Poet and diplomat who was deeply devoted to Russia. Presidential Library marks 315th anniversary of birth of Antioch Cantemir

Russian diplomat, translator, poet, and satirist of the XVIII century, Antiochus Cantemir, is 315 years old on September 21, 2024. Rare publications on the portal of the Presidential Library in the collection Persons of Russia tell about his life and work: Kantemir Antioch (1708-1744).

A description of the biography of Prince Antioch Cantemiro is presented in the book Satires and other poetic works of Prince Antioch Cantemir (1762). Antiochus Cantemir was born in Constantinople in 1709. His parents were Prince Dmitry Kantemir and Cassandra Kantakouzenos.

Antiochus Cantemir came to Russia when  he was 2 years old. First, his parents arrived in Moscow, and then in St. Petersburg. Antiochus Cantemir received an excellent home education. His first teacher from a very young age was the Greek Kondoidi. His education process was not interrupted even during a trip across Russia to Persia, where 13-year-old Antiochus went with his father. After this campaign, Prince Dmitry Cantemir fell ill and died. Antiochus continued his studies at the Imperial Academy of Sciences, established by Peter the Great in St. Petersburg. The young man studied mathematics, physics, history, and philosophy. In addition, Antiochus Cantemir studied military sciences in the Preobrazhensky regiment, where he rose to the rank of chief officer.

He wrote his first satirical work before he was twenty years old. Soon, a second essay was published, which also received positive reviews from readers.

It may be unusual for a modern reader to understand the complex language used by Antiochus Kantemir in his works. A detailed analysis of his writings can be found in the collection of historical and literary articles by Vasily Pokrovsky (1910).

Empress Anna Ioannovna, niece of Peter the Great, who ascended to the throne, appointed Antioch Kantemir as the Russian ambassador to the British court in order to restore good relations between the two countries. At the age of 22, Antioch Dmitrievich accepted this high-ranking position.

Antioch Kantemir was deeply devoted to Russia and took his diplomatic mission seriously.

One of the "difficult and unpleasant" tasks that Russian diplomatic agents had to perform was to monitor books about Russia published abroad, as the 18th century was rich in printed satirical works about Russia, written by foreign adventurers who had suffered some kind of setback in Russia. Antioch, for example, had to deal with a hostile article about Russia in the Evening Post magazine and later with a pamphlet against Russia published under the French title Lettres moscovites.

During his six-year stay in London, Cantemir received a valuable diplomatic education. Arriving in a country where he did not know the language, and without an immediate predecessor to provide information about the people and the intricacies of relations, he faced very experienced and challenging opponents. 

In 1740, Antioch Dmitrievich began to feel unwell. He sought the help of various doctors, but their treatments did not provide relief. He longed to return to Russia, specifically St. Petersburg, where he hoped to become president of the Academy of Sciences, but his dreams were not to be realized. His health continued to deteriorate, and he was plagued by insomnia. Despite being warned that reading could harm his health, Antiochus continued to read books. Even in the days leading up to his death, three or four days before his passing, he could still be found reading.

Antiochus passed away in France, just seven months before his thirty-fifth birthday. He requested in his will that he be buried in Russia alongside his father, and this request was honored.