"To divine peoples and future ages!". Presidential Library highlights the unveiling of the Alexander Column

The poem "Recollection of the celebration on August 30, 1834" by Vasily Zhukovsky describes the unveiling of the Alexander Column. The poet compares two neighbouring monuments - the Bronze Horseman rising on a rude rock and the recently erected tall and narrow column decorated with the bronze war and peace trophies, and the eternal, glowing Angel on the top.

A little less than a century separates the reigns of Peter the Great and Alexander I, who did so much for the glory of Russia. The Alexander Column on Palace Square was unveiled on September 11 (August 30), 1834, 52 years after the appearance of the Bronze Horseman on Senate Square.

The collection of the Presidential Library features the history of the creation of the Alexander Column, the tallest monument in the world made of granite monolith. It is set so neatly that no attachment to the base is needed. It is fixed in position by its weight alone. The collection includes a detailed description of all stages of creating and installation of the monument, eyewitness memories, as well as images of the column of different times.

In 1829, Nicholas I announced a contest for the creation of a monument in "memory of his unforgettable brother" - Emperor Alexander I. The author of the best project of a monument to the Russian monarch, who defeated the "invincible" Napoleon, was the French architect Auguste Montferrand. At that time, he was responsible for the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral... "Designing the columns for St. Isaac's Cathedral, this artist had to make numerous trips to the Finnish stone quarries. On the way from Vyborg to Friedrichsgam, he noticed an unusually large stone monolith, which he intended to use for the future monument to the Emperor Alexander I. - He submitted the draft project of the monument, which was approved by the emperor. The construction was entrusted to him. The most difficult part of this important enterprise included the extraction and coarse finishing of the column and its delivery. All works were performed by our compatriot - the merchant Yakovlev. He, like any enterprising Russian, did everything with art and perfect success", states the brochure "Picture of a Column Raised in Memory of the Emperor Alexander the Blessed" (1832), which is available on the Presidential Library's portal.

The book "Monument to Alexander the Blessed" (1833) contains many interesting facts about this grand work: Vasily Abramovich Yakovlev, merchant of the 1st Guild from Saint-Petersburg "launched an important and unique enterprise in the world on June 15, 1830. He began to extract the stone monolith for the monument, 14 Russian fathoms long". In severe frosts and blizzards, in hot days and heavy rains, six hundred people tried to separate the granite colossus from the rock. The work took a year and three months. "No doubt, only Russian people can manage such difficulties with amazing strength, energy and indefatigability", emphasizes the book. The column was separated from the rock three years before the opening of the monument on Palace Square. It fell onto a specially constructed tree bed. It took just the "moment", but "the thunder was quite strong". "At last", - continues the author of the "Monument to Alexander the Blessed", - "this bulk rolled to Saint-Petersburg by the waves of the Gulf of Finland. On August 30... - Alexander the Blessed saint's day, - this monument stood in front of the palace to divine peoples and future ages!..."

The installation of the column on Palace Square also required colossal efforts. Previously, 1250 six-meter pine piles were driven into the base of the pedestal made of half-meter-thick stone granite blocks. By August 30, 1832, there was erected a large platform next to the already finished pedestal. "There were 60 capstans (vertical-axled rotating machines) operated by 2,000 old warriors, companions of Emperor Alexander in the Holy Patriotic War of 1812. At a signal, the Emperor, the Tsarevich and the Grand Prince Mikhail Pavlovich took up the first capstan. Everything moved - a granite colossus, forty-five thousand poods in weight, arose. In an hour and forty minutes, Imperial Standard raised the and warriors who again served their beloved Tsar cried joyful Hurray! The great and difficult task had been successfully completed", is written in the book "Picture of a Column Raised in Memory of the Emperor Alexander the Blessed''. The authors concluded:"This great enterprise is over, because the main difficulties: the extraction of this solid-stone pillar, its transportation and installation, have already been fulfilled. The remaining finishing work is not important, comparing the previous''.

It took Auguste Montferrand two more years for the "unimportant finishes". The translator and writer Ivan Butovsky writes in the book "On the Unveiling of the Monument to Emperor Alexander I" (1834) that for the residents of the capital of the Russian Empire these "two years passed in anticipation and preparation for the national celebration", which was scheduled for September 11 ( August 30) 1834. "Even at the end of July... - continues Ivan Butovsky, - all the roads to Saint-Petersburg... were full of travellers who wanted to commemorate the memory of Alexander I and longed to look at the unveiling of the monument. <...> But five days before the festival the crowd of people increased too much. For some time, the spacious city seemed overcrowded".

The unveiling of the monument took place in the presence of the sovereign and the entire royal family. From early morning, Palace Square and the surroundings were filled with people. "The majestic monument was slowly unveiled before the curious audience", describes Ivan Butovsky the solemn moment. - Finally, the forests fell, and the column showed all its glory... A gigantic fragment of granite turned into a column, depicts the firmness of Alexander, who did not hesitate in time of troubles for Russia and, covered with a shield of faith and rightness of a case, courageously resisted a strong enemy "...

The monument impressed the majesty and nobility. "It is not decorated with magnificent jewellery, lush trophies, and numerous images of Russian victories", wrote the traveller and writer Pyotr Dobel in the book "August 30, 1834, or Feelings and Thoughts While Viewing a Column Devoted to the Immortal Memory of Emperor Alexander I" ( 1834). - "On the contrary, simplicity combined with an inexplicable taste is visible everywhere! Everything corresponds to the good, religious features of the hero. It recalls to memory the image of Alexander I, as well as the unforgettable epoch of 1812!".