The Romanovs

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

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  Poland: Montefiore 46–9. Adam Zamoyski, Last King of Poland 61–100. SIRIO 7.373–4. ‘Northern System’: Madariaga, Russia 33–7, 187–204. Alexander 61–76. David L. Ransel, The Politics of Catherinian Russia: The Panin Party (henceforth Ransel) 104–11. Prussian alliance: Blanning 283–4.

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  Montefiore 49–51. Dixon 122–155. Ransel 116–27.

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  Great Commission: Montefiore 57–9. Dixon 170–183. ‘Alexander 103–20; Madariaga, Russia 139–50.

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  Montefiore 76–93. Dixon 184–213. Voltaire, Oeuvres complètes 58.39, Catherine II (CII) to Voltaire, 4/15 August 1769. Christopher Duffy, Russia’s Military Way to the West 130–6. LeDonne, Ruling Russia 363–4. Orlov, Chesme and Arab adventures, occupation of Beirut: Journal of Royal Central Asian Society 42.3–4. 275–286, William Persen, Russian Occupations of Beirut 1772–4.

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  Montefiore 60–95. Dixon 215–230 Confession: CtG, Sochineniia 12.697–9, CtG to Potemkin/GARF 728.1.425.1–5. Alexander 135–7; 160–1. Madariaga, Russia 211–13 and 258–9. Break–up with Orlov: SIRIO 13:270–2, 19:325.

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  Potemkin rise: Montefiore 94–161. Dixon 229–240. Pugachev is based on: A. S. Pushkin’s Istoriya Pugacheva, his novella The Captain’s Daughter and J. T. Alexander’s two books on the subject – Emperor of the Cossacks: Pugachev and the Frontier Jacquerie of 1773–75, and Autocratic Politics in a National Crisis: The Imperial Russian Government and Pugachev’s Revolt 1773–1775 1–10. Madariaga, Russia 239–55.

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  Roderick McGrew, Paul I of Russia (henceforth McGrew) 55–85.

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  Montefiore 92–105. ‘It’s a terrible business when the prick and the cunt decide the interests of Europe’: quoted in Robert B. Asprey, Frederick the Great 600. G.A. Potemkin (‘GAP’) summoned by Catherine (‘CII’); RGADA 5.85.1.119, L 7, CII to GAP, 4 December 1773. GARF 728.1.425.1–5. CtG, Sochineniia 12.697–9, CtG to Potemkin, March 1774. ‘My darling, the time I spend with you is so happy . . .’: RGADA 1.1/1.1.213, L 14. Talk with Orlov about banya: RGADA 5.85.1.213, L 14. ‘I fear you might be angry with me . . .’: RGADA 5.85.1.292, L 56, CII to GAP, ud. ‘I’ve withdrawn from a certain good–natured . . .’: CII to Grimm, SIRIO 27.52.

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  Montefiore 109–135. ‘A woman is always a woman’: Asprey, Frederick the Great 601–2. ‘Our duty is to improve on events’: James Harris, Diaries and Correspondence of James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury (henceforth Harris) 239, Harris to Stormont, 15/26 February 1780. Key letters between GAP and CII: RGADA 1.1/1.1.213, L 14. ‘The doors will be open’: L 242. ‘I woke at five . . . I have given strict rules . . .’: RGADA 1.1/1.54.42, L 18. ‘To get warm: go to the banya’: RGADA 5.85.1.253, L 44. ‘My beauty, my darling, whom nothing resembles’: RGADA 1.1/1.54.12, L 23. ‘I have masses of things to tell you . . .’: RGADA 1.85.1.209, L 10. ‘To empower Rumiantsev and thus peace was achieved’: A. V. Khrapovitsky, Dnevnik (henceforth Khrapovitsky), 30 May 1786. ‘Sweetheart, as you asked me to send you with something’: RGADA 1.1/1.54.64, L 27. ‘General loves me?’: RGADA 5.85.1.299, L 30.

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  Montefiore 122–135. Alexander 176–8. Madariaga, Russia 249–51.

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  Montefiore 136–184. Dixon 241–269. Rumiantsev awards/‘Zadunaisky’ title: RGADA 1.1/1.54.137, L 76. SIRIO 23.4, CII to Grimm, 3 August 1774, St Petersburg. ‘I’ll give you my portrait . . .’: Catherine and Potemkin renegotiate/marriage? RGADA 5.85.1.362, L 72. ‘I’ll be your humble maid’: RGADA 1.1/1.54.27, L 32. ‘It’s impossible for me to change’: RGADA 5.85.1.255, L 17. ‘Cruel Tatar’: RGADA 1.1/1.54.14, L 93. ‘I’ll love you for ever in spite of yourself’, ‘Batinka . . .’: RGADA 5.85.1.160, L 53. ‘A sincere confession’: GARF 728.1.425.1–5/CtG, Sochineniia 12.697–9, CII to GAP. ‘My darling husband . . .’: RGADA 5.85.1.254, L 34. ‘Your wife’: RGADA 5.85.1.267, L 94. Potemkin–Catherine short letters: RGADA 5.85.2.305, L 95. ‘The essence of our disagreement’: RGADA 5.85.1.364, L 92, CII to GAP. Zavadovsky (‘150 kisses shall I joyfully give you’): Russkiy istoricheskiy zhurnal (1918) 5.244–57, quoted in Alexander 342–52. Pisma imp. Ekateriny II k gr. P. V. Zavadovskomu 1775–1777, ed. I. A. Barskov (Zavadovsky) letters 7, 22, 30, 33, 35, 39, CII to P. V. Zavadovsky. ‘My Lord and Cher Epoux, Why do you want to cry?’: RGADA 85.1.267, L 94, CII to GAP, Prince: RGADA 5.85.3.87, L 96, CII to GAP.

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  McGrew 70–87; rules for wife 102–3; Kurakin affair 111–38. Paul to Kurakin on Peter’s dream: The Count de Montbrison (ed.), Memoirs of the Baroness d’Oberkirch 25. Golovkin 105–7. Marie Pierre Rey, Alexander I: The Tsar Who Defeated Napoleon (henceforth Rey) 13–26; Alexander education, romper suit 24–8. Catherine to Grimm on Alexander letters in SIRIO 23. Paul and Maria: RA (1876) 1.89–92, Fyodor Rostopchin to S. R. Vorontsov, 8 July 1792. Maria: N. A. Sablukov, Reminiscences of Court and Times of Emperor, Paul I, of Russia up to the Period of his Death, Fraser’s Magazine for Town and Country (1865) (henceforth Sablukov) 1.223.

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  Catherine favourites: Montefiore 165–184. ‘Time belongs not to me but to the empire’: O. I. Yeliseeva, Perepiska Ekateriny II i G. A. Potemkina perioda vtoroy russkoturetskoy voyny 1787–91 23. CtG to Zavadovsky letters 7, 22, 30, 33, 35, 39, CII to Zavadovsky. RGADA 5.85.1.296, L 114; RGADA 1.1/1.54.96, L 114, CII to GAP. ‘Give Senyusha the attached letters’: GARF 728.1.416.51, L 115. Rimsky-Korsakov: KFZ, 8 May 1778. RGADA 5.85.1.141, L 124. ‘Thanks to you and the King of Epirus . . .’: RGADA 5.85.1.59, L 125, CII to GAP, ud. ‘Thank you for loving me!’: RA (1881) 3.402–3, CII to Ivan Rimsky-Korsakov. ‘When will I see you?’: RGADA 5.85.1.59, L 125, CII to GAP. KFZ 1 June, 28 June 1778. RA (1881) 3.402–3, CII to Korsakov. RP 5.1.119.

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  Montefiore 215–35. Dixon 270–292. ‘Note on Political Affairs’: AKV 13.223–8, A. A. Bezborodko to P. V. Zavadovsky, 17 November 1791, Jassy. O. I. Yeliseeva, G. A. Potemkin’s Geopolitical Projects, Associates of Catherine the Great 26–31. O. P. Markova, O proiskhozhdenii tak nazyvayemogo Grecheskogo Proekta, in Hugh Ragsdale (ed.), Imperial Russian Foreign Policy 75–103. SIRIO 23.440, CII to Baron F. M. Grimm, 19 April 1788. Meeting in Mogilev: A. A. Bezborodko, Pisma A. A. Bezborodka 57, Bezborodko to P. A. Rumiantsev–Zadunaisky, 4 February 1780. SIRIO (1878) 23.185, CII to Grimm, 7 September 1780.

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  Montefiore 223–235. ‘The system with Austria’s court’: RGADA 5.85.1.557, L 256, CII to GAP, 23 November 1787. SIRIO 23.145, 157–9, CII to Paul, 25 April and 7 June 1782. ‘The Heavy Baggage’: SIRIO 23.621, CII to Grimm, 6 April 1795.

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  Golovkin, 138–9; practical jokes 113–16. McGrew on Maria, Nelidova and court: 169–79. Catherine on Alexander’s education: Rey 26–7. Nelidova alliance with Maria: Varvara Golovina, The Memoirs of Countess Golovine (henceforth Golovina) 138–40. RA (1876) 1.89–92, Fyodor Rostopchin to S. R. Vorontsov, 8 July 1792. RA (1876) 1.113–18, Fyodor Rostopchin to S. R. Vorontsov, 28 May 1794. Osmnadtsatyi vek 3.436–446, Paul to Catherine on purity of Nelidova, ‘friendship holy and gentle but innocent and pure’. Sablukov 1.223; Gatchina like German town 224.

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  Crimea, New Russia: Montefiore 247–260, 263–284. ‘Imagine Crimea is yours . . .’: AVPRI 5.5/1.591.1.106, L 154, GAP to CII. ‘We could decide it all in half an hour . . .’: RGADA 5.85.1.121, L 150, CII to GAP, 3 June 1782. ‘Keep your resolution, Matushka . . .’: RGADA 5.85.1.440, L 162, CII to GAP. RGADA 1.1.43.61, L 163, GAP to CII, 22 April 1783. ‘Neither I nor anyone knows where you are’: RGADA 5.85.1.461, CII to GAP. RGADA 5.85.1.504. Potemkin in Crimea, ‘In three days, I will congratulate you with Crimea’: RGADA 11.1/1.43.86–7, L 175, GAP to CII, 10 July 1783. RGADA 1.1/1.43.67–8, L 176, GAP to CII, 16 July 1783. RGADA 1.1/1.43.69–71, L 179, GAP to CII, 29 July 1783. RGADA 1.1/1.43.74–5, L 179, GAP to CII, 29 July 1783. ‘Georgian business is concluded’: RGADA 1.1/1.43.64, L 180, GAP to CII. ‘Let them jest while we do business’: RGADA 5.85.1.508. SIRI
O 27.276–80, CII to GAP. ‘The best harbour in the world’: RGADA 1.1/1.43.80–3, L 172, GAP to CII, June 1783.

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  Montefiore 312–327. SIRIO 23.316–17, CII to Grimm, 25 June 1784. Potemkin returns: SIRIO 23.344. Potemkin lived with her day and night: AKV 21: letter 6, 464, E. Poliasky to Simon Vorontsov, 18 August 1784. SIRIO 23.317–18, CII to Grimm, 9/18 September 1784. AKV 31, Alexander Vorontsov to Simon Vorontsov, 21 July 1784, Riga. ‘Without you I feel as if I’m without hands’: RGADA 5.85.4.1.524, L 186, CII to GAP. Dmitriev–Mamonov: Khrapovitsky 13. ‘Mr Redcoat’ RGADA 11.902, Count A. D. Mamonov to GAP, ud.

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  Montefiore 351–387. Madariaga, Russia 393–5. Alexander 256–7.

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  Montefiore 388–429. Madariaga, Russia 394–7. Alexander 262–5. ‘No more nails on your fingers’: RGADA 1.1/1.47.5–9, L 223, CII to GAP, 24 August 1787. ‘I can’t stand it’: AVPRI 5.585.317, L 229, GAP to CII, 16 September 1787k. RGADA 5.85.2.43–8, L 233, CII to GAP, 24 September 1787. RGADA 5.85.2.49, L 235, 25 September 1787. RGADA 5.85.2.52–4, L 238, 2 October 1787. ‘Petersburg has the look of an armed camp . . . so my friend, I too have smelled gunpowder’: SIRIO 27.512–13. ‘Nothing in the world do I desire as much as that’: RGADA 5.85.2.152–3, CII to GAP, 7 November 1788. ‘A great hatred has risen against us’: RGADA 5.85.2.150–1, L 327, CII to GAP, 27 November 1788. Mamonov: CtG, Sochineniia 12, 2nd half–volume, 699–701, L 355–7, June 1789. Khrapovitsky 255, 260, 11 April 1789.

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  Montefiore 422–430. Mamonov, ‘why didn’t you tell me about it frankly?’, ‘I felt sorry for you’: CtG, Sochineniia 12, 2nd half–volume 699–701, L 355, CII to GAP, June 1789. RGADA 5.85.2.166–7, CII to GAP, 14 July 1789; RS (1876) 16.400, Garnovsky to Popov, 21 June 1789. RGADA 5.85.2.3–4, GAP to CII, 18 July 1789, Olviopol. ‘A sacred place’: AKV 12.63, P. V. Zavadovsky to S. R. Vorontsov, June 1789, St Petersburg. Catherine of Zubov, ‘the Child’: RGADA 5.85.2.177, L 365, CII to GAP, 12 August 1789.

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  Montefiore 424–459. Catherine fell in love: RGADA 5.85.2.163, L 358, CII to GAP, 6 July 1789. ‘I’m fat and merry’: RGADA 5.85.2.173, L 363, CII to GAP, 5 August 1789, Tsarskoe Selo; ‘educating young men’: RS (1876) 16.406–7, Garnovsky to Popov. Catherine in love, Potemkin approves: RGADA 5.85.2.7, L 357, GAP to CII, ud; RGADA 5.85.2.166–7, L 319, CII to GAP, 14 July 1789; RGADA 5.85.2.163, L 358, CII to GAP, 6 July 1789; RGADA 1.1.43.42, L 362, GAP to CII, 30 July 1789. Victories over the Turks: Philip Longworth, The Art of Victory 156–7. ‘Your greatness of character’: RGADA 5.85.2.204, L 383, CII to GAP, 15 November 1789. ‘Now we’re in a crisis’: Khrapovitsky, 24 December 1789. ‘One paw out of the mud’: RGADA 5.85.2.245–6, L 425, CII to GAP, 9 August 1790. Alexander 257–92 and Madariaga, Russia 413–26. Robert H. Lord, The Second Partition of Poland (henceforth Lord) 180–5. Khrapovitsky 359, 15, 17, 22 March 1791 and 359–61, 7 and 9 April 1791; RS (1892) April 179, Memoirs of Fyodor Secretarev.

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  Montefiore 467–486 and 1–10. SIRIO (1878) 23.517–19, CII to Grimm, 29 April 1791. Zubov vs Potemkin: RS (1876) September 43, Knyaz Platon Alexandrovich Zubov. ‘Bye, my friend, I kiss you’: RGADA 5.85.2.291, L 461, CII to GAP, 25 July 1791. ‘Your sickness upsets me utterly’: RGADA 5.85.2.304, L 470, CtG to GAP. ‘The only escape is to leave’: RGVIA 52.2.22.191, L 470, CtG to GAP, October 1791; SIRIO 23.561, CII to Grimm

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  Golovina 42. RA (1876) 1.89–92, Fyodor Rostopchin to S. R. Vorontsov, 8 July 1792, and RA (1876) 1.92–7, Rostopchin to R. Vorontsov, 14 April 1793. Gielgud, A. (ed.), Adam Czartoryski, Memoirs of Prince Adam Czartoryski and his Correspondence with Alexander I (henceforth Czartoryski) 1.66–106, esp. Zubov in power and arrogance; hairdo 75–7; Valerian Zubov 72–5.

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  RA (1876) 1.92–7 Rostopchin to Vorontsov, 14 April 1793. Second Partition of Poland, Catherine clears plates: Golovina 120; Alexander marriage, Alexander character, Golovina 41; Saltykov and Alexander 42; Elizabeth beauty 53. Two angels: SIRIO 23.583, CII to Grimm, 14 May 1793. Golovina and Elizabeth: Golovina 54, 76, 86–7, 104–5. Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich, L’Impératrice Elisabeth, épouse d’Alexandre Ier (henceforth NM, Elisabeth) 1.407–26, inc. Elizabeth false pregnancy 424; Alexander gives permission, 12 December 1794; Rostopchin to Vorontsov, e.g. 20 July 1794; Zubov in love 8 December 1795. Catherine old age: Czartoryski 1.85.

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  Golovina 47–8; 54, 76, 86–7,104–5. NM, Elisabeth 1.407–26,. Catherine to Grimm on Alexander letters in SIRIO 23. RA (1876) 1.92–7, Fyodor Rostopchin to S. R. Vorontsov, 14 April 1793. RA (1876) 1.113–18. Kutaisov: Sablukov 1.233. Alexander and Constantine, pride in Gatchina and Paul: Czartoryski 1.122–3; Zubov in love 88; Constantine vicious/marriage night 104.

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  Disinherit Paul: SIRIO 27.300–3, 23.555. Tsarevich Alexei/Peter the Great: RS (1901) 108.79. Rey 61–5. Madness: Golovkin 119–21. AKV 8.76, 93–4 Rostopchin to S. Vorontsov, 6 July 1793. RA (1876) 1.92–7, Fyodor Rostopchin to S. R. Vorontsov, 14 April 1793. RA (1876) 1.113–18, Rostopchin to Vorontsov, 28 May 1794. Catherine to Grimm on Alexander letters in SIRIO 23, esp. Alexander to be crowned 23.574, Catherine to Grimm, 14 August 1792. McGrew 148–69; Zubov joke 1793, plot of Nassau-Siegen, Choiseul-Gouffier on new Tiberius 184–7.

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  Dixon 305–15. Catherine approached Maria: Queen Anna of Netherlands quoted in Rey 63. Alexander refuses Catherine’s offer: found in Zubov’s papers quoted in N. K. Shilder, Imperator Alexandr I (henceforth Shilder) 1.279. Renounce throne: Alexander to Laharpe, 21 February 1796, and Alexander to Victor Kochubey, 10 May 1796, both quoted in Rey 64–6. Constantine: brutality: RA (1876) 1.118, Rostopchin to Vorontsov, 28 May 1794. Choice of wife: Wilson 21. Lincoln quotes Custine on foot-piercing and Davydov on ugliness, hairs: Lincoln 26–7. Rats out of guns, drums, VD, cruelty to hussar reported to Catherine II by Charlotta Lieven: Golovina 98, 184–5. 1801, plans to refuse crown: Sablukov 325. S. W. Jackman (ed.), Romanov Relations: The Private Correspondence of Tsars Alexander I, Nicholas I and Grand Dukes Constantine and Michael with their Sister Queen Anna Pavlovna (henceforth Jackman) 8; early loves and brutality of Constantine 26. NM, Elisabeth 66. Rey 309, 364, 417. Art Beech, The Grand Dukes (henceforth Beech) 1.21.

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  Golovin 109–21. McGrew 184–7. Constantine brutality: RA (1876) 1.118, Rostopchin to Vorontsov, 28 May 1794. Swedish marriage: RA (1876) 1.408–9, Rostopchin to Vorontsov, 11 September 1796. Michael Jenkins, Arakcheev: Grand Vizier of the Russian Empire (henceforth Arakcheev) 39–55.

  SCENE 5: THE CONSPIRACY

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  Fyodor Rostopchin, Le Dernier Jour de la vie de l’impératrice Catherine II et le premier jour du règne de l’empereur Paul I, in Oeuvres inédites du comte Rostopchine 3–38 (henceforth Rostopchin). Grand Duchess Elizabeth to mother, 29 January 1797, NM, Elisabeth 239–40. Czartoryski 1.140–73. Golovina 124–33. McGrew 192– 243.

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  McGrew 192–243. Paul on Peter III: PSZ 24.17537, 9 November 1796; on military PSZ 1.24.17531, 7 November 1796. Rostopchin 3–38. Golovkin 123–31. Golovina 124–33.

  3

  McGrew 192–242. Paul’s coup against ruling families and concentration of power in His Majesty’s Suite, adjutants double: LeDonne 99. Order on pretty maid: Golovina 166. Grand Duchess Elizabeth to mother, 29 January 1797, NM, Elisabeth 239–40. Golovkin 123–31. Golovkin 123–31; Paul to Repnin on power to make marshals and most important man in empire 133; passion for ceremony 134. McGrew 192–243. New orders of dress, Alexander like Prussian, Gatchina Guards arrive: Sablukov 1.226–8; Petersburg like a German town 1.230. Paul good features 1.236–7; chivalry, humour 2.302–3; strikes officers with cane 2.306. Parade centre of all life, Paul’s mixed nature: Czartoryski 1.140–73. Golovina: Nelidova–Maria faction 138–44. Kutaisov: Czartoryski 1.181–7. Kutaisov as Figaro: Sablukov 2.306. Dismissal and exile of Suvorov by Arakcheev ordered by Paul, 6 February 1797: Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich, L’Empereur Alexandre Ier (hencefor
th NM, Alexandre) 249. Arakcheev 53–61

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  Koronatsionnye torzhestva 8. Golovkin 139; Alexander and heavy crown 162. Golovina 138–59, laughter and fear; improper flowers. NM, Elisabeth 1.246. McGrew 233–40. Wortman 87–8. Rey 76. Romanov Family Law: PSZ 1.24.17908, 5 April 1797. Succession Law: PSZ 1.24.17906, 5 April 1797 and PSZ 1.24.17907, dated 1788. Caesarevich: PSZ 1.24.6, November 1796–1797, no. 17910 577–9.. Lopukhina: Sablukov 1.222–41 and 2:302–27. Arakcheev 64.

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  Osmnadtsatyi vek 3.428, Nelidova to Paul, 12 December 1796; brings Paul and Maria together 14 May 1797 430 and 432; as grumbler 433, like sister 436; advises moderation 439; 449; Maria and Paul to Nelidova, August 1797, 456. Ruckus with Nelidova, dancing, humour: Sablukov 2.303. Family life of Paul Maria and children: GARF 728.1.1394.4–31, Notes of Nicholas I on playing with Paul and fun/fear.

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  McGrew 244–271. Golovina 171–85. Golovkin 169–85; rule of three women 185–7; rise of Rostopchin 188. NM, Elisabeth 2.155, 28 April 1805. Marriage of Lopukhina: McGrew 269–70. Suvorov and Lopukhina: Golovina 184. Rey 79–83. Kutaisov: Lothario, escapes with Paul, never hurt anyone: Sablukov 1.234; Paul single combat with Napoleon 2.306; rise of Lopukhina, generosity, ‘beside himself’, makes Lopukhin prince, house for Gagarina, joins Kutaisov on visits 306–10. Rise of Kutaisov, Lopukhina plot/Rostopchin chief role: Czartoryski 181–4. Family life: GARF 728.1.1394.4–31, Notes of Nicholas I.

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  Paul foreign policy – alliance with Austria/GB, war with France: Longworth, Art of Victory 236–98. Malta and alliance: McGrew 271–300. On Napoleon: Andrew Roberts, Napoleon the Great (henceforth Roberts) 185, 285–6. Knights of Malta, marriage of Litta/Scavronskaya: Golovkin 179.