Description of geographical conditions and cities of Penza province in the memoirs of prisoners of war of Napoleon’s army in the context of reflection of regional identity

Abstract

The article is devoted to the description of geographical and climatic conditions, features of urban and rural infrastructure of the Penza Region in the memoirs of prisoners of war of the Great Army in the context of the formation of regional identity. The main sources when considering the problem were the memoirs of Yu. von Soden, H.-L. Yelin, F. von Furtenbach, F. Baggi, F. Pisani, K.H.L. Schenck von Winterstedt, K.A.V. von Wedel, A. von Leisser, S.B. Peszke, Bűttner, L. Fleck. Currently, mutual representations of European peoples in the era of the Napoleonic Wars are increasingly the subject of close historiographical interest. The formation of the image of the other in various social, cultural and ethnic communities makes it possible to understand the formation of ones own identity. One of the factors in the formation of regional identity is the identification of oneself with a certain territory. In this regard, the description by the prisoners of war of Napoleons army of the landscape and climatic features of the region, its urban infrastructure is very important, as it makes it possible to imagine the emergence and development of cultural, national, religious, socio-economic and political features of the organization of society.

Keywords

• patriotic war of 1812
• penza province
• napoleon’s army prisoners of war
• regional identity