The most famous in the history of corrupt

At all times and in all countries, there is such a thing as bribery. From time immemorial, everyone knows exactly how to solve the "sensitive" issues in circumvention of the law. Here are just a small takers end up in prison, and large - on the pages of history. About five mzdoimtsakh known and will be discussed further in this review.

Prince Alexander Menshikov

Peter I called the associate of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov his "roguish, but true" right hand. And all because the prince took bribes in incredible numbers. When Menshikov commanded troops during the Northern War, and moving to the next town, he sent messengers to the proposal to pay off in exchange for the fact that his soldiers would not loot. So he got a huge amount of Hamburg, Lübeck, Mecklenburg, Gdansk. Curiously, these funds are almost entirely into the pockets of his lordship.

When Alexander Menshikov directed the construction of St. Petersburg and Kronstadt, the Treasury on demand allocated to him fabulous sums. Needless to say, that the prince to dispose of them at its discretion. It is noteworthy that Peter I turned a blind eye to all his favorite scam. He did not afraid of punishment for taking bribes and embezzlement, which has overtaken others. Peter I Menshikov valued for its ability to think big. When the throne took Peter II, Menshikov was bad enough. In 1727 he was sent to Ranenburg, deprived of all land and wealth. And there were a lot: six cities, more than a hundred villages, 90 thousand peasants. In addition, the disgraced prince seized several million rubles in cash, 3 chest of jewels and 105 pounds of pure gold utensils. Menshikov left a lot of savings in banks in London and Amsterdam.

Favorit Empress Ernst Johann Biron

favorite of Empress Anna Ivanovna Ernst Johann Biron, who came with her from Courland, was a place to roam. Using a special arrangement of the sovereign, Biron allowed himself cranking out dubious transactions across the whole country. To it were statesmen (empty-handed), begging for permission to Anna Ivanovna on a particular case.

Two hundred thousand thaler "perepalo" Biron for the fact that he prevented the Russian-French alliance. The British, meanwhile, were able to transit through Russian free trade with the East. Because of this government had incurred huge losses, and Biron was enriched for the umpteenth time.

When the Empress died, favorite sent into exile, but not forever. Emperor Peter III, is very fond of all German, Biron returned to the court.

The Chinese eunuch Liu Jin

The Tenth Chinese Emperor Ming Zhengde Dynasty, who ruled in the early XVI century, became famous not for their outstanding achievements and for being brought to the management of the state of the poor eunuch Liu Jin. While the emperor clothes commoner walked through the streets of Beijing, the eunuch tucked on his behalf.

Preserved written evidence of the enormous bribes that took Liu Jin. Only for the opportunity to meet with the Emperor eunuch officials laid out several thousand gold. After some time, I found another eunuch, who also wanted to be in place of the emperor's favorite. At one of the feasts he whispered Zhengde that Liu Jin allegedly prepares a conspiracy against him. A search of the eunuch seized 251 million ounces of silver - the enormous wealth at the time. In addition, Liu Jin has built for himself a palace, surpassing the emperor. Immoderately greedy eunuch was executed.

The French diplomat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

The name of a French diplomat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord has become synonymous with cunning, unprincipled and bribery. This man was so clever and resourceful, that during the period of the French Revolution and after he swore all kinds of governments countless times. Talleyrand was in power under Napoleon, Louis XVIII, Louis Philippe. When Russian troops occupied Paris, Talleyrand with great respect by the Emperor Alexander I, their homes. On the sale of information is one, then the other Talleyrand earned 16, 5 million francs. When the diplomat went into another world, people mockingly asked: "Talleyrand died? How much he paid for it? "

Judge orders Zemsky Leonty Pleshcheev

In the XVII century in Moscow, he lived the governor and the judge of the Provincial Order Leonty Pleshcheev. He administers "justice" in a special way. At first, his henchmen to ferret out the financial position of the citizens, and then the wealthiest people to write slander charges of murder or theft. Not to bring the case to court, Leonty Pleshcheev graciously accepted large bribes from slandered.

One June 2, 1648 Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, en route from the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in the palace, stopped the crowd. They pleaded with the emperor to appoint Pleshcheeva place "a good man". The king promised to investigate, but the people made a lynching. Chapter Zemsky order was stoned and dragged his dead body on the Moscow area.