Messages

1

The Imperial Family / Memories of the 1903 Ball

« on: November 06, 2017, 03:40:34 PM »

Hi all - been a while since I've been in the forum.

I'm looking into the 1903 Ball, specifically what occurred during the two nights in February at the Winter Palace. Previous threads have been mostly about what the guests wore (which is very cool), but I'm hoping to know more about what the guests actually did on both nights.

Any specific memoirs or recollections that you can point me to would be much appreciated. Apologies if this is documented in another thread, but I did a pretty thorough check and mostly saw costume-related posts.

Thanks!

2

Their World and Culture / Gypsy music

« on: April 11, 2012, 11:22:08 PM »

So in doing some light research gypsy music recordings from the 1900-1917, I've found some great gems, but unfortunately many of them are extremely obscure. I recently found this recording, although it is most definitely NOT from the 1900-1917 timeframe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvxMWfB0TYM

I'm hoping for some more info. So far it seems like the information presented is wrong, or at least from what I can tell from the comments. Maybe a recording from the Moscow gypsy theater? Does anyone recognize it? Or have a better recording of it? Any other recommendations for gypsy music from both Tsarist (what would have played at the Villa Rhode) and Soviet times?

3

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Authors

« on: January 23, 2012, 10:39:09 PM »

Yes, Alixz, he did. But I was still hoping to hear more of the story via a one-on-one discussion. At any rate though, I got the information I needed. Thanks to everyone who helped me out. This forum is such a great resource.

4

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Authors

« on: January 18, 2012, 09:59:21 AM »

Hi everyone,

I figured the forum would be a great resource for my request - I'm a health/science reporter based in Chicago and hoping to get in touch with a Russian author to discuss the historical repercussions of hemophilia on Nicholas II and his family. Specifically I'm hoping to get in touch with Robert K. Massie (whose son also has hemophilia) or Greg King. I'm looking for either a middleman source that can put me in touch with them or ask them to contact me. I don't want personal home numbers or anything like that. If you can, please message me privately on the forum! Thanks so much for any help anyone can give.

5

Russian Imperial Medals, Orders, Uniforms & Militaria / Re: Semyonovski Guards

« on: December 27, 2011, 08:06:30 PM »

Just reviving this thread a bit - does any one know how the Semyonovsky Regiment were involved in the February Revolution if at all? Did they revolt or hold firm? I know a reserve battalion was left behind to protect St. Petersburg during the war.

6

Having Fun! / Re: What Ifs or Alternate Histories

« on: December 27, 2011, 12:59:27 AM »

Here's another alternate history scenario: in 1908, a mysterious explosion occurred deep in Siberia, today known as the Tunguska Event. Had the event occurred about 4 hours later, the explosion would have completely destroyed St. Petersburg due to the earth's rotation (if you look at a map, you can see the Event and St. Petersburg are along the same axis). What would have happened?

I did a search on the Tunguska Event in the forum, and people have not discussed this aspect of the topic. And to be honest, I did not read the 23 pages of this thread, so I hope posting this theory isn't completely out of the blue. But it IS a What If and Alternate History thread...

7

Imperial Russian History / St. Petersburg Imperial phone books

« on: December 27, 2011, 12:51:33 AM »

I've read in various sources that there are phone books from Imperial St. Petersburg available...does anybody know where one can get access to these great resources?

8

Nicholas II / Re: tsar's voice

« on: October 02, 2011, 09:37:17 PM »

Diane, don't worry about repeat threads. Sometimes it reinvigorates conversation on old topics. Also it calls to attention something people might be interested in and don't know it. I figured there were no recordings of the Tsar's voice and didn't even bother to do a search on it. But because you posted it, I was able to discover this today. Thanks for posting it!!

9

Imperial Russian History / Prohibition in Imperial Russia

« on: September 29, 2011, 04:08:00 PM »

Hey, can anyone give me a little more information about prohibition in Imperial Russia? I've read it was widely supported, but that it was just for public places? I'm a little unclear, because I've read accounts, memoirs, anecdotes that still involved booze after the time it was imposed. Any extra info or reading materials I could use would be greatly appreciated.

10

Rasputin / Re: A Modern Forensic Re-examination of Rasputin's Murder

« on: September 21, 2011, 08:32:28 PM »

Just purchased your book off Amazon, Richard. Looking very forward to reading it - even if I might not have time for it during my graduate studies. Always wanted to do my own research on Rasputin's devotees, mainly their lives before and after Rasputin.

11

Tatiana Nicholaievna / Re: Wild story on wikipedia

« on: September 19, 2011, 10:51:19 PM »

I have read different sources with different casts of characters present at the murder of Rasputin.

Definitely:
Prince Felix Yusupov
Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich
Vladimir Purishkevich
the mysterious Lieutenant Sukhotin
Dr. Stanislaus Lazavert (I've also read some interesting articles about him in the NY Times archives)

Possibly:
Vera Karalli, the actress
Marianne "Malanya" Derfelden (nee Pistolkors)
Buzhinsky, Felix's batman (male servant)

According to some other sources:
1 - 2 British agents.
or possibly several brothers of Irina Yusupov (if you believe Radzinsky's claims.)

I think several more people were present at the murder of Rasputin apart from the individuals who were there for sure there. Not Tatiana of course, but perhaps one or two women to help create the sounds of a soiree upstairs. It also seems unlikely that Felix and Dmitri carried out the wounds found on Rasputin's corpse. Felix was not a very violent man, I can't see Dmitri carrying out a beating. Purishkevich definitely advocated violence, after all he helped establish the Union of the Russian People which advocated the Black Hundreds. Who knows about Sukhotin. A lot of what Andrew Cook writes in "To Kill Rasputin" points to others being present at this assassination. It seems like all the confusion and varying reports and rumors allowed for many of the witnesses to disappear into history...

12

Tatiana Nicholaievna / Wild story on wikipedia

« on: September 18, 2011, 02:30:39 PM »

Now I realize wikipedia is not by any means a reliable, scholarly source, but sometimes it can be a skeletal outline. Anyways, I was reading Grand Duchess Tatiana's article and came across this bizarre passage: "Tatiana was rumored to have been present at Rasputin's murder on 17 December 1916, 'disguised as a lieutenant of the Chevaliers-Gardes, so that she could revenge herself on Rasputin who had tried to violate her.' It was also rumored that Rasputin was castrated in front of Tatiana, wrote Maurice Paléologue, the French ambassador to Russia, in his memoirs. Paléologue was skeptical at the time about the truth of the wild rumors and attributed them to the hatred of Rasputin held by people in St. Petersburg.[30]"

I've seen some wild stuff on wikipedia before, like Rasputin being able to shoot black fire out of his hands or something like that, but usually the articles get cleaned up by knowledgeable writers. Is this wild rumor about Tatiana something anyone has heard about before? In the days between Rasputin's death and the discovery of his corpse, there were a lot of wild rumors. That he had been made to commit suicide, that he had been beheaded, etc. I never heard this as one of those rumors, but because they quoted Paleologue, I am curious to know more. Can anyone shed some more light on this legend?

13

The Yussupovs / Re: Nikolai Yusupov, elder brother of Felix, his life and death

« on: November 05, 2009, 10:23:15 PM »

It was briefly touched upon in this thread, but does anyone have any more info about his relationship with Maria "Munya" Golovina?  I don't know much about the Golovins, but how were they associated with the Yusupovs?

Also, does anyone have any specific information about dueling in Russia?  How it was performed?  When (and if) it was ever legal?  I know Pushkin died after his duel, but beyond that I'm a little in the dark on the subject.     

14

Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: Your visits to St Petersburg, advices and pictures

« on: May 28, 2008, 10:16:46 AM »

I agree with Robert on the Eyewitness Travel guides.  Sometimes they can be slightly pricey, but they're great to look at and get a sense of what you're going to see. 

I have another question regarding all this palace business.  Some of the palaces/castles I encountered in Germany didn't allow me to film/photograph inside them.  Is that the case for these palaces?  I'm going to be in St. Petersburg from August to December this year, so it looks like I'll be able to go during off-season as well.  But since I'm going to be there for that long, I'm looking into going to as many palaces as I can.  The Yusupov, the Vladimir Palace, Anichkov, Kshensinskaya, the Mikhailovsky Castle, Yelagin, Marble Palace, Summer Palace--everything, really!   

15

Imperial Russian History / Re: 1906 Assassination Attempt on Stolypin at his Dacha

« on: May 17, 2008, 09:53:48 PM »

Once again, those photos are great.  However, I tried to use that website and after a few searches it just stopped working for me.  I found some interesting photos of Rasputin (one photo was apparently of two of his nieces) but after a while it started to not let me do anything.  Do I have to be registered or something to use this website?  It seems like it would be a great resource.