Reasons for the overthrow of Paul 1. Hemorrhoidal colic and political affairs

Sources

The circumstances of the assassination of the emperor are known from the memoirs of contemporaries who communicated with direct participants in the conspiracy. (The only sources created directly by the conspirators are a letter from L. L. Bennigsen and a note from K. M. Poltoratsky). The information reported by memoirists is often contradictory in detail. The modern historian Yu. A. Sorokin, who specializes in this period, writes that most likely "it will never be possible to reproduce authentic facts, separating them from the fiction of eyewitnesses and other contemporaries."

Sources on this topic are:

List of main memoir sources

Prerequisites

Paul I in the portrait of S. Schukin

• The harsh, brutal methods of government of Paul I, the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty he created, the discontent of the highest noble circles (deprived of their former freedom and privileges), the capital's guards officers and the instability of the political course led to a conspiracy against the emperor. Pavel transferred disgrace from subjects to relatives, threatened the dynasty itself, which allowed the participants in the rebellion to consider themselves remaining faithful to the Romanovs.

From a letter by Semyon Vorontsov, written in Aesopian:

“We are on a ship whose captain and crew make up a nation whose language is not familiar to us. I'm seasick and can't get out of bed. You come to announce to me that the hurricane is growing stronger and the ship is dying, because the captain has gone mad, beating the crew, in which there are more than 30 people who do not dare to resist his antics, since he has already thrown one sailor into the sea and killed another. I think the ship will perish; but you say that there is hope for salvation, since the first mate is a young man, sensible and gentle, who enjoys the confidence of the crew. I conjure you to go back upstairs and present to the young man and the sailors that they should save the ship, part of which (as well as part of the cargo) belongs to the young man, that they are 30 against one, and that it is ridiculous to be afraid of death at the hands of a crazy captain, when soon everyone and he himself will drown because of this madness. You answer me that, not knowing the language, you cannot speak to him, that you go upstairs to see what is happening. You come back to me to announce that the danger is increasing because the madman is still in control, but that you are still hopeful. Farewell! You are happier than me, my friend, because I have no more hope.

The plan of the conspirators

The creation of the core of a coalition of conspirators who believe in the need for change dates back to the summer of 1799.

Initially, according to their own statements, the conspirators intended to limit themselves to the arrest of Paul in order to force him to abdicate in favor of his eldest son. Panin and Palen were in solidarity with the need to introduce a constitution, but Panin saw a way in the regency, and Palen saw the destruction of Paul I. Eidelman writes that Palen “holding a cohort of dissatisfied people in reserve, probing, probing precisely those who“ are silent and act ”, for the time being, he does not reveal his plans and almost does not inform anyone about the specific plan, deadline, even goals, for example, he explains with close accomplices about the regency, saving Paul's life with an inner conviction that the king must be killed. The theme of the regency surfaced by analogy with the situation that took place in the same days in Great Britain, where the regency of his son was officially established over the mad George III (see Regency era). In Denmark, in the reign of King Christian VII from 1784, a regent also ruled, who then became king under the name of Frederick VI. (By the way, Christian VII on the maternal side was the grandson of George I).

Bennigsen wrote: "It was decided to take possession of the special emperor and take him to a place where he could be under proper supervision, and where he would be deprived of the opportunity to do evil." It is assumed that the majority of the conspirators thought so, who were afraid to raise their hands against the royal person, and the organizers of the conspiracy planned a bloody denouement from the very beginning.

Participants in the conspiracy

Nikita Panin

Petr Palen

Platon Zubov

Nikolai Zubov

The total number of people involved in the conspiracy, according to various estimates, ranges from 180 to 300 people. Eidelman roughly divides the conspirators into three main groups:

1. the first - the leaders, the most dedicated, who were aware of the final plan for the murder, as well as the Zubovs
   1. Panin, Nikita Petrovich- Vice Chancellor, was the mastermind behind the plot. He was expelled from St. Petersburg and was physically absent during the denouement.
   2. Palen, Pyotr Alekseevich- Governor-General of St. Petersburg, took over the functions of the technical leader of the conspiracy. In November 1800 he fell into disgrace.
   3. Ribas, Osip Mikhailovich- participated in the initial planning of the conspiracy, but died on December 2 (13), 1800, and there is a hypothesis that he was poisoned by Baron Palen, who was at the bedside on the night of the admiral's death, making sure that the patient, unconscious, did not betray the conspirators - because in the last month before his death, Pavel softened to Ribas, and he could betray accomplices.
   4. Zubovs:
      1. Zubov, Platon Alexandrovich, the prince is the last favorite of Catherine II. He was removed from the court by Paul, but thanks to intrigue, he circled Kutaisov around his finger, and he petitioned the emperor for his return. He was attracted to the conspiracy due to the significant influence he earned in the last years of Catherine's reign, his wide connections, circle of acquaintances and the officers he favored. It was a kind of symbol of Catherine's time.
      2. Zubov, Nikolai Alexandrovich, the count is his brother, Suvorov's son-in-law. A stupid but large, physically strong man, attracted because of his family ties and the sympathy of the soldiers. They preferred not to share information with him, since his wife was very talkative.
      3. Zubov, Valerian Alexandrovich- his brother, lost his leg in the war, and therefore did not go to the castle.
      4. Zherebtsova, Olga Alexandrovna- his sister. She was considered the mistress of Ambassador Winworth, she arranged magnificent evenings, at which conspirators could gather under a plausible pretext. Lopukhin, Pyotr Vasilyevich, a close relative of Zherebtsova, spoke about her: “Whitworth, through O. A. Zherebtsova, was in relations with the conspirators; gatherings took place in her house, the amount assigned for the murder, or at least for the removal of Emperor Paul from the throne, was to pass through her hands ... A few days before March 11, Zherebtsova found it safer for herself to go abroad and in Berlin awaited the outcome of events ... ". After the death of Pavel, in London, she received from the British government an amount corresponding to 2 million rubles. This money was to be distributed among the conspirators, especially among those who had taken part in the assassination. But Zherebtsova preferred to keep the entire amount for herself, being sure that no one would dare to demand a well-deserved reward.
2. later involved officers who did not participate in the development of the strategy, but led the next step in the hierarchy. Engaged in recruitment among the third group.
3. Middle and junior officers who were selected on the basis of their discontent, hostility, hatred for the Pavlovian system, ignorant, some of whom became direct executors, while others were just accomplices who did not stain their hands with regicide. For example:
   1. Poltoratsky, Konstantin Markovich- about his notes, see above. He stayed with his soldiers.
   2. Marin, Sergei Nikiforovich, Lieutenant of the Preobrazhensky Regiment - also stood on guard and controlled the soldiers (he commanded the internal guard of the Preobrazhenians - the guard of the life battalion - in the Mikhailovsky Castle).
   3. Bibikov N.I., officer (colonel?) - known from the records of L. L. Benigsen, his role in the regicide is unclear, went into the front room along with the Semyonovites.
   4. Known from the notes of M. A. Fonvizin: Colonel of the Preobrazhensky Regiment Zapolsky(commander of the 4th battalion of the Preobrazhensky regiment); Captain of the Preobrazhensky Regiment Shenshin; Preobrazhensky while staff captain baron Rosen Leontiev; Preobrazhensky Regiment Lieutenant Argamakov; Preobrazhensky Regiment Lieutenant Argamakov(sibling of the previous one); Semyonovsky regiment Colonel Count Tolstoy; Adjutant c. K. Alexander Pavlovich Prince Volkonsky Saveliev; Semyonovsky regiment (?) lieutenant Kikin; Semyonovsky regiment (?) lieutenant Pisarev; Semyonovsky regiment (?) lieutenant Poltoratsky(in another place the author calls him an ensign); Semyonovsky regiment (?) lieutenant Efimovich Volkhovskaya; Izmailovsky regiment lieutenant Kutuzov; Captain of the Cavalier Guard Regiment Titov; Cavalier Guard Regiment (?) lieutenant Gorbatov; naval captain commander Klokachev.

Those present at the murder

It is traditionally believed that none of the first group of conspirators directly stained themselves with the murder, although Bennigsen and Platon and Nikolai Zubov were among about twelve people who broke into the bedroom, but they are believed to have prudently left it before the murder. According to some historians, evidence of their absence is a lie invented by them in order to whitewash them.

The list of persons who entered the bedroom varies depending on the memoir instructions:

Others aware of the conspiracy

Place of death

Mikhailovsky Castle

It is curious that the tsar died in the same place where he was born - the building of the Mikhailovsky Castle was erected on the site of the wooden Summer Palace of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, created by the architect Rastrelli, where on September 20, 1754, Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna gave birth to Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich.

Mikhailovsky Castle, the place of Paul's death, for many years remained his cherished dream. The general idea of ​​​​creating the castle and the first sketches of its layout belonged to the emperor himself. Work on the project of the future residence began in 1784, when he was the Grand Duke. During the design process, which lasted almost 12 years, he turned to various architectural models that he saw during his travels abroad in 1781-1782. The decree on the construction of the castle was issued in the first month of the reign of Paul I, on November 28, 1796. For the sake of the realization of this palace, many other construction projects were suspended, from where building material was even withdrawn. By order of the emperor, construction was carried out day and night.

The concept of the castle (it was this word, unusual for Russian architecture, that Pavel used) corresponded to his knightly ideas, it also reflects his position as the master of the Order of Malta, and the walls of the castle, according to a common legend, were also painted because of the king’s chivalrous deed - according to the color of the glove he raised favorites at the ball. In addition, Pavel wanted to hide behind the strong walls of the castle, not intending to stay in the Winter Palace, where so many coups took place. It is known that the king was overcome by many fears - for example, he was afraid of being poisoned.

On February 1, 1801, Pavel and his family moved to the new palace. The last concert in the Common Dining Hall took place on March 10, 1801, in particular, Madame Chevalier performed at it (who once managed to touch the emperor's heart by singing in a dress the color of the walls of the Mikhailovsky Castle). And on the night of March 11-12, 1801, 40 days after the much-awaited move, Pavel was killed in his own bedroom. After the death of Paul, the royal family returned to the Winter Palace, the castle lost its significance as a front residence, came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Imperial Court and gradually fell into disrepair.

Preceding circumstances

The conspiracy took shape by the end of 1800.

On February 24, thanks to intrigue, Fedor Rostopchin fell into disgrace with Paul, thus, the main rival of Palen, who at that time actually controlled the sovereign, was removed, and nothing else prevented the latter from giving the go-ahead to the last stage of the conspiracy.

On March 3, 1801, Alexander Ribopierre fights a duel with the still very young Prince B. Svyatopolk-Chetvertinsky, the emperor thought that because of his favorite Anna Gagarina. Pavel sent the mother and sisters of the offender into exile, confiscated their property, forbade them to receive their letters at the post office, arrested the heir for a day (who had not submitted a duel report to his father on time), punished Palen, and imprisoned Ribopierre himself in a fortress. Palen uses this episode, which caused sympathy in society, as one of the reasons.

Probably, the conspirators wanted to date the denouement to March 15 - the "Ides of March" that brought death to the tyrant Caesar, but third-party events accelerated the decision, since the tsar came to the conclusion by the evening or night of March 8 that "they want to repeat 1762". Perhaps the denunciation to the tsar was written by V.P. Meshchersky, formerly the chief of the St. Petersburg regiment, quartered in Smolensk, perhaps by the Prosecutor General P. Kh. Obolyaninov. Geiking writes, apparently relying on Palen: “No matter how hard they tried to hide all the threads of the conspiracy, the Prosecutor General Obolyaninov, apparently, nevertheless suspected something. He indirectly informed the sovereign, who spoke about this with his favorite Kutaisov; but the latter assured that this was just an insidious denunciation sent by someone to curry favor.

Palen later said that on March 9 the emperor summoned him to himself, and asked about the conspiracy, Palen confessed to participating in it, arranging the matter in such a way that he made this decision in order to become the “fifth column” and find out everything for the well-being of the sovereign. Tol’s contemporary writes: “If the scene of Palen with the king is not a direct fable, then it is a legend over which Palen used to laugh during his life. Something really happened, but it sounded completely different when Count Palen himself told in his circle: the emperor once said to him at a morning audience the well-known words (“They say that there is a conspiracy against me and you are one of the conspirators”); Palen, embarrassed and frightened, at first did not find anything better than to linger in a bow for a few moments in order to collect his thoughts and so that the king could not read anything in his eyes. Only after he had guessed by a quick effort to return his face to its usual expression, did he venture to straighten up. However, in his haste, he did not find a better answer than the following (spoken still with lowered eyes): "How can this happen when we have a Secret Expedition?" - "That's right," the emperor replied, suddenly completely calmed, and left this dangerous object. According to Czartoryski, Pavel announces to Palen that he knows about the conspiracy. “It is impossible, sir,” answered Palen quite calmly. “For in that case I, who know everything, would myself be among the conspirators.” - This answer and the good-natured smile of the Governor-General completely reassured Pavel.

Young Alexander in 1802

They point out that suspicions are being raised in Paul against his wife, and he is afraid that she would not do the same as his mother Catherine did with his father. Perhaps that is why the door to the chambers of the Empress was locked (boarded up). Also, the king is afraid of poison and orders that "food was prepared for him only by a Swedish cook, who was placed in a small room near his own chambers." In order to protect himself, Pavel also summons the 2 disgraced generals Lindener and Arakcheev to the capital, but this only accelerated the execution of the conspiracy. Eidelman questions the veracity of this call, and asks if the rumor about the imminent arrival of these warriors was another provocation by Palen.

After this dangerous conversation with the emperor, Palen secretly sees Alexander and allegedly shows him a decree condemning his mother, him and Constantine. Palen allegedly asks for the coup tomorrow, March 10; Alexander asks for the 11th, and Palen will tell about this request much later, realizing that the heir will not be able to refute: “The Grand Duke forced me to postpone until the 11th day, when the third battalion of the Semenovsky regiment would be on duty, in which he was even more confident than in others. I agreed to this with difficulty and was not without anxiety in the next two days. On this day, the emperor finally agrees to a joint expedition with the French to India, starting in the spring of 1801.

On March 10, he frees Ribopierre from the fortress. On the same day, Archbishop Ambrose (Podobedov) was granted the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, and this fact immediately gives rise to a rumor that a new bishop is needed to terminate the old royal marriage and conclude a new one. That evening, the last concert is held at the Mikhailovsky Castle. Prince Eugene of Württemberg testifies that “... the queen looked around in fear and seemed to want to understand what new, troublesome thoughts her husband was busy with. He threw only wild glances, and I wondered why he would not refuse the concert in such a mood. (...). After the concert, the emperor, as usual, retired, but his departure, expected longer than usual, was accompanied by a behavior that became clear to me only after some time. When the side doors opened, he went up to the empress, who was standing on the right, stopped in front of her, smiling mockingly, crossed his arms, incessantly puffing in his usual way, which he did, being in the highest degree of dislike, and then repeated the same threatening gestures in front of both grand dukes . Finally, he went up to Count Palen, whispered a few words in his ear with a gloomy air, and then went to supper. Everyone silently followed him, gripped by fear. (...) The Empress began to cry, and the whole family left deeply saddened. One of the ladies-in-waiting whispers something in Dibich's ear, he is later told that the young lady was talking about possible ways to arrange for the prince to escape from the palace and hide him in a prepared shelter.

The concept of a direct turn

According to Eidelman's reconstruction:

1. “The necessary movements of the guards regiments: push back the horse guards, Izmailovites, who were not too captured by the conspiracy, but push forward the Preobrazhenians (Talyzin), Semenovites (Depreradovich). In each guards regiment, to have at least a few officers who can be counted on: some of them must act in the regiments, stopping a possible counterattack; others - to go to the palace or to the palace (hence, by the way, the discrepancy in the information about the number of conspirators).
2. “The soldiers should not know anything, but by the right time those guards units that are relatively reliable, more loyal to the heir, more saturated with conspiring officers should be at the palace by the right time. First of all, these are the 3rd and 4th battalions of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, the 1st and 3rd battalions of the Semenovsky, which account for approximately 30 officers-conspirators, that is, 7-8 per battalion.
3. A series of meetings of officers and generals-conspirators with a gradual increase in the number of invited persons, until the moment comes immediately before the exit to announce a rebellion against Paul in the widest possible circle. (“Hence the plan for several dinners, which are then united at Talyzin’s apartment, the closest to the palace”).
4. “The idea of ​​two officer columns that will enter the palace: one led by Palen, the other with Bennigsen”: one is an “official group”, the other is a “shock group”.
5. “A list has been prepared of people who hold important positions and who are sufficiently devoted to Paul; they should be arrested or isolated at the right time.” Senator Troshchinsky "was intended to deliver orders to other senators to assemble as soon as the emperor was arrested."

omens

Timeline March 11

Anna Lopukhina (Gagarina) - favorite of the emperor

The conspirators infiltrate the castle

When on the gloomy Neva
The star of midnight sparkles
And a carefree head
Restful sleep burdens,
The pensive singer looks
On menacingly sleeping in the mist
Desert monument of a tyrant,
Oblivion abandoned palace -

• 2:00 Alexander and Konstantin in a carriage leave the Mikhailovsky Castle, full of drunken officers. Alexander calls his mother to come, but she refuses. Eidelman writes that the empress dowager, who wanted to gain power, wandered around the palace until Bennigsen managed to lock her up and isolate her. Only at six o'clock in the morning does she agree to go to the Winter Palace.

After the murder

• The next morning, a manifesto written by D.P. Troshchinsky was published, in which the subjects were informed that Pavel had died of apoplexy.

The reaction of the Russians

The body of the murdered

Description of Kotzebue according to the life physician Grive:

There were many traces of violence on the body. A wide band around the neck, a strong bruise on the temple (from a blow ... inflicted by a pistol blow), a red spot on the side, but not a single wound from a sharp weapon, two red scars on both thighs; significant injuries on his knees and far near them, which prove that he was forced to kneel to make it easier to strangle. In addition, the whole body was generally covered with small smudges; they probably originated from blows inflicted after death.

As the emperor lay in his coffin, his three-cornered hat was pulled down over his forehead so as to hide, as far as possible, his left eye and bruised temple. N. I. Grech writes how he went to say goodbye to the body: “As soon as you enter the door, they pointed to another with an exhortation: if you please, go through. I went to the Mikhailovsky Castle ten times out of nothing to do and could only see the soles of the emperor’s over the knee boots and the brim of a wide hat pulled down over my forehead.

burial

Tombstone of Paul I and Maria Feodorovna in the Peter and Paul Cathedral

Rumors and censorship

Ghost of Paul

Another, more famous legend says that the ghost of the emperor killed by the conspirators could not leave the place of his death. The ghost of the king began to be seen by a platoon of soldiers of the capital's garrison, carrying military equipment, the new inhabitants of the palace - the breeding corporal of the school Lyamin, and passers-by who noticed a luminous figure in the windows.

Consequences

In culture

• A. S. Pushkin. Ode "Liberty".
• S. Bobrov. "Night of March 1801"
• E. V. Polyanskaya. Mikhailovsky Castle: Dramatic scenes.

Literature

• E. S. Shumigorsky.
• A. G. Brikner. Death of Paul I, Stuttgart, 1897
• N. Eidelman. Edge of Ages.
• The time of Paul and his death. Notes of contemporaries and participants in the events of March 11, 1801 / Comp. G. Balitsky. 2 - Part 1, 2 - M .: Russian story, Education, 1908. - 315 p.
• Regicide March 11, 1801. Notes of participants and contemporaries. – Ed. 2nd. - St. Petersburg: A.S. Suvorin, 1908. - 458 p.
• Regicide March 11, 1801. Notes of participants and contemporaries. M., 1990. (Reprint of the 1907 edition.)

On March 11, 1801, the 4-year reign of Emperor Paul I ended. He was killed by a group of conspirators in the Mikhailovsky Castle. It was the last palace coup in the history of Russia.

Paul I was the son of the great Catherine and Emperor Peter III. It was one of the most enigmatic figures among the sovereigns of the Romanov dynasty. For a long time, the opinion about him was dominated, as about a man who was narrow-minded, despotic and cruel. In his youth, traveling abroad, the young prince was delighted with the Prussian order. The imperious and strong ruler of Prussia, Frederick II, became an ideal for him. Today, the attitude towards the tragic figure of Paul I is noticeably changing. As a person, he is much deeper than is commonly believed. On the one hand, his imbalance and suspicion, on the other, his brilliant education, piety, sincere desire to make Russia great. Loyalty, duty and honor were not empty words for him. No less interesting are his reforms.

Reforms of Paul I

The domestic policy of Paul I, despite some inconsistency, demonstrates the emperor's desire to establish law and order in the country.

• State structure. On the day of his coronation, Paul issues a decree on succession to the throne, according to which power is transferred only through the male line. This is an echo of Paul's bad relationship with his mother, Catherine II, and the humiliations that he endured from her before his accession to the throne.
• Peasant question. Corvee was limited to three days a week, the peasants were written off arrears, it was forbidden to sell peasants without land.
• Relation to the nobility. He established taxes on the nobles, introduced the possibility of corporal punishment, and evasion from military service began to be considered a crime against the state.
• Army changes. The authority and prestige of military service has grown. At the same time, drill prevailed, the soldiers were dressed in German uniforms and wigs.

Foreign policy

The emperor's foreign policy was controversial. Even during the reign of Catherine II, Paul reproached his mother for waging wars of conquest, offering to deal with the internal arrangement of the state. But having come to power, he was drawn into the conflict between the European powers, speaking as part of the anti-French coalition against Napoleon. Later, breaking off relations with England, he refocused on an alliance with France, which gave rise to subsequently look for an English trace in a conspiracy against him.

Causes of the conspiracy

About three hundred people participated in the preparation of the conspiracy. Its backbone consisted of Vice-Chancellor Count N.P. Panin, Governor-General of St. Petersburg P.A. Palen, as well as the brothers Platon and Nikolai Zubov. Many in the country were dissatisfied with the order laid down by Paul. The main reasons for the conspiracy can be considered the following:

• dissatisfaction of the nobility with the infringement of noble liberties and privileges;
• repressions against the dissatisfied, exile to Siberia;
• the dislike of the court nobility and guards officers, the lack of loyal people who can be relied upon;
• despotism, excessive regulation, strict discipline not only in the army, but also in everyday life;
• inconsistent foreign policy, rupture of relations with England.

Assassination of Paul I

The emperor received news of a conspiracy being prepared against him. On March 8, he summoned the governor-general of St. Petersburg Palen, who reassured the sovereign, saying that he was under reliable protection. After that, the conspirators decided not to hesitate. At midnight on March 11, they managed to penetrate (not without betrayal) into the Mikhailovsky Castle and get to the emperor's bedroom. The conspirators wanted to force Paul to renounce the throne, he did not agree and was killed as a result of the ensuing fight. One of the participants in the coup, Nikolai Zubov, stabbed him in the temple with a heavy snuffbox. The emperor fell down and was strangled with the scarf of one of the attackers.

It is believed that Great Britain, with which relations had deteriorated by this time, could have been involved in the conspiracy. Another version is that the coup took place with the approval of his son Alexander, who made it a condition to save his father's life. But fate decreed otherwise. The new Emperor Alexander I announced that his father had died of apoplexy. A new era has begun.

MAY THE LORD DELIVER US FROM THE SECOND

Of the 46 Roman emperors, 33 were forcibly overthrown; the history of Byzantium has hundreds of conspiracies; there were dozens of "seral coups" in Turkey and the Arab countries. Quickly and often officers, guards, guards change South American dictators. In Russia for 76 years, from 1725 to 1801, according to one account - five, and according to another - eight "palace revolutions".

So, a palace coup is an event as “obscene” as it is common for entire countries, centuries, eras. The conspiracy of March 11, 1801 in this sense is a historical particular ...

However, none of the Russian coups of the XVIII century. So much has not been thought about and written about than about the events of 1801. Let us once again note the interest, the most serious reflections, the historical and artistic ideas of various figures in Russian culture and social thought: Pushkin, Herzen, Tolstoy, Tynyanov; let us recall Vyazemsky's notes, Merezhkovsky's play "Paul I", which thundered at the beginning of this century, and O. Forsh's novel "Mikhailovsky Castle" in Soviet times.

March 1801 is interesting to the historian, artist, and thinker. Some features of this event, which distinguish it from the rest, paradoxically help to get closer to the more general, deep patterns of the Russian XVIII and XIX centuries, to add something serious to the formulation of the problem of power, people, ideology, to consider the tragic collision of goal and means ...

“There is no connection between the two marks, but their proximity is remarkable,” comments S. N. Durylin, “Goethe put work or thought on the most important creation of his genius next to a political event that took place in distant Russia, so it seemed to him important and significant »

Whether Goethe really saw a universal "Faustian" meaning in the events of March 11 remains, of course, a hypothesis. Soon, however, young Pushkin echoes the great German, as usual, speaking a lot in one phrase: "Paul's reign proves that even in enlightened times Caligulas can be born ...".

REGICIDE. FROM M.A. FONVIZINA

When I entered the Guards in 1803, I personally knew many who participated in the conspiracy; many times I heard the details of the criminal catastrophe, which was then still fresh in my memory and served as the subject of the most vivid stories in officer conversations. More than once, standing on guard at the Mikhailovsky Castle, out of curiosity I went into the rooms occupied by Pavel, and into his bedroom, which for a long time remained in its former form; I also saw the hidden staircase along which he descended to his mistress, Princess Gagarina, the former Lopukhina. Eyewitnesses explained to me in the very places how everything happened. Comparing the stories I read in various foreign books about the death of Paul with my own recollections of the one I heard about it, I will begin my story with a list of conspirators whose names I could remember. All of them were up to 60 people, except for most of the guards officers, who, not actually participating in the conspiracy, knew about it existed and, out of hatred for Paul, were ready to contribute to success. These were the faces known to me and everyone at that time: St. Petersburg military governor-general Count von der Pahlen; Vice-Chancellor Count N. P. Panin; Prince Platon Zubov - chief of the 1st Cadet Corps; his brothers: Valerian - chief of the 2nd Cadet Corps and Nikolai; Major General Benigsen and Talyzin - commander of the Preobrazhensky regiment and inspector of the St. Petersburg inspection; regimental chiefs: Kexholmsky - Verderevsky; Senate battalions - Ushakov; 1st Artillery Regiment - Tuchkov; commanders of the guards regiments: Uvarov - Kavalergardsky; Yankovich-Demirievo - Horse Guards; Depreradovich - Semenovsky, and Prince Vyazemsky - chief of the 4th battalion of the Preobrazhensky regiment; of the same regiment, colonels: Zapolsky and Argamakov; Captain Shenshin and Staff Captain Baron Rosen; lieutenants: Marin and Leontiev; two brothers Argamakov; Count Tolstoy - Colonel of the Semyonovsky regiment; Prince Volkonsky - adjutant c. K. Alexander Pavlovich; lieutenants: Savelyev, Kikin, Pisarev, Poltoratsky, Efimovich; Izmailovsky regiment Colonel Mansurov; lieutenants: Volkhovskoy, Skaryatin and; Cavalier Guard Regiment Colonel Golenishchev-Kutuzov; captain Titov; lieutenant Gorbatov; gunners: Colonel Prince Yashvil; Lieutenant Tatarinov; naval captain commander Klokachev. In addition to the military, several courtiers and civilians, and even retired persons, took part in the conspiracy; I don't remember their names.

The soul of the conspiracy and the main agent was Count Palen, one of the smartest people in Russia, courageous, enterprising, with a decisive, unshakable character. A Kurdish native, he entered the Russian service as a cornet in the Horse Guards regiment under Peter III. In the reign of Catherine, Palen zealously contributed to the annexation of Courland to the empire, fell in love with Russia and was wholeheartedly devoted to his new fatherland. With regret and indignation, he looked at the insane autocracy of Paul, at the inconstancy and volatility of his foreign policy, which threatened the prosperity and power of Russia, Paul, at first an enemy of the French revolution, ready to make every sacrifice to suppress it, annoyed by his recent allies, to whom he rightly attributed failures, experienced by his troops - the defeat of the generals: Rimsky-Korsakov in Switzerland and Germany in Holland - after a glorious campaign in Italy, he suddenly completely changes his political system and not only puts up with the first consul of the French Republic, who knew how to deftly flatter him, but becomes an enthusiastic admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte and threatens England with war. The break with it caused inexplicable harm to our foreign trade. England supplied us with products, both manufactory and colonial, for the raw products of our soil. This trade opened the only ways by which everything we needed flowed into Russia. The nobility was provided with a reliable income from their estates, selling grain, ship timbers, masts, lard, hemp, flax, and so on overseas. The break with England, disrupting the material well-being of the nobility, intensified in him hatred for Paul, already aroused by his cruel despotism.

The idea of ​​killing Paul in any way became almost common. Count Pahlen, indiscriminate in the choice of means leading to the goal, decided to carry it out.

Count Palen was in great favor with the emperor, who knew how to appreciate his merits. Clothed with his power of attorney, he was initiated into all the most important affairs of state. As the military governor of the capital, Palen was in charge of the secret police, and through him alone the reports of her agents could reach the king: this was a guarantee of keeping the ongoing conspiracy secret. When the thought of him matured, and Palen, knowing public opinion hostile to the government, could count on many accomplices, he decided to reveal his bold intention to the Vice-Chancellor Count N.P. Panina, whom Pavel loved as the nephew of his tutor, Count N.I. Panin. Brought up by a smart and enlightened uncle, Count N.P. Panin adopted his free way of thinking, hated despotism and desired not only the fall of the insane tsar, but with this fall to establish legally free decrees that would limit the tsarist autocracy. On this score, and Count Palen shared his way of thinking.

The first action of the agreed Palen and Panin was an attempt to reconcile with Pavel Catherine's favorite, Prince Platon Zubov and his brothers, Valerian and Nikolai, who were in disgrace - in which they managed, the Zubovs were accepted into service and arrived in St. Petersburg. Palen and Panin knew in advance their hatred for Pavel and were confident in their zealous assistance: therefore they revealed their intention to them. The Zubovs entered into a conspiracy, and with them several loyal clients, whom they patronized during their power under Catherine. Of these persons, in character and position, they were more important than others: General Baron Benigsen, a Hanoverian who served with distinction in the Polish and Persian wars in our troops, dismissed by Pavel as a man betrayed by Zubov, and accepted back into service at the request of Count Panin, who was friendly with him, and General Talyzin, commander of the Preobrazhensky regiment and inspector of the troops stationed in St. Petersburg.

The acquisition of such an accomplice was all the more important for the success of the case, because Talyzin was loved by his subordinates: as a beloved chief, he was highly respected in all guards regiments and could always carry along not only officers, but also inspire the lower ranks, who were extremely attached to him. .

All dissatisfied with the then order of things, all the best Petersburg society and guards officers gathered at the Zubov brothers and at their sister Zherebtsova, a secular lady who was on friendly terms with the English envoy Lord Whitward and with officials of his embassy, ​​visitors to her living room. From this, the opinion spread in Europe that Lord Whitward was the main culprit of the conspiracy and that he did not spare English money to buy accomplices in order to prevent a break between Russia and England, which threatened the commercial interests of the latter. This opinion has no basis, firstly, because Lord Whitward is too famous for his strict honesty and noble rules to be suspected of such an insidious and immoral act - then the conspiracy against Paul was a purely Russian affair, and for some truly patriotic, and in which, apart from Benigsen, not a single foreigner participated; and Lord Whitward left Petersburg immediately after the break with England, that is, before the beginning of the conspiracy. Evening meetings with the Zubov brothers or Zherebtsova gave rise to real political clubs in which the only subject of conversation was the then situation of Russia, suffering under the yoke of insane autocracy. They talked about the need to put an end to this. It never occurred to anyone to encroach on the life of Paul - there was one common desire: to force him to give up the throne in favor of the heir, beloved by everyone for kindness, education, meek and polite treatment - qualities completely opposite to the indomitable and autocratic character of his father. All these meetings took place, apparently under the auspices of the St. Petersburg military governor, who, as head of the secret police, received daily reports from spies and gave movement only to those of them that did not concern the conspiracy and the persons involved in it. Count Palen gradually prepared Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich for the coup d'état he planned, for the successful completion of which his consent was necessary. Often seeing him, Palen always directed his speech at the difficult and disastrous state of Russia, suffering from the insane acts of his father, and, without drawing any conclusions, called the Grand Duke to frankness.

“STOP BABYING. GO TO REIGN!"

Meanwhile, Alexander, having taken refuge in his ground floor apartment, spent a sleepless night, listening for any unusual noises above his head. The sudden silence that suddenly followed the fleeting commotion chilled his blood. He did not dare to go and find out the news and languished in anxious expectation. His wife was next to him. So, clinging to each other, seized with fear, they sat all night without uttering a single superfluous word. What's going on up there? Did Paul sign the act of renunciation? Have Zubov and Bennigsen achieved a peaceful resignation, as they promised in preparation for this action. Or? .. Cheek to cheek, hand in hand, the Grand Duke and Elizabeth did not allow even the thought of the worst. Alexander was dressed in a ceremonial uniform, but tears involuntarily rolled down from his eyes. Of course, from time to time he timidly glanced at the icon in order to ask her forgiveness for what was happening without his participation, but with his tacit consent.

At last the door suddenly swung open, and Palen appeared on the threshold. With guilty faces, several officers who surrounded Alexander also entered with him. Palen spoke, and from the very first words Alexander broke into sobs. He understood without words about the tragic ending of his father's life and was well aware that even if he did not give the order for such an outcome, he still could not prevent him in any way. And what difference does it make now, how he will look: more guilty, less guilty or truly guilty? Humane laws have every reason to justify him, since they are based on what guided his consciousness. His hands were clean, but his soul was stained forever. As he still continued to sob, buried in his wife's chest, Palin, approaching him two steps, with a mixed expression of firmness and compassion, said in French: “Stop being childish. Go reign. Go show yourself to the guards!” Elizabeth, who was the first to cope with her nerves, encourages Alexander, persuading him, despite his sadness, to pull himself together and show respect to the capital that made its choice.

"EVERYTHING WILL BE WITH ME, AS WITH GRANDMA"

Rising with difficulty, Alexander follows Palen into the courtyard of the Mikhailovsky Castle, where detachments are lined up to guard the imperial dwelling at night. Deathly pale, barely moving his legs, he tries to stay directly in front of the soldiers lined up, shouting greetings. Palen, Bennigsen, Zubovs surround him. His accomplices. And he should still be grateful to them! Overcoming disgust, grief, exhaustion, he exclaims in a voice trembling with tears: “Batiushka suddenly died of an apoplexy. Everything will be with me, as with my grandmother, Empress Catherine. He answers with a loud "Hurrah!". "Maybe it's all for the best," Alexander consoles himself as the officers who killed his father congratulate him. Later, he accepts the congratulations of Konstantin, rude and unbridled, he is glad of the accession of his elder brother. Only Empress Maria Fedorovna sincerely mourns the death of the hated monarch.

Why they killed Paul 1, it becomes clear when studying the sources of data about this event. To be more precise, this is clear after reading the historical characteristics of the individuals who took the life of the emperor. The circumstances are known from the memoirs of contemporaries who communicated directly with the participants in the conspiracy against the government. Only two documents created by the conspirators have survived, namely a letter from Bennigsen and a note from Poltoratsky.

Some information can also be gleaned from memoirists, but they are usually quite contradictory in detail. The modern historian Yu. A. Sorokin, who specializes in this period in the history of the Russian state, writes that the authentic facts, separated from the fiction of eyewitnesses and just contemporaries of this event, will probably never be able to reproduce.

The list of main sources from which you can find out where Paul 1 was killed, by whom and why, is rather meager for such an important historical event. Army Major General Nikolai Alexandrovich Sablukov was in the Mikhailovsky Castle at the time of the assassination, but was not directly among the conspirators. He wrote "Notes" in English, which were intended for an extremely narrow circle of readers. They got into print only in 1865, and were first published in Russian in 1902 by Erasmus Kasprovitch.

Leonty Bennigsen (one of the conspirators) talked about the coup and the campaign against Napoleon in a letter to Fock. His speeches were recorded by several other interlocutors. Plans for a palace coup are mentioned from the words of Bennigsen in the memoirs of his nephew, the life physician Grive, a note by Lanzheron, Adam Czartoryski, August Kotzebue and some other personalities.

Lieutenant General Konstantin Poltoratsky (then governor of Yaroslavl) left notes describing the tragic events. Poltoratsky belonged to the third (lowest) group of participants in the conspiracy. During the assassination of Paul I, he was on guard. The lieutenant general claimed that he did not know the exact date of the crime, since his immediate superior forgot to warn him.

The Russian commander of the era of the wars with Napoleon, Alexander Lanzheron, arrived in the capital shortly after the coup d'état to collect information. His notes contain conversations with Palen, Prince Konstantin. The final part contains the author's reflections.

Why Paul 1 was killed was clear to his contemporaries, and especially to those who communicated with the participants in the conspiracy. Information about this tragic event can be gleaned from the following memoirs:

• Daria Liven, an agent of the Russian government in London (her mother-in-law was the tutor of the children of Paul I, was in Mikhailovsky Castle on the ill-fated night of March 11-12).
• Adam Czartoryski, prince, friend of Alexander I, arrived in the capital after the coup.
• Writer Mikhail Fonvizin (at the time of the murder he was 14 years old) later conducted a whole study based on conversations with conspirators, whose names he does not name.
• Nikita Muraviev (8 years old at the time of the emperor's death) later compiled a detailed description of the events.
• Anonymous Diary of a Contemporary.
• German playwright and novelist August Kotzebue, who was in the capital on the night of the assassination (some sources mention that his son gave Alexander II a note on the death of Paul).
• Karl-Heinrich Geiking, who arrived shortly after the crime.

Why was Paul 1 killed? Prerequisites for committing a crime

Why was Paul 1 killed? In short, the main reason was his coronation itself. Such a sad outcome of the emperor's life was influenced by his actions in domestic and foreign policy. In addition, among the possible reasons is the madness of Paul I, because everyone was sure that if something was not done about it, then the country would face a revolution. But here we need to talk about everything in order.

Why was Paul 1 killed? Briefly, the reasons are listed above, but now it is worth considering some of them in more detail. The prerequisites for the conspiracy can be identified as follows:

1. Methods of government, reaching the cruelty. The instability of the political course, the atmosphere of uncertainty and fear in the highest circles, the discontent of the nobles, who were deprived of privileges, led to the emergence of a plan to assassinate the king. Paul I threatened the dynasty, and this allowed the participants in the conspiracy to consider themselves remaining loyal to the Romanovs.
2. Emperor Madness. If we proceed from the data of modern psychiatry, then Paul I, of course, was a severe neurotic. The king was distinguished by an unrestrained character, often suffered from depression and panic attacks, and did not know how to choose reliable favorites. The subjects also considered the emperor crazy because of his objectively unpopular orders. For example, in 1800, Paul invited the head of the Catholic Church to move to Russia. Since 1799, the king was overwhelmed by suspicions about the infidelity of his wife and sons.
3. The fact of accession to the throne. Why was Paul 1 killed? The reasons lie in the very fact of the king's coronation. Catherine II was preparing Alexander for the throne, so the coronation of Paul I served as a pretext for dissatisfaction with a powerful circle of the empress's close associates.
4. Deterioration of relations between the king and representatives of the nobility and the guards. There is a known case when staff captain Kirpichnikov received 1000 sticks for harsh remarks about the Order of St. Anna (the order was named after the emperor's beloved). Contemporaries believed that this fact played a significant moral role in the prehistory of the murder of Paul.
5. anti-English policy. The decision to withdraw from the anti-French coalition, taken by Paul I at the very beginning of his reign, greatly interfered with the plans of the Austrians and the British. At the initial stage of the organization, the English ambassador in St. Petersburg was definitely involved in the upcoming coup, but Pavel expelled him long before the assassination. Some historians suggest that England did take part in the conspiracy.
6. There is a rumor that the emperor plans to imprison his wife and children in a fortress in order to marry one of the favorites (either Madame Chevalier, or Anna Gagarina), as well as a decree on the legalization of Paul's future illegitimate children.
7. Politics in the army. Pavel introduced the Prussian order in the army, which irritated almost the entire officer corps and the nobility in St. Petersburg. Dissatisfaction with the innovations was so great that it blocked all the previous successful military reforms of the emperor. Only the Preobrazhensky Regiment remained truly devoted to the royal power.

Why was Paul 1 killed (briefly)? He just thwarted the conspirators. Most likely, here it is worth talking not about one specific reason for the coup, but about several factors that influenced this event to the most significant extent.

The original plan of the conspirators

The bulk of the participants in the conspiracy, who believed in the need for change, was formed in the summer of 1799. At first, the criminals planned to simply arrest Paul in order to force him to leave the throne and pass the reign to his eldest son. Nikita Panin (ideological inspirer) and Peter Palen (technical manager) considered it necessary to introduce the Constitution, but the first spoke about the regency, and the second about the murder of Paul.

They started talking about the regency only against the background of the fact that shortly before the planning of the coup in Great Britain, the regency of his son was officially established over the crazy King George III. In Denmark, under the unbalanced Christian VII, a regent also actually ruled, who later became King Frederick VI.

True, many historians believe that the main organizers initially planned the physical elimination of the emperor, and not just the arrest or establishment of guardianship of his son. Such a "plan B" was most likely the development of Peter Palen. Even Nikita Panin was not aware of the alleged bloody denouement. At the supper preceding the penetration into the chambers of the king, the question of how to deal with the emperor after his arrest was discussed. Palen answered everything very evasively. Even then it was possible to suspect that he was planning the assassination of the sovereign.

Participants in a conspiracy against the emperor

There are very, very many of those who were initiated into criminal plans, but who killed Paul 1? The conspiracy (according to various estimates) included from 180 to 300 people, so it makes sense to name only the main ones. Historian Nathan Eidelman all of them were conditionally divided into three groups:

1. Initiators, ideological inspirers, the most dedicated persons. In the future, many of them took high positions under the new emperor. Each of these people tried to whitewash themselves, so there are so many theories and conjectures around this murder.
2. Officers involved later who were not directly involved in strategy development. They were engaged in recruitment and leadership at the next level of the hierarchy.
3. Middle and junior officers. People were selected on the principle of dissatisfaction with the system of Paul. Some of them became direct perpetrators, while others were only indirectly involved in the crime. For a long time, historians believed that it was among these people that one should look for the one who killed Paul 1, the son of Catherine II. After all, the initiators sought to whitewash themselves at all costs, perhaps their words are true, ordinary officers became the executors.

Nikita Panin was the ideological inspirer. It was he who invented and planned everything, but did not directly participate in the crime. On the night of March 12 (the day when Paul I was killed) he was in exile. Later, Alexander I returned the former vice-chancellor to the board of foreign affairs, but soon the young emperor and the count fell out. Panin was forced to return to the Dugino estate, where he spent the rest of his life.

Peter Palen was the support of the king (it was already mentioned earlier that Paul was completely unable to choose reliable favorites). This man did not hide the fact that he participated in a conspiracy against the emperor, he spoke openly about this later in personal conversations. Under Alexander, he was removed from his post, because Maria Fedorovna (wife of Paul I) convinced her son of the danger of leaving such a person with her.

Leonty Bennigsen was extremely dissatisfied with Paul. Participation in the conspiracy did not affect his later career. The commander of the Izyum regiment even became a general a year after the coup, although he gained general fame during the years of the Napoleonic wars. It was Leonty Bennigsen who commanded the troops in the Battle of Preussisch-Eylau. This was the first major battle that the French failed to win. The military leader was showered with awards, became a Knight of the Order of St. George.

The first group included three Zubov brothers: Plato - the last favorite of Catherine II, Nikolai - it was he who owned the snuffbox that killed Paul 1, Valerian - his role in the plan is not entirely clear. He lost his leg, so he was not in the Mikhailovsky Castle with the others. But it is believed that Valerian managed to recruit Alexander Argamakov, without whom the supporters of Panin and Palen would not have been able to penetrate the castle.

Place of death of Emperor Paul I

Where was Paul 1 killed? The king lost his life in the same place where he was born. The building of the Mikhailovsky Castle was erected on the site where the wooden Summer Palace of Ekaterina Petrovna stood. For many years the Mikhailovsky Castle remained Paul's dream. The sketches of the layout and the general design of the construction belonged to the emperor himself. The design process lasted almost twelve years. During these years, Paul I repeatedly turned to different examples of architecture, which he saw on a trip abroad. The emperor was killed just 39 days after moving to the Mikhailovsky Castle from the Winter Palace, where many coups took place.

And in which room was Pavel 1 killed? This tragic event took place in the emperor's own bedchamber. The room where Paul 1 was killed was turned into a church of the apostles Peter and Paul at the behest of his grandson, Alexander II.

Murder related omens

There are several indications that Paul had a premonition of his death. On the day of the assassination, the emperor approached the mirrors in the palace and noted that his face was reflected distorted. The courtiers then did not attach any importance to this. However, Prince Yusupov (head of the palaces) fell out of favor. On the same day, Paul I talked with Mikhail Kutuzov. The conversation turned to death. The farewell words of the emperor to the Russian commander were the phrase:

Go to the next world - do not sew knapsacks.

The emperor's supper always ended at half past ten, and at ten Pavel was already in bed. It was so customary that all those present went into another room and said goodbye to the king. On the ill-fated evening before the assassination, Paul I went into the next room, but did not say goodbye to anyone, but only said that what was to be, was inevitable.

The mention of crooked mirrors and Mikhail Kutuzov is in the notes of one of the memoirists. So, the author writes (according to the commander) that the emperor, looking in the mirror with a flaw, laughed and said that he sees himself in the reflection with his neck to the side. This was an hour and a half before his violent death.

In addition, they say that some time before the murder, a holy fool (wandering nun) allegedly appeared in St. Petersburg, who predicted that the tsar would live as long as the letters in the inscription above the gates of the new palace (of the same Mikhailovsky). It was a biblical aphorism:

To your house befits the holiness of the Lord in the length of days.

There are forty-seven characters in the phrase. Paul I was in his forty-seventh year when he was assassinated.

Chronology: March 11-12, 1801

In what year Paul 1 was killed is known - it happened in 1801. And what happened immediately before the death of the emperor? How did he spend the last day of his life? On March 11 (old style), Pavel got up between four and five in the morning and worked from five to nine. At nine he went to inspect the troops, and at ten he received the usual parade ground. Then Pavel rode horseback with Ivan Kutaisov, the emperor's favorite, a Turk taken prisoner and presented to the sovereign when he was still heir to the throne.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Paul dined with his entourage. Meanwhile, Palen - one of the participants in the conspiracy - sent out invitations to accomplices for dinner at his place. Then the emperor went to replace the Preobrazhensky battalion, which occupied guards in the Mikhailovsky Castle. One of the statesmen (Jacob de Sanglen) wrote in his memoirs that at that time Paul forced everyone to swear not to get involved with the conspirators.

On March 11, the emperor allowed his sons, who were under arrest, to dine with him. At nine o'clock Pavel started dinner. Invited were Konstantin and Alexander with their wives, Maria Pavlovna, Dame Palen and her daughter, Kutuzov, Stroganov, Sheremetyev, Mukhnov, Yusupov, Naryshkin and several court ladies. An hour later, dinner began at Platon Zubov's, which was attended by Nikolai (Platon's brother), Bennigsen "and three other persons initiated into the secret."

Before going to bed, the emperor spends about an hour with his favorite Gagarina. He descended to her by a hidden staircase. At the same time, the conspirators are having dinner at Palen's. There were about 40-60 people in his house, all of them were "hot with champagne" (according to Bennigsen), which the owner himself did not drink. It was previously decided to imprison Pavel in Shlisselburg, but Palen answered all questions about this with lengthy phrases.

Palen suggested that the conspirators split into two groups. The Zubov-Bennigsen group went to the Christmas Gates of the Mikhailovsky Castle, and the other (under the leadership of Palen) was heading to the main entrance. When approaching the second floor, the group is about ten to twelve people. Exactly at midnight, the conspirators enter the palace. They're making too much noise, the troops are trying to sound the alarm.

Soon the killers approach the royal rooms. According to one version, the valet was tricked into opening the door. Alexander Argamakov (military commander), who could freely enter the palace, told him that it was already six o'clock, the valet's clock had just stopped. There is a version that a fire was reported. At this moment, Platon Zubov was seized with panic, he tried to hide, dragging others along, but Bennigsen stopped him.

The emperor, hearing a suspicious noise, first rushed to the door to Maria Feodorovna's rooms, but it was closed there. Then he hid behind a curtain. He could have gone down to Gagarina and fled, but apparently he was too frightened to assess the situation soberly. At half past midnight on March 12, the conspirators succeeded in breaking into the emperor's bedroom. This was the room where Paul 1 was killed. The criminals were confused when they did not find the king in bed. Platon Zubov said in French that “the bird has flown away,” but Bennigsen felt the bed and said that “the nest is still warm,” that is, “the bird is not far away.”

The room was searched. Pavel was found and demanded to write a renunciation of the throne, but he refused. The king was told that he was under arrest. The emperor was killed between 0:45 and 1:45. How was Tsar Paul 1 killed? There are several versions here:

1. A dispute broke out between Nikolai Zubov and Pavel. Soon some of the conspirators (who had drunk too much champagne) began to express impatience. The emperor, on the other hand, switched to raised tones in conversation, so that Nikolai, in a fit of anger, hit him with a massive snuffbox in his left temple. The beating began. An officer of the Izmailovsky regiment strangled the tsar with a scarf.
2. According to Bennigsen, there was a jolt, the screen fell on the lamp, so that the light went out. He went into the next room to fetch fire. In this short period of time, the sovereign was killed. All the contradictions arise because of the words of Bennigsen, who tried to prove his absence in the room at the time of the murder.
3. According to M. Fonvizin's notes, the situation developed as follows. Bennigsen left the room. At this time, Nikolai Zubov was talking with the emperor. Several threats escaped Pavel, so that the enraged Zubov hit him with a snuffbox. When Bennigsen was informed that the emperor had abdicated, he gave a scarf, with which they strangled the king.

Why was Emperor Paul 1 killed? There are versions that it was an unintentional murder, but most historians are still inclined to believe that the conspirators acted according to a carefully developed plan.

Witnesses and persons who knew about the conspiracy

Who killed Paul 1? This was definitely known to those persons who were in the emperor's bedroom on the ill-fated night. None of the first group of conspirators stained themselves with murder (even Bennigsen, as well as Platon and Nikolai Zubov, had previously left the king's bedroom). Although many historians say that this is a lie that they themselves invented in order to whitewash themselves.

The list of those present in the bedroom varies depending on the source. These could be:

1. Bennigsen.
2. Plato and Nikolai Zubov.
3. Alexander Argamakov.
4. Vladimir Yashvil.
5. I. Tatarinov.
6. Yevsey Gordanov.
7. Yakov Skaryatin.
8. Nikolai Borozdin and several other personalities.

The former British ambassador to the Russian Empire Lord Whitworth, the Russian ambassador in London Semyon Vorontsov, Tsarevich Alexander (according to Panin, the Tsarevich tacitly agreed to the overthrow of his father), and official Dmitry Troshchinsky were aware of the plot. The latter wrote the famous manifesto on the coronation of Alexander I. The young tsar renounced his father's policy.

Who took the life of the emperor?

But who killed Paul 1, the son of Catherine 2? In different sources, opinions again diverge. In addition, you need to pay attention to the features of the murder. It is known that first a blow with a snuffbox followed, and then the emperor was strangled with an officer's scarf. In most sources, it is believed that Platon Zubov delivered the blow. It would seem that it is clear who killed Paul 1. But the emperor died of suffocation. In addition, it is known that after being hit with a massive golden snuffbox, but before being strangled with a scarf, the king was thrown to the floor and started to be kicked.

Who killed Paul 1? An officer of the Izmailovsky regiment Skaryatin strangled his emperor with a scarf. This scarf belonged (according to different versions) either to Skaryatin, or to Paul I himself, or to Bennigsen. So, Platon Zubov (pictured above) and Yakov Skaryatin became the killers. The first struck the tsar in the temple with a golden snuffbox that belonged to Nikolai Zubov, and the second strangled Paul I with a scarf. There is also a version that Vladimir Yashvil delivered the first blow.

After the murder: the reaction of subjects, burial

Alexander was informed about the death of his father by Nikolai Zubov or Palen with Bennigsen. Then Konstantin was awakened, and Alexander sent his wife to Empress Maria Feodorovna. But this terrible news was reported to the empress by Charlotte Lieven, the teacher of the children of Paul I. Maria Feodorovna lost consciousness, but quickly recovered and even declared that now she should rule. Until five o'clock in the morning, she did not obey the new emperor.

The next morning, a manifesto was issued, in which it was reported that the All-Russian Emperor had died last night from a stroke. Petersburgers began to congratulate each other on such "happiness", according to eyewitnesses, it really was "the resurrection of Russia to a new life." Fonvizin, by the way, also speaks in his notes about the "day of the Bright Resurrection." True, a large number of people still felt disgust for the events that had taken place.

On the night after the assassination, the physician Villiers processed the corpse of the emperor in order to hide the traces of a violent death. The next morning they wanted to show the body to the soldiers. It was necessary to prove that the king was really dead, so one should swear allegiance to the new emperor. But the blue and black spots on the face of the deceased could not be hidden. Some sources report that a court painter was even called in to make up the corpse. When Paul I was lying in a coffin, his hat was pulled down over his forehead to cover his left eye and temple.

The funeral service and burial took place on the twenty-third of March. It was performed by all members of the Synod, headed by Metropolitan Ambrose.

Ghost of Emperor Paul 1

There is a legend according to which the ghost of the murdered emperor could not leave the place of his death. The ghost was seen by the soldiers of the capital's garrison and the new inhabitants of the Mikhailovsky Palace, bystanders who noticed a luminous figure in the windows. This frightening image was very actively used by the cadets of the Nikolaev School, who later settled in the castle. It is possible that the ghost was themselves and invented to intimidate the younger ones.

N. Leskov's story "The Ghost in the Engineering Castle" drew attention to the ghost. The purpose of creating the work was to draw attention to hazing that reigned in the school.

So why was Paul 1 killed? In short, the conspirators wanted to install "their" king. They hoped that they would occupy prominent positions. Why Paul 1 was actually killed, they cannot say for sure, probably even historians who have devoted more than one year of their lives to this problem. The fact is that there can be a huge variety of reasons (including personal ones), circumstances that influenced the outcome of events, accidents and opinions.

Russian Emperor Paul I (1754-1801) ascended the throne on November 6, 1796. He was killed by conspirators on the night of March 11-12, 1801. The reasons for the conspiracy and death were a direct consequence of the complex, contradictory and unpredictable nature of the autocrat. In such conditions, the court elite felt uncomfortable. None of the nobles could vouch for their tomorrow. Therefore, we can conclude that the conspirators were primarily driven by a sense of self-preservation. They needed the assassination of Paul I in order to finally feel safe.

Life of Paul before accession to the throne

It should be noted that the future emperor did not initially have a relationship with his mother Catherine II. He was an unwanted child from an unloved husband. The matter was aggravated by the fact that the son did not at all resemble his mother, but paternal features were clearly visible in him. Mother Empress somehow even mentioned that this was not her son at all. Allegedly, immediately after the birth of the child, they were replaced by the personal order of Elizabeth.

Such thoughts, of course, could not lead to anything good. The situation was also aggravated by the fact that in the veins of Catherine the Great there was not even a drop of the blood of the Romanov dynasty. According to dynastic concepts, she had no right to the throne. Therefore, she had to transfer the crown to her son when he reached the age of majority. By the way, this was discussed in writing during the coronation on September 22, 1762.

Emperor Paul I

However, the mother empress subsequently destroyed this obligation. In 1783, the son was removed from the court and settled in Gatchina. There, having a good financial allowance, he started his own rules, which in no way resemble those in St. Petersburg. The heir to the throne created his own Gatchina army, somewhat reminiscent of the amusing troops of Peter I. It should be noted that it was a disciplined, well-trained and combat-ready military unit.

The reason for the removal of his son to Gatchina was the meeting of Paul with his mother in May 1783. Catherine invited her son to her place to discuss foreign policy issues with him. In particular, they talked about Poland and Crimea. In the course of the conversation, it turned out that the son holds absolutely opposite views on the external course of the Russian state. As a result of this, the empress was once again convinced that there was nothing in common between her and the heir to the throne.

From that moment on, the reigning lady turned all her attention to her grandson Alexander. The boy was born in 1777 and, having matured, found himself between two fires. He had to please both his father and grandmother, which undoubtedly affected the character of the future emperor.

Catherine tried to marry her beloved grandson as soon as possible. In 1793 they played a wedding, and the boy began to be considered an adult. The queen did all this in order to pass the crown to her grandson, and not to her son.

Shortly before the death of the mother empress, everyone was waiting for her to issue a manifesto in which she would remove her son from inheriting the throne, and instead appoint Alexander as heir. But nothing of the kind has been made public. There were rumors that the Highness Prince Alexander Andreyevich Bezborodko, who was close to the Empress, destroyed the will. Thus, he secured Paul's accession to the throne.

Years of government

The accession to the Russian throne took place on November 6, 1796, and the sovereign was crowned on April 5, 1797. The solemn event was timed to coincide with the first day of Easter. It is also notable for the fact that for the first time in the history of the Russian Empire, both the emperor and the empress were crowned at the same time.

From the first days of his reign, the emperor began to implement reforms. He made major changes to succession by eliminating women from succession to the throne. Thus, according to the concepts of the sovereign, the likelihood of palace coups was minimized. But in this case, everything was based on the experience of the last century, when, as a result of palace intrigues, representatives of the weaker sex took power into their hands.

The sovereign tried to improve the situation of the peasants. He introduced a 3-day corvee per week. The rest of the time the peasants could work for themselves. It was forbidden to separate families during the sale of peasants. State peasants received the right to join the philistinism and merchant class.

Along with this, the emperor carried out a number of measures aimed at weakening the positions of the nobility.. The decree was canceled, which forbade the use of corporal punishment to the nobles. They were flogged for drunkenness, service offenses, depraved behavior. If a nobleman evaded military or civil service, then he could now be put on trial. The nobles were also deprived of the right to choose the judiciary and assessors, as well as to file complaints with the sovereign without the approval of the governor.

The king attached the greatest importance to strengthening discipline. This was especially true of the army, where the focus was on drill. For the slightest violations and shortcomings, officers could be demoted to soldiers. This created a nervous atmosphere in the troops. At the same time, the soldiers were allowed to complain about their commanders, which further aggravated the situation among the officers.

Concerning foreign policy, then the anointed of God began to focus on friendly relations with France, and not with England. There was an idea to create a coalition of united fleets. It was supposed to include such countries as Russia, France, Sweden and Denmark. This frightened the British, as there was a real threat to their dominion at sea.

Preparations began for the conclusion of a military alliance with Napoleon Bonaparte. A joint military campaign was planned in India, which was under the complete control of the British, which again caused a commotion on the shores of Foggy Albion.

conspirators

The emperor's innovations, his unpredictability caused discontent in the highest circles of the empire. The sovereign spoiled relations not only with the nobility, but also with the guards. For the slightest infractions, officers of noble blood were mercilessly flogged. As a result of all this, a conspiracy arose.

His inspiration was Nikita Petrovich Panin(1770-1837). A count by birth, he fell into disgrace, as he was an ardent opponent of the treaty between Russia and France and gravitated towards the British. The emperor forbade him to appear in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Therefore, the main conspirator did not directly participate in the assassination of Paul I.

The second most important conspirator was Pyotr Alekseevich Palen(1745-1826). It was he who was the direct organizer of the conspiracy. He served as military governor of St. Petersburg. In 1800, the emperor removed him from his post, but after 2 months he reappointed him to the same post. After that, Peter Alekseevich realized the fragility of his position and became an ardent opponent of the sovereign.

In the ranks of the conspirators was also Osip Mikhailovich Deribas(1751-1800). It was he who, fulfilling the will of Catherine II, laid the foundation for the city of Odessa. In addition, he at one time was engaged in the case of Princess Tarakanova. In early 1997, he fell out of favor. Then everything seemed to get better, but in 1800 Deribas was removed from service due to the waste of state money. But soon the emperor again showed mercy. However, in December 1800, Osip Mikhailovich died. There is a version that Peter Palen poisoned him, as he feared that Deribas might reveal the plot to the emperor.

Another leader of the conspirators is considered Platon Alexandrovich Zubov(1767-1822). The Most Serene Prince and favorite of Catherine II, he fell into disgrace. His estates were taken away, and he himself was sent abroad. It is quite natural that he became an ardent enemy of the emperor. True, in 1800 Zubov returned to Russia and received back the confiscated property. But the hatred of the sovereign did not die away from this.

The plot also included the brother of Platon Alexandrovich Zubov Nikolai Alexandrovich(1763-1805) and Olga Alexandrovna Zherebtsova(1766-1849). She had a close relationship with the British ambassador Charles Whitworth. There is an assumption that England supplied the conspirators with money. All material issues were carried out directly through Mrs. Zherebtsova. It was in her house that the conspirators gathered. A few days before the bloody denouement, the woman went abroad. And after the assassination of the emperor, she received a huge amount of money from the British government. This was a reward for all the conspirators, but Zherebtsova appropriated all the money for herself.

Many guards officers also took part in the conspiracy. In total, there were about 300 conspirators.

Mikhailovsky Castle from a bird's eye view
It was in it that the assassination of Paul I was committed by conspirators

Chronology of the assassination of Paul I

The crime against the anointed of God happened in the Mikhailovsky Castle in the center of St. Petersburg. It was built on the site of the Summer Palace of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. It was in the Summer Palace that Pavel was born. That is, it turns out that the autocrat was killed in the same place where he was born 46 and a half years ago.

On the evening of March 11, 1801, about 50 conspirators gathered at Palen. At first, no one knew the purpose of the visit, but Platon Zubov spoke to the audience. He declared that the deposition of the emperor was to take place that night. The sanction for this was given by his son Alexander. It is he who is the legitimate ruler of Russia, since Catherine II from the very beginning wanted to transfer power to her grandson. When asked what would have to be done with the deposed emperor, Zubov replied that he would be arrested and taken to Shlisselburg.

Half an hour before midnight, the conspirators went to the Mikhailovsky Castle in 2 groups. One was headed by Peter Palen. With his men, he went to the main entrance to the palace. Their task was to stop any unwanted accidents. For Palen, this was not difficult, since he was the military governor of the capital and had the right to arrest anyone.

The second group was headed by Platon Zubov. With his team, he moved to the Christmas Gate of the Mikhailovsky Palace. These people were supposed to arrest the emperor. They got inside and went up to the second floor, where the chambers of the autocrat were located. However, a large number of strangers caused a noise in the palace. He was heard by the soldiers guarding the palace. But the service people were reassured by the officers-conspirators, who were their commanders.

In the first hour of the night, that is, already on March 12, a dozen malefactors appeared near the royal rooms. At the door of the sovereign's bedroom, a sentry was constantly on duty. History has preserved his name. It was a certain Agapeev. Nikolai Zubov crept up behind him and hit him on the head with a saber. The sentry fell to the floor and lost consciousness.

The conspirators tried to open the bedroom door, but it was locked from the inside. However, the fuss was heard by the emperor's room man by the name of Kirillov. He opened the door to see what the noise was. They immediately attacked him and inflicted several blows on the head. Fortunately, both Agapeev and Kirillov survived.

The regimental adjutant of the emperor Argamakov stepped forward. He had the right of access to the private quarters of the autocrat and knocked on the last door that separated the intruders from their ultimate goal. This time the valet answered the knock. Argamakov said that it was already 6 in the morning, and he had come with a report to the emperor. The valet was very surprised, since he had just recently gone to bed, but he opened the door. The conspirators rushed at him, there were shouts, noise.

Paul heard all this. He jumped out of bed, darted around the room, and the intruders were already bursting into his chambers. The sovereign had no choice but to hide behind a curtain. According to another version, he dived into the fireplace and hid there.

The officers, who were at least 12 people, broke into the imperial bedroom, but the bed was empty. The conspirators were seized with a sense of panic. They began to feverishly search the room and, to their indescribable joy, found the sovereign hiding from them. He appeared before the heated people in a nightgown and over the knee boots.

Platon Zubov demanded that the emperor sign the abdication and show the autocrat the finished text. But he completely refused to do so. The sovereign grabbed the sheet of renunciation, crushed it and threw it in Zubov's face. The situation began to heat up. The officers suddenly clearly realized that even if Pavel signed everything now, the faithful Gatchina regiments would free him in the morning, and their heads would roll off the scaffold.

Meanwhile, the autocrat tried to turn the tide. He began to talk about legality, about justice, trying to draw those present into the dispute. But many of them were in a state of intoxication, because before the start of the rebellion they took them on their chests for courage. Nikolai Zubov was in a state of extreme intoxication. He was a physically strong man. A golden snuffbox fell under his arm. With it, he hit the emperor in the left temple. He collapsed to the floor and lost consciousness.

All pounced on the lying man and began to beat him. One of the conspirators, by the name of Skaryatin, grabbed a scarf hanging near the sovereign's bed. With this scarf, the emperor was strangled. According to the time, the assassination of Paul I took place at about 1:40-1:50 at night. Early in the morning, residents of the capital were acquainted with the manifesto. It said that the autocrat died of apoplexy or, in modern terms, from a stroke.

Conspirators and Paul I

Conclusion

The son of the murdered emperor Alexander knew about the conspiracy. But he never imagined that all this would result in the death of a parent. Having become Alexander I, the new ruler of Russia, until the end of his life, considered himself guilty of the death of his father.

All participants in the conspiracy fell into disgrace. This was largely facilitated by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828). Panin was sent to his estate, where he spent the remaining years of his life. Peter Palen was removed from the post of military governor, dismissed and sent to the family estate without the right to leave it.

Platon Zubov lost all influence at court. They tried to get rid of him as soon as possible and send him to a permanent place of residence in the family estate. There, Zubov very quickly became decrepit and at the age of 50 already looked like an old man. He was incredibly greedy. Having a fortune of several million rubles, he wore cast-offs and counted every penny. Nikolai Zubov, who first hit the emperor, fell out of favor with Alexander I. This conspirator died suddenly in 1805.

As for the people, the nobles rejoiced when they learned about the death of the extravagant sovereign. The rest of the estates reacted to the sudden death of the emperor without any emotions. In general, it should be noted that the tragedy was quickly forgotten in an endless series of new historical events.