Tsar Alexander I died in 1825 in Taganrog, far from the capital of the empire - he died unexpectedly, when, it seemed, his rule was still destined for many years. His death gave rise to many rumors. Among others, there was such that the sovereign secretly retired - for during his lifetime he often spoke of his desire to abdicate. And after less than eleven years in the Perm province, a mysterious man who called himself Fedor Kozmich was detained, beaten with a whip for vagrancy and exiled to Siberia. Many signs indicated his belonging to the highest aristocracy, but Fyodor Kozmich refused to reveal his real name and went to the grave, leaving behind only two encrypted notes. Rumor stubbornly saw Alexander I in him, and some researchers were inclined to the same opinion... Professor Konstantin Kudryashov analyzes in detail all versions of this confusing story and gives his answer to the question of who the mysterious elder was.