Ivan Kutaisov and Alexander Benckendorff

Suppression of uprisings and revolutions. Under Nicholas I, the Polish Uprising of 1830–1831 and the Hungarian Revolution of 1848–1849 were suppressed. For his role in suppressing revolutionary movements in Europe, he earned the nickname "the gendarme of Europe."

Military conflicts. During the reign of Nicholas I, Russia participated in the Caucasian War (1817–1864), the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828), the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829), and the Crimean War (1853–1856).

Eastern policy. Nicholas I sought to establish Russian influence in the Ottoman Empire and supported Orthodox peoples in the Balkans.

Strengthening the autocracy. Nicholas I believed autocracy was the only form of government capable of leading Russia to development and avoiding upheaval. He was actively involved in managing state affairs, frequently traveling throughout the empire, including touring hospitals and educational institutions.

Centralization and bureaucracy. The priority was to strengthen the centralization of the state apparatus. The highest government bodies were reorganized, and the Second and Third Sections of His Imperial Majesty's Chancellery were created. The Third Section conducted political investigations.

The peasant question. Nicholas I took steps to improve the peasants' situation: he prohibited the sale of peasants at public auction, the separation of families, and the exile of peasants to penal servitude. A reform of the management of state peasants was carried out under the leadership of Pavel Dmitrievich Kiselev (1837–1841), and a decree on "obligated peasants" was introduced. However, serfdom was not completely abolished during the emperor's lifetime.

Censorship. New censorship regulations were introduced (1826 and 1828). After the European revolutions of 1848–1849, Nicholas I strictly limited the number of factories in each district of Moscow, prohibiting the establishment of new cotton and wool factories, as well as ironworks.

Industrial and transport development. Protectionist policies were implemented, with industrialists receiving subsidies and benefits. Construction of the first railways was initiated, with the Tsarskoye Selo Railway opening in 1837.

In 1819, Alexander I informed Nicholas that the heir to the throne, Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, intended to renounce his rights to the throne, and that Nicholas, as the next-eldest brother, would become the heir. In 1823, Alexander I signed a secret manifesto confirming Konstantin's abdication and appointing Nicholas as heir.

After the death of Alexander I in 1825, an interregnum ensued. Constantine refused to come to St. Petersburg and confirmed his abdication in private letters to Nicholas Pavlovich. Nicholas eventually issued a manifesto declaring his accession to the throne.

The reign of Nicholas I began with the suppression of the Decembrist uprising on Senate Square.

Nikolai was born in Tsarskoye Selo. He was groomed primarily for a military career: from childhood, he was fascinated by military toys, and at the age of three, he was already wearing the uniform of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment. He received a military education and also became familiar with engineering and fortification. He had no interest in the humanities. He enjoyed drawing, took lessons from Kiprensky and Utkin, played the flute, and was a connoisseur of opera and ballet.

In 1817, he married the Prussian princess Friederike Louise Charlotte Wilhelmina, who, after converting to Orthodoxy, received the name Alexandra Feodorovna.

Dark brown eyes, golden-red styled hair, thin lips, tall and thin. Smart, bold, determined.
Nicholas I Pavlovich (June 25 (July 6), 1796 – February 18 (March 2), 1855) was Emperor of All the Russias from November 19 (December 1), 1825, to February 18 (March 2), 1855. He was also Tsar of Poland (the only crowned Polish monarch among the Emperors of All the Russias) and Grand Duke of Finland. He was the third son of Emperor Paul I and Empress Maria Feodorovna, the brother of Alexander I, and the father of Alexander II.

Kutaisov's favor was extremely unpopular in high society. Many members of the aristocracy considered the elevation of a former slave above members of the hereditary nobility insulting. Kutaisov was accused of actively interfering in court intrigues, influencing the emperor's personal life (specifically, by ousting Catherine Nelidova and promoting a rapprochement with Anna Lopukhina), and accepting bribes to lobby for his interests.

Kutaisov had an open relationship with the actress Louise Chevalier, who, under his patronage, gained influence at court.

Legend has it that on the eve of the conspiracy, Kutaisov received a warning but failed to open the letter, which allegedly cost Paul I his life. However, historical evidence (from Kutaisov himself) refutes this version: he did not open the letter because he recognized the sender—it was a letter of gratitude for a previously fulfilled request.

On the night of the coup, Kutaisov, fearing for his life, fled from Mikhailovsky Castle. After the emperor's death, he was briefly arrested and then dismissed from service. He spent some time abroad, and upon his return, he lived primarily in Moscow and on his estates.

Kutaisov had thoroughly studied the emperor's character, knew how to get along with him, and over time, gained enormous influence over him. After Paul's accession to the throne, the favorite's career soared:
In November 1796 he was promoted from chamberlain to wardrobe master of the 5th class.
In December 1798, he became Chief Wardrobe Master of the 4th class and a Knight of the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree, decorated with diamonds.
On February 22, 1799, he was elevated to the rank of baron of the Russian Empire and appointed master of the hunt.
On May 5, 1799, he received the title of count “for outstanding zeal, diligence and commitment.”
In July of the same year he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.
In January 1800 he became Chief Horsemaster, in March of the same year he became a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and in December he received the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called with diamonds.

In addition to high ranks and medals, Kutaisov received generous grants of land and peasants: approximately 5,000 peasant souls, up to 50,000 dessiatines of land (primarily in Courland), and rich fishing grounds on the Volga. He became one of the richest men in Russia.

According to the most widespread version, in 1770, the ten-year-old boy was captured by Russian troops during the assault on the Bendery fortress. Lieutenant General N.V. Repnin ransomed him and presented him to Empress Catherine II, who, in turn, presented the prisoner as a gift to her son, Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich.

Pavel baptized the boy, gave him the name Ivan, the patronymic “Pavlovich” (like his godfather) and the surname “Kutaysov” - after the name of the city of Kütahya in Turkey or Kutaisi in Georgia, where he was probably born.

The Tsarevich took a liking to the bright young man and, on his own orders, sent him to Berlin and Paris, where he learned the trades of hairdressing and medical assistant. Upon his return, Ivan took up the position of valet to the Grand Duke.

31 years old, though he looks younger. Brown eyes, shoulder-length black hair in waves pulled back into a ponytail, tall and thin, sometimes with an earring. (c. 1759 – January 9 (21), 1834) – Russian statesman, favorite of Emperor Paul I, count. His fate is a rare example of the rapid rise of a man of humble origin to the pinnacle of the court hierarchy.

Benckendorff's activities are viewed controversially. On the one hand, he was a military general, a hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. On the other, his role as head of political investigation is often associated with repressive measures. He participated in the investigation of the Decembrist case and monitored public opinion.

A.S. Pushkin described Benckendorff as "an honest and worthy man." At the same time, the Decembrists he interrogated spoke of him with sympathy.

During the 1824 flood in St. Petersburg, while on the balcony of the Winter Palace with Emperor Alexander I, he threw off his cloak, swam to a boat, and participated in rescuing people.

He was the initiator of the creation and founder of the Second Russian Fire Insurance Society, and headed its board from 1835 to 1844.

The author of memoirs about his life and public service.

He took part in the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813, including the storming of the Ganja fortress in 1804.

In 1806–1807 he fought in the Prussian campaign against Napoleon, in particular at Preussisch Eylau.

In 1809, he volunteered for the Moldavian Army and took part in the Russo-Turkish War, including the siege of Silistra and the battle of Ruschuk in 1811.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, he initially served as aide-de-camp to Emperor Alexander I, serving as liaison between the general command and Bagration's army. He then commanded the vanguard of General Wintzingerode's flying detachment. He participated in the Battle of Velizh and fought near Zvenigorod. After Napoleon's departure from Moscow, he was appointed commandant of the city.

In the campaigns of 1813–1814 he commanded “flying” detachments and distinguished himself in the battles of Tempelberg, Lüttich, and Craonne.

In 1826, he submitted to Emperor Nicholas I a project for the establishment of a higher police force under the command of a special minister and inspector of the gendarme corps.

From 1826 he held the posts of Chief of the Third Section of His Imperial Majesty's Chancellery and Chief of the Gendarmes.

In 1828, he accompanied the Emperor on a trip to the active army during the Russo-Turkish War, and took part in the siege of Brailov, the crossing of the Danube, the battle of Shumla, and the siege of Varna.

On April 21, 1829, he was promoted to general of cavalry.

On November 10, 1832, he was elevated to the rank of count.

Born to Major General Christopher Ivanovich Benckendorff and Anna Juliana, née Baroness Schilling von Canstadt, in 1798, at the age of 16, he was enlisted as a non-commissioned officer in the Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment, then promoted to ensign and appointed aide-de-camp to Emperor Paul I.

40 years old, brown eyes, light brown hair parted to the side, thin lips, tall and thin. (June 23 [July 4], 1782, Reval – September 11, 1844, near the island of Dago) – Russian statesman and military leader, cavalry general, one of the close associates of Emperor Nicholas I.