#maria diary entry

[mashkaromanova]

“Went to church with Papa and Mama. Had breakfast [we] 5, Papa and Mama on the sofa. [We] 4 went to the Gr.[and] Pal.[ace]. Walked with Papa and Mama [rode] in a carriage. Broke ice [we] 4 with Papa. Had tea in the playroom. [We] 5 went to Anya’s concert at the infirmary, ‘Ivanov Pavel’ and the magicians. Went to our infirmaries with A[nastasia]., 17 soldiers arrived from the train. Rode around with A. and Shura. Had dinner 5 with Papa, Mama, Silaev and Anya. Papa read.”

- Maria Nikolaevna’s diary, 20th March/2nd April 1916

[mashkaromanova]

Nikolai Nikolaevich Rodionov, Maria Nikolaevna, Olga Nikolaevna, Pavel Voronov and Tatiana Nikolaevna, 17th/30th December 1913

“Sailed out to sea at 5 in the morning. The yacht rocked a little, nice. Arrived in Sevastopol at 8.35 and docked. Salutations. I was in the control room with S [Pavel Voronov]., Rodionov and Kublitzky. At 10 in the morning Papa went to consecrate something at the aviation school. We were there too until breakfast at 12 1/2. In the afternoon Mama was lying down on the quarter deck. Very warm and a warm wind. Her heart is 2 1/2. In the afternoon [we] took lots of pictures on the deck. 

Then sat in control room with my [code: loved one] S., he wrote in the log journal, and we stayed there. He does not feel well - headache and cough. It is so nice to be with him. Papa returned after 4 o’cl. Had tea with all the officers at 5 o’cl. Then went to look at the train with N.P., S., Rodionov and Ippolit. I sat on the deck, but S. did not come. Extremely sad. A molebna was held on the deck at 7.40. After that the officers and the crew lined up on the wharf, we bid our farewells and left. [It was] terribly hard. 13 degrees. The yacht illuminated our way with searchlights. Went to bed at 10 o’cl. Mama is  already in bed. May the Lord save everyone and S.”

- Olga’s diary, 17th/30th December 1913

“Sailed off to Sevastopol at 5 o’cl. in the morning and arrived at 8 o’cl. 35 min. I got up at 8 o’cl. At 10 o’cl. Papa went to visit some place, something along the lines of an aviation school. We sat upstairs with N.P. and P.A. Had breakfast with everyone upstairs. N.P. was on watch duty from 12 - 4 but I still managed to see him a lot. When we were sitting with the sisters and P.A. the other officers also came over. 

At 4 1/2 Papa returned with almost all the officers and had tea. Later with N.P., P.A. and Ippolit went to see our train. Then sat with N.P. At 7 o’cl. 40 min. there was a moleben on the deck. It was terribly nice to pray with them for the last time. At 7 o’cl. 50 min. docked at the pier and said goodbye to our officers and the crew. It is so tiresome and awful to depart from the dear yacht and leave all our best friends. Had dinner with everyone on the train.”

- Tatiana’s diary

“In the morning arrived at Sevastopol. At breakfast sat with Nilov and Komarov. In the afternoon sat and talked with Pi, Kolya and Kotenok. Had tea [we] 4 with Mama, Papa, ladies and officers. Sat with Kolya and looked at the train. There was a prayer service on the deck and then we left the yacht to the train and it departed. It was very boring. At dinner sat with Nilov and Papa.”

- Maria’s diary

[mashkaromanova]

Maria Nikolaevna’s 1913 diary, 20th November/3rd December - 29th November/12th December (translated by Helen Azar).

‘Had dinner 5 with Mama and Papa’ = ‘We 5 had dinner with Mama and Papa’ The 5 means Maria and all her siblings. 4 means just Maria and her sisters.

Anya: Anna Vyrubova

Trina: Catherine Schneider

Kiki: Nikolai Pavlovich Sablin

20th November/3rd December:

“In the morning went to Kastritsky’s and had a lesson. At breakfast sat with Vetkin and Nilov. In the afternoon 4 played tennis, Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Kolya, Shurik, Zborovsky and Sumarkov were there. Had tea at home. Went 4 to vsenoshnaya. Had dinner 4 with Papa and Mama on the sofa.”

21st November/4th December:

“In the morning 4 went to obednya. At breakfast sat with Dumbadze, Kokovtzev. In the afternoon played tennis, Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Butkov, Zborovsky and Sumarkov were there. Went to Trina’s. Had dinner with Anastasia and Mama on the sofa.”

22nd November/5th December:

“In the morning went to Kastritsky’s and had lessons. At breakfast sat with Prince Trubetskoi and Nilov. In the afternoon played tennis, Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Kolya, Shurik, Zborovsky and Sumarkov were there. Had tea at home. Read in French and Russian. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

23rd November/6th December:

“Had lessons in the morning. At breakfast sat with Uncle Nikolasha and Count Shtekelberg. In the afteroon 4 played tennis, Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Kolya, Shurik, Zborovsky and Sumarkov were there. Had tea at home. Went 4 with Papa to vsenoshnaya. At dinner sat with Komarov and Nilov.”

24th November/7th December:

“In the morning 4 with Papa went to obednya. At breakfast sat with [illeg] and the Governor. In the afternoon 4 took a walk with Papa, Anya, Kiki, Kolya and Mama in a carriage. Had tea at the yacht, sat with Stolitza and Kublitsky. Went to Trina’s. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

25th November/8th December:

“Had lessons in the morning. At breakfast sat with Orlov and Count Shtekelberg. In the afternoon played at home, 4, Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Kublitsky and Kotenok were there. Had tea at home. Read in French and Russian. Had dinner with Anastasia and Mama on the sofa.”

26th November/9th December: 

“In the morning 5 with Papa and Mama to a parade. At breakfast sat with Kachalov and Count T[illeg]. In the afternoon 4 took a walk with Papa, Anya, Kiki, Kolya, Babitzyn, Shurik and Mama in a carriage. Had tea at home. Read in French. Had dinner with Alexei and Anastasia. Had our hair washed.”

27th November/10th December:

“In the morning went to Yalta and had lessons. At breakfast sat with Nilov and Count Apraksin. In the afternoon 4 played tennis, Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Kolya, Shurik, Zborovsky and Sumarkov were there. Had tea at home. Read in French and Russian. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

28th November/11th December:

“In the morning had lessons. At breakfast sat with Nilov and Komarov. In the afternoon 4 played at home, Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Kotenok and Shurik were there. Had tea at home. Read in Russian. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

29th November/12th December:

“In the morning had lessons. At breakfast sat with Nilov and Prince Trubetskoi. In the afternoon 4 played at home, Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Kolya, Shurik and Zborovsky were there. Had tea at home. Read in French and Russian. Had dinner 4 with Papa and Mama on the sofa. Went 4 with Papa to the theatre, ‘The Forgotten Outbuilding’ and live pictures.”

[mashkaromanova]

Maria Nikolaevna’s 1913 diary, 11th/24th June - 20th June/3rd July (translated by Helen Azar).

‘Had tea 5 with Mama and Papa’ = ‘We 5 had tea with Mama and Papa’ The 5 means Maria and all her siblings. 4 means just Maria and her sisters.

Anya = Anna Vyrubova

Andrusha: Andrei Alexandrovich

Aunt Mavra: Elizabeth Mavrikievna

Ioannchik: Ioann Konstantinovich

Trina: Catherine Schneider

Uncle Niki: Nicholas Konstantinovich

Uncle Sandro: Alexander Mikhailovich

Nastenka: Anastasia Hendrikova

Kiki: Nikolai Pavlovich Sablin

11th/24th June:

“In the morning 4 with Nastenka and Trina went to [illeg] and Aunt Olga. At breakfast sat with Sangovich and Polushkin. In the afternoon took a walk on the ‘patio’ with Papa, Aunt Olga, the ladies and officers. Had tea with Loya. Had dinner with Mama.”

12th/25th June:

“In the morning 4 with Nastenka, Trina and M.K. went to the mater [?] and Aunt Olga was there. At breakfast sat with Zelenetzky and Myasoyedov Ivanov. In the afternoon sat with Mama and Kiki. Had tea 4 with Papa, Aunt Olga and officers and ladies. Had dinner with Mama and [diary ends here].”

13th/26th June:

“In the morning went to the Lily of Valley island with Trina, Nastenka and L.A.B and Aunt Olga was there. At breakfast sat with Zelenetzky and Kuzminsky. In the afternoon took a walk on ‘patio’ with Papa, Aunt Olga, the ladies and officers. Had tea 4 with them. At dinner sat with Schetatveli and Anurkov. In the evening played with Anya, Nastenka, Pi, LM., K.A. N. and Arsenoev.”

14th/27th June:

“In the morning we 5 with Papa and Aunt Olga went to moleben. At breakfast sat with [illeg] and Nilov. In the afternoon went ashore with Papa, Aunt Olga, the ladies and officers, played tennis, I with Anastasia and Aunt Olga ran around barefoot. Had tea 4 with [illeg]. At dinner sat with Papa and Nilov. In the evening sat 4 with Pi, Kolya and Nastenka. Rose from a bouquet from Yalta.”

15th/28th June:

“In the morning stayed on the yacht. At breakfast sat with Nilov and Saltanov. In the afternoon went ashore played tennis and swung on giant steps. Had tea 4 with [illeg]. Read with Trina. At dinner sat with Babitzyn and Rodionov. In the evening talked with Pi and Nastenka.”

16th/29th June:

“In the morning 5 with Papa went to obednya on the deck. At breakfast sat with Nilov and Sangovich. In the afternoon sat with Mama and Kiki on the yacht. Had tea 4 with Papa, Aunt Olga, the ladies and officers. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

17th/30th June:

“In the morning stayed on the yacht. At breakfast sat with Papa and Nilov. In the afternoon went ashore [and] played tennis with baiblo popi [?] and swung on giant steps with Papa, Aunt Olga, the ladies and officers. Had tea 4 with the same. Read with Trina. Had dinner with Mama.”

18th June/1st July:

“In the morning stayed on the yacht. At breakfast sat with Zelenetzky and Shvedov. In the afternoon went ashore [and] swung on giant steps and played tennis with S. V. Z., Nastenka and Arsenoev. Had tea 4 with Papa, Aunt Olga on the ‘Polar Star.’ In the cabin compania sat with Nalb[illeg] and played on the [illeg]. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

19th June/2nd July:

“In the morning stayed on the yacht. At breakfast sat with Kiki and [blank]. In the afternoon went ashore, played tennis with L.M.K., Anastasia and Tatiana then with Arsenoev with Nastenka and Anastasia. Had tea 4 with Papa, ladies and officers who were on the shore. Played [illeg] I with Anastasia and Tatiana and Olga with Pi and Nastenka. At dinner sat with Kiki and [illeg].”

20th June/3rd July:

“In the morning stayed on the yacht. At breakfast sat with Nilov and in the afternoon went ashore, played tennis I with Zelenetzky, Anastasia and Arsenoev. Had tea 4 with Papa, Aunt Olga, ladies and officers who were on the shore. Read with Anastasia and Trina. Had dinner with Mama.”

[mashkaromanova]

Maria Nikolaevna’s 1913 diary, 10th/23rd August - 19th August/1st September (translated by Helen Azar).

‘Had tea 5 with Mama and Papa’ = ‘We 5 had tea with Mama and Papa’ The 5 means Maria and all her siblings. 4 means just Maria and her sisters. 3 means Maria, Anastasia and Alexei

Kiki: Nikolai Pavlovich Sablin

10th/23rd August:

“In the morning was lying down on the sofa. Had breakfast in bed, Mama on the sofa.”

11th/24th August:

“In the morning was lying down on the sofa at Mama’s. Had breakfast with Mama. Stayed on [illeg] sat with Mama and Kiki and had tea with them. Sat with Babitzyn and Kozhevnikov. Had dinner with Anastasia and Mama on the sofa.”

12th/25th August:

“In the morning stayed on the yacht. Had breakfast with Mama. In the afternoon stayed on the yacht, sat with Mama and Kiki, had tea with them. Sat with Pi and Kolya. Had dinner with Anastasia and Mama on the sofa.”

13th/26th August:

“In the morning stayed on the yacht. Had breakfast with Mama. In the afternoon Shkermansky and Balaklavsky battle fields. Had tea with Papa and Aunt Olga. Sat with Pi and Kolya. At dinner sat with Nilov and Dedulin. Sat with Pi, Kolya Zlebov, Stanitz, Mordvinov and Aunt Olga.”

14th/27th August:

“In the morning departed Sevastopol to Yalta. At breakfast sat with Grinvaldom and Prince Trubetzkoy. Arrived in Yalta, went to our house. There was a moleben. Had tea 4 with Papa, Mama and Aunt Olga. Went vsenoshnaya. Had dinner 4 with Papa, Aunt Olga and Mama on the sofa.”

15th/28th August:

“In the morning went to obednya with Papa and Aunt Olga. At breakfast with Komarov and Dedulin. In the afternoon took a walk with Papa and Aunt Olga. Had tea 4 with Mama, Papa and Aunt Olga. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

16th/29th August:

“In the morning took a walk with Papa, Aunt Olga, Anya, Drenteln and Mordvinov to Kharax. Then went swimming with Papa and Aunt Olga. At breakfast sat with Dedulin and Apraksin. In the afternoon went to Ai Danil 4 with Papa, Aunt Olga, Prince Gagarin and the suite. Took a walk there. Had tea 4 with Papa, Mama and Aunt Olga. Had dinner with Anastasia.”

17th/30th August:

“In the morning swam with Papa and Aunt Olga. Went to molebna at the ‘Standart’ 5 with Papa and Aunt Olga. At breakfast sat with Nilov and Zlebov. Then danced, it was very merry. Had tea 4 with Mama, Papa and Aunt Olga. Went 4 to vsenoshnaya. At dinner sat with Prince Trubetzkoy and Iyurikovsky.”

18th/31st August:

“In the morning went to obednya with Papa and Aunt Olga. At breakfast sat with Nilov and Dumbadze. In the afternoon 4 took a walk with Papa and Aunt Olga and then went swimming. Had tea 4 with Mama, Papa and Aunt Olga. Sat with Aunt Olga. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

19th August/1st September:

“In the morning went swimming with Papa and Aunt Olga. At breakfast sat with Dedulin and Mordvinov. In the afternoon 4 took a walk to Oreanda with Papa and Aunt Olga. Had tea 4 with Mama, Papa and Aunt Olga. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

[mashkaromanova]

“Had German and French lessons with M. Conrad. The Japanese prince KanYin had breakfast with us. I sat with Uncle Georgi and Uncle Pavel. Rode [we] 4 with Isa. Had tea [we] 4 with Mama. There was music. Read. Had dinner [we] 4 with Mama and Kiki. Went to the sisters’ infirmary, played tennis.”

- Maria Nikolaevna’s diary, 15th/28th September 1916

[mashkaromanova]

Maria Nikolaevna’s 1913 diary, 8th/21st September - 17th/30th September (translated by Helen Azar).

‘Had tea 5 with Mama and Papa’ = ‘We 5 had tea with Mama and Papa’ The 5 means Maria and all her siblings. 4 means just Maria and her sisters. 3 means Maria, Anastasia and Alexei

Anya: Anna Vyrubova

Trina: Catherine Schneider

Kiki: Nikolai Pavlovich Sablin

8th/21st September:

“In the morning went with Mama and Alexei to molebna and obednya. At breakfast sat with the Governor and Nilov. In the afternoon sat with Mama and Anya on the balcony. Had tea 4 with Mama and Papa. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

9th/22nd September:

“In the morning had lessons and went to the beach. At breakfast sat with Uncle Georgiy and the Colonel. In the afternoon played tennis 4 with Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Stolitza, Kolya and Pi were there. Had tea at tennis. At dinner in [illeg] room sat with Nilov and Zlebov. After that danced and it was very merry.”

10th/23rd September:

“In the morning took a walk with Papa and went to the beach. At breakfast sat with Komarov and Nilov. In the afternoon played tennis 4 with Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Kolya, Butakov and Kublitzky were there. Had tea at tennis. Read in French. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

11th/24th September:

“Had lessons in the morning then went to Yalta with Trina. Had breakfast 5 with Mama on the sofa. In the afternoon chose things for the bazaar 4 with Mama, ladies of the suite, Kiki, Kolya and [illeg] were there. Had tea with the same. Went to Trina’s played with her granddaughter. Had dinner 4 with Mama on the sofa.”

12th/25th September:

“In the morning read with Trina and met Papa who went to Kozmademyansky overnight. At breakfast sat with Botkin and Dedulin. In the afternoon walked 4 with Papa while Mama rode in a small carriage. Had tea 4 with Papa and Mama. Read in French. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

13th/26th September:

“Had lessons in the morning. At breakfast sat with Gr. Apraksin and Nilov. In the afternoon 4 played [word crossed out] Pi and Anya while Mama was lying down with Kiki. Had with Papa and the same. Went to vsenoshnaya with Papa. Had dinner 4 with Papa and Mama on the sofa.”

14th/27th September:

“In the morning went to obednya with Papa. At breakfast sat with Lavrinovsky and Komarov. In the afternoon played tennis 4 with Papa, Mama, Anya, Kiki, Babitzyn, Kolya and Ippolit were there. Had tea in the little house. Went 4 to vsenoshnaya. At dinner sat with Apraksin and Nilov. Listened to Stefanesko.”

15th/28th September:

“In the morning we 4 went to obednya with Papa. At breakfast sat with Dedulin and Gr. Apraksin. In the afternoon went with Anastasia and Trina to Nina and Ksenia. Had tea there, played croquet and swung on the giant steps. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

16th/29th September:

“In the morning took a walk with Papa. Had breakfast with Anastasia and Alexei and [illeg] Mama on the sofa. In the afternoon Anastasia and I went to the beach with Mama in a small carriage. Had tea with the same. Went to Yalta with Trina. Read in French. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei with Mama on the sofa.”

17th/30th September:

“In the morning had lessons and went to the beach with Trina. Had breakfast with Anastasia and Alexei and Mama on the sofa. Kiki was here during the day. Olga and Tatiana returned from Kozmademyansk with Papa. Papa killed 1 deer. Had tea 4 with Mama and Papa. Read in French. Had dinner with Anastasia and Alexei.”

[mashkaromanova]

“Went to the new infirmary with A.[nastasia] - to say goodbye. Went on the train to Stavka. Had breakfast and tea and dinner [we] 4 with Nastenka, Count Grabbe, Resin, Botkin, Shkuratov and 2 engineers. Walked at the stations Tosno, Bologoe, and M. Vishera. Played with Count Grabbe and Nastenka, read fortunes.”

- Maria Nikolaevna’s diary, 26th July/8th August 1916