Decembrists. Secret societies. Southern Society of Decembrists Union of Salvation 1816 1818 table

Salvation Union ("Union of Salvation")

the first secret political society of the Decembrists. Created in February 1816 on the initiative of A. N. Muravyov (See Muravyov) by a group of young guards officers, participants in the Patriotic War of 1812 and foreign campaigns of 1813-14. "WITH. With." numbered about 30 members: N. M. Muravyov, S. I. Muravyov-Apostol and M. I. Muravyov-Apostol, S. P. Trubetskoy, I. D. Yakushkin, P. I. Pestel, E. P. Obolensky , I. I. Pushchin, M. S. Lunin, M. N. Novikov and others. At the beginning of 1817, the charter of “S. With." and a new name. Program goal "S. With." consisted of the abolition of serfdom and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy through open action at the time of the change of emperors on the throne. Preparing for a revolutionary coup, members of “S. With." they had to strive to expand the composition of society and occupy the most important positions in the military and civil sectors, and actively shape public opinion, especially among the advanced nobility. "WITH. With." was divided into three degrees - “boyars”, “husbands”, “brothers” - and was built on the principles of deep secrecy and strict discipline with the unquestioning subordination of the lower degrees to the higher ones, who alone could know the ultimate goal of society. The admission of new members, as well as internal movement from lower to higher degrees, was allowed only with the consent of the supreme council of the “bolyar” and was carried out according to a carefully developed system of rituals and oaths borrowed from Masonic ritual. In "S. With." Radical and moderate currents emerged. The subject of controversy was issues of tactics and the closed-complicated structure of society. The disagreements became extremely aggravated in the fall of 1817 in Moscow (the main core of the “S.S.” moved here as part of the Guard). Several projects of regicide have matured. However, they were rejected due to lack of funds and unpreparedness of “S. With." to decisive action. In this situation, the prevailing opinion was the dissolution of “S. With." and the creation on its basis of a new organization, more capable and broader in composition. As an intermediate cell, the “Military Society” was founded, and at the beginning of 1818 - the “Union of Welfare”.

Lit.: Nechkina M.V., “Union of Salvation”, in the collection: Historical Notes, vol. 23, M., 1947. See also lit. at Art. Decembrists.


Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

See what the “Union of Salvation” is in other dictionaries:

    - (“Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland”) secret political society, the first Decembrist organization that arose in the Russian Empire on February 9, 1816 on the basis of two pre-Decembrist organizations “The Holy Artel” and ... ... Wikipedia

    - “UNION OF SALVATION”, the first of the secret societies of the Decembrists. Created in 1816 by A. N. and N. M. Muravyov, M. I. and S. I. Muravyov Apostles, S. P. Trubetskoy, I. D. Yakushkin, M. S. Lunin, M. N. Novikov, F. P. Shakhovsky. The union was small in number... encyclopedic Dictionary

    "Union of Salvation"- “Union of Salvation”, the first secret organization of the Decembrists. Created on February 9, 1816 on the initiative of A. N. Muravyov at a meeting in the apartment of S. I. and M. I. Muravyov Apostles in the officer barracks of the Semenovsky regiment (not preserved). By 1817 "Union" ... ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"

    The first secret organization of the Decembrists. Created on February 9, 1816 on the initiative of A. N. Muravyov at a meeting in the apartment of S. I. and M. I. Muravyov Apostles in the officer barracks of the Semenovsky regiment (not preserved). By 1817, the “Union” united over... ... St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)

    The first secret political organization of the Decembrists in 1816 17. According to the charter (1817), the name was the Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland. Founders: A. N. and N. M. Muravyov, S. P. Trubetskoy, M. I. and S. I. Muravyov Apostles, I. D. Yakushkin, M. S.... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

    The first secret organization of the Decembrists, created in 1816, according to the charter (1817) was called the Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland. Founders: A. N. and N. M. Muravyov, S. P. Trubetskoy, M. I. and S. I. Muravyov Apostles, I. D. Yakushkin, M. S. Lunin, M ... Russian History

    The first of the secret societies of the Decembrists. Created in 1816 by A. N. and N. M. Muravyov, M. I. and S. I. Muravyov Apostles, S. P. Trubetskoy, I. D. Yakushkin, M. S. Lunin, M. N. Novikov, F. P. Shakhovsky. Political science: Dictionary reference book. composition... Political science. Dictionary.

    Secret politics organization that laid the foundation for the activities of the Decembrists. Created in Feb. 1816 on the initiative of A. N. Muravyov by a group of young guards. officers, participants of the Fatherland. war of 1812 and foreign campaigns of 1813 14. S. p. totaled approx. 30 members... Soviet historical encyclopedia

    The first secret political organization of the Decembrists in 1816 17. According to the charter (1817), it was called the “Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland.” Founders A. N. and N. M. Muravyov, S. P. Trubetskoy, M. I. and S. I. Muravyov Apostles, I. D. Yakushkin, ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

    Salvation Union- Union of Salvation (Decembrist Society) ... Russian spelling dictionary

Books

  • Extracts from old written, old printed and other books, testifying to the holiness of the Catholic and Apostolic Church and the need to obey its statutes in order to achieve salvation (Print-on-Demand), Ozersky A.I. , This book will be produced in accordance with your order using Print-on-Demand technology by LLC Book on Demand A polemical anti-schism code compiled by a merchant... Category: Library Science Publisher: YOYO Media, Manufacturer: Yoyo Media,
  • Extracts from old written, old printed and other books, testifying to the holiness of the Catholic and Apostolic Church and the need to obey its statutes in order to achieve salvation, Ozersky A.I. , Polemical anti-schismatic code compiled by the merchant Andrian Ivanovich Ozersky. The code contains excerpts from old printed books confirming the wrongness of the Old Believers. For the first time... Category:

Origins of the movement

In the first decades of the 19th century, some representatives of the Russian nobility understood the destructiveness of autocracy and serfdom for the further development of the country. Among them, a system of views is emerging, the implementation of which should change the foundations of Russian life. The formation of the ideology of the future Decembrists was facilitated by:

  • Russian reality with its inhuman serfdom;
  • Patriotic upsurge caused by the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812;
  • Influence of the works of Western educators: Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu;
  • The reluctance of the government of Alexander I to carry out consistent reforms.

At the same time, it should be noted that the ideas and worldview of the Decembrists were not united, but they were all aimed at reform and were opposed to the autocratic regime and serfdom.

"Union of Salvation" (1816-1818)

The charter of the society, the so-called “Green Book” (more precisely, its first, legal part, provided by A.I. Chernyshev) was known to Emperor Alexander himself, who gave it to Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich to read. At first, the sovereign did not recognize political significance in this society. But his view changed after the news of the revolutions in Spain, Naples, Portugal and the revolt of the Semenovsky regiment ().

The political program of the Southern Society was Pestel’s “Russian Truth”, adopted at a congress in Kyiv in 1823. P.I. Pestel was a supporter of the idea of ​​the supreme power of the people, revolutionary for that time. In Russkaya Pravda, Pestel described the new Russia - a single and indivisible republic with a strong centralized government.

He wanted to divide Russia into regions, regions into provinces, provinces into districts, and the smallest administrative unit would be the volost. All adult (from 20 years old) male citizens received the right to vote and could participate in the annual volost "people's assembly", where they would elect delegates to the "local people's assemblies", that is, local authorities. Each volost, district, province and region had to have its own local people's assembly. The head of the local volost assembly was an elected “volost leader,” and the heads of the district and provincial assemblies were elected “mayors.” All citizens had the right to elect and be elected to any government body. authorities. Pestel proposed not direct, but two-stage elections: first, volost people's assemblies elected deputies to district and provincial assemblies, and the latter from their midst elected representatives to the highest bodies of the state. The supreme legislative body of the future Russia - the People's Assembly - was elected for a period of 5 years. Only the People's Council could make laws, declare war and make peace. No one had the right to dissolve it, since it represented, according to Pestel’s definition, the “will” and “soul” of the people in the state. The supreme executive body was the State Duma, which consisted of five people and was also elected for 5 years from members of the People's Council.

In addition to the legislative and executive powers, the state must also have a “vigilant” power, which would control the exact implementation of laws in the country and ensure that the People’s Assembly and the State Duma do not go beyond the limits established by law. The central body of supervisory power - the Supreme Council - consisted of 120 “boyars” elected for life.

The head of the Southern Society intended to free the peasants with the land and secure for them all the rights of citizenship. He also intended to destroy military settlements and transfer this land for free use to the peasants. Pestel believed that all the lands of the volost should be divided into 2 equal halves: “public land”, which will belong to the entire volost society and can neither be sold nor mortgaged, and “private” land.

The government in the new Russia must fully support entrepreneurship. Pestel also proposed a new tax system. He proceeded from the fact that all kinds of natural and personal duties should be replaced with money. Taxes should be “levied on the property of citizens, and not on their persons.”

Pestel emphasized that people, completely regardless of their race and nationality, are equal by nature, therefore a great people who have subjugated small ones cannot and should not use their superiority to oppress them.

Southern society recognized the army as the support of the movement, considering it the decisive force of the revolutionary coup. Members of the society intended to take power in the capital, forcing the king to abdicate. The Society's new tactics required organizational changes: only military personnel associated primarily with regular army units were accepted into it; discipline within the Society was tightened; All members were required to submit unconditionally to the leadership center - the Directory.

In the 2nd Army, regardless of the activities of the Vasilkovsky council, another society arose - Slavic Union, better known as Society of United Slavs. It arose in 1823 among army officers and had 52 members, advocating a democratic federation of all Slavic peoples. Having finally taken shape at the beginning of 1825, it already in the summer of 1825 joined the Southern Society as the Slavic Council (mainly through the efforts of M. Bestuzhev-Ryumin). Among the members of this society there were many enterprising people and opponents of the rule do not hurry. Sergei Muravyov-Apostol called them “chained mad dogs.”

All that remained before the start of decisive action was to enter into relations with Polish secret societies. The details of these relations and the subsequent agreement are not as clear as possible. Negotiations with a representative of the Polish Patriotic Society(otherwise Patriotic Union) Prince Yablonovsky was led personally by Pestel. Negotiations were held with the Northern Society of Decembrists about joint actions. The unification agreement was hampered by the radicalism and dictatorial ambitions of the leader of the “southerners” Pestel, whom the “northerners” feared).

Pestel developed a program document for the “southerners,” which he called “Russian Truth.” Pestel intended to carry out the planned reorganization of Russia with the assistance of the indignation of the troops. The death of Emperor Alexander and the extermination of the entire royal family were considered necessary by members of Southern society for the successful outcome of the entire enterprise. At the very least, there is no doubt that there were conversations in this sense between members of secret societies.

While Southern society was preparing for decisive action in 1826, its plans were revealed to the government. Even before Alexander I left for Taganrog, in the summer of 1825, Arakcheev received information about the conspiracy sent by the non-commissioned officer of the 3rd Bug Uhlan Regiment Sherwood (who was later given the surname Sherwood-Verny by Emperor Nicholas). He was summoned to Gruzino and personally reported to Alexander I all the details of the conspiracy. After listening to him, the sovereign said to Count Arakcheev: “let him go to the place and give him all the means to discover the intruders.” On November 25, 1825, Mayboroda, captain of the Vyatka infantry regiment, commanded by Colonel Pestel, reported in a most loyal letter various revelations regarding secret societies.

Northern Society (1822-1825)

Northern society was formed in St. Petersburg in two Decembrist groups led by N. M. Muravyov and N. I. Turgenev. It was composed of several councils in St. Petersburg (in the guards regiments) and one in Moscow. The governing body was the Supreme Duma of three people (initially N. M. Muravyov, N. I. Turgenev and E. P. Obolensky, later - S. P. Trubetskoy, K. F. Ryleev and A. A. Bestuzhev (Marlinsky) ).

Northern society was more moderate in goals than the Southern one, but the influential radical wing (K.F. Ryleev, A.A. Bestuzhev, E.P. Obolensky, I.I. Pushchin) shared the provisions of P.I. Pestel’s “Russian Truth”.

The program document of the “northerners” was the “Constitution” of N. M. Muravyov. It envisioned a constitutional monarchy based on the principle of separation of powers. Legislative power belonged to the bicameral People's Assembly, executive power belonged to the emperor.

Insurrection

Among these alarming circumstances, the threads of a conspiracy began to emerge more and more clearly, covering, like a network, almost the entire Russian Empire. Adjutant General Baron Dibich, as Chief of the General Staff, took upon himself the execution of the necessary orders; he sent Adjutant General Chernyshev to Tulchin to arrest the most important figures of Southern society. Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, members of the Northern Society decided to take advantage of the interregnum to achieve their goal of establishing a republic through a military rebellion.

Execution

More than 500 people were brought to justice as a result of the investigation. The result of the court's work was a list of 121 “state criminals”, divided into 11 categories according to the degree of offense. Outside the ranks were P. I. Pestel, K. F. Ryleev, S. I. Muravyov-Apostol, M. P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin and P. G. Kakhovsky, sentenced to death by quartering. Among the thirty-one state criminals of the first category sentenced to death by beheading were members of secret societies who gave personal consent to the regicide. The rest were sentenced to various terms of hard labor. Later, for the “first-class men” the death penalty was replaced with eternal hard labor, and for the five leaders of the uprising, quartering was replaced with death by hanging.

Notes

Literature

  • Henri Troyat (literary pseudonym of Lev Tarasov) (b. 1911), French writer. Fictionalized biographies of F. M. Dostoevsky, A. S. Pushkin, M. Yu. Lermontov, L. N. Tolstoy, N. V. Gogol. A series of historical novels (“Light of the Righteous,” 1959-63) about the Decembrists. The novel-trilogy “The Egletiere Family” (1965-67); novellas; plays on it. language: Vincey “Brothers of Christ in Russia” (2004) ISBN 978-3-8334-1061-1
  • E. Tumanik. Early Decembrism and Freemasonry // Tumanik E. N. Alexander Nikolaevich Muravyov: the beginning of a political biography and the foundation of the first Decembrist organizations. - Novosibirsk: Institute of History SB RAS, 2006, p. 172-179.

Sources on the history of the Decembrists

  • “Report of the investigative commission of the city.”
  • “Report of the Warsaw Investigative Committee.”
  • M. Bogdanovich, “History of the reign of Emperor Alexander I” (volume six).
  • A. Pypin, “The Social Movement in Russia under Alexander I.”
  • bar. M. A. Korf, “The accession to the throne of Emperor Nicholas I.”
  • N. Schilder, “The Interregnum in Russia from November 19 to December 14” (“Russian Starina”, city, vol. 35).
  • S. Maksimov, “Siberia and hard labor” (St. Petersburg,).
  • “Notes of the Decembrists”, published in London by A. Herzen.
  • L.K. Chukovskaya “Decembrists - explorers of Siberia”.

Notes of the Decembrists

  • “Notes of Ivan Dmitrievich Yakushkin” (London,; the second part is placed in the “Russian Archive”);
  • “Notes of the book. Trubetskoy" (L.,);
  • “The Fourteenth of December” by N. Pushchin (L.,);
  • “Mon exil en Siberie. - Souvenirs du prince Eugène Obolenski" (Lpc.,);
  • “Notes of von Wisin” (LPts., , in an abbreviated form published in “Russian Antiquity”);
  • Nikita Muravyov, “Analysis of the report of the investigative commission in the city”;
  • Lunin, “A Look at the Secret Society in Russia 1816-1826”;
  • “Notes of I. I. Gorbachevsky” (“Russian Archive”);
  • “Notes of N.V. Basargin” (“Nineteenth Century”, 1st part);
  • “Memoirs of the Decembrist A. S. Gangeblov” (M.,);
  • “Notes of the Decembrist” (Baron Rosen, Lpts.,);
  • “Memoirs of the Decembrist (A. Belyaev) about what he experienced and felt, 1805-1850.” (SPb.,).

Links

  • Draft constitutions of P. I. Pestel and N. Muravyov
  • Summary (synopsis) of Shaporin’s opera “Decembrists” on the “100 Operas” website
  • Nikolai Troitsky Decembrists // Russia in the 19th century. Lecture course. M., 1997.

Chronology

  • 1816 - 1817 Activities of the Union of Salvation.
  • 1818 - 1821 Activities of the Union of Welfare.
  • 1821 Formation of the “Southern Society”.
  • 1821 - 1822 Formation of the “Northern Society”.
  • 1825, December 14 Decembrist uprising in St. Petersburg.
  • 1825, December 29 Uprising of the Chernigov regiment.

Social movement in Russia in the 19th - early 20th centuries.

The 19th century occupies its own special place in the history of socio-political thought in Russia. During these years, the destruction of the feudal-serf system and the establishment of capitalism occurred at a particularly rapid pace. As Herzen wrote, at the beginning XIX century, “there were almost no revolutionary ideas, but power and thought, imperial decrees and humane words, autocracy and civilization could no longer go hand in hand.”

In Russia, an internally free layer of the intelligentsia is gradually emerging onto the political arena, which will play an outstanding role in the 19th century. There was also an awareness of the need for change in the government camp. However, the autocracy and various political forces had significantly different ideas about the paths of change. In accordance with this, three main trends in the development of socio-political thought stand out clearly in the history of Russia: conservative, liberal and revolutionary.

Conservatives sought to preserve the foundations of the existing socio-political system. Liberals put pressure on the government to force it to implement reforms. Revolutionaries sought profound changes in various ways, including through a violent change in the country's political system.

A feature of the social movement at the beginning of the 19th century was the dominance of the nobility. This is explained primarily by the fact that in the environment nobility An intelligentsia was formed that began to realize the need for political changes in the country and put forward specific political doctrines.

During these years, the Russian bourgeoisie did not actively participate in the social movement because it was absorbed in accumulation, profit under the conditions of primitive accumulation. She did not need political reforms, but administrative and legislative measures that would contribute to the development of capitalism. The Russian bourgeoisie was quite satisfied with the economic policy of tsarism, aimed at the development of capitalism. The political capacity of the Russian bourgeoisie lagged far behind its economic power. It entered the economic struggle at a time when the Russian proletariat was already playing an active role in the socio-political struggle, having created its own political party.

In the years when the authorities refused reforms, a revolutionary political trend clearly emerged. It was Decembrist movement. The main factor in its emergence was the socio-economic, especially political, conditions of Russia’s development.

In 1825, the most far-sighted nobles already understood that the fate of the country and the nobility itself was not limited to royal benefits and favors. The people who came to Senate Square themselves wanted to free the peasants and establish representative bodies of power. While sacrificing their destinies and lives for the people, they could not sacrifice their privilege to decide for the people without asking them.

“We are the children of 1812,” wrote Matvey Muravyov-Apostol, emphasizing that the Patriotic War became the starting point of their movement. More than a hundred Decembrists took part in the war of 1812, 65 of those who would be called state criminals in 1825 fought to the death with the enemy on the Borodino field. Acquaintance with the progressive thought of French and Russian enlighteners strengthened the desire of the Decembrists to put an end to the causes of Russia's backwardness and ensure the free development of its people.

Academician M.V. Nechkina, a well-known researcher of the history of the Decembrist movement, called the main reason for its emergence the crisis of the feudal-serf, autocratic system, i.e. Russian reality itself, and secondarily noted the influence of European ideas and impressions from the foreign campaigns of the Russian army.

Your first secret society Salvation Union” Guards officers A.N. Muravyov, N.M. Muravyov, S.P. Trubetskoy, I.D. Yakushkin, founded in 1816. V St. Petersburg. The name was inspired by the French Revolution (Committee of Public Safety - the French government of the era of the “Jacobin dictatorship”). In 1817, P.I. joined the circle. Pestel, who wrote its Statute (charter). A new name also appeared - “Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland.” The revolutionaries planned, at the time of the change of monarch on the throne, to force him to adopt a Constitution that would limit royal power and abolish serfdom.

Based on the “Union of Salvation” in 1818 in Moscow was created "Union of Welfare" which included more than 200 people. This organization aimed to promote anti-serfdom ideas, support the liberal intentions of the government, and create public opinion against serfdom and autocracy. It took 10 years to solve that problem. The Decembrists believed that conquering society would help avoid the horrors of the French Revolution and make the coup bloodless.

The government's abandonment of reform plans and a transition to reaction in foreign and domestic policy forced the Decembrists to change tactics. In 1821 in Moscow, at the congress of the Union of Welfare, it was decided to overthrow the autocracy through a military revolution. From the vague “Union” it was decided to move to a conspiratorial and clearly formed secret organization. IN 1821 — 1822 gg. arose “ South" And " Northern” society. IN 1823 an organization was created in Ukraine “ Society of United Slavs”, by the fall of 1825 it merged with the “Southern Society”.

In the Decembrist movement throughout its existence, there were serious disagreements on issues of ways and methods of implementing reforms, on the form of the country's government, etc. Within the framework of the movement, one can trace not only revolutionary tendencies (they manifested themselves especially clearly), but also liberal tendencies. The differences between the members of the “Southern” and “Northern” societies were reflected in the programs developed by P.I. Pestel (“ Russian truth") and Nikita Muravyov (“ Constitution”).

One of the most important questions remained the question of the state structure of Russia. According to the “Constitution” N. Muravyova Russia was turning into constitutional monarchy where executive power belonged to the emperor, and the legislative one was transferred to the bicameral parliament, - People's Assembly. The Constitution solemnly proclaimed the people to be the source of all state life; the emperor was only “the supreme official of the Russian state.” The suffrage provided for a fairly high voting qualification. Courtiers were deprived of voting rights. A number of basic bourgeois freedoms were proclaimed - speech, movement, religion.

By " Russian truth" Pestel Russia announced republic, power in which, until the implementation of the necessary bourgeois-democratic transformations, was concentrated in the hands of Temporary Supreme Rule. Then the supreme power was transferred to a unicameral People's Assembly of 500 people, elected for 5 years by men from the age of 20 without any qualification restrictions. The highest executive body was State Duma(5 people), elected for 5 years by the People's Assembly and responsible to it. Became the head of Russia the president. Pestel rejected the principle of a federal structure; Russia remained united and indivisible.

The second most important question is the question of serfdom. Both N. Muravyov’s “Constitution” and Pestel’s “Russian Truth” strongly advocated against serfdom. “Serfdom and slavery are abolished. A slave who touches the Russian land becomes free,” reads § 16 of N. Muravyov’s Constitution. According to “Russian Truth”, serfdom was immediately abolished. The liberation of the peasants was declared the “holiest and most indispensable” duty of the Provisional Government. All citizens had equal rights.

N. Muravyov proposed that the liberated peasants retain their personal land “for vegetable gardens” and two acres of arable land per yard. Pestel considered the liberation of peasants without land completely unacceptable and proposed solving the land issue by combining the principles of public and private property. The public land fund was to be formed through the seizure without redemption of landowners' lands, the size of which exceeded 10 thousand dessiatines. From land holdings of 5 - 10 thousand dessiatines, half of the land was alienated for compensation. From the public fund, land was allocated to everyone who wanted to cultivate it.

The Decembrists associated the implementation of their programs with a revolutionary change in the existing system in the country. Taken as a whole, Pestel’s project was more radical and consistent from the point of view of the development of bourgeois relations in Russia than Muravyov’s project. At the same time, both of them were progressive, revolutionary programs for the bourgeois reorganization of feudal Russia.

Representatives of the “Northern” and “Southern” societies planned a joint performance in the summer of 1826. But the unexpected death of Alexander I, which occurred on November 19, 1825 in Taganrog, entailed a dynastic crisis and forced the conspirators to change their plans. Alexander I did not leave an heir, and according to the law, the throne passed to his middle brother Constantine. However, back in 1822, Constantine signed a secret abdication. This document was kept in the Synod and the State Council, but was not made public. On November 27, the country swore allegiance to Constantine. Only on December 12 did an answer come about the abdication of Constantine, who was in Poland. On On December 14, the oath to Nicholas was appointed, younger brother.

The Decembrists’ plan was to withdraw troops to Senate Square (where the Senate and Synod buildings were located) and prevent senators from swearing allegiance to Nicholas I, forcefully force them to declare the government overthrown, and issue a revolutionary “ Manifesto to the Russian people y”, compiled by K.F. Ryleev and S.P. Trubetskoy. The royal family was to be arrested in the Winter Palace. A dictator, i.e. The leader of the uprising was Colonel of the Guard, Prince S.P. Trubetskoy, chief of staff - E.P. Obolensky.

At 11 am several companies of the Moscow Regiment came to Senate Square. Governor General M.A. addressed the rebels. Miloradovich called to return to the barracks and swear allegiance to Nicholas I, but was mortally wounded by Kakhovsky’s shot. The number of rebels gradually reached three thousand, however, lacking leadership (Trubetskoy never showed up at Senate Square), they continued to stand waiting. By this time, Nikolai, seeing that “the matter was becoming serious,” pulled about 12 thousand people to the square and sent for artillery. In response to the Decembrists’ refusal to lay down their arms, grapeshot fire began. By 18:00 the uprising was suppressed, about 1,300 people died.

December 29, 1825. under the leadership of S. Muravyov-Apostol performed Chernigov Regiment, but already on January 3, 1826 the uprising was suppressed.

316 people were arrested in the Decembrist case. The defendants were divided into 11 categories depending on the degree of their guilt. 5 people were sentenced to death by quartering, replaced by hanging (P.I. Pestel, K.F. Ryleev, P.G. Kakhovsky, S.I. Muravyov-Apostol, M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin).

On July 13, 1826, the execution took place in the Peter and Paul Fortress. During the execution, the ropes of Ryleev, Kakhovsky, and Muravyov-Apostol broke, but they were hanged a second time.

Trubetskoy, Obolensky, N. Muravyov, Yakubovich, Yakushkin and others went to hard labor in Siberia. All those convicted in the courtyard of the Peter and Paul Fortress were put in a “punishment” and stripped of their ranks and noble titles (their swords were broken, their shoulder straps and uniforms were torn off and thrown into bonfire).

Only in 1856, in connection with the coronation of Alexander II, an amnesty was declared. An entire generation of young, educated, active people found themselves torn out of the life of the country. From the “depths of Siberian ores” Decembrist A.I. Odoevsky wrote to Pushkin:

“Our sorrowful work will not be lost,
A flame will ignite from a spark..."

The forecast turned out to be accurate. Having dealt with the Decembrists, the government of Nicholas I was unable to kill the free thought and desire of the progressive part of society for change.

The first secret of the organizations of the future Decembrists was the Union of Salvation, organized in early December 1816. The community was originally called differently - “The Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland.”

What contributed to the creation of this secret organization? After the return of the Russian army from foreign campaigns, many guards officers realized that they could live better, as they became acquainted with the European political system, with their way of life and standard of living. This became the impetus for the creation of the Union of Salvation. Who became the founders? As noted above, the initiative was taken by guards officers, among whom were A.N. Muravyov, Prince S. Trubetskoy and the Muravyov brothers. They were members of the Sacred and Semenovskaya artel. In addition to the above persons, Pavel Pestel, Major Lunin and Colonel F. Glinka participated in the secret organization of the Union of Salvation. Initially the society consisted of about 30 people. Members of the organization set themselves the following tasks:

  • establishment of a constitutional order;
  • elimination of autocracy;
  • abolition of serfdom.

However, their plans were impracticable, since the actions and their nature were not clearly defined: some proposed regicide, others suggested presenting their conditions to the new king during the coronation. Thus, the secret organization called the Union of Salvation was not yet ready for active action.

Based on the first society of the Decembrists, two years later, in 1818, a new secret organization, the Union of Welfare, was created. This society was many times larger than the first and numbered about 200 people. It was the Union of Salvation and the Union of Prosperity that played a big role in Russian revolutionary history. The second secret organization of the Decembrists already had its own charter and program. What did its members criticize? Firstly, the autocratic system of Russia; secondly, the arbitrariness of the landowners, serfdom and bribery; thirdly, they reproached the authorities for the difficult life of the people. It is not surprising that they used the poems of the young Pushkin to express their thoughts and propaganda views.

The Welfare Union has done a great job. In 1820, there were several unrest among the soldiers subordinate to the tsarist authority. Members of the guards regiments, namely Semenovsky, refused to obey, and without any permission entered the barracks square. This was the first time such unrest broke out in the tsarist army, so the participants in this kind of uprising were severely punished as rebels.

However, the performance of the soldiers made it clear to the emperor that discontent in the army was growing, which meant changes were needed. In the same year, the organization decides to fight for republican rule in Russia. They changed their program and tactics. These changes led to the creation of the Northern and

The Union of Salvation was the very first secret organization of the Decembrists. This society marked the beginning of the period of noble revolution. It was the members of the Salvation Union who later became participants in St. Petersburg.

The first major secret society was Salvation Union(1816-1818), which, after the approval of its charter, adopted the name of the Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland. Its founder was the young Colonel of the General Staff A.N. Muravyov, and its members were S.P. Trubetskoy, S.I. and M.I. Muravyov - Apostles, N.N. Muravyov, M.S. Lunin, I.I. Pushchin, I. D. Yakushkin, etc. The society received its final structure in February 1817, when the energetic P. I. Pestel joined it; with his participation, the Status (charter) of the company was adopted. From that time on, it began to be called the Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland. It was still a small, closed, conspiratorial organization. Even a year after its founding, it had 10-12 members, and only at the end of its activities did it reach 30 people. The internal functioning of the organization was influenced by the Masonic ritual: members of the society were divided into three degrees, upon entry into it each took a solemn oath on the cross and the Gospel.

In this organization, although the main goals were defined - the introduction of a constitution, the limitation of autocracy and the abolition of serfdom, the means of struggle were not developed, and there was no program of political reforms. There were debates about ways to achieve these goals. Members of the secret society saw their main task in supporting the government's reform efforts.

In August 1817 on the occasion of the laying of a temple on the Sparrow Hills in honor of the fifth anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The royal court moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow for a year. He was accompanied by a guard consisting of two free regiments. Among the officers of these regiments were almost all members of the first secret society of the Decembrists. In Moscow, the guard was stationed in the Khamovniki barracks, located near the Devichye Pole. One of the founders of the secret society, Alexander Muravyov, being the chief quartermaster of the consolidated guards detachment, received an apartment in the barracks. It became a meeting place for the Decembrists, at one of which the so-called Moscow conspiracy-plan to assassinate the Tsar arose. Decembrist Yakushin was the first to propose his candidacy for regicide and did not want to concede “this honor” to anyone, although during the discussion it became clear that everyone present was ready to carry out this operation. But what did this act of violent removal of the reigning monarch achieve? Where is the guarantee that the new emperor, having taken the throne, will agree to the adoption of a constitution and the liberation of peasants from serfdom? There was no such guarantee. Therefore, the idea of ​​regicide had to be rejected. The Decembrists, not satisfied with themselves, liquidated the organization and, looking for a more correct program and tactics, founded a new secret society - the Union of Welfare.

Document

From the Notes of Prince S. P. Trubetskoy on the Union of Salvation

Some young people, who were for the fatherland and their king in the field of honor, wanted to be a faithful squad of their leader in the field of peace. They promised each other in word and deed to assist their sovereign in all his plans for the good of their people. There were few of them, but they were sure that their circle would increase daily...

Those entering this small society were required to: first, strictly fulfill their service duties; second, honest, noble and impeccable behavior in private life; third, reinforcement by word of all measures and proposals of the sovereign for the common good; fourth, the disclosure of laudable deeds and the condemnation of abuses by persons in their positions...

Masonic forms, introduced in meetings and in the admission of members, complicated the action of the society and introduced some kind of mystery, which was contrary to the character of most of the members.

In January 1818, on the basis of the Union of Salvation, a new Decembrist organization appeared in Moscow - Union of Prosperity, already broader in composition (it had about 200 members), which had its own charter (Green Book) and program of action aimed at disseminating the idea of ​​socio-political reorganization of Russia among various public circles.

It was also planned to publish the magazine “Russian of the 19th Century.” According to the new charter of the society, in addition to nobles, merchants, burghers, clergy and free peasants were to be accepted into it. According to the idea, public opinion can be prepared within 20 years and approximately around 1840. there must be a revolution. Over the three years of its existence, the Union took shape organizationally. Its councils (separate) were in several cities of Russia - Poltava, Tambov, Chisinau and in the Nizhny Novgorod Province. In Moscow and Tulchin there were main councils that established several subsidiary councils. Root government (leadership center) located in St. Petersburg.

The St. Petersburg Green Lamp society was ideologically connected with the Union of Welfare. In addition to literature, it discussed political problems. The society gathered at Nikita Vsevolozhsky’s apartment, in a room lit by a green lamp (hence its name).

In the 10th chapter of “Eugene Onegin” A.S. Pushkin recalled this time:

They are famous for their sharp orbit,

The whole family gathered

At the careful Ilya.

Friend of Mars, Bacchus and Venus,

Here Lunin boldly proposed

Its decisive measures

And he muttered with inspiration.

Pushkin read his Poems,

Melancholic Yakushkin,

It seemed to silently expose

Regicidal dagger.

Seeing only Russia in the world,

I foresaw nobles in this crowd

Liberators of the peasants.

In order to form public opinion favorable to their plans, which the Decembrists considered the most important driving force for future transformations, members of the Union actively participated in various legal societies (Free Society of Lovers of Russian Literature, Society for the Establishment of Mutual Training Schools, etc.), and were engaged in educational and charitable activities. .

The Decembrists worked in the Free Society to establish schools using the method of mutual education, creating the so-called Lancastrian schools. The Lacasterian school method was a way of mass dissemination of education. The chairman of the Free Society was member S.B. Count Fyodor Tolstoy (cousin of L.I. Tolstoy), his deputy is Fyodor Glinka, his secretary is William Kuchelbecker. The society operated primarily among the poor Maud. Union concerns b. About 1,000 children were trained in St. Petersburg, and 1.5 thousand in the south of the country.

Still considering it necessary to fight against serfdom and autocracy, the members of the Union more clearly defined the ways to achieve this goal. They considered themselves obligated to help the government in reforming society and attached paramount importance to issues of education and upbringing of the population in order to spread liberal ideas. For this it was supposed to create educational societies, publish books, magazines, create schools, etc.

From the moment the secret societies were founded, two trends emerged among the Decembrists: some of their participants advocated a peaceful, reformist path to transform Russia, while the other part preached the need for decisive measures in the struggle for the implementation of their ideas and plans. There were heated discussions within the Welfare Union on issues of program and tactics.

Some members of the Union wrote to the Tsar about the need to abolish serfdom. We have received information about such notes by the Decembrists Nikita Turgenev, Alexander Muravyov and others. The Tsar ordered Muravyov to tell him that he was “a fool, interfering in something that’s not his own business.”

The year 1821 was an important milestone in the Decembrist movement. In January 1820, a meeting of the Root Council of the Union of Welfare convened in St. Petersburg, the majority of the participants spoke in favor of introducing a republican form of government in Russia. However, even after this meeting, many Decembrists spoke not for a republic, but for a constitutional monarchy. The growth of radical sentiments among the Decembrists was facilitated by the soldier unrest of 1820 in the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment, which, according to a number of Decembrists, testified to the army’s readiness to march, as well as the events of 1820 in Spain, where the army was the main force of the revolutionary coup.

Disagreements within the Welfare Union brought it to the brink of crisis. At the Moscow Congress of Representatives of the Union Government in January 1821, when it became clear that the government of Alexander I had abandoned reforms, a decision was made to formally dissolve it and create a new, more secretive organization. However, the Tulchin government of the Union of Welfare, headed by P. I. Pestel, did not recognize the decision of the congress on self-dissolution and decided to continue the society. In March 1821, the Southern Society took shape. In March 1821, the foundation was laid for the creation of the Northern Society by N. I. Muravyov and N. I. Turgenev, which finally took shape at the end of 1822. Both societies attracted new members, developed and discussed draft program documents.

This organization united officers of the 2nd Army stationed in Ukraine. The head of the Southern Administration was P.I. Pestel.



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