The Presidential Library’s resources spotlight the role of Pobedonostsev in the education of heirs of the imperial authority

Konstantin Petrovich Pobedonostsev, an influential statesman, legal scholar, church historian, chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod, member of the State Council of the Russian Empire, was born on June 2, 1827. The Presidential Library’s portal features the collection Konstantin Pobedonostsev (1827-1907), which includes digital copies of rare documents - diaries, service notes, all-subject reports of the Attorney General, his scientific works, personal correspondence, as well as a documentary film Attorney General of the Holy Synod Konstantin Pobedonostsev as well as video recording of the report of Doctor of Historical Sciences Sergei Firsov The Most Holy Governing Synod in the era of Pobedonostsev.

An intellectual who grew up in the atmosphere of a professor's house, the grandson of a clergyman, a graduate of the School of Law, Pobedonostsev acquired a reputation as an excellent expert in legal science and a brilliant lecturer and teacher. At the end of 1861, Konstantin Petrovich, together with the historian Sergei Solovyov, was invited as the chief educator of the grand princes. He taught law to the heir to Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich - the son of Alexander II. After the sudden death of the crown prince, Pobedonostsev was again invited to the court to teach legal sciences to the future emperor Alexander III and other great princes, as well as to the wife of the heir to the throne, Maria Feodorovna. Subsequently, Pobedonostsev taught law to the future emperor Nicholas II.

The young lawyer not only taught and educated the royal heirs, but also tried to capture this process by means of journalism, held extensive correspondence with his students.

In his Letters of the journey of the Tsar's heir to the Tsarevich across Russia, from St. Petersburg to Crimea he described how in 1863 he accompanied Tsarevich Nicholas, the son of Alexander II, along an interesting historical route: from the memorable places of St. Petersburg - through Rostov-on-Don and Novocherkassk to the final stop in Livadia. “The Tsarevich left on June 11 from the pier of the St. Petersburg-Volga Shipping Company, - the mentor wrote on the way. - The way from the pier to Shlisselburg in absolutely quiet and clear weather lasted about 10 hours...Needless to say, all the attention of the high traveler was drawn to a thorough familiarity with the artificial waterway, which was laid by the great helmsman of Russia over the past century.

Nikolai Alexandrovich did not want to leave the Novocherkassk Cossacks and the hospitable chieftain Platov. Here is Pobedonostsev's record about the order on the occasion of the Tsarevich's acceptance of the ataman's sign of the Don army: “Ten days I spent in the midst of the valiant Army brought me closer to many of his worthy sons and to your hero, your Ataman. Being among you, getting to know you better, I understood the importance of the title of your Ataman. Believe, brave donors, that you are close to my heart, that I am proud of you and pray to the Almighty, may he preserve you for future times with what you have always been for the glory of our beloved fatherland. Ataman Nikolai".

Teaching law to Alexander III, the mentor skillfully formed the circle of his reading. In particular, he recommended “to read, without delay, in the Russian Archive of 1872 Zabelin's article “Minin and Pozharsky. Straight lines and curves in the time of troubles"". Thanks to Pobedonostsev, Alexander read the works of authors revealing the national identity of Russia, who believed in her special path - Ivan Goncharov, Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky. Pobedonostsev was friends with the latter until the writer's death in 1881.

A lot of useful and instructive things are provided at the publication Letters from Pobedonostsev to Alexander III. Vol. 1. It contains 313 letters which spotlight the thoughts of a serious-minded, observant, wise teacher.