Decembrists

The December events of 1825 are key, turning events of Russian history. Disputes about the actual side and meaning of these events began immediately after the suppression of the rebellion on December 14 and continues with non -consulting power and passion for almost two centuries, which proves their relevance. For a long time, a diverse mythology has formed around this topic - both apologetic and sharply negative, based on a weak knowledge of historical reality and conspiracy fantasies. The author in his work relied on a powerful layer of scientific research done by domestic historians. The foundation of the book is an extensive documentary material: memoirs of participants and contemporaries, a set of investigative cases of members of secret societies, official documents, in particular, the report of the Guards General. By comparing and critical analysis of various sources, the author managed to recreate a picture of what is happening close to reality by day, hours, and sometimes for minutes, to trace the actions of the main characters - both people from the government camp, including the young Emperor Nicholas I. Based on the attracted, including newly discovered, materials managed to understand the motives of their actions. The author destroys the established myths, for example, the myth of the "standing uprising". The day of December 14 turns out to be the day of the decisive actions of the conspirators, the day of street battles. The myth of the selfish motives of the leaders of the uprising is destroyed, which in reality did not claim power and were going to delegate it to temporary rule from liberal nobles. The reader will see that the Decembrists acted in a certain political tradition dating back to the guard performances of the 18th - early 19th centuries, when three legitimate emperors were overthrown and killed. But their political tasks were much higher. Documentary historical narrative is read as an exciting detective. The reader appears a bright dramatic picture of the confrontation of several political groups, the participants of each of which profess their idea of ​​the good of the Fatherland and are ready to defend their rightness with weapons in their hands