Attempts to rewrite history or to oblivion some of its facts, contrary to the prevailing ideology, have always been made. At the same time, not only people suffered, but also monuments. Many cases of the destruction of monuments, including those of artistic value, were initiated by representatives of authorities at various levels in the Soviet period. Among them is the monument to Torgils Knutsson (Vyborg). For 40 years he stood in front of the Old Town Hall, and then dusted the same amount at first in the city utility barn, and later in the basement under the tower of Old Olaf.
Who is Torgils Knutsson
First of all, you should find out who the person who was erected a monument in the very center of Vyborg was. So, the name Torgils Knutsson, unknown to most Russians, was carried by the Swedish marshal, who ruled the country for more than 15 years on behalf of the underage king Birger Magnusson. In addition, he was an active participant in the Christianization of Finns and Karelians at the end of the 13th century; in 1293 he founded the Vyborg Castle.
Background
The idea to erect a monument to Torgils Knutsson in Vyborg was first conceived by the architect Jacob Arenberg. He was engaged in the restoration of the castle and had a romantic look at the history of the Swedish presence in the region. In the early 1880s, the sculptor Ville Valgren turned to him, who needed orders. Arenberg had long dreamed of erecting a monument to the founder of Vyborg and promised to think. At the end of 1884, a literary charity evening was organized in the city, during which it was possible to collect 300 marks for the construction of the monument. At the same time, Arenberg himself undertook to re-plan the area for free and carry out preparatory work. Meanwhile, the first model of the sculptural image of the Swedish marshal was unsuitable, and Walgren had to make a second, which required new costs. But the main difficulties were ahead, since it turned out that the idea of erecting a monument to Torgils Knutsson was not at all like the military commandant of Vyborg - Major General M.L.Dukhonin, and the governor - Count Fedor Heyden.
Sketch making
Without permission to establish a monument to Torgils Knutsson in Vyborg, its authors nevertheless set to work on its creation. In particular, Valgren went to Paris, where in his workshop in 1888 he made a cast of bronze plaster. In late spring, he was taken to Vyborg and exhibited in the city museum, adorned with the plate “Knight”.
Monument to Torgils Knutsson: History of Creation
At the beginning of 1890, the petition filed on behalf of the Vyborg people by Jacob Arenberg was rejected. Moreover, Alexander the Third issued a decree prohibiting the erection of monuments in public places “without prior permission of the Highest Permission”. However, the story did not end there, as two circumstances arose: the local pharmacist Johann von Zweigberg bequeathed 167, 000 Finnish stamps to the decoration of Vyborg before his death, and the Revolution of 1905 took place, after which the authorities began to pay more attention to the requirements of the population of the outskirts of the empire. As a result, Nicholas II approved the sketch of the monument to Knutsson and gave permission for its installation. At the same time, the municipality allocated 30 thousand marks of money bequeathed to the city for casting a monument in Paris.
In 1908, work was done to improve the area, where it was supposed to establish a Knutsson figure. A granite pedestal was also made, the author of the project of which was the famous modernist architect Karl Segerstad.
Opening
The ceremony took place on September 21, 1908 as part of the celebration of Swedish Day. By the way, on the same day, another work of the sculptor Valgren, Havis Amanda, was installed on the Helsinki Market Square.
The news that a monument to Torgils Knutsson appeared in Vyborg was ambiguously received by Russian society. Many politicians and the military considered it insulting to install the monument to a man who shed Russian blood and forcefully imposed Swedish culture. However, an article appeared in Finnish Newspaper, the author of which indicated that Knutsson was fighting the army of the Novgorod Republic. According to the author, she was not related to the Russian Empire, which then simply did not exist. In addition, representatives of the Finnish and Swedish public made a statement that the monument to Torgils Knutsson is historical, connected with the foundation of the castle and has nothing to do with politics.
This polemic forced Nicholas II to make a “Solomon” decision. So in Vyborg on a rock with which the citadel founded by the marshal was visible, a monument to Peter the Great appeared.
Dismantling
In the first half of the 40s of the last century, as a result of military operations, Vyborg repeatedly passed from hand to hand. Despite this, the monument to Torgils Knutsson (see description below) until 1948 remained on its pedestal and had no damage.
It is still not clear how the city authorities of Vyborg were prevented by the monument of its founder. It is only known that once, in the middle of 1948, a call was made to the command of the communications battalion, which was in the castle. During a telephone conversation, the military was asked to remove the monument to Torgils Knutsson, whose photo for many years was decorated with postcards sent by residents to relatives in Sweden and the cities of the Russian Empire. The appeal did not remain unanswered, and one night the soldiers simply tied a rope to the neck of the figure of the military leader and jerked it off the pedestal. As a result, the monument was seriously damaged, and he himself was in the shed of Vyborg utilities. After 30 years, employees of the local museum discovered a bronze figure of Knutsson, however, it didn’t come to installation in its original place, and it was stored in the basement of the castle for more than 10 years.
Recovery
Only in 1991, the monument to Torgils Knutsson in Vyborg (address: Old Town Hall Square) was restored, and a new original pedestal design was developed. After 2 years, in honor of the 700th anniversary of the founding of the castle, the monument was unveiled and again became the main decoration of the city.
