Grand Duke Alexei, the fourth son of Alexander II and
Empress Marie, is relatively unknown in the midst of authors’ preferences for
the more popular Romanov subjects.
A younger, middle child, Alexei has been sidelined to
brief references in memoirs and biographies that are generally negative on his
naval career and love affairs. A Russian monograph in 1997 on his palace in St.
Petersburg challenged the predominant view of Alexei’s life and Nicholas II’s
diaries reveal fresh insights into his ‘beloved uncle’.
The original published sources, quoting January 14th,
1850 (New Style) as the date of birth of Grand Duke Alexei, is lost in time. It
has been replicated since, with variations on the month and date but the year 1850
remaining constant: January 2nd, 1850 (Old Style), February 1st,
1850 or February 2nd, 1850.
Sergei S. Tatischev prepared the first volume of ‘Emperor
Alexander III – His Life and Reign” for publication in 1904. The historian was
given permission to conduct research in His Majesty’s Own Library in the Winter
Palace, the archives of the Ministry of the Imperial Court, etc.
Tatischev wrote that Grand Duke Alexei was born on
January 2nd, 1849 (Old Style) in the Winter Palace. He quotes
Alexander II’s letter to the Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow
on the same date “… The Lord gave me a son, full of reverence for the first
Metropolitan of Moscow St. Alexei, of the Russian land, in whose house I was
born [Kremlin] and received Holy Baptism, we called him Alexei …”
The manuscript had been read by Count Sheremetev,
Nicholas II and Empress Marie. There was no disagreement with the date of birth
of Alexei or Alexander II’s letter.
F. Chevlier’s engraving (below) of Vladimir Hau’s 1850
painting of the four eldest sons of Alexander II shows Alexei as a toddler
sitting next to his brother Vladimir.
Grand Duke Alexei, who was born and lived thirty-seven
years of his life in the Winter Palace, is emerging from the shadows.
Joanna, great post!
ReplyDeleteSilly question but why was Alexei clothed in a dress? He looks like a little china doll is there some reason why he was clothed as such?
Ghostie x.
The Victorian Age! Little boys wore dresses until 2 years or so.
ReplyDeleteI find it weird the trend, since early Edwardian or 1920s, in Britain for boys to wear shorts until middle school continues.
Oh that explains it!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the British still follow that trend? I think it's different here in Australia but I'm not entirely sure, I know we use to follow a lot of English traditions and some still remain till today but the now generation seems to follow more of an American way,Don't quote me on this as fact it's just what I've seen.
Ghostie x.