Franz Lefort: short biography

Petrovsky period of Russian history remains one of the most ambitious in terms of the degree of cardinal changes affecting the whole way of life of a huge country. The young king, despite his abilities and strong character, needed help and advice from the very beginning of the reign in choosing the direction, methods and means for his transformations. He found support among compatriots who understood the need for change, and among foreigners, in the way of life and way of thinking who saw certain features of the new country he was building. Franz Lefort was one of the loyal comrades-in-arms of Peter the Great, who faithfully served the emperor and his new homeland.

From the family of merchants

The ancestors of the Petrine admiral came from Piedmont, a province in the north of Italy. Their surname first sounded like Leforttti, then, after they moved to Switzerland, was converted into a French mode - Le Fort.

The main occupation, which brought a good income Lefort, was a mosquito (household chemicals: varnishes, paints, soap) trade. A merchant career awaited and François, born in 1656 in Geneva and the youngest of the seven sons of Jacob Le Fort. At the insistence of his father Franz Lefort after the end of the Geneva collegium (secondary school) in 1670 went to Marseilles to learn the trade business.

Born for feats

A handsome, handsome, physically strong, smart and smart, cheerful and energetic young man could hardly imagine his future life as standing behind a counter or sitting behind a desk. Franz Lefort, whose biography was to be a repetition of the prosperous life of his father and close relatives, fled from the merchant, called to teach him the basics of business, to the garrison fortress of Marseilles, where he entered the military service as a cadet.

Enraged by the willfulness of his son, Jacob Lefort demands that the offspring return home. Strict Calvinistic upbringing does not allow Franz to disobey the head of the family, and upon his arrival in Geneva he nevertheless begins work in the shop.

It took about three years before Franz received permission from his father and relatives to go to military service to the Duke of Courland. At the end of the summer of 1675, he left Geneva to take part in the fighting at the theater of the Franco-Dutch War.

At the invitation of the Russian Tsar

The European wars of that time were usually conducted by forces of "lansknehts", invited by numerous rulers of small state formations. Franz Lefort became the "soldier of fortune" of the 17th century. A brief biography of such military experts was often a series of moves in search of a better share.

In Holland, peace talks began. Deprived of his inheritance after the death of his father, Lefort accepts the invitation of the Dutch Lieutenant Colonel Van Frosten, who collected the team at the invitation of the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, and at the end of 1675 he was in Arkhangelsk, and the next year - in Moscow.

German settlement

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich by that time had died, on the throne was his son - Fyodor. Three years passed before Lefort was accepted into military service in the rank of captain. During this time, he settled in the capital of Muscovy, settled in the German settlement, brought friends with Europeans who lived in Moscow for a long time. One of those who willingly mastered the language, tried to understand local customs and became Franz Lefort. The nationality of the inhabitants of the foreign settlement was varied. A special arrangement Franz enjoyed from the Scotsman Patrick Gordon, the future Petrine general. He even managed to marry the daughter of a native of England, Lieutenant-Colonel Suge - Elizabeth.

At the end of 1678 Lefort (Franz Yakovlevich - so they began to call him in Muscovy) was appointed commander of the company, which enters the garrison of Kiev, which was commanded by Gordon. For two years of service, he, apart from the garrison service in Kiev, took part in campaigns against the Crimeans. Lefort enjoyed the location of Prince Vasily Golitsyn, known for his pro-Western sentiments.

In 1681 Lefort was released on vacation home. In Geneva, relatives persuaded him not to return to the barbarian country, but to continue his service in Europe. But Francois, speaking well of Moscow, returned to the German settlement.

Crimean campaigns

On his return to Moscow, he found changes in the Kremlin. After the death of King Fyodor, his brothers Ivan and Peter were crowned in the kingdom, under the regency of their sister - the powerful and ambitious Sophia. Prince Golitsin was her favorite and to strengthen the authority of the queen undertook two campaigns against the Crimean Turks. Both campaigns were unsuccessful due to poor preparation, but Lefort, permanently with the commander-in-chief, proved himself a skilful officer and was soon promoted to colonel.

Some historians have the opinion that the failures of the second Crimean campaign (1689) were exaggerated, however, but soon after him the power of Sophia was finally weakened: the new sovereign, Peter, rose to his feet in Moscow.

Convergence with Peter

A brilliant European, intelligent and charming, educated and skillful officer Franz Lefort soon became an indispensable friend for the young king. He Peter could find answers to numerous questions and on the state structure, and the preparation of a battle-worthy army, and the improvement of life in a European manner.

Thanks to well-established ties with Geneva, Franz, at the request of a regal friend, actively invited engineers, shipbuilders, gunsmiths and other specialists from all over Europe to visit Moscow, in which Peter felt a significant defect.

Lefort's house in the German settlement was considered one of the best for decoration and society and was the most suitable place for meetings of a large group of like-minded people that Peter gathered around him. He allocated funds for the device in Lefort's house of a huge hall, where the young king could spend time in European style far from the conservative Kremlin environment.

On the occasion of the birth of the heir in 1690, Moscow announced numerous favors to the inner circle of Peter. Lefort was not overlooked. Franz Yakovlevich became a major general.

Lefortovo settlement

At the request of Lefort, who was striving to create a regular army in Moscow, on the left bank of the Yauza a place was allocated for the military town. There was arranged a large parade ground, where intensive combat and tactical training was held, barracks and houses for the command staff were erected. Gradually, here formed a whole urban area, today bearing the name Lefortovo.

Major-General Lefort with great energy undertook the preparation of a Russian army of a new type. Having organized service on the European model, he achieved strict discipline and high training of soldiers and officers. During maneuvers - "funny trips" - he showed personal courage, once received a slight injury.

Trekking in the Azov

In 1695 and 1696 military campaigns were made to the south, aimed at gaining access to the Black Sea and blocking the Turkish threat to the southern borders of Russia. Franz Lefort and Peter 1 during these enterprises were in constant and close interaction. During the assault of the Azov fortress Lefort was in the forefront of the attackers and even personally captured the enemy banner.

In preparation for the second phase of the southern war, Lefort became the admiral of the fleet. Peter at this appointment did not come from the outstanding fleet skills of Franz, which he did not possess. He was interested in tireless work, energy, intelligence, Lefort's honesty, his personal devotion to the emperor. They were required to build ships for the young Russian fleet, for the training of crews. In the second campaign Lefort was appointed commander of the naval forces.

Great embassy

In the spring of 1697, a diplomatic mission of 250 people left Moscow for Europe. The head of the delegation was Lefort, Peter was present as a private person. The aim of the "great embassy" was to reach an alliance with European states against the Turkish empire, and the young king sought to satisfy his own curiosity about the European way of life, new military and civil technologies.

During the European tour, Lefort was the chief official of the embassy. He conducted active diplomatic negotiations, arranged receptions, corresponded with European politicians, talked with those who wanted to enter the Russian service. He parted with the king only while he was in England.

In the summer of 1698, a report came from Moscow about an uprising of the streltsi, which forced Peter and his associates to return to Russia urgently.

Great loss

Upon his return to the capital, Lefort, at the direction of the tsar, took part in the trials of the rebellious streltsy, and there is evidence of his protest against the mass executions, which he resolutely refused to participate in.

During the trip to Europe on Yauza, a magnificent palace was built for Lefort, presented to him by Peter. But the admiral had only time to celebrate the grandiose housewarming. At the end of February, his health deteriorated sharply. He was long tormented by the consequences of falling from a horse, which happened to him during the Azov campaign. At the end of February 1699, he caught a cold, got sick with fever and died on March 2 of the same year.

This became a huge loss for Tsar Peter. He said that he had lost a faithful friend, one of the most loyal comrades-in-arms he needed now.

Faithful friends, like fierce opponents, had Lefort. Franz Yakovlevich, whose brief biography is similar to the plot of an adventurous novel, some aroused deep respect, others - burning hatred. Most likely, he was not the main initiator of the Petrine reforms, as some historians seem to be. But to make from him only a merry royal drinking companion, as some claim, is also deeply unfair. Before us is the bright life of a person, with all the fibers of the soul who wished well for the country that has become his second homeland.