“I didn’t sleep,” Obolensky recalls, “we were ordered to get dressed. I heard steps, heard a whisper ... Some time passed, I heard the sound of chains; the door opened on opposite side corridor. The chains rang heavily, I hear the drawling voice of my unchanging friend, Kondraty Fedorovich Ryleyev: "Forgive me, forgive me, brothers!" - and measured steps retired to the end of the corridor. I rushed to the window. It started to get light."

"At two o'clock in the morning last time the chains rang, writes Rosen. - Five Martyrs were led to hang in the ditch of the Kronverk curtain. On the way, Sergei Muraviev-Apostle said loudly to the accompanying priest that you were leading five robbers to Golgotha ​​- and "who," answered the priest, "will be at the right hand of the Father." Ryleyev, approaching the gallows, said: "Ryleyev is dying like a villain, may Russia remember him!"

Dawn came gloomy, damp. Ryleyev came out cleanly dressed - in a frock coat, well-shaven. He supported the shackles with a handkerchief threaded through one link. The rest also put themselves in order before leaving. Except for Kakhovsky, who didn't even comb his hair.

They were first led to mass in Peter and Paul Cathedral. Then, accompanied by Myslovsky, police chief Chikhachev and a platoon of grenadiers of the Pavlovsky regiment - to the scaffold.

Myslovsky remembered the words of Pestel, who, seeing the gallows, said: “Do we really not deserve a better death? It seems that we have never turned our chela away from bullets or cannonballs. We could have been shot."

Myslovsky turned to Ryleev with consolations. He took his hand and put it on his heart: "Do you hear, father, it does not beat stronger than before."

Before they were brought to the place, in the square, in view of the prepared gallows - a crossbar on two pillars, a civil penalty over all other Decembrists. The verdict was again read to them, then swords were broken over their heads, uniforms were torn off the military and thrown into the fires. In these bonfires - there were four of them - uniforms and epaulettes were still smoldering, red-hot orders were glowing, when five suicide bombers came here. They tore off their outer clothing, threw it into the fire, put white robes on them and tied a leather bib to each with an inscription - white on black. Ryleev: "Criminal Kondrat Ryleev."

Engineer Matushkin was busy with his assistants at the gallows - not everything was ready there. The executioner and his assistant, either from Sweden or Finland, were setting up nooses. The gallows turned out to be too high - they sent to the Merchant Shipping School for benches. While they were being transported, the five convicts sat on the grass and talked. Having torn off the blades of grass, they cast lots, who should go first, who should go second, and so on - to the execution. They went to the benches in the order that fell out by lot. They put nooses around their necks, and caps were pulled over their eyes from above. Here Ryleyev calmly remarked that it would be necessary to tie his hands. The executioners realized it and did it.

The drums beat the beat. The soldiers stood in silence. Governor-General Golenshtsev-Kutuzov, Adjutant General Chernyshov and Benkendorf watched the execution on horseback. There were also chief police chief Knyazhnin, adjutant wing Durnovo, several military and police officers. On the shore - near the walls of the fortress - Petersburg residents crowded. Many people also gathered on the Trinity Bridge - there were Baron Delvig, Nikolai Grech, relatives of many Decembrists. From there, a huge gallows was clearly visible. There was no indifferent face in the crowd - everyone was crying.

The ropes were of different thicknesses and Bad quality. When the executioner pressed the lever, the benches and platform fell into the pit. Pestel and Kakhovsky hung, and three ropes broke - Muravyov-Apostol, Bestuzhev-Ryumin and Ryleev with a roar (they were in shackles) fell into the same hole - after the boards and benches. Bestuzhev-Ryumin lost consciousness from a blow to the boards. Ryleyev bruised his head - blood flooded his face. One of the soldiers remarked: "Know, God does not want them to die." Yes, and the custom was all over the world, from time immemorial: the hanged man broke - his happiness - and they didn’t hang him twice.

Hang them up, hang them up! shouted Golenishchev-Kutuzov furiously. The executioners dragged the unfortunate out of the pit.

Ryleyev got to his feet and looked into Kutuzov's eyes. In complete silence, his slow words rang out:

You, General, probably came to watch us die. Please your sovereign that his desire is being fulfilled: you see - we are dying in torment.

Hang them up again soon! shouted Kutuzov. Even Benckendorff could not stand it - he fell prone on the neck of his horse and remained in this position until the end of this massacre.

The vile oprichnik of the tyrant! Ryleev shouted back. - Give the executioner your aiguillettes, so that we do not die a third time!

Cursed land, where they do not know how to plot, judge, or hang, - said Sergey Muravyov-Apostol.

Bestuzhev-Ryumin could not stand on his feet - the executioners raised him to the platform for the second time. They put loops on them again ...

I forgive and allow! shouted Myslovsky, raising the cross, but immediately staggered and fell unconscious. When he woke up, it was all over.

The wife of Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, wrote down on Monday, July 13: “What a night it was! The dead people seemed to me all the time ... At 7 o'clock, Nicholas was awakened. Kutuzov and Dibich reported in two letters that everything had passed without any disturbances. .. My poor Nikolai has suffered so much these days!"

The report of Golenishchev-Kutuzov said: “The execution ended with due silence and order both on the part of the troops who were in the ranks and on the part of the spectators, who were few. Due to the inexperience of our executioners and the inability to arrange the gallows at the first time, three and namely: Ryleev , Kakhovsky and Muravyov (Kakhovsky is erroneously named here instead of Bestuzhev-Ryumin) broke, but were soon hanged again and received a well-deserved death.

“Thank God,” Nikolai Dibich wrote, “that everything ended well ... I ask you, dear friend, to be as careful as possible today and ask you to tell Benckendorff to double his vigilance and attention; the same order should be given to the troops” .

On the same day, the tsar's manifesto was drawn up and printed, which stated that "the criminals accepted their worthy execution; the Fatherland was cleansed of the consequences of the infection" and that "this intent was not in the properties, not in the customs of the Russians," which was drawn up "a handful of fiends." “Let all fortunes unite in trust in the government,” Nicholas I called out.

"The first task of history is to refrain from lying, the second is not to hide the truth, the third is not to give any reason to suspect oneself of partiality or prejudiced hostility" "Not knowing history means always being a child" Cicero Mark Tullius

The Decembrist uprising is an unprecedented phenomenon not only in Russian history, but also in the world. When the oppressed rise up in revolt, it is easier if not to justify them, then at least to understand them. But here the coup d'etat is being prepared not by the "humiliated and insulted", but by high-ranking military and hereditary nobles, among whom there are many eminent personalities.

Decembrist phenomenon

For this reason, until now, the phenomenon of Decembrism has not only not been solved, but is just as far from unequivocal assessment as it was in the 19th century.

The main thing that causes misunderstanding in the actions of the Decembrists so far is that they (none of them) did not claim power. This was the condition of their activity. Both then and now, the attitude towards the actions of the Decembrists is not homogeneous, including the attitude towards their execution: “They started hanging a bar and exiling to hard labor, it’s a pity that they didn’t outweigh everyone ...” (a statement among cantonists, soldier’s children) and “ According to my conscience, I find that executions and punishments are disproportionate to the crimes ”(the words of Prince P. Vyazemsky).

The verdict of Nicholas I horrified society not only with the cruelty of punishment of the participants in the uprising, but also with the hypocrisy of the emperor: he informed the Supreme Criminal Court, which decided the fate of the Decembrists, that “it rejects any execution associated with the shedding of blood.” Thus, he deprived the Decembrists sentenced to death of the right to be shot. But two of them participated in the Patriotic War of 1812, were injured and military awards– and now they were sentenced to a shameful death on the gallows. For example, P.I. Pestel, at the age of 19, was seriously wounded in the Battle of Borodino and was awarded a golden sword for bravery, and also distinguished himself in the subsequent foreign campaign of the Russian army. S.I. Ants-Apostol was also awarded a golden sword for bravery in the battle of Krasnoy.

Five Decembrists were sentenced to death by hanging:

P. Pestel

All the imprisoned Decembrists were taken out into the courtyard of the fortress and lined up in two squares: those who belonged to the guards regiments and others. All sentences were accompanied by demotion, deprivation of ranks and nobility: swords were broken over the convicts, epaulettes and uniforms were torn off them and thrown into the fire of blazing bonfires. The sailors-Decembrists were taken to Kronstadt and that morning they were executed on their sentence of demotion to flagship Admiral Crown. Their uniforms and epaulettes were torn off and thrown into the water. “It can be said that they tried to destroy the first manifestation of liberalism with all four elements - fire, water, air and earth,” the Decembrist V.I. wrote in his memoirs. Steingel. Over 120 Decembrists were exiled to different dates to Siberia, to hard labor or a settlement.

The execution took place on the night of July 25, 1826 on the crown work of the Peter and Paul Fortress. During the execution, Ryleev, Kakhovsky and Muravyov-Apostol fell off their hinges and were hanged a second time. “To know that God does not want them to die,” one of the soldiers said. And Sergey Muravyov-Apostol, having risen, said: "A cursed land where they do not know how to plot, judge, or hang."

Because of this unforeseen incident, the execution was delayed, it was dawning on the street, passers-by began to appear, so the funeral was postponed. The next night, their bodies were secretly taken away and buried on Goloday Island in St. Petersburg (presumably).

Pavel Ivanovich Pestel, colonel (1793-1826)

Born in Moscow in a family of Russified Germans who settled in Russia in late XVII century. The first child in the family.

Education: primary at home, then in 1805-1809 he studied in Dresden. Upon returning to Russia in 1810, he entered Corps of Pages, which brilliantly finished with the entry of the name on the marble board. He was sent as an ensign in the Life Guards Lithuanian Regiment. He took part in the Patriotic War of 1812, was seriously wounded in the Battle of Borodino. Awarded with a golden sword for bravery.

Returning after being wounded in the army, he was an adjutant to Count Wittgenstein and participated in the campaigns of 1813-1814 abroad: the battles of Pirn, Dresden, Kulm, Leipzig, distinguished himself while crossing the Rhine, in the battles of Bar-sur-Aube and Troyes. Then, together with Count Wittgenstein, he was in Tulchin and from here was sent to Bessarabia to collect information about the performances of the Greeks against the Turks, as well as to negotiate with the sovereign of Moldavia in 1821.

In 1822, he was transferred as a colonel to the Vyatka infantry regiment, which was in a state of disarray, and within a year Pestel brought him into full order, for which Alexander I granted him 3,000 acres of land.

The idea of ​​improving society arose in him as early as 1816, from the time of participation in Masonic lodges. Then there was the Salvation Union, for which he drew up the charter, the Welfare Union and, after its self-liquidation, the Southern Secret Society, which he headed.

Their Political Views Pestel expressed in the program "Russian Truth" compiled by him, which was the main point of accusation of his Commission of Inquiry after the defeat of the uprising.

He was arrested on the road to Tulchin after the uprising on December 14, 1825, was imprisoned in Peter and Paul Fortress and after 6 months was sentenced to quartering, replaced by hanging.

From the verdict Supreme Court about the main types of crime: “He had the intent to regicide; searched for means for this, elected and appointed persons to commit it; he plotted to destroy the IMPERIAL FAMILY and with composure numbered all its members who were doomed to sacrifice, and aroused others to do so; established and with unlimited power ruled the Southern secret society who had the goal of rebellion and the introduction of republican government; drafted plans, statutes, constitution; aroused and prepared for rebellion; participated in the intention of tearing the Regions away from the Empire and took the most active measures to spread the society by attracting others.

According to one of the officers, before the execution, Pestel said: "What you have sown, then it must sprout and will certainly sprout later."

Petr Grigoryevich Kakhovsky, lieutenant (1797-1826)

On December 14, 1825, he mortally wounded the Governor-General of St. Petersburg, a hero Patriotic War 1812 Count M.A. Miloradovich, commander of the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment Colonel N.K. Styurler, as well as retinue officer P.A. Gastfer.

Born into a family of impoverished nobles in the village of Preobrazhensky, Smolensk province, he studied at a boarding school at Moscow University. In 1816, he entered the Jaeger Regiment as a cadet in the Life Guards, but was demoted to the soldier for too violent behavior and dishonest attitude to service. In 1817 he was sent to the Caucasus, where he rose to the rank of cadet and then to lieutenant, but was forced to retire due to illness. In 1823-24 he traveled to Austria, Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland, where he studied political system and political history European states.

In 1825 he joined the Northern Secret Society. On December 14, 1825, he raised the Guards naval crew and was one of the first to arrive at Senate Square, where he showed firmness and determination. Arrested on the night of December 15, imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Having an ardent character, Kakhovsky was ready for the most daring deeds. So, he was going to Greece to fight for its independence, and in a secret society he was a supporter of the destruction autocratic power, killing the king and all royal dynasty establishing republican government. At a meeting on December 13, 1825, at Ryleev's, he was assigned the assassination of Nicholas I (because Kakhovsky did not have his own family), but on the day of the uprising he did not dare to kill him.

During the investigation, he behaved very impudently, sharply criticized the emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I. In the Peter and Paul Fortress, he wrote several letters to Nicholas I and the investigators, which contained critical analysis Russian reality. But at the same time, he petitioned to alleviate the fate of other arrested Decembrists.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “He contemplated the regicide and the extermination of the entire IMPERIAL FAMILY, and, having been intended to encroach on the life of the current EMPEROR, he did not renounce this election and even expressed his consent to it, although he assures that he subsequently hesitated; participated in spreading the riot by attracting many members; personally acted in rebellion; aroused lower ranks and he himself dealt a mortal blow to Count Miloradovich and Colonel Stürler and wounded the Officer of the Svitsky.

Kondraty Fedorovich Ryleev, second lieutenant (1795-1826)

Born in the village of Batovo (now Gatchinsky district Leningrad region) in the family of a small estate nobleman who manages the estate of Princess Golitsyna. From 1801 to 1814 he was brought up within the walls of the St. Petersburg First cadet corps. Was a member foreign trips Russian army in 1814-1815.

After his resignation in 1818, he served as an assessor of the St. Petersburg Criminal Chamber, and from 1824 - the head of the office of the Russian-American Company.

Entered into Free Society lovers of Russian literature”, was the author of the well-known satirical ode “To the temporary worker”. Together with A. Bestuzhev, he published the almanac “ polar Star". His thought "Death of Yermak" became a song.

In 1823 he joined the Northern Secret Society and headed its radical wing, was a supporter of the republican system, although initially he stood in the position of monarchism. He was one of the leaders of the Decembrist uprising. But during the investigation, he completely repented of what he had done, took all the “blame” on himself, tried to justify his comrades, and hoped for the mercy of the emperor.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “Contemplated regicide; appointed to commit this person; contemplated deprivation of liberty, expulsion and extermination of the IMPERIAL FAMILY and prepared means for this; strengthened the activities of the Northern Society; controlled it, prepared ways for rebellion, made plans, forced to compose a Manifesto on the destruction of the Government; himself composed and distributed outrageous songs and poems and received members; prepared the main means for the rebellion and commanded them; aroused the lower ranks to rebellion through their Chiefs through various seductions, and during the rebellion he himself came to the square.

Their last words on the scaffold, he turned to the priest: “Father, pray for our sinful souls don't forget my wife and bless my daughter."

Even during the investigation, Nicholas I sent Ryleev's wife 2 thousand rubles, and then the empress sent another thousand rubles for her daughter's name day. He took care of the Ryleev family even after the execution: his wife received a pension until her second marriage, and her daughter until she came of age.

I know that death awaits

The one who rises first

On the oppressors of the people;

Fate has already doomed me.

But where, tell me when was

Is freedom redeemed without sacrifice?

(K. Ryleev, from the poem "Nalivaiko")

Sergei Ivanovich Muravyov-Apostol, lieutenant colonel (1796-1826)

Born in St. Petersburg and was the fourth child in the family of a famous writer of that time and statesman THEM. Muravyov-Apostol. He was educated in a private boarding school in Paris with his brother, M.I. Muravyov-Apostol, where their father served as a Russian envoy. In 1809 he returned to Russia and was shocked, as it were, by the situation in Russia he saw again after a long absence, especially the existence of serfdom. Upon his return, he entered the corps of railway engineers in St. Petersburg.

During the Patriotic War of 1812 he took part in many battles. For the battle of Krasnoe he was awarded a golden sword for bravery. Together with the Russian army he entered Paris and there he completed his foreign campaign.

In 1820, the Semyonovsky regiment rebelled, in which Muravyov-Apostol served, and he was transferred to the Poltava, then to the Chernigov regiment as a lieutenant colonel. He was among the founders of the Union of Salvation and the Union of Welfare, as well as one of the most active members Southern Society. He established a connection with the Society of United Slavs.

Muraviev-Apostol agreed with the need for regicide, was a supporter of republican rule.

Conducted propaganda among the soldiers, being one of the leaders of the Decembrists. Already after the defeat of the uprising in St. Petersburg, the Chernigov regiment was raised, and “being surrounded by a detachment of hussars and artillerymen, it defended itself, standing against the artillery itself, and, thrown to the ground by grapeshot, with the help of others, mounted the horse again and ordered to go forward.”

Seriously wounded, he was taken prisoner. Sentenced to death and hanged on the crown of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “He had intent to regicide; found means, elected and appointed others to that; agreeing to the expulsion of the IMPERIAL FAMILY, he demanded in particular the murder of Tsesarevich and aroused others to do so; had the intent to deprive the sovereign of the emperor; participated in the management of the Southern secret society in the entire space of its outrageous designs; drew up proclamations and aroused others to achieve the goal of this society, to rebellion; participated in the intention of tearing away the Regions from the Empire; took the most active measures to spread society by attracting others; personally acted in rebellion with a willingness to shed blood; excited the soldiers; freed the convicts; bribed even the priest to read in front of the ranks of the rebellious false catechism, compiled by him and taken up in arms.

Mikhail Pavlovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin, second lieutenant (1801(1804)-1826)

Born in the village of Kudreshki, Gorbatovsky district Nizhny Novgorod province. Father - court adviser, mayor of the city of Gorbatov, from the nobility.

In 1816 the Bestuzhev-Ryumin family moved to Moscow. The future Decembrist received a good home education, entered the service of the Cavalier Guard Regiment as a cadet, and in 1819 was transferred to the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment, where he was promoted to lieutenant. After the uprising in the Semyonovsky regiment, he was transferred to the Poltava infantry regiment, then he did military career: ensign, battalion adjutant, front adjutant, second lieutenant.

Bestuzhev-Ryumin was one of the leaders of the Southern Society, which he was admitted to in 1823. Together with S.I. Muravyov-Apostol headed the Vasilkov Council, was a participant in the congresses of the leaders of the Southern Society in Kamenka and Kyiv, negotiated with a secret Polish society on joining the Society of United Slavs to the Southern Society. Led (together with S.I. Muravyov-Apostol) the uprising of the Chernigov regiment.

Arrested at the scene of the uprising with weapons in his hands, delivered to St. Petersburg in chains from Belaya Tserkov to Main Headquarters, on the same day he was transferred to the Peter and Paul Fortress. Sentenced to hang.

From the verdict of the Supreme Court on the main types of crime: “He had intent to regicide; searched for the means; he himself volunteered for the murder of the blessed memory of the EMPEROR and now the reigning EMPEROR; elected and appointed persons to commit it; had the intent to destroy the IMPERIAL FAMILY, expressed it in the most cruel terms scattering of ashes; had the intent to expel the IMPERIAL FAMILY and deprive the freedom of the blessed memory of the EMPEROR, and he himself volunteered to commit this last atrocity; participated in the management of the Southern Society; attached Slavic to it; drafted proclamations and delivered outrageous speeches; participated in the composition of a false catechism; excited and prepared for rebellion, demanding even oath promises by kissing the image; concocted an intent to secede the Regions from the Empire and acted in the execution thereof; took the most active measures to spread society by attracting others; personally acted in rebellion with a willingness to shed blood; incited officers and soldiers to rebellion and was taken with weapons in their hands.

Executed on the crown work of the Peter and Paul Fortress. He was buried along with other executed Decembrists on about. Starving.

A monument was erected at the site of the death of the Decembrists. Under the bas-relief on the monument there is an inscription: “On this place on July 13/25, 1826, the Decembrists P. Pestel, K. Ryleev, P. Kakhovsky, S. Muravyov-Apostol, M. Bestuzhev-Ryumin were executed.” On the other side of the obelisk, poems by A. S. Pushkin are carved:

Comrade, believe: she will rise,
Star of captivating happiness
Russia will wake up from sleep
And on the ruins of autocracy, .

The accession to the throne of Nicholas I was marked by an uprising on Senate Square on December 14, 1825, its suppression and the execution of the Decembrists.

It was the strangest rebellion ever raised against the existing order. In any case, it began as the most bloodless.

More than three thousand guardsmen under the command of noble officers gathered on the Senate Square of the capital. The first to march on the square was the Moscow Guards Regiment. He was raised to rebellion by the revolutionary speech of the officer Alexander Bestuzhev. The regimental commander, Baron Frederike, wanted to prevent the rebels from entering the square, but fell with a severed head under the blow of the saber of officer Shchepin-Rostovsky.

Soldiers of the Moscow Regiment came to Senate Square with a fluttering regimental banner, loading guns and taking live ammunition with them. The regiment lined up in a battle square near the monument to Peter I. The St. Petersburg Governor-General Miloradovich galloped up to the rebels and began to persuade the soldiers to disperse and take the oath.

Pyotr Kakhovsky mortally wounded Miloradovich. Under the command of naval officers Nikolai Bestuzhev and Arbuzov, insurgent sailors came to the square - the Guards Naval Crew, followed by a regiment of insurgent Life Grenadiers.

"We had to decide to put this imminent end, otherwise the rebellion could be communicated to the mob, and then the troops surrounded by it would be in the most difficult position, ”Nikolai later wrote in his Notes.

After three o'clock in the afternoon it began to get dark. The tsar ordered the cannons to be rolled out and shot at point-blank range.

AT Winter Palace began to bring the arrested.

It was not the highest judicial body of Russia, the Senate, that was supposed to administer justice to the Decembrists, but the Supreme Criminal Court, created by circumventing the laws at the direction of Nicholas I. The judges were chosen by the emperor himself, who was afraid that the Senate would not fulfill his will. The investigation established that the conspirators wanted to raise an armed uprising among the troops, overthrow the autocracy, abolish serfdom and popularly adopt a new state law - a revolutionary constitution. The Decembrists carefully worked out their plans.

First of all, they decided to prevent the troops and the Senate from taking the oath to the new king. Then they wanted to enter the Senate and demand the publication of a national manifesto, which would announce the abolition of serfdom and the 25-year term of military service, the granting of freedom of speech, assembly, and religion.

If the Senate did not agree to publish the revolutionary manifesto, it was decided to force it to do so. The insurgent troops were to occupy the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress, royal family should have been arrested. If necessary, it was supposed to kill the king.

The trial of the Decembrists took place with many procedural violations. The death sentence was handed down to 36 Decembrists. The verdict determined the method of applying the death penalty: quartering. Nicholas I approved only five death sentences.

For the rest of those sentenced, the death penalty was commuted to hard labor.

In pursuance of the king's decree, the Supreme Court was to choose the punishment of five condemned to be quartered.

By his decree, the emperor seemed to leave the Supreme Court itself to decide the fate of the five main convicts. In reality, the king clearly expressed his will here too, but not for general information. Adjutant General Dibich wrote to the Chairman of the Supreme Court regarding the punishment of five people placed outside the category: “In case of doubt about the form of their execution, which may be determined by this court for criminals, the Sovereign Emperor has deigned to preface Your Grace, that His Majesty does not deign not to not only for quartering, like a painful punishment, but also for shooting like a punishment, one military crimes characteristic, not even to a simple cutting off of the head and, in a word, not to any death penalty, with the shedding of blood associated ... "The draft of this letter was compiled by Speransky. The Supreme Court was thus left with one option - to replace the quartering by hanging, which it did.

In general, Nicholas did not allow the outcome of the process without the death penalty. “Regarding the main instigators and conspirators, an exemplary execution will be their just retribution for the violation of public peace,” Nicholas I admonished the members of the court long before the verdict was passed.

The verdict of the Supreme Criminal Court, after being approved by the emperor, entered into force. On July 13, 1826, on the crown work of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the following were executed: K.F. Ryleev, P. I. Pestel, SI. Muraviev-Apostol, M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin and P.G. Kakhovsky.

Five Decembrists, by the will of the tsar sentenced to hanging, like all other convicts, did not know the verdict. The announcement of the verdict took place on July 12 in the premises of the commandant of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Here from the Senate building moved a long row of carriages with members of the court. Two gendarmerie squadrons accompanied the carriages. In the allotted hall, the judges sat down at a table covered with red cloth. The prisoners were brought from the casemates to the commandant's house. The meeting was unexpected for them: they hugged, kissed, asking what it meant.

When they found out that the verdict would be announced, they asked: “How, were we tried?” The answer was: "Already tried." The convicts were placed according to the categories of the sentence in separate rooms, from where they were led in groups into the hall for hearing the sentence and its confirmation. They were taken out of the hall through other doors to the casemates. The sentenced courageously met the verdict, which was read to them by the chief secretary, and the judges at that time examined them through lorgnettes.

This calmness of those sentenced to death did not leave them, as we will see below, even during the painful hours of execution.

The story of an anonymous witness about the execution was published in Herzen's almanac "Polar Star".

“... The scaffold was arranged in advance in the St. Petersburg city prison ... On the eve of this fateful day, the St. Petersburg military governor-general Kutuzov made an experiment on the scaffold in prison, which consisted in throwing sandbags weighing eight pounds on the same ropes on which the criminals were supposed to be hanged, some ropes were thicker, others thinner. Governor-General Pavel Vasilyevich Kutuzov, having personally verified the strength of the ropes, decided to use thinner ropes so that the loops would quickly tighten. Having finished this experiment, he ordered the chief of police Posnikov, having dismantled the scaffold in parts, to send to different time from 11 to 12 at night to the place of execution ...

At 12 o'clock at night, the governor-general, the chief of gendarmes with their headquarters and other authorities arrived at the Peter and Paul Fortress, where Pavlovsky's soldiers also arrived. guards regiment, and it was made on the square opposite the Mint a square of soldiers, where it was ordered to take out of the casemates where the criminals were kept, all 120 convicts, except for five sentenced to death ... (These five) at the same time were sent from the fortress under escort of Pavlovian soldiers, under the chief of police Chikhachev, to the kronverk to the place of execution.

The scaffold was already being built in a circle of soldiers, the criminals walked in chains, Kakhovsky went forward alone, followed by Bestuzhev-Ryumin arm in arm with Muravyov, then Pestel and Ryleyev arm in arm and spoke among themselves in French, but the conversation could not be heard. Passing by the scaffold under construction in close range, although it was dark, it was heard that Pestel, looking at the scaffold, said: "C" est trop "-" This is too much "(fr.). They were immediately put on the grass at a close distance, where they remained the most a short time. According to the recollection of the quarter warden, "they were completely calm, but only very serious, just as if they were considering some important matter." When a priest approached them, Ryleev put his hand to his heart and said: “Do you hear how it beats calmly?” The convicts embraced for the last time.

Since the scaffold could not be ready soon, they were led into a crown work into different rooms, and when the scaffold was ready, they were again taken out of the rooms, accompanied by a priest. Chief of Police Chikhachev read the maxim of the Supreme Court, which ended with the words: "... hang for such atrocities!" Then Ryleev, turning to his comrades, said, keeping all his presence of mind: “Lord! We must pay the last debt, ”and with this they all fell on their knees, looking at the sky, were baptized. Ryleev alone said - he wished for the well-being of Russia ... Then, getting up, each of them said goodbye to the priest, kissing the cross and his hand, moreover, Ryleev said to the priest in a firm voice: “Father, pray for our sinful souls, do not forget my wife and bless my daughter »; Crossing himself, he ascended the scaffold, followed by others, except for Kakhovsky, who fell on the priest's chest, wept and hugged him so tightly that they took him away with difficulty...

During the execution, there were two executioners who put on a noose first, and then a white cap. On their chests (that is, the Decembrists) had black skin, on which the name of the criminal was written in chalk, they were in white coats, and heavy chains were on their legs. When everything was ready, with the pressure of a spring in the scaffold, the platform on which they stood on the benches fell, and at the same moment three fell off: Ryleev, Pestel and Kakhovskiy fell down. Ryleyev's cap fell off, and a bloody eyebrow and blood behind his right ear, probably from a bruise, were visible.

He sat crouching because he had fallen into the scaffold. I approached him and said: “What a misfortune!” The governor-general, seeing that three had fallen, sent adjutant Bashutsky to take other ropes and hang them, which was done. anything. When the board was raised again, Pestel's rope was so long that he reached the platform with his socks, which should have prolonged his torment, and it was noticeable for some time that he was still alive. In this position they remained for half an hour, doctor, former here announced that the perpetrators had died."

Governor-General Golenishchev-Kutuzov officially reported to the tsar: "The execution ended with due silence and order both on the part of the troops who were in the ranks and on the part of the spectators, who were few." But he added: “Due to the inexperience of our executioners and the inability to arrange the gallows at the first time, three, namely: Ryleev, Kakhovsky and Pestel, broke, but were soon hanged again and received a well-deserved death.” Nikolai himself wrote on July 13 to his mother: “I am writing two words in haste, dear mother, wishing to inform you that everything happened quietly and in order: the vile ones behaved vilely, without any dignity.

Chernyshev is leaving tonight and, as an eyewitness, can tell you all the details. Sorry for the brevity of the presentation, but, knowing and sharing your concern, dear mother, I wanted to bring to your attention what I have already become aware of.

The next day after the execution, the king returned with his family to the capital. On the Senate Square, with the participation of the higher clergy, a cleansing prayer service was held with the sprinkling of the earth “desecrated” by the uprising.

The tsar also issued a Manifesto about the consignment to oblivion of the whole matter.

On July 13, 1826, five conspirators and leaders of the Decembrist uprising were executed on the crown work of the Peter and Paul Fortress: K.F. Ryleev, P. I. Pestel, SI. Muraviev-Apostol, M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin and P.G. Kakhovsky

In the first quarter of the 19th century in Russia, a revolutionary ideology was born, the bearers of which were the Decembrists. Disillusioned with the policy of Alexander 1, a part of the progressive nobility decided to do away with the reasons, as it seemed to them, for the backwardness of Russia.

Attempt coup d'état held in St. Petersburg, the capital Russian Empire, December 14 (26), 1825, was called the Decembrist Uprising. The uprising was organized by a group of like-minded nobles, many of them were guard officers. They tried to use the guards to prevent the accession to the throne of Nicholas I. The goal was the abolition of the autocracy and the abolition of serfdom.

In February 1816, the first secret political society, the purpose of which was the abolition of serfdom and the adoption of a constitution. It consisted of 28 members (A.N. Muravyov, S.I. and M.I. Muravyov-Apostles, S.P.T. Rubetskoy, I.D. Yakushkin, P.I. Pestel, etc.)

In 1818, the organization " Welfare Union”, which had 200 members and had councils in other cities. The society promoted the idea of ​​abolishing serfdom, preparing a revolutionary coup by the officers. " Welfare Union” fell apart due to disagreements between the radical and moderate members of the union.

In March 1821 in Ukraine arose Southern society headed by P.I. Pestel, who was the author of the program document " Russian Truth».

Petersburg, on the initiative of N.M. Muravyov was created " northern society ”, which had a liberal plan of action. Each of these societies had its own program, but the goal was the same - the destruction of autocracy, serfdom, estates, the creation of a republic, the separation of powers, the proclamation of civil liberties.

Preparations began for an armed uprising. The conspirators decided to take advantage of the difficult legal situation that developed around the rights to the throne after the death of Alexander I. On the one hand, there was secret document, confirming the long-standing renunciation of the throne of the brother, Konstantin Pavlovich, following the childless Alexander in seniority, which gave an advantage to the next brother, Nikolai Pavlovich, extremely unpopular among the highest military and bureaucratic elite. On the other hand, even before the opening of this document, Nikolai Pavlovich, under pressure from the Governor-General of St. Petersburg, Count M. A. Miloradovich, hastened to renounce his rights to the throne in favor of Konstantin Pavlovich. After the repeated refusal of Konstantin Pavlovich from the throne, the Senate, as a result of a long night meeting on December 13-14, 1825, recognized legal rights to the throne of Nikolai Pavlovich.

The Decembrists decided to prevent the Senate and the troops from taking the oath to the new tsar.
The conspirators planned to occupy the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Winter Palace, arrest the royal family and, if certain circumstances arise, kill them. Sergei Trubetskoy was elected to lead the uprising. Further, the Decembrists wanted to demand from the Senate the publication of a national manifesto proclaiming the destruction of the old government and the establishment of a provisional government. Admiral Mordvinov and Count Speransky were supposed to be members of the new revolutionary government. The deputies were entrusted with the task of approving the constitution - the new fundamental law. If the Senate refused to announce a nationwide manifesto containing items on the abolition of serfdom, the equality of all before the law, democratic freedoms, the introduction of mandatory for all estates military service, the introduction of a jury, the election of officials, the abolition of the poll tax, etc., it was decided to force him to do this by force. Then it was planned to convene an All-People's Council, which would decide on the choice of a form of government: a republic or constitutional monarchy. If it were chosen republican form, royal family should have been expelled from the country. Ryleev at first suggested sending Nikolai Pavlovich to Fort Ross, but then he and Pestel conceived the murder of Nikolai and, perhaps, Tsarevich Alexander.

On the morning of December 14, 1825, the Moscow Life Guards Regiment entered Senate Square. It was joined by the Guards Naval Crew and the Life Guards grenadier regiment. In total, about 3 thousand people gathered.

However, Nicholas I, informed of the impending conspiracy, took the oath of the Senate in advance and, having pulled the troops loyal to him, surrounded the rebels. After the negotiations, in which Metropolitan Seraphim and Governor-General of St. Petersburg M.A. Miloradovich took part on behalf of the government (who received mortal wound) Nicholas I ordered the use of artillery. The uprising in Petersburg was crushed.

But already on January 2, it was suppressed by government troops. Arrests of participants and organizers began all over Russia. In the case of the Decembrists, 579 people were involved. Found guilty 287. Five were sentenced to death and executed (K.F. Ryleev, P.I. Pestel, P.G. Kakhovskiy, M.P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, S.I. Muravyov-Apostol). 120 people were exiled to hard labor in Siberia or to a settlement.
About one hundred and seventy officers involved in the case of the Decembrists, out of court, were demoted to soldiers and sent to the Caucasus, where Caucasian war. Several exiled Decembrists were later sent there. In the Caucasus, some, like M. I. Pushchin, deserved to be promoted to officers by their courage, and some, like A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, died in battle. Individual members of the Decembrist organizations (such as, for example, V. D. Volkhovsky and I. G. Burtsev) were transferred to the troops without demotion into soldiers, which took part in Russo-Persian War 1826-1828 and Russian-Turkish war 1828-1829. In the mid-1830s, a little over thirty Decembrists who had served in the Caucasus returned home.

The verdict of the Supreme Criminal Court on the death penalty for five Decembrists was executed on July 13 (25), 1826 in the kronverk of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

During the execution, Muraviev-Apostol, Kakhovsky and Ryleev fell off the noose and were hanged a second time. There is an erroneous opinion that this was contrary to the tradition of the inadmissibility of the second execution of the death penalty. According to military Article No. 204, it is stated that " Carry out the death penalty before end result ”, that is, until the death of the convicted person. The procedure for the release of a convict who had fallen, for example, from the gallows, that existed before Peter I, was canceled by the Military Article. On the other hand, the "marriage" was explained by the absence of executions in Russia over the past several decades (the exception was the executions of participants in the Pugachev uprising).

On August 26 (September 7), 1856, on the day of his coronation, Emperor Alexander II pardoned all the Decembrists, but many did not live to see their release. It should be noted that Alexander Muravyov, the founder of the Union of Salvation, who was sentenced to exile in Siberia, was already appointed mayor in Irkutsk in 1828, then held various responsible positions, up to governorships, and participated in the abolition of serfdom in 1861.

For many years, and even today, it is not uncommon for the Decembrists in general and the leaders of the coup attempt to idealize and give them an aura of romanticism. However, it must be admitted that these were ordinary state criminals and traitors to the Motherland. Not for nothing in Life Reverend Seraphim Sarovsky, who usually met any person with exclamations " My joy!", there are two episodes that contrast sharply with the love with which Saint Seraphim treated everyone who came to him ...

Go where you came from

Sarov monastery. Elder Seraphim, all imbued with love and kindness, looks sternly at the officer approaching him and refuses to bless him. The seer knows that he is a participant in the conspiracy of the future Decembrists. " Go where you came from ', the reverend resolutely tells him. Brings then great old man his novice to the well, the water in which was muddy and dirty. " So this man who came here intends to outrage Russia ”, - said the righteous man, jealous of the fate of the Russian monarchy.

Troubles will not end well

Two brothers arrived in Sarov and went to the elder (these were the two Volkonsky brothers); he accepted one of them and blessed, but did not allow the other to approach him, waved his hands and drove away. And he told his brother about him that he was plotting evil, that troubles would not end well, and that many tears and blood would be shed, and advised him to come to his senses in time. And sure enough, the one of the two brothers whom he drove away got into trouble and was exiled.

Note. Major General Prince Sergei Grigoryevich Volkonsky (1788-1865) was a member of the Welfare Union and the Southern Society; convicted in the first category and, upon confirmation, sentenced to hard labor for 20 years (the term was reduced to 15 years). Sent to the Nerchinsk mines, and then transferred to the settlement.

So looking back, we must admit that it was bad, the Decembrists were executed. It's too bad that only five of them were executed...

And in our time, one must clearly understand that any organization that sets as its goal (openly or covertly) the organization of discord in Russia, the excitation public opinion, organizing actions of confrontation, as happened in poor Ukraine, armed overthrow of power, etc. - is subject to immediate closure, and the organizers - to the court, as criminals against Russia.

Lord, deliver our fatherland from disorder and internecine strife!