The First Russian Revolution: The Decembrist Revolt of 1825 - Hardcover

by Susanna Rabow-Edling (Author)

One of the Best Books of 2025: History at the Financial Times

Looking two hundred years in the past, an enlightening study of the neglected liberal tradition in Russian political thought with resonance for today.

On December 14, 1825, a group of young Russian army officers led three thousand troops to Senate Square in St. Petersburg, aiming to force the senate to adopt a liberal constitution and transform the Russian Empire. The Decembrist Revolt--as it came to be known--was suppressed, with a second uprising in the south meeting the same fate. Five leaders were executed, and many others exiled to Siberia. Why did so many young noblemen risk their lives for regime change, what was their vision for an alternative society, and what were the consequences for participants and their families? This book highlights the often-neglected liberal tradition in Russian political thought and the experiences of Decembrist wives and fiancées, offering a fresh reinterpretation in the light of recent events in Russia.

Author Biography

Susanna Rabow-Edling is associate professor of political science and senior research fellow at the Institute for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Uppsala University, Sweden. Her books include Liberalism in Pre-Revolutionary Russia: State, Nation, Empire.