Empress Maria Alexandrovna wished. How an illegitimate princess became a great ruler: Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Ile unearthly grace

Beginning of life in the palace

The future Empress Maria Alexandrovna arrived in St. Petersburg in September 1840. The bride of Alexander Nikolayevich was greeted cordially and assigned to her chambers on the first floor of the Winter Palace overlooking the Neva. In letters to relatives, the guest enthusiastically described the rooms furnished especially for her. Maria Alexandrovna was to live in them until the wedding.

The marriage took place in April 1841. After that, the former Princess of Hesse, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna settled down in the chambers prepared for her in the mezzanine of the palace. The White Hall, the Golden Drawing Room, the Green Dining Room, the Raspberry Study, the Boudoir and the Blue Bedroom now belonged to the princess. The premises were restored in the middle of the 20th century and are open to the public in the main museum complex State Hermitage.

Historicist interiors

The famous interiors were designed by Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov, the elder brother of the artist Karl Bryullov. In the 50s and 60s of the 19th century, Maria Alexandrovna wished to change the decoration, and the famous architects Andrei Ivanovich Stakenschneider and Harald Andreevich Bosse took up the decoration of the rooms. The interiors were made in the style of historicism, which at that time reigned in architecture. This direction tried to reproduce the features of the styles of the past, sometimes completely copying the famous samples. Neo-Romanesque in the USA and Canada, Neo-Gothic in England, Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque in many other countries - they all turned to the "great styles" of the past. For mixing many different features, historicism was often assessed negatively and called "eclecticism". In Germany, for example, Leo von Klenze and Gottfried Sempler are considered masters of this style, in France - Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, in Austria - Otto Wagner, and in Russia - Nikolai Leontievich and Leonty Nikolaevich Benois.

The features of historicism in the chambers of Maria Alexandrovna are visible to the naked eye: first of all, the design of the enfilades is striking. In the times of baroque and classicism, the decorations of the rooms could differ, but in the end they still formed the overall picture. Historicism rejected the old rules and offered to decorate each room in a special way, regardless of the combination of style, shape and even color with neighboring rooms. So each hall had its own decoration, depending on what the future empress was doing in this room.

dressing room

The dressing room also served as an office for Maria Alexandrovna. She was separated from Alexander's office only by the library and the valet's room. The chambers were decorated in shades of pink, later the upholstery was changed to light purple. The walls were upholstered with silk with a floral pattern, furniture was upholstered with the same fabric, curtains, a screen and drapery were made from it. Several portraits hung here - Alexander Nikolaevich, Nicholas I and Mary's brother Alexander of Hesse.

Bathroom and oxygen room

The bathroom of the princess was made in blue tones with floral ornaments, the fireplace was decorated with stucco bas-relief and two caryatids. The furniture was made of maple, the table stood on a small twisted column with three legs in the form of lion's paws. The screen standing under the window stood out for its design: flowers, birds and butterflies were carved on it and the name of the Italian master who made it stood out. In general, when creating the decoration of the bathroom, Alexander Bryullov was clearly inspired by the architecture of his beloved Italy.

Bedroom

The bedroom of the future empress was decorated in light blue tones, a little later the walls were covered with a darker blue fabric. The decoration was done in places in the Renaissance style, but many features were also characteristic of the Classicism era. After the repair, Maria Alexandrovna especially admired the raspberry carpet and the kiot with a sample, created according to the drawings of Olsufiev, the court marshal of the princess's court. The bedroom was furnished in the “boule” style: the so-called special decorative style, after the name of its creator, the French master Andre-Charles Budya. He became famous for his skillful inlays of brass, bronze, tortoise shell. Such furniture was often forged using cheaper analogues of materials, but almost all the decoration in the princess's rooms was genuine. A small room was equipped next to the bedroom, which was nicknamed "oxygen": in it, Mariy Alexandrovna was treated, inhaling herbal decoctions and alkaline fumes.

L. Premazzi, bedroom of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Boudoir

Most of all, Maria Alexandrovna loved her boudoir, where she often drank tea with her husband and talked with her children. At first, it was decorated in light colors and decorated with blue and gold ornaments. Then the boudoir was remade and decorated in the style of the second rococo: an alcove with an arch and caryatids appeared, garnet upholstery of the walls was decorated with bizarre floral ornaments.

E. Hau, Maria Alexandrovna's boudoir, 1861

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In 1837 Alexander went on a trip to Europe. He traveled to Switzerland, Austria and Italy. From Naples through Switzerland, he went to his relatives in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. Wanting to return to his homeland as soon as possible, he wanted to speed up his trip to London - the last stage of his trip abroad. To do this, Alexander decided to shorten his route, deleting from it the small capitals of such German allied states as Darmstadt, Mecklenburg and Braunschweig. On March 13, 1839, the heir stopped for the night in a small Darmstadt surrounded by gardens and parks, where a stop was not provided along his route . Especially for the Tsarevich, the Traube Hotel was rented, since Alexander categorically refused to spend the night in the castle of the Duke of Hesse (he was very tired of visiting numerous German princes and dreamed of getting to Holland faster). However, in the evening he went to the opera, and here in the theater hall he was met by the entire ducal family.

That evening, the Vestal Virgin was playing at the opera house. In the depths of the theatrical box, the Grand Duke saw a young princess, almost a child, and was so touched by her "modest charm" that, returning home, he immediately announced to Zhukovsky that his choice had been made, that he had found the wife he needed, and what was next. he won't go anywhere. Historians argue that the romantic plot of the Vestal Virgin could have influenced such a quick decision of the Grand Duke.
Maria Alexandrovna (July 27 (August 8), 1824, Darmstadt - May 22 (June 8), 1880, St. Petersburg) - the recognized daughter of the Grand Duke Ludwig II of Hesse; wife of the Russian Emperor Alexander II and mother of the future Emperor Alexander III. Born Princess Maximilian Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia Maria of Hesse (1824-1841), after marriage she received the title of Grand Duchess (1841-1855), after her husband's accession to the Russian throne she became Empress (March 2, 1855 - June 8, 1880).
Princess Wilhelmina's mother Louise of Baden left the world when she was 13 years old and she, together with her sovereign brother Prince Alexander (1823-1880), was brought up by a governess for several years, living in the country castle of Jugenheim near Darmstadt. The august mother of the princess at the time of her birth had not lived with her sovereign husband for a long time. Everyone had their own love, and according to conversations, the princess was born from the Baron de Grancy, a Swiss of French origin, who was the Grand Duke's equestrian. Wilhelmina's husband, Grand Duke Ludwig II of Hesse, in order to avoid a scandal and thanks to the intervention of Wilhelmina's brother and sisters (Grand Duke of Baden, Empress of Russia Elisabeth Alekseevna, Queens of Bavaria, Sweden and Duchess of Brunswick), officially recognized Mary and her brother Alexander as their children (two others illegitimate children died in infancy). Despite the recognition, they continued to live separately in Heiligenberg, while Ludwig II lived in Darmstadt.
The Duke's daughter Maria, who was then only 15 years old, greatly impressed Alexander with her beauty and grace. After the performance, he accepted an invitation to dinner, talked a lot, laughed and, instead of rushing to leave, agreed to have breakfast with the crown prince. During these hours, Maria completely fascinated the Tsarevich and, going to bed, he said to the adjutants Kaverin and Orlov accompanying him: "That's who I dreamed of all my life. I will marry only her." He immediately wrote to his father and mother, asking them for permission to propose to the young princess of Hesse.
In a letter to his father, Emperor Nicholas I, the heir-tsarevich Alexander Nikolayevich wrote on March 25 (April 7), 1839: “Here, in Darmstadt, I met the daughter of the Grand Duke, Princess Mary. I liked her terribly, from the very first moment when I I saw her ... And, if you allow, dear dad, after my visit to England, I will return to Darmstadt again"
However, the parents of the Tsarevich and the Grand Duke, Emperor Nicholas I and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, did not immediately give consent to the marriage. For some time they objected to the marriage because of the secret of the birth of the princess.
E. P. Tolmachev in the book "Alexander the Second and His Time" quotes a secret letter from Nicholas I to the trustee of the heir - Count A. N. Orlov: "Doubts about the legitimacy of her origin are more valid than you think. It is known that because of this, her hardly tolerated at court and in the family, but she is officially recognized as the daughter of her crowned father and bears his surname, therefore, no one can say anything against her in this sense.
However, Alexander Nikolayevich himself was well aware of the secret of her origin, since the same Orlov wrote to the emperor: “Do not think, Sovereign, that I hid information from the Grand Duke regarding the origin of Princess Mary. He learned about them on the very day of his arrival in Darmstadt, however reacted exactly as you... He thinks that, of course, it would have been better otherwise, but she bears the name of her father, therefore, from the point of view of the law, no one can reproach her."
The heir to the throne had the strongest feelings for the princess. In May 1839, he wrote to his mother: "Dear Mama, what do I care about the secrets of Princess Mary! I love her, and I would rather give up the throne than her. I will marry only her, that's my decision!"
Alexander spent the month of May in London, where he was cordially received by the English aristocracy, visited Parliament, the races, Oxford, the Tower, the docks on the Thames, the Bank of England and Westminster Abbey. But his most vivid memories were associated with the 19-year-old Queen Victoria.
On June 23, he returned to St. Petersburg and here again became interested in Olga Kalinovskaya: he was very amorous, and his parents had to reckon with this. The emperor hurried to marry Kalinovskaya to the husband of her late sister, the wealthy Polish magnate Count Iriney Oginsky.
Only then, on March 4, 1840, Alexander went to Darmstadt to fetch his bride. He returned to Russia with her and his parents, who met them in Poland in early September.
On December 5, Maria was baptized according to the Orthodox rite and became Grand Duchess Maria Alekseevna.
The wedding took place on April 16, 1841.

Everyone who wrote about Alexander's wife paid tribute to her beauty and wonderful spiritual qualities. Tyutcheva, who met her 12 years later, recalled: "Despite high growth and harmony, she was so thin and fragile that at first glance she did not give the impression of a beauty; but she was extraordinarily graceful with that very special grace that can be found in old German paintings, in the madonnas of Albrecht Dürer, combining a certain severity and dryness of forms with a peculiar grace in movements and pose, due to which an elusive charm is felt in their whole being and, as it were, a glimpse of souls through the shell of the body. In no one have I ever observed, to a greater extent than in the princess, this spiritualized and chaste grace of ideal abstraction. Her features were not correct. Beautiful were her wonderful hair, her delicate complexion, her large blue, slightly bulging eyes, looking meek and penetrating ... It was, first of all, an extremely sincere and deeply religious soul ... The mind of the princess was like her soul: thin, graceful, insightful, very ironic..
At first, not many people knew that the future Empress Maria Alexandrovna, born by the will of God on the day of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, was terminally ill with heart and lungs, carrying her heavy Cross all her life. But even so, she did a lot of charitable deeds, continuing the glorious traditions of the Empresses of All Russia.
In Russia, Maria Alexandrovna soon became known for her wide charity - the Mariinsky hospitals, gymnasiums and shelters were very common and deserved high praise from her contemporaries. In total, she patronized 5 hospitals, 12 almshouses, 36 shelters, 2 institutes, 38 gymnasiums, 156 lower schools, 5 private charitable societies, and with Elena Pavlovna (the widow of Alexander II's uncle - Mikhail Pavlovich) the Red Cross was established - all of them demanded vigilant attention from the Grand Duchess .
Maria Alexandrovna spent both state money and part of her funds on them, because 50 thousand silver rubles a year were allocated to her for personal expenses.
She turned out to be a deeply religious person and, according to contemporaries, she could easily be imagined in monastic clothes, silent, exhausted by fasting and prayer. However, for the future empress, such religiosity could hardly be considered a virtue. After all, she had to perform numerous secular duties, and excessive religiosity came into conflict with them.
In April 1865, Alexander and Maria suffered a severe blow. In Nice, their eldest son Nikolai died of spinal meningitis - a young man who had just turned 21, who successfully completed his education, found a bride for himself, and intended to start public activity as an assistant and future successor to his father. The second son of the emperor, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, was declared the new heir to the throne.
The death of Grand Duke Nicholas most severely affected the Empress. She loved him especially, was engaged in his education, invariably invited to evenings in her living room. There was a deep bond between mother and son. After her son died in her arms, the empress withdrew into her grief, her health deteriorated even more.
The married life of Alexander and his wife had not gone well for a long time. Perhaps the death of her son dealt her the last fatal blow. During the first twenty years of marriage, Maria Alexandrovna gave birth to eight children. Meanwhile, her health from the very beginning was not distinguished by strength. Numerous births further shattered him.
Also, let's not forget that not one of the Empresses was subjected to such terrifying terror in Russia. Survive six attempts on the August spouse, live in anxiety for the Sovereign and crowned children for a long 14 years, from the moment of the first shot of D.V. Karakozov on April 4 (17) until the explosion in the dining room of the Winter Palace in February 1880, which claimed 11 lives - such is to survive only a few are destined. According to the lady-in-waiting Countess A.A. Tolstoy, “the poor health of the Empress finally shook after the assassination attempt on April 2, 1879, (Arranged by the Narodnik A.K. Solovyov - approx. A.R.). She didn't get better after that. I, as now, see her that day - with feverishly shining eyes, broken, desperate. "There's nothing more to live for," she told me, "I feel like it's killing me."
After forty, the Empress began to suffer from acute heart attacks. Doctors strongly advised Maria Alexandrovna to refrain from marital relations,
And like his father, Alexander at the age of forty turned out to be a straw widower. One after another, he changed several mistresses. Among them are Princess Alexandra Dolgoruky, Zamyatina, Labunskaya, Makarova, Makova and Wanda Carozzi. All these were impeccable beauties (Alexander from his youth was known as a connoisseur and lover of women), but they could not fill the void that somehow imperceptibly arose around the emperor.

In the spring of 1865, Alexander began a new, most stormy romance in his life, which was destined to be his last. Walking in the Summer Garden, he noticed a young girl, graceful, fashionably dressed, with a blush all over her cheek, with large radiant eyes. It was eighteen-year-old Princess Ekaterina Dolgorukova. The emperor had known her for a long time, since 1857, when she was still a little girl. Now, captivated by her fresh beauty, he began to woo her, becoming more and more infatuated. He managed to gradually awaken counter feelings, but the relationship of lovers remained platonic for a long time, they had to go through many trials before their attraction turned into an all-consuming passion. The empress knew everything, for she was too smart and impressionable to deceive herself, but she could not do anything ... Or did she not want to? She suffered for all fourteen years of this infamous relationship - silently, patiently, without raising an eyebrow, without giving a look. It had its own pride and its own aching pain. Not everyone understands and accepts this. Especially grown-up sons, who literally idolized their mother. Later, the princess with children from Alexander moved to live in the Winter Palace. This scandalous story not only tormented the sick empress, but also caused indignant rumors of the courtiers. The sons were also worried, fearing that the side brothers and sisters would someday declare their rights. Count Shuvalov considered it his duty to report to Alexander about the general dissatisfaction that had arisen because of the sovereign's connection with Dolgorukova. The emperor coldly listened to Shuvalov and made him understand that he would not allow anyone to interfere in his personal life. From that time on, the position of the all-powerful favorite was shaken, and in 1874 Alexander suddenly sent Shuvalov as an ambassador to London. In the same year, he granted his illegitimate children the title of the Most Serene Princes of Yuryevsky.
“Two people lived in Alexander II,” wrote Prince P.A. Kropotkin, “and now the struggle between them, intensifying every year, has taken on a tragic character ... Without a doubt, he retained affection for the mother of his children, although at that time he was already close with Princess Yuryevskaya-Dolgoruka." The Tsar repeatedly told M.T. Loris-Melikov, Minister of the Interior: "Don't mention the Empress to me: it hurts me so much"
In the last years of her life, Maria Alexandrovna led a completely secluded lifestyle. Many of those who had been close to her heart from her youth left the Empress. ).

In 1880, the Empress, accompanied by a life doctor, Dr. Botkin, was undergoing treatment in Nice, but at the end of spring she was going home.
I dare to urge Your Imperial Majesty not to return for the winter to St. Petersburg and, in general, to central Russia. As a last resort - Crimea. For your exhausted lungs and heart, weakened by stress, the climate of St. Petersburg is fatal, I can assure you! Your villa in Florence has long been ready and waiting for you. And the new Palace in the vicinity of Livadia is all at the service of your Imperial ...:
- Tell me, Sergey Petrovich, - the Empress suddenly interrupted the life-guard - physician Botkin, - to keep me here, away from Russia, did the Sovereign ask you? He doesn't want me to come back? - Thin, emaciated fingers nervously drummed on the windowsill of the high Italian window of the villa, overlooking the sea coast. The sea behind the glass floated in the morning haze and was still sleepy - serene. It seemed that it was swaying right at the very feet:
- No one would dare to keep Your Imperial Majesty here in Nice against Your Most August will. But the Sovereign, only tirelessly worrying about the priceless health of Your Majesty, would urgently ask you:
- Drop all these curtsies, Sergei Petrovich! From my invaluable health there were tiny drops, and from the August Will - only humility before God's permission! - The emaciated profile of the Empress was still incorrectly beautiful with some unusual, painful subtlety, it had not been there before, but even on him, the profile seemed to have already fallen on the imperious shadow of death.
- I dare to argue with Your Majesty about the last statement!
- So - sir, rapid pulse, wet palms ... You should lie down, Your Imperial Majesty, I'll call the nurse now. We must follow the rules!
- I'll lie down in the next world, Sergey Petrovich, it won't be long to wait. Tell me to get ready, tomorrow morning I have to be in Cannes, from there to - St. Petersburg, that's enough, I stayed too long by the sea. I want to die at home, in my bed.
- I dare respectfully insist that Your August Majesty stay here without fail! Botkin answered Tsaritsa with the mild firmness of a doctor.
- The entire course of procedures has not yet been completed, and I do not want to resort to oxygen pillows, as on my last visit to the capital! Your Majesty, I beg you! I received a letter from Their Highnesses, Tsesarevich Alexander and Tsesarevna Maria Feodorovna, they also find that it is extremely undesirable for you to be in the capital and sour in the stuffy Winter. Autumn this year in St. Petersburg, as always, is not sugary! - the life doctor smiled a little, the Empress immediately picked up this weak smile:
- I know, dear doctor, I know, but that's not the reason! You are simply afraid of how my presence in the Palace will affect my health, over my poor head, a well-known person, Sacred for the Sovereign Emperor! The Empress smiled slightly. Fear not, I will no longer drop combs and break cups at the sound of children's footsteps. (A hint of Princess Ekaterina Dolgoruky and her children from Emperor Alexander. There were three of them. They all lived in the Winter Palace and occupied apartments directly above the head of the Empress! This was dictated, as historians write, by security considerations for the Princess and children. At that time, attempts became more frequent attempt on the Sovereign. But is it only this? .. - note by the author).
- I, as always, will find a natural explanation for such a natural noise, so as not to embarrass the young maids! - The Empress tried to smile, but her face was distorted by a painful grimace. She lowered her head, trying to suppress a fit of coughing, pressing her handkerchief to her lips. He was instantly soaked in blood.
- Your Imperial Majesty, I beg you, do not! - excited Botkin sharply squeezed Maria Alexandrovna's hand in his palms.
I understand I shouldn't! I understand everything, I just want you to know: I never blamed him for anything and never blame him! He gave me so much happiness during all these years and so often proved to me his immense respect that this would be more than enough for ten ordinary women!
It's not his fault that he is Caesar, and I am Caesar's wife! You will object now that he insulted the Empress in me, and you will be right, dear doctor, you are certainly right, but let God judge him! I have no right to it. Heaven has long known and known my resentment and bitterness. Alexander too.
And my real misfortune is that life acquires full meaning for me and multi-colored colors only next to him, no matter whether his heart belongs to me or another, younger and more beautiful ... He is not to blame, which means more to me than anything else It's just that I'm so weird.
And I'm happy that I can leave before him. Fear for his life greatly tormented me! Those six assassination attempts!
Mad Russia! She always needs something amazing foundations and foundations, disastrous shocks ... And, perhaps, the heartfelt personal weaknesses of the Autocrat only play into her hands, who knows? "He is just like us, a weak mortal, and even an adulterer! Poison him, atu, atu!" they shout, forgetting.
Perhaps, with my prayer, There, at the Throne of the Heavenly Father, I will beg for him a quiet death, in exchange for the martyr's crown of the sufferer, driven into a corner by a raging mob with foam at the mouth, eternally dissatisfied. Maria Alexandrovna sighed wearily and bowed her head on her hands folded in prayer. Her strength had completely left her.
-Your Imperial Majesty, you are tired, take a rest, why tear your soul with gloomy thoughts! the life doctor muttered helplessly, trying to hide the confusion and excitement that gripped him.
- Sergey Petrovich, order to get ready! the Empress whispered wearily.
- As long as I have the strength, I want to return and die beside him and the children, on my native land, under my native clouds. You know, nowhere is there such a high sky as in Russia, and such warm and soft clouds! - the shadow of a dreamy smile touched the Empress's bloodless lips.
- Didn't you notice? Tell His Majesty that I will be buried in a simple white dress, without a crown on my head and other Royal regalia. There, under warm and soft clouds, we are all equal before the King of Heaven, in Eternity there are no differences in rank. You say, dear doctor?
Instead of answering, the life doctor only respectfully pressed a small, feverish hand with blue streaks of veins and a feverishly beating pulse to his lips. He, this pulse, was like a small bird eagerly rushing up under the warm and high, native clouds ... So greedily that there was no point in keeping it on Earth anymore!
Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of All Russia, Maria Alexandrovna, died quietly in St. Petersburg, in the Winter Palace, in her own apartments, on the night of June 2 to 3, 1880. Death came to her in a dream. She had neither a tsar nor children at that time. "She was dying in the Winter Palace," Botkin wrote, "in complete oblivion. A well-known Russian doctor told his friends that he, an outsider, was outraged by the neglect of the empress during her illness. The ladies of the court, except for two state ladies who were deeply devoted to the empress, left her. And the whole court world, knowing that the emperor himself required it, fawned over Dolgoruky.
“This quiet lonely death,” the maid of honor Tolstaya writes, “became a harmonious and sublime final chord of a life so alien to noise and earthly glory.”
According to the will, like all the empresses of the Romanov dynasty, she was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg six days later, on May 28 (June 10), 1880. After her death, a letter was found in the box addressed to her husband, in which she thanked him for all the years spent together and for the “vita nuova” (new life) given to her so long ago, on April 28, 1841.

“She could well be imagined under a monastic veil, kneeling under the shadow of high Gothic vaults. In her environment of her mother, wife, empress, she seemed like a stranger and not accustomed, ”said Anna Tyutcheva, who was maid of honor of Maria Alexandrovna for 13 years.
Maria Alexandrovna told Tyutcheva that, having got to the Russian court, the most luxurious, most magnificent in Europe, she was not so much blinded as frightened. “She told me,” Tyutcheva recalled, “that many times, after long efforts to overcome shyness and embarrassment, at night, in the solitude of her bedroom, she indulged in tears and long-restrained sobs. Then, to eliminate the traces of her tears, she opened the window and exposed her reddened eyes to the cold air of the winter night. As a result of such negligence, a rash appeared on her face, from which the amazing whiteness of her complexion almost forever suffered.

Tyutcheva first saw the Grand Duchess, and then the Empress, when she was 28 years old. It was 1853. She already had five children. But she still looked very young. Tall, slender and fragile, she always seemed ten years younger than her age. Maria Alexandrovna reminded Anna Tyutcheva with her spirituality, grace and grace of the Madonnas of Albrecht Dürer. Her meek disposition, constant benevolence and even mood, combined with an elegant and slightly mocking mind, "hid a thousand charms." At the time about which in question, the Grand Duchess was happy: a happy wife, a happy mother, a happy daughter-in-law, adored by her father-in-law Nicholas I. In 1856, fate elevated her to the highest level - she became the Empress.

In general, the life of Maria Alexandrovna seems to fall into two parts: before 1865 and after. For the first almost 25 years after her marriage, she lived surrounded by people who loved her and was herself tenderly attached to her husband and children. She conscientiously fulfilled her duties, which imposed on her a high dignity. These duties did not give her pleasure, on the contrary, they demanded constant tension from her. And yet, “at that time she knew only the joys and greatness of her position, but she had not yet tasted either his bitterness or hardship,” Tyutcheva wrote.

"Bitterness and hardship" in the life of Maria Alexandrovna began in 1865 with the death of her eldest son. 22-year-old Nikolai Alexandrovich, heir to the throne, died of a serious illness - tuberculous meningitis, which was overlooked by both doctors and parents. The following year, 1866, the first attempt was made on Alexander II in St. Petersburg. A year later - the second, in Paris, where the king went to visit an industrial exhibition. Tolstaya believed that this was only an external reason, the true purpose of the trip was a meeting with Dolgoruky, who was then in Paris. 1867 was the beginning of their romance. "Strange affair! exclaims Fat. “The emperor’s criminal connection seemed to usher in an era of attempts on his life.” The news of the assassination attempts plunged Maria Alexandrovna into a state of confusion and horror, her husband's "criminal connection" caused suffering and longing. Thus passed the last 15 years of her life, overshadowed by illness, fear for loved ones, everyday humiliation.

After the death in 1864 of the Empress - mother-in-law Alexandra Feodorovna, the new Empress headed the huge charitable Department of the Mariinsky Gymnasiums and Educational Institutions. She opened the first branch of the Red Cross in Russia and a number of major military hospitals (during the Russian-Turkish war).

With the support of the progressive public and the active personal assistance of K. D. Ushinsky, she prepared several notes for Alexander II on the reform of primary and women's education in Russia. She founded countless shelters, almshouses and boarding houses.
She founded - with the full support of her husband - the largest theater in St. Petersburg and Russia and a ballet school, which was later headed by Agrippina Vaganova. (Both the school and the Mariinsky Theater were entirely financed by the Imperial family, personally by the Empress, and, at the insistence of her husband, Emperor Alexander II, bore her name. The theater still bears it. A bust of the Empress is installed in its foyer).
To her maid of honor and tutor, confidant, Anna Tyutcheva, Tsesarevna, and later - the Empress of All Russia, Empress Maria Alexandrovna, with a weary smile, admitted more than once that she lived most of her life as a "volunteer" - that is, a voluntary soldier!
Not a minute of rest and peace, moral and physical.
Only the ardent feeling of reverent, selfless love for her husband, the emperor, and no less strong feeling of true faith, admiring, at times, even very church-going people, including: the confessor of the imperial family V. Ya Bazhanov and Metropolitan Filaret, supported the Empress's rapidly depleted forces.

Maria Alexandrovna, who had been distinguished by fragile health all her life, was very ill in recent years, was treated in Germany and France, lived in solitude, not taking part in the life of the court. She died in St. Petersburg on May 22, 1880, at night, alone.
After her death, a letter was found in the box, addressed to her husband, in which she thanked him for all the years spent together and for giving her so long ago, on her wedding day, April 28, 1841, a new life.

Fedor Tyutchev:

Whoever you are, but when you meet her,
Soul pure or sinful
You suddenly feel alive
That there is a better world, a spiritual world.
November 1864

Came in a comment to my post important question: "Yesterday was the anniversary (130 years) from the day of the blessed death of Empress Maria Alexandrovna (Grand Duke George is Her direct descendant). Please tell me, somewhere in St. Petersburg or other places were memorial services served for Her? Permanent author of the Russian folk line Alexei Popovkin. "
I would like to thank you for this question and, as an answer, tell how I "accidentally" found out about this anniversary. On June 2, in the Peter and Paul Fortress, after reading the psalter over the coffin of the Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna, I decided to walk along all the graves of the buried representatives of the Romanov dynasty and briefly commemorate them. When else will such an amazing opportunity present itself - to be in this cathedral almost at midnight almost alone?! All Russian tsars of the Romanov dynasty after Peter the Great are buried here. In total, there are 42 burials in the cathedral today. I walked among these sacred tombs and briefly prayerfully commemorated their names: “Lord, remember the ever-remembered Emperor Peter Alexievich,” etc.
When I approached the grave of Alexander II and his wife Maria Alexandrovna, I don't know why, I decided to read the inscription on the tombstone. She ends up getting attention. The tombstones of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna differ from all other tombstones, they are made of gray-green Altai jasper and pink Ural eagle. Emperor Alexander III wished to honor the memory of his murdered parent Alexander II and his mother, and in 1887 ordered that the white marble tombstones on their graves be replaced with richer ones. For this, monoliths of green Altai jasper (for Alexander II) and pink Ural rhodonite (for Maria Alexandrovna) were used. Tombstones were made at the Peterhof Lapidary Factory for 18 years. They were installed in the cathedral in February 1906 by their grandson Nicholas II.
The inscription on the front wall merged with the background of the stone and was hardly readable in the semi-dark cathedral. To read it, you had to literally feel the letters carved in stone with your hands. And here two discoveries awaited me. Firstly, Empress Maria Alexandrovna was born on July 26, 1824, and was immediately indicated a new style- 8 August. And this is my birthday. We are all indifferent to such coincidences. I immediately decided that I would now always commemorate the Empress Maria. When I made out the date of death, I was no less surprised. She reposed on May 22, 1880, according to the new one - on June 4. That is, literally in a day, 130 years have passed since the death of the Empress. The next day, at the Liturgy in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, I asked the rector, hegumen Alexander, whether they were planning to serve a panikhida in memory of the Empress on the day of her repose? He explained that since the cathedral is a museum, the administration of the museum approves the schedule for serving memorial services for the year ahead and allows services for the reigning Emperors and Empresses. So far, it has not been possible to agree on the service of special memorial services for the spouses of the Emperors. Therefore, unfortunately, on the very day of the memorial service at the coffin of Maria Alexandrovna there will be no. Father Alexander said that the regular service of liturgies on Sundays was allowed since October last year, and at each liturgy at the proskomedia he commemorates by name all the members buried in the cathedral Imperial House. I also took out a particle about the soul of the ever-remembered Empress Maria Alexandrovna at this liturgy. And from today he began to commemorate her in his church.
Empress Maria Alexandrovna is one of the brightest images of the entire House of Romanov. Her biography without the slightest effort turns into a life. A.F. Tyutcheva wrote wonderfully about her “First of all, it was an extremely sincere and deeply religious soul, but this soul, like its bodily shell, seemed to go beyond the medieval picture. The soul of the Grand Duchess was one of those that belong to the monastery. "I found wonderful words about the Empress in the blog http://barjaktarevic.livejournal.com/81848.html:" High God-lover and humble Christian, "according to Archimandrite Antonin (Kapustin), Empress took to heart the troubles and hardships of the Orthodox Slavs.In 1868, in the village of Belo Pole in Kosovo and Metohija, at the direction of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, the Church of the Entry into the Temple, destroyed by the Albanians, was restored Holy Mother of God. Maria Alexandrovna was a deeply religious person... She loved Moscow very much. I went to ancient temples, studied them in detail - comprehended with my soul. Those close to her were amazed by her deep knowledge of the history of Russia and the Orthodox Church (from the book "German Princesses - Russian Fates"). She constantly gave attention and assistance to the Slavic Committee. ".
Therefore, it cannot be accidental that it was in her honor that the Russian Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene was founded in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. By the way, the sisters of the monastery are collecting materials and raising the question of canonization of the Empress Maria Alexandrovna as a saint.
For me, this discovery at night in the Peter and Paul Cathedral was a small miracle.
Kingdom of Heaven and eternal rest to the ever-memorable Empress Maria Alexandrovna. It is a pity, of course, that her anniversary has remained almost unnoticeable in Russia.

Empress Maria Alexandrovna, first wife of Alexander II

"Russia will never know what she owed her

Empress, due to that huge, beneficial,

The cordial and moral influence that she always had on the Sovereign!

E.N. Lvov. From memories.

Franz Xavier Winterhalter

Birth of a princess

The Fourth Empress of All Russia from the House of Romanov with such a great Christian name Maria - was born on July 27 (August 9), 1824 in the German Sovereign House of Hesse in the August family of the Grand Duke Ludwig II of Hesse (1777 - 1848) from her marriage to Princess Wilhelmina Louise of Baden (1788 - 1836), the August sister of the Empress Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna - the sovereign wife of the Sovereign Emperor Alexander I the Blessed.

Ludwig II of Hesse. Lithography. Early 19th century

Ludwig II of Hesse.

Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna. 1807. Monier. The Russian Museum.

Emperor Alexander I and Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna. After 1807. P. Crossey (sort of).

The princess was born almost 200 years after the Sacred Sacrament of marriage of the founder of the Romanov House, Tsar Mikhail I Feodorovich, with his first August wife, Princess Maria Vladimirovna Dolgorukova, took place on September 19 (October 2), 1624. It is also providential that, like Tsarina Maria Vladimirovna, the future Empress Maria Alexandrovna died before her husband, which remained the only example in the history of the Imperial House, for none of the All-Russian Empresses since the death of Tsarina Agafya Semyonovna on October 14 (27), 1681 , the first August wife of Tsar Theodore III Alekseevich, did not leave the crowned spouses, having died before his time. A little more than 200 years will pass before on the first Thursday of June 1880 (May 22, O.S.), the heartbeat of the Russian Empress, so beloved by the entire Royal Family, will be interrupted ...

The august mother of the princess left the world when she was 13 years old and she, together with her sovereign brother Prince Alexander (1823 - 1880), was brought up by a governess for several years, living in the country castle of Jugenheim near Darmstadt.

Darmstadt

Mary's mother, Wilhelmina of Baden.

Mary's brother Alexander of Hesse-Darmstadt

The august mother of the princess at the time of her birth had not lived with her sovereign husband for a long time. Everyone had their own love, and according to conversations, the princess was born from the Baron de Grancy, a Swiss of French origin, who was the Grand Duke's equestrian. It seemed that nothing foretold the princess a glorious future. However, by the will of the All-Good Arbiter of Fates, in March 1839, the only daughter of the Grand Duke Ludwig II met in Darmstadt Tsarevich Alexander II Nikolayevich, the future Autocrat of All Russia Alexander II the Liberator, traveling in Western Europe.

Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich

Tsesarevich Alexander Pavlovich

Chosen of the Tsarevich

From a letter from the heir to Tsarevich Alexander Nikolayevich, to his August father, Sovereign Emperor Nicholas I the Feat-loving, on March 25 (April 7) on the Annunciation Day, 1839: “Here, in Darmstadt, I met the daughter of the Reigning Grand Duke, Princess Mary. I liked her terribly, from the very first moment when I saw her ... And, if you allow, dear dad, after my visit to England, I will return to Darmstadt again. " However, consent to marriage Feodorovna was given not immediately.

Emperor Nicholas I and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna

From the secret correspondence of Emperor Nicholas I Pavlovich and Count A. N. Orlov, the heir’s trustee: “Doubts about the legality of her origin are more valid than you think. It is known that because of this she is hardly tolerated at the Court and in the family (Wilhelmina had three elder August brothers - approx. A. R.), but she is officially recognized as the daughter of her crowned father and bears his last name, therefore no one can say anything against her in this sense. " (Letters and documents are quoted from E.P. Tolmachev's book "Alexander the Second and His Time", vol. 1. p. 94.) them on the very day of his arrival in Darmstadt, but he reacted exactly like you ... He thinks that, of course, it would have been better otherwise, but she bears the name of her father, therefore, from the point of view of the law, no one can reproach her. " Meanwhile, the heir to the All-Russian throne experienced the strongest feelings for the princess. From a letter from the heir of Tsarevich Alexander, the August Mother of the Empress Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, May 1839. Darmstadt: "Dear Mother, what do I care about the secrets of Princess Mary! I love her, and I would rather give up the throne than her. I will marry only her, that's my decision!"

Princess Maximilian Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia Maria

Princess Maximilian Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia Maria

Princess Maximilian Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia Maria

Arrival in Russia

In September 1840, the princess entered the Russian land, and in December of the same year she accepted Orthodoxy with the name Maria Alexandrovna, becoming the fourth chosen one of the Russian Sovereigns from the House of Romanov with the name of the Most Holy Theotokos. At the end of Bright Week on April 19 (29), 1841, the heir Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna got married.

The lady-in-waiting of the Court A.F. Tyutcheva, who knew the Empress closely, left us many detailed memories of Princess Mary: was transferred to the Court, the most magnificent, most brilliant and most secular of all European Courts. She told me that many times, after long efforts to overcome shyness and embarrassment, she indulged in tears and long suppressed sobs in the solitude of her bedroom at night ...

Tyutcheva Anna Fedorovna

When I first saw the Grand Duchess, she was 28 years old. However, she looked very young. She retained this youthful appearance all her life, so that at 40 she could be mistaken for a woman in her thirties. Despite her tall stature and slenderness, she was so thin and fragile that at first glance she did not give the impression of a beauty; but she was extraordinarily elegant with that very special grace that can be found in old German paintings, in the Madonnas of Albrecht Dürer ...

In no one have I ever observed to a greater extent than in Tsesarevna, this spiritualized elegance of ideal abstraction. Her features were not correct. Beautiful were her wonderful hair, her delicate complexion, her large blue, slightly bulging eyes, which looked meekly and penetratingly. Her profile was not beautiful, as her nose was not correct, and her chin receded somewhat back. The mouth was thin, with compressed lips, which testified to restraint, without the slightest sign of the ability for inspiration or impulses, and a barely noticeable ironic smile was a strange contrast to the expression of her eyes ... I rarely saw a person whose face and appearance better expressed the shades and contrasts of his inner extremely complex "I". The mind of the Tsesarevna was like her soul: subtle, elegant, insightful, very ironic, but devoid of ardor, breadth and initiative ... She was cautious to the extreme, and this caution made her weak in life ... She possessed to an exceptional degree the prestige of the Empress and the charm of a woman and knew how to use these means with great intelligence and skill.”

Unknown artist

Portrait of Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna

Portrait of Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna

Christina Robertson

According to her contemporaries, and the same maid of honor Tyutcheva: “Many tried and condemned her a lot, often not without reason, for the lack of initiative, interest and activity in all areas where she could bring life and movement.” Everyone expected from the Empress the activity characteristic of her August namesake, Empress Maria I Feodorovna, who, following the tragic death of her August spouse, Sovereign Emperor Paul I Petrovich, founded many charitable societies, actively interfered in the politics of the sovereign son of Emperor Alexander I Pavlovich, had a brilliant Court, and so on. At first, not many people knew that the future Empress Maria Alexandrovna, born by the will of God on the day of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, was terminally ill with heart and lungs, carrying her heavy Cross all her life. But even so, she did a lot of charitable deeds, continuing the glorious traditions of the Empresses of All Russia.

Coronation portraits of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna

Coronation.

coronation celebrations

Timm Vasily Fedorovich

coronation celebrations

Mikhail Alexandrovich Zichy

coronation celebrations

coronation celebrations

Timm Vasily Fedorovich

coronation celebrations

Timm Vasily Fedorovich

coronation celebrations

coronation celebrations

Mikhail Alexandrovich Zichy

coronation celebrations

coronation celebrations

Mikhail Alexandrovich Zichy

coronation celebrations

coronation celebrations

Timm Vasily Fedorovich

coronation celebrations

Mikhail Alexandrovich Zichy

coronation celebrations

Mikhail Alexandrovich Zichy

coronation celebrations

Mikhail Alexandrovich Zichy

coronation celebrations

Folk holiday on the Khodynka field in Moscow on the occasion of the sacred coronation of Emperor Alexander II

Mikhail Alexandrovich Zichy

Also, let's not forget that not one of the Empresses was subjected to such terrifying terror in Russia. Surviving six attempts on the August spouse, living in anxiety for the Sovereign and crowned children for 14 long years, from the moment D.V. Karakozov fired his first shot on April 4 (17) until the explosion in the dining room of the Winter Palace in February 1880, which claimed 11 lives - such is to survive only a few are destined. According to the lady-in-waiting, Countess A.A. Tolstoy, “the Empress’s poor health was finally shaken after the assassination attempt on April 2, 1879, (arranged by A.K. Solovyov, a Narodnaya Volya member, A.R.). She didn't get better after that. I, as now, see her that day - with feverishly shining eyes, broken, desperate. “There is nothing more to live for,” she told me, “I feel like this is killing me.”

M.A. Zichy. "The highest reception at the Winter Palace on April 5, 1866 after the first attempt on the life of Emperor Alexander II.", Made in 1866

Zichy Mikhail Alexandrovich. "Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, Dowager Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna"

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Acts of the Empress

The Empress Empress Maria Alexandrovna accomplished the most important feat of her life - she strengthened the throne of the dynasty with numerous heirs. She gave birth to Tsar Alexander II Nikolaevich, whom she adored, eight crowned children: two crowned daughters and six sons. Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich 01 The Lord granted her to survive two of them - the August daughter Alexandra and the heir Tsarevich Nikolai in 1849 and 1865. Upon the death in 1860 of the August mother-in-law of the Empress Alexandra I Feodorovna, she headed the huge charitable Department of the Mariinsky Gymnasiums and Educational Institutions. She was destined to open the first branch of the Red Cross in Russia and a number of major military hospitals during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. With the support of the progressive public and the active personal assistance of K. D. Ushinsky, she prepared for Emperor Alexander II Nikolaevich several notes on the reform of primary and women's education in Russia.

Portrait of Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna with her son Nikolai

Types of halls of the Winter Palace. Cabinet of Emperor Alexander II

Sverchkov Nikolay Egorovich - Riding In A Carriage (Alexander II With Children)

Emperor Alexander II with children. Photo from 1860

M.A. Zichy. "The highest reception at the Winter Palace on April 5, 1866 after the first attempt on the life of Emperor Alexander II.

Patronizing enlightenment

The empress founded an innumerable number of shelters, almshouses and boarding houses. She marked the beginning of a new period of women's education in Russia, the establishment of open all-class women's educational institutions (gymnasiums), which, according to the regulation of 1860, it was decided to open in all cities where it would be possible to ensure their existence. Under her rule, women's gymnasiums in Russia were maintained almost exclusively on public and private funds. From now on, not only the Highest patronage, but social forces largely determined the fate of women's education in Russia. Teaching subjects were divided into compulsory and optional. Compulsory in three-year gymnasiums were: the Law of God, the Russian language, Russian history and geography, arithmetic, calligraphy, needlework. In the course of women's gymnasiums, in addition to the above subjects, the foundations of geometry, geography, history, as well as "the most important concepts in natural history and physics with the addition of information related to household and hygiene", calligraphy, needlework, gymnastics were obligatory.

Ivan Makarov Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II.

"Like an unsolved mystery..."

Like an unsolved mystery

Living charm breathes in it -

We watch with anxious trepidation

Into the quiet light of her eyes.

Is there an earthly charm in it

Or heavenly grace?

The soul would like to pray to her,

And the heart is torn to adore ...

F. I. Tyutchev. Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Timothy Neff Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna.

Andrei Drozdov Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II.

Girls who were awarded gold or silver medals at the end of the gymnasium course of general teaching, and, moreover, who had listened to a special special course of an additional class, acquired the title of home tutors. Those who did not receive medals, received a "certificate of approval" on the completion of a full general course at the gymnasium and attended a special course in an additional class, enjoyed the rights of home teachers. The transformative activity of the Empress Maria Alexandrovna also touched her education in the institutes. On the personal initiative of the Empress, measures were taken not only to protect the health and physical strength of children, by eliminating from the circle of their occupations all that had the character of only mechanical, unproductive labor (compiling and writing off notes that replaced printed manuals, etc.), but also to closer rapprochement of the pupils with the family and with the environment surrounding the parental home, for which they began to be allowed vacations at the homes of their parents and close relatives for holidays and holidays. At the thought and initiative of the Empress, for the first time in Russia, diocesan women's schools began to appear. In the field of charity, the most important merit of the Empress is the organization of the Red Cross, to expand the activities of which during the Russian-Turkish war she put a lot of work and expenses, refusing even to sew new dresses for herself, giving all her savings to the benefit of widows, orphans, wounded and sick. The patronage of the Empress Maria Alexandrovna owes its development and prosperity to the "restoration of Christianity in the Caucasus", "distribution of spiritual and moral books", "Russian missionary", "brotherly in Moscow" and many other charitable institutions.

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Peter Ernst Rockstuhl

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Ivan Makarov

And, finally, the Empress, with the full support of her August husband, founded the largest theater and ballet school in St. Petersburg and all of Russia, which was later headed by Agrippina Vaganova. At the same time, both the school and the famous theater were completely financed by the Imperial Family, personally by the Empress, and, at the insistence of her August husband, Emperor Alexander II, bore her name. The theater bears the sovereign name even now. A bust of Empress Maria Alexandrovna was recently installed in the foyer of the theatre. From the first hour of the sovereign service of Princess Mary of Hesse on Russian soil, her burden was so voluminous and all-encompassing that the Empress spent countless amounts of energy in order to be in time everywhere and everywhere, not to be late, to bestow, smile, console, cheer up, pray, instruct, answer, caress and: sing a lullaby. She burned like a candle in the wind! To her maid of honor and tutor, confidant, Anna Tyutcheva, Tsesarevna, and later - the Empress of All Russia, Empress Maria Alexandrovna, with a weary smile, admitted more than once that she lived most of her life as a "volunteer" - that is, a voluntary soldier!

Karl Schulz Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna.

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Not a minute of rest and peace, moral and physical. Only an ardent feeling of reverent, selfless love for her husband, the Emperor, and a no less strong sense of true faith, which at times delighted even people of the primordially Orthodox, including: the confessor of the Imperial Family V. Ya Bazhanov and the famous Hierarch of the Moscow Metropolitan Filaret Drozdov, supported the rapidly depleted fragile forces of the Empress. The Saint of Moscow left several testimonies of his gratitude to the Empress, often addressing her with speeches and conversations given here.

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna in mourning

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna,

I.K. Makarov

It is known that the Empress was extremely God-loving and generous, humble and meek. In her sovereign position, for almost 20 years she was the only Empress in the Russian state. She was kept on earth only by unchanging good spirits and that "unsolved secret of living charm" that the observant diplomat and poet Tyutchev so subtly noted in her. The powerful charm of her personality extended to everyone who loved and knew her, but there were fewer and fewer of them over the years!

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

And the tests, on the contrary, did not decrease in the life of the High Royal person, surrounded by the close attention of hundreds of captious eyes. One of such difficult trials for Her Majesty Empress Maria was the presence in the personal retinue of the Empress of a young, charming lady-in-waiting, Princess Ekaterina Mikhailovna Dolgoruky, in whom desperately, dizzyingly - quickly fell in love with such an adored husband - the ruler of the Empire. The Empress Maria Alexandrovna knew everything, for she was too smart and impressionable for self-deception, but she could not do anything ... Or did she not want to? She suffered for all fourteen years of this infamous relationship - silently, patiently, without raising an eyebrow, without giving a look. It had its own pride and its own aching pain. Not everyone understands and accepts this. Especially grown-up August children, and sons who literally idolized their mother!

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Firs Sergeevich Zhuravlev (1836-1901) Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

Blissful demise

I dare to urge Your Imperial Majesty not to return for the winter to St. Petersburg and, in general, to central Russia. As a last resort - Crimea. For your exhausted lungs and heart, weakened by stress, the climate of St. Petersburg is fatal, I can assure you! Your villa in Florence has long been ready and waiting for you. And the new Palace in the vicinity of Livadia is all at the service of your Imperial ...:

- Say, Sergei Petrovich,- the Empress suddenly interrupted the life doctor Botkin, - to keep me here, away from Russia, did the Sovereign ask you? He doesn't want me to come back?- Thin, emaciated fingers nervously drummed on the windowsill of the high Italian window of the villa, overlooking the sea coast. The sea behind the glass floated in the morning haze and was still sleepy - serene. It seemed that it was swaying right at the very feet:

August Behrendsen Kuste bei Nizza

Drop all these curtsies, Sergei Petrovich! From my invaluable health there were tiny drops, and from the August Will - one humility before God's permission!- The emaciated profile of the Empress was still incorrectly beautiful with some unusual, painful subtlety, it had not been there before, but even on him, the profile seemed to have already fallen on the imperious shadow of death.

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

- I dare to argue with Your Majesty about the last statement!

So - sir, rapid pulse, wet palms ... You should lie down, Your Imperial Majesty, I'll call the nurse now. We must follow the rules!

I'll lie down in the next world, Sergey Petrovich, it won't be long to wait. Tell me to get ready, tomorrow morning I have to be in Cannes, from there to - St. Petersburg, that's enough, I stayed too long by the sea. I want to die at home, in my bed.

Sergei Petrovich Botkin

The entire course of procedures has not yet been completed, and I don’t want to resort to oxygen pillows, as on my last visit to the capital! Your Majesty, I beg you! I received a letter from Their Highnesses, Tsesarevich Alexander and Tsesarevna Maria Feodorovna, they also find that it is extremely undesirable for you to be in the capital and sour in the stuffy Winter. Autumn this year in St. Petersburg, as always, is not sugary! - the life doctor smiled a little, the Empress immediately picked up this weak smile:

Alexander II with his family

I know, dear doctor, I know, but that's not the reason! You are simply afraid of how my presence in the Palace will affect my health, over my poor head, a well-known person, Sacred for the Sovereign Emperor! The Empress smiled slightly. Don't be afraid, I will no longer drop combs and break cups at the sound of children's footsteps.. (A hint of Princess Ekaterina Dolgoruky and her children from Emperor Alexander. There were three of them. They all lived in the Winter Palace and occupied apartments directly above the head of the Empress! This was dictated, as historians write, by security considerations for the Princess and children. At that time, attempts became more frequent attempt on the Sovereign. But is it only this? .. - note by the author).

Köhler I. P. Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

I, as always, will find a natural explanation for such a natural noise, so as not to embarrass the young maids! - The Empress tried to smile, but her face was distorted by a painful grimace. She lowered her head, trying to suppress a fit of coughing, pressing her handkerchief to her lips. He was instantly soaked in blood.

- Your Imperial Majesty, I beg you, do not! - excited Botkin sharply squeezed Maria Alexandrovna's hand in his palms. I understand I shouldn't! I understand everything, I just want you to know: I never blamed him for anything and never blame him! He gave me so much happiness during all these years and so often proved to me his immense respect that this would be more than enough for ten ordinary women!

Ivan Kramskoy Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

It's not his fault that he is Caesar, and I am Caesar's wife! You will object now that he insulted the Empress in me, and you will be right, dear doctor, you are certainly right, but let God judge him! I have no right to it. Heaven has long known and known my resentment and bitterness. Alexander too. And my real misfortune is that life acquires full meaning for me and multi-colored colors only next to him, no matter whether his heart belongs to me or another, younger and more beautiful ... He is not to blame, which means more to me than anything else It's just that I'm so weird.

Princess Dolgorukaya Ekaterina Mikhailovna. - Late 1860s - early 1870s. - A photo

And I'm happy that I can leave before him. Fear for his life greatly tormented me! Those six assassination attempts! Mad Russia! She always needs something amazing foundations and foundations, disastrous shocks ... And, perhaps, the heartfelt personal weaknesses of the Autocrat only play into her hands, who knows? "He is just like us, a weak mortal, and even an adulterer! Poison him, atu, atu!" they shout, forgetting. Perhaps, with my prayer, There, at the Throne of the Heavenly Father, I will beg for him a quiet death, in exchange for the martyr's crown of the sufferer, driven into a corner by a raging mob with foam at the mouth, eternally dissatisfied. Maria Alexandrovna sighed wearily and bowed her head on her hands folded in prayer. Her strength had completely left her.

-Your Imperial Majesty, you are tired, take a rest, why tear your soul with gloomy thoughts! the life doctor muttered helplessly, trying to hide the confusion and excitement that gripped him.

Sergei Petrovich, order to get ready! the Empress whispered wearily. - As long as I have the strength, I want to return and die beside him and the children, on my native land, under my native clouds. You know, nowhere is there such a high sky as in Russia, and such warm and soft clouds! - the shadow of a dreamy smile touched the Empress's bloodless lips.

Didn't you notice? Tell His Majesty that I will be buried in a simple white dress, without a crown on my head and other Royal regalia. There, under warm and soft clouds, we are all equal before the King of Heaven, in Eternity there are no differences in rank. You say, dear doctor?

Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

On September 3, the empress returned from abroad with the princess. The empress, accompanied by the whole family, led the princess to the rooms prepared for her on the top floor. The Empress took off a cambric scarf from her neck, handed it to me and asked what was my last name, where I was brought up, how long ago I finished the course. Then she added: - I ask you to always speak Russian with the princess.

September 7th was the solemn entry of the highly named bride into the capital. The weather was excellent; the royal family left Tsarskoye Selo in carriages, stopped at the country travel palace Four Rogatki; there was breakfast and a short rest, after which the empress, the grand duchesses and the princess changed into Russian dresses. According to the ceremonial, everyone was placed in gilded carriages and the solemn train set off at a pace towards the capital.

The princess was assigned rooms on the lower floor with windows overlooking the Neva, along with the rooms of the Grand Duchesses Olga and Alexandra Nikolaevna. After the reception, the princess returned to her chambers, where I had to remove from her head and neck the most precious diamond headdresses, which I had seen for the first time in my life. The princess was wearing a blue train all embroidered with silver and a white silk sundress, in front of which it was also embroidered with silver, and instead of buttons, diamonds and rubies were sewn on; a bandage of dark crimson velvet trimmed with diamonds, a silver-embroidered veil fell from her head.

September 9th, there was a grand performance, and soon after that the royal family returned to Tsarskoye Selo again, where they spent the whole autumn in great entertainment. Certainly every Sunday there was a ceremonial dinner at the Empress, the toilets were almost ballroom: elegant dresses with open bodices, short sleeves, white shoes, flowers and diamonds. French performances were given at the small Tsarskoye Selo Theatre. Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, distinguished by her great taste, arranged elegant holidays in honor of the bride and groom. Sometimes they went to St. Petersburg to listen to an opera or see a new ballet.

Unfortunately, the princess was not always able to participate in the festivities and pleasures. Probably from unaccustomed to the harsh climate, she had a red spot the size of a pigeon's egg on one cheek under her eye. Although it didn't really bother her, the doctors advised her not to go out into the cold. In general, she rode little, and then in a closed carriage, for the most part she walked either in the halls of the Winter Palace or in the Winter Garden.

December 5th was the day the princess was chrismated. On this day, she was wearing a white satin sundress and a train; the latter was covered with swan down; the hair was pulled back very simply: it was knocked down in front into long, almost transparent ringlets; this hairstyle suited her very well, the whole dress was simple: there were no precious ornaments on it. The next day, the Tsarevich was betrothed to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna.

The apartment intended for the young in the Winter Palace, partly overlooked the Admiralty, partly the square of the Alexander Column. The first room was a large reception room, the second - an office, behind the columns in the alcove - a bedroom, then - a room where the Tsarevich received orderlies in the morning. Then half of the princesses began. The first room was a dressing room, the second was a bathroom, the third was very large bedroom. The fourth room is an office, the fifth is a front office, the sixth is a golden room, the seventh is a huge white hall.

On April 16, 1841, at 8 o'clock in the morning, five cannon shots announced to the capital that the highest marriage would take place today. We were in white dresses and put on the diamond clasps we had just received from the Tsarevich as a gift. When the bride put on her wedding dress, ladies of state and ladies-in-waiting were present.

Her white sundress was richly embroidered with silver and embellished with diamonds. A red ribbon lay over one shoulder, and a crimson velvet mantle, lined with white satin and trimmed with ermine, was fastened at the shoulders. On the head - a diamond diadem, earrings, necklace, bracelets - diamond. Accompanied by her staff, the Grand Duchess came to the rooms of the Empress, where she was given a diamond crown. The Empress realized that not precious diamonds should adorn the innocent and pure brow of a young princess on this day; she could not resist the desire to decorate the head of the bride with a flower that serves as an emblem of purity and innocence. The Empress ordered to bring several branches of fresh orange flowers and she herself stuck them between the diamonds in the crown; pinned a small branch on her chest; the pale flower was not noticeable among the regalia and precious diamonds, but its symbolic brilliance touched many.

Invited foreign guests, envoys and representatives of foreign courts in brilliant court costumes, ladies in rich ceremonial court dresses of their courts, have already taken their places in the church. In the choirs of those halls through which the procession was to pass, a mass of the public crowded. At the choirs, the audience was in the richest toilets, it happened, however, that one lady was wearing a black lace cape, the runner immediately appears and asks, on behalf of the chamberlain Olsufiev, to remove the black cape. The lady, of course, instantly fulfills the desire of the marshal, throws off the cape and holds it in her arms; a second time the runner appears, asking to be taken away or hidden in such a way that nothing black can be seen at all.

The ringing of bells did not stop all day. When it got dark, the whole city was flooded with lights of magnificent illumination. In the evening there was a ball, to which only the first three classes of ranks, the first two guilds of merchants and foreign merchants were admitted.

On June 25, on the birthday of Tsar Nikolai Pavlovich, there was usually a reception. After the wedding of the crown prince, the empress took it into her head to arrange this rout in the form of a rural holiday in the open air in the garden of Monplaisir, and she wished that the toilets corresponded to their simplicity. The ladies were mostly in light white dresses. The white dress of the Empress was decorated with bouquets of cornflowers (her favorite flower), and her head was decorated with the same flowers. The white dress of the princess was embroidered with straw, her head was trimmed with red poppies and ears of corn, the dress was decorated with the same flowers, and in her hands was a bouquet of the same flowers. The costumes of the rest of the faces were more or less of the character of simplicity. For that, jewelry was not supposed to have borders. The mass of white dresses produced big effect, but diamonds gave them their main beauty. The Empress, the Tsesarevna, and other Grand Duchesses and Princesses had flowers studded with diamonds: a diamond was attached to the middle of each flower on a silver wire; he portrayed, as it were, dew and effectively oscillated on his flexible stalk.

Dress embroidered with straw. The Russian Empire, 1840

The ladies who walked in the garden of Monplaisir and on its platform overlooking the bay, in white dresses, shining with all the colors of the rainbow of precious stones, seemed like nymphs, especially on the platform of the shore, where the last rays of the setting sun illuminated these brilliant moving creatures for several more minutes and gave them some pink transparency. Music played in the halls and in the garden. The mass of the public surrounded the garden of Monplaisir and admired a truly magnificent spectacle.

In the first days of August, the royal family moved to Tsarskoye Selo, which was the favorite residence of the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna. The Grand Duchess usually got up at 8-9 o'clock and then ate tea in the Catherine's bedroom with the Grand Duke, who by this time was returning from a walk around the lake. Her morning dress was very simple: a light cambric or jaconette dress with a white embroidered collar, a straw hat with straw-colored ribbons, a brown veil, a brown umbrella, Swedish gloves and a checkered, motley coat. So dressed, she went every morning with the crown prince in a cab to the empress.

Grand Duke often went to work for the sovereign, and at that time the Grand Duchess, accompanied by one of her ladies-in-waiting, Princess Evgenia Dolgorukova or Sofia Dashkova, went for a walk on foot; These walks sometimes lasted two hours. Sometimes she would return from a walk tired, hot, in a hurry to change her dress for a schlumper (and at least wring out the underwear on her) at the same time hurries to get seltzer water as soon as possible. A jug of water was served literally ice cold, it could hardly be held in one's hand. Half a lemon was squeezed into a glass and a third of the glass was poured with the smallest sugar; she held the glass in her hand and stirred rapidly with the spoon while the water was poured in; the water foamed strongly from the lemon and sugar, and the Grand Duchess drank a glass of cold seltzer water in one gulp, after which she went into the study and lay down on the couch to rest. This may be the reason for the onset of her illness and premature death. I was extremely surprised by such a regime, but I had no right to talk about it. Often, returning from the meeting hot, she found the night so seductively cool that she went for a ride. It happened even in winter that, having changed her outfit to a simple negligee, she rode in an open sleigh with the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke sometimes left for St. Petersburg, to the State Council from 10 o'clock in the morning and returned for dinner at 7 o'clock; and the Grand Duchess did not have breakfast without him and thus did not take food for more than 10 hours. It could hardly have harmed her delicate body.

In autumn, the royal family lived for more than three months in Tsarskoye Selo; August and September were spent in summer activities: long walks, skating, etc. Sometimes in the evening they went in English carriages to Pavlovsk for music.

From Tsarskoye Selo it was supposed to go to Gatchino for 10-12 days. The first thing was a walk around the palace; the Grand Duchess was shown all the sights of the palace, then there were walks in the parks, which are really good. They announced that there would be a performance, a vaudeville "Lodge of the first tier" would take place. Daily rehearsals were scheduled. Immediately after breakfast, with cheerful exclamations and laughter, the whole company hurried to the hall where the theater was set up. The Grand Duchess returned from rehearsals cheerful, sang, tried to tell us something funny to make us laugh. Taking off her gloves and showing them to us with a smile, she said:

Vous vous etonnes? (Are you surprised?) And indeed there was something to be surprised: the gloves worn for the first time were literally torn, as it turned out, due to fervent applause. On the right hand, on the fourth finger, the Grand Duchess wore many rings; they were memories of her childhood, her youth, there were her mother's rings, all inexpensive and not even having any special outward dignity. On her left hand she wore a very thick wedding ring and another, equally thick, with patterned embossing, a diameter of the same thickness, was attached with a large ruby. This is a family ring presented by the sovereign to all members of the royal family. These rings helped to tear the gloves so much when applauding.
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna was reluctant to leave a more or less quiet life in Tsarskoye Selo in order to immerse herself again in the capital's etiquette life with incessant audiences, introductions of new faces, necessary trips to balls, concerts, performances, strictly observed visits and congratulations between royal persons. It was unthinkable not to appear at the daily meetings with the Empress. When the meeting consisted of a small circle of invitees, the ladies were engaged in needlework; they embroidered on the canvas with wool a strip ½ arshin wide and about 6-7 arshins long, at the end of each strip the name of the embroiderer was embroidered. On the duty day, we embroidered half a stitch according to the pattern, so the Grand Duchess only had to cover the half-embroidered stitches. This embroidery was intended for one of the rooms of the Gatchina Palace. Between each embroidered strip was inserted the same width strip of polished walnut.

At Shrovetide, the sovereign invited his entire family and a few selected persons to pancakes, and after the pancakes it was supposed to dance. It was a completely new pleasure: to dance in the sovereign's small cramped rooms during the day! It was received with enthusiasm! In the face of tightness, it was decided to dress very simply: white muslin dresses, a bow or a flower on the head, but precious jewelry replenished the toilet and rewarded simplicity. By 12 o'clock everyone gathered for pancakes, after which they immediately began to dance in all rooms. The crowding and crowding were terrible, but that made it more fun. Having danced until 6 o'clock, everyone came home tired, flushed, with torn dresses, and enthusiastically claimed that they had never had so much fun as on that day and called it "Folle journee" (crazy day).

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna knew that the sovereign was a great connoisseur of ladies' outfits and loved something original; she invented dresses of the same color and cut for all the ladies of the royal family. One day a family dinner was scheduled; no one was invited to such a dinner: the sovereign dined with his family.

Family dresses were prepared for this day as a surprise. They were sewn from blue silk fabric (gros d'Afrique) very simply, but in an original way: a skirt of 6-7 panels was assembled and sewn to the belt; cape bodice. Starting from the cape, three folds are made, which are sewn tightly on the cape and up to half of the waist, so that they are almost invisible; from half the waist they begin to diverge and already at the very collar, i.e. on the chest they form three folds, folded in tubes, which, with their inner side, are slightly attached to the white silk lining of the bodice; the edge of the lagging folds is sheathed with a narrow velvet ribbon, and around the collar of the white bodice a white muslin puff is sewn an inch wide; a narrow velvet ribbon is threaded into its upper part so that it is possible to pull off the puffa a little on the shoulders and chest. From under the blue short sleeves in the form of an epaulette, long wide white muslin sleeves descend, sewn up only to the bend of the elbow, leaving the rest of the arm bare. On the hands of a family bracelet. On the head are two golden hoops ½ an inch wide: the first on the forehead, near the hair, the second surrounded the braid, from which 3-4 long curls fell out.

The sovereign gave exactly the same bracelets to all the ladies of the family. The bracelet, ½ inch wide, consisted of different precious stones in the form of parallelograms of the same size, each stone was set separately and could be unfastened from the other. The sovereign, entering the rooms of the empress and seeing his entire family in antique hairstyles and dresses as close as possible to Greek cut, was pleasantly struck by this metamorphosis.

One day, when I entered the dressing room, I quite unexpectedly found Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna and Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna there; Both were seated in chairs. I had to pass Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna. She turned to me anxiously, apparently guarding something on the floor, and said: “Je vous en prie, ne marches pas sur mon chapeau!” (Please don't step on my hat). I saw her hat on the floor and hurriedly wanted to pick it up, but the Grand Duchess would not allow it, adding: - Non, non, laissez le, ou il est. (No, no, leave her where she lies). It turned out that, out of respect for the Grand Duchess, she did not consider it possible to put her hat on a chair, table or sofa, but put it on the floor beside her.

Once the Grand Duchess returned from the church before the end of mass, she became ill. Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, having escorted her to her rooms, turned to us with joyful congratulations.

Congratulations, congratulations... change the dresses.

Since that time, the Grand Duchess began to stay at home more often. Prince Alexander and the lady-in-waiting Granci spent time with her.

With the first rays of the spring sun, the Grand Duchess hurried to leave the stuffy capital in order to live again in the open, on clean air, which was still very fresh, but the Grand Duchess was very fond of walking for several hours a day. The delicate skin of her hands and face was covered with some kind of dandruff and coarsened, it even burst on her hands; doctors advised her to use oatmeal decoction instead of water for washing her hands, and almond bran for her face. In the spring, when the heat set in, the Grand Duchess sunbathed not so much from the sun as from the air. Upon returning from a walk, she was immediately served a fresh cucumber, she cut it in half in full length and wiped her face with the inside; it was very refreshing for her.

To prevent mosquitoes from staying in the bedroom for the night, since the Grand Duchess did not go to bed if she heard a mosquito squeak, they used the following remedy: they open all the windows, put out all the lights, the footman brings in a washing cup filled with water and lights a juniper branch, holding it over cup to keep sparks from falling on the carpet. The room fills with juniper smoke and mosquitoes rush through the open windows with it. When the air is more or less purified, then the windows are closed and the fire is brought in again.

At that time, the Empress was abroad, and the Grand Dukes Nikolai and Mikhail Nikolaevich remained in Tsarskoye Selo; almost daily, during their morning walk, they went to the Grand Duchess. They joked, played pranks, chatted, made the Grand Duchess and us laugh. Once they began to imagine how they would choose their brides (they were then 10-11 years old). The green screens next to the bed depicted a whole row of foreign princesses, and they, passing by, surveyed them and, pointing to each hand, said: “Laide, laide, passable, passable, laye!” ("Ugly, ugly, mediocre, mediocre, ugly"). The Grand Duchess laughed and teased them that in this way they risked remaining bachelors.

Dress of Tsesarevna Maria Alexandrovna

From Tsarskoye Selo, the imperial family moved to Peterhof; that summer, the Grand Duchess had to give up her grand appearances, dinners and balls, which, incidentally, she was very glad about, because she preferred a quieter life. But she walked very diligently; the bad, rainy weather did not deter her at all. Her legs were very swollen due to her position; it was necessary to order boots and galoshes of huge sizes; galoshes were unbearable to her, weighed down and pinched her legs. M-me Bruno (a shoemaker) managed to make galoshes from glove leather on a very light and soft lining; of course, walking in the rain and along the marshy paths, without shortening her dresses and skirts, the Grand Duchess returned from a walk in such a state that she had not only to change clothes, but the dresses and skirts taken off (she wore white silk skirts) turned out to be unsuitable for further use; galoshes soaked and were something soft and imperceptibly slippery, and the red lining stained both boots and stockings; all these shoes could hardly be pulled off the foot. As a result of all this, boots and galoshes were ordered by the dozen; galoshes served only for one walk.

In early August, everyone moved from Peterhof to Tsarskoye Selo. Finally, the day of the birth has come. Sovereign Nikolai Pavlovich was with the Grand Duchess in the morning, later the Empress arrived. When the obstetrician could reliably determine the proximity of childbirth, the sovereign went to Catherine's bedroom, where an image and a glowing icon lamp were prepared on the table; here Nikolai Pavlovich fervently prayed for a favorable resolution. When he accidentally went into the duty room, where we were all on duty and free, he looked at us and told the camera-frau that we should be released from service for a few days, since there was nothing for such young girls to do here.

When the next day we were allowed to congratulate the Grand Duchess, the newborn was lying in a basket covered with green taffeta, at the head and at the feet were reclining kibitochki; the basket stood on the bed near the Grand Duchess.

On the ninth day, the Grand Duchess got up; to this day, the Grand Duke gave her a morning bonnet, gray cashmere, lined with blue silk, and a cap with blue ribbons. When she was completely dressed, the Grand Duke came, hugged her, kissed her and took her by the arm to her office, where she received the Grand Duchesses and Grand Dukes who came with congratulations, she remained there until 8 o’clock, after which she was again put to bed.

From that day on, the child was placed in the rooms prepared for him. The Grand Duchess expressed a desire to feed herself, but the sovereign opposed this. On August 30, baptisms took place in the Tsarskoye Selo Church.

Once, the Grand Duchess, returning from the French theater, told the camera-frau that she had seen that evening at Madame Allan (a famous French actress) a very beautiful ribbon, put on instead of a sash. The Grand Duchess described the ribbon and added:

Look in stores for something similar.
A few days later, the camera-frau brings a ribbon about 4 arshins long, exactly the same as the Grand Duchess described, and says that there are no more such ribbons, everything is sold out. The Grand Duchess was satisfied and ordered and ordered to make a sash with long ends, and put it on white dresses. And the chamberlain confessed to us that she went to Madame Allan and begged her to give this ribbon to the Grand Duchess.

Both the sovereign and the Grand Duke paid great attention to toilets. The sovereign had an antipathy for black ties. Then the tie was a necessary toilet accessory; to please the sovereign, only colored ones could be worn. When the emperor happened to pass through the duty room and notice a black tie on one of us, he would certainly ask:

How long have you been widowed?
And if he was in a bad mood, he would say:
-What a crow!

In Darmstadt it is customary to bake aniseed gingerbread for Christmas. The Grand Duchess loved them very much. Louise Beger brought them to the Grand Duchess every year for Christmas. Subsequently, they were baked in the court confectionery, but the Grand Duchess found that they were not prepared so well.

On one of the big holidays, before moving to Tsarskoye Selo, there was an exit at the court. The Empress put on a precious pearl necklace, consisting of four strands of large pearls; the largest grains were in the middle, the smaller ones towards the ends and closed with a large pearl clasp.

Soon there was an exit again and the empress wished to put on the same necklace again. It should be noted that the pearls were so mathematically correct in size, and the threads lay so close to each other that it seemed to be something continuous. On the same day, to the extreme amazement of everyone, the necklace could not be laid evenly in any way: the top thread constantly fell onto the next one; no matter how they corrected it, the necklace was impossible to put on. The Empress, of course, was very unhappy with this; she put on a long string of large pearls that went down below the waist.

As soon as the Empress left for church, the Chamber Frau immediately sent for the court jeweler and taxi driver, Kemmerer. He knew all the diamonds and jewels of the empress. Arriving, Kemmerer put the necklace in a box in which four grooves were made, into which grains are poured when they are strung. Now it turned out that not all the grains were here; but the symmetrical distribution of pearls in size was not disturbed, and therefore it was difficult to immediately determine how many and which grains were missing. According to the weight and reference in the book, the jeweler announced that there were not enough 8 pearls, worth 800 rubles. The unfortunate chamberlain fell into despair; she could not find peace, exhausted and preoccupied with the impossibility of finding the culprit and finding out in what way and when they could extract pearls from a closed display case.

The police chief was immediately informed of the loss: of course, strict secret surveillance was established for everyone.

The next day, a woman unexpectedly comes to the camera-frau, throws herself on her knees in front of her, begging not to destroy her, and announces that she can indicate who stole the pearls.
The chamber frau reassures her, promising not only not to destroy her, but even to reward her if her testimony turns out to be true. Then this woman, who turned out to be the serf maid of the chamber-jungfer O ... nina, calls the culprit and tells how it was.

In the duty room, in turn, they spent the night: the chamber frau and the senior chamberlain jungfer. When O. was on duty at night and the maid came to the duty room to make the bed and help her undress, she saw a necklace in O.'s hands. O. forced her maid to help her string the beads; she had prepared in advance several threads of white tambour silk, such as jewelers usually use for stringing beads; at each end of the thread were threaded thin gold wires, which served instead of a needle.

The maid begged her mistress not to touch the pearls. O. did not want to hear anything and continued to carry out her intention. The maid said that the pearls were pawned somewhere. The chamber frau, forbidding the maid to tell anyone about what she reported, wrote and showed the empress an anonymous letter, as if she had just received it, in which the criminal was named. The chief police chief was immediately given to know about this. Already on the first statement about the loss, the police traveled to all the moneylenders and attacked the trail. Oh..well, the detective was waiting for a moneylender, correctly calculating that she would hurry to redeem the pearls. Having bought the pearls, she returned home, but she was arrested at the door of the apartment and taken to the police, where she was given a room with one window behind an iron grate and a tiny hole in the door, which was constantly watched by a sentry with a gun. She was interrogated several times, but she did not confess.

Finally, a young man of pleasant appearance entered her room; he began questioning and pitying her with great concern, advising her to confess herself rather than wait until everything was revealed by the police; but the culprit steadfastly maintained her innocence. Then, with an air of concern, he began to say that he completely understands that a loving woman is ready to decide on everything and sacrifice herself for a loved one; he knows that for this she pawned the pearls for 800 rubles, he knows that she bought it back as soon as the rumor about the loss spread, but that she did not manage to return it back. She still persisted and did not confess.
Finally, he said that on such and such a date in such and such a house she called and the footman opened the door for her, who saw how she bought the pearls, and this footman was himself, and that at that moment the pearls were in her sack-voyage. It would be much better if she gave it to him now; then he will find a way to return the pearl to its owner, and no one will know where he found it.
Seeing that everything was open and that it was no longer possible to lock herself up, she, sobbing, confessed everything, gave him the pearls and answered all his questions, and in the meantime, behind the wall, all her answers were recorded.

The sovereign ordered her to leave Petersburg in 24 hours with a ban on ever returning to it. It seems that she was instructed to live in Novgorod. The Empress allocated 400 rubles for her pension.
Two or three years later, she still decided to come to St. Petersburg and even show herself in Tsarskoye Selo, not far from the palace. The sovereign, returning from a walk, recognized her from a distance and immediately ordered the policeman standing at the palace to immediately send her back to her place of residence and repeat her prohibition to appear in St. Petersburg and its environs.

On the day of the silver wedding of the late sovereign, there were many who wished to bring their loyal congratulations to the royal couple. Among the congratulators were the former chamberlains of the late Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, who had long been married. They were curious to see that the sovereign presented the empress with a pair of diamond cufflinks for mittens and two or three more trinkets, while the sovereign Nikolai Pavlovich presented the empress Alexandra Feodorovna with a silver wedding with a diamond esclavage with seven pear-shaped large pendants according to the number of children.

Empress Maria Alexandrovna had a huge amount of jewelry that she rarely wore. She had long ago given up expensive gifts, and accepted them from the sovereign in money, turning a lot of gold and precious things into money; during the war, she even refused to sew new dresses for herself, and gave all these savings to the benefit of widows, orphans, the wounded and sick.

The future Russian Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of the emperor, was born on July 27 (old style) 1824 in Darmstadt. Her parents were Duke Ludwig II of Hesse and Grand Duchess Maria Wilhelmina of Baden. The girl was given the long name of Maximilian Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia Maria of Hesse and Rhineland.

Rumors circulated at court that the daughter was born from an extramarital affair between her mother and Baron Augustus Senarklein de Grancy. But to prevent rumors, the Duke of Hesse recognized the illegitimate girl Mary and the boy Alexander as his heirs and gave them his last name. The children settled with their mother in the palace in Heiligenberg.

Mary was brought up by the priest of the Protestant church Zimmerman, since her parent died when the girl was only 12 years old. Of those close to Mary, only her own brother remained. The nominal father did not visit a small semi-desert castle and was not interested in children. Adolescence, spent in seclusion, explains the calm and unsociable nature of the princess. She did not like magnificent balls and crowded secular society, both in her youth and in adulthood.

Personal life

At the age of 14, the biography of Princess Mary changed forever. On one of her visits to the local opera house, she was met by the Russian Tsarevich Alexander, who was passing through Darmstadt. Despite the fact that the Princess of Hesse was not included in the list of European brides for the Russian heir, he was imbued with a sincere feeling for her. Maria answered him in kind. Long time his parents were against the candidacy of the princess due to her background. But the son was adamant.

Alexander's mother even came to Germany for a personal meeting with Maria. The future mother-in-law unexpectedly liked the sweet, serious girl, and she agreed to the marriage. It was decided to postpone the wedding for two years due to the young age of the bride. At this time, she managed to get comfortable in Russia. The German princess converted to Orthodoxy, changing her real name to Russian - Maria Alexandrovna, after which she immediately became engaged to the Tsarevich. In the spring of 1841, Maria and Alexander got married in the Cathedral Church of the Tsarskoye Selo Palace.

Her Imperial Majesty

In 1856, at the age of 32, Maria Alexandrovna, together with her husband, ascended the throne. The coronation took place in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God in the Moscow Kremlin. But even after accession to the throne, the new empress of the Romanov family eschewed noisy events. She preferred the company of close associates, and also talked a lot with the clergy.

Many representatives of high society reacted contradictory to her rule. Some condemned Maria Alexandrovna for her little participation in the imperial affairs of foreign and domestic policy. But many contemporaries rightly appreciated her role in the development of Russian society. According to the close maid of honor of the Empress Anna Tyutcheva, Maria Alexandrovna bore the heavy cross of serving the Russian people.

Achievements of the Empress

One cannot underestimate the results of the activities of Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna and, above all, her role in the development of the Red Cross, a charitable medical organization that began its wide activities during the Russian-Turkish war.

The Empress, saving on trips to Europe and on the number of outfits, invested the funds of the royal family in favor of the construction of hospitals for the treatment of soldiers, as well as to support orphans and widows. On her behalf, a large number of doctors were sent to the Balkans to help the Slav brothers during the Turkish invasion. Under her leadership, new almshouses and shelters were opened throughout the country.

Maria Alexandrovna played an important role in the reform of education. Under her rule, 2 higher educational institutions, about 40 gymnasiums, more than 150 educational institutions the lowest step. The queen contributed to a new round in the organization of women's education, which was mainly funded by charity.

Under her patronage, the scientist K. D. Ushinsky developed a number of pedagogical methods, which were followed by all the gymnasiums of that period. The compulsory primary education program began to include the subjects of the Law of God, the Russian language, geography, history, calligraphy, arithmetic, and gymnastics. Girls were additionally taught needlework and housekeeping. At the highest level, the basics of physics, algebra and geometry were added.

The empress also patronized high art. During her time, the building of the now world-famous Mariinsky Theater was built, the troupe of which has always maintained a high professional level and adequately represented Russia in the international arena. A ballet school was founded at the theater, headed by the legendary ballerina Agrippina Vaganova a few years later. These institutions were supported by the personal money of Maria Alexandrovna.

The queen made a great contribution to the liberation of the peasants, strongly supporting her husband's reforms.

Family

The most important achievement of the Empress was that she gave Russia a large number of heirs. Married to Alexander II, Maria Alexandrovna gave birth to six sons and two daughters. At the very beginning of their marriage, the imperial family experienced a severe tragedy - at the age of 7, their eldest daughter Alexandra died of meningitis. The young couple mourned the loss for a long time.

Another blow for the mother was the death of her beloved son Nikolai, who was being prepared as the heir to the throne. In 1865, at the age of 22, the Tsarevich died of a tuberculous lesion of the spine. It happened suddenly, and after his funeral, Maria Alexandrovna had already lost interest in life forever. The second son Alexander was hastily prepared for the throne, and in the end he managed to become one of the wisest and most peaceful rulers on the Russian throne.

The penultimate son Sergei, who at one time married Princess Elizabeth Feodorovna, distinguished himself as the Governor-General of Moscow. Subsequently, they fell at the hands of the Bolsheviks: Sergei in 1905, and Elizabeth - in 1918. The princess also belonged to the Darmstadt court, and her own sister became the wife of the last king of the Romanov dynasty. Three more sons of Maria Alexandrovna, Vladimir, Alexei and Pavel, held high military positions. Daughter Maria married the Prince of Edinburgh, the son of Queen Victoria, thereby somewhat strengthening Russian-British relations.

Religion

Maria Alexandrovna was a pious person. She combined the best features of the Protestant ministry to people and the depths of the Orthodox faith. The Empress studied the works of the holy fathers, the lives of the saints. She venerated Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Seraphim of Sorov. Maria Alexandrovna was introduced to the biography of the Russian ascetic of the faith by her maid of honor Anna Tyutcheva.

Soon, the half-mantle of the righteous man appeared in the royal family, which the relatives of Maria Alexandrovna carefully preserved among other shrines of the family. The Empress conducted theological conversations with Partheny of Kiev, Filaret of Moscow, Vasily Pavlovo-Posadsky. After her death, in memory of their mother, the sons built the church of Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem, in which the relics of Elizabeth Feodorovna are now buried.

Death

The last years of Maria Alexandrovna's life were overshadowed by illness, the death of her beloved son, as well as numerous betrayals of her loving husband. The queen never outwardly showed her dissatisfaction with the behavior of her husband and did not reproach him for anything.

It is known that the main favorite of Alexander II, Princess Ekaterina Dolgorukova, lived with illegitimate children on the floor above the chambers of the crowned empress. This was largely done for security reasons: 7 attempts were made on the reformer tsar, the last of which turned out to be fatal.

The tsarina was very upset by all the terrorist attacks, each time her condition worsened. The personal doctor of Maria Alexandrovna, Sergei Petrovich Botkin, taking care of her well-being, recommended that she periodically live in the Crimea. But the last six months of her life, Maria Alexandrovna, contrary to the doctor's instructions, spent in St. Petersburg, which negatively affected her health.

Sarcophagus of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

The Empress died in the early summer of 1880 due to complications from tuberculosis. The tomb of the queen is located in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Memory

The memory of Empress Maria Alexandrovna is immortalized by descendants with the names of cities, streets and educational institutions. A bust of the queen with a memorial plaque was recently installed at the Mariinsky Theater. The Mariinsky Church is today the main cathedral convent in Gethsemane.

In the newsreel, the name of Maria Alexandrovna is captured in documentaries and feature films. The roles of the wife of Alexander II were once played by such actresses as Tatiana Korsak and Anna Isaikina. She achieved a particularly great visual resemblance to the Empress, which can be seen in the photo frames of the tape with the participation of the Russian actress.

Irina Kupechchenko as Empress Maria Alexandrovna in the series "The Emperor's Love"

The films "The Emperor's Romance", "The Emperor's Love" and the series "Poor Nastya" enjoy audience love. In the film “Matilda”, which is dedicated to the era of the decline of the Romanov dynasty, Russian actors starred, and foreign feature film stars -,.

Chapter 2. The possession of Empress Maria Alexandrovna

"I envy dear Livadia..."

“... And I, Theodosius, took from him, Count Leo, for the estate I sold 150 thousand rubles in banknotes, which I received in full.” It is unlikely that we will ever know what circumstances forced the commander of the Balaklava Greek battalion, famous in the history of the Russian army, F.D. (translated from Greek "meadow", "lawn"). According to the deed made on January 9, 1834, the entire estate with an area of ​​209 acres and 1900 sq. m. was transferred into the possession of Count L. S. Pototsky. sazhens (about 229 hectares) with orchards, vineyards, forests, and arable lands located in it.

Empress Maria Alexandrovna. 1824-1880

By this time, Count Lev Severinovich Pototsky (1789-1860) had already become one of the most influential dignitaries at the Imperial Court. He came from that branch of the old Polish aristocratic Potocki family, whose representatives had long sympathized with Russia. His father, a well-known figure in the Ministry of Education and Spiritual Affairs under Alexander I, Count S. O. Pototsky, was one of the founders of Kharkov University, his mother, the former Princess A. A. Sangushko, nee Sapieha, also belonged to the highest circles of the Polish nobility.

Palace in Livadia (house of L. S. Pototsky). Watercolor. L. Premazzi. 1860

In the reign of Alexander I, L. S. Pototsky entered the service of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs and successfully carried out various diplomatic missions of the Russian government.

A short stay in Naples at the very beginning of his diplomatic career as part of the Russian mission left an unforgettable impression on L. S. Pototsky: he became a passionate admirer and collector of ancient art. Subsequently, when in 1841 the count was appointed "extraordinary envoy and minister plenipotentiary at the Neapolitan Court", this passion was happily reflected in the Livadia estate. Travelers visiting the southern coast of Crimea at that time noted that Livadia Pototsky looked like a small antique museum: the park was decorated with authentic, perfectly preserved marble sculptures and a sarcophagus of the early Christian period, all covered with bas-reliefs 1 , and in the house built by the architect F. Elson, in one of cabinets kept a collection of antiquities from Pompeii.

Livadia. The main greenhouse of L. S. Pototsky. Photograph 1863

The park spread over 40 acres and three greenhouses were the subject of special care and pride of the owner of the estate. The description of the park by the Frenchman Blanchard is curious: “I saw here plants from the depths of the East, from America, New Holland, Japan, as well as plants known to us in Europe, but here they are much larger - magnolias, for example, 2.5 fathoms in height (more 5 meters - N.K., M.Z.). At the same time, the author mentions the Lebanese and Himalayan cedars, strawberries, scarlet, clematis, and, of course, evergreen cypresses and laurels, found at every turn. All of them grew among representatives of the local flora - mighty oaks and ash trees. But perhaps even more valuable is the following observation by Blanchard: “What every traveler can appreciate and admire is the healthy sense and taste with which trees are selected and placed here to create green curtains, lawns, flower arrangements of various tones and shades. . All this took years, during which the owners, with impeccable taste and sufficient wealth, could realize their dream as connoisseurs of beauty in nature.

The layout and decoration of the park, the selection of ornamental plants, carried out by gardeners E. Delinger and I. Tasher, turned out to be so successful that later, if any changes were made to them, it was only in connection with the expansion of construction in Livadia or the desire of its new owners increase the number of rare flowering species and conifers.

By the end of the 50s of the 19th century, Livadia Pototsky was a beautifully equipped estate with a large and small two-story residential buildings. The first had 30 rooms, mostly private quarters and salons, furnished with the delicate taste characteristic of the owners of the estate; in the wing of the house there was also a Catholic chapel (chapel), and galleries for recreation were arranged along its walls. The winter garden was decorated with a fountain "in the style of the Alhambra" made of white Carrara marble 2 . All water pipes in Livadia were made of cast iron, and only in the Big House - lead.

Among the outbuildings, a winery with a wine cellar 3 stood out, in which high-quality wines of their own production were stored. Through the acquisition of land adjacent to Livadia, Pototsky annually increased the area of ​​vineyards and orchards, which brought him a good income 4 .

Emperor Alexander II. 1818-1881

In 1856, L. S. Pototsky, already having the highest civil ranks of a real privy councilor and chief officer, resigned from the diplomatic service and became a member of the State Council.

He died in St. Petersburg on March 10, 1860, having bequeathed Livadia to his wife, Countess Elizaveta Nikolaevna, née Golovina. The latter, however, immediately renounced her inheritance rights in favor of her daughters, Leonia Lanckoronskaya and Anna Mnishek. And already at the end of April, Yu. I. Stenbock, Manager of the Department of the Department of the Ministry of the Imperial Court, began negotiations with the chargé d'affaires of the late count on the purchase of Livadia for the royal family.

The heirs agreed to part forever with their beloved estate only considering the high personality of the buyer. According to Countess A. Mniszech, "the fact that Livadia is now being sold is solely due to the fact that the Emperor will be pleased" 5 .

Since August 1860, the estate was taken over by the Administration of the Allotments, although the bill of sale officially entered into force on March 10 of the following year.

Shortly before the first arrival of Alexander II with his family in Livadia, the Department of Udelov received a decree from the tsar: “Bought<...>real estate in the Crimea Livadia with all buildings and accessories<...>presenting as a gift to my most beloved wife, Empress Maria Alexandrovna, I order the Department of Destinies to enroll this estate in the property of Her Imperial Majesty.

So, Maria Alexandrovna became the first of the Romanovs to own "Livadia" - one of the largest estates on the southern coast of Crimea 6 . By this time, the 37-year-old empress showed all the signs of the most merciless disease of the 19th century - consumption: the unusual climate of St. Petersburg and frequent childbirth undermined the already poor health of Maria Alexandrovna. The doctors hoped that the healing climate of the Southshore would be more beneficial for her than staying at the famous resorts of Europe.

The daughter of the Grand Duke of Hesse, Louis II, Maximilian-Wilhelmina-Augustina-Sophia-Maria, in April 1841, married the heir to the Russian throne, Grand Duke Alexander Nikolayevich, the eldest son of Nicholas I. The marriage was for love, and for some time the marital happiness of the spouses was not overshadowed by anything 7.

The personality of the new owner of the beautiful estate is one of the most attractive in the history of the Romanov dynasty. A rare case when the memories of all the people who surrounded or met her agree in one opinion - Empress Maria was an outstanding person both in her mind and in her high moral qualities. Even the well-known critic of the autocracy, the anarchist Prince P. A. Kropotkin, paid tribute to education, kindness, sincerity and the beneficial role that Maria Alexandrovna played in the fate of many prominent people Russia.

Her portraits of the 1850s and 1860s attract with their spirituality. One of the best, the work of the artist F. Winterhalter 8 , successfully conveyed that “the highest grace of her whole being, which is much better than beauty,” noticed by contemporaries.

Empress Maria Alexandrovna. 1870s

The appearance of Maria Alexandrovna was in perfect harmony with her spiritual qualities. “It was created much more for the inner life, spiritual and mental, than for vigorous activity and for external manifestations. She turns her ambition not to the search for power or political influence, but to the development of her inner being, ”wrote the maid of honor A.F. Tyutcheva, who compiled amazingly deep psychological portraits of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna.

The opinion of the noble court lady completely coincides with the observations of the famous Crimean public figure, historian and writer V. Kh. Kondaraki: “Her Majesty constantly sets an example of modesty and simplicity. In the outfits of this holy mother in the full sense of the word, nothing sharply distinctive was ever noticed, no expensive trinkets, with which visitors from the highest circle at that time so loved to boast of vanity.<...>. It was clear to everyone that Her Majesty looked at her high position with the most humble eyes and probably never attached to it the importance that others would feel. Alien to love of glory and insignificant fuss, she looked at a person as a being of the same nature and feelings, and, it seemed, never dreamed of arrogating to herself any advantages over the Divine in relation to even those who, through hard work and bitter fate, paved their way through life.

Architect of the Supreme Court I. A. Monighetti. 1819-1878

During the life of the Empress, few people knew about her direct participation in the liberation of the peasants, and such important events in the life of Russia as the reform of women's education or the creation of the Red Cross Society, which took place on the personal initiative and largely at the personal expense of Maria Alexandrovna, were arranged as some kind of charitable activity. .

The aesthetic views of Maria Alexandrovna were fully manifested when creating a beautiful palace and park ensemble in Livadia, an estate that occupied a special place in her tragic life.

Entrance to the estate "Livadia". Gate with decorative arch and gatehouse

The first Highest visit here took place at the end of August 1861. Already in early spring, the Department of Destinies began to prepare the estate for the reception of the August family. The specific architect V. S. Esaulov was instructed to go to Livadia and, together with the Pototsky gardener L. Geisler and the Yalta city architect K. I. Ashliman, carry out work to bring all the buildings and the park “in proper shape”.

Livadia. Grand Imperial Palace. North facade. Architect I. A. Monighetti. 1862-1863

The royal couple was delighted with their new acquisition. This charming corner of the South Coast completely fascinated Maria Alexandrovna. Subsequently, in letters to relatives, the Empress called her estate nothing more than "my dear Livadia."

The family devoted their stay in Crimea to getting to know Yalta and its environs: they were interested in the life and traditions of the peoples living in Crimea, went to a Tatar village for a wedding, visited the ancient Greek church in Autka, met with representatives of different classes. Outwardly simple life was daily filled with new, unusual impressions.

Livadia. Grand Imperial Palace. Decorative design of the stairs connecting the chambers of the second floor with the park

Then it became obvious that the former estate of Count Potocki would have to be thoroughly reconstructed in order to adapt it to the living conditions during the Highest visits. At the wish of the empress, the work related to the construction of new buildings and the restructuring of old buildings was entrusted to the architect of the Imperial Court and Tsarskoe Selo palaces I. A. Monighetti 9, who "knows the taste of Their Majesties."

The architect enthusiastically accepted the new appointment: it was as if fate sent down Livadia to him in order to try his hand in conditions that so vividly resembled the flavor of the southern countries.

Livadia. Small Palace (Heir's Palace). Architect I. A. Monighetti

Monighetti was given a lot of freedom of action; the only restriction put on the architect by the owner of the estate was that the construction costs should not exceed an amount of approximately 260 thousand rubles 10, and everything should be as simple as possible: after all, Livadia was intended for the treatment of the empress and family vacation and not for official receptions.

Maria Alexandrovna took the most active part in the plans for the renewal of the estate. First of all, it was planned to expand the Big House, necessarily separating the church from it into an independent building, to build a Small House for the Grand Dukes, houses for the retinue, a gardener, and a new kitchen.

Before leaving for the Crimea, Monighetti presented to the empress for approval the plans he had drawn up for the facades of the main proposed buildings in Livadia.

Livadia. Palace Holy Cross Church. Western facade. Sketch by I. A. Monighetti, 1862 (In 1910-11, N. P. Krasnov, having enlarged the chapel, will make an entrance to the temple here, and the half-open transition-gallery visible from the palace from the palace will be turned into a completely closed one)

The architectural style proposed by the architect for the ensemble of palace buildings was fully approved by Maria Alexandrovna: with its simplicity and refined sophistication, it met all her requirements.

Subsequently, in reports on construction work, Ippolit Antonovich constantly emphasized that most of the buildings were made by him in the “Tatar taste” or “in the taste of the Tatar hut” 11 . The project of the palace Exaltation of the Cross Church 12 was based on the synthesis of the architecture of religious buildings of Transcaucasia and Byzantium.

The free, picturesque layout of the buildings made it possible for the architect to solve each of them in a unique way, with the inclusion of any other, different from the neighboring, motives, while maintaining a single style created by him.

Four years of his life, completely devoted to the construction of the estate of Her Majesty Livadia, were marked by the enormous effort of all the forces of the outstanding artist. Remoteness from Russia, from the main suppliers, difficulties with the delivery of building materials and the selection of labor in the then still sparsely populated Crimea, made themselves felt already at the beginning of construction.

The summer of 1862 was spent on the energetic organization of construction work: the procurement and delivery of stone, brick, tiles, wood, and the hiring of workers. Finally, on September 8, the laying of the foundations of the church and the house for the Grand Dukes (Small Palace) was solemnly celebrated, and from October the reconstruction of the Pototsky house into the Grand Palace, the old greenhouse and the house of the estate manager and the construction of houses for the retinue, military camp office, kitchen, stables began. , gardener's house, bathhouse and hospital.

Livadia. Suite house. Architect I. A. Monighetti

Monighetti used a three-month business trip abroad to place orders for the Livadia estate. In Italy, in Carrara, he ordered marble decorations for churches and palaces, in Paris - furniture, finishing and upholstery materials for interior decoration of the Grand and Small palaces and the house for the retinue.

Livadia. Ministerial house and kitchen. Architect I. A. Monighetti

Period 1862-63 was the most difficult for the architect and his faithful assistant P. I. Ostanishchev-Kudryavtsev: they had to monitor the construction and reconstruction of more than 20 buildings. Numerous cargoes began to arrive in Yalta from abroad, Odessa and other cities of Russia with building materials, furniture, utensils for churches and palaces. To top it off, the winter was extremely unfavorable for construction, cold and snowy, the roads were covered with ice, and Livadia was cut off from the most important sources of building materials 13 .

Due to a delay in the delivery of marble jewelry from Italy, the deadlines had to be postponed internal works in the Exaltation of the Cross Church, already erected by the summer of 1863, and the famous artist Alexander Yegorovich Beideman, who came to write 36 icons in it, would return to St. Petersburg for some time. Here is an interesting passage from Beideman's report of this particular period - as evidence of a person who was impressed by what he saw in Livadia: “The church from the outside is completely finished and represents a happy solution to the problem in the Byzantine style: an unusually elegant small church, but inside it would be necessary to work another 4½ weeks, if no more. One cannot pass in silence and not be amazed at what Mr. Monighetti produced here during the ten months of his stay! The palace is completely ready outside and inside in order to receive the Empress.<...>With Mr. Monighetti, every detail is processed to a delightful degree of perfection, one thing is a pity that the church is still in such a position that we have to wait ... ".

Livadia. Stable for riding horses. Architect I. A. Monighetti

The Austrian artist R. von Alt, who arrived at the invitation of the imperial family, also left us his perception of Livadia in 1863. Twenty charming watercolors, written by him during his stay in the royal estate, capture all the main buildings of Monighetti and several corners of the park. The artist managed to convey not only the color scheme of the buildings of Livadia, but also their finest architectural details. Residential and most commercial buildings built from local stone had smooth, even walls - either simple polygonal masonry that retained the natural color of Gaspri stone, or plastered in light brown tones. The main decoration of all the buildings were carved wooden elements: roof eaves ("stalactites"), cornices and brackets supporting them, columns of balconies, lattices, pinnacles 14 .

Against their background, the palace temple, built of Inkerman stone, with Byzantine ornamentation on this stone and carved inserts from Gaspri, sparkled with dazzling whiteness.

The highest arrival in 1863 justified the confidence of I. A. Monighetti that his work would be appreciated by the owners of the estate. “Her Imperial Majesty,” he wrote, “apparently was amazed at the success and performance of the work and thanked me in the most flattering terms. Sovereign Emperor<...>after examining the work, he deigned to thank me with the words: "Everything that has been done so far has been done excellently, I hope that the ending will be the same."

Livadia. "Turkish gazebo" in the park. Architect I. A. Monighetti

Monighetti hoped to finish the work by the autumn of 1864, but orders from the royal family followed one after another, and construction was completed only in 1866.

The commonality of the creative ideals of the architect and the “special garden master” Klimenty Gekkel 15, who arrived in the Crimea from the estate of Maria Alexandrovna “Ilyinskoye” near Moscow, led to the creation of a beautiful palace and park ensemble in Livadia, connected by a single artistic concept.

K. Haeckel came to Livadia during the most difficult period of construction. In him, Monighetti found support and friendly participation, which he then so badly needed. Even in business correspondence, the architect did not hide his joy from the fact that the arrangement of the park was entrusted to such a talented, hardworking and exceptionally honest person: “What a blessing that Haeckel is here! And we understand each other ... ".

Fountains of Livadia park. Cossack guards at the fountain "Livadia"

Among the many merits of the outstanding gardener, first of all, it should be noted a significant expansion of the rose garden, the arrangement of pergolas entwined with climbing varieties of roses, and, most importantly, large plantings of all kinds of coniferous trees: on the advice of the doctor S. P. Botkin, he mainly planted the latter in those parts of the park, where the sick empress liked to visit.

Of the more than 70 buildings for various purposes erected on the territory of the estate under the direction of Monighetti, very few have survived to date. For various reasons, most of them have either been lost forever or have been rebuilt, distorting the original idea 16 . Fortunately, the Palace Church of the Exaltation is now in relatively good condition. Holy Cross. Although its exterior, and especially interiors, have suffered significantly over many decades of state policy to combat religion, it still invariably arouses general admiration for the elegance of forms and the beauty of the ornament.

Livadia. Moorish fountain

Monighetti attached great importance to the creation of small architectural forms. He found successful solutions for gazebos, pergolas with climbing plants, retaining walls, elegant fountains. Until now, the "Turkish gazebo" over the tunnel in the park has been preserved, which has become a kind of symbol of Livadia, the fountains "Mary", "Moorish" and several marble bowls.

The architect started designing fountains after he managed to solve the most difficult problem of water supply in the Livadia estate. The history of the appearance on its territory of several large water reservoirs and the reconstruction of the water supply network is very instructive, not only technically, but also morally.

The interior of the dining room of the Grand Imperial Palace. Wall decoration with doorways leading to the park. Rice. I. A. Monighetti

From the report of the manager of the estate, Ya. M. Lazarevsky, compiled in 1862 for the Department of Allotments, it followed that the rather low-power sources of water that previously used the Pototsky estate dry up completely in the event of a particularly hot summer, and then a water shortage would make it impossible for the Highest visits. Lazarevsky saw the solution to the issue in the diversion of water from the Biyuk-Su spring, which belonged to the Gasprin Tatars. In this he was supported by both the Minister of the Court V.F. Adlerberg and the Taurida Governor-General G.V. Zhukovsky. However, Alexander II immediately rejected this idea. A specialist hydrologist K. O. Yanushevsky was sent to Livadia with the task of finding new sources of water supply on the territory of the estate, regardless of the cost of prospecting work 17 .

Yanushevsky not only did an excellent job with this task, but also developed a whole system of storage tanks connected to the water supply network.

Dining room in the Livadia Palace. Watercolor. L. Premazzi. 1872 (On the left is a fireplace, later transferred by the architect N. P. Krasnov to the emperor's front office in the New Palace)

The versatility of I. A. Monighetti’s talent was also manifested in the artistic design of the interiors of palaces and churches. He personally made drawings and sketches of the furniture and decoration of the Grand Palace in the style of Louis XVI and in the oriental style for the Small Palace, drawings of dishes ordered specifically for Livadia. There were more than 900 sketches of church utensils and robes, masterfully made by the artist!

So the building was nearing completion. In July 1865, the famous hero of the defense of Sevastopol, Adjutant General E.I. After examining everything, the general sent a telegram to the empress in St. Petersburg that he found Livadia in excellent condition and admired her. Maria Alexandrovna, whose departure to the Crimea that year was constantly postponed, immediately answered: “I envy dear Livadia.”

And in 1866, after the acceptance of all the buildings of the commission, headed by the architect of the Imperial Court, A.I. Rezanov, the awarding of orders and valuable gifts to persons who had particularly distinguished themselves at work in the imperial estate took place. I. A. Monighetti was presented to the Order of St. Anne of the 2nd degree, that is, with the sign of "exalted dignity" - a diamond decoration in the form of an imperial crown; Academician A.E. Beideman 18, who completed the main icon-painting work in the palace church, was awarded the Order of St. Stanislav, 2nd degree, following in the general order of precedence of Russian orders immediately after the Order of St. Anna, and awarded for useful deeds in favor of the Fatherland, in including arts and crafts. It is interesting that the Minister of the Court personally sought to award Semyon Bordakov, a peasant from the village of Glamozdino, Kursk province, with a silver medal to be worn in the buttonhole on the Stanislav ribbon for the excellent performance of carpentry 19 .

Livadia. Study of Alexander II in the Grand Imperial Palace. Architect I. A. Monighetti

Finally, in August 1867, a big visit to the fully equipped estate took place. With the exception of the heir to the throne, c. book. Alexander Alexandrovich, the entire royal family arrived in the Crimea.

It was decided in advance that on the day of the namesake of Alexander Nikolayevich, August 30, a folk festival would be organized in the renovated estate.

Interior of the Holy Cross Church. Marble iconostasis and bronze royal gates. Architect I. A. Monighetti

An eyewitness to all the events that took place on that royal visit, memorable for the Crimeans, V. Kh. Kondaraki, left vividly written memoirs “The Life of Emperor Alexander II on the Southern Coast of Crimea”. “The Sovereign Emperor,” reports the historian, “took daily walks in the morning to Oreanda, Koreiz, Gaspra, Alupka, Gurzuf, to the forestry and to the Uchan-Su waterfall — in a carriage or on horseback, swam in the sea, walked. In moments of rest, I listened to the beautiful poems of the poet Vyazemsky, who at that time was still at the Court and, despite his 75 years, seemed cheerful and impressionable ... ".

Interior of the Holy Cross Church. Painting of the dome and arches of the stained-glass windows. Rice. I. A. Monighetti

Kondaraki also recalled a very piquant episode connected with the visit to Alexander II of Turkish Foreign Minister Fuad Pasha. The latter arrived in Yalta on the splendid new ship Sultane, which delighted the inhabitants of the city. The minister and his retinue were accommodated in a hotel owned by the leader of the Yalta nobility, S.N. Galakhov, after which Fuad Pasha demanded that the owner show his beautiful wife. Two hours later, he was introduced to a charmer, specially invited in advance from St. Petersburg.

Interior of the Holy Cross Church. Memorial sign in honor of Tsar-Liberator Alexander II. Architect I. A. Monighetti

But, of course, the most curious of the many receptions of 1867 was the meeting of the royal family with a large group of American tourists traveling on the Quaker City steamer through the countries of the Old World. Detailed description This event was left by two active participants - from the American side, the later famous writer Mark Twain, who was then a correspondent for two major newspapers, and from the Russian side - V.Kh. Kondaraki.

Interior of the Holy Cross Church. Wall painting above the columns. Rice. I. A. Monighetti

The United States has just ended Civil War, and the American government and the public have highly appreciated the position Russia has taken on the issue of preserving the unity and power of this country. Lord Palmerston acknowledged in the British Parliament that his government did not intervene partly out of fear that the US might then "make a military alliance with Russia."

Therefore, one can imagine the excitement of the passengers and crew of the Quaker City, who learned from the American consul in Odessa that the Russian emperor wished to meet them at his southern coast estate: they felt themselves to be participants in an unusual mission, introducing the people of America to the mighty monarch of a friendly power. It was urgently decided to write a greeting address and in Livadia to hand it over personally to the emperor 20 .

Steamboat Quaker City (from a drawing of 1868)

The guests, and they were invited 55 people, found the most cordial welcome in the royal estate. It was also unexpected for the Americans that the Emperor of Russia and members of his family, with apparent pleasure, themselves showed them the palaces and parks of Livadia and Oreanda. Kondaraki also testifies that the Sovereign “deigned to go out to meet them and congratulate them on their arrival. This is not enough! The monarch personally led them along the nearest alleys, paying attention to the most interesting plants and objects 21 . Such attention of the monarch fascinated the Americans, who, of course, did not dare to expect from the king such a sincere disposition towards private individuals.

The inspection of the estate ended with a breakfast given to the guests in Oreanda by the brother of the king. book. Mikhail Nikolaevich.

American writer Mark Twain

And, of course, it is impossible not to recall at least briefly about the cheerful folk holiday in Livadia on August 30, which has already been mentioned above. After the traditional prayer service and greetings to the emperor, accompanied by steamship whistles, cannon shots and the colorful flags of warships, the residents of Yalta and the surrounding area were informed that everything was ready in Livadia for a big holiday, to which everyone without exception was invited. This news instantly spread throughout the county, and the inns were filled with people demanding horses and carriages.

Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, second son of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna

The celebration took place in a large clearing on the slope of Mount Mogabi. To her side was a hill, on which all the Tatars from the surrounding villages gathered. The mass of the people enthusiastically welcomed the appearance of Their Majesties with the sounds of the regimental band with their sons Vladimir, Sergei, Pavel Alexandrovich and their daughter, the young Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, as well as the emperor's brothers - Grand Dukes Nikolai and Mikhail Nikolaevich with their families.

Children of Alexander II - Grand Dukes Pavel and Sergei and Grand Duchess Maria

Riders competed in swift races - Tatars, Cossacks, cavalrymen of the Crimean Tatar squadron. The general fun was caused by climbing on smoothly polished poles and running in bags tied around the legs. The winners were generously awarded, but other participants were also given memorable gifts. At the end of the games and attractions, all those present were invited to a treat.

Alexander II with his daughter, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna (1853-1920). Photo from the early 1870s

This cheerful and joyful holiday was remembered for a long time by the inhabitants of Yalta. However, the subsequent Highest visits to the Crimea were already overshadowed by a constant threat to the lives of members of the royal family at the hands of terrorists: the estate became more carefully guarded, and the admission of visitors during the stay of Alexander II was limited by order of the Minister of the Court.

Here, on the southern coast, the emperor's rhythm of life, different from that in St. Petersburg, developed, which hardly changed during subsequent visits. Here is how the Moskovskie Vedomosti correspondent described him: “In Livadia, court etiquette has been eliminated as far as possible. In the morning, the king, as usual, gets up early, walks around the park on foot, then goes about his business; sometimes he sits on a horse and goes down to the sea, to the bath. Usually he walks in a white tunic, the imperial retinue too. They have lunch, as in the village, at 2 o'clock, dinner at 9 o'clock. After lunch, carriages are served and trips are made to nearby scenic areas. The sovereign, as usual, sits with the Empress in a phaeton woven from straw. Sometimes they travel with a retinue of carriages, and more often together, like ordinary tourists. locals do not disturb them with exclamations and do not run to their path, reverently realizing that even kings need rest. The royal family spends the evening mostly in a close circle of close associates. A peaceful day ends early, and the next day repeats the previous one. On Sundays, some famous people are invited to listen to mass in the court church. Livadia is becoming more beautiful and flowery every day, not only the South Coast, but the entire South, the entire Black Sea looks at her with love and hope.

Empress Maria Alexandrovna

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Notes

one . At the request of L.S. The Potocki sarcophagus was made into the bowl of a fountain, the water of which came from a jug in the hands of a marble statue of a reclining nymph. This fountain, as well as the statue of the ancient hero, disappeared from the park after the war, when the Livadia Palace became the summer residence of I.V. Stalin.

2. The Livadia fountain has been preserved. With minor additions - a new top and base, it was later moved by the architect Monighetti to a site near the Exaltation of the Cross Church. In total, at the time described, the Potocki estate was decorated with about a dozen fountains, most of which were made by Italian marble carvers in Carrara.

3 . The building of the wine cellar, built in 1849, has survived to this day without any changes. Now it belongs to the Livadia winery, which is part of the Massandra association.

4 . By 1860, vineyard plantations in Livadia occupied 20 acres of 120 square meters. soot and in good years they gave up to 4 thousand buckets of wine. The traveler Blanchard had a very high opinion of the quality of the latter, noting that in reality "the wines of the Crimea are worth much more than their reputation."

five . L. Lanckoronskaya is even more outspoken. “We are far from the idea of ​​selling Livadia,” she wrote to Chargé d’Affaires Dr. E. Peters, “but we understand that gratitude for the favors with which the Emperor honored last days my father obliges us to yield to His Majesty's wishes."

6. By 1862, its area had already exceeded 300 acres.

7. In this regard, the letter of the young bride of the Russian Tsarevich, written to her father in September 1840, is interesting. She has just entered the land of her new homeland, heading to St. Petersburg, where she will accept Orthodoxy and will prepare for the wedding:

“My dear, my good father. These are my first lines from that country which should now become my second fatherland. (That it will be as dear to me as the first - of this I doubt, and even can hardly wish for it, since it seems to me that we should always give preference to the country in which we were born).

However, I feel extremely attached to Russia. The Cossacks met us at the border; we were expecting Sasha (i.e., Prince Alexander Nikolaevich. - N.K., M.Z.) about half an hour; without him, the Empress (Empress Alexandra Fedorovna, wife of Nicholas I. - N.K., M.Z.) did not want me to cross the Russian border; I took advantage of this time to take a last look at my dear Germany and once again resume in my memory those joyful and happy days that I experienced in it ... My second glance fell on the Russian land, and I thought that now it was just beginning the most difficult part of my life, and asked God for His holy help...”.

The final phrase of this letter sounds prophetic: one had to have great inner strength in order to survive in the future, having already become the queen of a vast country, the intrigues of the Court, serious illness and mental anguish inflicted on her by the open betrayal of her beloved husband...

8 . An engraving from this portrait is on display at the Massandra Palace Museum.

nine . Ippolit Antonovich Monighetti, an outstanding architect of Russia in the middle of the 19th century, the author of many projects of original buildings in St. Petersburg, Moscow and suburban imperial residences, a talented decorator. While still a very young graduate of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, I. Monighetti, first on his own initiative, and then on a scholarship specially allocated by the Academy, visited many Mediterranean countries, where he enthusiastically studied the richest architectural heritage of their peoples. For albums with beautifully executed sketches of buildings and ornamental decorations that he made during these travels, the artist was awarded the title of academician upon his return to Russia.

10 . However, it soon became clear that to complete the reconstruction project in full, this amount would need to be approximately doubled.

eleven . Indeed, none of them looked like any Western examples of stylized "oriental" buildings. The first experience of Monighetti's appeal to the architecture of the East was not repeated in them - the pavilion "Turkish bath" built in 1852 in the Tsarskoye Selo park. In Livadia, he showed himself as a talented interpreter of the motives of the architecture of the peoples of the Crimea, Transcaucasia, and the Middle East. Its buildings harmoniously combined elements of original Crimean Tatar houses and ornamentalism of the Middle East.

12 . The Empress wished to name the future temple in honor of one of the most revered Twelve Orthodox holidays. According to legend, at the beginning of the 4th century, the mother of the Byzantine emperor Constantine, Elena, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where she found a genuine cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, and re-erected it on Mount Calvary - where the crucifixion took place. Later, on September 13, 335, the first temple in honor of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord was erected at the place of acquisition, and since that distant time this event has been celebrated annually.

13 . Then Monighetti wrote bitterly to Count Yu.I. Stenbock: “How much at that time I had to endure the smallest, most disturbing, unknown troubles with contractors, workers, can (understand) only one to whom fate judged so many different buildings at one time<...>, work sometimes stopped due to lack of the simplest materials, such as nails, roofing iron And so on". Describing the numerous troubles that he had to endure during the construction in Livadia, Monighetti, however, did not lose his presence of mind and firmly believed in his success: “Only one thing supports me and encourages me to new activities, that my labors and merits will be appreciated!”.

fourteen . Part of the idea of ​​the architecture of old Livadia can be given by the gardener’s house (now a hotel) preserved on its territory and some buildings in Yalta, built in imitation of the style developed by Monighetti, for example, the Lishchinskaya house on Ekaterininskaya Street.

15 . Tekkel Klimenty Ivanovich (1810-1885). In the 1820s lived in Dresden. In 1832 he arrived in Russia, already having the title of royal court gardener at the Saxon Court. First he worked in St. Petersburg, where he created several gardens and parks, and from 1840 he became a garden master at the Ropshinsky estate. The main duty of K. Haeckel was the year-round supply of the Imperial Court with the best varieties of fruits, as well as monitoring the greenhouses and the park in Ropsha and Duderhof. From 1858 he was the chief gardener of the Krasnoselsky Administration, at the specific agricultural school and the department of appanages, and in 1864 he was appointed head of the Moscow specific office.

In 1868, Haeckel, his wife and eldest sons, accepted Russian citizenship and, for special merits, were elevated to hereditary honorary citizenship.

The resting place of the famous master was forgotten for many decades, and only in 1995 a group of landscape architecture specialists led by A.L. Reimana discovered the family necropolis of the Haeckels in the village. Small Gorki near Ropsha (Leningrad region).

16 . The first in the sad list of losses of Livadia can rightfully be put the palace of the heir, or the so-called Small Palace, which burned down at the end of 1941, just before the entry of German troops into Yalta. Unlike the Grand Imperial Palace, where the architect was forced to mainly deal with capital reconstruction of the old house of Count Pototsky - the Small Palace from the foundation to the pinnacles on the roof is completely his creation. It was a real masterpiece of I.A. Monighetti. Travelers who visited Livadia and the authors of Crimean guidebooks left us delightful descriptions of this lovely building, invariably emphasizing its oriental flavor.

17 . How not to recall in this regard the instructions of the tutor of the young Tsarevich Alexander Nikolayevich, the wonderful Russian poet V.A. Zhukovsky, who inspired the future tsar with the idea that "the habit of obeying the law is the main thing in life, both for one's own happiness and for the benefit of others."

eighteen . Written by A.E. Beideman in the Exaltation of the Cross Church, the well-known marine painter A.P. highly appreciated the images. Bogolyubov, who accompanied Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich on trips to Livadia, and after his death in 1865, the heir to the throne c. book. Alexander Alexandrovich and V. book. Maria Fedorovna.

19 . Among the participants in the construction, awarded with valuable gifts, were foreign nationals: the contractors E. Bouchard and E. Ducrot, who directly carried out most of the work on the construction of buildings, the ornamental artist R. Isella, the marble worker A. Rampini, and others.

twenty . Lines from the message addressed to future generations of US citizens: “...America owes a lot to Russia, it is indebted to Russia in many respects, and especially for unfailing friendship in times of its great trials. With hope, we pray to God that this friendship will continue in the future. We do not doubt for a moment that gratitude to Russia and its Sovereign lives and will live in the hearts of Americans. Only an insane person would imagine that America would ever violate this friendship with a willfully unjust word or deed."

21 . Thus, with good reason, we can assume that, by the will of fate, US citizens became the first "organized tourists" who visited Livadia, and the first guide on his estate was the All-Russian autocrat Alexander II. With greedy interest, Mark Twain peered at the Russian emperor, his entourage. Appearance, demeanor, friendliness and sincerity of the owners struck him. About Alexander II, he wrote: "He looks much more majestic than the Emperor Napoleon and a hundred times the majestic Turkish Sultan."

22. The attempts on the life of Alexander II had just begun, and no one had yet imagined that Narodnaya Volya had already begun organizing a real bloody hunt for the Tsar Liberator. Therefore, the holiday in Livadia, when the entrance to the territory of the estate was open to anyone wishing to attend it, seems to be the last episode of the rapidly collapsing old Russian idyll - a good tsar among his beloved people.

23. And the cab drivers, taking advantage of the excitement that gripped Yalta residents and residents of nearby villages, began to ask them for money that was unthinkable at that time - 25 rubles for a carriage, and 6 rubles for a riding horse.

(To be continued)

Do you know who it is?

This is Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna - the only daughter of Emperor Alexander II and Empress Maria Alexandrovna.
Actually, she was second. Just an untimely death took her older sister Alexandra Alexandrovna (1842-1849) four years before her birth.
So:

Maria was born on October 5 (18), 1853 in St. Petersburg. The family already had four of her older brothers: Nikolai, Alexander, Vladimir and Alexei. Her name was given in honor of the great-grandmother Maria Feodorovna - the wife of Paul I.

Since she was the only daughter of the sovereign and empress, they did not doted on their souls. She had an unusually cordial relationship with her father. they remain the same for the rest of their lives.

In 1872, in the capital of the Duchy of Hesse, Darmstadt, Grand Duchess Maria met the second son of Queen Victoria I of Great Britain and Ireland (1819-1901), Prince Alfred Ernst Albert (1844-1900), Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Ulster and Kent.
Here, of course, it is customary to write about erupted feelings, but I do not believe in them. This marriage would just be very profitable. An English prince is a profitable match for the royal house.

Maria with her fiancé Alfred of Denmark, father and brother Alexei.
The groom was a sailor like his brother Alexei.
Duke Alfred devoted all his strength to the naval service. Rising to the rank of Admiral of the Royal Navy. In 1886-1888 he commanded the Mediterranean squadron of the British fleet, and from 1891 to 1893. was in charge of Devonport military harbor.

In June 1873, an engagement took place at Jugendheim Castle, near Darmstadt: “On the occasion of the marriage of Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna with His Royal Highness the Duke Alfred of Edinburgh, it is proposed to arrange a court Orthodox church at one of the royal Palaces in England; where a special priest will be appointed. The device of the church is supposed to be completed by the end of the coming 1874 or by the beginning of 1875. From the magazine "Church and Public Bulletin", No. 1, 1874. St. Petersburg.

The wedding took place on January 11, 1974 in the Winter Palace according to the Orthodox and Anglican rites. Prayer books and wedding flowers were sent by Queen Victoria.

I couldn't find any wedding photos. This is in court dress.
The lunch menu for that day was written on a map emblazoned with the English and Russian coats of arms bearing the monogram M and A. On the map was drawn a sailboat driven by a cupid, with the words on the sail: "Sorrento" and "Livadia", views of which framed the map.

The orchestra stood in a gallery along the entire hall. The guests entered first and stood at their seats in anticipation of the Highest exit. The highest clergy in black cassocks and white klobuks sat at the Highest Table. A tall black man in a turban and a golden uniform stood on watch at the door and beside him were grenadiers. As dinner began, the music played a Weber overture and Patti sang a Verdi aria. After proclaiming a toast to the health of the Tall Newlyweds, under the thunder of cannon shots, Albani sang the apia from P igoletto, and her voice drowned out the heavy sound of the guns. Music and cannon shots resounded throughout the meal.

By the end of dinner, the Court rose from its seats, and at 6 o'clock, with the sounds of the orchestra, the Reigning Face was left to the hall.
When, after the ceremony of marriage, the Tall Newlyweds were taken to their assigned rest, Lord Sidney met them and presented them with the royal register of birth for their signature.
Shortly after 8 o'clock, the brilliant crowd again gathered in the St. George's Hall. The ball opened with the English national anthem; then followed the polonaise, during which the music played from the opera A Life for the Tsar.

The celebrations continued until January 15th.

And now from the "Citizen" the following information: "There were many preparations for the celebration. Following the custom of the Russian family life, The Tsar's Bride fasted a few weeks ago and received communion of the Holy Mysteries; two days before the 11 (24) date, She was seen, together with Her Most August Parent, going to the Peter and Paul Fortress to pray over the graves dear to Their hearts. As you can hear, without exception, all those who served Her were personally thanked for their service and awarded a badge of memory on the eve of the day when She was to become an English princess. A few days before this, having arrived from England, by appointment of the Queen, are under the Augustus, young Madame Osborne entered into the administration of her duties and made a very sympathetic impression on everyone around.

Three days before the wedding, the dowry of the Grand Duchess was exhibited in the halls of the Palace. It is difficult to describe it in detail; they say that in compiling it they were guided strictly by the former dowries of our Grand Duchesses.

Fur coats are of particular splendor and, as you can hear, what was not exhibited - diamonds and silver. The dowry exhibited consisted of dresses, ready-made and not made up to seventy, linen and fur coats. There were four fur coats; one of them is strikingly magnificent - from pitch black sable. Among the most remarkable jewels of the dowry is one necklace of sapphires and one of diamonds. The Imperial Family, according to custom, makes a gift collectively; this time, as you know, Her gift consists in a magnificent silver dinner service for forty people in the Russian style, ordered in Moscow from Ovchinnikov, the description of which has already been placed by us. The boxes containing the dowry are made of red leather, with a bronze frame; if we are not mistaken, there are about 40 of them. There are absurd rumors about some huge amount of money dowry. The “citizen” conveys, with a guarantee for the accuracy of the rumor, that this dowry, on the exact basis of the law, is 1,000,000 from the treasury and the amount from the appanages that fell to the share of the Grand Duchess, so that in total the August Newlywed will receive 120,000 R. annual income from capital remaining in Russia, more than half of which belongs to appanages. Altogether, with English money, the newlyweds will be said to have up to £65,000. Ster. income."

After the wedding, the newlyweds lived in chambers specially decorated for them from 11 rooms of the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo.
In London, during the wedding in Russia of their prince, a salute was fired. Large celebrations, festive dinners, and receptions were held in the main cities.

On February 16 (March 1), at 8 pm, Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess (now) Maria Alexandrovna and her husband Duke Alfred of Edinburgh left St. Petersburg for London. The Sovereign Emperor accompanied them to Gatchina.
On February 23 they were solemnly welcomed at Windsor, and on February 28 there was a solemn entry into London.

Celebrations in England over this wedding continued until the end of March.
And in May, the father came to his daughter. And stayed with her for a long time.

The marriage was unhappy, and London society considered the bride to be too haughty. Emperor Alexander II insisted that his daughter be addressed as "Your Imperial Highness" and that she should have precedence over the Princess of Wales. These statements simply infuriated Queen Victoria. The Queen stated that the title "Her Royal Highness" assumed by Maria Alexandrovna after her marriage should replace the title "Her Imperial Highness" which was hers by birth. For her part, the newly-made Duchess of Edinburgh was offended that the Princess of Wales, daughter of the Danish king Christian IX, preceded her, the daughter of the Russian emperor. After her marriage, Mary was titled "Her Royal Highness", "Her Royal and Imperial Highness", and "Her Imperial and Royal Highness". Queen Victoria gave her first place after the Princess of Wales.

In 1893, Alfred inherited the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha from his uncle and they moved to live in Coburg.

Five children were born from this marriage.

Maria and Alfred with their first child.
Son Alfred (1874-1899) was convicted of extramarital affairs and attempted to shoot himself in January 1899, during his parents' 25th wedding anniversary. He survived and was sent by his parents to Merano, where the heir died two weeks later on 6 February.

But back to our Grand Duchess.

Let's read a little more what her teacher writes about her already married lady:
I found the Grand Duchess very ill-looking from her already very noticeable pregnancy. She was in a bad mood and received me coldly. Her bad mood is no doubt caused by political complications, and she speaks of them like a spoiled child: "This policy bores me to death, it is completely indifferent to me. I am neither on the other side, nor on the other."

I remarked to her rather dryly that unworthy words were coming out of her mouth, it looked as if the interests of her father, brothers, husband and children did not concern her and did not excite her, she could feel anxiety, anxiety, but by no means indifference to the current complication of the political situation .
I do not know anyone who, like the Grand Duchess, would be afraid of everything that disturbs the peace and serenity of her existence. She will never admit to herself that she can upset her, and will come up with a thousand tricks and excuses to convince herself that there is no reason for concern and grief. I remember how, moving away from the deathbed of her brother Nicholas, who had just died,7 she said to me: "That's it, stop crying. Our tears will not revive him."

And then she made every effort to remove from herself everything that could remind her of this death, and the mourning scenes, which she could not avoid, had such an effect on her that she fell into complete apathy, and I had to fight it, keeping her in complete rest. Her desire to avoid suffering is probably due to the instinct of self-preservation, which warns that she is not good at resisting life's trials.