Alexander I: The Sphinx on the Throne

Emperor Alexander I—Catherine the Great’s favorite and student—came to the throne after a palace coup and the death of his father. In the first years of his reign he seemed like a liberal atop the peak of absolute power, but this period proved brief. He had to go through a long confrontation with Napoleon, and then become one of the creators of the Holy Alliance of European monarchs. By that time the ruler had changed noticeably: he became fascinated with mysticism and turned into a convinced defender of absolutism. His views evolved, but his outstanding diplomatic talent remained unchanged. The Tsar, nicknamed the Blessed, led Russia to a triumphant celebration, yet at the same time he turned part of the nobility against himself—those who saw him as a “weak and sly ruler.”

In this book, S. M. Sergeev, a recognized researcher of Russian public thought, has collected the most direct, precise, and resonant works by the greatest Russian historians about the mysterious monarch who consistently drew the attention of scholars and readers alike. No wonder Pyotr Vyazemsky called him “a sphinx, unsolved to the grave.” The edition is intended for everyone interested in the history of Russia, especially for its key—and still relevant—pages.