The Golden Tsars - A Decemberist World

Who said that Nicholas I was more reactionary than Constantine? Yes, they were both conservatives, but not reactionary .
In the alternative, a mass of bugs. For example, Pestel really wanted a republic, but a kind of, actually a police state, with an increase in the state secret police hundreds of times.
Constantine, at the time of the death of Alexander I, was in Warsaw and Nicholas in St. Petersburg. Renunciation of Constantine was signed in 1823, although kept secret.
Reactionary Nicholas began after the events of 1848, when a funky revolution in Europe began to screw the nut.
 
As an illustration, I want to publish my article hypothesis: Unknown Decembrist.
About the uprising December 14, 1825 Much has been written, but most versions contradict each other, without explaining the strange behavior at the head of the conspiracy people and their enemies. Try to create another one.
773f040ed66f0a8e8f6abde7a45b10de.jpg

At the end of the second decade of the XIX century "Union of Prosperity" with two new members. Their names were Nikolai and Mikhail Romanov. Stop. Who said nonsense? Not nonsense, but a hypothesis . Therefore, let us remember that we know about the future Emperor Nicholas I and his younger brother. Even taking the throne, Nicholas Pavlovich remained a supporter of the republican form of government. "I officio emperor - he would say - and a Republican at heart." Curiously, the emperor recognized only two forms of government: republic and an absolute monarchy. By the same constitutional monarchy he despised. But with great respect to the person he George Washington when the USA ambassador presented him seedling tree of liberty (whether actually imported from America or cut on the road), the emperor ordered to put him in the Upper Park of Peterhof Palace, and later he himself courted him. Say, this tree grows still. At the same time, and as Emperor Nicholas I did not legitimist, he never considered sacred and regal lady, unlike his elder brother supported, for example, the revolt of the Greeks against the Turkish sultan. You never know what he is the anointed of God - citizens have a right to rebel against a bad ruler. That's about the Hungarian uprising of 1848, he wrote to Michael: "Hungarian men began their lords cut. Could be good, but I'm afraid that will spread to us." In his own words, Nikolai Pavlovich knew nothing about the decree of Alexander I, according to which the Grand Duke Jr. became heir to the throne and the abdication of Constantine. Some contemporaries claimed that it is not so : some information to Nicholas reached , but even if so, the opportunity to become king was his pie in the sky - the official announcement of his successor was not, and therefore Alexander and Constantine could have a hundred times reconsider. So where could direct his steps young romantic mood and sufficiently ambitious man of liberal views, for which it was the republic while the ideal social order? Of course in a "secret" society. With Mikhail Pavlovich even simpler life following in the wake of his older brother like "thread for needle", he probably had to join the ranks of the conspirators - Nikolai also entered. However, after the sudden death of Alexander I, Nicholas Pavlovich was in a difficult position: now it's official heir to the throne, and this gives him a unique opportunity to carry out the necessary reforms, not looking at associates, each of which had its own representation of them. So to hell with talking shop! Gossip and controversy ("make noise, brother, make noise!") good for friendly feasts - now the time has come to act. On the other hand, Constantine was reluctant to renounce definitively and want and pricked), pulled the rubber, and in fact was a third pretender to the throne , which is often forgotten . This mother Empress Maria Fedorovna. Once stoically has survived the murder of her husband, she had tried on that terrible night of 11 to 12 March 1801 to take their own rule the country into their own hands - but was rebuffed by the steep eldest son and his accomplices. Now the 66 -year-old Empress Dowager again tried to lay claim to the throne. Nikolai Pavlovich himself later claimed he did not want to become king - he was ready to be loyal Constantine I, and only circumstances forced him to take power. Nonsense! Here's what he wrote in his memoirs, one of the courtiers: " Nikolai literally climbed the throne , and it did not let Miloradovich." Interesting coincidence - Miloradovich fate is well known. At the same time the letters of Nicholas Constantine, in addition to expressions of fraternal feelings of loyalty and maxims, felt and veiled threats. You, my friend, of course, can become emperor, but for how long? Fate papa remember? What should I do in such circumstances? Certainly provoke rebellion: let guys start, I will support you ! While the threat of rebellion inevitably forced to rally all monarchists it around Nicholas - he's something here in St. Petersburg, and Constantine in Warsaw, feel the difference. And this woman, in such circumstances, you do not have an intercessor. That came to the Senate Square rebellious shelves.
c5e29968760914b3a10971d5b134aba6.jpg

And went on orders already Emperor Nicholas I, to him and was expecting there Miloradovich his plainclothes Kakhovskii . But not only from his bullet killed the Governor-General: simultaneously with the shot hit him in the back with a bayonet Prince Eugene Obolensky, who later suffered the lightest punishment, despite the protests demanding the generals to his death. A Kakhovskii ? Probably realizing finally acted in whose interests , he did not remain silent and thus doomed to loop. A Prince Troubetzkoy, probably before anyone realized that they just threw in general was not on the area and hovered near Nicholas irritation last - remorse? And frustrated parricide Yakubovich ran to the Emperor, "he told me boldly said: - I was with them, but when they heard that they were in Constantine, and was thrown to you. I took his hand and said: - Thank you, you know your duty". Jakubowicz is however not subsequently saved, probably could not keep his mouth shut and thundered to penal servitude. The deed was done - on the throne emperor turned Republican. To his credit, it must be said that he tried as hard as possible to alleviate the plight of hapless conspirators. Yes and their families was provided the most favorable treatment. Now it was only for the reforms, but the thing: he became emperor, Nicholas Pavlovich began to look at a lot of things very differently. First of all, I had to tighten the screws, because any liberalism after 14 December would look like weakness of the regime. Then there were other priority cases , it became clear that one can find a foothold only among the nobility, not wanting the liberation of peasants from their land allocation ("My father was shot and kill me !") That's nothing unusual.
143c435523aa6c16c653da817754fd71.jpg
 
Interesting timeline but I have a few questions regarding Sweden:

How are they paying for this Russian adventure, are they getting subsidies from Russia, Britain or by increased taxes?

Does Finland get to retain its Lantdag (parliament) like under Russia or are they reintregated into Sweden like pre-1809?
 
Britain funded the Swedish and Polish, whilst bribing the Prussians and Austrians to keep out of the war. They've become the real puppetmasters behind much of the TL. :p

I plan for Finland to be reintegrated into Sweden, but I'll go into more detail in a later post.

And in the sake of plausibility I am Retconing the PoD, new PoD; Constantine's never meets his mistress and Alexandra Feodorovna marries Constantine instead of Nicholas, making Nicholas Childless, I shall butterfly from there.

Aley your alternate PoD is interesting but I've taken quite a specific path for this one and plan on adding a new PoD of my own. :)
 
Last edited:
Here we go, my retcon set up to the War;
Prologue-Courtly Love
It is said that Constantine's rise to power began, in fact, in 1814, when he visited the Prussian Court with his brothers Nicholas and Michael. It was there that he met Princess Charlotte of Prussia. The two quickly became infatuated with each other though it was later revealed to Constantine that Alexander planned to marry her to Nicholas. Constantine begged to marry her, his planned marriage to Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld had fallen flat on it's face when she became deathly ill and died in 1792. Since then, Constantine's mistresses had become quite controversial. Alexander, seeing that his brother was truly infatuated and sensing an opportunity to dispel the rumours and controversy, consented. Two years later, in 1816 Constantine married Charlotte, who became Alexandra. Nicholas was angered by the change in plan, he too had affections for Alexandra but she never returned such emotions. Nicholas grew to hate his brother and saw him as stealing his bride away from him.

The marriage was a loving one and whilst Alexandra was at first overwhelmed by the enormity and sheer alien nature of the Russian court, her husband was loving and attentive and taught her both the Russian language and how to survive. Whilst this happened she told him of her want to be free to explore music and reading, her husband of course accepted. Alexandra would go on to introduce many new forms of music and artwork to the Russian court. She became the most fashionable woman in Russia and both Tsar Alexander and her husband Constantine came to accept and appreciate her westernisation of Russian Aristocracy. With this influx of Western Culture, came too Western ideas of Liberalism and Constitution. Whilst Alexander was at first wary of such modern ideal, his brother Constantine came to accept and believe in a modernisation of the Empire. Nicholas, throughout this, grew to hate his brother more and more and saw the influx of Liberalism into Russia as detrimental to the Russian cause. His political views slow grew more Reactionary in response to his brothers shift to the left of politics. The Court too was split, some followed Constantine's example whilst others saw it dangerous and followed Nicholas, Alexander attempted to remain neutral throughout but slowly shifted towards Constantine's camp. In an attempt to avoid conflict, and remaining childless, Constantine offered to secretly renounce his claim on the throne in 1823. Alexander and Nicholas agreed but six months later it was found that Alexandra was pregnant and Constantine would be childless no longer. On 7th July 1824, Peter Romanov was born, Constantine's first son and possible heir to the throne...

Tell me if you see any plausibility errors . :)
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
I really don't know what to say on that. Granted, Juliane never consummated the marriage with Constantine because as far as we knew, he was dedicated to his military career and was...quite ruthless. Julianne did try to escape the marriage and did end up being annulled in 1820, but I dunno if trading Juliane for Charlotte von Hohenzollern would be a good thing. Personally, I'd say you could keep it as such and then have Nicholas marry her younger sister Frederica (who Died in childhood OTL). But I digress....
 
Top