On February 10, 1837, 2 days after the unfortunate duel with Dantes, the poet Pushkin died, leaving the world a rich literary heritage, and his family huge debts and financial insolvency.
The constant debt stagnation of Pushkin, who made good money with his work, was formed as a result of numerous losses in card games and family life beyond his means. Always repaying loans on time, the poet borrowed money from the emperor and friends to publish a book, pay off money lenders and gambling partners, pay fashionistas, buy groceries and furniture, pay for the expenses associated with balls and outings, and ensure a comfortable existence for his wife and children.
The death of Pushkin made his family bankrupt, but Zhukovsky, who knew about the difficult financial situation of his student, sent a petition to Nicholas I with a request for custody of the orphaned surname, which was immediately granted.
Emperor Nicholas I forgave the writer the debt to the state treasury in the amount of 43,333 rubles 33 kopecks, paid off all his other monetary obligations, which amounted to 100,000 rubles, and pulled his family out of the plight.
In addition to forgiving debts, Nicholas I allocated the writer's widow a pension of 5,000 rubles, which she received before remarrying. Pushkin's sons were assigned 1,500 rubles a year, but they were paid until the boys were enrolled in the prestigious imperial military school, the Corps of Pages, free of charge.
Before marriage, Pushkin's daughters were in the care of the state, they also received 1,500 rubles a year and, in terms of their financial situation, were among the enviable brides of St. Petersburg.
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In addition, the emperor bought shares in the ancestral estates of the Pushkin family - Boldino and Mikhailovskoye - from numerous co-owners, and transferred them into the possession of the poet's sons: the first went to Alexander, and the second to Grigory.
Moreover, Nicholas I ordered the publication of Pushkin's works at state expense, the entire income from the sale of which was supposed to be given to the direct descendants of the poet.
Such noble and generous actions of the ruler could not remain unnoticed in the high society, whose bright representative Durnovo, evaluating the imperial gestures, stated in his notes: "This is excellent, but this is too much."