Russia's First Revolutionaries: The Decembrists (All Parts)

In 1825, a group of disillusioned army officers launched a coup in the Russian capital, St.Petersburg. Their goal was to overthrow the Tsar, establish a constitutional government and abolish the brutal institution of serfdom. They became known by the month of the revolt - the Decembrists - a moment that nearly changed the course of Russian and world history.
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[@KingNoTail]

"What a miserable country, they can't even hang us properly." Ouch, he definitely got one last FU in. And Sir Edward Disbrowe was right on the money in his letter to the British Foreign Secretary.

[@tylerbozinovski427]

Most based quote in the whole video.

[@livethefuture2492]

It hits hard... because it's true. Even a century later, little else had changed. Aside from you would've been more likely to be shot on sight than given a trial and hanging. How far a nation can fall...and never recover.

[@dirremoire]

Tsar Nicholas: Would you rather be drawn & quartered?

[@user-lh4te2ro1j]

😂؟

[@richardpasquinjr8560]

Epic History TV is the greatest history channel on KZbin hands down.

[@peterd1858]

False: Mark Felton>

[@emrik1hoftun141]

Yes

[@ChristopherRx]

We know :)

[@audiosurfarchive]

@@peterd1858 say sike now

[@knmo2642]

They are good for sure..top 3 (kings and generals and historymarche)

[@GreenBaldrick]

Some points I want to mention as someone who studied Russian history: 1) the Decembrists inspired not only revolutionaries, but also writers and poets like Pushkin. Many important literature figures knew the Decembrists personally and saw their demise as a personal tragedy. Pierre Bezuknov from War and Peace has many traits of the Decembrists in his character and it was done on purpose. 2) Since the Decembrists were noblemen, they looked at the Emperor and high-ranked officials who questioned them as their comrades and were pretty naive and too honest with them answering all their questions because it was a noble thing to do and willingly giving out information later used against them. 3) The Decembrists were beloved by the local population in Siberia and they influenced the cultural development of the region. The mansions the Decembrists owned were turned into museums. 4) Some Decembrists refused to return back to St. Petersburg even when they were allowed to and they stayed in Siberia forever as they loved the place and the people and had nothing to return to back in St. Petersburg. 5) "The Decembrist's wife" is a Russian saying meaning "a brave and selfless woman who is ready to share any fate with her partner", their wives were regarded with respect and idealized because they could have kept their privileges and high society lifestyle but they abandoned everything and went through many years of hardships just to be with their husbands. 6) The Union of Salvation (the movie) received very mixed reviews, but the majority of the vocal viewers and film critics saw it as an attempt to downplay the Decembrist's role and show their actions as senseless and the Decembrists themselves as stupid kids who rebelled out of their youthful maximalism while the "kind" Emperor was just doing his duty. The movie was released at the time of pro-liberal protests in Russia which were attended mostly by 20-30 somethings and Navalny was getting more popular among people, so showing some of the most famous Russian liberal revolutionaries in such a light at the time like that has raised many eyebrows. Popular Russian youtuber BadComedian posted a long critical video about the movie - it currently has 19 million views.

[@kevinxu3892]

Very great read! Just curious if you know if the Decemberist in Siberia ever contemplated independence from the main Russian state, or if there is some legacy of liberal rebellion or idealism in these areas from Decemberists? Not sure if there numbers were large enough to have this impact but wondered if any long term effects can be traced to their exile

[@josevictorionunez9312]

@@johngriffin8114 Interesting fact I discovered. The Decembrists while inspired by the United States constitution, were against slavery of African-Americans since they saw it as all too similar to Russian Serfdom and did not agree with the US Federal Model. They also aided in brining a US-style Republic with Belarus, Lithuania and Ukraine to be included in many of the former territories of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

[@yochaiwyss3843]

I will add from BadComedian's review of the movie, that an explicit goal of the Decemberist's Movie was "showing" that the Autocrat in control wants only the best for his subjects; and all the subjects must do to gain their rights was politely appeal, shut up and suffer, and only wait.

[@RadioactiveSherbet]

I think it's kind of amazing that the Aristocracy was pushing for liberal reforms. Everywhere else, it seems, the aristocracy fought *against* liberal reforms. I mean, you would think the aristocracy benefited from monarchical society. Alas, my knowledge of Russia during this period (or, frankly, any period) is quite... limited.

[@bokonoo77]

I feel like your studies are quite one sided seriously you may should have looked into the reactionary mind of the time and how they used to think like in french revolution where they kept giving more power to the mob and in the end it costed them of their heads

[@JSparo-TotalWarMachinima]

I just wanted to watch a few minutes and ended up watching the whole documentary despite having no particular interest in the Decembrist Revolution. This is how good your channel is. Thank you very much for all your great contents !

[@dennismoves6576]

Similar experience here. I didn't think this was really going to set a hook but gave it a shot. I feel like I'm going to rewatch this one several times and look more deeply into some of the characters. Wow that was good!

[@bradmetcalf5333]

Imagine how Russia could be today had these men succeeded.

[@benjamingamez1718]

idk maybe A: Russia will become a republic or B: Russia will become a constitutional monarchy

[@HandsumeAJ]

Preferably B

[@benjamingamez1718]

@@HandsumeAJ why?

[@Silver_Prussian]

Awful ?

[@bradmetcalf5333]

@@Silver_Prussian they already nailed awful. A shame on the world.

[@cecilstehelin1277]

Man these guys have to be the sorriest revolutionaries I’ve ever seen. The fact that the Bolsheviks managed to capture St.Petersburg a hundred years later with only a few hundred men shows that the 5000 trained soldiers the Decembrists had would have been more than enough to do the trick. But they gave up before they even tried!

[@vadimanreev4585]

Die Bolschewiki wurden von Lenin geleitet, der ein Philosoph, ein Ökonom, ein Rechtsanwalt war - ein Wissenschaftler mit einem breiten Horizont.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

Actually, the total troop numbers the Bolsheviks managed to get in Petrograd were somewhere around 20k...

[@leighz1962]

Decemberists didn't have western backers set on spoiling Russia for their own gain.

[@weedwizard7906]

A damn shame. They had a solid chance to succeed if the leaders actually decided to lead.

[@user-ds9uk3bm2r]

Do you think the Bolsheviks were that small? How come they were able to defeat all the counterrevolutionaries, Monarchists Nationalist, and imperialist combined. Stop listening to Western propaganda.

[@gaiusjuliuspleaser]

The production value on this is amazing. A particular hats off to the narration. I don't know what it is, but the way he tells this story is absolutely gripping. The part about the botched hangings almost brought a genuine tear to my eye.

[@matthewh.9544]

I love these, the best history documentaries on KZbin. I'd love to see one on Peter the Great and special on the Suvorov campaign in Italy

[@user-qb1zw7nu4w]

Yes! It would be cool to make a video about Suvorov

[@ritemolawbks8012]

That's the most Russian response to a botched executed ever @ 46:25.

[@Silver_Prussian]

Then maybe the misserable fool should hang himself if he think he can do a better job. You know such smarta*ses have always been a pain for people like me with realistic and pragmatic worldviews. That impudent and arogant atitude of ,,i know better than anybody" is what gets them to the rope in the first place.

[@Jasmine1991forever]

Excellent documentary that is clear, well presented, and with a really good narrator. Impressive content!

[@kevinvilmont6061]

This narrator never gets old. fantastic.

[@marcuscarrozza732]

Great documentary. I enjoyed it a lot and gave me much to think about . Please keep them coming. I look forward to the documentaries.

[@Artur_M.]

The friend of Ryleyev quoted at 15:30 - Adam Mickiewicz is considered one of the greatest Polish poets ever and a very influential figure in shaping the modern Polish identity. Born in what is now Belarus, he considered himself both Polish and Lithuanian (or more like he considered being "Lithuanian" a special kind of being Polish). He studied in the Lithuanian capital - Vilnius (Wilno, as he would call it, Vilna, as it is marked on the map in the video). He found himself in Petersburg due to internal exile deeper into the Empire; a punishment for a "horrific crime" of basically belonging to a student book club.

[@sitting_nut]

don't lie . advocacy of violence against innocents( that is what lithuanian, not polish, mickiewicz did) is a crime. didn't you agree ? if not explain. and why are trying to culturally genocide lithuanians by calling them polish? do explain ? are you perhaps a nn?

[@Artur_M.]

@@sitting_nut I don't understand what are you even talking about.

[@sitting_nut]

@@Artur_M. i am calling out lies in your op .

[@qLecmar]

In one of his poems “To My Friends the Muscovites” he recalls Decembrists

[@hailitalia86]

That's a pretty... Ummm... Tribe-ish last name... May want to name the nose and not imply it was a European ...

[@apersonontheinternet595]

You guys should go over the wars of Austrian and Spanish succession! Can you go over more events of early modern history?

[@yuribezmenovthegreat4705]

English infiltration anti catholic scums. The start of the bleed out of Spain. Finally killed by Napoleon's invasion.

[@Shortica]

Me, my husband & kids LOVE these videos!!! They way u explain everything is exquisitely detailed yet comprehensive!!! Please do a series on WW2❣️ Thank u for all the work u put into these videos; our favorite KZbin channel!!!🎉💯💐🍀

[@therebackagain9414]

Ironically the 2019 movie was banned in the US as Russian propaganda... had to buy it in Canada in order to watch it... great movie! Highly recommend it

[@SuperMookles]

No it wasn't.

[@victorakoma677]

Arguably the best rendition of history I’ve ever watched.

[@KHK001]

Well Time for a rewatch! Thanks for your work EHTV!

[@blezzshaban9860]

Please 🥺 we want more I've searched through the channel again for more of these. But I've already watched them countless times. Please educate us more with these documentaries Anxiously waiting for the next one

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Same idk why I watch these videos over and over.

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Some of the most powerful youtube history channel. I would be very happy to watch more videos about crusades

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Love to see any uploads. Amazing content and I hope to see more conflicts explained !

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It's interesting how quickly we went from the peak era of dramatic television to whatever you call the era we're in now.

[@nachobragadofernandez6155]

I think this is the best history channel on KZbin and special mention to the narrator, whose voice I could o my wish to have, story-telling taken to the next level

[@CyberneticOrganism01]

This must be one of the saddest stories I've heard and it still hasn't ended

[@charlesv1935]

This is such a well done documentary. Great content! ❤

[@valisali3259]

I dont know what people are watching these days but pretty sure that this documentary deserves millions of likes much better than current hollywood movies

[@osraneslipy]

Excellent video. Big thanks for making it available to us all!

[@olefredrikskjegstad5972]

Was literally listening to Revolutions right now, great timing

[@christerjohanzzon]

This is such a great channel! Love all your content!

[@gaiusjuliuspleaser]

I know it is good manners and common sense for the Epic History TV crew to thank their patrons and financial supporters, but really, it's we - the ones who watch all of this AAA-grade content for free time and time again as much as we want - who should be thanking them. I almost feel guilty getting this for free on their dime. I promise, one of these days I'll do my duty and chip you a few ducats.

[@justinooogabooga3855]

Love these longer videos. keep up the good work

[@Rustygiz]

The music you guys use is so good. Ty for the great work

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This was literally Epic history

[@yasintamer1547]

It would be interesting if you can cover Spanish Civil Wars like Carlist Wars...It seems a best fit for this wonderful channel...Cheers and best Epic History TV

[@theitalianliner1726]

Fantastic presentation, outstanding quality and good context.

[@senzoo8900]

It's baffling just how weak those in charge of the revolution were, particularly in the North

[@senzoo8900]

I can’t understand how anyone would give up before even trying. After putting in so much time and effort for this and then… they give up and accept defeat and possible execution for treason?!? Madness.

[@thomasb4467]

@@senzoo8900 I’m amazed that they gathered their soldiers only to abandon them to artillery fire.

[@besmart2350]

u think u would've done a better job?

[@mastersafari5349]

The worst part that all of them faced the trial anyway. Well, if you know you and your troops are a dead men then it's you're duty to dare to do what you've have planned.

[@thomasb4467]

@@mastersafari5349 I think that’s right. Those soldiers were loyal to them and died for their cause, and that death was in vain for their cowardice/poor planning.

[@kennethhall5796]

These videos are incredible, nice work

[@pricklydingus8604]

This was an absolutely wonderful series.

[@BotNickz]

I'd love a video from Epic History TV about the Caucasus War

[@havolei]

Extremely well done retelling.

[@Clegane90]

Man this is the best history channel!!

[@khmermusickh1372]

This is such a well done documentary. Great content!

[@B4rberblacksheep]

Such good documentary’s, reminds me of what the History channel was when I was young. Thank you for the work you put into this.

[@carlosandresmojicasanabria1272]

indeed men, i miss that old history channel, the one with good documentaries, before ancient aliens came and destroyed everything.

[@AlinJ.]

Your videos on Russian history are the best I have ever seen. We are very blessed to have such exceptional quality content on this and so many other amazing events.

[@chanmichael3239]

The best Christmas gift

[@robertmyers6488]

Thank you for making this. I learned a great deal.

[@lastscv]

Great job. This is better than most movies I’ve seen recently!

[@mekatronik_albo]

Epic History TV please do a series for the legendary commander Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeg!That would be amazing the quality of your videos are superb.

[@brandonstandifer6005]

Would you guys ever make a list in your descriptions of all the names of the songs you guys use? I love the music you guys use, but sometimes I have to search high and low to find some of the names. Some of which I still haven't found even when I went to Filmstro

[@arcanios806]

This is highly unknown topic. Thanks for making this video!

[@FootballManiacc]

Love this video. Amazing work.

[@larrythelobster4693]

Beautifully made!

[@eelaeshi4057]

Editor really loves that flame transition.

[@postscript5549]

Fascinating. I will return to watch the second half.

[@SecondMute]

That Video was incredible interesting. Thank you Very much

[@davebowman9000]

Loved this! So interesting!

[@trevorfry712]

Thank you for a terrific history lesson.

[@thirteen26]

My only complaint is that this wasn't uploaded on December 14. That would have been so much cooler!

[@MrMDanny]

Amazing series. I swear if someone taught me history like that (or any subject for that matter) I'd not be able to get enough of school/university.

[@ATurkeySandwichGAME]

I dont remember the name of the movie, but it was about the decembrists. Watching the scene where the soldiers formation is gettimg shredded by grapeshot was horrifying.

[@janstefanic8998]

Union of Salvation

[@ATurkeySandwichGAME]

@@janstefanic8998 thanks my dude

[@Mitkawatch]

Great video. Revolutionaries note to self; involve the people...

[@caboosej8749]

great video as per usual, thank you Epic History

[@declanphelan6475]

Great piece, thank you.

[@Cheka__]

If the Decemberists would've waited until May I think the nicer weather would've encouraged more people to support their cause.

[@priatalat]

The Augustists

[@johneyon5257]

the problem wasn't the weather - it was the timid officers - intellectuals don't make the best generals

[@Cheka__]

@@johneyon5257 I just feel like they wouldn't have been timid if the weather was nice.

[@johneyon5257]

@@Cheka__ - that's an example of a statement that is so foolish - that it's best to leave it hanging in the air

[@Cheka__]

@@johneyon5257 Better to leave it hanging in the warm air of summer.

[@FreeFallingAir]

This is just absolute perfection. Y'all are the best then there's all the rest..and so on. Thank you. Edit:I love you

[@technofaisal]

Love the voice over !

[@maiojunho5712]

hello i'm brazilian, you make great documentaries.

[@b.elzebub9252]

This is fascinating. I had no idea Tsar Alexander was such an intelligent, complicated and nuanced personality. 10:06 shows him to be a man who is conflicted by fear and worry that society might collapse around him, and probably a deep personal fear of suffering the same faith as his father. And a sense of personal responsibility and accountability on the other. I.e. _I cannot tolerate open insubordination and rebellion. But I also understand that it would be hypocritical of me to go after people for having ideals that until recently I did not only share, but actively encouraged. These people are not doing anything wrong, even if it might prove dangerous and harmful to me in the longer term._

[@Panairjdde]

Masterpiece, as usual

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Really fascinating introduction & informative video about Russian 🇷🇺 revolutionaries at 1825- 1850 ... ..👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻 such introduction obviously proven Epc history TV 📺 channel...is a great one 👍🏻 🙏🩶🤍🤍

[@hareshbaskar8693]

YES, THE LEGEND IS BACK!

[@nathanappleby5342]

Nice touch with the moving faces! That's probably brand new.

[@compagnie88]

Great work! Thx :)

[@iasnaia-poliana]

Greatly made, once gain. Thanks

[@AbhyudayaSinh]

Very informative❤

[@billyjackson2605]

Great video

[@HH-tj9yi]

Great video!!! Best chanel!!!

[@koketsomokone2975]

This channel really is epic!👌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@robbiesnyder848]

This was absolutely riveting

[@theyaregone]

I would love to see series about Scotland and Ireland fought for their Independence and Freedom from ruthless British regime

[@131x]

Absolutely fantastic

[@rod9829]

Genuinely fantastic

[@ranthony5825]

Outstanding documentary

[@TRVE.]

I am Russian and I always believed that if the Emperor had listened to the Decembrists, who did not want revolution and blood, but wanted to change the country by the will of the emperor, Russia would not have passed the communist regime with all its outgoings and there would be no civil war with all its outgoings (I'm sure the population would be millions higher and would live richer) and country would now be completely different - I'm sure it would be the best possible version of Russia, and primarily for the citizens of Russia themselves and for all of Europe in the second place. IMO. But history does not tolerate the subjunctive mood. It is a pity that there is no parallel reality to find out what would happen if the history of my country went along this fork.

[@lobstereleven4610]

Amazing!!! 🎉

[@Alex-js9fq]

When the executioner attempted to hang the five men, three of them, Muravyov-Apostol, Kakhovsky, and Ryleyev, dropped through the trapdoor only to have the rope around their necks break. Ryleyev supposedly told the crowd watching the execution that Russia was an "unhappy country, where they don't even know how to hang you." The Tsar decided to prove otherwise, and simply ordered more rope, and the execution was carried out.

[@user-om4cu2mj7r]

There had been no executions in Russia for 50 years. In contrast to the constitutional monarchy in Great Britain in the thousands or in the French Republic in the tens of thousands.

[@Alex-js9fq]

@@user-om4cu2mj7r Sorry, this was not my point. My point was that if Ryleyev did not badmouth his country he might survived.

[@MWM-dj6dn]

A wonderful channel that deserves a thousand thousand greetings, great admiration and greater respect. Your esteemed channel is full of accurate and very useful information. Your effort is wonderful and great to be commended and appreciated. I wish you lasting success and I am writing to you with the utmost frankness and respect, and I am fully confident that you are interested in providing benefit to all without exception. The utmost respect, appreciation and pride for you, gentlemen

[@mmd-zz9go]

you posted this video one day too late my man, last sunday i watched it with my entire family in our tv and i had to get up to go the second video. It was really enjoyable nevertheless!

[@HistoryFirst]

Could you please make a video on the Russian wild west, the Russian Far east

[@rettson22]

great doc!

[@cr0sad3r70]

7:41 I got scared when they started moving

[@Simba11185]

Great Artwork. Hope you make an art piece of the WW2 (detailed one please).

[@MWM-dj6dn]

I thank you for your great effort in providing accurate, useful and wonderful information on your esteemed channel. A thousand greetings of respect, appreciation and pride. I wish you success and progress in your wonderful work. Much respect

[@pierredelasalle4731]

😂 i thought this was Part two of Napoleon's Italian campaign, it's okay thank you so much Epic history tv 🥰🥰🥰

[@MDP1702]

Seems to me one of the problems was exactly the limitation to the military, which then was pulled in 2 directions of loyalty. It should have also spread support among the regular population to have had any change of succes.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

That's the thing: they don't trust them...

[@maxmillianmaximovich1829]

It would be a terrible shame for any history buff viewer in KZbin not to subscribe to this awesome channel!

[@PresterMike]

A terrible shame indeed

[@natedorney7032]

Union Of Salvation was a good movie about the Decemberist Revolt. I like how they show a young Alexander Nikolaievich Romanov, the future Tsar Liberator as a boy during the revolt. I wonder if that had any impact on his future policies as emperor?

[@LucaZ283]

The artwork done for this episode is stunning

[@mohammadhasimditucalan9062]

A while ago its either I study for my test or watch this whole video.. Now, I am asking what the title of the movie mentioned at the last part is

[@TheSeanoops]

Despite their failure, these where great men.