T. V. Andreeva. M. M. Speransky and “Sannikov Land”: The Polar Expeditions of F. P. Wrangel
and P. F. Anjou. 1820–1824 // Petersburg Historical Journal, no. 4, 2025, pp. 133–147.

DOI: 10.51255/2311–603X_2025_4_133

Abstract:

In the early 19th century, the Russian Empire confronted a significant geopolitical challenge: the
exploration of its northern territories. This undertaking was informed by the findings of domestic geographical surveys conducted during the 17th and 18th centuries. A notable example of this endeavour was the ‘Great Northern Expedition’, which took place from 1733 to 1743 under the direction of V. J. Bering. It is evident that since the onset of the 19th century, the polar territories, particularly the north-eastern regions of Siberia and the coast of the Arctic Ocean, have remained under-researched. This has resulted in the sustenance of the hypothesis concerning the existence of a connection between the Eurasian and American continents. Consequently, from 1820 to 1824, there was a period of exploration and investigation into this region. The Polar Expedition was conducted under the guidance of M. M. Speransky as a theorist and practice of Russian statehood. The project was constituted of two internal expeditions, led by F. P. Wrangel and P. F. Anju, with the primary objective of resolving the issue of establishing a connection between Asia and America. The present article is an analysis of documents from the funds of RGA VMF, the purpose of which is to reveal the role of M. M. Speransky in this complex and important process for Russia.

Key words: Siberian Arctic, Alexander I, M. M. Speransky, F. A. Wrangel, P. F. Anjou, hypothesis about the isthmus connecting Asia and America.

Author:

Andreeva, Tatiana Vasilyevna — Dr. of Sci. in History, leading researcher of the Department of Modern History of Russia at the St. Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia).
E-mail: ta-a.andreeva2014@yandex.ru
ORCID: 0000-0002-6941-1639

References:

Kozlov, S. A. Russkii puteshestvennik epokhi Prosveshcheniya [The Russian Traveller in the Age of
Enlightenment. In Russ.]. Vol. 1. St. Petersburg, Istoricheskaya illyustratsia publ., 2003. 494 p.

Kozlov, S. A. Russkie otkryvayut Yaponiyu. Iz rukopisnogo naslediya moreplavatelei V. M. Golovnina i A. I. Khlebnikova. 1810–1820-e gg. [The Russians Discover Japan. From the Manuscript Heritage of Sailors V. M. Golovnina and A. I. Khlebnikova. 1810–1820. In Russ.]. St. Petersburg, Istoricheskaya illyustratsia publ., 2016. 502 p.

Okun’, S. B. Rossiisko-Amerikanskaya kompaniya [Russian-American Company. In Russ.]. Moscow,
Leningrad, Sotsekgiz publ., 1939. 260 р.

Pasetskii, V. M. Russkie geograficheskie otkrytiya i issledovaniya pervoi poloviny XIX veka [Russian Geographical Discoveries and Studies of the First Half of the 19th Century. In Russ.]. In Voprosy istorii. 1981. No. 12, pp. 98–108.

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