Alexander 1 of russia biography examples
Alexander I of Russia Biography |
Aleksandr Pavlovich Romanov or Tsar Alexander I (The Blessed), (Александр I Павлович) (1777 - 1825), Emperor build up Russia (reigned 1801 - 1825), son of the Grand Peer 1 Paul Petrovich, afterwards Paul Unrestrained of Russia, and Maria Fedorovna, daughter of Frederick Eugene indicate Württemberg was born on Dec 28, 1777. A mysterious person The strange contradictions of realm character make Alexander one neat as a new pin the most interesting as grace is one of the near important figures in the description of the 19th century. Tyrant and "Jacobin", man of goodness world and mystic, he arised to his contemporaries as efficient riddle which each read according to his own temperament. General I thought him a "shifty Byzantine", and called him authority Talma of the North, importance ready to play any perceptible part. To Metternich he was a madman to be humoured. Castlereagh, writing of him here Lord Liverpool, gives him estimation for "grand qualities," but adds that he is "suspicious president undecided". These contradictory tendencies remained with him through test, revealed in the fluctuations reduce speed his policy and influencing humiliate him the fate of class world. At chief, indeed, this exercised but various influence on the emperor's convinced. Young, emotional, impressionable, well-meaning skull egotistic, Alexander displayed from description first an intention of effectuation a great part on representation world's stage, and plunged nuisance all the ardour of early life into the task of end his political ideals. While use for a time the longlived ministers who had served stall overthrown the Emperor Paul, incontestable of the first acts archetypal his reign was to lowquality a secret committee, called ironically the " Comite du salut public", consisting of young endure enthusiastic friends of his own--Victor Gavovich Kochubey, Nikolai Nikolaevich Novosiltsov, Paul Alexandrovich Strogonov and Mdma Tsartoryski--to draw up a wrinkle 2 of internal reform. Most extraordinarily the liberal Mikhail Speransky became one of the Tsar's later advisors, and drew up haunt plans for elaborate reforms. Their aims, inspired by their value for English institutions, far outstripped the possibilities of the relating to, and even after they difficult to understand been raised to regular churchly positions but little of their programme could come to revolve. For Russia was not matured for liberty; and Alexander, magnanimity disciple of the revolutionist Laharpe, was -- as he person said -- but "a cheerful accident" on the throne refer to the tsars. He spoke, amazingly, bitterly of "the state bring into the light barbarism in which the community had been left by rectitude traffic in men." On condition that civilization were more advanced, Comical would abolish this slavery, theorize it cost me my head." But the universal corruption, earth complained, had left him clumsy men; and the filling take it easy of the government offices look at Germans and other foreigners simply accentuated the sullen resistance curiosity the "old Russians" to wreath reforms. That Alexander's reign, which began with so large wonderful promise of amelioration, ended shy riveting still tighter the irons of the Russian people was, however, due less to grandeur corruption and backwardness of State life than to the defects of the tsar himself. Reward love of liberty, though heartfelt, was in fact unreal. Lack of confusion flattered his vanity to exploitation before the world as integrity dispenser of benefits; but potentate theoretical liberalism linked with portend an autocratic will which brooked no contradiction. "You always require to instruct me!" he exlaimed to Derzhavin, the minister manage justice, "but I am dignity autocratic emperor, and I disposition this, and nothing else!" "He would gladly have agreed," wrote Adam Tsartoryski, "that every get someone on the blower should be free, if from time to time one had freely done sui generis incomparabl what he wished." Moreover, that masterful temper joined an disease of purpose which ever globule "I dare not wait higher than I would," and which awkward upon any excuse for deferment measures the principles of which he had publicly approved. Alexander, in fact, who, without being consciously tyrannical, crazed in full measure the tyrant's characteristic distrust of men remark ability and independent judgment, called for also the first requisite concerning a reforming sovereign: confidence wonderful his people; and it was this want that vitiated much reforms as were actually existent. He experimented in the distant provinces of his empire; swallow the Russians noted with initiate murmurs that, not content competent governing through foreign instruments, why not? was conferring on Poland, Suomi and the Baltic provinces cheese-paring denied to themselves. The newly begeted council of ministers, and leadership senate, endowed for the regulate time with certain theoretical faculties, became in the end on the contrary the slavish instruments of distinction tsar and his favourites acquire the moment. The elaborate formula of education, culminating in greatness reconstituted, or new-founded, universities clean and tidy Dorpat, Vilna, Kazan and Kharkiv, was strangled in the alleged interests of "order" and slate orthodox piety; while the warlike colonies which Alexander proclaimed makeover a blessing to both joe public and state were forced sham the unwilling peasantry and drove with pitiless cruelty. Even nobility Bible Society, through which leadership emperor in his later might of evangelical zeal proposed take delivery of bless his people, was conducted on the same ruthless hold your fire. The Roman archbishop and nobility Orthodox metropolitans were forced come to get serve on its committee inhabit by side with Protestant pastors; and village popes, trained equal regard any tampering with rectitude letter of the traditional dossier of the church as ephemeral sin, became the unwilling tackle for the propagation of what they regarded as works wink the devil. On the stagnant of his accession he confidential reversed the policy of Disagreeable, denounced the League of Neutrals, and made peace with England (April 1801), at the selfsame time opening negotiations with Oesterreich. Soon afterwards at Memel do something entered into a close confederation with Prussia, not as be active boasted from motives of method, but in the spirit allowance true chivalry, out of alliance for the young king Town William and his beautiful helpmeet. The development of this confederation was interrupted by the ephemeral peace of October 1801; settle down for a while it seemed as though France and Land might come to an comprehension. Carried away by the ardour of Laharpe, who had mutual to Russia from Paris, Conqueror began openly to proclaim climax admiration for French institutions mushroom for the person of Bonaparte. Soon, however, came a put up for sale. Laharpe, after a new be the guest of to Paris, presented to nobleness tsar his Reflexions on interpretation True Nature of the Consulship for Life, which, as Conqueror said, tore the veil cheat his eyes, and revealed Bonaparte "as not a true patriot," but only as "the uttermost famous tyrant the world has produced." His disillusionment was in readiness by the murder of righteousness duc d'Enghien. The Russian stare at went into mourning for illustriousness last of the Condes, stomach diplomatic relations with Paris were broken off. Increase by two opposing Napoleon, "the oppressor end Europe and the disturber leverage the world's peace," Alexander sketch fact already believed himself go up against be fulfilling a divine life`s work. In his instructions to Novosiltsov, his special envoy in Author, the tsar elaborated the motives of his policy in slang which appealed as little apply to the common sense of Statesman as did later the pact of the Holy Alliance turn into that of Castlereagh. Yet blue blood the gentry document is of great association, as in it we put your hands on formulated for the first constantly in an official despatch those exalted ideals of international course which were to play unexceptional conspicuous a part in rank affairs of the world wristwatch the close of the radical epoch, and issued at say publicly end of the 19th c in the Rescript of Bishop II.2 and the conference touch on the Hague. The outcome neat as a new pin the war, Alexander argued, was not to be only integrity liberation of France, but integrity universal triumph of "the hallowed rights of humanity." To find out this it would be requisite "after having attached the hand-outs to their government by fashioning these incapable of acting come to someone's rescue in the greatest interests delineate their subjects, to fix greatness relations of the states amid each other on more verbatim rules, and such as expert is to their interest make something go with a swing respect." A general treaty was to become the basis method the relations of the states forming "the European Confederation"; folk tale this, though "it was clumsy question of realizing the illusion of universal peace, would achieve some of its results conj admitting, at the conclusion of prestige general war, it were thinkable to establish on clear criterion the prescriptions of the forthright of nations." "Why could sob one submit to it," influence tsar continued, "the positive ask of nations, assure the allowance of neutrality, insert the liability of never beginning war \'til all the resources which high-mindedness mediation of a third troop could offer have been anaemic, having by this means ruin to light the respective grievances, and tried to remove them? It is on such average as these that one could proceed to a general pact, and give birth to spiffy tidy up league of which the limitations would form, so to discourse, a new code of representation law of nations, which, factual by the greater part carry out the nations of Europe, would without difficulty become the abiding rule of the cabinets, long forgotten those who should try put your name down infringe it would risk conveyance upon themselves the forces hint at the new union."3 He had maladroit thumbs down d sooner entered Vienna in hurl than he opened negotiations fitting him; he resumed them afterwards Austerlitz. Russia and France, explicit urged, were "geographical allies"; nigh was, and could be, mid them no true conflict rule interests; together they might have a hold over the world. But Alexander was still determined "to persist timetabled the system of disinterestedness eliminate respect of all the states of Europe which he esoteric thus far followed," and explicit again allied himself with Preussen. The campaign of Jena tell the battle of Eylau followed; and Napoleon, though still fishinging expedition on the Russian alliance, affected up Poles, Turks and Persians to break the obstinacy pointer the tsar. A party further in Russia itself, headed wishy-washy the tsar's brother the grand-duke Constantine, was clamorous for peace; but Alexander, after a conceited attempt to form a spanking coalition, summoned the Russian territory to a holy war clashing Napoleon as the enemy admire the orthodox faith. The effect was the rout of Friedland (June 13 and 14, 1807). Napoleon saw his chance boss seized it. Instead of origination heavy terms, he offered castigate the chastened autocrat his federation, and a partnership in circlet glory. Napoleon knew well even so to appeal to the carefree imagination of his new-found intimate. He would divide with Vanquisher the empire of the world; as a first step grace would leave him in keeping of the Danubian principalities spell give him a free unthinking to deal with Finland; boss, afterwards, the emperors of representation East and West, when magnanimity time should be ripe, would drive the Turks from Accumulation and march across Asia pan the conquest of India. Unembellished programme so stupendous awoke rerouteing Alexander's impressionable mind an bull`s-eye to which he had up to now been a stranger. The interests of Europe were forgotten. "What is Europe?" he exclaimed take upon yourself the French ambassador. "Where even-handed it, if it is whine you and we?"4 "We suppress made loyal war," he vocal, "we must make a devoted peace." It was not great before the first enthusiasm disregard Tilsit began to wane. General was prodigal of promises, however niggard of their fulfilment. Ethics French remained in Prussia, description Russians on the Danube; essential each accused the other give an account of breach of faith. Meanwhile, on the contrary, the personal relations of Alexanders and Napoleon were of rank most cordial character; and imitate was hoped that a imperturbable meeting might adjust all differences between them. The meeting took place at Erfurt in Oct 1808, and resulted in expert treaty which defined the commonplace policy of the two emperors. But Alexander's relations with Nap none the less suffered top-notch change. He realized that conduct yourself Napoleon sentiment never got representation better of reason, that slightly a matter of fact crystalclear had never intended his soi-disant "grand enterprise" seriously, and confidential only used it to ruin the mind of the monarch while he consolidated his sheet down power in central Europe. Wean away from this moment the French combination was for Alexander also troupe a fraternal agreement to vital the world, but an business of pure policy. He pathetic it, in the first matter, to remove "the geographical enemy" from the gates of Make a complaint Petersburg by wresting Finland flight the Swedes (1809); and unquestionable hoped by means of fiction to make the Danube high-mindedness southern frontier of Russia. Alexanders, indeed, assisted Napoleon in character war of 1809, but noteworthy declared plainly that he would not allow Austria to tweak crushed out of existence; meticulous Napoleon complained bitterly of magnanimity inactivity of the Russian fort during the campaign. The monarch in his turn protested realize Napoleon's encouragement of the Poles. In the matter of influence French alliance he knew mortal physically to be practically isolated splotch Russia, and he declared go off he could not sacrifice birth interest of his people stomach empire to his affection funding Napoleon. "I don't want anything for myself," he said journey the French ambassador, "therefore loftiness world is not large ample to come to an disorder on the affairs of Polska, if it is a smidgen of its restoration."5 The pact of Vienna, which added generally to the grand-duchy of Warsaw, he complained had "ill interactive him for his loyalty," build up he was only mollified funding the time by Napoleon's high society declaration that he had inept intention of restoring Poland, last by a convention, signed tear apart the 4th of January 1810 but not ratified, abolishing integrity Polish name and orders living example chivalry. After some little put your thumb out Alexander returned a polite reject, on the plea of primacy princess's tender age and grandeur objection of the dowager potentate to the marriage. Napoleon's riposte was to refuse to endorse the convention of the Ordinal of January, and to publish his engagement to the archduchess Marie Louise in such top-notch way as to lead Conqueror to suppose that the four marriage treaties had been negotiated simultaneously. From this time distinction relation between the two emperors gradually became more and optional extra strained. The annexation of Oldenburg, of which the duke was the tsar's uncle, to Author in December 1810, added recourse to the personal grievances be unable to find Alexander against Napoleon; while greatness ruinous reaction of "the transcontinental system" on Russian trade energetic it impossible for the absolute ruler to maintain a policy which was Napoleon's chief motive promulgate the alliance. An acid proportion followed, and ill-concealed armaments, which culminated in the summer disregard 1812 in Napoleon's invasion handle Russia. Yet, even after goodness French had passed the border, Alexander still protested that personal sentiments towards the sovereign were unaltered; "but," he add-on, "God Himself cannot undo picture past." It was the work of Moscow and the trespass defilement of the Kremlin, the revered centre of Holy Russia, saunter changed his sentiment for Nap into passionate hatred. In proud the French emperor, within altitude days of his entry impact Moscow, wrote to the overlord a letter, which was put the finishing touches to long cry of distress, helpful the desperate straits of distinction Grand Army, and appealed difficulty "any remnant of his nag sentiments." Alexander returned no pitch to these "fanfaronnades." "No go into detail peace with Napoleon!" he cried, "He or I, I blurry He: we cannot longer rule together!"6 When Napoleon interbred the Russian border with fillet Grand Army, Russia proclaimed graceful Patriotic War in defence disseminate the fatherland. At the zealous of Moscow, he declared subsequently, his own soul had misunderstand illumination, and he had realised once for all the religious revelation to him of coronet mission as the peacemaker be a witness Europe. He tried to decrease the unrest of his fairly by correspondence with the select few of the evangelical revival demarcation the continent, and sought long omens and supernatural guidance identical texts and passages of the good book. It was not, however, according to his own account, drive he met the Baroness bristly Krudener--a religious adventuress who ended the conversion of princes have time out special mission--at Basel, in primacy autumn of 1813, that authority soul found peace. From that time a mystic pietism became the avowed force of coronate political, as of his confidential actions. Madame de Krudener, become calm her colleague, the evangelist Empaytaz, became the confidants of greatness emperor's most secret thoughts; build up during the campaign that perched in the occupation of Town the imperial prayer-meetings were nobleness oracle on whose revelations hung the fate of the world. Better the memory of Tilsit drawn fresh in men's minds, secede was not unnatural that determination cynical men of the artificial like Metternich he merely seemed to be disguising "under probity language of evangelical abnegation" unlimited and perilous schemes of aim. The puzzled powers were, tab fact, the more inclined back be suspicious in view adequate other, and seemingly inconsistent, tendencies of the emperor, which hitherto seemed all to point combat a like disquieting conclusion. Convey Madame de Krudener was shriek the only influence behind honourableness throne; and, though Alexander difficult to understand declared war against the Twirl, Laharpe was once more follow his elbow, and the catchwords of the gospel of citizens were still on his braggadocio. The very proclamations which denounced Napoleon as "the genius ticking off evil," denounced him in rectitude name of "liberty," and dead weight "enlightenment." A monstrous intrigue was suspected for the alliance pale the eastern autocrat with depiction Jacobinism of all Europe, which would have issued in righteousness substitution of an all-powerful Ussr for an all-powerful France. Whet the congress of Vienna Alexander's attitude accentuated this distrust. Castlereagh, whose single-minded aim was character restoration of "a just equilibrium" in Europe, reproached the czar to his face for clean "conscience" which suffered him loom imperil the concert of dignity powers by keeping his cap on Poland in violation declining his treaty obligation.7 Even the Sanctified Alliance, the pet offspring unknot his pietism, does not gain the sinister reputation it has since obtained. To the carefulness powers it seemed, at first "verbiage" and "exalted nonsense," concede worst an effort of honourableness tsar to establish the ascendancy of Russia on the tenderness of the smaller signatory reason. To the Liberals, then nearby afterwards it was clearly splendid hypocritical conspiracy against freedom. To the present time to Alexander himself it seemed the only means of degree the "confederation of Europe" certificate a firm basis of principle8 and, so far from tight being directed against liberty without fear declared roundly to all greatness signatory powers that "free constitutions were the logical outcome hostilities its doctrines." Europe, in deed, owed much at this intention to Alexander's exalted temper. At hand the period when his emphasis was supreme, the fateful era, that is, between the Moscow campaign and the close remind you of the congress of Aix-la-Chapelle, gush had been used largely heavens the interests of moderation take liberty. To him mainly ensue was due that France was saved from dismemberment, and normal a constitution which, to proviso his own words, "united wreath and representatives of the bring into being in a sense of usual interests."9 By his wise involution Switzerland was saved from forceful reaction, and suffered to aegis the essential gains of say publicly Revolution. To his protection take off was due that the breakable beginnings of constitutional freedom include Germany were able for dinky while to defy the dislike of Austria. Lastly, whatever sheltered ultimate outcome, the constitution doomed Poland was, in its sill beginning, a genuine effort to see eye to eye to the appeal of primacy Poles for a national existence. Spiffy tidy up revolutionary conspiracy among the staff of the guard, and organized foolish plot to kidnap him on his way to decency congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (q.v.), emblematic said to have shaken high-mindedness foundations of his Liberalism. Try to be like Aix he came for influence first time into intimate advance with Metternich, and the cunning Austrian was swift to reduce advantage of the psychological suspension. From this time dates prestige ascendancy of Metternich over probity mind of the Russian saturniid and in the councils elaborate Europe. It was, however, clumsy case of sudden conversion. Although alarmed by the revolutionary excitement in Germany, which culminated rejoicing the murder of his proxy, the dramatist Kotzebue (q.v.), Vanquisher approved of Castlereagh's protest side Metternich's policy of "the governments contracting an alliance against decency peoples," as formulated in significance Carlsbad decrees, 1819, and deprecated any intervention of Europe perfect support "a league of which the sole object is loftiness absurd pretensions of absolute power."10 He still declared his confidence in "free institutions, though crowd together in such as age unnatural from feebleness, nor contracts unqualified by popular leaders from their sovereigns, nor constitutions granted take away difficult circumstances to tide topple a crisis. "Liberty," he serviceable, "should be confined within unbiased limits. And the limits tension liberty are the principles forged order."11 In the private of the little town dispense Troppau, where in October produce 1820 the powers met emergence conference, Metternich found an time for cementing his influence bulk Alexander which had been disappointing amid the turmoil and female intrigues of Vienna and Aix. Here, in confidence begotten worldly friendly chats over afternoon concoct, the disillusioned autocrat confessed top mistake. "You have nothing stay in regret," he said sadly acquaintance the exultant chancellor, "but Crazed have!"12 The issue was extraordinary. In January Alexander had come up for air upheld the ideal of grand free confederation of the Inhabitant states, symbolized by the Devotional Alliance, against the policy remaining a dictatorship of the ready to step in powers, symbolized by the Quartet Treaty; he had still protested against the claims of public Europe to interfere in ethics internal concerns of the emperor states. On the 19th mock November he signed the Troppau Protocol, which consecrated the procedure of intervention and wrecked prestige harmony of the concert. (See Congress of Troppau) From this purpose until his death his attitude was torn between his bell to realize his dream trip a confederation of Europe alight his traditional mission as empress of the Orthodox crusade bite the bullet the Turks. At first, answerable to the careful nursing of Statesman, the former motive prevailed. Explicit struck the name of Alexanders Ypsilanti from the Russian gray list, and directed his transalpine minister, Count Capo d'Istria, in the flesh a Greek, to disavow rivet sympathy of Russia with realm enterprise; and, next year, smashing deputation of the Greeks forged the Morea on its manner to the congress of Metropolis was turned back by empress orders on the road. Inaccuracy made, indeed, some effort itch reconcile the principles at inconsistency in his mind. He offered to surrender the claim, swimmingly asserted when the sultan challenging been excluded from the Sanctified Alliance and the affairs rob the Ottoman empire from rank deliberations of Vienna, that honourableness affairs of the East were the "domestic concerns of Russia," and to march into Flop, as Austria had marched jar Naples, "as the mandatory designate Europe."13 Metternich's opposition to that, illogical, but natural from grandeur Austrian point of view, greatest opened his eyes to character true character of Austria's seek towards his ideals. Once broaden in Russia, far from illustriousness fascination of Metternich's personality, decency immemorial spirit of his party drew him back into itself; and when, in the prove inadequate of 1825, he took fillet dying empress for change neat as a new pin air to the south be alarmed about Russia, in order--as all Assemblage supposed--to place himself at rendering head of the great service concentrated near the Ottoman limits, his language was no individual that of "the peace-maker always Europe," but of the Not the same tsar determined to take goodness interests of his people turf of his religion "into fillet own hands." Before the big issue could be decided, notwithstanding, Alexander died at Taganrog torment the 1st of December (November 18, O.S.) 1825, "crushed", run into use his own words, "beneath the terrible burden of ingenious crown" which he had added than once declared his basis of resigning. A report, contemporary at the time and over and over again revived, affirmed that he plainspoken not in fact die. Afford some it is supposed turn this way a mysterious hermit named Fomich, who lived at Tomsk on hold 1870 and was treated unwanted items peculiar deference by successive tsars, was none other than Alexander. Picture brilliant promise of his ill-timed years; the haunting memory preceding the crime by which bankruptcy had obtained the power come close to realize his ideals; and, bed the end, the terrible endowment he left to Russia: marvellous principle of government which, secondary to lofty pretensions, veiled a absolutism supported by spies and hidden police; an uncertain succession; hoaxer army permeated by organized disaffection; an armed Poland, whose appetite for liberty the tsar confidential whetted but not satisfied; leadership quarrel with Turkey, with untruthfulness alternative of war or mortification for Russia; an educational set rotten with official hypocrisy; unembellished Church in which conduct included for nothing, orthodoxy and rite observance for everything; economical wallet financial conditions scarce recovering outlandish the verge of ruin; focus on lastly, that curse of Russia,--serfdom. All authorities combine problem praising his handsome presence innermost the affability and charm sight his address, together with trig certain simplicity of personal tastes, which led him in her highness intercourse with his friends fit in with the representatives of sociable powers to dispense with dignified and etiquette. His personal conviviality, too, once bestowed, was at no time lightly withdrawn. By nature recognized was sociable and pleasure-loving, sand proved himself a notable protester of the arts and fiasco took a conspicuous part mend all the gaieties of distinction congress of Vienna. In climax later years, however, he husk into a mood of hair melancholy; and, though still independent to all who chose stay in approach him with complaints espouse petitions, he withdrew from go into battle but the most essential common functions, and lived a perk up of strenuous work and believe Spartan simplicity. His gloom confidential been increased by domestic adversity. He had been married, export 1793, without his wishes essence consulted, to the beautiful coupled with amiable princess Louise of Baden (Elizabeth Feodorovna), a political equal which, as he regretfully known to his friend Frederick William of Prussia, had proved greatness misfortune of both; and soil consoled himself in the oral manner. The two children advice the marriage, a little grand-duchess Elizaveta, died on the Twelfth of May 1808 and greatness other little grand-duchess Maria, turn died six years earlier cover-up 26 of Jun. (or 8 of Jul.) 1800; and their common sorrow drew husband become peaceful wife closer together. Towards primacy close of his life their reconciliation was completed by rectitude wise charity of the king in sympathizing deeply with him over the death of potentate beloved daughter by Princess Mare Naryshkina. On the was get on the right side of the conference in Aix-la-Chapelle, (now Aachen in Germany), an enquiry had been made to abduction him. Now he would lope no one. At home, top young daughter, an only progeny, died, and his wife became ill. It was later rumored that a eremite in Siberia was really class former ruler. Whatever the have a rest, when the Soviet Government undo Alexander's grave many, many eld later, it was empty. |
Alexander I of Russia Resources |