Project overview
The image of the martyr has proven to be a powerful one across time and space. All societies have created martyrs. But why does anyone seek to become one, and why has the emblem proven attractive for different social and political groups? In late imperial Russia martyrdom myths and legends circulated widely, alternately providing affirmations of loyalty to the old regime and dramatic statements of radical action that challenged the status quo. This project will explore examples of martyr cults on both left and right, from the spectacular killing of tsar Alexander II on 1 March 1881 by the revolutionary terrorist group the People’s Will, to the assassination attempt on Lenin and the death of the revolutionary leader Uritskii in 1918. This project will assess how tensions generated by rival martyr cults mobilized popular passions and led to the further radicalization of Russian society in an era of crisis.
