Prince Sergey Volkonsky (Decembrist): a short biography

One of the most interesting pages of Russian history of the 19th century is the Decembrist uprising. The overwhelming majority of its participants who set themselves the goal of destroying the autocracy and serfdom came from the most famous aristocratic families, received an excellent education and distinguished themselves in the military, diplomatic or literary field. Among them was Sergei Volkonsky. Decembrist lived 76 years, of which 30 years was in hard labor and in exile.

Ancestors

Sergei Grigoryevich Volkonsky (Decembrist) was born in 1788 in Moscow. When it was required to indicate his origin, he usually wrote "from the Chernigov princes." At the same time, everyone knew that his family belonged to the Rurikovich, and on the maternal line his great-grandfather was the associate of Peter the Great, Field Marshal AI Repnin.

Parents

The father of the future Decembrist - Grigory Semyonovich Volkonsky - was a companion of such famous commanders as PA Rumyantsev, GA Potemkin, AV Suvorov and NV Repnin. He participated in virtually all the wars of the late 18th century, and in the period 1803-1816 he served as Governor-General in Orenburg, and then was a member of the State Council.

No less famous person was Sergei Grigoryevich's mother - Alexandra Nikolayevna. She served as a lady-in-law and Oberhofmeister at 3 Russian empresses, and also was a cavalry lady of the Order of St. Catherine 1 degree. As subsequently, from the words of the grandfather, the decembrist, the princess described her great-grandson, Alexandra Nikolayevna was extremely dry character and "replaced feelings with considerations of duty and discipline."

Childhood

The biography of the Decembrist Volkonsky says that his life from the very beginning evolved so that everyone was sure that he would make a magnificent career in the future.

At the time of his birth, the Peter's decree was in effect, according to which noble children were to begin service with soldiers' ranks. Of course, compassionate parents who have connections and money have long found a way to get around it. That's why, like many of his peers from aristocratic families, already at the age of 8 Seryozha Volkonsky was recorded as a sergeant in the Kherson regiment, which gave him the opportunity to "mature" to officer ranks at the time of coming of age. In fact, Volkonsky (Decembrist in the future) spent his adolescence in the prestigious aristocratic boarding house of the Abbot Nicolas, and joined the army only in 1805 as a lieutenant of the Cavalry Regiment.

The beginning of military career

A few months after the commencement of the service, in 1806, the young prince left for Prussia as an adjutant to Field Marshal M. Kamensky. There there was a discomfiture, as the young man's cartridge left the position of the Russian troops on his own, unwilling to fight with Napoleon.

The confused adjutant was noticed by Lieutenant-General AI Osterman-Tolstoy, who took him under his wing. The very next day, Volkonsky (Decembrist) took part in the fighting for the first time, becoming a participant in the Battle of Pultusk.

After the signing of the Peace of Tilsit, he returned to St. Petersburg with the Order of St. Vladimir, the Golden Cross for the battle of Preysish-Eylau and with a nominal award sword.

In the 1810-1811 gg. Sergei Volkonsky fought in the south with the Turks, was sent to the adjutant's wing and promoted to the captain.

Participation in the Patriotic War

At the time of Napoleon's attack on Russia, Prince Sergei Volkonsky (Decembrist) was in the rank of an adjutant under Alexander the First.

He participated in the battles of Dashkovka and Mogilev, near Porechi, under Vitebsk, in the town of Zvenigorod, on the Moscow River, near the village of Orlov. The prince especially distinguished himself on October 2 during the battle in the city of Dmitrov and was promoted to the rank of colonel.

His courage was noted and during the fighting during the crossing of the French across the river Berezina. Then, for the valor shown, Volkonsky was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the third degree.

After the expulsion of the enemy from the territory of Russia, the prince, together with the corps of Baron Wincingerode, went on a foreign campaign, participated in many battles. Repeatedly rewarded not only by the Russian emperor, but also by the Prussian monarch. According to some reports, at the end of the war Prince Volkonsky performed diplomatic and reconnaissance assignments of the emperor, including in Paris during the famous 100 days.

For the bravery shown in the battles of Dennewitz and Gross-Beeren, was awarded a major-general. In 1816, he was appointed commander of the brigade of the 2nd Uhlan Division, and 5 years later transferred to the same post in the 19th Infantry Division.

Change of views

In 1819 S.G. Volkonsky (Decembrist) wrote a report with a request to grant him indefinite leave, since he considered his personal insult on the part of the emperor his transfer to the position of "consisting" under the divisional commander.

On his way to Europe, he stopped in Kiev, where he met his old friend, Major-General M. Orlov, who, as chief of staff of the Fourth Infantry Corps, was in secret society. He invited the prince to the meeting, where Volkonsky first realized that in addition to military service, there is another opportunity to serve for the benefit of the Fatherland.

As Sergei Grigorevich later wrote, since that time he ceased to be a loyal subject, but became a citizen of his country.

On a long vacation could not be a question. Soon Volkonsky got acquainted with Pavel Pestel and became firmly established in the decision to become a member of the secret society.

Marriage

In 1821, Volkonsky (Decembrist) was appointed commander of the first brigade of the 19 th Infantry Division of the Second Army, who was housed in the remote Ukrainian town of Uman. The prince resignedly accepted a new post, meaning a career decline, and departed to the duty station.

In Ukraine, he met the family of General Raevsky and in 1824 made a proposal to the hand and heart of his daughter Mary, on whose sister his friend Mikhail Orlov was married.

The girl's father after long meditations gave his consent to this marriage, and in January 1825 in Kiev the wedding of Volkonsky and his chosen one took place. In this case, the prince's imprisoned father was his brother N. Repnin, and the best man was Pavel Pestel.

Decembrist Volkonsky and his wife spent together only 3 months, since soon after the wedding a young woman fell ill and left with her family to be treated in Odessa. Because of the affairs of the service, the husband could not accompany her, and they did not meet until his imprisonment in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Participation in the December insurrection

After the departure of his wife, Volkonsky gave himself up entirely to the preparation of the uprising. Despite all the measures taken by the conspirators, information about the existence of a secret society has become the property of the authorities. According to the memoirs of the prince, Alexander the First himself during the inspection of the entrusted to him part warned him of ill-considered actions.

In November 1825 Volkonsky, before other officers, found out about the king's illness, since his brother-in-law was one of those who accompanied the emperor during his trip to Taganrog.

He reports this to his chief on the secret Southern Society - Pestel, who begins negotiations with the goal of agreeing on a joint statement with the "northerners." In addition, together with Volkonsky, he makes a plan for "1 Genvarya", according to which the Vyatka regiment was to arrest the army commanders and go to Petersburg. The 19 th Infantry Division of Volkonsky was to join him.

The plan failed because of the arrest of Pestel. The prince himself refused to raise the mutiny in his division and to liberate the leader of the conspirators by force.

The investigation into the case of the conspirators was successful, and on January 7, 1826, Sergei Volkonsky was arrested. Before that, he managed to take his wife to give birth to her first-born son in the village. Babe was born on January 2, and Mary was seriously ill, having spent the next 2 months in bed.

After arrest

Sergei Volkonsky (Decembrist), whose biography does not cease to interest researchers who study the history of Russia in the 19th century, after taking into custody and the failure of the uprising in the Senate Square was sent to St. Petersburg.

When his wife Maria recovered after the birth, she followed them and made an appointment. However, her troubles led to nothing, and the prince was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor and lifelong exile, and also deprived of all awards, titles and titles.

Maria Volkonskaya appealed to the tsar for permission to follow her husband. In reply letter Nikolay II dissuaded the young woman, but did not forbid her to do as she pleased. The mother of the prince was also "torn" to go to her son in words, but she did not even visit him in the fortress.

In penal servitude

Ten days after the announcement of the verdict, the Decembrists Trubetskoi and Volkonsky and many other participants in the uprising were already sent to the place of serving their sentence. The prince first turned up at the Nikolaevsky salt plant, and then got to the Blagodatsky mine. There he was kept in difficult conditions. In addition, all the convicts were selected, including the Bible. Volkonsky fell into a deep depression. The only consolation of the prince was the hope of Maria's early arrival.

Meeting with his wife

At the time of the uprising, 24 people were married from all the Decembrists. Ekaterina Trubetskaya was the first to visit her husband. Her feat inspired the rest of the "Decembrists." All in all, 11 young women went to Siberia for their husbands and fiances. Maria Volkonskaya was the second who managed to overcome all obstacles and become a reliable support for his wife during his time in hard labor and in exile.

Together with Catherine Trubetskoy, they settled in a small hut near the prison and began to run the farm as commoners.

From the Blagodatsky Volkonsky mine was sent to the Chita prison, and then to the Petrovsky plant.

In 1837, katorga was replaced by a settlement in the village of Urik, and from 1845 the Volkonskys lived in Irkutsk. In exile, they had two children: a son and a daughter.

Return

In 1856, Volkonsky was granted amnesty to move to European Russia, without the right to reside in Moscow or St. Petersburg, and also restored the nobility.

The family officially settled in the suburbs, but in fact, Sergei Grigorievich and Maria Nikolaevna lived in the capital, with relatives.

The end of life the aged Volkonsky spent in Ukraine, in the village of Voronki, where he wrote memoirs. The death of his wife undermined his health, and he died two years after her, at the age of 76. Buried in Volkonskie rural church, built by their daughter. The temple was demolished in the 1930s, and the graves of the spouses were lost.

Now you know what was the fate of the Decembrist Volkonsky and what merits he has for Russia.