Nicholas II

Anniversary of the reign of the House of Romanov, 1913

PHOTO: Postcard in honoir of the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov

NOTE: the date of 6th March 1913 is the day of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary according to the New Style Gregorian calendar, which is now 13 days ahead of the Old Style Julian calendar, used in Russia during the reign of Russia’s last Tsar. Therefore, the date of 21st February (O.S.) is in fact 6th March (New Style – PG

On 6th March (O.S. 21st February) 1913, the grandiose celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov began in St. Petersburg. It was on this day in 1613, that a Zemsky Sobor; elected Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov (1596-1645) as Tsar, establishing the House of Romanov.

The day of the “solemn celebration marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov” approved by the “Ceremonial” was 21st February) 1913, [according to the Old Style Julian calendar]. The “Ceremonial” provided that “solemn liturgies will be celebrated in all cathedrals and churches of the Russian Empire, followed by thanksgiving prayers with the intonation of “Many Years to Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich <… >and to the entire reigning house”. The document also described the procedure for the celebration of solemn services and the arrival of the Emperor and his family in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, as well as the offering of congratulations to Their Imperial Majesties and other events in St. Petersburg.

In addition, the Emperor ordered a pannikhida [memorial service for the dead] be served in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg on the eve of the day of celebration, on Wednesday, 20th February.

By a resolution of 4th February 1913, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decreed that Divine Liturgies be performed on 21st February, in all the cathedrals and churches of the empire.

On 13th February 1913, Emperor Nicholas II approved the resolution of the Council of Ministers “on declaring 21st February, 1913 [according to the Old Style Julian calendar] a holiday for all citizens of the Russian Empire. February 21st 1913 fell on the on the eve of Great Lent.

A special role in the upcoming celebrations was assigned to Moscow and Kostroma, from which Mikhail Romanov was called to the throne in 1613^. In general, the celebrations took place throughout the Russian Empire. Three years before the upcoming celebrations, the “Committee for the Celebration of the Tercentenary of the Reigning House of Romanov was formed, and Aleksandr Grigoryevich Bulygin (1851-1919) was appointed its chairman.

As part of the preparations for the 300th anniversary, a number of charitable events throughout the Russian Empire were initiated by Nicholas II. Financial resources were allocated for the care of children, and assistance to advanced farmers.

PHOTO: Procession headed by Emperor Nicholas II and his family arrive in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan on the day of the beginning of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, on 6th March (O.S. 21st February), 1913

PHOTO: Preparations for a ‘Te Deum’ in honour of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, St. Petersburg on 6th March (O.S. 21st February) 1913.

Preparations for the 300th anniversary

Preparations for the celebration began three years before the celebration. The “Committee for the Celebration of the Tercentenary of the Reigning House of Romanov” was formed, the chairman of which was appointed Aleksandr Grigoryevich Bulygin, a member of the State Council and Hofmeister of the Imperial Court. The newly formed committee proposed to Nicholas II to promulgate the “Imperial Manifesto” on the occasion of the anniversary, which, among other things, read:

“<… > Through the combined efforts of our crowned predecessors on the Russian throne and all the faithful sons of Russia, the Russian state was created and strengthened <… > In unfailing unity with our beloved people, we hope to continue to lead the state along the path of peaceful organization of the life of the people’s <… > The nobility of Russia sealed with their blood their devotion to the Motherland <… > In the radiance of glory and greatness, the image of a Russian warrior, defender of the faith, throne and fatherland… >May the reverent memory of the feats of the departed serve as a testament for generations to come, and may it unite around our throne all faithful subjects for new labours and feats for the glory and prosperity of Russia <… >». The “Highest Manifesto”, according to the “Ceremonial”, was read in all Russian churches after the Divine Liturgy, and before the solemn prayer service, on 21st February 1913.

On 5th August 1911, in the presence of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich (the august patron of the building committee), a church was laid in St. Petersburg in honour of the Feodorovskaya Icon, in memory of the 300th anniversary of the reigning house; the main side chapel of the upper church was consecrated on 15th January 1914 by Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) in the presence of Emperor Nicholas II and members of his family.

In St. Petersburg, sculptors and architects worked on a monument to the anniversary. Not far from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, a church in honour of the Romanov dynasty was being built (the Cathedral of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God), and a rotunda was being erected on St. Isaac’s Square. For the celebration, jubilee medals were issued – gold, silver, dark bronze and light bronze – these medals were produced by the Mint in St. Petersburg. In addition, commemorative coins, stamps, postcards, Fabergé eggs, and even household items such as glasses, tablecloths, headscarves and brooches were issued. Thousands of workers were involved in the construction of stalls and kiosks, as well as the installation of masts for standards, banners, and the decoration of buildings.

On the eve of the day of celebration, 20th February 1913, at three o’clock in the afternoon, Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch (who was invited to Russia for the celebrations), along with Metropolitan Dimitrije of Belgrade and other hierarchs, performed a pannikhida in the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in the presence of Their Majesties.

PHOTO: a host of Russian and foreign hierarchs took part in the the solemn liturgy in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral, situated on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg

PHOTO: Kazan Cathedral House, situated on Nevsky Prospect, 25. The two-storey building served as the residence of the clergy of Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral Photo by Karl Bulla. 1913.

Events in St. Petersburg, on 21st February 1913

On 21st February 1913, at 8 a.m., twenty-one cannon shots from the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, signaled the beginning of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty began in the Russian Empire.

The Imperial Family travelled from the Winter Palace in a grand procession of carriages and horses to Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral on Nevsky Prospekt, to take part in a prayer service. The route to the Kazan Cathedral was lined with regimental troops and cadets of military educational institutions. Tens of thousands of people crammed the route, all hoping to get a glimpse of the Tsar and his family.

Emperor Nicholas II and his son, the heir to the throne Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich travelled in an open carriage together. They were followed by the four-horse ceremonial carriage of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, followed by a four-seater carriage with the the Tsar’s daughters: Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Nikolaevna. The “Imperial convoy” consisted of 100 members of the Imperial Family, which included grand dukes, grand duchesses and princes and princesses of the Imperial Blood.

At the entrance to the cathedral, the Emperor and his family were met by Patriarch Gregory and Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of St. Petersburg and Ladoga.

At 11 a.m., the solemn liturgy in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral was led by Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch, co-served by a host of Russian and foreign hierarchs.

Inside the cathedral, the protodeacon read the manifesto of the jubilee before the moleben [a liturgical service of supplication or thanksgiving]; the service of the prayer service was led by the Antiochian Patriarch Gregory IV, who read the Gospel in Arabic. The protodeacon then proclaimed “Many Years to Their Imperial Majesties” and to the entire reigning house. The troops outside the cathedral saluted; began the solemn trezvon [bell ringing] of all the churches of St. Petersburg. Cross Processions from many city churches arrived at the cathedral), followed bya salute from the cannons of the St. Petersburg fortress.

Recall that Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg served as the court church for the House of Romanov and was dedicated to the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan. which was the most important icon in the Russian Orthodox Church, for it protected Russia and consequently the Romanov dynasty. When the Kazan Cathedral was built, it inherited both the icon and the role of the court church. Imperial family weddings and thanksgiving prayers were all held in the cathedral.

When in St. Petersburg, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna went to the Kazan Cathedral to pray, kneeling in the shadow of a pillar, unrecognized by anyone and attended by a single lady-in-waiting.

PHOTO: Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and his father Tsar Nicholas II, passing the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan in St. Petersburg, during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in 1913.

PHOTO: tens of thousands of people lined Nevsky Prospekt on the day marking the 300th anniversary, with the hope of catching a glimpse of their Emperor and his family, on their way to Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral

Tercentenary Tour

Three months later, in May, the Imperial Family went on a pilgrimage, following the route of Mikhail I after his election as the first Romanov Tsar in 1613. Nicholas II and his family set off to visit the ancient towns of Muscovy associated with the founding of the Romanov dynasty. The tour started off in Kostroma, where they arrived in a ‘flotilla of steamboats’ on the Volga, greeted by a large crowd of townspeople. Here Nicholas visited the Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail had sought refuge from the invading Poles and the Muscovite civil wars. From there, the tour went to Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod and Yaroslavl, by rail on the Imperial Train. During their visit to the monastery town of Suzdal, the Imperial Family had to travel in thirty open-top Renaults, as there were no railways.

The pilgrimage ‘climaxed’ when the imperial family triumphantly arrived in the historical capital Moscow, site of the crowning of the first Romanov ruler. The Tsar and his family were greeted at the Alexandrovsky train station, by a large number of dignitaries.

The Tsar mounted a white horse and rode alone, sixty feet ahead of the rest of the party and his Cossack guard escort, towards the Kremlin. All along the route, he was greeted by large cheering crowds. The decorations along Tverskaya Street, included velvet banners donning Romanov symbols spanning the boulevard, buildings covered in pennants, flags, and lights. Even more inventive than those in the capital, garlanded statues of the tsar and a showering of confetti from the people, were ‘even more magnificent than in St. Petersburg.

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II is greeted by thousands of his subjects on Red Square during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov in Moscow. Many Western historians claim that Nicholas II was not popular during his reign, however, I think that this photo says otherwise.

The Tsar dismounted in Red Square, the convergence point of the religious processions throughout the city. Rows of priests echoing chants and prayers entered the Dormition [aka Assumption] Cathedral. The young Tsesarevich Alexei was, along the rest of the family, was supposed to walk the last hundred yards, however, due to haemophilia, had to be carried by a Cossack guard to the “exclamations of sorrow” from the crowds.

This was all followed by, in the words of historian Orlando Figes, “another round of pageantry and gastronomy. The ball in the Assembly of the Moscow Nobility was particularly lavish.”

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II takes part in a solemn prayer service on Red Square in Moscow, during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, 1913.

Letters of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna donated to St. Petersburg Museum

Posted on 1 Day Ago by Paul Gilbert

NOTE: the following article was originally published in Royal Russia No. 14, Summer 2018, and updated with additional information and photos on 3rd March 2026. While this article is dated, I believe that it is still relevant and will be of interest to my readership – PG

On 17th April 2018, the collection of letters written by Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960) from the family archive of Princess Nadezhda Vladimirovna Volkonskaya were presented as a gift to the All-Russian Museum of Alexander Pushkin. The solemn ceremony took place in the Concert Hall, situated on the embankment on the Moika River in St. Petersburg.

“This archive is unique – it is not known to anyone, the letters have never been published any where, nor have they ever been translated into Russian. A total of 65 letters (in French) written by Grand Duchess Olga Aleksandrovna and addressed to Madame René Brizak, from the 1920s to the 1930s, during years in exile in Denmark”, noted a museum spokesperson.

René Brizak was a prominent couturier in St. Petersburg, during the 19th to early 20th centuries. Madame Brizak’s fashion house was situated at Malaya Konyushennaya, 8, which employed 60 dressmakers. She designed dresses and gowns for members of the Imperial Family and aristocracy. Among her most prominent clients were Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her four daughters, as well as the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Many of these gowns are today in the Collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

The owner of the archive is Princess Nadezhda Vladimirovna Volkonskaya, the maternal great-granddaughter of Madame Brizak. Her great-grandmother was friends with Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, because they both spoke excellent English. “I am very happy that I am giving these letters to the All-Russian Museum of Alexander Pushkin. I planned to return them to my homeland, to Russia, for several years already. And now my soul is at peace,” said the princess.

PHOTO: one of the letters written (in French) by Grand
Duchess Olga Alexandrovna to Madame René Brizak

The correspondence of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna and Madame Brizak was of a systemic nature and came to an end due to the demise of the latter. At first glance, the letters are personal: Olga Alexandrovna describes everyday life, writes with special tenderness about her children Tikhon and Guri, her beloved husband Nikolai, shares family joys and sorrows, and worries about her friends in Russia.

However, the persons and events mentioned in them go beyond private, because they are connected with history, culture, public and political life – with the life of Russians in emigration. Among the characters of the letters are numerous relatives – members of the Russian Imperial family, Princess Margaret of Denmark, Countess Maria Vorontsova-Dashkova, King George V of Great Britain, as well as artists, musicians, literary publishers and theater figures.

From the letter of the Grand Duchess of April 1920: “In the end, we had to leave our homeland. We absolutely could not live there anymore. But it was very painful to break away from what I had loved all my life, so many friends remained. Here in Denmark you can calm down a bit’ …. Olga Kulikovskaya. The Palace of Marienburg.

Olga Aleksandrovna Kulikovskaya-Romanova was born on 14th June [O.S. 1st June] 1882, she was the youngest child of the Emperor Alexander III and the Empress Maria Feodorovna, as well as the younger sister of Emperor Nicholas II.

She became one of the few representatives of the Imperial family who managed to escape Bolshevik Russia after the 1917 revolution. She emigrated to Denmark, and later – to Canada, where she died on 24 November 1960. During the First World War, she worked in the hospital as a sister of mercy, and also engaged in charity.

Madame René Brizac (née Valentine Emans De Ricles), was born in London on 17th February 1865. At the age of twenty, she went to Russia, right after her marriage with the son of the founder of the St. Petersburg couturier A. Brizak, the main designer and Supplier to the Imperial Court. The couple had four children. Madam Brizak was a talented fashion designer, she created such styles that later gave the memoirists a reason to mention that the female half of the family of Nicholas II “dressed simply, but with taste.” The first House of Haute Couture in Russia lasted about 50 years and was closed by the decree of Lenin in 1918.

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In 2019, Princess Nadezhda Volkonskaya published Сердцем с Вами, Ольга / My heart is with you, Olga which includes 65 letters written by Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna to the famous couturier Madame René Brizac, when both women were living in exile from Russia. Their correspondence lasted ten years (from 1920 to 1930), until the death of the latter.

Below, are some of excerpts from her letters to Madame Brizac:

“Dear Madame Brizac! I am happy, every time I receive a letter with your handwriting on the envelope,” Olga Alexandrovna writes, she then goes on to tell how she had to stop sending parcels to friends in Russia because of new restrictions. “It’s terrible to think how they will be without them now. They are starving.”

Olga also writes about the impostor who pretended to be her niece Grand Duchess Anastasia – Anna Anderson.

“You understand the absurdity of the story as well as we do! More and more I am convinced that this story was conceived for the sake of blackmail and money. Let us say that I am mistaken, but how can it be then, that her governess, Madame Gilliard, who knew Anastasia when she was six weeks old, and that Monsieur Gillard, who was also with the dear family until they parted in June, 1918, could also be mistaken?”

Olga rejoiced at every guest from Russia. She was impressed by the Don Cossacks, and she sincerely regrets their fate.

“Our people are so poor, they are exploited, they come from Bulgaria, where they worked in the mines, in various terrible places. Dear, poor Russians, what a difficult life they now have!”

Olga writes bitterly about the Russian general kidnapped by the NKVD [Soviet secret police] in Paris in January 1930:

“How horrible it is to have what happened in Paris!” Poor General Kutepov! Who would have thought that such a thing could happen today, in the civilized world, in broad daylight!”

It should be noted that Сердцем с Вами, Ольга / My heart is with you, Olga was only published in the Russian language, in a limited edition of only 700 copies. The design was designed by Vyatka artists Olga Kolchanova and Alexander Selezenev.

In addition to translation [from French to Russian], the book also contains digitized originals of the original letters, which is the best way for the reader to personally get in touch with the story of Grand Duchess Olga Romanova-Kulikovskaya.

Nicholas II Vintage Newsreels No. 6 – 10

Posted on 6 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

This is the second installment of a new monthly feature to my Nicholas II. Emperor. Tsar. Saint. blog, which showcases the vast collection of vintage newsreels which are now available to watch on YouTube and other online media sources. I have taken the liberty of selecting 5 interesting newsreels which depict Emperor Nicholas II and his family attending events in various cities throughout the Russian Empire.

Many of these newsreels include background music, with tunes of the Russian Empire or Orthodox music. Others are narrated in Russian, however, that should not deter the viewer from watching. You can turn on the English (or other language) subtitles by clicking on Google translate and then turn on the closed captioning [CC] button, found at the bottom of the newsreel. ENJOY!

No. 6 – Nicholas II attends the opening of the Alexander III Museum of Fine Art 1912

Emperor Nicholas II attends the opening of the Alexander III Museum of Fine Arts, later renamed the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, in Moscow. He is accompanied by his mother Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, and his four daughters Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. 13th June [O.S. 31st May] 1912.

Duration: 1 minute, 19 seconds with musical background

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No. 7 – Emperor Nicholas II in Crimea (Livadia, 1909)

Digitally remastered by the Russian State Film and Photo Archive (RGAKFD). This video features wonderful vintage footage of the old woodern palaces at Livadia. English captions.

Duration: 10 minutes, 348 seconds

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No. 8 – Nicholas II at the exhibition of Crimean Tatar handicrafts. Yalta

This colourized video depicts Emperor Nicholas II and his family at the exhibition of Crimean Tatar handicrafts, which was held in Yalta, Crimea on 30th September 1913. He is accompanied by his four daughters and retinue.

Duration: 1 minute, 5 seconds with musical background

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No. 9 – The Imperial Family in Nizhni Novgorod 1913

On 17th May 1913, Emperor Nicholas II and his family visited Nizhny Novgorod. It was just one of many visits to cities and towns across the Russian Empire marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty. This video has been colourized.

Duration: 1 minute, 25 seconds with musical background

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No. 10 – Emperor Nicholas II’s visit with Emperor Wilhelm II. 1913

In 1913, Nicholas II visited Germany and is greeted by the Kaiser. The two Emperors are shown riding in a horse drawn carriage, flanked by regiments on horseback, crowds cheer along the parade route. An outstanding chronicle of history.

Duration: 1 minute, 51 seconds with musical background

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Previous Post Featuring MORE Vintage Newsreels of Nicholas II

Nos. 1 – 5

My Nicholas II blog now features 1,000 articles!

Posted on 10 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

Well, I did it! Today, I posted the 1,000th article on my ‘Nicholas II. Emperor. Tsar. Saint.’ blog, which is dedicated to clearing the name of Russia’s much slandered Tsar. This is indeed a major milestone, and one worth celebrating! 🎉🎉🎉

I think it is safe to say, that my blog is now one of (if not the largest) sites dedicated to the study of Nicholas II, his family, the Romanov dynasty and the history of Imperial Russia, the articles of which have been researched from Russian archival and media sources and translated into English.Since September of 2019, my blog has received more than 1.6 MILLION hits, from people all over the world.

I have been researching, writing and publishing books and articles on these topics, on a full-time basis for more than 35 years. My blog, books on Nicholas II and semi-annual publication SOVEREIGN have become rich resource tools for scholars, historians and writers from all walks of life.

My works reflect a truthful assessment of events in the life and reign of Emperor Nicholas II (1868-1918), based on reliable Russian and English language sources, which often challenge the popular held negative Bolshevik and Soviet historiography, which academically lazy historians and writers in the West continually rehash.

I retired from publishing and bookselling in 2021, however, my dedication to preserving the memory of Nicholas II has not waned. Despite personal health issues, I continue to write daily, with more than half a dozen new book titles in the works I pray the Lord grant me many more years 🙏

THANK YOU / БОЛЬШОЕ СПАСИБО
for your ongoing interest and support of my research

First governor or Sverdlovsk regrets that the ROC has not recognized the Ekaterinburg Remains

Posted on 10 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: the first governor of the Sverdlovsk region, Eduard Rossel
and Ural geologist Alexander Avdonin

*** Please note that this is my 1,000th article, researched from
Russian archival and media sources, and translated into English – PG

In 1991, Valery Nikolaevich Shevelin found himself in the center of historical events by accident. A friend and neighbor, Alexander Avdonin (1932-2026), who was searching for the remains of Russia’s last Tsar and family, asked him to guard the excavations on the old Koptyaki Road near Sverdlovsk [Ekaterinburg].

Avdonin was sure that he would find the remains of the Imperial Family, so he asked his friend Eduard Rossel, who served as the Head of Sverdlovsk Oblast [Region] Administration, to help organize the expedition. Soon the soldiers arrived. They built a tall palisade, pitched tents, brought beds and deployed field kitchens.

On Sunday, 22nd February, Alexander Avdonin (1932-2026) was laid to rest in the village cemetery in Kurganovo, Sverdlovsk region, where the famous Ural geologist recently lived.

Recall that Alexander Avdonin died in Ekaterinburg on 20th February 2026. – NOTE: click on the link, to see little known photos of Avdonin with Prince Michael of Kent, during the latter’s visit to the Urals in 2012.

During the funeral service, the first governor [from 1995 to 2009] of the Sverdlovsk region, Eduard Rossel, said goodbye to his friend Alexander Nikolaevich Avdonin, the man who, together with his colleagues, discovered the remains of Emperor Nicholas II and his family.

Below is the full text of the eulogy that Rossel gave at Avdonin’s funeral, this past Sunday:

PHOTO: Avdonin, and the abbot of the Verkhoturye Monastery, Hegumen Tikhon, view sculptural portraits of members of the Imperial Family at the exhibition ‘The Romanovs: Return to History‘. 17 April 1997.

“I was acquainted with Alexander Nikolaevich for many years. Together, we honoured the memory of the the last emperor and his family. We took many risks, persevered and, finally, brought the true fate of the Imperial family out of darkness and oblivion,

“If it were not for Alexander Nikolaevich and his associates: Geliy Ryabov, Kochurov and Vasiliev, the incredible story of finding the Tsar’s remains would not have happened. There would have been no Church on the Blood, no Ganina Yama, no annual Tsar’s Days, no museum exhibitions, no books, and no educational events – which reflect one of one of the most tragic events in Russian history.

“In recent years, Alexander Nikolaevich was very ill, so we we were not able to communicate as much, but I will always remember our first meeting in the Regional Executive Committee, which saw the beginning of our working together on the extraction and identification of the Tsar’s remains, but also an enduring friendship.

“I will forever remember him as a man who opened my eyes to true patriotism – a positive attitude to one’s history, and that without paying tribute to it’s memory, it is impossible to move forward!

“And indeed, the development of the Tsarist project began here in the Sverdlovsk region, which I headed, emerging from the most severe socio-economic and spiritual crisis caused by the collapse of the USSR and the formation of a new Russia.”

PHOTO: Alexander Avdonin examining items found during excavations in and around the site where the remains of Nicholas II and his family were exhumed in 1991

During the eulogy, Eduard Rossel expressed his sincere disappointment in the Moscow Patriarchate of f the Russian Orthodox Church, who have still not recognized the Ekaterinburg Remains as those of Emperor Nicholas II and his family.

“My soul aches from the fact that the remains of the Imperial Family are not as yet, recognized as *Holy Relics. Alexander Nikolaevich and I, had even selected the particles [from the bones] of which, wanted to place in the reliquaries in the Lower Church of the Church on the Blood, near the place [today, the Imperial Room] where the the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers met their deaths.

For more information on the remains of the Imperial Family being reconised as Holy Relics, please refer to my article – The Fate of the Ekaterinburg Remains

“Everything was done for this: the best genetic research in the world was financed and carroed out, the reliability of the results was provided to the investigation committee and proven with one hundred percent result, but, apparently, the time has not yet come,” said Rossel

Recall that the Russian Orthodox Church have yet to offficially recognize the remains discovered in two graves on the Old Koptyaki Road as those of Russia’s last Tsar and his family. In the summer of 1998, when, by decision of the government of the Russian Federation, to bury the remains took place in the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Patriarch Alexei II (1929-2008) and other bishops did not attend the commemorative event. The final decision on this issue was to be made by the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, but its meeting has not yet taken place.

“Today, thousands of people venerate the memory of the Nicholas II and his family, through events marking the annual Tsar’s Days, bishops pray, the Church on the Blood receives believers, but the end of this sorrowful matter has not yet been made.

“Deepest condolences to Alexander Nikolaevich’s wife Galina Pavlovna, to his family, relatives and friends. Eternal memory to the man who opened the way to true repentance for all of us by deeds, not words!” concluded Eduard Rossel.

PHOTO: Alexander Avdonin (right) with histirian Nikolai Neuymin (left) Sverdlovsk Museum of Local Lore, at the cross at the Romanov Memorial, at Porosenkov Log, near Ekaterinburg.

Nicholas II visits St. Barnabas of Gethsemane, 1905

Posted on 11 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: fresco depicting Emperor Nicholas II meeting the Elder Barnabas

Emperor Nicholas II was known for his piety and religiosity. During his 22-year reign, he loved to visit monasteries and speak with the elders. In early 1905, the Emperor visited the famous Elder Barnabas – shortly before the elder’s death – in the Gethsemane Skete near the Trinity-Sergius Lavra at Sergiev Posad.

Following the tragic events of Bloody Sunday in January 1905, Nicholas II’s visit itself was timely. Although the Tsar was not to blame for the tragedy, he wanted in conscience, to repent in the presence of the man of God and listen to his instruction and admonition.

It is known that the Elder Barnabas not only confirmed the prophecy already known to the Emperor about the fate that awaited him, but also gave him his blessing to accept this fate, strengthening in him the will to bear his cross when it pleased the Lord to lay this cross on him.

Nicholas was already aware of the prophecies of the monk Abel (1801) in 1901 and St. Seraphim of Sarov (1833) in 1903.

In 1909, during the Emperor’s visit to the ancient St. George Monastery near Sevastopol, two devout schema-monks, who never showed themselves to people from their cells, suddenly came out, approached the Sovereign, silently fell down in prostration, stood up, crossed themselves, and also silently departed.

Elder Barnabas died on 17th February 1906. The famous elder and ascetic, was officially canonized by the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1995. He is celebrated for his spiritual wisdom, prophecies, and for serving as a confessor to Emperor Nicholas II in 1905.

PHOTO: icon depicting St. Barnabas of Gethsemane

Recommended reading: 10 books on the life and reign of Nicholas II

Posted on 13 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

One of the questions I am asked most is “can you recommend a good book on Nicholas II?”

Putting aside the numerous beautiful pictorials which have been published over the years, I have compiled the following *list of 10 books, which for the most part, present an honest assessment on the life and reign of Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar.

In addition, are the following honourable mentions: Nicholas and Alexandra byRobert K. Massie (1967); Last Years of the Court at Tsarskoe Selo Volume I – 1906-1910 (2010) and Volume II – 1910-1914 (2017) by General Alexandre Spiridovitch; Thirteen Years at the Russian Court (1921/2025) by Pierre Gilliard; At the Court of the Last Tsar (1935) by Alexander Mossolov; and The Coronation of Tsar Nicholas II (2012) edited by Paul Gilbert.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

*NOTE: all of the books listed here are in English and listed in order of the year they were published. With the exception of Oldenburg’s 4-volume study, all the remaining titles are available from your favourite bookseller. Second hand copies can also be found on eBay, aLibris, Biblio, etc.

Teokratia: The Theocratic Principle in Russia, 1917 and Today
Author: Matthew dal Santo
Published in 2025 by Angelico Press
546 pages

NOTE: I have selected this title for my ‘Romanov Book of the Year 2025’

Part travelogue, part history, and part theological reflection, Matthew Dal Santo’s new book is a “MUST READ” for any one who shares an interest in the life and reign of Russia’s last Tsar. Dal Santo brilliantly connects themes of contemporary relevance with ‘old Russia’ by unfolding a journey in which he explores the rise and fall of the Romanov family. He investigates how the family is perceived by the Russian people today, in light of their canonization by the Moscow Patriarchate in 2000.

At the heart of his reflections stand two figures, Nicholas II and the theologian Sergei Bulgakov (1871-1944): the tsar represents the fate of Teokratia in Russia, the idea that political rule is a sacred office. It is a scholarly life of Nicholas II set against its background in the history of imperial Russia. It is a journalist’s investigation of attitudes to the martyrs of the Romanov family among ordinary Russians today. It is a travelogue of descriptions, often astonishingly beautiful, of the places associated with Nicholas II and his family, and where the final drama of the dynasty unfolded.

The book serves simultaneously as a spiritual biography of Russia’s last (now sainted) tsar, Nicholas II (1894–1917),exploring the theological sources of Nicholas’s unwillingness, even inability, to grant Russia a constitution as a matter of faith and conscience—questioning as it does so the tensions in not only Bulgakov’s political theology but also the meaning of the place of the emperor/tsar in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

It is also—and this will not easily be found among other accounts of the coming of the revolutions of 1917—a plea to re-examine the significance of ‘sacral’ monarchy, understood as the symbolization of a Christ-centered order in which ultimate norms and values are raised above the simple adjudication, whether democratic or bureaucratic, of practical affairs.

Last year, after the author sent me a review copy of his book, he sent the following note: “I hope you will feel I have done Nicholas II’s inner, spiritual life justice. That was one of my chief aims.” He did indeed!

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***

Tsar Nicholas II: Unveiling the Holy Tsar
Author: Alexander Egger
Published Independently in 2024
493 pages

San Francisco based author Alexander Egger’s groundbreaking book is a must for those who wish to understand better the spiritual journey of Nicholas II.

Explore the captivating life of Tsar Nicholas II, in a profound journey through his tumultuous yet spiritually rich reign (1894-1917), torn between the duties of rulership and a deep yearning for spiritual enlightenment, navigated a realm fraught with political intrigue and societal upheaval. Despite these challenges, he emerged as a steadfast champion of the Orthodox faith, dedicated to preserving Russia’s sacred traditions.

This book vividly portrays Nicholas II’s unwavering devotion to God amidst the trials of governance. It delves into his inner conflict, portraying a leader grappling with faith, fate, and destiny. Nicholas II’s spiritual odyssey unfolds as a timeless tale of personal transformation, resonating with those who seek deeper meaning beyond earthly power.

Witness the poignant journey of a ruler who strove to reconcile his role as sovereign with his desire for piety and humble devotion. Through rich narrative and historical insight, this book offers an unforgettable portrait of Nicholas II’s unwavering loyalty to tradition and his quest for solace and salvation.

Tragically, Tsar Nicholas and his beloved family ultimately met their deaths in a gloomy basement in Ekaterinburg. Throughout their lives, they embodied the values of family, humility, nobility, duty, the Russian people, and, above all, the holy Orthodox faith. In the end, they sacrificed their lives for their nation and the Orthodox faith, standing as the early martyrs did before the lions. Having given their lives for Christ, they now intercede on our behalf before Christ.

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***

The Last Tsar:
The Abdication of Nicholas II and the Fall of the Romanovs
Author: Tsuyoshi Hasegawa
Published in 2024 by Basic Books
560 pages

In April 2024, I shared some thoughts on The Last Tsar, which were based on the publisher’s summary of the book. My article was published on this blog some 8 months prior to the book’s release in December 2024. Click HERE to read it.

I had some hesitation including this book to my Top 10 recommended reading list, but after some deliberation I decided to include it. First of all, I found Hasegawa’s book very biased against Nicholas II. The author does not hold back from revealing what he thinks of Nicholas II as a ruler, regurgating the same old nasty euphemisms which have existed since the early 20th century, the same ones which were allowed to germinate during the Bolshevik and later Soviet years.

As one reviewer on Amazon wrote: “Humans are all bias to some degree. Historians need to be mindful of our own human nature and try to stick to factual representations of history.” The reviewer then adds: “It is difficult to find real history presented through unbiased factual lens . . when discussing the last Russian Tsar.”

In addition, Hasegawa makes some outrageous statements, the most ridiculous being found on pages 32-33, in which he compares Rasputin’s followers to that of cult leader and mass murderer Charles Manson or Jim Jones and even Donald Trumo’s MAGA movement. I wonder if Hasegawa has met some of the “Kirillists” – aka as “Legitimists”? This is just one example, and certainly not the type of “research” one expects from a “professor emeritus in history”. Perhaps he drank too much sake?

Then there are the sources for his book. While Hasegawa has utilized the vast resources of the Russian archives, presenting many new documents, he also cites some rather dubious sources. In particular, when discussing Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich’s treasonous actions following the February 1917 Revolution, he refers to a series of emails from a well-known American social media troll and “Kirillist/Legitimist”, who goes out of his way to present the Kirillovich branch of the Romanov dynasty in any way but truthful!

Having pointed out the negatives of this book, I still recommend this book to those who share an interest in the reign of Russia’s last Tsar. Hasegawae has produced an intimate and highly absorbing account of Russia’s last hereditary autocrat. Hasegawa’s book is like a slow-motion vintage newsreel of Russia approaching the edge. He literally “dissects” the events leading up to the Tsar’s abdication on 15th March (O.S. 2nd March) 1917, which reveal many new details, thus making this book a compelling read.

This book which is based on a trove of new archival discoveries, narrates how the factions of scheming nobles, ruthless legislators, pragmatic generals and even members of the Russian Imperial Family – ALL in one way or another helped to bring about the destruction of the monarchy and the Russian Empire. Nicholas II’s famous words “All around me I see treason, cowardice and deceit!”, ring loud and clear, as Hasegawa reveals the identities of those who betrayed their sovereign.

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***

The True Story of the Romanov Family
Published in 2024 by the Diaconești Monastery (Moldavia)
68 pages, richly illustrated

A new graphic novel, featuring exceptional illustrations and content that evoke the true story of the last Russian Imperial Family. This books is a labour of love by the nuns of the Diaconești Monastery in Moldavia, motivated by their deep reverence for the Holy Tsar Nicholas II and his family.

Drawing from numerous historical sources—studies, memoirs, and diaries—the nuns have meticulously reconstructed key moments in the life of the Imperial Family and presented them in a visually captivating format suitable for readers of all ages.

From the love story between Nicholas and Alix to the children’s education in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, from the tragedy of the Otsu Incident to the prophetic meeting with the Blessed Pasha Ivanovna of Diveevo, all are captured in exceptional illustrations, crowned with artistic refinement by the eleven Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs—famous jewels from the Romanov collection—depicted on the book’s title page.

This graphic novel aims not only to captivate Romanov history enthusiasts but also to offer a model of family, faith, and dignity in a world where these values are increasingly under threat. This book is a must read for all dedicated ‘Romanovphiles’.

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***

The Last of the Tsars: Nicholas II and the Russian Revolution
Author: Robert Service
Published in 2017 by Pan Macmillan (UK)
382 pages, illustrated

The Last of the Tsars was published just before the 150th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Nicholas II in 1868, and the 100th anniversary of his murder in 1918. I have to say that I was reluctant at first to read this book, however, once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down!

This book was researched and written by the well known British historian and Sovietologist Robert Service. Wile the author is clearly not one of Nicholas II’s adherents – he rehashes the negative Bolshevik assessment of the Tsar – this book is still worth a read.

Service’s meticulous research offers some very interesting new details about the last eighteen months of Nicholas II’s life. What sets Service’s book a cut above those previously written, is that he avoids the details of the murder and burial of the Tsar and his family, and instead, explains in intricate detail the events between the Tsar’s abdication in February 1917 and his death in July 1918.

Drawing on Nicholas II’s own diaries and other hitherto unexamined contemporary documents, The Last of the Tsars reveals a compelling account of the social, economic and political foment in Russia in the aftermath of Alexander Kerensky’s February Revolution, the Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917 and the beginnings of Lenin’s Soviet republic.

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***

The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal
Published in 2019 by Mesa Potamos Publications (Cyprus)
508 pages, illustrated

The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal draws on letters, testimonies, diaries, memoirs, and other texts never before published in English to present a unique biography of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. A lively portrait of the Imperial Family emerges from their own personal writings and in the writings of those who lived very close to them. Based strictly on primary sources, the book also brings to light a multitude of unknown and unrevealed facts, which evince that many truths in regard to the life and martyrdom of the Royal Martyrs remain silenced or distorted to this day. The result is a psychographic biography that explores the essential character of the royal family in a deeper and inspiring way.

This voluminous book includes nearly 200 black and white photographs, and also features a 56-page photo insert, of more than 80 high-quality images of the tsar and his family, all of which have been colourised by the acclaimed Russian artist Olga Shirnina (aka Klimbim), and appear here in print for the first time.

The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal was my personal choice for Romanov Book of the Year in 2019. Click HERE to read my review, published on 18th November 2019.

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***

The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II
Author: Greg King
Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (US)
559 pages, illustrated

While a massive body of work has been devoted to the last of the Romanovs, The Court of the Last Tsar is the first book to examine the people, mysteries, traditions, scandals, rivalries, and riches that were part of everyday life during 22+ year reign of Nicholas II.

This richly illustrated volume includes 24-pages of colour photographs; more than 80 black-and-white photos; floor plans of the Winter Palace (St. Petersburg), the Alexander Palace (Tsarskoye Selo), the Grand Kremlin Palace (Moscow), among others.

King’s study draws on hundreds of previously unpublished primary sources, including memoirs, personal letters, diary entries, and official documents. His research invites you to experience dozens of extravagant ceremonies and entertainments attended by members of the Imperial Court, which numbered more than fifteen thousand individuals.

Chief among these, of course, was Nicholas II, Emperor and Tsar who ruled an empire that stretched over one-sixth of the earth’s land surface. His marriage to Princess Alix of Hesse in 1894 and their Coronation in 1896 are two of the most spectacular ceremonies described in this lavish volume.

The Court of the Last Tsar brings the people, places, and events of this doomed but unforgettable wonderland to vivid and sparkling life.

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***

A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra, Their Own Story
Authors: Sergei Mironenko and Andrei Maylenas
Published in 1997 by Doubleday (US); Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd (UK)
559 pages, illustrated.

These letters, most of which are published here for the first time, offer an intimate look at some of the most momentous events of the early 1900s, including Russia’s participation in World War I and the fall of the Romanov dynasty in the October 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Among the correspondents are Alexandra’s beloved but domineering grandmother, Queen Victoria of Great Britain, and Nicholas’ cousin, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Most poignant, though, are the letters and diaries of the last Tsar and Tsarina, which stand as eloquent expressions of one of the great love affairs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A Lifelong Passion begins in 1884 with the couple’s first childhood meeting and chronicles their intense courtship and first joyful years of marriage. Their happiness, however, was not to last, as they were quickly overtaken by the forces of war and revolution. The discovery that their only son and heir Alexei was stricken with hemophilia opened the family to the formidable and perhaps malign influence of the monk Rasputin, whose gory death is here recounted by one of the murderers. Though unshaken in their love for one another, Nicholas and Alexandra could not hold their country together, and their story ends with a chilling account of their murder by the Bolshevik revolutionaries.

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***

Nicholas II: Twilight of the Empire
Author: Dominic Lieven
Published in 1993 by St. Martin’s Press (US); Pimlico (UK)
292 pages, illustrated

What is there new to say about Russia’s last monarch? Almost everything. Previous biographies have told of the shy family man, the father of the hemophiliac heir, the victim of the infamous murder at Ekaterinburg in 1918. This book provides new insights into those parts of the story, but it looks above all at Nicholas as political leader and emperor, as it portrays the Old Regime’s collapse and the origins of Bolshevik Russia in a way that will surprise readers.

Nicholas II was not stupid. Nor was he weak as is commonly thought. The dilemmas of ruling Russia were vast and contradictory, and it was an illusion to think that simply by agreeing to become a constitutional monarch Nicholas could have preserved his dynasty and empire. Drawing many eerie parallels to events unfolding in Russia today, Lieven shows that social and technological change had far outstripped the existing political and executive structures. Lieven argues that the inability of the Tsar and his government to recognize these growing anachronisms and to devise new systems constructively helped lead to the devastating chaos out of which the new order arose.

Drawing on his fifteen-year study of Imperial Russia and using archival material and other sources all over the world, Cambridge Research Professor Dominic Lieven shows that the downfall of both the Imperial and Soviet Regimes fit into a pattern of ongoing Russian history, one that bears close scrutiny if we are to understand the turmoil of the post-Cold War period.

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***

Last Tsar: Nicholas II, His Reign and His Russia – 4 Volumes
Author: Sergei S. Oldenburg
Published in 1975 by Academic International Press (US)
228 pages (Vol. I), 315 pages (Vol. 2), 224 pages (Vol. 3), 356 pages (Vol. 4)

The 4-volume Last Tsar. Nicholas II, His Reign & His Russia by the noted Russian historian and journalist Sergei Sergeiivich Oldenburg (1888-1940), remains the most comprehensive and definitive English language study of Nicholas II’s 22+ year reign to date. Originally published in 1939 in Russian, the first English edition was not published until 1975.

It is a major document in modern Russian historiography. The final contribution of a Russian nationalist historian, it provides uniquely sensitive insights into the character, personality, and policies of Russia’s last tsar. It has no rival as a political biography of Nicholas II and is without peer as a comprehensive history of his reign.

Click HERE to read my article about this highly sought after set and its’ author Sergei Sergeiivich Oldenburg

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How France appropriated the Imperial Russian Black Sea Fleet

Posted on 14 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: A brigade of battleships of the Imperial Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Northern Bay of Sevastopol, 1910s

The history of the Imperial Russian Black Sea Fleet after the October 1917 Revolution is not just a page in a military chronicle. This was a tragedy in several acts, where ships became bargaining chips in political games, hostages of ideologies and, ultimately, scrap metal in a foreign land. The fleet created by Empress Catherine II, which survived the Crimean War and was revived by Emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II, was destroyed not by the enemy, but by the course of history.

Battleships that did not reach Tsargrad

Following the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, in which much of the Imperial Russian fleet had been destroyed, Emperor Nicholas II embarked on an ambitious reorganization of the navy. By 1917, the Black Sea Fleet was at the peak of its power.

Nicholas II was preparing a grandiose landing operation to capture Constantinople. Iin the summer of 1916, he appointed Vice-Admiral Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak (1874-1920) at the head of the fleet. The plan was ambitious: fire support from the sea and a massive landing of troops to capture the city. The spring of 1917 was to be decisive.

But instead of a campaign against Tsargrad[1], the February and October 1917 Revolutions broke out. The fleet, which could change the course of world history, found itself in the epicenter of chaos.

Lenin’s order: drown, but not surrender

In April 1918, German troops entered the Crimea. The commander of the Baltic Fleet, Vice Admiral Mikhail Pavlovich Sablin[2] (1869-1920), in order to save the ships, ordered to take them to Novorossiysk[3]. Not everyone obeyed his order, but the main part of the Baltic Fleet – including the latest battleships – took refuge in the Tsemes Bay.

The Germans demanded the extradition of the ships. Formally, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk did not give them such a right, but the Bolsheviks did not have a real force to resist. And Lenin made a Solomonic decision: the fleet should not fall into the hands of the enemy.

On 6th June 1918, a secret telegram went to Novorossiysk: to scuttle the ships.

PHOTO: Vice Admiral Alexander Kolchak and Vice Admiral Mikhail Pavlovich Sablin

Sablin, having learned about Lenin’s order, was horrified. He foresaw that Germany was about to collapse, and then the ships would return. True, they would return not to the Soviet power, but to the Whites. For a officers and sailors of the Imperial Russian Navy, the death of their own Baltic Fleet was unthinkable.

The admiral himself went to Moscow to dissuade Lenin. The risk was fatal: he was arrested, but he escaped.

And on 17-18 June 1918, the main forces of the Black Sea Fleet were sunk by the Germans in the Tsemess Bay. The battleship Free Russia (formerly Catherine the Great) and dozens of other ships sank to the bottom.

Under three flags

Sablin’s prediction came true. In November 1918, Germany capitulated. The ships of the Entente entered the Black Sea. Russian ships interned by the Germans came under the control of the Allies. General Anton Denikin’s (1872-1947) long negotiations with the French and British began on the return of the fleet.

During 1919, most of the ships were returned to the Russians. The battleship “Volya” was renamed “General Alexeev” – it again carried the St. Andrew’s flag, but under the command of the Whites[4]. In 1920, Wrangel received the remnants of the fleet.

Sablin, again headed the fleet, however, the admiral’s health was undermined [5]. In mid-1920 he fell seriously ill with liver cancer and was replaced by Admiral M. A. Kedrov on 12th October 1920.

The fleet was now preparing for the worst: the Great Russian exodus of 1920, which saw the evacuation of more than 140,000 soldiers and civilians from the ports of Crimea.

PHOTO: A brigade of battleships of the Imperial Russian Black Sea Fleet

Assylum deposit

The scarcity of material resources of the Crimea forced General Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel (1878-1928) to conclude enslaving deals with the Western powers in order to receive from them first assistance in arms and food in the war, and then, when the war was finally lost by the Whites, to provide shelter to the servicemen of the White Army, members of their families, civil servants of the Whites and all persons who fled from Russia, fearing reprisals from the Bolsheviks.

Until the last days of the White Army’s stay in the Crimea, Wrangel’s representatives abroad negotiated with the French government on the provision of a loan. But the White Army’s collapse came very quickly. Wrangel had no other way to pay the French for asylum than to pledge the entire Black Sea Fleet, and not only the military, but also the merchant fleet.

On 13th November 1920, the day before the abandonment of Sevastopol, Wrangel wrote to the plenipotentiary representative of France, Count Damien de Martel (1878-1940): “I believe that these ships should serve as a pledge for the payment of those expenses that have already been incurred by France or may be due to her, for the provision of first aid caused by the circumstances of the present time.”

Undoubtedly, this was not improvisation. This step was prepared in advance. France could be pleased. The entire Imperial Russian Black Sea Fleet passed into its hands, or rather, what was left of it after the events of the revolution and the civil war.

After transporting the Russian refugees to Constantinople, the Princes’ Islands and Gallipoli, the ships of the Russian squadron (as it became officially called) arrived at Bizerte, the French naval base in Tunisia. There, the Russian squadron continued to exist until 1924, although its personnel, due to the impossibility of maintaining it, were written off on the shore and shared the fate of all Russian exiles as early as 1922.

Ships for scrapping

It became increasingly clear that the Whites would never be able to resume the struggle for Russia. In 1924, France officially recognized the USSR and established diplomatic relations with it. At the same time, it agreed to return to the USSR serviceable ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

In order to determine the specific ships to be returned to the Soviet Union, a plenipotentiary Soviet commission arrived in Bizerte.

However, in conservative political circles in France and in the White émigré press, a campaign was launched against this part of the agreement. France sabotaged its implementation. In the end, the Soviet Union was satisfied with a small monetary compensation for the Black Sea Fleet. The deal was formalized as the sale of ships for scrapping.

Thus ended the existence of the Imperial Russian Black Sea Fleet. However, not quite. Some ships were raised from the bottom of the Tsemess Bay and restored in the 1920s. One of them, the destroyer Kaliakria, entered the Soviet Black Sea Navy under the new name Dzerzhinsky and was blown up by a mine in 1942. Two more – “Elborus” and “Serbia” – worked as transport ships and also sunk during the Great Patriotic War.

PHOTO: the battleship Empress Maria of the Imperial Russian Black Sea Fleet

NOTES:

[1] Tsarigrad, is a Slavic name for the city or land of Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

[2] Mikhail’s brother Nikolai Pavlovich Sablin (1880-1937, was a prominent officer of the Imperia Russianl Navy, a participant in the Battle of Tsushima and the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment. From 1906 to 1914, Sablin served on the Imperial Yacht ‘Standart‘, eventually becoming her commander. In 1914. Sablin became the naval Aide de camp to Emperor Nicholas II.

[3] In 1920, Nicholas II’s youngest sister Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960), her husband two sons travelled by train to Novorossiysk and took shelter in the Danish Consulate. Other members of the Russian Imperial Family who found temporary sanctuary including Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (1854-1920), along with her sons Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich (1879-1956) and Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich (1877-1943) and his future wife, Zinaida Rashevskaya. It is interesting to note that Grand Duchess Maria was the last of the Romanovs to escape Bolshevik Russia and the first to die in exile.

[4] The Russian Whites in 1919 were a coalition of anti-Bolshevik forces that emerged during the Russian Civil War (1917-1922). Their goal was to to overthrow the Bolshevik regime and restore the old order in Russia. The Whites received support from foreign powers like Britain, France, Japan, and the United States, who were concerned about the spread of communism. Despite initial successes in various battles, the Whites struggled with unity and coordination, leading to fragmented military efforts against the Reds. Key leaders of the White movement included Admiral Alexander Kolchak and General Anton Denikin, each representing different factions and ideologies within the broader anti-Bolshevik cause. The defeat of the Whites in 1920-1921 solidified Bolshevik control over Russia and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union in 1922.

[5] Vice Admiral Mikhail Pavlovich Sablin died in Sevastopol on 17th October 1920, aged 51. He was buried in Sevastopol in St. Vladimir’s Cathedral.

“Nicholas II showed himself as a responsible reformer” – Valentina Matviyenko

Posted on 15 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: fist page of the Imperial Manifesto of Emperor Nicholas II
of 20th February (5th March, New Style), 1906

On 20th February 2026, Russia celebrates the 120th anniversary of the signing of the manifesto by Emperor Nicholas II, which marked the beginning of the modern bicameral organization of legislative power in Russia. On this important historic date, parliamentarians of various levels and all Russians were congratulated by Chairman of the Federation Council and Senator from St. Petersburg Valentina Matviyenko.

According to her, the decision of Nicholas II to transform the State Council from an advisory structure to a legislative one was a truly prophetic choice of the right model of the state structure of multinational and multi-confessional Russia.

“The Russian Emperor showed himself as a responsible reformer, who first thought not about protecting the sacredness of his power, his autocracy, but about the effectiveness of governing the country. Nicholas II consciously divided the legislative function between the two highest state institutions – the reformed State Council and the State Duma – and thus, laid down a bicameral domestic parliamentary tradition, which has been justifying itself for more than a century . . . “, she added.

In the historic manifesto, Nicholas II pointed out that the law could not come into force without the approval of both chambers. This rule is still preserved by the modern Russian parliament: after approval by the State Duma, the law goes to the Federation Council and after consideration by senators it goes to the President for signature.

Valentina Matviyenko held a meeting in the Upper House with the head of the Federal Archival Agency (Rosarkhiv) Andrei Artizov and the scientific director of the State Archives of the Russian Federation (GARF) Sergei Mironenko. They showed Matvienko the original of the manifesto of Emperor Nicholas II of 20th February (5th March, New Style), 1906, which laid the foundation for the modern bicameral organization of legislative power in Russia. It announced the reorganization of the State Council, with the granting of rights to it “in matters of legislation” and with the involvement of “elected representatives of the population”.

“This is a very important document for us, and a memorable date. In fact, it laid the foundation for a bicameral parliamentary system. Already on 27th April 1906, as you know, there was the first joint meeting of the State Council and the State Duma,” Matviyenko said.

PHOTO: (above) Valentina Matviyenko familiarizes herself with the original of the Imperial Manifesto of Nicholas II; (below) Matviyenko meets with Andrei Artizov (left) and Sergei Mironenko (right).

She thanked Artizov and Mironenko for the opportunity to hold this historic document in her hands and to get in touch with Russia’s history.

“I have great respect for those people who work in the archives, who preserve our documentary sovereignty, the history of our country. As a rule, they are very modest people, but they are devoted to their profession and their work. I understand and appreciated the significant dedication of preserving these archives”, she added.

During the meeting, the state and prospects of archival affairs in Russia were discussed. They recalled that in the early 1990s, noting the great contribution of Valentina Matviyenko to the preservation of priceless documents and the building of the State Archives.

Matviyenko proposed an archival exhibition for the 120th anniversary of parliamentarism in Russia, which would include the original copy of the manifestos of Nicholas II, which formed the legislative branch of power, in the Tauride Palace of St. Petersburg.

Earlier, the speaker said that in 2026, the spring session of both the Upper and Lower Chambers of the Federal Assembly has a special resonance in the history of Russian parliamentarism, which turns 120 this year. She noted the choice of the model of legislative power, which Nicholas II made 120 years ago, laying down a “bicameral domestic parliamentary tradition,” prescient.

Obituary: Alexander Nikolaevich Avdonin (1932-2026)

Posted on 15 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

Alexander Avdonin, the Ural geologist who discovered the remains of Nicholas II and his family in 1979, died in Ekaterinburg on 20th February 2026, at the age of 93.

In May 1979, working in secret, Alexander Avdonin, together with the writer and screenwriter Geliy Trofimovich Ryabov (1932-2015), discovered the place where the remains of the Imperial Family and their four faithful retainers were hidden by the regicides in July 1918. For 12 years, the Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences kept this secret. It was only in 1991, following the fall of the Soviet Union, the remains were exhumed and identified. Avdonon and Ryabov’s discovery is considered one of the most significant events in post-Soviet Russia’s history.

Alexander Nikolaevich Avdonin was born in Sverdlovsk [Ekaterinburg] on 10th June 1932, in the family of a civil engineer Nikolai Gavrilovich and a housewife Ksenia Ivanovna Avdonin. After graduating from school, in 1948, he entered the Sverdlovsk Mining and Metallurgical College. He graduated in 1952 with a degree in geology technician. From 1952 to 1957, he studied at the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of the Sverdlovsk Mining Institute, receiving the specialty of geophysical engineer.

PHOTOS: Alexander Avdonin with Prince Michael of Kent at the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore in Ekaterinburg. June 2012

From 1957 to 1991, Avdonin worked in the Ural Geological Administration as the head of experimental and methodological research in the Ural Geophysical Expedition. In 1981, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences.

Following the exhumation of the Ekaterinburg Remains in 1991, Avdonin founded the Yekaterinburg Public Discovery Foundation and became its chairman. In 1993, he was included in the government commission for the identification of the remains of the Imperial Family and remained a member until the burial of Nichola’s II and his family’s remains in St. Petersburg on 17th July 1998.

From 1993, Avdonin worked as a senior researcher at the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. He was the organizer and member of the creative team for the exhibitions “Russia. The Romanovs. The Urals” (1993) and “The Romanovs: Return to History” (1997). In addition, he he was in charge of the museum’s “Hall in Mmemory of the Romanovs”.

Alexander Avdonin was the author of monographs and scientific articles, and the initiator of the scientific “Romanov Readings” conferences. He gave public lectures at universities in Russia, as well as the United States, Italy, Spain, Germany, and other countries.

Alexander Avdonin’s funeral will take place on Sunday, 23rd February, in the village of Kurganovo, Sverdlovsk region, where he recently lived.

Alexander Nikolaevich Avdonin (1932-2026)
Memory Eternal! Вечная Память!