Lecture | Research Seminar Medieval and Early Modern History
From Enlightened Autocracy to Neomedieval Monarchism: The French Revolution Arrives in St. Petersburg
- Date
- Friday 22 May 2026
- Time
- Serie
- Research Seminars Medieval and Early Modern History academic year 2025 - 2026
- Address
-
Johan Huizinga
Doelensteeg 16
2311 VL Leiden - Room
- Conference room (2.60)
Abstract
This paper follows the first arrival of the news of the French Revolution in St Petersburg and the development of a Russian response through the dual projects of cosmopolitan conservatism and xenophobic securitization. The first entailed building a European coalition of counterrevolutionary forces, both on the level of states and individuals, in which Russian leaders aspired to moral if not always material leadership. The second required protecting Russia and other powers against the influence of the Revolution—not just its armies but also its agents, books, and ideas. Catherine attempted to pursue both projects, but continued to operate in a traditional eighteenth-century pragmatic framework. The émigrés she welcomed were suspicious both of Russia’s backwardness and her own commitment to the cause.
This changed with her death and the ascension of her son Paul. Like his father, Paul was a prince of the Holy Roman Empire as much as a Russian tsar, and he was fascinated by the legacy of the European Middle Ages. As his reign began, Paul framed Russia’s role in the counterrevolution as a medieval crusade. This position found much more extensive resonance with European conservatives, in part because unlike the Enlightened narrative it made Russian backwardness a non-issue. By 1798-99 these elites had begun to vest great hopes in Russia’s role as a savior of Europe, even proposing a reunification of the Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Research Seminars Medieval and Early Modern History
The seminars are informal and intended to foster discussion. There are drinks afterwards. Everyone is welcome to join.
If you would like to join a session, and/or receive invitations for the upcoming sessions, you can send an e-mail to: ngassistent@hum.leidenuniv.nl. Further information can be obtained from the organizers Shiru Lim, Judith Pollmann, Jeroen Duindam and Philippe Buc.