Élisabeth Dmitrieff
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth Dmitrieff was a Russia
n-born feminist and actress of the 1871 Paris Commune
. Born Elisaviéta Loukinitcha Koucheleva, she was a co-founder of the Women's Union, created on 11 April 1871, in a café
of the rue du Temple, with Nathalie Lemel
.
ist official . She was active in her youth in the Socialist circles of Saint Petersburg
. In 1868, she travelled to Switzerland
, and co-founded the Russian section of the First International . Delegated to London, she met Karl Marx
there, who sent her in March 1871, aged 20, to cover the events of the Commune.
Dmitrieff finally became an actress of these events, founding with Nathalie Lemel
the Women's Union on 11 April 1871. She dedicated herself especially to political questions and the organisation of cooperative
workshops .
Elisabeth Dmitrieff participated to the Socialist newspaper La Cause du peuple. After having fought on the barricade
s during the Bloody Week, she fled to Russia. Once arrived in her native country, she married a political prisoner
in order to help him avoid death penalty
, and decided to follow him in deportation
in Siberia
, where she ended her days .
) . The square Elisabeth Dmitrieff was inaugurated on 8 March 2007, for the International Women's Day
, along with the squares Nathalie Lemel and Renée Vivien
(in the same arrondissement).
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-born feminist and actress of the 1871 Paris Commune
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune was a government that briefly ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It existed before the split between anarchists and Marxists had taken place, and it is hailed by both groups as the first assumption of power by the working class during the Industrial Revolution...
. Born Elisaviéta Loukinitcha Koucheleva, she was a co-founder of the Women's Union, created on 11 April 1871, in a café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
of the rue du Temple, with Nathalie Lemel
Nathalie Lemel
Nathalie Lemel , was a militant anarchist and feminist who participated on the barricades at the Commune de Paris of 1871. She was deported to Nouvelle Calédonie with Louise Michel.-The Bookbinder:...
.
Life
Elisabeth Dmitrieff was the daughter of a TsarTsar
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...
ist official . She was active in her youth in the Socialist circles of Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. In 1868, she travelled to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and co-founded the Russian section of the First International . Delegated to London, she met Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
there, who sent her in March 1871, aged 20, to cover the events of the Commune.
Dmitrieff finally became an actress of these events, founding with Nathalie Lemel
Nathalie Lemel
Nathalie Lemel , was a militant anarchist and feminist who participated on the barricades at the Commune de Paris of 1871. She was deported to Nouvelle Calédonie with Louise Michel.-The Bookbinder:...
the Women's Union on 11 April 1871. She dedicated herself especially to political questions and the organisation of cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
workshops .
Elisabeth Dmitrieff participated to the Socialist newspaper La Cause du peuple. After having fought on the barricade
Barricade
Barricade, from the French barrique , is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction...
s during the Bloody Week, she fled to Russia. Once arrived in her native country, she married a political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
in order to help him avoid death penalty
Capital punishment in Russia
Capital punishment in Russia is currently under question, albeit legally allowed . There exists both an implicit moratorium established by the President and an explicit one, established by the nation's highest court. Russia has not executed anyone since 1996, and the regulations of the Council of...
, and decided to follow him in deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, where she ended her days .
Commemoration
The 3rd Arrondissement's municipal council decided on 27 March 2006 to give her name to a little square, between the rue du Temple and the rue de Turbigo (close-by to the Place de la RépubliquePlace de la République
The Place de la République is a square in Paris, located on the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements. It is named after the French Republic. The Métro station of République lies beneath the square.-History:...
) . The square Elisabeth Dmitrieff was inaugurated on 8 March 2007, for the International Women's Day
International Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
, along with the squares Nathalie Lemel and Renée Vivien
Renée Vivien
Renée Vivien, born Pauline Mary Tarn was a British poet who wrote in the French language. She took to heart all the mannerisms of Symbolism, as one of the last poets to claim allegiance to the school...
(in the same arrondissement).
External links
- Héroïnes révolutionnaires russes du XIXe siècle, images, stéréotypes, mythes, pour quelles histoires?, by Sylvie Braibant, mémoire of History DEADEA (former French degree)A Master of Advanced Studies is a non-consecutive postgraduate degree awarded predominantly in European countries. A MAS program offers comprehensive training in a specific field and can either give access to higher qualification in one's profession or lead to a new profession...
at the École des hautes études en sciences socialesÉcole des Hautes Études en Sciences SocialesThe École des hautes études en sciences sociales is a leading French institution for research and higher education, a Grand Établissement. Its mission is research and research training in the social sciences, including the relationship these latter maintain with the natural and life sciences...
, 1992