Mikhail Rodzianko

Mikhail Vladimirovich Rodzianko (Russian: Михаи́л Влади́мирович Родзя́нко) (1859 – January 24, 1924) was a Russian politician.

"M. Rodzianko was an exceptionally tall and powerful man".[1]

He came from an old Ukrainian noble family of Rodzianko. He was educated at the Corps des Pages, served in Her Majesty's Regiment of the Cavalry of the Guard, and was later appointed Kammerherr of the Imperial Court. He also, later, served as Marshall of the Gentry and as President of the Provincial Zemstvo Executive.[2]

Rodzianko was one of the founders and leaders of the Octobrist party. He was a deputy of the Third Russian State Duma, and was elected the Chairman after the resignation of Aleksandr Guchkov in 1911. He then continued as the Chairman of the Fourth State Duma until its dissolution in February 1917.

He remarked on the meeting between Rasputin and Tsar Nicholas II: "It marked the beginning of the decay of the Russian society and the loss of prestige of the throne and of the tsar himself."

Mikhail Rodzianko was one of the key politicians during the Russian February Revolution. He presided over the Provisional Committee of the State Duma, and, among other things, led abdication talks with Tsar Nicholas II.

When Rodzianko met Tsarevich Alexei for the first time, he introduced himself as "the fattest man in Russia".[3]

He emigrated to Serbia in 1920, where he died in great poverty in 1924.[4] His nephew Aleksandr Rodzyanko was one of the leaders of the White Army.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Explanatory footnote at Rodzianko (1927), p51, supplied by the Russian-to-English translator Catherine Zvegintzoff.
  2. ^ Bernard Pares' introduction to Rodzianko (1927), at p.v.
  3. ^ Leon Trotsky: The History of the Russian Revolution (1.10 The New Power)
  4. ^ Bernard Pares' introduction to Rodzianko (1927), at p.viii.

References

Preceded by
Aleksandr Guchkov		 Chairman of the State Duma
1911—1917		 Succeeded by
None