Early Life and Career
He was the son of a poor official at Pskov, who saw to it that his son was taught Latin, German and mathematics. Ordin began his public career in 1642 as one of the delineators of the new Russo-Swedish frontier after the peace of Stolbovo. Even then he had a great reputation in Russia as one who thoroughly understood "German ways and things". He was one of the first Russians who diligently collected foreign books, and we hear of as many as sixty-nine Latin works being sent to him at one time from abroad.
He attracted the attention of the young Tsar Alexis by his resourcefulness during the Pskov rebellion of 1650, which he succeeded in localizing by personal influence. At the beginning of the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Ordin was appointed to a high command, in which he displayed striking ability.
Read more about this topic: Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin
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