Nikolai Rysakov
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Rysakov (1861–1881) was a Russian revolutionary
and a member of Narodnaya Volya. He personally took part in the assassination of Tsar Alexander II
, throwing a bomb that disabled the Tsar's carriage. A second bomb by an accomplice, Ignacy Hryniewiecki
, was fatal to the Tsar. Rysakov was promptly arrested, put on trial, and hanged, along with other accomplices.
In February 1881 he became a member of a 'fighting squad' formed for the purpose of the assassination of the Tsar
.
at Alexander II of Russia
. When Rysakov threw his bomb there was a loud explosion; a spray of snow, earth and splinters fanned out from a spot on the pavement, and the scene was filled with bluish smoke. One of the Cossacks in escort lay motionless on the ground, and a nearby butcher's boy, who had been on his way to deliver an order, was writhing and groaning; both of them had been severely wounded and soon died. It was then 2:15pm.
Rysakov was immediately arrested. After Hryniewiecki
threw his bomb, Rysakov saw that the Czar was hurt, and he expressed satisfaction, which earned him a punch in the head from one of the soldiers holding him; he was turned over to the authorities unharmed.
Tsar Alexander II was carried by sleigh to the Winter Palace
, where he was given Communion
and Extreme Unction. At 3:30 that day, the standard of Alexander II was lowered for the last time.
.
with the rest of the Pervomartovtsi
. At the foot of the gallows
, Perovskaya went up to each of her friends and fellow conspirators, kissing each in turn, but turned away from Rysakov.
The first to be hanged was Kibalchich
. Mikhailov was second. Rysakov had to witness the execution of all his companions before being dispatched to his own death. He died alone and condemned, having betrayed those closest to him, as well as their common philosophy that "He who kills is guilty only if he consents to go on living or if, to remain alive, he betrays his comrades."
At nine-fifty the bodies were cut down from the gallows and placed in the black wooden coffins that had been waiting for them. They were buried in a nameless common grave
.
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. He personally took part in the assassination of Tsar Alexander II
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...
, throwing a bomb that disabled the Tsar's carriage. A second bomb by an accomplice, Ignacy Hryniewiecki
Ignacy Hryniewiecki
Ignaty Gryniewietsky , 1856 – 13 March 1881) was a member of the People's Will and the assassin of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.-Early life:...
, was fatal to the Tsar. Rysakov was promptly arrested, put on trial, and hanged, along with other accomplices.
Early life
Rysakov joined the movement in 1879, when he was a student at Institute of Mining Engineering in St.Petersburg.In February 1881 he became a member of a 'fighting squad' formed for the purpose of the assassination of the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
.
Assassination of Alexander II
On March 1, 1881, he threw the first bombBomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
at 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...
. When Rysakov threw his bomb there was a loud explosion; a spray of snow, earth and splinters fanned out from a spot on the pavement, and the scene was filled with bluish smoke. One of the Cossacks in escort lay motionless on the ground, and a nearby butcher's boy, who had been on his way to deliver an order, was writhing and groaning; both of them had been severely wounded and soon died. It was then 2:15pm.
Rysakov was immediately arrested. After Hryniewiecki
Ignacy Hryniewiecki
Ignaty Gryniewietsky , 1856 – 13 March 1881) was a member of the People's Will and the assassin of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.-Early life:...
threw his bomb, Rysakov saw that the Czar was hurt, and he expressed satisfaction, which earned him a punch in the head from one of the soldiers holding him; he was turned over to the authorities unharmed.
Tsar Alexander II was carried by sleigh to the Winter Palace
Winter Palace
The Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was, from 1732 to 1917, the official residence of the Russian monarchs. Situated between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, adjacent to the site of Peter the Great's original Winter Palace, the present and fourth Winter Palace was built and...
, where he was given Communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
and Extreme Unction. At 3:30 that day, the standard of Alexander II was lowered for the last time.
Trial
While in court and in order to save his life, Rysakov tried to cooperate with the investigators by giving them valuable information about his accomplices. However, he and other participants were all sentenced to death by hanging, which was carried out on April 3, 1881, on the parade grounds of the Semenovsky RegimentSemenovsky Regiment
Semenovsky Life-Guards Regiment was one of the two oldest guards regiments of the Imperial Russian Army.- History :...
.
Execution
Rysakov was hangedHanging
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...
with the rest of the 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...
. At the foot of the gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
, Perovskaya went up to each of her friends and fellow conspirators, kissing each in turn, but turned away from Rysakov.
The first to be hanged was Kibalchich
Nikolai Kibalchich
Nikolai Ivanovich Kibalchich was a Russian revolutionary, taking part in the assassination of Tsar Alexander II as the main explosive expert for Narodnaya Volya , and also a rocket pioneer...
. Mikhailov was second. Rysakov had to witness the execution of all his companions before being dispatched to his own death. He died alone and condemned, having betrayed those closest to him, as well as their common philosophy that "He who kills is guilty only if he consents to go on living or if, to remain alive, he betrays his comrades."
At nine-fifty the bodies were cut down from the gallows and placed in the black wooden coffins that had been waiting for them. They were buried in a nameless common grave
Mass grave
A mass grave is a grave containing multiple number of human corpses, which may or may not be identified prior to burial. There is no strict definition of the minimum number of bodies required to constitute a mass grave, although the United Nations defines a mass grave as a burial site which...
.