Konstantin Pobedonostev (1827-1907) A timeline of his life.

1. Konstantin Pobedonostev(1827-1907)A timeline of his life. “The Grand Inquisitor"

2. Background • Born and raised in Moscow. • His father, Peter Pobedonostsev, a professor at the University of Moscow, educated Konstantin at home until he enrolled at the St. Petersburg School of Jurisprudence in 1841. • He studied the Bible, the writings of the Russian Orthodox Church Fathers, Greek and Roman classics, Russian history, and Russian literature. He graduated from the School of Jurisprudence with a wide knowledge of Western judicial institutions and laws. (He was therefore a religious man)

3. In 1861 Alexander II invited him to instruct his son and heir Nicholas in the theory of law and administration • But on April 12, 1865 his pupil Nicholas died, but Pobedonostsev was then invited to teach the Nicholas’ brother Alexander (the next tsar Alexander III). • Pobedonostsev stressed the ties between Russian Orthodoxy and Russia’s history. By the late 1870s his influence on Alexander had become overwhelming. (Pobedonostev’s religious views were rubbed off onto Alexander III and his influence his seen in Alexander’s manifesto. He was responsible for drafting the manifesto in April 1881)

4. In 1881 Pobedonostsev advised Alexander III concerning the selection of his ministers, most of whom were put forward upon his recommendation. • The Tsar consented to Pobedonostsev's policy of the Russification of minority groups, particularly Jews and dissenters. As director general, he also attempted to restrict the number and the rights of other religious groups in Russia. • Under his influence Alexander III opposed any limitation of his autocratic powers, tightened censorship, tried to suppress all opposition, and persecuted religious nonconformists.

5. Pobedonostsev's reputation in Russian history rests largely upon his accomplishments as director general of the Holy Synod. For 25 years his influence on the religious and political life of Russia was enormous as a result of his official positions and his relations with the Tsars, their wives, the imperial family, and the court. (the Holy Synod is the highest authority in the church and it formulates the rules and regulations regarding matters of church organisation, faith, and order of service.)

6. Contemporaries and historians have usually felt that Pobedonostsev worked alongside Ivan Delyanov (Minister of Education, 1882 - 1898) and together they worked toward establishing a system in order to restrict the numbers of non-Russian and non-Orthodox students admitted to Russian universities

7. Pobedonostsev also tutored the future Nicholas II and had been one of his most influential advisers. In his writing Pobedonostsev strongly attacked Western liberalism. He died in St. Petersburg on March 23, 1907.

8. Pobedonostev Quote Pobedonostev rejected the Western ideals of freedom and independence as "dangerous delusions of nihilistic youth." someone who rejects all theories of morality or religious belief. An anarchist.