The Romanovs

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

  24

  This is based on the unpublished letter of Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna, wife of Constantine Nikolaievich, to the duchesse de Berry, 7/19 April 1855 (from private collection of Countess Stefania Calice). Death: Tyutcheva 194–203, 10–19 February 1855. Nicholas attended wedding of Alexandra Kleinmikhel: M. P. Frederiks 87. RGVIA 846.16.5450; RGVIA 846.16.5452; Dr Mandt o poslednikh nedelyakh imperatora Nikolaia Pavlovicha, RA (1905) 2.480; Nekotorye pobrobnosti o konchine imperatora Nikolaia Pavlovicha, RA (1906) 3.9.143–5; Noch c 17–18 fevralia 1855: rasskaz doktora Mandta, RA (1884) 1.194. D. N. Bludov, Poslednie minuty i konchina v boze pochivshego imperatora, nezabvennogo i vechnoi slavy dostoinogo Nikolaia I 4–6; Figes 321–3; Lincoln 348–50; Radzinsky 97–9. Alexander takes command, ‘sovereign not feeling well, he asks me to give you the following orders’, orders to General M. Gorchakov: RS (1881) 32.9–12, Alexander II to Gorchakov, 14 February 1855.

  SCENE 2: LIBERATOR

  1

  RS (1883) 37.1–3, Alexander II to M. Gorchakov, on fears of Austrian intervention, Vienna negotiations, Sebastopol bombardment; 4 June 1855, not all is lost; 11 August 1855, loss of glorious troops; 3 September 1855, ‘don’t lose heart. Sebastopol is not Moscow’. Rieber 18–19. François Charles Roux, Alexandre II, Gortchakoff et Napoleon III (henceforth Roux) 1–40. W. E. Mosse, The Rise and Fall of the Crimean System (henceforth Mosse) 12–25. Figes 324–410.

  2

  Roux 41–108; on Morny mission 109–207. Mosse 12–52. Figes 411–65. On Morny: Rosalyn Pflaum, The Emperor’s Talisman: The Life of the Duc de Morny (henceforth Pflaum, Morny). W. Bruce Lincoln, The Ministers of Alexander II: A Survey of their Backgrounds and Service Careers, Cahiers du Monde Russe et Soviétique (1976) 17.467–83 (henceforth Lincoln, Alexander II Ministers). Alexandr Bazarov, Svetleishii knyaz Alexandr Gorchakov. Iz vospomin o nem ego dukhovnika, RA (1896) 1.328–31. G. L. Kesselbrenner, Svetleishii knyaz. On Gorchakov diplomacy: Rieber 73. Gorchakov mission and French alliance, Russia ‘collecting herself’: Mosse 55–104. French diplomacy of Kostia: L. G. Zakharova and L. I. Tyutyunnik (eds.), Perepiska imperatora Alexandra II s velikim knyazem Konstantinom Nikolaevichem. Dnevnik velikogo knyazya Konstantina Nikolaevicha. 1857–1861 (henceforth Zakharova), 17, Alexander to Kostia, 20 January 1857, letter from Napoleon suggesting friendship; 22–29 March 1857, warns Kostia meeting with Napoleon – take care in your conversations, esp. with Napoleon himself, ‘Listen, don’t compromise yourself pushing your own ideas; 46 Kostia to Alexander, 4 May 1857, Napoleon never lies but never tells whole truth; 63 Alexander to Kostia, 15 September 1857, I met Napoleon, wonderful, frank, but see what happens in practice.

  3

  Rieber 73; 103 Gorchakov on restraint in Asia, Alexander II to Bariatinsky (henceforth A to B), 2 May 1857; on Caucasus war, Rieber 60–70; 103 ‘embrace you’, A to B, 2 May 1857; 142–4 A to B, 7 May 1861, wishes he could talk to Bariatinsky, and 25 April 1861 needs Bariatinsky here. Rieber 72–82, Indian Mutiny chance to profit, A to B, 28 September 1857, on Gorchakov memo, 28 April 1858, probes into Central Asia; 79–82 role of Bariatinsky and Nikolai Ignatiev – opportunity for trade and threat to Britain; 73 Bariatinsky sees chance to destroy British army in Central Asia. Bariatinsky love life and courage: Blanch, Sabres of Paradise 392–5.

  4

  Coronation: Vozhidanii koronatsii. Venchanie russkikh samoderzhtsev. Tserkovnyi obry-ad koronovaniia i podrobnoe opisanie tryokh koronatsii nyneshnego stoletiia 129. Roux on Morny, 150. Pflaum, Morny, 172–5. Wortman 196–209.

  5

  This is based on the correspondences of Alexander II with Kostia and Bariatinsky; on W. Bruce Lincoln, The Great Reforms: Autocracy, Bureaucracy and the Politics of Change in Imperial Russia (Lincoln, Reforms): Kostia 44–6; character of Rostovtsev 76–8; working of Editing Commission 80–5. W. Bruce Lincoln, Nikolai Miliutin: An Enlightened Russian Bureaucrat of the 19th Century (henceforth Lincoln, Miliutin); on bureaucratic infighting, support by Elena, feud with Rostovtsev and Editing Commission 48–62. Ben Eklof, John Bushnell and Larissa Zakharova (eds.), Russia’s Great Reforms 1855–1881 (henceforth Eklof): Larissa Zakharova, Autocracy and the Reforms of 1861–74 in Russia 19–38; on Alexander 21–22; on Rostovtsev 27. Kostia character, the brothers correspond on serf issue, Zakharova 65, Alexander touched by crowds (and beauties), Alexander to Kostia, 16 August 1858; Kostia encourages Alexander 66, Kostia to Alexander, 19 August 1858; 88 great excitement, Alexander to Kostia, 1 February 1859; 98 Kostia to Alexander, 11 March 1859, solution is land plus government guarantees; 122 Kostia to Alexander, committee meeting for final review and I as chairman, heated debate, 10 October 1860. GARF 722.1.684, Alexander to Kostia, 19 October 1863, I appreciate you. Zakharova 270–309: diary of Kostia on battle against the Retrogrades, on appointment to chair main committee and heated discussions, 29 September 1860 to 5 March 1861. Roles of Elena Pavlovna and Bariatinsky: Rieber 48–9; on connection between military reform and serf reform, the road to emancipation 28–54; letters to Bariatinsky on serfdom – 108 A to B, 2 November 1857, great excitement on liberation of peasants; 110 A to B, 22 November 1857, Nazimov rescript. Elena, fun Thursdays: R. Fillip-Miller (ed.), Elizabeth Narishkin-Kurakin, Under Three Tsars (henceforth Naryshkin) 34.

  6

  1858, success vs Shamyl: Rieber 106–26, A to B, 14 January 1858, veritable joy; 19 May, new and brilliant result; 30 August 1858, Shamyl, what a famous fellow, and two great results in Far East on Amur by N. N. Muraviev-Amursky; 18 September 1858, brilliant success. Rieber 126–33, 20 April 1859, the most beautiful present; 28 July 1859, taking Dargo; 10 August 1859, heart filled with joy; 11 September 1859, Shamyl captured; 7 December 1859, Bariatinsky marshal.

  7

  Shamyl captured: Rieber 126–33, A to B, 20 April 1859, the most beautiful present; 28 July 1859, taking Dargo; 10 August 1859, heart filled with joy; 11 September 1859, Shamyl captured; 7 December 1859, Bariatinsky marshal; 49 on Bariatinsky later career – resign or not from viceroy, appoint Mikhail as successor and delicate private question, 26 November 1862. On tragedy of Circassians see Oliver Bullough, Let Our Fame Be Great. Meets Katya Dolgorukaya: GARF 678.2.389.1–2, memoirs of Princess Yurievskaya.

  8

  Zakharova 98, Kostia to Alexander, 11 March 1859, solution; 122 Kostia to Alexander, final review. GARF 722.1.684, Alexander to Kostia, 19 October 1863, 270–309, Kostia vs Retrogrades, 29 September 1860 to 5 March 1861; 1 January 1861, most important era in millennial existence of Russia; tsar’s speech to State Council, 28 January 1861; day of signing, 19 February 1861; announcement, 5 March 1861. Rieber 7 March 1861, signed. Lincoln Reforms: signing of decree 86; legal and local government reforms 99–143. Eklof 19–38: see essay Zakharova, Autocracy and the Reforms of 1861–74 in Russia; on Alexander 21–2; autocracy from Alexander to Bismarck 35.

  9

  Tyutcheva 26–7; 40–2 Alexandra Dolgorukaya ‘Tigress’; 170 fun, 27 June 1854; 304 faint, 20 November 1855. Marie refuses to undress: C. Melnik (ed.), Tatiana Botkine, Au Temps des Tsars 31–2. News of Nixa: GARF 641.1.16, Alexander II to Marie, 19 August 1863. Secret code between AII and Marie: GARF 677.1.4.5–6, A. Adlerberg to Alexander Alexandrovich, 15 August 1880. Alexander mistresses Dolgorukaya, Labunskaya, Makova, Makarova, Korazzi: L. Lyashchenko, Alexandr II, 131–2. Bismarck favoured by Romanovs and boxes full of pretty women: Jonathan Steinberg, Bismarck: a life (henceforth ‘Steinberg’) 150–7 – at ballet 156. Daniel Home séances 10 July 1858; 5 November 1858; 5 January 1859 in Tyutcheva 396–97; 433–5; and 443–5. See also John Casey, Afterlives: A Guide to Heaven, Hell and Purgatory 373–74. The daily walk, intense look: Fanny Lear, Romance of an American in Russia, 58. ‘Managerial tsar’: Eklof 75–8 – see essay Alfred J. Rieber, Interest Group Politics in the Era of the Great Reforms 58–84. Alexander character: K. K. Merder – secretive RS 47.430. Rieber 126, in my position a good dose of calm and philosophy, A to B, 14 December 1858; 104, 20 May 1857, each minister responsible to me for their own duty; so-called progress a
nd suspicion of journalists/writers 117, A to B, 6 March 1858; 120, A to B, 7 July 1858, autocratic link between Sovereign and God gives us our strength. GARF 678.2.283.15, obligations of my position imposed duties that I cannot neglect, 17 May 1872. GARF 678.2.283.20, Alexander explains how he rules as collegiate autocrat to Katya Dolgorukaya, 23 February 1874. Robert R. Franklin, Tsar Alexander II and President Abraham Lincoln: Unlikely Bedfellows? University of Hawaii at Hilo, HOHONU History (2012) 10.74–84.

  10

  Rieber 117, A to B, 6 May 1858, severe vigilance, never a fan of littérateurs. Polish/Italian revolts: Rieber 84–6, and A to B on Italian revolutions, 23 July 1860; Napoleon’s intrigues in Italy, 12 September 1860; feebleness of Gorchakov and need to talk to Bariatinsky, 7 March 1861; Polish revolt and need for your ideas, 25 April 1861; search for new viceroy, 5 July 1861; imagine coming to terms with such a government, Napoleon, A to B, 12 September 1860. Diplomacy, Italian crisis and Polish revolt: Mosse 116–30. France, Italy, Poland: Roux 266–325.

  11

  GARF 641.1.15, letters on Nixa’s tours: Alexander to Marie, 19 August–6 September 1863, and Nixa to Empress Marie, June 1862. Pobedonostsev: Robert F. Byrnes, Pobedonostsev: His Life and Thought (henceforth Byrnes) 33. Too stupid/pillow-fight: Tyutcheva 223, 7 March 1856.

  12

  Portrait of Bismarck is based on Steinberg 4–6 and his time as ambassador in Petersburg 147–153; on intimate friendship with Mouffy 151–2; lays out full plan to Disraeli 174; Schleswig-Holstein crisis 210–227.

  13

  Minny to her father and letter of Queen Louise to Queen Victoria quoted in Coryne Hall, Little Mother of Russia: A Biography of the Empress Marie Feodorovna, 1847–1928 (henceforth Hall) 17–26. GARF 641.1.16, Alexander II to Marie, 19 August 1863.

  14

  Alexander Alexandrovich and marriage to Princess Dagmar, Grand Duchess Maria Fyodorovna (henceforth called Alexander III or Sasha and Minny in Notes): Empress Marie letter, 17 September 1867, quoted in Greg King, Livadia in the Reign of Alexander II. Alexander III: Wortman 250–7, on Alexander III to tutor, change of courtiers. Importance of Nixa in Alexander III’s life and new responsibilities: AIII to Maria Fyodorovna, 22 May 1884 and 11 April 1892. Alexander II and Meshcherskaya: Hall 27–9.

  15

  Assassination: Ruud 31. Guardian angel, 4 April 1866: GARF 678.2.129, Alexander II (A) to Dolgorukaya (D or Katya in Notes), 4 April 1880. Katya first meetings with Alexander and conversation on day of assassination. GARF 678.2.289.1–5, Princess Yurievskaya (Katya Dolgorukaya) unpublished memoirs (henceforth Katya memoirs). Alexander looks in 1865: Théophile Gautier quoted in E. M. Almedingen, The Emperor Alexander II 205.

  16

  Assassination attempt, 1865: Ruud 31. Dominance of Shuvalov, GARF 678.2.277.20, Alexander II, Dnevnik, 24 August 1871. Ruud 31–9. L. G. Zakharova (ed.), Dmitrii Miliutin, Dnevnik, 1873–1875 (henceforth ‘Miliutin’), 75, 31 December 1873, and downfall 1 January 1875. Lincoln, Reforms 76–8. Rieber 50–1 Shuvalov resistance to serfdom reform. Shuvalov in power, ambition to be Bismarck, Tolstoy classic education, administrative control, Pahlen fights independent judiciary: Eklof 75–8 – see essay Rieber, Interest Group Politics in the Era of the Great Reforms. Shuvalov Third Section and Gendarmes: Ruud 29–31. Trepov created tsar’s forty-man bodyguard; and first security bureaux Okrannoe otdelenie, dismissal of Shuvalov, you prefer it in London don’t you?: Daly 1. 17–23. Meshchersky on character of Shuvalov: Knyaz’ Vladimir Petrovich Meshchersky, Moi vospominaniia (henceforth Meshchersky) 119–336.

  17

  Marriage, problems with Minny, drinking, birth of Nicholas II: Hall 41–53–7. Wortman 250–7: Beech 1.101. Marriage, problems with Minny, drinking, birth of Nicholas II: Hall 53–7.

  18

  Joseph Frank, Dostoevsky 244–82; 372–405; 601–616. Rosamund Bartlett, Tolstoy: A Russian Life, 118–79. Geoffrey Hocking, Russia and Russians, 306–352. Orlando Figes, Natasha’s Dance on Dostoevsky on peasantry 221; on soul 331; on Slavic nation 335, 338, view of corrupt Europe 65. Policing: Daly 1. 20–22. Ruud 27–31.

  19

  Katya Dolgorukaya, memory of 1 July 1866: GARF 6782.283.30, A to D, 1, 2 and 3 July 1877. Alexander and Marie, sad anniversaries: GARF 641.1.32, Alexander II to Marie, 20 October 1879. ‘Bingerles’, happiest day: GARF 678.2.283, A to D, 1 January 1871. Private collection, pleasure like a mad thing: D to A, 13 November 1871; immense pleasure, 11 November 1871. ‘First tête–à–tête’: GARF 678.2.289.3–5, Katya memoirs.

  20

  Paris: GARF 678.2.283.32, A to D, 7 July 1879. Mad for each other, nothing else existed: GARF 678.2.120, A to D, 23 February 1878. Assassination, guardian: GARF 678.2.129, A to D, 4 April 1880. Tsarevich Alexander to Meshchersky, 7 June 1867 and 10 September 1868. Napoleon III caused Nicholas I’s death: GARF 678.2.289.23, Alexander diary on death of Napoleon III, 28 December 1872. Shuvalov’s account of the Paris escapade, told to Tolstoya: N. I. Azarova (ed.), Alexandra Tolstoya, Zapiski freiliny: Pechalnyi epizod iz moei zhizni pri dvore (henceforth Tolstaya) 97–100. Paris bliss and prayer: private collection, A to D, 29 January 1868. Paris arranged to meet/into each other’s arms/running away to America: GARF 678.2.289.8–10, Katya memoirs.

  21

  GARF 678.2.289.23, Alexander diary on death of Napoleon III, 28 December 1872. Prussia 1870s, Prussia will never forget/new Prussian uniform/stone oppressing me: GARF 678.2.277.4, Alexander diary, 26 February, 27 February, 2 March 1871. Powerful neighbour: GARF 678.2.278.18, Alexander diary, 2 September 1872. Uncle Wilhelm and the ballerinas, best friend of Prussia: GARF 678.2.279.5, Alexander diary, 15–25 April 1873. Franco–Prussian War and renouncing of Paris Treaty: Steinberg 286–311. Russia rolls back Treaty of Paris: Mosse 158–83. Roux 465–98. Prussian pigs: Igor Vinogradoff (ed.), Some Russian Imperial Letters to Prince V. P. Meshchersky (1839–1914), Oxford Slavonic Papers (1862) 10.110–18 (henceforth Meshchersky Letters), Alexander III to Meshchersky, 9 August 1870. Military reform: Lincoln Reforms 143–58. Military reforms and rivalry of Miliutin and Bariatinsky: Eklof 139–58 – John S. Buchnell, Miliutin and the Balkan War – Military Reform vs Military Performance. GARF 722.1.104.55, Kostia diary on military reform, 21 April 1873, battles ‘gave me a headache’; 17 December 1873, Pobedonostsev tirade against Jewish equality, 21 April. Miliutin, Dnevnik 21–9, 8 April 1873 to 2 May 1873 and 58–80 process of reform, 3 December 1873 to 1 January 1874. Scott P. Anderson, The Administrative and Social Reforms of Russia’s Military, 1861–74: Dmitri Miliutin against the Esconced Power Elite, PhD thesis, 2010.

  22

  Letters from Alexander II (A) to Princess Ekaterina Dolgorukaya (D or Katya) and unless stated all GARF 678/citing dates: GARF 678.2. 283.8, ‘we did it four times, you’re very passionate and totally unreasonable, I need a rest’, 9 February 1871. Hate to interrupt our bingerle: Private Collection (PC), A to D, 6 January 1868. Love you passionately want bingerle, PC, 1 February 1868 11 a.m. Want you my minx, angel, 30 January 1868 9.30 a.m. Trembling with anticipation thinking of tonight and bingerle, 29 January 1868 10.30 a.m. What pleasure our bingerle/you shared by frenzied joy, 1 February 1868 4 p.m. D to A, dream husband, I take pleasure in frenzy, overwhelmed my immense pleasure I received, can’t wait for more, 11 November 1871. D to A, immersed, bewitched, filled with one feeling . . . Bingerle was magical . . . I pressed against you and took my pleasure like a mad thing . . . Drenched by you, dined with great appetite, want to be in your arms, I can’t wait till two, 13 November 1871. D to A, we tire ourselves out, all in me trembles, I can’t wait till 4.45 to see you, 14 November 1871. D to A, that good hour was intoxicating and I took pleasure like mad thing, this darling special despot, 14 November 1871. A to D: I want to admire the treasure and long to be inside your coquille, oh I’m not ashamed, it’s natural, 1 January 1870. Naughty minx, we throw ourselves on each other like cats and come to delirium, 2 January 1870. Delight to dip into you again, darling bobinka, 5 January 1870. I’m impregnated with bingerles on the bed where you move
on me and glue yourself to me and then on the sofa where it’s my turn, I love to see you without knickers, 1 December 1870. We grip each other like cats without even having time to undress and then put on our favourite costume [naked] until delirium, 12 January 1870. You glued yourself to me and sat on me and I entered your coquille, we become one, rejuvenated.

  Sex four times, very passionate and very unreasonable, 9 February 1871. What fever your husband entered your coquille in all the positions possible, I drove into the darling little thing when she held her legs in the air, 9 April 1871. Sex on sofa, table and bed, 5 May 1871. I can’t think without laughing of costume I wore when Vava came in oh what horror, 16 September 1872. Sex to madness, 17 May 1871. Sex three times how mad we are, 8 May 1873. Can’t resist your adorable coquille, 7 November 1871. I enjoy the bingerles until delirium and I felt with happiness your fountain water me several times which redoubled my pleasure, 9 May 1874. All the positions possible, 11 August 1875. Livadia, Crimea, sex was delicious, 15 September 1875. Your body so appetizing, Vava sucks on bingerle like a leech, 14 May 1876. My bingerle makes compliments to Vava and has become fully armed, 17 June 1877. Memories of first love-making and taking off knickers, 1 July 1877. Katya’s memoirs on their life together: GARF 678.2.289.11, his mean family and his grace; GARF 678.2.289.12, I followed him everywhere, saw no one; GARF 678.2.289.13, illness, doctors suggest children, I trembled for him, no one else thought of him, baby George born; GARF 678.2.289.14, soft bed, new uniforms, tricking him. Alexander II’s drawing of naked Katya: B. M. Nosik, Russkie tainy Parizha, 58. Kostia: Beech 1.51–63; Nikolai 1:69–73; Mikhail 2.171. Mossolov 74. On Mikhail Nikolaievich: Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich (Sandro), Once a Grand Duke (henceforth ‘Sandro’) 37.