Imperial journeys to Siberia in the 19th century: from inspection to symbol

The subject of the research is the visits of the Romanov dynasty members to Siberia in the 19th century. The aim of the study is to show the significance of these trips for the perception of Siberia within Russia and for the formation of the image of power. The analysis covers both the events of the visits themselves and their impact on public opinion, the relationship between the center and the periphery, and the ideas about the region's place in the imperial space. Significant attention is given to the reaction of the local population, the peculiarities of organizing meetings, and the reflection of events in the press. The work allows an understanding of how the rare visits of representatives of the imperial family became notable political and cultural events for Siberia. The foundation of the work consists of materials from provincial press, documents of administrative bodies, and memoirs of contemporaries. The methodological basis includes historical-anthropological and ritualistic approaches, allowing for the consideration of the trips as cultural practices and political rituals. The principles of historicism and systemic analysis link the visits to the development of the empire. Comparative-historical and structural-functional methods reveal their political, educational, and symbolic functions. The research distinguishes the imperial trips to Siberia in the 19th century as a separate category of dynastic visits, examining them as a cohesive phenomenon in the history of imperial policy. It shows that they developed according to the laws of imperial scenarios while maintaining unique features. At the beginning of the century, the trips were educational and inspectional, completing the training of heirs for governance. By the mid-century, they had taken on a representative character, serving to strengthen the dynasty's authority. By the end of the century, the main roles had become symbolic and foreign policy functions related to demonstrating Russia's strength in the east. The novelty of the work lies in emphasizing the combination of all-imperial trends and the regional specificity of Siberia: the rarity of visits amplified their significance, and the population's reactions were marked by particular emotional involvement. The research identified a complication of the ceremonial, an increase in the role of the Cossacks and national elites, which gave the visits political significance. An important outcome was the formation of a stable memory of the events: monuments were erected, annual celebrations were held, streets were renamed, and relics were preserved. These practices reinforced monarchical loyalty, transformed the visits into symbolic acts of connection between the center and the periphery, and solidified Siberia's unique place in the imperial space.

Siberia, Romanovs, power and society, ceremonial, imperial journeys, dynastic myth, symbolic politics, ritual, memorialization, historical memory