| Abstrakt: |
After the sudden death of Grand Duke Konstantin in June 1831, a new thread was added to numerous rumours presenting him as the „saviour of the people". Strange stories were circulating among many Poles who, as punishment for their participation in the November Uprising, were sent into exile to various regions of the Russian Empire, mainly to Siberia. It was claimed that Grand Duke Konstantin did not die, but was preparing to enter the territory of Russia to depose Nicholas I and liberate Poles. He was to enter Russia as a commander of troops formed by the Poles living in exile in France. In addition, he was to receive support from Turkey, China or from the so-called but unidentified "White Arab". These rumours were disseminated in the 1830s throughout the Russian Empire, but were most often repeated by Polish soldiers exiled to Siberia. The conviction among Poles exiled to Omsk (Western Siberia) that Grand Duke Konstantin was approaching the borders of Russia, assisted by troops from various countries, led to the formation of a conspiracy in 1833, which in consequence was to lead to an armed uprising. Polish conspirators wanted to involve Siberian peoples in this venture and jointly march to St. Petersburg. The conspiracy was suppressed in the bud. Rumours of all kinds presenting Konstantin Pavlovich as Poles' liberator, were mainly spread by soldiers from the lowest layers. Very often those stories about his arrival were popularized by Russians who also came from the lowest layers of the society. In their opinion, Duke Konstantin was coming to Russia, either by land or by sea, to do three things, namely to regain the throne, free Poles exiled deep into the Russian Empire, and finally to free Russian peasants from serfdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
