EPISODE · Jul 26, 2026 · 8 MIN
The Romanovs and the Emancipation of the Serfs in 1861
from The Romanov Dynasty: Rise, Power, and Bloody End — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1861, Tsar Alexander II signed the Emancipation Edict, freeing over 23 million serfs and reshaping Russian society. This episode explores the pressures behind the reform—from military defeat in the Crimean War to fears of peasant rebellion—and the complex compromises that left peasants still tied to the land through the obshchina. We discuss key figures like Nikolai Milyutin, the architect of the reform, and the role of zemstvos in local governance. Also covered: the immediate aftermath, including redemption payments and the rise of revolutionary sentiment. A pivotal moment in Romanov history, balancing autocracy with modernization. #EmancipationOfTheSerfs #AlexanderII #RussianSerfdom #GreatReforms #NikolaiMilyutin #Zemstvo #Obshchina #CrimeanWar #RedemptionPayments #RuralRussia #TsarLiberator #RussianHistory #RomanovDynasty #19thCentury #EasternEurope #SocialChange #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Romanovs and the Emancipation of the Serfs in 1861
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