Alexander I

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over her son, Paul, by granting Alexander a larger court than his father's. This further poisoned the atmosphere in the family. These experiences taught Alexander, early in life, how to manipulate those who loved him and he became a natural at changing his views and personality depending on whom he was with at the time.
Catherine was determined that Alexander would receive a Westernized education. This was a startling change for an heir to the Russian throne. Catherine expected that a liberal education would help Alexander to reign wisely for the benefit of the country. Alexander’s primary tutor was Cesar La Harpe, a Swiss revolutionary and republican, who implanted in Alexander a strong emotional attachment for the philosophy of Enlightenment, but failed to familiarize him with Russian social and political reality. Alexander became an idealist in the tradition of the Enlightenment. Harpe's focus on theoretical, abstract principals couldn’t possibly have left ...

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tried to rule in an enlightened way. After the darkness into which Paul had plunged Russia, Alexander appeared to his subjects as a radiant dawn. He was handsome, strong, pleasant, humane, and full of enthusiasm. He wanted his reign to be a happy one and dreamed of great and necessary reforms. The country was very excited at the prospects of Alexander's reign. There were great hopes for the future of Russia and an anticipation of a more liberal form of government and increased freedom. Some hoped for an end to the institution of serfdom, which sapped the nation of its energy. At first, the Tsar did little to discourage these aspirations. Slowly, Alexander turned away from his ...

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