Messages

4411

Servants, Friends and Retainers / Re: Princess Sonya Orbeliani (1875-1915),maid-of-honor

« on: May 05, 2004, 11:46:32 PM »

Just as a point of interest concerning the Orbeliani Dynasty ... her distant relative Prince Sulkhan Orbeliani (1655 - 1725) compiled a dictionary of the Georgian language. A monumental work for the times ... being the first of its kind.

Aside this, I am unable to find any information as to where Sonya was buried. She died in Alexandra's arms at the Catherine Palace hospital. Alexandra latter attended her funeral service. It would be interesting to find out more information.

4412

Russian Noble Families / Re: Kochubey Mansion Tsarskoye Selo

« on: May 05, 2004, 11:25:26 PM »

Hi Joanna!

No the two surnames are entirely separate. Both the Kochubey and Kotzebue families belonged to the Noble class.

Prince Victor S. Kochubey left Tsarskoe Selo and survived at least until July 1918 in Kiev. My meager information provides that he did not survive the revolution (I stand to be corrected). However his wife and children were safely exiled to Paris.

Count Alexander Pavlovich Kotzebue was also exiled to France and died in Nice. Other members of this family then emigrated to the United States.

4413

Rulers Prior to Nicholas II / Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, wife of Alexander I

« on: May 04, 2004, 11:01:17 PM »

There seems to be very little information about the two daughters who were born to Elizaveta Alexeevna.

Grand Duchess Maria b. 8.07.1800 in Tsarskoe Selo - died 12.05.1808 in SPb.

Grand Duchess Elizaveta b. 15.11.1806 in SPb - died 12.05.1808 in SPb.

There are strong inferences that both these girls were not Alexander's biological children. G.D.'s Marie's father was supposed to be Adam Czartoryski.

Alexander had 9 illegitimate children from 5 different women who were his lovers.

If we can accept these hypotheses then Alexander and his estranged spouse had no biological children together. The problem was compounded by the fact that there was no legitimate male heir to succeed Alexander I.

All my references are silent with regard to causes of death for either of the two Grand Duchessses.

4414

Romanov and Imperial Russia Links / Re: Traveling in Russia

« on: May 04, 2004, 10:35:43 PM »

I agree completely with 3710.

By going independantly you can stay as long as you like and wander through each of the Palace rooms and look at whatever piece fancies you, instead of being herded en mass. You have full control.

Traveling on the metro and rural trains is so much more fun than being on a huge bus full of tourists. This way you will have the opportunity to be among Russians and see so much more!

The occassional use of a private guide hired for a day is a very good idea. They can be hired to cater for your personal requests which may be different from the set itinerary most organizations provide. Some can come with a driver and car who can take you out to the more distant regions or neighboring towns.

~ ~

4415

Russian Noble Families / Re: Kochubey Mansion Tsarskoye Selo

« on: May 04, 2004, 02:46:24 AM »

To Joanna ...

Prince Victor Serge'evich Kochubey was one in the same person who took part in the Imperial retinue during 1891 visiting Asia to, as the man to whom Greg mentioned who served in the Appanage Department.

The Tsarskoe Selo Palace is currently an in-house Convention center, which recently has been slated to be one of the buildings to be privatized for the purpose of its restoration. It is located in Radishev St. (Ulitsa)

While the Kochubey restaurant (known as Palace of Prince Kochubey) is a separate entity which is located on Konnogvardeyskii Blv. It is here one can enjoy delicious traditional Russian cuisine. One delight is Kochubey pheasant which was named in honor of Victor Pavlovich Kochubey.  He served Alexander I as his Master of Ceremonies.

To appreciate one significant historic moment which belonged to the Kochubey family, Pushkin's epic poem titled Mazepa may be of interest.

The Kochubey dynasty (both women and men) have served the Imperial Court in various capacities from Nicholas I right up to Nicholas' II abdication.

~ ~

4416

Nicholas II / Re: Nicholas II's Favorite Things

« on: May 04, 2004, 01:28:33 AM »

Thanks for your information. Another tiny mystery has been solved!

Do you know in which year the photograph was taken?

Thanks in advance....

4417

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Best book or album with photos and portraits of the Romanovs?

« on: May 03, 2004, 11:30:40 PM »

Greg,

I have the original Russian version of the Bokhanov (1992) book. Is there much difference between it and the newer English version?

Thanks for your reply.

4418

News Links / Re: Moscow wants Tsarist gold back

« on: May 03, 2004, 09:00:52 AM »

Another new article concerning the continuing gold saga:

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=498042004

4419

Nicholas II / Re: Nicholas II's Favorite Things

« on: May 03, 2004, 08:36:20 AM »

Yes I agree with you JM.

At least the authors S & K were honest enough not to speculate who the second lady may have been.

It certainly was not Natalia Wulfert who never set foot on the Standart.

4420

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books

« on: May 03, 2004, 02:03:44 AM »

Hi Thierry ...

Thanks for the correction. In my haste I wrote Peter  of course it should be Nicholas II.

Thanks for pointing out my error!

For my own benefit I corrected my listing which I made above.

4421

The Final Chapter / Re: Romanov Bones

« on: May 03, 2004, 01:42:14 AM »

Peter Kurth's book in Tsar The Lost World of Nicholas and Alexandra @ p 217 provides a few B/W photographs.

4422

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books

« on: May 03, 2004, 01:13:12 AM »

Sorry I forgot to add the works of W.Bruce Lincoln

He wrote a magnificent book titled Romanovs Autocrats of All the Russias (1981) and also

Nicholas I Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias (1989) which is also very well written IMHO.

4423

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books

« on: May 03, 2004, 12:49:28 AM »

Troyat is a prolific writer who also wrote a book about Peter the Great (1988) and Catherine the Great (1979)

There is another other author who also wrote about Peter 1:

1. Alexei Tolstoy (1956) translated from the Russian language,

The following authors wrote about Nicholas II:
(corrected para.)

2. Dominic Lieven (1993),
3. and the fairly recent translation from the French by Helene Carrere d'Encausse (2000).

Zoe Oldenbourg also wrote about Catherine the Great (my edition is 1965), and is also translation from the French language.

All these books are available regularily on e-bay.

I hope you will enjoy some of these suggestions!  

4424

The Russian Revolution / Re: WHO WAS THE FIRST LEADER AFTER NICHOLAS II ABDICATED?

« on: May 03, 2004, 12:12:49 AM »

I believe the very idea of anarchy implies that there was disorder combined with political and social confusion (as defined in the Oxford dictionary).

Following Emperor Michael's abdication there was a very brief period where there was no government per se, whether it may be defined as autocratic or elected.

What followed was indeed confusion, however brief at the top level (excluding what was happening on the streets) with a small select group of men from the now defunct Duma who acted on their own initiative before Prince Lvov was duly selected to represent the newly established Provisional Government.

After the fall of the Romanov dynasty ... there were no set rules as to what happens next. There was no protocol to follow.

The German government was planning the fall of the Romanov Dynasty for a few years. They were fighting Russia directly (WWI), and were only too pleased to assist in the country's total collapse.

The German government's secret intervention was a calculated deliberate act.



 

4425

Films and TV shows about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Voice recordings

« on: May 02, 2004, 11:37:25 PM »

There is a new Russian CD available on the international market which provides 12  tracks some of which are Orthodox hymns sung by Zhana Bichevskaya.

The final track contains Nicholas II voice.

The CD is called  simply Tsar' Nikolai