Konstantin Danzas

Konstantin Karlovich Dansas (Russian Константин Карлович Данзас, also transcribed as Danzas, * 1801, † February 3, 1870 ) was a Russian major general and the Sekundant Alexander Pushkin in his duel with Georges- Charles de Heeckeren d' Anthes.

Youth and military time

Konstantin Dansas came from a noble family of Courland and attended the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), Anton Delwig (1798-1831) and Wilhelm Kuchelbecker (1797-1846) were among his classmates. After completing his schooling in 1817 he entered the military service and participated in several campaigns. He has received numerous awards for his bravery; In 1828, he was wounded.

Pushkin's duel

On 27 Januarjul. / February 8 1837greg. Dansas was the Sekundant by Alexander Pushkin in his duel with Georges- Charles de Heeckeren d' Anthes (1812-1895), in which the poet was mortally wounded. Dansas wanted his turn calling d' Anthes to a duel, but the Pushkin the dying stopped him and asked Tsar Nicholas I for mercy for his Sekundanten.Dansas Pushkin stayed with until his death on 29 Januarjul. / February 10 1837greg. , after which he was imprisoned for his participation in this duel in the Peter and Paul Fortress and sentenced to death by hanging. The death sentence was converted into a two-month imprisonment, an honorable form of imprisonment.

Later years

After his release Dansas returned to military service. He asked for a transfer to the Caucasus, where he was commander of a regiment, in which Mikhail Lermontov served after his disciplinary transfer. In 1856 he resigned with the rank of major general. The feeling of being responsible for Alexander Pushkin's death, visibly darkened his mind. He kept some memorabilia on the poet, including his death mask. Konstantin Dansas remained unmarried and died on 3 February 1870. 1936 his remains were reburied in a grave at the Tikhvin Cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery.