Ставлення імператора Миколи ІІ до селянського питання у Російській імперії (1894–1917 рр.)

Abstract

Introduction. As a result of the fact that the government of the Russian Empire implemented the policyof accelerated industrial development and that indirect taxes increased at the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries, thenoble and peasant issue in the state became aggravated. The nobles suffered from the loss of lands, and peasantswere deprived of them because of high prices for the land rent and high taxes. The procrastination and ineffectivenessof government measures to resolve the peasant issue resulted in an intensifi cation of political and social struggle, andthen its transformation into the peasant revolution.The historical literature covers in detail the specifi cs of the peasant issue in early 20th century, governmentpolicy to resolve it, peasant demonstrations and the noblemen’s problems. The attitude of the last Russian emperorMykola II to the peasant issue needs comprehensive studying as іt can reveal the causes and course of the peasantrevolution in the Russian Empire in early 20th century (until 1917).Purpose. The purpose of this study is to present the emperor Mykola II’s views and directions of his activities toresolve the peasant issue in the Russian Empire.Results. The authors identify main directions of the emperor’s activity concerning peasant issue which wererefl ected in his «Diaries»: methods of noblemen’s and peasants’ deputations, reaction to the manifestations of thepeasant revolution (1902, 1905–1906), evaluation of the Second State Duma and the acquaintance with the results ofStolypin land reform. The offi cial receptions of peasant deputations took place on the occasion of religious holidays,state events (celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava, the 50th anniversary of peasant reform, the300th anniversary of Romanov family’s reign), important events for the emperor’s family etc. Peasant demonstrationsin 1902 in Poltava and Kharkiv provinces did not have a signifi cant impact on the monarch; although a year laterthe collective responsibility in the rural community was abolished. Under the infl uence of the revolution of 1905 themanifesto on the abolition of redemption payment was signed by the emperor (3 November, 1905) and the decree onthe sale of the part of the lands to the Peasant Land Bank was prepared (12 August, 1906). At the same time Mykola IIhad a negative attitude to the idea of separation of landlords’ lands, which was actively discussed in the Second StateDuma in the spring of 1907, and paid much attention to the reallocation of land and land management.Originality. Mykola II’s attitudes to the peasant issue in the context of the peasant revolution are studied forthe fi rst time.Conclusion. The emperor Mykola II did not react to the emergence of «confl ict of interest» issue among peasantsand landowners that needed an urgent solution in the early 20th century. The emperor expected to moderate landreform and never demanded the separation of landed property and its transfer to the peasants. Mykola II’s «Diaries»contain a lot of information about the emperor’s meetings with peasant deputations consisting of sergeant majorsand village chiefs. Besides, such events were offi cial and did not refl ect objective information about the mood of thepeasantry.The peasant uprisings of 1902 attracted the emperor’s attention, and the events of 1905–1907 provoked apainful reaction and contributed to the beginning of a new land reform. However, Mykola II avoided publicity on thelink between peasant demonstrations and changes in the public policy. «Don’t threaten!» – these words of P. Stolypin,according to the authors, can serve as a characteristic of Mykola II’s attitude to the peasant issue.