Alexander I — “A True Byzantine” on the Russian Throne

This article attempts to make a comprehensive examination of the reign of Alexander I, paying attention to the main directions of his domestic and foreign policy. The article abounds with factual material and contains the author's interpretations of key domestic political transformations. The policy of Alexander I is shown as a continuous process, avoiding the traditional historiographical division into periods before and after the Patriotic War of 1812. The combination of factual and analytical components allows us to get a general idea of the Emperor’s personality and epoch, an unambiguous assessment of which history has not developed to this day.