Mikhail Rodzianko | |
|---|---|
Михаил Родзянко | |
 Rodzianko in 1917 | |
| 5th Chairman of the State Duma | |
| In office 22 March 1911 – 6 October 1917 | |
| Monarch | Nicholas II |
| Prime Minister | Pyotr Stolypin Vladimir Kokovtsov Ivan Goremykin Boris Stürmer Alexander Trepov Nikolai Golitsyn |
| Preceded by | Alexander Guchkov |
| Succeeded by | Ivan Rybkin (1994) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mikhail Vladimirovich Rodzianko (1859-02-21)21 February 1859 |
| Died | 24 January 1924(1924-01-24) (aged 64)[1] |
| Political party | Union of October 17 |
| Spouse | Anna Nikolaevna Golitsyna |
| Alma mater | Page corps |
| Occupation | Politician, Chairman of the State Duma |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Branch/service | Imperial Guards |
| Years of service | 1877–1885 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Part ofa series on |
| Conservatism in Russia |
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Mikhail Vladimirovich Rodzianko (Russian:Михаи́л Влади́мирович Родзя́нко;Ukrainian:Михайло Володимирович Родзянко; 21 February 1859 – 24 January 1924) was aRussian statesman of Ukrainian origin. Known for his colorful language and conservative politics, he was theState Councillor and chamberlain of the Imperial family, Chairman of the State Duma and one of the leaders of theFebruary Revolution of 1917, during which he headed theProvisional Committee of the State Duma. He was a key figure in the events that led to the abdication ofNicholas II of Russia on 15 March 1917.[2]
Rodzianko was born in the village ofPopasnoye, Yekaterinoslav Govnernorate [uk]. He came from an old and rich noble family of Ukrainian origin and was educated at theCorps des Pages. From 1877 until 1882 he served inHer Majesty's Regiment of the Cavalry of the Guard. In 1884 Rodzianko marriedAnna Nikolaevna Galitzine (1859–1929); the couple had three children. In 1885 he retired and lived on his estate in theNovgorod Oblast. He was appointed asMarshall of the Gentry. Rodzianko served asKammerherr in 1899. In 1900 he was elected inYekaterinoslav Governorate. From 1903 until 1905 he was editor of a newspaper, called "Herald Katerynoslav zemstvos."[3] In 1906 he was elected for theZemstvo asProvincial Zemstvo Executive.[4]
In 1905 Rodzianko had been one of the founders and leaders of theOctobrist party. He became a deputy in theThird Duma (1907), vice-president in 1909 and was elected Chairman on 22 March 1911 after the resignation ofAleksandr Guchkov, who was hated by the court as a "Young Turk."[5] He then continued as the Chairman of the Fourth Duma from 15 November 1912 until its dissolution on 6 October 1917 (before theOctober Revolution).
Rodzianko thought the meeting betweenGrigory Rasputin and EmperorNicholas II "marked the beginning of the decay of the Russian society and the loss of prestige of the throne and of the tsar himself." He gathered information on Rasputin and handed it to the Emperor. Rodzianko, who asked Rasputin to leave the capital,[6] andTheofan of Poltava held Rasputin to be aKhlyst.[7] "The emperor took no account of the report which nevertheless proved undoubtedly that Rasputin was not the holy man he claimed to be."[citation needed]
On 21 February 1913, Rodzianko dismissed Rasputin from theCathedral of Our Lady of Kazan in Saint Petersburg shortly before the celebration of the tercentenary of Romanov rule over Russia. He had established himself in front of the seats which Rodzianko, after considerable difficulty, had secured for the Duma. According toOrlando Figes, "the members were to be seated at the back, far behind the places reserved for the state councilors and senators. This, he complained to the master of ceremonies, was 'not following the dignity' of the parliament."[8] Rasputin considered Rodzianko a personal enemy.[citation needed]
"Rodzianko told the Tsar in March 1913: 'A war will be joyfully welcomed and it will raise the government's prestige.'"[9] In April 1915, Rodzianko visited to the Russian troops occupyingAustrian Galicia.
On 11 August 1915, the day the Emperor announced he would take the Supreme Command fromGrand Duke Nicholas, according to M. Nelipa, Rodzianko suffered a heart attack.[10] Somehow Rodzianko participated in the creation of theProgressive Bloc.[11]
For Rodzianko,Alexei Khvostov had broken his neck in combating the Rasputin clique and Prime MinisterBoris Stürmer would become a dictator with full powers early in 1916.[12]
In the Summer of 1916, there was another crisis in the government: Rodzianko proposedAlexander Protopopov to the Emperor and Protopopov hinted at Rodzianko as Premier and Foreign Minister. But after Protopopov had become Minister of the Interior and had expressed admiration for the ruling family, the Duma attacked him fiercely and called at once for his dismissal. Rodzianko demanded that the Empress be internally exiled to the Crimea until the end of the war. TheEmpress demanded in response that Rodzianko's court rank be taken from him;[13] she referred to him in her letters as a scoundrel.[14]
Zinaida Yusupova, Alexandra's sisterElisabeth,Grand Duchess Victoria, and theEmperor's own mother tried to influence the Emperor or his stubborn wife[15] to remove Rasputin, but without success.[16] Rodzianko told Nicholas the truth, after being urged by the Emperor's mother and sisters. To him, the Empress Alexandra clearly should not have been allowed to interfere in state affairs until the end of the war; she treated her husband as if he were a little boy, quite incapable of taking care of himself.[17]
On 7 January 1917, Rodzianko told the Tsar in regard of his government, "All the best men have been removed or have retired. There remain [only] those of ill repute."[18]
Mikhail Rodzianko was one of the key politicians during the RussianFebruary Revolution. On 26 February Rodzianko urged the Tsar to promulgate reforms in a telegram.[19] "Serious situation in the capital, where anarchy reigns. General discontent was increasing. In the streets, uninterrupted firing, and one part of the troops is firing on the other. It is necessary to nominate without delay a person possessing the confidence of the people and who would form a new Government. To wait is impossible."[20] Nicholas refused to reply, instead he ordered the dissolution of the Duma and a military crackdown and in a conversation with CountVladimir Freedericksz referred to Rodzianko, not very respectfully, as "fat-bellied Rodzianko".[21][22] On 27 February he retired as Captain of the Guards. On 28 February he presided over theProvisional Committee of the State Duma and advised the local governments to stay calm. On 1 March the power came entirely in the hands of thePetrograd Soviet.[23] On that day Rodzianko assured generalMikhail Alekseyev that the Duma leaders, rather than the Soviet ones, would form the new government in Petrograd. Rodzianko discussed the situation with GeneralNikolai Ruzsky, who had the Imperial train stopped inPskov. Nicholas II had no other choice than to follow Rodzianko's advice. On 2 March 1917 aRussian Provisional Government was formed, which included members of theSocial Revolutionary Party. Rodzianko appointed GeneralLavr Kornilov as head over the troops in Petrograd. In the evening Rodzianko led abdication talks with the Tsar, to satisfy the crowds.
Early in the morning of 2 March (Old Style) or 15 March (New Style) the Tsar stepped down in favor of his son Alexei. As thetsesarevich suffered from an incurable disease,hemophilia B, his life expectations were short.[24] ThenGrand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia came into the picture as the new heir to the throne, but was regarded as unacceptable.[25] With Prince Lvov,Alexander Kerensky andPavel Miliukov, Rodzianko visited Grand Duke Michael. The Grand Duke declined the crown after a long talk with Rodzianko.[26][27]
Rodzianko remained prime minister just for a few days. He succeeded in publishing an order for the immediate return of the soldiers to their barracks and to subordinate to their officers.[28] To them Rodzianko was unacceptable as prime minister and PrinceGeorgi Lvov, a member of theConstitutional Democratic Party, became his successor.
Together withAleksandr Guchkov he founded a liberal republican party in the Summer of 1917. After theOctober Revolution or shortly after the seizure of power byLenin, he left Petrograd and moved toRostov-on-Don andCrimea. Rodzianko supportedAnton Denikin andPyotr Wrangel but when it became clear theWhite Army had lost, he emigrated toSerbia in 1920. There he wrote his memoirsThe Reign of Rasputin: an Empire's Collapse. According toBernard Pares he died in great poverty.[29] His remains were moved to theBelgrade New Cemetery in May 1924.
Media related toMikhail Rodzianko at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by | Chairman of theState Duma 22 March 1911 — 6 October 1917 | Succeeded by Ivan Rybkin (1993) |
