The 1820s marked a significant period in the history of Russia, as it was a time of reforms, cultural advancements, and political unrest. During this decade, Russia was under the rule of Tsar Alexander I, who came to the throne in 1801 following the assassination of his father, Tsar Paul I. At the start of the 1820s, Russia was still reeling from the effects of the Napoleonic Wars, which ended in 1815 with Russia playing a key role in the defeat of Napoleon. The war drained the country’s resources and left it in a state of economic and social turmoil. To stabilize the situation, Tsar Alexander I introduced a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the country and improving the lives of its citizens.

One of the most significant reforms introduced in the 1820s was the abolition of serfdom, which was in place since the 16th century. However, the abolition was not immediate and took several years to implement fully. The tsar initially introduced the policy in the Baltic provinces, where serfdom was less prevalent, and gradually expanded it to other parts of the country. The reform faced strong opposition from the nobility, who owned the serfs and feared losing their source of labor.