"THEY MADE AN ELEPHANT OUT OF A FLY". S.I. MURAV'EV-APOSTOL AND THE UNREST IN THE SEMYONOVSKY REGIMENT IN 1820

In: RSUH/RGGU Bulletin. "Literary Theory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies" Series, Heft 9, S. 160-175

Abstract

The article deals with the soldiers' unrest in the Semyonovsky Regiment in 1820, which, according to many researchers, was a kind of "prelude" to the Decembrist uprising. After the soldiers' unrest in October 1820, the Semyonovsky Guards Regiment was disbanded and its officers were transferred to the army regiments. The article explores the causes of soldiers' and officers' dissatisfaction with the regiment's commander, Colonel F.E. Schwartz, the course of the riots in the regiment, and the behavior of the officers. In addition, the article investigates the case of Semyonovsky Regiment officers, D. Yermolaev and I. Scherbatov, accused of sympathizing with the soldiers and attempting to meet with the punished instigators of riots. The Semyonov history is considered in connection with the biography of one of its participants, the future Decembrist S.I. Murav'ev-Apostol. The article describes the events in the company commanded by Muravyov-Apostol, as well as the consequences that this "story" had for his life and career. It is concluded that by offending an innocent officer, the authorities thereby contributed to his transformation into a radical revolutionary and leader of an antigovernment conspiracy