Henry Schliemann's name is forever etched in history as the man who discovered the legendary Troy. However, few people know that this famous self-taught archaeologist was closely connected to Russia. It was here, in Saint Petersburg, that he amassed his enormous fortune, acquired Russian citizenship, and even took a Russian name. Without the Russian period of his life, there would have been no excavations, nor the sensational finds that shocked the world.

Russian Start: From Agent to Millionaire Merchant

In 1846, the young and ambitious Henry Schliemann arrived in Saint Petersburg as a representative of a Dutch trading firm. The Russian market seemed incredibly promising to him, and he was not mistaken. Very soon, he resigned from his employers and founded his own business.

Schliemann's business acumen was truly phenomenal. He engaged in the trade of nitrate, supplying boots for the Russian army, and other commercial operations that brought immense profits. The Crimean War period was particularly successful for him when he became one of the largest suppliers for the army. His annual turnover reached colossal sums, and his personal fortune allowed him to join the ranks of the wealthiest merchants in Russia.

The success in business enabled him to acquire Russian citizenship. Upon taking new citizenship, Schliemann took the name Andrei Aristovich, and until the end of his life, as he himself admitted, considered himself Russian.

Personal Life in Russia and Departure

It was in Russia that significant events occurred in Schliemann's personal life. Here he married, but his wife did not share his passion for archaeology. As a result, he moved to the United States, obtained a divorce, and then married the Greek woman Sophia, who became his companion on excavations.

Interestingly, the divorce obtained in America was not recognized in Russia, and he was considered a bigamist at home until his death. When Schliemann, in his old age, wanted to return to Russia, rumors spread that the Emperor reacted extremely negatively to this, which, however, does not diminish the significance of his Russian period.

It was in Russia, while engaged in commerce, that Schliemann was able to accumulate capital, which he later spent entirely on his main passion — the search for Homer's Troy. Thus, Russia was not just a country where he lived, but a foundation that allowed his great dream to come true.

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