Historian Fryanov Igor Yakovlevich: biography, scientific works and interesting facts

Froyanov Igor Yakovlevich is a famous historian, writer and public figure. He lived an interesting and rich life, fully devoted to his career. He wrote a number of works that are very popular abroad.

Youth

Froyanov Igor Yakovlevich was born in the summer of 1936. His father was a Kuban Cossack and a major in the Red Army (he was repressed in 1937). In his youth, he was accused of counterrevolutionary activity and sentenced to death, which was replaced by ten years of work in the forced labor camp. In 1957, Yakov Froyanov was rehabilitated. He decided not to return to the family for personal reasons, so Igor Yakovlevich did not recognize his second parent: he was brought up by a single mother.

Career

Beginning in 1955, Igor Yakovlevich served for three years. After that, he decided to enter the Stavropol Pedagogical Institute at the Faculty of History. At the university, his scientific adviser was Professor V. Romanovsky. The study was given to him easily, because the subject was to his liking. After graduating from the university, Igor decides to enter graduate school in the Russian capital. Most of all he wanted to get into the group of Professor A. Zimin, who was a specialist in the field of Medieval Russia. A small number of vacant seats in the group contributed to the fact that Froyanov went to Leningrad. In 1963, Igor Yakovlevich entered the Leningrad State University. Within three years he successfully defended his thesis on the subject of dependent people in Ancient Rus. In 1973, he wrote a doctoral dissertation on the social and political features of Kievan Rus. But this work was not as successful as the first one. It was published only three years later, when the certification commission approved the work. In 1976, Froyanov became a doctor of historical sciences, and in 1979 received the title of professor.

In 1982-2001, Igor Yakovlevich Froyanov was dean of the Faculty of History at his home university; In 1983-2003 he worked as the head of the department of the history of Russia. The times of the dean's work were difficult for the historian. His books were published long enough, sometimes this process was extended for a year. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Fryanov's political views were finally formed: he spoke in support of the Communist Party.

Basic books, public reaction

In two of his basic works, the historian presented his own view of Soviet and Russian political history ("October of the Seventeenth: Looking from the Present", "Immersion in the Abyss"). The appearance of books on the shelves caused a resonance with the public, because no one has written such a book yet. The concept of Froyanov, interpreting the causes of the October Revolution, has many opponents and followers who zealously defend their point of view. Supporters of the author are sure that it was the sounding of such thoughts that led to the emergence of an "anti-Frayan campaign."

The Concept of Ancient Russia

What did Fryanov Igor Yakovlevich write about? History was not only his work, but also a hobby, so he devoted all his works to in-depth study of specific issues. In books he substantiates the communal and pre-class structure of Ancient Rus. He refuted the assertion of Soviet historians about class and feudalism in Kievan Rus, showing that private landownership grew at the expense of only slaves (and not at the expense of dependent on feudal lords). In addition, it was too weak and undeveloped. An interesting fact is that in the first book devoted to this topic (1974) he refused a concrete statement, only pushing the reader to reflect. In the book "Kievan Rus. Essays on socio-political history "(1980), he openly stated that the ancient Russian society was pre-feudal.

The concept of I. Froyanov is based on the assertion that people in Ancient Rus were free, they took an active part in the management of various spheres through the veche. Questions of power, election and expulsion of the princes concerned the territorial community. The main conclusion of the historian is that the Old Russian state was formed before the beginning of class division.

Criticism of historical views

Froyanov Igor Yakovlevich, whose books provoked a controversial public reaction, also received a lot of professional criticism. The concept of the historian Froyanov was a new and harsh word in historiography. She denied the official Soviet doctrine of the emergence of the state. At first, his work was simply ignored, but after that a storm of criticism hit him. Being in the post of dean, Igor Yakovlevich continued to write. Ignore it was impossible, so opponents of his views presented him with a number of charges (misunderstanding of the Old Russian texts, departure from the "official road", ignoring Marxism). Because of such a storm of protests, the third book devoted to this topic was published only in 1990. Among the ardent critics of the historian are S. Tikhvinsky, B. Rybakov, V. Pashuto, Yu. Limonov.

Criticism of political activity

Froyanov Igor Yakovlevich, whose biography was full of sharp criticism, caused the same controversy because of his political views. In 2001, 137 scientists published a document that said that Fryanov's work at the department had led to a deep crisis. Also, attention was accentuated by the fact that Igor Yakovlevich Froyanov retains his power, dismissing workers who will be reprimanded to him. In 2003, he was dismissed from the post of head of the department of history. It is also known that the dissolution commission under his command was liquidated (60 votes supported the decision of the administration, 37 votes were against and 8 abstained). The professors were also accused of completely isolating the faculty, which entailed the center of his power. The text of the appeal had another weighty accusation that the teaching and training of Igor Froyanov is veiled by harsh political propaganda. At the same time, Professor M. Florinsky said that the scientist was clearly persecuting, and the Union of Writers of Russia asked the university administration to change the decision to dismiss Igor Yakovlevich from the post of head of the department. They argued that the historian purposely survived from the collective "Westerners and liberal intellectuals."

Froyanov Igor Yakovlevich: works

Igor Froyanov wrote many works. We list only the most basic of them: "Kievan Rus. Essays on socio-economic history "," Kievan Rus. Essays on social and political history "," Kievan Rus. Essays on Russian Historiography "," Kievan Rus. The main features of the socio-economic system "," October 17 "," The Beginning of Christianity in Russia "," The Mystery of the Baptism of Russia "and others.

Nowadays

To date, Professor Froyanov Igor Yakovlevich works as a teacher and continues active scientific and social activities. In 2013, he supported the idea that the painting by I. Repin should not be in the gallery: it had to be transferred to a common fund. It was believed that the picture reinforces the falsity of Russian history and captures this slander. However, I. Lebedeva (gallery director) did not support this movement, saying that the painting "Ivan the Terrible ..." will continue to be in the gallery.

Summarizing the article, it should be said that only a specialist can judge the activities of the historian Froyanov. To understand how you feel about his ideas, it is enough to read the main work on the formation of a lawful order in Ancient Rus. After that, you will become a supporter of Igor Yakovlevich's ideas or completely reject his concept. In any case, his opinion, supported by facts and arguments, has the full right to exist. It should be remembered that sharp criticism can be caused not only by sharp rejection of information, but also by blinding truth, which few people are satisfied with.