Decembrist revolutionary secret uprising
The uprising of December 14, 1825 is the starting date for the beginning of the revolutionary liberation struggle in Russia. Before the Decembrists, spontaneous uprisings of peasants or performances of lone revolutionaries took place in Russia, the most prominent of whom was A.N. Radishchev. For the first time in Russian history, the Decembrists created revolutionary organizations, developed political programs, prepared and carried out an armed uprising. It was the culminating event and at the same time the result of the Decembrist movement. All previous activities of the Decembrists, starting with their first secret organization of the Union of Salvation, were subordinated to the ideological and organizational preparation of a revolutionary action against the autocratic serfdom system in Russia. The uprising of December 14 was a serious test for the Decembrists, a test of their revolutionary capabilities. In it, as if in focus, all the strong and weaknesses their noble revolutionary spirit: the courage, courage, self-sacrifice of the Decembrists, but at the same time the hesitation characteristic of a noble revolutionary, the lack of decisiveness and consistency in actions, the ability to master the “art of uprising”, but most importantly - the lack of connection with the masses, even the fear of the revolutionary initiative of the masses. The Decembrists were afraid of the “riot of the crowd,” “senseless and cruel.”
Let's look at these events in chronological order.
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 Russia’s participation in the suppression of revolutionary events in Europe added confidence in the need for radical changes; 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 arose in St. Petersburg, 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 “Western Union” collapsed due to disagreements between the radical and moderate members of the union.
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 action plan. 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 I in November 1825 prompted the conspirators to take more active action. It was decided on the day of taking the oath to the new Tsar Nicholas I to seize the monarch and the Senate and force them to introduce a constitutional system in Russia.
Prince Trubetskoy was elected 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 Marine Crew and the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment. In total, about 3 thousand people gathered.
However, Nicholas I, notified of the impending conspiracy, took the Senate oath in advance and, gathering troops loyal to him, surrounded the rebels. After negotiations, in which Metropolitan Seraphim and the Governor-General of St. Petersburg M.A. Miloradovich (who was mortally wounded) took part on the part of the government, Nicholas I 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.
Figure 1 shows a brief chronology of events that occurred during a given period of time.
Figure 1 - Brief description Decembrist uprising
Uprising on Senate Square
Decembrist uprising- a failed coup attempt. It took place in St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire, on December 14 (26) of the year. It differed from previous attempts to seize power in the large number of participants - about 3 thousand soldiers came to the square in front of the Senate. The mutiny killed 1,271 people. According to official data, the number of victims is 80 people.
Secret societies
End of the uprising
By nightfall the uprising was over. Hundreds of corpses remained in the square and streets. Most of the victims were crushed by the crowd rushing in panic from the center of events. An eyewitness wrote:
Windows on the façade of the Senate before top floor were splattered with blood and brains, and there were traces of buckshot on the walls.
371 soldiers of the Moscow Regiment, 277 of the Grenadier Regiment and 62 sailors of the Sea Crew were immediately arrested and sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The first arrested Decembrists began to be taken to the Winter Palace.
Uprising of the Chernigov Regiment
In the south of Russia, 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 on January 3, overtaken by a detachment of hussars with horse artillery, the rebels laid down their arms. The wounded Muravyov was arrested.
265 people were arrested in connection with the uprising (excluding those arrested in southern Russia and Poland - they were tried in provincial courts)
Investigation and trial
The main guilt of the rebels was the murder of high-ranking government officials (including St. Petersburg Governor-General Miloradovich), as well as the organization of mass riots, which led to numerous casualties.
Mordvinov and Speransky were included in the Supreme Criminal Court - precisely those high-ranking officials who were suspected of behind-the-scenes directing of the failed rebellion. Nicholas I, through Benckendorff, bypassing the Investigative Committee, tried to find out whether Speransky was connected with the Decembrists. HELL. Borovkov testified in his notes that the question of the involvement of the Decembrists Speransky, Mordvinov, Ermolov and Kiselev in the plans of the Decembrists was investigated, but then the materials of this investigation were destroyed.
Place of execution of the Decembrists
During the execution, Muravyov-Apostol, Kakhovsky and Ryleev fell from the noose and were hanged a second time. This contradicted the tradition of re-enacting the death penalty, but, on the other hand, was explained by the absence of executions in Russia over the previous several decades (with the exception of the executions of participants in the Pugachev uprising).
In Warsaw, the Investigative Committee for the opening of secret societies began to operate on February 7 (19) and submitted its report to Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich on December 22. (Jan. 3, 1827). Only after this did the trial begin, which acted on the basis of the Constitutional Charter of the Kingdom of Poland, and treated the defendants with great leniency.
Literature
- Memoirs of the Decembrists. Northern Society, M.: MSU Publishing House, 1981
Links
- Senate Square from satellite. Can be increased
- Nikolai Troitsky Decembrists: Uprising // Russia in the 19th century. Course of lectures. M., 1997.
Notes
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Karl Kohlman. Decembrist uprising ... Wikipedia
Karl Kohlman. Decembrist uprising The Decembrist uprising was a failed coup attempt. It took place in St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire, on December 14 (26), 1825. From previous attempts to seize power... ... Wikipedia
Russia won the Patriotic War, but what did this victory bring to society? After 1812 Russian Empire in the person of the emperor, she organized a foreign campaign against the remnants of Napoleon's army, which ended in 1815. The campaign was successful, Napoleon's army was defeated.
But for Russian society the campaign brought something else. He gave an understanding that life is better in Europe, that the concept of civil law exists, that in some countries there is no serfdom, and most importantly, the officers saw in reality that the autocratic form of government is not the only one that can exist in the state. The December uprising, which took place on December 14, 1825 on Senate Square, was the result of precisely this foreign campaign.
Causes of the Decembrist uprising
The reasons for the Decembrist uprising can be considered secret societies that began to emerge in Russia after 1815. The very first such society was the “Union of Welfare”, which arose in 1818 in St. Petersburg. It included radical young officers and nobles: Pestel, Muravyov-Apostol, the Muravyov brothers, Trubetskoy, etc. This organization had its own charter - the “Green Book”.
The main goal of the organization is to spread education in order to prepare society for the adoption of the constitution by the emperor. But members of society could not decide how society should achieve a constitution. Studying public opinion on this issue, many members of society became disillusioned with the Union of Welfare.
They understood that society was completely unprepared for peaceful ways to achieve such goals; an uprising was needed. Therefore, the Union gradually turned into just a revolutionary gang, where they studied in detail the Spanish revolution and anti-monarchist movements in European countries. At the same time, society participants understood that the participation of the peasantry and any mob in such an uprising was impossible. The coup must be carried out by advanced officers in the name and good of the people. Due to disagreements, the society was dissolved in 1821.
Participants in the Decembrist uprising of 1825
After the collapse of the Union of Welfare, two new societies were created, which became the main organizations that took part in the Decembrist uprising - the Northern and Southern societies.
Pavel Pestel became the head of southern society. He adhered to the idea of revolution in the country and the creation of a republic. He wrote down his ideas in the society’s program - “Russian Truth”. Head Northern Society became Nikita Muravyov. He developed his “Constitution” program, which involved limiting the monarchy by introducing a Constitution in the country. Northern society was not as radical as Southern society, but both societies adhered to the same position regarding serfdom - they treated it negatively. If you take general provisions program for the future uprising, it assumed:
- Abolition of serfdom;
- Civil rights and freedoms for the population;
- Introduction of representation in governing bodies.
The most important thing that interested the rebels was this transformation public administration. This problem became long overdue in society and inevitable, which is why it led to the Decembrist uprising of 1825.
The course of events of the uprising on Senate Square
Open actions were scheduled for December 14. The main task The Decembrists disrupted the oath to the future emperor. It was expected that he would be arrested, and then the form of government in the country would be changed.
In the morning, the rebels arrived at Senate Square, but almost immediately they learned that the oath to Nicholas had already taken place that night. This happened because the preparations for the uprising took place under poor secrecy, and he already knew about the plans of the conspirators. Standing in the square, the rebels did not know what to do and for a long time were inactive. This played into the hands of the government, which began to gather troops. The Emperor took active action. Most of the guard obeyed him and this decided the outcome of the uprising on Senate Street.
First, Governor General Miloradovich M.A. tried to persuade the rebels to disperse in order to avoid bloodshed. But the Decembrist Kakhovsky P.G. shot him and the general died. This was the last straw and he ordered the massacre to begin. Not wanting much bloodshed, he ordered grapeshot to be fired over the heads of the rebels, and the uprising was defeated.
Mass arrests of participants in the Decembrist uprising began throughout the city. Using the example of punishment of the Decembrists of the uprising, the emperor showed his determination in such matters. He believed that the source of the Decembrist uprising was the constitutional ideas of his brother the emperor, which he considered erroneous. All those arrested were brought to the Peter and Paul Fortress, where they were interrogated in detail. Many of the participants and indirectly involved persons were officers, therefore, following officer's honor, they answered frankly, without hiding anything.
The Supreme Court convicted 121 people. Five people were sentenced to hanging: Pestel, Kakhovsky, Muravyov-Apostol, Bestuzhev-Ryumin and Ryleev. The rest of the Decembrists went to hard labor, and from some of the soldiers they created a special regiment, which was sent to the Caucasus. The severity of the sentences shocked society and forever ruined the moral character of the new emperor. And the uprising on Senate Square remained in history as a failed revolution.
Decembrist uprising video
On December 14, 1825, an event occurred in St. Petersburg that later became known as the Decembrist uprising. Several military regiments, led by members of the secret society, with the aim of blocking the work of government bodies and forcing senators to sign documents that actually announced a change in the political system of Russia.
In 20 - 30 years. In the 19th century, a wave of uprisings, revolutions, liberation wars, whose goal was to overthrow monarchs and carry out liberal reforms. Active participation educated military personnel took part in these events. On the one hand, the Decembrist uprising was on a par with similar events. On the other hand, nothing similar to what happened in Russia happened anywhere: representatives of the nobility, who have always been the support of the Russian throne, opposed the existing order.
The first secret society in Russia appeared shortly after the end of Patriotic War 1812. Its members were young and educated war participants who, after the victorious expulsion of Napoleon’s troops, returned to Russia with the expectation of renewal, the liberation of the serfs who heroically fought for the freedom of the country alongside government troops. But time passed, and the emperor never started liberal reforms in the country. Moreover, there was a desire to strengthen monarchical power.
In 1816, the Union of Salvation was created - a secret political organization, the purpose of which “was, in a broad sense, the good of Russia.” The organization consisted of about 30 people who called themselves “true and faithful sons of the Fatherland.” Two years later, in 1818, the Union of Salvation was reformed into the Union of Welfare. New organization was more numerous - about 200 people.
Members of the Union of Welfare set themselves the task of gradually changing the order in the country by disseminating their liberal ideas among educated representatives of high society, developing education, and combating arbitrariness in the army. On the basis of this society, two organizations arose in 1821 - the Southern Society in Ukraine and the Northern Society in St. Petersburg. The Southern society was headed by Pavel Pestel, who was committed to more decisive revolutionary actions, and the Northern society was headed by a more moderate one - Nikita Muravyov. Members of both societies worked seriously on programs for the future development of Russia, which they saw as a republican state. Members of both societies planned a joint military action for the summer of 1826. However, circumstances turned out differently.
Prince Sergei Trubetskoy
At the end of 1825, Emperor Alexander I died in Taganrog while traveling around the country. According to the laws existing in Russia, his brother Konstantin should have taken his place on the throne, but few people knew that he signed an abdication of the throne in favor of his brother Nicholas, who was extremely unpopular among the nobles and especially in the army. For some time, an incomprehensible political situation developed in the country: some of the military had already sworn allegiance to Constantine, and the upcoming re-oath was something very strange for them. Members of secret societies decided to take advantage of the current situation of interregnum. According to their plans, it was necessary to gather troops on Senate Square in order to prevent the senators from swearing allegiance to the new tsar, to force them to sign a document that announced the overthrow of autocracy, the abolition of serfdom, the reduction of military service, and the proclamation of civil liberties in Russia. Prince S. Trubetskoy was appointed dictator (leader) of the uprising. Part of the military under the command of A. Yakubovich was supposed to seize the Winter Palace and arrest the royal family. They also planned to capture the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Peter Kakhovsky
Nicholas became aware of the impending performance, and he tried to do everything to prevent the development of events planned by the rebels. Early on the morning of December 14, the senators swore allegiance to the new emperor and then left the building. The storming of the Winter Palace did not take place either: Yakubovich at the last moment refused to command the troops, fearing, as he later said, bloodshed.
By 11 o'clock in the morning the Moscow Regiment arrived at Senate Square, later the Grenadier Regiment and the Marine Crew arrived. The troops lined up in a square around the Bronze Horseman. The entire space around the square gradually filled with people; there were simply curious people, but there were also openly sympathetic ones. The Governor-General of St. Petersburg M. Miloradovich rode up to the rebels on horseback and began to call on the soldiers and officers to return to the barracks and swear allegiance to Nikolai Pavlovich. Everyone knew Miloradovich as a brave military general, a hero of the War of 1812, and the leaders of the uprising were seriously afraid of his influence on the soldiers. One of the active members of the secret society, P. Kakhovsky, shot at the general and mortally wounded him.
Time passed, but the rebels did not take any decisive action. The dictator of the uprising, S. Trubetskoy, did not appear on the square, and the plan for the speech was disrupted from the very beginning. Meanwhile, Nicholas sent troops loyal to him to the square, the number of which was several times greater than the number of rebels. Several attempts to attack the rebels were repulsed by them, and the people gathered around began to shout encouragement to the rebels; stones and logs were even thrown towards the government troops. It gradually grew dark, and Nicholas, fearing that the unrest would spread to the people surrounding the troops, ordered the use of artillery against the rebels. After the first shots, dead and wounded military and civilians remained on the square, the rest of the soldiers began to retreat - some along Galernaya Street, others along the ice of the Neva. They were also shot at, the ice broke, and many drowned. By nightfall the uprising was crushed.
A few days later, having learned about the events in St. Petersburg, members of the Southern Society also attempted an anti-government protest, but were defeated by government troops.
Kondraty Ryleev
Immediately after the defeat of the uprising in St. Petersburg, arrests of its participants began. The most active members of the secret society were interrogated by Nicholas himself in the Winter Palace. To investigate all the circumstances of the preparation of the uprising, a secret Investigative Committee was created under the chairmanship of Minister of War A. Tatishchev. Six months later, the Committee submitted a report to the emperor, which determined the degree of guilt of the participants in the rebellion.
Those arrested were kept in the Peter and Paul and Shlisselburg fortresses in very harsh conditions. All of them behaved differently during the investigation: only a few did not give any testimony, while the majority wrote in detail about all the circumstances of their participation in the conspiracy. Today it is difficult to judge these people, because for many of them the concepts of noble honor, which ordered them to be frank with the sovereign, were above all else. Others wanted, by talking in detail about the society's plans, to draw the attention of the authorities to the need to solve existing problems in the country.
Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin
The verdict of the Supreme Criminal Court was announced in a special manifesto on June 1, 1826. All those arrested were divided into 11 categories according to the degree of their guilt. There were five of the most dangerous criminals - Pavel Pestel, Kondraty Ryleev, Sergei Muravyov - Apostol, Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin and Pyotr Kakhovsky. They were sentenced to the most terrible punishment - quartering. Those who entered the first category were sentenced to beheading, the rest to different periods hard labor. Nicholas I, by his highest decree, commuted the sentence: the five most dangerous criminals Quartering was replaced by hanging, and the rest were spared their lives. All members of the Supreme Court supported the verdict, only Admiral N. Mordvinov spoke out against it, who referred to the law on the abolition of the death penalty, which had already been accepted by Elizabeth and confirmed by Paul I.
The sentence of five people condemned to execution was carried out on July 13, 1826 at the crown of the Peter and Paul Fortress. During the execution, a truly terrible incident occurred: after the benches were knocked out from under the feet of the condemned, three ropes could not withstand the weight of the bodies and broke. According to all existing Christian concepts, a second execution was impossible. But they brought new ropes, and, as the head of the police department later said, the three criminals “were soon hanged again and received a well-deserved death.”
The rest of the convicts were sentenced to various terms of hard labor, the officers were demoted to privates, and at first a humiliating ritual of civil execution was carried out with the deprivation of all nobility and ranks. The soldiers who took part in the performance were severely punished with rods, many were sent to the active army in the Caucasus.
In 1975, at the site of the execution of the Decembrists, a memorial obelisk was erected on the crown of the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Text prepared by Galina Dregulas
For those who want to know more:
1. Petersburg of the Decembrists. Comp. And Margolis. St. Petersburg, 2001
2. Eidelmen N. Amazing generation. Decembrists: faces and destinies. M., 2001
3. Nechkina M. Day December 14, 1825. M., 1985
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. It 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: to death - five by quartering, 31 - by beheading, 17 - to political death, 16 - to exile forever in hard labor, 5 - to exile in hard labor for 10 years ., 15 - to 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
