“A bloody grave awaits me,

A grave without prayers and without a cross,

On the wild shore of roaring waters

And under the misty sky, emptiness

All around...”

Thus wrote the Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov in 1831. These lines were penned several years before the tragic duel of Pushkin – the great contemporary of Mikhail Yuryevich – and almost a decade before his own, following the same scenario but, fortunately, with a different outcome. On February 18 (February 6 old style), 1840, the duel between Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov and Ernest de Barant, son of the French ambassador, took place. In his short 27-year life, Lermontov stood at the barrier twice: on February 18, 1840, in St. Petersburg and on July 15, 1841, in Pyatigorsk.

Even the setting coincided – the Black River, as well as the image of the opponent – the son of the French envoy. In Lermontov’s case, only the cause differed. The cause for this duel, as well as for the poet’s first exile, was the poem “Death of the Poet,” written after Pushkin’s death and becoming Lermontov’s “manifesto.” At one of the evenings at the French embassy, the secretary of the French mission approached Turgenev and, on behalf of the ambassador, asked if it was true that the Russian poet Lermontov in this work “attacks” not only Dantes personally but all Frenchmen as well. Turgenev asked Mikhail Yuryevich to send him the text, after which both the secretary and the ambassador of the French diplomatic corps read it. The result – the ambassador agreed that Lermontov’s accusations were only personal and therefore the poet could be invited to embassy balls. But this was only the first act of the duel story.

And on February 16, 1840, the second act took place – a conversation between the poet and the ambassador’s son at a ball on the English Embankment in the mansion of Countess Laval.

Among the reasons that could have caused the conflict between the two men, historians mention both a dispute about Pushkin’s death and a love triangle involving Maria Alekseevna Shcherbatova, who captivated both the poet and the diplomat’s son. In his “Memoirs,” Nikolai Smirnov openly wrote that Lermontov “fell in love with the widow, Princess Shcherbatova, whom the son of the French ambassador was courting.” For a long time, the version circulated that the cause of the duel was an ambiguous quatrain Lermontov addressed to a lady. However, this was refuted by his former classmate Alexander Merinsky. He claimed that it could have nothing to do with Barant, as it was written much earlier – back in the cadet school. On the other hand, other experts on the situation wrote that the fault lay with the expressive eyes of Madame Bacharaht, wife of the Russian consul in Hamburg. “The duel was very remarkable because one of the opponents was the ambassador’s son, and the other was an officer of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment... The heroine, or rather the cause of the duel, was, they say, Madame Bacharaht, no offense to her, as she knew nothing, and both young men challenged each other, although she gave no reason to either of them – despite this, malicious tongues and gossips will want to embroider on this canvas,” wrote Loggin Golenishchev-Kutuzov in his diary.

Upon meeting, Ernest de Barant began to express his grievances to Lermontov, initially with “usual” accusations that he, allegedly, had expressed unfavorable opinions about Barant in a conversation with a certain well-known lady. The baron accused the poet of insulting the lady acquaintance. Lermontov objected that it was a misunderstanding, but Barant insisted and even called Mikhail Yuryevich a gossip.

According to Lermontov’s official testimony, the following dialogue took place between him and his opponent:

Barant: “Is it true that in a conversation with a well-known lady you spoke unfavorably about me?”

Lermontov: “I have not said anything reprehensible about you to anyone.”

Barant: “Still, if the gossip passed on to me is true, then you acted very badly.”

Lermontov: “I do not accept reprimands or advice and find your behavior very ridiculous and insolent.”

Barant: “If I were in my homeland, I would know how to end this matter.”

Lermontov: “In Russia, the rules of honor are followed as strictly as anywhere else, and we are less likely than others to allow ourselves to be insulted with impunity.”

This was too much! Lermontov declared that he would not tolerate reprimands and found de Barant’s behavior ridiculous and insolent! After these words, the baron challenged Lermontov to a duel, which was to take place the next day at noon at the Black River. To which Lermontov responded with a complete refusal: “I have not said anything reprehensible about you to anyone.” But the Frenchman would not relent and called the poet’s behavior bad, adding that in his homeland he would certainly know how to end such insolence. Mikhail Yuryevich replied that in Russia the rules of honor are strictly observed, and here too no one is allowed to insult others with impunity. Incidentally, later, during the military trial of Lieutenant Lermontov by the General-Auditorium (the highest military judicial body), one of the “positive” aspects of the duel was precisely this – by accepting the challenge from Mr. de Barant, Lermontov “thus wished to uphold the honor of the Russian officer.”

The third of the “virtuous reasons” the court would name was the lieutenant Lermontov’s shot into the air, by which he “showed... commendable magnanimity.” Lermontov indeed fired into the air after enduring his opponent’s blow. Interestingly, two types of weapons were used in this duel – rapiers and pistols. De Barant, violating the dueling code, took advantage of the choice of weapons – by “silent consent” of Lermontov, as if all of France was insulted by de Barant. In reality, it was Mikhail Yuryevich who was the offended party. When Stolypin came to de Barant to discuss the conditions, the young Frenchman declared he would fight with rapiers. This surprised Stolypin. “But Lermontov may not fight with rapiers,” he noted.

“How can an officer not know how to handle his weapon?” Barant retorted. “His weapon is a saber,” Stolypin replied, “as a cavalry officer, and if you insist, then Lermontov should fight with sabers. In Russia, however, it is not customary to use this weapon in duels; they fight with pistols, which are more accurate and decisively end the matter.” Barant insisted on his own. Thanks to Stolypin’s efforts, a compromise was found – the opponents would first fight with rapiers until the first blood, and then with pistols.

The opponents met in the duel, but in the very first second, Lermontov’s rapier blade broke. According to the rules, the duel should have been paused to switch from rapiers to pistols, but de Barant took advantage of the situation and struck the poet in the chest! Fortunately, the wound was light, and the duel continued with pistols, which Lermontov’s second had prudently brought.

Both duelists were to fire simultaneously on the count of “three.” One of the seconds began the count, and suddenly a shot rang out prematurely! The baron’s nerves gave way, but he missed. A second later, Lermontov, lowering his pistol to the side, also pulled the trigger. Thus ended the ill-fated duel. Immediately on the spot, the opponents reconciled.

After the duel, Lermontov visited Kraevsky, who then lived near the Izmailovsky Bridge. There he washed the wound. According to Kraevsky’s account, he was heavily bloodied but, despite his friend’s offer, refused to bandage the wound, only changing into clean linen and asking for breakfast. He was cheerful, joked, and cracked witticisms. News of the duel quickly spread through the city and reached Lermontov’s regimental commander, Major General Plautin, who demanded explanations from the poet. Lermontov responded with a letter clarifying the circumstances. His explanations were not accepted, and several points were questioned. However, Lermontov was not very forthcoming, answering some questions evasively and others not at all; in particular, he stubbornly concealed the name of the lady because of whom the duel occurred. On March 10, Lermontov was arrested and placed in the ordnance guardhouse. His second, Stolypin, wrote a letter to Benkendorf stating that he could not “remain with a guilty conscience” if Lermontov were punished. Barant was not even interrogated. His father, the French ambassador, dreamed of making his son the second secretary of the mission and now requested permission for his son to leave for his homeland. However, young Barant was in no hurry to leave the capital and at all social gatherings accused Lermontov of deceit – allegedly, there was no shot into the air at all.

At that time, Mikhail Yuryevich was held at the Arsenal guardhouse, where he asked the dissatisfied Barant to come. Of course, this was a direct violation; the guards could not allow such a thing, so Lermontov came out to meet him in the corridor – supposedly “stepped out for a need.” His testimony, which he was forced to give after the “meeting” with Ernest, has been preserved:

“I asked him: is it true that he is dissatisfied with my testimony? He answered: ‘Exactly, and I don’t know why you say you fired not aiming into the air.’ Then I replied that I said this for two reasons. First, because it is true, and second, because I see no need to hide something that should not be unpleasant to him and may serve me well; but if he is dissatisfied with this explanation of mine, then when I am released and he returns, I am ready to duel with him again if he wishes.”

Ernest de Barant no longer wished to duel, accepted the explanations, and renounced all claims in the presence of two witnesses. Thus, he was put in his place.

It is unknown how the news of the secret meeting of the two rivals reached the authorities, but this personal explanation alone cost Lermontov a new trial, and he was now tried for escaping custody by deceit and for the second challenge to a duel while under arrest. The military court, held on April 5, 1840, sentenced Lermontov to deprivation of rank and civil rights.

With this sentence, Lermontov’s case went through the instances. The General-Auditorium, after hearing the report of the audit department on this case, issued the following ruling: “The defendant Lermontov, for his actions, based on the laws, is subject to deprivation of rank and noble dignity, with demotion to the ranks; but considering: a) that by accepting de Barant’s challenge, he wished to uphold the honor of the Russian officer; b) his duel had no harmful consequences; c) by firing into the air, he showed commendable magnanimity; and d) his diligent service, attested by the authorities, the General-Auditorium considers: 1) Lermontov, having been punished by detention under arrest since March 10, shall remain under arrest in the fortress guardhouse for three more months and then be discharged to one of the army regiments with the same rank; 2) the actions of Stolypin and Count Branitsky shall be referred to the civil court; 3) Captain-Lieutenant Essen, on duty at the guard, shall be reprimanded for allowing disorder in the guardhouse; and 4) Midshipman Kriger, also on duty at the Arsenal guardhouse...”

The General-Auditorium’s ruling was even mild compared to the demands of the superiors. In this case, the poet owed the mitigation of the sentence to Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, who especially liked that the young officer stood up before the Frenchman for the honor of the Russian military. The sentence was submitted for Highest confirmation. Having read the detailed report on Lermontov’s duel, Emperor Nicholas Pavlovich personally wrote on the General-Auditorium’s decision the following confirmation: “Lieutenant Lermontov is to be transferred to the Tenginsky Infantry Regiment with the same rank; Lieutenant Stolypin and Count Branitsky are to be relieved of the appropriate responsibility; the former is to be told that at his rank and age it is useful to serve, not be idle. Otherwise, so be it. Nicholas.

On the wrapper is written in the sovereign’s hand: “To be executed the same day.”

However, the dispatch of Lermontov was delayed; they did not know how to carry out the Highest order. The Chief of Staff of the Guards Corps, General-Adjutant Weimarn, explained to the Minister of War, Count Chernyshev, that the General-Auditorium intended to keep Lermontov in the fortress for three months and that it was not clear from the Highest confirmation whether this should be executed. On April 19, the Minister of War sent a report on this to His Highness Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich as commander of the Guards Corps, informing him that he had reported the case to His Majesty and that the sovereign had said that by transferring Lermontov to the Tenginsky Regiment he wished to limit the punishment.

Another interesting episode from the history of this duel is that after the end of the arrest, Lermontov was again required to give a written renunciation of his testimony in the investigation, again concerning the shot into the air. This time Benkendorf took up the matter, insisting on a letter from Mikhail Yuryevich to the Barants confessing to lying. Refusing such a “command” would mean forever making Benkendorf his enemy; agreeing would completely tarnish the officer’s honor. Lermontov spent a whole week composing a letter, but not for the Barants, rather for Grand Duke Mikhail, being sure it would also reach the tsar. Naturally, the emperor read the message but sent it to the gendarmerie without any resolution. However, Benkendorf understood the nuance of the situation, and from then on, Lermontov had one more powerful enemy.

Mikhail Yuryevich went to the Caucasus, where he distinguished himself in several military operations, was nominated for awards but did not receive them (the tsar rejected all petitions), fought a duel with his “fellow cadet Martishka” (Martynov), where he was killed. After his death, he awaited from the tsar a “summary” – “a dog’s death for a dog” – and a complete absence of official obituaries in the capital newspapers. Also, there are many different versions of his death – from varying degrees of truth to mystical-adventurous fabrications.

Sources:

Alexander Skabichevsky, “M. Y. Lermontov. His Life and Literary Activity”

http://www.peterburg.biz/m.yu.lermontov-duel-na-chernoy-rechke-kak-predopredelenie.html

http://biblreut.ru/news/duehl_mikhaila_jurevicha_lermontova/2021-02-18-996