The Union of Salvation

The Union of Salvation, founded in 1816 and renamed the Group of True and Loyal Sons of the Fatherland in 1817, was the Decembrists' first secret political society. Boyars, men, and brothers were the three ranks of the Union of Salvation. It was structured as a highly conspiratorial organization, with severe discipline and unconditional submission of lower members to higher ranks. Only the top echelons of society were aware of the society's ultimate goals. Admission of new members and progression from a lower rank to a higher rank was only permitted with the agreement of the boyar group's supreme council and took place through an intricate system of rites and vows adopted from Masonry.

There were both radical and moderate inclinations within the Union of Salvation. Disputes erupted about the society's techniques as well as its tight and convoluted structure. Disagreements erupted in the autumn of 1817 in Moscow, where the union's leaders had been relocated along with their battalions. A number of regicide projects were proposed by UoS members, but they were rejected owing to a lack of money and society's general lack of preparedness for decisive action. In light of this, the majority of members voted to dissolve the UoS and form a new organization with more members and greater competence. The Military Society was established as an interim nucleus, and the Union of Welfare was established in early 1818.

Founded: February 1816

Dissolved: 1818

Purpose: Abolition of serfdom and Introduction of constitutional monarchy

Location: Russia
Founder: Alexander Nikolayevich Muravyov