Tolstoy

Tolstoy, or Tolstoi ({{lang-ru|????????}}) is a prominent family of Russian nobility, descending from one Andrey Kharitonovich Tolstoy (i.e., "the Fat") who served under Vasily II of Moscow. The "wild Tolstoys" (as they were known in the high society of Imperial Russia) have left a lasting legacy in Russian politics, military history, literature, and fine arts.

The Tolstoys in Russian politics

According to a much later genealogical fable, Andrey Kharitonovich Tolstoy was in turn a great-grandson of some Indris who was "a man of distinguished ancestory". Indris allegedly came from the Holy Roman Empire to Chernigov, accompanied by his sons Litvinos and Zimonten and a force of 3000 men. This is a typical genealogical mystification.

Related Topics:
Holy Roman Empire - Chernigov

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The family first reached prominence in the late 17th century, on account of its connections with the Miloslavsky clan to which Tsar Alexis' first wife belonged. It was okolnichi Peter Andreevich Tolstoy who decided the family fortune by casting his lot with the party of Peter the Great. He gradually gained in Peter's confidence serving first as the Russian ambassador to Constantinople, then as the head of the secret police. Although detested by contemporaries, Tolstoy was made a count for his part in securing the throne for Catherine I. He later clashed with the mighty Prince Menshikov, was stripped of his titles and exiled to the Solovki. The titles and estates were restituted to his grandchildren 30 years later.

Related Topics:
17th century - Tsar Alexis - Okolnichi - '''Peter Andreevich Tolstoy''' - Peter the Great - Constantinople - Count - Catherine I - Prince Menshikov - Solovki

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The most famous of 19th-century Tolstoy politicians was Count Dmitriy Andreevich (1823–89), successively the Minister of Education, Minister of Interior and President of the Academy of Science. During his term in office, he put into effect a vigorous Russification program in Poland and Ukraine, for which he is chiefly remembered.

Related Topics:
19th-century - '''Dmitriy Andreevich''' - Russification

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