Sergey Platonov
Encyclopedia
Sergey Fyodorovich Platonov (born June 28 [June 16, Old Style], 1860, Chernigov, Russia died Jan. 10, 1933, Samara, Russia, U.S.S.R.) was a Russia
n historian who led the official St Petersburg school of imperial historiography before and after the Russian Revolution
.
Platonov was born in Chernigov and attended a private gymnasium in St. Petersburg until 1878 when he went to the Department of History and Philology of St. Petersburg University until 1882. He was a student of Konstantin Bestuzhev-Ryumin
, who recommended that he be given the opportunity to "prepare to be a professor."
Platonov belonged to the "St. Petersburg school" of Russian historiography, which paid special attention to the study and publication of historical sources. Platonov gained his master's thesis in 1888 writing about Old Russian Legends and Tales About the Seventeenth-Century Time of Troubles as a Historical Source for which he gained the Uvarov Award of the Academy of Sciences.
Platonov's scholarly career was centered on the University of St Petersburg, where he was held in highest repute for his detailed studies of the Time of Troubles
(1923) and Oprichnina
. Platonov's history textbooks, impeccably written and easily readable, enjoyed such popularity that he was asked by the tsar to teach history to his children. In 1909, he was admitted to the Russian Academy of Sciences
.
Unlike some of his disciples (such as Alexander Presnyakov
), Platonov did not change his views after the Revolution
and stood aloof from the mainstream Marxist historiography, as represented by Mikhail Pokrovsky. Nevertheless, he was permitted to administer the Pushkin House
(i.e., the Russian Literature Institute) in 1925–1929 and the Academy's Library in 1925–1928.
On January 12, 1930 Platonov was accused of taking part in a royalist conspiracy
, arrested and exiled to Samara
, where he died three years later. Most of his books were republished after the downfall of the Soviet regime.
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 historian who led the official St Petersburg school of imperial historiography before and after the Russian Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
.
Platonov was born in Chernigov and attended a private gymnasium in St. Petersburg until 1878 when he went to the Department of History and Philology of St. Petersburg University until 1882. He was a student of Konstantin Bestuzhev-Ryumin
Konstantin Bestuzhev-Ryumin
Konstantin Nikolayevich Bestuzhev-Ryumin was one of the most popular Russian historians of the 19th century. He held a chair in Russian History at the University of St. Petersburg and was elected into the Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1890...
, who recommended that he be given the opportunity to "prepare to be a professor."
Platonov belonged to the "St. Petersburg school" of Russian historiography, which paid special attention to the study and publication of historical sources. Platonov gained his master's thesis in 1888 writing about Old Russian Legends and Tales About the Seventeenth-Century Time of Troubles as a Historical Source for which he gained the Uvarov Award of the Academy of Sciences.
Platonov's scholarly career was centered on the University of St Petersburg, where he was held in highest repute for his detailed studies of the Time of Troubles
Time of Troubles
The Time of Troubles was a period of Russian history comprising the years of interregnum between the death of the last Russian Tsar of the Rurik Dynasty, Feodor Ivanovich, in 1598, and the establishment of the Romanov Dynasty in 1613. In 1601-1603, Russia suffered a famine that killed one-third...
(1923) and Oprichnina
Oprichnina
The oprichnina is the period of Russian history between Tsar Ivan the Terrible's 1565 initiation and his 1572 disbanding of a domestic policy of secret police, mass repressions, public executions, and confiscation of land from Russian aristocrats...
. Platonov's history textbooks, impeccably written and easily readable, enjoyed such popularity that he was asked by the tsar to teach history to his children. In 1909, he was admitted to the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
.
Unlike some of his disciples (such as Alexander Presnyakov
Alexander Presnyakov
Alexander Yevgenyevich Presnyakov was a Russian historian who attempted to reform the Saint Petersburg school of imperial historiography after the Russian Revolution. He was elected into the Russian Academy of Sciences as a corresponding member in 1920.Presnyakov was born in Odessa and spent his...
), Platonov did not change his views after the Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
and stood aloof from the mainstream Marxist historiography, as represented by Mikhail Pokrovsky. Nevertheless, he was permitted to administer the Pushkin House
Pushkin House
The Pushkin House is the familiar name of the Institute of Russian Literature in St. Petersburg. It is part of a network of institutions affiliated with the Russian Academy of Sciences.- Establishment :...
(i.e., the Russian Literature Institute) in 1925–1929 and the Academy's Library in 1925–1928.
On January 12, 1930 Platonov was accused of taking part in a royalist conspiracy
Industrial Party Trial
The Industrial Party Trial was a show trial in which several Soviet scientists and economists were accused and convicted of plotting a coup against the government of the Soviet Union....
, arrested and exiled to Samara
Samara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
, where he died three years later. Most of his books were republished after the downfall of the Soviet regime.