Decembrists in Tobolsk

Since the 30th years of the XIXth century 15 Decembrists lived in the Tobolsk exile. One of the first was Nikolai Chizhov, a naval officer, a member of the expedition to the New Land, a poet, and a member of the Northern society. In Tobolsk Chizhov was in close contacts with exiled Polish officers, and with Piotr Ershov. The latter helped to publish some poems by Chizov in central magazines.

In 1838 Mikhail Fonvizin was moved out of the penal servitude from the Far East to Tobolsk. The Fonvizin’s house was soon turned into a club where the Decembrists and other political exiles would gather. While in an exile, Fonvizin kept on working on his essays on philosophy and state establishment.

In the 40th years exiled to Tobolsk were the Decembrists A. Baryatinski, V. Steingel, S. Krasnorutski, Bobryshev-Pushkin brothers, P. Svistunov, I. Annenkov, S. Semenov, F. Wolf, A. Muravjev, and F. Bashmakov. Wilghelm Kukhelbecker arrived in Tobolsk blind and consumptive. Here he would dictate to his friends his last poems.

When in Tobolsk exile, and despite many restrictions the Decembrists would try to get involved in public life. Highly esteemed was their contribution to the education development in the Tobolsk province. Some of the Decembrists, like Ferdinand Wolf, were engaged in healing, and very often helped poor people gratis. A. Muravjev, S. Semjenov, and I. Annenkov once were employed as state officials in Tobolsk.

In 1856 under the amnesty by the Emperor Alexander II the Decembrists were allowed to come back to settle in the European part of Russia. But only some of them could enjoy this mercy. V. Kukhelbecker, A. Baryatinski, A. Muravjev, F. Wolf, F. Bashmakov, S. Semjenov, S. Krasnokutski died and were buried in Tobolsk.