December uprising causes. On the eve of the uprising

Decembrist movement (briefly)

The Decembrist uprising was the first open armed uprising in Russia against the autocracy and serfdom. The uprising was organized by a group of like-minded nobles, most of whom were guard officers. An attempted coup d'etat took place on December 14 (26), 1825 in St. Petersburg, on Senate Square and was suppressed by troops loyal to the emperor.

background

For the uprising of the Decembrists, the reason was the situation that developed with the succession to the throne, after the death of the sovereign Alexander I. All because after the death of the emperor, his brother, Constantine, was to become the sovereign. But, even when Alexander I was alive, Constantine abdicated in favor of his younger brother Nicholas. The fact that Konstantin renounced was not announced publicly, and the people, the army, the state apparatus, due to lack of information, swore allegiance to Konstantin. When it was officially revealed that Constantine had abdicated, a swearing-in was scheduled for December 14, which the conspirators took advantage of.

Rebellion plan

The plan for the uprising was adopted on December 13 during meetings of members of the society at Ryleev's apartment in St. Petersburg. Decisive importance was attached to the success of performances in the capital. At the same time, troops were to march in the south of the state, in the 2nd Army. One of the founders of the Union of Salvation, S.P. was chosen to be the dictator of the uprising. Trubetskoy, Colonel of the Guard, famous and popular among the soldiers.

On the appointed day, it was decided to withdraw troops to the Senate Square, prevent the oath of the Senate and the State Council to Nikolai Pavlovich and on their behalf promulgate the “Manifesto to the Russian people”, which proclaimed the abolition of serfdom, freedom of the press, conscience, occupation and movement, the introduction of universal military service instead of recruiting, the destruction of estates.

The course of the uprising

1825, December 14, in the morning - the Life Guards Moscow Regiment entered the Senate Square, it was joined by the Guards Naval Crew and the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment, total strength about 3 thousand people. Chosen by the dictator Trubetskoy did not appear. The rebel regiments continued to stand on Senate Square until the conspirators could come to a consensus on the appointment of a new leader.

Who knew about the preparation of the conspiracy, took the oath of the Senate in advance and, having pulled together the troops loyal to him, surrounded the rebels. After the negotiations, in which Metropolitan Seraphim and the Governor-General of St. Petersburg M.A. took part on the part of the government. Miloradovich (who was mortally wounded at the same time) Nicholas I gave the order to use artillery. The Decembrist uprising was crushed.

On December 29, the uprising of the Chernigov regiment began under the leadership of S.I. Muravyov-Apostol. However, already on January 2, it was suppressed with the help of government troops.

Consequences

Arrests of participants and instigators began all over Russia. 579 people were involved in the case of the Decembrists. Found guilty 287. Five were sentenced to death and carried out (P.I. Pestel, K.F. Ryleev, S.I. Muravyov-Apostol, P.G. Kakhovskiy, M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin). 120 people were sent to hard labor in Siberia or to a settlement.

Reasons for the defeat

Lack of support from all sectors of society, which was not prepared for radical transformations;

Narrow social base focused on military revolution and conspiracy;

Lack of necessary unity and coherence in actions;

Bad secrecy, as a result, the government knew about the plans of the rebels;

The unpreparedness of most of the educated society, the nobility to eliminate the autocracy and serfdom;

Cultural and political backwardness of the peasantry and the rank and file of the army.

Historical meaning

Having lost in the socio-political struggle, the rebels won a spiritual and moral victory, showed an example of true service to their fatherland and people.

The experience of the Decembrist uprising became a subject for reflection by the fighters against the monarchy and serfdom who followed them, and influenced the entire course of the Russian liberation movement.

The Decembrist movement had a great influence on the development of Russian culture.

But, based on a specific historical situation, the defeat of the Decembrists noticeably weakened the intellectual potential of Russian society, provoked an increase in the reaction of the government, delayed, according to P.Ya. Chaadaev, development of Russia for 50 years.

The uprising of December 14, 1825 Events, however, forced the conspirators to hurry. In November 1825, in Taganrog, after an unexpected and short illness, the 47-year-old Alexander I died before that, full of strength and never sick. His death was so unexpected and strange, and the veil of mystery that shrouded both his stay in Taganrog and subsequent events (the funeral of the body, his transfer to Moscow, the behavior of people close to him), was so dense and unusual that rumors soon spread about the voluntary departure of Alexander I from power, which he repeatedly told others about, and the substitution of the body. This rumor was solid foundations in connection with the severe moral and religious crisis in which the emperor was, his fear of a possible coup and violent death following the tragic example of his father.

All this immediately created a confused political situation, which the conspirators decided to take advantage of. They planned to interfere with the oath of official St. Petersburg to Nicholas, withdraw troops loyal to them to Senate Square, seize the Winter Palace, and arrest royal family, force the Senate to announce the overthrow of the monarchy and issue a Manifesto on the establishment of a Provisional Revolutionary Government, the abolition of serfdom, the equalization of all citizens before the law, the destruction (of the Kcherut conscription and military settlements and other revolutionary measures that appeared in their programs. After that, it was supposed to collect constituent Assembly(Great Cathedral) and submit for its consideration the program for the future reorganization of Russia.

Colonel of the General Staff Prince S. P. Trubetskoy was elected dictator, that is, commander of the uprising forces.

On November 27, the capital and the army, as it was supposed to, swore allegiance to Constantine. At the same time, the Guard intervened again. The governor-general of St. Petersburg, L. A. Miloradovin, a man close to the dowager tsarina - the wife of Paul I, threatened Nicholas that he would raise the guard if he did not swear allegiance to his brother. Nikolay reluctantly agreed with this demand. Although on November 27 Nicholas, his family, the Senate and other institutions swore allegiance to Konstantin, the issue was not finally resolved. There was a testament of Alexander I and others to arrest the conspirators. The conspirators also prepared for December 14, trying to prevent the re-swearing and to carry out coup d'état. The decisive meeting took place at Ryleev's apartment. He asked Kakhovsky to change into the uniform of the Life Grenadier Regiment, enter the palace and kill Nicholas I before it was captured. Yakubovich was instructed to take possession of the Winter Palace. Another part of the loyal troops was to take Peter and Paul Fortress.

It was a cold, gloomy, windy morning on December 14th. In the predawn twilight, the Moscow regiment, led by the captain of the life guards of the dragoon regiment A. A. Bestuzhev, arrived in combat formation with combat equipment on Senate Square and stood in the form of a monument to Peter I. The uprising began. But his plan would immediately fall apart. Kakhovsky refused to commit!, an act of regicide. Yakubovich did not want to lead the insurgent units to the Winter Palace, fearing, as he said, massacres in the palace and the murder of the royal family.

The Winter Palace stood unshakably, and the tsar, having learned about the beginning of the uprising, pulled loyal troops to him.

Trubetskoy did not appear on Senate Square. He hovered around the headquarters, peering around the corner, an old HII. to understand how many rebellious troops have gathered and it is worth it for him to risk his life. He never appeared before the foreigners, leaving them without military leadership.

By 11 o'clock in the morning it turned out that the Senate had already sworn allegiance to Nicholas I and the senators had gone home.

A new monarch appeared on Senate Square, surrounded by loyal troops. The Governor-General M.A. Miloradovich arrived. Government troops launched several attacks against the rebels, but they were repulsed by gunfire. The tension in the square grew. Reinforcements approached the rebels - the life grenadiers, the Fleian naval crew, and now there were about 4 thousand people in the square with 30 officers. Nikolai, for his part, brought infantry units, artillery and horse guards to the square, which outnumbered the rebel forces by four times. A new military leader of the insurgent troops, Prince E. P. Obolensky, was chosen on the square.

The news of the uprising quickly spread throughout St. Petersburg. Crowds of people came to the square. Soon, more than 150,000 of them ached. From the crowd, stones and sticks flew at the soldiers loyal to the tsar. Threats were heard against Nicholas. Those gathered clearly sympathized with the rebels.

Being wary of allowing bloodshed and thus: to tarnish the beginning of his reign, the tsar sent M. A. Miloradovich to the rebels. Hero Patriotic War 1812, the brave military leader enjoyed great popularity among the soldiers. Miloradovich turned to the rebels with a heated speech, persuading them to change their minds and return to the barracks. The soldiers were confused. The situation was critical. Then Prince B.P. Obolensky rushed to the Governor-General and turned his horse with a bayonet, wounding Miloradovich in the thigh.

Kakhovsky, who ran up, shot the general in the back. The mortally wounded general was taken home. At some point, the spirit of the rebels strengthened. They immediately drove out the metropolitans sent to them with exhortations.

The tension grew. The people around the square became more and more hostile towards the authorities. At about three o'clock in the afternoon, Nicholas I ordered to open fire from cannons. At first, a volley of buckshot was fired over the square. This did not sway the rebels. They responded with gunfire. Next room was already on target. Buckshot struck the first ranks of the rebels. The caret trembled and crumbled. The soldiers ran onto the ice of the Neva, trying to cross to Vasilyevsky Island. The firing continued, the horse guards stepped in to pursue the fugitives. Artillery struck, the ice began to crumble, polynyas formed, and the rebels began to sink. Their ranks were completely mixed up. Soon it was all over.

Raids and arrests began throughout the city. The arrested Decembrists, as the rebels began to be called after December 14, were taken to the Winter Palace.

The uprising in the south of the country also failed. P. I. Pestel was arrested on December 13, on the eve of the uprising in St. Petersburg.

On December 29, a rebellion broke out in the Chernigov regiment led by Lieutenant Colonel S. I. Muravyov-Apostol and Lieutenant M. P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin. The rebels captured the city of Vasilkov and went to Zhytomyr to join with other units, which were being prepared for action by the officers-conspirators. However, a government detachment blocked their path. Artillery volleys fell on Chernihiv. Muraviev-Apostol was wounded and woke up already arrested. They also seized Bestuzhev-Ryumin with weapons in their hands. The rebels were dispersed. The arrests began.

December 17, 1825 in St. Petersburg began work investigative committee which sat for six months. Nicholas I was directly involved in his work, he himself interrogated the Decembrists. Three questions were of interest to investigators - involvement in plans for regicide, in an armed uprising in St. Petersburg and in the south, and attitudes towards secret anti-government organizations.

They, the nobles, sought to show the first nobleman of the empire the validity and regularity of their actions. Many were strongly impressed by the personal interest of Nicholas I in finding out the reasons for the revolutionary rebellion of a group of officers. Others were broken by the harsh conditions of detention in the fortress, complete uncertainty about their fate, fear of death.

According to the results of the trial, five 4P estel, Ryleev, S. Muravyov-Apostol, M. Bestuzhev-Ryumin and Kakhovsky) were executed as worse villains. The rest of the court sentenced to various punishments - to hard labor, deprivation of rank, demotion to the rank and file. The soldiers themselves were to be punished with gauntlets and exiled to remote garrisons. The entire penal Chernisonsky regiment was sent to the Caucasus. Some Decembrist officers were also sent there. In total, about 600 people were involved in the investigation and “-udu.

Only after the death of Nicholas I in 1855, after spending about 5 years in hard labor and in exile, the surviving Decembrists received an amnesty, left the hard labor casemates, but remained in a settlement in Siberia: they were forbidden to enter the central provinces of Russia.

The Decembrist movement went unnoticed by the majority of the population huge empire, but left an indelible mark among the top of society, the ruling elite, the emerging intelligentsia.

At the same time, the uprising of December 14, 1825, frightened and puzzled the well-intentioned part of Russia, forced the conservative forces led by the new emperor to rally.

The extremism of the Decembrists, the blood they threatened Russia with, turned out to be a long break for the country in the<|к>rmistic efforts, and later a painful and overly cautious approach to constitutional reforms, to the abolition of serfdom. evolutionary path development of the country was slowed down. The reactionary nobility could triumph.

Decembrist revolutionary secret uprising

The uprising of December 14, 1825 is the starting date for the beginning of the revolutionary liberation struggle in Russia. Before the Decembrists, spontaneous uprisings of peasants took place in Russia, or performances of single revolutionaries, the most prominent of which was A.N. Radishchev. For the first time in the history of Russia, the Decembrists created revolutionary organizations, developed political programs, prepared and carried out an armed uprising. It was the culminating event and at the same time the result of the Decembrist movement. All the previous activities of the Decembrists, beginning with their first secret organization of the Union of Salvation, were subordinated to the ideological and organizational preparation of a revolutionary action against the autocratic-feudal system in Russia. The uprising of December 14 was a serious test for the Decembrists, a test of their revolutionary capabilities. In it, as in a focus, reflected all the strong and weak sides their noble revolutionary nature: courage, courage, self-sacrifice of the Decembrists, but at the same time the hesitations characteristic of a noble revolutionary, the lack of decisiveness and consistency in actions, the ability to master the “art of insurrection”, but most importantly, the lack of connection with the masses of the people, even the fear of the revolutionary initiative of the masses. The Decembrists were frightened by the “riot of the crowd”, “senseless and cruel”.

Consider these events in chronological order.

In the first quarter of the 19th century in Russia, a revolutionary ideology was born, the bearers of which were the Decembrists. Disillusioned with the policy of Alexander I, part of the progressive nobility decided to put an end to the causes of Russia's backwardness.

Acquainted with political movements West during the liberation campaigns, the advanced nobility understood that the basis of the backwardness of the Russian state is serfdom. The reactionary policy in the field of education and culture, the creation of military settlements by Arakcheev, Russia's participation in the suppression of revolutionary events in Europe added confidence in the need for radical changes, serfdom in Russia was an insult to the national dignity of an enlightened person. The views of the Decembrists were influenced by Western European educational literature, Russian journalism and the ideas of national liberation movements.

In February 1816, the first secret political society, the purpose of which was the abolition of serfdom and the adoption of a constitution. It consisted of 28 members (A.N. Muravyov, S.I. and M.I. Muravyov-Apostles, S.P. Trubetskoy, I.D. Yakushkin, P.I. Pestel, etc.)

In 1818, the Union of Welfare organization was created in Moscow, which had 200 members and had councils in other cities. The society promoted the idea of ​​abolishing serfdom, preparing a revolutionary coup by the officers. The Welfare Union collapsed due to a disagreement between the radical and moderate members of the union.

In March 1821, the Southern Society arose in Ukraine, headed by P.I. Pestel, who was the author of the program document Russkaya Pravda.

In St. Petersburg, on the initiative of N.M. Muravyov, the "Northern Society" was created, which had a liberal plan of action. Each of these societies had its own program, but the goal was the same - the destruction of autocracy, serfdom, estates, the creation of a republic, the separation of powers, the proclamation of civil liberties.

Preparations began for an armed uprising.

The death of Alexander I in November 1825 prompted the conspirators to take more active steps. It was decided on the day of taking the oath to the new Tsar Nicholas I to seize the monarch and the Senate and force them to introduce a constitutional system in Russia.

The political leader of the uprising was Prince Trubetskoy, who last moment refused to participate in the uprising.

On the morning of December 14, 1825, the Moscow Life Guards Regiment entered Senate Square. He was joined by the Guards Naval Crew and the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment. In total, about 3 thousand people gathered.

However, Nicholas I, informed of the impending conspiracy, took the oath of the Senate in advance and, having pulled the troops loyal to him, surrounded the rebels. After negotiations, in which Metropolitan Seraphim and the Governor-General of St. Petersburg M.A. Miloradovich (who was mortally wounded) took part on the part of the government, Nicholas I ordered the use of artillery. The uprising in Petersburg was crushed.

But already on January 2, it was suppressed by government troops. Arrests of participants and organizers began all over Russia.

In the case of the Decembrists, 579 people were involved. Found guilty 287. Five were sentenced to death and carried out (K.F. Ryleev, P.I. Pestel, P.G. Kakhovskiy, M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, S.I. Muravyov-Apostol). 120 people were exiled to hard labor in Siberia or to a settlement.

The reasons for the defeat of the Decembrist uprising were the inconsistency of actions, the lack of support from all sectors of society, which was not ready for radical transformations. This speech was the first open protest and a threatening warning to the autocracy about the need for a radical reorganization of Russian society.

Figure 1 shows a brief chronology of events that took place in this period of time.

Picture 1 - a brief description of Decembrist uprisings

Secret societies

The first Russian revolutionaries wanted to raise an armed uprising among the troops, overthrow the autocracy, abolish serfdom and popularly adopt a new state law- revolutionary constitution. It was decided to speak at the time of the change of emperors on the throne. After the death of Alexander I, an interregnum arose - a government crisis that was beneficial to the revolutionaries.

The day of December 14 was the day of the oath to the new emperor -. His older brother - had just died childless, the brother following him renounced the throne (Alexander left a copy of his refusal in the Assumption Cathedral in a closed package, so almost no one knew about the refusal of the throne), and here is the third brother, Nikolai - rude and ignorant serf-owner and tormentor of soldiers - has already put his foot on the step of the throne ...

Plan

The Decembrists carefully worked out their plans. First of all, they decided to prevent the troops and the senate from taking the oath to the new king. Then they wanted to enter the Senate and demand the publication of a nationwide manifesto, which would announce the abolition of serfdom and the 25-year term of military service, the granting of freedom of speech, an assembly of deputies elected by the people.

The deputies had to decide what system to establish in the country and approve its basic law - the constitution. If the Senate did not agree to promulgate the people's manifesto, it was decided to force it to do so. The rebellious troops were to occupy the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress, the royal family were to be arrested. If necessary, it was supposed to kill the king. In the meantime, as the Decembrists thought, deputies elected from the provinces would come to St. Petersburg from all sides. Autocracy and serfdom will collapse. Will begin new life liberated people.

A dictator was elected to lead the uprising - a longtime member of the society, one of its founders - Guards Colonel Prince Sergei Trubetskoy.

The beginning of the uprising

More than 3,000 soldiers of the guards under the command of revolutionary officers - noblemen gathered on the Senate Square of the capital, raised by the heated speeches of their teachers. The first to march on the square was the Moscow Guards Regiment. Raised him to revolt revolutionary speech officer Alexander Bestuzhev. Colonel Commander Baron Frederiks wanted to prevent the rebels from entering the square, but he fell with a severed head under the blow of the saber of officer Shchepin-Rostovsky. Soldiers of the Moscow Regiment came to Senate Square with a fluttering regimental banner, loaded their guns and took live ammunition with them. The regiment lined up in a battle square (quadrilateral) near the monument to Peter I.

End of the rebellion

By nightfall, the first Russian uprising was over. Dozens of corpses remained on the square. The police covered the pools of blood with snow. Fires were burning everywhere. There were guard patrols. The arrested were taken to the Winter Palace.

Not everything that was planned came true. It was not possible to raise all the planned regiments for the uprising. There were no artillery units among the rebels. The dictator Trubetskoy betrayed the uprising and did not come to the square. The rebel troops lined up in front of the empty Senate building - the senators had already taken the oath and dispersed.

In the south, the matter was also not without an armed rebellion. Six companies of the Chernigov regiment released the arrested Sergei Muravyov-Apostol, who went with them to Bila Tserkva; but, overtaken by a detachment of hussars with horse artillery, the rebels laid down their weapons. The wounded Muraviev was arrested.

Investigation and trial

By decree, a Commission was established for research on malicious societies, chaired by Minister of War Tatishchev. The Commission of Inquiry submitted to Emperor Nicholas the most submissive report compiled by D. N. Bludov. The Manifesto of the city established the Supreme Criminal Court of three state estates: the State Council, the Senate and the Synod, with the addition of "several persons from the highest military and civil officials." The following were put on trial: from the Northern Society - 61 people, from the Southern Society - 37 people, from the United Slavs - 23 people. The court established eleven categories, highlighting five people in particular, and sentenced: to death - five by quartering, 31 - by beheading, 17 - to political death, 16 - to exile forever in hard labor, 5 - to exile in hard labor for 10 liters ., 15 - to exile in hard labor. work for 6 years, 15 - to exile to the settlement, 3 - to the deprivation of ranks, nobility and to exile in, 1 - to the deprivation of ranks and nobility and writing to the soldiers until the length of service, 8 - to the deprivation of ranks with writing to the soldiers with length of service . Emperor Nicholas by decree

Looking at the West, where serfdom was abolished long ago and a constitution was introduced, it became clear that the conditions in which serfs live are simply terrible. Their owners mocked them, regularly increasing dues and corvee, and in case of disobedience they were exiled to Siberia, with the support of the tsar himself.

After the war, the industry recovered quite quickly, but it could not compete with the industry of European countries, since in Russia it was based on manufactories, and those, in turn, on manual labor. To establish production, a huge number of peasants had to be attracted. The landowners did not hesitate to take away their lands and attach them to their own, making the amount of quitrents incredibly high. The peasants refused to pay dues, and as a result, anti-serfdom movements began.

Military officers who had been abroad were frankly afraid that soon a revolt would begin among the masses of the people, and it would engulf the whole country. Many became disillusioned with state activities emperor, as he was a supporter of repressive methods of influencing the serfs.

The Decembrists believed and dreamed of democracy and freedom of speech. The main role model was France, where a revolution took place recently. The Decembrists also insisted on the distribution of power by branches, and not its concentration in one hand.

Decembrist uprising on Senate Square in St. Petersburg.

In 1825, the Decembrists went to Senate Square, it happened on December 14. Governor-General Miloradovich tried to calm the Decembrists, but one of the participants in the uprising wounded him. In the process, the Decembrists receive news that the army officers have long sworn allegiance to the new emperor, and they have no choice, they will have to surrender their weapons and be defeated. The Decembrists decide to die, still hoping that reinforcements are somewhere nearby. At this time, a struggle is started between them and the tsarist artillery. Cannons fired at the rebels. Some of the soldiers took to their heels.

After the suppression of the uprising, all participants were awaited by the trial. Three dozen officers were sentenced to death, 17 people were exiled to Siberia for eternal hard labor. The rest were demoted to soldiers or sent to hard labor for a certain period.

Consequences and results of the Decembrist uprising.

The historical significance of the Decembrist uprising is incommensurably high. The uprising of the Decembrists was the first association against the tsarist government. Thanks to him, the unshakable tsarist regime nevertheless shook, it contributed to the future development of the opposition in Russia.