The Romanovs

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

  52

  Rosemary and Donald Crawford, Michael and Natasha: The Life and Love of the Last Tsar of Russia (henceforth Michael). Beech 1.194–5. LP 349–51, Minny to Nicky, 4 November 1912; Nicky to Minny, 7 November; Okhrana agent report 17 December.

  53

  Tercentenary: Kokovtsov 360–2. Spirodovich 2.337–45; Berlin wedding 321. Rodzianko 74–7. On ministers: Naryshkin 206. Wortman 383–94. King 389–401. Sex, Blok, Belyi and Silver Age: Lincoln In War’s Dark Shadow 349–88. Alexander Blok quoted in Figes, PT 14. Lena and Stalin: see Montefiore, Young Stalin 256–7. Kotkin, Stalin on Blok quote on Okhrana 130; on Marxism and Nationalities 133; on Lenin quote ‘tsarism victorious’ 135. Worse better: Figes, PT 129. Meshchersky, Maklakov, Krivoshein: Lieven, Flame 293–5.

  SCENE 5: CATASTROPHE

  1

  Spirodovich 2.360–402; on Beilis verdict 2.447. Beilis trial: Levin 205–91. Figes, PT 240–3. On Alexei: KR 18 March 1912. On Alexei and character of girls: Vyrubova 37–9. Gilliard 24–5. Rappaport 165–170. Rappaport, Ekaterinburg 90 (Alexei) and 73–85 (girls).

  2

  Balkan League fallout, Bulgaria falls out with Russia in Ferdinand 270–9; Second Balkan War 279–87. Montenegro 279–301. MacMillan 458–61. Clark 340–2. Sazonov 90–7. McMeekin 25. Montenegro, end of Russian closeness: Montenegro 279– 301.

  3

  Second Balkan War: Lieven, Flame 272–90; Poincaré gives blank cheque on support to Russia 240; Liman crisis 284–7. Sazonov 97–103. Nicholas quoted by Sazonov in Clark 275. Kokovtsov 313–429; on Turks and Liman 389–93. Goremykin: Sandro 252, corpse. Liman: Sazonov 117–25; 117 Nicky tells Sazonov of Kaiser conversation in Berlin; February 1914 conference, 126 offensive against Constantinople inevitable in European war. Kokovtsov decline in power then dismissal, Goremykin as ‘old fur coat’: Kokovtsov 439. Fall of Kokovtsov, appointment of Maklakov, discussion of dismissal of Duma or conversion into merely consultative chambers, influence of Krivoshein and Meshchersky: Lieven, Flame 294–7. Durnovo possible premiership: Dominic Lieven, Bureaucratic Authoritarianism in Late Imperial Russia: The Personality, Career, and Opinions of P. N. Durnovo, Historical Journal (1983) 26.2.391–402. Lieven, NII 17; Durnovo memorandum 195–7. Geyer 285–7, 310–21. MacMillan 29–37. Nicholas plans abolition or reduction of Duma powers with Maklakov: GARF 601.1.1119.1–2, NII to N. Maklakov, 18 October 1913. Malinovsky, Lenin quote and Stalin: Montefiore, Young Stalin 280–325. On Poincaré, French generals’ visits and French commitment to include possibility of Balkan crisis: Clark 294–308; Liman von Sanders crisis 335; meeting at Prussian wedding 339; January–February conferences 341–8; machismo 360. Liman crisis and special conference: McMeekin 30–5. Hall 248–9.

  4

  Daughters OTMA in love: this is based on Rappaport 191–206.

  5

  V. I. Nevsky, Nikolai II i velikie knyaza, Leningrad, 1925: 45 how do you live, embrace ‘aunt’s arm with voluptuous kisses’. Dmitri Pavlovich (DP) to Nicholas II, 29 September 1911; 46 ‘heart, soul and body except (for arsehole), DP to NII, 16 October 1911; 48 chance to dance with Zizi or Baroness Frederiks, DP to NII, 17 November 1911; 50 ‘wipe your arse’, ‘hug my pillow thinking about empress’, DP to NII, 19 March 1914.

  6

  Last season and girls in love: Rappaport 207–222; Olga’s suitors 212. Romanian marriage possible for Olga, description of OTMA girls and visit: Marie Roumania 2.327–331. Olga marriage – Gilliard 32 Olga says papa promises not to make me leave Russia, I’m Russian. On Anichkov ball: Helene Iswolsky, No Time to Grieve, 83–5. Yusupov: ND 8 October, 11 November 1913. LP 372, Xenia diary, 8 October 1913; 380, Xenia diary, 9 February 1914. ND 9 February 1914. Author interview with niece of Grand Duchess Irina, Princess Olga Romanoff.

  7

  Pašić in Petersburg quoted in Clark 280. Crimea, Anna’s betrayal: F 73–6, Alix to Nicky, 28 April 1914, 26 January 1914, 26–27 October, 19 November 1914, 27 January 1915; 3 November 1915. Crimea: Spirodovich 2.450–60; Anna in love with Nicholas 450–2. Vyrubova 158. Naryshkina 206. Romanian visit, sunburnt girls, loveable Nicky: Marie Romania 2.336–338. Last Crimean trip, Romanian visits, Olga to stay in Russia: Rappaport 214–21, quoting 217, Nicholas to Agnes de Stoeckl. Olga on staying in Russia: Gilliard 32. Romania possible marriage, Sazonov 103–15; conversation with Alexandra about fear of parting with daughters 110.

  8

  The July–August crisis, Poincaré visit and road to war: Sazonov 150–60, 177–216; mobilization cancellation crisis 193–205; declaration of war 212; Stolypin irreplaceable 232. Sukhomlinov on 20–30 July 1914: blames Nikolasha 221–8; blames Sazonov for war policies 152; Nicholas always said he would command army 191; Russia never so prepared as in 1914, mobilization like clockwork 245. Rodzianko 106–8. Hague mediation: OPI GIM 180.82280, Nicholas II to Sazonov, 14 July 1914. Rasputin against this war: F 283, A to N, 1 November 1915. Nikolasha moved by offer of supreme command and Te Deum at Winter Palace: Robinson 134. Sukhomlinov refuses command: Stone 51–2. Te Deum at Winter Palace, Nicholas in tears: Rodzianko 110–11. Lieven, Flame 313–42. Nicholas’s version of the Sazonov call and likelihood of war, 24 July 1914, and ministers meeting that afternoon: Peter Bark, Memoirs 7.1–4, 7–26. Gilliard 36–40: declaration of war. Dazed Nicky, meetings, new telephones, Alix uninformed: Vyrubova 479. Geyer 312–20. Nicky–Willy telegrams: Röhl 2.1065–70. McMeekin 53–75. MacMillan 551–602. Sean McMeekin, July 1914, 260–305. Lieven, NII 197–204. Kotkin, Stalin 156: mobilization, conscription statistics.

  9

  August–September, the first battles: Stone 45–69. Robinson 157–69.

  10

  Stavka and Nikolasha: Robinson 142–90; Nikolasha ‘my hermitage’ 202. Stone 51–3.

  11

  Wounded soldier dies: F 86, A to N, 2 March 1915; F 83, 28 February 1915. Alexandra needs to be bridled: Ernest of Hesse quoted in Naryshkin 204. Nursing Alexandra best: Vyrubova 9; invigorated 49; train crash 55. Rappaport 227–54.

  12

  Stone 70–91. Robinson 170–206. 13 September 1916, Rodzianko, visit to Stavka, conversation with Nikolasha on Rasputin hanging 118–19. Enver offensive and defeat: Sean McMeekin, Ottoman Endgame 146–53.

  13

  Nikolasha dominates ministers: F 153, A to N, 17 June 1915. Spy mania, Jewish repression F 125, A to N, 4 May 1915; F 128, N to A, 8 May 1915. Robinson 100 and 207–9. Jewish deportations: Eric Lohr, The Russian Army and the Jews: Mass Deportation, Hostages, and Violence during World War I, Russian Review (2001) 60.404–19. Miasoedov case innocence: Fuller, The Foe Within 132. Nikolasha spy mania: Robinson 216–18; 217 ‘I predict no shells at all’, Nikolasha to N, 24 February 1915.

  14

  F 89, N to A, 2 March 1915; F 102, A to N, 5 April 1915. Robinson 221 on Nikolasha and Dardanelles. McMeekin, Ottoman Endgame 163–221.

  15

  F 99, N to A, 9 March 1915; F 100, A to N, 4 April; F 104, A to N, 6 April; F 107, N to A, 7 April; Jew, F 115, A to N, 13 April.

  16

  Stone 122–43; shell shortage 144–64; retreat 165–93; the sections on the war materials and economic crisis are based on Stone 194–211. Robinson 231–44: Nikolasha complains to NII of lack of ammunition 240; Orlov letter to Yanushkevich, 2 June 1915 245; sacking of Sukhomlinov, Maklkov, Nikolasha’s apogee, kicks legs up (Shavelsky), Nikolasha weeps, plans to constrain Alexandra (Shavelsky), nerves shot (Polivanov), Alexander and Nicholas sack Nikolasha 245–59. Rodzianko 128–47. Trial of Sukhomlinov: F 397, A to N, 4 March 1916.

  17

  Stone 187–93. Robinson 240–60. Rasputin and Bark: F 131, A to N, 11 May 1915. Panic, N weeps: F 131, N to A, 11 May 1915. Rasputin from God: F 135–7, A to N, 10, 11 June 1915. Nikolasha vs Man of God: F 138, A to N, 12 June 1915. More autocratic/spy at HQ: F 145, 14 June 1915. No faith in Nikolasha/the bell/a woman’s instinct: F 147, A to N, 16 June 1915. Goremykin/period/Khvostov: F 156, A to N, 18 June 1915; F 160, A to N, 22 June, Djunkovsky report on Rasputin. Sergei Mikhailovich and Kshessinskaya mix
ed up: F 169, A to N, 25 June 1915. Dismissal of Nikolasha, wify’s trousers unseen, no dawdling: F 171, A to N, 22 August 1915. Orlov out: F 174, A to N, 23 August 1915. Ministers’ letter, Sazonov called them together: F 177, A to N, 24 August 1915. Robinson 191: Nikolasha – put Alix in monastery, quoted from Shavelsky his chaplain. Vyrubova 57–9: row with dowager empress, Nicholas shocked by Warsaw, hard not to command, given icon, tells ministers, sweating. Lieven, NII 227. Minny on Nicholas’s mistake: diary quoted in Hall 264–5. No public opinion: Stanley Washburn, On the Russian Front in World War I: Memoirs of an American War Correspondent, quoted in Joshua A. Sanborn, Imperial Apocalypse: The Great War and the Destruction of the Russian Empire (henceforth Sanborn) 101. Alexei education at headquarters: Gilliard 62. Alix ambitious and infallible: Marie Romania 3.351–2.

  18

  Rasputin 155–66. Rasputin advises on church appointments: F 160–2, A to N, 22 June 1915. Have signed military nominations: F 179, N to A, 24 August 1915. Trousers needed at HQ: F 180, A to N, 25 August 1915. Thank God it’s over/Fancy Wify helping Huzy: F 181–2, N to A, 25 August 1915; keep autocracy/Khvostov, F 171–3, A to N, 22 August; denounces Sazonov and Polivanov/smell the letter, F 177, A to N, 24 August; Andronnikov consulted, F 191, A to N, 29 August 1915; get rid of Guchkov, F 193, A to N, 30 August; hang Guchkov?, F 200, A to N, 2 September; sack Sazonov and Khrivoshein, don’t see Rodzianko, names to replace Samarin, Andronnikov praises Khvostov with Rasputin etc., F 212, A to N, 7 September; Sazonov Pancake, appoint Khvostov, Andronnikov recommends, Goremykin struggling, all for Baby, F 225–8, A to N, 11 September; Khvostov plans, F 242, A to N, 17 September; Khvostov/Tail, a man, no petticoats, F 247, A to N, 17 September; sees Rasputin to discuss Tail, F 261, A to N, 4 October. Benckendorff on Alexandra, Lieven, NII 227.

  19

  Stone 208–14. Railway crisis: F 197, N to A, 31 August 1915. Alexei at Mogilev: F 265–8, N to A, 6, 7 October 1915; F 281, N to A, 31 October, and A to N, 1 November. Andronnikov and Rasputin urge changes: F 284–9, A to N, 2–3 November 1915.

  20

  Goremykin, hissed in Duma: F 292, A to N, 6 November 1915; Rasputin dream of Constantinople, F 295, A to N, 8 November; Rasputin with Goremykin, F 316– 17, A to N, 29 November; receives Khvostov/reads Millionaire Girl, F 339, N to A, 31 December; new PM candidates, consults Khvostov on Stürmer, F 349, N to A, 5 January 1916; appoint Stürmer PM, Khvostov hoped to be PM himself, F 352, A to N, 7 January; advance to Erzurum, F 354, N to A, 7 January; sack Dzunkovsky and Drenteln and Orlov who planned ‘monastery for me’, F 356, A to N, 8 January.

  21

  Rasputin 164–6. F 384–402: 384, A to N, 10 February 1916–6 March 1916; F 388, A to N, 13 February 1916, A rejects Boris and Dmitri plans to marry Olga; sacks War Minister Polivanov and successor, F 409, N to A, 10 March; apples from Rasputin to N, F 413, A to N, 13 March.

  22

  Naroch, Brusilov offensives. Stone 232–63; description of V. Bezobrazov 225, especially 261 Stone’s phrase ‘pantomime machismo’. N appoints Brusilov, F 415, N to A, 14 March 1916; kiss every sweet place, F 419, A to N, 15 March; Philippe and Rasputin advise be masterful, F 421, A to N, 17 March; Boy Blue, F 429, N to A, 13 March; Pharisees’ wickedness against Rasputin, F 437, A to N, 5 April; Fleet occupied Trebizond, F 439, N to A, 5 April, and landings there, F 473, N to A, 23 May; my Boy Blue, F 447, A to N, 8 April, and F 463, 1 May; troubles with minister of interior, F 459, A to N, 28 April; don’t mention offensive plans to anyone/Brusilov offensive, F 491, N to A, 5 June; remembers Walton on Thames, F 495, N to A, 8 June; Stürmer honest and supply crisis, F 500, N to A, 11 June. (N’s earlier request to keep military secrets: F 196, N to A, 31 August 1915.) Many POWs captured: F 537, A to N, 17 July 1916; Alix at Stavka, F 547, A to N, 3 August, and N misses her calm, 3 August; despair about Bezobrazov ‘ordered advance where bogs known to be impregnable, let Guards be slaughtered,’ F 548, A to N, 4 August; N sacks Bezobrazov, F 564, N to A, 16 August. Rasputin advises against losses, F 553, A to N, 8 August 1916; A’s period spoils everything – nuisance, F 568, A to N, 20 August; faith in Rasputin’s wisdom for country, F 569, A to N, 4 September; A sees Stürmer then Rasputin, F 573, A to N, 7 September. Sanborn 108–29; Kazakh rebellion 177– 8; F495 and F593 Rasputin: food supply advice, 9 June and 20 September 1916. Brusilov and surplus of shells: Kotkin, Stalin 162–4. Russian advance into Anatolia and expeditions into Persia and Iraq: Robinson 263–87. Tsargrad expedition: F 582, N to A, 13 September 1916. Russian advance to Erzurum, Trebizond and expeditions to Persia and Iraq: McMeekin, Ottoman Endgame 270–84; April 1916, Sazanov negotiates huge territorial gains for Russia with Sykes-Picot in Petrograd 284–6; February–April 1916, Baratov expedition Persia and towards Baghdad in Iraq, 289–90; Tsargradsky Regiment 312–21.

  23

  Nicky’s exhaustion: Alexander Naumov agriculture minister, Benckendorff, Fabritsky quoted in Lieven, NII 220–27. Benckendorff quoted in Gleb Botkin, The Real Romanovs 125. Paléologue on Badmaiev elixir: Ambassador’s Memoirs, 6 November 1916. N lonely: F 205, N to A, 4 September 1915. Alexandra takes opium: F 366, A to N, 14 January 1916; N takes cocaine, F 303, N to A, 12 November 1915. LP 541, Yusupov to Bimbo, 14 February 1917. Grain and railway crisis: this is based on Stone 283–301. Supply crisis: F 505, N to A, 15 June 1916; Rasputin advice on prices, F 505, A to N, 16 June; Sazonov long nose, F 537, A to N, 17 July. Idea of military dictator suggested by Krivoshein/problems with Stürmer: F 560, N to A, 14 August 1916; Alexeev calls for military authorities to replace Stürmer, A to N, 14 August. Stürmer cannot overcome this difficulty/supply/most damned question ever come across: F 593, N to A, 20 September 1916. N and A’s drugs: Rappaport Ekaterinburg 55 and 60.

  24

  Romanov conspiracies: Dmitri and Boris: F 387, A to N, 13 February and 10 March 1916; F 429, A to N, 26 March, on family and Olga/Kulikovsky; the Club and Nikolai Mikhailovich, F 655, A to N, 4 December. Nikolai Mikhailovich bad person, grandson of Jew, my greatest enemies in family: F 641, A to N, 4 November 1916; F 300, A to N, 12 November 1915. Ruin of Dmitri going to that lady, Brasova: F 556, A to N, 11 August 1916. Plots of Guchkov and Aleexev: F 591, A to N, 19 September 1916. On Dmitri and Brassova: Beech 2.52. Sandro at Kiev: 297–302. Dmitri tells gossip: Vyrubova 66.

  25

  N mentions Protopopov, recommended by Rasputin: F 520, N to A, 25 June 1916. Alexandra urges Protopopov: F 574–80, 7, 22, 23, 27 September 1916; N praises A political role, 23 September. Appoints Protopopov: F 596, A to N, 21 September 1916. Protopopov urges freeing of Sukhomlinov, appointment of Kurlov: F 606, A to N, 26 September 1916; list for N to discuss with Protopopov suggested by Rasputin, Badmaev treats Protopopov, Rasputin is Badmaev ‘bosom friend’ and Protopopov cured by him, F 609, A to N, 27 September 1916; F 623, A to N, 16 October. A tells Rasputin about Protopopov crisis/urges Stürmer to give food supply to Protopopov and N agrees: F 631, A to N, 30 October 1916, and N to A, 30 October. Protopopov not normal, ‘peculiar’ and eye-rolling: Rodzianko 218–19. Stürmer and Protopopov, inc. ruling with Christ and Gendarme uniform: Figes, PT 285–7. Stürmer dictator; Protopopov I shall save Russia: Rodzianko 219. Secret talks with Germans: Kotkin, Stalin 199. Anatolii Ignatiev, Russko-angliiskie otnosheniia nakanune Oktyabrskoi revolutsii (Fevral-oktyabr 1917 g.) 41–52.

  SCENE 6: TSAR MICHAEL II

  1

  Romanovs confront tsar: Nikolai Mikhailovich (Bimbo) letters and my enemies in the family, bad person, Jew: F 642, A to N, 4 November 1916, and letters F 642–5, N to A, 4 November 1916; N apologies for not reading them, 5 November. Sandro confronts Nicky: Sandro 305; I believe no one but wife 305. Robinson 288–90 quoting Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich and Shavelsky’s accounts of Nikolasha’s conversations with tsar; the Lvov–Khatisov coup 288–9. Armenian Review 3 (1950) 112–13. Sandro on Zinaida Yusupova 236. Trepov PM and crisis of almost sacking Protopopov: F 648–57, A to N, 10 November 1916; don’t change Protopopov, A to N, 10, 13 November, 4, 5 December; sacked Trepov not Protopopov, F 664, A to N, 9 De
cember; Rasputin lives for Russia and you/entreats you to be firm/only not a responsible cabinet/horrible Trepov/give strong country for Baby, F 671, A to N, 13 December; ‘Be Peter the Great, John the Terrible, Emperor Paul – crush them all under you – now don’t laugh, don’t be naughty’, F 674, A to N, 14 December. Hatred of Alexandra: Marie Romania 3. 152.

  2

  Yusupov conspiracy: Irina and Felix Yusupov to tea with Alexander, F 560, 14 August 1916: ‘both nice and natural, she very brown and he very thin’. Zinaida and Ella confront Alix. Rasputin 197–205.

  3

  Killing of Rasputin: Rasputin 197–213, 225–31. The accounts of Felix Yusupov including Felix Yusupov, Rasputin 155–63 and V.M. Purishkevich, Murder of Rasputin especially 69–95. Possibility of English conspiracy: see Andrew Cook, To Kill Rasputin, esp. Stephen Alley letter 217. Vyrubova 80–2.

  4

  The fall-out – sequence of letters between A and N: see F 680, A to N, 16 December 1916, N to A, 16 December; finding Rasputin’s body, F 686, A to N, 19 December. Nicky on day of Rasputin’s vanishing: A. A. Mordvinov, Iz perezhitogo: Vospominaniia fligel–adyutanta imperatora Nikolaia II (henceforth Mordvinov) 2.530–1; reaction of the children 532. Reaction to Rasputin’s death: Rasputin 215–24, 233–8. Ella to Zinaida on Rasputin’s death: Ella 286; Dmitri to Yusupov, dark stain 287. Minny ‘no!’, Sandro 308–9. Alexei, papa won’t you punish them: Vyrubova 39. F686–7 19 December 1916–22 February 1917.