History of Russia: The exhibition “The last knight of the Empire. Nicholas I and the Russian army” in Saint-Petersburg

The exhibition "The Last Knight of the Empire. Nicholas I and the Russian Army" was opened at the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Corps (St. Petersburg).

The new exhibition offers a new look at the personality of the Emperor Nicholas I, whose image is strongly distorted by political block dies and the subsequent Soviet historiography, sometimes very biased.

The exhibits are Caucasian swords, richly decorated with captured weapons of the East, keys and locks from the conquered fortresses Kistenzhi (Kustendje), Bayburt, city of Madt, commemorative medals in honor of the victories at Silistra. (1828), Shumla. (1829), at the conclusion of peace with Turkey. (1829), a pectoral cross "In memory of the war of 1853 - 1856", St. George's pipe "For Warsaw". A separate group consists of Nicholas I’s awards. The award is presented in a large volume of cold steel and firearms, which fought the Russian army.    

The walls of the exhibition hall are richly decorated with paintings by well-known battle painter V. Mazurovsky, A. Gebens, V. Moshkov who on request of the sovereign painted pictures on subjects of Russian and foreign military history.

The personality and deeds of Nicholas I was evaluated ambiguously by contemporaries. His private life and public activities, character, habits, relationships with different people is reflected in numerous diaries and memoirs. The visitors have an opportunity to get acquainted with the brightest extracts from them and make your own opinion about the last knight of the Empire and Europe.

The exhibition "The Last Knight of the Empire. Nicholas I and the Russian army" will run until the end of 2016.