Saturday, December 26, 2015

190 years ago, the Senate Square was an uprising of the Decembrists – BBC

Camping with Suvorov and secret manifesto

After the death of the childless Alexander I to the throne had to climb Konstantin Pavlovich – the next-oldest brother. However, Konstantin Pavlovich, fearing that his “strangled, suffocated as a father”, has decided to give up the right to lead the power and therefore was declared heir to the throne Nicholas, third son of Emperor Paul I and Empress Maria Feodorovna. This Alexander I have a secret manifesto of August 16, 1823.

Given that the exact content of the manifesto until recently did not even know Nikolay Pavlovich, after the death of the oath was brought to Constantine.

Immediately began to mint coins with the new governor.

«As a loyal subject, I must, of course, sad about the death of the Emperor; but, as a poet, happy accession to the throne of Constantine I, – Alexander Pushkin wrote enthusiastically. – There are a lot of romanticism; his stormy youth, hiking with Suvorov, enmity with the German Barclay resemble Henry V. To that he is smart and intelligent people to somehow better; In short, I hope him a lot of good ».

Plans crumble

However, Konstantin Pavlovich declared that he would not rule the empire. A few days later, Mikhail Speransky prepared a manifesto according to which the Head of State became Nicholas. The future emperor announced his accession to the throne, and the oath was scheduled for December 26.

On the same day, under the pretext of protecting the legitimate rights of Constantine in St. Petersburg took place the revolt of the Decembrists – coup. The rebels wanted to prevent the troops and the Senate to take the oath to Nicholas Pavlovich. The plans of the Decembrists included the establishment of a constitutional monarchy or a republic and the abolition of serfdom. Some radical Decembrists were

for the murder of Nicholas and even Crown Prince Alexander – the future emperor, the abolition of serfdom.

By 11 am the rebels withdrew the troops to the Senate Square, but Nicholas I, who knew about the impending uprising, had already taken the oath and become the legitimate ruler of the state. The plans of the conspirators, who wanted the Constitution to require the introduction of an oath, collapsed. Decembrists did not know what to do next, and the troops were just on the area.



How not to kill Nicholas

The killer Nicholas Decembrists appointed Peter Kahovsky – member of the secret society of the North, which has, according to the memoirs of contemporaries, ardent nature and love of freedom. In the Senate Square Kakhovsky killed the governor-general Miloradovich released to the rebels to stop the rebellion, Colonel Styurlera, but did not dare to deal with the newly made emperor.

Soon, the rebels surrounded the government troops and the shooting started. Decembrist Mikhail Bestuzhev tried to build on the ice of the Neva soldiers and lead them to the fortress, but the government army shelled the rebel cannons. Cannonballs break through the ice, and many participants of the uprising drowned in the Neva River.

The rebels fled. According to different estimates of historians, were killed during a riot by 1.3 thousand. 1.5 thousand. People. However, it is believed that, since government troops had orders not to shoot rioters, and simply drive them to the Senate Square, the number of victims is not more than a hundred people.



Civilized Europe and less cultural Russia

A few days after the rebellion Commission was established for the research of malicious societies – body to investigate the uprising of the Decembrists. The Commission, which is party to the North of a secret society, Alexander Ants called “inquisitorial tribunal without a shadow of justice or impartiality, and with a deep ignorance of the laws,” attracted to the investigation 579 people.

At the trial, held the Winter Palace, the investigator acted himself Nikolai I.

The Emperor decided that five of the Decembrists to be sentenced to death and 120 organizers of the uprising should be sent to hard labor in Siberia or a settlement. It is interesting that at the trial the defendants themselves were not present, they were invited only for the verdict.

«For me, Russia is now defiled, stained with blood – wrote after the trial of the Decembrists poet Pyotr Vyazemsky. – How many victims and what an iron hand fell on them ».

Sharp criticism of the trial of the rebels began in foreign societies. “The Imperial Government, however, is sadly mistaken if he thinks that the purely formal consequence produced by a panel of eight members – courtiers and aides Emperor – may arouse the confidence in the civilized countries of Europe, or even in a less cultural Russia”, – wrote the British edition The Times.

What to do in the link

According to Nicholas I, the Decembrists in exile will be doomed to spiritual death. However, the convicted rebels established their captive “academy”, which includes lectures and learning languages, reading and discussing books. For Kiichelbecker led seminars on Russian naval expedition, Bestuzhev – on the history of the Navy and Wolf – in physics, chemistry, anatomy and physiology.

Soon, the Decembrists were allowed to read Russian and foreign publications, paint, to make music . In terms of hard labor and subsequent links Bestuzhev proposed the idea of ​​the jet engine, designed Thorson threshing machine and a machine for cutting straw and Bestuzhev made the original design of the compact, but accurate marine chronometer. In addition, the convicted Decembrists were climatological observations,

collected Siberian specimens of flora and fauna, doing chemical analysis of water mineral springs, conducted seismological measurements.

«Casting a glance all their work, we see that they explored Siberia anthropological, natural, economic, social and ethnographic position – in other words, did much more than all made during this period for any of the other Russian regions” – wrote publicist Ivan Pryzhov.

«This is the last novel that I forbade»

The image of the Decembrists, cherished by poets and writers of the XIX century, quickly acquired traits of romantic rebel, who fell victim of slander. About rebels wrote Alexandre Dumas in his novel “Fencing Master” – and, of course, Nicholas I prohibited for publication in Russia of works by French author.

«Nicholas entered the room, when I read the Empress book – says Princess Trubetskaya, a friend of the Empress. – I quickly hid the book. The emperor approached and asked the Empress:

– Have you read?
– Yes, sire.
– If you want, I’ll tell you what you read?

Empress silent .

– Have you read the novel by Dumas’ The Fencing Master ».
– How do you know it, sire?
– Well! It was easy to guess. This is the last novel that I have forbidden ».



Decembrists become atheists

On the participants of the opposition movement several times wanted to write Leo Tolstoy. “Decembrists to be my fan, a mystic, a Christian, returning to the 56 th year in Russia with his wife, son and daughter, and trying on his strict and few perfect look for a new Russia”, – said in a letter to the writer Alexander Herzen. However, on the fourth chapter of Tolstoy was not reached – according to his contemporaries, he was disappointed in the uprising and claimed that

«December rebellion is the result of the influence of the French aristocracy, most of whom emigrated to Russia after the French Revolution ».

I wonder how to transform the image of Decembrists in the XX century. Despite the fact that Lenin considered rebels last detached from the people, the participants of the February revolution, regarded them as their predecessors. Decembrists were included in the pantheon of heroes, and in Stalin’s time, with their religious views (the vast majority of the rebels were Orthodox) tried not to mention.

However, sometimes involved in the events on December 26 1825 was described as fierce atheists.

A new surge of love for the rebels of the XIX century took place in the 1970s. At this time in theaters Vladimir Motyl film “The Captivating Star of Happiness”, which tells about the fate of the Decembrists and their wives followed their husbands into exile. Rebels of the last century are inspired dissidents heroes of local history books, and even a low-grade romance novels.

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