Aleksandr Ulyanov
Encyclopedia
Aleksandr Ilyich Ulyanov was a Russia
n revolutionary
and a terrorist, convicted of attempted assassination of Alexander III. He was an older brother of Vladimir Lenin
.
. At university he participated in illegal meetings and demonstrations, and distributed pamphlets and agitated students and workers. In 1886, he became a founding member of the "Terrorist
Faction", an off-shoot of the "old" Narodnaya Volya (People's Will) party. He was one of the authors of its program with Marxism
being one of his obvious influences.
Acknowledging the working class as a "nucleus of the Socialist
Party", the party program affirmed the revolutionary
intelligentsia
's initiative in fighting with autocracy; terror was seen as a means of struggle.
attempt on the life of Alexander III of Russia
. On March 1, 1887, the day of the sixth anniversary of Alexander II
's murder, three of them, suspected by the police, were arrested in the Nevsky Prospekt
, where they were going to throw their bombs into the Emperor's carriage (he always visited churches that day to pay tribute to his assassinated father). The attempt is known by "The Second The First of March". Later Ulyanov, who was both the main ideologist of the group and the chemist preparing bombs, was arrested too. In court, Ulyanov gave a political speech. All the conspirators were initially sentenced to death, but only five of them were not pardoned by Alexander III, including Ulyanov. On May 8, he and his comrades Pakhomiy Andreyushkin
, Vasili Generalov
, Vasili Osipanov
and Petr Shevyrev
were hanged at Shlisselburg
fortress. Among the pardoned co-conspirators of Ulyanov there was Bronisław Piłsudski
, brother of Józef Piłsudski.
The execution of his brother Aleksandr may have radicalized Lenin as he became more involved in student protests and revolutionary propaganda
efforts, or it may not have, given their apparent differing tactical sensibilities. According to the lore, reacting to the news of the death sentence, Lenin famously replied, "We will take a different path," renouncing terrorism as a viable revolutionary tactic, and intending to achieve success through extensive organizational effort in the form of a "new type party". This prophecy materialized in the Bolshevik overthrow of the Provisional Government in October of 1917. Leon Trotsky
, though, stated it is highly unlikely that Lenin made the statement, knowing that Lenin was a supporter of terrorism
until the early 1890s, and the fact that in the house at that time Lenin was alone with his brother Dmitri
(aged 13) and his sister Maria (aged 9). At the time, Lenin was taking final examinations to graduate with honors.
, 2112 Ulyanov
, was discovered in 1972 by Soviet
astronomer Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova
and named after him.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
and a terrorist, convicted of attempted assassination of Alexander III. He was an older brother of Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
.
Life
Ulyanov graduated from the College of Simbirsk in 1883 with honors and entered Petersburg University, where he majored in Natural Sciences and earned another gold medal for his work in zoologyZoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
. At university he participated in illegal meetings and demonstrations, and distributed pamphlets and agitated students and workers. In 1886, he became a founding member of the "Terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
Faction", an off-shoot of the "old" Narodnaya Volya (People's Will) party. He was one of the authors of its program with Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
being one of his obvious influences.
Acknowledging the working class as a "nucleus of the Socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
Party", the party program affirmed the revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
's initiative in fighting with autocracy; terror was seen as a means of struggle.
Attempted assassination of Alexander III
Ulyanov and his comrades began preparing an assassinationAssassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt on the life of Alexander III of Russia
Alexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
. On March 1, 1887, the day of the sixth anniversary of Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
's murder, three of them, suspected by the police, were arrested in the Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Avenue |Prospekt]]) is the main street in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia. Planned by Peter the Great as beginning of the road to Novgorod and Moscow, the avenue runs from the Admiralty to the Moscow Railway Station and, after making a turn at Vosstaniya Square, to the Alexander...
, where they were going to throw their bombs into the Emperor's carriage (he always visited churches that day to pay tribute to his assassinated father). The attempt is known by "The Second The First of March". Later Ulyanov, who was both the main ideologist of the group and the chemist preparing bombs, was arrested too. In court, Ulyanov gave a political speech. All the conspirators were initially sentenced to death, but only five of them were not pardoned by Alexander III, including Ulyanov. On May 8, he and his comrades Pakhomiy Andreyushkin
Pakhomiy Andreyushkin
Pakhomy Ivanovich Adreyushkin , 1865 – May 8,1887) was a Russian revolutionary, member of Narodnaya Volya.In 1886, Andreyushkin enrolled in St. Petersburg University...
, Vasili Generalov
Vasili Generalov
Vasily Denisovich Generalov .1867 - 5.8.1887) was a Russian revolutionary and a member of Narodnaya Volya.In 1886, Generalov enrolled in St. Petersburg University and later became a member of the "Terrorist Faction" of Narodnaya Volya. He took active part in preparing the assassination of Alexander...
, Vasili Osipanov
Vasili Osipanov
Vasili Stepanovich Osipanov , Russian revolutionary, member of Narodnaya Volya....
and Petr Shevyrev
Petr Shevyrev
Pyotr Yakovlevich Shevyryov , Russian revolutionary, member of Narodnaya Volya....
were hanged at Shlisselburg
Shlisselburg
Shlisselburg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated at the head of the Neva River on Lake Ladoga, east of St. Petersburg. From 1944 to 1992, it was known as Petrokrepost...
fortress. Among the pardoned co-conspirators of Ulyanov there was Bronisław Piłsudski
Bronisław Piłsudski
Bronisław Piotr Piłsudski , brother of Józef Piłsudski, was a Polish cultural anthropologist who conducted outstanding research on the Ainu ethnic group, which then inhabited Sakhalin Island, but now live mostly on the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, with only a small minority left on...
, brother of Józef Piłsudski.
The execution of his brother Aleksandr may have radicalized Lenin as he became more involved in student protests and revolutionary propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
efforts, or it may not have, given their apparent differing tactical sensibilities. According to the lore, reacting to the news of the death sentence, Lenin famously replied, "We will take a different path," renouncing terrorism as a viable revolutionary tactic, and intending to achieve success through extensive organizational effort in the form of a "new type party". This prophecy materialized in the Bolshevik overthrow of the Provisional Government in October of 1917. Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky , born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein, was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and theorist, Soviet politician, and the founder and first leader of the Red Army....
, though, stated it is highly unlikely that Lenin made the statement, knowing that Lenin was a supporter of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
until the early 1890s, and the fact that in the house at that time Lenin was alone with his brother Dmitri
Dmitri Ilyich Ulyanov
Dmitri Ilyich Ulyanov was a Russian physician and revolutionary, the younger brother of Aleksandr Ulyanov and Vladimir Lenin.As a medical student at Lomonosov Moscow State University, he became involved with revolutionary activity and joined the illegal Marxist Rabochevo soyuza. He was first...
(aged 13) and his sister Maria (aged 9). At the time, Lenin was taking final examinations to graduate with honors.
Legacy
A minor planetMinor planet
An asteroid group or minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that have a share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid...
, 2112 Ulyanov
2112 Ulyanov
2112 Ulyanov is a main-belt asteroid discovered on July 17, 1972 by T. M. Smirnova at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. It is named after Lenin's older brother Aleksandr Ilyich Ulyanov.- External links :*...
, was discovered in 1972 by Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
astronomer Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova
Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova
Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova was a Russian astronomer.From 1966 to 1988 she was a staff member of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy at Leningrad. She co-discovered the periodic comet 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh, along with Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh. She has also discovered various asteroids...
and named after him.