Discussions about Russian History > Imperial Russian History
Comparison Merchant vs Aristocratic Wealth
james_h:
I've yet to read this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691012490/sr=8-1/qid=1147509755/ref=sr_1_1/002-8162793-9830428?%5Fencoding=UTF8
That aside, it appears that some of the moscow merchants amassed considerable fortunes. Here is the beginning of a table I'm compiling....
Richest Russian Merchants
Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov 1898 rubles 4.4 million 2006 USD $78,308,767.00
Pyotr Alexeivich Bakhrushin* 1898 rubles 7 million 2006 USD$124,582,129.32
Alexander Alexeivich Bakhrushin*
Vasili Alexeivich Bakhrushin*
Pavel Mikhailovich Ryabushinsky
Vasily Mikhailovich Ryabushinsky
Igumnov
Aleksey Ivanovich Khludov
Sergei Shchukin
S.T. Morozov had an income of 250,000 R/year** but I cannot seem to find out what his net worth was.
* "Between 1880 and 1904, the family contributed close to three million rubles to municipal charities" Merchant Moscow - Images Of Russia's Vanished Bourgeoisie
by James L. West ( I figure they must have at least 7 million rubles?)
**http://office.fashionlook.ru/news/index.phtml?sec=3&cat=16&page=284
Any additions subtractions or comments....feel free.
I used this method to calculate modern USD$
"The gold ruble introduced in 1897 was equal to 0.774235 g of gold" source: wikipedia, "Russian Ruble".
So, multiply the Rubles by 0.774235 then go here. http://dendritics.com/scales/metal-calc.asp Put answer in the "weight" then tick grams. Have currency on USD$ and viola...
David_Pritchard:
Below is a copy of a PM that I sent to James earlier today. It is on the same topic.
Dear James,
I too have found the Morozovs to be an interesting family. Their beautiful and unusual home is accross from the Arbatskaya Metro Stansia on Novy Arbatskaya in Moscow. I believe that it is still used by the Goverment of India as a cultural centre. If you have seen a photograph of the house and its Indian style cut stone decorations, you would know just how appropriate the present tentants are to the building.
Another very interesting family are the Tretyakovs, as in the Tretyavkov Gallery (of Russian Art) in Moscow. They were a family of Old Believers who amassed great wealth and then donated their comprehensive art collection to the Russian people prior to the Revolution. I was fourtunate enough to have met a Tretyakov, Tatiana Tretyakova if I remember correctly, about ten years ago in New York City who was married to an Armenian prince.
Another such family who gained vast wealth and a title were the Demidovs. They started out as (uninserfed) peasent blacksmiths along a major road, until Peter the Great needed a smith's services by chance.
There are many books in Russian that cover these families, of course it is much more difficult to find English texts. Try the links below for good Russian history books:
http://www.panrus.com/books/categories.php?langID=1
http://slavica.com/
Best wishes as always,
David
james_h:
David
Do you mean the Morozov mansion at 16 Vozdvizhenka Street? I believe the style of said house is Mauretanian not Indian, it was built by Arseny Morozov. Varvara Alekseyevna Morozov (the young mans mother )condemned her son 'Before, only I knew you were a fool: now all Moscow will know.' It was true he had an ignoble death at merely 35.
.................. :-X
James
Belochka:
--- Quote ---David
Do you mean the Morozov mansion at 16 Vozdvizhenka Street? I believe the style of said house is Mauretanian not Indian, it was built by Arseny Morozov. Varvara Alekseyevna Morozov (the young mans mother )condemned her son 'Before, only I knew you were a fool: now all Moscow will know.' It was true he had an ignoble death at merely 35.
.................. :-X
James
--- End quote ---
Sasha Morozov's residence was on 17 Ulitsa Spiridonovka, and is surrounded by a high fence that is guarded to prevent intruders venturing onto the property.
Built in Gothic style it is now owned by the Foreign Affairs Ministry for their receptions.
Another Morozov residence is found, as James suggested on 16 Ulitsa Vozdvizhenka, which is a moorish castle embedded with seashells, modelled on the one located in Sintra, Spain. It was built for Arseny Morozov. In soviet era it was the House of Friendship, but today serves as a concert hall as well as a Friendhip House for Foreigners.
Much the same way as James described his mother's impression, which I think is classic:
"Until now only I knew that you were mad, but now everyone knows as well."
It has just undergone massive restoration ready for the G8 Moscow meetings.
Belochka:
--- Quote --- Their beautiful and unusual home is accross from the Arbatskaya Metro Stansia on Novy Arbatskaya in Moscow. I believe that it is still used by the Goverment of India as a cultural centre.
David
--- End quote ---
The building did once serve as an Embassy for Britain, Japan and also India, but that was decades ago. :)
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