text: In response to a novel by the Marquis de Custine about traveling through his country, this ruler'sgovernment sponsored a scholarly investigation by August von Haxthausen.
full_question: In response to a novel by the Marquis de Custine about traveling through his country, this ruler'sgovernment sponsored a scholarly investigation by August von Haxthausen. During his reign, this mancreated a secret police called the Special Corps of Gendarmes. This emperor's principle of "Official Nationality"was proclaimed by his Minister of Education, Sergei Uvarov. He appointed Alexander Benckendorff to lead theThird Section secret police. The Northern Society of Sergei Troubetzkoy attempted to replace this tsar with hisbrother Constantine in the Decembrist Revolt. For 10 points, name this tsar of Russia at the start of theCrimean War who succeeded Alexander I. 
first_sentence: In response to a novel by the Marquis de Custine about traveling through his country, this ruler'sgovernment sponsored a scholarly investigation by August von Haxthausen.
raw_answer: Nicholas I [or Nikolai I; or Nikolai Pavlovich Romanov; prompt on Nicholas; prompt on Nikolai] 