  We study special class of matrices with noncommutative entries and
demonstrate their various applications in integrable systems theory. They
appeared in Yu. Manin's works in 87-92 as linear homomorphisms between
polynomial rings; more explicitly they read: 1) elements in the same column
commute; 2) commutators of the cross terms are equal: $[M_{ij},
M_{kl}]=[M_{kj}, M_{il}]$ (e.g. $[M_{11}, M_{22}]=[M_{21}, M_{12}]$). We claim
that such matrices behave almost as well as matrices with commutative elements.
Namely theorems of linear algebra (e.g., a natural definition of the
determinant, the Cayley-Hamilton theorem, the Newton identities and so on and
so forth) holds true for them.
  On the other hand, we remark that such matrices are somewhat ubiquitous in
the theory of quantum integrability. For instance, Manin matrices (and their
q-analogs) include matrices satisfying the Yang-Baxter relation "RTT=TTR" and
the so--called Cartier-Foata matrices. Also, they enter Talalaev's
hep-th/0404153 remarkable formulas: $det(\partial_z-L_{Gaudin}(z))$,
$det(1-e^{-\p}T_{Yangian}(z))$ for the "quantum spectral curve", etc. We show
that theorems of linear algebra, after being established for such matrices,
have various applications to quantum integrable systems and Lie algebras, e.g
in the construction of new generators in $Z(U(\hat{gl_n}))$ (and, in general,
in the construction of quantum conservation laws), in the
Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation, and in the problem of Wick ordering. We also
discuss applications to the separation of variables problem, new Capelli
identities and the Langlands correspondence.
