Yu. V. Kim. Landowner, Aristocrat, Decembrist, Dreamer: V. A. Musin-Pushkin in the Context
of Prescribed Statuses and New Roles // Petersburg Historical Journal, no. 4, 2025, рр. 42–55.

DOI: 10.51255/2311–603X_2025_4_42

Abstract:

Count V. A. Musin-Pushkin (1798–1854), a representative of the “young” generation of Decembrists, did not participate in the war with Napoleon or the foreign campaigns of the Russian army due to his age. The subject’s environment was that of an aristocratic family (his father being Catherine’s nobleman, archaeographer Count A. I. Musin-Pushkin). The material well-being that surrounded the count from childhood predetermined the range of occupations and spheres of activity of the young man from a wealthy family. Notwithstanding, V. A. Musin-Pushkin defiantly diverged from the conventional mores of the noble aristocracy, manifesting an unabashedly libertarian disposition and forging an autonomous trajectory for himself. The article, which is based on unpublished sources from Russian archives (namely, the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts, the Russian State Historical Archive, the State Archive of the Yaroslavl Region, and the Central State Archive of the City of Moscow), reveals the material conditions of V. A. Musin-Pushkin, his family atmosphere, and a picture of his daily activities, interests, and inclinations. The article also traces the fate of the young man after his release from arrest in the Decembrist case. In the challenging environment of supervision, V. A. Musin-Pushkin encountered his future wife and attained personal contentment despite the presence of impediments and adversity. Following the matrimony, the count and countess took up residence in the estate known as “Borisogleb” in the Mologsky district of the Yaroslavl province. The article discusses the activities of the Musin-Pushkin spouses in the management of the estate, as well as markers of the economic status and estate life.

Key words: Decembrists, Northern Society, Musin-Pushkins, noble aristocracy, 19th century, everyday life, young Russian officers, Russian landowners.

Author:

Kim, Yulia Vladimirovna — PhD in History, Non-governmental educational organization private
institution “Moomin-Troll School” (Moscow, Russia).
E-mail: yvk22@yandex.ru
ORCID: 0009-0005-6300-920X

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