Professor V. O. Klyuchevsky’s Participation in the Elections to the First State Duma in 1906

Abstract

This article is devoted to the question related to the participation of Professor V. O. Klyuchevsky in the elections to the First State Duma from the Moscow Theological Academy. As it is known at the beginning of the XX century the Russian society was on the eve of grandiose social and political changes. According to Emperor Nicholas II’s Manifesto of October 17, 1905, a representative body, the State Duma, appeared in the Russian Empire. Now political parties could legally exist in the country, and the different social estates gained the right to participate in elections. The Russian Church could not stand aside in such important socio-political processes. Moreover, the monarchy placed great trust in the clergy, who were to protect the interests of the ruling dynasty. Spiritual schools were also involved in this process. Thus, the Moscow Theological Academy nominated its best representatives to the participation in the election. Among the professors V. O. Klyuchevsky stood up. He took an active part in the election race. However, the results of the vote proved to be entirely unexpected, as the inhabitants of Sergiev Posad favoured the local candidate. Besides, the political struggle intensified contradictions in the academic staff of the Moscow Theological Academy itself, which in turn influenced Vasily Klyuchevsky’s departure from the Academy.