Antiochus Kantemir

Prince Antioch Dmitrievich Kantemir (Russian Антиох Дмитриевич Кантемир; . * 10 Septemberjul / September 21 1708greg in Constantinople Opel, .. . † 31 Märzjul / April 11 1744greg in Paris) was a Russian poet, satirist, diplomat and a former representative the Enlightenment in Russia. He was the son of the Moldovan Gospodaren Dimitrie Cantemir.

Kant Emir got a full education, he spoke several languages ​​, was well versed in the natural sciences and spirits and studied Russian history. His literary activity began in 1725, with translations. In political epigrams and satires ( 1729-31 ), he appeared as a defender of the political reforms of Peter the Great. From 1732 Kantemir was Russian ambassador to the UK and from 1738 to 1744 in France. During his stay abroad, he continued writing satirical works, translated Horace ( Epistulae, 1742) and Anacreon, however, struggled in vain for publication in Saint Petersburg. Kant Emir was a supporter of the theory of natural law, the popular ideas of the Enlightenment and sharply criticized the Church and the clergy.

1730 translated Kantemir the first section ( Premier soir ) of the treaty Entretiens sur la pluralité of the moon (1686 ) ( conversations over the plurality of worlds) Bernard le Bovier the French physicist de Fontenelle. In 1742, he wrote his own comments on this treatise. Many of them were part of the anthology, On the Nature and man, which was the first attempt to establish a Russian philosophical terminology and explain the key philosophical terms. The translation of the treatise, however, was confiscated in 1756 by the Holy Synod.

Kant Emir also compiled the first Russian - French dictionary ( first time in 2004 in Moscow edited ).

Kant Emir was friends with the contemporary poet Vasily Trediakovsky and supported his style of syllabic poetry. The works of Kant Emir, his translations and his contacts with Montesquieu, Voltaire and other leading intellectuals of his time who leave early 1740s cool to him the relation of the imperial government. Nevertheless, he was for his authority in European capitals, his diplomatic skills and skilful action during the Austrian War of Succession tolerated on influential diplomatic post.

Kant Emir is considered one of the founders of classical Russian literature.