Dmitry Karakozov
Encyclopedia
Dmitry Vladimirovich Karakozov (Дмитрий Владимирович Каракозов in Russian
) (October 23 Old Style
(November 4 New Style
), 1840 – September 3 Old Style
(September 15 New Style
), 1866) was the first Russia
n revolutionary
to make an attempt on the life of a tsar
.
Karakozov was born in the family of a minor nobleman in Kostroma
. He grew to hate his class because all they did was "Suck the peasants' blood." He studied at Kazan University 1861-4 and at Moscow State University
1864-6. He was expelled from both which led to depression and a failed suicide bid. In early 1866, he became a member of the "revolutionary wing" of the Ishutin Society, founded by his cousin Nikolai Ishutin
in Moscow
in 1863. In the spring of 1866, Karakozov arrived in St.Petersburg to assassinate Alexander II
. He circulated his hand-written proclamation
called "Друзьям-рабочим" ("To Friends-Workers"), in which he incited people to revolt. He wrote a manifesto to the St Petersburg governor blaming the Tsar for the suffering of the poor:
"I have decided to destroy the evil Tsar, and to die for my beloved people." This note never reached anyone, it was lost in the mail.
It's possible 1866 was the chosen year because of the character of Rakhmetov in What Is to Be Done?. This fictional inspiration of revolutionary youth plans for a revolution to coincide with the apocalypse according to Newton
-1866.
The inner organisation, nicknamed hell, chose him by lots. He was more enthusiastic than the others, many even tried to talk him out of it.
On April 4, 1866, Dmitry Karakozov made an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Tsar Alexander II at the gates of the Summer Garden
in St.Petersburg. As the Tsar was leaving, Dmitry rushed forward to fire. The attempt was thwarted by Osip Komissarov, a peasant-born hatter's apprentice, who jostled Karakozov's elbow right before the shot was fired . Contemporary monarchists argued that Komissarov's action proved the people's love for their tsar while contemporary radicals and later Soviet historians argued that Komissarov's involvement in the event was either an accident or an outright government fabrication.
Komissarov was ennobled and given a generous stipend, but proved to be an embarrassment to the government due to his boorishness and incoherence and had to be politely removed to the countryside.
Karakozov tried to flee instead of using the second cartridge in his double barreled gun, but was easily caught by the guards. He kept one hand in his jacket. It was revealed later to be holding morphine
} and strychnine
to kill himself and prussic acid to disfigure his face. Alexander asked:
He was taken to the St Peter and Paul fortress. Dmitry begged for forgiveness and converted to Russian Orthodoxy
. The Supreme Criminal Court sentenced him to death by hanging
and he was executed in St. Petersburg on September 3, 1866. 10 of his accomplices were exiled to hard labor, the other 25 were acquitted.
As a result of the assassination attempt, the Tsar punished St Petersburg University. Students could no longer form any organisations no matter how harmless (Ishutin's organisation had officially been to set up sewing cooperatives), students were under constant surveillance and periodic searches.
Karakozov was an inspiration for the radical nihilists Sergei Nechaev and Vera Zasulich
.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
) (October 23 Old Style
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
(November 4 New Style
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
), 1840 – September 3 Old Style
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
(September 15 New Style
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
), 1866) was the first Russia
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:...
to make an attempt on the life of a tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
.
Karakozov was born in the family of a minor nobleman in Kostroma
Kostroma
Kostroma is a historic city and the administrative center of Kostroma Oblast, Russia. A part of the Golden Ring of Russian towns, it is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kostroma Rivers...
. He grew to hate his class because all they did was "Suck the peasants' blood." He studied at Kazan University 1861-4 and at Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
1864-6. He was expelled from both which led to depression and a failed suicide bid. In early 1866, he became a member of the "revolutionary wing" of the Ishutin Society, founded by his cousin Nikolai Ishutin
Nikolai Ishutin
Nikolai Andreyevich Ishutin was one of the first Russian utopian socialists, who combined socialist propaganda among the people with conspiratorial and terrorist tactics....
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1863. In the spring of 1866, Karakozov arrived in St.Petersburg to assassinate 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...
. He circulated his hand-written proclamation
Proclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
called "Друзьям-рабочим" ("To Friends-Workers"), in which he incited people to revolt. He wrote a manifesto to the St Petersburg governor blaming the Tsar for the suffering of the poor:
"I have decided to destroy the evil Tsar, and to die for my beloved people." This note never reached anyone, it was lost in the mail.
It's possible 1866 was the chosen year because of the character of Rakhmetov in What Is to Be Done?. This fictional inspiration of revolutionary youth plans for a revolution to coincide with the apocalypse according to Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
-1866.
The inner organisation, nicknamed hell, chose him by lots. He was more enthusiastic than the others, many even tried to talk him out of it.
On April 4, 1866, Dmitry Karakozov made an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Tsar Alexander II at the gates of the Summer Garden
Summer Garden
The Summer Garden occupies an island between the Fontanka, Moika, and the Swan Canal in Saint Petersburg and shares its name with the adjacent Summer Palace of Peter the Great.-Original:...
in St.Petersburg. As the Tsar was leaving, Dmitry rushed forward to fire. The attempt was thwarted by Osip Komissarov, a peasant-born hatter's apprentice, who jostled Karakozov's elbow right before the shot was fired . Contemporary monarchists argued that Komissarov's action proved the people's love for their tsar while contemporary radicals and later Soviet historians argued that Komissarov's involvement in the event was either an accident or an outright government fabrication.
Komissarov was ennobled and given a generous stipend, but proved to be an embarrassment to the government due to his boorishness and incoherence and had to be politely removed to the countryside.
Karakozov tried to flee instead of using the second cartridge in his double barreled gun, but was easily caught by the guards. He kept one hand in his jacket. It was revealed later to be holding morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
} and strychnine
Strychnine
Strychnine is a highly toxic , colorless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion...
to kill himself and prussic acid to disfigure his face. Alexander asked:
He was taken to the St Peter and Paul fortress. Dmitry begged for forgiveness and converted to Russian Orthodoxy
Russian Orthodoxy
Russian Orthodoxy in Christianity may refer to:*Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church descended from the Imperial Church of the Byzantine Empire*Russian Orthodox Church*Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia*Old Believers*True Orthodox Church...
. The Supreme Criminal Court sentenced him to death by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
and he was executed in St. Petersburg on September 3, 1866. 10 of his accomplices were exiled to hard labor, the other 25 were acquitted.
As a result of the assassination attempt, the Tsar punished St Petersburg University. Students could no longer form any organisations no matter how harmless (Ishutin's organisation had officially been to set up sewing cooperatives), students were under constant surveillance and periodic searches.
Karakozov was an inspiration for the radical nihilists Sergei Nechaev and Vera Zasulich
Vera Zasulich
Vera Ivanovna Zasulich was a Russian Marxist writer and revolutionary.-Radical beginnings:Zasulich was born in Mikhaylovka, Russia, one of four daughters of an impoverished minor noble. When she was 3, her father died and her mother sent her to live with her wealthier relatives, the Mikulich...
.