December 14th

December 14, 1825. A lot has been written about the Decembrist uprising, but Dmitry Merezhkovsky’s novel is perhaps the most impartial narrative. Who were the Decembrists? Madly, lunaticists, searchlights, and, perhaps, prophets? Who was Nicholas I? The Sovereign-Dyavol, who allowed his reign to begin with bloodshed, or a person who is forced to save not only the state, but also his own life? The bullet got to Miloradovich was intended for Nikolai. Yes, and Benckendorf insisted that the rebels deserve buckshot, not the constitution. Perhaps not Nikolai is to blame for bloodshed, but Trubetskoy and other “senior” conspirators who had a desire to suffer, to die, but not to act? And probably, Kakhovsky was right, saying: “We are afraid of blood, we want without blood. But there will be blood, only in vain.