Ministry of Education and Science Russian Federation
St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Department of History
Essay
Discipline: history
Decembrist revolt
Completed by a student of group 4 C 1
Nikolaev N.N.
Head: K.I.N. Assoc.
Nazarenko L.B.
Introduction
Reasons for Decembrism
The first Decembrist organizations
Conclusion
Introduction
Our world is designed in such a way that each person has his own point of view regarding certain things. In most cases, only those people who have enormous power concentrated in their hands can really change something on the scale of the state. The rest are content with the living conditions provided to them by the state. Many people do not live as they would like. The thing is, you can't please everyone; it was so before and it will always be so. People who are dissatisfied with the laws adopted by the authorities, or, conversely, dissatisfied with the inaction of the authorities in relation to their people, often unite, create and register their own political parties, etc. This is possible, since political diversity and multi-party system are now recognized in our country . In the first half of the 19th century. This was not the case in Russia. Maybe that’s why I personally am more interested in the details of the events that took place in our country at this time.
To be honest, I am amazed by the fact that I am now in St. Petersburg. After all, it was on this land that about two hundred years ago the Decembrists (Northern Society) attempted a coup. It was attended by people just like you and me, they had their own interests, their own home, friends, and relatives. They were probably very different, but all together, having combined their forces, they accomplished, in my opinion, a real feat: they made an attempt in better side change the lives of your loved ones at the risk of losing yours.
Something went wrong.
I want to know why the Decembrists of the Northern Society here in St. Petersburg still failed to implement their plan, I want to dive into those distant times and clarify for myself the details and chronology of the events that happened on Senate Square December 14, 1825. But, first, I will try to trace how the Decembrist movement arose and developed.
1.Reasons for Decembrism
In Russia in the 19th century, the destruction of the feudal-serf system and the establishment of capitalism proceeded at a rapid pace. The country realized that radical changes were needed.
Only three main currents have formed, aimed at the development of social thought and social movements: conservative, liberal and revolutionary. Conservatives wanted to preserve the foundation of the existing system, liberals wanted the government to carry out reforms, revolutionaries wanted to achieve big changes, while intending to forcibly change political system states.
In each of the three movements of this time, the nobility dominates all other classes. The noble intelligentsia was the first to begin to realize the need for reforms in the country and offer their ideas.
IN early XIX century Russian society expected changes, but the reforms were not implemented. Government was actually in the hands of A. A. Arakcheev. M. M. Speransky was sent into exile.
At a time when the authorities are abandoning reforms, a revolutionary political trend is clearly manifested among the nobility. This was the Decembrist movement.
The main factor in its occurrence was the socio-economic conditions of the country's development. Great importance in the formation of the revolutionary views of the Decembrists had the strengthening of serfdom oppression, the anti-serfdom movement of the masses after Patriotic War 1812 The Decembrists called themselves "children of 1812." and they said that 1812 was the starting point of their movement. They saw that victory in the war was ensured, first of all, by the participation of the common people, who had no prospects for improving their position in an autocratic serfdom state.
The future Decembrists were dissatisfied with the fact that soon after the end of the war, landowners again gained the opportunity to exile their serfs without trial to Siberia, and with the fact that cane reprisals in the army and navy intensified. It was Arakcheevism - a system of grave oppression of the working people, named after the all-powerful temporary worker General Arakcheev.
The response to this was protests from the working population.
Peasant unrest was constant under Alexander I, which also did not escape the attention of future Decembrists.
In addition, there were problems with military villagers. Hard work filled their lives. The soldiers were starving, freezing, and dying by the hundreds, but during royal inspections, the founders of the settlements did everything so that the emperor was satisfied.
All of the above circumstances tell us that in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century it was really necessary to change something. The revolutionary movement that arose among the nobility shortly after the War of 1812 decided to take responsibility for the fate of the state, “inexorably falling into the abyss.” Decembrist movement.
2.The first Decembrist organizations
In 1815, an officer “artel” was formed in the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment. It was decided to create it by S.I. and M.I. Muravyov - Apostles, I.D. Yakushkin, F.P. Shakhovsky and S.P. Trubetskoy. 15 or 20 officers formed a group to be able to dine together every day. After each friendly dinner, the artel participants discussed political issues. When Alexander I found out about this, he expressed his dissatisfaction and ordered the regimental commander, General A. Ya. Potemkin, to “stop the artel.” It was discontinued, but it was the “artel” that served as the basis for the first Decembrist organization of the Union of Salvation, which emerged six months later.
The initiator of the creation of this secret society was Colonel of the Guards Main Staff A. Muravyov. He wanted to form a society with the goal of introducing monarchical representative government in Russia. Regarding this issue, on February 9, 1816, A. Muravyov’s brother called his close friends who served in the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment to a meeting. This day is the founding date of the Union of Salvation.
The Union of Salvation was a narrow, strictly secret organization. Among the top priorities of the secret society was the introduction of a constitution and the abolition of serfdom, but there was no program of political reforms, and methods of struggle were not developed.
The lack of a clear tactical plan forced the Decembrists to create in January 1818 new organization called "Union of Welfare". The main task of the union members was to form “public opinion” favorable to the reform plans of the Decembrists. According to their plan, advanced public opinion Even before the revolutionary coup, there should have already been pressure on the government. Union members sought to occupy positions in government agencies. At the same time, much attention was paid to propaganda and agitation activities. It pursued the goal of “preparing minds” for the need to abolish the autocratic-serf system in the country. And until a certain time, this type of event was carried out.
In 1821, due to disagreements between the liberal-minded part and the radical part of the organization, the Welfare Union was dissolved, but only formally. This circumstance led to the formation of the Northern and Southern societies. In 1821-1822 (Turning years for the Decembrist movement) the autocracy deals the first blows to the Decembrist movement. In 1822, the Kishinev organization was defeated.
The “turning point” was determined by the internal and foreign political situation of those years: the facts of major anti-serfdom uprisings in Russia, revolutions in southern European countries.
The Northern Society took shape in St. Petersburg in November 1822. It was headed by the Duma, which included Sergei Trubetskoy, Nikita Muravyov and Evgeniy Obolensky. The policy document of the society was the “Constitution”, developed by N.M. Muravyov. The project provided for the introduction of a federal structure and the creation of bicameral representation.
In March 1821, the Southern Society was formed in Tulchin, Ukraine. The program document of the Southern Society was “Russian Truth” written by Pestel. According to this project, Russia was proclaimed a single and indivisible republic with a unicameral parliament (People's Council).
Both projects provided for the abolition of serfdom, but the authors who wrote them differed on how to implement them. Muravyov intended to submit his project for consideration by the Constituent Assembly. Pestel believed that “Russian Truth” should be put into effect by decree of the Provisional Revolutionary Government, which has dictatorial power
To develop a general program of action, Pestel came to St. Petersburg in 1824. He failed to convince the “northerners” to accept the “Russian Truth,” although many of them, including Ryleev, gradually became republicans. We agreed on only one thing - we need to perform together. It was assumed that this would happen in the summer of 1826.
Shortly before the uprising
In the fall of 1825, the imperial couple went on vacation to Taganrog. Alexander I returned unwell. On November 19, 1825, the emperor died at the age of 47. Constantine, the second son of Paul I, was supposed to inherit the throne. But he vowed not to ascend the throne. Then Alexander I bequeathed the throne to his brother, Nicholas. Long years this will was a secret.
The news of the emperor's death came to the capital on November 27. Prince Nikolai Pavlovich began to talk about the will and his right to the throne, but the military governor of St. Petersburg M.A. Miloradovich said: there is a law on succession to the throne that must be observed. Having received such a rebuff, Nikolai, along with everyone else, swore allegiance to his brother.
Constantine, in letters to Nicholas, confirmed his abdication of the throne, but did not want to come to St. Petersburg and declare this publicly.
The interregnum dragged on. An influential opposition to the autocracy instantly emerged, including some members of the State Council and senators, part of the generals and officers and a significant proportion of the capital's intelligentsia. The core of this opposition was the Northern Society.
However, on December 13, the State Council and the Senate swore allegiance to Nicholas. Along with everyone else, those whom the members of the secret society relied on had to swear allegiance.
The tide began to ebb in Northern society: they no longer knew who they could rely on and who they couldn’t. Meanwhile, the oath of troops was scheduled for December 14. It was impossible not to speak out, because the matter had gone too far and the society had actually ceased to be secret.
On December, officers who were members of the secret society were still in the barracks after dark and campaigned among the soldiers. Alexander Bestuzhev (a member of the Northern Society since 1824) gave a heated speech to the soldiers of the Moscow Regiment. The soldiers refused to swear allegiance to the new king and decided to go to Senate Square. The regimental commander of the Moscow regiment, Baron Fredericks, wanted to prevent the rebel soldiers from leaving the barracks, but Shchepin-Rostovsky (a descendant of the Rostov princes) removed the obstacle. Colonel Khvoshchinsky, who wanted to stop the soldiers, was also wounded.
Later, with the regimental banner, taking live ammunition, the soldiers of the Moscow Regiment came to Senate Square. At the head of these first revolutionary troops in the history of Russia was the staff captain of the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment, Alexander Bestuzhev. Along with him at the head of the regiment were his brother, staff captain of the Life Guards of the Moscow Regiment, Mikhail Bestuzhev, and staff captain of the same regiment, Dmitry Shchepin-Rostovsky. The regiment lined up in battle formation in the shape of a square (battle quadrangle) near the monument to Peter 1. It was 2 o'clock in the morning. St. Petersburg Governor-General Miloradovich galloped up to the rebels, began to persuade the soldiers to disperse, and swore that the oath to Nicholas was correct. The moment was very dangerous: the regiment was still alone, other regiments had not yet arrived, the hero of 1812 Miloradovich knew how to talk to the soldiers. He could sway them greatly and succeed. It was necessary to interrupt his campaigning at all costs and remove him from the square. But, despite the demands of the Decembrists, Miloradovich did not leave. Then Kakhovsky (Russian nobleman, Decembrist, killer (1825) of General Miloradovich and the commander of the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment Nikolai Karlovich Sturler) could not stand it and mortally wounded the general with a shot.
The delegation chosen to address the Senate - Ryleev and Pushchin - went to see Trubetskoy early in the morning, who had previously visited Ryleev himself. It turned out that the Senate had already sworn in and the senators had left. Thus, the first goal of the uprising was not achieved. It was a bad failure. Now the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress were to be captured.
Ryleev and Pushchin were sure that Trubetskoy would now come there, to the square, and take command.
But there was still no dictator. Trubetskoy betrayed the uprising. A situation was developing in the square that required decisive action, but Trubetskoy did not dare to take it. He sat, tormented, in the office of the General Staff. Ryleev looked for him everywhere, but could not find him. Members of the secret society who elected Trubetskoy as dictator and trusted him could not understand the reasons for his absence.
The failure of the elected dictator to appear on the square to meet the troops during the hours of the uprising is an unprecedented case in history revolutionary movement. She played a significant role in the defeat of the uprising.
The rebels waited for a long time. The soldiers' guns fired on their own. Several attacks launched on the orders of Nicholas by the horse guards on the square of the rebels were repulsed by rapid rifle fire. The barrage chain, separated from the square of the rebels, disarmed the tsarist police. The “rabble” who were in the square did the same thing.
Behind the fence of the building St. Isaac's Cathedral The dwellings of construction workers and workers were located, and from there a lot of stones and logs flew towards the king and his retinue.
We see that the troops were not the only living force in the uprising on December 14: on Senate Square that day there was another participant in the events - huge crowds of people. But the Decembrists failed to rely on the people, to make them an active force of the uprising.
On the day of the uprising, while it was still dark, people began to gather here and there at the gates of the barracks of the guard regiments, attracted by rumors about the upcoming oath. The “common people”, “black bone” prevailed. Two “rings” of people were formed. The first consisted of those who had arrived early, it was surrounded by a square of rebels. Those who came “later” formed a second ring that surrounded government troops. Noticing this, Nikolai, as can be seen from his diary, realized the danger of this environment. It threatened with great complications.
Nikolai doubted his success, “seeing that the matter was becoming very important, and not yet foreseeing how it would end.” He ordered the preparation of carriages for members royal family with the intention of “escorting” them under the cover of cavalry guards to Tsarskoye Selo.
Under these conditions, Nicholas resorted to sending Metropolitan Seraphim and Metropolitan of Kyiv Evgenia. The idea of sending metropolitans to negotiate with the rebels occurred to Nicholas as a way to explain the legality of the oath to him. His decision to grasp at this straw was strengthened by alarming news: he was informed that life grenadiers and a guards naval crew were leaving the barracks to join the “rebels.” If the metropolitans had managed to persuade the rebels to disperse, then the new regiments that came to the aid of the rebels would have found the main core of the uprising broken and could have fizzled out themselves.
The sight of the approaching spiritual delegation was quite impressive.
But in response to the Metropolitan’s speech about the legality of the required oath, the “rebellious” soldiers began shouting to him from the ranks, according to the authoritative testimony of Deacon Prokhor Ivanov: “What kind of metropolitan are you, when in two weeks you swore allegiance to two emperors... You are a traitor, you are a deserter, Nicholas Kaluga?. We don’t believe you, go away!.. This is none of your business: we know what we are doing...”
Suddenly the metropolitans rushed to the left and disappeared, as huge reinforcements were approaching the rebels.
The order of arrival of the rebel regiments to the square was as follows: the Moscow Life Guards Regiment came first. Behind him (much later) was a detachment of life grenadiers - the 1st fusilier company of the Decembrist Sutgof, with its commander at its head; then the guards naval crew under the command of the Decembrist captain-lieutenant Nikolai Bestuzhev (the elder brother of Alexander and Mikhail) and the Decembrist lieutenant Arbuzov. Following the guards crew, the last participants in the uprising entered the square - the rest, the most significant part of the life grenadiers, brought by the Decembrist Lieutenant Panov. Sutgof's company joined the square, and the sailors lined up on the Galernaya side with another military formation - “a column to attack.” The life grenadiers who arrived later under the command of Panov formed a separate, third formation on Senate Square - the second “attack column”, located on the left flank of the rebels, closer to the Neva. About three thousand rebel soldiers gathered in the square with 30 Decembrist officers and combat commanders. All the rebel troops had weapons and live ammunition.
The rebels had no artillery. All the rebels were infantrymen.
An hour before the end of the uprising, the Decembrists elected a new “dictator” - Prince Obolensky, chief of staff of the uprising. He tried three times to convene a military council, but it was too late: Nicholas managed to take the initiative into his own hands and concentrate on the square against the rebels four times larger military forces.
The short winter day was approaching evening. In the darkness, from the ranks of the troops standing on the side of the emperor, runs began to run towards the rebels. Delegates from some regiments that stood on Nicholas’s side were already making their way to the Decembrists and asking them to “hold out until the evening.” Most of all, Nikolai did not want “the excitement not to be communicated to the mob.” He gave the order to shoot with grapeshot. The command was given, but no shot was fired. “Friends, your honor,” the Gunner answered quietly. Officer Bakunin snatched the fuse from the soldier’s hands and fired himself. The first volley of grapeshot was fired at the “mob” that dotted the roof of the Senate and neighboring houses. The rebels responded to the first volley of grapeshot with rifle fire, but then, under a hail of grapeshot, the ranks wavered and wavered - they began to flee, the wounded and dead fell. The Tsar's cannons fired at the crowd running along the Promenade des Anglais and Galernaya. Crowds of rebel soldiers rushed onto the Neva ice to move to Vasilyevsky Island. Mikhail Bestuzhev tried to again form soldiers into battle formation on the ice of the Neva and go on the offensive. But the cannonballs hit the ice - the ice split, many drowned.
By nightfall it was all over. The Tsar and his minions did their best to downplay the number of those killed. By order of the police, the blood was covered up pure snow, hastily removed the dead. There were patrols everywhere. Bonfires were burning in the square, and the police sent people home with orders that all gates be locked. Petersburg looked like a city conquered by enemies.
From a document by the official of the Ministry of Justice for the statistical department S. N. Korsakov, published by P. Ya. Cain, we learn that on the day of December 14, 1271 people were killed.
At this time, the Decembrists gathered at Ryleev’s apartment. This was their last meeting. They only agreed on how to behave during interrogations. The despair of the participants knew no bounds: the death of the uprising was obvious. Ryleev took the word from the Decembrist N.N. Orzhitsky that he would immediately go to Ukraine to warn Southern society that “Trubetskoy and Yakubovich have changed”
Conclusion
Decembrist senate revolt
Thus, the Decembrists of the Northern Society failed to achieve their goal for several reasons.
Firstly, the fact that in Northern society, shortly before the day of the oath of troops to Nicholas I, it was already unclear who could be trusted and who could not, suggests that there could be traitors among the Decembrists, who may have informed the future emperor about the upcoming uprising That is, in my opinion, Nicholas I probably learned about this event before December 14th.
Secondly, the oath of the Senate, organized by the authorities at 7 o’clock in the morning, clearly discouraged the rebels; they never expected that the senators would swear such an oath early time. Most likely, Nicholas I, having calculated everything in advance (assuming that he knew everything), scheduled this procedure for the morning.
Thirdly, the fact that the elected dictator did not appear on Senate Square on the day of the uprising, in my opinion, partly demoralized the army. Probably, Trubetskoy sat, tormented, in the office of the General Staff for a reason. Again, he was probably aware of the superiority of the state troops. Therefore, he abandoned in advance all hopes for the victory of the Decembrists over the autocratic system and serfdom.
Later, Nicholas I, trying to distort the true goals and objectives of the Decembrists, made great efforts to spread it in Russia and abroad official version uprising on December 14, 1825. The uprising was portrayed as a narrow conspiracy in which. Allegedly, 7-8 officers and several “vile-looking people in tailcoats” took part, dragging the soldiers along with them. The goal was reduced to the overthrow of the throne, laws and the spread of lawlessness.
Yes, Northern society was defeated, the Decembrists were sent into exile, some were deprived of their lives, they were “cut off the air they breathed.” However, their ideas continued to live in circles of free-thinking youth. Their riot in the center of St. Petersburg excited the minds of people, shook all of Russia, and showed that it was quite possible to resist the authorities. After all, the autocracy was a few steps away from defeat. It’s just that at the last moment the Decembrists themselves left the intended path.
List of sources and literature used
1. Bokhanov A.N., Gorinov M.M. History of Russia from ancient times to the end of the 20th century // AST, Moscow. 2001. pp. 188-189.
Munchaev Sh. M, Ustinov V. M. History of Russia: a textbook for universities // NORM. 2003. pp. 203-207.
Nechkina M.V. Decembrists // Science. 1982. pp. 107-129.
Orlik O. V. Decembrists and European liberation movement// “THOUGHT”, Moscow. 1975. pp. 146-147.
Okun S. B. Decembrists // Military publishing. 1972. pp. 6-8.
Fedorov V. A. Decembrists and their time // Moscow State University, Moscow. 1992. pp. 53-82.
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After Constantine’s repeated refusal of the crown, on December 24 (December 12, old style), 1825, a manifesto was signed on the accession to the throne of the third son of Emperor Paul I, Nikolai Pavlovich.
The second oath was scheduled for December 26 (December 14, old style) - the “re-oath” to Nicholas I.
The leaders of the uprising decided to take advantage of the difficult situation that had developed at the highest state level.
The Decembrists intended to prevent the troops and the Senate from taking the oath to the new king.
It was planned to take Winter Palace And Peter and Paul Fortress, arresting royal family. A dictator, Prince Sergei Trubetskoy, was elected to lead the uprising.
After this, it was planned to demand that the Senate publish a national manifesto, which would proclaim the “destruction of the former government” and the establishment of a provisional government. It was supposed to become its members Count Mikhail Speransky and Admiral Nikolai Mordvinov (later they became members of the trial of the Decembrists). Deputies had to approve a new fundamental law - the constitution. If the Senate did not agree to publish the people's manifesto, it was decided to force it to do so.
After this, according to the plans of the Decembrists, it was necessary to convene constituent Assembly, which would decide the question of the form of government - a constitutional monarchy or republic.
On December 26 (December 14, old style), 1825, rebel troops began to gather on the snow-covered Senate Square. By 11 o'clock in the morning, 30 Decembrist officers brought more than three thousand people to Senate Square - soldiers of the Moscow and Grenadier regiments and sailors of the Guards naval crew.
However, the action plan developed the day before was violated from the first minutes. A few days before the uprising, Nicholas I was warned about the impending coup. The senators swore allegiance to Emperor Nicholas early in the morning and had already dispersed; not all of the intended military units arrived at the gathering place; Sergei Trubetskoy, chosen by the dictator, did not appear on Senate Square at all.
The rebel regiments continued to remain inactive until the conspirators could come to a common decision on the appointment of a new leader.
Meanwhile, Nicholas I pulled troops loyal to him to the square. The St. Petersburg military governor-general, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, Mikhail Miloradovich, attempted to persuade the rebels to lay down their arms, but was mortally wounded by a shot from Pyotr Kakhovsky.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, Nicholas I gave the order to open artillery fire. Seven shots were fired with buckshot - one over the heads and six at point-blank range. The soldiers fled. Second Lieutenant Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin tried to organize the capture of the Peter and Paul Fortress by organizing the soldiers running on the ice of the Neva in battle formation, but his plan failed. By the evening of the same day, the government completely suppressed the uprising.
As a result of the mutiny, 1271 people were killed, among whom, as follows from the report of the Police Department, were 1 general, 1 staff officer, 17 chief officers different regiments, 282 lower ranks of the Life Guards, 39 people in tailcoats and greatcoats, 150 minors, 903 mobs. Almost immediately, 62 sailors of the Marine Crew, 277 soldiers of the Grenadier Regiment and 371 of the Moscow Regiment were arrested and sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The arrested Decembrists were taken to the Winter Palace, where Emperor Nicholas I himself acted as an investigator.
In total, 579 people were involved in the investigation and trial of the Decembrists. The investigation and judicial procedures were conducted in deep secrecy. All Decembrists were divided into categories according to the degree of activity. Pavel Pestel, Sergei Muravyov-Apostol, Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Kondraty Ryleev, Pyotr Kakhovsky were placed “outside the ranks” and sentenced to quartering, which was replaced by hanging by Nicholas I.
In the early morning of July 25, 1826 (July 13, old style), the sentence was carried out on the rampart of the crownwork of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Many participants in the uprising and members of secret societies related to its preparation were sent into exile and hard labor in Siberia. As a result of the proceedings, the Supreme Criminal Court found 121 people guilty in the case on December 26 and sentenced them to various penalties.
More than a hundred soldiers were driven through the ranks, some were exiled to Siberia or to settlements. Over two thousand soldiers were transferred to the Caucasus, where military operations were taking place at that time. The newly formed Chernigov regiment, as well as another combined regiment of active participants in the uprising, were also sent to the Caucasus.
In August 1826, the first group of convicted Decembrists arrived at hard labor.
The Decembrists were followed by 11 women, their wives and brides, who decided to share the Siberian exile with them.
Most of them were from noble families - daughters of Russian princes, counts and barons.
With regard to other relatives, including children, Nicholas I sanctioned the adoption of a decree “On the prohibition of children of their noble rank, relatives and other persons from going to them (the Decembrists) in Siberia.”
In 1856, after the death of Nicholas I, in connection with the coronation of the new Emperor Alexander II, a manifesto was issued amnesty for the Decembrists and allowing them to return from Siberia.
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
Secret societies
The first Russian revolutionaries wanted to raise an armed uprising among the troops, overthrow the autocracy, abolish serfdom and popularly adopt a new state law - a revolutionary constitution. It was decided to speak at the time of the change of emperors on the throne. After the death of Alexander I, an interregnum arose - a government crisis beneficial to the revolutionaries.
December 14 was the day of the oath to the new emperor -. His elder brother had just died childless, the brother who followed him renounced the throne (Alexander left a copy of his refusal in the Assumption Cathedral in a closed package, so almost no one knew about his renunciation of the throne), and now the third brother, Nicholas - the rude and ignorant serf owner and torturer of soldiers has already raised his foot to the step of the throne...
Plan
The Decembrists carefully developed their plans. First of all, they decided to prevent the troops and the Senate from taking the oath to the new king. Then they wanted to enter the Senate and demand the publication of a national manifesto, which would announce the abolition of serfdom and the 25-year period of military service, the granting of freedom of speech, an assembly of deputies elected by the people.
The deputies had to decide what system to establish in the country and approve its basic law - the constitution. If the Senate did not agree to publish the people's manifesto, it was decided to force it to do so. The rebel troops were to occupy the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress, and the royal family was to be arrested. If necessary, it was planned to kill the king. In the meantime, as the Decembrists thought, deputies elected by provinces would come to St. Petersburg from all sides. Autocracy and serfdom will collapse. Will begin new life liberated people.
A dictator was elected to lead the uprising - a long-time member of the society, one of its founders - Guard Colonel Prince Sergei Trubetskoy.
The beginning of the uprising
More than 3,000 guardsmen under the command of revolutionary officers - nobles - gathered on Senate Square in the capital, inspired by the hot speeches of their teachers. The Moscow Guards Regiment was the first to enter the square. He was inspired to revolt by the revolutionary speech of officer Alexander Bestuzhev. Colonel Commander Baron Fredericks wanted to prevent the rebels from entering the square, but he fell with a severed head under the blow of the saber of officer Shchepin-Rostovsky. The soldiers of the Moscow Regiment came to Senate Square with the regimental banner flying, loading their guns and taking live ammunition with them. The regiment lined up in a combat square (quadrangle) near the monument to Peter I.
End of the uprising
By nightfall the first Russian uprising was over. Dozens of corpses remained in the square. The police covered the pools of blood with snow. Fires were burning everywhere. There were guard patrols. The arrested began to be taken to the Winter Palace.
Not everything planned came true. It was not possible to raise all the planned regiments to revolt. There were no artillery units among the rebels. Dictator Trubetskoy betrayed the uprising and did not appear on the square. The rebel troops lined up in front of the empty Senate building - the senators had already taken the oath and left.
In the south, things also did not happen without an armed rebellion. Six companies of the Chernigov regiment freed the arrested Sergei Muravyov-Apostol, who marched with them to Bila Tserkva; but, overtaken by a detachment of hussars with horse artillery, the rebels laid down their weapons. The wounded Muravyov was arrested.
Investigation and trial
The decree established a Commission for research into malicious societies, chaired by Minister of War Tatishchev. The investigative commission presented Emperor Nicholas with an all-submissive report compiled by D.N. Bludov. The city's manifesto established a Supreme Criminal Court consisting of three state estates: the State Council, the Senate and the Synod, with the addition of “several persons from the highest military and civil officials.” The following were put on trial: from the Northern Society - 61 people, from the Southern Society - 37 people, from the United Slavs - 23 people. The court established eleven categories, singling out five people in particular, and sentenced: death penalty- five by quartering, 31 - by beheading, 17 - by political death, 16 - by exile to hard labor forever, 5 - by exile to hard labor for 10 years, 15 - by exile to hard labor. work for 6 years, 15 - to exile to a settlement, 3 - to deprivation of ranks, nobility and exile to, 1 - to deprivation of ranks and nobility and registration as a soldier until length of service, 8 - to deprivation of ranks with registration as a soldier with length of service . Emperor Nicholas by decree
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Today, it is difficult to imagine what people who lived almost 200 years ago “breathed” and thought about. Therefore, their actions sometimes cause us shock and condemnation, which only adds interest to the life of our ancestors. Today we will talk about the essence Decembrist uprising in 1825.
However, before continuing, I would like to recommend you a few more interesting publications on various topics. For example, what does Aphorism mean, what is Field, how to understand the word Creative, what does the word Bourgeois mean, etc.
So let's continue about the Decembrist uprising briefly. At that time, a couple of percent of rich people lived in Russia, and everyone else was in the position of beggars or even slaves (serfs). Therefore, among the townspeople and educated people discontent was brewing, which secret societies very actively took advantage of.
The Decembrist uprising in short was an attempted coup that took place in the imperial capital of St. Petersburg on December 14, 1825. It is believed that the main actors and the leaders of the uprising were nobles, who at the same time were guards officers. Having close contacts with the army units stationed in the city, they tried to win them over to their side so that they would not allow Nicholas I to take the throne. The main declared goal of the negotiators was to destroy the royal dynasty and abolish serfdom. In fact, this revolution was led by secret societies; there is information that the English ambassador was the coordinator and real leader of the uprising. The real goal was to destroy Russia and divide it into parts. Moreover, in 1917, the West managed to do this, then, and then in 1991 there was another successful attempt at genocide of the Russian population
Well, now let’s return to our sheep, that is, the Decembrists. In fact , Decembrist uprising 1825 year, was the very first of the well-organized anti-government actions in Russia. Historians believe that it was carried out solely for humane purposes, to free the peasants from the shackles of slavery, and also against the power of the autocrat. In 1917, the slogan was “no war, everyone abandon the trenches and go home,” and the idea of giving land ownership for free was also promoted for peasants, and it worked then.
However, our Decembrists were either fools, or they were controlled like puppets from behind a cordon, but they had one slogan - “the abolition of serfdom.” Who could possibly be interested in this except the peasants themselves?
Background to the 1825 uprising
Even under Alexander I, English and German spies actively worked for destabilization situation in the country. Meticulous work was carried out, the result of which would ultimately be a limitation of the power of the autocrat.Over the course of several years, enormous work was carried out; thousands of people were drawn into the orbit of this idea. However, when Alexander I unexpectedly died, it was a pleasant surprise for the conspirators. Immediately, conflicting instructions began to arrive from Foggy Albion on what needed to be done, and the gears of this huge sabotage conspiracy began to gradually unwind.
However, as they say, if you hurry, you will make people laugh, and so do ours." villains", from the first days of the conspiracy, everything went wrong. The fact is that the king did not have children, and his older brother Constantine had long ago abandoned the throne; he did not like power as such.
However, local officials did not seem to know about this circumstance, because how else to explain the fact that the population Russian Empire swore an oath to the emperor Konstantin Pavlovich, although he himself did not accept such powers. As a result, the situation developed in such a way that only Nikolai could become the heir.
Such confusion and confusion reigned at that time throughout all the cities and villages of Russia.
Then, the foreign curators of the Decembrists decide that the glorious hour has come when they can destroy this barbaric country. They give orders to their Decembrist puppets, and they begin to act. The day was chosen for the uprising December 14, 1825 when the population had to swear allegiance to the new emperor Nicholas I.
What was the plan of the Decembrists?
The main characters in this bloody performance were:Alexander Muravyov - the main conspirator and ideological inspirer of the union;
Kondraty Ryleev;
Ivan Yakushin;
Sergei Trubetskoy;
Nikolai Kakhovsky;
Pavel Pestel;
Nikita Muravyov.
It is clear that these people were a screen for some secret societies, who were extremely interested in overthrowing the government in the Russian Empire.
The Decembrists' plan was to somehow prevent the Russian Senate and Army from swearing allegiance to Nicholas I.
The conspirators planned to storm the Winter Palace and take the royal family hostage. This circumstance would have made it extremely easy for the rebels to take power into their own hands; Sergei Trubkoy was appointed the leader of the entire gang.
It is clear that after the coup, England would begin to impose democracy and would commit total genocide, as many of us remember from the 90s of the last century. Although in fact they announced the creation of a free Empire instead republics. Well, the royal family had to be expelled from the country. Although it is worth noting that some particularly stubborn Decembrists dreamed of destroying the entire royal family and destroying everyone who was in any way related to the royal dynasty.
Decembrist uprising of 1825, December 14
So, December 14, early morning, St. Petersburg is the time and place where the performance was scheduled. However, for the rebels, everything immediately did not go according to plan. Most importantly, Kakhovsky, who had previously stated the possibility and desire to go to Nikolai’s room, and kill him, suddenly abandons this idea. This information caused a real shock among the real leaders of the uprising, the British. The next failure was not long in coming: Yakubovich, who was supposed to capture the royal family, refused to send troops to storm the Winter Palace.
However, as the teenagers say, it was already “too late to rush around,” since the flywheel of the uprising was gaining momentum. The Decembrists and their Western curators did not deviate from their plans. Therefore, a number of agitators were sent to the capital's army barracks, who persuaded the soldiers to go to Senate Square and express their indignation at the events taking place in the country. This operation was carried out quite successfully, and there were 2,350 sailors and 800 soldiers on the square.
Unfortunately for the rebels, by 7 am, the senators had already swore allegiance Nicholas, and when the rebels were already on the square, this procedure was completed.
When the troops gathered in the square, the general came out to them Mikhail Miloradovich. He tried to persuade the soldiers to leave the square and go back to their barracks. Seeing that the warriors were beginning to hesitate and might actually disperse, the revolutionary Kokhovsky approached Miloradovich and shot him point-blank. This was too much, and horse guards were sent to the rebels.
Unfortunately, riot it became quite difficult to suppress, because at that time several thousand civilians had joined him, among them many women and children.
However, in order to save his power, Nicholas had to give a difficult order to shoot at to the rioters shrapnel and buckshot from cannons. And only then were the Decembrists forced to flee. So, closer to night, the same day on December 14, the revolution was suppressed, and the dead and dying were lying all over the square.
Looking from the height of his years, we can conclude that the king gave only loyal order, because if the plans of the conspirators had succeeded, Russia would have drowned in blood, and the victims would have been counted not in thousands, but in millions.
It is worth comparing this long-standing event with what happened in Ukraine Maidan. Don't you think the handwriting is very similar? Both here and there, the Westerners gathered a crowd, caused victims, only Yanukovych turned out to be a rag, and did not give an order that would ultimately save tens of thousands, if not millions of Ukrainians, from the onset of democracy.
We must give the tsar credit for his decisive actions; in addition, he had on his side the fact that the involvement of the masses in the coup was extremely small. Panheads At that time, apparently, it was not enough. Most likely, that event can be considered a truly major adventure by Western intelligence services and secret societies against the Russian government.
In the first quarter of the 19th century. A revolutionary ideology arose in Russia, the bearers of which were the Decembrists. Disillusioned with the policies of Alexander I, part of the progressive nobility decided to put an end to the causes of Russia's backwardness.
The advanced nobility, who became acquainted with the political movements of the West during the liberation campaigns, understood that the basis of backwardness Russian state is serfdom. Reactionary policies in the field of education and culture, the creation of military settlements by Arakcheev, and Russian participation in the suppression of revolutionary events in Europe added confidence in the need for radical change. Serfdom in Russia was an insult to the national dignity of an enlightened person. The views of the Decembrists were influenced by Western European educational literature, Russian journalism and the ideas of national liberation movements.
In February 1816, the first secret political society, the goal of which was the abolition of serfdom and the adoption of a constitution. It consisted of 28 members (A.N. Muravyov, S.I. and M.I. Muravyov-Apostles, S.P. Trubetskoy, I.D. Yakushkin, P.I. Pestel, etc.)
In 1818, the Union of Welfare organization was created in Moscow, which had 200 members and had councils in other cities. The society propagated the idea of abolishing serfdom, preparing a revolutionary coup using the forces of the officers. The Welfare Union collapsed due to disagreements between its radical and moderate members.
In March 1821, the “Southern Society” arose in Ukraine, headed by P.I. Pestel, who was the author of the program document “Russian Truth”.
In St. Petersburg, on the initiative of N.M. Muravyov, the “Northern Society” was created, which had a liberal plan of action. Each of these societies had its own program, but the goal was the same - the destruction of autocracy, serfdom, estates, the creation of a republic, the separation of powers, and the proclamation of civil liberties.
Preparations for an armed uprising began.
The death of Alexander 1st in November (according to the new calendar in December) 1825 pushed the conspirators to more active actions. It was decided on the day of taking the oath to the new Tsar Nicholas 1st to seize the monarch and the Senate and force them to introduce a constitutional system in Russia.
Prince Trubetskoy was elected as the political leader of the uprising, but at the last moment he refused to participate in the uprising.
On the morning of December 14, 1825, the Moscow Life Guards Regiment entered Senate Square. He was joined by the Guards naval crew and the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment. In total, about 3 thousand people gathered.
However, Nicholas 1st, notified of the impending conspiracy, took the oath of the Senate in advance and, gathering troops loyal to him, surrounded the rebels. After negotiations, in which Metropolitan Seraphim and Governor General of St. Petersburg M.A. took part on behalf of the government. Miloradovich (who was mortally wounded), Nicholas 1st ordered the use of artillery. The uprising in St. Petersburg was crushed.
But already on January 2 it was suppressed by government troops. Arrests of participants and organizers began throughout Russia.
579 people were involved in the Decembrist case. Found guilty 287. Five were sentenced to death (K.F. Ryleev, P.I. Pestel, P.G. Kakhovsky, M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, S.I. Muravyov-Apostol). 120 people were exiled to hard labor in Siberia or to a settlement.
The reasons for the defeat of the Decembrist uprising were the lack of coordination of actions, the lack of support from all layers of society, which was not ready for radical changes. This speech was the first open protest and a stern warning to the autocracy about the need for a radical restructuring of Russian society.