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38
00:03:18,731 --> 00:03:22,189
But the Russians outmaneuver
them, push them further
39
00:03:22,669 --> 00:03:26,730
inside the country, and
meet them near Smolensk.
40
00:03:27,106 --> 00:03:31,509
After a 3-day battle
the Russians surrender Smolensk.
41
00:03:31,711 --> 00:03:37,513
The French said
it resembled the burning Vesuvius.
42
00:03:41,921 --> 00:03:45,413
For 6 days Napoleon stays
at Smolensk, he offers
43
00:03:45,658 --> 00:03:49,492
negotiations,
threatening to seize Moscow.
44
00:03:50,263 --> 00:03:51,958
Napoleon:
45
00:03:52,532 --> 00:03:57,993
'A capital captured by the enemy,
is like a girl who lost her
46
00:03:58,171 --> 00:04:01,902
'virginity. Whateveryou do,
you can't get it back!
47
00:04:03,576 --> 00:04:07,068
Alexander keeps silence,
the Russians keep retreating.
48
00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,714
The 2 armies joined forces,
but there are 2 commanders.
49
00:04:09,916 --> 00:04:13,215
They need a Commander-in-Chief,
one with a Russian surname.
50
00:04:13,419 --> 00:04:15,353
After all it is a Patriotic war.
51
00:04:15,521 --> 00:04:19,651
Reluctantly, despite his personal
dislike, Alexander appoints
52
00:04:19,859 --> 00:04:24,353
Mikhail Golenischev-Kutuzov, the
oldest Russian general.
53
00:04:24,530 --> 00:04:29,900
He is 67, and will live for
another 8 months.
54
00:04:30,103 --> 00:04:33,903
In Krylov's fable a wolf is torn
to pieces by a pack of dogs.
55
00:04:34,073 --> 00:04:36,439
The dogs' elder says to
the impostor:
56
00:04:36,676 --> 00:04:40,168
'You're grey, but I am
grey-haired, my friend. '
57
00:04:40,413 --> 00:04:43,576
The hint was at Napoleon's
grey field jacket,
58
00:04:43,783 --> 00:04:46,775
and Kutuzov's snow-white head.
59
00:04:49,922 --> 00:04:54,484
You're grey, but I am
grey-haired, my friend.
60
00:05:02,035 --> 00:05:07,632
Finally Kutuzov chooses the
place of the decisive battle.
61
00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:11,970
Village Borodino near Mozhaisk.
The night before the fight
62
00:05:12,178 --> 00:05:17,206
75
00:06:24,650 --> 00:06:29,349
In the centre - Kurgannaya height,
with Raevsky's battery.
76
00:06:29,589 --> 00:06:33,753
On the left flank - Bagration's fleches.
77
00:06:39,265 --> 00:06:42,200
'Fleche' is a French word,
translated as 'arrow' 78
00:06:42,402 --> 00:06:47,339
earthen fortifications
in the shape of an arrow.
79
00:06:47,573 --> 00:06:49,768
The French launch 8 offensives,
80
00:06:49,976 --> 00:06:52,877
the Russians lose the fleshes,
then win them back again.
81
00:06:53,112 --> 00:06:56,377
The impregnability of the
fleches are due to the
82
00:06:56,516 --> 00:06:58,381
commandre's talent, they go down
in history as 'Bagration's'.
83
00:06:58,551 --> 00:07:03,454
The soldiers pronounced the name
of the Georgian prince
84
00:07:03,623 --> 00:07:06,854
as 3 words - Bag Rati On
- 'The King of War'.
85
00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,129
During the 8th offensive the
French seize the fleches.
86
00:07:10,329 --> 00:07:12,627
Bagration leads his regiment
into counteroffensive,
87
'understand, what he
had been looking at a moment ago.
112
00:09:00,606 --> 00:09:03,473
Kutuzov didn't see the battle
- Not because he only
113
00:09:03,876 --> 00:09:07,175
had one eye, but because
it wasn't his intention.
114
00:09:07,346 --> 00:09:10,747
Just once he visited his
observation post.
115
00:09:12,985 --> 00:09:17,888
Here, at his post in the
Borodino field, Kutuzov lunched
116
00:09:18,124 --> 00:09:19,819
on chicken. Millions of people
form the image of the great
117
00:09:20,026 --> 00:09:24,087
commander by the 'War and Peace'.
118
00:09:24,497 --> 00:09:27,330
The outcome no longer depended
on him, it depended
119
00:09:27,533 --> 00:09:31,594
on the invisible spirit
of his men,
120
00:09:31,771 --> 00:09:34,706
that connected the army and
him, Kutuzov,
121
00:09:34,907 --> 00:09:39,640
the last of the flock of
Catherine's glorious eagles.
122
00:09:46,152 --> 00:09:49,087
Kutuzov-in his dispatch
to Alexander l:
123
00:09:49,689 --> 00:09:55,594
'ln the end the enemy didn't win
136
00:10:49,115 --> 00:10:52,050
there will be another battle
at sunrise,
137
00:10:52,251 --> 00:10:55,880
but by midnight it becomes clear
that reinforcements
138
00:10:56,122 --> 00:11:01,116
are not coming. When the horrific
losses are finally counted,
139
00:11:01,327 --> 00:11:04,387
Kutuzov gives orders to retreat.
140
00:11:09,201 --> 00:11:12,068
The Russians have lost
a third of theirtroops.
141
00:11:12,304 --> 00:11:18,072
Another battle -the battle for
Moscow -would be detrimental.
142
00:11:22,782 --> 00:11:25,478
Kutuzov before Borodino:
143
00:11:25,851 --> 00:11:30,413
'The loss of Moscow will mean
the loss of Russia.
144
00:11:30,823 --> 00:11:33,291
Kutuzov after Borodino:
145
00:11:33,526 --> 00:11:35,790
'Until we have a functional army,
146
00:11:35,995 --> 00:11:39,931
'even the loss of Moscow will
not yet mean the loss of Russia.
147
00:12:04,890 --> 00:12:09,987
When they draw the final results,
Borodino will be named the
148
00:12:10,229 --> 00:12:13,892
Russian victory, and the
surrender of Moscow -the only
149
00:12:14,066 --> 00:12:16,398
correct decision. The decision
belonged to Kutuzov alone.
150
00:12:16,602 --> 00:12:21,096
At the famous war council in Fili
it found no support among
151
00:12:21,307 --> 00:12:25,209
the officers. The country, the
army, Moscovites, the Czar 152
00:12:25,478 --> 00:12:30,211
no one could understand how the
enemy was allowed into the very
153
00:12:31,150 --> 00:12:33,209
heart of Russia. The outcome
was soon to follow.
154
00:12:33,452 --> 00:12:36,114
On his first night in the
Kremlin Napoleon couldn't sleep.
155
00:12:36,322 --> 00:12:39,587
Aterrible fire raged outside
the walls.
156
00:12:40,626 --> 00:12:42,389
Napoleon:
157
00:12:42,628 --> 00:12:48,089
'Heaps of red whirling flames
tossed up to the burning sky,
158
00:12:48,267 --> 00:12:51,236
and plunged back into the
fiery ocean.
159
00:12:55,608 --> 00:12:58,668
Kutuzov and governor of Moscow
Rastopchin ordered to
160
00:12:58,844 --> 00:13:04,077
remove all fire-extinguishing
means out of the city, and set
161
00:13:04,283 --> 00:13:08,652
shops and depots on fire. Some
people burned down their houses.
162
00:13:08,888 --> 00:13:10,856
There were gunpowder depots
in the Kremlin,
163
00:13:11,056 --> 00:13:16,119
and Napoleon with his entourage
evacuates to the city outskirts.
164
00:13:23,302 --> 00:13:27,534
The Petrovsky Palace,
once the gate of Moscow,
165
00:13:27,740 --> 00:13:30,265
stands on the
modern Leningradsky prospect.
166
00:13:30,476 --> 00:13:34,071
Here Napoleon contemplates the
grandiose fire.
167
00:13:34,313 --> 00:13:39,012
'Lost in thought, he observed
the monstrous flame.
168
00:13:39,218 --> 00:13:43,177
And his thoughts were farfrom
optimistic.
169
00:13:43,455 --> 00:13:45,013
The campaign, struggled as
it was, becomes
170
00:13:45,191 --> 00:13:47,853
hopeless, the situation
gets out of control.
171
00:13:48,060 --> 00:13:50,790
'Awild Scythian war. Napoleon is in shock.
172
00:13:50,930 --> 00:13:57,631
The Russians first surrendered
then burned down their capital.
173
00:14:02,541 --> 00:14:05,237
3
4 of Moscow was destroyed,
174
00:14:05,477 --> 00:14:08,571
the victorious French army
stood on burning ashes.
175
00:14:08,814 --> 00:14:11,476
In severe winter.
But Napoleon insists:
176
00:14:11,717 --> 00:14:14,880
'Moscow is not a military,
but a political position.
177
00:14:15,087 --> 00:14:19,046
From here he has to dictate the
conditions of peace.
178
00:14:19,225 --> 00:14:23,218
Alexander's mother, brother and
Arakcheev pressure the emperor,
179
00:14:23,395 --> 00:14:26,091
but he is being
amazingly stubborn.
180
00:14:26,298 --> 00:14:30,462
He says he is ready to
retreat as far as Kamchatka,
181
00:14:30,669 --> 00:14:33,069
and become the emperor
of Kamchatka dwellers.
182
00:14:33,239 --> 00:14:37,505
He leaves 3 Napoleon's peace
initiatives unanswered.
183
00:14:37,676 --> 00:14:40,611
Alexander is deaf to
Moscow's call.
184
00:14:41,013 --> 00:14:45,245
Afterfive weeks of uncertainty
the French hold the only parade
185
00:14:45,417 --> 00:14:50,684
of occupants in Kremlin history,
and head for Kaluga.
186
00:14:57,096 --> 00:15:01,897
At first this maneuver
was not a retreat.
187
00:15:02,067 --> 00:15:04,695
It didn't make sense to stay
in the burnt-down city.
188
00:15:04,904 --> 00:15:08,032
Napoleon's plan was to
relocate his army
189
00:15:08,274 --> 00:15:11,505
down south, to the wealthy
provinces,
190
00:15:11,677 --> 00:15:14,612
and carry on with the triumphant
campaign.
191
00:15:14,847 --> 00:15:18,283
The retreat started when at
Maloyaroslavets the Russians
192
00:15:18,484 --> 00:15:22,614
blocked the way of Napoleon's
troops and forced them to head
193
00:15:22,821 --> 00:15:24,311
westward, along the Old
Smolensk Road,
194
00:15:24,523 --> 00:15:28,960
where they said, 'one couldn't
encounter even a cat'.
195
00:15:34,633 --> 00:15:37,830
Kutuzov with the new reserve,
heads along the parallel
196
00:15:38,003 --> 00:15:41,564
New Smolensk Road,
today's Mozhaiskoye highway.
197
00:15:41,774 --> 00:15:47,110
It was an exceptionally early
winter. 18 below on October 24.
198
00:15:47,313 --> 00:15:51,443
As they said, the French were
driven by 'General Frost'.
199
00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:57,780
In the beginning of the campaign
Napoleon thought of declaring
200
00:15:57,990 --> 00:16:01,858
the abolition of serfdom in
Russia, as he did in Poland.
201
00:16:02,027 --> 00:16:04,461
But he was afraid of awakening
Pugachev's spirit.
202
00:16:05,764 --> 00:16:09,860
Now he was facing the great
'bludgeon of the people's war'.
203
00:16:10,069 --> 00:16:14,005
Armed with axes and pitchforks,
the people rose by villages,
204
00:16:14,173 --> 00:16:16,971
partisans were roaming the
forests.
205
00:16:17,142 --> 00:16:21,078
Hunger provoked cases of
cannibalism among the French.
206
00:16:24,116 --> 00:16:26,607
Kutuzov-in a letterto his
wife and daughter:
207
00:16:26,852 --> 00:16:29,446
'Yesterday we found two Frenchmen
in the woods,
208
00:16:29,688 --> 00:16:33,556
'they were frying and eating
theirthird friend.
209
00:16:35,794 --> 00:16:39,252
The pioneer of the national
partisan movement,
210
00:16:39,431 --> 00:16:41,922
hussar lieutenant-colonel
Denis Davydov,
211
00:16:42,167 --> 00:16:45,796
a poetic soul, sensing the
upsurge of patriotic sentiments,
212
00:16:45,971 --> 00:16:48,963
issued a ban to officers
on speaking French,
213
00:16:49,174 --> 00:16:52,200
grew a beard and dressed
in a sheepskin coat. Quite a
214
00:16:52,478 --> 00:16:56,676
difference from his image on the
post-war portrait by Kiprensky.
215
00:17:14,033 --> 00:17:17,059
Hardly one third of Napoleon's
army
216
00:17:17,236 --> 00:17:23,038
reached River Berezina
in the west of Russia.
217
00:17:30,783 --> 00:17:36,187
In 1812 the landscape looked
more or less like now.
218
00:17:36,388 --> 00:17:41,087
Except for one detail: the
river was not yet covered with ice.
219
00:17:41,527 --> 00:17:44,553
The Russians tore down all
the bridges.
220
00:17:44,730 --> 00:17:48,791
Napoleon was planning to cross
the river counting on the ice
221
00:17:49,001 --> 00:17:53,631
and ordered to leave behind
the pontoons and travel light.
222
00:17:53,972 --> 00:17:58,966
A lucky circumstance: the French
reconnaissance discovers a ford
223
00:17:59,211 --> 00:18:04,513
nearthe village Studenki, it
isn't marked on Russian maps.
224
00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:07,947
The pontooners disobeyed the
emperor's orders,
225
00:18:08,153 --> 00:18:10,986
end kept part of their
equipment.
226
00:18:11,156 --> 00:18:15,092
Napoleon spends the night in
Studenki, in a peasant's hut,
227
00:18:15,294 --> 00:18:19,697
and his pontooners, standing
chest-deep in freezing water
228
00:18:19,932 --> 00:18:23,197
amid ice-floes
arrange two crossings.
229
00:18:23,602 --> 00:18:25,570
The first to cross are the units
230
00:18:25,804 --> 00:18:29,535
that are to hold a bridgehead
on the other side of the river.
231
00:18:29,741 --> 00:18:33,268
The next to cross are Napoleon
and his Guard.
232
00:18:38,417 --> 00:18:44,822
The Russian scheme was to crush
the enemy completely.
233
282
00:23:01,413 --> 00:23:04,746
After Dresden Napoleon
is ill for 6 weeks.
283
00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:07,578
Without him the army makes
tactical mistakes, the Allied
284
00:23:07,786 --> 00:23:13,850
coalition expands, and by fall
it numbers a million soldiers.
285
00:23:14,025 --> 00:23:18,052
Napoleon gathers his main forces
near Leipzig, capital of Saxony.
286
00:23:20,665 --> 00:23:24,465
Napoleon's banners unite
the French, the Italians,
287
00:23:24,636 --> 00:23:27,469
the Dutch, the Belgians,
the the Poles. Against
288
00:23:27,706 --> 00:23:32,700
Russians, Austrians,
Prussians, Swedes and Bavarians.
289
00:23:32,911 --> 00:23:37,905
The Russian empire is represented
even by Bashkir and Kalmyk
290
00:23:38,083 --> 00:23:42,782
home guard. The Kalmyks are armed
with bows and arrows. The French
291
00:23:48,326 --> 00:23:49,816
call them 'Cupids'. Three days
of fighting.
292
00:23:50,028 --> 00:23:54,931
This battle is thought to be the
beginning of contemporary Europe.
293
00:23:59,304 --> 00:24:04,469
A 100 years after Leipzig
starts WWI.
294
00:24:04,776 --> 00:24:10,544
To mark the centenary of the main
battle of the all-European war
295
00:24:10,782 --> 00:24:13,182
they erect a giant-size monument.
296
00:24:13,385 --> 00:24:16,149
The country is at war again, it
is split into two camps,
297
00:24:16,388 --> 00:24:17,753
only this time-along
a different dividing line.
298
00:24:17,923 --> 00:24:23,293
Howeverforthis huge monument
they pooled the money.
299
00:24:33,705 --> 00:24:38,074
An amazing episode: in the heat
of the battle the 'hosts',
300
00:24:38,243 --> 00:24:42,441
the Saxons, betray Napoleon
and side with coalition troops.
301
00:24:42,681 --> 00:24:46,879
They turn their cannons and open
fire at the French.
302
00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:50,644
Byron: 'The sly Saxon Jackal
ran away from the Lion,
303
00:24:50,822 --> 00:24:57,227
'and joined the Fox, the
Wolf and the Bear.
304
00:24:57,529 --> 00:25:02,728
The 'Fox' is Austria, the 'Wolf'
- Prussia, the 'Bear' - Russia.
305
00:25:06,371 --> 00:25:10,034
'We'll go to the North!
We'll go to the North! '
306
00:25:11,710 --> 00:25:14,110
This is the place of
Napoleon's command post.
307
00:25:14,312 --> 00:25:16,872
The day was as gloomy as today.
308
00:25:17,082 --> 00:25:18,811
It was getting dark, just
like now.
309
00:25:19,050 --> 00:25:21,780
The biographers of the French
emperorthink he
310
00:25:21,987 --> 00:25:25,889
could have won the Leipzig
battle on the first day.
311
00:25:26,091 --> 00:25:28,082
But there wasn't enough time.
312
00:25:28,326 --> 00:25:31,124
At 5 p.m., feeling that the
enemy is growing weaker,
313
00:25:31,329 --> 00:25:35,925
Napoleon takes a glove off his
hand to signal:
314
00:25:36,101 --> 00:25:37,728
'Guards -fire! ' 315
00:25:37,903 --> 00:25:41,236
when he hears news of the
Austrian attack on the right
316
00:25:41,406 --> 00:25:43,237
flank, and he has to send the
Guards overthere.
317
00:25:43,441 --> 00:25:46,467
The Austrians are repulsed,
the corps commander captured.
318
00:25:46,678 --> 00:25:50,808
The moment called for a decisive
331
00:26:49,107 --> 00:26:52,804
His empire to the east of France
ceased to exist.
332
00:27:10,829 --> 00:27:15,926
The year 1814 was extremely
successful for Napoleon.
333
00:27:16,101 --> 00:27:20,162
Not one single defeat.
But the forces are uneven.
334
00:27:20,372 --> 00:27:23,273
You can't beat numbers with
skill.
335
00:27:29,047 --> 00:27:34,075
In the battle for Paris the
Allies surround the city
336
00:27:34,285 --> 00:27:36,253
and block the way of Napoleon.
337
00:27:36,454 --> 00:27:40,117
He can't break through
to help his besieged capital.
338
00:27:49,434 --> 00:27:53,803
The crucial moment: the Russians
have seized Montmartre.
339
00:27:53,972 --> 00:27:57,999
Their cannons are on the top of
the hill-now tourist
340
00:27:58,443 --> 00:28:02,277
observation points. They shell
the city from the top point.
341
00:28:07,419 --> 00:28:09,148
The resistance is strong.
342
00:28:09,387 --> 00:28:15,087
These barricades in Place
Clichi are a monument to
343
356
00:29:21,059 --> 00:29:24,961
have cried out the famous
'Bistro! ' or 'Faster! '.
357
00:29:25,196 --> 00:29:30,190
This was the noble ancestor of
our modern bistros.
358
00:29:31,536 --> 00:29:35,632
The Cossacks hurried the
inn-keepers: 'Bistro! Faster!
359
00:29:35,874 --> 00:29:38,638
'We want food and drink! ' They
were celebrating the
360
00:29:38,877 --> 00:29:43,644
capitulation of Paris. Since
then -the tradition of fast-food.
361
00:29:46,584 --> 00:29:51,544
The Cossacks have impressed Paris.
Their warfare became a legend.
362
00:29:51,723 --> 00:29:54,817
They looked like true children
of their wild country.
363
00:29:55,059 --> 00:29:57,391
Unlike the Guard,
364
00:29:57,562 --> 00:29:59,587
who spoke fluent French,
365
00:29:59,831 --> 00:30:02,823
and could be taken for Frenchmen.
366
00:30:04,202 --> 00:30:06,864
The French-Russian
phraseological dictionary:
367
00:30:07,806 --> 00:30:12,937
'faire I'amour a la cosaque' 'to make love Cossack-style 368
00:30:13,144 --> 00:30:15,772
393
00:32:13,097 --> 00:32:15,258
Let's combine the orders
of Batyushkov and
394
00:32:15,466 --> 00:32:17,798
Zaretsky in that restaurant.
395
00:32:18,303 --> 00:32:24,003
3 bottles of champagne,
presumably 3 dozen oysters.
396
00:32:24,242 --> 00:32:28,611
In today's prices: 50 dollars
for a dozen.
397
00:32:28,780 --> 00:32:32,716
A bottle of vintage champagne
costs 150 dollars.
398
00:32:32,884 --> 00:32:37,787
That rounds up to 600. And that
is only an aperitive.
399
00:32:37,989 --> 00:32:40,981
Many officers order on
credit.
400
00:32:41,225 --> 00:32:45,753
The victorious feasts will last
until 1818,
401
00:32:45,930 --> 00:32:48,125
when the Russian troops
pull out of France.
402
00:32:48,299 --> 00:32:53,259
Leaving the biggest
credit account in history.
403
00:32:59,744 --> 00:33:04,340
Alexander l, the first
gentleman on the throne,
404
00:33:04,515 --> 00:33:08,679
insisted that Napoleon be
granted a little estate.
405
430
00:35:04,469 --> 00:35:08,235
In Maubeuge, with all roads
marked with 'versty' poles,
431
00:35:08,439 --> 00:35:11,465
on the bank of river Moselle
they built Russian baths.
432
00:35:11,709 --> 00:35:14,507
They would take a steam bath,
and plunge into cold water.
433
00:35:14,745 --> 00:35:19,580
In houses they built tile stoves
and put up double frames.
434
00:35:20,952 --> 00:35:24,410
A Foreign Ministry official
Filipp Vigel:
435
00:35:24,622 --> 00:35:29,457
'Maubeuge is packed, and you
won't hear a single word
436
00:35:29,660 --> 00:35:31,594
'in French. Only Russian
soldiers.
437
00:35:31,796 --> 00:35:35,698
'I was served 'shchi', 'kasha'
'blinis' and 'kvas'.
438
00:35:37,635 --> 00:35:44,336
Russian troops will be pulled
out in November 1818.
439
00:35:44,775 --> 00:35:49,974
French caricatures: 'Reluctant
return of a Cossack to Russia. '
440
00:35:50,548 --> 00:35:53,915
'Russian officer parting with
a French woman. '
441
00:35:54,485 --> 00:35:57,010
Affiliate of the French Bank
in Maubeuge.
442
00:35:57,255 --> 00:36:02,716
Leaving Maubege, general
Vorontsov pays all debts
443
00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:07,488
made by Russian officers.
444
00:36:07,698 --> 00:36:09,563
They ate and drank with
no limit. They had a ball.
445
00:36:09,767 --> 00:36:14,602
The sum was astronomical:
1.5 million Rubles.
446
00:36:14,839 --> 00:36:19,936
That sum equaled 8
large manors-on the
447
00:36:20,178 --> 00:36:22,476
nearest approaches to Moscow
or St. Petersburg,
448
00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:26,810
with villages up to 500 people,
and a stone manor,
449
00:36:27,018 --> 00:36:32,513
and about 3000 hectares of land,
with meadows and forests,
450
00:36:32,723 --> 00:36:37,786
cattle and stables,
barns, mills and smithies.
451
00:36:38,196 --> 00:36:43,634
The price of 8 Russian manors.
But not to pay would
452
00:36:43,968 --> 00:36:46,596
mean disgrace. General Vorontsov
is on the verge of bankruptcy.
453
00:36:50,975 --> 00:36:56,379
But he will save his financial
situation by marrying
454
00:36:56,614 --> 00:36:58,844
the daughter of a Polish
magnate, Elizaveta Bronitskaya.
455
00:37:19,804 --> 00:37:25,709
The post-war Vienna congress
hosts the heads of 216 states.
456
00:37:25,876 --> 00:37:28,174
No comparison with the Helsinki
meeting.
457
00:37:28,346 --> 00:37:33,113
The most representative world
conference in history.
458
00:37:34,452 --> 00:37:37,353
Most member-countries are
observers, and the four
459
00:37:37,555 --> 00:37:41,616
victors -Austria, England,
Prussia and Russia 460
00:37:41,859 --> 00:37:43,759
are once again dividing Europe.
461
00:37:43,995 --> 00:37:46,463
The Russian emperor-is
the leader of the free world.
462
00:37:46,664 --> 00:37:52,466
Alexander draws up an Act on
establishing the Holy Union
463
00:37:52,703 --> 00:37:56,469
of Monarchs. The first congress
is convened in German Aahene.
464
00:37:56,674 --> 00:38:02,078
Karl the Great: the 'author' of
Medieval united Europe.
465
00:38:04,582 --> 00:38:08,348
Evidence of the influence of
Russia's emperor:
466
479
00:39:07,211 --> 00:39:11,341
Congresses are convened mainly
to suppress resistance 480
00:39:11,549 --> 00:39:14,484
mostly in Italy and Spain.
481
00:39:19,924 --> 00:39:24,793
The Union has the legal right to
intervene in any country,
482
00:39:24,962 --> 00:39:28,125
even if the overthrown sovereign
is against foreign intervention.
483
00:39:28,366 --> 00:39:31,358
From the Act of the Holy Union:
484
00:39:32,036 --> 00:39:35,563
'Monarchs take a vow
to under all circumstances
485
00:39:35,773 --> 00:39:39,641
'render each other help and
support.
486
00:39:41,078 --> 00:39:47,540
The Holy Union is NATO, OSCE
and the Emergency Situations Ministry.
487
00:39:48,252 --> 00:39:52,552
Britain has a parliamentary
rule, it supports the Union,
488
00:39:52,757 --> 00:39:56,591
but instead of the monarch
it delegates a member
489
00:39:56,794 --> 00:40:02,232
of the House of Lords. Matters
are decided by 3 major
490
00:40:04,368 --> 00:40:07,269
continental allies. The church
where the 3 monarchs prayed.
491
516
00:41:57,381 --> 00:42:00,873
Agro-camps combined 2 main
Russian slaveries:
517
00:42:01,118 --> 00:42:05,680
the peasant's and the soldier's.
They will be forever linked
518
00:42:05,923 --> 00:42:10,121
with the name of their designer,
the factual ruler of Russia
519
00:42:10,327 --> 00:42:12,852
in the years of Alexander's
decline, count Arakcheev.
520
00:42:17,201 --> 00:42:19,260
Russian folklore:
521
00:42:19,470 --> 00:42:23,998
'Arakcheev, son of a bitch,
you rascal,
522
00:42:24,208 --> 00:42:26,608
'you ruined Russia... '.
523
00:42:27,311 --> 00:42:31,509
He was extremely ugly 'An ape in uniform' -,
524
00:42:31,715 --> 00:42:34,206
'and pathologically cruel:
he grabbed soldiers
525
00:42:34,418 --> 00:42:38,252
'by the moustache, and in one
instance even bit an ear off.
526
00:42:38,455 --> 00:42:41,049
But he was no doubt an
outstanding administrator, and
527
00:42:41,258 --> 00:42:45,285
possessed a quality rarely found
in government officials:
528
553
00:44:09,446 --> 00:44:12,074
and drew lots, making
matches.
554
00:44:17,655 --> 00:44:21,318
In the true spirit of
Alexander's imperial policy
555
00:44:21,525 --> 00:44:24,653
the monopoly now enjoyed
less rights,
556
00:44:24,895 --> 00:44:27,989
granting more rights to
the its colony.
557
00:44:37,975 --> 00:44:44,938
Afterthe war Russia got the
Prussian part of Catherine's
558
00:44:45,149 --> 00:44:50,052
division of Poland. That and
Lithuania now formed the Polish
559
00:44:50,354 --> 00:44:53,721
Kingdom. The Poles become the
biggest national minority.
560
00:44:53,924 --> 00:44:56,484
The capital of the main
territorial trophy -Warsaw 561
00:44:56,727 --> 00:45:02,165
the 3rd biggest city
after Moscow and St. Petersburg.
562
00:45:06,370 --> 00:45:09,828
An Internet address decorates
the royal palace.
563
00:45:10,040 --> 00:45:14,101
In 1818 that was the
address of Alexander I.
564
00:45:14,278 --> 00:45:17,042
When he traveled to Warsaw,
he stayed at the royal palace.
565
00:45:17,214 --> 00:45:21,116
Now he is also the Polish Czar.
566
00:45:21,351 --> 00:45:25,981
He changes his official title
to:
567
00:45:26,190 --> 00:45:33,255
'Emperor and Sovereign of All
Russia...
568
00:45:33,430 --> 00:45:36,593
- That part he inherited from
Catherine, what they called
569
00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:42,873
'Great, White and Small Russia'.
To that he added further:
570
00:45:42,873 --> 00:45:46,468
'Czar of Poland, Grand Duke of
Finland,
571
00:45:46,677 --> 00:45:50,010
and so on, and so forth.
572
00:45:52,182 --> 00:45:55,515
His full title contains
55 denominations.
573
00:45:55,719 --> 00:46:00,656
In this list of titles he
includes even small territories:
574
00:46:00,858 --> 00:46:04,817
'Czar of Georgia, lmmeretia,
Mengrelia'.
575
00:46:05,028 --> 00:46:09,761
That followed by
'Czar of Siberia'.
576
00:46:10,968 --> 00:46:15,234
Relations with Poland are
registered as a Union.
577
614
00:49:19,056 --> 00:49:23,857
Kartli-Kahetia with the capital
Tiflis (today's Tbilisi).
615
00:49:24,094 --> 00:49:26,585
Since then Tiflis is the main
administrative
616
00:49:26,797 --> 00:49:29,527
and military centre in the
Caucasus.
617
00:49:29,733 --> 00:49:32,167
At the time of Georgia joining
Russia, the Georgians
618
00:49:32,369 --> 00:49:35,532
are on the verge of extinction.
They are only 75 thousand.
619
00:49:35,739 --> 00:49:38,469
In 50 years they will number
a million.
620
00:49:43,280 --> 00:49:47,478
The empire has absorbed an
enclave.
621
00:49:47,651 --> 00:49:50,814
Russia and Georgia don't
have a common border.
622
00:49:51,054 --> 00:49:58,051
There's only one passage
overthe ridge.
623
00:50:00,197 --> 00:50:03,633
The Military-Georgian road.
200 km long.
624
00:50:03,834 --> 00:50:07,099
It connects Russia with
its new possession.
625
00:50:07,337 --> 00:50:11,433
In the West are peaceful
Ossetians and Kabardinians,
626
00:50:11,608 --> 00:50:15,009
but farther down West are
belligerent Circassians.
627
00:50:15,245 --> 00:50:18,271
To the East lie Dagestan
and Chechnya.
628
00:50:18,448 --> 00:50:21,246
It's unsafe to travel without
an armed convoy 629
00:50:21,451 --> 00:50:23,612
just like nowadays in Chechnya.
630
00:50:25,122 --> 00:50:28,922
The empire didn't really
need the Caucasus.
631
00:50:29,092 --> 00:50:34,086
But since it embraced
Transcaucasia, it had to take
632
00:50:34,264 --> 00:50:35,253
the Caucasus. By force.
633
00:50:35,432 --> 00:50:39,926
There was a reason forthe
Military-Georgian road being
634
00:50:55,385 --> 00:50:58,946
the only passage. The law in the
mountains was military
635
00:50:59,156 --> 00:51:03,183
democracy. No state, no
aristocrats, no one to
636
00:51:03,427 --> 00:51:08,524
negotiate with. Only field
commanders.
637
00:51:13,203 --> 00:51:17,503
In this land to plunder, steal
and highjack people was
638
00:51:17,707 --> 00:51:21,837
675
00:54:23,526 --> 00:54:28,088
fight against their own people.
Soldiers armed with axes
676
00:54:28,265 --> 00:54:29,698
clearthe impenetrable forests.
677
00:54:29,933 --> 00:54:34,802
They do it underthe
threat of death.
678
00:54:39,209 --> 00:54:45,205
In the meantime they were
trying to raise a huge sum of
679
00:54:45,415 --> 00:54:49,283
250 thousand Rubles to free
major Shvetsov who was taken
680
00:54:49,486 --> 00:54:53,855
hostage during a night raid
in Dagestan.
681
00:54:58,228 --> 00:55:01,425
He was captured on the
Kizlyar road.
682
00:55:01,598 --> 00:55:05,193
Many more people will be
captured there afterwards.
683
00:55:05,402 --> 00:55:07,529
When general Ermolov takes
office he orders to
684
00:55:07,704 --> 00:55:11,105
imprison all Kumyts Khans
in the Kizlyarfortress,
685
00:55:11,308 --> 00:55:13,606
because a Russian officer was
captured on their land.
686
00:55:13,777 --> 00:55:15,404
They threaten the Dagestan
nobility
687
'Empire sandwiches'.
773
01:02:28,845 --> 01:02:33,805
We know their interiors by the
film 'Woe from Wit'.
774
01:02:34,050 --> 01:02:37,417
The old furniture is
775
01:02:37,653 --> 01:02:41,749
still in demand.
776
01:02:47,029 --> 01:02:50,521
Pavel's furniture
is in museums,
777
01:02:50,700 --> 01:02:53,066
Catherine's furniture
hardly even remained.
778
01:02:53,269 --> 01:02:56,363
Alexander's Empire is still
widely sold and bought,
779
01:02:56,572 --> 01:03:00,804
and instantly catches your
eye in antique furniture shops.
780
01:03:01,043 --> 01:03:04,206
Atypical example of
'post-fire' Moscow furniture.
781
01:03:04,413 --> 01:03:07,974
Simple and refined.
782
01:03:08,151 --> 01:03:12,986
A set of a couch, 4 chairs and
a table costs 25 th dollars.
783
01:03:13,189 --> 01:03:16,625
And the Russian prices are lower
than world prices on Russian
784
01:03:16,793 --> 01:03:20,285
furniture, since we
can't export it.
785
810
01:05:31,227 --> 01:05:34,128
Daily reading of the Bible
becomes a habit.
811
01:05:34,363 --> 01:05:38,129
Every morning and every night
he prays fervently.
812
01:05:38,334 --> 01:05:40,131
He spends hours kneeling
in front of the icons,
813
01:05:40,369 --> 01:05:43,566
and develops callosities
on his knees.
814
01:05:43,806 --> 01:05:48,709
Alexander retires from state
and public affairs.
815
01:05:48,878 --> 01:05:51,540
All is vanity.
816
01:05:58,587 --> 01:06:00,521
Alexander's younger brother
817
01:06:00,756 --> 01:06:03,782
Konstantin is divorced,
818
01:06:04,026 --> 01:06:05,687
and without children.
819
01:06:05,895 --> 01:06:09,228
It was decided to pass the throne
on to third brother Nikolai.
820
01:06:09,432 --> 01:06:12,401
The decision is kept a secret.
821
01:06:12,635 --> 01:06:16,765
Even the new heir-to-be
is not informed.
822
01:06:17,306 --> 01:06:20,002
Words that emperor
Alexander underlined
823
01:06:20,209 --> 01:06:22,609
in his personal Bible:
824
01:06:22,812 --> 01:06:28,717
I saw all that's done under
the Sun. It's all vanity.
825
01:06:33,356 --> 01:06:38,384
Aterrible flood happens in
St. Petersburg in 1824.
826
01:06:38,594 --> 01:06:42,189
Pushkin will write about it
in his 'The Copper Horseman'.
827
01:06:44,467 --> 01:06:47,994
Then too the wind blew from
that direction, only much
828
01:06:48,204 --> 01:06:50,502
stronger, forcing the waves
from the bay and on the city.
829
01:06:50,706 --> 01:06:54,665
Water in the Neva and smaller
rivers, like Moika, rises.
830
01:06:54,877 --> 01:06:56,538
This was the water level.
831
01:06:56,712 --> 01:07:00,273
By noon the city with a flat
landscape is underwater.
832
01:07:06,622 --> 01:07:11,150
The emperor watches from a
balcony of the Winter Palace.
833
01:07:11,360 --> 01:07:15,558
His residence is an island,
overlooking the flood.
834
01:07:15,765 --> 01:07:18,632
For a mystic on the throne
- A devilish premonition.
835
inspection trip,
Alexanderfelt a slight fever.
873
01:10:36,165 --> 01:10:38,929
Then his condition worsened,
he had to stay in bed.
874
01:10:39,101 --> 01:10:43,231
Most probably it was
galloping typhoid,
875
01:10:43,472 --> 01:10:47,135
and in 5 days the emperor
passed away.
876
01:10:53,782 --> 01:11:00,051
He died in a God-forgotten
little town, still ratheryoung.
877
01:11:00,289 --> 01:11:03,486
He was only 47, and all his
life boasted excellent health.
878
01:11:03,726 --> 01:11:07,822
A strange death. The allegation
that he was poisoned was
879
01:11:08,063 --> 01:11:10,964
unpopular, but there still lives
a legend that the man who
880
01:11:11,200 --> 01:11:14,169
died here was not Alexander,
and that instead
881
01:11:14,370 --> 01:11:17,862
they buried someone who looked
like the emperor.
882
01:11:18,073 --> 01:11:20,098
Either an officer, or
a state messenger.
883
01:11:20,309 --> 01:11:22,743
And that when he was ill
Alexander confessed to a local
884
01:11:22,945 --> 01:11:28,645