There were 11 jinn palaces in the city. The main palace of the Russian Empire. Little sodoms

An abbreviated chapter of the dissertation for the scientific degree of candidate of historical sciences by Bolshakova L.Z. "The palace city of Tsarskoe Selo in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries: management features and urban management"

In the “Highest Decree” of December 31 1817 the different status of the “localities” subordinate to the palace boards was noted, which now transferred to the general management of the chancellery. Then “... the position of the Chief Administrator of the Palace Boards was established, who concentrated the management of the city of Tsarskoe Selo, Peterhof and Gatchina (the first two areas always belonged to the EIV, and the latter was the personal property of the Royal Persons) ...” 1.

The Office of the Chief Administrator of the Palace Administrations, formed in 1817, was subordinate to the Palace Administrations of the sovereign's estates: (that is, estates that are the property of the reigning representative of the imperial family).

WITH 1834 The palace estates were more clearly divided into the so-called “sovereign estates”, or “sovereign estates”, which belonged to the reigning monarch, and “palace estates”, which were considered the personal property of the royal family. The reigning monarch has long owned lands in the Moscow, Vladimir and St. Petersburg provinces, which were not subject to will, division or other types of alienation. They served exclusively to maintain the suburban residences of the Russian tsars. Later other estates were added. It is they who, according to the regulations of July 7 1834 g., began to be called “sovereign estates or estates” 2

In the pre-reform period, the sovereign owned 125 thousand ten lands and 26.6 thousand revision souls in these estates 3.

In particular, the Tsarskoye Selo estate was classified as “sovereign”, that is, it was not subject to division and inheritance, but was transferred to the new tsar upon the latter’s accession to the throne 4 .

Corresponding amendments were made to the “Civil and Landmark Laws” of the 10th volume of the “Code of Laws”, where it was stated: “The Tsarskoye Selo Sovereign Estate” 5 . It was also noted that “The Tsarskoe Selo Sovereign’s patrimony consists of the administration of the Main Directorate of Udels” 6, that is, one of the divisions of the Ministry of the Imperial Household.

Highly approved by the opinion of the State Council of March 16 1870 The sovereign's property (“palace estates of the first kind”) were excluded from collection for local zemstvo duties 7 .

By another resolution of January 23 1873 g., “published” on March 2, the Sovereign’s property was withdrawn from the city tax in favor of the treasury and the assessment fee in favor of the city 8.

IN 1875 “sovereign estates” (palace properties of the first kind, in particular, Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof) were excluded from paying the state land tax. The same provision according to the personal decree of May 15 1879 g., “published” on June 8, was extended to “palace properties of the second type” (Gatchina, Pavlovsk, Strelna) 9.

Legal status palace estates (properties) was once again spelled out in the Basic Laws Russian Empire adopted in 1906 year: “Property assigned to the maintenance of various palaces of the Imperial House are called palace property. Palace properties of two kinds [...:] ...of the first kind, called Sovereigns, which are the essence: the estates of Tsarskoye Selo, Peterhof, estates under the management of the Moscow Palace Administration, as well as imperial palaces with lands... - always belonging to the Emperor, cannot be bequeathed, to be partitioned and subject to other types of alienation. Palace properties of the second type: Pavlovskoye, Strelinskoye (Strelninskoye - L.B.), Gatchinaskoye...., constitute the personal property of persons of the Imperial House and can be bequeathed and divided in parts" 10.

Let's give brief information on the legal status of palace properties.

WITH 1905 The city of Tsarskoe Selo becomes the main place of residence of Nicholas II, which contributed to the improvement of the city. Another “sovereign estate” was Peterhof. IN 1762 Peterhof received city status. By Decree to the Governing Senate of June 7 1817 The Peterhof Palace Administration was removed from the jurisdiction of the Gough Quartermaster's Office and subordinated to the Tsarskoe Selo Palace Administration (Tsarskoe Selo is the favorite residence of Alexander I) 11 . The importance of Peterhof increases due to the fact that here, under Nicholas I, a family cottage was created in Alexandria, where the imperial family usually stayed in July–August. the 13th of November 1848 By a personal decree, county institutions were transferred to Peterhof, which became a county town, and Oranienbaum - a provincial town 12. The situation with Sofia - Tsarskoe Selo repeated itself, when education large city, combined with the royal residence, created big problems in the future.

The “palace estates”, in the narrow sense, included Gatchina, Pavlovsk and Oranienbaum.

Gatchina

Gatchina, which changed owners many times, 1765 was presented by Catherine II to Count Grigory Grigorievich Orlov. Also in 1783 , in connection with the birth of Paul I's daughter Alexandra, Catherine II bought Gatchina from the brothers of the late Grigory Orlov and a month later presented it to Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich. For 18 years, the Gatchina estate became Pavel Petrovich's residence and favorite brainchild for the rest of his life. 11th of November 1796 year, on the same day as the decree on Pavlovsk, Paul I issued a decree: “Our own manor Gatchina should be called a city” 13. After the assassination of Paul I, Gatchina, along with previously owned Pavlovsk, became the property of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna.

By a short decree of February 26 1811 g., simultaneously in Gatchina and Pavlovsk, “due to a small number of merchants and townspeople” the city halls were liquidated; their affairs were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Tsarskoye Selo Town Hall 14. By imperial decree of Nicholas I, announced by the Minister of the Imperial Household to the Chief Marshal on March 25 1827 g., it was ordered: “... not to demand reports from the Gatchina and Pavlovsk city boards formed during the provincial reform of Catherine II “at the village of Tsarskoye” - since they are under the jurisdiction of Empress Maria Fedorovna” 15. After her death, according to a personal decree of December 28 1828 It was announced that Gatchina would be transferred according to the Spiritual will of Maria Feodorovna (point 4) to Nikolai Pavlovich.

Subsequently, the Gatchina estate was to be passed on by male inheritance 16. By another decree adopted on the same day, Gatchina came under the direct jurisdiction of the Chief Administrator of the Tsarskoye Selo Chancellery 17 . In the second half of the nineteenth century. Gatchina becomes a comfortable city. This was facilitated by the fact that Alexander III, decisively breaking with family tradition, or vice versa - restoring the traditions of his great-grandfather Paul I - makes Gatchina his residence, which experienced its heyday during this period. But the city’s homeowners expressed dissatisfaction with their subordination to the Tsarskoye Selo City Hall, and this was reflected in the statement they drafted with their wishes to change this situation. In connection with the project to introduce a new Regulation for the Palace Cities, this document was attached to the report of the manager of the Gatchina Palace Board dated March 24 1871 g. 18.

Pavlovsk

The property of the “royal persons”, or rather, persons belonging to the imperial family, was Pavlovsk, located next to Tsarskoye Selo, closely connected with the residence, not only with the railway, but with the whole history. A well-kept city with a palace and a park, it was often visited by the public, attracted by concerts in the Pavlovsk Voksal. This estate was presented to Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich at the end 1777 g., on the occasion of the birth of the grandson of Empress Catherine II, Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich. These were lands along the Slavyanka River, with total area 362 acres of land (about 400 hectares) together with the villages of Linna and Kuznetsy with 117 “souls of both sexes”. After the name of the “recipient of the gift”, it was named the village of Pavlovskoye.

After Catherine II gave Pavel Petrovich Gatchina, the future emperor somewhat lost interest in his family “nest”. In 1788, he gave it to his wife, and from that time on Pavlovsk remained in the care of Maria Fedorovna, who, being a skillful housewife, made it, literally and figuratively, flourishing. Six days after accession to the throne, November 12 1796 g., Paul I finally assigns Pavlovsk to his wife and elevates his estate to the rank of a city, but with a significant limitation: “The village of Pavlovskoye, given from us to the ownership of Her Imperial Majesty to our dear wife, we rename it a city, so that the management it took place on the very basis that had previously been established there, by our will... and was considered a city without comparison with its current neighborhood” 19.

The decree of November 24 confirmed the idea expressed about the special position of Pavlovsk, which had to address its urban problems directly to the Senate 20 . By decree of June 3 1797 In Pavlovsk, a City Government was established, and for the merchants, guilds and townspeople - the Town Hall. The chief manager and city authorities had to ensure that “the building was executed according to the plan and façade.” A police chief was appointed, the city was divided into two parts (on the right and left sides of the Slavyanka River). The hospital was entrusted to the dependency of Maria Fedorovna, with the dispensing of medicines at public expense 21. A decree issued on the same day approved the staff of the Pavlovsk City Administration 22.

Alexander I ascended the throne by decree of February 12 1802 Mr. Commanded: “The boards, ... such as Gatchina, Pavlovsk, Tsarskoselskoe, Aleksandrovskaya manufactory and others, should be left inviolable at the disposal of internal economic considerations and the management of the peasants...” 23

After the assassination of Paul I ( 1801 g.) in Pavlovsk, - the summer residence of his widow Maria Fedorovna, - according to the personal decree of February 26 1 811 g., the City Hall was abolished, and its affairs were transferred to the Tsarskoye Selo Town Hall. At the same time, this also happened in Gatchina.

The long-term struggle of the townspeople of Pavlovsk (as well as Gatchina) with dependence on the Tsarskoye Selo Town Hall began. In particular, by “the highest permission” in 1819 g. all fees required by the Tsarskoye Selo Town Hall from petty trade in the cities of Pavlovsk and Gatchina were stopped 24.

Personalized Highest Decree of Nicholas I of March 27 1827 g., as already noted, an order was issued: not to demand reports from the Gatchina and Pavlovsk City Boards, “... since this board is in the department of Her Imperial Majesty.” After the death of the Dowager Empress, by personal decree of December 28 1828 g., in accordance with the spiritual will of Maria Fedorovna (clause 6), Pavlovsk was given to the property of her youngest son, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, with the subsequent transfer of the estate by male inheritance 25.

IN 1838 For Pavlovsk, the Regulations on the city police were adopted, whose officials were given equal rights with civil servants, and staff numbers were approved 26. Highly approved by the Regulations of the Committee of Ministers of October 28 1841 g., at the suggestion
Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, on the basis of the Construction Charter (Code of Laws. T. 12. Art. 706), - the inhabitants of Pavlovsk were entrusted with the responsibility of “... maintaining highway streets in the city” 27.

The hereditary owner of Pavlovsk led. book Mikhail Pavlovich died in 1849 in Warsaw, leaving no heirs in the male line. In accordance with Maria Feodorovna’s will, Pavlovsk passed to the second son of Nicholas I, Admiral General and owner of Strelna, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich “and the heirs of his eldest male generation” 28 .

IN 1892 After his death, the owner of Pavlovsk became his son (from his marriage to Alexandra Iosifovna) Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, President of the Academy of Sciences, a famous lyric poet who published under the pseudonym “K. R.”, married to Grand Duchess Elizaveta Mavrikievna 29. After his death from asthma in 1915 g., his eldest son Ivan Konstantinovich (1886–1918) became the owner of the palace. He lived on the estate with his family: brothers, sister Vera and aunt, the Dowager Queen of Greece Olga Konstantinovna. The family left the palace in October–November 1917 G.

Oranienbaum

Another palace “possession” was Oranienbaum. The city originates from a settlement that arose along the Koporskaya road, east of the A.D. palace under construction. Menshikov, the first owner of the estate. IN 1743 Empress Elizaveta Petrovna donated the estate to her nephew, Grand Duke Peter Petrovich, the future Peter III. Later, simultaneously with Sofia, by the same “highest decree” of January 1 1780 The city of Oranienbaum was transformed from a settlement into county town 30 .

After the death of Alexander I, the issue of the fate of Oranienbaum, which was the personal property of the deceased emperor, was especially resolved. By personal decree of January 9 1826 The Oranienbaum estate was transferred to the ownership of the Dowager Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, and therefore it was excluded from the jurisdiction of the Tsarskoe Selo Palace Board 31.

Soon a new decree was required, since Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna outlived her husband by only 5 months. She did not have time to enter into inheritance rights. By personal decree of February 15 1827 Mr. Nicholas I, without mentioning Elizaveta Alekseevna, writes about the Oranienbaum estate “as if it were the property of the dearest brother” Alexander Pavlovich who rests in God. Despite the fact that, according to the law, the estate was subject to division into three parts, Nikolai Pavlovich renounced his share in favor of the brothers Konstantin and Mikhail Pavlovich, providing “this entire estate as an inheritance to the two of them, with their offspring” 32.

There was again talk about the removal of the estate from the jurisdiction of the Chief Administrator of the Tsarskoye Selo Palace Administration. Due to the death from cholera in 1831 in Vitebsk, Konstantin Pavlovich, who left no legal heirs, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich became the owner of the Oranienbaum estate, and after his death in 1849 g. - his widow Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna.

As already noted, in 1848 Oranienbaum's status changed. It has become a provincial town. After Elena Pavlovna in 1873, the estate passed to one of her five daughters, Ekaterina Mikhailovna, who married Duke Georg August of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1851. Their son Georg Georgievich owned the estate until his sudden death in 1909 He was buried in the park of the Oranienbaum estate. The inscription on the grave read: “Here lies a deeply respected husband and father, and a wonderful citizen of Oranienbaum.” Currently, the approximate burial site is marked by a memorial stone.

Oranienbaum passed to the last owner, the widow of Georg Georgievich - Countess Karlova (the Duke's marriage for love - to the noblewoman Natalya Fedorovna Vanlyarskaya - was a misalliance, and from 1890 to 1906 - not recognized at the Court). Only after 1906 d. their children received the right of inheritance.

After the February Revolution 1917 The Provisional Government declared all the palaces that belonged to the Romanov family the property of the people, but did not have time to seriously deal with their fate.

In conclusion, we will conduct a brief comparative analysis of the historical reasons the final, virtually irrevocable, disappearance of the cultural phenomenon called “Tsarskoe Selo”.

To begin with, we contacted directly the administration of the city of Potsdam, a historically similar “personal estate” of King Frederick. In terms of its status and development features, the city of Tsarskoye Selo (at the origins of its formation) is quite comparable to the residence of the Prussian kings, in which Frederick II built New Palace and created Sans Souci (Sans-Sousi French - “without worries”).

These two cities are close in their location, in relation to the capital (Potsdam 26 km from Berlin), the time of the railway(Berlin - Potsdam in 1840), the existence of temples different religions(built in 1826 in Potsdam Orthodox Church, for the Russian “soldier-song-writers” resettled there in 1813, a Protestant church and a Catholic church, as in Tsarskoe - there were churches of all religious communities), Observatories operated in both cities. Only in terms of the total number of residents, Potsdam was slightly ahead of Tsarskoe Selo (at the end of the 19th century, over 58 thousand people) 33.

Unfortunately, that’s where the analogies end.

Potsdam received city rights in the 13th century and throughout its long (1000th anniversary was celebrated in 1993) and difficult (twice the city was completely destroyed) history, it retained autonomous, main for citizens, local elections and, what, on our opinion is the most important thing: with the help of “feedback” from the administration and citizens, as well as self-government (through the system of municipal bodies), the city did not, and will never become, part of Berlin. Moreover, after the total destruction and post-war restoration to its previous size, the Sanssouci museum complex and the surrounding urban lands were “grown” by Berlin territories by 2.5 times, and Potsdam itself not only did not remain a “satellite city”, but is also now the independent capital of the State of Brandenburg 34.

The sad and imminent prospect of our city seems to us like the absorption of Tsarskoye Selo by a metropolis.

Sources used by Bolshakova L.Z.:

1. RGIA F.472. Op. 60. D. 2363. On the structure of urban and public administration in Palace cities. 1870 – early 1890s L. 4.
2. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. IX. Dept. 1. No. 7262. The highest approved note from the Minister of the Imperial Household. – About the difference between palace estates regarding their names and the addition of people of free and tax status to them. pp.709–710.
3. Ivanova N.A. Zheltova V.P. Estate society of the Russian Empire. (XVIII – early XX centuries). P. 53.
4. Nardova V.A. Legal status of Tsarskoye Selo // Alexander II and his era: To the 140th anniversary of his accession to the throne. Abstracts of conference reports [Materials of the 1st Tsarskoye Selo Conference]. SPb.1995. P. 13.
5. Code of laws of the Russian Empire. T. 10. Civil and boundary laws. Ch. II. About state property, specific property, belonging to various institutions, public and private. Art. 412.
6. Right there. Art. 926.p. 1; RGIA F.472. Op. 60. D. 2363. On the structure of urban and public administration in the Palace cities. 1870–1880 L.
7. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. XLV. Dept. 1. No. 48136. – From March 16, 1870 – The highest approved opinion of the State Council. – On the withdrawal of the Sovereign’s palace property from collection for local zemstvo duties. P.249.
8. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. XLVIII. Dept. 1. No. 51806. – dated January 23, 1873 – The highest approved opinion of the State Council, published on March 2. . – On the withdrawal of palace Sovereign property from the city tax in favor of the treasury and from the assessed tax in favor of the city. P.110
9. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. LIV.. Dept. 1. No. 59629. – Personalized, given to the Senate. On the exclusion of palace property of the 2nd type from payment of state tax. P. 380.
10. Code of laws continued 1906 T. 10. Part 1. Art. 412
11. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. XXXIV. No. 26912. – Personalized. Given to the Senate, June 7, 1817 - On the existence of the Peterhof government under the authority of the Tsarskoye Selo palace government. P. 379.
12. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. XXIII. Dept. 2. No. 22734, November 13, 1848 – Personalized, announced by the Minister of Justice. - About the transfer of the district administration to the city of Peterhof from Oranienbaum and the transfer of this latter to a provincial city. P. 39.
13. PSZ. 2nd collection T. XXIV. No. 17539. Quote: Shuisky V.K. Vincenzo Brenna. SPb. P. 102.
14. PSZ RI. 1st collection T. XXXI. No. 24538. – From February 26, 1811 – Personalized, given to the Senate. - About the destruction of town halls in the cities of Gatchina and Pavlovsk and about the conduct of affairs about merchants and burghers in the Tsarskoye Selo town hall. P. 563.
15. PSZ RI. - 2nd collection -T. II. No. 986. – From March 25, 1827 – On not requiring reports from the Gatchina and Pavlovsk city boards.
16. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. III. No. 2552. – Named, given to the Senate. – On the provision of the Gatchina Palace with its accessories in the spiritual will of the Empress Maria Feodorovna into the ownership of the Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich and on the order of inheritance therein. P. 1125.
17. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. III. No. 2553. – Personalized, given to the Minister of the Imperial Household. - About the acceptance into his department of the Gatchina Palace with its patrimony and about the existence of the Gatchina government under the command of the Chief Administrator of Tsarskoe Selo. P.1225.
18. RGIA F.472. Op. 60. D. 2363. On the structure of urban and public administration in the Palace cities. 1870-1880 L.54–67.
19. PSZ RI. 1st collection T. XXIV. No. 17540. November 12, 1796 – Personalized, given to the Senate. – On renaming the village of Pavlovskoye as a city.
20. PSZ RI. 1st collection T. XXIV. No. 17540. November 12, 1796 – Named, reported by the Prosecutor General. – November 24, 1796 – On the subsequent order that the cities of Gatchina and Pavlovskoe should be referred directly to the Senate in cases of incidents.
21. PSZ RI. 1st collection T. XXIV. No. 17983. – June 3, 1797 – The highest approved position. - On the establishment in the city of Pavlovsk of the City Administration, and for the merchants, guilds and townspeople of the town hall. P. 620.
22. PSZ RI. 1st collection T. XXIV. No. 17984. – June 3, 1797 – The highest approved staff of the Pavlovsk city government.
23. PSZ RI. 1st collection T. XXVII. No. 20142. - Named, given to the Senate. – February 12, 1802 – Personalized, given to the Senate. – On the restoration of various public places and on the staffing situation of the St. Petersburg and Moscow provinces. Art. III. P. 45.
24. RGIA F.472. Op. 60. D. 2363. On the structure of urban and public administration in the Palace cities. 1870-1880 L. 335.
25. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. III. No. 2554yu - From December 28. - Named, given to the Senate. – On the provision, according to the spiritual will of the Empress Maria Feodorovna, of the Pavlovsk Palace with its accessories as the property of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich and on the order of inheritance therein. P.1225.
26. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. XIII. Dept. 2. No. 11710. – From November 3, 1838 – The highest approved opinion of the State Council. – About the structure of the police in Pavlovsk. P. 283.
27. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. XVI. Dept. 1.- October 28, 1841 – The highest approved position of the Committee of Ministers. – On making it the responsibility of the inhabitants of Pavlovsk to maintain the highway streets built there. P. 875.
28. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. XXIV. Dept. 2. No. 23560. – From October 10, 1849 – Personalized, given to the Senate. – About the transfer of the Pavlovsk Palace... to Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich. P. 85.
29. Report of the Ministry of the Imperial Household dated February 3, 1892 No. 340; RGIA F.472. Op. 60. D. 2363. On the structure of urban and public administration in the Palace cities. 1870-1880 L. 327 vol.
30. Right there. L.9.
31. PSZ RI. 2nd collection T. 1. No. 36. – January 9, 1826 – Named order given to the Tsarskoye Selo Palace Board on the exclusion of the Oranienbaum Palace with all its accessories from the department of the Tsarskoye Selo Palace Board
32. PSZ RI. 2nd collection .T.II. No. 907, February 15, 1827 – Personally given to the Senate. – On the exclusion of the Oranienbaum Palace from the department of the Tsarskoye Selo palace administration. pp. 184–185.
33. Potsdam – St. signed with the initials B.T. // Encyclopedic Dictionary of F.A. Brockhaus and I.E. Efron. b., 1898. pp. 743-744.
34. see Appendices: No. 6: Maps of Potsdam from different periods: part 1 Changes in borders for the period 1871–1911; Part 2 Changes in borders for the period 1911-1945 - entitled: - translated with him - L.B: “Berlin and Potsdam - one city?” depicting the territories that were annexed by decision of the elected administration of the State of Brandenburg to its capital Potsdam; Appendix No. 7. Map of changes in the boundaries of the city of Potsdam for the period 1989–1993)

The “Gate of All Nations” was a large square hall with four carved columns. They were “guarded” by colossal shedu figures - sculptures of winged bulls with human heads. Envoys of the peoples and countries they conquered once passed through the “Gate of Nations” to the Achaemenid monarchs with rich gifts and tribute. Here they awaited the highest permission to go to Apadana - ceremonial palace, or “The Reception Hall” of Darius the Great.

The majestic and richly decorated Apadana was an example of the architecture of that era, the pearl of ancient Persian architecture. It was a huge square hall, each side of which was 85 meters. The ceiling vaults of the “Reception Hall” rested on 36 stone columns, which skilled craftsmen decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes of court life.

Apadana occupied an area of ​​over 1000 square meters. Staircases, also decorated with relief images, adjoined the huge hall. Only 13 columns that supported flat floors have survived to this day. At one time, these columns were widely spaced, creating a free and well-lit space. They say that up to 10,000 people at a time - courtiers, warriors, envoys - gathered in Persepolis during receptions.

On solemn days, King Darius sat on the throne, and all those who had the honor of beholding their powerful ruler passed by him. The procession carved on the walls and on both sides of the stairs has been preserved for centuries. And who is not in it! Warriors armed with swords march with their horses and chariots; the mighty of the world are coming, marching under the command of Persian and Median dignitaries, the Saki - in long-topped hats and with long beards, leading horses as gifts, carrying gold bracelets and precious robes; the inhabitants of sinful Babylon walk in front of Darius in long pleated clothes, carrying rich fabrics and rings; the inhabitants of Bactria lead the clumsily stepping Bactrian camels. And above this entire mass of horse and foot is a winged sun, held by two shedu.

The power and greatness of the Persian Empire are captured here for centuries. All the reliefs in Persepolis were colorful, and although the colors have faded over time, some of the reliefs have been quite well preserved to this day.

To the south of Apadana lie the ruins of the Tripilion - the “Meeting Hall”, to the east - the ruins of the Throne Room of King Xerxes, or the “Hall of a Hundred Columns”. This hall was named so because its ceiling was supported by 10 rows of 10 columns each. It was even larger than Apadana, and thousands of skilled architects, engineers and craftsmen of various professions worked on its construction, many of whom were prisoners of the countries conquered by the Achaemenids.

As in the Apadana reliefs, in the few surviving reliefs of the “Hall of a Hundred Columns” we see troops standing in trellises. And here is Darius himself. It’s as if he greets visitors, sitting on a throne guarded by guards, just as he once met the nobility who were going to the council. The “Hall of a Hundred Columns” was illuminated only by torches, and darkness always reigned in its depths.

Architectural ensemble Persepolis also included many other structures; over many centuries neither the sun nor the wind could erase them from the face of the earth. Their size can be judged by the fact that the Achaemenid treasury, which consisted of many halls, occupied an area of ​​11,000 square meters. The doors of the treasury were lined with thin gold plates. One small piece of such a plate was found by archaeologists in 1941. It clearly shows drawings depicting animals and plant patterns.

It was not for nothing that Persepolis was called the “ceremonial” capital of the Achaemenid kings. The administrative capital of their empire in winter period there was the city of Susa, in the summer - Ecbatana. Persepolis was intended for holding holidays and performing ritual ceremonies. Every year in the spring, during the celebration of Novruz (New Year), the king and his courtiers gathered in Persepolis to accept gifts from the states they had conquered.

And considerable wealth was stored in the treasury of Persepolis. Fine jewelry, priceless works of art and many other gifts - all replenished the treasury of the Persian rulers. Thus, the Greek historian Diodorus writes that during the conquest of Egypt by the Achaemenids, numerous objects made of precious ivory, gold and silver vessels, sculptural figurines of Isis and other gods were confiscated from the residence of the pharaohs. Ancient Egypt, as well as beautiful alabaster vases. Much became the property of the Persian kings and was kept in Persepolis. The cups of the Hittite kings and the cup of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal were also found here.

But in May 330 BC, Persepolis was captured by the army of Alexander the Great. The famous infantry phalanx and light war cavalry of Alexander the Great turned out to be stronger than the war elephants and heavy chariots of the Persians. Having captured Persepolis, Alexander the Great captured the treasures of the Persian kings. “In addition to the royal palaces, Alexander the Great gave the entire city to his soldiers for plunder. They attacked the gold, luxurious utensils and clothes embroidered with gold and dyed purple. Rich clothes and expensive vessels with highly artistic decoration were cut into pieces with swords, and everyone took their share.”

Ancient authors claim that Persepolis contained 120,000 talents worth of gold and silver jewelry. To deliver them to Susa and Babylon, which the Macedonians had captured earlier, it took 10,000 carts, 300 camels and countless mules.

The ancient Greek historian Plutarch talks about the death of Persepolis in his writings.

Alexander feasted and had fun with his friends. Women also took part in the general fun along with their lovers. Among them, Taida, originally from Attica, especially stood out. Either cleverly glorifying Alexander, or making fun of him, she, in the power of intoxication, decided to utter words that were completely consistent with the morals and customs of her homeland... Taida said that on this day, mocking the arrogant palaces of the Persian kings, she felt rewarded for all the hardships she had experienced her wanderings around Asia. But it would be even more pleasant for her now, with a cheerful crowd of feasters, to go and with her own hand, in front of the king’s eyes, set fire to the palace of Xerxes, who betrayed Athens to a destructive fire. Let them say that the women who accompanied Alexander were able to take revenge on the Persians for Greece better than the famous leaders of the army and navy.

These words were met with a roar of approval and loud applause. Compelled by the persistent insistence of his friends, Alexander jumped up and, with a wreath on his head and a torch in his hand, walked ahead of everyone...

Let us recall that in 480 BC, the Persian king Xerxes, the son and successor of Darius I, together with his army crossed the Bosporus and began military operations in Greece. The formidable armies of Xerxes burst into Athens and burned to the ground the famous Acropolis with its temples and shrines. A year later, at the Battle of Plataea, the Persians suffered a crushing defeat, but for several more decades, almost all over Greece, cities and temples that had suffered during the Persian invasion were rebuilt - an invasion that, like an unhealed wound, revived the memory of the Greeks.

Persepolis was taken without a fight; the Persian troops were then far away, and besides, they were already powerless. In fact, the Persians were on the verge of final defeat, and the palace was already the property of Alexander the Great. It is impossible to explain the burning of Persepolis either from a military point of view or from the point of view of common sense.

Then what were the motives of the Macedonian commander when he destroyed Persepolis? Some historians claim that Alexander the Great was driven by a sense of revenge for the Persians' attack on Greece in 480 BC. Other researchers believe that Alexander the Great knew that the Zoroastrian tradition considered him a symbol of evil and a fiend of hell, the offspring of Ahriman, personifying the evil principle. According to ancient authors, Alexander the Great was guilty of the murder of many priest-magicians and the burning of the Avesta, the sacred book of the Zoroastrians.

Whatever the reasons for this severe destruction, ancient historians began to argue about them back in ancient times. In the fire, the priceless royal archive of documents written on leather and papyrus disappeared, and one of the brightest creations of human genius was ruined.

PALACE OF CYRUS THE GREAT IN ECBATANES

Cyrus the Great, Persian king (c. 590–530 BC)

Hamadan is one of the ancient cities peace. It arose 4,000 years ago, was famous back in the days of ancient Media, was subjected to a destructive invasion three times: Alexander the Great, the rulers of the Arab Caliphate, the great Timur wiped it off the face of the earth, but each time it rose from the ruins and was reborn.

The first mention of this city is contained in the texts of the era of the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser I (around the 12th century BC), in which the city appears under the name Amadana. In the cuneiform inscriptions of the ancient Persian kings of the Achaemenid dynasty, it is mentioned as Khagmatana, and the name Ecbatana, which the city bore for many centuries - both during its glory and during its decline - was given to it by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. It was he who first described this city in detail.

True, some scientists believe that modern Hamadan is not the Ecbatana of Herodotus, and suggest looking for the capital ancient kingdom southeast of Lake Rezaie. Lying among the rocky mountains, this lake is sung by many poets. There is a chain of islands on it, the largest of which is Shahi. Once upon a time, peasants from surrounding villages brought “several dozen sick goats” here, but the “exile” turned out to be a happy one for them. The goats survived, multiplied and went wild, and now Shahi Island is famous for its hunting grounds.

However, the famous archaeologist Demergen, who specifically studied this issue while excavating in Susa, has a different opinion. He established that modern Hamadan is indeed the Ecbatana of Herodotus. Moreover, it was here that the famous royal palace was located, immortalized in the writings of the ancient Greek historian.

The city of Ecbatana lay at the foot high mountain, it did not have fortress walls, and only the citadel towering above it was heavily fortified. Herodotus considered the founder of the palace to be the Median king Diokes. After ascending the throne (according to Herodotus), one of the first acts of state of Diokes was the creation of a personal guard and the construction of a city and a royal palace.

Ecbatana consisted of seven fortresses located one inside the other; the royal palace and treasury were located in the seventh fortress - the central one. The walls of each fortress were painted in different colors. The outer fortress was white, the second was black, the third was dark red, the fourth was pale blue, the fifth was bright red, the sixth was grayish-cement color, the seventh was designed in golden-yellow tones.

Another ancient Greek historian, Polybius, also wrote about the splendor and brilliant decoration of the royal palace. According to him, the costs of finishing the building were simply fabulous, they could not even be compared with anything. The walls of the palace were made of the best pine trees, on which not a single knot remained that was not covered with gold or silver.

In 550 BC, Ecbatana was captured by Cyrus I, the Persian king from the Achaemenid dynasty, the founder of the Iranian state. Standing among the green mountains, Ecbatana became the summer residence of the Achaemenid kings.

In 330 BC, the troops of Alexander the Great entered Ecbatana. The city was sacked and burned, and royal palace, hidden behind seven fortress walls, the great conqueror hid the wealth captured from the conquered peoples. Ancient historians write that on his orders even the gold and silver trim of the palace columns was stripped.

From the formerly majestic palace, only the stone lion has survived to this day, which lies on a hill from which a wide panorama of Ecbatana opens. The centuries and events that this formidable guard witnessed did not pass without a trace for him. The lion's front paws were broken by Muslims, who destroyed any image of a person or animal with fire and sword. One can now only guess about the lion’s once lush mane and its menacing face.

According to an old legend, this lion was enchanted. It was specially placed at the city gates so that it would guard the city in winter, blocking the path of winds and cold: in the winter months frosts in Hamadan reach -20°.

Some residents are still confident in the magical power of the enchanted lion. They say that girls who dream of getting married quickly, or women whose family is not going well come to him secretly. You just have to sit on the lion or just respectfully pat him on the head, and all your wishes will come true. And cheerful, playful children spend whole days rolling on the centuries-polished back and mane of an enchanted lion.