074. French Marquis in the Tsar's Service in Tomsk [Text] / V. A. Khanevich // "Siberian Antiquity": local history almanac. - 2001. - N 17. - P. 10-12.

The article is devoted to the personality of Thomas de Villeneuve, a native of Provence, descendant of a French noble family, who served in the second half of the 18th century as the commandant of the city of Tomsk. Based on archival information, pre-revolutionary publications, legends and memoirs, the article reveals key stages in Villeneuve’s biography, including his service on the South Siberian fortified line, his activities to develop education and religious infrastructure in Tomsk, as well as his connection with A.N. Radishchev, who was in exile. Particular attention is paid to the circumstances of Radishchev’s stay in the commandant’s house and the fact of the launch of the first hot air balloon in Siberia in Villeneuve’s courtyard. The article analyzes the symbolic meaning of Villeneuve’s tombstone as an artifact that survived historical cataclysms and displacements, and describes its fate up to the present day. The work is of interest to researchers of the history of Siberia, intercultural contacts and local memory.

List of persons with brief characteristics:

• Adrianov Alexander Vasilyevich - historian, local historian, author of pre-revolutionary publications about Siberia; described the legend of Radishchev's visit to Villeneuve's house.
• Gromadsky Valerian - the curate of the church, a clergyman mentioned as a possible participant in the burial of Villeneuve near the walls of the church.
• Catherine II - Empress of the Russian Empire; signed the decree on Radishchev's exile.
• Eremin Petr Fyodorovich is a Tomsk historian who was involved in the search for and research of Villeneuve’s burial site.
• Kinderman (name not given) was a Tomsk merchant, in whose house Villeneuve's tombstone was located for some time.
• Montgolfier Joseph was a French inventor; together with his brother Etienne, he was the first to raise a hot air balloon, which served as the reason for launching the balloon in Tomsk.
• Montgolfier, Etienne - French inventor; together with his brother Joseph, he founded aerostatic flight.
• Radishchev, Alexander Nikolaevich - Russian writer and educator; was in exile in Tomsk, presumably lived in Villeneuve's house.
• Rubanovskaya Elizaveta Vasilievna - Tomsk regional historian, archivist; researched the fate of Villeneuve and his tombstone.
• Slavnin Valery is a journalist and the author of an article that published information about Villeneuve’s tombstone in the 1960s.
• Tataurov Nikolai Vasilievich - Siberian historian, archivist, memoirist; described the building of the commandant's house and refers to the legend about Radishchev.
• Thomas de Villeneuve (also Devilleneuve, de Villeneuve) was a French nobleman, commandant of Tomsk in the 1770s–1780s; an educational figure, patronized Radishchev, died and was buried in Tomsk.
• Yadrintsev Nikolai Mikhailovich - Siberian publicist and social activist; mentions Radishchev's stay with Villeneuve.
• [Unknown] old-timer (according to Adrianov) - the source of the story about Radishchev's stay with Villeneuve; mentioned in Adrianov's publication.
• [Unknown] director of the flying club - participant in the transfer of Villeneuve's tombstone to the local history museum.