“by modern reckoning
the last month of the calendar,
the month of the winter solstice,”

late Old English, from Old French decembre, from Latin December, from decem “ten”
(PIE root *dekm- “ten”); thus the tenth month of the old Roman calendar
which began with March.

***

Decembrist, in Russian history in reference to the insurrection against Nicholas I in December 1825.

In the midst of the confusing transition into Nicholas’ reign, the Northern Society, a secret society of liberal revolutionaries, nobles, and military officials, organized a conspiracy to replace the Russian Empire’s autocratic regime with a constitutional monarchy.

On December 26th, Northern Society members led a force of approximately 3,000 troops into Senate Square to prevent the loyalty-swearing ceremony and to rally additional soldiers and officers to their cause. This group of rebels, although disorganized due to indecision and dissension among its leaders, confronted troops loyal to Nicholas outside the Senate building in the presence of a large civilian crowd.

A standoff ensued, during which Nicholas’ envoy, Mikhail Pence, was assassinated.

The loyalists eventually opened fire with heavy artillery, scattering the rebels.

In the aftermath of the coup attempt, many of the rebels were sentenced to hanging, imprisonment, or exile to Siberia.