Count Nikolay Nikolayevich Novosiltsev (Novoselcev) ( Russian : Граф Никола?й Никола?евич Новосельцев (Новоси?льцев) , Polish : Nikołaj Nowosilcow ) (1761–1838) was a Russian statesman and a close aide to Alexander I of Russia .

Life [ edit ]

He was a natural son of a wealthy nobleman, married to the aunt of Count Pavel Stroganov . This relationship secured for him a place in the Privy Committee that outlined the Government reform of Alexander I . He drafted a constitution for the Russian empire that mirrored the constitution suggested by Speransky ; unlike Speransky's, Novosiltsev's constitutional suggestion had been accepted by Alexander but the plan was abandoned after Alexander's death in 1825. ^{[ citation needed ]}

In 1804 to 1805, Sweden, Russia, England, Austria, Prussia and the Kingdom of Naples planned to form a coalition against Bonaparte 's France. Alexander I sent Novosiltsev to mediate in the negotiations between England and France after Napoleon made a peace offering to England when he learned of the anti-Gallic coalition. Before leaving Berlin, Novosiltsev learned that Bonaparte had taken both Genoa and Lucca, and notified Alexander, ending the mediation towards peace in 1805. ^{[ citation needed ]}

From 1813 to 1815 he governed the finances of the occupied Duchy of Warsaw and between 1815 and 1830 he served in the government of the Congress Kingdom of Poland . In the Kingdom of Poland, he was the tsar's commissar at the Council of State . ^[1] He was very influential, widely feared, and one of the de facto rulers of the country. ^[1] He organized and led the Russian secret police there ( okhrana ). ^[2] He was responsible for arrests of student activists in the Philomaths and Filaret Association in 1823. From 1824, he was curator of Vilna Governorate 's education and science. He was a supporter of Russification policies, persecuted many pro-Polish organizations and activists, and was detested by contemporary Polish society. ^{[ citation needed ]}

He concluded his career as the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. Nicholas I made him a count in 1835. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Novosiltsev in polish culture [ edit ]

The character of count Novosiltsev appears as main antagonist ^[3] in the drama Dziady part III by Adam Mickiewicz . The figure of the senator also appears in the film Chopin. Desire for Love (2002), directed by Jerzy Antczak . The role was played by Piotr Fronczewski . ^[4]

References [ edit ]