# Xavier de Maistre

> French writer (1763-1852)

**Wikidata**: [Q2737006](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2737006)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_de_Maistre)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/xavier-de-maistre

## Summary
Xavier de Maistre was a French writer, painter, and military personnel who lived from 1763 to 1852. He is best known for his literary work *Voyage Around My Room* and for serving as a Major General in the Russian Empire, where he was awarded the Gold Sword for Bravery.

## Biography
- **Born:** November 8, 1763 (preferred date), in Chambéry, Kingdom of Sardinia (located in Savoy). Other recorded dates include October 10, 1763, and the year 1763.
- **Died:** June 12, 1852 (preferred date), in Saint Petersburg. Other recorded dates include June 13, 1852, and the year 1852.
- **Nationality:** Kingdom of Sardinia
- **Allegiance:** Russian Empire
- **Known for:** Writing *Voyage Around My Room* (1794); military service as a Major General; landscape painting.
- **Field(s):** Literature, Military, Visual Arts (Painting), Chemistry.
- **Family:**
    - Father: François-Xavier Maistre
    - Mother: Christine de Maistre
    - Spouse: Sophie Zagryazhsky
    - Siblings: Joseph de Maistre, André-Marie de Maistre, Marie-Christine de Maistre, Jeanne-Baptiste Françoise de Maistre, Anne-Marie de Maistre, Marie-Thérèse de Moussy, Nicolas de Maistre, Marie-Marthe de Maistre, Victor de Maistre.
- **Burial:** Smolensky Lutheran Cemetery.

## Contributions
Xavier de Maistre contributed to literature, military history, and the arts.
- **Literature:** He authored the novel *Voyage Around My Room* in 1794. His complete works are titled *Oeuvres complètes*. He wrote in the French language.
- **Military:** He served in the Russian Empire's armed forces, achieving the rank of Major General. He received the Gold Sword for Bravery, an award for bravery in the Russian Empire.
- **Arts:** He practiced painting, specifically landscape painting. His works are held in collections, including the Geldersch Landschap en Kasteelen.
- **Science:** He held an interest in chemistry and was a member of the Academy of Sciences of Turin (joining November 3, 1795) and the Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Savoie.

## FAQs
**What are Xavier de Maistre's most famous works?**
His most notable work is the 1794 novel *Voyage Around My Room*. He also produced *Oeuvres complètes* and other works referenced in various literary encyclopedias.

**What was Xavier de Maistre's role in the military?**
He served as a Major General in the Russian Empire and was awarded the Gold Sword for Bravery.

**Where did Xavier de Maistre live and work?**
He lived in France until 1792, after which he lived in Naples and Saint Petersburg (from 1792 to 1857). He died in Saint Petersburg.

**What academic associations did Xavier de Maistre have?**
He was a member of the Academy of Sciences of Turin and the Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Savoie.

## Why They Matter
Xavier de Maistre holds a distinct place in cultural history as a polymath who bridged the worlds of literature, military service, and art. His *Voyage Around My Room* remains a recognized work of French literature, studied and cataloged in major libraries worldwide. His career illustrates the integration of Savoyard nobility into the Russian Imperial service during the 18th and 19th centuries. His legacy is preserved through numerous international authority records, including the Library of Congress, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and VIAF, ensuring his literary and historical contributions remain accessible.

## Notable For
- Authoring *Voyage Around My Room* (1794).
- Holding the rank of Major General in the Russian Empire.
- Receiving the Gold Sword for Bravery.
- Membership in the Academy of Sciences of Turin (starting 1795).
- Membership in the Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Savoie.
- Proficiency in landscape painting.
- Being the sibling of philosopher Joseph de Maistre.

## Body

### Early Life and Family Background
Xavier de Maistre was born into the de Maistre family in Chambéry, Savoy, which was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. His father was François-Xavier Maistre and his mother was Christine de Maistre. He had a large family, including his well-known sibling Joseph de Maistre. His siblings also included André-Marie, Marie-Christine, Jeanne-Baptiste Françoise, Anne-Marie, Marie-Thérèse (de Moussy), Nicolas, Marie-Marthe, and Victor. He eventually married Sophie Zagryazhsky.

### Military Career and Recognition
De Maistre served as military personnel for the Russian Empire. He achieved the rank of Major General. His service was recognized with the Gold Sword for Bravery, a specific award instituted in the Russian Empire. His career involved living in different regions, including Naples and a long tenure in Saint Petersburg from 1792 to 1857.

### Literary and Artistic Output
As a writer, de Maistre used the French language. His most famous work, *Voyage Around My Room*, was published in 1794. This work is cataloged extensively, appearing in databases like Project Gutenberg (ID 31407), LibriVox (ID 2195), and Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB) (ID 119451). His other works include *Oeuvres complètes* and several entries identified by Wikidata IDs (Q19195643, Q19212737, Q19184082, Q19170476). He was also a painter, focusing on landscape painting. His artistic identity is recorded in the Union List of Artist Names (ID 500032095) and RKDartists (ID 310326). His visual works are included in the collection of Geldersch Landschap en Kasteelen.

### Academic and Scientific Interests
Beyond literature and art, de Maistre had a documented interest in chemistry. He was a member of the Academy of Sciences of Turin, with membership recorded as starting on November 3, 1795. He was also a member of the Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Savoie.

### Personal Life and Demographics
Xavier de Maistre was male and lived until the age of 88 or 89. He died in Saint Petersburg and was buried at the Smolensky Lutheran Cemetery. His life is documented across a wide range of international identifiers, including ISNI (0000000121260168), VIAF (29612438), and the Bibliothèque nationale de France (12370500s). He is described in major encyclopedias including the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, The Catholic Encyclopedia, and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon.

### Legacy and Archival Presence
De Maistre's legacy is maintained through extensive digital and physical archives. He has entries in Wikipedia in 21 languages (including English, French, Russian, and Japanese). His image and signature are preserved on Wikimedia Commons. His works are considered public domain worldwide, as copyrights have expired more than 100 years after his death. He is listed in national libraries across the globe, from Brazil and Chile to Israel, Korea, and Russia, reflecting his international scholarly significance.

## References

1. Concise Literary Encyclopedia
2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
3. www.accademiadellescienze.it
4. BnF authorities
5. Integrated Authority File
6. LIBRIS. 2012
7. The Fine Art Archive
8. Library of the World's Best Literature
9. Union List of Artist Names. 2008
10. RKDartists
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. Virtual International Authority File
13. MusicBrainz
14. Xavier de (Comte) Maistre. RKDartists
15. Benezit Dictionary of Artists
16. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
17. [Source](https://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/m/maistre_conde_xavier.htm)
18. SNAC
19. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
20. Babelio
21. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
22. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
23. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Maistre%20Xavier%20de)
24. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index11.html)
25. CONOR.SI
26. La France savante
27. Carnegie Hall linked open data
28. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
29. CollectieGelderland
30. [Source](http://data.mimotext.uni-trier.de/entity/Q648)