36 Protopopov’s eccentric behavior: ibid., 218; Paléologue, III, 51, 88.
37 The icon: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 218.
38 “I feel that I shall save Russia”: Rodzianko, 219.
39 Food supply: ibid., 217; Pares, 383. “Forgive me for what I have done”: AF to N, 428.
40 “Sweet angel … Rumania”: ibid., 211. “Our Friend was afraid”: ibid., 210. “Advance near Riga”: ibid., 221. “Our Friend sends his blessing”: ibid., 346.
41 “I told Alexeiev”: N to AF, 202. “I was very painfully impressed”: ibid., editor’s note, 203. “I beg you, my love”: ibid., 78. “Only for you”: ibid., 154. “Not a single soul must know”: ibid., 203. “He won’t mention it to a soul”: AF to N, 411.
42 Brusilov’s offensive: Golovine, 98, 241.
43 “Our Friend finds better”: AF to N, 377. “Hope we won’t climb over the Carpathians”: ibid., 382. “Very satisfied with Father’s orders”: ibid., 411.
44 “Alexeiev has asked permission”: N to AF, 268. “Our Friend was much put out”: AF to N, 412. “I have only just received your telegram”: N to AF, 270.
45–46 “Stop this useless slaughter”: AF to N, 413. “My dear, Brusilov …”: N to AF, 272. Gurko: N to AF, 273 n. “An offensive without casualties”: Golovine, 95.
47 “Stürmer and Protopopov both completely believe”: AF to N, 428.
48 Manuilov: Rodzianko, 211; Paléologue, III, 17. The October Mutiny: Paléologue, III, 74, 83.
49 “Stürmer is an excellent, honest man”: N to AF, 206. “It seems that my head will burst”: ibid., 248. “These changes make my head go round”: ibid., 257. “The eternal question of supplies”: ibid., 266.
50 “Nicky so pale”: Vorres, 150. “He had never seemed to me so worried”: Gilliard, 178.
51 “A young, wounded deserter”: Vorres, 150–1.
52 Miliukov’s attack: Paléologue, III, 92. “Woe to that country”: Pares, 392.
53 “Protopopov and Our Friend both find”: AF to N, 436.
54–55 “All these days I have been thinking”: N to AF, 295. “Our Friend says Stürmer can remain”: AF to N, 437. “I am receiving Stürmer in an hour”: N to AF, 296. “It gave me a painful shock”: AF to N, 438.
56–57 Trepov: Pares, 395; Paléologue, III, 107. “I am sorry for Protopopov”: N to AF, 297. “Only I beg, do not drag Our Friend into this”: ibid., 298.
58 “Don’t go and change Protopopov now”: AF to N, 439. “The man is as sane as anyone”: ibid., 441. “The man Protopopov or x.y.z.”: AF to N, 442.
59–60 “Those days spent together were difficult”: N to AF, 299. “Great and beautiful times”: AF to N, 453–5.
61 “Tender thanks for the severe scolding”: N to AF, 307.
62 “Alexander Fedorovich, I order you”: Paléologue, III, 108.
63 The bribe: Mosolov, 170–3; Moorehead, 107; Pares, 395.
64–65 Petrograd society: Pares, 301. Officers drinking champagne: Bruce Lockhart, 157.
66 “From the stalls to the back row”: Paléologue, III, 26. The Narodny Dom: ibid., 80.
Balanchine in the treetops: Taper, 47.
67 “Beautiful, beautiful—like Grace Kelly”: George Balanchine to Suzanne Massie, January 12, 1965.
68 German spy mania: Florinsky, End, 69. The Tsar not included: Buchanan, I, 245. Clandestine wireless station: Buxhoeveden, 225.
69–70 No evidence that Rasputin was a spy: Pares, 335. “It would have been inexplicable”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 220.
71 Dinner with Manus: Paléologue, III, 63, 115.
72–73 “The Empress is a German”: Knox, 515. “I cannot believe she is a traitoress”: Kerensky, Murder, 55. Soldiers’ letters: Knox, 515. Disrespect in hospitals: Vyrubova, 136. “Nemka”: Paléologue, III, 121; Florinsky, End, 70. “If the young Tsarina”: Alexander, 271.
74 “Bomb the Tsar’s motorcar”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 244. Captain Kostenko: Kerensky, Russia, 147.
75–76 Nicholas Mikhailovich: Pares, 390. Grand Duke Paul: ibid., 419.
77 Grand Duchess Elizabeth: Pares, 420; Gilliard, 181–2; Paléologue, III, 159.
78 Purishkevich: Pares, 376.
79 “Wonderful energy”: N to AF, 196. Purishkevich’s speech: Pares, 396–7; Paléologue, III, 111.
80 Yussoupov turned pale and trembled: Paléologue, III, 153.
CHAPTER 25 THE PRINCE AND THE PEASANT
1 Yussoupov wealth exceeded that of the tsars: Vorres, 98.
2 “One of our estates”: Yussoupov, 65. A mountain as a birthday present: ibid., 101.
3 Yussoupov genealogy: ibid., 13–28. Archangelskoe and Prince Nicholas’s amusements: ibid., 21–5.
4 The Moika Palace: ibid., 67–71. Moscow palace, ibid., 78–79.
5 “Look, isn’t baby pretty”: ibid., 29. The bear: ibid., 75. King Edward VII: ibid., 90.
6 “I flung myself passionately into a life of pleasure”: ibid., 87. “A charming young girl”: ibid., 115.
7 “Prince Felix Yussoupov is twenty-nine”: Paléologue, III, 132. “The Empress is a very wise ruler”: Yussoupov, 211–12.
8 “Town and women are poison for him”: AF to N, 294.
9 “This time it is for you to bless me”: Vyrubova, 174.
10 “The spirit of Gregory Efimovich”: quoted by Pares, 399.
11 “My intimacy with Rasputin”: Yussoupov, 202. “Spend the evening with me soon”: ibid., 218.
12 “He had long wished to meet my wife”: ibid., 218.
13 “I heard Rasputin say that he expected to pay a late evening visit”: Vyrubova, 178.
14 “A low vaulted ceiling”: Yussoupov, 219–20.
15 “My head swam”: ibid., 226.
16–17 “With God in thought”: ibid., 227. “You’d far better look at the crucifix”: ibid., 228. “I then saw both eyes”: ibid., 229.
18 “A savage, inhuman cry”: Purishkevich, 105. “What I saw would have been a dream”: ibid., 106–7.
19 Rasputin died by drowning: Vyrubova, 182. “Next morning”: ibid., 179.
20 “I have killed Grishka Rasputin”: Purishkevich, 108. The dog alibi: Vyrubova, 181. Felix telephoned the Empress: ibid., 180.
21 “I swear it”: Paléologue, III, 171. Alexandra lying on a couch: Dehn, 118. “My own beloved sweetheart”: AF to N, 461.
22 “No trace yet”: Fülöp-Miller, 365. The Beast was slain: Paléologue, III, 135.
23 “To the moujiks, Rasputin has become a martyr”: ibid., 189.
24 “Am horrified, shaken”: N to AF, 312. “A faith that kept her alive”: Gilliard, 177. “Before all Russia, I am filled with shame”: Vyrubova, 183. “A murder is always a murder”: Paléologue, III, 164.
25 “There was nothing heroic about Rasputin’s murder”: Vorres, 145.
26 “It was a glorious morning”: Dehn, 123. The signatures on the icon: Kerensky, Murder, 106.
27 “My dear martyr”: Paléologue, III, 136.
CHAPTER 26 LAST WINTER AT TSARSKOE SELO
1 Nicholas at Tsarskoe Selo: Pares, 413. “How lovely it was in the woods”: Rodzianko, 254. Maps on the billiard table: Vyrubova, 196.
2–3 “The time for peace has not yet come”: Paléologue, III, 125–6. “A kind of political will”: ibid., 152.
4 “As usual, Nicholas II was kind and natural”: ibid., 166. “The Emperor’s words”: ibid., 151–2.
5 “During the year that I had not seen him”: Kokovtsov, 478–9.
6 “Do you not see?” ibid., 480. “The Tsar was seriously ill”: ibid., 480.
7 “If I die or you desert me”: Paléologue, III, 191.
8 Alexandra’s reaction to the murder: Pares, 412; Gilliard, 183.
9–10 Anna moved to the palace: Vyrubova, 185. The telephone, portrait of Marie Antoinette: Pares, 414. “I thought that the door”: Kokovtsov, 478.
11 The concealed balcony: Pares, 414. “If someone else had used the language”: Kann, 134.
12 Protopopov the only minister who mattere
d: Pares, 416. “I noticed he was following me”: Rodzianko, 251.
13–14 Telephoned every morning at ten: Pares, 416. “Oh, Majesty, I see Christ behind you”: Paléologue, III, 119.
15 “Oh, Madame, why are you so sad?”: Dehn, 137.
16 “Taken down a long passage”: quoted by Frankland, 88. “It seems as certain as anything”: ibid., 87.
17 “I allow no one to give me advice”: Paléologue, III, 167.
18 “One should forgive”: MF to N, 302.
19 “Your interference … is causing harm”: Alexander, 283.
20 “Remember, Alix”: ibid., 283. “One cannot govern”: ibid., 184.
21 The Vladimirs: Vorres, 58; Paléologue, III, 160–1; Buchanan, I, 175–6.
22 “What an awful set”: AF to N, 280.
23 Rodzianko’s conversation with Marie Pavlovna: Rodzianko, 246.
24 The grand-ducal plot: Paléologue, III, 140–1. “Prince Gabriel Constantinovich”: ibid., 157.
25 Paléologue’s interview with Nicholas: ibid., 149–52.
26 Sir George Buchanan: Bruce Lockhart, 115, 119.
27 “Za Pivo”: ibid., 150.
28 Buchanan’s interview with Nicholas: Buchanan, II, 43–9.
29 “The Empress must renounce all interference”: Rodzianko, 214.
30 “Alexandra Fedorovna is fiercely and universally hated”: ibid., 249.
31–32 Rodzianko’s interview with Nicholas: ibid., 252. “I consider it my duty, Sire”: ibid., 261.
33 “I will do everything afterwards”: Vyrubova, 146. “The Empress is a foreigner”: Paléologue, III, 172.
34 Protopopov’s countermeasures: Pares, 437. “The time is such, Sire”: ibid., 437.
35 “What about a responsible ministry?” Rodzianko, 263.
CHAPTER 27 REVOLUTION, MARCH 1917
1 The women, the workers, the soldiers: Paléologue, III, 213, 264.
2 “The ministers are but fleeting shadows”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 261.
3 “Be sure, we shall never give you up”: ibid., 262.
4 The overburdened railroads: ibid., 204. Cars and locomotives: Florinsky, End, 42.
5 Food prices: Paléologue, III, 44.
6 “Our Friend … spoke scarcely about anything else”: AF to N, 195.
7 Boilers burst: Paléologue, III, 213.
8 “We older men may not live”: Payne, 252. Hair oil: ibid., 251. Lenin’s mother-in-law: ibid., 250.
9 The events of March 8: Paléologue, III, 213; Pares, 440; Moorehead, 141. Pavlova, Karsavina and Kschessinska: Paléologue, III, 214.
10–11 The events of March 9: ibid., 214; Pares, 440–1; Knox, 558. Enesco: Paléologue, III, 215–16.
12 “I order that the disorders in the capital”: Pares, 442.
13 Condition of the Petrograd garrison: Knox, 551; Paléologue, III, 81.
14 The events of March 11: Pares, 442; Moorehead, 143; Knox, 558; Paléologue, III, 216.
15 Rodzianko’s telegram, “May the blame not fall,” and “That fat
16 Rodzianko has sent me some nonsense”: Pares, 443.
17 Ivanov’s expedition: ibid., 457.
18 “The part of the city through which we passed”: Buchanan, II, 58.
19 The Radziwill party: Paléologue, III, 214, 217.
20 The workers were tired of being killed: ibid., 217.
21 “The Reaction is gaining strength”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 266–7; Pares, 443.
22 Sergeant Kirpichnikov: Pares, 445; Moorehead, 146.
23 “The same wide streets”: Meriel Buchanan, 164.
24 “At half past eight”: Paléologue, III, 221.
25 “The depot troops … had mutinied”: Knox, 553.
26 “Frightened inhabitants were scattering”: Paléologue, III, 222–3.
27 Soldiers join the revolution: Moorehead presents a timetable of defections, 149.
28 “Now there is nothing left … but shoot myself”: Pares, 451.
29 “The Emperor wishes to express thanks”: Kerensky, Murder, 78.
30 The mob arrives at the Duma: Knox, 556; Pares, 453.
31 “I must know what I can tell them”: Pares, 449.
32 “I don’t want to revolt” and “If you don’t, others will”: ibid., 451.
33 The appearance of the Soviet: ibid., 460. “The entire garrison had mutinied”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 274.
34 “Two different Russias settled side by side”: ibid., 275.
35 “He seemed to grow every minute”: Pares, 450.
36 “Waves of hatred … beat against the walls”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 219.
37 “It is I, Protopopov”: Pares, 454.
38 Fall of the Winter Palace: ibid., 453.
39 Butchery at Kronstadt: Botkin, 139; Paléologue, III, 282. Wild celebrations: Paléologue, III, 225. Kschessinska’s mansion: ibid., 229; Kschessinska, 169.
40 “They marched in perfect order”: Paléologue, III, 232.
41 Countess Kleinmichel: Vorres, 99.
42 Grand Duke Cyril: Pares, 460; Kerensky, Murder, 89. The Red Flag on his roof: Paléologue, III, 259. “I have been alone in carrying out my duties”: Kerensky, Murder, 89. “I have asked myself several times” Paléologue, III, 265. “Who can tell?” ibid., 265.
43 “On the steps of Our Lady of Kazan”: ibid., 226.
44 “We will begin with the Germans here”: Knox, 558.
CHAPTER 28 ABDICATION
1 “Here in the house it is so still”: N to AF, 313.
2 “I shall take up dominoes again”: ibid., 313.
3 “An excruciating pain in the chest”: ibid., 316.
4 Voeikov: Buchanan, II, 61.
5 “I hope Khabalov will be able to stop these street disorders”: N to AF, 316.
6 “After yesterday’s news from town”: ibid., 317.
7 “Concessions inevitable”: Kerensky, Murder, 79.
8 Nicholas chose a longer route: Pares, 458–9.
9 Stopped at Malaya Vishera: Kerensky, Murder, 86–7.
10 “Well, then, to Pskov”: Pares, 459.
11 Met by Ruzsky: Kerensky, Murder, 87.
12 Failure of Ivanov’s expedition: Pares, 458.
13 Ruzsky’s exchange with Rodzianko: Kerensky, Murder, 90–2,
14 Formation of a Provisional Government: Paléologue, III, 236.
15 Nicholas must abdicate: ibid., 234. “It is of vital importance”: ibid., 233.
16 The generals unanimous: Pares, 465.
17 “On my knees”: Mosolov, 27.
18 Peeped out the window: Kerensky, Murder, 93.
19–20 Unwilling to start a civil war: Pares, 465.
21 “In favor of my son, Alexis”: Kerensky, Murder, 93.
22 Shulgin and Guchkov to Pskov: Pares, 466.
23–24 Nicholas’s conversation with Fedorov: Benckendorff, 46–7; Mosolov, 124. “Science teaches us, Sire”: Gilliard, 195.
25 “This long speech is unnecessary”: Bykov, 25–6; Pares, 467.
26 The abdication document: The text quoted is from Pares, 467. Slightly different translations from the Russian can be found in Gilliard, 196, and Paléologue, III, 237.
27 “The Emperor looked at me”: quoted by Pares, 468.
28 “Treason, cowardice and deceit”: Kerensky, Murder, 94–5.
29 “The same scene met me everywhere”: Paléologue, III, 247.
30 “It was not so much the Emperor”: Buchanan, II, 86.
31 “Well, so he’s gone”: Gorer and Rickman, 71.
32 “Bliss was it in that dawn”: quoted by J. C. Squire in his Introduction to Buxhoeveden, xvii.
33 Congratulations and fraternal greetings”: Paléologue, III, 254.
34 Wilson’s speech: quoted by Kennan, 18.
35 “It is the shallow fashion of these purblind times”: Churchill, World Crisis (Scribner), 695–7.
36 “Nicky must have lost his mind,”: Alexander, 287–8.
37 “The immediate accession of the Tsarevich”: Paléolo
gue, III, 251.
38 “I needn’t tell you of my love for the Emperor”: ibid., 265–6.
39 Michael and Constantinople: Pares, 470.
40 “To His Majesty, the Emperor Michael”: Kerensky, Murder, 95.
41 “No more Romanovs”: Paléologue, III, 238.
42 “Long live the Emperor Michael”: Kerensky, Murder, 94.
43 The meeting on Michael’s future: Pares, 470. “He asked me point-blank”: Kerensky, Murder, 94. “I cannot answer for the life of Your Highness”: Bykov, 29. “Monseigneur, you are the noblest of men”: Paléologue, III, 241. Children’s schoolroom: Pares, 470.
44 Nicholas not considered a threat: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 269.
45 “He was absolutely calm”: Paléologue, III, 251.
46 Nicholas’s address to the army: Pares, 472–4; Paléologue, III, 259.
47 Nicholas says goodbye to his staff: Alexander, 290; Kerensky, Murder, 102.
48 Hanbury-Williams’s last interview: Hanbury-Williams, 168.
49 The new oath of allegiance: Alexander, 290–1; Kerensky, Murder, 102. The town was illuminated: Alexander, 291. Two red flags: Hanbury-Williams, 171.
50 “The deposed Emperor understands”: Kerensky, Murder, 99.
51 “The news of Nicky’s abdication came like a thunderbolt”: Vorres, 151–2.
52 Nicholas greets Marie: Alexander, 288; Kerensky, Murder, 101.
53 “Let the Germans in”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 269.
54 Nicholas’s farewell to Marie: Alexander, 292; Kerensky, Murder, 103–4.
55 Alexeiev’s bow to the Duma representatives: Bulygin, 188.
CHAPTER 29 THE EMPRESS ALONE
1 “I want you to come to Tsarskoe Selo”: Dehn, 147.
2 “How is it in Petrograd?”: ibid., 148. “There is no danger, Your Majesty”: ibid., 148.
3 The cadet with measles: Vyrubova, 204–5. “She spent all the succeeding days”: ibid., 205. The children’s temperatures: Buxhoeveden, 251.
4 “Lili, it is very bad”: Dehn, 148. “I have wired him”: ibid., 150.
5 “Petrograd is in the hands of the mob”: ibid., 149.
6 “I don’t want the girls to know anything”: ibid., 152.
7 Benckendorff’s messages from Rodzianko and from the Tsar: Benckendorff, 2–3.
Nicholas and Alexandra: The Tragic, Compelling Story of the Last Tsar and his Family Page 74
