Pchelov Evgeny Vladimirovich – Candidate in History, associate professor at the Russian State University for the Humanities
The article is devoted to the analysis of one of Prince A.D. Cantemir’s fables The Hawk, the Peacock and the Owl, written, as established by researchers, in 1735. Apparently, the reason for writing it was the appointment of Count P.I. Yaguzhinsky as one of the Cabinet Ministers under Empress Anna Ioannovna. Prior to his appointment, Yaguzhinsky was Kantemir’s colleague in the diplomatic service. Even earlier, he was the first Attorney General in the history of Russia, appointed to this post by Peter the Great. Yaguzhinsky’s former service as Attorney General could have influenced his associative connection with the image of a vigilant owl that does not sleep at night. The hawk in Cantemir’s fable could symbolize Field Marshal General H.A. Münnich, who managed to become one of the Cabinet Ministers only in 1740.
A.D. Cantemir; fable; Cabinet of Ministers; the era of Empress Anna Ioannovna.