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hidden Persons of Tsarskoye Selo -
hidden Monuments of history and culture | Benckendorff Alexander Krristoforovich hidden Benckendorff A. K. (1781-1844), statesman | |
BENCKENDORFF (v. Benckendorff) Alexander Khristoforovich (Konstantin Alexander Karl Wilhelm Christopher) (1781, St. Petersburg 1844), Count (1832), statesman and military officer, Infantry General, Cavalry General (1829), honorary member of the St ... | | BENCKENDORFF (v. Benckendorff) Alexander Khristoforovich (Konstantin Alexander Karl Wilhelm Christopher) (1781, St. Petersburg 1844), Count (1832), statesman and military officer, Infantry General, Cavalry General (1829), honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1827). Brought up and educated in the boarding school of abbot C.D. Nicholas. From 1798 was on military service, took part in the Russo-Prusso-French War (1806-07) and Russo-Turkish War (1809-11). At the time of the Patriotic War of 1812 and campaigns of 1813-14 commanded an independent cavalry detachment, operating at the enemy rear. In 1814 appointed Brigade Commander, in 1816 - Division Commander, in 1819 — Chief of Staff of the Guards Corps. In the 1810s became a mason, and member of the St.Petersburg Masonic Lodge "United Friends". His conduct during the disorders in the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment (1820) caused the displeasure of Emperor Alexander I, who disregarded his memorandum on secret societies and the organisation of secret police (1821). Appointed Division Commander in 1821. From 10 November 1824 to 14 March 1825 served as acting Military Governor of Vasilievsky Island, was in charge of the recovery and rebuilding of this district after a devastating flood on 7 November 1824. Exerted himself in suppressing the insurrection on the Senate Square 14 December 1825, member of the Investigation Commission on the case of Decembrists, from then onwards enjoyed confidence and favour of Emperor Nicholas I. In June 1826 was appointed Gendarme Chief, initiator of establishment and Chief of the Third Section of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery (secret police), from December 1826, senator, and from 1831, member of the State Assembly and the Cabinet of Ministers. Despite the common misconception, Benckendorff took little interest in the activities of secret police, leaving it to his subordinates. In 1839 was elected honorary member and trustee of Demidov's Charity House for Workers. From 1841, chairman of the Committee of the Prison Welfare Society. From 1842, chairman of the Building Commission for Construction of the St. Petersburg - Moscow Railroad. In 1831-44, patron of St. Catherine's Lutheran Community in St. Petersburg. One of the founders, and, from 1835, chairman of the board of the Second Russian Fire Insurance Society and Life Insurance Society. In St. Petersburg resided in the house of Baron Chabeaut on Fontanka River Embankment, later in a state apartment in the house of Gendarme Chief (10 Panteleymonovskaya Street). He left behind him his personal papers (some of which have been published). Work: Benckendorff's notes: 1812 Patriotic War. 1813 Liberation of the Netherlands. Moscow, 2001. References: Олейников Д. И. Александр Христофорович Бенкендорф // Российские консерваторы. М., 1997. С. 63-94. D. N. Shilov.
| | | | hidden Nicholas I, Emperor (1796-1855) | |
NICHOLAS I (1796, Tsarskoe Selo - 1855, St. Petersburg), Emperor (from 1825). Emperor Pavel I and Empress Maria Fedorovna's third son. Married the Princess of Prussia (1817), who took the name of Alexandra Fedorovna ... | | NICHOLAS I (1796, Tsarskoe Selo - 1855, St. Petersburg), Emperor (from 1825). Emperor Pavel I and Empress Maria Fedorovna's third son. Married the Princess of Prussia (1817), who took the name of Alexandra Fedorovna. From 1796, he was Lieutenant General, and from 1817, Inspector General of Engineering. He commanded a guard brigade, and then, from 3 March 1825, commanded the second Guard Infantry Division. In 1823, he was named Crown Prince in declaration by Alexander I, who died before it was made public. After Alexander I's death, Nicholas I could not proclaim himself Emperor immediately on account of the ambiguity surrounding the interregnum. Members of secret societies used the opportunity to attempt an armed uprising on the day of Nicholas I's enthronement (see the Decembrists' Rebellion, 14 December, 1825), which was suppressed. Nicholas I personally commanded the army summoned against the insurgents, and later supervised the investigation and sentencing of the Decembrists. He took interest in engineering and architecture, ratifying plans for the city's development, fortresses, individual buildings, including those of St. Petersburg, and often adjusted them personally. St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg was completed during Nicholas I's reign, and the city was beautified by many large-scale buildings and structures. Within Russia, Nicholas I reinforced central state control, suppressed even the mildest uprising or oppositional attitude, and militarised all aspects of state life, creating a Secret Political Police (see the Third Section) and the Gendarmerie. Some of Nicholas I closest associates were Grand Prince Mikhail Pavlovich, the Emperor's brother, Count A.Kh. Benckendorff, Prince A.F. Orlov, Count M.M. Speransky, Count P.D. Kiselev, Count P.A. Kleinmichel. Before taking the crown he lived at Anichkov Palace, presented to him by Emperor Alexander I in 1817, and to which he returned after the fire at the Winter Palace in 1837. During summertime, he lived in the Alexandrovsky Palace at Tsarskoe Selo. He ordered the Alexandria Palace and Park, named after his wife, to be created on the territory of the former Menagerie (Peterhof), which was presented to him. After taking the crown, he lived at the Winter Palace. He also owned Gatchina. He was buried at the SS. Peter&Paul Cathedral. A monument to Nicholas I erected on St. Isaac's Square in 1859. References: Шеманский А. В., Гейченко С. С. Кризис самодержавия: Петергофский Коттедж Николая I. 4-е изд. М.; Л., 1932; Мироненко С. В. Николай I // Романовы: Ист. портреты. М., 1997. Кн. 2. С. 331-403; Выскочков Л.В. Николай I. М., 2003. Y. A. Kuzmin.
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May. Alexander I received the certain memo of A.Kh. Benkendorf about the secret societies and this memo was without ... | | | | | | | |
