Alexander I Pavlovich Romanov (December 23 (12), 1777 - December 1 (November 19), 1825) - Emperor of the Russian Empire.
Alexander was born in St. Petersburg. , the emperor's grandmother, named him in honor of Alexander the Great. She believed that in the future he himself would choose "which path to take - holiness or heroism." Alexander Pavlovich's father was PaulI, and mother - Maria Fedorovna.
Childhood and youth of Alexander I
When Alexander was born, his grandmother immediately took him. She planned to actively engage in his upbringing, so that the heir would grow up and become an ideal ruler who would continue her work. Catherine did not want Paul to become emperor, she was going to transfer power immediately to her grandson Alexander Pavlovich.
His parents lived in Pavlovsk and Gatchina, while Alexander lived with his grandmother in Tsarskoye Selo. The Swiss general Frederic Cesar Laharpe was appointed educator, on the recommendation of Denis Diderot, he conducted scientific classes, introduced Paul's sons to the works of the philosopher Rousseau. The traditions of the Russian aristocracy were taught by Nikolai Saltykov.
Alexander from childhood was a kind and gentle child. He was distinguished by a sharp mind, shared the ideas of the liberals. But at the same time, it was difficult for Alexander to concentrate on work for a long time.
The prince was critical of autocratic power and adhered to the ideas of the Enlightenment.
He did military service in the Gatchina troops, where he became deaf in his left ear due to the sounds of cannons. On November 18 (7), 1796, Alexander was promoted to colonel of the guard. A year later, he became the St. Petersburg military governor, chief of the Semyonovsky Guards Regiment, commander of the metropolitan division, chairman of the commission for food supplies, etc.
In 1798, he began to sit in the military parliament, a year later - in the Senate.
Accession to the throne of Alexander I
During the reign of Paul I, several conspiracies were organized. Alexander was aware that they wanted to overthrow his father from the throne and transfer power to him. Alexander Pavlovich did not oppose conspiracies, but he did not plan to kill the emperor, but wanted to save his father's life.
In 1800, the highest nobility planned a conspiracy, among them were: Pyotr Alekseevich Palen, Osip Mikhailovich Deribas, Nikita Petrovich Panin, Leonty Leontyevich Bennigsen, Nikolai Alexandrovich Zubov, Leonty Ivanovich Depreradovich, Fedor Petrovich Uvarov and Pyotr Alexandrovich Talyzin.
Paul I was killed on the night of March 24 (12), 1801 in his bedchamber. Then Palen came to Alexander and announced the death of Paul. The emperor was very worried about the death of Paul and until the end of his life he felt guilty for the death of his father.
After this event, Alexander I went out onto the balcony and announced the death of Paul due to apoplexy. He promised that he would continue the policy of Catherine II.
Politics of Alexander I
He considered one of the main problems in the Russian Empire "the arbitrariness of our government", the emperor planned to develop fundamental laws that everyone in the state had to follow.
Domestic policy of Alexander I
In 1801, Alexander created the Unofficial Committee - an unofficial state advisory body, which included V.P. Kochubey, A. Czartorysky, N.N. Novosiltsev, P.A. Stroganov. His task was to work on the reform of public authorities. In 1803, the committee was disbanded, and later the responsibility for developing state reforms fell on M. M. Speransky.
On April 11 (March 30), 1801, the Permanent Council was organized - the highest deliberative body of the Russian Empire. It existed until 1810, and after that it was transformed into the Council of State.
In 1808-1809, Speransky developed a plan for the reorganization of the empire, in accordance with which there should be a separation of powers into the legislative branch, judicial and executive, while the emperor's power remained absolute. The plan called for the creation of an elected representative body. The population was to receive civil and political rights. It was planned to divide the population into three estates: "working people", "average condition" and the nobility.
Ministers, senators, and other top dignitaries opposed such reforms, so Alexander was forced to relent and shelve the project. But part of the reforms was implemented, in particular, the State Council was created and there were changes in the ministries.
Under Alexander I, merchants, philistines, state and specific peasants in 1801 received the right to buy land outside the cities.
In 1808-1809 the Russo-Swedish War, after it the Grand Duchy of Finland was annexed to the empire.
In 1812, the Patriotic War began between the Russian Empire and France. At the first stage, the Russian army retreated from the borders of Russia to Moscow, giving battles, the most famous of them was Battle of Borodino. It took place on September 7 (August 26), 1812, the Russian troops were led. The battle was one of the bloodiest battles of the 19th century; according to various sources, about 48-58 thousand people died in it. The Russian Empire believed that the victory was hers, and Napoleon believed that he had won. In this battle, Napoleon was unable to defeat the Russian army, to force the Russian Empire to surrender.
After the battle, French troops occupied Moscow, where a fire broke out that engulfed almost the entire Zemlyanoy and Bely city. There are different versions of the cause of the fire, but the most popular is that the fire was organized by the Russians on purpose, because Napoleon planned to spend the winter in it. The proof of this version is the fact that Kutuzov decided to leave Moscow without a fight.
As a result, the French army was trapped, because it was completely unprepared for winter, and Moscow was burned, so there were no provisions, warm clothes, horses, etc. in the city.
On October 19, the French army, consisting of 110 thousand people, began to leave Moscow. October 24 battle near Maloyaroslavets, which became a major strategic victory for the Russian army led by Kutuzov.
The French army was forced to retreat along the devastated Smolensk road, and since it had supply problems, such a path became fatal. On the way, they were attacked by the Cossacks of General Platov and partisans, and the Russian army marched parallel to the French.
The French army was exhausted, people abandoned their weapons, were forced to eat horses, many died on the road.
The last battle in the Patriotic War of 1812 was battle on the Berezina, Napoleon was able to transport part of the troops across the bridge, but the bridge itself was burned on his orders, leaving a crowd of thousands of unarmed people who were attacked by the Cossacks.
The Patriotic War of 1812 ended with the almost complete annihilation of Napoleon's Great Army.
In 1813-1814, Alexander I led the anti-French coalition of European powers. March 31 (19), 1814, he entered Paris.
In the period from September 1814 to June 1815, the emperor was one of the leaders of the Congress of Vienna.
During the reign of Alexander I, the territory of the Russian Empire increased significantly. The country included Western and Eastern Georgia, Mingrelia, Imereti, Guria, Finland, Bessarabia, most of Poland.
Personal life and family of Alexander I
On September 28 (17), 1793, Alexander married Louise Maria Augusta of Baden, daughter of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach Karl Ludovik of Baden, she was named Elizaveta Alekseevna.
In 1792, she and her sister, by order of Catherine, arrived in St. Petersburg. Alexander had to choose one of them as his wife. Between Elizabeth and the prince, feelings arose that did not last long.
During the marriage they had two daughters, they lived only a few years:
- Maria (May 18, 1799 - July 27, 1800);
- Elizabeth (November 3, 1806 - April 30, 1808).
During family life with Elizabeth, Alexander had another lover - Maria Antonovna Naryshkina, who served as a maid of honor. For about 15 years they were in a love affair, which ended due to the fact that Alexander heard rumors about her infidelity. There is an opinion that during their relationship, Maria gave birth to a daughter, Sophia Naryshkina, from the emperor.
Alexander also had a love affair with Sophia Sergeevna Meshcherskaya. She had a son Nikolai Evgenievich Lukash, it was believed that Alexander I was his father.
There are different opinions about the number of children of the emperor: some historians believe that he had about 11 children from Maria Naryshkina and other mistresses, others believe that he was barren, and Adam Czartorysky and Alexei Okhotnikov were the fathers of his wife's daughters.
The last years of life and death of Alexander I
The last two years of his life, Alexander was less and less interested in state affairs, transferring power to Arakcheev. There is a theory that the emperor was so tired of power that he wanted to abdicate.
The last year of his reign was overshadowed by the St. Petersburg flood of 1824 and the death of Sofya Dmitrievna Naryshkina, whom he recognized as his illegitimate daughter.
Alexander loved to travel around Russia and Europe, so at the time of his death he was far from the capital. December 1 (November 19), 1825, Alexander I died in Taganrog in the house of the mayor P. A. Papkov.
Since Alexander practically did not get sick, and his death was sudden, various rumors and theories appeared. According to one version, it was believed that the emperor only staged his death, and he himself disappeared near Kyiv.
In the 1830-1840s, a theory appeared, according to which Alexander, because of remorse for the guilt of his father's death, staged his death and began to live as a hermit under the name Fyodor Kuzmich. Whether this theory is correct is still unknown.
A similar version arose in relation to Alexander's wife. In 1826, Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna died. But some believe that she only staged death, and she herself began to live as a recluse of the Syrkov Devichy Monastery under the name of Vera the Silent.
Two years before his death, on August 28 (16), 1823, by order of Alexander I, a secret manifesto was drawn up, where the emperor indicated that he had accepted the abdication of the throne by his brother Konstantin, and the younger brother was recognized as the legitimate heir NicholasI who eventually became the next emperor.
Alexander 1 Pavlovich (born 12 (23) December 1777 - death November 19 (December 1), 1825) - Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia (since March 12 (24), 1801), eldest son of Emperor Paul 1 and Mary Fyodorovna.
Death of Paul 1
When on the morning of March 12, 1801, the news of the death of the sovereign flew around Petersburg with lightning speed, there was no limit to the delight and jubilation of the people. “On the streets,” according to the testimony of one of his contemporaries, “people wept for joy, embraced each other, as on the day of the Holy Resurrection of Christ.” This general joy was caused not so much by the fact that the difficult time of the reign of the deceased emperor had irrevocably passed, but by the fact that the adored heir of Paul, Alexander 1, brought up by himself, ascended the throne.
Upbringing. Alexander's education
When Grand Duke Paul 1 Petrovich had a son - the first-born Alexander, Catherine 2 from the very first year of her grandson's life took care of his upbringing. She herself began to study with him and his brother Konstantin, who was born a year and a half later, she herself compiled the alphabet for the children, wrote several fairy tales, and eventually a small guide to Russian history. When the grandson Alexander grew up, the Empress appointed Count N.I. Saltykova, and the teachers were chosen from the most educated people of that era - M.N. Muravyov, a famous writer, and Pallas, a famous scientist. Archpriest Samborsky taught Alexander the Law of God and in his lessons inspired the pupil to "find his neighbor in every human condition."
Since Catherine was preparing Alexander for the throne, even intending to bypass her son, she soon took care of giving her beloved grandson a solid education in legal sciences, most necessary for the future ruler of a great power. They were invited to teach by the Swiss citizen Laharpe, a man of noble soul, imbued with a deep love for people and the desire for truth, goodness and justice. Laharpe was able to exert the most beneficial influence on the future emperor. Subsequently, Alexander told La Harpe's wife: "Everything that disposes people to me, I owe to my tutor and mentor, your husband." Sincere friendly relations were soon established between the teacher and the student, which remained until the death of La Harpe.
Personal life
Unfortunately, the upbringing of the future emperor ended quite early, when he was not yet 16 years old. At this young age, he had already entered into marriage, at the request of Catherine, with a 14-year-old Baden princess, named after the adoption of Orthodoxy, Elizaveta Alekseevna. Alexander's wife was distinguished by a gentle character, infinite kindness to those who suffer, and an extremely attractive appearance. From his marriage to Elizaveta Alekseevna, Alexander had two daughters, Maria and Elizaveta, but both of them died in early childhood. Therefore, it was not the children of Alexander who became the heir to the throne, but his younger brother.
Due to the fact that his wife could not give birth to his son, the relationship between the sovereign and his wife cooled greatly. He practically did not hide his love relationships on the side. At first, for almost 15 years, the emperor cohabited with Maria Naryshkina, the wife of Chief Jägermeister Dmitry Naryshkin, whom all the courtiers called in his eyes "an exemplary cuckold." Maria gave birth to 6 children, while the paternity of five of them is usually attributed to Alexander. However, most of these children died in infancy. The sovereign also had an affair with the daughter of the court banker Sophie Velho and with Sophia Vsevolozhskaya, who gave birth to his illegitimate son, Nikolai Lukash, a general and war hero.
Wife Elizaveta Alekseevna and favorite Maria Naryshkina
Accession to the throne
Upon accession to the throne, Alexander 1 announced in a manifesto that he would rule the power “according to the laws and according to his heart” of his great grandmother, Catherine 2: “Yes, marching along her wise intentions,” the new emperor promised in his first manifesto, “we will achieve to elevate Russia to the top glory and deliver inviolable bliss to all our faithful subjects.
The very first days of the new reign were marked by great favors. Thousands of people exiled under Paul were returned, thousands of others were restored in their civil and official rights. Corporal punishment for nobles, merchants and clergy was abolished, torture was abolished forever.
Domestic policy. Transformations. reforms
Soon radical changes began in the state administration itself. September 8, 1802 - Ministries are established. For a more perfect development of legislative issues, the sovereign formed an Unspoken Committee, which included friends of Alexander's youth, persons who enjoyed the emperor's special confidence: N.N. Novosiltsev, Prince Adam Czartoryski, Count P.A. Stroganov and Count V.P. Kochubey. The Committee was entrusted with the task of drawing up bills for the transformation of the entire Russian national and state life.
The emperor chose the famous Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky, later a count, as his closest collaborator. Speransky was the son of a simple priest. After graduating from the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, he took a teaching position in this educational institution, and then moved to the civil service, where he was able to quickly advance with his enormous ability to work and extensive knowledge.
On behalf of the sovereign, Speransky drew up a coherent plan for reforms in legislation, administration and courts, the main feature of which was the admission of the participation of popular representation in all areas of public life. But, realizing that the population of Russia was not yet ripe for participation in state activities, the emperor did not begin to implement the entire Speransky plan, but carried out only some parts of it. So, on January 1, 1810, the Council of State was opened in the presence of Alexander himself, who in his opening speech said, among other things: protect the empire with good laws."
Once a week, Alexander 1 attended the meetings of the Council in person, and Speransky reported to him on the cases that were considered at the remaining meetings.
Portraits of Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich (young)
Foreign policy
Upon accession to the throne, one of the most basic concerns of the sovereign was the establishment of the external world of Russia, exhausted by wars in the previous reigns. Everything possible was done in this direction, and for some time, albeit a short one, not only Russia, but all of Europe enjoyed peace.
However, European political relations were such that already in 1805, Russia, despite the peacefulness of its emperor, was forced to take part in the struggle of the European powers with France, led by the great conqueror, who based his rise from a simple officer to a huge emperor on victories. powers. Starting a fight with him, Alexander 1 entered into an alliance with Austria and England and began to direct military operations himself. The war ended unsuccessfully for the allies. Several times Napoleon defeated the Austrian troops, and then, on the fields of Austerlitz, he met, on November 20, 1805, the allied Russian-Austrian army, which included both emperors, Alexander and Franz. In a desperate battle, Napoleon emerged victorious. Austria hurried to make peace with him, and the Russian army returned home.
However, the next year hostilities against Napoleon resumed. This time, Russia was in alliance with Prussia, which inadvertently hurried to start a fight without waiting for the arrival of Russian troops. Near Jena and Auerstedt, Napoleon defeated the Prussian army, occupied the capital of Prussia, Berlin, and took possession of all the lands of this state. The Russian army was forced to act alone. In the big battle at Preussisch-Eylau, Napoleon, who attacked the Russian army, failed, but in 1807 he was able to defeat the Russians near Friedland.
The war ended with a meeting between Napoleon and Alexander in Tilsit, on a raft in the middle of the Neman River. A peace was concluded between France and Russia, according to which Russia was to accept the continental system invented by Bonaparte against England - not to allow English goods to itself and not to have any trade relations with England at all. For this, Russia received in its possession the Bialystok region and freedom of action in Eastern Europe.
Napoleon and Emperor Alexander 1 - a date in Tilsit
Patriotic War - 1812
The peace of Tilsit turned out to be fragile. Less than 2 years later, disagreements reappeared between Russia and France. The war was inevitable, and soon it broke out - as soon as Napoleon completed all the preparations for it.
In order to destroy Russia, Napoleon gathered the forces of almost all of Europe subject to him and, at the head of a 600,000-strong army, on June 12 (24), 1812, invaded Russian borders. The Patriotic War began, glorifying Alexander and Russia and causing the fall of Napoleon.
Russia, led by Alexander 1, was not only able to defend its existence as a state, but then liberated the whole of Europe from the power of the hitherto invincible conqueror.
1813, January 1 - the Russian army, under the command of the emperor and Kutuzov, entered the Duchy of Warsaw created by Napoleon, cleared it of the remnants of the "Great Army" and moved to Prussia, where it was met with popular rejoicing. The Prussian king immediately entered into an alliance with Alexander and gave his army under the command of Kutuzov. Unfortunately, the latter soon died from his labors, bitterly mourned by all of Russia.
Napoleon, hastily gathering a new army, attacked the allies near Lutzen and defeated them. In the second battle, at Bautzen, the French were again victorious. In the meantime, Austria decided to join Russia and Prussia by sending her army to help them. At Dresden, there was a battle of now three allied armies with the army of Napoleon, who again was able to win the battle. However, this was his last success. First in the Kulm Valley, and then in a stubborn battle near Leipzig, in which more than half a million people took part and which is called the “battle of the peoples” in history, the French were defeated. This defeat was followed by Napoleon's abdication and removal to the island of Elba.
Alexander became the arbiter of the destinies of Europe, its liberator from Napoleonic power. When he returned to St. Petersburg on July 13, the Senate, the Synod and the Council of State unanimously asked him to accept the name "Blessed" and allow him to erect a monument during his lifetime. The sovereign refused the latter, declaring: “May a monument be built for me in your feelings, as it was built in my feelings for you!”
Congress of Vienna
1814 - the Congress of Vienna took place, at which the European states were restored to their former possessions, violated by the conquests of the French, and Russia for the liberation of Europe received almost the entire Duchy of Warsaw, called the Kingdom of Poland. 1815 - Napoleon left the island of Elba, arrived in France and wanted to regain the throne. But at Waterloo, he was defeated by the British and Prussians, and then exiled to St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.
In the meantime, Alexander 1 had the idea to form a Holy Union from the sovereigns of the Christian peoples to unite all of Europe on the basis of the gospel truths and to combat the destructive revolutionary ferment of the masses. According to the terms of this alliance, Alexander in subsequent years took an active part in the suppression of popular uprisings that now and then arose in various parts of Europe.
Last years of reign
The Patriotic War had a strong influence on the character and views of the emperor, and the second half of his reign was little like the first. No changes were made in the administration of the state. Alexander became thoughtful, almost stopped smiling, began to be weary of his position as a monarch, and several times even expressed his intention to renounce the throne and retire to private life.
In the last years of his reign, Count A.A. Arakcheev, who became the only speaker to the sovereign of all management affairs. Arakcheev was also very religious, and this feature brought him even closer to the sovereign.
Inside Russia at the end of the reign was restless. In some parts of the troops, there was ferment among the officers, who had been in Europe during numerous campaigns and learned there new ideas about the state order. The sovereign even received information about the existence of a conspiracy aimed at changing the form of supreme government in Russia. But, feeling tired from all the labors and unrest experienced, the sovereign did not take measures against the conspirators.
By the end of 1825, the health of Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna became so weak that doctors advised her not to stay in St. Petersburg for the winter, but to go south. Taganrog was chosen as the seat of the empress, where Alexander decided to leave earlier in order to make the necessary preparations for the arrival of his wife, and on September 1 he left Petersburg.
Death of Alexander 1
Life in the warm southern climate had a beneficial effect on the health of Elizaveta Alekseevna. The sovereign took advantage of this and left Taganrog to visit neighboring places along the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, as well as travel through the Crimea. On November 5, he returned to Taganrog completely ill, having caught a bad cold while traveling through the Crimea, but refused the help of doctors. Soon his health became life threatening. The sovereign partook of the Holy Mysteries and felt the approach of death. His wife, who was always with him, begged him to allow doctors, this time the emperor agreed to accept their help, but it was too late: the body was so weakened by the disease that at 11 am on November 19, Alexander 1 the Blessed quietly died.
The ashes of the sovereign were transported to St. Petersburg and on March 13, 1826, they were buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Brief biography of Alexander I
Alexander I Pavlovich - Russian emperor-autocrat; eldest son of Paul I and Empress Maria Feodorovna. Known for a number of liberal reforms and skillful diplomacy. In addition to the imperial title, Alexander I had several other titles - the Tsar of Poland, the Grand Duke of Finland and the Protector of the Order of Malta. In pre-revolutionary history, he was called "Blessed". Alexander was born into the royal family on December 12 (23), 1777. The name was given to him in honor of the great commander and king Alexander the Great.
Immediately after his birth, he was under the care of his crowned grandmother Catherine II and grew up in St. Petersburg. She wanted to raise him as a worthy king and an ideal ruler, as she saw in him the successor of her work. She personally initiated him into the political and socially significant issues of the state, but Alexander gradually found more and more inconsistencies between his vision of the world and between what his grandmother told him. He had a strained relationship with his father. He had to carefully hide his personal opinion.
After the death of Catherine II, bypassing her son, bequeathed the throne to Alexander, but he refused it. During the reign of Paul I, his situation became even worse. The emperor suspected him all the time and did not believe in his sincerity. The future emperor was critical of his father's policy, and therefore he had to go over to the side of the conspirators. In the spring of 1801, Paul I was killed, and he remained to live with heavy guilt in his soul. When the organizers of the conspiracy from aristocratic circles planned their actions, it was assumed that the king would not be killed, but would only seek his abdication.
For this reason, the death of his father for Alexander was a real blow and seriously affected his state of mind. From the first days of his reign, he announced the upcoming radical reforms in the country's constitution, created a special legislative body under the tsar and tried to govern Russia according to the precepts of Catherine II. During his reign, administrative, educational and other spheres underwent reforms. People close to him were A.A. Arakcheev, M. B. Barclay de Tolly, M. M. Speransky.
His foreign policy was dominated by the European direction. He perfectly maneuvered between Great Britain and France, waged successful wars with Turkey and Sweden, annexed many adjacent territories to Russia, including Eastern Georgia, Finland, and Bessarabia. And after the defeat of the Napoleonic troops in 1812, by decision of the Congress of Vienna, he was able to annex most of the Polish lands. This ruler strengthened the international prestige of the country, and he himself became famous as a skilled diplomat. From 1815, the conservative trend intensified in his politics.
Alexander I opposed the impending revolutions in Italy, Spain and Greece. In Russia, he banned the activities of Masonic lodges and other secret organizations. The monarch died in the autumn of 1825 in Taganrog, where he was going to be treated for typhus. Next to him was his wife - Louise-Maria-Augusta of Baden-Baden, who in Orthodoxy was called Elizaveta Alekseevna. The imperial couple had two daughters: Mary and Elizabeth.
Alexander Pavlovich Romanov was born on December 12, 1777 in St. Petersburg. He was the favorite grandson of Catherine II and the eldest son of the heir to the throne, Paul. The child had a strained relationship with his father, so he was brought up by a crowned grandmother.
Heir to the throne
At this time, the ideas of enlightenment and humanism were popular. According to them, Alexander 1 was also brought up. A brief biography of the future monarch contained lessons based on the work of Rousseau. At the same time, the father taught the child to military affairs.
In 1793, the young man married a German princess, who received the name of Elizabeth Alekseevna at baptism. Then he served in the Gatchina troops, which were created by Paul. With the death of Catherine, the father became emperor, and Alexander became his heir. In order for him to become accustomed to public affairs, Alexander was made a member of the Senate.
Alexander 1, whose brief biography was full of enlightenment ideas, was infinitely far from his father with his views. Paul often argued with his son and even forced him to swear allegiance several times. The emperor was maniacally afraid of conspiracies that were common in the 18th century.
March 12, 1801 in St. Petersburg was organized in the center of it was a group of nobles. Until now, researchers argue whether Alexander knew about the plans of the conspirators. One way or another, but it is known for sure that when Paul was killed, this was reported to the heir. So he became the emperor of Russia.
reforms
The first years of the reign of the policy of Alexander 1 was entirely aimed at the internal transformation of the country. The initial step was a broad amnesty. She freed many freethinkers and victims during Paul's reign. Among them was the one who lost his will for the publication of the essay "Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow."
In the future, Alexander relied on the opinion of noble associates, who formed a secret committee. Among them were friends of the emperor's youth - Pavel Stroganov, Viktor Kochubey, Adam Czartoryski, etc.
The reforms were aimed at weakening serfdom. In 1803, a decree appeared according to which the landowners could now release their peasants along with the land. The patriarchal orders of Russia did not allow Alexander to take more decisive steps. The nobles could resist the changes. But the ruler successfully banned serfdom in the Baltic states, where the Russian order was alien.
Also, the reforms of Alexander 1 contributed to the development of education. Moscow State University received additional funding. It was also opened (the young Alexander Pushkin studied there).
Speransky's projects
Mikhail Speransky became the emperor's closest assistant. He prepared a ministerial reform, which was approved by Alexander 1. The brief biography of the ruler received another successful initiative. New ministries replaced the inefficient colleges of the Petrine era.
In 1809, a draft was being prepared on the separation of powers in the state. However, Alexander did not dare to give life to this idea. He was afraid of the murmur of the aristocracy and the next palace coup. Therefore, Speransky eventually faded into the shadows and was dismissed. Another reason why the reforms were curtailed was the war with Napoleon.
Foreign policy
At the end of the 18th century, France experienced the Great Revolution. The monarchy was destroyed. Instead, a republic first appeared, and then the sole rule of the successful commander Napoleon Bonaparte. France, as a hotbed of revolutionary sentiment, became opposed to the absolute monarchies of Europe. Both Catherine and Paul fought with Paris.
Emperor Alexander 1 also stepped in. However, the defeat at Austerlitz in 1805 brought Russia to the brink of defeat. Then the policy of Alexander 1 changed: he met with Bonaparte and concluded the Tilsit peace with him, according to which neutrality was established, and Russia had the opportunity to annex Finland and Moldova, which was done. It was on the new northern territory that the emperor applied his reforms.
Finland was annexed as a Grand Duchy with its own Diet and civil rights. And in the future, this province was the freest in the whole state during the 19th century.
However, in 1812 Napoleon decided to attack Russia. Thus began the Patriotic War, known to everyone from Tolstoy's War and Peace. After the Battle of Borodino, Moscow was surrendered to the French, but this was a fleeting success for Bonaparte. Left without resources, he fled Russia.
Then Alexander 1, whose brief biography is full of various events, led the army in the Foreign campaign. He triumphantly entered Paris and became a hero throughout Europe. The victor led the Russian delegation at the Congress of Vienna. At this event, the fate of the continent was decided. By his decision, Poland was finally annexed to Russia. She was given her own constitution, which Alexander did not dare to introduce throughout the country.
Last years
The last years of the reign of the autocrat were marked by the extinction of reforms. The emperor became interested in mysticism and fell seriously ill. He died in 1825 in Taganrog. He didn't have children. The dynastic crisis was the reason for the As a result, Alexander's younger brother Nikolai came to power, who became a symbol of reaction and conservatism.
Alexander 1 (Blessed) short biography for children
Alexander 1 - briefly about the life of the Russian emperor, who received the name Blessed for delivering the country from the invasion of the invincible army of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Alexander Pavlovich Romanov - the eldest son and heir of Emperor Paul I. Born in 1777. The Great Empress Catherine II, his grandmother, did not entrust the upbringing of the future ruler of Russia to her son and daughter-in-law, and from birth she personally monitored the life and education of her grandson, in fact taking him away from his parents.
She dreamed of raising a future great ruler from Alexander, and it was her grandson, and not her son, that she saw as her heir. Catherine II forgot that in the same way her son was taken away from her, not entrusting the upbringing of the future emperor to a young woman.
The character of Alexander I, in short, was complex. Since childhood, he had to constantly hide and control his feelings. The Grand Empress adored her grandson immensely and made no secret of her intention to make Alexander her successor. This could not but irritate Pavel Petrovich. The future emperor had to make a lot of efforts to remain an equally loving son and grandson.
This is how his character was formed - under the guise of a benevolent, courteous and pleasant person, the emperor skillfully hid his true feelings. Even Napoleon, an astute diplomat, failed to unravel the true attitude of Alexander I towards him.
Until the end of his life, the emperor was haunted by suspicions of his involvement in a conspiracy against Paul I, as a result of which he was killed. Perhaps this is what at the end of his life prompted Alexander I to talk about the desire to abdicate the throne and start the life of an ordinary person.
Having come to power, the young emperor decided not to make the mistakes of his father, who saw the main opposition in the nobility. Alexander I understood that this is a serious force that is better to have in your friends. Therefore, everyone who fell into disgrace under his father was returned to the court. The bans and censorship imposed by Paul I were abolished. The emperor also understood the seriousness of the peasant question. The main merit of Alexander I was the introduction of the decree "On free cultivators". Unfortunately, many other bills that improve the life of the peasants remained only on paper.
In foreign policy, Alexander I adhered to the tactics of maintaining good relations with Great Britain and France. But for many years he had to fight with the French troops. After the expulsion of the enemy from the territory of Russia, he led a coalition of European countries against Napoleon.
Alexander I died suddenly, at the age of 47. It happened in Taganrog in 1825. The mysterious circumstances of his death and confusion with the heirs were the cause of the Decembrist uprising in the same year.
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