A Russian Rose

My icon and background art was done by I-TsarevichAlexei13 on DA!

[royalmess-art]

The Rumor. The Legend. The Mystery.

(Inspired by a conversation @izloveshorses and I once had about Anastasia marketing)

[Sept. 22, 2019]

[asecretshekept]

A mood board for trying to figure out what happened with the split tracks on tour last night

[a-russian-rose]

[a-russian-rose]

I haven’t posted anything in so long! I’m moving house next week and I’ve been super busy. Hopefully I’ll be more active after that

[tessiepessie]

Al I ever wanted was the world Chapter 2  | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

Anya had prepared her entire life for the day when someone would finally see the talent in her. Meanwhile, Dmitry spent most of his days amongst the corridors of a cold hospital, living on energy drinks and overheated food. And it is in this hospital where their paths cross and their story begins.

Dimya modern AU

[tessiepessie]

Chapter 4 is up!

[teatimeatwinterpalace]

August 9, 1899 - Death of Grand Duke George Alexandrovich son of Tsar Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna fretted deeply over the tubercular Grand Duke George. A member of her security team said, “more than once I detected the anguish of the mother stealthily trying to read the secret of her son’s hectic eyes, peering at his pale face, watching for his hoarse, hard cough, as he walked beside her, or dined opposite her.” Maria Feodorovna was right to worry about her sickly child. In August 1899, twenty-eight-year-old George collapsed at the roadside, while riding his motorcycle in the Caucasus. A peasant woman discovered him and stayed with him until he died. 

The news devastated George’s mother “My poor son passed away quite alone” went the telegraph message the dowager empress sent to Queen Victoria. “ Am heartbroken” in replying to Queen Victoria’s letter of sympathy, Nicholas II wrote that, “not having been with our dear Georgy at the last makes it all the harder for her [Maria feodorovna] to bear.” The funeral was an ordeal for the bereaved mother. The dowager empress held Xenia’s hand tightly, then staggered and collapsed, loudly muttering : “Home, let’s go home, I can’t stand it any more." A grieving Maria Feodorovna summoned the peasant woman who had found George dying on the roadside, so that she could recount what had taken place. As soon as the two women met, they were closeted together in deep conversation for hours. {From Splendor to Revolution: The Romanov Women, 1847–1928}

[early20thcenturynerd]

Tbh I love Pierre Gilliard’s relationship with Otmaa. Their letters are always so fun to read. In one letter to Maria, it sounds rather warm, but somewhat formal (well, perhaps excepting the Alexei poster bit) and then out of nowhere: 

“Watch out, Maria Nikolaevna! If you continue to tease me, I will take revenge!!!!“

Tbh in a lot of letters, it sounds like they just spent most of their time with him teasing and punching him

[early20thcenturynerd]

In a letter before the ‘revenge’ one, Pierre asks Maria to ‘protect’ him:

“Another request, Maria Nikolaevna: I beg you to protect me when I return to Tsarskoye Selo. You, Madam, are the same kind, the same gentle, the same patient that Olga Nikolaevna, in a word, an angel, and I am quite sure that you will protect me. In union with you, I’m not afraid of anyone.” 

[I’m unfortunately using google translate for some of these, so I cannot guarantee how correct the translation is]

[early20thcenturynerd]

This time to Anastasia:

“Your postcard was a very big success, everyone laughed a lot, and I am the first. But now beware! I will take revenge! Alexei Nikolaevich liked your postcard the most, because now He is sure that I no longer have a chance to succeed before I. T. [Irina Tolstaya - ‘Alexei’s Irina’ according to Tatiana] He already had serious concerns, and almost every day He asked me if, ‘honestly,’ I really want to marry her!! […]

I already wrote a long letter to Tatiana Nikolaevna yesterday, but I think that I will not send it, otherwise I will be afraid to return to Tsarskoye Selo, I will fear for my life! I’ll write another one to her tomorrow.”

[early20thcenturynerd]

I could read the letters all day!! This one’s to Olga:

“To tell the truth, I wrote you a letter in the spirit of what I sent to Tatiana Nikolaevna, but I thought that it would be more careful not to send it: I value my life a little more! Alexei Nikolaevich is angry with me that I have not sent you this letter. You know, I did not intend to send Tatiana Nikolaevna, but your brother took the letter from me and took it to His Majesty. Soon he returned, and said that the Emperor laughed a lot while reading the letter, and told him that it was necessary to send it, which I did. But I already regret it: what will happen to me when I return to Tsarskoye Selo?!!”

[mashkaromanova]

Princess Dagmar (‘Minnie/Minny’) of Denmark and Tsesarevich Nikolai (‘Nixa’), 1864

“Since the engagement the young couple had exchanged regular letters. While Nikolai struggled against his illness, Dagmar was learning the language and customs that must soon be her own. […] The couple exchanged visions of the children they would have and of their life together in the Anichkov Palace, the traditional residence of the heir to the throne where apartments were already being prepared. In his weakened state, Nikolai clung to these dreams. […]

On 7 April, after more than a fortnight’s silence, she sent a desperate appeal to her ‘dear Nixa’, reminding him that with the approach of spring their next meeting was drawing near; her mind was filled with thoughts of him and she longed for news*. She teased him with the joking, but perhaps real, anxiety that he had met someone else, and the letter took two days to write. But the news, when it came, could not have been worse. On Easter Sunday Nikolai’s condition suddenly deteriorated: he became feverish and could not see clearly. […] 

Nikolai was sleeping more now, though the slightest sound would wake him. On Saturday he saw Dagmar come into the room and whispered to his mother, ‘isn’t she beautiful?’ Dagmar spent a long time beside him that day, arranging his pillows and stroking his hand, talking softly all the while; for some time Alexander [Nixa’s brother ‘Sasha’] also stayed by the bed, holding his other hand. Later the legend grew that Nikolai had joined their hands and told them to marry after his death, but there is no suggestion of this in the early eyewitness accounts. The end came on the evening of Sunday 24 April. […] Nikolai was beyond speech now, but a single tear was seen on his cheek.”

- Romanov Autumn 

“Today for me, as always, is a day of bitter and cruel memory, you see exactly 54 [years] ago in Nice my beloved and unforgettable Nixa passed away, having held my hand in his, up until the last breath! My mind was in such confusion then and I felt that the light of my soul had gone out and that my happiness had fallen apart forever. But the Lord, all the same, intended a better fate for me and gave me the gift of so much happiness, which I received as a result from his darling brother, my blessed angel Sasha!”

- Maria, 1919

* “Dear, beloved Nixa, I am completely despondent that my dear little Nixa writes to me so rarely; I feel quite unhappy and forgotten; not even a telegram! Why this awful silence, what is the reason for it? […] Dear, dear Nixa, now lovely spring is beginning and the time for us to meet again is coming with it, you cannot imagine how much this occupies my thoughts, and how much I long for news from you so that I will know what you think about it, whether you are happy about it or not, for otherwise I greatly fear that you have become enamoured of a lovely Italian girl with big black eyes who had made you forget your poor little fiancée in the north!!!!! […] Never leave me without news for so long, it makes me far too unhappy, dear Nixa. Now farewell, my dear, do not forget me completely, and always keep a tiny little corner of your heart for faithful Minnie.”

[mashkaromanova]

Sunny Being Sunny: 4/?

Alexandra Feodorovna (with Anna Vyrubova on the left?), 1905 (?)

[mashkaromanova]

Grand Duchesses Anastasia, Tatiana (the first two) and Maria (at the far right) with Zoya Stokl and Olga Hrapovitskaya, 28th May 1914

“For many years, the children - in particular the Tsar’s daughters - have been presented as somewhat sheltered, naive and childish side-notes of history. This book shows this to be far from the reality. The diaries of the Grand Duchesses show that they led busy socially active lives, interacting with a wide range of people.”  

- In the Steps of the Romanovs: Final two years of the last Russian imperial family

“The more I read OTMA’s diaries and letters, the more amazed I am that anyone would claim that these girls were isolated and only had to socialize among themselves and the immediate family members. Nothing could be farther from the truth - OTMA had better social lives than anyone I know! They were constantly having teas and dinners with people, including those their own age. They were often going to ‘the city’ to see plays and operas and ballets.

They had very fun lives in fact, even when they studied, because their lessons included not only Physics but also fun things like music and dancing. Every weekend they went to socials at their grandmother’s or aunt’s houses, where they would play with their cousins and other people their own age. Where did this ‘isolated’ myth come from I wonder? They had very busy and happy lives that anyone would wish for. This included the war years as well. I am yet to see a diary where any of them describe being isolated and not seeing anyone other than the immediate family…”

- Helen Azar

[mashkaromanova]

Sunny Being Sunny: 1/?

Crop of Alexandra Feodorovna smiling alongside relatives, 1899. A few moments before she had been laughing and talking with Victoria (‘Toria’) of Wales

[mashkaromanova]

Close-up of Grand Duchess Maria with Catherine (‘Trina’) Schneider [+ Grand Duchess Anastasia on the right], White Flower Day, 1912

[a-russian-rose]

Tatiana Nikolaevna says YEET

[mashkaromanova]

Princess Victoria ‘Ducky’ Melita and Alexandra Feodorovna

“God grant they [Ducky and Ernie] may be happy - she is such a dear.”

- Alexandra, 30th March 1894

“His parents were resigned: they had done their best to prevent the marriage [between Ducky and Kyrill], but it was done, and they expected the Tsar to give Kyrill a ticking-off and then forget all about it. They were stunned, and livid, to hear that their son had been stripped of his rank and titles and banished for his blatant breach of the family laws. Vladimir went to remonstrate with his nephew and Marie [Pavlovna the Elder] had no doubt of who was really to blame. 

She wrote to her uncle, Heinrich VII Reuss Kõstritz: ‘the blind vindictiveness and rage of the young Tsarina has, for sheer malice, exceeded everything the wildest imagination could conceive. She stormed and raged like a lunatic, dragging her weak husband along with her until he let her his power and so made it possible to revenge herself on her ex-sister-in-law for marrying the man of her choice.’

She really believed this and for ninety years her version of events has gone unchallenged. It is only now, as documents are released from the archives in Russia, that we can see how wrong she was. Alexandra did not hate Victoria Melita for the painful end of her brother’s marriage. She pitied them both, pleading with her sister-in-law Ksenia not to judge them harshly or listen to gossip about them*. It was Nicholas, not Alexandra, who felt obliged to punish his cousin, following a precedent set by his father, and many other members of the family supported the action he took.”

- Romanov Autumn 

* “Only one thing I entreat of you, darling Xenia, whenever you hear nasty gossip, at once put a stop to it, for their sakes and ours. […] Poor girl, she is utterly miserable now without a home, tho’ he leaves her the sweet Child. His home is desolate and everything will remind him of her whom he still cares for. But I cannot write any more about it; you can think how we sisters who adore him and are very fond her her, have suffered. But we must believe that always all is for the best. You will not judge them harshly dear, my poor unhappy ones.”

[mashkaromanova]

“I also have access to the Russian letters between Nicholas and Kirill before the wedding — I now very much doubt that Kirill’s parents were even aware that Nicholas had warned Kirill in advance — and were genuinely shocked about the repercussions. In our annotated translation of Tatiana’s diaries, Helen Azar and I noted with what frequency Nicholas, Alexandra, Cyril, and Ducky met after the banishment was lifted. Even when Ducky was single AND divorced, Alexandra made her a godparent to the heir Tsesarevich Alexis.”

- Nick Nicholson

[mashkaromanova]

Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna with her granddaughters, Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana at the consecration of the Anglo-Russian Hospital, Petrograd, 19th January 1916. Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna can also be seen

“At 3 o’clock Olga, Tatiana and I went to the consecration of the English Hospital in Sergei’s palace. The hospital is very well fitted out.”

- Extract from Maria’s diary, 19th January

“We went with Grandma to Aunt Ella’s house for the consecration of the English infirmary. There was a moleben, we did the rounds, were photographed and had tea.“

- Ex from Olga’s diary (trans: George Hawkins)

“At 2.15 we two with Isa went to Petrograd to the Anichkov [palace]. Went to Grandmama’s, to Aunt Ella’s house for the infirmary consecration. Had moleben. Walked around all the wards, and then took photographs. Had tea. All the staff is English, came from England especially for this. Wonderfull infirmary.” 

- Ex from Tatiana’s diary

“I must now tell you all about the opening - splendid photographs were taken and are to appear in the papers. […] At 3 p.m., the Dowager Empress arrived; walked down the room alone, followed by the two Princesses [common mistake, they weren’t princesses, but Grand Duchesses], Olga and Tatiana, both dressed alike in plain terra cotta coloured suits with ermine toques, with big white ospreys on one side, huge ermine muffs, soft white blouses, rather open at the neck, black velvet bands around their throats, diamond ear-rings; one had a string of pearls, the other a diamond pendant - both perfect ducks, so bright and natural. […] I was presented to the [Dowager] Empress and she was very nice; she looked quite like Queen Alexandra.”

- Dorothy Cotton in a letter to her mother

[mashkaromanova]

Anastasia, Maria and Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova, April 1917

“Christ has risen! My Golden priceless Papa. May the Lord let You peacefully and happily greet this holy day. I send you an enormously affectionate kiss, my very own dear Papa. Your loyal Plastun.”

- Olga Nikolaevna Romanova to Nicholas Romanov, 2nd April 1917

“Maria Nikolaevna was very ill; she was thinner, very prettier, her expression sad and meek; she apparently suffered a lot, and the experience left a deep impression on her.”

- Elizabeth Naryshkina (’Madame Zizi’), 3rd/16th April

“Indeed He Has Risen! Thank you so much my dear sweet Lili for both of your cards. I was so happy to finally get some news from you. How are you? By now I am completely well and take walks with Papa every day, and now we are breaking the ice with him. Alexei also goes outside with us. If you write to us, address the letters to the nurses at the Infirmary #3 on the Sadovaya Street, as the letters will get there fast and [it is] more certain. Did you get the nurses’ letters through Rita? Is G.[illeg] spending the holidays in Moscow at the sister’s. [illeg]. Have you seen Evgeni Alexandrovich, N.N. and Khv.? Heartfelt greetings to all of them. Does your husband write to you? How is he doing? It is almost autumn here already [illeg]. A lot of mud and water. Mama was lying down on the balcony a few times and writing to you. [Her] heart still hurts and is tired.

Well, all the best to you, my darling. Where is Alexander Nikolaevich? May the Lord keep you. I kiss you affectionately, as always. - And the others kiss you too. Yours Tatiana.”

- Tatiana to Lili Dehn, 5th April

“Olga is still very weak, - the heart was weakened by continuous illnesses, lasting for two months. She is very sweet, and Maria is charming, in bed with the remnants of pleurisy.”

- Madame Zizi, 9th/22nd April

“Thank you so much for the postcard, dear Tili. Maria is also very grateful. Now I take walks when it is warm out, with Papa, Tatiana and Aleksei. And how are you? I send you good wishes. I kiss you and the little one affectionately. Your loving Anastasia”

- Anastasia to Lili, 10th April

“Indeed He Has Risen! Darling Tili, I thank you immensely for your [holiday] greetings, and also send you [good] wishes. I am still in bed as [I have] inflammation in [my] left lung, [it] still has not gone away. Every day they put a compress on my side, and spread iodine so my skin is peeling. [I] tried to walk but [my] legs are like rags and I am swaying awfully, looking so foolish. At one point I had an ear ache but [it was] not too bad, now we all talk loudly. I kiss you affectionately three times.”

- Maria to Lili, Easter

[mashkaromanova]

Grand Duchess Tatiana with her beloved ‘Uncle Ernie’, 1899 and 1912

[mashkaromanova]

Alexandra Feodorovna, 1916

“It’s often said that he was under the heel of his wife, Empress Alexandra Fedorovna, and that through her acted the evil genius Rasputin. No, no. Alexandra Fedorovna’s real influence on politics arose only in 1915, but even then her influence was far from domineering. This is clearly seen in their personal correspondence. The empress gave the tsar a lot of advice, but in reality, he ignored the majority of it. As for Rasputin, if we look at what advice he gave on domestic and foreign policy, almost none of it was put into practice. Yes, Rasputin tried to play in politics, tried to take the side of this or that power group, or rather, this or that person of authority. But his real influence was small.”

 - Fedor Gaida (associate professor in the department of history at Moscow State University) 

“Her influence on affairs of state was greatly exaggerated by her detractors. Nicholas never did anything he didn’t himself wish to do. Biggest example of this was Rasputin’s strong advice (he practically begged him) not to get involved in the war because If he does, it will destroy everything. Alix felt same. If only N actually listened to good advice then, but he didn’t. The point is - Nicholas listened to what they had to say, but in the end did what he felt was right. Sometimes that coincided with what Alexandra advised him sometimes it didn’t. But to say that he was her or his puppet, and that she actually had any serious influence on what happened, is absurd.”

- Helen Azar (author of several Romanov books including ‘In the Steps of the Romanovs: Final Two Years of the Last Russian Imperial Family’) 

“Any normal person would voice his or her opinion to their spouse about things that are going on, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Even if that spouse happens to be a Tsar or king. In fact, it would be a bit weird if they didn’t. I doubt that Alix expected him to do as she said, and of course he didn’t. But she had the right to express her opinion and give advice as his spouse, the rest was up to him, he was the autocrat not her. Besides, we don’t know of whether he tended to use her as a sounding board, as a lot of spouses do for each other. 

Personally I don’t think there is anything wrong with her expressing her opinions or even advising him, doing that alone doesn’t actually make it happen. As far as Rasputin, chances are that if Nicholas actually listened to his advice about the war, that would have saved him, his family and his dynasty. His advisors, who were supposedly so smart and politically savvy, all encouraged the war loudly, and he followed their advice. And look where that got him. Rasputin really nailed it, if ever N needed to listen to R and his wife, it was that one time.”

- Helen Azar (again) 

“Her ‘meddling’ in reality did nothing - the Tsar followed her advice on only a few occasions - it was analysed years ago on the Alexander Palace Forum and it turned out he followed her advice something only like only 6 or 7 times, and those times it was mostly with a good result. It was more the perception that she was meddling that caused damage to their reputation.”

- George Hawkins (co-author a forthcoming book with Helen Azar on Grand Duchess Maria, also a translator of many Russian primary sources like Helen)