Nikolai Rysakov
| Nikolai Rysakov | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1861 Russia |
| Died | 1881 Russia |
Nikolai Ivanovich Rysakov (Russian: Николай Иванович Рысаков; 1861–3 April 1881) was a Russian revolutionary and a member of Narodnaya Volya. He personally took part in the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, throwing a bomb that disabled the Tsar's carriage. A second bomb by an accomplice, Ignacy Hryniewiecki, killed the Tsar. Rysakov was promptly arrested, put on trial, and hanged, along with other accomplices.
Rysakov joined the movement in 1879, when he was a student at Institute of Mining Engineering in St. Petersburg.
In February 1881 he became a member of a 'fighting squad' formed for the purpose of the assassination of the Tsar.
On 1 March 1881, he threw the first bomb at Alexander II of Russia, who was riding in a bullet-proof carriage. When Rysakov threw his bomb there was a loud explosion. A spray of snow, earth and splinters fanned out from a spot on the pavement, and the scene was filled with bluish smoke. One of the Cossacks in escort lay motionless on the ground, and a nearby butcher's boy, who had been on his way to deliver an order, was writhing and groaning. Both of them had been severely wounded and soon died. It was then 2:15 pm. He later said of the attempt:
After a moment's hesitation I threw the bomb. I sent it under the horses' hooves in the supposition that it would blow up under the carriage...The explosion knocked me into the fence. I got up and cursed before I was arrested.
Rysakov was immediately arrested. After Hryniewiecki threw his bomb, Rysakov saw that the Tsar was hurt, and he expressed satisfaction, which earned him a punch in the head from one of the soldiers holding him. He was turned over to the authorities otherwise unharmed.
Tsar Alexander II was carried by sleigh to the Winter Palace, where he was given Communion and Extreme Unction. At 3:30 that day, the standard of Alexander II was lowered for the last time.
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