Andrew Vinius
Encyclopedia
Andrew Vinius (1641–1717) was a Russian statesman
and a friend of Peter the Great
. He was a member of Peter's close-knit group of friends who organized themselves into the Jolly Company and The All-Joking, All-Drunken Synod of Fools and Jesters
.
Vinius' father was a Dutchman and son of a merchant. In 1632, during the time of Michael of Russia
, he had moved to Russia to found a water-powered ironworks
in Tula, Russia
. There he married a Russian, Orthodox
woman, and the two raised Andrew to speak both Russian and Dutch; Andrew also learned Latin, which he later taught to Peter the Great. In his later years, Vinius wrote a book on geography and learned Roman mythology.
Vinius, who lived in the German Suburb
with the most of the other foreigners of Moscow, served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then headed the Post Office, becoming the first Russian Postmaster.
Vinius often corresponded with Peter, on matters ranging from war games and military strategy to their drunken parties as part of the Drunken Synod. Vinius was also the one who, after the Azov campaigns
, arranged the parade into Moscow under a pagan arch that bewildered many Muscovites.
During the Great Northern War
, after the Battle of Narva
, Russian artillery was reduced to almost nothing. Peter appointed Vinius to the post of Inspector of Artillery and ordered to produce more cannon. Upon the Tsar's order and against the wishes of many Russians, Vinius melted down many of the church bells of Russia and even ordered beating-by-knout
of the iron founders
who were working too slowly. By melting a quarter of the church bells in Russia, eight months after the end of the Battle of Narva Vinius managed to produce hundreds of cannon to send to the Russian army. Despite his old age, on Peter's command, he also went into Siberia to look for potential new mines, and ended up establishing several ironworks beyond the Ural Mountains
.
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and a friend of Peter the Great
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
. He was a member of Peter's close-knit group of friends who organized themselves into the Jolly Company and The All-Joking, All-Drunken Synod of Fools and Jesters
The All-Joking, All-Drunken Synod of Fools and Jesters
The All-Joking, All-Drunken Synod of Fools and JestersThe group is also known by various similarly-phrased titles. Robert K. Massie says, "The Drunken Synod, created when Peter was eighteen, continued its tipsy existence until the end of the Tsar's reign[.]" Peter died in 1725. was a club of sorts...
.
Vinius' father was a Dutchman and son of a merchant. In 1632, during the time of Michael of Russia
Michael of Russia
Mikhail I Fyodorovich Romanov Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was the first Russian Tsar of the house of Romanov. He was the son of Feodor Nikitich Romanov and Xenia...
, he had moved to Russia to found a water-powered ironworks
Ironworks
An ironworks or iron works is a building or site where iron is smelted and where heavy iron and/or steel products are made. The term is both singular and plural, i.e...
in Tula, Russia
Tula, Russia
Tula is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia. It is located south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: -History:...
. There he married a Russian, Orthodox
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
woman, and the two raised Andrew to speak both Russian and Dutch; Andrew also learned Latin, which he later taught to Peter the Great. In his later years, Vinius wrote a book on geography and learned Roman mythology.
Vinius, who lived in the German Suburb
German Quarter
German Quarter, also known as the Kukuy Quarter was a neighborhood in the northeast of Moscow, located on the right bank of the Yauza River east of Kukuy Creek , within present-day Basmanny District of Moscow....
with the most of the other foreigners of Moscow, served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then headed the Post Office, becoming the first Russian Postmaster.
Vinius often corresponded with Peter, on matters ranging from war games and military strategy to their drunken parties as part of the Drunken Synod. Vinius was also the one who, after the Azov campaigns
Azov campaigns
Azov campaigns of 1695–96 , two Russian military campaigns during the Russo-Turkish War of 1686–1700, led by Peter the Great and aimed at capturing the Turkish fortress of Azov , which had been blocking Russia's access to the Azov Sea and the Black Sea...
, arranged the parade into Moscow under a pagan arch that bewildered many Muscovites.
During the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
, after the Battle of Narva
Battle of Narva (1700)
The Battle of Narva on 19 November 1700 was an early battle in the Great Northern War. A Swedish relief army under Charles XII of Sweden defeated a Russian siege force three times its size. Before, Charles XII had forced Denmark-Norway to sign the Treaty of Travendal...
, Russian artillery was reduced to almost nothing. Peter appointed Vinius to the post of Inspector of Artillery and ordered to produce more cannon. Upon the Tsar's order and against the wishes of many Russians, Vinius melted down many of the church bells of Russia and even ordered beating-by-knout
Knout
A knout is a heavy scourge-like multiple whip, usually made of a bunch of rawhide thongs attached to a long handle, sometimes with metal wire or hooks incorporated....
of the iron founders
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
who were working too slowly. By melting a quarter of the church bells in Russia, eight months after the end of the Battle of Narva Vinius managed to produce hundreds of cannon to send to the Russian army. Despite his old age, on Peter's command, he also went into Siberia to look for potential new mines, and ended up establishing several ironworks beyond the Ural Mountains
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and northwestern Kazakhstan. Their eastern side is usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia...
.