#nicholas ii

klimbims:

Nicholas II | Николай II by Olga

The last Imperial family miniature portrait

longliveroyalty:

King Edward VII and Tsar Nicholas II watching the Cowes Regatta. June 1908.

TsarNicholas II and his son Tsarevich Alexei, c. 1916.

Nicholas II with family, staff and officers, c. 1905.  [original source]

teatimeatwinterpalace:

Nicholas II in Russian costume 1890s.

“Never!“
Soviet Union
c. 1920s

Nicholas II with his children, 1913

Left to right: Maria Nikolaevna, Olga Nikolaevna, Tatiana Nikolaevna, Alexei Nikolaevich, Nicholas II, Anastasia Nikolaevna

“At 10 ½ [we] went to the regimental church for obednya. Otetz Alexander Vasiliev served. After [we] returned, had breakfast with Papa and Sergei T. Mama did not get up yet, because she has a severe headache and is tired. At 2 o’cl. 15 min. we four walked with Papa. Almost no snow at all, but it is 5 deg.[rees] below [zero]. At 3 ½ o’clock Papa went to the Grand Palace to receive the escort and diplomats, while we went to see Countess Hendrikova. Sat with her for a while, and then went to [see] Aunt Mops, and from there to Anya’s. N.P. was there. We had tea all together, it was awfully cozy. 

Returned at 5 o’cl.[ock], Mama was lying down on the sofa in her study. It was very dark there and I think she was sleeping. Papa returned after 5 o’cl. and we had tea together. He went to Grandmama’s in Petersburg for dinner. We four had dinner with Anya and Mama in the mauve room. She still has a headache, and heart No. 2. After dinner she was lying down on the sofa there, and we sat near by on the floor and worked. Prayed with Alexei as usual at 8 o’cl. Went to bed at 10 o’cl. The year started out well – no one knows how it will end. Oh Lord, save Papa, Mama and all.”

- Olga’s diary, 1st/14th January 1913

“In the morning we four drove to obednya at the upper regimental church with Papa. Batushka gave a very good service. Had breakfast together with Papa and Sergei. Mama was in bed with a very severe headache. We four walked around our garden with Papa. Returned, changed and the four of us alone went to Countess Hendrikova. She was lying down in bed in the bedroom. We sat there for a little while, then from there to Aunt Evgenia Maksimilianovna’s, from there to Anya’s, Nik.[olai] Pav.[lovich] Sablin was there. There we had tea for a little while, then, when we were leaving on the train we ran into an officer from Mama’s Crimean regiment who taught at the Cavalier Guard School. I was very glad to see N.P.

At this time Papa is at the Grand Palace receiving the suite and diplomats. Had tea with Papa and Mama. Mama got out [of bed] and is lying down on the sofa. Later went to the hall with Alexei, where he slid down the hill with Derevenko’s sons. Then went upstairs where I sat with the sisters. They worked and I read to myself. The, had dinner with Mama, the sisters, and Anya. Papa went to Grandmama’s in Petersburg. After dinner sat and read. At 10 o’cl. Olga and I went to bed.”

- Tatiana’s diary, 1st/14th January

teatimeatwinterpalace:

_{This sketch shows the moment at their joint coronation in which Nicholas II, already crowned with Catherine II’s Great Imperial Crown, moves forward to place the smaller consort’s crown on his wife’s head. Moments before this scene, the Emperor would have briefly lifted off the crown which he had just placed on his head, and touched it to his wife’s forehead, symbolically joining her to his exercise of the monarchical power entrusted to him by God.}

The young Imperial family of Russia c. 1901

Emperor Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra Feodorovna photographed on the Imperial Yacht in June of 1908. 10 years later they would be murdered with their five children in a cellar of Ipatiev House in 1918.

imperial-russia:

Tsar Nicholas II and his children aboard imperial yacht Standart, 1912

Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna Romanova (1875 - 1960) - Part 1 of 3

Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna was the fourth child and first daughter of Emperor Alexander III and his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna. Her mother was eager to have a girl after her three boys, Alexander (who died as a baby), Nicky, and Georgy. Her parents and siblings received Xenia with great joy. 

Xenia was born into the lap of luxury, during a time when her parents, who were not yet Emperor and Empress, had less social and state commitments and more time to devote to their children. Her childhood was genuinely idyllic. She grew up surrounded by cousins, who became playmates and lifelong friends (such as Marie, Princess of Greece and Denmark and Victoria of Wales) and even found a husband (Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich) among these childhood companions.  European royalty of the time was almost all related, not only through Queen Victoria but also through Queen Louise and King Christian IX of Denmark, Xenia’s maternal grandparents, who were known as the “mother and father-in-law of Europe;” these extended families got together every year, and the royal children had a chance to form lasting relationships.

Xenia received the education typical of an aristocratic girl of her time, which concentrated on languages, drawing (she was as talented as her mother and sister Olga), and music. She took gymnastics lessons and was somewhat of a tomboy (despite her delicate and refined appearance.) She resembled her mother physically but her personality was not as gregarious; she was shy with strangers. In her letters, one can appreciate an intelligent, curious, friendly woman. All her life, she would be involved in many charitable causes (giving to others even when she was not in a position to do so anymore.) However, her generosity and good works did not seem to get as much publicity in her case as in that of other Russian female royals, perhaps because her roles were usually administrative and she did not have to wear a uniform. 

By the time Xenia was sixteen, she knew she wanted to marry her cousin Alexander Mikhailovich. It is possible that the appeal of such a union resided not only in the dashing person of Sandro but also on the fact that the marriage would allow Xenia to stay in Russia rather than result in her contracting a dynastic union outside of it.  Her parents made the couple wait until she was nineteen. Interestingly enough, Alexander was not the only Mikhailovichi who desired Xenia Alexandrovna’s hand in marriage. Sandro’s younger brother Sergei was also in love with the young grand duchess. Did Xenia ever questioned her choice of brothers later on in her life?

Xenia met and befriended Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine when they were both adolescents and they wrote to each other; it seems that Xenia did whatever she could to propitiate a union between the pretty princess and her brother Nicholas; the girls called each other “Chicken” (Xenia) and “Hen” (Alix). They would remain friendly even after their respective marriages, although the relationship eventually soured. 

Photographs:  1. Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna with her mother, Tsarevna Maria (she was born before her father became Tsar and her mother Tsarina); 2. Grand Duchess Xenia with her older brothers, the Grand Dukes Nicholas and George; 3. Grand Duchess Xenia with her younger brother Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich (I wish I knew the dog’s name); 4. Grand Duchess Xenia and her younger sister Grand Duchess Olga (the only one of Alexander III’s children to be born “in the purple;” 5. Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna with Xenia and Misha; 6. A nubile Xenia wearing Russian court dress; 7. Life- long friends Grand Duchess Xenia and her cousin Princess Marie of Greece and Denmark (the future “Grand Duchess George” after her marriage to Grand Duke George Mikhailovich who was an older brother of Xenia’s husband, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich); 8. Grand Duchess Xenia and her cousin, Victoria (”Toria”) of Wales; 9. From left to right, Olga, Nicholas, Xenia and the future George V; 10. Empress Maria Feodorovna (looking incredibly young) and Grand Duchess Xenia with Grand Duke Alexander (Sandro) Mikhailovich 

Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna Romanov, Tsar Nicholas II and Pavel Voronov, ca. 1912.

Tsar Nicholas Romanov and his son Alexei at the meeting with built by soldiers and officers, St. George’s award-marks of distinction. Mogilev 1915.

Emperor Nicholas II and his children leave Fedorov’s Cathedral. 1910

imperial-russia:

Imperial couple Nicholas II and Alexandra Fyodorovna posing with their new-born daughter Grand Duchess Tatiana, summe 1897.

15th June 1909 part ½

Photo 1 [seated, from left to right]: Prince Carl of Sweden, Prince Gustaf VI Adolf, King Gustave V, Tsar Nicholas II, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, Queen Victoria of Sweden (born Princess Victoria von Baden), Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna [standing], Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, Princess Ingeborg of Sweden [standing] (born Princess Ingeborg of Denmark), Princess Astrid of Sweden, Princess Margaret of Sweden (born Princess Margaret of Connaught), Princess Maria Pavlovna of Sweden (born Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia)
[seated on the ground] : Princess Margaretha of Sweden, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna and Princess Märtha of Sweden in the park of the Tullgarn Palace in Sweden, 15th June 1909.

“15th June. Monday.
Today was even warmer. At 10 ¼ they started the engines and half an hour later we anchored in a beautiful bay opposite the Tullgarn Palace. At 11 o'clock the king, the queen and the whole family appeared. We went with them to the beach. At the pier there was the guard of honor from the local Südermanland regiment. We drove two steps to the castle in carriages. Checked all rooms. We had breakfast and dinner without suites. Listened to one singer, who sang romances in different languages. Walked with Gustav in an umbrageous park. All the children were called there, they fumbled and played intensly despite the heat. Stayed in my room for only three ¼ hours. At 9 ¼ returned to the yacht, accompanied by the whole family. The cabins were stuffy. We said goodbye to the hospitable hosts of Sweden. Marie and William stayed to chat with us and drink tea. Evening and night were amazing.”

Photos from:
Tsar Nicholas II 1905-1910 Album/ Page 6 - photos 60, 62
Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna’s 1908-1912 Album/ Page 33 - photo 555
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna’s 1908-1910 Album/ Page 13 - photos 252, 254

Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsar Nicholas II and Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna onboard the Standart, 7th September - 20th September 1911.

Photos from:
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna’s 1910-1912 Album/ Page 18 - photo 265
Tsar Nicholas II 1910-1911 Album/ Page 18 - photo 247

Tsar Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, Anna Alexandrovna Vyrubova “Anya” and Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna in Bad Homburg, 1st September 1910.

“1st September. Wednesday.
It was a gray day. At 10 ¼ went with Olga and Marie to Homburg. We got out near our church, met Anya and went for a walk through the streets. Soon obnoxious people started recognizing us, we couldn’t get into any store, and we came back earlier than we thought. After breakfast, a large bonfire was lit downstairs in the garden and potatoes were baked. Read. Anya had dinner with Alix.”

Photo from:
Tsar Nicholas II 1910-1911 Album/ Page 3 - photo 23

13th October 1911 : Day at Ai-Petri part 4/4

Tsar Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna and Prince Felix Felixovitch Yusupov (Count Sumarokov-Elston) admiring the view at Ai-Petri, 13th October 1911.

“13th October. Thursday.
Woke up to a thick fog. At 10 o'clock went with Olga, Tatiana and Maria on a motor to Ai-Petri. Before reaching the Farm, left the area of fog and further up, the whole day stayed radiant and warm. At Ai-Petri, we met with Yusupov and his guests and went to his deer paddock to the left of the Bakchisaray high road. Mounted horses and rode 4 versts through a beautiful beech forest to a steep cliff, from where there is a striking view of the Kokoz Valley and three hillsides. Returned to the tent and sat down to have breakfast at 1 ¾. The warmth in the mountains and the air were intoxicating. Returned home at 5 o'clock delighted with the day […]”

“13th October. Thursday.
In the morning at 10 o'clock with Papa, we three drove by motor through Ai-Petri to the new estate of Pr. Yusupov. Everyone rode on horseback and looked at the view of the mountains, beautiful […] Had breakfast in his Egyptian tent and were home at five. Heavy fog in Livadia and Yalta all day long. Had dinner with Mama and Papa. Rode a gray horse "Dulber” […] “

Photos from:
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna’s 1910-1912 Album/ Pages 22 - photos 321, 322, 323, 324, 329, 330
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna’s 1910-1912 Album/ Pages 25b - photos 418, 419, 420, 421

13th October 1911 : Day at Ai-Petri part ¼

Tsar Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna and Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna arriving by motor in Ai-Petri

“13th October. Thursday.
Woke up to a thick fog. At 10 o'clock went with Olga, Tatiana and Maria on a motor to Ai-Petri. Before reaching the Farm, left the area of fog and further up, the whole day stayed radiant and warm. At Ai-Petri, we met with Yusupov and his guests and went to his deer paddock to the left of the Bakchisaray high road. Mounted horses and rode 4 versts through a beautiful beech forest to a steep cliff, from where there is a striking view of the Kokoz Valley and three hillsides. Returned to the tent and sat down to have breakfast at 1 ¾. The warmth in the mountains and the air were intoxicating. Returned home at 5 o'clock delighted with the day […]”

“13th October. Thursday.
In the morning at 10 o'clock with Papa, we three drove by motor through Ai-Petri to the new estate of Pr. Yusupov. Everyone rode on horseback and looked at the view of the mountains, beautiful […] Had breakfast in his Egyptian tent and were home at five. Heavy fog in Livadia and Yalta all day long. Had dinner with Mama and Papa. Rode a gray horse "Dulber” […] “

Photos from:
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna’s 1910-1912 Album/ Pages 21+21b - photos 304, 305, 309, 310, 311, 317

Tsar Nicholas II and Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna in Livadia, 20th September - 15th December 1911.

Photo from:
Tsar Nicholas II 1910-1911 Album / pages 23, photo 307

27th July 1910 : Afternoon at the Sobstvennaya dacha in Peterhof

Photo 1-2 : The Grand Duchesses with officers from the Standart in Peterhof

Photo 3 : Tsar Nicholas II on a horse and Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna

Photo 4 : Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna and an officer. The Sobstvennaya dacha can be seen in the background.

Photo 5 : Paul Voronov, Messing (?), Tsar Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna and Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna

Photo 6 : Tsar Nicholas II and Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

Photo 7 : Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

Photo 8 : Tsar Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna and Nikolai Pavlovich Sablin in front of the Sobstvennaya dacha.

“27th July. Tuesday.
[…] After breakfast rode on a new Bukhara horse. By the sea at the Sobstvennaya dacha, met Alix with the children and a cavalcade of Standart officers. Went for a ride around Sergievka and drank tea on the premises of the Sob[stvennaya] dacha. Messed around afterwards. Got back at 6 ¼. […]”

Photos from:
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna’s 1910-1912 Album/ Page 13b - photos 228, 230, 231
Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna’s 1909-1912 Album/ Page 11b - photos 178, 181
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna’s 1910-1912 Album/ Page 4b - photos 58, 63
Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna’s 1908-1912 Album/ Page 73b - photo 1166

To see what the Sobstvennaya dacha used to look like and what it looks like now from the outside go to the article HERE. For rare photographs of the old interior : HEREandHERE.