Tsar Nicholas I: what he did for Russia. Romanovs: Nicholas I and his children. (1) Daughters Characteristics of the reign of Nicholas 1

Family of Emperor Nicholas I

Spouse. Nikolai's wife Alexandra Fedorovna (07/01/1798-10/20/1860), nee German princess Frederika-Louise-Charlotte-Wilhelmina, was born in Berlin in the family of the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm and was the sister of Emperor Wilhelm I. She married Nicholas, then Grand Duke, in 1817.

The marriage of Nikolai Pavlovich and Alexandra Feodorovna was a rare love marriage for the imperial family, which this time successfully combined with dynastic calculation. The empress herself subsequently described her feelings about marriage as follows: “I felt very, very happy when our hands joined; with complete confidence I gave my life into the hands of my Nicholas, and he never betrayed this hope.

Alexandra Fedorovna retained her fragile beauty and grace for a long time, and in the first years of marriage, Nikolai simply idolized her. Their family turned out to be quite prosperous in relation to the birth of children. Unlike the two older brothers, Nikolai became the happy father of seven legitimate offspring. His wife bore him four sons and three daughters: Tsarevich Alexander, Grand Dukes Constantine, Nicholas and Michael, Grand Duchesses Maria, Olga and Alexandra.

The father's favorite, who enjoyed his boundless trust, was the first-born Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich (04/17/1818-03/01/1881)- the future Emperor Alexander II. Brought up by the poet V. A. Zhukovsky, he grew up as a man with noble aspirations and impulses. In 1841, he became his wife Maria Alexandrovna (1824-1880), Princess Maximilian-Wilhelmina-Augusta-Sophia-Maria of Hesse-Darmstadt, daughter of the Grand Duke of Hesse (Ludwig II of Hesse-Darmstadt). While still an heir, Alexander Nikolayevich participated in government. He stayed in place of his father when he went on trips.

An outstanding personality was the second son of Nicholas I - Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich (09/09/1827-01/13/1892). The father-emperor's passion for the personality of Peter I affected his future. Contrary to the established tradition, from childhood he was assigned not to the ground guards regiment, but to the fleet. In 1831, at the age of four, the Grand Duke received the rank of Admiral General. In 1855, at the age of only 28, Konstantin began to manage the fleet as a naval minister. He turned out to be a very talented and active naval commander. Under him, sailing ships were replaced by steam ones, office work was simplified, corporal punishment of lower ranks was actually abolished earlier than in the army, capable officers and engineers were recruited to serve in the navy.

Konstantin Nikolaevich received a good education, was distinguished by a broad outlook, and was known as a liberal in politics. He was one of the ardent supporters and an active promoter of the reforms of the era of Alexander II, especially the abolition of serfdom, which took place largely thanks to his support. Being from 1861 to 1863 the governor of the Kingdom of Poland, he advocated granting Poland more rights within the Russian Empire. In 1865 he became chairman of the State Council.

After the death of Alexander II, Constantine, under pressure from his nephew, Emperor Alexander III, refused all government posts and lived the last years of his life as a private person with his wife Alexandra Iosifovna, Princess of Saxony (daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Altenburg), whom he had been married to since 1848.

Their son Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov (1858-1913) one of the most famous grandsons of Nicholas I. He was born in Strelna, in the famous Konstantinovsky Palace, which now houses one of the residences of the President of Russia. Konstantin Jr. received an excellent home education. His father made sure that history was taught to him by a professor at St. Petersburg University, an outstanding scientist S. M. Solovyov and a no less famous author of historical novels K. N. Bestuzhev. Music theory was read to the young Grand Duke by G. A. Laroche, the author of works on Glinka and Tchaikovsky. His family loved music and literature. Konstantin Sr. was not only an outstanding military and statesman, but also the publisher of the once popular magazine "Sea Collection" (1848-1917), which published chapters from Goncharov's novel "Pallada Frigate", Ostrovsky's plays, stories and essays by Grigorovich , Pisemsky, Stanyukovich.

Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov began his career as a military man. As a young midshipman, he made sea voyages on the frigates Gromoboy and Svetlana. At the age of 19 he took part in the Balkan War, in the fighting on the Danube, was awarded the Order of George of the 4th degree for bravery. After the fleet, he served in the Izmailovsky Guards Regiment, was the chief of the Tiflis Grenadier Regiment and the commander of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards. From 1889 until the end of his life, Konstantin Konstantinovich was president of the Academy of Sciences.

But Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov gained the greatest fame and even fame in his lifetime as a poet, who published under the rather transparent pseudonym “K. R.". He wrote about himself: "... not because I am of a noble family, that royal blood flows in me, of the native Orthodox people, I will earn trust and love." K. R. published a lot, he had admirers in the capital and in the provinces, and among his friends were such famous figures of Russian culture as Tchaikovsky, Fet, Maikov. In a society of musicians, poets, artists, he was his own. Until now, Tchaikovsky's classic romance “I opened the window ...” to the verses of K. R. often sounds from the stage, and the poem “Poor fellow” about the death of a simple soldier in the hospital has become a folk song. The poet Yevgeny Osetrov, our contemporary, writes that cripples and beggars sang “Poor fellow” in bazaars, piers and on trains even after the Great Patriotic War, and in popularity among the people it could only be compared with “The Death of the Varyag”.

One of his best poems of 1887, “Dedication to the Queen of the Hellenes Olga Konstantinovna,” K. R. addressed to his sister Olga Romanova, married to the Greek queen:

You, you, my gentle angel,

I dedicate this work;

Oh, let it be loving and diligent

Your eyes will read it.

You gave me these lines

They are inspired by you

Let them be in a distant land

They are taken to you.

And if the chest hurts

Longing for our side

Let them then involuntarily

You will be reminded of me.

And let them help you

The one who is always and everywhere yours,

Who can't forget you

And whose soul is full of you.

Third son of Emperor Nicholas I Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (Senior) (1831-1891) went on a military path. He had the rank of field marshal general, held the positions of inspector general of cavalry and engineering. In the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. was the commander-in-chief of the Danube army.

His son Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (the Younger) (1856-1929) was a cavalry general, during the First World War he served as commander-in-chief of the Caucasian Front. He managed to survive during the years of the revolution and the Civil War, he ended his life in exile.

Subsequently, the youngest of the sons of Nicholas I played a large role in the state affairs of the empire - Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich (1832-1909). Also a professional military man, from 1862 to 1881 he was the governor of the Caucasus and the commander-in-chief of the Caucasian troops. Under him, Chechnya, Dagestan, the western regions of the Caucasus were pacified, new provinces and districts were established in the south of the Russian Empire. He participated in the Turkish war of 1877-1878, presided over the State Council from 1881.

Mikhail Nikolaevich was married to Grand Duchess Olga Feodorovna, daughter of Duke Leopold of Baden. From this marriage he had five children: Grand Dukes Nikolai, Mikhail, George, Alexander and Grand Duchess Anastasia. Georgy Mikhailovich was the manager of the Russian Museum, and Alexander Mikhailovich was a major naval theorist, historian, bibliophile and one of the first Russian aviators.

The daughters of Emperor Nicholas I were destined for the traditional fate of the "Russian princesses" - to marry, forming a dynastic party beneficial for the state, and to engage in patronage and charity.

Older, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna (1819 - 1876), in 1839 she became the wife of Duke Maximilian of Leuchtenberg. Her husband had a noble title and good family ties in Europe, but he did not have his own state, so their family lived in Russia. Maria Nikolaevna was the president of the Academy of Arts, chairman of the "Society for the Encouragement of Arts", made a great contribution to the development of domestic art.

Nikolai's beloved daughter also became an educated and artistically developed person. I– Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (1822-1892). She received an excellent upbringing and a good education in the field of literature and linguistics, listening to lectures by famous poets P. A. Pletnev and V. A. Zhukovsky, philologist Archpriest G. P. Pavsky. In 1846, the Crown Prince of Württemberg, later the Württemberg King Charles I, became her husband. There were no children in this marriage, but Olga Alexandrovna entered the history of this small German state as the creator of many charitable institutions.

Romantically, but sadly, the fate of the youngest daughter of the emperor - Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna (1825-1844). Contemporaries noted that this "princess" was distinguished by rare beauty and great musical abilities. The girl grew up tender, graceful and painfully fragile. Her singing teacher, Italian Soliva, immediately drew attention not only to the beautiful voice of his ward, but also to her frequent cough. He offered to show her to doctors in Europe, but the court physicians felt that this advice undermined their own authority, and insisted on the dismissal of the teacher. After some time, the state of health of the Grand Duchess also worried the life physician Mandt, but the imperial family did not listen to him.

When Alexandra was 19 years old, her father and mother decided to marry her off to the heir to the Danish royal throne, Friedrich Wilhelm, son of Landgrave Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassal and Landgraves Louise Charlotte. In 1843, the groom arrived in St. Petersburg and stayed here for several months. During this time, young people managed to fall in love with each other and wanted to get married. The court doctors convinced the imperial family that Alexandra Nikolaevna's health was changing for the better, no one wanted to take Mandt's dissatisfied grumbling seriously. And the prince in love did not notice anything, he was already counting the days until the wedding.

The marriage of Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna and the young Landgrave Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassal took place on January 14, 1844. The young settled in the Winter Palace. But their happiness was short-lived. Soon Alexandra became worse, she was diagnosed with consumption, which progressed rapidly. In the spring, she was transferred to Tsarskoe Selo in the hope of the healing power of the village air. But that didn't help either. On the night of July 29, Alexandra Nikolaevna prematurely gave birth to a dead child, and a few hours later she died herself. So untimely withered this marvelous beautiful flower in the garden of the imperial family. The tale of the beautiful love of a prince and a princess turned out to have a sad ending.

Nicholas could rightfully be proud of his children and grandchildren. He and his wife spent a lot of effort to organize their education and upbringing. The Grand Dukes and Princesses, by tradition, studied at home, and not in public or private educational institutions. In the palace, they were surrounded by a whole staff of highly qualified teachers, from whom their parents demanded strictness towards their students. The "study plan" for the heir to the throne, compiled by V. A. Zhukovsky himself, was designed for 12 years and included Russian and foreign languages, exact and natural sciences, philosophy, history and ethnography, as well as various sports, arts and handicrafts.

For an unlearned task or serious mistakes, children were severely punished. They could be put on their knees facing the wall, depriving them of entertainment and pleasure. All punishments were recorded in a special journal. Attempts to complain about teachers by parents were suppressed.

The children had to observe strict etiquette. At the table, they were not allowed to talk unless they were addressed by adults. For violation of etiquette followed the deprivation of dessert. After dinner they were allowed to play a little. At exactly 9 pm they were to retire to their rooms and go to bed.

At the same time, adults in the royal family always found time to communicate with the children. The heirs of the emperor felt the constant attention of their parents to themselves, their care. Grand dukes and princesses did not grow up in complete isolation. For children's holidays, peers were invited to the palace - the sons and daughters of courtiers, teachers and doctors, pupils of the cadet corps. Among them, the royal children and grandchildren had friends. So they brought up sociability and the habit of secular life, the ability to behave with people of different classes.

The emperor's sons later used this system in raising their own children. Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich recalled that his father, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich, demanded that his sons sleep on simple iron beds with thin mattresses. The Grand Dukes Mikhailovichi rose at six in the morning, prayed, took a cold bath and had breakfast with tea and butter sandwiches. They were not offered any other food, so as not to indulge and accustom them to luxury, which is far from always possible to surround the life of an officer. Then followed several hours of classes until lunch, during which the children sat at the table with their parents.

From a very early age, the grand dukes and princesses were brought up with an awareness of the predestination of fate. Boys could choose between serving in the cavalry, artillery or navy. The girls were free to choose their hobbies: music, drawing, needlework, literary studies. Prince Alexander Mikhailovich recalled that his little brother Georgy once timidly said during dinner that he would like to become not a military man, but an artist and paint portraits. A cold silence hung around the table, incomprehensible to the child. He only knew he had done something wrong when the footman didn't put the raspberry ice cream that all the other kids were eating on his plate.

Such a strict, if not harsh, upbringing in the 19th - early 20th centuries. was accepted not only in the Romanov family, but also in many royal and ducal houses of Europe. It almost always gave good results. Children grew up prepared for many trials. Many of them, especially those who did not become the head of state, had to participate in military campaigns and battles, endure the hardships of officer life, see blood and death and not be afraid of shots and cannon fire.

As the younger Romanovs grew up, the parents relaxed their control a little. The youth had the opportunity to have fun at numerous balls and masquerades, for which no funds were spared at the Nikolaev court. The Grand Dukes looked after pretty ladies-in-waiting, but at the same time they did not forget: in order to maintain their positions in the imperial family, the girlfriend of life must be chosen not only with the heart, but also with the head, her nobility must correspond to the status of a member of the royal dynasty. In the middle of the XIX century. grand dukes married only princesses, and grand duchesses married princes. All the hobbies of youth had to remain as such and not turn into a serious relationship.

Emperor Nicholas I himself demonstrated an example of an attitude towards family duty. He treated his wife in a knightly nobility. In his younger years, he was sincerely devoted to her. But over time, their relationship has changed somewhat. Alexandra Fedorovna was distinguished by fragile health. Frequent childbirth undermined him even more. The Empress fell ill more and more often, doctors insisted on rest, trips to southern and foreign resorts. The emperor was bored in her absence and, in order to unwind, began to start small affairs with the ladies of the court, with whom such a handsome man could not but be a success. Nikolai never advertised his novels, sparing the feelings and pride of his wife, whom he still respected.

He continued to adhere to the lifestyle of a respectable family man. Close to the imperial couple, the lady-in-waiting A. O. Smirnova-Rosset left in her memoirs a detailed description of the usual daily routine of Nicholas I. The Tsar got up early and after the morning toilet took a short walk. At nine o'clock he drank coffee in his study, and at ten o'clock he went to the Empress's quarters, then went about his business. At one or half-past one, Nikolai again visited the Empress and all the children, walked again. At four o'clock the whole family sat down to dine, at six the king went out into the air, and at seven he drank tea with his wife and children. In the evening he worked for several hours in his office, at half past nine he talked with his family and courtiers, had dinner and walked before going to bed. Around twelve, the emperor and the empress went to rest. After the wedding, they always slept in the same bed. Smirnova-Rosset, like many courtiers close to the tsar, was surprised when the tsar visited Nelidova.

Varvara Arkadyevna Nelidova for many years was the mistress of Nicholas I, in fact, his second wife. By coincidence, she was the native niece of E. I. Nelidova, the favorite of his father Paul I. But, unlike his parent, Nikolai never forgot about his marital and paternal duty and was not going to divorce Alexandra Fedorovna, who was often ill. The Empress knew about this and was rather calm about her husband's cordial affection.

In this situation, the disinterestedness of V. A. Nelidova, who, apparently, sincerely loved Nikolai and agreed to any conditions, is surprising, just to stay close to him. Another imperial lady-in-waiting A.F. Tyutcheva, who met the royal favorite in the early 1850s, spoke of her like this: “Her beauty, somewhat mature, nevertheless, was still in its full bloom. She must have been about 38 at the time. It is known what position public rumor attributed to her, which, however, seemed to be contradicted by her demeanor, modest and almost severe in comparison with other courtiers. She carefully hid the grace that women usually flaunt in a position like hers.

Protecting his wife's pride and the future of the dynasty, Nikolai did not officially recognize the children born to him from his relationship with Nelidova. The imperial bastards were adopted by the count Petr Andreevich Kleinmikhel (1793-1869). Such a service rendered to the sovereign allowed him to take the position of an all-powerful temporary worker in the last years of the reign of Nicholas I. Kleinmichel was the head of communications and public buildings. He supervised the construction of the Petersburg-Moscow railway. Immediately after the death of Nikolai Kleinmichel, he was dismissed from all government positions for abuse of service.

The court life of the first two decades of the reign of Nicholas was marked by a large number of balls and masquerades. Nicholas especially liked the entertainment in the Anichkov Palace, in which he and his wife lived while still being the Grand Duke and Princess. The emperor loved to dance and court young court ladies. Often these courtship ended in a little love adventure. A historical anecdote has been preserved that once, at a masquerade, an already middle-aged tsar was carried away by an elegant young coquette in a mask. All evening he hung around her and finally invited her into his carriage. When the mysterious counterpart of the emperor took off her mask in a closed carriage, the tsar saw the laughing face of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, who wished to play a prank on her father in this way.

The swan song of Nikolai - a brilliant gentleman and a master of subtle flirting - was the winter of 1845, imprinted in the memory of the courtiers with an endless series of brilliant balls and parties. The maid of honor A. O. Smirnova-Rosset recalled these winter entertainments as follows: “The Empress was still beautiful, her beautiful shoulders and arms were still magnificent and full, and by candlelight, at the ball, dancing, she still overshadowed the first beauties. In the Anichkov Palace they danced every week in the White Drawing Room; no more than a hundred people were invited. The sovereign was especially concerned with Baroness Krüdner, but he flirted like a young woman with everyone and rejoiced at the rivalry between Buturlina and Krüdner. The king knew how to weave love affairs and, despite his already considerable age, still enjoyed it.

In the last third of the reign of Nicholas, contemporaries increasingly began to notice that the emperor seemed to be burdened not only by his state duties, but also by the very need to maintain the luxurious lifestyle traditional for his dignity, which he loved so much in his youth. The well-known artist and art historian A. N. Benois at one time accurately noticed a characteristic feature of the palace architecture and interior of the Nikolaev time: for his family, you can see the desire for intimacy, comfort, convenience and simplicity. When the empress left for treatment at the next resort, the king lived quite simply, almost like an ordinary officer in the barracks.

Approaching his fiftieth birthday, Nikolai felt more and more disappointed in life. The second Peter the Great obviously did not work out of him. Two decades of his reign were behind him, and he did not accomplish any brilliant military victories or grandiose reforms. The enormous and methodical state work, which the sovereign carried out day after day, did not bring any significant results. Often Nikolai spent eighteen hours a day in labor and did not receive any benefit or pleasure from this. The maid of honor Smirnova-Rosset recalled how the tsar once said to her: “It will soon be twenty years since I have been sitting in this beautiful place. Often such days work out that I, looking at the sky, say: why am I not there? I'm so tired..."

Family life also became increasingly depressing. After the brilliant winter of 1845, the empress had to leave for Italy for several months in the spring: her health was greatly shaken. After this illness, Alexandra Fedorovna began to noticeably fade, which could not help but worry Nikolai. He valued in the empress a devoted friend and mother of his children and was afraid to lose her.

In such a depressed state, the emperor met 1848, when another wave of revolutions covered Europe. Nikolai again felt himself in demand in the role of a pan-European gendarme. The last period of his reign began, which went down in history under the name of the “gloomy seven years”.

By order of Nicholas I, a 300,000-strong army was advanced to the western borders of Russia, ready to suppress any rebellion in Prussia, Austria or France. In 1849, at the request of the Austrian emperor, Russian troops defeated the revolution in Hungary and prolonged the agony of the House of Habsburg for another 60 years.

Inside the country, in order to stop any revolutionary sentiments, they introduced the most severe censorship in the press. Rumors are spreading about the possible closure of universities. The former favorite of Nikolai, the Minister of Education S. S. Uvarov, was dismissed for a timid article in defense of university education.

Nicholas is doing everything to preserve the system of conservative autocratic power he built, but it is collapsing before his eyes, unable to withstand the last blow - a clash with major European powers during the Crimean War of 1853-1856.

After the successful suppression of the Hungarian revolution, Nicholas I finally believed in the power and invincibility of his army. The courtiers tirelessly praised the greatness of the empire. In 1850, the 25th anniversary of the "prosperous reign" of the emperor was celebrated with unprecedented splendor and splendor. Encouraged by the atmosphere of jingoistic patriotism that reigned in his inner circle, Nicholas believed that he could deliver a decisive blow to weak Turkey and gain complete control over the Black Sea straits. The old Byzantine project with the capture of Constantinople has surfaced again.

But Britain and France took the side of Turkey. A 60,000-strong Allied expeditionary force landed in the Crimea, armed with the latest military equipment of the time. Russia, which had the largest army in Europe, suffered a shameful defeat. She lost the entire Black Sea fleet. The heroism of ordinary soldiers and officers was not enough to resist the latest English rifles and long-range guns. A well-known politician, the future Minister of Internal Affairs P. A. Valuev wrote then about the Russian army and the empire as a whole: “Glitter from above, and rot from below.”

Emperor Nicholas I experienced this national humiliation almost the hardest. His army and navy, which he loved so much and which he was so proud of all his life, not only failed to conquer Turkish territories, but were not even able to defend their own. The usual commander-in-chief in his place had to resign as a man of honor. However, the law did not provide for such an opportunity for the emperor. Only death could save him from shame. The maid of honor A.F. Tyutcheva wrote: “In a short period of one and a half years, the unfortunate emperor saw how the scaffolding of that illusory grandeur, on which he imagined that he raised Russia, was crumbling under him. And yet it was precisely in the midst of the crisis of the last catastrophe that the true greatness of this man was brilliantly revealed. He was mistaken, but honestly wrong, and when he was forced to admit his mistake and its disastrous consequences for Russia, which he loved above all, his heart broke, and he died. He died not because he did not want to survive the humiliation of his own ambition, but because he could not survive the humiliation of Russia.

In late January - early February 1855, a severe influenza epidemic took place in St. Petersburg. Almost the entire imperial family, many courtiers and servants, were ill. Nicholas I also fell ill. The flu turned into pneumonia, which neither the body of the patient himself nor the court physicians could cope with. Nicholas felt that he was dying. With him almost inseparably was the eldest son and heir Alexander. In a moment of revelation, his father told him: “I hand over my team to you, unfortunately, not in the order I wanted, leaving a lot of trouble and worries.”

The king's illness lasted two weeks. February 18, 1855 Nikolai died. Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich left in his diary the following entry about his father’s last minutes: “Mandt (imperial medical officer. – L. S.) Behind me. The sovereign asked Bazhanov (his secretary. - L. S.). Communion with all of us. Head is fresh. Suffocation. Strong torment. Says goodbye to everyone - with children, with others. I'm on my knees holding my hand. Pity her. Feels cold towards the end. At 1/4 of the 1st it's all over. Last terrible torment. Later, the wife of the heir, who was present at the death of her father-in-law, claimed that shortly before his death, shortness of breath stopped for several minutes, and Nikolai was able to speak. His last words to his eldest son were: "Keep everything - keep everything." At the same time, the emperor strongly squeezed Alexander's hand, showing that it was necessary to hold tightly.

After the death of Nicholas in St. Petersburg, it was rumored that the tsar had committed suicide. But there are no serious grounds for these gossips. If the emperor did anything to hasten his departure, then it was most likely an unconscious non-resistance to the disease that happened so opportunely.

Nicholas ruled Russia for 30 years. This is one of the longest reigns in the history of the Romanov dynasty. The sadder is that it was not happy for the country. The blame for everything is the personality of the emperor. Probably, the most accurate and figurative description of Nicholas I was given by A.F. Tyutcheva, who knew him well, the maid of honor, whose memoirs “At the Court of Two Emperors” we have repeatedly quoted: “Deeply sincere in his convictions, often heroic and great in his devotion to that cause, in which he saw the mission entrusted to him by providence, we can say that Nicholas I was the Don Quixote of autocracy, a terrible and malicious Don Quixote, because he possessed omnipotence, which allowed him to subordinate everything to his fantastic and outdated theory and trample underfoot the most legitimate aspirations and rights of his century."

But Nicholas I still benefited his empire: he raised the heir to Alexander Nikolayevich as a modern man, with a strong character. And he was ready to carry out a significant part of the reforms that society expected first from his uncle Alexander I, and then from his father. The trouble is that these reforms are at least half a century late.

Appendix 5 In reply to the request submitted on May 7, 1907 by the right-wing parties of the Duma, about the discovery of a conspiracy against the Sovereign Emperor, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich and P. A. Stolypin Lord members of the State Duma, I must first of all state that I have just

Terror. Again the GPU is in charge of the white militants. The death of Maria Vladislavovna. Head of Emperor Nicholas II. Hunt for Kutepov Probably, during prayer or at night, when Kutepov was left alone, he asked God how it could happen that the great Christian Orthodox

The personality of Emperor Nicholas I and the general characteristics of his reign Nicholas was the third son in a large family of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich (1754-1801) and Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828), the grandson of Catherine the Great (1729-1796). He was born in Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg on 25

Family of Emperor Nicholas I Spouse. The wife of Nikolai Alexandra Feodorovna (07/01/1798-10/20/1860), nee German princess Frederica-Louise-Charlotte-Wilhelmina, was born in Berlin in the family of the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm and was the sister of Emperor Wilhelm I. She

Family of Emperor Alexander II Spouse. The first wife of Alexander II and the legitimate empress was Maria Alexandrovna, nee Princess of Hesse Maximilian-Wilhelmina-Augusta-Sophia-Maria (07/27/1824-05/22/1880). This marriage was not quite usual for the Romanov family,

Family of Emperor Alexander III Spouse. His wife, as well as the title of Tsarevich, Alexander Alexandrovich received "inheritance" from his older brother, Tsarevich Nicholas. It was the Danish princess Maria-Sophia-Frederika-Dagmar (1847-1928), in Orthodoxy Maria Feodorovna. Nikolay

The personality and main events of the reign of Emperor Nicholas II Nikolai Alexandrovich was born on May 6, 1868. He was the eldest child in the family of the then heir-tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich (future Emperor Alexander III) and his wife Grand Duchess Maria

Appendix. The Romanov dynasty from Emperor Alexander I to Emperor Nicholas

Family of Emperor Alexander I Pavlovich (Blessed) (12/12/1777-11/19/1825) Years of reign: 1801-1825 ParentsFather - Emperor Pavel I Petrovich (09/20/1754-12/01/1801). Augusta Louise of Württemberg

Family of Emperor Nicholas I Pavlovich (Unforgettable) (06.25.1796-18.02.1855) Years of reign: 1825-1855 ParentsFather - Emperor Pavel I Petrovich (09.20.1754-12.01.1801). Augusta-Louise of Württemberg (10/14/1759-10/24/1828). Spouse Empress

Family of Emperor Nicholas II Alexandrovich (Bloody) (06.05.1868-17.07.1918) Years of reign: 1894-1917 ParentsFather - Emperor Alexander III Alexandrovich (26.02.1845-20.10.1894). Mother - Empress Maria Feodorovna, Princess Maria-Sofia- Frederica-Dagmar of Denmark (11/14/1847-1928). Spouse Empress

MAIN DATES OF THE LIFE AND REIGN OF EMPEROR NICHOLAS II May 6, 1868 - the birth of Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich in Tsarskoye Selo.

THE MAIN DATES IN THE LIFE OF EMPEROR NICHOLAS II AND THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THE REIGN OF 1868, May 6 (18). Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich was born on May 20 (June 2). Baptism of Nikolai Alexandrovich. 1875, December 6th. He received the rank of ensign. 1880, May 6. He received the rank of second lieutenant. 1881, March 1. the highest

CHAPTER ONE THE MARRIAGE OF EMPEROR NICHOLAS II AND THE GERMAN PRINCESS ALICE OF HESSEN On November 14 (26), 1894, the birthday of Empress Maria Feodorovna, 25 days after the death of Emperor Alexander III, took place in the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands in the Winter Palace

Chapter Two CORONATION OF EMPEROR NICHOLAS II The coronation of Nicholas II took place on May 14 (26), 1896 in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin. There were many foreign guests, among whom were the Emir of Bukhara, Queen Olga Konstantinovna of Greece, twelve crown princes, including

Chapter III Some political meetings of Emperor Nicholas II on Russian territory in 1912. Assessment of relations between Russia and the Austro-German Union In 1912, Emperor Nicholas II had several political meetings on Russian territory. First of

In Soviet historiography Emperor Nicholas I portrayed exclusively in negative colors. The strangler of freedoms, the gendarme of Europe, the man who destroyed Pushkin and so on - such was the portrait of a man who had headed Russia for three decades.

It could not have been otherwise: Nicholas I suppressed the uprising of the Decembrists revered in the USSR, which already ruled out the possibility of his positive assessment.

It’s not that Soviet historians were lying, it’s just that the image of the emperor was correctly drawn from only one side. In life, everything was much more difficult.

third son Paul I was born on July 6 (according to the new style), 1796, a few months before his father's accession to the throne. Unlike older brothers Alexandra And Constantine, Nikolai did not have time to get under the care of his grandmother, Catherine the Great although she had such plans.

Little Nicholas was too far in line for the throne for anyone to seriously consider preparing him for the role of emperor. The boy's nanny became Charlotte Lieven, and in 1800 Emperor Paul assigned to his son General Matvey Lamzdorf with the prescription: “Just don’t make a rake out of my son.”

General Matvey Lamzdorf. Source: Public Domain

"Victim" of General Lamzdorf

Matvey Ivanovich Lamzdorf, an executive servant, was least of all suited for pedagogical work. Nikolai and his younger brother Mikhail were taken into the grip of the strictest discipline. The guardian-general believed that the best means for proper education was drill and the suppression of any liberties. Much of what Nikolai's contemporaries will not like very much was the result of Lamzdorf's activities.

The coup of 1801, which ended in the death of his father, Nikolai remembered very vaguely, which he honestly admitted in his memoirs. At that time, the future emperor did not think about the fight between his father and brother for power, but about his beloved wooden horse.

The rigid discipline of Lamzdorf had the opposite effect - Nikolai sabotaged home schooling, as a result of which he had serious gaps in the humanities. But Nicholas was well versed in military affairs and in fortification.

Nikolai Pavlovich knew how to critically approach himself - already in adulthood, when the prospect of taking the Russian throne became real, he tried to educate himself. It turned out, frankly, not very well. The English Queen Victoria, after twenty years of the reign of Nicholas, gave him the following characterization: "His mind is not processed, his upbringing was careless."

Subsequently, Nicholas with all care will approach the issue of educating his own sons, so that they do not end up in his position.

Sudden heir to the throne

During the Patriotic War and subsequent foreign campaigns, Nikolai rushed to the front, but Alexander I kept his younger brother away from the battlefield. Instead of military glory at this time, he found a bride - a young daughter of the King of Prussia Princess Charlotte.

In July 1817, Charlotte of Prussia, who became Orthodox Alexandra Feodorovna, married Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich. The young were happy and did not dream of the throne.

Nicholas I and Alexandra Feodorovna. Source: commons.wikimedia.org

In 1820, Emperor Alexander summoned Nicholas and announced that from now on he would become heir to the throne. The emperor was childless, Konstantin Pavlovich renounced his rights to the throne, as he was divorced and also had no children.

It is unlikely that Nikolai was flirting when he admitted in his notes that at that moment he became really scared: “My wife and I were left in a position that I can only liken to the feeling that, I believe, will amaze a person walking calmly along a pleasant road, dotted with flowers and from which the most pleasant views open up everywhere, when suddenly an abyss opens up under his feet, into which an irresistible force plunges him, not allowing him to retreat or return.

Nicholas did not prepare for the role of the monarch and did not want it for himself, but accepted this fate with the humility of a soldier, which General Lamzdorf hammered into him in his childhood.

"I am the emperor, but at what cost!"

The question of the heir hung in the air - information about the abdication of Constantine was not disclosed, and in 1825, when Alexander died, uncertainty arose that threatened with grave consequences. Officials and the military began to swear allegiance to Konstantin, the mint began printing rubles with his image. Nicholas, trying to resolve the situation, urged his brother to come to St. Petersburg from Warsaw, where he was the governor of the Kingdom of Poland.

The Decembrist uprising shocked Nicholas. The rebellion of representatives of noble and honored noble families seemed to him an unthinkable and out of the ordinary event.

Nikolai, who almost died himself when he met with the rebels right on the St. Petersburg street, was not delighted with the forceful liquidation of the performance. “I am an emperor, but at what cost, my God! At the cost of the blood of my subjects,” he wrote to his brother Konstantin.

In the Soviet period, Emperor Nicholas was presented as a kind of bloody maniac, who enthusiastically enjoyed the massacre of the rebels. In fact, nothing like that - the monarch approached traitors as condescendingly as possible. According to the current laws, for an attempt on the person of the sovereign, quartering was supposed, for participation in such a conspiracy - hanging.

As a result, Nicholas completely ruled out quartering, and only the five most active initiators of the uprising were sent to the gallows. But the liberal circles of Russian society considered this a terrible atrocity.

Emperor Nicholas I on Senate Square on December 14, 1825. Source: Public Domain

Administrator on the throne

Nicholas I carefully studied the documents of the Decembrists, especially those related to the analysis of the situation in the country. He saw pain points that required change, and in particular the problem of serfdom.

But he considered radical and revolutionary steps in this area harmful and dangerous.

Nikolai considered the centralization of power, the building of its rigid vertical, the administration of all branches of the country's life, as the main way to solve problems.

The heyday of the bureaucracy of the times of the Russian Empire fell precisely on the reign of Nicholas I. Russian writers did not spare ironically colors for the depiction of Nicholas Russia, which turned into one large state office.

To carry out the tasks of political investigation in July 1826, a permanent body was created - the Third Branch of the Personal Office - a secret service with significant powers. "Third branch", which was headed by Count Alexander Benckendorff, became one of the symbols of the reign of Nicholas I.

The emperor loved the army, but saw the guarantee of its power not in timely rearmament and modernization, but in the establishment of strict discipline. Under Nicholas, most often they began to punish by “running through the ranks” - the offender was led through the ranks of hundreds of soldiers, each of whom struck the punished with a stick. Such punishment, in fact, was a sophisticated form of the death penalty. For addiction to this type of punishment, the emperor received the nickname Nikolai Palkin.

Under Nicholas I, work was carried out to systematize Russian law and the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire was created.

Through the ranks, drawing by Geoffroy, 1845. Source: Public Domain

How Russia first got off the “raw material needle”

Almost throughout his reign, the emperor was engaged in solving the "peasant question". A ban was introduced to exile peasants to hard labor, to sell them one by one and without land, the peasants received the right to redeem themselves from the estates being sold. The "Decree on obligated peasants" and other measures of the tsarist government made it possible under Nicholas I to reduce the proportion of serfs from almost 60 percent of the population to 45 percent. The problem as a whole was far from being solved, but progress was obvious.

A reform of the management of the state village was carried out, which made it possible to improve the situation of state peasants and, at the same time, increase state revenues.

Nicholas I accepted a country that was 100 percent a raw power. The industrial revolution in Europe practically did not affect her. During the three decades of the reign of Nikolai Pavlovich, the output per worker in Russian industry has tripled.

The volume of output of cotton products in Russia increased 30 times, and the volume of engineering products - 33 times.

The share of the urban population under Nicholas I doubled and exceeded 9 percent.

"Only you and I do not steal"

Under Nicholas I, the construction of railways of an all-Russian scale began. We also owe him a wider railway gauge compared to the European one, which remains to this day. The monarch believed that the unification of Russia was not needed, because it was not worth creating amenities for a potential aggressor in terms of delivering troops to Russian territory.

Success, however, could not allow Russia to catch up with the leading European countries in terms of development. The vertical of power created by Nikolai, while solving certain problems, simultaneously hampered many promising undertakings.

And, of course, the emperor also faced such a phenomenon as corruption. Nikolai made regular audits the norm, and mercilessly sent stealing officials to court. By the end of his reign, the number of convicted officials was measured in the thousands every year. But, despite the rigidity of the monarch, the situation did not improve.

“In Russia, only you and I do not steal,” Nikolai said with bitter irony to the heir to the throne, the future emperor Alexander II.

Nicholas I at construction work. 1853

Emperor Nicholas 1 is a complex and controversial personality in many respects. If earlier in history lessons he was presented as a rude paramilitary man, a lover of severe punishments and a fan of discipline, now his character has been rethought. Facts are becoming known that characterize the king as a decent and honest person, an officer in the best sense of the word, whose every act was aimed at the good of the country. Let's get acquainted with the personality and activities of Nicholas 1.

General information about the monarch

Nicholas I was born in Tsarskoye Selo in 1796. Not being the first and even the second son of Emperor Paul I, he was not the heir to the throne, but fate decreed otherwise.

When the future emperor was less than five years old, as a result of an insidious conspiracy, his father died, so the elder brother, Alexander I, took up the upbringing of the boy. , which could not but affect the personality of Nicholas 1. Later, he himself realized with horror his lack of education, but state and family affairs did not make it possible to catch up.

He ruled the country for 30 years, while trying with all his might to retain unlimited power. During these years, the secret police (Third Division) was founded, the purpose of which was to spy on the ideas prevailing in society. Under Nikolai Pavlovich, autocracy reached its apogee, the tsar opposed any free-thinking coming from the West. Little was done to improve the life of the serfs: now they could not be sent to hard labor, and the farmers themselves got the opportunity to redeem the land. It is clear that only a very small part of the serfs could afford such a thing.

Country in those years

The personality traits of Nicholas 1 should be described against the background of those historical events that took place in Russia during the years of his life and reign.

The coming of the emperor to power took place during the bloody events, which could not but affect his character. Perhaps that is why, fearing to become a victim of another coup and repeat the fate of his father, he acted very hesitantly and could not abolish serfdom. The elder brother, Alexander I, died suddenly, the second son of Paul, Constantine, voluntarily renounced the throne. Therefore, Nicholas 1, being mentally unprepared for this, was forced to become the Russian emperor, making a colossal leap from a strict and disciplined military official to the ruler of the whole country.

The personality of Nicholas 1 could not but be reflected in an amazing combination of events (the death of an older brother and the abdication of the middle one), in connection with which he, the third child, received unlimited power. He believed that God himself had chosen him for great deeds, and by his policy he tried his best to keep order in the country.

Appearance

Sources that have come down to us describe the appearance of Emperor Nicholas 1 as follows:

• High growth.
• State bearing.
• The face is slightly elongated, with a Roman nose and an open forehead.
• Healthy complexion.
• Blue eyes.

He looked very noble, giving the impression of a real Russian tsar. As a clothing, he, according to the tradition of those years, wore military uniforms, richly decorated with gold embroidery. In her memoirs, Nikolai's daughter recalled that the uniform was also his favorite home clothes for him - old, shabby and without an epaulette, but comfortable for work.

early years

The tutor of the king was the German Lamzdorf, a very strict and even tough person, it was under his influence that the character of the future monarch was formed. From childhood, rudeness was present in the personality of the king. He did not pay attention to getting an education, but he excelled in drawing.

The mentor used severe measures against the king, up to corporal punishment, and even once beat his pupil very badly, wanting to break his will. But Nikolai Pavlovich did not obey, already at an early age showing his characteristic stubbornness and self-will.

Hobbies

A description of the personality of Emperor Nicholas 1 will be incomplete without mentioning his hobbies:

• The monarch was very fond of various machines, mechanisms, the development of which was just beginning in his time. Therefore, he was keenly interested in the appearance of one or another technical novelty. It was during his reign that the first railway in Russia was opened. By the beginning of the reign of Nicholas, the industry was completely undeveloped, by the end of his reign, the country had reached the forefront in the production of metal, leather, glass products, they began to make their own machine tools and steam locomotives.
• From early childhood, the future autocrat was fascinated first with military games, then with military affairs. He received the post of brigadier general, conscientiously performed his duties and was far from the royal court, which suited him perfectly. Military affairs became his true passion, he enjoyed studying tactics and artillery.
• Another hobby of the king was also connected with military affairs. Contemporaries recalled that Nikolai Pavlovich loved to draw sketches of uniforms, while he was well versed in tailoring.

Character traits

From childhood, in the personality of Nicholas 1, a trait was determined that he retained throughout his life - incredible accuracy, bordering on pedantry. He was strict with his subordinates and demanded from them the impeccable implementation of laws and regulations.

Also, from an early age, the future emperor was distinguished by perseverance and perseverance. It is known that the king never smoked or drank alcohol, hated bad habits in his subjects.

Describing the personality of Nicholas 1, one cannot fail to mention the secrecy of the character of the autocrat, which was always emphasized by his contemporaries. Faced with the problem of the free-thinking of the nobility, which resulted in the Decembrist uprising, he ceased to trust even his entourage. However, innate discipline forced the emperor to completely concentrate all state affairs in his own hands.

Long years of military service could not but be reflected in the personality traits of Nicholas 1, which is why he was best suited to military ranks. The emperor is also known for his amazing capacity for work, he worked 18 hours a day.

Ruthlessness in general was not inherent in the tsar, but, being a strong and strict man, he, often against his will, could severely punish those who posed a danger to the state system and Russia as a whole. Each of his actions was weighed and justified in his own way.

Features of the board

In short, the personality of Nicholas 1 is best manifested in the way he ruled the country. The emperor was absolutely sure that a firm monarchical power was what Russia needed, therefore he was very strict with everyone who tried to somehow change the ancient form of government.

And if his older brother, Alexander I, was fond of the ideas of socialism and even wanted to try on European theories for Russian reality, then Nicholas was convinced that the country needed an autocratic monarch, strong and decisive. He ascended the throne at the age of 29, already a mature person, with formed views and convictions, and at the same time did not expect at all that one day he would become emperor. It is this fact that explains the inconsistency of the character and policy of the king. He was not ready for the responsibilities that fell on him, but considered it his duty to help Russia solve the problems that were tearing it apart from the inside.

Relationship with spouse and children

An assessment of the personality of Nicholas 1 would be incomplete without mentioning his relationship with his wife, Alexandra Fedorovna, and children. He sincerely loved and protected his wife, he was strict with children, but fair. The marriage produced seven children: four daughters and three sons.

In an effort to teach wisdom to his second son Constantine, he gave him instruction. Here are her main points:

• Listen carefully and analyze everything. But keep your opinion to yourself.
• Do not allow yourself familiar behavior.
• Do not use your position as Grand Duke and refuse all honors.

This speaks volumes. Being a straight and decent person, he wanted to instill these qualities in his children.

Personal assessment

Of particular interest is how Tyutcheva explains the inconsistency of the personality of Nicholas 1. The maid of honor of the Empress describes the tsar as an honest person, sincerely convinced that his every act is for the good of Russia. He considered himself the chosen one of God and had no doubts about his mission: to protect Russia from the influence of liberalism. Nicholas took his duty very seriously and tried with all his might to justify the trust placed in him. The emperor spoke rather skeptically about his accession, emphasizing that he did not take the throne himself, this place was granted to him by God's will. And, although it is almost worse than the galley, he will honestly do his duty.

Lack of education and complete unpreparedness for the royal throne made him largely limited. He did not recognize new trends in politics, but he cannot be called completely conservative, since he was very supportive of the development of technology.

To understand the personality of Emperor Nicholas 1, consider a few interesting facts:

• The emperor had an explosive temper and was bad at hiding his emotions. Such a case is known. Once Nikolai Pavlovich very strongly scolded one of the generals during the exercises, and he was not stingy in expressions. However, the next day he publicly apologized and fraternally hugged his “victim”.
• Nikolai Pavlovich knew that the whole country was mired in bribery and embezzlement, once he told his son and heir that he thought that only the two of them did not steal in all of Russia.
• He considered serfdom an evil for Russia, but its abolition in this troubled situation was even more disastrous.
• He perfectly understood that he was not loved by the people, he knew that he was considered an “enemy of enlightenment”, an “executioner”, a “lover of sticks”, but he could not go against his own conscience. All his actions were aimed at protecting the autocracy.

These facts speak of the inconsistency of the personality of Nicholas 1. He tried to maintain peace and tranquility in Russia, was strict with those who violated the law and discipline, but the country needed something completely different, so his reign did not leave any tangible results.

Nikolai Pavlovich Romanov (1796-1855), the third son of the royal couple of Paul I and Maria Feodorovna, chose the career of a military engineer and did not think about reigning. Unexpectedly, on November 25, 1825, Emperor Alexander I died suddenly, leaving no direct heir.

The second brother, Konstantin Pavlovich Romanov, abdicated as early as 1823, citing a morganatic marriage and inability to govern the state. Then Alexander I decided to transfer the supreme power, if necessary, to Nikolai Pavlovich Romanov and fixed the transfer in the Manifesto on August 16 (28), 1823.

On December 14, 1825, the people, government agencies and most of the troops swore allegiance to Nicholas I.

Domestic politics

Suppression of the Decembrist uprising

Some of the guards officers refused to swear allegiance to Nikolai Pavlovich. Fraudulently, the conspirators led the soldiers to the Senate in order to carry out a coup d'état. The rebels dreamed of the liberalization of the state system.

The rebellion was crushed by artillery. The instigators were arrested and exiled to Siberia. Five are executed. The movement is suppressed.

Nicholas I carried out a policy of centralization of power. In order to avoid popular unrest, he subordinated the system of state administration to personal control.

Bureaucracy of power. Fight against corruption

The bureaucratization of the state apparatus was facilitated by the establishment of a huge number of new departments, commissions, and offices.

Nicholas I endowed the Own Chancellery with legislative, managerial and supervisory functions. Under him, the role of the Senate increased. Some organs duplicated others. Bureaucracy, red tape, and corruption flourished.

Finance Minister E.F. Kankrin subordinated the activities of his department to the fight against corruption. Thanks to revisions at all levels of government and administration, in 1853 alone, 2,540 people were brought to trial for abuses.

Russian national idea

The national idea was presented in 1833 by Count S. S. Uvarov. He argued that the basis of public education rests on the trinity of Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality.

Faith protects society from immorality. Autocracy is the main condition for the stable development of the state. Nationality - the preservation of national traditions.

Restriction of rights and freedoms. Enlightenment attack

Nicholas I strove for the inviolability of the state system. The 3rd branch of the office dealt with issues of state security, political investigation. A corps of gendarmes was created, headed by A. Kh. Benckendorff.

The sovereign also saw the reason for the uprising of 1825 in the imperfection of the educational system. As a result, during his reign, non-noble estates were deprived of the right to study at gymnasiums and universities. Tuition fees were raised to weed out the rabble. Strengthened supervision of university teaching. Philosophy was recognized as a harmful science.

The army is a subject of special care

The reform of the Russian army in 1833 was aimed at strengthening the combat composition of the infantry and cavalry regiments by reducing their number. Reduced service life from 25 to 20 years. In 1834, the sovereign limited the use of gauntlets and abolished fukhteli (a blow with a flat saber). Despite the backwardness of industry, smooth-bore artillery was replaced by rifled, bronze and cast-iron gun barrels - by steel ones. The capsule gun replaced the flintlock. Military spending increased by 70%. The discipline got tougher. Corporal punishment was widely used, which is why the people nicknamed the tsar Nikolai Palkin.

Codification of Russian laws

The emperor understood the need to streamline legislation. He established the II Department of the Chancellery and ordered the codification of laws. The result of painstaking work was the collection of 1830 "The Complete Collection of the Laws of the Russian Empire" in 45 volumes, which combined all the decrees from the Code of 1649 to the laws of Nicholas I.

At the same time, preparatory work was underway to draw up a Code of Acting Laws. Selected from the Complete Collection, the current laws with comments underwent departmental examination and in 1833 were published in the 15-volume Code of Laws of the Russian Empire.

The rapid development of industry

Russian economy in the first quarter of the 19th century. significantly lagged behind the western one, where the industrial revolution was already ending.

In Nikolaev Russia such branches of industry as textile, paper-making, sugar developed. There was a production of metal products.

Paved highways were built. In 1841, the Petersburg-Moscow railway was built. The construction of roads stimulated the development of Russian engineering. The growth of industrial production caused an increase in the urban population.

Policy towards the nobility. Peasant question

Despite the distrust of the nobility, Nikolai Pavlovich took measures to strengthen the nobility. He continued the appointment of nobles to key government posts. He limited the penetration of other classes into the nobility. He forbade the division of estates between family members.

To improve the situation of the peasants, Nicholas I established Committees for the Peasantry, the fifth branch of the Chancellery. Instructed P.D. Kiselyov to prepare a draft reform of the state peasants.

As a result of their activities, reforms were developed that made life easier for the peasants and became the basis for the future abolition of serfdom.

Foreign policy

Russia is the gendarme of Europe. Suppression of the Polish and Hungarian uprisings

The role of Nikolaev Russia in suppressing the revolutionary-minded peoples of Europe intensified.

In 1831, General I.F. Paskevich entered Warsaw with troops, suppressed the uprising of the Poles against Russian tsarism.

In 1849, Nicholas I responded to a request for help from the Austrian government and sent a 150,000-strong army of General I.F. Paskevich to suppress the Hungarian uprising. For 3 weeks, Russian troops defeated the Hungarian rebels and saved the Austro-Hungarian Empire from collapse.

Wars of Russia with Turkey, Persia. East expansion.

Russo-Persian War 1826-1828 went for dominance in the Transcaucasus and the Caspian. The Iranians fought for Tiflis, tried to drive the enemy beyond the Terek. Russian troops, led by General I.F. Paskevich, defeated the Persians. According to the Turkmanchay peace treaty, the Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates went to Russia.

Türkiye was defeated in the war of 1828-1829. opened the Black Sea straits for Russian ships. The right of the presence of our navy in the Caspian was won.

Under Nicholas I, the Caucasian war continued for the mountainous regions of the North Caucasus, for influence in Central Asia: the Khiva (1838-1840, 1847-1848) and Kokand campaigns.

In 1853, the Crimean War began between the Russian Empire and the coalition of Turkey, Great Britain, France, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. There was a redistribution of the once divided world.

Death of Nicholas I. Results of the reign

Nikolai Pavlovich died on February 18, 1855 due to pneumonia, which he caught after the flu at the parade.

The results of the reign of Nicholas I are as follows:

References:

• Kersnovsky, A.A. History of the Russian army in 4 vols. M: "Voice", v.2, 1993;
• Klyuchevsky, V.O. Russian history course. Lecture LXXXV "The reign of Nicholas I ..."

1. Alexander

   Excellent, thank you helped for the spur to school))

2. NEHamster

   And Nicholas I actually supported Gogol and paid all the debts of the deceased Pushkin from the state treasury. True, the tsar was not so favorable to all cultural figures.

3. Olesya

   It seems to me that this material would be better perceived in the form of a table. Nicholas I is a controversial personality, so a table with successful and unsuccessful reforms of the ruler would be ideal. Many historians note that Nicholas I was much inferior in terms of political instinct to both Alexander I and Alexander II. This is also evidenced by the fact that Nicholas could not decide to abolish serfdom, and the popular indignation speaks for itself.

4. Irina

   Yes, Nikolai paid Pushkin's debts. However, he indirectly contributed to their appearance, forcing the poet to lead a lifestyle that was extremely unsuitable for him. In general, Nikolai was a peculiar person. His policy was reactionary and "slowed down" the country, but there were reasons for this: remember the conditions under which he ascended the throne. His desire to “remove the revolutionary contagion” from society is quite understandable. By his personal qualities, he was a courageous and resolute person.

5. Grunge66

   The reign of Nicholas has a very bright and prominent characteristic. It was in his years that the totalitarian note of the government apparatus became visible. The tsarist government wanted to control all spheres of people's life, and precisely for this reason, in this period, the number of officials was one of the largest in the entire existence of the empire. Although the life of the serfs improved a little and became easier compared to the previous era.

6. Anna

   Nothing, unfortunately, is said about Nikolai's contribution to the development of military and technical education. And here were the most impressive successes. Was opened:
   Petersburg Technological Institute, Moscow Higher Technical School (now known to everyone as Bauman Moscow State Technical University), Engineering Academy, Artillery Academy, General Staff Academy in St. Petersburg.
   In 1939, the Pulkovo Observatory near St. Petersburg was opened. One of the best in the world at that time.

7. Ludmila

   Tell me, why in the time of Nicholas I, Russia was called the "Gendarme" of Europe? Thank you very much in advance!

8. svstar1989

   Lyudmila, the 30s and 40s of the 19th century were marked by revolutions in Europe. Everyone knows how Nicholas I came to power, and how he treated the revolutionary movement. Therefore, he participated in the affairs of many European countries to suppress these rebellious moods. And the European elites did not like it. Another name for our country in those days was “prison of peoples”.

9. Aoidos

   The first ten years of the war in the Caucasus are connected with Yermolov. Then there were Paskevich, Kluki-von Klugenai, Vorontsov. You can add about the Polish uprising of 1830-1831.

10. troubadours

    The periods of rule of Alexander I and Nicholas I can be called a time of missed opportunities. The situation outside and inside the Russian Empire pushed the sovereigns to decisive reforms, but at best they were limited to half measures.

11. Philotheus

    Whoever said anything, but Nicholas I was the flesh and blood of the "noble tsar." In all pressing state issues, he first of all defended the interests of the nobility. The reformist aspirations noticed behind him were primarily aimed at the benefit of the nobility, and not at making life easier for the oppressed.

12. Paul

    Separately, I would like to mention that during the reign of Emperor Nicholas, the Kiev Imperial University of St. Vladimir, now known as the Kiev National Taras Shevchenko University, was founded. This educational institution occupied leading positions both in the Russian Empire and the USSR, and in independent Ukraine.

    gosh

    And yet, in addition to "defending" the interests of the nobility, the emperor had many more problems)). And the solution to these problems often ran counter to the so-called. the interests of the nobility. Still, the figure of the emperor, I think, was a kind of core on which the country was based. The ruling circles in 1917 displaced this figure and got complete chaos.

13. Ivan

    It is noteworthy that the III branch investigated, among other things, cases of corruption, cruel treatment of peasants by landlords, counterfeiters and criminal murders. His first investigation into a political case was an investigation into the activities of the Petrashevites and F.M. Dostoevsky. And this is 1849, that is, 23 years after the creation of the department itself.

14. Anna

    Nicholas I is a rather controversial personality and it is difficult to perceive what he did for the people. During his reign, the Crimean War is not the most successful, and some will call this time of stagnation of society. But I would say that, as a ruler, he was a wise man and made a significant contribution to history. It must be remembered that he came to the throne at a young age and was preparing to join the ranks of the military, not the emperors.

15. Nick_01

    The defeat in the Crimean War was due to the technical and military backwardness of the Russian army. The Russian fleet was sailing, while England and France already had a steam fleet. The Russian army used smooth-bore weapons, while the European ones used rifled ones, which affected the range of the shot.

The All-Russian Emperor Nicholas 1 ascended the throne on December 14 (26th according to the new style) December 1825. The period of his reign lasted almost 30 years, until his death, which followed on February 18 (March 2), 1855. The years of the reign of Nicholas 1 were accompanied by the almost constant participation of Russia in hostilities, the strengthening of the monarchy and the development of the bureaucracy. The main goal of this ruler's policy was to preserve the existing order. Nicholas 1 had a negative attitude towards reforms that carried something progressive. Reforms, of course, were carried out (for example,), but for such a long reign there were not very many of them.

Key Features of the Board

Only the first time the emperor had signs of liberality. A.S. Pushkin was allowed to return from exile, and the poet V.A. Zhukovsky. Later, during the reign of Nicholas 1 in Russia, there was a transfer of army orders into civilian life. The tsar admitted that he was comfortable among the military people, because in their society there was order, discipline and subordination. It was order that he wanted to see in all government bodies. Under Nicholas 1, there was a strengthening of bureaucracy and police power, because he was convinced that this would not allow revolutions in the country.

Wars in the era of Nicholas 1

All the time while the emperor was in power, Russia waged military operations on its own and foreign territories. Here are just some of the events of that time:

• War with Persia 1826–1828;
• Russian-Turkish confrontation in 1828–1829;
• The suppression of the uprising in Poland in 1830;
• Participation in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising in 1849 (assistance to the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph);
• Crimean War 1853–1856

In 1817, a military operation began, connected with the annexation of the regions of the North Caucasus to Russia. The war ended in 1864, when Nicholas II's son Alexander II ruled the country.

Major events during the reign

The reign of Nicholas 1 began with a dramatic moment. The date of taking the oath on the Senate Square in St. Petersburg was chosen for the speech by the members of the secret communities. It went down in history as an uprising of the Decembrists, in which the troops did not support the rebels. Five instigators of this protest event were executed, but no further executions were carried out in the era of Nicholas 1.

Trying to see what was happening with his own eyes, the monarch traveled a lot around the country. As a result, a road network began to form in Russia, and the first railway appeared, connecting St. Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo. There were many opponents of the appearance of a new transport, even among the inner circle of the ruler. They believed that the locomotive would destroy all the forests in its fireboxes, and in winter, due to icing, the trains would begin to slip. However, history has proven otherwise.

The Crimean War of 1853-1856 is called the main military operation in the reign of Nicholas 1. It is believed that it was the finale of the emperor's political career. The arrival of Great Britain and France to the aid of Turkey, as well as the meanness of the Austrian emperor, came as a surprise to Russia. The country did not suffer territorial damage, but its prestige was severely undermined.

Results

The reign of Nicholas 1 is the era of the absolute flowering of the monarchy in its bureaucratic form and the struggle against the spread of revolutionary sentiments in society. The suppression of uprisings in Poland and Hungary endowed the Russian Tsar with the reputation of the gendarme of Europe.

His reign ended for Russia with a rise in industrial production and a collapse in foreign policy. The Crimean War showed its technical backwardness from Western states and led to political isolation.