Biographical reports by A. V. Golovnin about grand duke Konstantin Nikolayevich as a source for reconstruction of political views of liberal bureaucracy

The article discusses the political outlook of the "liberal bureaucracy" during the preparation for the "Great Reforms" on the example of the views and activities of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich. The author analyzes the content of biographic materials about Konstantin Nikolayevich written by A.V. Golovnin. She defines such reasons for the evolution of world-views of the reformers as the impact of the Crimean War, the debate between Slavophiles and Westernizers, liberal ideology, and ethos of the court.