Shafirov: Diplomatist of Petrine Russia
Shafirov accompanied Peter the Great on his grand embassy to western Europe and, writes W.E. Butler, was one of the Tsar’s closest advisers on foreign affairs.
Peter the Great surrounded himself with a circle of friends and advisers, chosen sometimes from the noble boyar class, but more often from the barracks and streets of Russia’s towns and villages. One such man, Petr’ Pavlovich Shafirov, rose from the obscurity of an unpromising commercial career to become, under Peter’s patronage, the foremost diplomatist and adviser on foreign affairs of Petrine Russia.
Legend has it that the Tsar discovered Shafirov in a market-place, accusing the future Prince A. D. Menshikov - then a street vendor of hot-fried pies - of stealing a length of cloth worth five roubles.
Peter intervened in the heated argument and, upon finding that one of his attendants knew the alleged purloiner, appointed Menshikov to a detachment of his personal regiment.
Shafirov was ordered to report to the palace to collect his five roubles. There Peter learned of Shafirov’s gift for languages - French, German, Latin, Polish and Dutch - and is said to have promptly recruited Shafirov for state service, promising ‘One day I shall make you Minister of Foreign Affairs’.
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