The Decembrist Movement in the History of Russia:
To the 195th Anniversary of the Uprising on the Senate Square
From the Editor
Among many phenomena and events of the social, political and cultural life of Russia, the Decembrist movement will always occupy a special place. The time has shown that the theme of the Decembrists’ revolt retains its significance in the structure of scientific research and remains one of the promising fields of study in Russian history. The Decembrists’ heritage, historical and cultural experience continue to influence the mentality of the Russian people. The historical memory of the Decembrists forms the basis for the Russians’ national identity and patriotism.
Problems and Directions of Modern Decembrist Studies
Ek.Yu. Lebedeva
Tulchyn During the Decembrists’ Time: Undiscovered Sources
The Tulchin uprava was the most numerous in the Southern society of the Decembrists, however, a fairly small number of Decembrist memoirs tell about Tulchin in those years. The article attempts to identify additional sources, primarily memoirs. They make it possible to see the daily life of the officers of the “Main Headquarters society” (some of whom were also members of the secret society), their activities and topics for conversation, their relationship with the command (primarily with the Chief of Staff, General P.D. Kiselyov), the distribution of P.I. Pestel’s works in Tulchin and the disputes over them.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Lebedeva Ek.Yu. Tulchyn During the Decembrists’ Time: Undiscovered Sources // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 9–29. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-01.pdf
Problems and Directions of Modern Decembrist Studies
P.V. Ilyin
“Don’t Give Anyone Away…”: an Analysis of the Defensive Tactics of the Accused in the Investigative Process of 1825–1826 and Criticism of Investigative Statements in the Light of the Main Tasks of Studying Decembrism
Recently, “concepts” claiming to be new have been presented, declaring almost complete fabrication by the judicial investigation the history of secret Decembrist societies. The article shows that among the arrested there was a coordination of defense tactics at the investigation, in some cases, the indictment could be leveled and refuted as a result of a consistently conducted defensive line of behavior. The main variants of the Decembrists’ defense tactics are considered, showing that it is not necessary to speak about their full acceptance of the accusation formulations. The facts and evidence presented in the article show no signs of the state staging the trial of the Decembrists. The article shows the fundamental importance of a critical approach to the study of investigative evidence for the scientific reconstruction of the history of the Decembrist movement.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Ilyin P.V. “Don’t Give Anyone Away…”: an Analysis of the Defensive Tactics of the Accused in the Investigative Process of 1825–1826 and Criticism of Investigative Statements in the Light of the Main Tasks of Studying Decembrism // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 30–52. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-02.pdf
Problems and Directions of Modern Decembrist Studies
Yu.S. Sulaberidze
The Perception of the Caucasus by the Decembrists: the Cultural Type of the Decembrist in the Caucasus
The article analyzes a problem of Decembrists’ perception of the Caucasus, its nature, landscape, culture, peculiarities of mentality, customs and traditions of local population. There was a certain “cultural type of Decembrists”, characterized by tolerance towards the ethnic groups of the Caucasus, understanding the peculiarities of their way of life, the desire to assimilate the best traditions of Caucasian culture. The author reveals the perception of the Caucasus by the Decembrists E.E. Lachinov, A.E. Gangeblov, A.E. Rosen, N.I. Lorer, A.P. Belyaev, who, according to the author, belonged to this cultural type of the Decembrists. The Caucasian war made adjustments to the worldview of the Decembrists, changed their attitude to the Caucasian cultural world, revealed its self-sufficiency. The Caucasus opened up a new field of activity for them, aimed at the progressive development of Russia.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Sulaberidze Yu.S. The Perception of the Caucasus by the Decembrists: the Cultural Type of the Decembrist in the Caucasus // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 53–71. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-03.pdf
Problems and Directions of Modern Decembrist Studies
L.M. Podshivalova
The History of “The Archive of the Decembrist S.G. Volkonsky”: Past and Present
The article discusses the possibilities to come out the Decembrist S.G. Volkonsky’s family multi-volume archive which publication was planned by his grandson S.M. Volkonsky and the recognized archivist and researcher B.L. Modzalevsky at the beginning of the 20th century. The attention is paid to the remained intact and accessible documentaries as well as to the attempts to continue its publication made by his descendant M.P. Volkonsky in 1960. The publication of the S.G. Volkonsky’s epistolary heritage in the documentary series “Polyarnaya zvezda” (“The North Star”) is also discussed.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Podshivalova L.M. The History of “The Archive of the Decembrist S.G. Volkonsky”: Past and Present // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 72–78. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-04.pdf
Name in History
N.P. Matkhanova
Decembrist Aleksandr Viktorovich Poggio (1798–1873): the Problem of National (and not Only) Self-Identity
The article discusses the possibilities to come out the Decembrist S.G. Volkonsky’s family multi-volume archive which publication was planned by his grandson S.M. Volkonsky and the recognized archivist and researcher B.L. Modzalevsky at the beginning of the 20th century. The attention is paid to the remained intact and accessible documentaries as well as to the attempts to continue its publication made by his descendant M.P. Volkonsky in 1960. The publication of the S.G. Volkonsky’s epistolary heritage in the documentary series “Polyarnaya zvezda” (“The North Star”) is also discussed.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Matkhanova N.P. Decembrist Aleksandr Viktorovich Poggio (1798–1873): the Problem of National (and not Only) Self-Identity // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 79–92. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-05.pdf
Name in History
E.B. Shtets
Norwegian-Danish Period of the Decembrist’s life E.V. von Ruge
For the first time in Russian historiography, the article highlights the Danish-Norwegian period of life of the Decembrist and prominent Russian military topographer Lieutenant General Emelyan Viktorovich von Ruge. The article provides information about his origin, place of birth and biographical data concerning his family members; considers key positions of his service record during his studies at the Land Cadet Corps (Copenhagen) and service in the Danish Army. The author discusses the reasons why E.V. von Ruge left his homeland and found himself in the military service in the Russian empire.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Shtets E.B. Norwegian-Danish Period of the Decembrist’s life E.V. von Ruge // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 93–106. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-06.pdf
Open Archives
O.V. Edelman
Pavel Pestel and his Parents: on the Problem of Forming the Decembrist’s Personalit
Letters received by Pavel Pestel’ as a child give an idea of the practice of raising children in his family. Correspondence served as a form of education, in addition, the very form of letters was supposed to teach children the correct epistolary behavior. It also taught them how to use the accepted formulas of courtesy and politeness. Published for the first time, the letters of younger sister Sophia to her brother Pavel serve as an example of such children's letters written according to the learned rules. Sophia’s letters contain details about the Pestel’s’ home life. The description of a festive masquerade given by their relatives draws particular attention. However, it seems that this epistolary is of the greatest interest precisely as an example of educational practices of its time.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Edelman O.V. Pavel Pestel and his Parents: on the Problem of Forming the Decembrist’s Personality // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 107–117. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-07.pdf
Open Archives
N.A. Sokolova
“There Is Another Life Where We Will Meet Each Other Again”: E. Pestel’s Letter to Her Son and His Answer. February – May 1826
The publication brings into scientific circulation a letter from E.I. Pestel’ to her son, the Decembrist P.I. Pestel’, who was in the fortress. The response letter of the son to his parents, published here, has a complex textual history, discussed in the article. These two letters are the last lines in the dialogue that the parents had with their son for almost 30 years. Both interlocutors had reasons to think that these letters were the last ones, they summed up a lot: from intra-family relations and mutual obligations to discussions about the duty and scope of duties of an enlightened person and a patriot of his country.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Sokolova N.A. “There Is Another Life Where We Will Meet Each Other Again”: E. Pestel’s Letter to Her Son and His Answer. February – May 1826 // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 118–127. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-08.pdf
Open Archives
E.V. Komleva
Settlements of the Turukhansk Region in the Notes of the Decembrist F.P. Shakhovskoy
The article analyzes a fragment of draft notes of the Decembrist Fyodor Petrovich Shakhovsky about the Turukhansk region, which contains information about the settlements located in the region in the mid-1820s. These materials, having undergone a small revision, were included in the book published in 1833 by state Councilor I.S. Pestov, dedicated to the review of the Yenisey province, and reflect the methods and stages of work on this generalizing text. Data collected by F.P. Shakhovsky make his handwritten notes a valuable source that allows to supplement the information found in official documents and the testimonies of other eyewitnesses. As an appendix, the list of settlements of the Turukhansk region located on the way from Turukhansk to the Arctic ocean compiled by F.P. Shakhovsky is published.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Komleva E.V. Settlements of the Turukhansk Region in the Notes of the Decembrist F.P. Shakhovskoy // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14) pp. 128–137. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-09.pdf
Open Archives
E.N. Tumanik
“Statistical Register of the City of Irkutsk for 1828” by Chief of Police A.N. Muravyov
A new source, the “Statistical register of the city of Irkutsk for 1828”, is introduced into the scientific circulation. It was compiled by the Decembrist A.N. Muravyov, who was the chief of police of Irkutsk at that time. At the end of 1828, A.N. Muravyov on his own initiative had compiled a statistic description of Irkutsk city with the city plan attached. It was presented to A.S. Lavinsky, the Governor-General of the Eastern Siberia, on the new year of 1829 and deserved the highest praise as a model for all Russian cities. Unfortunately, Muravyov’s statistical description was not known to researchers for many years and was considered lost. Recently, the source has been discovered in the collections of the Manuscripts Department of the National Library of Russia. It can be confidently stated that this is the very statistical description made by A.N. Muravyov. It really amazes with its informativeness and content, richness and detail of the scrupulously collected statistical data. The published document is of undoubted interest for reconstructing the history of both the city of Irkutsk and Eastern Siberia as a whole.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Tumanik E.N. “Statistical Register of the City of Irkutsk for 1828” by Chief of Police A.N. Muravyov // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 138–159. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-10.pdf
Museums of the Decembrists
E.A. Dobrynina
The Birth of the Museum: History in Thirty Letters and One Telegram
The article is devoted to one of the aspects of creation of the Irkutsk Museum of the Decembrists – the birth of the idea of the museum and the attempt to bring it to life. Based on the small corpus of epistolary sources - letters of the famous Decembrist scholar S.F. Koval and M.P. Volkonsky, great-grandson of the Decembrist S.G. Volkonsky, a new page in the history of the museum has been opened, and the relationship of people who stood at the origins of its creation is shown. It also shows the relationship between people who stood at the origins of creation of the Irkutsk Museum of the Decembrists, the contribution of the Decembrist’s great-grandson to the formation of collection of the future museum, the lively and ardent interest of M.P. Volkonsky to the Siberian history of the Decembrists.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Dobrynina E.A. The Birth of the Museum: History in Thirty Letters and One Telegram // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 160–182. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-11.pdf
Museums of the Decembrists
L.I. Potekhina
Museum of the Decembrists in Chita
The Decembrist exile is a bright page in the history of Transbaikalia. 85 Decembrists were in the Chita penal servitude from 1827 to 1830. Ore mining in Gorny Zerentuy and Blagodatsky mine, dungeons of the Chita prison, and later the prison in Petrovsky Zavod did not break their spirit. Today, the memory of them is carefully preserved by a specialized museum. The report examines the history of creation of the Decembrist museum in Chita; highlights the main directions of its work at the present time.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Potekhina L.I. Museum of the Decembrists in Chita // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 183–190. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-12.pdf
Museums of the Decembrists
I.I. Negodina
Minusinsk Museum of Decembrists – the only one in the Krasnoyarsk Territory
The article is devoted to the history of creating the Decembrist Museum in Minusinsk and preserving the memory of the “firstborns of freedom” in the events and projects of the only Decembrist museum in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It also studies their contribution to the development of the region; emphasizes the importance of the memoir heritage of the Decembrist A.P. Belyaev in the formation and development of the museum concept. The author characterizes the museum's exposition, its ideological basis, formation and development; presents the scientific, cultural and educational activities of the museum.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Negodina I.I. Minusinsk Museum of Decembrists – the only one in the Krasnoyarsk Territory // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 191–196. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-13.pdf
Museums of the Decembrists
S.Yu. Bulysheva
The Heritage of the Decembrists in Yalutorovsk
The article deals with the activities of the Decembrists who lived in Yalutorovsk from 1829 to 1856. Through the prism of the moral qualities of political exiles, the article evaluates their influence on the future development of the city. The heritage of the Decembrists is an important part of the modern historical appearance of Yalutorovsk. The author of the article tries to show how the activities of the Decembrists had affected the cultural and historical development of the small Siberian city Yalutorovsk.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Bulysheva S.Yu. The Heritage of the Decembrists in Yalutorovsk // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 197–203. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-14.pdf
Museums of the Decembrists
G.F. Burakova
V.K. Kuchelbecker Museum: History of Creation (on the 15th Anniversary of Its Foundation)
The author describes in detail the history of creation of the House-Museum of V.K. Kuchelbecker in Kurgan. The article highlights the contribution of journalist B.N. Karsonov and the Kurgan community to the opening of the museum in the historical house where V.K. Kuchelbecker and his family lived. The author tells about the scientific discovery of B.N. Karsonov who found the real place of V.K. Kuchelbecker’ residence in Kurgan. The creation of the current exhibition, the funds and the current work of the museum have been described.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Burakova G.F. V.K. Kuchelbecker Museum: History of Creation (on the 15th Anniversary of Its Foundation) // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 204–210. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-15.pdf
Museums of the Decembrists
E.A. Vyugova
The History of One House
The report highlights the history of the creation of the House-Museum of the Decembrists in Kurgan, emphasizes the connection of the museum’s activities with the cultural traditions laid down by the exiled Decembrists. It tells about the formation of fonds and the museum’s exposition. The Naryshkin House, as under its previous owners, today remains the center of cultural and social life of the city. Educational, cultural and leisure programs are implemented in the museum’s space.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Vyugova E.A. The History of One House // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 211–216. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-16.pdf
World of Books
E.N. Tumanik
New Publications of the Irkutsk Decembrists’ Museum
In December 2020, the Irkutsk Museum of Decembrists celebrates its 50th anniversary. For this significant date, the museum staff prepared two publications, the publication of which became a notable cultural and scientific event – an illustrated album “Irkutsk Museum of the Decembrists: pages of Biography”, as well as the fifth issue of the periodical museum publication “Decembrist Ring”.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Tumanik E.N. New Publications of the Irkutsk Decembrists’ Museum // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 217–219. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-17.pdf
Scientific Life
E.V. Komleva, E.N. Tumanik
Summary Report of the Scientific and Practical Conference “Decembrists in Transbaikalia: Contribution to the Study and Development of the Region”
On December 22–23, 2020, a scientific and practical conference “Decembrists in Transbaikalia: Contribution to the Study and Development of the Region” was held, organized by the Museum of Decembrists in Chita and held online. The event brought together researchers from different cities of Russia who made reports on the Siberian exile of the participants in the December uprising, their memoir and epistolary heritage, the activities of museums, libraries, historical societies for the preservation and popularization of the Decembrist heritage.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Komleva E.V., Tumanik E.N. Summary Report of the Scientific and Practical Conference “Decembrists in Transbaikalia: Contribution to the Study and Development of the Region” // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 220–223. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-00.pdf
Scientific Life
L.M. Podshivalova
“Decembrist Evenings” in Irkutsk
From December 1 to December 20, 2020, the Irkutsk Museum of the Decembrists will hold the traditional regional historical and cultural festival “Decembrist Evenings”. This year the festival became the 36th, all its events are timed to the 50th anniversary of the Irkutsk Decembrists Museum. The festival program includes the opening of exhibitions, scientific and practical conferences, the presentation of new publications and performances of the Volkonsky Home Theater.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Podshivalova L.M. “Decembrist Evenings” in Irkutsk // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 224–225. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-19.pdf
Ad Memoriam
E.A. Dobrynina
Explanation in Friendship (Memories of N.F. Karash)
The memoirs are dedicated to the researcher of the Decembrists Natalia Fyodorovna Karash (28.06.1935–12.08.2018), a student of the remarkable Soviet historian S.B. Okun’ and an expert in the biography of S.G. Volkonsky. The reconstruction of the life path of one of the most prominent figures of the Decembrist movement, the detection and publication of his written heritage became the life's work of Natalia Fedorovna. In 2006 The Irkutsk Museum of the Decembrists published a book by N. F. Karash “Prince Sergei Volkonsky: The Life Story of a Decembrist”.
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: Dobrynina E.A. Explanation in Friendship (Memories of N.F. Karash) // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 226–229. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-6-20.pdf
Ad Memoriam
In memory of Viktor N. Bolotskikh
Publishing: 31/12/2020
How to cite: In memory of Viktor N. Bolotskikh // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 6 (14), pp. 230–231