The Demidovs

The Demidov family traces its origins to an ordinary Tula blacksmith, Nikita Demidovich Antyufeyev, who impressed Tsar Peter I with his skill and became one of the most influential people of his time. In the history of this family, eccentricity, philanthropy, dark legends, and outstanding managerial abilities are tightly intertwined. Over time, the Demidovs became true aristocrats, marrying into the most noble families of the Russian Empire. Their members differed in character diversity: there were eccentric dandy spendthrifts, science connoisseurs, generous philanthropists, and excellent managers. Prokofiy Demidov, for example, sent a pig instead of himself to dinner for his son-in-law—but he was an expert in botany. Pavel Pavlovich, known for his extravagance, was an excellent chess player and corresponded with leading grandmasters. His father, Pavel Nikolaevich, as Kursk governor, eradicated bribery, and his daughter Avrora became a fateful beauty who drove contemporaries crazy. Unfortunately, later the descendants of the Demidovs moved away from managing the family affairs, which led to the decline of their industrial empire. The arrival of Soviet power deprived them of their source of income, forcing many to emigrate, but their legacy remained: factories and astonishing stories.