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Decembrists in Siberia. Twice Hanged

The whole point is that historically the Decembrists in Russia were the first who dared to oppose the power of the Tsar. It is interesting that the rebels themselves began to study this phenomenon; they analyzed the reasons for the uprising on Senate Square and its defeat. As a result of the execution of the Decembrists, Russian society lost the very best of enlightened youth, because they came from families of the nobility, glorious participants in the War of 1812.

Who are the Decembrists

Who are the Decembrists? They can be briefly characterized as follows: these are members of several political societies fighting for the abolition of serfdom and a change in state power. In December 1825 they organized an uprising, which was brutally suppressed. 5 people (leaders) were executed, shameful for officers. Decembrist participants were exiled to Siberia, some were shot in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Causes of the uprising

Why did the Decembrists revolt? There are several reasons for this. The main one, which they all, as one, reproduced during interrogations in the Peter and Paul Fortress - the spirit of freethinking, faith in the strength of the Russian people, tired of oppression - all this was born after the brilliant victory over Napoleon. It is no coincidence that 115 people from among the Decembrists were participants in the Patriotic War of 1812. Indeed, during military campaigns, liberating European countries, they did not encounter the savagery of serfdom anywhere. This forced them to reconsider their attitude towards their country as “slaves and masters.”

It was obvious that serfdom had outlived its usefulness. Fighting side by side with the common people, communicating with them, the future Decembrists came to the idea that people deserve a better fate than a slave existence. The peasants also hoped that after the war their situation would change for the better, because they shed blood for the sake of their homeland. But, unfortunately, the emperor and most of the nobles firmly clung to the serfs. That is why, from 1814 to 1820, more than two hundred peasant uprisings broke out in the country.

The apotheosis was the revolt against Colonel Schwartz of the Semenovsky Guards Regiment in 1820. His cruelty towards ordinary soldiers crossed all boundaries. Activists of the Decembrist movement, Sergei Muravyov-Apostol and Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin, witnessed these events, as they served in this regiment. It should also be noted that a certain spirit of freethinking was instilled in most of the participants at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum: for example, its graduates were I. Pushchin, V. Kuchelbecker, and the freedom-loving poems of A. Pushkin were used as inspired ideas.

Southern Society of Decembrists

It should be understood that the Decembrist movement did not arise out of nowhere: it grew out of world revolutionary ideas. Pavel Pestel wrote that such thoughts go “from one end of Europe to Russia”, even covering such opposite mentalities as Turkey and England.

The ideas of Decembrism were realized through the work of secret societies. The first of them are the Union of Salvation (St. Petersburg, 1816) and the Union of Welfare (1818). The second arose on the basis of the first, was less secretive and included a larger number of members. It was also dissolved in 1820 due to differences of opinion.

In 1821, a new organization emerged, consisting of two Societies: Northern (in St. Petersburg, headed by Nikita Muravyov) and Southern (in Kyiv, headed by Pavel Pestel). Southern society had more reactionary views: in order to establish a republic, they proposed killing the king. The structure of the Southern Society consisted of three departments: the first, along with P. Pestel, was headed by A. Yushnevsky, the second by S. Muravyov-Apostol, the third by V. Davydov and S. Volkonsky.

Leaders of the Decembrists: 1.Pavel Ivanovich Pestel

The leader of the Southern Society, Pavel Ivanovich Pestel, was born in 1793 in Moscow. He receives an excellent education in Europe, and upon returning to Russia begins service in the Corps of Pages - especially privileged among the nobles. The pages are personally acquainted with all members of the imperial family. Here the freedom-loving views of young Pestel first appear. Having brilliantly graduated from the Corps, he continues to serve in the Lithuanian Regiment with the rank of ensign of the Life Guards.

Pavel Pestel

During the War of 1812, Pestel was seriously wounded. Having recovered, he returns to service and fights bravely. By the end of the war, Pestel received many high awards, including a golden award weapon. After World War II, he was transferred to serve in the Cavalry Regiment - at that time the most prestigious place of service.

While in St. Petersburg, Pestel learns about a certain secret society (the Union of Salvation) and soon joins it. Paul's revolutionary life begins. In 1821, he headed the Southern Society - in this he was helped by magnificent eloquence, a wonderful mind and the gift of persuasion. Thanks to these qualities, in his time he achieved unity of views of Southern and Northern societies.

Pestel's Constitution

In 1823, the program of the Southern Society, compiled by Pavel Pestel, was adopted. It was unanimously accepted by all members of the association - future Decembrists. Briefly it contained the following points:

Russia must become a republic, united and indivisible, consisting of 10 districts. State administration will be carried out by the People's Assembly (legislatively) and the State Duma (executively).
In resolving the issue of serfdom, Pestel proposed to immediately abolish it, dividing the land into two parts: for peasants and for landowners. It was assumed that the latter would rent it out for farming. Researchers believe that if the 1861 reform to abolish serfdom had gone according to Pestel’s plan, the country would very soon have taken a bourgeois, economically progressive path of development.
Abolition of the institution of estates. All the people of the country are called citizens, they are equally equal before the law. Personal freedoms and inviolability of person and home were declared.
Tsarism was categorically not accepted by Pestel, so he demanded the physical destruction of the entire royal family.

It was assumed that "Russian Truth" would come into force as soon as the uprising ended. It will be the fundamental law of the country.

Northern Society of Decembrists

Northern society begins to exist in 1821, in the spring. Initially, it consisted of two groups that later merged. It should be noted that the first group was more radical in orientation; its participants shared Pestel’s views and fully accepted his “Russian Truth”.

Activists of the Northern Society were Nikita Muravyov (leader), Kondraty Ryleev (deputy), princes Obolensky and Trubetskoy. Ivan Pushchin played not the least role in the Society.

The Northern Society operated mainly in St. Petersburg, but it also had a branch in Moscow.

The path to uniting Northern and Southern societies was long and very painful. They had fundamental differences on some issues. However, at the congress in 1824 it was decided to begin the process of unification in 1826. The uprising in December 1825 destroyed these plans.

2. Nikita Mikhailovich Muravyov

Nikita Mikhailovich Muravyov comes from a noble family. Born in 1795 in St. Petersburg. Received an excellent education in Moscow. The War of 1812 found him in the rank of collegiate registrar at the Ministry of Justice. He runs away from home for the war and makes a brilliant career during the battles.

Nikita Muravyov

After the Patriotic War, he begins to work as part of secret societies: the Union of Salvation and the Union of Welfare. In addition, he writes the charter for the latter. He believes that a republican form of government should be established in the country; only a military coup can help this. During a trip to the south he meets P. Pestel. Nevertheless, he organizes his own structure - the Northern Society, but does not break ties with like-minded people, but, on the contrary, actively cooperates.

He wrote the first edition of his version of the Constitution in 1821, but it did not find a response from other members of the Societies. A little later, he will reconsider his views and release a new program offered by the Northern Society.

Muravyov's Constitution

The Constitution of N. Muravyov included the following positions:

Russia should become a constitutional monarchy: the legislative branch is the Supreme Duma, consisting of two chambers; executive - the emperor (also the supreme commander in chief). It was separately stipulated that he did not have the right to start and end the war on his own. After a maximum of three readings, the emperor had to sign the law. He had no right to veto; he could only delay the signing in time.
When serfdom is abolished, the landowners' lands will be left to the owners, and the peasants - their plots, plus 2 tithes will be added to each house.
Suffrage is only for land owners. Women, nomads and non-owners stayed away from him.
Abolish the institution of estates, level everyone with one name: citizen. The judicial system is the same for everyone. Muravyov was aware that his version of the constitution would meet fierce resistance, so he provided for its introduction with the use of weapons.

Preparing for the uprising

The secret societies described above lasted 10 years, after which the uprising began. It should be said that the decision to revolt arose quite spontaneously.

While in Taganrog, Alexander I dies. Due to the lack of heirs, the next emperor was to be Constantine, Alexander's brother. The problem was that he secretly abdicated the throne at one time. Accordingly, the reign passed to the youngest brother, Nikolai. The people were in confusion, not knowing about the renunciation. However, Nicholas decides to take the oath on December 14, 1825.

Nicholas I

Alexander's death became the starting point for the rebels. They understand that it is time to act, despite the fundamental differences between Southern and Northern societies. They were well aware that they had catastrophically little time to prepare well for the uprising, but they believed that it would be criminal to miss such a moment. This is exactly what Ivan Pushchin wrote to his lyceum friend Alexander Pushkin.

Gathering on the night before December 14, the rebels prepare a plan of action. It boiled down to the following points:

Appoint Prince Trubetskoy as commander.
Occupy the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress. A. Yakubovich and A. Bulatov were appointed responsible for this.
Lieutenant P. Kakhovsky was supposed to kill Nikolai. This action was supposed to be a signal to action for the rebels.
Conduct propaganda work among the soldiers and win them over to the side of the rebels.
It was up to Kondraty Ryleev and Ivan Pushchin to convince the Senate to swear allegiance to the emperor.

Unfortunately, the future Decembrists did not think through everything. History says that traitors from among them made a denunciation of the impending rebellion to Nicholas, which finally convinced him to appoint the oath to the Senate in the early morning of December 14.

The uprising: how it happened

The uprising did not go according to the scenario that the rebels had planned. The Senate manages to swear allegiance to the emperor even before the campaign.

However, regiments of soldiers are lined up in battle formation on Senate Square, everyone is waiting for decisive action from the leadership. Ivan Pushchin and Kondraty Ryleev arrive there and assure the imminent arrival of the command, Prince Trubetskoy. The latter, having betrayed the rebels, sat out in the tsarist General Staff. He was unable to take the decisive actions that were required of him. As a result, the uprising was suppressed.

Arrests and trial

The first arrests and executions of the Decembrists began to take place in St. Petersburg. An interesting fact is that the trial of those arrested was not carried out by the Senate, as it should have been, but by the Supreme Court, specially organized by Nicholas I for this case. The very first, even before the uprising, on December 13, was Pavel Pestel.

The fact is that shortly before the uprising he accepted A. Maiboroda as a member of the Southern Society, who turned out to be a traitor. Pestel is arrested in Tulchin and taken to the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

Mayboroda also wrote a denunciation against N. Muravyov, who was arrested on his own estate.

There were 579 people under investigation. 120 of them were exiled to hard labor in Siberia (among them Nikita Muravyov), all were disgracefully demoted from military ranks. Five rebels were sentenced to death.

Execution

Addressing the court about a possible method of executing the Decembrists, Nikolai notes that blood should not be shed. Thus, they, the heroes of the Patriotic War, are sentenced to the shameful gallows...

Who were the executed Decembrists? Their surnames are as follows: Pavel Pestel, Pyotr Kakhovsky, Kondraty Ryleev, Sergei Muravyov-Apostol, Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin. The sentence was read on July 12, and they were hanged on July 25, 1826. The place of execution of the Decembrists took a long time to be equipped: a gallows with a special mechanism was built. However, there were some complications: three convicts fell from their hinges and had to be hanged again.

In the place in the Peter and Paul Fortress where the Decembrists were executed there is now a monument, which is an obelisk and a granite composition. It symbolizes the courage with which the executed Decembrists fought for their ideals.

Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Petersburg

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In e. The Court examined the reports of the investigative commission with detailed information about each defendant and formed an audit commission from among itself to check the investigation and clarify new circumstances of the case.

The audit commission, under the leadership, checked the activities of the investigation and examined the cases of all the defendants, developed 11 categories of crimes and made a preliminary division of the defendants into categories, placing five defendants, according to the severity of guilt, outside the categories, and did not determine categories for the four defendants who did not admit their guilt .

The Supreme Criminal Court, after discussing the findings of the audit commission, determined the punishment for each category and slightly changed the division of defendants into categories. At the conclusion of its activities, the court decided on sentences for each defendant, which were submitted for the Highest approval.

In total, 121 people were brought before the Supreme Criminal Court. During the investigation, 117 of them signed a handwritten confession to the crimes they had committed. 4 people (Turgenev, Prince Shakhovskoy, Tsebrikov and Gorsky), “ whose guilt is confirmed by circumstances without their own consciousness", did not admit their guilt. At the same time, three of them were sentenced and assigned to the corresponding categories, and the last one (Gorsky) was not included in any category and was not convicted, about which a special court protocol was drawn up.

List of State criminals, verdict of the Supreme Criminal Court
condemned to various executions and punishments

Out of ranks

I. State criminals sentenced to death by quartering.

First category

II. State criminals of the first category, sentenced to death by beheading.

Second category

III. State criminals of the second category, condemned to political death, by force of the decree of 1753 on April 29, i.e. put his head on the chopping block, and then send him to hard labor forever.

Third category

IV. State criminals of the third category, condemned to exile forever at hard labor.

Fourth category

V. State criminals of the fourth category, sentenced to temporary exile in hard labor for 15 years, and then to a settlement.

Fifth category

VI. State criminals of the fifth category, sentenced to temporary exile to hard labor for 10 years, and then to a settlement.

Sixth category

VII. State criminals of the sixth category, sentenced to temporary exile to hard labor for 6 years, and then to a settlement.

Seventh category

VIII. State criminals of the seventh category, sentenced to temporary exile at hard labor for 4 years, and then to a settlement.

Eighth category

IX. State criminals of the eighth category, sentenced to deprivation of ranks, nobility and exile to a settlement.

Ninth category

X. State criminals of the ninth category, condemned to deprivation of ranks, nobility and exile to Siberia.

On a quiet street in the center of Irkutsk, people from all over the world come to an ancient estate to learn about the fate of “state criminals” who were exiled in Siberia for participating in the uprising on Senate Square on December 14, 1825. This is the estate of the Decembrist Prince Sergei Grigorievich Volkonsky. Very close, on the next street, is the estate of the Decembrist Prince Sergei Petrovich Trubetskoy. Both estates are part of the historical and memorial complex “Decembrists in Siberia”.

We will also visit these modest houses, which were the center of meetings and communication of the Decembrists.

So... In total, 124 members of the Decembrist organizations were sent into exile in Siberia, 96 of them to hard labor, the rest to permanent settlement. 113 of those exiled to Siberia belonged to the noble class and only 11 (peasant Duntsov-Vygodovsky and ten lower ranks) belonged to the tax-paying class. Among the Decembrists, eight people were holders of a princely title, whose pedigree went back to either the legendary Rurik or the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas (Baryatinsky, Volkonsky, Golitsyn, Obolensky, Odoevsky, Trubetskoy, Shakhovskoy and Shchepin-Rostovsky). Count Chernyshev belonged to a family descended from one of the favorites of Peter 1. Four more (Rosen, Solovyov, Cherkasov and Steingeil) had a baronial title. Since military service was considered the main and honorable duty of the nobility, 113 exiled “noble revolutionaries” were military men. Only six people served in the civil department, and five were retired. Among the military, three had the rank of general. The oldest of the involuntary Siberians, Gorsky, was 60 years old, the youngest, Tolstoy, was 20.

The Decembrists served hard labor in the Blagodatsky mine, Chita and Petrovsky Plant. Having gathered more than 70 “friends of December 14” in one place, Nicholas 1 sought, first of all, to ensure strict supervision and their complete isolation. The arrival of the wives and brides of the Decembrists in Siberia destroyed the isolation of the Decembrists, since, unlike their husbands, they retained the right to correspond with family and friends and became voluntary secretaries of the prisoners.

Thanks to the ladies, they had the opportunity to get acquainted with the latest scientific and fiction literature, and literary and musical evenings, drawing classes provided an outlet for their creative energy. In preparation for settlement life, many Decembrists mastered crafts: Prince Obolensky and Bobrishchev-Pushkin turned out to be excellent tailors, and carpenters - the same Pushkin, Kuchelbecker, Zagoretsky. But the most talented craftsman was Bestuzhev, who managed to make a very accurate chronometer in prison. The portrait gallery of the Decembrists, created by him, preserved for posterity the appearance of the “firstborn of Russian freedom.”

Raising Irkutsk

The Irkutsk colony was one of the most numerous: the Volkonsky, Muravyov, Lunin, Wolf, Panov families lived in Urik, the Poggio and Mukhanov brothers lived in Ust-Kuda, the Trubetskoys and Vadkovskys in Oeka, the Annenkovs and Gromnitskys in Belsk, the Raevskys in Olonki, and the Raevskys in Malo. - Divorce - Yushnevsky, Borisov brothers, Yakubovich and Muravyov, in the Smolensk region - Beschasnov.

Among the Decembrists, Muravyov became the first Irkutsk resident. Sentenced to exile to Siberia without deprivation of ranks and nobility, he was first appointed mayor to Verkhneudinsk, and in 1828 transferred to Irkutsk. Under his leadership, the city center was landscaped, planked sidewalks were laid, “Moscow festivities in carriages around the swings” were instituted on the Angara embankment, and order, ensured by the police, headed by the exiled mayor, was noted even in gendarmerie reports. His house on Spasskaya Square became the center of the city’s cultural life. Musical evenings, poetry evenings and lectures were held here.

The life of the Decembrists was determined by numerous instructions. They were forbidden to leave their settlements for more than 30 miles without permission from their superiors; all correspondence with relatives was to be conducted through the office of the Governor General and the III Department; “so that with excess wealth” they “do not forget about their guilt,” the pursuit of any craft was strictly regulated and those that could ensure their material independence were rejected. With rare exceptions, “state criminals” were prohibited from entering public service, as well as from engaging in socially significant activities, such as teaching. However, most of them shared the opinion of Lunin, who asserted: “Our real life’s career began with our entry into Siberia, where we are called to serve by word and example the cause to which we have dedicated ourselves.”

Raevsky not only opened a school for children and adults in the village of Olonki, but used his own money to invite a teacher and write out teaching aids, and offered to use his house in the Tikhvin parish of Irkutsk for classes at an educational institution for girls - the Medvednikova Orphanage. Borisov, Yushnevsky and Poggio were engaged in private teaching activities.

In 1836, on the recommendation of Governor General Bronevsky, “due to the lack of medical officials in the region,” Wolf was allowed to practice medicine. Confidence in the exiled doctor was so great that representatives of the “Irkutsk elite” - rich merchants, officials and even the governor - resorted to his services. Muravyov also provided medical assistance to those in need: the former hussar colonel turned out to be a “successful tooth grinder.” And Maria Volkonskaya and Ekaterina Trubetskaya received medicines with almost every parcel to distribute to sick fellow villagers.

“State criminals” also had a great influence on the development of culture in Siberia. It was with the appearance of these highly educated people here that Siberian youth began to have a “craving for learning” and a “desire to go to universities.” Reading, subscribing to newspapers and magazines, organizing literary and musical evenings, and visiting the theater became fashionable. They rehearsed and staged performances in the Volkonskys' house. With the opening of the theater in Irkutsk, the Trubetskoy and Volkonsky families became its regular spectators.

Anger at mercy

In Siberia, the Decembrists found themselves closely associated with the peasantry. Each settler was allocated 15 acres of land, “in order to earn food for himself through his labors,” but the Muravyov brothers and Sergei Volkonsky leased additional plots on which they set up a farm using hired labor. The farming methods were new, as were the new crop varieties for this region - Himalayan millet, cucumbers, watermelons and melons. The seeds were ordered from Russia, and some were brought from the Petrovsky Plant, where the Decembrists were engaged in gardening, and the seeds “collected from the prison bushes” produced excellent vegetables. Beschasnov, who lived in the Smolensk region, set up a butter mill, to which all the surrounding peasants brought hemp seed, receiving a small but stable income from it.

The initially wary attitude of local residents towards “state criminals” quickly gave way to friendly and trusting, which was greatly facilitated by their sincere interest in the affairs of those around them, their willingness to help, and participation in the life of the village to which they were assigned. They attended the weddings and name days of their neighbors and did so respectfully, observing the customs accepted by the owners. Babies were baptized and their future fate was monitored. Some of the Decembrists married local girls.

Irkutsk merchants also showed interest in the Decembrists. A certain independence, opposition to officials, especially visiting ones, “dung”, as they were mockingly called here, an understanding of how useful educated settlers, who also had influential relatives in the capitals, could be for them, as well as the sympathy for the “unfortunate” characteristic of Siberians contributed to rapprochement of the Trapeznikovs, Basnins, Nakvasins with the Decembrists. It was through them that secret correspondence took place with the relatives and friends of the exiled nobles; they and their proxies delivered parcels, including things to which the Decembrists had no right. Merchants also helped financially: they lent money for long periods of time. The constant and long-term communication of the Decembrists with merchants “contributed greatly” to the formation of “more relaxed cultural mores and tastes” among the latter.

Relations with officials were more difficult. Fearing denunciations and the “displeasure of St. Petersburg,” the rulers of the local administration tried to comply with the instructions received. Therefore, often the simplest and most reasonable requests were met with a decisive refusal, as happened in 1836 with Annenkov, who asked permission to come from Belsk to Irkutsk to see his wife, who was having difficulty giving birth. Only the onset of Praskovya Egorovna’s illness and the death of her newborn twins forced the Governor General to lift his ban. Some officials saw “state criminals” as an opportunity to strengthen their official position. So, having received Lunin’s handwritten works from his acquaintance, the official of special assignments Uspensky immediately sent a report to St. Petersburg, after which the Decembrist was again arrested and sent to Akatuy. Only with the arrival of the new Governor-General N.N. in Irkutsk. Muravyov, who was reputed to be a liberal, the situation changed. He not only visited the houses of the Volkonskys and Trubetskoys with his wife, but was interested in the opinion of the Decembrists on many issues, gave them instructions, and took Mikhail Volkonsky into his service. In turn, the Decembrists were also keenly interested in many of Muravyov’s undertakings and assisted in organizing expeditions to explore and develop the Amur.

Relationships with local priests were equally ambiguous. According to contemporaries, most of the Decembrists were good parishioners, without hypocrisy and excessive exaltation. Those who had such an opportunity provided material support to the churches of the villages in which they lived. Thus, the brothers Alexander and Nikita Muravyov in Urik made an iron roof instead of a wooden roof on a local church, built a house for the poor priest Karnakov, and built a wooden building near the church with three sections - for an almshouse, a school and a trading store.

The less wealthy contributed through personal labor, such as P.F. Gromnitsky. He painted several icons for the church in the village of Belskoye. But, despite this, the parish priests, according to the widow of the Olonsky priest Speransky, were afraid “to incur suspicion from the local authorities for their close relationships with those under their supervision.” Educated, broad-minded bishops were more independent.

Archbishop Neil developed a particularly close relationship with the Trubetskoys. It was their recommendations that persuaded the Irkutsk shepherd when choosing the abbess of the Znamensky Monastery. Trubetskoy addressed him with a letter, explaining the reasons for refusing the tsar’s “mercy” in 1842. The agreement to send children “who lived in Siberia” to state institutions with a change in the family surname, the Decembrist wrote, meant recognizing “cohabitation with my wife as sinful and disgraced her and her family before the whole world.”

The brotherhood of the Decembrists that formed during penal servitude did not disintegrate even after its end. Scattered throughout Siberia, they continued to be interested in the fate of their comrades. A magazine artel operated, new literature was sent to the most remote corners of the region. Pushchin, who took on the duties of manager of the general Decembrist artel, found funds to help the poor. Among those who constantly made contributions to the general fund were Volkonsky and Trubetskoy. The children of their comrades - Kuchelbecker's daughters and Kuchevsky's son - found shelter in the Trubetskoys' house.

Last refuge

For many, Siberia has become the last refuge - a lifelong journey. “We are seriously beginning to populate Siberian cemeteries,” Pushchin wrote with sadness. The last shelter was found in the Irkutsk land by Poggio, Panov, Mukhanov and Ekaterina Trubetskaya with their children Sofia, Vladimir and Nikita. Andreev and Repin died in a fire in Verkholensk. In 1843, after a short illness, Muravyov, “who cost an entire academy,” died. During the funeral service in the Ojek church, Vadkovsky’s heart could not stand it. Soon, next to his grave in the cemetery of the village of Bolshaya Razvodnaya, the graves of Muravyov and the Borisov brothers appeared. Gromnitsky died in the Usolye infirmary after a serious illness.

The “forgiveness” that finally came evoked an ambivalent feeling among the Decembrists: they wanted to return to their native places, see their remaining loved ones, get acquainted with the younger generation, and it was a pity to part with an albeit modest, but well-established way of life, an established circle of friends; they were also outraged by the distrust of the new monarch, who placed returning old people under police supervision.

Alexander II took care of a spectacular presentation of his “mercy” (the son of the Decembrist Mikhail Volkonsky was entrusted with delivering the Amnesty Manifesto to Irkutsk), but made it clear that they were still criminals in the eyes of the authorities and mercy was shown only because of the old age of the Decembrists and the peculiar the tradition of forgiveness for victims of the departed tsar, which developed in Russia back in the 18th century.

Upon returning to Russia, the Decembrists met not only the joy of their relatives, who had supported them for all thirty years, and the worship of the youth, but also the petty nagging of the authorities, who sought to quickly expel the “inconvenient old people” from Moscow, and property squabbles with brothers, cousins and nephews, who were already accustomed to counting their estates with their property.

Good memory

The Decembrists left not only a good memory of themselves in Irkutsk, they contributed to the formation of traditions of intelligence and tolerance, which allowed our city to become the capital of Eastern Siberia, both administratively and economically, as well as culturally and spiritually.

Their beneficial and versatile influence has not been erased by time. The houses and graves of the “firstborn of freedom” are preserved here. Back in 1925, during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the uprising on Senate Square, a Decembrist exhibition was created, which laid the foundation for the collection of the Historical and Memorial Museum of the Decembrists, which opened on December 29, 1970.

The exhibitions of the two houses tell the story of the history of Decembrism - from the events of December 14, 1825 to the amnesty granted by Emperor Alexander II in 1856, and the return of the Decembrists from exile, as well as the fate of their first owners and their descendants. Here are stored authentic items that belonged to the Decembrists: the families of Trubetskoy, Volkonsky, Fonvizin, Muravyov, Ryleev, Kakhovsky, Mukhanov, Raevsky, Wolf, Pushchin, Batenkov and others. The museum hosts literary and musical salons and performances by the Volkonsky Home Theater.

Every year from December 14 to 25, the Museum holds the traditional regional festival “Decembrist Evenings”. These days there are concerts at the regional philharmonic, literary and musical salons in the houses of the Volkonskys and Trubetskoys, literary evenings in regional and city libraries.

Tamara PERTSEVA, Art. researcher at the Decembrist complex.

Magazine “Time of Wanderings”, No. 7-8 (36-37)/2006

The Decembrist uprising is an unprecedented phenomenon not only in Russian history, but also in world history. When the oppressed rise up in rebellion, it is easier, if not to justify them, then at least to understand them. But here the coup d'etat is being prepared not by the “humiliated and insulted,” but by high-ranking military men and hereditary nobles, among whom there are many eminent personalities.

The phenomenon of Decembrism

For this reason, the phenomenon of Decembrism is still not only unsolved, but also as far from an unambiguous assessment as it was in the 19th century.

The main thing that causes misunderstanding in the actions of the Decembrists so far is that they (not one of them) laid claim to power. This was the condition of their activity. Both then and now, the attitude towards the actions of the Decembrists is not uniform, including the attitude towards their execution: “They began to hang the bar and send them to hard labor, it’s a pity that they didn’t outweigh everyone ...” (a statement among cantonists, soldiers’ children) and “ In all honesty, I find that executions and punishments are disproportionate to the crimes” (words of Prince P. Vyazemsky).

The verdict of Nicholas I horrified society not only by the cruelty of the punishment of the participants in the uprising, but also by the hypocrisy of the emperor: he informed the Supreme Criminal Court, which decided the fate of the Decembrists, that it “rejects any execution associated with the shedding of blood.” Thus, he deprived the Decembrists sentenced to death of the right to execution. But two of them took part in the Patriotic War of 1812, had wounds and military awards - and now they were sentenced to a shameful death on the gallows. For example, P.I. Pestel, at the age of 19, was seriously wounded in the Battle of Borodino and was awarded a golden sword for bravery, and also distinguished himself in the subsequent foreign campaign of the Russian army. S.I. Muravyov-Apostol was also awarded a golden sword for his bravery in the Battle of Krasnoye.

Five Decembrists were sentenced to death by hanging:

P. Pestel

All the Decembrist prisoners were taken to the courtyard of the fortress and lined up in two squares: those belonging to the guards regiments and others. All sentences were accompanied by demotion, deprivation of ranks and nobility: the convicts' swords were broken, their epaulettes and uniforms were torn off and thrown into the fire of blazing fires. The Decembrist sailors were taken to Kronstadt and that morning the sentence of demotion was carried out on them on the flagship of Admiral Krone. Their uniforms and epaulettes were torn off and thrown into the water. “We can say that they tried to exterminate the first manifestation of liberalism with all four elements - fire, water, air and earth,” wrote the Decembrist V.I. in his memoirs. Steingel. More than 120 Decembrists were exiled for various periods to Siberia, to hard labor or settlement.

The execution took place on the night of July 25, 1826, on the crown of the Peter and Paul Fortress. During the execution, Ryleev, Kakhovsky and Muravyov-Apostol fell from their hinges and were hanged a second time. “You know, God doesn’t want them to die,” said one of the soldiers. And Sergei Muravyov-Apostol, standing up, said: “Cursed land, where they can neither form a conspiracy, nor judge, nor hang.”

Because of this unforeseen incident, the execution was delayed, it was dawn on the street, passers-by began to appear, so the funeral was postponed. The next night, their bodies were secretly taken away and buried on Goloday Island in St. Petersburg (presumably).

Pavel Ivanovich Pestel, colonel (1793-1826)

Born in Moscow into a family of Russified Germans who settled in Russia at the end of the 17th century. The first child in the family.

Education: primary home, then studied in Dresden in 1805-1809. Upon returning to Russia in 1810, he entered the Corps of Pages, from which he graduated brilliantly with his name inscribed on a marble plaque. He was sent as an ensign to the Lithuanian Life Guards Regiment. He took part in the Patriotic War of 1812 and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Borodino. Awarded a golden sword for bravery.

Returning to the army after being wounded, he was Count Wittgenstein's adjutant and participated in the campaigns of 1813-1814 abroad: the battles of Pirna, Dresden, Kulm, Leipzig, distinguished himself when crossing the Rhine, in the battles of Bar-sur-Aube and Troyes. Then, together with Count Wittgenstein, he was in Tulchin and from here he was sent to Bessarabia to collect information about the actions of the Greeks against the Turks, as well as for negotiations with the ruler of Moldavia in 1821.

In 1822, he was transferred as a colonel to the Vyatka infantry regiment, which was in a disorganized state, and within a year Pestel brought it into full order, for which Alexander I granted him 3,000 acres of land.

The idea of improving society arose in him back in 1816, from the time of his participation in Masonic lodges. Then there was the Salvation Union, for which he drew up a charter, the Welfare Union and, after its self-liquidation, the Southern Secret Society, which he headed.

Pestel expressed his political views in the “Russian Truth” program he compiled, which was the main point of accusation against him by the Investigative Commission after the defeat of the uprising.

He was arrested on the road to Tulchin after the uprising on December 14, 1825, was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress and after 6 months sentenced to quartering, replaced by hanging.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “Had intent to commit Regicide; he sought means for this, elected and appointed persons to carry it out; plotted the extermination of the IMPERIAL FAMILY and with composure counted all its members doomed to sacrifice, and incited others to do so; established and ruled with unlimited power the Southern Secret Society, which had the goal of rebellion and the introduction of republican rule; drew up plans, charters, constitution; excited and prepared for rebellion; participated in the plan to tear the Regions away from the Empire and took active measures to spread the society by attracting others.”

According to one of the officers, before his execution, Pestel said: “What you sow must come back and will certainly come back later.”

Pyotr Grigorievich Kakhovsky, lieutenant (1797-1826)

On December 14, 1825, he mortally wounded the Governor-General of St. Petersburg, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, Count M.A. Miloradovich, commander of the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment, Colonel N.K. Sturler, as well as retinue officer P.A. Gastfer.

Born into a family of impoverished nobles in the village of Preobrazhenskoye, Smolensk province, he studied at a boarding school at Moscow University. In 1816, he entered the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment as a cadet, but was demoted to soldier for too violent behavior and dishonest attitude towards service. In 1817 he was sent to the Caucasus, where he rose to the rank of cadet and then to lieutenant, but was forced to resign due to illness. In 1823-24 he traveled through Austria, Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland, where he studied the political system and history of European states.

In 1825 he joined the Northern Secret Society. On December 14, 1825, the Guards Fleet crew raised itself and was one of the first to arrive at Senate Square, where it showed firmness and determination. Arrested on the night of December 15, imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Having an ardent character, Kakhovsky was ready for the most daring actions. So, he was going to Greece to fight for its independence, and in a secret society he was a supporter of the destruction of autocratic power, the murder of the king and the entire royal dynasty, and the establishment of republican rule. At a meeting on December 13, 1825, at Ryleev’s, he was assigned the murder of Nicholas I (since Kakhovsky did not have his own family), but on the day of the uprising he did not dare to commit this murder.

During the investigation, he behaved very boldly, sharply criticized the emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I. In the Peter and Paul Fortress, he wrote several letters to Nicholas I and the investigators, which contained a critical analysis of Russian reality. But at the same time, he petitioned for relief of the fate of other arrested Decembrists.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “He intended to commit Regicide and exterminate the entire IMPERIAL FAMILY, and, being destined to encroach on the life of the now reigning GOVERNMENT EMPEROR, did not renounce this election and even expressed his consent, although he assures that he subsequently wavered; participated in spreading the riot by recruiting many members; personally acted in rebellion; excited the lower ranks and himself dealt a mortal blow to Count Miloradovich and Colonel Sturler and wounded the Suite Officer.”

Kondraty Fedorovich Ryleev, second lieutenant (1795-1826)

Born in the village of Batovo (now the Gatchina district of the Leningrad region) in the family of a small nobleman who managed the estate of Princess Golitsyna. From 1801 to 1814 he was educated within the walls of the St. Petersburg First Cadet Corps. He was a participant in the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1814-1815.

After his resignation in 1818, he served as assessor of the St. Petersburg Criminal Chamber, and from 1824 - the ruler of the office of the Russian-American Company.

He was a member of the “Free Society of Lovers of Russian Literature” and was the author of the famous satirical ode “To the Temporary Worker.” Together with A. Bestuzhev, he published the almanac “Polar Star”. His thought “The Death of Ermak” became a song.

In 1823 he joined the Northern Secret Society and headed its radical wing; he was a supporter of the republican system, although initially he took the position of monarchism. He was one of the leaders of the Decembrist uprising. But during the investigation, he completely repented of what he had done, took all the “guilt” upon himself, tried to justify his comrades, and hoped for the mercy of the emperor.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “Intended to commit Regicide; appointed a person to perform this task; planned for the imprisonment, expulsion and extermination of the IMPERIAL FAMILY and prepared the means for this; strengthened the activities of the Northern Society; he controlled it, prepared methods for rebellion, made plans, forced him to compose a Manifesto on the destruction of the Government; he himself composed and distributed outrageous songs and poems and accepted members; prepared the main means for the rebellion and was in charge of them; incited the lower ranks to revolt through their Chiefs through various seductions, and during the rebellion he himself came to the square.”

He addressed his last words on the scaffold to the priest: “Father, pray for our sinful souls, do not forget my wife and bless your daughter.”

During the investigation, Nicholas I sent Ryleev’s wife 2 thousand rubles, and then the Empress sent another thousand for her daughter’s name day. He took care of Ryleev’s family even after the execution: his wife received a pension until her second marriage, and his daughter until she came of age.

I know: destruction awaits

The one who rises first

On the oppressors of the people;

Fate has already doomed me.

But where, tell me, when was it

Freedom redeemed without sacrifice?

(K. Ryleev, from the poem “Nalivaiko”)

Sergei Ivanovich Muravyov-Apostol, lieutenant colonel (1796-1826)

Born in St. Petersburg and was the fourth child in the family of the famous writer of that time and statesman I.M. Muravyov-Apostol. He received his education at a private boarding school in Paris with his brother, M.I. Muravyov-Apostol, where their father served as Russian envoy. In 1809 he returned to Russia and was shocked by the situation in Russia that he saw anew after a long absence, especially the existence of serfdom. Upon his return, he entered the corps of railway engineers in St. Petersburg.

During the Patriotic War of 1812 he took part in many battles. For the battle of Krasnoye he was awarded a golden sword for bravery. Together with the Russian army he entered Paris and completed his foreign campaign there.

In 1820, the Semenovsky regiment, in which Muravyov-Apostol served, rebelled, and he was transferred to the Poltava, then to the Chernigov regiment as a lieutenant colonel. He was among the founders of the Union of Salvation and the Union of Welfare, as well as one of the most active members of Southern society. He established contact with the Society of United Slavs.

Muravyov-Apostol agreed with the need for regicide and was a supporter of republican rule.

He conducted propaganda among soldiers, being one of the leaders of the Decembrists. After the defeat of the uprising in St. Petersburg, the Chernigov regiment was raised, and “being surrounded by a detachment of hussars and artillerymen, he defended himself against the artillery itself, and, thrown to the ground by grapeshot, with the help of others he mounted his horse again and ordered him to go forward.”

He was taken prisoner, seriously wounded. Sentenced to death and hanged on the crown of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “Had intent to commit Regicide; found funds, elected and appointed others; agreeing to the expulsion of the IMPERIAL FAMILY, he demanded in particular the murder of the TSESAREVICH and incited others to do so; had the intent to deprive the EMPEROR of his freedom; participated in the management of the Southern Secret Society throughout the entire scope of its outrageous plans; composed proclamations and incited others to achieve the goal of this society, to revolt; participated in the plot to secede the Regions from the Empire; took active measures to spread the society by attracting others; personally acted in rebellion with the readiness to shed blood; excited the soldiers; freed convicts; He even bribed a priest to read before the ranks of the rioters the false catechism he had compiled and was taken with arms in his hands.”

Mikhail Pavlovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin, second lieutenant (1801(1804)-1826)

Born in the village of Kudreshki, Gorbatovsky district, Nizhny Novgorod province. Father is a court councilor, mayor of the city of Gorbatov, from the nobility.

In 1816, the Bestuzhev-Ryumin family moved to Moscow. The future Decembrist received a good home education, entered service as a cadet in the Cavalry Guard Regiment, and in 1819 he was transferred to the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment, where he was promoted to lieutenant ensign. After the uprising in the Semenovsky regiment, he was transferred to the Poltava Infantry Regiment, then he made a military career: ensign, battalion adjutant, front adjutant, second lieutenant.

Bestuzhev-Ryumin was one of the leaders of the Southern Society, which he was admitted to in 1823. Together with S.I. Muravyov-Apostol headed the Vasilkovsky council, was a participant in the congresses of the leaders of the Southern Society in Kamenka and Kyiv, and negotiated with the secret Polish society about joining the Southern Society of the Society of United Slavs. He led (together with S.I. Muravyov-Apostol) the uprising of the Chernigov regiment.

Arrested at the site of the uprising with weapons in hand, taken to St. Petersburg in chains from Bila Tserkva to the General Headquarters, and on the same day transferred to the Peter and Paul Fortress. Sentenced to hang.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “Had intent to commit Regicide; sought means for this; he himself volunteered to kill the LORD EMPEROR of blessed memory and the now reigning GOVERNMENT EMPEROR; elected and appointed persons to perform it; had the intention of exterminating the IMPERIAL FAMILY, expressed it in the most cruel terms scattering of ashes; had the intention of expelling the IMPERIAL FAMILY and depriving the freedom of the blessed memory of the GOVERNMENT EMPEROR and he himself volunteered to commit this last atrocity; participated in the management of the Southern Society; added Slavic to it; drafted proclamations and made outrageous speeches; participated in the composition of a false catechism; aroused and prepared for rebellion, demanding even oath promises by kissing the image; formed the intention to secede the Regions from the Empire and acted in its execution; took active measures to spread the society by attracting others; personally acted in rebellion with the readiness to shed blood; incited the Officers and soldiers to revolt and was taken with arms in hand.”

Executed on the crown of the Peter and Paul Fortress. He was buried along with other executed Decembrists on the island. Going hungry.

A monument was erected at the site of the death of the Decembrists. Under the bas-relief on the monument there is an inscription: “At this place on July 13/25, 1826, the Decembrists P. Pestel, K. Ryleev, P. Kakhovsky, S. Muravyov-Apostol, M. Bestuzhev-Ryumin were executed.” On the other side of the obelisk are carved verses by A. S. Pushkin: