What Catherine the Great Had to Say About Torture﻿

What Catherine the Great Had to Say About Torture

12/15/2014

Totally by coincidence, I am reading the wonderful biography by Robert K. Massie, “Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman,” and happened upon her very strong opinion of torture.

Catherine was one of the most intelligent monarchs in history – a minor Prussian princess imported to Russia as a wife for the insipid heir. She read and spoke French fluently and educated herself from lovers and advisors; she communicated with Voltaire and Diderot and other philosophes. And she soon took over the crown from her dangerously helpless husband, Peter III, who quickly died at some remove from her.

In 1765, as empress, Catherine wrote series of “guiding principles” (Massie’s words), a Nakaz, which suggested changes in Russian laws. Even an empress had to run them past ministers and parliament, and she saw her thoughts whittled down considerably, but on July 30, 1767, she issued: “Instruction of Her Imperial Majesty Catherine the Second for the Commission Charges with Preparing a Project of a New Code of Laws.”

One of the strongest passages was about torture. Massie, writing about the 18th Century, makes no link to the 21st Century, but he does note her words:

What right can give anyone authority to inflict torture upon a citizen when it is still unknown whether he is innocent or guilty? By law, every person is innocent until his crime is proved…The accused party on the rack, while in the agonies of torture, is not master enough of himself to be able to declare the truth…The sensation of pain may rise to such a height, that it will leave him no longer the liberty of producing any proper act of will except what at that very instant he believes may release him from that pain. In such an extremity, even an innocent person will cry out, “Guilty!” provided they cease to torture him…Then the judges will be uncertain whether they have an innocent or guilty person before them. The rack, therefore, is a sure method of condemning an innocent person whose constitution is weak, and of acquitting the guilty who depends upon his bodily strength.

Massie adds: “Catherine also condemned torture on purely humanitarian grounds: ‘All punishments by which the human body might be maimed are barbarism,’ she wrote.”

I note from the Internet that several people have noted the link between her Nakaz and current events. (Catherine also condemned many facets of serfdom, or slavery.) She continued to rule with dependence on force and undoubtedly things went on (like the mysterious death of her husband) that were not unlike what took place in the dungeons of the KGB – or the interrogation pits of the American government. Nearly 250 years later. Catherine’s common sense and ideals still ring true

‘All punishments by which the human body might be maimed are barbarism.'

Brian Savin

12/15/2014 02:32:53 pm

There is a lot of power to "them" and "us" distinctions. I wonder of Catherine was speaking about treatment of her "own" Russian citizens and whether she held the same or a different view of foreign enemy agents. This basic tribal distinction reminds me of the now buried newsreel my grandfather saw at a movie theater at the end of WWII. President Truman was asked whether he was concerned about the enormous loss of human life apparently caused by the atomic bomb drops on Japan. His response was swift, "None of our boys." Times and contexts very widely.

George Vecsey

12/15/2014 03:38:07 pm

Brian, I haven't finished the book yet but I have not encountered the answer to your question. Peter the Great was often hospitable to captured "enemies" -- particularly sailors because he loved the sea. I haven't seen any example of how Catherine treated "foreign" prisoners. But she was way ahead of her adopted countrymen in regard to serfs, although she advocated total monarchy. Thanks for the stimulating question, George

Thor A. Larsen

12/16/2014 02:26:07 pm

George,

You bring up a very timely subject. The enormity of the 9/11 tragedy does nor justify that the US should have tortured prisoners for dubious information. Torture was rampart with the Nazis and occured in Norway, often against yourng men and women, which makes me despise these people. Only a few times in its history did Norway's government enact capital punishment, in several cases it were Norwegans who carried out torture against Norwegians. Torture is the worst form of warfare. With respect to the torture review document, Senator John McCain, the expert on torture, stated' Torture "STAINED OUR NATIONAL HONOR'". On the other hand, former Vice President Dick Cheney, who never served in the armed forces, said that he would not think twice about torture if it achieved 'our objectives' a despictable view. In fact, there may well be enough in this CIA report to lead to UN's indictments of war crimes to some of the government keadership, including Dick Cheney. The story you provided about Catherine the Great provides a significant perspective of intelligent, effective and humane leaders, whom I hope we will ALWAYS HAVE IN THE FUTURE. (I must get to read some of Robert Massie's books!!)

George Vecsey

12/16/2014 02:34:31 pm

Thor, great to hear from you. I got hooked on Massie with Nicholas and Alexandra and have kept going. His Peter the Great should be read before Catherine for obvious reasons. Peter was an amazing leader -- flawed but with some superb instincts. Curious. Visionary. I don't think he was against torture, however. Massie describes some of it. Best to you both, GV

Alan Rubin link

12/17/2014 03:34:58 am

George

Throughout history, it has been proven that torture yields mostly false confessions and little information of value, if any.

I agree with Thor that Dick Chaney and company should be tried for war crimes. This might possibly send a message that illegal actions will have consequences.

The United States is a great country that has been a beacon to the rest of the world. Although it will continue to be one, the flame has recently been diminished somewhat. This comes after years of illegal actions of the CIA and the FBI, which included assassinations, overthrow of foreign governments, domestic spying and violations of civil liberties. Too many books to mention, but they are available on request. Collectively, they paint a very disturbing picture.

All of the Massie books are great. We tend to think that all brilliance has occurred in recent times. History proves otherwise.

Peter the Great and Catherine are a few of the many enlightened leaders from the past. Both were not perfect, but they were ahead of their times and tried to modernize their countries.

Studying the people who shape history is fascinating stuff. Interestingly, many were very strong women who could manipulate with the best of the men, probably better.

I’m currently reading about Queen Victoria, to be followed by Queen Isabella. Both were the dominate half of the royal couple.

Queen Isabella, as the driving force behind the Spanish Inquisition, was not stranger to torture.

In his book “The Origins of the Inquisition in Fifteenth Century Spain”, B. Natanyahu (Bibi’s father) showed both the unreliability of torture and the cruelty of those administering it. Most confessed to anything to stop the pain. The Inquisitors were usually not concerned if the confessions were true or not, they just needed them to be able to kill in gods name.

ISIS seems to be doing a similar thing.

It is unfortunate that the horribly stuff over shadows all the collective good done by people throughout the world. However, good stuff does not make news.

George Vecsey

12/17/2014 11:23:03 am

Alan, never knew that about Benzion Netanyahu. Interesting. Best, GV

Ed Martin

12/17/2014 05:10:44 am

I doubt there is a more thoughtful and literate blog anywhere. It is a tribute to your sensibilities George, that such people attend.

I do understand that Mr. Cheney is starting a protest group, "War Criminals For Torture."

George Vecsey

12/17/2014 11:26:58 am

Ed, thank you so much.
Tim Egan in the NYT recently compared Cheney with John McCain, who showed his honorable side in 2008 against that bigot in the red dress. McCain is against torture; Cheney is for it. Case closed, for me.

Comments are closed.

QUOTES

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***

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***
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