I have already written about the famous monument to the founders of Odesa. It consists of a sculpture by Catherine II, and her associates - Jose de Ribas, Franz de Vollan, Gregory Potemkin, and Platon Zubov.
So, the people who helped Catherine II to build Odesa also erected monuments in different parts of the city. Today I will tell you about a man like Jose Pascual Dominique de Ribas.
Who is de Ribas?
De Ribas is a Spanish nobleman by birth, a Russian military man and statesman. Founder of the Odesa port and the city of Odesa. He comes from a noble Catalan family.
In the second half of 1769, a very young de Ribas entered the service of the Russian Empire, where he distinguished himself for his devotion and accurate fulfillment of all assigned tasks. In this regard, he became much closer to the queen.
He took part in such secret state events as the legendary abduction of Princess Tarakanova under the leadership of Count Orlov. Was one of the favorites of the empress. Under the command of de Ribas, the Turkish fortress Hadzhibey (the old name of Odesa) was captured. It took him only a few hours. The award for the feat - the Order of George of the 3rd degree, established by Catherine herself (1769) was very high and honorable - it was given exclusively for military exploits.
By the way, it was he who insisted on building Odesa and was able to convince Catherine of this, who for a long time did not support his idea.
The rescript on the construction of a military harbor with a merchant pier in Khadzhibey was signed by Catherine on May 27, 1794. And the foundation of the new city was solemnly marked on September 2, 1794, by laying the foundations of the main buildings.
De Ribas specially came to St. Petersburg to come to an agreement with the empress about a new name for Khadzhibey. Catherine gave de Ribas a supreme and secret gift: she allowed him to name the new city Odesa. There was no special decree on the name of the city.
De Ribas's life was turbulent and contradictory. Someone considered him a standard of man, someone an intriguer and embezzler. But the fact that Joseph de Ribas gave us Odesa is an indisputable fact.
De Ribas gave the city the people it needed for development. De Ribas's subordinates included Duke de Richelieu, de Volan, Count Langeron. The main street of Odesa - Deribasovskaya was named in his honor, at the beginning of which there is a monument to the founder.
What is the history of the sculpture?
Oleksandr Knyazik, a resident of Odesa, became the sculptor. Architect V. Glazirin. The monument was erected on the day of the 200th anniversary of Odesa, September 2, 1994.
The monument is a bronze image of a young admiral of average height, who leans on a shovel, which can be considered as depicted in the literal sense, as the builder of the city. It is not surprising that the inhabitants of Odesa called the monument “a monument to a treasure hunter”.
It is interesting that the sculpture was made of the same height as de Ribas. On the other hand, he holds a detailed plan of Odesa.
It is made of bronze. The figure of a rear admiral in the typical attire of the highest nobility of the empire (ceremonial jacket, two-cornered top, shirt with a frill, high boots).
Where can you see the sculpture?
The sculpture is located in Odesa, at the beginning of Deribasovskaya street.
The exact GPS coordinates are 46.483769, 30.745128
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