General count Pavel D. Kisselev and the organic regulation in the Danubian principalities
Part of : Balkan studies : biannual publication of the Institute for Balkan Studies ; Vol.31, No.2, 1990, pages 283-294
Issue:
Pages:
283-294
Section Title:
Articles
Author:
Abstract:
The Russian czars —emperors— of the nineteenth century were describedby professor Arthur J. May as autocrats. Some historians consider the reignof Emperor Nicholas I as a dark period in Russian history and the NicholasSystem as a rival to the Metternich System in their policy of ruthless repression.The liberal reforms carried out by General Count Pavel D. Kisselev in theDanubian principalities was a great achievement.This paper tries to reveal some interesting details given by Kisselev’sRussian biographer A. P. Zalblotskii - Desiatovskii in his two-volume workGraf P. D. Kisselev i ego vremia [ Count P. D. Kisselev and his time], publishedin St. Petersburg in 1882.Although an aristocrat himself, Kisselev criticized the abuses of his ownsocial class and protected the basic human rights of the oppressed peasantsof his time. In parallel to the Organic Regulation — first Romanian constitution—Kisselev greatly contributed to the modernization, even westernizationof the Danubian Principalities.According to the great Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga, the OrganicRegulation, introduced in Wallachia and Moldavia, possibly paved the wayto the eventual political union of these principalities into the Kingdom ofRomania in 1881. In addition, Kisselev also supported the idea that theDanube should become the natural boundary of the Russian Empire.Facts established by critical evaluation of all available evidence, synthesizea thorough study of this great man of nineteenth century Eastern Europe.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Παραδουνάβιες περιοχές, Kisselev's pavel, Pavel Kisselev
