"Golden" century of the Romanov dynasty. Between the empire and the family Sukina Lyudmila Borisovna
Personality of Emperor Alexander I and general characteristics his reign
Alexander Pavlovich was born on December 12, 1777 into the imperial family. His father was the heir to the throne - Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich (1754-1801), and his mother was Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna, Princess Sophia Dorothea of Württemberg (1759-1828).
Alexander is the eldest and beloved grandson of Empress Catherine the Great (1729-1796). She actually took him from his parents immediately after his birth and took care of his upbringing and education herself. Sashenka, as his grandmother called him, was a charming and very capable boy, and they hoped to make him an ideal, enlightened sovereign.
Count Saltykov was responsible for taking care of the health and instilling good manners and habits in the heir, behind whom stood the Empress herself, who skillfully instilled in her little grandson the principles of nobility and knightly behavior. From the age of seven, Alexander found himself in the hands of another teacher - the Swiss F.-C. Laharpe, who drew up a project for shaping the personality of the future emperor, approved by Catherine.
The religious education of Alexander Pavlovich and his brother Konstantin was entrusted to a graduate of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy, Archpriest A. A. Samborsky, who was known as a man of original views, a freethinker and an Anglophile. He lived in Britain for a long time and was married to an Englishwoman. Catherine, as an exception, allowed him to wear secular clothes and shave his beard and mustache, which was impossible for an ordinary Orthodox priest. Samborsky instilled in Alexander completely secular views on religion and the church. The main values, from his point of view, were man and love for one's neighbor. In his company, the little grand duke also polished his English language, whom he knew from childhood, while under the supervision of an English nanny.
Alexander was taught the Russian language and Russian history by M. N. Muravyov, one of the greatest writers of his time. Mathematics, physics and geography were taught to the heir by professors from the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. The Grand Duke was fond of science, even dreamed of a career as a scientist and regretted that, as the heir to the imperial throne, he was forced to abandon it.
Alexander’s “uncle”, whose duties included monitoring his sports and military activities, was the stern and strict General Protasov. It must be said that despite her great love for her grandson, Catherine did not overindulge him, believing that the boy should grow up strong, tempered, developed not only mentally, but also physically.
Despite all the differences in origin, views, and education, Alexander’s teachers and educators were honest and decent people, they sincerely respected and valued each other. By all accounts, the Tsarevich was supposed to become an enlightened and noble young man, strong, courageous, broad-minded and free-thinking - the perfect ruler of a European state new era. But the implementation of this " educational project“The circumstances of the family life of the imperial house interfered.
Catherine the Great's relationship with her son Pavel Petrovich was not easy. The stumbling block was power. Pavel believed that his mother had usurped the throne and suspected her of murdering her father, Emperor Peter III. He himself wanted to rule, but he understood that his mother, while she was alive, would never give up the throne to him. In addition, as Alexander Pavlovich grew older, a rumor spread more and more at court that Catherine would declare him her official successor and deprive her son of the right to succession to the throne.
In such an atmosphere, it was difficult for the young man to maintain naivety and purity of soul. As a child, he was used to being torn between his grandmother and his parents. Over time, he developed two strategies of behavior: one for his grandmother’s Tsarskoye Selo courtyard, the other for his parents’ Gatchina courtyard. In Alexander’s character, along with kindness, delicacy, and gentleness, manifestations of cunning, resourcefulness, double-mindedness, and secrecy became noticeable. The opinions of his contemporaries about him are also divided: some call him an “angel”, while others call him a “sphinx”, hinting at the mystery and opacity of his nature and thoughts. A. S. Pushkin spoke about the emperor, whom he knew well: “There was a lot of childishness in Alexander. He once wrote to La Harpe that, having given freedom and a constitution to his land, he would abdicate the throne and retire to America.” But this did not happen. Alexander Pavlovich, under the pressure of circumstances and environment, had to make a tragic choice, which he did not even want to think about for a long time, and decide to overthrow his own father from the throne.
After the death of Catherine II in 1796, Paul I became emperor. At first, it seemed that all the rumors that forced him to see his eldest son as a competitor in the struggle for power were forgotten. Paul issued a decree on succession to the throne, according to which power in the Romanov family was transferred only by male line, and introduced a new title for the heir to the throne - “Tsarevich”, which he honored Alexander with. But soon new gossip spread that Paul might divorce Empress Maria Feodorovna, marry one of his mistresses, and declare as heir one of the sons who could be born in a new marriage, or another male relative.
Wittingly or unwittingly, Alexander was drawn into conspiracies against his father, the last of which ended with the overthrow and murder of Paul on the night of March 11-12, 1801. This palace coup, which completed the 18th century of Russian history, secured the throne for the heir, but did not make him happy. The Empire breathed a sigh of relief, but Alexander did not feel any better. The struggle for the throne between him and his mother, Empress Maria Feodorovna, lasted until early morning, did not improve family relationships. And when all of St. Petersburg rejoiced, a gloomy silence reigned in the Winter Palace, where all the Romanovs hastily moved from the Mikhailovsky Castle, the site of the regicide. Mother and son hardly spoke to each other for several days; Alexander did not communicate with his older brother Konstantin either. The young emperor did not abdicate the throne, however, he accepted it somewhat reluctantly.
The official coronation took place, as tradition required, in the old capital, Moscow, on September 15, 1801. The ceremony, as always, was distinguished by pomp, but the awards and gifts distributed on this occasion were modest. Immediately after the coronation, a decree was promulgated that abolished torture, which was widely practiced under Paul I.
During the first period of his reign, the emperor enjoyed great popularity in society. He differed favorably from his father even in appearance. Tall, stately, fair-haired, blue-eyed, with regular facial features and soft, smooth skin, the young sovereign made a pleasant impression on both men and women.
Alexander was well-mannered, delicate, and knew how to maintain a respectful tone when dealing with people of different classes and ranks. This is how a contemporary, the famous French writer and literary critic Germaine de Stael, wrote about him: “The first thing that especially amazed me about him was the expression of extraordinary kindness and greatness with which his face was illuminated; these two qualities seemed inseparable in him. In the very first words spoken to me, I was touched by the noble simplicity with which he approached the great questions that worried Europe. I have always considered it a sign of mediocrity to be afraid to talk about important issues, a fear that is characteristic of almost all European sovereigns. Alexander, on the contrary, talked to me as if they would statesmen England, who see strength in themselves, and not in a chain of barriers with which they can surround themselves. Alexander, whose dignity Napoleon deliberately did not recognize, is a man of outstanding intelligence and rare education, and I do not think that he could find in the state a minister more capable than himself of understanding affairs and directing them to the goal.”
Madame de Stael accurately noticed the special kind of loneliness from which the emperor suffered. After Paul's death, he treated even close people with caution and distrust. Many years later, A.S. Pushkin would write in his diary: “... Until<ойный>Sovereign (Alexander I. – L.S.) was surrounded by his father's killers. This is the reason why during his lifetime there was never a trial of the young conspirators who died on December 14th. He would have heard truths that were too cruel.”
Alexander's constant assistants in the first years of his reign were the participants in the conspiracy against Paul: Count P. A. Stroganov, Prince Adam Czartoryski, Count N. N. Novosiltsev, Count V. P. Kochubey.
At first, it seemed to those around Alexander I that the emperor was about to give the country the promised constitution, begin liberal reforms, and abolish serfdom, will introduce European freedoms. The sovereign's friends were convinced of this by some of his steps, for example the approach of M. M. Speransky.
Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky (1772-1839)- son of a provincial priest. Only his natural intelligence and government abilities allowed him to rise so high on the social ladder and receive the title of count. From 1808 to 1812, he was the emperor's closest adviser, the author of a project of liberal reforms, and a reorganizer of public administration in Russia. He created the State Council - the highest legislative and advisory body under the emperor, a system of ministries that replaced the collegiums. But Speransky’s bold plans to limit autocracy and constitutional aspirations pushed Alexander away from him. To the deep disappointment of the liberal part of society, the tsar sent the reformer into exile for four years, after which he appointed him governor-general of Siberia for two years. Speransky returned to St. Petersburg only under Nicholas I; under him, he headed the second department of the imperial chancellery and was engaged in putting Russian legislation in order (the main work of his life was the compilation of the famous “Collection of Laws Russian Empire»).
At first, contemporaries did not pay attention special attention to the fact that simultaneously with Speransky, Arakcheev, a conservative statesman who managed to maintain his influence on Alexander until the end of his reign, appeared next to the tsar.
Alexey Andreevich Arakcheev (1769-1834) held the rank of general. In 1808 he became Minister of War, in 1810 - Chairman of the Military Department of the State Council, initiator of the creation of military settlements that served as reserves regular army. Being a brave man and possessing the talent of a military leader, Arakcheev distinguished himself during the Patriotic War of 1812. Alexander was attracted to him not only by his intelligence and courage, but also by his strength of character, determination, and the ability to complete the work he started - those qualities that the emperor himself lacked. The tsar treated Alexei Andreevich not only as a prominent dignitary, but also as a senior comrade, and even consulted with him on personal matters. Over the years, the emperor's trust in Arakcheev increased. From 1815 to 1825, he actually led the country, which became one of the reasons for the dissatisfaction of a significant part of the nobility with the reign of Alexander and, as a consequence, the formation secret societies and noble conspiracies.
Alexander I himself became increasingly disillusioned with Russian society, which was torn apart by contradictions between reform-seeking liberals and serf-owning conservatives, and with his entourage, which blackmailed him with participation in the overthrow of his father, and with the imperial power itself and its possibilities. Power and paternal authority gradually became the shackles that bound Alexander’s personality and prevented him from feeling happy and free.
The emperor's young friends demanded that he maintain power at any cost. The teacher La Harpe, whom he revered, also wrote about this: “In the name of your people, sir, keep intact the power entrusted to you, which you want to use only for their greatest good. Don't let yourself be led astray by the disgust that unlimited power inspires in you. Have the courage to preserve it entirely and indivisibly until the moment when, under your leadership, the necessary work is completed and you can retain to yourself exactly as much power as is necessary for an energetic government.” There was no turning back. It was necessary to dominate.
Gradually, Alexander comes to the idea of the need not only to preserve, but also to strengthen the autocracy. He increasingly turns to the example of his father Paul I. His entire reign was a movement from liberal reformism to autocratic conservatism, traditional for the Russian Empire. Here is what the historian A.P. Bazhova writes about this: “Like his father, Alexander I strove to strengthen his absolute power, but he understood the unsuitability of the methods with which his father acted. Pavel was impatient, rude, and unrestrained; his son knew how to wait. Act around, listen to the mood of society.<...>But as he gained a foothold on the throne, his policy became more and more definite. He, like his predecessors, sought to strengthen the autocracy.”
In his youth, while still a Grand Duke and Tsarevich, Alexander more than once admitted to his friends that he was fascinated by ideas and spirit french revolution. The idol of the young king was the Emperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte. Alexander I was fascinated by the personality of Napoleon just as his grandfather had once been Peter III idolized the Prussian king Frederick. Alexander dreamed of a personal meeting with Napoleon, and it took place, however, under not very favorable circumstances. Russia was defeated by France in the war of 1806-1807, and in June 1807, peace talks between the two emperors were to take place in Tilsit (present-day Sovetsk, Kaliningrad region).
A witness to these events, hero of the War of 1812, famous poet and partisan D.V. Davydov later recalled Alexander I’s preparation for his first meeting with Napoleon: “I did not take my eyes off the sovereign. It seemed to me that he covered with artificial calm and even sometimes gaiety of spirit the feelings that overwhelmed him and involuntarily expressed themselves in his angelic gaze and on his open, high brow. And how could it be otherwise? It was about a date with greatest commander, a politician, legislator and administrator, blazing with the rays of a dazzling aura, a wondrous, almost fabulous life, with the conqueror, in only two years, of all of Europe, who twice defeated our army and stood on the border of Russia. It was about a meeting with a man who possessed the most fascinating gift of temptation and, at the same time, gifted with extraordinary insight into the depths of the characters, feelings and thoughts of his opponents. It was not about one meeting with him, but, through this meeting, about the charm of the charmer, about the temptation of the tempter, about misleading his bright and positively brilliant mind.”
Denis Davydov subtly noticed the peculiarity of the relationship between Alexander and Napoleon. Both seemed to be tempting each other; it was a confrontation between two extraordinary personalities. It was more difficult for Alexander: he had to confront a political and military genius. But Napoleon's mistake was that he underestimated his enemy. Many contemporaries noted that an element of male envy was noticeable in Bonaparte’s attitude towards the Russian emperor. Short, plump and homely, Napoleon felt a kind of jealousy towards the impressive Alexander, with whom women fell in love not only because of his royal title. The French emperor repeatedly spoke of the Russian Tsar as a narrow-minded person and deprived of military and political talents. This attitude greatly wounded Alexander’s unusually developed ambition. However, Napoleon hoped in vain that he would be able to easily charm the Russian sovereign, who was already enthusiastic about him. The luxurious “Olympic” dessert service of 140 items, presented to him in commemoration of the Peace of Tilsit, did not help either. The Russian emperor accepted the gift with delight and gratitude, but in negotiations and subsequent relations with France and Napoleon he firmly adhered to his line. Alexander had enough political wisdom and the courage not to succumb to the temptation to conclude a strong military alliance with his idol. He also did not agree to a family union, refusing to marry off his sister, Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna, to a “rootless Corsican.”
In Tilsit, Alexander had to make some concessions. Russia was supposed to assist France in the war against Austria, but when hostilities began, Russian troops received secret orders to avoid clashes with the Austrians. The enraged Napoleon seized the Duchy of Oldenburg, which belonged to the son-in-law of Alexander I. Later, Alexander admitted to Madame de Stael that he regretted the youthful delight that Napoleon aroused in him, that during personal meetings he was struck by the cruelty and Machiavellian cunning of this man whom he had once considered great.
The relationship between the two emperors was completely upset. War between Russia and France was inevitable. On June 12, 1812, French troops crossed the Neman, which served as the western Russian border. Patriotic War with Napoleon continued until December 14 of the same year, when the French were expelled from Russian territory; On December 25, its end was confirmed by the imperial manifesto. This war left a noticeable mark on the historical memory and culture of the Russian people. The defense of Smolensk will forever remain in history, battle of Borodino, Moscow burned by the French. Heroes of the Patriotic War are immortalized in portraits of the 1812 Gallery in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. People composed songs, proverbs, and songs about Napoleon’s conqueror, Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzov.
Victory in the Patriotic War and the military successes of the Russian army in 1813-1815, culminating in the capture of Paris, satisfied Alexander’s ambition. He headed the Congress of Vienna, at which the victorious powers divided the spoils of war and reshaped political map Europe (thus, Russia received a significant piece of Polish territory). In 1815, Alexander I organized the Holy Alliance of the Sovereigns of Austria, Prussia and Russia, which acted as the collective guarantor of the new European order. The foreign policy authority of the Russian Empire and the Russian Tsar increased, but the era of conservative reaction began in the country. The army and population did not receive the privileges they expected; the social unity achieved during the Patriotic War was not used by the authorities to carry out liberal reforms, and Alexander’s personality no longer aroused enthusiasm among his subjects.
The emperor himself, after the thunder of fanfare and the flow of praise addressed to him from the friendly courts of the Old World, soon felt tired and disappointed. Neither reform efforts nor a return to the policy of strengthening autocracy made him beloved and popular in his fatherland, and the laurels of the victor Napoleon did not last too long. Family life also did not give the desired happiness.
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Alexander 1 Pavlovich (born December 12 (23), 1777 - death November 19 (December 1, 1825) - Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia (from March 12 (24), 1801), eldest son of Emperor Paul 1 and Maria Fedorovna.
Death of Paul 1
When on the morning of March 12, 1801, the news of the death of the sovereign spread around St. Petersburg with the speed of lightning, the delight and jubilation of the people knew no bounds. “On the streets,” according to one of his contemporaries, “people were crying with joy, hugging each other, as on the day of the Holy Christ's Resurrection" This general joy was caused not so much by the fact that the difficult time of the reign of the deceased emperor had passed irrevocably, but by the fact that the adored heir of Paul, Alexander 1, who was raised by himself, was ascending the throne.
Upbringing. Alexander's education
When Grand Duke Paul 1 Petrovich had a son, his first-born Alexander, Catherine 2, from the very first year of her grandson’s life, took care of his upbringing. She herself began to study with him and his brother Konstantin, who was born a year and a half later, she herself compiled the alphabet for the children, wrote several fairy tales, and over time, a small guide to Russian history. When her grandson Alexander grew up, the Empress appointed Count N.I. as his chief educator. Saltykov, and chose teachers from the most educated people of that era - M.N. Muravyov, the famous writer, and Pallas, the famous scientist. Archpriest Samborsky taught Alexander the Law of God and in his lessons inspired his pupil to “find his neighbor in every human condition.”
Since Catherine was preparing Alexander for the throne, even intending to bypass her son, she took care early on to give her beloved grandson a solid education in legal sciences, most necessary for the future ruler of a great power. The Swiss citizen Laharpe, a man of noble soul, imbued with a deep love for people and a desire for truth, goodness and justice, was invited to teach them. La Harpe was able to exert the most beneficial influence on the future emperor. Subsequently, Alexander said to Laharpe’s wife: “I owe everything that endears people to me to my teacher and mentor, your husband.” Sincere friendly relations were soon established between teacher and student, which remained until La Harpe’s death.
Personal life
Unfortunately, the education of the future emperor ended quite early, when he was not yet 16 years old. At this young age, he had already entered into marriage, at the request of Catherine, with the 14-year-old Baden princess, named, after accepting Orthodoxy, Elizaveta Alekseevna. Alexander's wife was distinguished by her gentle character, endless kindness to the suffering and highest degree attractive appearance. From his marriage to Elizaveta Alekseevna, Alexander had two daughters, Maria and Elizaveta, but both of them died in early childhood. Therefore, it was not Alexander’s children, but his younger brother, who became the heir to the throne.
Due to the fact that his wife was unable to bear him a son, the relationship between the sovereign and his wife cooled greatly. He practically did not hide his love relationship on the side. At first, for almost 15 years, the emperor cohabited with Maria Naryshkina, the wife of Chief Jägermeister Dmitry Naryshkin, whom all the courtiers called “an exemplary cuckold” to his face. Maria gave birth to 6 children, and the paternity of five of them is usually attributed to Alexander. However, most of these children died in infancy. The sovereign also had an affair with the daughter of the court banker Sophie Velho and with Sofia Vsevolozhskaya, who gave birth to an illegitimate son from him, Nikolai Lukash, a general and war hero.
Wife Elizaveta Alekseevna and favorite Maria Naryshkina
Accession to the throne
Upon his accession to the throne, Alexander 1 announced in his manifesto that he would rule the state “according to the laws and the heart” of his great grandmother, Catherine 2: “Yes, by following her wise intentions,” the new emperor promised in his first manifesto, “we will achieve raising Russia to the top.” glory and deliver unbreakable bliss to all our faithful subjects.”
The very first days of the new reign were marked by great mercies. Thousands of people exiled under Paul were returned, thousands of others were restored to their rights, civil and official. Corporal punishment for nobles, merchants and clergy was abolished, torture was abolished forever.
Domestic policy. Transformations. Reforms
Soon, radical changes began in the public administration. 1802, September 8 - ministries were established. For a more advanced development of legislative issues, the sovereign formed a Secret Committee, which included friends of Alexander’s youth, persons who enjoyed the special trust of the emperor: N.N. Novosiltsev, Prince Adam Czartoryski, Count P.A. Stroganov and Count V.P. Kochubey. The Committee was entrusted with the task of drawing up bills to transform the entire Russian national and state life.
The emperor chose the famous Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky, later a count, as his closest collaborator. Speransky was the son of a simple priest. After graduating from the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, he took the place of teacher in this educational institution, and then switched to civil service, where he was able to quickly advance with his enormous ability to work and extensive knowledge.
On behalf of the sovereign, Speransky drew up a coherent plan for reforms in legislation, administration and court, main feature which allowed the participation of popular representation in all areas of state life. But, realizing that the population of Russia is not yet ripe for participation in government activities, the emperor did not implement Speransky’s entire plan, but carried out only some parts of it. Thus, on January 1, 1810, the State Council was opened in the presence of Alexander himself, who in his opening speech said, among other things: “Everything that is the most solid and unshakable in the thoughts and desires of mankind - everything will be used by me to establish order and protect the empire with good laws."
Once a week, Alexander 1 attended meetings of the Council in person, and Speransky reported to him on matters that were considered at other meetings.
Portraits of Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich (in his youth)
Foreign policy
Upon accession to the throne, one of the most basic concerns of the sovereign was the establishment outside world Russia, exhausted by wars in previous reigns. Everything possible was done in this direction, and for some, albeit short, time, not only Russia, but all of Europe enjoyed peace.
However, European political relations were such that already in 1805 Russia, despite the peacefulness of its emperor, was forced to take part in the struggle of the European powers with France, led by a great conqueror, who based his elevation from a simple officer to the emperor of a huge powers. Starting the fight against him, Alexander 1 entered into an alliance with Austria and England and began to lead military operations himself. The war ended poorly for the Allies. Several times Napoleon defeated the Austrian troops, and then, on the fields of Austerlitz, on November 20, 1805, he met the allied Russian-Austrian army, which included both emperors, Alexander and Franz. In a desperate battle, Napoleon emerged victorious. Austria hastened to make peace with him, and the Russian army returned home.
However, the very next year military operations against Napoleon resumed. This time Russia was in alliance with Prussia, which carelessly rushed to start the fight without waiting for the arrival of Russian troops. Near Jena and Auerstedt, Napoleon defeated the Prussian army, occupied the capital of Prussia, Berlin, and took possession of all the lands of this state. The Russian army was forced to act alone. IN big battle At Preussisch-Eylau, Napoleon, who attacked the Russian army, failed, but in 1807 he was able to defeat the Russians near Friedland.
The war ended with a meeting between Napoleon and Alexander in Tilsit, on a raft in the middle of the Neman River. A peace was concluded between France and Russia, according to which Russia had to accept the continental system invented by Bonaparte against England - not to allow English goods into its territory and not to have any trade relations with England at all. For this, Russia received ownership of the Bialystok region and freedom of action in Eastern Europe.
Napoleon and Emperor Alexander 1 – date in Tilsit
Patriotic War - 1812
The Tilsit peace turned out to be fragile. Less than 2 years later, differences arose again between Russia and France. War was inevitable, and it soon broke out - as soon as Napoleon completed all preparations for it.
In order to destroy Russia, Napoleon gathered the forces of almost all of Europe under his control and, at the head of an army of 600,000, on June 12 (24), 1812, invaded Russian borders. The Patriotic War began, exalting Alexander and Russia and leading to the fall of Napoleon.
Russia, led by Alexander 1, was not only able to defend its existence as a state, but then liberated all of Europe from the power of the hitherto invincible conqueror.
1813, January 1 - the Russian army under the command of the emperor and Kutuzov entered the Duchy of Warsaw created by Napoleon, cleared it of the remnants of the “Great Army” and moved to Prussia, where it was greeted with popular jubilation. The Prussian king immediately entered into an alliance with Alexander and placed his army under the command of Kutuzov. Unfortunately, the latter soon died from the labors he endured, bitterly mourned by all of Russia.
Napoleon, hastily gathering new army, attacked the allies near Lutzen and defeated them. In the second battle, near Bautzen, the French won again. Meanwhile, Austria decided to join Russia and Prussia, sending its army to help them. At Dresden, there was a battle between now three allied armies and the army of Napoleon, who was again able to win the battle. However, this was his last success. First in the Kulm Valley, and then in the stubborn battle of Leipzig, in which more than half a million people took part and which is called in history the “Battle of the Nations,” the French were defeated. This defeat was followed by Napoleon's abdication of the throne and his removal to the island of Elba.
Alexander became the arbiter of the destinies of Europe, its liberator from Napoleonic rule. When he returned to St. Petersburg on July 13, the Senate, Synod and State Council unanimously asked him to take the name “Blessed” and allow him to erect a monument to him during his lifetime. The sovereign refused the latter, declaring: “May a monument be built for me in your feelings, just as it was built in my feelings for you!”
Congress of Vienna
1814 - the Congress of Vienna took place, at which European states were restored to their former possessions, disturbed by the conquests of the French, and Russia received almost the entire Duchy of Warsaw, called the Kingdom of Poland, for the liberation of Europe. 1815 - Napoleon left the island of Elba, arrived in France and wanted to retake the throne. But at Waterloo he was defeated by the British and Prussians, and then exiled to the island of St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.
Meanwhile, Alexander 1 had the idea of forming a Holy Union from the sovereigns of the Christian peoples to unite all of Europe on the basis of the gospel truths and to fight the destructive revolutionary ferment of the masses. According to the terms of this alliance, Alexander in subsequent years took an active part in suppressing popular uprisings, which appeared every now and then in various parts Europe.
Last years of reign
The Patriotic War had a strong influence on the character and views of the emperor, and the second half of his reign was little like the first. No changes were made in government management. Alexander became thoughtful, almost stopped smiling, began to feel burdened by his position as a monarch, and several times even expressed his intention to renounce the throne and retire to private life.
IN last years reign, Count A.A. enjoyed special closeness to the sovereign and his constant favor. Arakcheev, who became the only rapporteur to the sovereign on all management matters. Arakcheev was also very religious, and this trait brought him even closer to the sovereign.
Inside Russia at the end of the reign there was turmoil. In some parts of the troops, there was unrest among the officers, who had been on numerous campaigns in Europe and had learned new ideas about state order there. The sovereign even received information about the existence of a conspiracy aimed at changing the form of supreme government in Russia. But, feeling tired from all the labors and worries he had experienced, the sovereign did not take action against the conspirators.
By the end of 1825, the health of Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna became so weak that doctors advised her not to stay in St. Petersburg for the winter, but to go south. The Empress chose Taganrog as her residence, where Alexander decided to leave earlier to make the necessary preparations for his wife’s arrival, and on September 1 he left St. Petersburg.
Death of Alexander 1
Living in a warm southern climate had a beneficial effect on Elizaveta Alekseevna’s health. The Emperor took advantage of this and left Taganrog to visit neighboring places along the Sea of Azov, and also travel through the Crimea. On November 5, he returned to Taganrog completely ill, having caught a severe cold while traveling through the Crimea, but refused the help of doctors. Soon the state of his health began to threaten his life. The Emperor partook of the Holy Mysteries and felt the approach of death. His wife, who was constantly with him, begged him to admit the doctors, this time the emperor agreed to accept their help, but it was too late: the body was so weakened by the disease that at 11 a.m. on November 19, Alexander 1 the Blessed quietly died.
The ashes of the sovereign were transported to St. Petersburg and on March 13, 1826 they were buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Alexander I Pavlovich – years of life 1777 – 1825 Russian emperor who ascended the throne through a palace coup on March 11, 1801. Under him, Russia achieved great successes.
In the history of the Russian Empire there were at least 3 famous Alexandra: Alexander I Pavlovich, Alexander II Nikolaevich “tsar-liberator” and Alexander III Alexandrovich. The latter is called one of the best Russian emperors, the second is considered a saint for his humanistic activities (abolition of serfdom) and martyrdom, and the first is known for his victory over Napoleon and the inexplicable circumstances of his death.
Brief plan:
Imperial life began with murder. Alexander's father, Paul I, became a victim of the palace coup of 1801. He died in his beloved castle, and even at the hands of his son; the heir to the throne was directly involved in preparing the conspiracy.
It is worth mentioning that Alexander Pavlovich himself was shocked by the result of the coup. His plans did not include parricide - it was only about removing the tyrant. Therefore, the day the new emperor ascended the Russian throne in March 1801 forever remained in his memories as one of the worst days of his life.
Reign of Alexander I in Russia
Active participation in raising the heir Russian crown was accepted by the strongest historical figure- Catherine the Great. The Great Empress did not like her son Paul, and in many ways did not approve of his political decisions, which is why she decided to take full control of her grandson. At her direction, a Swiss with strict humanistic principles became the mentor of the young crown prince. Being a Republican, he early years instilled in Alexander the ideas of universal equality, talked about the horrors of slavery and tyranny. This will encourage him in the future to join the ranks of conspirators dissatisfied with the despotic rule of Paul I, and then seriously think about the abolition of serfdom.
Despite the fact that during the reign of Tsar Alexander I a war broke out against Napoleon, which ended in victory Russian army, the emperor paid more attention to issues of social order. Domestic policy in early XIX centuries in Russia developed much faster and more successfully than external ones.
Comparison of the policies of Paul I and Alexander I
If we compare the policies of Alexander I with the policies of Paul I, we can see that they are built on directly opposite motives. The main events are discussed in more detail in the table.
| Politics of Paul I | Politics of Alexander I |
| Inconsistency in the actions of the ruler, disorder (“the whims of a madman”). He was also distinguished by his desire for total autocracy. | Autocratic policies did not appeal to the new tsar. He created an Indispensable Council, designed to discuss the actions of the king, sometimes argue with them, in order to find the right solution to problems that would satisfy the majority. |
| The fight for peasant freedoms was conducted so ineptly that it turned the nobility against the emperor himself. | The emperor submitted all his political actions to the people's court. |
| Paul tried with all his might to contradict the policies of Catherine II, largely for personal reasons. For a long time, the power-hungry empress did not allow her unloved son to approach to the Russian throne, protecting from governing the country. | Alexander I revived the policy of Catherine II. From an early age, he was raised by his grandmother, sharing her humanistic views, and not the “despotic enlightenment” of his father. |
Reforms of Alexander I
During the reign of Alexander the First of the Russian Empire, significant changes took place, and all of them were of a liberal nature.
In the first years of Alexander's reign, in economic terms, the king focused on reducing state pressure on land relations. He made land more accessible to state peasants, townspeople and merchants by giving them the right to purchase. In this regard, it has strengthened new class"citizens" - bourgeoisie.
Liberal amendments were also made to the domestic political sphere. The new emperor tried to eradicate autocracy.
To this end, the following decisions were made:
- recognition of the Senate as the highest court and increase in its rights,
- introduction of the first ministries to discuss the decisions of the emperor.
But, as already mentioned, most of the reforms fell to the social sphere:
- in 1803, the “Decree on Free Plowmen” was issued, which allowed peasants to buy land,
- from 1816, peasants of the northwestern territories (Courland, Livonia and Estland) began to be freed
- From now on, it was forbidden to send peasants to Siberia and publish advertisements about their sale.
Foreign policy of Alexander I
At the beginning of the 19th century, the main event in Europe was the activities of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. His ambitions to conquer the world turned out to be enormous - France began to be considered a dangerous state for the world community. In order to somehow limit its influence, an alliance was concluded between England, the Russian Empire and Austria - an anti-French coalition. Such cooperation turned out to be beneficial for the Russian state, which further strengthened its position in the West due to the victory in the War of 1812.
Our country has also established contacts with Georgia, Dagestan and Northern Azerbaijan. However, not all of the tsar's foreign policy decisions turned out to be so positive. His activities led to a deterioration in the military situation in the south of the country.
Main wars:
- Russian-Turkish war 1805-1812;
- the Russian-Swedish war of 1808-1809, as a result of which Finland joined Russia;
- Patriotic War of 1812
The wife of Alexander the First and his personal life
Alexander's chosen one was Princess Louise Maria Augusta of Baden-Baden, or Elizaveta Alekseevna in Orthodoxy. To those close to the imperial court, she seemed like a sweet and modest virtuous woman. Elizabeth was involved in charity work, read a lot and did not like balls at all.
Soon after the wedding, the emperor began to be seen flirting in the company of other young ladies. The most famous favorite of the emperor was Maria Naryshkina.
Children of the king
Emperor Alexander I had no official heirs. Elizaveta Alekseevna bore him two daughters, but they died in infancy. Despite this, researchers count about eleven illegitimate children of the emperor born from different women. Both daughters of the emperor, Maria and Elizabeth, born in marriage to Elizaveta Alekseevna, died without living even a year.
Death of Alexander I
Most historians believe that the emperor died during his trip to Taganrog in 1825. This version is recognized as official. But some lovers of historical mysteries, coming to the monument to Alexander, tell a completely different story. According to it, the emperor did not die in 1825, at the age of 47, but lived to a ripe old age somewhere in the Russian wilderness.
This version is supported by the emperor’s repeated statements regarding his reluctance to govern the country any longer. It is believed that he could simply fake his death and hide from the whole world in order to live a quiet life under the name of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich.
Test your knowledge
When did the palace coup take place, thanks to which Alexander I ascended the throne?
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Reign of Alexander 1 (1801-1825)
By 1801, dissatisfaction with Paul 1 began to go off scale. Moreover, it was not ordinary citizens who were dissatisfied with him, but his sons, in particular Alexander, some generals and the elite. The reason for the dissatisfaction is the rejection of the policy of Catherine 2 and the deprivation of the nobility of a leading role and some privileges. The English ambassador supported them in this, since Paul 1 broke off all diplomatic relations with the British after their betrayal. On the night of March 11-12, 1801, the conspirators, under the leadership of General Palen, broke into Paul's chambers and killed him.
The Emperor's First Steps
The reign of Alexander 1 actually began on March 12, 1801, based on a coup carried out by the elite. In the early years, the emperor was a supporter of liberal reforms, as well as the idea of the Republic. Therefore, from the first years of his reign he had to face difficulties. He had like-minded people who supported the views of liberal reforms, but the bulk of the nobility spoke from a position of conservatism, so two camps formed in Russia. Subsequently, the conservatives won, and Alexander himself, by the end of his reign, changed his liberal views to conservative ones.
To implement the vision, Alexander created a “secret committee”, which included his associates. It was an unofficial body, but it was the one that dealt with the initial reform projects.
Alexander's domestic policy differed little from that of his predecessors. He also believed that serfs should not have any rights. The discontent of the peasants was very strong, so Emperor Alexander 1 was forced to sign a decree banning the sale of serfs (this decree was easily dispensed with by the landowners) and in the year the decree “On Sculpted Plowmen” was signed. According to this decree, the landowner was allowed to provide freedom and land to the peasants if they could buy themselves out. This decree was more formal, since the peasants were poor and could not redeem themselves from the landowner. During the reign of Alexander 1, 0.5% of peasants throughout the country received 1 manumission.
The emperor changed the system of government of the country. He dissolved the collegiums that had been appointed by Peter the Great and organized ministries in their place. Each ministry was headed by a minister who reported directly to the emperor. During Alexander's reign, the Russian judicial system also underwent changes. The Senate was declared the highest judicial body. In 1810, Emperor Alexander 1 announced the creation of the State Council, which became the highest governing body of the country. The system of government proposed by Emperor Alexander 1, with minor changes, existed until the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917.
Population of Russia
During the reign of Alexander the First in Russia there were 3 large classes of inhabitants:
- Privileged. Nobles, clergy, merchants, honorary citizens.
- Semi-privileged. "Odnodvortsy" and Cossacks.
- Taxable. Bourgeois and peasants.
At the same time, the population of Russia increased and by the beginning of the reign of Alexander (early 19th century) it amounted to 40 million people. For comparison, at the beginning of the 18th century, the population of Russia was 15.5 million people.
Relations with other countries
Alexander's foreign policy was not distinguished by prudence. The Emperor believed in the need for an alliance against Napoleon and as a result, in 1805 a campaign was launched against France, in alliance with England and Austria, and in 1806-1807. in alliance with England and Prussia. The British did not fight. These campaigns did not bring success, and in 1807 the Peace of Tilsit was signed. Napoleon did not demand any concessions from Russia; he sought an alliance with Alexander, but Emperor Alexander 1, loyal to the British, did not want to make a rapprochement. As a result, this peace became only a truce. And in June 1812, the Patriotic War began between Russia and France. Thanks to the genius of Kutuzov and the fact that the entire Russian people rose up against the invaders, already in 1812 the French were defeated and expelled from Russia. Fulfilling his allied duty, Emperor Alexander 1 gave the order to pursue Napoleon's troops. The foreign campaign of the Russian army continued until 1814. Special success This campaign did not bring any results for Russia.
Emperor Alexander 1 lost his vigilance after the war. He had absolutely no control over foreign organizations, which began to supply Russian revolutionaries with money in large quantities. As a result, a boom began in the country revolutionary movements aimed at overthrowing the emperor. All this resulted in the Decembrist uprising on December 14, 1825. The uprising was subsequently suppressed, but a dangerous precedent was created in the country, and most of the participants in the uprising fled from justice.
results
The reign of Alexander 1 was not glorious for Russia. The Emperor bowed to England and did almost everything he was asked to do in London. He got involved in the anti-French coalition, pursuing the interests of the British; Napoleon at that time did not think about a campaign against Russia. The result of this policy was terrible: the devastating war of 1812 and the powerful uprising of 1825.
Emperor Alexander 1 died in 1825, losing the throne to his brother, Nicholas 1.
Alexander I Pavlovich - Russian emperor-autocrat; eldest son of Paul I and Empress Maria Feodorovna. Known for a number of liberal reforms and skillful diplomacy. In addition to the imperial title, Alexander I bore several other titles - Tsar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland and Protector of the Order of Malta. In pre-revolutionary history he was called “The Blessed One.” Alexander was born into the royal family on December 12 (23), 1777. His name was given in honor of the great commander and king Alexander the Great.
Immediately after birth, he found himself under the tutelage of his crowned grandmother, Catherine II, and grew up in St. Petersburg. She wanted to raise him to be a worthy king and an ideal ruler, since she saw in him the continuer of her work. She personally initiated him into political and socially significant issues of the state, but Alexander gradually found more and more inconsistencies between his vision of the world and between what his grandmother told him. He had a strained relationship with his father. He had to carefully hide his personal opinion.
After her death, Catherine II, bypassing her son, bequeathed the throne to Alexander, but he refused it. During the reign of Paul I, his situation became even worse. The emperor suspected him all the time and did not believe in his sincerity. The future emperor was critical of his father’s policies, and therefore he had to go over to the side of the conspirators. In the spring of 1801, Paul I was killed, but he was left to live with grave guilt in his soul. When the organizers of the conspiracy from aristocratic circles planned their actions, it was assumed that the king would not be killed, but would only seek his abdication.
For this reason, the death of his father was a real blow for Alexander and seriously affected his state of mind. From the first days of his reign, he announced impending radical reforms in the country's constitution, created a special legislative body under the tsar and tried to govern Russia according to the behests of Catherine II. During his reign, administrative, educational and other areas underwent reforms. People close to him were A.A. Arakcheev, M. B. Barclay de Tolly, M. M. Speransky.
In his foreign policy the European direction dominated. He maneuvered perfectly between Great Britain and France, waged successful wars with Turkey and Sweden, and annexed many adjacent territories to Russia, including Eastern Georgia, Finland, and Bessarabia. And after the defeat of Napoleon's troops in 1812, by decision of the Congress of Vienna, he was able to annex most of the Polish lands. This ruler strengthened the international prestige of the country, and he himself became famous as a skilled diplomat. Since 1815, the conservative tendency in his politics intensified.
Alexander I opposed the brewing revolutions in Italy, Spain and Greece. In Russia, he banned the activities of Masonic lodges and other secret organizations. The monarch died in the fall of 1825 in Taganrog, where he was going to be treated for typhus. Next to him was his wife, Louise Maria Augusta of Baden-Baden, who in Orthodoxy was called Elizaveta Alekseevna. The imperial couple had two daughters: Maria and Elizabeth.