Union of the Archangel Michael

The League of the Archangel Michael was a reactionary, antirevolutionary, and anti-Semitic group formed in Russia during the Russian Revolution of 1905. It was one of the most important groups within the broader movement known as the Black Hundreds.1

These groups primarily consisted of landowners, wealthy peasants, bureaucrats, merchants, police officials, and clergymen who supported the principles of Orthodoxy, autocracy, and Russian nationalism. The League of the Archangel Michael was particularly active between 1906 and 1914. With unofficial government approval, they carried out raids against revolutionary groups and organized pogroms against Jewish people.1

The name "Archangel Michael" refers to a prominent archangel in religious texts, known as a warrior and leader of heavenly hosts.2