43 “Alexeiev has asked permission”: N to AF, 268. “Our Friend was much put out”: AF to N, 412. “I have only just received your telegram”: N to AF, 270.
44 “Stop this useless slaughter”: AF to N, 413. “My dear, Brusilov …”: N to AF, 272. Gurko: N to AF, 273 n. “An offensive without casualties”: Golovine, 95.
45 “Stürmer and Protopopov both completely believe”: AF to N, 428.
46 Manuilov: Rodzianko, 211; Paléologue, III, 17. The October Mutiny: Paléologue, III, 74, 83.
47 “Stürmer is an excellent, honest man”: N to AF, 206. “It seems that my head will burst”: ibid., 248. “These changes make my head go round”: ibid., 257. “The eternal question of supplies”: ibid., 266.
48 “Nicky so pale”: Vorres, 150. “He had never seemed to me so worried”: Gilliard, 178.
49 “A young, wounded deserter”: Vorres, 150–1.
50 Miliukov’s attack: Paléologue, III, 92. “Woe to that country”: Pares, 392.
51 “Protopopov and Our Friend both find”: AF to N, 436.
52 “All these days I have been thinking”: N to AF, 295. “Our Friend says Stürmer can remain”: AF to N, 437. “I am receiving Stürmer in an hour”: N to AF, 296. “It gave me a painful shock”: AF to N, 438.
53 Trepov: Pares, 395; Paléologue, III, 107. “I am sorry for Protopopov”: N to AF, 297. “Only I beg, do not drag Our Friend into this”: ibid., 298.
54 “Don’t go and change Protopopov now”: AF to N, 439. “The man is as sane as anyone”: ibid., 441. “The man Protopopov or x.y.z”: AF to N, 442.
55 “Those days spent together were difficult”: N to AF, 299. “Great and beautiful times”: AF to N, 453–5.
56 “Tender thanks for the severe scolding”: N to AF, 307,
57 “Alexander Fedorovich, I order you”: Paléologue, III, 108.
58 The bribe: Mosolov, 170–3; Moorehead, 107; Pares, 395.
59 Petrograd society: Pares, 301. Officers drinking champagne: Bruce Lockhart, 157.
60 “From the stalls to the back row”: Paléologue, III, 26. The Narodny Dom: ibid., 80.
61 Balanchine in the treetops: Taper, 47.
62 “Beautiful, beautiful—like Grace Kelly”: George Balanchine to Suzanne Massie, January 12, 1965.
63 German spy mania: Florinsky, End, 69. The Tsar not included: Buchanan, I, 245. Clandestine wireless station: Buxhoeveden, 225.
64 No evidence that Rasputin was a spy: Pares, 335. “It would have been inexplicable”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 220.
65 Dinner with Manus: Paléologue, III, 63, 115.
66 “The Empress is a German”: Knox, 515. “I cannot believe she is a traitoress”: Kerensky, Murder, 55. Soldiers’ letters: Knox, 515. Disrespect in hospitals: Vyrubova, 136. “Nemka”: Paléologue, III, 121; Florinsky, End, 70. “If the young Tsarina”: Alexander, 271.
67 “Bomb the Tsar’s motorcar”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 244. Captain Kostenko: Kerensky, Russia, 147.
68 Nicholas Mikhailovich: Pares, 390. Grand Duke Paul: ibid., 419,
69 Grand Duchess Elizabeth: Pares, 420; Gilliard, 181–2; Paléologue, III, 159.
70 Purishkevich: Pares, 376.
71 “Wonderful energy”: N to AF, 196. Purishkevich’s speech: Pares, 396–7; Paléologue, III, 111.
72 Yussoupov turned pale and trembled: Paléologue, III, 153.
CHAPTER 25 THE PRINCE AND THE PEASANT
74 Yussoupov wealth exceeded that of the tsars: Vorres, 98.
75 “One of our estates”: Yussoupov, 65. A mountain as a birthday present: ibid., 101.
76 Yussoupov genealogy: ibid., 13–28. Archangelskoe and Prince Nicholas’s amusements: ibid., 21–5.
77 The Moika Palace: ibid., 67–71. Moscow palace, ibid., 78–79.
78 “Look, isn’t baby pretty”: ibid., 29. The bear: ibid., 75. King Edward VII: ibid., 90.
79 “I flung myself passionately into a life of pleasure”: ibid., 87. “A charming young girl”: ibid., 115.
80 “Prince Felix Yussoupov is twenty-nine”: Paléologue, III, 132. “The Empress is a very wise ruler”: Yussoupov, 211–12.
81 “Town and women are poison for him”: AF to N, 294.
82 “This time it is for you to bless me”: Vyrubova, 174.
83 “The spirit of Gregory Efimovich”: quoted by Pares, 399.
84 “My intimacy with Rasputin”: Yussoupov, 202. “Spend the evening with me soon”: ibid., 218.
85 “He had long wished to meet my wife”: ibid., 218.
86 “I heard Rasputin say that he expected to pay a late evening visit”: Vyrubova, 178.
87 “A low vaulted ceiling”: Yussoupov, 219–20.
88 “My head swam”: ibid., 226.
89 “With God in thought”: ibid., 227. “You’d far better look at the crucifix”: ibid., 228. “I then saw both eyes”: ibid., 229.
90 “A savage, inhuman cry”: Purishkevich, 105. “What I saw would have been a dream”: ibid., 106–7.
91 Rasputin died by drowning: Vyrubova, 182. “Next morning”: ibid., 179.
92 “I have killed Grishka Rasputin”: Purishkevich, 108. The dog alibi: Vyrubova, 181. Felix telephoned the Empress: ibid., 180.
93 “I swear it”: Paléologue, III, 171. Alexandra lying on a couch: Dehn, 118. “My own beloved sweetheart”: AF to N, 461.
94 “No trace yet”: Fülöp-Miller, 365. The Beast was slain: Paléologue, III, 135.
96 “Am horrified, shaken”: N to AF, 312. “A faith that kept her alive”: Gilliard, 177. “Before all Russia, I am filled with shame”: Vyrubova, 183. “A murder is always a murder”: Paléologue, III, 164.
97 “There was nothing heroic about Rasputin’s murder”: Vorres, 145.
98 “It was a glorious morning”: Dehn, 123. The signatures on the icon: Kerensky, Murder, 106.
99 “My dear martyr”: Paléologue, III, 136.
CHAPTER 26 LAST WINTER AT TSARSKOE SELO
1 Nicholas at Tsarskoe Selo: Pares, 413. “How lovely it was in the woods”: Rodzianko, 254. Maps on the billiard table: Vyrubova, 196.
2 “The time for peace has not yet come”: Paléologue, III, 125–6. “A kind of political will”: ibid., 152.
3 “As usual, Nicholas II was kind and natural”: ibid., 166. “The Emperor’s words”: ibid., 151–2.
4 “During the year that I had not seen him”: Kokovtsov, 478–9.
5 “Do you not see?” ibid., 480. “The Tsar was seriously ill”: ibid., 480.
6 “If I die or you desert me”: Paléologue, III, 191.
7 Alexandra’s reaction to the murder: Pares, 412; Gilliard, 183.
8 Anna moved to the palace: Vyrubova, 185. The telephone, portrait of Marie Antoinette: Fares, 414. “I thought that the door”: Kokovtsov, 478.
9 The concealed balcony: Pares, 414. “If someone else had used the language”: Kaun, 134.
10 Protopopov the only minister who mattered: Pares, 416. “I noticed he was following me”: Rodzianko, 251.
11 Telephoned every morning at ten: Pares, 416. “Oh, Majesty, I see Christ behind you”: Paléologue, III, 119.
12 “Oh, Madame, why are you so sad?”: Dehn, 137.
13 “Taken down a long passage”: quoted by Frankland, 88. “It seems as certain as anything”: ibid., 87.
14 “I allow no one to give me advice”: Paléologue, III, 167.
15 “One should forgive”: MF to N, 302.
16 “Your interference … is causing harm”: Alexander, 283.
17 “Remember, Alix”: ibid., 283. “One cannot govern”: ibid., 184.
18 The Vladimirs: Vorres, 58; Paléologue, III, 160–1; Buchanan, I, 175–6.
19 “What an awful set”: AF to N, 280.
20 Rodzianko’s conversation with Marie Pavlovna: Rodzianko, 246.
21 The grand-ducal plot: Paléologue, III, 140–1. “Prince Gabriel Constantinovich”: ibid., 157.
22 Paléologue
’s interview with Nicholas: ibid., 149–52.
23 Sir George Buchanan: Bruce Lockhart, 115, 119.
24 “Za Pivo”: ibid., 150.
25 Buchanan’s interview with Nicholas: Buchanan, II, 43–9.
26 “The Empress must renounce all interference”: Rodzianko, 214.
27 “Alexandra Fedorovna is fiercely and universally hated”: ibid., 249.
28 Rodzianko’s interview with Nicholas: ibid., 252. “I consider it my duty, Sire”: ibid., 261.
29 “I will do everything afterwards”: Vyrubova, 146. “The Empress is a foreigner”: Paléologue, III, 172.
30 Protopopov’s countermeasures: Pares, 437. “The time is such, Sire”: ibid., 437.
31 “What about a responsible ministry?” Rodzianko, 263.
CHAPTER 27 REVOLUTION, MARCH 1917
1 The women, the workers, the soldiers: Paléologue, III, 213, 264.
2 “The ministers are but fleeting shadows”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 261.
3 “Be sure, we shall never give you up”: ibid., 262.
4 The overburdened railroads: ibid., 204. Cars and locomotives: Florinsky, End, 42.
5 Food prices: Paléologue, III, 44.
6 “Our Friend … spoke scarcely about anything else”: AF to N, 195.
7 Boilers burst: Paléologue, III, 213.
8 “We older men may not live”: Payne, 252, Hair oil: ibid., 251. Lenin’s mother-in-law: ibid., 250.
9 The events of March 8: Paléologue, III, 213; Pares, 440; Moorehead, 141. Pavlova, Karsavina and Kschessinska: Paléologue, III, 214.
10 The events of March 9: ibid., 214; Pares, 440–1; Knox, 558. Enesco: Paléologue, III, 215–16.
11 “I order that the disorders in the capital”: Pares, 442.
12 Condition of the Petrograd garrison: Knox, 551; Paléologue, III, 81.
13 The events of March 11: Pares, 442; Moorehead, 143; Knox, 558; Paléologue, III, 216.
14 Rodzianko’s telegram, “May the blame not fall,” and “That fat
15 Rodzianko has sent me some nonsense”: Pares, 443.
16 Ivanov’s expedition: ibid., 457.
17 “The part of the city through which we passed”: Buchanan, II, 58.
18 The Radziwill party: Paléologue, III, 214, 217.
19 The workers were tired of being killed: ibid., 217.
20 “The Reaction is gaining strength”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 266–7; Pares, 443.
21 Sergeant Kirpichnikov: Pares, 445; Moorehead, 146.
22 “The same wide streets”: Meriel Buchanan, 164.
23 “At half past eight”: Paléologue, III, 221.
24 “The depot troops … had mutinied”: Knox, 553.
25 “Frightened inhabitants were scattering”: Paléologue, III, 222–3.
26 Soldiers join the revolution: Moorehead presents a timetable of defections, 149.
27 “Now there is nothing left … but shoot myself”: Pares, 451.
28 “The Emperor wishes to express thanks”: Kerensky, Murder, 78.
29 The mob arrives at the Duma: Knox, 556; Pares, 453.
30 “I must know what I can tell them”: Pares, 449.
31 “I don’t want to revolt” and “If you don’t, others will”: ibid., 451.
32 The appearance of the Soviet: ibid., 460. “The entire garrison had mutinied”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 274.
33 “Two different Russias settled side by side”: ibid., 275.
34 “He seemed to grow every minute”: Pares, 450.
35 “Waves of hatred … beat against the walls”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 219.
36 “It is I, Protopopov”: Pares, 454.
37 Fall of the Winter Palace: ibid., 453.
38 Butchery at Kronstadt: Botkin, 139; Paléologue, III, 282. Wild celebrations: Paléologue, III, 225. Kschessinska’s mansion: ibid., 229; Kschessinska, 169.
39 “They marched in perfect order”: Paléologue, III, 232.
40 Countess Kleinmichel: Vorres, 99.
41 Grand Duke Cyril: Pares, 460; Kerensky, Murder, 89. The Red Flag on his roof: Paléologue, III, 259. “I have been alone in carrying out my duties”: Kerensky, Murder, 89. “I have asked myself several times” Paléologue, III, 265. “Who can tell?” ibid., 265.
42 “On the steps of Our Lady of Kazan”: ibid., 226.
43 “We will begin with the Germans here”: Knox, 558.
CHAPTER 28 ABDICATION
1 “Here in the house it is so still”: N to AF, 313.
2 “I shall take up dominoes again”: ibid., 313.
3 “An excruciating pain in the chest”: ibid., 316.
4 Voeikov: Buchanan, II, 61.
5 “I hope Khabalov will be able to stop these street disorders”: N to AF, 316.
6 “After yesterday’s news from town”: ibid., 317.
7 “Concessions inevitable”: Kerensky, Murder, 79.
8 Nicholas chose a longer route: Pares, 458–9.
9 Stopped at Malaya Vishera: Kerensky, Murder, 86–7.
10 “Well, then, to Pskov”: Pares, 459.
11 Met by Ruzsky: Kerensky, Murder, 87.
12 Failure of Ivanov’s expedition: Pares, 458.
13 Ruzsky’s exchange with Rodzianko: Kerensky, Murder, 90–2.
14 Formation of a Provisional Government: Paléologue, III, 236.
15 Nicholas must abdicate: ibid., 234. “It is of vital importance”: ibid., 233.
16 The generals unanimous: Pares, 465.
17 “On my knees”: Mosolov, 27.
18 Peeped out the window: Kerensky, Murder, 93.
19 Unwilling to start a civil war: Pares, 465.
20 “In favor of my son, Alexis”: Kerensky, Murder, 93.
21 Shulgin and Guchkov to Pskov: Pares, 466.
22 Nicholas’s conversation with Fedorov: Benckendorff, 46–7; Mosolov, 124. “Science teaches us, Sire”: Gilliard, 195.
23 “This long speech is unnecessary”: Bykov, 25–6; Pares, 467.
24 The abdication document: The text quoted is from Pares, 467. Slightly different translations from the Russian can be found in Gilliard, 196, and Paléologue, III, 237.
25 “The Emperor looked at me”: quoted by Pares, 468.
26 “Treason, cowardice and deceit”: Kerensky, Murder, 94–5.
27 “The same scene met me everywhere”: Paléologue, III, 247.
28 “It was not so much the Emperor”: Buchanan, II, 86.
29 “Well, so he’s gone”: Gorer and Rickman, 71.
30 “Bliss was it in that dawn”: quoted by J. C. Squire in his Introduction to Buxhoeveden, xvii.
31 Congratulations and fraternal greetings”: Paléologue, III, 254.
32 Wilson’s speech: quoted by Kennan, 18.
33 “It is the shallow fashion of these purblind times”: Churchill, World Crisis (Scribner), 695–7.
34 “Nicky must have lost his mind,”: Alexander, 287–8.
35 “The immediate accession of the Tsarevich”: Paléologue, III, 251.
36 “I needn’t tell you of my love for the Emperor”: ibid., 265–6.
37 Michael and Constantinople: Pares, 470.
38 “To His Majesty, the Emperor Michael”: Kerensky, Murder, 95.
39 “No more Romanovs”: Paléologue, III, 238.
40 “Long live the Emperor Michael”: Kerensky, Murder, 94.
41 The meeting on Michael’s future: Pares, 470. “He asked me point-blank”: Kerensky, Murder, 94. “I cannot answer for the life of Your Highness”: Bykov, 29. “Monseigneur, you are the noblest of men”: Paléologue, III, 241. Children’s schoolroom: Pares, 470.
42 Nicholas not considered a threat: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 269.
43 “He was absolutely calm”: Paléologue, III, 251.
44 Nicholas’s address to the army: Pares, 472–3. Other translations in Gilliard, 203–4; Paléologue, III, 259.
45 Nicholas says goodbye to his staff: Alexander, 290; Kerensky, Murder, 102.
46 Hanbury-Williams’s last interview:
Hanbury-Williams, 168.
47 The new oath of allegiance: Alexander, 290–1; Kerensky, Murder, 102. The town was illuminated: Alexander, 291. Two red flags: Hanbury-Williams, 171.
48 “The deposed Emperor understands”: Kerensky, Murder, 09.
49 “The news of Nicky’s abdication came like a thunderbolt”: Vorres, 151–2.
50 Nicholas greets Marie: Alexander, 288; Kerensky, Murder, 101.
51 “Let the Germans in”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 269.
52 Nicholas’s farewell to Marie: Alexander, 292; Kerensky, Murder, 103–4.
53 Alexeiev’s bow to the Duma representatives: Bulygin, 188.
CHAPTER 29 THE EMPRESS ALONE
1 “I want you to come to Tsarskoe Selo”: Dehn, 147.
2 “How is it in Petrograd?”: ibid., 148. “There is no danger, Your Majesty”: ibid., 148.
3 The cadet with measles: Vyrubova, 204–5. “She spent all the succeeding days”: ibid., 205. The children’s temperatures: Buxhoeveden, 251.
4 “Lili, it is very bad”: Dehn, 148. “I have wired him”: ibid., 150.
5 “Petrograd is in the hands of the mob”: ibid., 149.
6 “I don’t want the girls to know anything”: ibid., 152.
7 Benckendorff’s messages from Rodzianko and from the Tsar: Benckendorff, 2–3.
8 The morning of March 13: Benckendorff, 3. “Owing to the state of her children’s health”: ibid., 5. “When a house is burning”: Gilliard, 211. The railway lines would be cut: Benckendorff, 5.
9 “We could not leave”: Gilliard, 211.
10 “Lili, they say that a hostile mob”: Dehn, 155. The troops defending the palace: Benckendorff, 6–7.
11 “It’s just like being on the yacht”: Dehn, 153. The rebels were on their way: Gilliard, 212.
12 “The scene was unforgettable”: Buxhoeveden, 255. Benckendorff displeased: Benckendorff, 8. “Some inward exaltation”: Dehn, 156.
13 Extra blankets: Benckendorff, 9.
14 “How astonished Papa will be”: Dehn, 158.
15 “Perhaps the blizzard detains him”: ibid., 158. “Address of person mentioned unknown”: Vyrubova, 209; Bykov, 32.
16 White handkerchiefs: Benckendorff, 14–15. “In the hands of the Duma”: Dehn, 160. “Why, Madame? In the name of God, why?”: ibid., 162.
17 Electricity and water: ibid., 67, 160; Buxhoeveden, 256. “I must not give way”: Dehn, 163.