Dieses Buch ist das Ergebnis einer langen, organischen Entwicklung. Da die Autoren beide von der Romanow-Dynastie fasziniert sind und daran interessiert sind, einzigartigen und spannenden Aspekten ihrer Geschichte nachzugehen, stießen sie eher zufällig auf die Krönung von Nikolaus II. als mögliches Thema. Die Zeremonie selbst war integraler Bestandteil von Greg Kings 2005 erschienenem Werk The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power, and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II . Während der Recherche und des Schreibens entdeckte Janet Ashton eine Fülle bislang vernachlässigter Materialien zu diesem Thema, die dazu beitrugen, dem Ereignis dramatisches Leben einzuhauchen: so viel Material, dass es unmöglich war, mehr als einen verlockenden Hinweis in ein einziges Kapitel zu packen. Die Krönung war wunderschön, opulent und beinahe surreal. Dünne Weihrauchwolken stiegen durch goldene Sonnenstrahlen auf, während „die hohen, klaren Stimmen der Knaben sich mit den tieferen Basstönen der Männer vermischten“ und klangvolle Hymnen anstimmten, während Russland unwissentlich die Krönung seines letzten Kaisers feierte. Flackernde Flammen tausender Votivkerzen schimmerten über Gewändern aus Silberbrokat, blitzten über vergoldete Ikonen, funkelten vor Diamanten und strahlten auf Medaillen. Dieses berauschende Spektakel aus Klängen und Farben, Düften und Empfindungen ließ die Zuschauer „betäubt“ zurück. Die Krönung von Nikolaus II. in der Moskauer Mariä-Entschlafens-Kathedrale im Mai 1896 war ein sorgfältig inszeniertes Stück Bühnenkunst, das die dicht gedrängte Gemeinde in eine Sphäre intensiver spiritueller Macht versetzen sollte, die mit unnachgiebiger Autokratie verschmolz. Die Szene war nicht ohne Ironie: Die kaiserliche Pracht und die religiösen Rituale der russisch-orthodoxen Kirche feierten einen Monarchen, in dessen Adern kaum ein Tropfen russischen Blutes floss. Das Buch enthält über 220 wunderschöne Bilder, die 248 Hochglanzseiten illustrieren!
In 1913, the Romanovs celebrated three hundred years of sitting on the Russian Imperial throne. Great fanfare and hope accompanied the celebrations. A year later, Imperial Russia entered a “war to end all wars,” with the hope of “being back home for Christmas.” It was not to be. Instead, in February 1917, after years of administrative and military ineptitude and incompetence, the Russian people had enough of its government’s inefficacy and corruption. The consequences, as it turned out, changed the world. Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown; members of the Imperial Family faced persecution, arrest, financial instability, uncertainty, and worse. This is the compelling story of how the Romanovs dealt with glory, war, revolution, persecution, imprisonment, and escape!
Arturo E. Beéche, founder and publisher of The European Royal History Journal, thought of the idea for an anthology on Russia’s Grand Duchesses in 2004. Consequently, a companion book on the Russian Grand Dukes became imperative. The Grand Dukes: Sons & Grandsons of Russia’s Tsars Since Paul I examines the biographies of nearly forty men whose birth gave them the right to one of the world’s most prestigious positions. All sons of Russian tsars are covered in Volume I. The sons of collateral grand ducal branches are covered in Volume II. The biography of each of the Grand Dukes of Russia brings to life a deeply gripping human saga. These men were born into what then was one of the world’s most powerful ruling dynasties. They were not all saints; they were not all demons – they were men whose birth showered them with untold privilege. Some used their birthright for the common good; some did not. Yet, they all remain amazingly intriguing, complex, complicated and conflicted human beings. At birth they were showered with untold privilege, including a lump sum of money placed in trust for them. By the time these funds were made available to a Grand Duke, the interest alone made them amazingly wealthy. Added to this benefit, they derived salaries from their military appointments, investments, real estate and inheritance. Thus, the Grand Dukes were able to maintain a lifestyle only surpassed by today’s oligarchs and yesteryear’s robber barons. They were consummate spenders in paintings, art, architecture, jewels, all while acting as sponsors of talented writers, thinkers, poets, ballerinas, among many others. One was a playwright of considerable talent. Another played a role in working toward the liberation of the serfs. One was a leading admiral with a fondness for “fast women and slow ships.” Another Grand Duke lived a tortured existence as a closeted homosexual, yet became the father of nine children. Told in a two-volume set, this is their story.
Included in this unique work, the Second Volume in a two-volume series, are 18 biographies of Russian grand dukes. These were the junior lines of the Russian Imperial Family at the time of the Revolution in 1917: Vladimirovichi, Pavlovichi, Konstantinovichi, Nikolaevichi and Mikhailovichi. The book is illustrated with exquisite and rare photographs of these intriguing men, their families and descendants. It also includes several family trees. The chapters were authored by some of today’s most recognized authors and scholars on the Romanov Dynasty.
This excellent book authored by Galina Korneva and Tatiana Cheboksarova includes nearly 600 photos, an overwhelming majority among them collected from the main archives of Russia and several European countries. The moment captured by these original photos is able, often times, to tell the reader far more about the unique world of royalty and aristocracy than countless pages of text. The authors also relied on important information obtained from Russian and foreign periodicals, memoirs and scientific literature. The English-language version of this book was expanded with contributions by Arturo Beéche, founder and publisher of Eurohistory / The European Royal History Journal. He is an expert on European Royalty, as well as author of more than a dozen books about the various royal families that have shaped the continent’s history.
Prince Vladimir Paley, first cousin of the last tsar, was a poet among the Romanovs. The rules of the Imperial Family prevented him from being considered a member of the dynasty due to the unequal marriage of his parents. This circumstance could have saved his life. Instead, when he was requested by the Bolsheviks to denounce his father, Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia, young Prince Vladimir chose love, loyalty, honor, and affection. His only crime was being related to a dynasty of which he had not even been an official member. This is the compelling story of a young man, and a talented poet, who in different circumstances would have attained great heights.. Destiny, however, played a sad role in bringing a brutal and early death to a promising life.
Jorge F. Sáenz brings to life the previously unknown figure of Prince Vladimir Paley. In doing so, Mr. Sáenz adds to a long and distinguished list of historical studies he has written over the last thirty years. His books number well over a dozen, most of them focusing on various aspects of Costa Rica’s history and unique democratic traditions, that make the country a bastion of democracy in Latin America. His study of the life of Prince Vladimir Paley was first published as a biographical essay in Eurohistory — The European Royal History Journal. The success of this essay led to the story of Vladimir Paley becoming a full-on book. Mr. Sáenz is a career diplomat for Costa Rica, as well as a distinguished law professor at the University of Costa Rica. EUROHISTORY is pleased to announce the hardback publication of this rare and uniquely extraordinary work of royal biography! This book was first published in paperback nearly 20 years ago. The UPDATED and EXPANDED hardback edition contains more information than the original, as well as a new 24-page photo section different than the few images included in the original paperback edition!
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“The coffin was lowered into the grave. Soon there was a burial mound above. It was quickly covered with wreaths, flowers and crowned with a plain wooden cross. Prince Oleg’s promising life was finished.”
„Der Tod eines Romanow-Prinzen“ folgt dem kurzen Lebensweg von Prinz Oleg Konstantinowitsch, einem der weniger bekannten Mitglieder der mächtigen und privilegierten russischen Zarenfamilie. Er war ein talentierter junger Mann von intellektueller und künstlerischer Genialität. Oleg war der begabte Sohn des talentierten Großherzogs Konstantin Konstantinowitsch, der unter dem Pseudonym KR schrieb. Der Großherzog war ein Freund von Tschaikowski, der seine zahlreichen Gedichte vertonte und literarische Zirkel für seine Truppen gründete, Hamlet ins Russische übersetzte und Der König der Juden schrieb, ein Originalstück, das er und seine Söhne aufführten. Der Leser wird Prinz Oleg Konstantinowitsch, seiner Familie und seinen kaiserlichen Cousins folgen, während sein Leben ihn durch den Luxus der vier prächtigen Paläste der Familie in Pawlowsk, in Zarskoje Selo, den Marmorpalast in St. Petersburg, den Konstantinpalast in Strelna und das Ostashevo-Anwesen in der Nähe von Moskau sowie zahlreiche Urlaube auf der Krim führt. Der junge Prinz genoss das liberalste Programm in literarischer, wissenschaftlicher und künstlerischer Ausbildung. Er war der erste Romanow, der eine Zivilschule besuchte, und schloss das Kaiserliche Lyzeum in St. Petersburg ab, wo er 1913 für seine akademischen Leistungen die Puschkin-Medaille erhielt. Im Alter von 21 Jahren befand sich Fürst Oleg Konstantinowitsch auf dem Höhepunkt einer glänzenden Karriere und persönlichen Größe, als der Erste Weltkrieg ausbrach. Dann schlug das Schicksal zu.
Der Tod eines Romanow-Prinzen entführt den Leser auf die Schlachtfelder der Ostfront des Ersten Weltkriegs. In Nordpolen und an den Masurischen Seen in Litauen fanden blutige Schlachten statt. Während dieser Kämpfe führte Prinz Oleg seine Truppen in heldenhafte Kavallerieangriffe gegen die Deutschen.
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