William Tyler
From Successful War to Failed Revolution
Summary
The groundwork for a modern European Russia, laid down in the previous century by Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, was eschewed by Alexander I (1801-25) and his younger brother, Nicholas I (1825-55).
Why? The French Revolution. Everybody and everywhere in Europe would be affected by the wars of Napoleon and by the ideas of The Revolution. Alexander I was able to push Napoleon’s Army out of Russia following the French invasion of 1812, but dealing with ideas was much more difficult. Both he and Nicholas I fell back on the the well trodden path of Russian repression of threatening ideas.
Russia turned towards its Slavic heritage. As a result, isolationism spawned hubris, and the Russian Army was exposed during The Crimean War at the end of Nicholas’ reign. A crisis that the new Tsar Alexander II would have to meet in the second half of the century.
William Tyler
William Tyler has spent his entire professional life in adult education, beginning at Kingsgate College in 1969. He has lectured widely for many public bodies, including the University of Cambridge and the WEA, in addition to speaking to many clubs and societies. In 2009, William was awarded the MBE for services to adult education, and he has previously been a scholar in residence at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.