On the issue of the «conditions» (contract) of the future russian field marshal Burchard Christoph von Munnich (B.H. Minich) in 1721 and 1727 and his further service in Russia

The purpose of the research. The article examines some little-studied aspects of the beginning and further service to the Russian state of Count B.H. Minich. The conditions («conditions») and circumstances of Peter I's admission of the «foreigner» Minich to the service, and his further activities under the closest successors of Peter the Great, are analyzed. The purpose of the study is to introduce new archival and other little-studied sources into scientific circulation and, based on their analysis, to establish and identify the features of existing assessments by domestic historians and researchers of the personality of B.H. Minikh, the motives for his admission to the Russian service and its continuation in the post-Peter time. According to the author, despite the fact that there is currently a fairly extensive historiography of Minich's twenty-year service in the Russian Empire, there is a need to expand, supplement and clarify the available information on some issues of this problem. Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, the author comes to the conclusion that the Russian historiography of various periods, including and modern, they contain controversial and debatable, and in some cases contradictory conclusions, and judgments about Minich's personal qualities and the motivation for his admission to the Russian service and its continuation in the future. Russian Russian Defense Ministry's analysis of the content of contracts concluded with the Russian government in 1721 and 1727 suggests that he was a «temporary worker» in the Russian military service, who was worried, first of all, about his benefits and privileges.