Kantemir A.D. (1708-1744), poet

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KANTEMIR Antiokh Dmitrievich (1709-1744), Prince, poet, translator, diplomat, privy counsellor (1741). The son of a Moldavian Hospodar (Prince) D. K. Kantemir. He received an excellent home education, studied at the Academic University (1726-27). Lived in St. Petersburg in 1719-22 and 1724-28. Kantemir was involved in the conflict of the Supreme Secret Court and the party of Empress Anna Ioannovna, supported the latter, and advocated the principles of the state construction determined by Peter the Great. The political situation of 1729 was depicted in Kantemir's satire On Those Slurring Sciences (possibly, started in St. Petersburg), which promoted the friendship of Kaverin and Feofan (Prokopovich). The unfinished poem Petrida... (1730) features one of the first descriptions of St. Petersburg in the Russian literature. From 1732 served as a diplomat in Europe, where he continued his literary activities. On returning to St. Petersburg, the family of Kantemir lived on Peterburgskaya Side, later on in the house built by architect F. Rastrelli (not preserved, now the lot of 7 Millionnaya Street). In 2003 the bust to Kantemir was opened in the court yard of the Philological Department of St. Petersburg State University (11 Universitetskaya Embankment) (sculptor Y. Kanashin).

References: Пумпянский Л. В. Кантемир // История русской литературы: В 10 т. М.; Л., 1941. Т. 3, ч. 1. С. 176-212; Николаев С. И. Трудный Кантемир // XVIII век. СПб., 1995. Сб. 19. С. 3-14.

V. A. Kuznetsov, D.N. Cherdakov. Abaza Alexander Aggeevich
Anna Ioannovna, Empress
Feofan Prokopovich (lay name Eleazar Prokopovich)
Kanashin Yu.
Kantemir Antiokh Dmitrievich
Kantemir Dmitry Konstantinovich
Peter I, Emperor
Rastrelli Francesco de
Millionnaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 7
Universitetskaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 11
Пумпянский Л. В. Кантемир // История русской литературы: В 10 т. М.; Л., 1941
Николаев С. И. Трудный Кантемир // XVIII век. СПб., 1995