21 Facts About Mikhail Shcherbatov

Prince Mikhail Mikhailovich Shcherbatov was a leading ideologue and exponent of the Russian Enlightenment, on the par with Mikhail Lomonosov and Nikolay Novikov.

Mikhail Shcherbatov was known as a statesman, historian, writer and philosopher, and was one of the most visible representatives of the nascent Russian conservatism during the second half of the 18th century.

From 1767 onwards, Mikhail Shcherbatov was in the public service and held responsible posts.

Mikhail Shcherbatov represented the Yaroslavl nobility at the Nakaz commission, was a member of a private commission of the middle-class people, a member of the Board of Trade, a president of the Chamber Council and a Senator.

Mikhail Shcherbatov found a certain analogy to this ideal in Pre-Petrian Russia when, in his opinion, autocracy was confined to the use of such aristocratic organ as the Council Boyars.

Yet, Mikhail Shcherbatov was aware that, apart from the personal weaknesses, the roughness and cruelty of the autocrat were caused by the viciousness of the time.

When elected by the nobility of Yaroslavl to represent their interests at the Legislative Assembly of 1767, Mikhail Shcherbatov virulently slammed the existing institutions of the Russian Empire.

Mikhail Shcherbatov caught the attention of the Empress and was appointed imperial historian in 1768 and president of a ministry in 1778.

Mikhail Shcherbatov worked in the Senate from 1779 to 1786.

Mikhail Shcherbatov thought that inequality was inherent to human nature and illustrated this tenet in the first Russian utopia, entitled Journey to the Land of Ophyr.

In one of his most famous works "On the corruption of morals in Russia" Mikhail Shcherbatov criticized the mass abuses committed by the authorities, such as bribery, embezzlement of public funds, servility, etc.

Yet, Mikhail Shcherbatov tried to be unbiased and to show both the positive and negative sides of Peter's modernization.

Mikhail Shcherbatov wrote about changes made in Russia by Peter's reforms, drawing his attention not only to changes in political and military areas, but in the field of culture, specifying that due to Europeanization, "in the matter of personal and certain other matters, one can say we truly enjoyed remarkable success and moved forward with giant steps to correcting how we appear to others".

Mikhail Shcherbatov supported the elimination of cards on the Table of Ranks and the expansion of the rights of the Russian nobility.

In regard to attached serfs who belonged to merchants and worked in their factories, Mikhail Shcherbatov considered it necessary to have them registered in their places but not allowing any more to be bought.

Mikhail Shcherbatov stood for the preservation of serfdom, arguing that the peasants, being uneducated, would not be able to properly use their freedom.

Mikhail Shcherbatov believed that the problems of serfdom could be solved, not by destroying it, but gradually as a result of changes in attitude and treatment of farmers by landlords.

Shortly before his death, Mikhail Shcherbatov created two works, which reflected his views on politics: "Various Opinions about Government" and "General Thoughts about Legislation".

Since the establishment of the new laws required a thorough examination of the subject, Mikhail Shcherbatov believed that "laws should be composed by a few impartial people, reasonable, familiar, hardworking and devoted to state affairs ".

In that work, Mikhail Shcherbatov developed his system for the prosperity and well-being of society, the basis of which lay in the idea that honor and respect for the monarch should not be rooted in any form of egoistic servility or hope of receiving a reward.

Mikhail Shcherbatov supported the idea of a structure within society that is divided into several hierarchical classes, according to which the life of every citizen is regulated.