Alexander III - Peacemaker (1881-1894). Emperor Alexander III
The name of the Emperor Alexander III, one of the greatest statesmen of Russia, was desecrated and forgotten for many years. And only in recent decades, when it became possible to speak openly and freely about the past, evaluate the present and think about the future, the public service of Emperor Alexander III arouses great interest of all those who are interested in the history of their country.
Emperor Alexander III was not destined to reign by birth. As the second son of Alexander II, he became heir to the Russian throne only after the untimely death of his older brother, Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich in 1865. Then, on April 12, 1865, the Imperial Manifesto announced to Russia the proclamation of the Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich as the heir-Tsarevich, and a year later the Tsarevich was married to the Danish princess Dagmara, who was named Maria Feodorovna in marriage.
On the anniversary of his brother's death on April 12, 1866, he wrote in his diary: “I will never forget this day ... the first memorial service over the body of a dear friend ... I thought in those minutes that I would not survive my brother, that I would constantly cry at just one thought that I no longer have a brother and a friend. But God strengthened me and gave me strength to take on my new assignment. Maybe I often forgot my purpose in the eyes of others, but in my soul there was always this feeling that I should not live for myself, but for others; heavy and arduous duty. But: "Thy will be done, O God"... I repeat these words constantly, and they comfort me and support me always, because everything that happens to us is all the will of God, and therefore I am calm and trust in the Lord! " Awareness of the gravity of obligations and responsibility for the future of the state, entrusted to him from above, did not leave the new emperor during his entire short life.
The educators of the Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich were Adjutant General, Count V.A. Perovsky, a man of strict moral rules, appointed by his grandfather Emperor Nicholas I. The education of the future emperor was headed by a well-known economist, professor of Moscow University A.I. Chivilev. Academician Ya.K. Groth taught Alexander history, geography, Russian and German; a prominent military theorist M.I. Dragomirov - tactics and military history, S.M. Soloviev - Russian history. The future emperor studied political and legal sciences, as well as Russian legislation from K.P. Pobedonostsev, who had a particularly great influence on Alexander. After completing his studies, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich traveled throughout Russia several times. It was these trips that laid in him not only love and the foundations of deep interest in the fate of the Motherland, but also formed an understanding of the problems facing Russia.
As the heir to the throne, the Tsarevich participated in the meetings of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers, was the chancellor of the Helsingfors University, the chieftain of the Cossack troops, the commander of the guards units in St. Petersburg. In 1868, when Russia suffered a severe famine, he became the head of a commission formed to provide assistance to the victims. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. he commanded the Ruschuk detachment, which played a tactically important and difficult role: he held back the Turks from the east, facilitating the actions of the Russian army, which was besieging Plevna. Realizing the need to strengthen the Russian fleet, the Tsarevich addressed an ardent appeal to the people for donations to the Russian fleet. In a short time, the money was collected. The ships of the Volunteer Fleet were built on them. It was then that the heir to the throne became convinced that Russia has only two friends: its army and navy.
He was interested in music, fine arts and history, was one of the initiators of the creation of the Russian Historical Society and its chairman, was engaged in collecting collections of antiquities and the restoration of historical monuments.
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The government formed with the participation of the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod K.P. Pobedonostseva, focused on strengthening the "traditionalist" principles in the politics, economy and culture of the Russian Empire. In the 80s - mid 90s. a series of legislative acts appeared that limited the nature and actions of those reforms of the 60-70s, which, according to the emperor, did not correspond to the historical purpose of Russia. Trying to prevent the destructive force of the opposition movement, the emperor introduced restrictions on the zemstvo and city government. The elective principle in the magistrates' court was reduced, in the counties, the execution of judicial duties was transferred to the newly established zemstvo chiefs.
At the same time, steps were taken to develop the state's economy, strengthen finances and carry out military reforms, and resolve agrarian-peasant and national-religious issues. The young emperor also paid attention to the development of the material well-being of his subjects: he founded the Ministry of Agriculture to improve agriculture, established noble and peasant land banks, with the assistance of which nobles and peasants could acquire land property, patronized domestic industry (by raising customs duties on foreign goods ), and the construction of new canals and railways, including through Belarus, helped to revive the economy and trade.
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State policy in Belarus was dictated, first of all, by the reluctance to "violently break up the historically established order of life" of the local population, "forcible eradication of languages" and the desire to ensure that "foreigners become modern sons, and not remain the eternal adopters of the country." It was at this time that the general imperial legislation, administrative-political management and the education system were finally established on the Belarusian lands. At the same time, the authority of the Orthodox Church rose.
In foreign policy, Alexander III tried to avoid military conflicts, so he went down in history as the "Tsar-Peacemaker". The main direction of the new political course was to ensure Russian interests by looking for support on "ourselves". Having approached France, with which Russia had no disputable interests, he concluded a peace treaty with her, thereby establishing an important balance between the European states. Another extremely important policy direction for Russia was the preservation of stability in Central Asia, which, not long before the reign of Alexander III, became part of the Russian Empire. The frontiers of the Russian Empire advanced to Afghanistan. A railway was laid on this vast area, connecting the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea with the center of Russian Central Asian possessions - Samarkand and the river. Amu Darya. In general, Alexander III persistently strove for complete unification with indigenous Russia of all outskirts. To this end, he abolished the Caucasian governorship, abolished the privileges of the Baltic Germans and prohibited foreigners, including Poles, from acquiring land in Western Russia, including Belarus.
The emperor also worked hard to improve military affairs: the Russian army was significantly increased and armed with new weapons; several fortresses were built on the western border. The navy under him became one of the strongest in Europe.
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Parish schools were extremely important in the era of Alexander III. The emperor saw in the parish school one of the forms of cooperation between the State and the Church. The Orthodox Church, in his opinion, from time immemorial was the educator and teacher of the people. For centuries, schools at churches were the first and only schools in Russia, including Belaya. Until the half of the 60s. In the nineteenth century, almost exclusively priests and other members of the clergy were mentors in rural schools. On June 13, 1884, the Emperor approved the "Rules for Parish Schools". Confirming them, the emperor wrote about them in his speech: "I hope that the parish clergy will prove worthy of their high calling in this important matter." Parish schools began to open in many parts of Russia, often in the most remote and remote villages. They were often the only source of education for the people. When Emperor Alexander III came to the throne, there were only about 4,000 parish schools in the Russian Empire. In the year of his death, there were 31,000 of them and over a million boys and girls were enrolled in them.
Together with the number of schools, their position also strengthened. Initially, these schools were based on church funds, on funds from church fraternities and trusteeships and individual benefactors. Later, the state treasury came to their aid. To manage all parish schools, a special school council was formed at the Holy Synod, which publishes textbooks and literature necessary for education. Taking care of the parish school, the emperor realized the importance of combining the foundations of education and upbringing in the folk school. This upbringing, which protects the people from the harmful influences of the West, the emperor saw in Orthodoxy. Therefore, Alexander III was especially attentive to the parish clergy. Before him, the parish clergy of only a few dioceses received support from the treasury. Under Alexander III, a vacation was started from the treasury of amounts to provide for the clergy. This order laid the foundation for improving the life of the Russian parish priest. When the clergy expressed their gratitude for this undertaking, he said: "I will be quite glad when I will be able to provide all the rural clergy."
Emperor Alexander III treated the development of higher and secondary education in Russia with the same care. During his short reign, Tomsk University and a number of industrial schools were opened.
The Tsar's family life was impeccable. According to his diary, which he kept every day when he was his heir, one can study the everyday life of an Orthodox person no worse than according to the well-known book by Ivan Shmelev, The Summer of the Lord. True delight was given to Alexander III by church chants and sacred music, which he placed much higher than secular music.
Emperor Alexander reigned for thirteen years and seven months. Constant worries and intense studies broke his strong nature early: he began to feel more and more unwell. Before the death of Alexander III, he confessed and communed St. John of Kronstadt. Consciousness never left the king; Having said goodbye to his family, he said to his wife: “I feel the end. Be at ease. I am completely at peace "..." About half past 3 he received Holy Communion, "the new Emperor Nicholas II wrote in his diary on the evening of October 20, 1894," light convulsions soon began ... and the end came quickly! Fr. John stood at the head for more than an hour and held his head. It was the death of a saint! ” Alexander III died in his Livadia Palace (in the Crimea), before reaching his fiftieth birthday.
The personality of the emperor and his significance for the history of Russia are rightly expressed in the following verses:
In the hour of turmoil and struggle, ascending under the canopy of the throne,
He extended a powerful hand.
And the noisy sedition froze around.
Like a dying fire.
He understood the spirit of Russia and believed in her strength,
Loved her space and breadth,
He lived like the Russian Tsar, and he went down to the grave,
Like a true Russian hero.
III has earned a slightly controversial, but mostly positive characterization. The people associated him with good deeds and called him a peacemaker. And why Alexander III was called a peacemaker, you can find out from this article.
Ascension to the throne
Due to the fact that Alexander was only the second child in the family, no one considered him as a contender for the throne. He was not prepared for rule, but only given a basic military education. The death of his brother Nikolai completely changed the course of history. After this event, Alexander had to devote a lot of time to his studies. He re-mastered almost all subjects, from the basics of economics and the Russian language to world history and foreign policy. After the assassination of his father, he became the full-fledged emperor of a great power. The reign of Alexander III lasted from 1881 to 1894. What kind of ruler he was, we will consider further.
Why Alexander III was called a peacemaker
To strengthen his position on the throne at the beginning of his reign, Alexander abandoned his father's idea of \u200b\u200bthe country's constitutionality. This is the answer to the question of why Alexander III was called a peacemaker. By choosing this strategy of government, he managed to end the riots. Largely through the creation of a secret police. Under Alexander III, the power strengthened its borders quite strongly. A powerful army and its reserve reserves appeared in the country. Thanks to this, Western influence on the country has come to a minimum. This made it possible to exclude all sorts of bloodshed throughout the entire period of his reign. One of the main reasons why Alexander III was called a peacemaker is that he often participated in the elimination of military conflicts in his country and abroad.
Board results
As a result of the reign of Alexander III, he was awarded the honorary title of peacemaker. Also historians call him the most Russian tsar. He threw all his strength into the defense of the Russian people. It was through his efforts that the country's prestige on the world stage was restored and the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church was elevated. Alexander III devoted a lot of time and money to the development of industries and agriculture in Russia. He improved the well-being of the people of his country. Thanks to his efforts and love for his country and people, Russia achieved the highest results for that period in economics and politics. In addition to the title of peacemaker, Alexander III is also awarded the title of reformer. According to many historians, it was he who laid the seeds of communism in the minds of the people.
He was on the throne for thirteen and a half years and died 49 years old, earning the title of "Tsar-Peacemaker" during his lifetime, since during his reign not a drop of Russian blood was shed on the battlefields ...
Soon after his death, the historian V.O. Klyuchevsky wrote: "Science will give Emperor Alexander III a proper place not only in the history of Russia and all of Europe, but also in Russian historiography, will say that He won a victory in the area where it is most difficult to achieve victory, defeated the prejudice of peoples and thereby contributed to their rapprochement, conquered the public conscience in the name of peace and truth, increased the amount of goodness in the moral circulation of mankind, encouraged and raised Russian historical thought, Russian national consciousness, and did all this so quietly and silently that only now, when He is no longer there, Europe understood what He was for her. "
The venerable professor was mistaken in his predictions. For over a hundred years, the figure of the penultimate Russian Tsar has been the target of the most impartial assessments; his personality is the object of unbridled attacks and tendentious criticism.
The fake image of Alexander III is being recreated to this day. Why? The reason is simple: the Emperor did not admire the West, did not worship liberal-egalitarian ideas, believing that the literal imposition of foreign orders would not be a boon for Russia. Hence - the irreconcilable hatred of this Tsar on the part of Western lovers of all stripes.
However, Alexander III was not a narrow-minded Western-hater, rejecting from the outset everything that did not have a generic stigma: "made in Russia." For him, Russian was primary and especially significant not because it is the best in the world, but because it is dear, close, his own. During the reign of Emperor Alexander III, the words "Russia is for Russians" were first heard throughout the country. And although he was well aware of the problems and absurdities in Russian life, he did not doubt for a minute that they should be overcome only by relying on his own sense of understanding of duty and responsibility, not paying attention to what some "Princess Marya Aleksevna ".
For almost two hundred years, he was the first ruler who not only did not seek the "love of Europe", but was not even interested in what they say and write about him. However, it was Alexander III who became the ruler under whom, without a single weapon shot, Russia began to win the moral authority of a great world power. The imposing bridge across the Seine in the very center of Paris, bearing the name of the Russian Tsar, has forever remained a vivid confirmation of this ...
Alexander Alexandrovich ascended the throne at the age of 36 on March 1, 1881. On that day, his father was mortally wounded by a terrorist's bomb, who soon died, and Alexander Alexandrovich became the "Autocrat of All Russia". He did not dream of a crown, but when death took away his father, he showed amazing composure and humility, accepting what was given only by the will of the Most High.
With great spiritual trepidation, with tears in his eyes, he read the will of his father, the words and instructions of the murdered man. "I am sure that my son, Emperor Alexander Alexandrovich, will understand the importance and difficulty of his high calling and will continue in all respects worthy of the nickname of an honest man ... May God help him to justify my hopes and complete what I failed to do to improve the prosperity of our dear Fatherland. I implore him not to get carried away with fashionable theories, to think about its constant development, based on love for God and the law. He must not forget that the power of Russia is based on the unity of the State, and therefore everything that can lean to the shocks of all unity and to the separate development of various nationalities, it is pernicious for her and should not be tolerated. I thank him, for the last time, from the depths of his tenderly loving heart, for his friendship, for the diligence with which he performed his official duties and helped me in State Affairs. "
Tsar Alexander III inherited a heavy legacy. He understood perfectly well that improvements in various areas of life and public administration were necessary, they were long overdue, no one argued with this. He also knew that the "bold transformations" carried out in the 60s and 70s by Alexander II often gave rise to even more acute problems.
Since the end of the 70s, the social situation in the country had become so tense that some concluded that a collapse would soon come. Others tried to leave St. Petersburg, some to the estate, and some abroad.
The joylessness of the social situation was felt everywhere. Finances were upset, economic development slowed, and agriculture stagnated. Zemstvos did a poor job of local improvement, all the time they asked for money from the treasury, and some zemstvo meetings turned into centers for public discussions of political issues that did not concern them in any way.
The universities were almost anarchy: anti-government publications were almost openly distributed, student gatherings were organized, where attacks on the government were heard. And most importantly, there were constant assassinations and attempts on the life of officials, and the authorities could not cope with the terror. The monarch himself became the object of these villainous intentions and fell at the hands of terrorists!
Alexander III had an extremely difficult time. There were plenty of advisers: every relative and dignitary dreamed that the tsar would "invite to talk." But the young Emperor knew that these recommendations were often too biased, too selfless to trust them without looking back. The late father sometimes brought unprincipled people, devoid of will and strong monarchical convictions closer to him.
Business must be handled differently, of which he had no doubt. First of all, it is not necessary to draw up new laws, but to ensure that the existing ones are observed. This conviction matured in him in the spring days of 1881. Earlier, in January, speaking at a meeting with the main patron of the "constitutionalists", Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, the future Tsar definitely stated that "he sees no need to impose on Russia all the inconveniences of constitutionalism that impede good legislation and governance." Such a statement was immediately interpreted by the liberal public as a manifestation of "reactionary beliefs."
Alexander III never sought popularity, did not curry favor with entrepreneurs and regulars of Petersburg salons, either before he became Tsar or after. A few years after his accession to the throne, talking with those close to him, Alexander III said that he would consider "the constitution very calm for himself, but very dangerous for Russia." In fact, he repeated the thought expressed more than once by his father.
Long before his death, Alexander II realized that it was unacceptable to give broad public freedoms, to which some of his most Europeanized compatriots urged him. In the empire of the two-headed eagle, the historical conditions for the establishment of the social order that existed in England or France had not yet developed. More than once he spoke about this both in a narrow circle and outside the royal palaces. In September 1865, accepting in Ilyinskoye, near Moscow, the Zvenigorod district marshal of the nobility, P. D. Golokhvastov, Alexander II outlined his political credo:
"I give you my word that now, on this table, I am ready to sign whatever constitution you want, if I were convinced that it is useful for Russia. But I know that if I do it today, and tomorrow Russia will fall to pieces." ... And until his death he did not change his conviction, although then completely unsubstantiated statements circulated that allegedly Alexander II intended to introduce constitutional rule ...
Alexander III fully shared this conviction and was ready to change and improve a lot, without breaking or rejecting what seemed reliable and historically justified. The main political value of Russia was autocracy - a sovereign rule, independent of written norms and state institutions, limited only by the dependence of the earthly king on the Heavenly King.
Talking at the end of March 1881 with the poet's daughter Anna Fedorovna Tyutcheva, the wife of the famous Slavophile I.S. Aksakov, who published the popular newspaper Rus in Moscow, the Tsar said: “I have read all your husband's articles lately. Tell him that I It was in my grief that I was greatly relieved to hear my word of honor. He is an honest and truthful person, and most importantly, he is a real Russian, which, unfortunately, are few, and even these few have been eliminated recently, but this will not happen anymore. " ...
Soon the word of the new Monarch sounded to the whole world. On April 29, 1881, the Supreme Manifesto appeared, thundering like the thunder of an alarm bell.
"In the midst of Our great sorrow, the voice of God commands Us to become cheerfully in the work of government, in hope in Divine Providence, with faith in the power and truth of Autocratic power, which We are called to affirm and protect for the good of the people from any encroachments."
Further, the new Tsar called on all the faithful sons of the Fatherland to be encouraged and to help "eradicate the vile sedition that dishonor the Russian land, to the establishment of faith and morality, to the good upbringing of children, to the extermination of untruth and embezzlement, to the establishment of order and truth in the operation of institutions granted to Russia by her benefactor. , beloved Parent. "
The manifesto was unexpected for many. It became clear that the days of liberal smiles were over. The fall of the political projectors - losers was only a matter of time.
Alexander III considered this outcome logical. I wrote to my brother Sergei on June 11, 1881: “Appointing new people almost everywhere, we started hard work together, and, thank God, with difficulty and little by little we move forward, and things are going much more successfully than under the previous ministers, who by their behavior forced me to fire They wanted to take me into their clutches and enslave me, but they did not succeed ... I cannot hide that even now we are still far from being in a normal state and there will still be many disappointments and anxieties, but everything has to be ready to go straight and boldly towards the goal, not deviating to the side, and most importantly - not to despair and hope in God! "
Although there were no persecutions, arrests, deportations of objectionable dignitaries (almost all of them were removed with honor, received appointments to the State Council), it seemed to some that at the top of power "an earthquake began." The bureaucratic ear has always subtly caught the impulses and moods in the highest corridors of power that determined the behavior and diligence of officials.
As soon as Alexander III was on the Throne, it quickly became clear that jokes were bad with the new government, that the young Emperor is a tough man, even harsh, and his will must be obeyed unquestioningly. Immediately, everything started spinning, the discussions subsided, and the state machine suddenly started working with renewed vigor, although in the last years of the reign of Alexander II it seemed to many that it no longer had the strength.
Alexander III did not create any emergency bodies (in general, during his reign, few new subdivisions appeared in the system of government), did not carry out any "special cleansing" of the bureaucratic apparatus, but the atmosphere in the country and in the corridors of power changed.
The salon talkers, who had only recently passionately defended freedom-loving principles, suddenly became almost numb and no longer dared to popularize Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite not only at open meetings, but even among their own people behind the tightly closed doors of the capital's drawing rooms. Gradually, the dignitaries who were reputed to be liberal were replaced by others who were ready to serve the Tsar and the Fatherland unquestioningly, without looking into European cribs and not afraid to be branded as "reactionaries."
Alexander III boldly and decisively began to fight the enemies of the state order. There were arrests of direct perpetrators of the regicide and some other persons who did not personally participate in the first March atrocity, but were preparing other terrorist acts. In total, about fifty people were arrested, and five regicides were hanged by court verdict.
The Emperor had no doubt that an irreconcilable struggle should be waged against the enemies of Russia. But not only by police methods, but also by mercy. It is necessary to distinguish, where are the true, irreconcilable opponents, and where are the lost souls, who, through thoughtlessness, allowed themselves to be drawn into anti-government actions. The Emperor himself always followed the progress of the inquiry in political matters. In the end, all court decisions were left to his discretion, many asked for royal favor, and he should know the details. Sometimes he decided not to bring the matter to court.
When in 1884 a circle of revolutionaries was discovered in Kronstadt, the tsar, having learned from the testimony of the accused that the midshipman of the naval crew Grigory Skvortsov was shedding tears, repented and gave frank testimony, ordered that the midshipman be released and not subject to prosecution.
Alexander III always had sympathy for those people who professed traditional values. Conformism, compromise, apostasy did not evoke anything in his soul, except disgust. His political principle was simple and in line with the Russian management tradition. Malfunctions in the state must be corrected, proposals must be heard, but for this it is absolutely not necessary to convene some kind of people's assembly.
It is necessary to invite specialists, experts on a particular issue, listen, discuss, weigh the pros and cons and make the right decision. Everything should be done according to the law, and if it turns out that the law is outdated, then it must be revised, relying on tradition and only after discussion in the State Council. This became the rule of state life.
The tsar repeatedly told his entourage and ministers that "bureaucracy is a strength in the state if it is kept in strict discipline." And indeed, under Alexander III, the administrative apparatus of the empire worked in a tough regime: the decisions of the authorities were strictly carried out, and the tsar personally followed this. He could not stand indifference, neglect of official duties.
The emperor introduced an innovation unprecedented in Russia: he demanded that he be presented with a list of all unfulfilled orders and decisions, indicating the persons responsible for them. This news greatly increased the "labor enthusiasm" of the bureaucracy, and the red tape became much less.
He was especially intransigent towards those who used their official position for personal gain. To such, there was no condescension.
The reign of Alexander III was distinguished by an amazing phenomenon: bribery and corruption, which used to be a sad Russian reality, almost completely disappeared. Russian history of this period did not reveal a single high-profile case of this kind, and numerous professional "unmaskers of tsarism" did not find a single corruption fact, although they were persistently looking for them for many decades ...
During the reign of Alexander III, strict administrative regulation of social life remained in Russia. Enemies of state power were persecuted, arrested, and exiled. Such facts existed both before and after Alexander III, however, in justification of the immutable thesis about a certain "course of reaction", it is the period of his reign that is often characterized as a particularly gloomy and hopeless period of history. Nothing of the kind has actually been observed.
In total, 17 people were executed for political crimes (there was no death penalty for criminal acts in Russia) during the "period of reaction". All of them either participated in the regicide or were preparing for it, and none of them repented. In total, less than 4 thousand people were interrogated and detained for anti-state acts (for almost fourteen years). If we take into account that the population of Russia then exceeded 120 million people, then these data convincingly refute the stereotyped thesis about the "terror regime" that was allegedly established in Russia during the reign of Alexander III.
Forensic and prison "reprisals" are only part of the "gloomy picture of Russian life" that is so often depicted. Its essential moment is the "oppression of the censorship," allegedly "strangling" any "freedom of thought."
In the 19th century, censorship existed in Russia, as in all other, even "most" democratic states. In the tsarist empire, she not only protected moral principles, religious traditions and beliefs, but also performed the function of protecting state interests.
Under Alexander III, as a result of an administrative ban or for other reasons, mainly of a financial nature, several dozen newspapers and magazines ceased to exist. However, this did not mean that the voice of the independent press had "died out" in the country. Many new editions appeared, but many old ones continued to be issued.
A number of liberal-oriented publications (the most famous are the newspaper "Russkie vedomosti" and the magazine "Vestnik Evropy"), although they did not allow direct attacks on the authorities and their representatives, did not get rid of the critical ("skeptical") tone and successfully survived the "era of repression" ...
In 1894, the year of the death of Alexander III, 804 periodicals in Russian and other languages \u200b\u200bwere published in Russia. Approximately 15% of them were state ("state"), and the rest belonged to various societies and individuals. There were socio-political, literary, theological, reference, satirical, scientific, educational, sports newspapers and magazines.
During the reign of Alexander III, the number of printing houses grew steadily; the range of published book products also increased annually. In 1894, the list of titles of published books reached almost 11,000 thousand (in 1890 - 8638). Many thousands of books were imported from abroad. During the entire period of his reign, less than 200 books were not allowed to circulate in Russia. (This number included, for example, the notorious "Capital" of Karl Marx.) The majority was prohibited not for political, but for spiritual and moral reasons: insulting the feelings of believers, promoting obscenity.
Alexander III died early, not yet an old man. His death was mourned by millions of Russian people, not under duress, but at the call of the heart of those who respected and loved this crowned sovereign - a big, strong, Christ-loving, so understandable, just, so "their own".
Alexander Bokhanov, Doctor of Historical Sciences
It is about such kings that the current monarchists sigh. They may be right. Alexander III was really great. Both a man and an emperor.
"It bites at me!"
However, some dissidents of that time, including Vladimir Leninjoked about the emperor rather evil. In particular, they nicknamed him "Pineapple". True, Alexander himself gave a reason. In the manifesto "On Our Ascension to the Throne" dated April 29, 1881, it was clearly stated: "And on Us to entrust the Sacred Duty." So when the document was announced, the tsar inevitably turned into an exotic fruit.
In fact, this is unfair and dishonest. Alexander was distinguished by amazing strength. He could easily break a horseshoe. He could easily bend silver coins in his palm. He could lift a horse on his shoulders. And even to make him sit like a dog - this is recorded in the memoirs of his contemporaries. At a dinner in the Winter Palace, when the Austrian ambassador started talking about the fact that his country was ready to form three corps of soldiers against Russia, he bent and tied a fork in a knot. Threw it towards the ambassador. And he said: "This is what I will do with your corps."
The heir to the Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich with his wife, the Tsarevich and Grand Duchess Maria Fedorovna, St. Petersburg, late 1860s. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Height - 193 cm.Weight - over 120 kg. It is not surprising that a peasant who accidentally saw the emperor at the railway station exclaimed: "This is a tsar so tsar, devil take me!" The impious peasant was immediately seized for "uttering indecent words in the presence of the sovereign." However, Alexander ordered to let go of foul language. Moreover, he rewarded him with a ruble with his own image: "Here's my portrait for you!"
And his look? Beard? Crown? Remember the cartoon "The Magic Ring"? “Ampirator drink tea. The samovar is mattere! Each device has three pounds of sieve bread! " It's all about him. He could actually eat 3 pounds of sieve bread for tea, that is, about 1.5 kg.
At home he liked to wear a simple Russian shirt. But always with sewing on the sleeves. He tucked his pants into his boots, like a soldier. Even at official receptions he allowed himself to go out in shabby trousers, a jacket or a sheepskin coat.
His phrase is often repeated: "While the Russian Tsar is fishing, Europe can wait." In reality, it was like that. Alexander was very correct. But he was very fond of fishing and hunting. Therefore, when the German ambassador demanded an immediate meeting, Alexander said: “Bite! It bites at me! Germany can wait. I'll take it tomorrow at noon. "
Correct soul
During his reign, conflicts began with Great Britain. Dr. Watson, the hero of the famous novel about Sherlock Holmes, was wounded in Afghanistan. And, apparently, in a battle with the Russians. There is a documented episode. A Cossack patrol detained a group of Afghan smugglers. They had two Englishmen - instructors. The commander of the patrol, Esaul Pankratov, shot the Afghans. And he ordered the British to be sent outside the Russian Empire. True, he had previously whipped them with whips.
In an audience with the British ambassador, Alexander said:
I will not allow encroachment on our people and our territory.
The ambassador replied:
This could cause an armed clash with England!
The king calmly remarked:
Well ... Probably we can do it.
And mobilized the Baltic Fleet. It was 5 times less than the forces that the British had at sea. And yet the war did not happen. The British calmed down and surrendered their positions in Central Asia.
After that English interior Minister Disraelicalled Russia “a huge, monstrous, terrible bear hanging over Afghanistan and India. And our interests in the world. "
Death of Alexander III in Livadia. Hood. M. Zichy, 1895. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org In order to list the affairs of Alexander III, you need not a newspaper strip, but a scroll 25 meters long. The Trans-Siberian Railway gave a real outlet to the Pacific Ocean. He gave civil liberties to the Old Believers. He gave real freedom to the peasants - the former serfs under him were given the opportunity to take solid loans, buy out their lands and farms. He made it clear that everyone is equal before the supreme power - he deprived some of the grand dukes of privileges, reduced their payments from the treasury. By the way, each of them was entitled to a "allowance" in the amount of 250 thousand rubles. gold. You can really yearn for such a sovereign. Alexander's elder brother Nikolai (he died without ascending to the throne) said about the future emperor as follows: “Pure, truthful, crystal soul. There is something wrong with the rest of us, fox. Alexander alone is truthful and correct in soul. "
In Europe, they said about his death in about the same way: "We are losing an arbiter who has always been guided by the idea of \u200b\u200bjustice."
The largest deeds of Alexander III
The Emperor is credited, and, apparently, not without reason, the invention of the flat flask. And not just flat, but bent, the so-called "boot". Alexander loved to drink, but did not want those around him to know about his addictions. A flask of this shape is ideal for secret use.
It was he who owns the slogan, for which today you can seriously pay: "Russia - for the Russians." However, his nationalism was not aimed at bullying national minorities. In any case, the Jew-s-kaya deputation headed by baron Gunzburg expressed to the emperor "boundless gratitude for the measures taken to protect the Jewish population in this difficult time."
The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway has begun - to this day it is almost the only transport artery that somehow connects the whole of Russia. The Emperor also instituted Railroad Day. Even the Soviet government did not abolish it, despite the fact that Alexander set the date of the holiday for the birthday of his grandfather Nicholas I, under whom they began to build railways.
He actively fought against corruption. Not in words, but in deeds. The Minister of Railways Krivoshein, Minister of Finance Abaza were sent to shameful resignation for bribes. He did not bypass his relatives - because of corruption, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich and Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich were deprived of their posts.
On March 10 (February 26, old style), 1845 - exactly 165 years ago - the following message was printed in the "Gazette of the St. Petersburg City Police": " On February 26, Her Imperial Highness the Empress Tsesarevna and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna was safely relieved of the burden by the Grand Duke named Alexander. This happy event was announced to the residents of the capital at three o'clock in the afternoon three hundred with one cannon shot from the bastions of the Peter and Paul Fortress, and in the evening the capital was illuminatedThis is how the second son of Emperor Alexander II, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, who, by the will of fate, was destined to become Emperor of Russia Alexander III, entered life.
"In the whole world we have only two loyal allies - our army and navy. All the rest, at the first opportunity, themselves will turn against us. "
"Russia - for Russians and in Russian"
Alexander III
By God's advancing grace, Alexander the Third, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod, Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Poland, Tsar of Siberia, Tsar of Chersonis Tauride, Tsar of Georgia; Sovereign of Pskov and Grand Duke of Smolensk, Lithuanian, Volyn, Podolsk and Finland; Prince of Estland, Livonia, Courland and Semigalsky, Samogitsky, Belostoksky, Korelsky, Tversky, Yugorsky, Perm, Vyatsky, Bulgarian and others; Sovereign and Grand Duke of Novgorod Nizovskiy lands, Chernigovskiy, Ryazanskiy, Polotskiy, Rostovskiy, Yaroslavskiy, Beloozerskiy, Udora, Obdorskiy, Kondiyanskiy, Vitebskiy, Mstislavskiy and all Northern countries Sovereign, and Sovereign Iverskiy, Kartalinskiy and Kabardinskiy regions Princes and other hereditary Sovereign and Owner, Sovereign of Turkestan, Heir of Norway, Duke of Schleswig-Golstinsky, Stormarnsky, Dietmarsen and Oldenburgsky and others, and so on, and so on
Later, contemporaries and descendants would call Alexander III Tsar the Peacemaker: this is due to the fact that during his reign Russia did not wage a single war. But not only this is his merit, for 13 years of his reign he managed to do a lot for Russia, for which the Russian people were grateful to him and considered him truly theirs. The enemies of Russia still fear and hate this Russian tsar.
Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich as a child
Zaryanko S.K. Portrait of Grand Duke Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich 1867
(State Russian Museum)
Family ... family from early childhood to the end of life was the basis for Emperor Alexander III. " If there is anything good, good and honest in Me, then I owe this solely to our dear dear Mom ... Thanks to Mom, we, all brothers and Marie, have become and remain true Christians and have loved both the faith and the Church ... "(from a letter from Emperor Alexander III to his wife Maria Feodorovna). Empress Maria Alexandrovna raised Alexander as a deeply religious and decent person with strong moral principles. To her he also owes his love for art, Russian nature, history. Alexander's training began at the age of eight and lasted twelve years. The obligatory list of lessons was as follows: the Law of God, general history, Russian history, mathematics, geography, Russian language, gymnastics, fencing, languages, etc. The teachers were the best people of Russia: the historian professor S.M. Soloviev, the philologist - Slavist professor F.I.Buslaev, the creator of the Russian classical spelling, academician Y. K. Grot, general M.I.Dragomirov, professor K.P. Pobedonostsev. Alexander considered M. Yu. Lermontov his favorite poet, knew German, French and English well, but in communication he used only Russian.
Jokers ... the famous Romanov pyramid
In the photo: Prince Albert of Altenburg, Grand Duke Alexander, his brother Vladimir and Prince Nikolai Leuchtenberg
But still, the boy was mainly prepared for a military career and it was not assumed that he would rule the state. On his birthday, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich was enlisted by the Highest order in the Life Guards Hussar, Preobrazhensky and Pavlovsky regiments and was appointed chief of the Astrakhan Carabinieri His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich regiment. But ... in April 1865 in Nice, the heir to the throne, Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, dies from a serious illness and the eternal prince Alexander Alexandrovich, according to the will of Emperor Alexander II, becomes heir to the throne.
Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna and Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich
Great Prince Alexander Alexandrovich Photo 1873
V.P. Khudoyarov Portrait of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich
Unknown artist Portrait of Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna 1880
Mihai Zichy Wedding of Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich and Maria Feodorovna
On October 28, 1865, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich married the sold-out bride of his elder brother Nikolai Alexandrovich, daughter of the Danish king Christian IX, Dagmara, who adopted the name of Maria Feodorovna in Orthodoxy. This marriage was happy, six children were born in love, although the fate of some was very tragic.
Sverchkov N. Alexander III 1881
(State Palace Museum Tsarskoe Selo)
Communion of the Holy Mysteries by the Sovereign Emperor Alexander III during the coronation 1883
Alexander Alexandrovich ascended the throne on March 14 (March 1, old style), 1881, 36 years old, after the villainous murder of Alexander II by the People's Will. The coronation took place on May 28 (May 15, old style), 1883 after the end of the mourning for his father. And immediately it was necessary to solve important state affairs, and one of them is the one that his father did not manage to fulfill. The Dane Beshorn, author of the book "Allexandre III et Nicolas II" says: "... Not a single monarch ascended the throne under such circumstances as Emperor Alexander III. Before he had time to come to his senses from the first horror, he immediately had to resolve the most important, most urgent matter - the project presented by Count Loris-Melikov constitution, already approved in principle by Emperor Alexander II. At first impression, Emperor Alexander III wanted to fulfill the last will of his parent, but his inherent discretion stopped him".
Kramskoy I. N. Portrait of Alexander III 1886
The reign of Alexander III was tough, but tough towards those who wanted to destroy Russia. At the very beginning of the reign of Emperor Alexander III, it was announced: " The voice of God commands us to become cheerfully in the work of government in hope of Divine Thought, with faith in the power and truth of autocratic power, which we are called to assert and protect for the good of the people from any inclinations against it.". By the mid-1880s, the government, through repression, succeeded in suppressing the revolutionary movement, first of all, Narodnaya Volya. At the same time, a number of measures were taken to alleviate the material situation of the people and alleviate social tension in society (the introduction of compulsory ransom and reduction , the establishment of the Peasant Land Bank, the introduction of factory inspection, the phased abolition of the poll tax, etc.) Under Alexander III, Russia received the right to keep a fleet in the Black Sea, but the fleet did not exist, it appeared there only after the death of Emperor Alexander III.
Dmitriev-Orenburgsky N. Portrait of Emperor Alexander III 1896
Family of Emperor Alexander III
Alexander III was a connoisseur of art, was very well versed in painting and had a good collection of his own works of Russian and foreign art. On the initiative of the Tsar, the Russian Museum was opened in St. Petersburg. It was officially called the Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III. The Tsar donated his collection, as well as the collection of Russian paintings from the Imperial Hermitage, to the new museum. The Museum of Fine Arts (now the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow) was also named in honor of Emperor Alexander III. Alexander III loved music, played the French horn, patronized PI Tchaikovsky, and he himself took part in home concerts. Under him, the first university in Siberia, in Tomsk, was opened, a project was prepared for the creation of a Russian Archaeological Institute in Constantinople, and the famous Historical Museum in Moscow was founded.
Serov V.A. Emperor Alexander III in the form of the Danish Royal Life Guards regiment against the background of the northern facade of Fredensborg Castle 1899
(Collection of the officer corps of the Danish Royal Life Guard)
As a person, Alexander III was simple, modest and unassuming in everyday life; he did not like social talk and receptions. Notable for frugality. The sovereign was distinguished by tremendous physical strength. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, daughter of the emperor, recalled: " The father possessed the power of Hercules, but he never showed it in the presence of strangers. He said he could bend a horseshoe and knot a spoon, but he didn't dare to do this so as not to anger Mom. Once in his office, he bent and then unbend an iron poker. I remember how he looked at the door, fearing that someone might enter ".
Makarov I.K. Sermon on the Mount 1889
(the picture depicts the family of Alexander III and was written after the tragedy in Borki)
During the tragic events at the Borki station of the Zmievsky district of the Kharkov province on October 30 (17 according to the old style), October 30, 1888, the Emperor held the roof of the car on his shoulders while his whole family and other victims got out from the wreckage.
Family of Emperor Alexander III and the court entourage after the hunt 1886
Alexander III hunting with his family
Alexander III on the hunt
But the disease did not spare him. Emperor Alexander III did not like to be treated or talk about his illness. In the summer of 1894, hunting in Spala, among the marshes, further weakened the Emperor. On the advice of doctors, he immediately left there for Livadia and here he began to fade away quickly, surrounded by the care of the best Russian foreign doctors and close relatives. Emperor Alexander III died on October 20, 1894, at the age of 50, having reigned for 13 years, 7 months and 19 days ... remaining in his memory as the most Russian tsar of Russia.
Mihai Zichy Memorial service for Alexander III in his bedroom at the Small Palace in Livadia 1895
(State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg)
Emperor Alexander III on his deathbed Photo 1894
Brozh K.O. Funeral of Alexander III in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg 1894
(State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg)
At the tomb of Emperor Alexander III
With a soul imbued with love and humility,
With the seal of goodness and peace on your forehead,
He was a God-sent incarnation
Greatness, goodness and truth on earth.
In the days of turmoil, in a dark, joyless time
Rebellious designs, unbelief and threats
He lifted the burden of the Tsarist power on the shoulder
And with faith to the end he bore the burden of God.
But not by pride and the strength of a formidable power,
Not with vain glitter, not with blood and sword -
He is a lie, and dislike, and flattery, and evil passions
He humbled and won only with truth and goodness.
He exalted Russia, not a single one
Not darkened by hostility, not demanding praise;
And - a quiet righteous man - before a righteous end,
Like the sun in the sky, shone over the world!
Human glory is smoke, and earthly life is perishable.
Greatness, noise and brilliance - everything will cease, everything will pass!
But the glory of God is immortal and incorruptible:
The righteous king in his native traditions will not die.
He is alive - and will live! And to the mountain abode
Exalted from the throne, before the King of kings
He prays - our King, our bright patron -
For the Son, for the Family, for Russia ... for all people.
A. L. Golenishchev-Kutuzov
P.S. Most of the pictures and photos are clickable and enlarged to a large size.
Facts from articles used
"In everything, always, everywhere, He was a Christian ..." A. Rozhintsev
"Emperor Alexander III. Tsar-Peacemaker" by V.A. Teplov
