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NTV company presents:
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To the 300th anniversary
of the Russian Empire
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and the 300th anniversary
of St. Petersburg
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'To Alexander I from grateful Russia. ' 5
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reads the inscription. The
monument to Alexander I
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as the liberator of Europe and
the pacifier of the Universe.
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Afterthe collapse of Napoleon's
Evil Empire,
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Russia became the leading power
of the single-polar world,
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and the Alexander Column was
to be the tallest in the world.
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Forthat they grew the pedestal
and added 3 more steps.
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And the tallest it was,
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second only to A. Pushkin's
poetic 'Monument'.
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They said the emperor had the

face of an angel, so on top
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they put an angel with the
face of emperor Alexander,
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who was granted the title
'Blessed'.
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The first of Russia's two
patriotic wars lasted 6 months.
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Napoleon invaded the country
on June 12, 1812,
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and in early 1813,
the Russians repulsed the enemy
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and launched its own
foreign campaign.
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The strongest army in the world
crossed the Neman River,
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famous by the Tilsit Peace
and the Union with Napoleon,
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and invaded Russia underthe
command of the greatest ever
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commander -the Emperor, and
marshals Davout, Ney, Murat.
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Napoleon wasn't planning on
enslaving the Russians.
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He wanted to crush them nearthe

border and conclude a new Tilsit
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Peace Treaty-one that would
finally be observed.
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Emperor Alexander l:
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'I will sooner grow a beard and
start eating potatoes
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'with my farmers
in Siberia,
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'than put my signature under
the shame of my country.
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Russia's war minister, the
First Army commander
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general Barklai De Tolli
managed to persuade the emperor
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of the expediency of a retreat.
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To the south of Barklai's troops
the Second Army was retreating
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underthe command of
general Bagration.
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Davout could have crushed
Bagration near Minsk,
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Napoleon could have finished off
Barklai near Vitebsk.

38
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But the Russians outmaneuver
them, push them further
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inside the country, and
meet them near Smolensk.
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After a 3-day battle
the Russians surrender Smolensk.
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The French said
it resembled the burning Vesuvius.
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For 6 days Napoleon stays
at Smolensk, he offers
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negotiations,
threatening to seize Moscow.
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Napoleon:
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'A capital captured by the enemy,
is like a girl who lost her
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'virginity. Whateveryou do,
you can't get it back!
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Alexander keeps silence,
the Russians keep retreating.
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The 2 armies joined forces,
but there are 2 commanders.
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They need a Commander-in-Chief,
one with a Russian surname.

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After all it is a Patriotic war.
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Reluctantly, despite his personal
dislike, Alexander appoints
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Mikhail Golenischev-Kutuzov, the
oldest Russian general.
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He is 67, and will live for
another 8 months.
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In Krylov's fable a wolf is torn
to pieces by a pack of dogs.
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The dogs' elder says to
the impostor:
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'You're grey, but I am
grey-haired, my friend. '
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The hint was at Napoleon's
grey field jacket,
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and Kutuzov's snow-white head.
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You're grey, but I am
grey-haired, my friend.
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Finally Kutuzov chooses the
place of the decisive battle.
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Village Borodino near Mozhaisk.
The night before the fight
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he cries and prays to the

Smolensk icon of Our Lady.
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Borodino wasn't the
final battle for Moscow.
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From here Moscow was
160 km away.
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Even in the next Patriotic war,
when the speeds grow
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and distances shrink. - it still
isn't the nearest approaches.
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The sign on the monuments of
1812 and 1941 reads:
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'Distant approaches to Moscow'.
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The Borodino battle -the French
call it 'the Moscow battle' 70
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will be the biggest battle
of that century.
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Lermontov:
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'People and horses-all mixed
in one blood bath,
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'salvos of a thousand canons
fused into one drawn-out howl.
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Main defense positions
of the Russians.

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In the centre - Kurgannaya height,
with Raevsky's battery.
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On the left flank - Bagration's fleches.
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'Fleche' is a French word,
translated as 'arrow' 78
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earthen fortifications
in the shape of an arrow.
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The French launch 8 offensives,
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the Russians lose the fleshes,
then win them back again.
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The impregnability of the
fleches are due to the
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commandre's talent, they go down
in history as 'Bagration's'.
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The soldiers pronounced the name
of the Georgian prince
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as 3 words - Bag Rati On
- 'The King of War'.
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During the 8th offensive the
French seize the fleches.
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Bagration leads his regiment
into counteroffensive,
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and is mortally wounded.
The fleches are lost.
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By that time the landscape
had changed unrecognizably.
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The ravine is filled with dead
bodies, piled up in 6-7 layers.
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Remains of the French general
Ranef
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on the bottom of the ravine
will be discovered
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by Soviet archaeologists
only in 1984.
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The general battle was the generals' battle.
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Except 2 Commanders-in-Chief, all
commanders are with the troops.
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The French lose 10 generals,
3 great marshals personally
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00:07:53,506 --> 00:07:55,770
take part in offensives. Davout
is shell-shocked.
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In the morning the Russians
lost their artillery commander,
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00:08:00,580 --> 00:08:02,673
general Kutaysov.
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Boldly confronting death

Barklai De Tolli
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lead his troops wearing
his full-dress uniform
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and decorations. Five of his
horses and 9 out of 12 adjutants
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are killed, but Barklai
comes out without a scratch.
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The then up-to-date telescope
is today's regularfield-glass.
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Napoleon's observation post is
only 1.6 km away from the fleches.
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Close enough to see the picture
with one's bare eyes.
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But the smoke from cannon-fire
creates a thick screen.
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Leo Tolstoy, himself an artillery
officer like Napoleon,
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described this effect
close to life:
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'For an instant the smoke
disperses, showing a glimpse of
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'the battlefield, Napoleon puts
down his telescope, not able to
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'understand, what he
had been looking at a moment ago.
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Kutuzov didn't see the battle
- Not because he only
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had one eye, but because
it wasn't his intention.
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Just once he visited his
observation post.
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Here, at his post in the
Borodino field, Kutuzov lunched
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00:09:18,124 --> 00:09:19,819
on chicken. Millions of people
form the image of the great
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commander by the 'War and Peace'.
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The outcome no longer depended
on him, it depended
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on the invisible spirit
of his men,
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00:09:31,771 --> 00:09:34,706
that connected the army and
him, Kutuzov,
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the last of the flock of
Catherine's glorious eagles.
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Kutuzov-in his dispatch
to Alexander l:
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'ln the end the enemy didn't win

a single inch of land.

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Both the French and the Russians
thought Borodino their victory.
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00:10:04,003 --> 00:10:05,732
And they still think so.
126
00:10:05,938 --> 00:10:08,600
Kutuzov is promoted to the
rank of field-marshal
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00:10:08,841 --> 00:10:13,676
and gets 100 thousand Rubles. The
soldiers get 5 Rubles each.
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00:10:13,946 --> 00:10:16,779
The day becomes a
memorable date in Russia,
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and every year in Borodino
they arrange a fancy-dress party.
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When it gets dark and you no
longer see the grenadiers' cars,
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the resemblance with 1812
becomes more striking.
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00:10:33,065 --> 00:10:37,559
Borodino is the most famous draw
in the history of world wars.
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00:10:37,737 --> 00:10:42,834
Neither of the armies won,
the French didn't crush the
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00:10:43,075 --> 00:10:46,169
Russians, but the Russians are
forced to surrender Moscow.
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00:10:46,345 --> 00:10:48,905
On the night before Kutuzov says

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there will be another battle
at sunrise,
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but by midnight it becomes clear
that reinforcements
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are not coming. When the horrific
losses are finally counted,
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00:11:01,327 --> 00:11:04,387
Kutuzov gives orders to retreat.
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00:11:09,201 --> 00:11:12,068
The Russians have lost
a third of theirtroops.
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00:11:12,304 --> 00:11:18,072
Another battle -the battle for
Moscow -would be detrimental.
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00:11:22,782 --> 00:11:25,478
Kutuzov before Borodino:
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'The loss of Moscow will mean
the loss of Russia.
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00:11:30,823 --> 00:11:33,291
Kutuzov after Borodino:
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'Until we have a functional army,
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'even the loss of Moscow will
not yet mean the loss of Russia.
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When they draw the final results,
Borodino will be named the
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00:12:10,229 --> 00:12:13,892
Russian victory, and the
surrender of Moscow -the only

149
00:12:14,066 --> 00:12:16,398
correct decision. The decision
belonged to Kutuzov alone.
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00:12:16,602 --> 00:12:21,096
At the famous war council in Fili
it found no support among
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00:12:21,307 --> 00:12:25,209
the officers. The country, the
army, Moscovites, the Czar 152
00:12:25,478 --> 00:12:30,211
no one could understand how the
enemy was allowed into the very
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heart of Russia. The outcome
was soon to follow.
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00:12:33,452 --> 00:12:36,114
On his first night in the
Kremlin Napoleon couldn't sleep.
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00:12:36,322 --> 00:12:39,587
Aterrible fire raged outside
the walls.
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Napoleon:
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00:12:42,628 --> 00:12:48,089
'Heaps of red whirling flames
tossed up to the burning sky,
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00:12:48,267 --> 00:12:51,236
and plunged back into the
fiery ocean.
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00:12:55,608 --> 00:12:58,668
Kutuzov and governor of Moscow
Rastopchin ordered to
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00:12:58,844 --> 00:13:04,077
remove all fire-extinguishing
means out of the city, and set

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00:13:04,283 --> 00:13:08,652
shops and depots on fire. Some
people burned down their houses.
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00:13:08,888 --> 00:13:10,856
There were gunpowder depots
in the Kremlin,
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00:13:11,056 --> 00:13:16,119
and Napoleon with his entourage
evacuates to the city outskirts.
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00:13:23,302 --> 00:13:27,534
The Petrovsky Palace,
once the gate of Moscow,
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stands on the
modern Leningradsky prospect.
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00:13:30,476 --> 00:13:34,071
Here Napoleon contemplates the
grandiose fire.
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'Lost in thought, he observed
the monstrous flame.
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00:13:39,218 --> 00:13:43,177
And his thoughts were farfrom
optimistic.
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00:13:43,455 --> 00:13:45,013
The campaign, struggled as
it was, becomes
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00:13:45,191 --> 00:13:47,853
hopeless, the situation
gets out of control.
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'Awild Scythian war. Napoleon is in shock.
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The Russians first surrendered
then burned down their capital.

173
00:14:02,541 --> 00:14:05,237
3
4 of Moscow was destroyed,
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the victorious French army
stood on burning ashes.
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In severe winter.
But Napoleon insists:
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'Moscow is not a military,
but a political position.
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From here he has to dictate the
conditions of peace.
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00:14:19,225 --> 00:14:23,218
Alexander's mother, brother and
Arakcheev pressure the emperor,
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00:14:23,395 --> 00:14:26,091
but he is being
amazingly stubborn.
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00:14:26,298 --> 00:14:30,462
He says he is ready to
retreat as far as Kamchatka,
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00:14:30,669 --> 00:14:33,069
and become the emperor
of Kamchatka dwellers.
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00:14:33,239 --> 00:14:37,505
He leaves 3 Napoleon's peace
initiatives unanswered.
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00:14:37,676 --> 00:14:40,611
Alexander is deaf to
Moscow's call.
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00:14:41,013 --> 00:14:45,245
Afterfive weeks of uncertainty
the French hold the only parade

185
00:14:45,417 --> 00:14:50,684
of occupants in Kremlin history,
and head for Kaluga.
186
00:14:57,096 --> 00:15:01,897
At first this maneuver
was not a retreat.
187
00:15:02,067 --> 00:15:04,695
It didn't make sense to stay
in the burnt-down city.
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00:15:04,904 --> 00:15:08,032
Napoleon's plan was to
relocate his army
189
00:15:08,274 --> 00:15:11,505
down south, to the wealthy
provinces,
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00:15:11,677 --> 00:15:14,612
and carry on with the triumphant
campaign.
191
00:15:14,847 --> 00:15:18,283
The retreat started when at
Maloyaroslavets the Russians
192
00:15:18,484 --> 00:15:22,614
blocked the way of Napoleon's
troops and forced them to head
193
00:15:22,821 --> 00:15:24,311
westward, along the Old
Smolensk Road,
194
00:15:24,523 --> 00:15:28,960
where they said, 'one couldn't
encounter even a cat'.
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00:15:34,633 --> 00:15:37,830
Kutuzov with the new reserve,
heads along the parallel
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00:15:38,003 --> 00:15:41,564
New Smolensk Road,
today's Mozhaiskoye highway.

197
00:15:41,774 --> 00:15:47,110
It was an exceptionally early
winter. 18 below on October 24.
198
00:15:47,313 --> 00:15:51,443
As they said, the French were
driven by 'General Frost'.
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00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:57,780
In the beginning of the campaign
Napoleon thought of declaring
200
00:15:57,990 --> 00:16:01,858
the abolition of serfdom in
Russia, as he did in Poland.
201
00:16:02,027 --> 00:16:04,461
But he was afraid of awakening
Pugachev's spirit.
202
00:16:05,764 --> 00:16:09,860
Now he was facing the great
'bludgeon of the people's war'.
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00:16:10,069 --> 00:16:14,005
Armed with axes and pitchforks,
the people rose by villages,
204
00:16:14,173 --> 00:16:16,971
partisans were roaming the
forests.
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00:16:17,142 --> 00:16:21,078
Hunger provoked cases of
cannibalism among the French.
206
00:16:24,116 --> 00:16:26,607
Kutuzov-in a letterto his
wife and daughter:
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00:16:26,852 --> 00:16:29,446
'Yesterday we found two Frenchmen
in the woods,
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00:16:29,688 --> 00:16:33,556
'they were frying and eating
theirthird friend.

209
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The pioneer of the national
partisan movement,
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00:16:39,431 --> 00:16:41,922
hussar lieutenant-colonel
Denis Davydov,
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00:16:42,167 --> 00:16:45,796
a poetic soul, sensing the
upsurge of patriotic sentiments,
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00:16:45,971 --> 00:16:48,963
issued a ban to officers
on speaking French,
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00:16:49,174 --> 00:16:52,200
grew a beard and dressed
in a sheepskin coat. Quite a
214
00:16:52,478 --> 00:16:56,676
difference from his image on the
post-war portrait by Kiprensky.
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00:17:14,033 --> 00:17:17,059
Hardly one third of Napoleon's
army
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00:17:17,236 --> 00:17:23,038
reached River Berezina
in the west of Russia.
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00:17:30,783 --> 00:17:36,187
In 1812 the landscape looked
more or less like now.
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00:17:36,388 --> 00:17:41,087
Except for one detail: the
river was not yet covered with ice.
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00:17:41,527 --> 00:17:44,553
The Russians tore down all
the bridges.
220
00:17:44,730 --> 00:17:48,791
Napoleon was planning to cross
the river counting on the ice

221
00:17:49,001 --> 00:17:53,631
and ordered to leave behind
the pontoons and travel light.
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00:17:53,972 --> 00:17:58,966
A lucky circumstance: the French
reconnaissance discovers a ford
223
00:17:59,211 --> 00:18:04,513
nearthe village Studenki, it
isn't marked on Russian maps.
224
00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:07,947
The pontooners disobeyed the
emperor's orders,
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00:18:08,153 --> 00:18:10,986
end kept part of their
equipment.
226
00:18:11,156 --> 00:18:15,092
Napoleon spends the night in
Studenki, in a peasant's hut,
227
00:18:15,294 --> 00:18:19,697
and his pontooners, standing
chest-deep in freezing water
228
00:18:19,932 --> 00:18:23,197
amid ice-floes
arrange two crossings.
229
00:18:23,602 --> 00:18:25,570
The first to cross are the units
230
00:18:25,804 --> 00:18:29,535
that are to hold a bridgehead
on the other side of the river.
231
00:18:29,741 --> 00:18:33,268
The next to cross are Napoleon
and his Guard.
232
00:18:38,417 --> 00:18:44,822
The Russian scheme was to crush
the enemy completely.
233

00:18:45,023 --> 00:18:49,221

In St. Petersburg they design a
detailed plan of the concluding
234
00:18:49,461 --> 00:18:50,792
stage of the campaign.
But it fails.
235
00:18:50,996 --> 00:18:53,590
Napoleon gathers a new army
around the elite units on
236
00:18:53,765 --> 00:18:58,293
the other bank of Berezina. The
war will last for another
237
00:18:58,504 --> 00:19:02,440
1.5 years, and France will see
this crossing as a miraculous
238
00:19:02,608 --> 00:19:04,303
salvation. Even though the
French suffertremendous losses,
239
00:19:04,510 --> 00:19:08,037
and in Russia it is considered
France's crushing defeat.
240
00:19:12,851 --> 00:19:16,719
A French obelisk in the
place of the crossing.
241
00:19:20,192 --> 00:19:24,060
The modern bridge across
the River Berezina.
242
00:19:24,296 --> 00:19:27,197
The main part of marshal Victor's
troops cross the river,
243
00:19:27,399 --> 00:19:34,805
throwing their dead and wounded
and broken carts off the bridge.
244
00:19:35,007 --> 00:19:38,135
The piers were breaking, and
there were still people left on
245

00:19:38,343 --> 00:19:42,245

the left bank: wounded,
frost-bitten, women and children.
246
00:19:42,414 --> 00:19:47,374
So exhausted, that they
couldn't cross to the other side,
247
00:19:47,553 --> 00:19:51,990
even when at night the bridges
were empty.
248
00:19:52,191 --> 00:19:56,525
When morning comes the Russian
artillery shells the
249
00:19:56,728 --> 00:20:00,494
crossing, the people make a run
at the bridges crushing each
250
00:20:00,732 --> 00:20:03,724
other, but to save the emperor
the French burn the bridges.
251
00:20:03,936 --> 00:20:11,069
And just in time: Cossacks are
on the approaches to the river.
252
00:20:25,224 --> 00:20:27,317
Admiral Chachigov:
253
00:20:27,559 --> 00:20:31,017
'The river was full of
drowned soldiers, above the
254
00:20:31,230 --> 00:20:34,631
'water one could see cavalry-men
standing like statues,
255
00:20:34,766 --> 00:20:40,204
'frozen in the positions that
death caught them in.
256
00:20:41,039 --> 00:20:43,633
Out of all the commanders
in the Berezina battle
257
00:20:43,842 --> 00:20:47,573

they put the blame on admiral

Chichagov.
258
00:20:47,779 --> 00:20:49,974
'A naval officer shouldn't
fight on dry land.
259
00:20:50,182 --> 00:20:53,345
'The day-dreamer let Napoleon
slip through his fingers.
260
00:21:06,932 --> 00:21:13,132
Krylov will write another of
his fables about the war of 1812.
261
00:21:13,372 --> 00:21:15,363
It starts: 'There'll
be trouble if
262
00:21:15,574 --> 00:21:21,479
'a shoemaker starts baking pies,
and a baker starts making boots.
263
00:21:21,747 --> 00:21:27,276
Afable about a pike- Naval
admiral Chichagov 264
00:21:27,452 --> 00:21:32,048
and a cat - Kutuzov
- Who try to catch mice.
265
00:21:32,257 --> 00:21:36,819
The pike sits in ambush,
the cat catches a bundle of
266
00:21:37,029 --> 00:21:40,021
mice, goes to see how
the pike is doing, and finds,
267
00:21:40,232 --> 00:21:44,498
that the mice had bitten
the pike's grey tail off.
268
00:22:00,319 --> 00:22:06,747
'Oh, my brand-new little
maple porch!
269
00:22:06,892 --> 00:22:10,658

To finish the enemy in its den

- Is a cleartask.
270
00:22:10,796 --> 00:22:16,098
And not only that, Alexander
returns the monarchs, overthrown
271
00:22:16,268 --> 00:22:19,328
by the French revolution and
by Napoleon, back to the throne
272
00:22:19,538 --> 00:22:23,338
and ensures European hegemony
for Russia.
273
00:22:24,576 --> 00:22:30,674
The war of 1813 starts
as a muck-up.
274
00:22:30,882 --> 00:22:33,544
Kutuzov, who was against the
whole idea,
275
00:22:33,752 --> 00:22:38,280
is seriously ill, and dies
in a Schlesien town Bunzlau.
276
00:22:38,523 --> 00:22:40,616
Four days afterthe demise
of their commanderthe Allies
277
00:22:40,859 --> 00:22:44,317
sufferthe first defeat
near Luzern, and then
278
00:22:44,529 --> 00:22:48,226
two more, also in Germany.
279
00:22:48,433 --> 00:22:49,730
The Allies retreat.
280
00:22:49,935 --> 00:22:53,371
As if from thin air
Napoleon creates a new army,
281
00:22:53,538 --> 00:22:57,030
and the Russians show poor
warfare on the enemy's turf.

282
00:23:01,413 --> 00:23:04,746
After Dresden Napoleon
is ill for 6 weeks.
283
00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:07,578
Without him the army makes
tactical mistakes, the Allied
284
00:23:07,786 --> 00:23:13,850
coalition expands, and by fall
it numbers a million soldiers.
285
00:23:14,025 --> 00:23:18,052
Napoleon gathers his main forces
near Leipzig, capital of Saxony.
286
00:23:20,665 --> 00:23:24,465
Napoleon's banners unite
the French, the Italians,
287
00:23:24,636 --> 00:23:27,469
the Dutch, the Belgians,
the the Poles. Against
288
00:23:27,706 --> 00:23:32,700
Russians, Austrians,
Prussians, Swedes and Bavarians.
289
00:23:32,911 --> 00:23:37,905
The Russian empire is represented
even by Bashkir and Kalmyk
290
00:23:38,083 --> 00:23:42,782
home guard. The Kalmyks are armed
with bows and arrows. The French
291
00:23:48,326 --> 00:23:49,816
call them 'Cupids'. Three days
of fighting.
292
00:23:50,028 --> 00:23:54,931
This battle is thought to be the
beginning of contemporary Europe.
293
00:23:59,304 --> 00:24:04,469
A 100 years after Leipzig
starts WWI.

294
00:24:04,776 --> 00:24:10,544
To mark the centenary of the main
battle of the all-European war
295
00:24:10,782 --> 00:24:13,182
they erect a giant-size monument.
296
00:24:13,385 --> 00:24:16,149
The country is at war again, it
is split into two camps,
297
00:24:16,388 --> 00:24:17,753
only this time-along
a different dividing line.
298
00:24:17,923 --> 00:24:23,293
Howeverforthis huge monument
they pooled the money.
299
00:24:33,705 --> 00:24:38,074
An amazing episode: in the heat
of the battle the 'hosts',
300
00:24:38,243 --> 00:24:42,441
the Saxons, betray Napoleon
and side with coalition troops.
301
00:24:42,681 --> 00:24:46,879
They turn their cannons and open
fire at the French.
302
00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:50,644
Byron: 'The sly Saxon Jackal
ran away from the Lion,
303
00:24:50,822 --> 00:24:57,227
'and joined the Fox, the
Wolf and the Bear.
304
00:24:57,529 --> 00:25:02,728
The 'Fox' is Austria, the 'Wolf'
- Prussia, the 'Bear' - Russia.
305
00:25:06,371 --> 00:25:10,034
'We'll go to the North!
We'll go to the North! '

306
00:25:11,710 --> 00:25:14,110
This is the place of
Napoleon's command post.
307
00:25:14,312 --> 00:25:16,872
The day was as gloomy as today.
308
00:25:17,082 --> 00:25:18,811
It was getting dark, just
like now.
309
00:25:19,050 --> 00:25:21,780
The biographers of the French
emperorthink he
310
00:25:21,987 --> 00:25:25,889
could have won the Leipzig
battle on the first day.
311
00:25:26,091 --> 00:25:28,082
But there wasn't enough time.
312
00:25:28,326 --> 00:25:31,124
At 5 p.m., feeling that the
enemy is growing weaker,
313
00:25:31,329 --> 00:25:35,925
Napoleon takes a glove off his
hand to signal:
314
00:25:36,101 --> 00:25:37,728
'Guards -fire! ' 315
00:25:37,903 --> 00:25:41,236
when he hears news of the
Austrian attack on the right
316
00:25:41,406 --> 00:25:43,237
flank, and he has to send the
Guards overthere.
317
00:25:43,441 --> 00:25:46,467
The Austrians are repulsed,
the corps commander captured.
318
00:25:46,678 --> 00:25:50,808
The moment called for a decisive

blow, but -too late.

319
00:25:51,016 --> 00:25:55,612
It's getting dark, and Napoleon
misses the chance.
320
00:25:55,954 --> 00:26:01,415
In those days they fought
'from dusk till dawn'.
321
00:26:01,626 --> 00:26:06,996
Laterthey invented
searchlights, tracer bullets
322
00:26:07,198 --> 00:26:09,689
and other attributes
of night fighting.
323
00:26:09,901 --> 00:26:14,338
But in the beginning of the XIX
century they had to wait until
324
00:26:14,539 --> 00:26:19,567
sunrise. Just like in chess-an
adjourned game. Only
325
00:26:19,778 --> 00:26:24,875
in this case the opponent can
not only analyze the position
326
00:26:25,050 --> 00:26:26,677
overnight, but change it.
327
00:26:31,890 --> 00:26:36,156
On the third day the coalition
gets reinforcement.
328
00:26:36,361 --> 00:26:41,993
Napoleon understands that his
army won't last another day.
329
00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:46,398
The army suffered huge losses
when retreating from Leipzig. 330
00:26:46,605 --> 00:26:48,869
and Napoleon decides to
go back to France.

331
00:26:49,107 --> 00:26:52,804
His empire to the east of France
ceased to exist.
332
00:27:10,829 --> 00:27:15,926
The year 1814 was extremely
successful for Napoleon.
333
00:27:16,101 --> 00:27:20,162
Not one single defeat.
But the forces are uneven.
334
00:27:20,372 --> 00:27:23,273
You can't beat numbers with
skill.
335
00:27:29,047 --> 00:27:34,075
In the battle for Paris the
Allies surround the city
336
00:27:34,285 --> 00:27:36,253
and block the way of Napoleon.
337
00:27:36,454 --> 00:27:40,117
He can't break through
to help his besieged capital.
338
00:27:49,434 --> 00:27:53,803
The crucial moment: the Russians
have seized Montmartre.
339
00:27:53,972 --> 00:27:57,999
Their cannons are on the top of
the hill-now tourist
340
00:27:58,443 --> 00:28:02,277
observation points. They shell
the city from the top point.
341
00:28:07,419 --> 00:28:09,148
The resistance is strong.
342
00:28:09,387 --> 00:28:15,087
These barricades in Place
Clichi are a monument to
343

00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,422

the defenders. Gun-points in the
wall of Pere-Lachaise cemetery.
344
00:28:18,630 --> 00:28:21,963
The French put cannons on top of
the graves and fire through
345
00:28:22,167 --> 00:28:24,727
the gun-points. They repulse
3 Russian attacks.
346
00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:36,907
The cafes are open,
347
00:28:37,082 --> 00:28:41,143
visitors are debating the
sides' chances.
348
00:28:41,319 --> 00:28:43,310
When the resistance is
finally suppressed,
349
00:28:43,521 --> 00:28:48,049
the truce is signed in the cafe
'Little Garden' on La Chapelle.
350
00:28:55,934 --> 00:29:00,166
On the day of capitulation
all Paris cafes were open,
351
00:29:00,405 --> 00:29:02,669
and there was one memorable
event that should be mentioned.
352
00:29:02,874 --> 00:29:08,938
Cafe 'Mother Catherine',
there's a memorial plaque.
353
00:29:09,881 --> 00:29:12,042
Here, underthe shed,
354
00:29:12,283 --> 00:29:14,217
not easy to see.
355
00:29:14,452 --> 00:29:20,880
On March 30 1814
the Cossacks

356
00:29:21,059 --> 00:29:24,961
have cried out the famous
'Bistro! ' or 'Faster! '.
357
00:29:25,196 --> 00:29:30,190
This was the noble ancestor of
our modern bistros.
358
00:29:31,536 --> 00:29:35,632
The Cossacks hurried the
inn-keepers: 'Bistro! Faster!
359
00:29:35,874 --> 00:29:38,638
'We want food and drink! ' They
were celebrating the
360
00:29:38,877 --> 00:29:43,644
capitulation of Paris. Since
then -the tradition of fast-food.
361
00:29:46,584 --> 00:29:51,544
The Cossacks have impressed Paris.
Their warfare became a legend.
362
00:29:51,723 --> 00:29:54,817
They looked like true children
of their wild country.
363
00:29:55,059 --> 00:29:57,391
Unlike the Guard,
364
00:29:57,562 --> 00:29:59,587
who spoke fluent French,
365
00:29:59,831 --> 00:30:02,823
and could be taken for Frenchmen.
366
00:30:04,202 --> 00:30:06,864
The French-Russian
phraseological dictionary:
367
00:30:07,806 --> 00:30:12,937
'faire I'amour a la cosaque' 'to make love Cossack-style 368
00:30:13,144 --> 00:30:15,772

with charge and force.

369
00:30:18,616 --> 00:30:20,982
The Cossacks are the first to
ride into Paris
370
00:30:21,186 --> 00:30:24,314
on the morning after
the capitulation.
371
00:30:24,556 --> 00:30:29,050
In their wake are the cavalry,
hussars and emperor Alexander.
372
00:30:30,495 --> 00:30:36,525
The victors march into Paris
through the Saint-Denis Gate.
373
00:30:36,701 --> 00:30:40,330
Alexander rides oh his Eclipse the horse presented to him
374
00:30:40,505 --> 00:30:43,099
by Napoleon 6 years ago, when
they met in Erfurt.
375
00:30:43,341 --> 00:30:47,209
It is the summit of his glory.
Alexander -the liberator
376
00:30:47,378 --> 00:30:50,006
of Europe. He brings peace
to the people. The great emperor,
377
00:30:50,215 --> 00:30:54,481
it is the heyday of his empire.
Pushkin will write:
378
00:30:54,686 --> 00:31:00,716
'We were in Paris, the Russian
Czar was the greatest.
379
00:31:08,399 --> 00:31:10,924
Poet Konstantin Batyushkov
in his letter:
380
00:31:11,135 --> 00:31:14,730
'We savored oysters in the best,

Paris restaurant 'Verie',

381
00:31:14,906 --> 00:31:18,273
'and toasted our sovereign
with champagne.
382
00:31:19,277 --> 00:31:22,474
In the middle of the XIX century
383
00:31:22,714 --> 00:31:25,706
'Verie' merged with the
neighboring 'Le Grand Vicour',
384
00:31:25,984 --> 00:31:27,508
Iocated in Palais-Royal,
385
00:31:27,719 --> 00:31:30,950
and is still the center of
Parisian gastronomy.
386
00:31:35,526 --> 00:31:38,893
Except French and Russian
aristocrats,
387
00:31:39,063 --> 00:31:43,966
no one in the world has
developed a taste for oysters.
388
00:31:44,202 --> 00:31:48,036
The shells are opened
with a special knife.
389
00:31:51,509 --> 00:32:00,611
The 'mucus' is then sprinkled
with lemon,
390
00:32:00,885 --> 00:32:03,376
and stylishly washed down
with champagne.
391
00:32:03,588 --> 00:32:07,080
Lensky's second in Pushkin's
'Yevgeny Onegin', Zaretsky
392
00:32:08,593 --> 00:32:12,893
'usually drained 3 bottles at
'Verie' every morning.

393
00:32:13,097 --> 00:32:15,258
Let's combine the orders
of Batyushkov and
394
00:32:15,466 --> 00:32:17,798
Zaretsky in that restaurant.
395
00:32:18,303 --> 00:32:24,003
3 bottles of champagne,
presumably 3 dozen oysters.
396
00:32:24,242 --> 00:32:28,611
In today's prices: 50 dollars
for a dozen.
397
00:32:28,780 --> 00:32:32,716
A bottle of vintage champagne
costs 150 dollars.
398
00:32:32,884 --> 00:32:37,787
That rounds up to 600. And that
is only an aperitive.
399
00:32:37,989 --> 00:32:40,981
Many officers order on
credit.
400
00:32:41,225 --> 00:32:45,753
The victorious feasts will last
until 1818,
401
00:32:45,930 --> 00:32:48,125
when the Russian troops
pull out of France.
402
00:32:48,299 --> 00:32:53,259
Leaving the biggest
credit account in history.
403
00:32:59,744 --> 00:33:04,340
Alexander l, the first
gentleman on the throne,
404
00:33:04,515 --> 00:33:08,679
insisted that Napoleon be
granted a little estate.
405

00:33:08,886 --> 00:33:11,446

The choice was the
Mediterranean island Elba.
406
00:33:11,622 --> 00:33:14,921
Soon, breaking his promise
not to engage in another war,
407
00:33:15,093 --> 00:33:19,587
Napoleon lands his troops in
France and heads for Paris.
408
00:33:20,031 --> 00:33:22,226
The famous '100 days of Napoleon',
409
00:33:22,467 --> 00:33:26,767
his crushing defeat at Waterloo,
and a new exile,
410
00:33:26,971 --> 00:33:31,533
this time to the British
island of St. Helen.
411
00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:46,156
The allies divide France
into occupation zones.
412
00:33:46,357 --> 00:33:50,760
Just like there will be
Russian troops in East Germany,
413
00:33:50,962 --> 00:33:55,797
150 years before there was a
Russian corps in France.
414
00:33:55,967 --> 00:34:00,336
To protect the Bourbons,
'restored' on the throne.
415
00:34:01,572 --> 00:34:05,531
On Russian-controlled territories
in the north of France
416
00:34:05,777 --> 00:34:10,077
there were Russian laws and
Russian rules. There even was
417
00:34:10,281 --> 00:34:15,412

a Russian police. The Russians

weren't happy with the French Lie.
418
00:34:15,620 --> 00:34:19,522
and measured all the distances
anew.
419
00:34:19,757 --> 00:34:21,748
In Russian 'versty' (1.05 km).
They put up 'versty' poles.
420
00:34:21,959 --> 00:34:23,256
This one remained until now.
421
00:34:23,461 --> 00:34:26,828
Most of the poles were wooden,
this one's made of stone.
422
00:34:27,031 --> 00:34:30,865
Then this crossroads was a bit
more to the south.
423
00:34:32,403 --> 00:34:38,672
On 'versty' poles in Russia they
marked the distance to
424
00:34:38,976 --> 00:34:40,500
St. Petersburg.
425
00:34:42,246 --> 00:34:47,616
Here it said: 85 'versty'
to Maubeuge.
426
00:34:47,819 --> 00:34:51,311
Maubeuge is a small town on the
border with Belgium,
427
00:34:51,522 --> 00:34:53,547
the then capital of 'Russian'
France,
428
00:34:53,758 --> 00:34:57,125
here was the headquarters of
Russian occupation troops,
429
00:34:57,328 --> 00:35:00,229
underthe command of general
Vorontsov.

430
00:35:04,469 --> 00:35:08,235
In Maubeuge, with all roads
marked with 'versty' poles,
431
00:35:08,439 --> 00:35:11,465
on the bank of river Moselle
they built Russian baths.
432
00:35:11,709 --> 00:35:14,507
They would take a steam bath,
and plunge into cold water.
433
00:35:14,745 --> 00:35:19,580
In houses they built tile stoves
and put up double frames.
434
00:35:20,952 --> 00:35:24,410
A Foreign Ministry official
Filipp Vigel:
435
00:35:24,622 --> 00:35:29,457
'Maubeuge is packed, and you
won't hear a single word
436
00:35:29,660 --> 00:35:31,594
'in French. Only Russian
soldiers.
437
00:35:31,796 --> 00:35:35,698
'I was served 'shchi', 'kasha'
'blinis' and 'kvas'.
438
00:35:37,635 --> 00:35:44,336
Russian troops will be pulled
out in November 1818.
439
00:35:44,775 --> 00:35:49,974
French caricatures: 'Reluctant
return of a Cossack to Russia. '
440
00:35:50,548 --> 00:35:53,915
'Russian officer parting with
a French woman. '
441
00:35:54,485 --> 00:35:57,010
Affiliate of the French Bank
in Maubeuge.

442
00:35:57,255 --> 00:36:02,716
Leaving Maubege, general
Vorontsov pays all debts
443
00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:07,488
made by Russian officers.
444
00:36:07,698 --> 00:36:09,563
They ate and drank with
no limit. They had a ball.
445
00:36:09,767 --> 00:36:14,602
The sum was astronomical:
1.5 million Rubles.
446
00:36:14,839 --> 00:36:19,936
That sum equaled 8
large manors-on the
447
00:36:20,178 --> 00:36:22,476
nearest approaches to Moscow
or St. Petersburg,
448
00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:26,810
with villages up to 500 people,
and a stone manor,
449
00:36:27,018 --> 00:36:32,513
and about 3000 hectares of land,
with meadows and forests,
450
00:36:32,723 --> 00:36:37,786
cattle and stables,
barns, mills and smithies.
451
00:36:38,196 --> 00:36:43,634
The price of 8 Russian manors.
But not to pay would
452
00:36:43,968 --> 00:36:46,596
mean disgrace. General Vorontsov
is on the verge of bankruptcy.
453
00:36:50,975 --> 00:36:56,379
But he will save his financial
situation by marrying

454
00:36:56,614 --> 00:36:58,844
the daughter of a Polish
magnate, Elizaveta Bronitskaya.
455
00:37:19,804 --> 00:37:25,709
The post-war Vienna congress
hosts the heads of 216 states.
456
00:37:25,876 --> 00:37:28,174
No comparison with the Helsinki
meeting.
457
00:37:28,346 --> 00:37:33,113
The most representative world
conference in history.
458
00:37:34,452 --> 00:37:37,353
Most member-countries are
observers, and the four
459
00:37:37,555 --> 00:37:41,616
victors -Austria, England,
Prussia and Russia 460
00:37:41,859 --> 00:37:43,759
are once again dividing Europe.
461
00:37:43,995 --> 00:37:46,463
The Russian emperor-is
the leader of the free world.
462
00:37:46,664 --> 00:37:52,466
Alexander draws up an Act on
establishing the Holy Union
463
00:37:52,703 --> 00:37:56,469
of Monarchs. The first congress
is convened in German Aahene.
464
00:37:56,674 --> 00:38:02,078
Karl the Great: the 'author' of
Medieval united Europe.
465
00:38:04,582 --> 00:38:08,348
Evidence of the influence of
Russia's emperor:
466

00:38:08,619 --> 00:38:13,113

at the first congress of the
Holy Union France is
467
00:38:13,291 --> 00:38:17,421
represented by the head of state,
Duke Richelieu.
468
00:38:17,795 --> 00:38:19,592
We all know him by the
469
00:38:19,830 --> 00:38:23,197
monument at the Potemkin
Staircase in Odessa.
470
00:38:23,401 --> 00:38:26,768
Alexander delivered Richelieu
from the duties of city mayor
471
00:38:27,038 --> 00:38:29,529
and the governor-general of
the South of Russia,
472
00:38:29,774 --> 00:38:34,711
and insisted that Richelieu be
made the head of state.
473
00:38:34,912 --> 00:38:39,975
Alexander -the author of
'horizontal' personnel reshuffle.
474
00:38:42,286 --> 00:38:45,687
Russia's southern deputy was
equaled to the French premier,
475
00:38:45,923 --> 00:38:47,788
who sat in this room.
476
00:38:48,759 --> 00:38:52,559
Paris versus Odessa.
477
00:38:59,570 --> 00:39:02,733
The Holy Union was a
counterrevolutionary block.
478
00:39:02,940 --> 00:39:07,001
The purpose -to protect
the restored European dynasties.

479
00:39:07,211 --> 00:39:11,341
Congresses are convened mainly
to suppress resistance 480
00:39:11,549 --> 00:39:14,484
mostly in Italy and Spain.
481
00:39:19,924 --> 00:39:24,793
The Union has the legal right to
intervene in any country,
482
00:39:24,962 --> 00:39:28,125
even if the overthrown sovereign
is against foreign intervention.
483
00:39:28,366 --> 00:39:31,358
From the Act of the Holy Union:
484
00:39:32,036 --> 00:39:35,563
'Monarchs take a vow
to under all circumstances
485
00:39:35,773 --> 00:39:39,641
'render each other help and
support.
486
00:39:41,078 --> 00:39:47,540
The Holy Union is NATO, OSCE
and the Emergency Situations Ministry.
487
00:39:48,252 --> 00:39:52,552
Britain has a parliamentary
rule, it supports the Union,
488
00:39:52,757 --> 00:39:56,591
but instead of the monarch
it delegates a member
489
00:39:56,794 --> 00:40:02,232
of the House of Lords. Matters
are decided by 3 major
490
00:40:04,368 --> 00:40:07,269
continental allies. The church
where the 3 monarchs prayed.
491

00:40:07,505 --> 00:40:11,566

Here, on the outskirts of Aahene,
the troops are lined out
492
00:40:11,842 --> 00:40:15,505
in the square. The 3 monarchs
stirtheir horses in the centre,
493
00:40:15,679 --> 00:40:19,843
dismount, take off their
hats and pray together.
494
00:40:20,084 --> 00:40:22,985
Russian emperor Alexandera Christian Orthodox.
495
00:40:23,220 --> 00:40:25,848
Prussian king, Lutheran
Friedrich-Wilhelm.
496
00:40:26,056 --> 00:40:28,581
Austrian emperor catholic Franz.
497
00:40:28,759 --> 00:40:31,592
Then the monarchs embrace warmly,
498
00:40:31,762 --> 00:40:34,356
canons salute from the
neighboring hills.
499
00:40:34,598 --> 00:40:37,465
The 'fraternization' of the
three 'comrades'.
500
00:40:38,068 --> 00:40:42,528
The place will be named
'The Monarchs Square'.
501
00:40:42,740 --> 00:40:47,768
The monarchs' names will be given
to streets, and a monument
502
00:40:51,582 --> 00:40:54,745
will be erected: Alexander's
bas-relief is on the left.
503
00:40:58,622 --> 00:41:01,455
The congresses will be

Alexander's major achievement,

504
00:41:01,659 --> 00:41:05,060
there he reaps his European
laurels.
505
00:41:05,296 --> 00:41:07,662
Relenlessly he travels from
country to country.
506
00:41:07,865 --> 00:41:11,631
The Czar holds a summit in
exotic Lublyany. 507
00:41:11,802 --> 00:41:14,270
the third congress.
508
00:41:14,472 --> 00:41:17,771
In the last years of his life
he hardly ever visits Russia.
509
00:41:17,975 --> 00:41:21,103
They said he ruled the country
from a wheelchair.
510
00:41:21,278 --> 00:41:25,146
Pushkin dubbed Alexander
'the nomadic despot'.
511
00:41:35,392 --> 00:41:42,264
Chief 'home' innovations were
military settlements.
512
00:41:42,466 --> 00:41:47,062
The best army in the world
consumed more than half the
513
00:41:47,271 --> 00:41:50,399
country's incomes. The idea was
to make it fully self-supportive.
514
00:41:50,641 --> 00:41:55,101
Provinces are turned into
military settlements.
515
00:41:55,312 --> 00:41:57,177
Peasants toil on the land
and serve in the army.

516
00:41:57,381 --> 00:42:00,873
Agro-camps combined 2 main
Russian slaveries:
517
00:42:01,118 --> 00:42:05,680
the peasant's and the soldier's.
They will be forever linked
518
00:42:05,923 --> 00:42:10,121
with the name of their designer,
the factual ruler of Russia
519
00:42:10,327 --> 00:42:12,852
in the years of Alexander's
decline, count Arakcheev.
520
00:42:17,201 --> 00:42:19,260
Russian folklore:
521
00:42:19,470 --> 00:42:23,998
'Arakcheev, son of a bitch,
you rascal,
522
00:42:24,208 --> 00:42:26,608
'you ruined Russia... '.
523
00:42:27,311 --> 00:42:31,509
He was extremely ugly 'An ape in uniform' -,
524
00:42:31,715 --> 00:42:34,206
'and pathologically cruel:
he grabbed soldiers
525
00:42:34,418 --> 00:42:38,252
'by the moustache, and in one
instance even bit an ear off.
526
00:42:38,455 --> 00:42:41,049
But he was no doubt an
outstanding administrator, and
527
00:42:41,258 --> 00:42:45,285
possessed a quality rarely found
in government officials:
528

00:42:45,529 --> 00:42:47,929

he didn't steal and
nevertook bribes,
529
00:42:48,132 --> 00:42:50,999
declined awards and
the title of field-marshal.
530
00:42:51,268 --> 00:42:53,168
Arakcheev set up the first
military settlement
531
00:42:53,370 --> 00:42:57,272
in his own estate in
village Gruzino 532
00:42:57,508 --> 00:43:01,069
a model to follow.
533
00:43:02,580 --> 00:43:07,040
Arakcheev's manor stood on a
hill overlooking river Volkhovka.
534
00:43:07,251 --> 00:43:10,186
Alexander I visited here
11 times.
535
00:43:10,387 --> 00:43:13,754
Now in the place of the manor
there's the village council.
536
00:43:13,924 --> 00:43:18,020
All that's left of the huge house
are mossy granite slabs.
537
00:43:18,262 --> 00:43:20,389
Like splinters of a lost
civilization.
538
00:43:20,564 --> 00:43:22,964
All around one can see evidence
of desolation.
539
00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:26,135
Years ago the village was an
ideal model of Arakcheev's order.
540
00:43:26,370 --> 00:43:29,066

To rememberthe popular army joke

: 'lf you, civil people, are
541
00:43:29,306 --> 00:43:34,300
'so smart, why don't you
march in formations?
542
00:43:34,511 --> 00:43:37,912
In military settlements a woman
had to get up at a certain time,
543
00:43:38,115 --> 00:43:40,583
heat the stove at a certain
time, cook dinner,
544
00:43:40,751 --> 00:43:42,616
and graze the cattle
- All by the clock.
545
00:43:42,820 --> 00:43:47,052
Regulations were very strict.
Every thing had its place
546
00:43:47,224 --> 00:43:50,284
in the house. The men went out
to work in the field at a
547
00:43:50,494 --> 00:43:52,291
fixed hour, and returned home
at a fixed hour. There were
548
00:43:52,496 --> 00:43:56,933
Regulations of 36 paragraphs
on 'how to raise children'.
549
00:43:57,134 --> 00:44:00,592
If there were too
many single young people,
550
00:44:00,938 --> 00:44:03,031
thy drew the young men
and women together,
551
00:44:03,207 --> 00:44:05,835
put notes in two corporal's hats 552
00:44:06,010 --> 00:44:09,207
- Another strict rule -

553
00:44:09,446 --> 00:44:12,074
and drew lots, making
matches.
554
00:44:17,655 --> 00:44:21,318
In the true spirit of
Alexander's imperial policy
555
00:44:21,525 --> 00:44:24,653
the monopoly now enjoyed
less rights,
556
00:44:24,895 --> 00:44:27,989
granting more rights to
the its colony.
557
00:44:37,975 --> 00:44:44,938
Afterthe war Russia got the
Prussian part of Catherine's
558
00:44:45,149 --> 00:44:50,052
division of Poland. That and
Lithuania now formed the Polish
559
00:44:50,354 --> 00:44:53,721
Kingdom. The Poles become the
biggest national minority.
560
00:44:53,924 --> 00:44:56,484
The capital of the main
territorial trophy -Warsaw 561
00:44:56,727 --> 00:45:02,165
the 3rd biggest city
after Moscow and St. Petersburg.
562
00:45:06,370 --> 00:45:09,828
An Internet address decorates
the royal palace.
563
00:45:10,040 --> 00:45:14,101
In 1818 that was the
address of Alexander I.
564
00:45:14,278 --> 00:45:17,042
When he traveled to Warsaw,
he stayed at the royal palace.

565
00:45:17,214 --> 00:45:21,116
Now he is also the Polish Czar.
566
00:45:21,351 --> 00:45:25,981
He changes his official title
to:
567
00:45:26,190 --> 00:45:33,255
'Emperor and Sovereign of All
Russia...
568
00:45:33,430 --> 00:45:36,593
- That part he inherited from
Catherine, what they called
569
00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:42,873
'Great, White and Small Russia'.
To that he added further:
570
00:45:42,873 --> 00:45:46,468
'Czar of Poland, Grand Duke of
Finland,
571
00:45:46,677 --> 00:45:50,010
and so on, and so forth.
572
00:45:52,182 --> 00:45:55,515
His full title contains
55 denominations.
573
00:45:55,719 --> 00:46:00,656
In this list of titles he
includes even small territories:
574
00:46:00,858 --> 00:46:04,817
'Czar of Georgia, lmmeretia,
Mengrelia'.
575
00:46:05,028 --> 00:46:09,761
That followed by
'Czar of Siberia'.
576
00:46:10,968 --> 00:46:15,234
Relations with Poland are
registered as a Union.
577

00:46:15,439 --> 00:46:18,533

The Russian emperor is
the Czar of Poland.
578
00:46:27,918 --> 00:46:32,719
Normally the throne stands under
this canopy. Now it is
579
00:46:32,956 --> 00:46:34,514
at another exhibition.
In the main hall
580
00:46:34,758 --> 00:46:39,320
Alexander opens the first
sitting of the Polish Seim
581
00:46:39,563 --> 00:46:43,590
and gives the country the most
liberal European Constitution.
582
00:46:44,201 --> 00:46:47,796
Parliament, division of
power, independent court,
583
00:46:48,038 --> 00:46:48,697
equality before the law,
freedom of speech.
584
00:46:51,875 --> 00:46:57,541
Russia's colony - Poland has all that Russia hasn't.
585
00:46:58,382 --> 00:47:00,077
Alexander l:
586
00:47:00,317 --> 00:47:01,579
'With God's help I plan to
spread
587
00:47:01,752 --> 00:47:05,984
'these beneficial institutions
to all countries
588
00:47:06,190 --> 00:47:10,024
'that were entrusted to me by
Providence.
589
00:47:11,962 --> 00:47:14,430

It is thought that by saying so

Alexander
590
00:47:14,698 --> 00:47:21,467
promised a Constitution to
Russia back in 1818.
591
00:47:22,239 --> 00:47:25,572
St. Petersburg is indignant over
the restoration of Poland
592
00:47:25,776 --> 00:47:28,904
and granting liberties to
the conquered people.
593
00:47:29,079 --> 00:47:31,912
Karamzin hands Alexander
a special notice.
594
00:47:32,282 --> 00:47:35,911
Howeverthe Poles think that
they were robbed of their
595
00:47:36,086 --> 00:47:39,487
Motherland, and that Russian
authorities violate their
596
00:47:39,690 --> 00:47:42,523
Constitution. The Russians think
the Poles are being ungrateful.
597
00:47:42,926 --> 00:47:47,090
Poland is the most rebellious
territory in the empire.
598
00:47:47,297 --> 00:47:50,960
But now adds the Caucasus.
599
00:48:06,583 --> 00:48:11,282
Catherine signed the
George treaty.
600
00:48:11,521 --> 00:48:15,514
Russia took Georgia under
its patronage.
601
00:48:15,726 --> 00:48:18,217
For a while 2 Russian battalions

were stationed in Tiflis,

602
00:48:18,428 --> 00:48:23,627
but the bellicose Muslim
neighbors continued to encroach
603
00:48:23,867 --> 00:48:26,392
on Orthodox Georgia, and
Georgia kept begging for help.
604
00:48:28,005 --> 00:48:32,339
From the will of the last
Georgian emperor George Xll:
605
00:48:32,576 --> 00:48:34,703
'I wish that instead of being
underthe
606
00:48:34,945 --> 00:48:38,278
'patronage of the Russian
throne, my kingdom
607
00:48:38,482 --> 00:48:40,746
'be given under its full control.
608
00:48:42,619 --> 00:48:45,019
Alexander hesitated for 6 months.
609
00:48:45,222 --> 00:48:49,283
Catherine's followers pressured
him into saving his
610
00:48:49,526 --> 00:48:51,994
co-religionists, young
reformists warned of the
611
00:48:52,195 --> 00:48:55,824
danger of humanitarian actions
in explosive hotbeds.
612
00:48:56,300 --> 00:49:03,365
The 1801 Manifesto:
Georgia joins Russia.
613
00:49:14,117 --> 00:49:18,850
The first of Georgian princedoms
to join Russia is

614
00:49:19,056 --> 00:49:23,857
Kartli-Kahetia with the capital
Tiflis (today's Tbilisi).
615
00:49:24,094 --> 00:49:26,585
Since then Tiflis is the main
administrative
616
00:49:26,797 --> 00:49:29,527
and military centre in the
Caucasus.
617
00:49:29,733 --> 00:49:32,167
At the time of Georgia joining
Russia, the Georgians
618
00:49:32,369 --> 00:49:35,532
are on the verge of extinction.
They are only 75 thousand.
619
00:49:35,739 --> 00:49:38,469
In 50 years they will number
a million.
620
00:49:43,280 --> 00:49:47,478
The empire has absorbed an
enclave.
621
00:49:47,651 --> 00:49:50,814
Russia and Georgia don't
have a common border.
622
00:49:51,054 --> 00:49:58,051
There's only one passage
overthe ridge.
623
00:50:00,197 --> 00:50:03,633
The Military-Georgian road.
200 km long.
624
00:50:03,834 --> 00:50:07,099
It connects Russia with
its new possession.
625
00:50:07,337 --> 00:50:11,433
In the West are peaceful
Ossetians and Kabardinians,

626
00:50:11,608 --> 00:50:15,009
but farther down West are
belligerent Circassians.
627
00:50:15,245 --> 00:50:18,271
To the East lie Dagestan
and Chechnya.
628
00:50:18,448 --> 00:50:21,246
It's unsafe to travel without
an armed convoy 629
00:50:21,451 --> 00:50:23,612
just like nowadays in Chechnya.
630
00:50:25,122 --> 00:50:28,922
The empire didn't really
need the Caucasus.
631
00:50:29,092 --> 00:50:34,086
But since it embraced
Transcaucasia, it had to take
632
00:50:34,264 --> 00:50:35,253
the Caucasus. By force.
633
00:50:35,432 --> 00:50:39,926
There was a reason forthe
Military-Georgian road being
634
00:50:55,385 --> 00:50:58,946
the only passage. The law in the
mountains was military
635
00:50:59,156 --> 00:51:03,183
democracy. No state, no
aristocrats, no one to
636
00:51:03,427 --> 00:51:08,524
negotiate with. Only field
commanders.
637
00:51:13,203 --> 00:51:17,503
In this land to plunder, steal
and highjack people was
638
00:51:17,707 --> 00:51:21,837

considered a virtue and a way

to survive in the rugged terrain.
639
00:51:22,045 --> 00:51:25,242
During the war with Napoleon
the Caucasus was not an issue.
640
00:51:25,549 --> 00:51:30,953
But in 1816 general Alexei
Ermolov is appointed
641
00:51:31,154 --> 00:51:36,421
governor-general with
almost unlimited powers.
642
00:51:37,828 --> 00:51:39,125
Pushkin:
643
00:51:39,329 --> 00:51:44,596
'Bow your snowy head, Caucasus!
And welcome Ermolov!
644
00:51:47,170 --> 00:51:50,867
Ermolov submitted his plan
to the emperor:
645
00:51:51,108 --> 00:51:53,906
to suppress the Caucasus in 2
years.
646
00:51:54,144 --> 00:51:59,480
Instead starts the most
protracted Caucasian war
647
00:51:59,649 --> 00:52:03,745
in the history of the empire:
40 years non-stop.
648
00:52:15,832 --> 00:52:18,096
Ermolov's white stone palace
stands
649
00:52:18,268 --> 00:52:20,327
nearthe building of Georgia's
government.
650
00:52:20,570 --> 00:52:23,596
Before a more modest one

stood in its place.

651
00:52:23,773 --> 00:52:27,174
Russia's Caucasian tactics
changed with
652
00:52:27,344 --> 00:52:31,542
each new governor, ranging
from punitive expeditions
653
00:52:37,154 --> 00:52:39,884
to blockades. Punitive measures
were taken against those
654
00:52:40,090 --> 00:52:42,490
thought to be the organizers
of armed raids.
655
00:52:42,726 --> 00:52:47,720
After each new raid another sweep.
656
00:52:49,799 --> 00:52:53,826
Ermolov changes the tactics.
He surrounds the hotbeds,
657
00:52:54,004 --> 00:52:57,770
drives the insurgents into
the mountains, and waits
658
00:52:57,974 --> 00:53:02,035
until hunger and cold forces
them to lay down the arms.
659
00:53:08,084 --> 00:53:13,716
Ermolov shifts the defense line
furtherto the south
660
00:53:18,862 --> 00:53:22,889
and puts up new fortifications.
Small fortresses, only 4
661
00:53:23,066 --> 00:53:26,695
bastions, guarded by
garrisons small in number.
662
00:53:26,937 --> 00:53:30,600
This fortress has been

redone into a hotel.

663
00:53:30,840 --> 00:53:35,004
Four rooms only.
Narrow gun-slots have
664
00:53:35,212 --> 00:53:37,840
remained since then.
665
00:53:38,048 --> 00:53:41,848
There were biggerfortresses
with 6 bastions,
666
00:53:42,052 --> 00:53:44,247
and garrisons of several
thousand soldiers.
667
00:53:44,454 --> 00:53:48,857
One of the main outposts was
fortress Groznaya in Chechnya.
668
00:53:49,025 --> 00:53:51,425
It gave the name to the city
Grozny.
669
00:53:55,265 --> 00:53:57,130
Ermolov in his letter:
670
00:53:57,334 --> 00:54:00,963
'First we have to discuss
loathsome matters,
671
00:54:01,204 --> 00:54:03,604
'therefore let's talk
about Chechens.
672
00:54:09,112 --> 00:54:13,378
Ermolov calls Chechnya
'the nest of all outlaws'.
673
00:54:13,583 --> 00:54:18,020
In Chechnya he launches an
anti-terrorist operation.
674
00:54:18,188 --> 00:54:23,285
They force the Chechens living
in the Sundj valley to

675
00:54:23,526 --> 00:54:28,088
fight against their own people.
Soldiers armed with axes
676
00:54:28,265 --> 00:54:29,698
clearthe impenetrable forests.
677
00:54:29,933 --> 00:54:34,802
They do it underthe
threat of death.
678
00:54:39,209 --> 00:54:45,205
In the meantime they were
trying to raise a huge sum of
679
00:54:45,415 --> 00:54:49,283
250 thousand Rubles to free
major Shvetsov who was taken
680
00:54:49,486 --> 00:54:53,855
hostage during a night raid
in Dagestan.
681
00:54:58,228 --> 00:55:01,425
He was captured on the
Kizlyar road.
682
00:55:01,598 --> 00:55:05,193
Many more people will be
captured there afterwards.
683
00:55:05,402 --> 00:55:07,529
When general Ermolov takes
office he orders to
684
00:55:07,704 --> 00:55:11,105
imprison all Kumyts Khans
in the Kizlyarfortress,
685
00:55:11,308 --> 00:55:13,606
because a Russian officer was
captured on their land.
686
00:55:13,777 --> 00:55:15,404
They threaten the Dagestan
nobility
687

00:55:15,578 --> 00:55:19,139

that if they don't free the
prisoner within 10 days,
688
00:55:19,382 --> 00:55:21,407
they will be hanged on
the rampart.
689
00:55:21,651 --> 00:55:24,984
Ermolov is being informed that
the size of ransom
690
00:55:25,155 --> 00:55:27,146
was lessened to 10 thousand,
but he refuses to pay.
691
00:55:27,357 --> 00:55:31,316
He orders the Dagestans to
raise the necessary amount.
692
00:55:31,528 --> 00:55:34,497
Major Shvetsov who spent 1 year
and 4 months in a pit
693
00:55:34,731 --> 00:55:39,168
in the Chechen village Bolshie
Otogi was freed.
694
00:55:40,804 --> 00:55:45,537
Now the Russians themselves
take hostages.
695
00:55:45,709 --> 00:55:48,974
Ermolov is quick at
adopting foreign customs.
696
00:55:49,212 --> 00:55:51,009
He has 3 wives from Dagestan.
697
00:55:51,214 --> 00:55:55,344
Their sons are granted the
titles of noblemen.
698
00:55:56,853 --> 00:56:01,347
In 5 years the blockade tactics
yields results.
699
00:56:01,558 --> 00:56:05,927

But suddenly the uncoordinated

resistance movement
700
00:56:06,129 --> 00:56:09,929
acquires a leader.
701
00:56:12,969 --> 00:56:15,904
Ermolov-in his report to
Alexander l:
702
00:56:16,106 --> 00:56:21,203
'Now the Chechens have a strong
leader, notorious brigand
703
00:56:21,378 --> 00:56:23,369
lieutenant Beibulat'.
704
00:56:24,814 --> 00:56:26,975
Beibulat got his promotion
before Ermolov's time.
705
00:56:27,183 --> 00:56:30,448
To win the hearts and minds
Caucasian people,
706
00:56:30,687 --> 00:56:36,091
he brings in mullah Magomed
from Dagestan to Chechnya.
707
00:56:36,326 --> 00:56:39,420
Magomed professes radical Islam,
708
00:56:39,662 --> 00:56:43,428
demands loyalty to Sharia law, and calls for
709
00:56:43,666 --> 00:56:48,194
Jihad-a holy war
against non-Muslims.
710
00:56:51,541 --> 00:56:53,532
In the spring of 1825 Ermolov
carries out 3 sweeps
711
00:56:53,777 --> 00:56:58,737
in the village Urus-Martan,
712
00:56:58,982 --> 00:57:01,780

but radical Islamists

are all over Chechnya.
713
00:57:01,951 --> 00:57:04,283
This is what's left of the house
of Magomed 714
00:57:04,454 --> 00:57:07,014
amid the ruins of his
home village Yarak.
715
00:57:07,223 --> 00:57:11,250
In these streets little boys
ran around with sticks,
716
00:57:11,494 --> 00:57:17,262
waving them in the direction of
Russia: 'Jihad! '
717
00:57:19,836 --> 00:57:24,830
In the wing nearthe mosque
was the holy school of
718
00:57:25,041 --> 00:57:26,633
'Magomed of Iraq', who called
himself a prophet.
719
00:57:26,810 --> 00:57:32,680
Beibulat claimed to have seen
a fiery angel above his head.
720
00:57:36,619 --> 00:57:41,352
Underthe banner of Murid
the war became their way of life
721
00:57:41,624 --> 00:57:44,092
and its meaning. Beibulat's army
passed to an offensive.
722
00:57:44,294 --> 00:57:48,196
Both leading Russian generals,
Grekov and Lisanevich,
723
00:57:48,431 --> 00:57:50,956
were stabbed to death by
a fanatic.
724
00:57:51,468 --> 00:57:55,802

At first Ermolov planned a

civil administration in Chechnya,
725
00:57:56,005 --> 00:57:58,496
now he asks for military
reinforcements.
726
00:57:58,675 --> 00:58:03,476
In the end it was clear:
Ermolov's plan failed.
727
00:58:26,503 --> 00:58:28,937
The Empire-style was born
in France.
728
00:58:29,172 --> 00:58:34,940
Having defeated Napoleon's
empire Russia beats its imperial
729
00:58:35,178 --> 00:58:38,545
style. The highest achievement
is 'Russian Empire'.
730
00:58:40,250 --> 00:58:46,246
Neapolitan Carlo Rossi who was
granted the title of nobleman,
731
00:58:46,489 --> 00:58:51,859
completes the construction of
classic St. Petersburg:
732
00:58:52,061 --> 00:58:57,863
the city centre, the main square
and the main army headquarters.
733
00:58:58,167 --> 00:59:02,729
The unconquered city-legend,
that new the joy of victory.
734
00:59:05,675 --> 00:59:09,133
Before Rossi the Palace Square
didn't exist. In front
735
00:59:09,379 --> 00:59:13,008
of the Winter Palace there was a
pasture for grazing cows.
736
00:59:13,182 --> 00:59:17,380

The square was completed with

Rossi's bow-shaped building of
737
00:59:17,587 --> 00:59:19,214
the main Army Headquarters
with the famous arch.
738
00:59:26,896 --> 00:59:30,957
Russian Empire was Alexander's
favorite style.
739
00:59:31,167 --> 00:59:35,627
The emperor wants the
buildings
to look stately.
740
00:59:36,940 --> 00:59:40,967
From the Decree of His Majesty
emperor Alexander l:
741
00:59:41,210 --> 00:59:44,805
'... all buildings should be
painted in the following colors:
742
00:59:45,014 --> 00:59:50,714
'white, pale yellow, light grey
and yellow-grey.
743
00:59:52,055 --> 00:59:56,151
The newly-painted Mikhailovsky
palace and the Russian museum
744
00:59:56,326 --> 01:00:00,160
today represent Rossi's
favorite colors.
745
01:00:00,396 --> 01:00:05,698
Yellow and white on the bluish
St. Petersburg sky.
746
01:00:09,238 --> 01:00:14,608
For Mikhailovsky palace Rossi
gets the Vladimir Cross.
747
01:00:14,811 --> 01:00:17,974
Karamzin gets one for 'The
History of the Russian State'.
748

01:00:18,147 --> 01:00:26,077

In 20 years Carlo Rossi builds
12 streets and 13 squares.
749
01:00:31,561 --> 01:00:35,622
Rossi's model ensemble is
perhaps this small street,
750
01:00:35,798 --> 01:00:38,289
with just one house on
each side.
751
01:00:38,501 --> 01:00:40,935
Its modern name is 'Street
of Architect Rossi'. A model
752
01:00:41,137 --> 01:00:45,335
of harmony. The height of the
houses equals the width of
753
01:00:45,541 --> 01:00:53,073
the street. The length is
10 times the width.
754
01:00:58,454 --> 01:01:04,086
In Moscow, Empire is represented
by the Bolshoi Theatre
755
01:01:04,327 --> 01:01:07,455
and the Manege Square-grandiose
even by today's standards.
756
01:01:07,630 --> 01:01:12,067
The Moscow 'Rossi' is another
Italian, Osip Bove.
757
01:01:12,301 --> 01:01:17,034
Small-form Empire is used in
dwelling houses of the nobility.
758
01:01:17,206 --> 01:01:21,609
It instantly turned the big
village into a big city.
759
01:01:23,246 --> 01:01:28,650
Quite a change from the
burned-down houses with green
760

01:01:28,818 --> 01:01:34,017

gardens. The new face of Moscow
instantly finds admirers.
761
01:01:34,424 --> 01:01:36,824
Griboedov. 'Woe From Wit':
'ln my opinion
762
01:01:37,060 --> 01:01:42,657
'the fire only served
to make the city more beautiful.
763
01:01:48,571 --> 01:01:54,237
On the territory from the
embankment to Arbat
764
01:01:54,444 --> 01:01:58,073
out of 500 houses only
8 survived. But the construction
765
01:01:58,281 --> 01:02:02,081
was huge. Model Empire houses
on Prechistenka.
766
01:02:02,251 --> 01:02:05,687
One to two storeys,
with columns and a portico,
767
01:02:05,888 --> 01:02:07,549
yellow and white, as a rule.
768
01:02:07,724 --> 01:02:11,387
Typical decorations: knights'
armour, wreaths, lion's heads.
769
01:02:11,594 --> 01:02:14,586
They buy them ready-made at a
construction market.
770
01:02:15,832 --> 01:02:20,701
The houses look like small
palaces, but are inexpensive.
771
01:02:20,903 --> 01:02:26,205
Made of squared beam, covered
with stone-shaped plaster.
772
01:02:26,375 --> 01:02:28,673

'Empire sandwiches'.
773
01:02:28,845 --> 01:02:33,805
We know their interiors by the
film 'Woe from Wit'.
774
01:02:34,050 --> 01:02:37,417
The old furniture is
775
01:02:37,653 --> 01:02:41,749
still in demand.
776
01:02:47,029 --> 01:02:50,521
Pavel's furniture
is in museums,
777
01:02:50,700 --> 01:02:53,066
Catherine's furniture
hardly even remained.
778
01:02:53,269 --> 01:02:56,363
Alexander's Empire is still
widely sold and bought,
779
01:02:56,572 --> 01:03:00,804
and instantly catches your
eye in antique furniture shops.
780
01:03:01,043 --> 01:03:04,206
Atypical example of
'post-fire' Moscow furniture.
781
01:03:04,413 --> 01:03:07,974
Simple and refined.
782
01:03:08,151 --> 01:03:12,986
A set of a couch, 4 chairs and
a table costs 25 th dollars.
783
01:03:13,189 --> 01:03:16,625
And the Russian prices are lower
than world prices on Russian
784
01:03:16,793 --> 01:03:20,285
furniture, since we
can't export it.
785

01:03:23,833 --> 01:03:28,167

The warm golden tint
of the typical wood used in
786
01:03:28,337 --> 01:03:34,435
'Alexandrian Empire': poplar
and Karelia birch.
787
01:03:49,492 --> 01:03:54,122
The last 5 years are crisis
years for Alexander.
788
01:03:54,330 --> 01:04:00,462
In 1819 his dear sister, Grand
Dutches Ekaterina Pavlovna dies.
789
01:04:00,670 --> 01:04:06,131
Alexandertells his brothers
Konstantin and Nikolai of his
790
01:04:06,375 --> 01:04:08,104
possible abdication and
retreat to a monastery.
791
01:04:08,311 --> 01:04:12,247
In 1824 dies Alexander's
illegitimate daughter
792
01:04:12,448 --> 01:04:15,349
from long-time lover
Maria Naryshkina. Two other
793
01:04:15,585 --> 01:04:19,385
daughters, born in marriage,
died in infancy
794
01:04:19,589 --> 01:04:23,548
in 1800 and 1808.
795
01:04:23,759 --> 01:04:26,853
Alexander lost all his children.
He stays indifferent
796
01:04:28,598 --> 01:04:35,470
to reports about a secret
opposition officers' group.
797
01:04:36,873 --> 01:04:39,865

Alexander I - About future

Decembrists:
798
01:04:40,109 --> 01:04:45,809
'I too shared and encouraged
these illusions and delusions.
799
01:04:47,316 --> 01:04:50,342
The last year of
emperor Alexander.
800
01:04:50,620 --> 01:04:55,887
10 years ago when he was
overseeing the victory parade,
801
01:04:56,092 --> 01:05:00,893
a voice from the crowd shouted:
'We awaited you long ago! '
802
01:05:01,063 --> 01:05:06,296
Alexander: 'The courage of your
soldiers delayed me'.
803
01:05:06,502 --> 01:05:08,094
Then he was enthusiastic.
804
01:05:08,304 --> 01:05:10,864
10 years ago here, in
conquered Paris
805
01:05:11,107 --> 01:05:14,304
he proclaimed himself
the pacifier of the Universe.
806
01:05:14,543 --> 01:05:19,139
The burden was too heavy.
Despite the Holy Union,
807
01:05:19,382 --> 01:05:21,850
revolutions envelope Europe.
808
01:05:22,118 --> 01:05:25,679
A conspiracy was unmasked
in Russia.
809
01:05:26,155 --> 01:05:30,990
But Alexander is tired and
indifferent. He prefers solitude.

810
01:05:31,227 --> 01:05:34,128
Daily reading of the Bible
becomes a habit.
811
01:05:34,363 --> 01:05:38,129
Every morning and every night
he prays fervently.
812
01:05:38,334 --> 01:05:40,131
He spends hours kneeling
in front of the icons,
813
01:05:40,369 --> 01:05:43,566
and develops callosities
on his knees.
814
01:05:43,806 --> 01:05:48,709
Alexander retires from state
and public affairs.
815
01:05:48,878 --> 01:05:51,540
All is vanity.
816
01:05:58,587 --> 01:06:00,521
Alexander's younger brother
817
01:06:00,756 --> 01:06:03,782
Konstantin is divorced,
818
01:06:04,026 --> 01:06:05,687
and without children.
819
01:06:05,895 --> 01:06:09,228
It was decided to pass the throne
on to third brother Nikolai.
820
01:06:09,432 --> 01:06:12,401
The decision is kept a secret.
821
01:06:12,635 --> 01:06:16,765
Even the new heir-to-be
is not informed.
822
01:06:17,306 --> 01:06:20,002
Words that emperor
Alexander underlined

823
01:06:20,209 --> 01:06:22,609
in his personal Bible:
824
01:06:22,812 --> 01:06:28,717
I saw all that's done under
the Sun. It's all vanity.
825
01:06:33,356 --> 01:06:38,384
Aterrible flood happens in
St. Petersburg in 1824.
826
01:06:38,594 --> 01:06:42,189
Pushkin will write about it
in his 'The Copper Horseman'.
827
01:06:44,467 --> 01:06:47,994
Then too the wind blew from
that direction, only much
828
01:06:48,204 --> 01:06:50,502
stronger, forcing the waves
from the bay and on the city.
829
01:06:50,706 --> 01:06:54,665
Water in the Neva and smaller
rivers, like Moika, rises.
830
01:06:54,877 --> 01:06:56,538
This was the water level.
831
01:06:56,712 --> 01:07:00,273
By noon the city with a flat
landscape is underwater.
832
01:07:06,622 --> 01:07:11,150
The emperor watches from a
balcony of the Winter Palace.
833
01:07:11,360 --> 01:07:15,558
His residence is an island,
overlooking the flood.
834
01:07:15,765 --> 01:07:18,632
For a mystic on the throne
- A devilish premonition.
835

01:07:18,868 --> 01:07:23,271

The previous big flood happened
in the yearthe emperor was born.
836
01:07:23,506 --> 01:07:29,604
1777. That means, this one will
mark the day of his death.
837
01:07:43,626 --> 01:07:48,893
They say this epitaph
belonged to Pushkin:
838
01:07:49,131 --> 01:07:54,068
'He spent most of his life
traveling, and died in Taganrog'.
839
01:07:54,270 --> 01:07:59,367
Taganrog-a provincial
centre in Russia's south,
840
01:07:59,542 --> 01:08:03,569
on the Sea of Azov. Alexander
came here because of his wife's
841
01:08:03,779 --> 01:08:08,045
illness, but he in turn fell ill.
And never recovered.
842
01:08:17,693 --> 01:08:22,790
Born princess of Baden,
Elizaveta Alexeevna,
843
01:08:22,965 --> 01:08:25,456
the Russian empress
suffered a fit of
844
01:08:25,668 --> 01:08:30,662
consumption. Doctors recommend
going to Italy,
845
01:08:30,873 --> 01:08:33,467
but she insists on
staying in Russia.
846
01:08:33,676 --> 01:08:37,168
They pick a small town
on the Sea of Azov,
847

01:08:37,379 --> 01:08:39,973

His Majesty heads to
Taganrog first
848
01:08:40,182 --> 01:08:43,549
to prepare everything for
his wife's arrival.
849
01:08:52,194 --> 01:08:56,528
Taganrog governor offers
the royal couple his house,
850
01:08:56,732 --> 01:08:58,529
the best in town.
851
01:08:58,767 --> 01:09:04,262
One and a half storeys high,
but they will call it
852
01:09:04,473 --> 01:09:06,907
'The emperor's palace'.
Today it houses
853
01:09:07,109 --> 01:09:10,704
a children's clinic for
treating tuberculosis.
854
01:09:16,685 --> 01:09:20,416
Two rooms on this side were
the emperor's suite.
855
01:09:20,656 --> 01:09:22,453
In the middle there was
a spacious hall.
856
01:09:22,658 --> 01:09:26,185
It used to be the emperor's
dining room,
857
01:09:26,428 --> 01:09:29,795
now it is 'Ward No. Two'.
858
01:09:30,032 --> 01:09:32,626
On the other side of the house
were the rooms of the empress.
859
01:09:32,868 --> 01:09:36,998
Alexander has come in advance

to oversee the interior works.

860
01:09:37,206 --> 01:09:41,666
Single-handedly he drives in
nails for paintings.
861
01:09:46,715 --> 01:09:51,584
He'd ignored his wife for
months, had anotherfamily,
862
01:09:51,820 --> 01:09:55,051
but now, out of the feeling
of Christian repentance,
863
01:09:55,257 --> 01:09:57,452
he suddenly cares about her.
864
01:09:57,660 --> 01:10:01,892
They spend much time together,
go out in public,
865
01:10:02,131 --> 01:10:03,758
go on promenades.
866
01:10:03,933 --> 01:10:05,161
The court people called
867
01:10:05,401 --> 01:10:09,701
it their 'second honeymoon'.
868
01:10:11,373 --> 01:10:14,399
Emperor Alexander to Prince Volkonsky:
869
01:10:14,677 --> 01:10:19,580
'I will move to the Crimea soon,
and live as a private person.
870
01:10:19,782 --> 01:10:24,845
'I served my country 25 years,
retirement age for a soldier.
871
01:10:27,189 --> 01:10:31,057
On the way back from the Crimea,
where the Czar was on an
872
01:10:31,260 --> 01:10:35,959

inspection trip,
Alexanderfelt a slight fever.
873
01:10:36,165 --> 01:10:38,929
Then his condition worsened,
he had to stay in bed.
874
01:10:39,101 --> 01:10:43,231
Most probably it was
galloping typhoid,
875
01:10:43,472 --> 01:10:47,135
and in 5 days the emperor
passed away.
876
01:10:53,782 --> 01:11:00,051
He died in a God-forgotten
little town, still ratheryoung.
877
01:11:00,289 --> 01:11:03,486
He was only 47, and all his
life boasted excellent health.
878
01:11:03,726 --> 01:11:07,822
A strange death. The allegation
that he was poisoned was
879
01:11:08,063 --> 01:11:10,964
unpopular, but there still lives
a legend that the man who
880
01:11:11,200 --> 01:11:14,169
died here was not Alexander,
and that instead
881
01:11:14,370 --> 01:11:17,862
they buried someone who looked
like the emperor.
882
01:11:18,073 --> 01:11:20,098
Either an officer, or
a state messenger.
883
01:11:20,309 --> 01:11:22,743
And that when he was ill
Alexander confessed to a local
884
01:11:22,945 --> 01:11:28,645

priest that he was an

accomplice in his father's murder.
885
01:11:28,817 --> 01:11:32,685
And to atone for his sin,
he retired from the world
886
01:11:32,888 --> 01:11:38,986
and went to live in Siberia as
pilgrim Fedor Kuzmich.
887
01:11:42,798 --> 01:11:46,859
The pilgrim is a real figure,
who settled in a forest hut
888
01:11:47,036 --> 01:11:50,631
in Tobolsk province
in late 1820s.
889
01:11:50,873 --> 01:11:55,207
They say he lived another40
years, working hard and praying.
890
01:11:55,444 --> 01:11:59,471
His resemblance with the emperor
was striking, he knew the
891
01:11:59,715 --> 01:12:03,845
life of the court, spoke foreign
languages.
892
01:12:04,019 --> 01:12:05,316
Another version:
893
01:12:05,521 --> 01:12:08,456
The elder Fedor Kuzmich who
mysteriously disappeared from
894
01:12:08,624 --> 01:12:11,457
St. Petersburg, is a hussar
colonel Uvarov.
895
01:12:12,928 --> 01:12:17,490
The chapel in Tomsk on the
grave of Fedor Kuzmich
896
01:12:17,700 --> 01:12:21,602
was erected by his admirers,

the local merchants.

897
01:12:22,504 --> 01:12:24,734
Even in the Romanov family some
believed
898
01:12:24,940 --> 01:12:29,240
that here lies the great emperor,
tortured with guilt and
899
01:12:29,478 --> 01:12:34,541
tired of his mission,
'Alexanderthe Blessed. '
900
01:12:37,541 --> 01:12:41,541
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