Alexander III - the great Russian emperor, father of Nicholas II, the last tsar of the Romanov family. During the reign of Alexander III, life in the country was relatively calm, as he did not seek to take part in any wars. The king died in 1894 from a kidney disease, after which his son became emperor. Nicholas II wanted to perpetuate the memory of his father, so at the beginning of the 20th century, museums appeared, named after Emperor Alexander III. In addition to them, monuments were erected in different parts of the country, one of which was in Irkutsk.
However, after the Bolsheviks came to power, they were all dismantled. Interesting facts about the monument to Alexander 3 in Irkutsk are known. You can familiarize yourself with them by reading this article. In addition, you will find out where the monument to Alexander 3 is located inIrkutsk at present.
What Alexander III remembers
The reign of Emperor Alexander III was quite calm. The people even called the tsar a peacemaker, because during the years that he was in power, Russia did not participate in any war. Initially, he was prepared for military service, but by the will of fate, he ended up on the throne. The emperor was distinguished by his tall stature, excellent sense of humor, and high efficiency. He did not like excesses, and in his personal life he was unusually modest. The emperor was a strong and courageous man, he loved fishing.
In 1888, a terrible event happened that concerned the royal family. While they were traveling from the south, their train was wrecked, in which many of the people accompanying the king were injured. However, the emperor himself, his wife and children safely got out of the destroyed carriage. Eyewitnesses claimed that Alexander III held the roof on his shoulders so that it would not crush his family. After the disaster, the emperor began to complain of back pain. Doctors diagnosed him with kidney disease, which progressed every year. In 1894, the tsar died, and his son Nicholas II ascended the throne.
History of the creation of the monument
The monument to Alexander 3 in Irkutsk appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. It symbolized people's gratitude to the tsar for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. In order to choose the best composition, in 1902 an all-Russian competition was announced, in the end the project of R. R. Bach won. The installation of the monument to Alexander 3 in Irkutsk took place in 1908.
Dismantling
However, soon there was a revolution, and the ideology in the country completely changed. The memory of the kings was no longer needed by the new government. In 1920 the monument was dismantled. Its further fate is unknown, but according to one version, it was sent to be melted down, as a result of which a monument to Vladimir Lenin appeared, which can still be seen in this city to this day. The pedestal of the monument to Alexander 3 in Irkutsk was empty for many years, but in 1963 a concrete spire dedicated to the pioneers of Siberia was installed on it.
Other monuments to Alexander III
By the way, the monument to the emperor in Moscow, which was located near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, was also destroyed. The sculpture was a figure of Tsar Alexander III, sitting on a throne in a mantle. On his head was an imperial crown, and in his hands he held a scepter and an orb. This monument was one of the first to be dismantled.
The bronze Alexander III on horseback was installed in 1909 in St. Petersburg. This monument was not to the taste of most members of the royal family, since the emperor was depicted without any idealization. He was heavily seated on a horse, dressed in baggy clothes. In 1937, this monument was also dismantled and put away for storage in the Russian Museum.
Monument in Irkutsk today
After the collapse of the USSR, the time has come for change in the country. Old monuments and cultural objects began to be restored. The initiator of the casting of the monument to Alexander 3 inIrkutsk became the management of the East Siberian Railway. It also allocated money for this procedure. As a result, in 2003, the concrete spire was removed from the pedestal, and Alexander 3 again appeared before the eyes of the inhabitants of Irkutsk. The bronze emperor weighs about 4 tons. He is dressed in the uniform of a Siberian Cossack ataman. Bronze images of prominent personalities are cast on the monument: Mikhail Speransky, Ataman Ermak Timofeevich, Count N. N. Muravyov-Amursky. On one of the faces is an eagle holding a royal document in its paws.
Location
Many guests of the city are wondering where the monument to Alexander 3 is in Irkutsk. It is located on Karl Marx Street, on the banks of the Angara River.
Conclusion
The monument to Alexander III near the Angara was originally a symbol of gratitude to the emperor for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, because it was initiated precisely by his will. This highway made it possible to connect Moscow with the largest cities of Siberia and the Far East, which had a positive effect on the development of the country as a whole. Despite the fact that the monument was dismantled during the Bolshevik years, the bronze Alexander III reappeared in Irkutsk in 2003. Many residents of the city believe that his return was natural, because the history of the country cannot be simply crossed out.
