Sophia Lvovna Perovskaya
Encyclopedia
Sophia Lvovna Perovskaya ' onMouseout='HidePop("34904")' href="/topics/Saint_Petersburg">Saint Petersburg
- , Saint Petersburg) was a Russian revolutionary
and a member of Narodnaya Volya. She helped to orchestrate the successful assassination of Alexander II of Russia
.
, where her edjucation was largely neglected, but where she began reading serious books on her own. After the family moved to Saint Petersburg, Perovskaya entered the Alarchinsky University for Women in 1869. Here she became friends with several girls who were interested in the radical movement. She left home at the age of sixteen over her fathers objections to her new friends. In 1871—1872, together with these friends, she joined the Circle of Tchaikovsky
. In 1872—1873 and 1874—1877, she worked in the provinces of Samara
, Tver
, and Simbirsk. During this period, she received diploma
s as a teacher
and a medical assistant.
A prominent fellow member of the Circle of Tchaikovsky, Peter Kropotkin
, said the following of Perovskaya:
In 1873, Perovskaya maintained several conspiracy apartments in Saint Petersburg for secret anti-tsarist propaganda
meetings that had not been sanctioned by the authorities. In January 1874, she was arrested and placed in the Petropavlovskaya fortress in connection with the Trial of the 193
. In 1877-1878, she was acquitted. Perovskaya also took part in an unsuccessful attempt to free Ippolit Myshkin, a revolutionary and a member of Narodnaya volya. In the summer of 1878, Perovskaya became a member of Zemlya i volya, was soon arrested again, and banished to the Olonetskaya province. She managed to escape on her way to exile
and went underground.
As a member of Zemlya i volya, Perovskaya went to Kharkov in order to organize the liberation of political prisoners from the central prison. In the fall of 1879, she became a member of the Executive Committee and later a member of the Administrative Committee of Zemlya i volya. Perovskaya propagandized among students, soldiers, and workers, took part in organizing the Worker's Gazette, and maintained ties with political prisoners in Saint Petersburg. In November, 1879 she took part in an attempt to blow up the Imperial Train on its way from Saint Petersburg to Moscow. The attempt failed. On her return to Saint Petersburg she joined Narodnaya Volya.
Perovskaya participated in preparing assassination
attempts on Alexander II of Russia
near Moscow
(November, 1879), in Odessa
(spring of 1880), and Saint Petersburg (the attempt that eventually killed him, March 1, 1881). She was the closest friend and later the wife of Andrei Zhelyabov
, a member of the Executive Committee of Narodnaya Volya. Perovskaya was arrested on March 10, 1881, sentenced to death by hanging
, and executed along with four other Pervomartovtsi
. Sophia Perovskaya was the first woman in Russia
executed in connection with a political trial.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
- , Saint Petersburg) was a Russian revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
and a member of Narodnaya Volya. She helped to orchestrate the successful assassination of Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
.
Biography
Perovskaya came from an aristocratic family who where the decendants by marriage of Elizabeth of Russia. Her father was the former military governor of Saint Petersburg, and her grandfather had been Minister of the Interior. She spent her early years in the CrimeaCrimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, where her edjucation was largely neglected, but where she began reading serious books on her own. After the family moved to Saint Petersburg, Perovskaya entered the Alarchinsky University for Women in 1869. Here she became friends with several girls who were interested in the radical movement. She left home at the age of sixteen over her fathers objections to her new friends. In 1871—1872, together with these friends, she joined the Circle of Tchaikovsky
Circle of Tchaikovsky
The Circle of Tchaikovsky, also known as Tchaikovtsy, Chaikovtsy, or the Grand Propaganda Society was a Russian literary society for self-education and a revolutionary organization of the Narodniks in the early 1870s.- Background and origin :The intelligentsia of mid-nineteenth century Tsarist...
. In 1872—1873 and 1874—1877, she worked in the provinces of Samara
Samara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
, Tver
Tver
Tver is a city and the administrative center of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population: 403,726 ; 408,903 ;...
, and Simbirsk. During this period, she received diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
s as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and a medical assistant.
A prominent fellow member of the Circle of Tchaikovsky, Peter Kropotkin
Peter Kropotkin
Prince Pyotr Alexeyevich Kropotkin was a Russian zoologist, evolutionary theorist, philosopher, economist, geographer, author and one of the world's foremost anarcho-communists. Kropotkin advocated a communist society free from central government and based on voluntary associations between...
, said the following of Perovskaya:
In 1873, Perovskaya maintained several conspiracy apartments in Saint Petersburg for secret anti-tsarist propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
meetings that had not been sanctioned by the authorities. In January 1874, she was arrested and placed in the Petropavlovskaya fortress in connection with the Trial of the 193
Trial of the 193
The Trial of the 193 was a series of criminal trials held in Russia in 1877-1878 under the rule of Tsar Alexander II. The trial consisted of 193 students and other “revolutionaries” charged with populist “unrest” and propaganda against the Russian Empire. The Trial of the 193 was the largest...
. In 1877-1878, she was acquitted. Perovskaya also took part in an unsuccessful attempt to free Ippolit Myshkin, a revolutionary and a member of Narodnaya volya. In the summer of 1878, Perovskaya became a member of Zemlya i volya, was soon arrested again, and banished to the Olonetskaya province. She managed to escape on her way to exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
and went underground.
As a member of Zemlya i volya, Perovskaya went to Kharkov in order to organize the liberation of political prisoners from the central prison. In the fall of 1879, she became a member of the Executive Committee and later a member of the Administrative Committee of Zemlya i volya. Perovskaya propagandized among students, soldiers, and workers, took part in organizing the Worker's Gazette, and maintained ties with political prisoners in Saint Petersburg. In November, 1879 she took part in an attempt to blow up the Imperial Train on its way from Saint Petersburg to Moscow. The attempt failed. On her return to Saint Petersburg she joined Narodnaya Volya.
Perovskaya participated in preparing assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempts on Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
near Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
(November, 1879), in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
(spring of 1880), and Saint Petersburg (the attempt that eventually killed him, March 1, 1881). She was the closest friend and later the wife of Andrei Zhelyabov
Andrei Zhelyabov
Andrey Ivanovich Zhelyabov , Russian revolutionary, member of the Executive Committee of Narodnaya Volya....
, a member of the Executive Committee of Narodnaya Volya. Perovskaya was arrested on March 10, 1881, sentenced to death by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
, and executed along with four other Pervomartovtsi
Pervomartovtsi
Pervomartovtsy were the Russian revolutionaries, members of Narodnaya Volya, planners and executors of the assassination of Alexander II of Russia and attempted murder of Alexander III of Russia .The assassination in 1881 was planned by Narodnaya Volya's Executive Committee...
. Sophia Perovskaya was the first woman in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
executed in connection with a political trial.
See also
- The Russian Revolution and the Emancipation of WomenThe Russian Revolution and the Emancipation of WomenThe Russian Revolutions of 1917, and the events that proceeded and followed it, brought about vast social change. Many women actively participated in the revolution, and many more were affected by the events of that period and the new policies of the Soviet Union....
In literature
- Henry ParkesHenry ParkesSir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
was inspired to write the poem, The Beauteous Terrorist. Reproduced in full in The Beauteous Terrorist and Other Poems by Sydney Electronic Text and Image Service. - Moss, Walter G., Alexander II and His Times: A Narrative History of Russia in the Age of Alexander II, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky. London: Anthem Press, 2002. Several chapters on Perovskaya. (available online)
- Croft, Lee B. Nikolai Ivanovich Kibalchich: Terrorist Rocket Pioneer. IIHS. 2006. ISBN 978-1-4116-2381-1. Content on Perovskaya, including her father, mother, and her unmarked burial.