What day in the film is that same Munchausen. Quotes from Soviet films that same Munhausgen

"The most truthful".

The plot of the film That Munchausen

The main character of the picture " The same Munchausen" Carl Friedrich Hieronymus Baron von Munchausen(Oleg Yankovsky), known to everyone as a dreamer and a liar, of which there are few, after twenty years of marriage he met the daughter of a pharmacist Martu(Elena Koreneva), with whom I fell in love at first sight. And for two years now the baron has not lived with his legal wife Jacobina(Inna Churikova), but with his beloved.

Munchausen And Martha dreamed of getting married, but according to secular and church laws they could not do this while the baron and baroness were married.

Asking him to let him get a divorce Munchausen appealed to various authorities - the pastor (Vladimir Dolinsky), the burgomaster (Igor Kvasha), the duke (Leonid Bronevoy). In the end, he was allowed to file a lawsuit to legally divorce the woman he did not love and did not love him. Jacobina. But not only the Baroness herself, but her son are opposed to this Munchausen Theophilus(Leonid Yarmolnik), both lawyer and lover Jacobins Heinrich Ramkopf(Alexander Abdulov) - they decided to declare the baron crazy in order to take possession of his fortune and property.

When the desired freedom was almost achieved, and all that remained was to sign the papers, Munchausen due to his inability to “be like everyone else,” he ruined everything. Seeing the date “May 32” put by the baron on the documents, the judge (Vsevolod Larionov) considered this an inappropriate joke and, offended, annulled his decision on divorce. In vain Munchausen claimed that as a result of his calculations, he discovered an error in the calendar and “discovered” a new day, which he was going to give to the townspeople.

Upset about what happened Martha with tears in her eyes, she persuaded the baron to apologize to the court and ask for his divorce case to be resolved positively.

The members of the city council, led by the Duke, decided to give Munchausen a second chance, but with the condition that the baron must recognize all the stories he told, which he presented as the pure truth, as lies and empty fabrications.

The history of the film That Munchausen

As a basis for the script Grigory Gorin took his own play" The most truthful", for the creation of which the plots of the works were used German writer Rudolf Erich Raspe(Rudolf Erich Raspe) about the adventures of the legendary baron Munchausen.

Performance based on the play, main role in which he performed Vladimir Zeldin, With great success went to Theater Soviet army . I really liked the production Mark Zakharov, who, having watched it, was inspired by the idea of ​​filming it.

Here is how the director himself talks about how he came up with the idea of ​​making a television version of the play:

""T from Munchausen"began for me with a wonderful play Grigory Gorin when I saw the premiere performance based on it in Theater of the Soviet Army. Munchausen- a wise and skillful jester who instills in people a joyful belief that miracles can become reality. But it is met with misunderstanding by the majority. And people who don’t fit into the majority have always interested me personally.”

In addition to the dramatic basis, when creating the film, music for the play was also used, written by famous composer Alexey Rybnikov.

Mark Zakharov from the very beginning as a baron Munchausen was going to shoot Oleg Yankovsky, who played the main character in his previous film" An ordinary miracle". However, both members of the artistic council and Grigory Gorin there were doubts about the correctness of the director's choice.

Gorin later wrote in his memoirs:

“Before that, he played straightforward, tough, strong-willed people - Volga characters that betray his origin. I didn't believe in his baron. The work began, he got into character, and changed before our eyes. He grew into the role and appeared Munchausen- smart, ironic, subtle. What a mistake it would be if we took another actor!”

Nevertheless, Zakharov managed to defend the candidacy Yankovsky, in whose career there were no previous comedy roles.

"In the invitation to the role of Baron Munchausen Oleg Yankovsky there was an element of risk,” the director recalled. - He still developed as an actor of a completely non-comedy kind. But to my credit Oleg, in his acting palette there were also comedic colors, which in the film, especially in its first part, found a worthy embodiment.”

But to choose an actress who will play Martu, turned out to be a difficult task. Among the contenders for the role of the baron's beloved were Irina Mazurkevich ("The tale of how Tsar Peter married a blackamoor ", "Three in the boat, not counting the dog ", "Say a word about the poor hussar") And Galina Zolotareva ("Mother", "Mask and soul"), But Zakharov leaned towards filming Tatyana Dogileva. Make a choice in favor Elena Koreneva, who, in the end, was invited to filming, it helped that Koreneva, Unlike Dogileva, as well as more than half of the performers in the film, was not an actress directed Zakharov "Lenkom". “If everyone is taken to filming, who will act in the theater?” - noticed Mark Anatolyevich.

For the role Theophila actor auditioned Satire Theater Yuri Vasiliev, ("4:0 in favor of Tanya", "And Shepilov, who joined them ", "Special correspondent of the investigation department"), and for the role Ramkopf- Moscow Art Theater member Sergey Kolesnikov, ex-host of the program " Hacienda"who played one of the roles in the action movie" Die Hard: A Good Day to Die" (“A Good Day to Die Hard”). However, by the decision of the artistic council, the roles were given to L Eonid Yarmolnik And Alexander Abdulov respectively.

"The same Munchausen"less than other tapes Zakharova suffered from censorship - for example, when submitting to the artistic council" An ordinary miracle"Every phrase had to be defended with a fight. From " Munchausen“Only one insignificant scene was cut out. The director himself believes that he owes such luck to the fact that the film was released on the eve of the New Year, and the film officials who accepted the film were already in a pre-holiday mood, as a result of which they were not so picky about his new creation.

From the very first showing on television, the film became very popular, and now, more than thirty years after the premiere, it, having acquired the status of a cult film, remains beloved by a huge number of viewers.

In 1980 the film The same Munchausen won the Journalists' Jury Prize and the Directing Prize ( Mark Zakharov) at the International Television Festival " Zlata Prague"in Prague (Czechoslovakia) and in 1981 the prize “For high skill and original creative search” ( Mark Zakharov) at the All-Union Television Festival in Yerevan.

Filming " The same Munchausen"took place in the GDR, in the city of Wernigerode, whose ancient streets and interiors of houses, as well as the surrounding forests and meadows, became a magnificent backdrop for the television version of the story about the most truthful man in the world.

Film crew of the film That Munchausen

Director of the film That Munchausen: Mark Zakharov
Screenwriter of the film That Munchausen: Grigory Gorin
Cast: Oleg Yankovsky, Inna Churikova, Elena Koreneva, Igor Kvasha, Alexander Abdulov, Leonid Yarmolnik, Yuri Katin-Yartsev, Vladimir Dolinsky, Leonid Bronevoy, Semyon Farada and others
Operator: Vladimir Nakhabtsev
Composer: Alexey Rybnikov

May thirty second

Judge (takes the letter and reads it). "I, Karl Friedrich Hieronymus..."

Ramkopf. Date! Read the date!

Judge . “One thousand seven hundred and seventy-six. The thirty-second of May." What?! (To Munchausen.) You are mistaken, Baron.

Munchausen. Why? I put the exact number.

Ramkopf. There is no such number!

Munchausen. Well, well, how is it - no?.. Don’t tell me!

Burgomaster. If yesterday was the thirty-first of May, then what is today?

Munchausen. Thirty-second... Just don't worry, gentlemen. I’ll explain everything to you now... This is my discovery...

Baroness (hysterically). Buffoon! Crazy!

Theophilus. Shoot! Immediately! In two steps!..

Munchausen. Yes, wait! I'll explain...

Munchausen. No, listen to me! There can't be one clever man I didn’t understand the other thing... (To Thomas.) Where is Martha?

Thomas. Frau Martha is changing clothes, Mr. Baron.

Munchausen. Changing clothes?.. Why?.. Oh, yes... I told her to put on a wedding dress. We were about to go to church...

Burgomaster. Straightaway?!

Munchausen. Why wait?..

Burgomaster. Divorce and wedding on the same day?!

Munchausen. Certainly! Why put it off?.. And then, what a thirty-second day it is!

Burgomaster (complainingly). Baron, for God's sake, allow me to leave... I have a weak heart... I cannot stand this explanation...

Munchausen. Martha clever woman, she will understand everything...

Burgomaster (Marte). Do you already know what happened?

Martha. No. But I understand that the divorce has not been signed.

Burgomaster. That's the trouble, it was already signed!.. Everything was going perfectly. And our baron, as never before, was self-possessed... He didn’t dare, didn’t shoot in the air... And suddenly - this ridiculous fantasy; thirty second of May! (To Munchausen.) Well, tell me, damn it, where did it suddenly come from?!

Munchausen. I've been trying to explain to you for a long time.

Martha. Thirty-second? I didn’t know this either.

Munchausen. Right! I wanted to surprise you.

Burgomaster. You've done it, don't despair!

Munchausen. Listen at last! Martha! Thomas!.. Burgomaster! I opened a new day. This is one of the greatest discoveries, and maybe the very best... I went to it through years of reflection, observation... And then it came - the thirty-second!

Burgomaster (grinning). We've heard this before. I ask: where did it come from?

Munchausen. Tell me, how many days are there in a year?

Burgomaster. Don't know. And in general, who is asking: you or us?

Munchausen. Fine! I will ask questions and answer them myself. You just follow the train of thought... How many days are there in a year?.. Three hundred sixty-five!.. Exactly?.. No, not exactly - There are three hundred sixty-five days and six hours in a year. These clocks are added up, and then every fourth year becomes a leap year— But I wondered: is there really six hours in a year of three hundred and sixty-five days?! It turned out not! In a normal year, there are three hundred and sixty-five days, six hours and three more seconds... Any astronomer, even one not as authoritative as me, will tell you this. You just need to go up to the stars with a chronometer and from there follow the rotation of the Earth. I've done this more than once. Martha can confirm! So - three seconds of unaccounted time. Over the years, these seconds add up to minutes, over centuries - into hours. In short, my dears, during the existence of our city we have had an extra day! Thirty-second May! (Looking at everyone with a triumphant look).

Burgomaster (tiredly.) Is that all?

Munchausen. All!

Burgomaster. You are needlessly angry with the servant. He's absolutely right. Even if it exists, your thirty-second, no one needs it. Understand, Baron, there is a certain order in the world: one day follows another, Monday is followed by Tuesday... You can’t break into the movement of life so rashly. It is unacceptable! Chaos will begin. People won’t know when it’s Christmas and when it’s Easter... You saw how furious the pastor was!

Munchausen. Which pastor? What does the pastor have to do with it?.. We decide the fate of the universe... Martha, tell me... You understand that I’m right?

Martha. Excuse me, Karl... Something is all mixed up in my head... Probably, you are right, as always... I don’t understand the calculations and I believe you... But we won’t get married! I understood this... And I'm leaving. Don't be angry, honey, I'm tired...

Burgomaster. Baron, you can’t mock me like that loving woman! For her sake, for the sake of your family, can you admit that today is... an ordinary day, the one on the calendar?!

Munchausen. How can I do this? Anything you want, except lies! I will agree to anything, but I will never say that white is black, that thirty-second is first.

Burgomaster. I don’t know if it’s possible to fix all this now?

Munchausen. Well, well... There is always a way to get out... You have such experience...

Burgomaster. Of course, you can try... But first of all, you must admit that today is the first of June.

Munchausen (indifferently). At least the tenth...

Burgomaster (angrily). Not the tenth, but the first! Please don't do me any favors!..

Munchausen. (Takes off his wig.) I’ll write everything, gentlemen! Since no one needs the thirty-second of May, so be it... On such a day it is difficult to live, but easy to die... In five minutes, Baron Munchausen will be gone. You can honor his memory by standing up!..

The same Munchausen

— At one time, Socrates told me: “Get married. If you get a good wife, you will become happy. If it’s bad, you’ll become a philosopher.” It remains to be seen which is better.

- They say humor prolongs life...

- It prolongs the life of those who laugh, and shortens it for those who joke.

- As everybody? Not flying on cannonballs? Don't hunt mammoths? Not corresponding with Shakespeare?

“We have forgotten how to do little stupid things.” We stopped climbing through the window to see the women we love...

- Don't complicate things, Baron... Secretly you can believe.

- I can't secretly. I can only openly.

- Well, that’s nice... And don’t be so tragic, my dear... In the end, Galileo also renounced!

“That’s why I always loved Giordano Bruno more.”

- Well... let's confess.

- I've been doing this all my life.

— Explain to the court why everything was fine for 20 years, and suddenly such a tragedy?

- Sorry, Mr. Judge, the tragedy lasted for twenty years and only now everything should be fine!

- Prison awaits you.

- A wonderful place... Here next to me is Ovid, Cervantes - we will knock.

- Well, well, my dear. Don't be so tragic! Everything will be fine. In any case, the whole city will stop laughing at you.

- It's a pity!! I've never been afraid to be funny. Not everyone can afford this.

- God! Do you really have to kill a person to understand that he is alive?..

- Damn it, I'm so tired of dying...

- Lord, how tired of you I am!.. Understand that Munchausen is famous not because he flew or didn’t fly, but because he didn’t lie.

- I understand what your problem is. You are too serious. An intelligent face is not yet a sign of intelligence, gentlemen. All stupid things on earth are done with this facial expression. Smile, gentlemen. Smile!

The author of the idea is Coffee Secretary Uncle Borya. The author of the selection of quotes for the second part of the publication is an Internet user who writes under the nickname “Electron”. Artistic embodiment - Maria Olshanskaya. Literary - fantasy by Grigory Gorin “That Same Munchausen”.

Hello, dear readers Sprint-Response website. Today is September 30, 2017, on Channel One most interesting game, which is called . All answers in the game dated September 30, 2017 can be found in the game review; the article can be accessed via the link above. But tomorrow will not be September 31, because we do not have Baron Munchausen, unfortunately he was in the singular.

What day, according to the film “That Same Munchausen,” did the title character give to his hometown?

Unfortunately, the players were unable to correctly answer the eleventh question of today's game and left with nothing. The question turned out to be really difficult, I myself did not know the exact answer. After all, we were confused by a film called “June 31st”.

“June 31” is a Soviet two-part television musical film in the fantasy genre based on the story of the same name. English writer John Boynton Priestley, filmed in 1978. Significantly different from the book. This is one of the most significant works of director Leonid Kvinikhidze and composer Alexander Zatsepin.

As we can see, this film is not what we need to answer this question correctly. To answer the question, we need to turn to the desired text.

May 32 is another day of spring...

- Stop! Stop! Our trial has been turned into a shameful farce.
Mister Judge, please read it again
divorce letter from Baron von Munchausen.

- I, Baron Karl von Munchausen...
- Read the date!
- 1779, May 32. Mister Baron, you are mistaken, such a number does not exist.
- Happens!
- If yesterday was May 31st, what is today?
- 32nd. This day is my discovery. This is my gift hometown.

- I’ll explain everything to you now!
- Gentlemen, gentlemen!
- I’ll explain everything to you now.
- This can’t be, this can’t be!
- Bravo.

- Thirty what?
- 32, Your Highness.
-Where does he propose to insert it?
- Here.
- 29th, 30th, 31st...
- 32nd.
- There’s no room here.
“That’s why the court considered itself deeply offended, Your Highness.” We ask you to cancel the divorce decree.
- 29th, 30th, 31st...
- And so on.

Higher. - Here. Here. "Messages from abroad: ...England has recognized the independence of America." So! 10 minutes to 4. Made it. Their happiness. I have the honor! - This is unthinkable! He let him go. - What could he do? This is a monstrous coincidence! Isn't it clear? No. This is not the Duke. This is a rag! Madam, what do you want from him? England surrendered. Why does the war continue? Don’t they read your newspapers? I remembered! He actually shot a deer. But through the chimney. Bravo! Your wedding dress suits you very well. - It suits every woman. - Especially you! - It’s a pity that they only wear it once a year. - You will wear it every day. We will get married every day. Good idea? Excellent. You just need to get a divorce first. Have you forgotten that the divorce proceedings will begin in half an hour? It started a long time ago. Since I saw you. If only you knew what gift I prepared for you! - How many days are there in a year? - 365. Don’t rush to answer. It's hard to speak when so many sympathetic eyes are looking at you. Divorce is disgusting not only because it separates spouses, but also because it calls the man free and the woman abandoned. No. Don't feel sorry for me, gentlemen. Don't humiliate me with pity, feel sorry for yourself. My husband, gentlemen, is a dangerous man! 20 years of my life are given to him! For 20 years I pacified him. I kept him within the boundaries of family life. And thereby saving lives. Your life. The life of society comes from him! But you yourself break our bonds. Well... Then you only have yourself to blame. Not scary. It's not scary that I'm abandoned. Not scary. It's scary that he's free! Think about it, gentlemen, judges! -What is she talking about? - He's hiding the Baron. - And what does he say? - It’s clear that he’s a scoundrel, he says. - He's crazy, he's an unfortunate liar. - And what does he want? - It’s clear why, so as not to quit. - Logical. ...He must be under the supervision of either the state or the family! I think family is safer! - Karl, why is it so late? - In my opinion, it’s too early, not all nonsense has been said yet. - Karl, I beg you. - I understand. Not a single extra word. - By the way, I made an amazing discovery. - What now?! You will all gasp! This will change life in our city. Baron, I beg you, I just beg you, just not today! Answer just one question: How many days are there in a year? 365. Okay. The rest will come later. Baron Karl Friedrich Hieronymus von Munchausen is called! I'm here, Mr. Judge. Mr. Baron, what can you tell the court on the merits of the case? - It depends on what you consider a creature. - Like what? Explain why you are getting divorced? How is it possible: everything was fine for 20 years and suddenly such a tragedy? Sorry, Mr. Judge, the tragedy lasted 20 years... - And only now everything should be fine. - Explain in more detail. Let me explain in more detail. Dear judges, ladies and gentlemen! There are couples made for love. We were created for divorce. Our marriage, oddly enough, began long before we were born. The Munchausen family always dreamed of becoming related to the von Dutten family. Therefore, when they had a girl, I, in turn, was born not only a boy, but also a husband. Jacobina has not loved me since childhood and, to give her credit, she managed to evoke reciprocal feelings in me. In church, when the priest asked whether we wanted to become husband and wife, we unanimously answered “no” and we were immediately married. After the wedding, my wife and I went on our honeymoon. I went to Turkey, she went to Switzerland and lived there in love and harmony for three years. I protest! You insult my client! The truth cannot offend, dear lawyer. In general, it seems to me that you are somewhat limited in your understanding of life. Mr. Ramkopf. Divorce is one of the highest achievements of humanity! It only takes a minute to fall in love. To get a divorce, sometimes you have to live together for 20 years. It was a difficult 20 years, but I don’t regret it! At one time, Socrates once told me: definitely get married. If you get a good wife, you will become happy. Bad - you will become a philosopher. I don't know which is better. Anyway, I

April 17th, 2015

Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Baron von Munchausen - German Freiherr, captain of the Russian service and storyteller, who became literary character. The name Munchausen has become a household name as a designation for a person who tells incredible stories…

Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Baron von Munchausen, in Russian documents Minichgouzin or Minihausin, was born on May 11, 1720 in Bodenwerder, now the federal state of Lower Saxony, - a German nobleman who was a member of the Russian Federation in 1739-1754 military service; then a landowner known as a teller of tall tales.

His hunting tales were supplemented by three different authors - Burger, Raspe, Immermann - with their own fantasies and old anecdotes. Thanks to the writers, Munchausen received the nickname “liar baron” during his lifetime, and this greatly poisoned his life.

Origin and childhood of Hieronymus von Munchausen

The Munchausen family has been known since the 12th century. Jerome's ancestors were landsknechts who collected mercenaries to participate in numerous wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, and accumulated a significant fortune. About a dozen Munchausen castles are located in the Weser Valley, within a radius of 30 km from the city of Hameln, Lower Saxony.

The half-timbered medieval house of the Munchausens, where the famous baron was born, lived and died, this estate is the main attraction of the city of Bodenwerder. Now it houses the town hall and a museum, and the city also has many monuments to the famous baron.

The baron's father, Otto von Munchausen, in his youth served as a page for Duke Christian in Hanover, then entered the army of the Holy Roman Emperor, then into the Hanoverian cavalry, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

In 1711 he married Sibylle Wilhelmina von Rehden from Hastenbeck (a small town 15 km from Bodenwerder). May 13, 1720 in Bodenwerder, as evidenced by the entry in the church book, " His Eminence Lieutenant Colonel von Munchausen baptized his son. He was given three names: Jerome, Karl, Friedrich". Jerome grew up on an estate, main house which was built back in 1603.

In 1724, the father died, leaving 7 children (a brother and 2 sisters younger than Jerome). No later than 1735, Jerome was sent to Bevern Castle to the Duke of Brunswick (Wolfenbüttel).

Munchausen’s autograph is preserved in the book of Bevern’s pages: “ April 4, 1735 His Serene Highness Ferdinand Albrecht graciously enrolled me as a page" Duke Ferdinand Albrecht II ruled for six months, then died, passing the reign to his eldest son Charles.

Anton Ulrich of Brunswick, portrait work unknown artist. Oil, 1740. Museum in the castle of Marienburg bei Nordstemmen.

Karl's younger brother Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick came from Wolfenbüttel to Russia back in 1733. He was invited to Russian service by Minich to organize Russian army heavy cavalry.

In the summer of 1737, Anton Ulrich took part in the assault on Ochakov, one of his pages was mortally wounded, and the other died of illness. The prince asked his elder brother to find him pages.

Advisor Eben, together with 2 young men (von Hoym and von Munchausen) left Wolfenbüttel on December 2, 1737. The secretary of the Brunswick embassy in St. Petersburg reported in a letter dated February 8, 1738: “ Count von Eben arrived here the other day with two pages».

At the end of February, Anton Ulrich set off on the Bendery campaign with his retinue (including pages) as part of Minich’s army; his detachment of 3 regiments took part in the battle on August 28 (14), 1738 on the river. Biloch, repelling the attack of the Turkish cavalry.

Returning from a fruitless campaign, Anton Ulrich married the Mecklenburg princess Anna Leopoldovna on July 25, 1739 (Munchausen was supposed to be in his retinue). At the request of Duchess Biron, page Munchausen was accepted into the cornets of the Brunswick cuirassier regiment.

Munchausen's track record:

November 2, 1750 - released with his wife to his native Bodenwerder to arrange personal property affairs

He had no comments or awards, and did not take part in hostilities. Hieronymus von Munchausen did not enter any of the European armies. He was proud of his service in the Russian cuirassier regiment and was buried in the everyday uniform of his regiment.

The only reliable portrait of Baron von Munchausen. Attributed to G. Bruckner, 1752. The baron is depicted in the ceremonial uniform of the captain of the Cuirassier regiment, E. I. V. Grand Duke Peter Fedorovich, with a black cuirass on the chest.

Promising start to career

After the death of Anna Ioannovna on October 28, 1740, the throne was inherited by the two-month-old son of Anton Ulrich and Anna Leopoldovna, the great-nephew of Peter I, Ivan Antonovich. But the dying empress appointed not her mother or father as regent, but her favorite Biron.

Less than a month later, on November 20, Commander-in-Chief Minich arrested the regent. Anna Leopoldovna proclaimed herself ruler, and her husband Anton Ulrich found himself in the highest government position.

2 weeks after the coup, Munchausen congratulated his patron Anton Ulrich, adding that natural modesty did not allow him to congratulate the prince in a timely manner. Then they remembered the former page. To please the ruler, Field Marshal General P.P. Lassi promoted Munchausen to lieutenant just three days later.

So he beat out 12 other cornets, and even received command of the first company of the regiment - a life company. The company was stationed in Riga, while the regiment itself was stationed in Wenden.

Extraordinary luck

Soon there was a new change in power, which could cost Munchausen very dearly. On the night of November 24-25, 1741, Elizaveta Petrovna arrested the Brunswick family and seized the throne. The whole family with their retinue and servants the highest manifesto was taken “to the fatherland.” But the empress changed her mind. The motorcade was stopped in Riga, right at the border, and arrested.

Ivan Argunov. Portrait of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna

Prince Heimburg's adjutant spent 20 years in prison, and Anton Ulrich himself, after imprisonment in the fortress, died in exile in Kholmogory after 32 years of captivity. If Munchausen, who was in Riga, had been remembered, a similar fate would have awaited him.

But the baron still left the prince’s retinue 2 years ago. Elizabeth showed mercy, confirmed his rank of lieutenant by personal decree and left him to serve in the first company. But now one could forget about quick promotion.

The daily life of the lieutenant of the first, ostentatious company was sheer trouble. In the surviving daily correspondence, Munchausen begged for weapon brackets, mouthpieces, saddles, sent cuirassier Vasily Perdunov into retirement, and sold old cuirassier saddles at auction.

Three times a year he submitted reports on “ gun, uniform and amnitia, what is fit, unfit, and in place of the lost and rejected demand in addition, a report card", as well as about people and provisions. In addition, he was in charge of purchasing horses" from across the sea"- powerful cuirassiers required thoroughbred powerful horses.

The company commander sent people into retirement, certifying them for non-commissioned officer positions in dragoon regiments; reported to the commandant of Riga, Lieutenant General Eropkin, about the escape of two cuirassiers with weapons and uniforms, etc.

Report from the company commander Munchhausen to the regimental chancellery (written by a clerk, hand-signed Lieutenant v. Munchhausen). 02/26/1741

Meeting with the future Empress Catherine II

The most striking episode of the baron's service was the meeting at the Russian border of the 15-year-old Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst Sophia Augusta Frederica, the future Empress Catherine II, accompanied by her mother, in February 1744.

They followed incognito, but a most solemn meeting was arranged at the border. The life cuirassier regiment built for this occasion, as Catherine II’s mother Johanna Elisabeth noted, was “really extremely beautiful.”

For three days the princesses stopped in Riga, where they lived in the house of Councilor Becker on Zunderstrasse. An honor guard of 20 cuirassiers with a trumpeter was commanded by Munchausen, who also escorted the Anhaltin sleigh from the city towards St. Petersburg.

"Released for his needs"

Immediately after the successful meeting, on February 2, 1744, Munchausen married Jacobina von Dunten, the daughter of a Riga judge. The marriage was happy, but childless.

Munchausen did not have promising prospects in Russia. He had no special merits or sins; without a patron, his career advancement stopped, and by 1750 he was already older than all the lieutenants of his regiment.

Decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna on the promotion of Hieronymus von Munchausen to captain. Munchausen Museum in Bodenwerder. 1750.

Then Jerome submitted a petition addressed to Elizabeth Petrovna with the words that “I am the oldest member of that corps.” On February 20, 1750, he was promoted to captain, and on November 2 of the same year, the empress released the “baron” along with his wife to Hanover “for his needs.”

Landowner Munchausen

The captain of the cuirassier regiment, Munchausen, had his leave extended twice so that he could divide the property left after the death of his elder brother Hilmar and his mother, as well as the death of one of younger brothers, Georg Wilhelm Otto, on the battlefield in 1747 in a battle on the territory of modern Belgium. Finally, Wilhelm Werner Heinrich received all the buildings in Rinteln, and Jerome received the estate and lands in Bodenwerder.

The estate was located on one bank of the Weser River branch, and the family forests and fields were on the other. The distance in a straight line was approximately 25 meters, and in a detour through the only bridge - 1 km. Munchausen was tired of crossing on a barge, he ordered his workers to build a bridge.

Now the city administration is located in the Munchausen house. The burgomaster's office is located in the bedroom of the previous owner. The real Hieronymus von Munchausen called his burgomaster “a nasty brawler,” and this was the mildest epithet.

This caused indignation among the townspeople: tramps could enter the city via the new bridge, and money for new post and the city did not have any additional guards. A certain tailor outraged the people, a crowd with axes tore off the bridge decking and knocked out the piles. Since the bridge was small and did not correspond to the scale of the meeting, the new fence of the estate was also broken down.

Quarrels with the burgomaster filled Munchausen's life. Either his workers grazed cattle on the city pasture, then the city council took pigs as a deposit for non-payment of taxes, then they divided the meadow beyond the Weser. Jerome's closest neighbors only caused irritation.

Stories in a Göttingen inn and at court

Together with other landowners, Munchausen sought refuge from scandals by hunting and traveling around the country. The good thing about the hunt was that it lasted for several weeks, a huge company gathered and you could rest your soul, sitting in the evening with a bottle of good wine. Munchausen's favorite place was Ruhlender's tavern in Göttingen at Judenstrasse 12.

In life straight and truthful person, the “baron” had a special property - when he began to tell a story, he would make things up, lose his head, and he himself would be convinced of the truthfulness of everything he was saying. IN modern psychology This property of the narrator is called "Munchausen syndrome."

According to the memoirs of contemporaries, “he usually began to talk after dinner, lighting his huge meerschaum pipe with a short mouthpiece and placing a steaming glass of punch in front of him...

He gesticulated more and more expressively, twirled his little dandy wig on his head with his hands, his face became more and more animated and red, and he, usually a very truthful person, at these moments wonderfully acted out his fantasies.”

To those who tried to pull him back and catch him in a lie, other listeners explained that the narrator was not himself and asked not to disturb him. Munchausen felt inspired in the presence of an audience and spoke in such a way that his drinking companions could personally imagine everything he was talking about, even if it was impossible to believe.

One day, young officers - guests of the tavern - began to brag about their successes with the ladies. Munchausen sat modestly on the sidelines, but still could not resist and said: “Whether it’s my sleigh ride, which I had the honor to make at the invitation of the Russian Empress...” and then he told about a giant sleigh with chambers, a ballroom and rooms where young officers frolicked with the ladies of the court.

At some point general laughter broke out, but Munchausen continued quite calmly, and when he finished, he silently finished his lunch.

Meanwhile, the story was always based on a true incident. Catherine II actually traveled in a huge sleigh with an office, bedroom and library.

Road carriage of Catherine II. Engraving by Hoppe. Late XVIII V.

We remember the incidents at the review in August 1739.

One soldier’s gun went off, the ramrod hammered into the barrel flew out with force and crushed the leg of Prince Anton Ulrich’s horse. Horse and rider fell to the ground, but the prince was not injured. We know about this case from the words of the British ambassador; there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of his official report.

Munchausen became such a celebrity that he was invited to the Elector's court. “The Baron” was encouraged to tell something, and as soon as he began, everyone immediately fell silent so as not to frighten off his inspiration.

Literary fame

The Baron did not remember what he said, and therefore was furious when he saw his stories published.

The first book was published anonymously in Hanover in 1761 under the title “Sonderling” (Eccentric). Anonymous, Count Rochus Friedrich Lynar, lived in Russia at the same time as the baron. Three of his stories - about a dog with a lantern on his tail, about partridges shot with a ramrod, and about a hound that whelped while running in pursuit of a hare - were later included in all collections.

20 years later, in 1781, the “Guide for Merry People” was published in Berlin, where 18 stories were told on behalf of the quite recognizable “M-n-h-z-n”. The already elderly baron immediately recognized himself and understood who could have written it - he shouted at every corner that “university professors Burger and Lichtenberg disgraced him throughout Europe.” This publication already greatly enriched the booksellers of Göttingen.

But the saddest thing was ahead: at the beginning of 1786, the historian Erich Raspe, convicted of stealing a numismatic collection, fled to England and there, in order to get some money, wrote on English language a book that forever introduced the baron into the history of literature, “Baron Munchausen’s Stories about His wonderful travels and campaigns in Russia." During the year, "Stories" went through 4 reprints, and in the third edition Raspe included the first illustrations.

Even during the life of the "baron" it turned out Russian edition. In 1791 the collection “ Don’t listen if you don’t like it, but don’t bother lying"without the baron's name. For censorship reasons, short stories describing the morals of the Russian military and courtiers were omitted.