
his letter of 31 January to Beguichov, describing the journey from
Tiflis to Sogan Li: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected
Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, pp.37–40. An interesting article and
analysis of his travel writing has been made by Krasnov, Travels (see
Bibliography), pp.207–10.
Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran
238
Chapter VI: Arrival in Tiflis
Additional Background Material
The serious student of this period, turbulent and bloody as it is in the
history of Georgia and the Caucasus, under its three active and notorious
warlords, namely Prince Tsitsiyanov, A.P. Yermolov and Field Marshal
Ivan Paskievich will find invaluable evidence as to their failures and
successes in the many volumes of the publications by Potto, Kavkazskaya
(see Bibliography), and Dubrovin, Istoriya (see Bibliography); and later
in the family archive of Paskievich, made fully available to Shcherbatov
for his life of Paskievich, General-Fel’dmarshal (see Bibliography).
It is not possible to quote from every page of these books, which
in themselves draw on Archives, an essential part of Russian political,
diplomatic and military history; I shall only indicate where they are
especially relevant to Griboyedov’s story as Yermolov’s diplomatic
advisor, and later history, in that these sources include the still fresh
personal reminiscences of participants in the Caucasus and are free of
any Soviet class-war and Marxist distortions.
Especial attention is drawn to the very valuable and original contri-
butions made by Potto and Dubrovin. Baddeley himself used these
authors enormously, recognising how they extracted their material
from the main Georgian source of the Akti Sobranniye Kavkazsko
Arkheograficheskoi Kommissiei (AKAK).
The early days of the Russian occupation of Georgia after its
unification in 1801 are well set out, as are the corrupt dealings of
Kovalensky and the desperate final wriggles of the Bagration Dynasty;
in Chapter 11, Dubrovin, as befits a general, gives a convincing account
of Yermolov’s Order of Battle and the full panoply of force, allocated by
the Tsars to the ‘pacification’ of the Caucasus: pp.215–9.
1. The first Russo–Persian War until the 1813 Treaty of Gulistan: Atkin,
Russia and Iran (see Bibliography), pp.57–73; also Baddeley, The Russian
Conquest (see Bibliography), p.99, including General Kotlyarevsky’s
famous victory over the Persians at Aslanduz, p.88.
2. Russo–Georgian history and background since Georgia’s absorption
into the Russian empire in 1801: Avalov, Georgia’s Unification (see
Bibliography); ‘Muslim resistance to the Tsar’ in Gammer, Shamil (see
Bibliography); Allen, A History of the Georgian People (see
Bibliography); Atkin, Russia and Iran (see Bibliography), including a
very useful modern Bibliography, pp.191–203; Baddeley, The Russian
Conquest (see Bibliography); Curtiss, The Russian Army (see
Bibliography); Russo–Persian diplomatic relations: Shostakovich, The
Diplomatic Activity (see Bibliography), pp.26–41.
3. Prince Tsitsiyanov: Lang, The Last Years (see Bibliography), pp.255–61.
Consolidation of Russian power: ibid., pp.267–84.
4. Russian imperial ambitions to control the delta of the river Araxes in
the eastern Caucasus as a strategic barrier: Atkin, Russia and Iran
(see Bibliography), p.44, also p.59; for Tsar Alexander: pp.63–5.
239
Notes on the Text
5. Colonial imperialism and the exploits of General Prince Tsitsiyanov,
Yermolov’s predecessor, and also of General Rtitshchev: see the
excellent nineteenth-century works of Potto, Kavkazskaya (see
Bibliography), and Dubrovin, Istoriya (see Bibliography), vol. 6 on
Russia’s conquest of the Caucasus.
6. Georgia and Tiflis when Griboyedov arrived there in October 1818:
Montpereux, Voyage (see Bibliography), vol. 2, pp.64–6; also p.226,
p.230–46. For another contemporary description of Tiflis, Sir Robert
Ker Porter travelled through the towns at the same time on his way to
Tehran: Porter, Travels (see Bibliography). See also all travellers’
accounts listed in Bibliography: Atkin, Russia and Iran (see
Bibliography), pp.191–203, notably J. Johnson and Capt. Mignan,
p.193. Also Tiflis references, Allen, A History of the Georgian People (see
Bibliography), p.426.
7. The newly arrived Griboyedov settling into the Court of the GOC:
memoirs of Muravyov-Karsky in Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds),
Griboyedov (see Bibliography), pp.41–7; also V.A. Andreyev, pp.157–9.
For a useful overview of Georgia and Persia when Griboyedov first
arrived there: Yenikolopov, Griboyedov and the East (see Bibliography),
pp.3–47.
8. General background to General Yermolov’s life and career until he
became the GOC and Viceroy of the Caucasus: Baddeley, The Russian
Conquest (see Bibliography), pp.92–9. Baddeley’s index entry for
Yermolov shows how fully he is placed in the Caucasian context.
9. Yermolov’s failed embassy to the Shah in 1817: see Mr and Mrs
Freygang (tr.), Letters (see Bibliography); Kotzebue (tr.), Narrative (see
Bibliography); Lyall, Travels (see Bibliography). For a Russian nation-
alist point of view: Shostakovich, The Diplomatic Activity (see
Bibliography), pp.30–8.
10. Griboyedov’s second duel in Tiflis on 23 October 1818, an almost
minute-by-minute account from Muravyov-Karsky, who was present:
Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov (see Bibliography), p.42.
11. ‘I respect your actions’: ibid., p.44.
12. ‘I could not but derive pleasure’, ibid., pp.43–4.
13. Griboyedov suspected that Yakubovich damaged his hand on purpose,
out of sheer meanness.
14. ‘O sort injuste’: ibid., p.46.
15. ‘If you are so well informed’, ibid., pp.44–5.
Chapter VII: Yermolov and Russian Imperialism
Additional Background Material
The earlier volumes of Potto cover essential parts of Griboyedov’s life
in Georgia and the Caucasus, in particular vol. 2, no 4 (1888),
pp.739–60, which describes Yermolov’s almost desperate resistance to
Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran
240
giving up his command to Paskievich. He describes the very real danger
initially of a Persian victory, and General Paskievich’s intervention and
mission to Georgia: pp.755–7.
Potto describes in considerable detail Griboyedov’s early years
under Yermolov, notably vol. 2, no 1 (1887), the foundation of Grozny
in 1817, Colonel Velyaminov’s role on the river Sundja, the erection of
fortress Vnezapnaya (‘unexpected’); Yermolov’s policies of scorched earth
and genocide and no mercy: pp.108–13. The cruel activities of General
Grekov in 1825 are set out: pp.138–41; and finally the double murder
of Generals Grekov and Lissanievich at Gerzel-Aoul in 1825: p.153.
Vol. 2, no 2 shows very clearly the major disturbances in 1819/20,
which Yermolov was seeking to repress at the very time when
Griboyedov wrote his misinforming article reporting that the Northern
Caucasus was in a state of happy pacification. Potto describes at
length the Kazi–Kumikh March of 1820: pp.272–408.
Lieutenant-General Dubrovin’s history of the Russian conquest of the
Caucasus supplements Potto invaluably, describing Russian military
strategies and tactics against the Persians and operations in the inter-
vening khanates between Georgia and the Araxes, an area that tied
down great numbers of troops and able officers.
In vol. 3, Dubrovin provides a most useful description of the Sack of
Tiflis in 1795: pp.11–5. He also shows openly the incompetence of
Catherine’s Chief General in Georgia: General Gudovich, pp.13–49.
Yermolov’s very frank description of his personal way of life is given
in his letter to Kazadayev: p.229; he makes no mention of his two
Tartar concubines, by whom he was to have three children. Dubrovin
has enlightening pages on Yermolov’s abortive 1817 embassy to Persia:
pp.238–47, 244–81.
1. ‘I shall wash my boots’ and ‘I desire that the terror of my name’, quoting
General Tsitsiyanov to the Ruler of Elisou in Daghestan: Baddeley, The
Russian Conquest (see Bibliography), p.68. For terror of Yermolov’s
name: p.97; quoting General Potto: p.15.
2. ‘On n’est pas plus entrainant’, Griboyedov about Yermolov: ‘Travel
Notes to Stepan Beguichov’ in Fomichev and Vatsuro (eds), Griboyedov
(see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.35.
3. There are useful pages in Nechkina describing Griboyedov’s relation-
ship with Yermolov: Nechkina, A.S. Griboyedov (see Bibliography),
pp.191–211; for his verdict that Yermolov could not be more seductive
as the ‘Proconsul of Iveria’: Griboyedov’s letter to Mazarovich of 12
October 1818 in French: ibid., pp.194–5; also pp.195–9.
4. Pushkin’s description of Yermolov as having ‘the head of a tiger on the
torso of Hercules’: Pushkin, A Journey (see Bibliography), p.13.
5. ‘He seems to love me very much’: Griboyedov about Yermolov in letter
of 29 January to Stepan Beguichov in Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds),
Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.35; more about
his relationship with Yermolov on pp.36–7.
241
Notes on the Text
6. His dismissive remarks to Beguichov about the Russian Invalid article,
‘they wrote nonsense in the Russian Veteran [Invalid] and I replied with
similar nonsense!’: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected
Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.367.
7. His description of the onward journey to Tehran being like death, letter
to ‘my Petersburg friends’ from Tiflis, 27 January 1819, ‘Forget not the
wandering Griboyedov 1500 versts away!’: Piksanov and Shlyapkin
(eds), Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.361.
8. Griboyedov’s joking repartee with Yermolov when leaving Tiflis, letter
to Beguichov, ‘Ne nous sacrifiez pas. Excellence, si jamais vous faites
la guerre à la Perse’: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected
Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.35.
9. His hope now to forgive Yakubovich, who accompanied the embassy to
speed it and say farewell, Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete
Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.37.
Chapter VIII: Journey to Tehran
1. Griboyedov’s private reflections to Beguichov in his letter of 31
January 1819, on his new role in involuntary exile, ‘the Secretary’ to
an errant mission: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected
Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, pp.37–41.
3. His admiration of the bridge at Dermuchizana: Piksanov and
Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.40.
4. Griboyedov’s compliments to the Persian Shahs on their fine archi-
tecture: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works (see
Bibliography), vol. 3, p.38; reference to Strabo, p.39; reference to
Zhukovsky, p.47.
5. For visit to Erivan and Karamzin and other receptions by its powerful
Sardar: ‘Travel Notes’ for 5–9 February 1819 in Piksanov and
Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3,
pp.47–9.
6. For Griboyedov’s fury that his mission was not correctly met on arrival
at Erivan: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected Works (see
Bibliography), vol. 3, p.44.
7. The comical English military instructor: ibid., vol. 3, p.46.
8. His analogies exemplified by Olearius: ibid., vol. 3, p.47.
9. Griboyedov’s flat declaration, ‘No! I am not a traveller!’: ibid., vol. 3,
p.51.
10. Griboyedov’s condemnation of Persian flattery and ‘hyperboles’, ‘Travel
Notes’ of 10–13 February, ibid., vol. 3, p.52.
11. Arrival in Tabriz, 1819, ibid., vol. 3, p.53.
12. Griboyedov’s activity, first visit to Tabriz, lunch with the British and
meeting Sir Robert Ker Porter, ‘Travel Notes’, Piksanov and Shlyapkin
(eds), Complete Collected Works, vol. 3, p.53.
Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran
242
14. There is an interesting suggestion that the propagandist trumpet-
blowing piece describing the successful reception of Mazarovich’s
mission in Tehran had been written by Mazarovich himself, in the
Government-controlled paper in St Petersburg, Le Conservateur
Impartial (the number in question was of 13 and 20 August 1819).
However, the expert about Griboyedov’s early diplomatic career, Popova,
shows very clearly that the author was Griboyedov, following his earlier
precedents of writing fairly treacly and adulatory articles and, in
the case of his Tiflis article in 1819, distorting the truth: Ivanov,
‘Griboyedov and Yermolov under surveillance’ (see Bibliography),
pp.215–4. There are also useful notes on this first visit to the Shah.
15. Departure from Tabriz: see ‘Travel Notes’ in Piksanov and Shlyapkin
(eds), Complete Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, pp.54–6.
Chapter IX: Tabriz and the Deserters
1. A general description of Tehran: Porter, Travels (see Bibliography),
pp.308–12; he also provides a good description of Tabriz: pp.220–9.
2. ‘When a great man’: ibid., p.311.
3. A far more detailed account of the Nowruz feast, or Shah’s New Year
reception is given in ibid., pp.32–6, including full description of Fath
Ali Shah himself: pp.325–6; the Shah’s avarice and passion for riches:
p.352.
4. Arrival in Tehran, official reception by the Shah, and the playing of
‘God Save the King’: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete Collected
Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, p.56.
5. Shostakovich’s presentation of Griboyedov’s patriotic role:
Shostakovich, The Diplomatic Activity (see Bibliography), pp.24–39, 55;
also Griboyedov’s vivid phrase that he was in a ‘diplomatic monastery’:
p.38; Abbas Mirza’s policies and ambition, and his chief vizier, Mirza
Bezurg: pp.43–4.
6. The agreeable picture of Griboyedov relaxing by reading Tom Moore
amidst a sea of turtles: Piksanov and Shlyapkin (eds), Complete
Collected Works (see Bibliography), vol. 3, pp.57–9.
7. Griboyedov’s diplomatic notes of complaint to Henry Willock, British
Chargé d’Affaires in Persian and Tabriz dated 14–20 August 1820 and
1 September 1820; also Willock’s reply of 18–20 August 1820, and
Willock’s despatch to Lord Castlereagh reporting the incident and
describing him on 1 September 1820, as a ‘young man of little
experience and no prudence’: article by Costello, ‘Griboyedov in Persia’
(see Bibliography).
8. The repatriation of Russian deserters from the Persian Army, as agreed
in 1813, had completely eluded Yermolov during his 1817 embassy.
Shostakovich, in The Diplomatic Activity (see Bibliography), gives the
background: pp.35–9, 60–63. This inglorious episode in Griboyedov’s
243
Notes on the Text