All-Russian Emperor Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov was born on February 26 (old style) 1845 in St. Petersburg in the Anichkov Palace. His father was a reformer emperor, and his mother was a queen. The boy was the third child in a family, in which then five more children were born. His older brother Nikolai was preparing for the reign, and Alexander was destined for the fate of a military man.
As a child, the Tsarevich studied without much zeal, and the teachers were undemanding to him. In the memoirs of his contemporaries, the young Alexander was not too smart, but possessed a sound mind and the gift of reasoning.
By his disposition, Alexander was kind and a little shy, although he turned out to be a noble figure: with an increase of 193 cm, his weight reached 120 kg. Despite his austere appearance, the young man loved art. He took painting lessons from Professor Tikhobrazov and studied music. Alexander mastered playing brass and woodwind instruments. Subsequently, he will in every possible way support Russian art and, with sufficient unpretentiousness in everyday life, will collect a good collection of works by Russian artists. And in opera houses, with his light hand, Russian operas and ballets will be staged much more often than European ones.
Tsarevichs Nikolai and Alexander were very close to each other. The younger brother even argued that there was no one closer and more beloved to him, except Nikolai. Therefore, when in 1865 the heir to the throne, while traveling through Italy, suddenly felt ill and suddenly died of tuberculosis of the spine, Alexander could not accept this loss for a long time. In addition, it turned out that it was he who became a contender for the throne, for which Alexander was completely unprepared.
The teachers of the young man were horrified for a moment. The young man was urgently assigned a course of special lectures, which were read to him by his mentor Konstantin Pobedonostsev. After accession to the kingdom, Alexander will make his teacher an advisor and will turn to him for the rest of his life. Nikolai Alexandrovich Kachalov was appointed as another assistant to the Tsarevich, with whom the young man traveled across Russia.
Crowning the throne
In early March 1881, after another attempt on his life, Emperor Alexander II died from his wounds, and his son ascended the throne urgently. Two months later, the new emperor promulgated the "Manifesto on the inviolability of autocracy", which suppressed all the liberal changes in the structure of the state, established by his father.
The sacrament of the wedding to the kingdom took place later - on May 15, 1883 in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. During the reign, the royal family moved to the palace in Gatchina.
Domestic policy of Alexander III
Alexander III adhered to clearly expressed monarchical and nationalist principles, his actions in domestic politics could be called counter-reformation. The emperor first of all signed the decrees, which sent the Liberal ministers to retirement. Among them were Prince Konstantin Nikolaevich, M. T. Loris-Melikova, D. A. Milyutin, A. A. Abaza. He made KP Pobedonostsev, N. Ignatyev, DA Tolstoy, MN Katkov key figures in his circle.
In 1889, a talented politician and financier S. Yu. Witte appeared at the court, whom Alexander Aleksandrovich soon appointed Minister of Finance and Minister of Railways. Sergei Yulievich did a lot for Great Russia. He introduced the provision of the ruble with the country's gold reserves, which contributed to the strengthening of the Russian currency in the international market. This led to the fact that the flow of foreign capital into the Russian Empire increased, and the economy began to develop at an accelerated pace. In addition, he did a lot for the development and construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which is still the only road connecting Vladivostok with Moscow.
Despite the fact that for peasants Alexander III tightened the right to receive education and vote in zemstvo elections, he gave them the opportunity to take loans at low interest rates in order to expand their economy and strengthen their position on the earth. For the nobles, the emperor also introduced restrictions. Already in the first year of his reign, he canceled all additional payments from the royal treasury to those close to him, and also did a lot to eradicate corruption.
Alexander III strengthened control over students, set a limit on the number of Jewish students in all educational institutions, and tightened censorship. His slogan was the phrase: "Russia for the Russians." On the outskirts of the Empire, he proclaimed an active Russification.
Alexander III did a lot for the metallurgical industry and the development of oil and gas production. Under him, a real boom in improving the welfare of the people began, and the terrorist threats completely stopped. The autocrat also did a lot for Orthodoxy. During his reign, the number of dioceses increased, new monasteries and temples were built. In 1883, one of the most magnificent structures was erected - the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
As a legacy after his reign, Alexander III left a country with a strong economy.
Foreign policy of Alexander III
Emperor Alexander III with his wisdom in foreign policy actions and the prevention of wars went down in history as the Tsar-peacemaker. But at the same time, he did not forget to strengthen the power of the army. Under Alexander III, the Russian fleet became the third after the flotillas of France and Great Britain.
The emperor managed to maintain calm relations with all the main rivals. He signed peace agreements with Germany, England, and also significantly strengthened Franco-Russian friendship on the world stage.
During the years of his reign, the practice of open negotiations was established, and the rulers of the European powers began to trust the Russian tsar, as a wise arbiter, in resolving all disputes between states.
Personal life
After the death of Nikolai's heir, he was left with a bride, the Danish princess Maria Dagmar. It suddenly turned out that young Alexander was also in love with her. And even despite the fact that for some time he courted the maid of honor, Princess Maria Meshcherskaya, Alexander, at the age of 21, proposes to Maria Sophia Frederica. So in a short time, Alexander's personal life changed, which he did not regret later on.
After the sacrament of the wedding, which took place in the large church of the Winter Palace, the young couple moved to Anichkov Palace, where they lived until Alexander's accession to the throne.
In the family of Alexander Alexandrovich and his wife Maria Feodorovna, who, like all overseas princesses, converted to Orthodoxy before marriage, six children were born, five of them survived to adulthood.
Elder Nicholas will become the last Russian Tsar from the Romanov dynasty. Of the younger children - Alexander, Georgy, Ksenia, Mikhail, Olga - only sisters will survive to old age. Alexander will die at the age of one year, George will die in his youth from tuberculosis, and Mikhail will share the fate of his brother - the Bolsheviks will shoot him.
The emperor brought up his children in severity. Their clothing and food were the most basic. The royal offspring were engaged in physical exercises and received a good education. Peace and harmony reigned in the family, spouses with children often went to Denmark to visit their relatives.
Unsuccessful attempt
On March 1, 1887, an unsuccessful attempt on the life of the emperor took place. The participants in the conspiracy were students Vasily Osipanov, Vasily Generalov, Pakhomiy Andreyushkin and Alexander Ulyanov. Despite the many months of preparation for a terrorist act under the leadership of Pyotr Shevyrev, the young people did not manage to carry out their plans to the end. All four were captured by the police and, two months after the trial, were executed by hanging in the Shlisselburg fortress.
Several members of the revolutionary circle, who were also arrested after the terrorists, were sent into exile for a long time.
Death
A year after the assassination attempt, an unpleasant event occurred in the life of the royal family: the train in which Alexander and his family traveled crashed near Kharkov. Part of the train turned over, people died. The roof of the carriage, in which the royal persons were, was held by the mighty emperor for a long time with his own forces for 30 minutes. By this he saved everyone around him. But such an overstrain undermined the health of the king. Alexander Alexandrovich developed kidney disease, which slowly progressed.
In the first winter months of 1894, the emperor caught a bad cold and six months later felt very ill. A professor of medicine from Germany Ernst Leiden was called, who diagnosed Alexander Alexandrovich with nephropathy. On the recommendation of a doctor, the emperor was sent to Greece, but on the way he got worse, and his family decided to stay in Livadia in the Crimea.
During the month of his heroic physique, the tsar died out in front of everyone and, due to complete kidney failure, died on November 1, 1894. During the last month, his confessor John (Yanyshev), as well as Archpriest John Sergiev, in the future John of Kronstadt, were constantly with him.
An hour and a half after the death of Alexander III, his son Nicholas swore allegiance to the kingdom. The coffin with the body of the emperor was taken to St. Petersburg and solemnly buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
The image of the emperor in art
Not as many books have been written about Alexander III as about other emperor-conquerors. This happened because of his peacefulness and non-conflict. His persona is mentioned in some historical books dedicated to the Romanov family.
In documentary filmmaking, information about him is presented in several tapes of journalists and. Feature films featuring the character of Alexander III began to appear in 1925. A total of 5 paintings were published, including The Shore of Life, in which the emperor-peacemaker was played by Lev Zolotukhin, as well as The Barber of Siberia, where he played this role.
The last film in which the hero of Alexander III appears was the 2017 film Matilda. In it he played the king.
A good owner is not out of self-interest, but out of a sense of duty
I have already had occasion to speak several times about the remarkable and noble personality of Emperor Alexander III. It is a great misfortune that he reigned so little: only 13 years; but even in these 13 years, his figure, as the Emperor, completely outlined and grew. This was felt by all of Russia and all abroad on the day of his death. But Emperor Alexander III was far from appreciated by his contemporaries and the next generation, and the majority are skeptical about His reign. This is highly unfair.<….> I said that he was a good boss; Emperor Alexander III was a good master not because of a sense of self-interest, but because of a sense of duty. Not only in the Tsar's family, but also among the dignitaries, I have never met that feeling of respect for the state ruble, for the state penny that Emperor Alexander III possessed. He shores every penny of the Russian people, the Russian state, as the best owner could not take care of it.
Having been with him for two years as Minister of Finance and, finally, knowing his attitude to finance, even when I was director of the department of the Ministry of Finance, I must say that it was thanks to Emperor Alexander III, Vyshnegradsky, and then, in the end, to me - managed to put finances in order; for, of course, neither I nor Vyshnegradsky could have restrained all the impulses to throw in vain to the right and to the left the money obtained by the blood and sweat of the Russian people, if not for the mighty word of Emperor Alexander III, who held back all the onslaught on the state treasury. In the sense of a state treasurer, it can be said that Emperor Alexander III was the ideal state treasurer - and in this respect, facilitated the task of the minister of finance.
In the same way as he treated the money of the state budget, he also treated his own economy. He hated unnecessary luxury, hated the unnecessary throwing of money; lived with remarkable modesty. Of course, under the conditions in which the Emperor had to live, his economy was often rather naive. So, for example, I cannot help saying that during His reign, when I was a minister, they ate comparatively very badly at court. I did not have the opportunity to often visit the Emperor's table, but as for the so-called knight marshal's table, they were so fed at this table that it can be said that almost always, when I had to eat there, there was danger in the stomach.<….> How Emperor Alexander III treated the war is shown by the following fact. I recall that once, on the occasion of some report - almost concerning the border guard, our conversation turned to war. And this is what Emperor Alexander III told me:
I am glad that I was in the war and saw myself all the horrors inevitably associated with the war, and after that, I think that every person with a heart cannot desire war, and every ruler to whom God has entrusted the people should take all measures to , in order to avoid the horrors of war, of course, if he (the ruler) is not forced to war by his opponents, then sin, curses and all the consequences of this war - let them fall on the heads of those who caused this war.
For Emperor Alexander III, every word was not an empty sound, as we often see with rulers: very often rulers say, on one occasion or another, a series of beautiful phrases, which are then forgotten after half an hour. Emperor Alexander III never had a word with a deed. What he said was felt by him, and he never backed down from what he said.
Thus, generally speaking, Emperor Alexander III, having received Russia, amid the most unfavorable political conjunctures, deeply raised the international prestige of Russia without shedding a drop of Russian blood.
We can say that at the end of his reign, Emperor Alexander III was the most important factor in world international politics.
Average mind and beautiful heart
I had the good fortune to be close to two Emperors: to Emperor Alexander III and to the current reigning Emperor Nicholas II; I knew both very well.
Emperor Alexander III was undoubtedly of an ordinary mind, and of completely ordinary abilities, and, in this respect, Emperor Nicholas II stands much higher than his Father, both in intelligence and ability, and in education. As you know, Alexander III was not at all prepared to be the Emperor. His elder brother Nikolai Alexandrovich, who had already died of consumption in Nice at a very adult age, focused on himself the attention of His father, Emperor Alexander II, and Empress Maria Alexandrovna; as for the future Emperor Alexander III, then, one might say, He was somewhat in the corral; they did not pay special attention either to His education or to His upbringing, since all attention, as I said, of both father and mother, and everyone around him was focused on the Heir Nicholas, who, by his appearance, by his abilities and brilliance, who he showed - he was incomparably taller than his brother Alexander.
And one, perhaps, Nikolai Alexandrovich at that time appreciated and understood his brother, the future Emperor Alexander III. It is known from reliable sources that when Tsarevich Nicholas was hopelessly ill (which he himself knew), then to the exclamation of one of those close to him: “What will happen if something happens to you? Who will rule Russia? After all, your brother Alexander is not prepared for this at all? " - he said: "You don't know my brother, Alexander: his heart and character completely replace and even exceed all other abilities that a person can be instilled in."
And, indeed, Emperor Alexander III was of a completely ordinary mind, perhaps, one might say, below average intelligence, below average ability and below secondary education; in appearance - he looked like a big Russian peasant from the central provinces, a suit would suit him best of all: a short fur coat, an overcoat and bast shoes - and nevertheless, he with his appearance, which reflected his enormous character, beautiful heart, complacency, justice and, at the same time, firmness - undoubtedly impressed and, as I said above, if they did not know that he was the Emperor, and he would have entered the room in any suit - undoubtedly everyone would have paid attention to him.
Therefore, I am not surprised by the remark that I remember myself heard from Emperor Wilhelm II, namely, that he envies royalty, autocratic royalty, which manifested itself in the figure of Alexander III.
When I had to accompany the train of Emperor Alexander III, then, of course, I did not sleep either day or night; and I constantly saw that when everyone was already going to bed, the valet of Emperor Alexander III, Kotov, constantly darned his pants, because they were torn from Him. One day, passing by the valet (who is still alive and is now a valet with Emperor Nicholas II) and seeing that he is mending his pants, I say to him:
Please tell me that you're all mending your pants? Can't you take with you several pairs of pantaloons, so that if there is a hole in your pants, you can give the Emperor new pants? And he says:
Try to give, just He will put it on. If He, - he says, - puts on some trousers or a frock-coat, - then it's over, until all at all the seams is torn - He will never throw off. This is for Him - he says - the biggest trouble if you force Him to wear something new. Likewise, the boots: give him, - he says, patent leather boots, so He says - he will throw these boots out of the window for you.
Only thanks to a gigantic force, he kept this roof
The third time I accompanied the imperial train already at the end of the eighties, in the year of the crash of the imperial train in Borki, near Kharkov. This crash took place in October when the Emperor returned from Yalta to Petersburg. - Earlier, in August or July, the Tsar, on his way to Yalta, made the following journey: He took an emergency train from St. Petersburg through Vilna to Rovno (then the Vilna-Rov railway was just opened); from the station Rovno He has already gone through the South-West. g. etc .; there I met Him, and then the Emperor from Rovno (where the train did not stop) went through Fastov to Elisavetgrad. There the Tsar made maneuvers to the troops; after these maneuvers, the Sovereign from Elisavetgrad returned to Fastov along the Southwest. yellow dor. and, on the road I controlled, drove from Fastov to Kovel to Warsaw and Skierniewitsa (to one of the imperial palaces). After staying in Skierniewice for several weeks, the Emperor went from Skierniewice, again through Kovel and Fastov, to the Crimea or the Caucasus (I don't remember). Then two months later he returned to St. Petersburg. And on the return trip to Borki, this terrible incident with the imperial train happened.
Thus, this year, during the summer and autumn, the Emperor drove 3 times in the South-West. yellow dor.
1st time - from Rivne to Fastov,
2nd time - from Fastov to Kovel and
3rd time - from Kovel again to Fastov.
So, when the imperial train came to Rovno, I, having met him, had to carry this train further.
The timetable for the imperial trains was usually drawn up by the Ministry of Railways, without any demand or participation from the railway managers. I received the timetable on time, according to which the train from Rovno to Fastov had to run for such and such a number of hours, and in such a number of hours only a light, passenger train could travel this distance; meanwhile, a huge imperial train, made up of a mass of the heaviest wagons, suddenly appeared in Rovno.
I was warned by telegram that the train would run of such a composition only a few hours before the arrival of this train in Rovno. Since such a train - and, moreover, at such a speed as was assigned - not only could not carry one passenger, but even two passenger steam locomotives, it was necessary to prepare 2 commodity steam locomotives and carry it with two commodity locomotives, that is, as they say, in a double track, because its weight was greater than the weight of an ordinary freight train, while the speed was set as that of passenger trains. Therefore, it was completely clear to me that every moment some misfortune could happen, because if the freight locomotives go at such a speed, then they completely shake the path, and if in some place the path is not completely, not absolutely strong, that always, on any track, it can and should happen, since nowhere, on any roads, the track is not intended for such movement, at such a speed, with two freight locomotives, these locomotives can turn the rails out, as a result of which the train can crash. Therefore, I drove all the time, all night, as if in a fever, while everyone was asleep, including the Minister of Railways (Admiral Posiet), who had his own carriage; the chief inspector rode with him railways engineer Baron Cherval. I entered the car of the Minister of Railways and rode in it all the time; This car was completely behind, it did not even have a direct connection with other cars, so from there, from this car, it was not even possible to give any signal to the drivers. I was driving, I repeat, all the time in a fever, expecting that at any moment misfortune might happen.
And so, when we arrived at Fastov, when I gave the train to another road, I could not have time to convey anything to either the Minister of Railways or Baron Sherval, because they had just woken up.
As a result, when I returned from Fastov to Kiev, I immediately wrote a report to the Minister of Railways, in which I explained how the movement along the road was carried out; that I did not have the courage to stop the train, as I did not want to cause a scandal, but that I consider such a movement inconceivable, impossible ...
To this I received the following reply by telegram; that in view of my such categorical statement, the Minister of Railways ordered to alter the schedule and increase the train travel time by three hours.
The day came when the Emperor had to go back. The train arrived (at Fastov) in the early morning; were still asleep, but soon awoke.
When I entered the station, I noticed that everyone was looking askance at me: the Minister of Railways looked askance and gr. Vorontsov-Dashkov, who rode on this train, who was so close to my family and knew me from childhood, he also pretends that he does not know me at all.
Finally, Adjutant General Cherevin comes up to me and says: The Emperor ordered you to convey that He is very dissatisfied with the ride on the South-West Railway. - Before Cherevin had time to tell me this, the Emperor himself came out, who heard Cherevin convey this to me. Then I tried to explain to Cherevin what I had already explained to the Minister of Railways. At this time, the Emperor turns to me and says:
What are you talking about. I drive on other roads, and no one slows me down, and you cannot go on your roads, simply because your road is a Jew.
(This is a hint that the chairman of the board was the Jew Blioch.)
Of course, to these words I did not answer the Emperor, I kept silent. Then immediately on this subject the Minister of Railways entered into a conversation with me, who pursued the same idea as the Emperor Alexander III. Of course, he did not say that the road was Jewish, but simply stated that this road was not in order, as a result of which it was impossible to go soon. And to prove the correctness of his opinion, he says:
And on other roads we drive at such a speed, and no one ever dared to demand that the Emperor be driven at a lower speed.
Then I broke down and said to the Minister of Railways:
You know, Your Excellency, let others do whatever they want, but I don’t want to break the Emperor’s head, because it will end with you breaking the Emperor’s head in this way.
Emperor Alexander III heard this remark of mine, of course, was very dissatisfied with my audacity, but did not say anything, because He was a good-natured, calm and noble man.
On the way back from Skernevitsy to Yalta, when the Tsar again drove along our road, the train was already given the same speed, they added the number of hours that I demanded. I again fit into the carriage of the Minister of Railways, and I noticed that from the time I last time saw this car; he leaned significantly to the left. I looked at why this is happening. It turned out that this happened because the Minister of Railways, Admiral Posiet, had a passion for various, one might say, railway toys. So, for example, to stoves of various heating and to various instruments for measuring speeds; all this was put and attached to the left side of the car. Thus, the weight on the left side of the carriage increased significantly, and therefore the carriage tilted to the left side.
At the first station, I stopped the train; The car was inspected by specialists in car building, who found that it was necessary to monitor the car, but that there was no danger, and the movement should be continued. Everyone was asleep. I drove on. Since at each carriage there is, so to speak, a formal list of this carriage, in which all its malfunctions are recorded, I wrote in this carriage that I warn you: the carriage leaned to the left side; and it happened because all the tools and so on. attached to the left side; that I didn’t stop the train, since the train was examined by specialists who came to the conclusion that it could pass - those 600-700 versts that remained for him to make on my way.
Then I wrote that if the car is in the tail, at the end of the train, then I think that it can go safely to its destination, but that it needs to be carefully reviewed there, all the devices should be removed, it is best to throw them away or move to the other side. In any case, this car should not be placed at the head of the train, but placed in the tail.
Then I crossed myself and was glad that I got rid of these royal trips, because there were always great worries, troubles and dangers associated with them.
Two months passed. Then I lived in Lipki opposite the house of the governor-general. In one of the rooms there was a telegraph apparatus, and since it was necessary to send telegrams all day long, telegraph operators were on duty day and night.
Suddenly one night a valet knocks on my door. I woke up. They say there is an urgent telegram. I read: an urgent telegram signed by Baron Cherval, in which the baron telegraphed that the imperial train, leaving from Yalta, turned to the Sinelnikovo station along the Catherine road, and from there it would go to the Fastov station. From Fastov, the Emperor will go further along the South-Western road or through Kiev, or again through Brest, but rather through Kiev. Then I ordered to prepare myself an emergency train to go to meet in Fastov, and waited to be given a timetable when to go.
But earlier than I left Kiev, I received a second telegram that the Tsar would not go along the South-Western road, that, having reached the Kharkov-Nikolaev road, he turned to Kharkov and then he would go as expected: to Kursk and Moscow.
Having received this telegram, I kept thinking: what happened there? Then there were vague rumors that the imperial train had crashed and therefore the route was changed. I imagined that in all likelihood something trivial had happened, as the train continued onward.
Less than a few hours later, I received a telegram from Kharkov signed by Baron Cherval, in which he telegraphed to me that the Minister of Railways suggested that I now come to Kharkov in order to be an expert on the reasons for the imperial train crash.
I went to Kharkov. Arriving there, I found Baron Cherval lying in bed at the Kharkov railway station, as his arm was broken; his courier also had a broken arm and leg (this very courier later, when I was Minister of Railways, was also my courier).
I arrived at the train crash site. Besides me, the experts there were local railway engineers and then the director of the Technological Institute Kirpichev, who is still alive. The main role, of course, was played by me and Kirpichev. Kirpichev enjoyed and still enjoys great prestige as a process engineer and as a professor of mechanics and railway construction in general, although in the full sense of the word he was a theoretician and never served on the railways. In the examination, we parted with him.
It turned out that the imperial train was traveling from Yalta to Moscow, and they gave such a high speed, which was demanded on the South-Western Railways. None of the road managers had the firmness to say that this was impossible. We also drove with two steam locomotives, and the car of the Minister of Railways, although it was somewhat facilitated by the removal of some devices on the left side, no major repairs were made while the train was parked in Sevastopol; in addition, he was put at the head of the train. Thus, the train went at an inappropriate speed, with two freight locomotives, and even with a not quite serviceable carriage of the Minister of Railways at the head. What I predicted happened: the train, as a result of the swing of a freight locomotive from a high speed, unusual for a freight locomotive, knocked out the rail. Commodity steam locomotives are designed without relying on high speed, and therefore, when a commodity locomotive goes at an inappropriate speed, it sways; from this swing the rail was knocked out and the train crashed.
The entire train fell under the embankment and several people were injured.
During the crash, the Emperor and his family were in the dining car; the entire roof of the dining car fell on the Emperor, and he, thanks to his gigantic strength, kept this roof on his back and it did not crush anyone. Then, with his characteristic calmness and gentleness, the Emperor got out of the carriage, calmed everyone to the wounded, provided assistance and only thanks to his calmness, firmness and gentleness - this whole disaster was not accompanied by any dramatic adventures.
So, as an expert, I gave such a conclusion that the train crashed from the reasons I indicated. Kirpichev said that this catastrophe occurred because the sleepers were somewhat rotten. I examined the sleepers and came to the conclusion that Kirpichev did not know railway practice. On all Russian roads in wooden sleepers that have served for several months, the top layer is always somewhat rotten, it cannot be otherwise, because in any tree, if it is not constantly stained or tarred, the upper part (the so-called apple tree) always has several rotten layer; but the core, which holds the crutches that hold the rails to the sleeper - these parts of the sleepers were completely intact.
My acquaintance with Koni, who was sent from St. Petersburg to investigate this case, dates back to this time. Then I saw him for the first time. Apparently, Koni really wanted the road administration to be to blame for this catastrophe, so that the road administration was to blame, so he did not like my expertise. He wanted the examination to establish that it was not the train management, not the imperial train inspector, not the Minister of Railways, but that the railway management was to blame. I gave a conclusion that it was exclusively the central administration - the Ministry of Railways, that was to blame, and that the inspector of the imperial trains was also to blame.
The result of this catastrophe was the following: after a while, Minister of Railways Posiet had to resign.
Baron Sherval also had to retire and settled in Finland. Baron Sherval was of Finnish origin; he was a respectable man, very good-natured, with a notorious Finnish stupidity, and a medium caliber engineer.
The Emperor parted with these faces without any malice; These persons were to retire due to the fact that public opinion in Russia was extremely indignant at what had happened. But Emperor Alexander III, not without reason, considered the engineer Salov to be the main culprit of the disaster, who at that time was the head of the railway department. He was undoubtedly a smart, intelligent and knowledgeable man, but he practically knew little about the matter. ...
Emperor Alexander III, with his usual common sense, made it out, and therefore removed Salov already of his own free will and not without a certain amount of natural anger.
CONSERVATORS
Reforms of the 60-70s XIX century caused a wide public response. A significant part of Russian society believed that liberal reforms undermine the foundations of the state and lead to social upheavals. The terrorist activities of the "populists" supported these conclusions. The tone for Russian conservatives in the second half of the 19th century was set by two iconic figures of Russian social thought - M.N. Katkov and K.P. Pobedonostsev .
M.N. Katkov - a talented publicist and editor of the Moskovskie vedomosti newspaper expressed his attitude to liberal ideas as follows: “They say Russia is deprived of political freedom; they say that although Russian citizens are granted legal civil liberty, they do not have political rights. Russian subjects have something more than political rights; they have political responsibilities. Each of the Russians is obliged to guard the rights of the Supreme Power and take care of the benefits of the state. Everyone not only has the right to take part in public life and take care of its benefits, but is also called to this by the duty of a loyal subject. This is our constitution. " Even more in conservative views, Katkov was strengthened by the Polish uprising of 1863-1864, which made him a consistent fighter against Western European liberalism and radical movements. He was convinced of the possibility of reforming Russia without affecting the foundations of autocratic power, which, in his opinion, should have made the country one of the leading Western european states... In this regard, he emphasized that it is impossible to level the role of the nobility, which should remain in the new conditions the pillar of the throne and a link between the emperor and the people. That is why, being generally loyal to the introduction of zemstvos, he argued that the main role in them should be played by the nobility, supplemented by representatives from other estates. Also, in his opinion, zemstvo institutions had to be subordinated to the government, i.e. put them under the control of the bureaucracy. At the same time, he supported the judicial reform of 1864, arguing that "the court is an independent and wealthy force."
M.N. Katkov wrote a lot about the role of education and the need for a reform of education that would bring up a generation confident in the inviolability of the state order and alien to the ideas of "nihilism." To do this, it was necessary to consistently implement the principles of Uvarov's doctrine - "Orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality."
It was in the person of Katkov that the government saw a publicist and publisher who could talentedly convey the autocratic ideology to Russian society. Events of the 70s and early 80s. XIX century, in connection with the strengthening of the "populist" terror, made M.N. Katkov was an even greater conservative who sharply opposed not only reforms, but also against any manifestation of liberalism, even if moderate. And this activity has borne fruit. Even the government began to reckon with the opinion of Moskovskiye Vedomosti.
K.P. Pobedonostsev - the mentor of Alexander III, who in 1880 became the chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod, also played a significant role in determining the government course and its ideology, especially after the events of March 1, 1881. In the 60s of the XIX century, we see him as a consistent critic Emperor Alexander II, whom he accused of indecision, irrational policy, lack of a consistent government course. He wrote: “Power is already becoming in Russia a plaything that pitiful and vulgar ambitious people want to pass on to each other through intrigue. There is no longer a firm center from which all power would directly emanate and on which it would be directly supported. " During the reforms of the 60-70s. he especially sharply opposed the radical implementation of judicial reform, criticized Milyutin's military transformations, especially the introduction of universal military service. “It's fun to say that a nobleman will be taken as a soldier as well as a peasant,” he said.
Becoming the mentor of the heir to the throne, he consistently sought to protect him from the influence of supporters of liberal reforms, instilling that "the whole mystery of Russian order and prosperity is at the top, in the person of the supreme power." And his influence on the new emperor was decisive. So, K.P. Pobedonostsev sharply opposed the project of Loris-Melikov, which was discussed at a meeting of the Council of Ministers during March-April 1881. And it was under his influence that the famous manifesto of Alexander III was published on April 29, 1881, in which it was proclaimed that the tsar would rule “with faith in the strength and truth of autocratic power ", which will" affirm and protect for the good of the people from any inclinations against it. " Thus, the adherents of conservatism won a victory in the government, which predetermined the entire course of the internal policy of Alexander III.
Tsarism and the workers
Memories of G.V. Plekhanov
Written during the 1880-1890s, they tell about the life of an ordinary Russian worker in the 70s - early 80s of the last century
“It goes without saying that among the workers, as elsewhere, I met people who were very different from each other in character, ability and even education.<…> But, in general, this whole environment was distinguished by significant mental development and high level their everyday needs. I was surprised to see that these workers live no worse, and many of them are much better than the students. On average, each of them earned 1 ruble. 25 kopecks, up to 2 rubles. in a day. Of course, for this relatively good income, it was not easy for family people to exist. But single - and they were then the majority among the workers I knew - could spend twice as much as a poor student.<…> The more I got to know the Petersburg workers, the more I was amazed at their culture. Lively and eloquent, able to stand up for themselves and be critical of their surroundings, they were city dwellers in the best sense of the word.<…> It must also be said that among the Petersburg workers the "gray" village man was often a rather pitiful figure. A peasant from Smolensk province S entered the Vasileostrovsk cartridge plant as a lubricant. At this plant, the workers had their own consumer partnership and their own canteen, which served at the same time as a reading room, since it was supplied with almost all the capital's newspapers. It was the height of the Herzegovinian uprising (it was about the uprising in Bosnia and Herzegovina against the Ottoman Empire in 1875. - Ed.). The new greaseman went off to eat in the common dining room, where at dinner the newspapers were read aloud as usual. On that day, I don’t know in which newspaper, there was a talk about one of the "glorious defenders of Herzegovina." The village man intervened in the conversations that arose about this and made the unexpected suggestion that "he must be her lover."
Who! Whose? - asked the surprised interlocutors.
Yes, the Duchess is the protector; why would he defend her, if there was nothing between them.
The audience burst into loud laughter. “So, in your opinion, Herzegovina is not a country, but a woman,” they exclaimed, “you don’t understand anything, you straight bumpkin!” Since then, a nickname has long been established for him - gray.<…> I ask the reader to keep in mind that I am talking here about the so-called factory workers, who constituted a significant part of the Petersburg working population and were very different from the factory workers, both in their relatively tolerable economic situation and in their habits.<…> The factory worker was a cross between an "intellectual" and a factory worker: a factory worker was something in between a peasant and a factory worker. To whom he was closer in terms of his concepts, to a peasant or a factory, it depended on how long he had lived in the city.
Russian worker in the revolutionary movement // Revolutionaries of the 1870s: Memoirs of participants in the populist movement in St. Petersburg. Lenizdat, 1986
Philosophical and literary heritage of G.V. Plekhanov in three volumes
PERFECT SECRET
From a political review for 1892 by the head of the Yekaterinoslav provincial gendarme department D.I.Boginsky on the reasons for the unrest of workers in M. Yuzovka. February 9, 1893
The reason for the latest riots in the town of Yuzovo, as it is now established and as witnesses of the riots and persons quite competent assert (as proof of which I can submit written statements to me from persons who are quite trustworthy), was the exploitation in the broad sense of the word of workers as mine owners by all without exceptions and especially by the French company and traders. Indeed, the examples cited of the exploitation of workers by these persons surpass any description; it is enough to stipulate that the majority of workers (mostly passportless) never fully receive their earnings (as in the original; it follows; earned money (approx. comp.)), but only a pay sheet, which shows products (for example: tea, sugar, etc. so on) at a very high price, which they never demanded; and at many mines (mainly at the mines of the Alchevskiy-Alekseevskiye, Slavyanoserbsk district) the settlement is made once every 2-3 months, and then not in cash, but in “coupons”, which are accepted by local traders with a deduction of 20% from the cost of the coupon.
The riots in the town of Yuzovo are repeated annually to a greater or lesser extent and, no doubt, will be repeated, according to the statements of the workers themselves, until order and a perfect reform are introduced in the relations of employers to workers and, on top of that, the reception of people without passports is stopped. As a proof of the indifferent, inhuman attitude of the mine owners towards the workers, it is enough to mention that from August 14 to September 18 there were up to 12 accidents with injuries and deaths for workers due to only ignoring the necessary technical means for the safety of workers.
FORMATION OF THE RUSSIAN-FRENCH UNION
The Franco-Russian alliance became a turning point in Russian foreign policy. The basis for his conclusion was the presence of common opponents - England and Germany.
Germany's refusal in 1890 to renew the "reinsurance treaty" and its renewal in 1891 of the Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy created fertile ground for Russian-French rapprochement. Russia, fearing to remain in international isolation, was looking for an ally capable of supporting it in the struggle against Germany and Austria-Hungary for spheres of influence in Europe and with Great Britain for spheres of influence in Asia.
On the other hand, the internal political crisis in the mid-80s of the 19th century, the aggravation of relations with Britain and Italy on the basis of colonial policy and tensions with Germany also put France in an isolated position in Europe. Thus, in the current international situation, this union was beneficial to both states. The rapprochement with France, the old enemy of Germany, and in that situation, England, was prepared by life itself.
In the summer of 1891, a French squadron under the command of Admiral Gervais arrived in Kronstadt. The meeting of the French ships resulted in a demonstration of Russian-French unity.
On August 27, 1891, an exchange of letters took place in Paris on the coordination of the actions of both powers in the event of a military threat to one of them. A year later, a similar secret military convention was signed between the Russian and French general staffs, and on October 1 (13), 1893, a Russian squadron, consisting of five ships, solemnly embarked on the roadstead of the Toulon port. Thus began the ten-day visit of Russian sailors to France, where they were met with an enthusiastic reception.
In addition to Toulon, Russian sailors visited Marseille, Lyon and Paris, which were festively decorated to welcome the guests. Special souvenirs with symbols of Russian-French unity were sold everywhere. So, the front side of one of the souvenir tokens, which were attached to clothes, was decorated with two daggers with the inscription: "Long live France - Long live Russia", and the back - the equation "1 + 1 \u003d 3". This symbolized that the Russian-French alliance is a reliable counterbalance to the Triple Alliance of Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary.
Choosing the right candidate for the command of this squadron, Alexander III ordered him to be given a list of Rear Admirals who did not speak French well. It was this circumstance that determined the fact that F.K. Avelan, so that, in the words of the emperor, "talked less there." Squadron officers were instructed to exercise caution and restraint in their relations with the French in expressing their political convictions.
The final form of the Russian-French alliance took place in January 1894, when the Russian-French treaty was ratified by the Russian emperor and the French president.
I.E. Repin. Reception of volost elders by Emperor Alexander III in the courtyard of the Petrovsky Palace in Moscow. 1885-1886
In the meantime, the future emperor Alexander IIIwas content with the affectionate household nickname of the bulldog.
He retained this angular grace in his mature years: "He was not handsome, in his manner he was rather shy and embarrassed, gave the impression of some kind of bearishness." For a crowned person, such behavior is generally indecent. So after all, the imperial crown was not intended for him, but for his older brother. Nikolay... Little Sasha was not singled out in the royal family in any way: “One might say, he was somewhat in the corral. They didn’t pay much attention to his education or his upbringing, ”the Minister of Finance recalled Witte.
"I was always lazy"
Portrait of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich in his suite coat (S.K.Zaryanko, 1867)
Fans of tsarism love to quote a witty dictum: "The good thing about monarchy is that during the succession to the throne, a worthy person may accidentally be in power." At first glance, this does not apply to Alexander. His educators and teachers, having learned that their ward after the death of his brother became heir to the throne, literally grabbed his head. "Despite assiduity, he studied poorly and was always extremely lazy", - the words of the teacher Grigory Gogel. "He was distinguished by his diligence in drill training, but he discovered a complete absence of any military talents," - strategy teacher General Mikhail Dragomirov. And finally, a resume from the head of general education Alexander professor Chivilev: "I am terrified and cannot come to terms with the idea that he will rule Russia."
And in fact, the heir, and then the emperor, did not give the impression of an intelligent, educated and well-mannered person. He wrote with monstrous mistakes: there are such gems of him in official resolutions as "brochures for insolence", "a eight" and beautiful - "ideot". However, few have been awarded this title. More often the emperor used other words. "Beast or madman" - oh artist Vereshchagin... "Bastard rabble" - about the French government. Uncle William, the emperor of Germany, he had just a "brute", but the chancellor Otto von Bismarck - already "chief cattle".
The picture is bleak. Especially considering the circumstances under which Alexander came to power. His father, Alexander II the Liberator, was just killed in a terrorist attack. There is panic in the ruling circles. The new autocrat himself is almost in despair: “A strange feeling took possession of us. What do we do?"
Alexander spent more than two years in such reflections. In fact, he ruled the empire, but legally he was in no hurry to formalize this matter - the coronation was postponed. The mood among the people roughly corresponded to the remark of the archer from the film "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession": "They say the tsar is not real!" Police agents cite speeches that circulated among the lower classes: “What kind of sovereign is he if he has not yet been crowned? I would be a real king, I would be crowned! "
Strength and might
The most interesting thing is that everything came true according to their word. From the moment Alexander was finally crowned, the cowardly blunt heir disappeared somewhere. And the same tsar appeared, about whom the domestic monarchists sigh.
Alexander showed at once what will happen to Russia in the near future. In the process of anointing to the kingdom. Now this may seem ridiculous, but at that time, knowledgeable people paid great attention to the coronation menu - the content of the "dining card" exactly corresponded to the political doctrine of the new monarch. Alexander's choice was overwhelming: “Pearl barley soup. Borshchok. Soup. Jellied ruff. Green peas ".
All this is a Russian table. Moreover, common people, muzhik, rude. The most notorious rogue then feasted on peas in pods. To treat such at the coronation of the ruler of the largest empire in the world means to give a weighty slap in the face of his aristocracy and mortally insult foreigners.
The new emperor really proclaimed the slogan "Russia for the Russians", greatly facilitated the life of ordinary people and began to pump up muscles. He abolished the poll tax, introduced an inheritance tax, and the navy, the most knowledge-intensive sphere of the armed forces, became the third in the world after the English and French.
This is not forgiven. And, as soon as it became clear that the unimportant education and upbringing of the monarch had almost no effect on the growing power of Russia, it was decided to get close from the other side. Not yet heir to the throne, he loved to kiss the bottle. Sometimes so dashingly that he fell into a real binge. He saved him from hard drinking dr. Botkin. But the addiction remained. And although the emperor did not unsuccessfully fight her, rumors and gossip about his alcoholism fell on the prepared ground.
This was especially useful for the revolutionaries who needed to create the image of a "dumbass and drunkard" on the throne in order to show the full depth of the fall of the monarchy and the need to overthrow or even kill the tsar. Hence the legend that the tsar allegedly secretly got drunk, and then rolled on the floor, jerked his legs and tried to knock everyone passing by. It is not true. Evidence of this is the memories of his personal doctor Nikolay Velyaminov: “Did he drink vodka with a snack? It seems not, and if he drank, then in no way more than one small glass. At the table, if he drank, then his favorite drink - Russian kvass in half with champagne, and then very moderately. From bad habits - rather smoking, strong Havana cigars and up to fifty cigarettes a day. "The best characteristic both to him personally and to the results of his reign is the painting Vasnetsova"Heroes". It is known that the artist painted Ilya Muromets keeping in mind the appearance of Alexander III. Art critics describe the image of Ilya as follows: "Calm strength and power."
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov "Vyatka River" (1878)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V.Vasnetsov "The Joy of the Righteous in the Lord"
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov. Illustration for the proverb "Better not to marry at all than to scold your wife for centuries"
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov "Flying Carpet" (1880)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov "From apartment to apartment" (1876)
© Commons.wikimedia.org / V. Vasnetsov "Beggar Singers" (1873)
©
TEST
A. Lermontov M.Yu.
B. Nekrasov N.A.
V. Pushkin A.S.
G. Tyutchev F.I.
A. Azerbaijan B. Moldavia
C. Russia G. Uzbekistan
A. Dezhnev S.I.
B. Konyukhov F.F.
V. Miklouho-Maclay N.N.
G. Przhevalsky N.M.
A. Great
B. Peacemaker
B. Liberator
G. Quiet
In 1880, a monument was erected in Moscow, created with public donations by the sculptor A.M. Opekushin. To whom is the monument dedicated to which "the folk path will not grow"?
A. Alexandru II
B. Kutuzov M.I.
V. Minin K. and Pozharsky D.I.
G. Pushkin A.S.
What name did the née Princess Victoria Alice Helena Louise Beatrice of Hesse-Darmstadt take when the wife of Nicholas II joined Orthodoxy?
A. Alexandra Fyodorovna
B. Ekaterina Alekseevna
V. Elizaveta Fyodorovna
G. Maria Fedorovna
How many children were in the family of Nicholas II?
A. two girls and two boys
B. three girls and two boys
V. three girls and a boy
G. four girls and a boy
During what war years did the Danube cross, the siege of Plevna, the defense of Shipka, the battle of Sheinovo take place?
A. Krymskoy
B. First World War
V. Russian-Turkish
G. Russian-Japanese
9. From the list provided, select the discovery that was made in late XIX century:
A. Lobachevsky geometry
B. Discovery of Antarctica
B. Mendeleev's periodic table of chemical elements
D. Smallpox vaccination
10. Select a list that lists works that appeared in the second half of the 19th century:
A. Comedy "Woe from Wit", the painting "Deuce Again", a monument to "Minin and Pozharsky" on Red Square
B. Novel in verse "Eugene Onegin", painting "Morning in a pine forest", monument "The Bronze Horseman"
V. The novel "Crime and Punishment", the painting "Black Square", the monument "Alexander's Column"
G. Epic novel "War and Peace", painting "Heroes", monument "Millennium of Russia"
LOGICS
1. Six vowels and spaces fell out of the proverb, restore it:
Kng-klchkznn
_____________________________
How many quads are there?
_________________________
What is the next letter combination?
LIBRARY
IBBLIOTEAC
IBBLIOTAEK
IBLBIOATEK
____________________________
Fill in the blank cells.
Define the word in parentheses.
1 28 12 (B N L I N A) 9 14 0
18 11 0 (. . . . . .) 8 11 0
Arrange the letters in the boxes so that you get the name of the famous Russian fabulist and one of the heroines of his works.
A B V K L N O O R R S
8. Guess which word is hidden in the picture (isograph):
________________________
9. Having solved the rebus, write down the title of the work and indicate its author:
___________________________
10. Having remembered literary terms, solve the metagram, in the answer by writing both words, which consist of 6 letters.
The first consists of combinations of the second
The first differs from the second penultimate letter
The first has a note at the end
Reading the letters in them in the order of 5432, we will see in the first fortification,
and to the second sports ground .
READING
The reigns of the emperors Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II are the “golden years” of charity and mercy. At this time, a whole system of guardianship began to take shape. Among the representatives of the reigning House of Romanov were real devotees of charity and mercy: Empress Maria Alexandrovna, Alexandra Fedorovna, Maria Fedorovna (mother of Nicholas II), Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (now the Holy Martyr Elizabeth), Alexandra Petrovna (now the close nun of Kiev) Anastasia of the imperial family, Prince Peter of Oldenburg is the trustee of the Kiev charity house for the poor, the patron of the Eye Clinic. Many members of the House of Romanov at their own expense built charitable institutions, shelters and almshouses, actively patronized institutions of mercy.
The tradition of Russian philanthropy was disrupted by the 1917 revolution. All funds of public and private charitable organizations were nationalized in a short time, their property was transferred to the state, and the organizations themselves were abolished by special decrees.
Olympiad "Our Heritage" cooperates with the Orthodox help service "Mercy".
27 projects of the service are located in different parts of Moscow, and some programs are extended to the whole country. The service "Mercy" is a single organism, a single service for helping the most disadvantaged: lonely old people, disabled people, pregnant women who find themselves homeless, orphans, homeless people, HIV-infected.
One of the key features of the "Mercy" service is the availability of its own infrastructure, thanks to which comprehensive, professional and long-term assistance is provided to permanent wards. St. Sophia Social House, Rehabilitation Center for Children with Cerebral Palsy, Elizabethan Orphanage, St. Spiridonyevskaya Almshouse, House for Mom and many other projects are non-governmental non-profit institutions that are part of the Mercy service.
80% of the service "Mercy" exists on donations, so the fate of all those whom the service helps depends on how regularly donations are received from benefactors. The service "Mercy" has about 400 permanent wards - those about whom the employees of "Mercy" take care of from year to year. These are orphans brought up in orphanages and state boarding schools, lonely old people in an almshouse, disabled adults in a neuropsychiatric boarding school and others. In just one year, the "Mercy" service helps more than 20,000 people in need.
It will be great if, at least once a year, each participant of our Olympiad consciously refuses, for example, from buying ice cream and transfers these funds to support one of the services "Mercy" https://miloserdie.help/projects/.
Together we can do a lot of good things.
1. Fill in the table. Under each word, write down the corresponding word or its number from the list (1 point for compliance):
What is a Metogram?
Russian ethnographer, anthropologist, biologist and traveler who studied the indigenous population of Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania, including the Papuans of the northeastern coast of New Guinea. Who are we talking about?
TEST
1. In 1868 the famous journal Otechestvennye Zapiski began to be edited by M.Ye. Saltykov-Shchedrin, G.Z. Eliseev and Russian poet, writer and publicist, author of the poems "Frost, Red Nose", "Russian Women", the poem "Grandfather Mazai and the Hares". Name it:
A. Lermontov M.Yu.
B. Nekrasov N.A.
V. Pushkin A.S.
G. Tyutchev F.I.
In 1868, Samarkand was occupied by Russian troops and annexed to Russian Empire, and became the center of the Zeravshan district, which was transformed in 1887 into the Samarkand region. On the territory of which modern state is Samarkand located?
A. Azerbaijan B. Moldavia
C. Russia G. Uzbekistan
3. Russian ethnographer, anthropologist, biologist and traveler who studied the indigenous population of Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania, including the Papuans of the northeastern coast of New Guinea:
A. Dezhnev S.I.
B. Konyukhov F.F.
V. Miklouho-Maclay N.N.
G. Przhevalsky N.M.
What nickname did Emperor Alexander III receive from his contemporaries?
A. Great
B. Peacemaker
B. Liberator
