PHOTO: the IRMHS conference was held in the
Large Library Hall of the Alexander Palace

On Tuesday, 27th February 2024, the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo hosted a conference dedicated to the history of the creation of the Imperial Russian Military Historical Society (IRMHS). The event was a joint effort between the local branch of the IRMHS of the Leningrad region, the Directorate of the IRMHS in Moscow, and the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum.

The organizers chose the Alexander Palace deliberately, since it was here at the beginning of the 20th century that a meeting was held on the creation of the Imperial Russian Military Historical Society took place. The conference was held in the Large Library Hall of the palace.

Vladimir Kazakov, Executive Director of the Regional Branch of the Russian Military Historical Society in the Leningrad Region, read out a welcome address from Vitaly Martynyuk, Executive Director of the Russian Military Historical Society:

– It is symbolic that the conference is being held in such a historic place – in the Alexander Palace, where in 1907 Emperor Nicholas II read the Journal of the Council of the Russian Military History Society and wrote on it: “Deeply sympathizing with the goals of the Society, I willingly accept the title of its Honorary Chairman and bestow on it the title of Imperial.” The activities of the organization fully corresponded to such a high title,” Vitaly Martynyuk emphasized.

He recalled that the Imperial Russian Military Historical Society made a significant contribution to the anniversary celebrations dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lesnaya (1708) and the victory in the Battle of Poltava (1709), as well as the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812. With the participation of IRMHS, monuments to Alexander Suvorov in Izmail and Rymnik, Mikhail Skobelev were installed in Moscow, Peter the Great in Kexholm, and Mikhail Kutuzov in the Crimea were created.

One of the key events of the conference, was the presentation of two new paintings by Andrei Romasyukov, a Russian military artist, an expert in Russian military history of the 19th and 20th centuries were presented in the Working and New Studies of Emperor Nicholas II, located in the eastern wing of the Alexander Palace.

The first painting depicting Emperor Nicholas II granting his consent to the Russian Military Historical Society on 20th October 1907, was unveiled in the Tsar’s Working Study. The second painting depicting the Emperor hosting a reception of the IRVIO Deputation on 22nd November 1907, was unveiled in the Tsar’s New Study.

PHOTOS: Nicholas II in the Tsar’s Working Study by Andrei Romasyukov

***

PHOTOS: Nicholas II in the Tsar’s New Study by Andrei Romasyukov

The conference was attended by researchers from the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum, the A.V. Suvorov Museum, the Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps, and the Russian National Library. Historians from the St. Petersburg, Leningrad and Vologda regions presented papers based on their research on the activities of the Imperial Russian Military Historical Society. In addition, archival documents dating from the early 20th century, relating to the creation of the Russian Military Historical Society were presented.

Participants of the conference were given a tour of the former private apartments of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, including the State Halls of the Alexander Palace, which were recreated between Autumn 2015 and August 2021.

© Paul Gilbert. 28 February 2024