Many sources report an absurd and funny mistake that once reported into a popular French encyclopedia. We checked whether this actually happened.

Here's what is reported on the popular Russian site "World of Encyclopedia" In an article dedicated to errors in publications of this kind: “One of the most funny blunders that has already turned into a historical joke occurred with the famous encyclopedic dictionary published in France Larussa (Les édings Larousse). In the 1903 publication, an article about Ivan IV was printed, in which his famous nickname Grozny was interpreted somewhat differently. It said: "Ivan the fourth, the king of all Rus', nicknamed for his cruelty Vasilyevich."

State Duma deputy and expert Anatoly Wasserman clarifiesthat the speech in this textbook example of the reference error is about a dictionary called Petit Larousse. Also, the authors of the book Biographies of Ivan the Terrible (series "rulers"), portals Inscience And "School Life.ru", writer Alexander Genis And many other sources.

The French philologist and publisher Pierre Laruss (1817–1875) was born in the family of a simple blacksmith, but became the creator of one of the most comprehensive and authoritative encyclopedias of his time. His "Big universal dictionary of χιχ century" He went out in parts since 1866, and the last, 15th volume (not counting two additional ones) was printed in 1876, a year after the death of the author. And although we are talking about this, so early, there is no publication in legend, but just in case it is easy make surethat the article about the Russian king Ivan IV in it begins quite correctly: it is indicated that the formidable is his nickname. At the same time, an adjective lee menaçant is used to translate the nickname, although these days generally accepted It is synonymous Le Terrible:

There is nothing about Ivan Vasilyevich and in Additional volume Encyclopedias.

As for the “Petit Larousse), its prototype appeared even earlier than a large edition (usually occurs the opposite), in 1856. This work was called "New vocabulary of the French language ", and in 1860, articles on their own names were added to the publication. Nevertheless, the dictionary was not yet a full -fledged encyclopedia - this is visible and more late publications, where there can be no question of any articles about the king named Ivan. Actually “Small [Illustrated] Laruss” began to be released only in 1905 (and not in 1903) and was much larger Similar On the encyclopedia, but also in it, too, you can’t find any articles about Ivans, or even mentioning this name.

The situation could save the third product of the company - “New Illustrated Laruss”, which was published by volumes just in the range of interest to us (1897–1904). However, in it we again see quite correct article About the Russian king, and even with the modern version of the translation of the nickname:

It turns out that at least the Laruss publishing house was not mistaken against Ivan the Terrible. Where then do the legs of this story grow? It is not known reliably, but the bike existed already in the 19th century. So, in 1899, the book of Boris Fitingofa-Schel was published in Russia "World Celebrities"in which about the famous writer Alexander Dyum-Otts was It is said: “In the description of his imaginary trips, not leaving his office, he allowed himself a joke like he was resting under the shadow of cranberries or that John the Terrible was such a tyrant that he received Vasilievich’s nickname for his cruelty.” The fact that the expression "amusing cranberries" is not related to Dumas-father, we are already you They told. Since Dumas did not write such things about Ivan the Terrible, most likely, the Frenchman in one phrase was unfairly defamed at once twice.

But even earlier, in 1895, another one was released in St. Petersburg number "Bulletin of Russian financial statistics and legislation" in French. One of his articles entitled “Museum of Horror” talked about what ridiculous mistakes the authors of the famous French magazine “Review of the Old and New World” make when they write about Russia. In particular, the incorrect translation of the statement of the commander Suvorov in August issue This magazine, and it was also said: “There were times when the outstanding Slavist in“ The Overflow of the Old and New World ”wrote with impunity:“ Ivan IV, nicknamed Vasilyevich for his cruelty ”.

The name of the Slavist and the number in which the incident happened was not indicated. But since there are no serious grounds to argue that this did not happen (for refutation, you need to study all the archival numbers of this magazine for 1829-1895), we can only state that such authoritative publications as the encyclopedias are not involved. But the case itself, quite likely, still took place.