"Without flattering devoted." Military Minister of the Russian Empire in works and memoirs

The turbulent history of Russia at each turning stage gave rise to great statesmen - thinkers, ideologues, converters. At the same time, in the domestic political advancement of extremely rare person who can be called perfect performers who can embody grandiose presense. Such personalities, no doubt, refers Military Minister of the Russian Empire Count Alexey Andreevich Araksheev (1769-1834), whose heraldic motto was without a pretext. Already in the life of Arakcheev became a legend. Foreigners saw in him the Supreme Vizier of the Empire, and according to compatriots, Arakcheev was almost vice-emperor. And in the years of power, and after the death of Araqs, fear and dislike are equal to Liberals, and the conservatives. For he always stood a mansion and was a true symbol of autocracy. The basis of this publication is the archive material: Correspondence of Arakcheev, covering the period from 1796 to 1833: 489 letters is the most extensive selection, and the publication of historical documents. Premises the book Psychological portrait of the Iron Count, created by Dr. Medicine, Professor V.F. Chizhom. The appendix contains numerous memories of contemporaries, whose hearing names for all lovers of domestic history