A study of the Russian Empire at the peak of its military power and success, this book examines how a country with none of the obvious trappings of modernization was able to sustain the level of military effort and support the largest standing army in Europe, along with the resulting strain on state and society.
A study of the Russian Empire at the peak of its military power and success (1762-1825), this important book examines how a country with none of the obvious trappings of modernization was able to significantly expand its territory. Russia's military and naval victories culminated in the triumphal entrance of Russian forces into Paris in 1814 in celebration of the defeat of Napoleon. Hartley's treatment is wide-ranging and discusses many aspects of the nature of the Russian state and society-not merely issues such as recruitment, but also institutional, legal, and fiscal structures of the state, the unique nature of Russian industrialization and social organization at the urban and village level, as well as the impact on cultural life. She covers the reign of two of Russia's most prominent rulers: Catherine II (1762-1796) and Alexander I (1801-25).
How could a country lacking modernized structures-political, institutional, social, fiscal, economic, industrial, and cultural-sustain this level of military effort and support the largest standing army in Europe? What impact did the strain of this commitment of men and money, including the invasion of 1812, have on the state and society-particularly on those who were either conscripted or the dependents they left behind? Despite the success of the Russian state, by 1825 the strains would become almost unsustainable.
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Russia at War 1762-1825
1. The Military Estate: Size and Composition
2. The Lower Ranks: Conscription and Community
3. The Officer Corps: Service and Challenge to the State
4. The Cost: Expenditure and Income
5. The Cost: Agriculture, Industry and Trade
6. The Impact: Conflict with Civilians in Peace and War
7. The State: Administration, Law and Magic
8. The Expansion of the State: Conflict, Assimilation. Identity
9. Rulers and Armies: Warfare, Image, Culture and Identity
10. The Military Colonies
Conclusion: Militarization and Modernization?
Glossary
Abbreviations
Bibliography
Index
Reviews
"In many respects, Hartley's examination is a fascinating one. . . Hartley offers an important new consideration of the significance of the Russian military in the society that sustained it during a crucial period."—Slavic Review
"Hartley (London School of Economics) puts this significant period of Russian history into perspective by focusing on the connections between the economic growth of Russia and the Russian military. . . . A worthy addition to any academic library. . . . Recommended. All levels/libraries."—Choice
"[W]e have every reason to welcome Janet M. Hartley's new book, which covers considerable ground."—American Historical Review
"In her by now customary manner Janet Hartley has produced another book that is rich in detail, sensible in analysis, and attentive to the careful reconstruction of historical events. Lucidly written and extensively documented, Russia, 1762-1825 explores the development of Russian military power with reference to state-building and the cost to society. . . . Hartley ends her book with an enlightening and original discussion of the military colonies established by Alexander I and abolished by his successor, Nicholas I. . . . Defeat in the Crimean War showed that Russia's military might could not be sustained without significant economic and social change. Yet until the 1850s Russia remained stable and militarily powerful despite the revolutionary upheavals affecting other parts of Europe. Thanks to the hard work of Janet Hartley, scholars have an intelligent account of why this was so."—The Russian Review
Endorsements
"Janet Hartley's work is a thoughtful and deeply informed study of the sinews of Russian power in the period when Russia was widely seen as possessing Europe's most formidable military machine. It also looks closely at the impact of war and military power on Russian state and society. Even historians of Russia will learn much from this book. For non-Russianists it will be a crucial source of new information but also a stimulating and often surprising aid to thoughtful comparisons about military power, modernization, and the militarization of society in eighteenth and nineteenth-century Europe."—Dominic Lieven, Professor, London School of Economics
"In this splendidly documented study of the relationship between the Russian armed forces and society in the years 1762-1825, Hartley successfully challenges the idea that Russia became a garrison state. Her book will be required reading by those interested in the modernization of Russia."—Isabel de Madariaga, Emeritus Professor of Russian Studies in the University of London, School of Slavonic and East European Studies
