The Reign of Alexander I
Keyword(s):
The Face
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This chapter shows how Russian conservativism in the reign of Alexander I was multifaceted, often in opposition to state policy, and far from united. But there was a common core among its various strands. Men such as Aleksandr Shishkov, Fyodor Rostopchin, Sergei Glinka, Aleksandr Sturdza, and Nikolai Karamzin fused reason and faith to support a form of enlightened autocracy unlimited by law but firmly bound by morality. They also shared a concern with creating a modern Russian culture and a strong state that would be able to unite the country and provide stability in the face of internal and external pressures. In these ways they set the tone for Russian conservatives of future generations.