Laval University From the SelectedWorks of Fathi Habashi May, 2018 Tatishchev Fathi Habashi Available at: https://works.bepress.com/fathi_habashi/284/
Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev(1686-1750) 1 Fathi Habashi Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering Laval University, Quebec City, Canada Fathi.Habashi@arul.ulaval.ca ABSTRACT Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev (1686-1750) was a prominent Russian statesman and ethnographer, best remembered as the author of the first comprehensive treatise on Russian history and the first encyclopedic dictionary of the Russian language. He was sent abroad many times, founded Ekaterinburg and Perm, and was Governor of Astrakhan province. INTRODUCTION Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev (1686-1750) (Figure 1) was a prominent Russian statesman and ethnographer, best remembered as the author of the first comprehensive treatise on Russian history and the first encyclopedic dictionary of the Russian language. He was born in Pskov province in the extreme west of Russia. At the age of 18 he studied at the Moscow School of Artillery and Engineering. In 1705 he participated in the Battle of Narva during the Great North War of that resulted in the capture of the town and also fought in the Battle of Poltava, the decisive victory of Peter I over the Swedish Empire. Figure 1 - Vassily Nikitich Tatischev (1686 1750) 1 I knew about Tatischev in October 2004 when I was invited to a conference held in Astrakhan State University in Russia devoted to him and where I presented a paper entitled Mining, Metallurgy, and the Industrial Revolution. The paper was published in the Proceeding Volume pp. 14 19. Russian translation ibid., pp. 19 25. Expanded version in Bull. Can. Inst. Min. & Met. (Directory Issue) 61 63 (2005); 98 (1089), 80 82 (2005); 98 (1091), 81 82 (2005 2006). Abstract in 8 th International Symposium Cultural Heritage in Geosciences, Mining, and Metallurgy (Schwaz, Tyrol), p. 68 (2005). See also Astrakhan pages 234-247 in De Re Metallica volume 7, by F. Habashi, published by Métallurgie Extractive Québec, distributed by Laval University Bookstore, www.zone.ul.ca. All Figures are from Internet.
Tatischev played an important role in developing natural resources of the Urals and Siberia. In Russia, beginning in the 17th century, foreign specialists in mining were actively involved in ore prospecting and worked at newly established metallurgical plants. In the 1670s, Ural became the centre of mining. Ore samples were brought there and studied by foreign specialists, originating mainly from Saxony. TATISHCHEV TRAVELS In 1713 Tatishchev was sent to study engineering, artillery, and mathematics in Berlin, Dresden, and Breslau (the present Wrazlow in Poland). In 1717, he was sent to Danzig. There he collected books on mathematics, military sciences, geography, and history which he brought with him to Russia. In 1720 he was sent to the Urals (Figure 2) to build ironworks. Together with Willim Ivanovich Gennin (1676-1750) a Dutch engineer from Holland who was hired to direct the industry in the Urals founded Ekaterinburg (Figure 3). The city is now the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District. He also founded a copper-smelting plant in what became the city of Perm (Figure 4) which he founded in 1723. He founded the Mining Office that was later renamed the Siberian High Mining Command. He also opened two primary schools near the plants and two more where young men were taught mining engineering. Figure 2 - Ekaterinburg and Perm in the Ural
Figure 3 - Monument in Yekaterinburg for the Tatishchev [right] and Willim Ivanovich Gennin (1676-1750) the founders of the city Figure 4 - Monument to Tatishchev at Perm erected in 2003 Tatishchev in 1724 was made counselor to the Berg-Collegium, the regulatory body of the mining industry. Soon after the appointment he was sent to Sweden on diplomatic and mining business from December 1724 to April 1726. Upon returning to Russia, he was appointed a member of the Monetary Division, where he started work on improving the Russian coinage system. Some rulers of European countries were not interested in the economic development of Russia and did not encourage their specialists to go there but the Swedish government had signed the Treaty of Alliance in 1724, which did not prevent her specialists from working in Russia and would allow scholars from Russia to be trained at Swedish enterprises. In Sweden he hired specialists in mining. During his stay he had an opportunity to learn the most advanced technology and shape his views on its application in Russia. Visiting factories and mines, meeting military men and politicians, masters and owners of enterprises, Tatischev closely studied not only metallurgy but also trade and finance. He saw for himself that the Russian industry was behind the Swedish. Among the factors facilitating the growth of Swedish mining industry he noted the wide use of different water-driven machines at factories and mines, the availability of qualified labour force in industry and of specialized educational institutions, and the research of Swedish scientists. He noted that one water-driven machine invented by Christopher Polheim, the famous Swedish mechanic worked instead of a hundred people. By the end of the first quarter of the 18th century Russia equipped its mining and metallurgy with advanced Swedish technologies. Tatischev knew that coke was used as an alternative fuel in England. But in Russia at the time lots of forests and cheap work force were available. In 1731, Tatishchev was accused of corruption and was jailed. In 1734 he was released and was sent again to the Urals where he was asked to build more plants. During the Bashkir War he was in command of Siberian operations from the winter of 1736-37. He was removed from command after March 1739, on charges of corruption, but mainly because he had made too many enemies. In 1737 Tatishev, was sent by Peter the Great to the mid-volga region (Figure 5) to subjugate the local Kalmyk population and convert them to Christianity. The fortress that he originally built grew into the thriving town of Stavropol-on-Volga. In 1950 a dam and a Hydro-Electric Power Station near the junction of the Volga and Ussa Rivers were built. Unfortunately the town was
submerged under the artificial lake and a new city was built on the left bank of the Volga. In 1964 when Palimiro Togliatti, the leader of the Italian Communist Party died the name of the city was changed to Tolyatti. A monument to the city s founder Vasily Tatishev was built (Figure 6). The city is best known as the home of Russia's largest car manufacturer Lada founded in the late 1960s. Figure 5 - Location of Tolyatti On the Volga Figure 7 - Tatishchev stamp issued in 1991 Figure 6 - Monument to Tatishchev in Tolyatti established in 1998 Tatishchev returned to Saint Petersburg in 1739 and had to face a commission being accused of bribery, dishonesty and other crimes. The commission ruled that Tatishchev was to be arrested and held in the Peter and Paul Fortress. In September 1740 he was condemned to deprivation of all ranks. RETIREMENT Tatishchev was released in 1741 and sent to rule the Astrakhan province. When he wanted to return to Moscow, but was not permitted to do so and had to retain the post until 1745, when he was dismissed after a misunderstanding with the governor. Tatishchev immediately moved to his village of Boldino located not far from Moscow. It was in Boldino that Tatishchev engaged in writing his book. Today this impressive work, the five-volume Russian History Dating Back to the Most Ancient Times, is considered Tatischev s chief scientific achievement. His interest in cartography and geodesic activities rendered him to be the first true geographer in Russia. Several days before his death Tatishchev was pardoned and was awarded the Order of
Alexander Nevsky - given to distinguished Russian citizens who had served their country with honor in politics or on the battlefield. Tatischev finished his career as Governor of Astrakhan (1741-1744). A postage stamp was issued for him in 1991 (Figure 7). Suggested Readings F. Habashi, Chemistry and Metallurgy in Imperial Russia (1713 1917), Bull. Can. Inst. Min. & Met. 75(844), 145 154 (1982) I. V. Toropitsyn, The Beginnings of the Mining Industry in Russia, Part 1, CIM Magazine [Directory issue] pp. 99-101(2006). Part 2- CIM Magazine [September/October], pp 85-87 (2006)