Paul Menesius
Encyclopedia
Paul Menesius was a Scottish
soldier and diplomat, who spent most of his life in the service of the Russia
n Tsar Alexei.
, who were forced by religious persecution to emigrate to France in 1639, where he studied at the Douai College
. After Oliver Cromwell
's death in 1658 the family returned to Scotland when Charles II
returned the family's land. However their wealth was lost and Paul, the youngest son, had to seek his own living. He joined the Polish army.
In 1660 he defected to Russia. There, he received a master's rank and later married a Russian woman.
Menzies' friendship with Kirill Naryshkin
, who since 1671 was the Tsar's father-in-law, and Patrick Gordon and others placed him close to Tsar Alexei.
When in 1671 - 1672 during a return to Scotland, his fortunes took a further turn. The Russian state was looking for allies amongst the European states to fight Turkey. Menesius with his linguistic skills and Catholic faith was enlisted as an ambassador and sent in 1672, to Berlin
, Dresden
, Vienna
, Venice
and Rome
. Although he was welcomed, he did not receive any direct response to the appeal for alliance. However despite Austrian suspicion; in Vienna when he announced that the Turks had conquered the Kamenets
and Russian arsenals, the Austrian Emperor led an army to the borders to defeat the infidel invader.
requesting his help against their common enemy the Turk and asking him to intercede and write to the King's of England and France that they might aid him against the enemies of Christians. He was also to solicit the Pope on behalf of Alexis for formal recognition of the title of Tsar. Rome recognised Alexis only as the Grand duke of Muscovy who had conferred the title of Tsar upon himself. The Pope was not convinced that Alexis professed the faith in such a manner as to give any assurance of his Catholic intentions. However an audience was refused when Menzies would not agree to kiss the Pope's foot. Despite an attempt to arrange a secret audience, the negotiations ended unsuccessfully.
) in military matters; consisting mainly of rowdy outdoor games with live ammunition.
Come 1682 the regent Sophia Alekseyevna
sent him off to war against the Crimean Tatars.
In 1684, along with Patrick Gordon
and Alexander Livingston
, fellow Scottish soldiers in the Tsar's service, Menesius signed a petition for the opening of a first Roman Catholic congregation in Russia. The permission was granted. This was the first time since the Great Schism
that a Roman Catholic church was built in Moscow.
By the summer of 1689, Peter took power from his half-sister Sophia, whose position had been weakened by two unsuccessful Crimean campaigns.
Menesius till his death in 1694 enthusiastically defended the interests of Russia, but still remained a staunch Catholic and Scottish patriot.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
soldier and diplomat, who spent most of his life in the service of the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Tsar Alexei.
Life
Menesius came from an old wealthy Scottish family of Catholic and traditional background from AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, who were forced by religious persecution to emigrate to France in 1639, where he studied at the Douai College
English College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
. After Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's death in 1658 the family returned to Scotland when Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
returned the family's land. However their wealth was lost and Paul, the youngest son, had to seek his own living. He joined the Polish army.
In 1660 he defected to Russia. There, he received a master's rank and later married a Russian woman.
Menzies' friendship with Kirill Naryshkin
Kirill Poluektovich Naryshkin
Kirill Poluektovich Naryshkin was the maternal grandfather of Peter the Great.Naryshkin's father was an obscure nobleman, Poluekt Ivanovich Naryshkin from Tarusa...
, who since 1671 was the Tsar's father-in-law, and Patrick Gordon and others placed him close to Tsar Alexei.
When in 1671 - 1672 during a return to Scotland, his fortunes took a further turn. The Russian state was looking for allies amongst the European states to fight Turkey. Menesius with his linguistic skills and Catholic faith was enlisted as an ambassador and sent in 1672, to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Although he was welcomed, he did not receive any direct response to the appeal for alliance. However despite Austrian suspicion; in Vienna when he announced that the Turks had conquered the Kamenets
Kamianets-Podilskyi
Kamyanets-Podilsky or Kamienets-Podolsky is a city located on the Smotrych River in western Ukraine, to the north-east of Chernivtsi...
and Russian arsenals, the Austrian Emperor led an army to the borders to defeat the infidel invader.
Meeting with the pope
On the embassy to Rome in 1673, the legate was warmly welcomed. Menesius delivered a letter from Tsar Alexei to Pope Clement XPope Clement X
Pope Clement X , born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was Pope from 29 April 1670 to 22 July 1676.-Early life:Emilio Altieri was born in Rome, the son of Lorenzo Altieri and Victoria Delphini, a Venetian lady...
requesting his help against their common enemy the Turk and asking him to intercede and write to the King's of England and France that they might aid him against the enemies of Christians. He was also to solicit the Pope on behalf of Alexis for formal recognition of the title of Tsar. Rome recognised Alexis only as the Grand duke of Muscovy who had conferred the title of Tsar upon himself. The Pope was not convinced that Alexis professed the faith in such a manner as to give any assurance of his Catholic intentions. However an audience was refused when Menzies would not agree to kiss the Pope's foot. Despite an attempt to arrange a secret audience, the negotiations ended unsuccessfully.
Later life
On his return to Russia in 1674 he was promoted to the rank of major general and was made a tutor for the Tsarevich Peter (the future Peter IPeter 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...
) in military matters; consisting mainly of rowdy outdoor games with live ammunition.
Come 1682 the regent Sophia Alekseyevna
Sophia Alekseyevna
Sophia Alekseyevna was a regent of Russian Tsardom who allied herself with a singularly capable courtier and politician, Prince Vasily Galitzine, to install herself as a regent during the minority of her brothers, Peter the Great and Ivan V...
sent him off to war against the Crimean Tatars.
In 1684, along with Patrick Gordon
Patrick Gordon
Patrick Leopold Gordon was general of the Imperial Russian army, of Scottish origin. He was descended from a Scottish family of Aberdeenshire, holders of the small estate of Auchleuchries, the family were connected with the house of Haddo.- Life :He was raised and remained a lifelong Catholic, at...
and Alexander Livingston
Alexander Livingston
Alexander Livingston may refer to:*Alexander Livingston, 5th Lord Livingston *Alexander Livingston, 1st Earl of Linlithgow *Alexander Livingston, 2nd Earl of Linlithgow See also*Alexander Livingstone...
, fellow Scottish soldiers in the Tsar's service, Menesius signed a petition for the opening of a first Roman Catholic congregation in Russia. The permission was granted. This was the first time since the Great Schism
East-West Schism
The East–West Schism of 1054, sometimes known as the Great Schism, formally divided the State church of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western branches, which later became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, respectively...
that a Roman Catholic church was built in Moscow.
By the summer of 1689, Peter took power from his half-sister Sophia, whose position had been weakened by two unsuccessful Crimean campaigns.
Menesius till his death in 1694 enthusiastically defended the interests of Russia, but still remained a staunch Catholic and Scottish patriot.
Further reading
- Jacob AbbottJacob AbbottJacob Abbott was an American writer of children's books.-Biography:Abbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott...
, Peter the Great http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=abbott&book=peter&story=childhood