ALEXANDER II OF RUSSIA: (1818-1881)

ALEXANDER II OF RUSSIA: (1818-1881) Emperor of Russia 1855-81. Assassinated. A letter of very good association, L.S., Alexander, in Cyrillic, one page, to a folio bifolium, n.p., 16th February 1862, in Cyrillic. Alexander II as Emperor and Autocrat of all Russias sends an urgent and secret message, stating `Strictly confidential - Imperial telegram dated February 16, 1862. I sent your courier yesterday. Do not issue any statement on behalf of Felinski until you have received my reply.´ With blank integral leaf. Very small minor staining to the lower border, otherwise G to VG

Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński (1822–1895) Polish professor of the Saint Petersbourg Roman Catholic Theological Academy, Archbishop of Warsaw 1862-63, and a prominent figure who directly challenged the policies of Tsar Alexander II of Russia during the Polish uprising of 1863. Felinski was canonised in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Following the outbreak of the "January Revolt" in 1863, Feliński protested the bloody crackdown by Russian authorities. On March 15th 1863, he wrote a brave letter to Tsar Alexander II urging him to end the violence in Poland and advocating for the country's freedom, which resulted in him being viewed as a threat by the Russian authorities. The Tsar answered this letter by arresting Feliński and sending him into exile in the town of Yaroslav where he spent the following 20 years, and during which period he was not allowed any contact with Warsaw.