Mikhail Muravyov-Vilensky. The pacifier and reformer of the North-Western Territory of the Russian Empire

The book tells about the activities of Count Mikhail Nikolaevich Muravyov-Vilensky as the Governor General of the North-Western Territory of the Russian Empire in 1863-1865. For many decades in Lithuania and Belarus, the image of Count Muravyov was mythologized both in the Soviet and nationalist historiography. Belarusian nationalists were especially successful in historical myth -making. Therefore, the author considers the phenomenon of Belarusian nationalism and the experience of his relationship with the myth -making practice of “national” historiography. The book analyzes the political and ethno-confessional situation, which developed in Lithuania and Belarus on the eve of the uprising of 1863, shows the main directions of the multifaceted activity of Count Muravyov to pacify the Polish rebellion and reform the northwestern region. The author pays particular attention to the consideration of the Muravy reforms, which went down in history as a policy of “Russification” of the region. The ideological motives are also considered, which was guided by M.N. Muravyov in his activities in the management of the North-West Territory. The changes that occurred in the public consciousness of the population of Lithuania, Belarus and Russian society under the influence of the uprising of 1863 and the deep transformations of the region on the “Russian principles” committed by M.N. Muravyov