Alexander I: Emperor of Russia
Ian Young explains the many guises of Russia's Romanov ruler: in Napoleon’s caustic phrase, “the Talma of the North”; according to Chateaubriand, “a strong soul and a feeble character”; styled by Pushkin as, “the Sphinx who took his riddle with him to the grave”; Alexander began his life as a liberal visionary and ended it as an impassioned champion of the autocratic principle.
On December 9th, 1825, St. Petersburg went into mourning for the death of the Emperor Alexander I. According to the official announcement, he had died at the very beginning of the month in the harbour town of Taganrog on the sea of Azov. The cause of his death, it was said, was a marsh fever, contracted a few weeks earlier during a tour of inspection of the Russian garrison in the Crimea. By way of proof, there was a detailed post-mortem report, signed by three doctors and six court officials.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.