20 Facts About Alexander Griboyedov

Alexander Sergeyevich Griboyedov was a Russian diplomat, playwright, poet, and composer.

Alexander Griboyedov was Russia's ambassador to Qajar Persia, where he and all the embassy staff were massacred by an angry mob in the aftermath of the ratification of the Treaty of Turkmenchay, which confirmed the cession to Russia of Persia's northern territories comprising Transcaucasia and parts of the North Caucasus.

The immediate cause for the incident was Alexander Griboyedov giving refuge to Armenians who had escaped from the harems of the Persian shah and his son.

Alexander Griboyedov was born in Moscow, the exact year unknown, with biographers debating whether it was in 1790 or 1795.

Alexander Griboyedov received a master's degree in philology from Moscow University, and subsequently enrolled in the doctorate program.

Alexander Griboyedov was fluent in all major European languages such as French, English, German, Italian, Greek, Latin, and mastered oriental languages like Arabic, Persian and Turkish.

Alexander Griboyedov obtained a commission in a hussar regiment, which he resigned in 1816.

Alexander Griboyedov possessed musical talent, played the piano and composed several waltzes.

Alexander Griboyedov is best known for his literary compositions and poetic verses.

In Russia for the summer of 1823, Alexander Griboyedov completed the play and took it to Saint Petersburg.

Many copies were made and privately circulated, but Alexander Griboyedov never saw it published.

Alexander Griboyedov's education was not only extensive, continuing into doctoral work before shifting to military training, but had included musical study as well.

Alexander Griboyedov is known to have composed the musical score to the opera-vaudeville called "Who is a Brother, Who is a Sister, or Deception for Deception", written by the composer himself in collaboration with Pyotr Vyazemsky.

Several months after his wedding to Nino, the 16-year-old daughter of his friend Prince Chavchavadze, Alexander Griboyedov was suddenly sent to Persia as Minister Plenipotentiary.

Alexander Griboyedov's decision caused an uproar throughout the city and several thousand Persians encircled the Russian compound demanding their release.

The escaped eunuch and Alexander Griboyedov, who fought with his sword, were among the first to be shot to death; the fate of the two Armenian women remains unknown.

Alexander Griboyedov's body, thrown from a window, was decapitated by a kebab vendor who displayed the head on his stall.

Alexander Griboyedov was buried there, in the monastery of St David.

When Nino, Alexander Griboyedov's widow, received news of his death she gave premature birth to a child who died a few hours later.

One of the main settings for Mikhail Bulgakov's satirical novel The Master and Margarita is named after Alexander Griboyedov, as is the Alexander Griboyedov Canal in Central Saint Petersburg.