Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin

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See also Mikhail Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin.
Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin by A. Ivanovsky.

Mikhail Pavlovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin (

N.S. 1826) was a Russian officer, one of the organizers of the Decembrist revolt
. He was the youngest of the five hanged Decembrists.

Biography

Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin was born in the village

guberniya) on June 4, 1801 (according to other sources 1803). His father was the Mayor (городничий) of the town of Gorbatov, owner of 640 serfs and a muslin
factory.

Despite his obscure position as a provincial mayor, Bestuzhev-Ryumin belonged to a branch of an ancient noble family (mentioned in chronicles since the 14th century), which included, among others, Count Alexey Bestuzhev-Ryumin (1693-1766) and Mikhail's nephew, historian Konstantin Bestuzhev-Ryumin.

Mikhail started his military career in 1818 at the Horse-guard regiment, then at the

podporuchik
.

In 1823, he joined the Southern Society of

Kiev and Kamenka, and negotiated with secret Polish
society. He was the author of the Decembrists' Proclamation that was read to the troops and local peasants. He also was known to dress in the clothes of lower classes and agitate people to revolt against the monarchy. Bestuzhev-Ryumin was the most extreme republican among the Decembrists; he insisted on the need to execute the Emperor and his entire family. At least four other members of the Bestuzhev family were involved in the Decembrist conspiracy.

On December 27, 1825 Mikhail was an assistant to

Goloday Island
in Saint Petersburg.

External links