Nicholas II | Nicholas II

Equestrian monument of Nicholas II to be installed in in the Chelyabinsk region

Further to my article New monument to Nicholas II to be installed in the Urals, published on 7th May 2025, I am pleased to provide an update on this new monument to Emperor Nicholas II.

A new equestrian monument of Emperor Nicholas II is to be installed in the Ural city of Verkhneuralsk, which is located about 230 km south of Chelyabinsk and 450 km south of Ekaterinburg.

The monument is in memory of Tsesarevich Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich [future Emperor Nicholas II] visit to Verkhneuralsk on 3-4 August (O.S. 22-23 July) 1891, during a trip across the Russian Empire following his Eastern Journey (1890-91).

The model [seen in photos above] is already ready. It was made by the Chelyabinsk artist and sculptor Anna Shumakova.

“The composition is dynamic and symbolic: the young Tsesarevich frozen in a tense, restrained pose, and his horse seems to be keenly listening to the road,” the Verkhneuralsk administration notes.

The weight of the life-size bronze sculpture featuring the Tsar on horseback is 3 tons, not including the pedestal.

The sculptor has paid particular attention to historical accuracy. On the uniform of the Tsesarevich, are details of the highest state awards, including the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called and the Imperial Order of St. Prince Vladimir of the 4th degree.

The monument is to be installed on the grounds of Cathedral of the St. Nicholas the Wonderworker [built in 1870] in Verkhneuralsk. The monument will be installed and consecrated upon completion of the landscaping and gardens. The grand opening of the monument is tentatively scheduled for the 19th (O.S. 6th) May [Nicholas II’s birthday].

Nicholas II: defender of the Orthodox faith

Posted on 3 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

Nicholas II, Russia’s last emperor, is revered by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and the Serbia Orthodox Church as a saint for his deep piety, unwavering defense of Orthodoxy, embodying the traditional role of the Tsar as God’s anointed Defender of the Faith.

A symbol of Steadfastness. Nicholas II serves as an inspiration for Orthodox Christians, representing the ideal of a ruler and believer who remained true to God amidst immense trials and tribulations.

Nicholas II saw himself as the Supreme Defender of the Orthodox faith, fostering church growth, promoting canonizations, and upholding traditional values, while the ROC honours him as an example of steadfast faith and a symbol for believers against modern evils.

As God’s Anointed, Nicholas II could not be displaced during his lifetime. Since the will of God was nowhere manifest, neither in the naming of his brother Grand Duke Mikhail to the throne, nor in the Tsar’s signing of the instrument of abdication, his status as Emperor and Tsar remained inviolate and unassailable.

“The Tsar was a living incarnation of faith in the Divine Providence that works in the destinies of nations and peoples and directs Rulers faithful to God into good and useful actions”
– St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco (1896-1966)

Religion and the Church Under Nicholas II

Nicholas II believed his divine duty as Supreme Guardian of the Orthodox faith and ‘Head of the Church’ in the spirit of his Byzantine imperial predecessors, and to protect the Orthodox Church and its doctrines, viewing himself as the first among believers and God’s chosen ruler.

During his reign (1894-1917), the Russian Orthodox Church expanded significantly with construction of new churches, monasteries, and schools, with the Tsar personally supporting religious publications and artifacts. He personally helped to finance from his own pocket, the construction of new churches, both within the Russian Empire and abroad.

The Russian Orthodox Church under Emperor Nicholas II flourished. In 1914, it consisted of 68 dioceses, 54,923 churches, 953 monasteries, 4 theological academies, 185 religious schools, 40,530 schools and 278 periodicals. The clergy consisted of 157 bishops, 68,928 priests, 48 987 clerics, 21,330 monks in monasteries and 73,229 nuns in convents.

Nicholas II actively supported the canonization of revered figures, most notably St. Seraphim of Sarov, and other saints such as Theodosius of Uglitsk and John of Tobolsk.

Icons of the Holy Royal Martyr Nicholas II are now found in Orthodox churches globally, and many Orthodox believers venerate him as a great saint.

His Canonization as a Saint

The canonization of Russia’s last Tsar, also known as “glorification,” was the elevation to sainthood of Nicholas II as a “new martyr” by the ROCOR on 1st November 1981 and as a “passion-bearer” by the Moscow Patriarchate on 15th August 2000, recognizing his peaceful endurance of persecution and execution by the Bolsheviks. Despite his official designation as “passion-bearers” by the Moscow Patriarchate, Nicholas II is nevertheless spoken of as “martyr” in Church publications, icons, and in popular veneration by the people.

Nicholas II was canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church primarily for his role as a pious “passion-bearer”—a saint who faced death with Christian humility and resignation—and for his significant support of Serbia during World War I, specifically his efforts to protect Serbia and his solidarity with the Serbian people.

In essence, Nicholas II embodies the historical ideal of the Orthodox Tsar, and his life and martyrdom solidified his place as a revered saint, a defender of his people and his faith until the very end.

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CLICK on the above image to watch the VIDEO
Researched, written and narrated by Paul Gilbert
Duration: 20 minutes. Language: English

Emperor Nicholas II reigned for 22+ years – from November 1894 to February 1917. With his murder, the last Orthodox Christian monarch, along with the thousand-year history of thrones and crowns in Russia, ended, ushering in an era of lawlessness, apostasy, and terror, one which would sweep Holy Orthodox Russia into an abyss which would last more than 70 years.

This new video production is based on the research of project colleague and independent researcher Paul Gilbert, who also narrates this video.

In the first 24 hours of it’s release on YouTube, some 3,000 people had watched the video! Since it’s release in July 2020, it has been viewed by more than 134.000 people.

The creators have done a remarkable job of incorporating a wonderful collection of photos – both vintage B&W and colourized by Olga Shirnina (aka KLIMBIM) – historical newsreel film footage and music.

One viewer noted on social media: “Only 20 minutes long, this is the BEST portrayal of the last Tsar’s Orthodox faith I have ever seen. Very well-made, historical and moving.”

The crowning moment of this video is near the end, which shows film footage of the actual canonization ceremony of Emperor Nicholas II and his family, performed on 20th August 2000 by Patriarch Alexei II (1929-2008) in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. You can hear His Holiness calling out each of the names of the Imperial Family. The footage is extremely moving to watch.

This 20-minute video is presented in the framework of the production of the book The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal published by Mesa Potamos Publications in 2019.

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CLICK on the IMAGE below for more details and to order your copy

‘NICHOLAS II: RUSSIA’S LAST ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN MONARCH’

Compiled and Edited by Paul Gilbert

134 PAGES. ILLUSTRATED

AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK and EBOOK EDITIONS

An illustrated 16-page Introduction by independent researcher Paul Gilbert explores the piety of Nicholas II, and his devotion to the Russian Orthodox Church, which reached its fullest development and power, during his 22-year reign.

This book further examines the trials and tribulations the Tsar endured, which later led to his canonization by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Nicholas II on Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks

Posted on 16 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

Nicholas II and Vladimir Lenin are two people whose paths crossed only in absentia, through newspapers, police reports and the historical whirlwind of 1917. They never met or even saw each other in person, nor did they exchange letters. The Tsar knew Lenin as a radical emigrant, then as a “German agent”, and in the end as the man who destroyed the Russian Empire.

Recall that while Lenin and the Bolsheviks had little if anything to do with the overthrow of the monarchy in February 1917, he is certainly responsible for the coup d’etat which overthrew the Provisional Government in October 1917, and is widely believed to have given the order to murder not only the Tsar, but his entire family as well.

Early years: just another “seditious” revolutionary

Until 1917, Lenin for Nicholas II was just a surname in police reports. The Okhrana reported on the Social Democrats, on their split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, and on Ulyanov [Lenin] himself, who was imprisoned in Siberia, after which he went abroad. But in the Tsar’s diaries for 1900-1916, Lenin is hardly mentioned, either by name or as a threat. Nicholas worried about the Socialist Revolutionary terrorists, about strikes, about the Duma, but an extremist [Lenin] in Switzerland seemed of little interest or concern to the monarch. Historian and scientific director of the Civil Archive of the Russian Federation Sergey Mironenko [b. 1951] notes in the preface to Nicholas II’s diaries: “the Tsar saw a “gang” in the revolutionaries, but did not single out the leaders. Lenin was nothing more than a shadow.”

April 1917: “sealed train” and the German connection

It was during Nicholas II’s house arrest in Tsarskoye Selo, that he learned about Lenin’s return from Germany. For the Tsar, this was proof that Lenin was an agent of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in letters and conversations (according to Pierre Gilliard) called Lenin a “German spy”. Nicholas shared few direct words on the matter in his diary, but in the entries of April-May there is contempt for the “traitors” who collaborated with the enemy during the war. The archives confirm that the family discussed the “April Theses”[1] as madness paid for with German gold.

July 1917: Riots of the “Leninists” The summer of 1917

During the summer of 1917, the Imperial Family were being held under house arrest in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo. On 3-5 (O.S.) July, riots broke out in Petrograd [St. Petersburg] – the Bolsheviks led sailors and soldiers against the Provisional Government. On 5th (O.S.) July 1917, Nicholas wrote in his diary : “We received news of serious unrest in Petrograd [St. Petersburg] caused by the actions of the Leninists.” This is one of the first direct mentions of Lenin by name. The Tsar saw Lenin as an instigator who sowed chaos in the army and the rear. When the authorities suppressed freedom of speech, Nicholas was somewhat relieved – but he already understood that this man [Lenin] was dangerous.

Escape to Finland: “disappeared like a coward”

After the failure of the July putsch [a violent attempt to overthrow a government], Lenin fled to Razliv, then to Finland. On 8th (O.S.) July 1917, Nicholas recorded in his in his diary: “Lenin and company disappeared.” The tone is contemptuous: not a hero of the revolution, but a fugitive. Pierre Gilliard claims that the Tsar commented on this, saying “it is typical for these “seditious” people to incite others, and then hide themselves.” For Nicholas, as Emperor, as an officer and as a man of honour, such behavior was contemptable.

October coup: “seizure of power by bandits”

On 7th November (O.S. 25th October) 1917, the Bolsheviks stormed the Winter Palace in the capital. Nicholas II and his family were already in Tobolsk. They learned about the uprising through newspapers and rumours. On 26th (O.S.) October 1917, the Tsar wrote in his diary: “In the morning we received news of the coup d’état in Petrograd [St. Petersburg] carried out by the Bolsheviks under the leadership of Lenin and Trotsky.” The Tsar called it “the seizure of power by a gang of bandits.” In the following entries there is pain: “Russia is dying,” he wrote. For him, Lenin became a symbol of the end of the Russian Empire, a man who destroyed everything for which they fought and lived for.

The Brest-Litovsk Peace: “Scoundrels Lenin and Trotsky”

The final blow came in March 1918, when the Bolsheviks signed and then ratified the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty. Nicholas II, a patriot and former commander-in-chief of the Russian Imperial Army, declared it a national disgrace. On 3rd (O.S.) March 1918, he wrote in his diary: “Peace has been signed on incredibly difficult terms.” Then, on 9-13 (O.S.) March, the entries in his diary are full of grief – “a shameful peace”, “how hard it is for Russia”. And in one of the March entries, bluntly: “These scoundrels Lenin and Trotsky brought the country to such dishonour.” This was the harshest quote from Nicholas II’s diary – Lenin was a traitor to the Motherland for the Tsar, worse than any enemy at the front.

PHOTO: in April 2021, a bust-monument of Vladimir Lenin was vandalized in the Russian city of Murmansk. Vandals poured red paint over the monument, the colour red symbolizing the blood the Bolshevik leader spilled during his reign of terror.

NOTES:

[1] The “April Theses” were a series of directives issued by Vladimir Lenin in April 1917, upon his return to Russia from exile. They called for the immediate withdrawal of Russia from World War I, the transfer of power to the Soviets, and the implementation of radical socialist reforms. The Theses emphasized the need for revolutionaries to break decisively with the Provisional Government and demanded “all power to the Soviets”. These proposals significantly influenced the course of the Russian Revolution and contributed to the Bolshevik coup d’état in October 1917.

Sovereign: The Life and Reign of Emperor Nicholas II

Posted on 21 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

BACK ISSUES OF SOVEREIGN

CLICK on the LINK below for more details, including a full list of the articles found
in each issue + links to ORDER copies of the issues which interest you most:

No. 16 Winter 2026

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SOVEREIGN was launched in 2015, by Paul Gilbert, a British-born historian and writer, who has dedicated more than 35 years to researching and writing about Emperor Nicholas II, his family, the Romanov Dynasty and Imperial Russia. Now retired, he focuses his work on clearing the name of Russia’s much slandered Tsar.

He is able to achieve this through his blog, social media, conferences and SOVEREIGN. It is through these venues that he challenges the negative myths and lies about Nicholas II, which have existed for more than a century. He is the author of more than a dozen books, which explore the life and reign of Nicholas II, based on research from Russian archival and media sources.

From 1986 to 2018, he travelled to Russia 29 times, visiting St. Petersburg, Moscow, Ekaterinburg and Crimea. In the 1990s, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, Gilbert organized annual Romanov Tours, which offered visits to the Imperial Palaces, palaces of the grand dukes and grand duchesses in and around St. Petersburg, museums, among others.

PHOTO: SOVEREIGN publisher and editor Paul Gilbert. Ekaterinburg. July 2018

These tours featured lectures by leading authors and Romanov historians and museum curators. Several tours included visits to the State Archives of the Russian Federation (GARF) in Moscow, to view photo albums, letters, diaries and personal items of Nicholas II and his family.

Some of the highlights of these tours included the Alexander Palace in 1996 – one of the first groups from the West to explore the interiors of Nicholas and Alexandra’s private apartments; the Grand Kremlin Museum in Moscow; Livadia Palace in Crimea, among others.

One of the highlights of his career, was organizing and hosting the 1st International Nicholas II Conference, held on 27th October 2018, in Colchester, England. It was a memorable event, which brought together more than 100 people from almost a dozen countries. A second conference is in the works.

About SOVEREIGN

There are few monarchs in history about whom opinion has been more divided than the last Emperor and Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II (1868-1918).

Myths and lies about the “weak-willed”, “incompetent”, “bloody” tsar, were created on the basis of gossip, slanderous fabrications and Bolshevik propaganda in the early 20th century. For more than 70 years, the Bolsheviks and the Soviets were perfectly content to allow these myths and lies to stand. Sadly, they remain deeply rooted in the minds of both Westerners and the Russian people to this day.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Nicholas II has undergone nothing short of a renaissance in modern-day Russia. Much of this is thanks to the efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church and monarchist groups. He has been the subject of hundreds of new biographies and historical studies, documentaries, exhibitions, discussion forums, etc. In 2002, Tsar’s Days was revived in Ekaterinburg, an annual event which draws tens of thousands from across Russia and abroad to honour the memory of Nicholas II and his family.

Sadly, many of today’s academically lazy, British and American historians and biographers, prefer to rehash the popular negative myths and lies of Nicholas II’s early 20th century detractors. Few – if any of these “experts” – have traveled to Russia to utilize the vast archival sources now available to researchers. Instead they focus on Nicholas II’s failures, and seldom reflect on the many accomplishments he made during his 22+ year reign.

It was these very myths and lies, which compelled Gilbert to launch SOVEREIGN in 2015.

In 2024, SOVEREIGN was relaunched with a new format, which now features articles researched and written by Paul Gilbert and published on this blog. Gilbert has researched these works from Russian archival and media sources. Beginning with the No. 12 Winter 2024 issue of SOVEREIGN, these articles are now available in a printed format for the first time!

In addition, are a number of First English language works by Russian historians and experts, based on new archival documents discovered since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Thanks to this new generation of post-Soviet historian, we can now review the life and reign of Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar through Russian eyes, instead of Soviet ones! They challenge and put to rest many of the lies and myths presented over the past century by their Western counterparts. Their works are based on facts and information from reliable Russian sources.

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SOVEREIGN was launched in 2015, and has published a total of 15 issues. Please note, that issues No. 1 through 11 are now out of print, although used and second-hand copies are available on eBay and Amazon.

Issues No. 12 to 16 are available exclusively from Amazon – please refer to the links below. The No. 17 Sunner 2026 issue will be published in June 2026.

Current issues of SOVEREIGN

– CLICK on the LINK below for more details, including a full list of the articles found in each issue + links to ORDER copies of the issues which interest you most:

No. 16 Winter 2026

No. 15 Summer 2025

No. 14 Winter 2025

No. 13 Summer 2024

No. 12 Winter 2024

Nicholas II Bibliography – FREE 22-page booklet

Posted on 26 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

Click HERE to download, print and/or save booklet
Please note that this file is only available in a PDF file

Russia’s last emperor and tsar remains one of the most documented persons in history. He has been the subject of countless books, and articles for scholarly periodicals, magazines and newspapers.

I have UPDATED the 2024 edition of this booklet with 4 additional pages. My 2026 edition features a NEW article about Nicholas II’s libraries and his vast book collection; 8 black and white photos; and I have added even more titles to the bibliography. The highlight of my NEW 2026 edition is a list of more than 125 English-language books on the life and reign of Nicholas II.

My UPDATED 22-page booklet, is now available to download, print and/or save. It’s FREE!

The bibliography provides a comprehensive list of both scholarly and popular works. Many are generally of limited value and even mislead readers, however, they have been included because they played a significant role in shaping Western opinion of the last Tsar. In some instances, these works have been responsible for the creation and perpetuation of widely subscribed to generalizations, stereotypical images, and myths. In a sense, then, the fact that many of these sources contain inaccuracies, exaggerations, and oversimplifications, and are sometimes guilty of tendentiousness, does not lessen but rather constitutes their historical value.

I trust that this booklet will be a useful research tool for scholars, historians, teachers, writers and the general reader. It includes titles which are current, out of print, as well as a number of titles which have yet to be published.

As new books are published, this booklet will be updated accordingly. If you know of any other titles which are not listed in this bibliography, please feel free to bring them to my attention. You can e-mail me at royalrussia@yahoo.com

PAUL GILBERT

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I am committed to clearing the name of Russia’s much slandered Tsar. In exchange for this NEW UPDATED 22-page booklet, please consider making a small $5 or $10 donation in aid of my research. These donations are of great assistance in helping me offset the cost of obtaining and translating documents from Russian archival and media sources, which are often paid for out of my own pocket. It is these documents which help present new facts and information on the life and reign of Nicholas II. In addition, my research continues to debunking many of the myths and lies which exist more than a century after his death and martyrdom.

Please note, that there is NO obligation, the booklet is FREE to every one! ENJOY!

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

Unique catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms has been published

Posted on 27 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

The Tsarskoye Selo State Museum has published the first volume of a unique catalog of the wardrobe of Emperor Nicholas II and his family. The first volume is dedicated to the uniforms of Nicholas II.

The Tsarskoye Selo State museum houses the world’s largest collection of uniforms of the last Russian Tsar and clothes of members of his family – more than 800 items. The collection comes from the Alexander Palace, the last and favorite residence of Nicholas II.

The catalog contains photographs and descriptions of more than 350 items. The author of the catalog is the curator of the Men’s Costume Collection, senior researcher at the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum-Reserve, Alexei Rogatnev. [Note: the link features a 10-minute video of Rognatnev talking about the Alecander Palace’s collection of Nicholas II’s uniforms]

“During the reign of Nicholas I, there was a rule without exceptions: the Emperor was an officer of the Russian Empire. Therefore, he was obliged to wear a military uniform, and only on trips abroad could he wear civilian dress. Even when he was not engaged in affairs related to the management of a huge empire, Nicholas II wore a uniform: in photographs from the Romanov family albums, we see him playing tennis in the summer jacket of a naval officer and shoveling snow near the Alexander Palace in the uniform of a colonel of the 4th Imperial Family Life Guards Rifle Regiment,” he notes.

“In the last few decades of the 19th century, thanks to the passion of Alexander III and Nicholas II for hunting, the rule was somewhat relaxed – when hunting, members of the Imperial Family wore comfortable, specially tailored suits. Thus, most of the wardrobe of both the emperor and the grand dukes was a collection of uniforms of the various units of the regiments of the Russian Empire and European countries,” Rogatnev added.

PHOTOS: pages from the 296-page catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

PHOTOS: pages from the 296-page catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

PHOTOS: pages from the 296-page catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

PHOTOS: pages from the 296-page catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

The catalog is based on documents from the museum collection, the most valuable are from the inventory lists of the Alexander Palace Museum, which were compiled in 1938-1939. They contain a complete list of the wardrobe of the Imperial Family as of 22nd June 1941, and make it possible to recreate the composition of the pre-war collection, the method and place of evacuation, and to identify lost items.

Among the numerous sources that were used in researching for the catalog, the wardrobe records of Nicholas II, in particular, which uniform he wore. Entries in these books were made only on the days the Emperor participated at official events held in St. Petersburg and mirrored those of the Chamber Fourier journal. They do not contain records of the Emperor’s foreign travels, while traveling on the Imperial Train, and under other similar circumstances. These records also contain factual inaccuracies that can be identified by cross-referencing several sources.

Thanks to the study of the annual reports, which are stored in the Russian State Historical Archive, we can see the expenditures for the manufacture of most of the uniforms of Nicholas II, Alexandra Feodorovna, Tsesarevich Alexei and the Grand Duchesses. These accounts make it possible to determine the amount spent on uniforms by year, to systematize the internal structure of the wardrobe by military units, to determine the main and secondary suppliers of uniforms, military accessories, and shoes.

Emperor Nicholas II and his family made the Alexander Palace their permanent residence rom 1905. Personal items, including their respective wardrobes, were not tied to a certain place, but accompanied them, wherever they stayed, be it the Winter Palace, Peterhof, Livadia, Spala, Moscow or abroad. But most of the Emperor’s wardrobe invariably remained in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.

The catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms will be of interest to historians, specialists in Russian military costume, art historians, museum employees and everyone who is interested in the reign of Russia’s last Tsar.

The catalog is currently only available in the Tsarskoye Selo museum shops in the Catherine and Alexander Palaces, in the Russia in the Great War Museum (located in the Sovereign Military Chamber), as well as book kiosks found in the Catherine Park.

NOTE: this catalog is ONLY available in Russian, there is NO English language edition available, nor does the museum have any plans on issuing such. 296 pages, richly illustrated throughout.

FURTHER READING

Nicholas II’ s uniforms on display in Tula from the Collection of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum + 21 COLOUR PHOTOS

Wardrobe of Emperor Nicholas II in the Alexander Palace + PHOTOS and VIDEO

1896 Coronation uniform of Emperor Nicholas II + PHOTOS

Nicholas II in the NEWS – Summer / Autumn 2025

Posted on 28 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

Drawing of Emperor Nicholas II (1914)
Artisit: Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev (1878-1927)

Please note that the articles provided (by links) are for information purposes
only, they do not reflect the opinion of the administrator of this blog – PG

Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar Nicholas II, his family, the Romanov dynasty and the history of Imperial Russia, continue to be the subject of books, exhibitions and documentaries. In addition, they continue to generate headlines in the media.

The following articles were published by American and British media services, in the Summer: July, August, and Autumn: September, October, November and December 2025. Click on the title [highlighted in red] below and follow the link to read each respective article:

How was New Year’s Eve celebrated under the Russian empresses? + PHOTOS

What kind of holiday would it be without cannons? Without masquerades and music?! Here’s how the holidays were celebrated in Tsarist Russia, by the Empresses Anna Ioannovna, Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 31 December 2025

How Catherine the Great learned the Russian language + PHOTOS

The German-born empress ended up knowing Russian better than her husband, Emperor Peter III.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 23 December 2025

How an English adventurer duchess ended up at the court of Catherine the Great + PHOTOS

Historians, describing the life of Duchess Elizabeth Pierrepoint Kingston, call it “rich in adventure”. This euphemism conceals a real adventure, complete with bigamy, an escape to Russia and a ship full of treasure.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 22 December 2025

10 culinary tips from the most popular book of Tsarist Russia + PHOTOS

Elena Molokhovets’s book ‘Gift to Young Housewives’ went through 29 editions from 1861 until the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. The “culinary bible” of the Russian Empire taught women left without servants the art of managing a household. We’ve selected some tips from it that are still relevant today.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 21 December 2025

Why did every Russian girl dream of working as a ‘lady-in-waiting’?

Behind the outward splendor lay the Spartan daily routine and hard work of women born into noble families.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 12 December 2025

How Nicholas II’s mistress once sued Lenin… & won

Ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska was not only the prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater, but also a socialite, known for her affairs with several Romanov grand dukes.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 30 November 2025

3 tsarist generals who joined the Bolsheviks

The Soviet government was deeply suspicious of any high-ranking commanders of the Imperial Army and considered them ideological opponents. This meant they had to work extra hard to earn its trust.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 17 November 2025

How & why Russian tsars built ‘travel’ palaces for their journeys + PHOTOS

In tsarist times, a trip from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ was a real adventure that could stretch on for weeks or even months. Of course, there were already roadside inns for travelers, but these were not up to the standard required for emperors and their entourage. Therefore, “travel” palaces had to be specially built – luxurious mansions where one could rest, spend the night and continue the journey with renewed energy. Anna Sorokina takes a look at 8 of these “Travelling Palaces”.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 28th October 2025

War propagandists bring imperial flag from occupied Ukraine to remotest Arctic archipelago + PHOTOS

Two representatives of the ultra-conservative TV channel Spas brought a flag depicting emperor Nicholas II from the occupied Ukrainian city of Vuhledar to the archipelago of Severnaya Zemlya.

Source: The Barents Observer. 2nd September 2025

Putting the Romanovs to rest + PHOTOS

Why the Russian Orthodox Church refuses to recognize the remains of Nicholas II and his family.

Source: Meduza. 21st October 2025

A Palace Rediscovered: Solving the Mystery of a Romanov Album + PHOTOS

Every now and then, a quiet object in the museum’s collection reveals an extraordinary story. For decades, a heavy leather-bound album, its cover elegantly embossed in gold with the words “Views of His Own Palace and Rooms, St. Petersburg” lay, largely unnoticed, in the Russian History Museum’s archives. According to old museum records, it showed the interiors of the Anichkov Palace, home of Emperor Alexander III.

Source: Russian History Museum. 21st July 2025

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New monument to Nicholas II installed in St. Petersburg

Posted on December 23 by Paul Gilbert

On 19th December 2025, a new monument to the Holy Royal Passion-Bearer Emperor Nicholas II, was unveiled and consecrated in the rotunda of the Khrulev Military Academy of Logistics in St. Petersburg. The event was timed to coincide with the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Bishop Veniamin of Kronstadt, abbot of the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech, in which, in particular, he drew attention to the aspect of sacrificial service for the good of the Fatherland and the contribution to the history of Russia of Russia’s last Tsar. Let this monument inspire the superiors, teachers and students of the Military Academy to imitate the Holy Emperor.

In addition, the Head of the Academy Ilgar Marish oglu Kahramanov, Deputy Head of the Administration of the Governor of St. Petersburg Olga Ivanovna Arishina and others addressed with welcoming words.

The final part of the ceremony was the rite of consecration, which was performed by Bishop Veniamin of Kronstadt. The deacon was headed by Senior Hierodeacon Elias (Vasiliev). The liturgical hymns were sung by the fraternal choir consisting of Hieromonk Tikhon (Voronov) and Hierodeacon Alexander (Urbanovich).

In 1900, the Holy Royal Passion-Bearer, Emperor Nicholas II, ordered the opening of the Quartermaster Course, which in the future was transformed into the Quartermaster Academy, the forerunner of the modern Khrulev Military Academy of Logistics.

On 17th April 1896, General of Infantry Nikolai Ivanovich Solovyov (1850-1907), was appointed the first head of the Quartermaster Course.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, more than 100 monuments, sculptures, busts and memorial plaques to Nicholas II have been installed in cities and towns across the Russian Federation.

Prince Rostislav Romanov: “Nicholas II was loyal to Russia”

Posted on December 23 by Paul Gilbert

On 14th March 2017, Dmitri Gorokhov of the Russian media news agency TASS, interviewed Prince Rostislav Romanov [b. 1985], great-grandson of Nicholas II’s sister, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna. His Highness answered questions on the 100th anniversary of the abdication of Russia’s last emperor.

Although this interview was recorded more than a decade ago, it remains an interesting read nonetheless. Below is the first English language translation.

– How do you, Your Highness, a descendant of the Romanovs, look at the events that took place on 15th (O.S. 2nd) March 1917?

“On this day a hundred years ago, with the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II from the throne on his own behalf and on behalf of his son, the history of the Romanov dynasty in Russia ended. And even with the passing of time, it is difficult for me to think about this dramatic event without feeling sadness.

“If we turn to the past, we see that history has always consisted of stages. Previously, they were much longer than in the new era. Events in certain countries often served as indicators of general development in the regions. If we look at the events of the early 20th century, we will see the abolition of many monarchies long before 1917.

“For many decades, there were currents that aimed at such changes. In many countries, the end of dynasties took place in different forms. But in Russia it was extraordinarily tragic, and not only for our family. The upheavals caused by it made the whole of Russia suffer.”

“The Emperor could have saved his family by moving to England. But the Romanovs did not receive such an invitation from London…

” I believe that Nicholas II would never have left Russia. He loved her, was faithful to her. Russia was also a family to him, and he could never leave it.

“Let us now return to the trends of the early twentieth century, when many monarchies faced problems. Perhaps this explains London’s instruction to the British ambassador to Russia, George Buchanan: “His Majesty’s Government will not insist on the Emperor and his family coming to England . . . ” At that moment in England, neither the royal family nor the British government could have foreseen the consequences.

“Part of the Romanov family managed to avoid reprisals and gradually started a new life in other countries. But they were never able to return to their homeland and were forced to end their lives in exile, scattered around the world.”

– What image of Nicholas II did your relatives preserve?

“The older generations of our branch of the Romanovs were very close to the Tsar. My great-grandmother, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, was the Tsar’s sister. My great-grandfather, the creator of the Russian Air Force, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, was his brother-in-law.

“My father, Prince of the Imperial Blood Rostislav Rostislavovich (Senior), tried to raise my brother and me and our sister in the traditions of the dynasty, following its values. Nothing was more important to him than family, and in this he was very much like the late sovereign.

“One of the traits of the Tsar’s character was attention to other people. He never lost his composure, always remained steady, calm. This was a great gift.”

PHOTO: Prince Rostislav Romanov admires a portrait of Nicholas II, painted in 1900
by Valentin Alexandrovich Serov (1865-1911), in the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

The eldest among the descendants of the Romanovs, Prince Dimitri Romanovich (1926-2016), did a lot to bring closer the dignified burial of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and his sister Grand Duchess Maria. How does the family feel about these plans today?

“In January, together with other relatives, I participated in the farewell ceremony for Prince Dimitri Romanovich in Copenhagen. At the same time, we decided to continue the work to which the head of the Russian Imperial House gave so much of his strength.

“The eldest in our family, Prince of the Imperial Blood Dimitri Romanovich, believed that the Emperor’s children [Alexei and Maria] should be buried with their parents and sisters. And then the Tsar’s family will finally be able to rest in peace after so many difficult years.

“Christian duty is one of the reasons why the family calls for the burial of the Tsar’s children with their parents. Dimitri Romanovich hoped that this sad page of Russian history would be turned during his lifetime. Unfortunately, he did not live to see this moment. But we believe that he will see it from heaven.”

– You are a representative of the younger generation of the Romanovs. What does it mean to you to belong to this family?

“I often think about it, I have discussed it many times with my family. I think it is very important to preserve the legacy of the family, represented by the Romanov Family Association and the charitable Romanov Fund for Russia.

“We, the Romanovs, are proud of the contribution of our dynasty, which it left to the legacy of eternal Russia. The role of the dynasty has not been consigned to oblivion.

“That is why our association is so dear to us. It helps to maintain family ties, serves as a guide in our attitude to the roots and values of the family, which should never be forgotten. It defines our main goal at this moment, our commitment to the cause that was sacred for the late head of our family, Dimitri Romanovich: the burial in the cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and his sister Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna.

“We must always remember what trials Russia has gone through. It is also very important to help those who need it. I will always be grateful to the late Dimitri Romanovich for creating the Romanov Fund for Russia to come to the aid of those who need such support.

“At a January meeting in Copenhagen with Princess Feodora Alexeevna, who had been with Dimitri Romanovich all these years and shared his concerns, the relatives decided to continue the activities of the Romanov Family Association and the work of the Romanov Fund for Russia.”

You first visited Russia when you were twelve years old. How do you feel today in Moscow and St. Petersburg?

“Coming to both Russian capitals, I feel at home. Russia went through great trials, but retained its soul. And no matter what I do, the Russian soul leads me everywhere,” concluded His Highness.

PHOTO: Prince Dimitri Romanovich (left) and Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich.
April 2015. Cannes, France

***

Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich Romanov was born on 21st May 1985 in in Lake Forest, Illinois (USA). He is the second child and eldest son of Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich Romanov (1938–1999) and his wife, Christia Ipsen(b. 1949).

Prince Rostislav belongs to the Mihailovichi branch of the Romanov family as a male line descendant of Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia, the youngest son of Emperor Nicholas I. He is also a descendant of Emperors Alexander II and Alexander III, being the great-grandson of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia (sister of the last Emperor Nicholas II) and her husband Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia. Rostislav has been a member of the Romanov Family Association since 1985 and was a committee member between 2007 and 2013.

In September 2021, Prince Rostislav married Foteini Georganta, married in the Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral in Paris.^[17] The wedding reception took place in the Cercle de l’Union Interalliée, a building that briefly housed the Russian Embassy in Paris after the Napoleonic Wars. The couple have one son, Prince Rostislav (born 2013).

In 2009, Prince Rostislav became the first Romanov to move back to Russia, where he lived for two years and studied Russian. He currently splits his time between the United Kingdom and Russia.

In March, 2023, Rostislav was elected president of the Romanov Family Association.

Order of the Holy Tsar Nicholas II

Posted on December 20 by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: Orders of the Holy Tsar Nicholas II – 1st, 2nd and 3rd Class

Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1918) was canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1938, then by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (in 1981), and only in 2000 was he canonized by the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Order of the Holy Tsar Nicholas II is a contemporary Order. The historical prerequisites for the use of the image of Nicholas II in the Order for merits in the development of Russian-Serbian friendship and co-operation.

“In 1914, the very existence of Serbia as a state was at stake. On 11th July, Austria presented the Serbian government with an ultimatum that was completely unacceptable for an independent state.

On the same day, Emperor Nicholas II received a telegram from the Prince Regent of Serbia Alexander Karađorđević. It said: “We cannot defend ourselves. Therefore, we beg Your Majesty to help us as soon as possible… We firmly hope that this call will resonate in your Slavic and noble heart.”[1]

Three days later, the Russian Emperor sent a reply to Serbia. “As long as there is the slightest hope of avoiding bloodshed,” he wrote, “all our efforts must be directed towards this goal. If, contrary to our sincere wishes, we do not succeed in this, Your Highness can be sure that in no case will Russia remain indifferent to the fate of Serbia.”

In a reply telegram, Prince Alexander wrote: “Difficult times cannot but seal the bonds of deep affection by which Serbia is bound to Holy Slavic Russia, and the feelings of eternal gratitude for Your Majesty’s help and protection will be sacred in the hearts of all Serbs.”

On 15th July, Austria declared war on Serbia. It subjected Belgrade to artillery shelling, which killed many civilians. In response, Russia carried out a partial mobilization, a few days later – a general mobilization was carried out. Austria had to transfer most of its troops to the eastern front, and thus Serbia was saved. The Serbian people call Emperor Nicholas II their savior”.

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II and Prince Regent Alexander

***

The Order of the Holt Tsar Nicholas II has three classes. The highest class of the Order is the First Class. The order is made of precious metal, as well as non-ferrous metal. Diameter 52 mm.

The main colour of the Order is white, a symbol of peace, truth and goodness, divinity and sacrifice. It is no coincidence that the Order has the shape of an eight-pointed star. This form is the most common for the insignia of Orders in all European Christian states.

The eight-pointed star is, in fact, two four-pointed stars (two crossed crosses), which symbolizes the religious and spiritual community of the Serbian and Russian peoples: “Perhaps of all the peoples living on earth, the closest and dearest to us Russians is the Serbian people. We are united by a living faith in Christ, prayer for each other and a community of destinies. Remembering the tragic similarity of the history of Serbia and Russia, one begins to understand well the depth of the innermost spiritual ties that unite our brotherly peoples”.

1st Class

The badge of the Order is made of 585 yellow and white gold with diamond inserts. The Order is an octagonal star in the form of rays diverging from the center with rounded angular endings. The octagonal star is made up of two quadrangular stars, the rays of the smaller of which are decorated with diamonds.

In the center of the Order is a large circle framed by diamonds. In the center of the large circle is a small circle made of metal, which depicts a bas-relief of Tsar Nicholas II in profile. Between the large and small circles against the background of white enamel is the inscription “RUSSIAN-SERBIAN FRIENDSHIP”. “FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLES”.

In the upper part of the Order is the Great Imperial Crown of the Russian Empire. In the lower part of the Order is the national symbol of Serbia – a double-headed eagle against the background of a shield filled with red enamel. On the reverse of the Order is its serial number, the manufacturer’s hallmark, the class (1st class) and a pin.

2nd Class

The badge of the Order is made of silver with cubic zirconia inserts. The Order is an octagonal star in the form of rays diverging from the center with rounded angular endings. The octagonal star is made up of two quadrangular stars, the rays of the smaller of them are decorated with inserts of white cubic zirconia.

In the center of the Order is a large circle framed by cubic zirconia. In the center of the large circle there is a small circle made of metal, which depicts a bas-relief of Tsar Nicholas II in profile. Between the large and small circles against the background of blue enamel is the inscription “RUSSIAN-SERBIAN FRIENDSHIP”. “FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLES”.

3rd Class

The badge of the Order is made of non-ferrous metal with cubic zirconia inserts. The Order is a double octagonal star in the form of rays diverging from the center with rounded angular ends. The octagonal star is made up of two quadrangular stars, the rays of the smaller of them are decorated with inserts of white cubic zirconia.

In the center of the Order is a large circle framed by cubic zirconia. In the center of the large circle there is a small circle made of metal, which depicts a bas-relief of Tsar Nicholas II in profile. Between the large and small circles against the background of red enamel is the inscription “RUSSIAN-SERBIAN FRIENDSHIP”. “FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLES”.

NOTES:

[1] Emperor Nicholas II embodied the traditional role of the Tsar as the first among believers and God’s chosen ruler. as a “Supreme Defender” and patron of the Russian Orthodox Church.

FURTHER READING

Contemporary Russian Orders honouring Nicholas II +14 colour PHOTOS