The author of one of the most famous collections of Russian language and an ancient Russian prince of multiple talents are heroes of tonight’s Historama.

First comprehensive Russian-language dictionary

The Russian lexicographer Vladimir Dahl released his “Explanatory Dictionary of the Live Great Russian Language” today in 1862.

First a marine doctor and then a field physician, Dahl traveled all over Russia, observing the ways of life of people from different regions and picking up regional dialects.

Dahl’s close friend Aleksandr Pushkin urged him to collect and organize his observations into a dictionary.

Dahl earned a Lomonosov Medal and an honorary fellowship in the Russian Academy of Sciences for his work.

Nabokov read at least 10 pages a night of the great dictionary, while Solzhenitsyn took a volume of Dahl with him as his only book when he was sent to prison camp.

Read more about Vladimir Nabokov and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn on Russiapedia

The dictionary remains a treasure trove of the Russian language and one of the major Russian lexicology resources.

Read more on this event in Russian history in our “Russia Now” section

Great leader, brave warrior and outstanding writer

On this day in 1113, Vladimir Monomakh was crowned the grand prince of the Kievan Rus, the precursor to modern Russia.

Read more about Vladimir Monomakh on Russiapedia

Having taken the throne at the age of 60, Monomakh managed to unify the divided lands that formed ancient Russia.

Read more on this period in Russian history on our site

Monomakh successfully fought against Polovtsy nomads, whose attacks kept devastating the country before his reign.

Mononakh's written testimony to his children is considered the first secular sermon and is one of the most prominent works of ancient literature.

­Lawyer turns into successful painter

The Russian artist and historian, Aleksandr Benua, was born on this day in 1870.

The future artist was self-taught, learning to paint while studying law at university. He frequently travelled to Italy and France for inspiration and information.

Benua is mostly remembered for his collaboration with Sergey Diagilev in Paris, where the artist designed stage settings for the Russian Seasons ballet performances.

He spent most of his life in Paris and died there in 1960.

Read more about Aleksandr Benua on Russiapedia