Podcast Summary: Acontece que no es poco | Abolida la servidumbre en Rusia
Podcast: Todo Concostrina
Host: Nieves Concostrina (SER Podcast)
Episode Date: February 20, 2023
Episode Overview
In this episode, host Nieves Concostrina and co-host Carlas take a deep dive into a lesser-known chapter of Russian history: the abolition of serfdom, focusing on the failed Decembrist uprising of 1825 and the eventual end of Russian servitude in 1861. The conversation explores how military figures, often viewed as instruments of oppression, sometimes took up the cause of justice and reform. Through their trademark witty and critical style, Nieves reshapes our understanding of Russian society—tracing the enduring divide between rulers and the ruled, and examining how the actions of the past echo in the present.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Historical Context: Military and Social Divides in Russia
- Carlas opens with the idea that "there is no better way to understand a country than by reviewing its history" ([00:59]), linking Russia's current affairs to its entrenched social divides.
- Nieves highlights that while militaries worldwide can both oppress and bring positive change, Russia's first military-led revolution is often overshadowed by the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. She points out the “first Russian revolution,” led by officers aiming to end serfdom and establish a constitution, was brutally crushed ([03:30]).
2. What Was Russian Serfdom?
- Definition: Nieves bluntly calls it "slavery" ([04:30]), explaining that around 80% of Russians were serfs tied to the land owned by the elite 20%.
- Legal Trap: In the 17th century, serfdom was formally regulated so peasants and their descendants could never leave the noble's land ([05:16]).
- Irony: Serfs were, on paper, "free"—but only within the confines set by their noble master. "It’s like being free to move in a prison cell—from the cot to the toilet and back. That’s your freedom” (Nieves, [06:23]).
3. Catalyst for Change: The Role of Napoleonic Invasion
- The 1812 war against Napoleon was a turning point. Peasants/serfs played a crucial role in defeating French forces, and this contribution wasn't lost on liberal officers and aristocratic intellectuals ([07:04]).
- Demands: These officers pushed for two major reforms—an end to serfdom and the introduction of a liberal constitution and parliament. Nieves notes the paradox: “There’s nothing more anti-democratic than someone who holds power by birthright” ([08:07]).
4. Birth of the Decembrist Movement
- Internal Division: The officers/conspirators split; some wanted a swift, forceful revolution (inspired by France), others hoped for gradual reform and waited for a more liberal tsar ([09:49]).
- Unexpected Twist: The expected “reformist" heir, Constantine, secretly abdicated in favor of his reactionary brother Nicholas. “The guy was a hardliner, a jerk, a paranoid. The hawks were right: four years wasted” (Nieves, [11:05]).
5. The Decembrist Uprising: December 1825
- The Day: On the day Nicholas I was proclaimed tsar, 3,000 Decembrist soldiers and civilians rallied in St. Petersburg’s Senate Square, demanding “We don’t want Nico, we want Tino!” ([11:24]).
- The Suppression: Expecting more support, their numbers didn’t grow. The loyalist military attacked. Initially, the new tsar hesitated—“If I start my reign killing Russians, people won’t like me”—but soon ordered brutal suppression. Icy cobblestones led to chaos; soldiers and horses slipped, before the order was “to the cannons.” Around 1,300 people died within hours, most of them civilians ([12:44]).
- “Some died frozen, and those who fell into the ice of the Neva river drowned. 900 of the dead were civilians according to the police” (Nieves, [13:25]).
6. Aftermath and Legacy
- The Fate of the Decembrists:
- Five were executed.
- 121 were stripped of all possessions and shipped to Siberia for forced labor ([14:16]).
- Connection with Tolstoy: One survivor, cousin to Leo Tolstoy and inspiration for a War and Peace character, wept tears of joy at the abolition of serfdom in 1861: “He said it was the happiest day of his life, to know he’d done something for the people” (Nieves, [14:35]).
- Long-term impact: It took nearly 40 years from the Decembrist uprising for serfdom to be officially abolished in Russia ([13:51]).
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
-
On Russian serfdom:
"Es lo mismo que si te encierran en una celda... eres libre de moverte del catre al váter y del váter al catre, a tu libre albedrío”
(Nieves, [06:23]) -
On the hopeful conspirators:
"Hace falta ser muy pavo... si los militares esperaban que el zar aceptara una constitución y la renuncia a la servidumbre, pues iban listos"
(Nieves, [08:48]) -
On the Decembrist defeat:
"El que no murió congelado murió ahogado... así acabó la revolución decembrista. Y no eran bolcheviques, eran militares de los guays"
(Nieves, [13:25]) -
On personal legacy:
“Siempre se sintió orgulloso, dijo, de haber intentado hacer algo por el pueblo liberándolo de la tiranía”
(Nieves, about the Decembrist survivor and Tolstoy's cousin, [14:47])
Key Timestamps
- 00:59 – The importance of historical context for understanding Russia today
- 04:30 – What was Russian serfdom? “Slavery, plain and simple”
- 07:04 – Napoleonic Wars spark calls for reform
- 09:49 – Factions split: Revolution or negotiation?
- 11:24 – The Decembrist uprising: soldiers rally in Senate Square
- 12:44 – The brutal suppression and its consequences
- 14:16 – Aftermath: executions, Siberian exile, and literary legacy
- 14:35 – Abolition of serfdom in 1861 and its emotional legacy
Tone and Style
Nieves Concostrina brings her characteristic blend of sharp critique, irreverence, and personal warmth, demystifying complex history with colorful metaphors and an approachable, sometimes sarcastic, tone. The conversation is entertaining yet rich, designed to make listeners both laugh and reflect.
For history buffs and newcomers alike, this episode offers a brisk, insightful look at a pivotal but often overlooked moment in Russian history—one that shaped not only Russia, but also our understanding of power, reform, and the recurring struggle between those above and below.