In 2011, only a few days separated the 150th anniversary of the abolition of serfdom in Russia from the 180th anniversary of the death of Alexander II - the same emperor who decided to carry out the reform that marked the beginning of an entire era of transformation. These memorable dates became the starting point for a discussion about the problems of the history of the “Alexander era”, about its significance for the political and socio-economic development of Russia. The collection presents articles by participants in an international conference held on March 14-15, 2011 by the European University in St. Petersburg with the support of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Goznak. The focus is on government figures from the late 1850s to the 1870s, who played a special role in the preparation and implementation of reforms, as well as the perception of the events of that time by contemporaries and descendants.