in the years 1830-1831 the Supreme power fought with the first in the history of the Russian Empire the cholera outbreak – the deadliest in a time of infectious disease?
It’s time to ask the past this was not previously asked question.
on 4 September 1830, the Minister of internal Affairs, General of infantry count Arseny A. Zakrevsky (1786-1865) was appointed Chairman of the Committee for combating cholera. The count was given emergency powers. He did not hesitate, and already on September 10 left Petersburg. He was to spend in constant travelling five long months and around 12 combat cholera outbreak provinces. Here and energetic administrator, accompanied by a group of doctors riding on bad roads in the mail to manual mode to force the heads of the provinces go out of the usual bureaucratic lethargy and apply first aid to those who suffer.
For this hard work it was perfect. Because it comes from a very poor noble family of Tver Zakrevsky is a public figure who has made himself. Did not even zero and negative marks.
the Sharp rebuke Herzen “Bells” created Zakrevsky highly unflattering reputation as an extreme reactionary, a tyrant, “rude and uncouth”, according to Herzen, Martinet.
is this True? We will try to understand.
He had neither relations nor patrons, nor fortune. “…You are not of that class who, in the cradle lying on the pink sheets, and in Mature years does not come with a satin sofa, and of our brothers have fallen on the sofa (and leather, and by the grace of the King and faithful service) with a bunch of straw”1, – so 1 may 1815 wrote Zakrevsky his good buddy Denis Davydov.
the Son of a retired Lieutenant who became a General in 27 years, knew the real life and the interests of ordinary people – soldiers, army officers, ordinary officials. Shunned courtly intrigue. Was shunned by high society. Not begged estates. Was an excellent Manager and had no equal in critical cases that needed immediate execution, thoroughness, and punctuality.
Denis Davydov accurately describe the quality of the business Zakrevsky: “…the Heart of your Russian, the hardness of the English and the German accuracy, the only good quality of this nation”2.
It was a phenomenal connection outstanding qualities.
the Accession to the throne of Nicholas I, adjutant-General and Lieutenant-General Zakrevsky met at the post Finnish Governor-General and commander of the separate Finland corps. The General held firmly in his hands all the control of the Grand Duchy of Finland. And edge, and the body without any excesses swore allegiance to the new Emperor. No members of a secret society in the case Zakrevsky has been identified��. And it is not surprising that the Governor-General was charged monarch’s mercy.
In December 1826 Zakrevskii was appointed Senator, and April 1828 – the Minister of internal Affairs and a member of the State Council. In April, 1829, made the rank of General of infantry (II class ranking, higher – only field-Marshal), in 1830 he received the title of count of Grand Duchy of Finland. What else?
But Nicholas treated the nominee cautiously. Between king and Minister was established purely formal relations, which excludes the trust. Over the years the count only twice privately dined with the Emperor, although other adjutant General, who held a much less important official posts, were constantly invited by Nicholas I to share a meal. Near Royal entourage warily gazed at the son of a retired Lieutenant, who became Earl, and he Zakrevsky and could not accustom himself to the great light.
the Conflict was inevitable.
At the end of 1829, the enemy struck the first blow. In the annual report of the division III to the Emperor we read: “According to the public opinion, the Minister of internal Affairs should be an educated man, familiar with the course of Affairs in other European countries and speak foreign languages. Mr. Zakrevsky active and the enemy plunders, but he is a perfect ignoramus. …In order to achieve a certain popularity and reputation of a great statesman in the Russian sense of the word, Mr. Zakrevsky believes his honor to discreetly provide protection for his subordinates”3. Indeed, Kravchenko was considered unfair that the salaries of officials of the Ministry of Finance twice the salary of the officials of the interior Ministry, which actually condemned to poverty and get money “barely exist can”4.
Speaking the language of today, the secret political police accused the head of the interior Ministry in blatant populism. It was a downright denunciation, however, until the king left without attention.
a cholera Epidemic has given into the hands of detractors graph is a powerful weapon that they, as they thought, successfully used against him. The Emperor accidentally filed the thought and not whether or not to send the cholera in the province, the energetic head of the interior Ministry. Nicholas I guileless the intrigue unraveled, to leave Zakrevsky in the long term is not intended, and gave Arseniy Andreyevich opportunity to think for a few days. By default, it was assumed that the count will not go anywhere. The Minister could answer that it would be more useful in St. Petersburg, that the province should send officials of lower rank, providing them with extraordinary powers, – but you never know what to answer when I offer to risk my life?
Zakrevsky to play with the king in the giveaway refused. In September of 1830 aboutn left the capital.
the Count left Petersburg so hastily that did not even have time accordingly to rectify yourself a results of lifting and the money runs. (As we would say in our days, the count went to the province without issuing the travel card, itinerary, and not having received an advance accounting). And because he was to save Russia from cholera for their own money. Five months Zakrevsky spent 50 dollars to make ends meet, was forced to lay the estates of the rich wife Agrafena Fyodorovna, including the famous Ivanovo, about two miles from Podolsk.
It was a striking thing to do!
For comparison, appointed in 1812 commander Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov hastened to implore Alexander 110 thousand rubles lifting and the court crew. During the campaign, Kutuzov was prepared by the Royal chef, all the dishes were from the yard, and dinner was served to field Marshal on a silver service5. There was no such Minister of internal Affairs, accustomed in his youth to eat the eggs of own preparation.
a Prince Volkonsky, Minister of the Imperial court, had supplied Zakrevsky brought by him from Paris the newest preservative – vinegar6.
Antiseptic handy. 3 Oct 1830 Zakrevsky wrote the Prince from Saratov: “you gave me, when my departure from Petersburg, I vinegar now daily, other safety tools, spray my handkerchief, rubbing his hands and find a composition that”7.
However, Zakrevsky least cared about their own safety. Not thinking about how it will affect his reputation at court, he’s the authority of the Minister began to arrange numerous quarantines, paralyzing trade and has created a sensitive issue for travellers. At first, the newfound severity of the quarantine laws was softened by not having their performance. We will refer to Pushkin, who 2 Oct 1830, when trying to get from Sochi to Moscow was faced with a quarantine Outpost. “Several men with clubs were guarding the crossing of some river. I began to question them. Neither they nor I did not understand why they were standing there with clubs and with orders not to let anyone in. I proved to them, that is probably where it established a quarantine that I’m not today, so tomorrow he will drive, and the proof offered them a silver ruble. The men agreed with me, moved me and wished many years to come”8.
But a month later widely established by the Minister quarantines, though, and created a noticeable inconvenience to trade, industry and the public have borne fruit. Zakrevsky in detail wrote about it to Prince Volkonsky.
“Cholera spread quickly for the reason that at the beginning of its occurrence in Astrakhan, and soon t��that in Saratov, not only quarantine, but even the police measures were not enforced. Now it is everywhere catch being every step of his is less destructive and finds less victims. However, to achieve this it was impossible otherwise, as the tape is caught in the cholera areas and the establishment of quarantine posts in one province from another. These funds, of course, painful, and no doubt there are people nebegaminama who scold me; but I have no respect for their murmuring, worrying only about the good General and about the execution of my duty, for there really Rosnano that prudent landlords where they cordoned off their villages and no they are not admitted and of these no one was allowed to leave, there were no patients, no deaths from cholera, although the epidemic at the same time and existed in neighboring places,”9.
the letter from Kazan to “my dear friend” the adjutant General Pavel Dmitrievich Kiselev 22 Oct 1830 Zakrevsky wrote about things happening in the regions outrages:
“I care and strive for cholera and thanksgiving to God in all areas reduced and are not so rampant as before; but sorry, for letting this disease in Moscow and the appearance thereof, no one wanted to believe and therefore have taken steps later.
can’t hide that now I have seen enough of the rulers of the provinces, which distressed cases, nor dispose nor nitisa could not. Not looking to give them all detailed instructions in those provinces where cholera appeared, but that was unsustainable and about any nonsense, as a corporal, asked. With such rulers is not far to go you with all the diligent desire from them and nothing worthwhile can be expected,”10.
As you can see, the Minister, without fear of censorship, gave vent to his indignation. He did not exaggerate. Even the secret political police, zhivopisuya the Emperor “a Picture of public opinion in 1830,” was forced to note: “the Appearance in the Astrakhan province of cholera and the rapidity with which the epidemic spread in the interior provinces, filled all with horror and caused the accusations to the address of the Ministers. They rained down the attacks, and the government has been condemned for what the management is entrusted to people who society deems incapable”11.
the interior Minister not sit in one place. Having established quarantines in one province, he immediately moved to another. And was surprised the speed of their movements through the vast Empire. “I never expected that within one month from ABO was in Kazan”12.
the Minister did not spare himself and demanded zeal by the local authorities – from the head of the province to the district leader of nobility. Living in their villages landlords the count was obliged to take positions associated with oversight of quarantine outposts. Got one of them and living in Boldin Gun��.
Vladimir Vasilyevich Alanine, Marshal of the nobility of the Lukoyanov district of Nizhny Novgorod province, was charged with oversight of cholera outposts from Penza and Simbirsk provinces: “A. S. Pushkin at this time, being the groom, was at the manor of his father in the village of Boldin. I treat him courteously, offering to take the easiest position. He says that, not being the landowner of the local province, he is not obliged to accept the position. I again write to him and enclose the Ministerial order, in which no one could refuse to perform the positions. And that he did not agree and asked me to give him a certificate to travel to Moscow. I replied that, with the failure of my first relationship, the evidence can not give. He went so newdelay; but in the Vladimir province. was stopped and returned back to Boldin. Meanwhile, in the Lukoyanov has arrived the Minister (gr. A. A. Zakrevsky). – “Do you have such of the nobility, who declined to be from the posts?” “All acted diligently with the exception of our poet A. S. Pushkin.” – “How dare he do that?” – Pushkin received the strict instruction of the Minister and took the position of”13.
In this time the doctors were at risk. They were promised plus a salary, which, however, often forgot to pay14. They can suffer not only from cholera. “…In some counties, the mob attempted to rampage, and in one village the unfortunate doctor languished in horror, chained to the corpse of someone who died from cholera”15.
the Minister addressed to physicians, asking them to expedite the search for powerful remedy against cholera. But did not hesitate to ask councils and ordinary citizens. Korochanskaya the landlord of a collegiate Secretary Aleksandr Nikolaevich Popov did not hesitate to respond to such kind treatment count. “For male persons: in the evening brought cold water to wash your face and hands up to the elbows; wash the head and feet to ladygeek; rinsing the mouth, nostrils; the washing of the ears and behind the ears once a day oblegchaet thus,”16. Zakrevsky considered sensible advice and submitted a letter Popova Nicholas I. the Czar, accustomed to the Spartan lifestyle recommendation like. He commanded the tips Popov be printed and distributed through the Empire. As you can see, the means of combating the pandemic is over 190 years not much has changed!
for five months, count Zakrevsky has traveled to 12 provinces out of 16 found cholera and quarantines established, having made a risky, but highly productive trip route: ABO – Petersburg – Saratov – Kazan – Tambov – Moscow – Tula – Moscow – St. Petersburg.
“the Widespread fear took possession of all: but I vosloh my trust in God, went to places which while more rampant this epidemic. The works of mowas not in vain: in all provinces, in which I personally disposed of the victims of the plague were few and it soon stopped”17.
1 Feb 1831 Zakrevsky returned to the capital victorious. As required by the law, he spent a week in quarantine and on February 9 took control of the Ministry.
February 23, 1831 P. D. Kiselev wrote to him from Bucharest: “…the Extermination of cholera is a feat, which you can be proud of and for which Russia should be grateful”18.
III the Department stated: “Parcel count Zakrevsky, in principle, did not approve of that society, he was not trusted… But shown by the Minister for activities justified the choice of the Emperor and soon forced the society to change their opinion in favor of the gr. Zakrevsky…”19.
But detractors graph is not calmed down. Detractors spread the rumor that the brother of the Minister of Rzhev mayor Colonel Zakrevsky, fearing cholera, voluntarily left his position. The king did not understand (there was a war in the Kingdom of Poland) and as a warning to others, without any preliminary investigation was ordered to bring Colonel to the military court. It became clear, however, that I “for some days I left the city, having a holiday given from the Governor”20. In the end, the Colonel graciously forgave (helped trouble comrades of the graph), but the nerves and the Colonel, and his brother badly ruffled.
When on Sennaya square in St. Petersburg on 22 June 1831 began the cholera revolt, Nicholas I directly asked the interior Minister: “Why was born the rebellion?” Zakrevsky said the situation bluntly: “Because the police took cholera hospital drunk and healthy, and threatened to haul from the houses of patients of another kind, and for the money was released first and was left alone the last”21.
the King did not like. He did not hide the fact that the Minister disliked him. For cholera Zakrevsky has not received any awards. He doesn’t even compensated for travel expenses. However, the chief of gendarmes, count Benkendorf and privately announced the Countess Agrafena Fyodorovna that his Majesty intends to the Minister, 50 thousand rubles “in the form of grace,”22. (Recall that this amount Zakrevsky isterial during the trip.)
Earl felt offended.
His Deputy, who ran the interior Ministry in the five months that Arseniy Andreevich fought cholera, has received 100 thousand rubles. Zakrevsky said “my dear friend” Alexander Khristoforovich that he refuses the Royal mercy: “do not want to be a burden to the state”23. That was reported by the head of the third section to the attention of the Emperor.
Zakrevsky nothing was left but to submit his resignation. Nicholas I lamented the stubbornness of the count, but the petition signed. They were only nine months after the triumphant return of the Minister �� the capital of the Russian Empire, the population of which he saved from cholera.
PS. May 16, 1848, the Emperor again called upon the count to the service, perhaps his adjutant-General, and appoint the Moscow military Governor-General. Will be less than a year. Feeling guilty about his old Zakrevsky, April 3, 1849, the day of Easter, Nicholas awarded him the order of St. Andrew, to which the Statute was made, and the order of the White eagle. It was belated reward for my “efforts on the cholera.”
After 18 years…
1. Paper count Arseny A. Zakrevsky // the Collection of the Imperial Russian historical society (hereinafter – SB. Irio). T. 73. SPb., 1890. P. 508.
2. Ibid. P. 512.
3. Russia under surveillance. Reports of the third section. 1827-1869. Moscow: Russian cultural Foundation; the Russian archive, 2006. P. 51.
4. SB. Irio. Vol. 78. SPb., 1898. S. 535.
5. Levenshtein V. I. Note: 1790-1815. Moscow: Kuchkovo pole, X-History, 2018. P. 268.
6. SB. Irio. Vol. 78. Pp. 98-99.
7. SB. Irio. T. 73. P. 186.
8. Pushkin A. S. Poln. Coll. Op. at 19 T. T. 12. M.: Sunday, 1996. P. 310.
9. SB. Irio. T. 73. P. 186-187.
10. SB. Irio. Vol. 78. Pp. 323-324.
11. Russia under surveillance. Reports of the third section. 1827-1869. P. 68.
12. SB. Irio. Vol. 78. S. 324. ABO – Turku now in Finland.
13. Languages M. P. From the notes // Russian archive. 1874. T. I. N3. S. 799.
14. SB. Irio. Vol. 78. P. 500.
15. Ibid. P. 537.
16. Ibid. S. 533.
17. Ibid. P. 536.
18. Ibid. P. 177.
19. Russia under surveillance. Reports of the third section. 1827-1869. P. 68.
20. SB. Irio. Vol. 78. P. 541.
21. Ibid. P. 539.
22. Ibid. P. 538.
23. Ibid. P. 512.
