Ivan Aksakov
Ivan Sergeevich Aksakov was a prominent Russian writer and political figure born in 1823 in Nadezhino, within the Russian Empire. He was raised in a patriotic and religious family, significantly influenced by his father, the notable Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov, and his elder brother Konstantin, both of whom were associated with the Slavophile movement. Aksakov pursued education at the Imperial School of Jurisprudence in St. Petersburg, graduating in 1842, and served in the imperial civil service for nine years until ideological conflicts led to his resignation.
Post-resignation, Aksakov dedicated a decade to exploring Russian society, particularly its traditional rural life. Although he contributed essays to literary journals, his nationalistic and Pan-Slavic sentiments often placed him at odds with government censors. His writings evolved over time, ultimately embracing views that included nationalist and anti-Semitic attitudes, which became controversial among later Slavophile thinkers. Aksakov was notably active during Russia's conflict with Turkey and expressed discontent regarding the outcomes of such campaigns. He passed away in 1886, having seen his aspirations for a united Slavic identity largely unmet, yet his funeral revealed his lasting impact on Russian national sentiment.
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Subject Terms
Ivan Aksakov
Poet
- Born: September 26, 1823
- Birthplace: Nadezhino, Russia
- Died: January 27, 1886
Biography
Ivan Sergeevich Aksakov was born in 1823 in the village of Nadezhino in the Russian Empire. His father was the famous Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov, and his elder brother Konstantin also made a name for himself in the conservative intellectual circles known as the Slavophiles, who believed that Russia should not simply ape the West, but build on the best of traditional Russian society. He was taught at home, in a deeply patriotic and religious atmosphere.
In 1838, he went to St. Petersburg to enter the Imperial School of Jurisprudence, graduating in 1842. He subsequently seved in the imperial civil service for the next nine years, until he came into conflict with his superiors over philosophical differences and resigned. Earlier, his nationalistic views had led him to spend a few days in prison, but after his release he suffered no negative consequences to his career. With his time no longer constrained by regular employment, he was able to spend the next ten years becoming a student of life and society, with a special emphasis on the traditional Russian countryside.
Aksakov began to submit essays to the “thick” journals, but had difficulty with the imperial censors not approving his work, particularly when he tried to start his own journal. In particular, his growing Pan-Slavism aroused concerns from the political censors. He commented extensively on the reforms of Czar Alexander II, and by the 1870’s he had become stridently nationalist to the point of racism and anti- Semitism. His behavior in the last two decades of his life became a major embarassment to subsequent Slavophile-leaning Russian thinkers, particularly his writings about alleged massive Jewish conspiracies.
Aksakov was instrumental in Russia’s war with Turkey, and was disappointed that it failed to liberate all the Baltic Slavs from Turkish Muslim domination. He died in 1886, disappointed that his grand dreams of pan-Slavic triumphalism had failed to come to fruition. However, his funeral attracted large crowds, which suggest that he had struck a resonant note with many of his fellow countrymen.