True or fiction: why it is believed that Emperor Alexander I left the throne and became a hermit monk
True or fiction: why it is believed that Emperor Alexander I left the throne and became a hermit monk

Video: True or fiction: why it is believed that Emperor Alexander I left the throne and became a hermit monk

Video: True or fiction: why it is believed that Emperor Alexander I left the throne and became a hermit monk
Video: ТАЙНЫЙ ГАРАЖ! ЧАСТЬ 1: РЕТРО АВТОМОБИЛИ! - YouTube 2024, November
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Russian Emperor Alexander I and monk Fyodor Kuzmich
Russian Emperor Alexander I and monk Fyodor Kuzmich

Russian emperor Alexander I spent 23 years on the throne. During his reign, Russia won the Patriotic War of 1812, liberal reforms were carried out. The sudden death of the autocrat gave rise to a lot of rumors that in reality he did not die, but went to wander, disguised as a monk. Moreover, many historians are inclined to believe that this was indeed the case.

Russian Emperor Alexander I
Russian Emperor Alexander I

The death of the emperor was an unexpected shock for everyone, because Alexander I was always distinguished by excellent health. A sudden trip from the capital to Taganrog and the equally sudden death of the autocrat at the age of 47 from typhoid fever immediately gave rise to gossip that in reality there is a completely different person in the coffin.

Supporters of this version, as an indirect confirmation, mentioned a letter of recommendation from P. M. Volkonsky, who was involved in transporting the body of the emperor to the capital. The prince said that the damp climate of Taganrog made the deceased's face unrecognizable, so you shouldn't open the coffin lid to identify the body.

Elder Fyodor Kuzmich on his deathbed
Elder Fyodor Kuzmich on his deathbed

According to legend, Alexander I did not die, but changed into a monastic robe, called himself Fyodor Kuzmich, and set off to wander. Several years after the official death of the emperor, the monk appeared in Tomsk and lived there until his death in 1864.

There are written testimonies that the mysterious monk was a very educated person: he spoke several languages, surprised everyone with his manners, could tell in great detail about the course of the Patriotic War. Everywhere Fyodor Kuzmich was treated very respectfully.

A document written by the hand of Emperor Alexander I
A document written by the hand of Emperor Alexander I

Historians name various reasons why the emperor wanted to leave the throne. One of them is remorse over the death of his father. When, under cover of night, the conspirators killed Paul I, Alexander and his wife were in their chambers, but did not sleep. They were dressed in formal attire. This is indirect evidence that Alexander I knew what was happening in the palace.

When Count P. A. Palen appeared to him and ascertained the death of his father, Alexander began to sob. The count dryly threw him: . After that, the new emperor went out to the troops.

A letter written by the monk Fyodor Kuzmich
A letter written by the monk Fyodor Kuzmich

Relatively recently, the president of the Russian Graphological Society, Svetlana Semyonova, made a sensational statement that the Russian emperor and the Tomsk monk are one and the same person. She referred to the fact that the letters of Alexander I and Fyodor Kuzmich were written in the same handwriting:

Of course, this statement cannot be considered direct evidence that the emperor really chose the fate of a wandering monk. Skeptics generally believe that Fyodor Kuzmich's letters are fake. Everyone has their own point of view.

Letters written by Elder Fyodor Kuzmich
Letters written by Elder Fyodor Kuzmich

There is an opinion that after the sovereign he followed wife Elizaveta Alekseevna. After faking her death, she abdicated and spent the rest of her life in prayer.

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