Mikhail Nikolaevich Muravyov went down in the history of Russia as a great statesman of the 19th century. He is also known as a talented military man and a tough punisher of rebels. Muravyov was treated kindly by the sovereign and was the holder of many awards and orders for valiant service to the Fatherland.
Biography
Mikhail was from the old noble family of the Muravyovs, known since the 15th century. His father, Nikolai Nikolaevich Muravyov, was a successful public figure who founded the school of column leaders. His mother, Alexandra Mordvinova, took care of the home and raising children. Mikhail's three siblings also became quite successful and influential people.
The boy received a very decent education at home. He was especially good at exact sciences, and in 1810 Mikhail entered Moscow University, namely, its physics and mathematics faculty. At the institute, Muravyov, with the help of his father, organized the "Moscow Society of Mathematicians", the purpose of which was to popularize general mathematical knowledge in Russia. Mikhail actively participated in events and gave free lectures on geometry.
In 1811, Muravyov entered the school of column leaders. They trained future Russian officers for the General Staff.
The beginning of the military career of young Mikhail Muravyov
Quite quickly, Mikhail was awarded the rank of ensign of the retinue of His Imperial Majesty.
In the spring of 1812, he went to the city of Vilna in the First Western Army, which at that time was commanded by the famous commander Barclay de Tolly. Mikhail took part in the Battle of Borodino when he was only 16 years old. During the battle, Muravyov was dangerously wounded in the leg and sent to Nizhny Novgorod. Thanks to the doctors and the family's care, the leg was saved, but Mikhail had to walk with a stick all his life.
For participation in the battle on the Raevsky battery, Muravyov was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree.
After a final recovery in 1813, he was sent back to military service. At that time, the Russian army was abroad, and Muravyov, already in the rank of second lieutenant, participated in the battles of Dresden.
In 1814, for health reasons, he returned to St. Petersburg, where he was sent to the General Staff of the Guards.
The case of the Decembrists
In 1817 Muravyov was promoted to staff captain. Many officers who participated in military campaigns abroad were subject to the ideas of the revolution. Muravyov was no exception, and since 1814 he was a member of various secret revolutionary societies:
- Salvation Union;
- "Union of Prosperity";
- "Sacred artel".
In addition, Muravyov was an active member of the Root Council.
In 1820, Mikhail stepped aside from revolutionary activities, but his brother Alexander became a direct participant in the infamous Decembrist uprising.
In the same year, Muravyov was promoted to lieutenant colonel, after which he retired for health reasons. He settled in the Smolensk province and began to lead the measured life of a landowner. Mikhail Nikolaevich was a caring owner and during a great famine he organized a free canteen for the peasants.
In 1826, already the landowner Muravyov was arrested in connection with the case of the Decembrists. He was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress, but for a very short time, was acquitted and released by the personal decree of Nicholas I.
Career heyday
In the summer of 1826, Mikhail Nikolaevich was again called up for government service.
In 1827, he submitted to Nicholas I a request to improve work in local judicial and administrative institutions and to eliminate bribery. The emperor appreciated the idea and transferred Muravyov to serve in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
After that, Muravyov's career began to flourish and his work in various government positions. In 1827 he was appointed vice-governor and collegiate councilor of Vitebsk. And in the fall of the following year, Muravyov became governor of Mogilev and was promoted to the rank of state councilor.
In the service, he established himself as an ardent patriot and opponent of the invasion of Polish culture and the Catholic faith.
In 1830, he prepared a document in which he argued the need for the introduction of the Russian education system in educational institutions of the North-West Territory. Thanks to this petition, in 1831 the emperor issued a number of decrees and decreed:
- abolish the Lithuanian statute;
- transfer the inhabitants of the region to the general imperial legislation;
- in courts, instead of Polish, introduce Russian.
Rebel Punisher
In 1830, Muravyov became a full state councilor. As the governor, he quite toughly and uncompromisingly resolved all issues and put a lot of effort into the Russification of the territory under his jurisdiction.
In 1863, the January Uprising took place in the Northwest Territory. The main idea of the rebels was the restoration of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of 1772.
Muravyov led the fight against the rebels against the government and received the nickname of the hangman. There is a bitter truth in this, since Mikhail Nikolaevich resorted to public executions to suppress the uprising. But we must give the governor his due, the executions were carried out only after serious proceedings.
Under the leadership of Muravyov, 128 of the most active rebels were executed and about 10 thousand participants in the uprising were sent into exile.
However, out of about 77 thousand rebels, only 15-16% were prosecuted, the rest were allowed to return home without suffering absolutely no punishment.
Muravyov - Russian reformer
Mikhail Nikolayevich understood that the use of force by which he suppressed the January Uprising was not a panacea and the country needed reforms.
Possessing great powers, Muravyov carried out a number of transformations:
- pursued a policy of Russification, while not infringing on the rights of Belarusians;
- put an end to Polish-Catholic influence;
- improved the social and economic life of the peasants.
In 1865 he was awarded the title of count with the right double surname Muravyov-Vilensky. After leaving the post of governor of the North-Western Territory, Muravyov left a trusted person in his place - Konstantin Kaufman.
Personal life
Muravyov's wife was Pelageya Sheremeteva, the daughter of a military man. The wedding took place in the church of the village of Pokrovskoye on February 7, 1818. In her youth, Pelageya was a first-rate beauty, the couple had three sons and a daughter.
Mikhail Muravyov-Vilensky died on September 12, 1866. He was buried in St. Petersburg at the Lazarevskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Emperor Alexander II was personally present at the farewell ceremony, and the Perm Infantry Regiment was on the guard of honor.
