DECEMBRISTS (in Russian name given in Russian history to the members of various secret societies which were i formed in Russia during the reign of Alex ander I, beginning in 1816, and rising in open insurrection on 14 Dec. 1825. The failure of Alexander I to put into effect his humanitarian ideals which he had promised to the people before his accession to the throne, and the utter inability of Count Arakchew, into whose hands passed the administrative power, to understand the needs and wishes of the people, caused a great dissatisfaction amongst the people and a secret society was formed under the name spaseniye for Salvation) Among the founders of this union were several grand dukes, high officers of the army add the civil service. The main objects of that society, as expressed in its constitution, were to en deavor by all means and available forces and for the general good to maintain the mild and honorable measures of the government, to pre vent all evils and crooked actions on the part of the officials, etc. But its most secret and sacred
ideal was to introduce in Russia a parliamentary system of government. In 1818 the society adopted another name Soyus Blogodenstviya («Union of During the coro nation of Emperor Nikolas Pavlovich the Decembrists, profiting by the interregnum that preceded and the military disorder, proclaimed Prince Trubetzkvy dictator of Russia, with the aim of effecting a revolution and establishing a republican form of government. But Tru betzkvy declined autocratic power; the revolu tion broke out, however, on 14 Dec. 1825, and was immediately suppressed and the ringleaders were summarily dealt with.