Salvation Union

Since 1814, the creation of the first secret organizations, called the Pre-Decembrist organizations, began. There were 4 organizations in total: “ Order of the Russian Knights ” (Count M. A. Dmitriev-Mamonov , General M. F. Orlov ), “Sacred Artel” ( N. N. Muravyov and A. N. Muravyov ), Semenov Artel ( S P. Trubetskoy , S. I. Muravyov-Apostol , I. D. Yakushkin , only about 15-20 people), as well as a circle of V. F. Raevsky . By order of Alexander I in 1815, the Semenov artel, the largest of all pre-Decembrist organizations, was banned. All these organizations existed in a legal or semi-legal position.

On February 9 ( 21 ), 1816 , members of the Sacred and Semenov artels united into the first Decembrist organization, called the Union of Salvation. The founders and organizers of the society were the guards officers A.N. Muravyov , M.I. Muravyov-Apostol and S.I. Muravyov-Apostol , Prince S.P. Trubetskoy . In addition to the members of the Semenovskaya and Sacred Artels, the society also included N. M. Muravyov , P. I. Pestel , Major M. S. Lunin , and Colonel F. N. Glinka .

Program

In 1817, the Society adopted a charter written by the “commission” composed of P. I. Pestel, S. N. Trubetskoy and I. A. Dolgoruky ^[1] . According to the charter, the Salvation Union was renamed the "Society of True and Faithful Sons of the Fatherland." The goals of society proclaimed the abolition of serfdom and the replacement of autocracy with a constitutional monarchy. Most intended to achieve these goals peacefully, through pressure on public opinion. The members of society themselves were obligated to behave and act in all respects in such a way as not to deserve the slightest reproach. Members of the society sought to expose social evil and vices, in particular, people's ignorance, embezzlement, bribe-taking of officials, cruel treatment of soldiers, disrespect for human dignity, and non-observance of individual rights. A smaller part of society was supposed to act with more decisive measures. M.S. Lunin was the first to propose a plan to kill the king. This proposal was rejected by Pestel, who proposed the organization of a secret society, the development of a constitution and a more clear organization. Disagreements over the implementation of their program ultimately led to the crisis and dissolution of the organization.

Organization

At the head of the “Union of Salvation” was the Supreme Council from the “boyars” (founders), or rather from the inner circle of the king who did not know about them (members of a secret society). The remaining participants were divided into “husbands” and “brothers”, which were supposed to be grouped by “districts” and “authorities”. However, this was prevented by the paucity of society, with no more than thirty to thirty-five members. A deep conspiracy was adopted, the unquestioning subordination of lower members to higher ones. The adoption of new members and the transition of members from one step to another was carried out with the consent of the "boyars".

Disagreements over how to achieve their goals have led to fierce debate within society. In September 1817, a meeting of members of the Society (the so-called "Moscow conspiracy") was held. The subject of discussion was the proposal of I. D. Yakushkin to carry out regicide during the stay of the imperial court in Moscow. Most members of the community rejected this offer. As a result, due to the "scarcity of means to achieve the goal," regicide was prohibited. The progressive members finally decided to dissolve the organization, creating on its basis a new, more organized, broad and cohesive one. As a transitional organization, the Military Society was created in October 1817 , in which the majority of the members of the Salvation Union were members. The “Military Society” was dissolved in January 1818, and the Union of Welfare was formed on its basis.

• Trinity N. Decembrists // Russia in the XIX century. Lecture course. M., 1997.