The 1879-1880 case of I. Rodionov and I. Rozovsky in the light of the study of revolutionary terrorism in Russia in the 1870s-1880s

The article considers I.I. Rozovsky and I.V. Rodionov's case in the light of studying revolutionary terrorism in Russia in the 1870s-1880s. Addressing the issues of motivation, ideological bases, perceptions of terrorism by society in Russia during Alexander II's reign the main historical sources are generally personal documents, office materials and the press. Court and investigation documents are of special value. They are interesting as they reflect the way both guardians and revolutionaries perceived the situation. Moreover, they show the reaction of the state to revolutionary terrorism. Currently some lawsuits (perhaps not so famous) are still poorly studied, though these materials could undoubtedly be important from the point of view of studying revolutionary terrorism in a number of aspects. Such aspects become known while studying the case of I.I. Rozovsky and I.V. Rodionov in detail. In December 1879 I.V. Rodionov was detained at one of railway stations, sticking the leaflets of the revolutionary organization "Narodnaya volya" devoted to an attempt on Alexander II's life on November 19, 1879. I.V. Rodionov told gendarmes that he had received the leaflets from I.I. Rozovsky, a student of Kiev University. Soon I.I. Rozovsky was arrested. The search in Rozovsky's apartment revealed the program of the Southern Executive Committee, a box with 25 cartridges for the revolver. The investigation could not prove otherwise, as well as it could not prove I.I. Rozovsky's and I.V. Rodionov's membership in the revolutionary organization. Still the martial court sentenced I.I. Rozovsky and I.V. Rodionov to capital punishment having found them guilty of belonging to the revolutionary organization. The capital punishment for Rodionov was replaced by six years of hard labor with the subsequent lifelong settlement in Siberia. The sentence of I.I. Rozovsky was not changed. The sentences of I.V. Rodionov and I.I. Rozovsky obviously contradicted the current legislation. The article points out that the materials of I.I. Rozovsky and I.V. Rodionov's case show the program of revolutionaries of Little Russia and Novorossiysk Provinces - members of the so-called Executive Committee. Information obtained from this program is undoubtedly useful for reconstructing the formation of the ideology of revolutionary terrorism in Russia in the 1870s-1880s. In addition, the article demonstrates the way the political and administrative elite of imperial Russia perceived terrorism. The article concludes that this minor, but significant case in the context of the political situation in Russia at the beginning of the 1880s among other things perfectly illustrates that during the specified period the situation in the country was rather tense and critical.

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