Lev Mikhailovich Dameshek,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Baikal State University, Irkutsk, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
V.I. Vagin and the Historical Traditions of Studying the Reforms of M.M. Speransky in Siberia in 1822 in Russian Historiography of the Late 19th Century
DOI: 10.31518/2618-9100-2026-1-12
The article discusses the legacy of V.I. Vagin (1823−1900), a publicist, publisher, journalist, novelist, memoirist, and prominent public figure in Siberia. He was one of the founders of the popular regionalist ideology in Siberia and authored one of the best studies on the Siberian reforms of Mikhail Speransky in 1822. His “Historical Information” is listed not only in all Russian, but in foreign bibliographic reference books as one of the main sources for studying this issue. V.I. Vagin entered the history of Siberian social thought as one of the first “producers” of “Siberian issues” generated by the realities of the socio-economic and socio-cultural development of post-reform Siberia. These issues, raised by the peculiarities of the “Eastern Territory” within Russia, became particularly acute during the period of the formation of industrial capitalism. It is no coincidence that it was at this time, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of M.M. Speransky’s Siberian reforms of 1822, that V.I. Vagin’s book, one of the best studies on the reforms, appeared in Russian Siberian studies. Hardly any author has not relied on Vagin’s research when studying this issue. The historian was familiar with the reforms of 1822 not only as a researcher, but as a practical administrator who was familiar with them in practice. Vagin raised the question of the prerequisites for the reforms of 1822 and introduced the later popular theme of the struggle between two parties, the bureaucracy and the local merchants, into literature. Vagin traces the subsequent fate of Speransky’s “Institutions” as well. “Historical Information” was written not only by a great expert on Siberia’s past, but by a passionate patriot who became one of the ideologues of Siberian regionalism. Later, the regionalists actively relied on Vagin’s book when describing the history of Siberia.
Publishing: 28/02/2026
The article has been received by the editor on 20/11/2025
How to cite: Dameshek l.M. V.I. Vagin and the Historical Traditions of Studying the Reforms of M.M. Speransky in Siberia in 1822 in Russian Historiography of the Late 19th Century // Historical Courier, 2026, No. 1 (45), pp. 151−157. [Available online: http://istkurier.ru/data/2026/ISTKURIER-2026-1-12.pdf]
Links: Issue 1 2026
Keywords: V.I. Vagin; “Siberian questions”; Siberian reform of M.M. Speransky; historical traditions; N.M. Yadrintsev; S. Prutchenko