Historically, Tobolsk has been a place of exile for several centuries. Traditionally, it is believed that the first political exile was an inanimate object — the famous Uglich bell. On May 15, 1591, in the city of Uglich, the son of Ivan IV the Terrible, the Heir to the Throne, Tsarevich Dmitry, died under strange circumstances. It is officially considered, that the heir died in an accident while playing with a knife, but in connection with this event, there was a revolt in Uglich, the alarm for which was triggered by a bell.
By decree of Tsar Boris Godunov, the watch bell that rang for the murdered Tsarevich was thrown from the Spasskaya bell tower, his tongue was torn out, his ear was cut off, he was publicly punished with 12 lashes on the square and sent to Siberian exile. In Tobolsk, the exiled bell was first located in the bell tower of the wooden Spasskaya Church, later it was moved to the main Cathedral bell tower of the St. Sophia courtyard of the Tobolsk Kremlin. In the 19th century, a bell gable was built for the bell, which is still preserved on the territory of the Tobolsk Kremlin.
In 1890, the Tobolsk Museum bought the Uglich bell from the Bishop’s Church. Twice during the Official visits to the city, the heirs to the throne rang the bell - Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich in 1837 and Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich in 1891, the future emperors Alexander I and Nicholas II.
In March 1892, a meeting was held in Uglich, where it was decided to create a Commission to travel for the exiled Uglich bell. At that time, trading with the Tobolsk Museum started about the price for it. Tobolsk mayor Trusov came to Saint Petersburg and initially asked for 15 thousand roubles in negotiations. But the Tobolsk Museum set a price of only 600 roubles – that’s how much it cost to cast a new bell for the Bishop’s Church, which was hung instead of the removed Uglich one.
On May 9, 1892, a deputation on a steamer “Polyarny” arrived in Tobolsk from Uglich to collect the bell. After returning from the Siberian exile, the bell became an exhibit of the Uglich Museum of antiquities, and its model was made in Tobolsk, which is now presented in the halls of the Tobolsk Museum Reserve.
By decree of Tsar Boris Godunov, the watch bell that rang for the murdered Tsarevich was thrown from the Spasskaya bell tower, his tongue was torn out, his ear was cut off, he was publicly punished with 12 lashes on the square and sent to Siberian exile. In Tobolsk, the exiled bell was first located in the bell tower of the wooden Spasskaya Church, later it was moved to the main Cathedral bell tower of the St. Sophia courtyard of the Tobolsk Kremlin. In the 19th century, a bell gable was built for the bell, which is still preserved on the territory of the Tobolsk Kremlin.
In 1890, the Tobolsk Museum bought the Uglich bell from the Bishop’s Church. Twice during the Official visits to the city, the heirs to the throne rang the bell - Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich in 1837 and Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich in 1891, the future emperors Alexander I and Nicholas II.
In March 1892, a meeting was held in Uglich, where it was decided to create a Commission to travel for the exiled Uglich bell. At that time, trading with the Tobolsk Museum started about the price for it. Tobolsk mayor Trusov came to Saint Petersburg and initially asked for 15 thousand roubles in negotiations. But the Tobolsk Museum set a price of only 600 roubles – that’s how much it cost to cast a new bell for the Bishop’s Church, which was hung instead of the removed Uglich one.
On May 9, 1892, a deputation on a steamer “Polyarny” arrived in Tobolsk from Uglich to collect the bell. After returning from the Siberian exile, the bell became an exhibit of the Uglich Museum of antiquities, and its model was made in Tobolsk, which is now presented in the halls of the Tobolsk Museum Reserve.
