The Alexander Column (russian: Александровская колонна) is a monument erected 1894 in

Nakhichevan-on-Don __NOTOC__ Nakhichevan-on-Don (russian: Нахичевань-на-Дону, ''Naxičevan’-na-Donu''), also known as New Nakhichevan ( hy, Նոր Նախիջևան, ''Nor Naxiĵevan''; as opposed to the "old" Nakhichevan), was an Armenian-populated ...

(now a part of

Rostov-on-Don Rostov-on-Don ( rus, Ростов-на-Дону, r=Rostov-na-Donu, p=rɐˈstof nə dɐˈnu) is a port city and the administrative centre of Rostov Oblast and the Southern Federal District of Russia. It lies in the southeastern part of the East ...

Rostov Oblast Rostov Oblast ( rus, Росто́вская о́бласть, r=Rostovskaya oblast, p=rɐˈstofskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in the Southern Federal District. The oblast has an area of and a populat ...

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...

) in Alexandrovsky Park (now Vitya Cherevichkin Park). The column was inaugurated on 18 September 1894 to celebrate the 25 years reign of emperor

Alexander II of Russia Alexander II ( rus, Алекса́ндр II Никола́евич, Aleksándr II Nikoláyevich, p=ɐlʲɪˈksandr ftɐˈroj nʲɪkɐˈlajɪvʲɪtɕ; 29 April 181813 March 1881) was Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Fin ...

. On the occasion the park in which the column stands was also renamed after the sovereign. The column consists of a granite monolith upon which sits a

double-headed eagle In heraldry and vexillology, the double-headed eagle (or double-eagle) is a charge associated with the concept of Empire. Most modern uses of the symbol are directly or indirectly associated with its use by the late Byzantine Empire, original ...

perched on a globe. On the pedestal two commemorative plaques read: ″In memory of 25 glorious year of reign of Emperor Alexander II″ and ″the Armenian community of Nakhichevan-on-Don 25·IX·1894In russian: Отъ Нахичеванскаго на Дону армянскаго общества 25·IX·1894.″ After the

Russian revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of political and social revolution that took place in the former Russian Empire which began during the First World War. This period saw Russia abolish its monarchy and adopt a socialist form of government ...

the column was the only tsarist monument not to be torn down by the new authorities. They only removed the crowning double-headed eagle and the commemorative plaques on the pedestal. In 1994 the column was returned to its original state. File:Колонна от Армянского на Дону общества №56.jpg, Alexander column in 1907. File:Двуглавый орел.JPG, Imperial eagle. File:Александрийская колонна (вид с запада).JPG, Pedestal decoration. File:Александрийская колонна осенью.JPG, General view.

References

{{reflist Bronze sculptures in Russia Cultural heritage monuments in Rostov-on-Don Monuments and memorials in Rostov-on-Don Cultural heritage monuments of regional significance in Rostov Oblast