Geographical objects that visited Athanasius Nikitin. Report: Nikitin Athanasius

, Merchant

Nikitin Athanasius (died in 1475) - Tverskaya merchant, traveler, the first of the Europeans visited by India (for a quarter of a century before opening the way to this country of Vasco da Ghama), the author of the hinking for the three seas.

The year of birth of A.Kontina is unknown. Extremely scarce and information about what made this merchant to take at the end of the 1460s to a risky and long-term trip to the East, to the side of the three seas: Caspian, Arabian and Black. He described him in his notes, entitled hodges for the three seas.

And I went to Derbent, and from Derbent to Baku ... Malled me the dogs of Bucemann, they said that there were many of our goods there, and it came out that there was nothing to our land, all the goods are white on the Busturman Earth, Pepper Yes Paints cheap, but duties are big and a lot of robbers on the sea.

Nikitin Athanasius

The exact start date of the journey is also not known. At 19 in. I.I. Szreznevsky dated it 1466-1472, modern Russian historians (V.B. Markhavko, L.S. Semenov) are believed to accurately 1468-1474. According to their data, the caravan of several vessels, which united Russian merchants, went from Tver on the Volga in summer 1468. Visigal merchant Nikitin had repeatedly attended the distant countries - Byzantium, Moldova, Lithuania, Crimea - and safely returned home with overseas goods. This journey also began smoothly: Athanasius received a diploma from the Grand Duke Tver Mikhail Borisovich, going to unfold wide trade in the area of \u200b\u200bmodern Astrakhan (some historians, this message gave the ground to see in the Tver merchant of a secret diplomat, the Lazutchik of the Tver Prince, but there is no documentary evidence).

In Nizhny Novgorod, Nikitin was supposed to join the Russian embassy of Vasily Papin, but he had already left south, and he did not find a shopping caravan. Waving to return from Moscow Tatar Ambassador Shirvan Khasan-Bek, Nikitin with him and with other merchants went on a trip two weeks later scheduled. Under the Astrakhan, the caravan of the Embassy and merchant vessels robbed local robbers - Astrakhan Tatars, without counting that on one of the ships slept "his" and besides the ambassador. They took away the entire goods from the merchants, purchased on credit: a return to Rus without a product and without money threatened with a debt. Comrades Athanasius and he himself, according to him, "Poklakov, and koi waders were separated: who he has in Russia, and he went to Rus; And why should, and he went, Kuda his eyes suffered. "

The desire to fix things through intermediary trading chase Nikitin on south. Through Derbent and Baku, he fell into Persia, crossed it from Chapakur on the south coast of the Caspian to Ormuza on the banks of the Persian Gulf and in the Indian Ocean by 1471 was charged to India. There he spent three years, visiting Bidar, Juncar, Chaul, Dubhol and other cities. He did not profit money, but he enriched in indelible impressions.

I met with many Indians and declared them about my faith that I was not a besurmann, but a Christian, and they did not hide from me about the food, nor about trade, no prayers and wives from me were hidden; I asked everything about their faith, and they say: believe in Adam, and Booth is Adam and the whole thing. Vene in India of all 84 faiths, and everyone believes in Bout, and faith with faith does not drink, does not eat, not marry. " India took a special place in his notes: "There is an Indian country, and people all go to Nagi, and the head is not covered, and the chest goals, and the Vlasa is braided in one spit, and all the brukhats go, and the children will deal with every year, and They have a lot of children. And the men and junks are all naked, but all the blacks. Yaz Kuda go, Io, for me a lot of people, and there is a white man ...

Nikitin Athanasius

On the way back in 1474, Nikitin was able to visit the coast of East Africa, in the Ethiopian Earth, reach Trapezund, then to be in Arabia. Through Iran and Turkey, he got to the Black Sea. Arriving in Cafu (Feodosia, Crimea) in November, Nikitin did not risk going further into his native Tver, deciding to wait for the spring merchant caravan. He was undermined by a long journey.

Perhaps in India he acquired some kind of chronic disease. In Cafe Athanasius Nikitin, apparently, met and closely came down with rich Moscow "guests" (merchants) Stepan Vasilyev and Gregory Zhuku. When their combined caravan moved on the road (most likely, in March 1475), it was warm in Crimea, but as we move to the north, the weather became all colder. The undervalued health of A.Nikitina gave itself to know and he suddenly died. The place of its burial is conditionally considered Smolensk.

Wanting to tell others what she did himself, A.Nikitin led the travel notes to whom the literary form gave and gave the title of hinechia for the three seas. Judging by them, he carefully studied the life, life and classes of Peoples and India, drew attention to the state system, management, religion (described the worship of the Buddha in the Holy City of Parvat), spoke about the diamond specks, trade, armament, mentioned exotic animals - snakes And monkeys, a mysterious bird "Gokin", allegedly foreshadowed death and others. His notes indicate the latitude of the author's horizons, friendly attitude to other people's peoples and the businesses of those countries where he visited. A businesswitted, energetic merchant and traveler not only searched for the goods needed by Russian Earth, but carefully watched and accurately described life and morals.

About blessed Christians! Who is often swimming for many lands, he falls into many sins and faith is deprived of Christian.

Nikitin Athanasius

Alone and interestingly described it and the nature of exotic India. However, as a merchant Nikitin was disappointed with the results of the journey: "I was deceived by the dogs-bassurman: they spoke about many goods, but it turned out that there is nothing for our land ... cheap pepper and paint. Some carry the goods by the sea, other duties do not pay for him, but they will not give us [nothing] to carry without duties. And the duty is big, and there are a lot of robbers on the sea. "

I bored my native land, who felt uncomfortably in other plants, A.Nikitin sincerely urged to admire the "earth of Russian": "God will save Russian earth! There is no country like it on this light. And although the Venels of the Russian Earth is not fair, let the Russian land will be arranged and there will be in it [enough] justice! " Unlike a number of European travelers of that time (Nikola de Conti, etc.), who accepted in the east of Magometania, Nikitin was completely faithful to Christianity ("did not leave his faith in Russia"), all moral assessments of the businesses and customs gave, relying on the category Orthodox morality, while staying at the same time with religious.

Hoggling A. Kisitina testifies to the author's readiness, possession of the business Russian speech and at the same time very susceptible to other languages. He led in his notes a lot of local - Persian, Arab and Turkic - words and expressions, gave them Russian interpretation.

Haming, delivered by someone in 1478 to Moscow to the Decacity of the Grand Duke Vasily Mamyreva, after the death of their author, was soon included in the chronicles of 1488, in turn included in the Sofia second and Lviv chronicle. Haming is translated into many languages \u200b\u200bof the world. His author in Tver in 1955 a monument was set on the banks of the Volga, on the place where he went "for the three seas." The monument was installed on a round area in the form of a rook, the nose part of which is decorated with a horse's head

In 2003, the monument was opened in Western India. Sememeter stele, lined with black granite, in four sides of which gold engraved in Russian, Hindi, Marathi and English, designed by the Young Indian architect with a matret and built on local donations with the financial participation of the administrations of the Tver region and the city of Tver.

Athanasius Nikitin - Quotes

About blessed Christians! Who is often swimming for many lands, he falls into many sins and faith is deprived of Christian.

Nikitin Athanasius (mind. 1475, OK Smolensk) - Tver merchant, traveler. In 1466 he went with a commodity to the "Shirvan Earth" to North. Caucasus. Under Astrakhan, the caravan Nikitin Athanasius was robbed by Nogai Tatars. Not wanting, returning home, to become for the debts of the slave, Nikitin Athanasius "from many misdaches to India," where they got after many in 1469. Often without funds and with risk for life, three years traveled by the country, told about its management, hosu -The, religion, life, nature in the composition of "walking in the three seas", which has become not only an accurate source of information about India, but also a monument to ancient. Lithing translated into many languages. The circumstances of the death of Nikitin Athanasius on the way back to their homeland are unknown.

About Afanasia Nikitin has no other biographical information, except that he was a merchant from the city of Tver. Making a trip to Persia, India (1466-1474). On the way back, the African Beach (Somalia), Muscat, Turkey visited. Travel notes "Hoggling for the three seas" (the exact name of the diary) is a valuable geographical document and a literary and historical monument. In them, the author tells the story of its wanders in the Caucasian coast of the Caspian Sea, Persia, India, Turkey, Crimea and the south of Russia.

In the summer of 1466, the merchants from Tver on two vessels went for the overseas trading in the distant swimming: down the Volga for the sea "Derbenskoye", or "puffy" - so in the old days called the Caspian Sea.

The head of the caravan was elected Athanasius Nikitin. The caravan sailed past Kalyazin, coal, Kostroma, Clear. Short diary rows say that the path on the Volga Nikitin was familiar. In Nizhny Novgorod - a long stop. Fly along the Volga at that time was unsafe: Tatars were attacked.

In Nizhny Novgorod, Russian merchants joined the Shirvan Embassy led by Hasanbeck returning from Moscow.

The caravan sailed "Storonto and with caution." Kazan and other Tatar cities have passed safely, but in the Volga Delta, the squad of Astrakhan Khan Kasima was attacked. The merchants took the weapon. The Tatars "shot a man with us, and we have two shot," Nikitin reports. Unfortunately, one ship is stuck on a fishing junction, and another stranded salty. Tatars plundered these vessels and captured four Russians.

The surviving two vessels reached the Caspian Sea. The smaller vessel on which was "6 Muscovite and 6 Tver", during the storms broke and threw out onto the coastal stranded near Tarh (Makhachkala). The inhabitants of the coast of Kaitaki plundered the goods, and people captured.

Athanasius Nikitin with ten Russian merchants, being at the Embassy vessel, safely reached Derbent. First of all, he began to bother about the liberation of prisoners. His hassle was crowned with success: a year later, merchants were released. But the goods Kaitaki did not return.

Nikitin was from those merchants that they took the goods for overseas trading in debt, and the loss of goods threatened him in his homeland not only shame, but also a debt.

In September 1468, Nikitin from Baku sailed to the Caspian Persian region Mazandran, and then, the passing of Mount Elbsch, moved to the south. Traveled not in a hurry, sometimes lived in a month in some village, engaged in trading. In the spring of 1469, he reached the "Gurmyzsky Ribbies", so he calls Ormuz - a large and lively port, where trading paths from Malaya Asia, Egypt, India and China intersect. The goods from Ormuza reached Russia, were especially famous for "Gurmyzhsky grains" (pearls). Having learned that from here, the horses are taken to India, which there are "won't bearing" and are very expensive, Timens bought a good horse and from Gurmais "... I went to the sea for the sea Indian ..." April 23, 1471 Nikitin sat on the ship and through Six weeks arrived in the Indian city of Chaul.

India struck him. Not even the Earth itself, so not similar to his native places, and people are black, nagia, barefoot. Only among those who are more learning, on the head of yes hips of the veil - a piece of matter, but everyone, even the poor - either gold earrings, or bracelets on their hands and legs, and around the neck - decoration is also from gold. Nikitin wondered: if there is gold, why do they not buy at least some clothes to cover their nudity? But in Chaul, he failed to sell a horse, and in June he went through Western gates deep into the country, for 200 versts from the sea, east, in a small town in the heads of Sina (Krishna pool), and from there north-west, in Dzhunnar is a fortress standing on a high grief, east of Bombay. Asad Khan, the governor of Junnara, seduced with an excellent horse and commanded the power to pick it up. In addition, having learned that the stallion belonged to Inovertsu, Asad-Khan called Rusin to his palace and walked to return the stallion and to pinch a thousand gold in addition, if a stranger would agree to go to the Moometan faith. But no, so do not see the stallion, and it will sell to slavery itself.

Khan took to think about four days. Nikitina saved the case - helped by his petition by chance the old familiar Mohammed. Han showed that he could be merciful: it did not become to change the faith and returned the stallion.

Nikitin walked to India hoping to take the goods on Russia, "Ano there is nothing to our land."

After waiting for the roads after the rainy season, in September, the stallion led even further, for 400 versts, in Bidar, the capital of the Ceremen (Muslim) state of Bakhmani, who was then almost all the decan to the Krishna River in the south, - "The city is large, crowded" . Then he went further - in Alland, where a big fair was opened and where he hoped to profitably sell the stallion. Only in vain for it, it was calculated: thousands of twenty horses gathered at the fair, and Nikitin to sell his stallion was not possible.

Only in the Bidar, in December 1471 he sold, finally a stallion. In 1472, Parvat headed from the Bidar of Athanasi to the sacred city of Parvat, on the right bank of Krishna, where the Bogomolians walked for the holiday of the night dedicated to God Shiva (Sive). The traveler notes that this city for Indians-Brahmans is also sacred as for Muslim Mecca, for Orthodox Jerusalem. At this big holiday was gathered to 100 thousand people.

From Parvat Athanasius Nikitin returned to Bidar, who left 1473 in April. Having stayed five months in one of the cities of the "diamond" area of \u200b\u200bRichur, decided to return "on Russia."

Nikitin was disappointed with the results of the trip: "I was deceived by the dogs-basurman: they spoke about many products, but it turned out that there is nothing for our land ... cheap pepper and paint. Some carry the goods by the sea, other duties do not pay for him. But They will not allow us to drive without duties. And the duty is big, and a lot of robbers on the sea "From a brief entry into his" Hozing ... ", included in the" Lviv Chronicle "under 1475, it can be seen that he," Smolensk without reached He died [in late 1474 - early 1475], and wrote his hand to his hand, and his handwritten notebooks brought guests [merchants] to Moscow ... "Nickitin's handwood, who was written by Hand, got to Moscow, to the Deca of the Grand Prince Vasily Mamyrev. He immediately understood what value they represent - after all, Russian people were not in India to Nikitina. In the XVI-XVII centuries, "Hozhing ..." has repeatedly rewritten: at least six lists came to us.

Date of Birth: --
Date of death: 1472 (1475) year.
Place of birth: Russian Empire.

Athanasius Nikitin - Traveler, experienced merchant and the first European, visiting India. Also Nikitin Known by its notes "Hoggling for the three seas."

The story has kept little information about Athanasia, about the date and place of his birth, parents and childhood. The first historical records refer to his travel to the three seas of black, Caspian and Arabian, which is described in his notes.

Failed to restore and accurate date of departure on the journey. Russian merchants who traveled in the same direction with Afanasiya, went on the road from Tver on several ships.

At that time was an experienced merchant and traveler by that time, because he had more than once to visit such countries as Byzantium, Lithuania, Moldova and Crimea. And a safe return home was accompanied by the attitudes of overseas goods.

Athanasius had large plans for the development of trade in the areas of the current Astrakhan, for which he received support and diploma from Prince Mikhail Borisovich Tver. In this regard, he could be considered as a secret diplomat or the prince's laserist, but not preserved historical data on this.

After arriving in Nizhny Novgorod, travelers had to join Vasily Dadno and the Russian Embassy, \u200b\u200bbut the shopping caravan did not have time to leave for south.

The continuation of the path was tightened for two weeks and continued with the Tatar Ambassador Shirvan Khasan-Beck. And near Astrakhan, all vessels were plundered by Tatar robber.

Return to Russia has succeeded to a pit of debt obligations. Therefore, the comrades Athanasius were divided: who had at least something at home returned to Russia, and the rest were separated from the eyes.

Nikitin also did not leave hope to improve their affairs and continued to travel to the south. He passed Baku and Persia, then reached the Indian Ocean. But already in India Nikitin spent 3 years. He visited in India many cities, did a lot, but did not succeed in the money.

Long path was back to the Crimea. Fere in Afanasi through Africa, he also visited Ethiopian lands, reached Trapezund and Arabia. Then overcoming Iran, and then Turkey returned to the Black Sea.

And staying in a cafe (Crimea), in November 1974 decided to wait for the spring shopping caravan, because undermined health did not give the opportunity to travel in winter.

During a long stay in Café Nikitin managed to get acquainted and establish close relations with the Moscow rich merchants, among whom Gregory Zhukov and Stepan Vasilyev. When their combined large caravan began to go to the Crimea in the Crimea. Attalized health Athanasius more and more gave themselves about himself. Because of what he died and was buried near Smolensk.

The desire will share their impressions, observations and experience poured into his travel notes. Here it is well visible to readiness and competent possession of not only Russian business speech, but also a good perception of foreign languages.

In his notes, Athanasius often uses local expressions of countries in which he managed to visit, and after them gives his interpretation in Russian.

Its records indicated not only the differences between nature and the amid animals, but also the differences of the morals, life and the state system. Attalizes Athanasius and in the sacred city of Parvat, where Buddha worship. He studied local religion and management. His records testify to the broad horizon and the author's friendliness to other countries and nations.

Despite the wonderful and interesting descriptions of India, Persia and other countries, his record do not hide his disappointment. Lack of promised diversity of goods. Bored in Russian land, Athanasius could not feel comfortable in foreign lands.

Despite the injustice of Russian nobles, Nikitin glorified Russian land. The traveler and Christian religion kept the latter, and all estimates of the businesses and customs were built on Orthodox morality.

Achievements Athanasius Nikitin:

Dates from the biography of Athanasius Nikitin:

1468 Beginning Travel for 3 Sea
1471 arrival in India
1474 Returned to the Crimea
1475 died

Interesting facts from the life of the Tver merchant and traveler are set forth in this article.

Athanasius Nikitin interesting facts

1. Athanasius Nikitin was the first Russian traveler who visited Persia and India. Returning from these countries, the traveler visited Turkey, Somalia and Muscat.

2. Nikitin opened Eastern countries 25 years before traveling Vasco da Gama and many other travelers.

3. Famous travel notes Afanasyev "Walking for the three seas", this is a wayward reference book, where the life is described in detail, as well as the political structure of countries in the East. In Russia, these manuscripts were the first to be described by sea for the purpose of narrative about trade. Interestingly, the author considered his notes to sin.

4. Three years of travel for Athanasius Nikitina were not in vain - he learned foreign languages. In his notes there are Persian, Arabians and even Turkic words.

5. For scientists, Nikitina's personal life remains a mystery. Unknown was his wife and children.

6. Nikitin is not the surname of the traveler. Then the names were not yet. This is his middle name, that is, Athanasius, Son Nikita.

7. He described Calcutta, Ceylon and Indochina, who were not previously known.

8. Athanasius Nikitin was a leaving of the poor family. And the main reason for which he went on travel is to fix the financial situation of the family through trade with foreign merchants.

Athanasius Nikitin (born in 1433 - mind. About 1474, near Smolensk) - Russian traveler, Tver merchant, writer.

Life Path

It is believed that Athanasius comes from the peasant family. Note that Nikitin is patronymic, not a surname.

From 1468 to 1474, Athanasius Nikitin traveled in India, Persia and Turkey. Thanks to these wanders, famous travel records appeared, known as "Hoggling for three seas". These records were the first in Russian literature a description of a commercial trip. In this work, you can find many interesting observations about the economy, political structure and culture of eastern countries. In addition, Nikitin describes the beauty of nature, the pomp of the palaces, the morals and the appearance of local residents.

Nikitin went on a trip from Tver. He drove Russian goods, hoping to profitably sell them on the shores of the Caspian Sea. But at the mouth of the Volga, Astrakhan Tatars robbed him. Despite this, he decided to continue his wanders. In addition, the goods were in debt. Tver merchant went to the overseas lands to earn enough funds to return debts. At first he went to Baku, then moved to the south, where he traded and studying languages. About 1469 Nikitin reached Ormuza - a large port, which was at the intersection of trade routes from Asia Minor, India, Egypt and China. Then he traveled for several years in India.

In "Hozing" you can find a lot of Muslim prayers and Arabic-Persian vocabulary, so some scientists have put forward the opinion that At India, Athanasius accepted Islam. But the traveler himself in his records always denied it. Note that as a merchant of Athanasius was not successful. Nikitin returned to his homeland through Persia and Trapezund. He also visited Cafu (Feodosia). But Nikitin did not get home, died under Smolensky.

In 1475, Nikitin's manuscript was at Vasily Momreva, Moscow Deca. Subsequently, its text was added to the chronicle of 1489 and duplicated in Lviv and Sofia chronicles. In addition, Nikitina's notes are preserved in the Troitsk Collection of 15 V. Later in the Trinity-Sergiev Monastery, Nikitina's notes found N. Karamzin. It was he who published their passages in 1818 in the notes to the 6th of the "history of the Russian state." And in 1821, the full text of Nikitin records published P. Stroyev in the publication of the Sofia Chronicle.

The memory of the great Russian traveler

In 2008, a monument to A. Nikitin was constructed. In addition, there is a street and alley in this city, named in his honor.

In Tver, there is an embankment of Athanasius Nikitina. In 1955, a monument to Nikitin (sculptors A. Zavalov and S. Orlov) were constructed here.

The name of Athanasius Nikitina is named the top of a mountain range, which is located in the waters of the Indian Ocean (near the equator).

The name Athanasius Nikitina is a motor ship, a company passenger train "Russian Railways" and Airbus A320 VP-BC (Russian Airlines).

The group "Aquarium" wrote the song "Afanasy Nikitin Bugi."

From 1994, the Tver produces the beer "Athanasius". On his label depicts a merchant.

In 1958, Kinokarttina "Going in three seas" came out, the role of Nikitina was played by O. Strizhenov.