Masculinity at the crossroads of empires: Aleksei Khomiakov as Slavophile and Anglophile

Abstract This article examines the social, historical, and religious writings of the Russian Slavophile philosopher and poet Aleksei Khomiakov (1804–1860), alongside accounts from his family and friends and his correspondence with the High Anglican deacon William Palmer (1811–1879). It explores how Khomiakov attempted to forge a new masculine ideal that combined devout Muscovite traditions with elements of modernity drawn from the British empire to address the crisis of masculinity under Nicholas I. His search for alternative male ideals underscores Khomiakov’s dissent from the hegemonic masculinity imposed by the autocratic state. The article analyses Khomiakov’s attempt to draw Anglicanism closer to Orthodoxy in the hope of establishing brotherly relationships between conservative Russian and British noblemen within the inter-imperial context. Even though these attempts ultimately failed, they reveal Khomiakov’s perception of the British model of masculinity, which balanced industrial strength with religious devotion, as embodying his personal ideal and a template for integrating tradition with modern progress in Russia.