Pavel Ivanovich Pestel.

Pavel Ivanovich Pestel was born on June 24 (July 5), 1793, in Moscow. He was a Decembrist and leader of the Southern Secret Society. In 1916, he joined the Union of Salvation and drafted its charter. The society's goal was to introduce a constitutional monarchy in Russia and abolish serfdom.

A revolutionary who strove for freedom, he was willing to use authoritarian and harsh methods to achieve it. Overall, Pestel's character can be described as rational, strong-willed, charismatic, yet uncompromising and cold—a man for whom ideas were more important than life, and truth more important than feelings.

Spring, 1820. All the officers were gathered in one room, where Miloradovich was holding a huge folder, and Nicholas I stood next to him. It had become known that the Semenovsky Regiment had been disbanded, the officers were being sent to serve in Little Russia, and Lieutenant Colonel Schwartz had been sentenced to death for inciting the so-called Semenovsky Regiment mutiny, which had led to all the officers being sent away. Pestel stood behind everyone, in his shirenko shirt, and upon hearing the information about Schwartz, slowly turned his "look of surprise" to him. Seeing Schwartz faint at this news, everyone rushed to him, but Pestel remained standing and turned his gaze to Nicholas I, somewhat displeased.