DIARY OF EMPEROR NICHOLAS II
Started at Windsor
SEPTEMBER
After a cold night came a warm clear morning. At 10 o'clock we arrived in Sevastopol, where there was a usual meeting and honor at the pier, car. from the 49th Brest regiment. Transferred to the "Eagle" and at 11 went to sea. The whole squadron was stretched out in one line and looked beautiful. We sat down to have breakfast at Chersonese. When they turned back, it was fresh. Exactly at 2 o'clock they approached the Yalta pier, on the cat. Ksenia and Sandro were the first to see. The same meeting as in previous years, with the difference that acquaintances came across everywhere. There was an honor right there. car. from the 52nd Vilna Regiment, and in Livadia - from the 16th Rifleman of His Great. The weather was colder than in the morning in Sevastopol. Dad was tired and feeling worse. George, Nicky and I live in a different house, we are in our old rooms. Dined alone with Papa and Mama upstairs. I am terribly sad that there are no letters from my Alix.
The day was clear, but a fresh O blew and the surf could be heard above. Dad slept a little more and therefore felt more cheerful during the day! After coffee at Mama's, I went with Nicky and Georgy to the sea, where they admired the excitement! We had breakfast at 12 o'clock. Ksenia and Sandro arrived at the very end, thinking that we would start breakfast at one! We went on horseback to Oriandu, to our favorite place, where Papa and Mama arrived in a carriage on a short time. We returned home at 4 o'clock. Read before lunch. Ksenia and Sandro were sitting with us. Dad took his first salt bath. In the evening we went home before 11 o'clock.
Papa spent the night better, so he went out for a walk in the morning and then sat for about an hour on a bench not far from the house. The weather, fortunately, was warmer and the wind was weaker than yesterday. We had breakfast again alone at 12 o'clock. Then we went to the sea and sat on the shore for a long time. Finally received three letters at a time from my dear Alix! It was a joyful day for me! Kotya Obolensky came here. In the evening we didn't sit at Mama's for long!
Wonderful summer day - put on a tunic! After breakfast, the three of them went with Nike to the vineyard, where they ate from this beautiful fruit of the lada. We had breakfast alone, as usual, with Ksenia and Sandro only. We rode Papa and Mama to Eriklik, from where we descended to the farm and drank milk, coffee and ate yogurt. Everything reminded me of the old happy years! Wrote and received two tearful letters from my dear Alix, regarding the cancellation of my visit to her!
The day was the same as yesterday. At 11 o'clock we went to mass: Papa listened to her, as he did last year in Anpap's office.
Shooting music played at breakfast. We watched the descent of carrier pigeons that flew to Sevastopol. At 2 o'clock we went on horseback to Aytodor, where Papa and Mama arrived earlier. It was funny to look at Xenia's apartments in a new house, in a cat. she, as a hostess, received us and gave us tea! She and Sandro look so happy that you can't ask for more! The soul rejoices looking at them both! But when you see their happiness, you involuntarily think about your own - about, for example, what could happen if I also got married in the summer? We were at home at 5 o'clock.
"The Twelve Apostles" was probably testing its mechanisms. Dad was more cheerful! Received three wonderful letters from my beloved sweet Alix!
Hot gray day. After breakfast, Papa and Mama went to the vineyard, and we followed them on foot and ate a lot from the fruit of the vine! I saw Vanya, the cat. came here yesterday with a count[hoarfrost| and their sisters. After breakfast, K. P. Pobedonostsev came to see me. We went on horseback, first to my Orianda, and then to another - to the plage, where everyone else was. Back home at 4? h...
In the morning after coffee, instead of walking, they fought chestnuts with Nicky, first in front of the house, and finished on the roof. At 2 o'clock we went on horseback to the waterfall; climbed above the second platform. Late for tea. Sandro and Ksenia dined at their place - spent the evening without them!
It was a good day, the wind subsided, although the steamers were rocking great in the sea. After breakfast we set off on horseback for Papa and Mama, Xenia and Sandro to Massandra. Manager Shelukhin treated us to strawberries, peaches, nuts and chestnuts. Received two letters from dear dear Alix.
The morning was clear, but by noon the sky was covered with clouds, although it was quite warm. Again fought with Nicky bumps on the roof. We had breakfast as always at 12 o'clock. Dear Papa looks better, but he still feels bad - he is sick and the swelling in his legs interferes with the movement of his legs! We rode through Oriandu down to the plage. We saw the yacht "Foros", which passed very close, going to Sevastopol. The night was wonderful and moonlit.
Warm gray day. After breakfast, the three of us walked along the "horizontal" and examined the interior of the Oriand church. After breakfast we went on horseback to the farm and along the high road to Aytodor, through the cat. went down to the lighthouse. Here Sandro is excavating; since their arrival after the wedding, 60 Greek coins have been found. We returned home for tea. Dad slept for more than two hours on the balcony. We dined without him, because at 9 o'clock he took a bath. Got two letters from darling Alix.
The day was wonderful. AT 11? George and I went to Aitodor for breakfast at Ksenia and Sandro's. There were also at the table: AS Ozerova, Evreinov and Dr. Gruzdev. Chatelain filmed us in the garden. We sat in their salon; played piano with Xenia. We returned to Livadia at 3 o'clock. We went to the sea. I sat on the pebbles with my sad thoughts in my head and longing in my heart! Unfortunately there was no letter!
It was a gray day, quite in keeping with my state of mind! Were at mass - only here we see the rest of the public. After breakfast, I went for a walk with Raven along the entire seashore and returned to the house along various large paths. Yanyshev and Leiden arrived from abroad; He was the first to bring me a pillow from my Alix and a book with written poems! After dinner, two nice letters came from her.
Two more Aesculapius arrived today. Grube and Zakharyin; so that in all there were now five of them in Livadia, those two, Leiden, Velyaminov and Popov. It was very cool at night, the sea must have roared a lot. The day was clear and warm. Walked around the greenhouses with Nicky. At 2 o'clock he went on horseback to Aytodor;
As we have already said, throughout his life, Nicholas II kept a diary, and he did it with unique pedantry; for several decades there was not a day that he would not describe consistently and in detail. He accurately recorded all the events of his life, both sad and joyful: from the death of his father to the abdication of the throne in favor of his brother, from engagement to marriage with his adored Alyx. Of course, much more attention is paid to what is connected with family life than to political and social issues, although nothing significant was missed there either.
In the era of Nicholas II, keeping a diary was considered an obligatory occupation, part of the right way of life, and the emperor willingly obeyed this tradition, as did many of his contemporaries. He took notes in the evening, before going to bed, most of all they resembled a listing of the tasks done during the day, since each of them was given only a few lines. His language is concise and dry, his style laconic and dispassionate.
And only in his youth did Nicholas II allow himself to show emotions or make a funny observation. Later, when he is burdened with numerous state affairs, the diary will turn into a dry statement of facts, into a constant alternation of episodes from public and private life.
So, these were short notes in which the emperor managed to set out all the events of the day (he, however, never analyzed them); so as not to miss anything, the facts were listed in chronological order, one after the other, as if they were of the same plane or had the same meaning. Nicholas II became Tsar not of his own free will: for him, a visit to the ministry, a family dinner, or the arrival of "mother" were episodes of the same life, destined for him by fate.
These notes were not written for publication as memoirs; Nicholas II made notes exclusively for himself, never stooping to a lie. And yet, some episodes should have been omitted, since it was this diary that became the main accusatory document against the king.
Many excerpts relating to the events of 1917 and 1918 were published in the Red Archive after the death of the sovereign; the telegraphic style of his notes was regarded as a manifestation of a narrow mind, and the emperor himself was considered a fool, unable to draw a line between everyday life and history. The courtiers always knew about the existence of the diary and, when Nicholas II was still tsar, they secretly took out separate sheets, so that later they could be used, if necessary, as evidence against the sovereign.
And yet it is possible to appreciate this huge mass of material - fifty-one notebooks - both from a purely literary point of view, and as an important historical document. If you read these entries in succession, chronological order, then they will be revealed to us as an inexhaustible source of knowledge of the human personality: they will reveal the depth of the nature of Nicholas II, the significance of the education he received and his attitude to the world.
Particularly beautiful are the pages that are devoted to the young years of the emperor and his peers (almost all of them faced a painful death). The future king was an unusually gentle and warm-hearted person, a typical young man from a good family, with a “happy childhood”: he was simply brought up that way and could not change, even when, by the will of fate, he prematurely appeared on the throne.
For his diary, the then young heir to the throne chose a style characteristic not of a writer, but of a military man, since he considered himself to be such. He wrote only about the most important or his favorite activities: about a walk, about conversations at the dinner table, about meetings with relatives. On the other hand, Nicholas II can be regarded as extremely contemporary writer, and his diary is like a wonderful work. After all, these notebooks use artistic method, used many years later by Hemingway: the seeming absence of the author, the "untold story", a narrative that speaks for itself, without superfluous additions.
Romanov Nikolay (II)
Romanov Nikolay (II)
diaries
Emperor Nicholas II *
diaries
* Romanov-Koshkin-Zakharyin Nikolai Alexandrovich
Content
Started in Tsarskoye Selo
Got up early. Left dear Alix for half a day, leaving for the city at 93/4. Mom was dressing in Winter in our bedroom. At 11 o'clock. exit started. After Mass the diplomats worked and returned to Malachitovaya at 11/2. Family breakfast as always. After that, Mama favored the ladies to hand. He left at 3 o'clock.
Alix did not get up, although she felt well. They answered a lot of telegrams. Dined in the bedroom and went to bed early.
A lot of snow fell and the thaw began. After the usual reports received 6 people. deputations from the troops of the Odessa district, who arrived at the funeral of A. I. Musin-Pushkin. Orlov had breakfast (dej.). Accepted Plehve's report. At 71/4 we went to the city for lunch at the village of Alexei. Returned to Tsarskoye at 103/4 with Boris. Alix did not get up all day, her head and pace hurt. was still elevated.
Alix again lay all day.
Had three regular reports. Uncle Sergey came to breakfast. After a long conversation with him went for a walk. It melted, the weather was pleasant. We drank tea together in the bedroom and dined at 8 o'clock. In the evening he went back to Moscow. I read a lot.
It was a clear good day.
At 11 o'clock. went to mass with Olga and Tatyana. Then I had breakfast with them. I walked for a long time and enjoyed the air. I read a lot. Uncle Vladimir drank tea with me. Nikolasha dined with me. Alix got up in the evening and went to the couch for several hours. He stayed with us until 111/2 o'clock.
There was only uncle Alexei with a report. At 111/2 I went with Olga to mass with water blessing. He also had breakfast with Kotya Obolensky (Dej.). Walked for a long time. Read. At 6 o'clock. received Abaza. Alix got up in the evening. Dined with Obolensky in the "mauve room" while Alix lay on the couch. In the evening he continued aloud our old reading of "Fracture".
The day was festive and sunny. In 93/4 I went to the city. Mom was dressing in our bedroom. In 103/4 he began to bypass the troops in the halls. At 11 o'clock exactly the exit began. The episcopal service did not drag on. Jordan was very pleasant. Sat down for breakfast at one.
Having changed clothes, he received Lamzdorf's report. Returned to Tsarskoye at 41/2. Alix was already up; Thank God she felt better. They dined together. In the evening I read aloud to her.
Again the thaw, the whole day was foggy. I had a great welcome. Obolensky (dej.) had breakfast. He also received Zhelobovsky and Protasov with a report. Went out for a walk after 4 o'clock. I read a lot. They had a real dinner together, that is, Alix was also sitting at the table. Read aloud to her.
Got up late. Before reports read. Breakfast: Olga and Petya (dej.). Alix went sleighing in the morning. I took a walk during the day. At 7 o'clock I went to the city and for the first time to the theater. They gave "Gutter dammerung" wonderfully well; Litvin and Ershov sang. Mom, Misha and Olga also arrived. Everyone enjoyed together. He returned to Tsarskoye in 121/4.
Nice sunny day. After reading the papers, I managed to take a short walk. Had a small reception before breakfast. Ate alone with children.
Alix's health, thank God, is getting stronger! In the afternoon I received Sturmer (1) with his interesting report on the Tver zemstvo affairs.
Did a lot. After dinner Alix read aloud.
In the morning I read for a long time and walked a little. The reports ended on time. After breakfast, took gr. A. P. Ignatieva.
It was melting, it was quite warm.
Alix went sleighing twice today. After dinner I read aloud to her.
It was a wonderful sunny day at 4°C. The two of us went to dinner at 10:00. Then, returning and hastily changing into a hunting dress, he went to the station. All the participants with whom they went to Gatchina were already waiting there. We had breakfast on the way. The raid was in a pheasant near Remiz.
Deeply enjoyed the magnificent weather and spring day. The hunt was very successful - a total of 879 pieces were killed. By me: 115 - 21 partridges, 91 pheasants, hare and 2 rabbits.
Returned to Tsarskoe at 5 o'clock. After dinner I read aloud. Started packing for Peter.
Such warm weather as yesterday. In the morning, on the occasion of the name day, Tatiana received gifts. I had two regular reports and several governors. D. Alexey and Kirill had breakfast (dej.). Then he received Witte in the case of a trade agreement with Germany (2). Did a long walk without dogs as they had already been moved into town. I did a lot of work in the evening and fit in. Alix read aloud.
I overslept heavily and could not wake up before 91/4. Having tidied up everything and packed what was necessary, he went for a walk in the pretty park for the last time. There were only two reports. We had breakfast with the children. At 3 o'clock they left Tsarskoye Selo. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, we went to Anichkov to see Mama. At 41/2 they arrived at their place. Now they began to sort it out and very soon brought the rooms into a residential form. Read after tea. They dined together. Reading aloud in the evening.
Got up early. I read a lot in the morning; twice ran around the garden with the children. After the reports received 10 senators. I put on a Prussian uniform and walked with Alix and Misha to breakfast with the German embassy on the occasion of Wilhelm's birthday. At 3 o'clock I received two Don Kalmyks - Officer Ulanov and Lama Ulyanov, who are going to Tibet (3).
We visited Comrade Sani, saw Kostya and Mavra. We went to the fortress and on the way home we stopped at the village of Vladimir and Comrade Mikhen. He and Comrade Evgenia drank tea with us. Drenteln (dej.) dined. Before 9 o'clock. let's go to "Gotter dammerung". We returned home at 113/4.
We got up early, thanks to which I read a lot and managed to take a walk. There were all three reports. Tinchen and Boris (dej.) had breakfast. The weather is surprisingly warm, there is some snow left in the garden, and the streets are ridden all winter long. Strange winter!
We dined at about 8 o'clock and then went to the Alexandrinsky Theatre. There was a new rather meaningless play called "An Ordinary Woman". They returned disappointed at 121/4.
Pretty busy day. After the reports received 21 people. I had breakfast with Solovoy (dej.). He also received Skrydlov, who had come from Sevastopol. Walked, the weather was windy. At 5 o'clock. Let's go to Mama's for tea. Worked for a long time. We dined at 8 o'clock. and spent the evening quietly at home reading aloud.
From 10 o'clock. took in the morning; first there was Hesse, then Sakharov and all the other reports. After breakfast, I also received Richter and the engineer Yugovich, the builder of the Manchurian Railway. roads. I walked in the garden, it was freezing. We visited Comrade Evgenia and Alek and drank tea with them. Dined at 71/2 with Sergei Dolgoruky (deb.). Let's go to French. theater. They gave an interesting play "La Rabouilleuse".
Went to dinner at 10 o'clock. After her, he went with Misha to the railway. dor. and with the rest of the hunters to Ropsha, where they arrived at about one in the afternoon. The hunt was in the same pheasant and turned out very successful. Total killed: 489. By me: 96 - 81 pheasants and 14 partridges and hare. The weather was perfect, calm and warm. Chased hunting teams. In 61/4 he returned home very pleased with the day.
We dined in a family way with Mama with music. We listened to a 10-year-old boy play the violin. We sat with Mama and returned home to 101/2.
The morning was busy and the day generally tiring. He accepted the report and various people who presented themselves until 4 o'clock. The walk cleared my head. I studied until 7 o'clock. Andrey (dej.) Lunched. In 91/2 a big ball began. There were more people than ever. There was room for everyone for dinner. Walked around the tables in all the halls. Fortunately, dear Alix survived the ball very well. Returning to my room at 11/4 and undressed, they ate a little at my place in the old way.
Got up late. From 10 o'clock. took Abaza; Then there were the usual reports. Dmitry Sh (eremetev) (dej.) had breakfast. Received Kulomzin. All day there was some kind of yellow darkness. Walked for a short time. I read a lot. After dinner we went for the first time to Petya and Olga. They had an amateur performance in which both of them and Misha took part. They played very well and very friendly. Then, downstairs in Petya's office, they dined with everyone who played in both plays and returned home at one o'clock.
Woke up at 9 o'clock. The weather was dark but frosty. Received 56 people before breakfast. military and sailors in the Rotunda. Uncle Alexei was present and then had breakfast with us and Engalychev (dej.). From 3 to 41/2 took another 21 people. We only managed to walk for half an hour. After tea, I had a Lamzdorf under the Japanese agreement. They dined together. I went to the theatre. The Sleeping Beauty was on - excellent, I haven't seen it for a long time. Was at home at 113/4.
The sun finally came out in the morning for a few hours. There were three reports. After breakfast we went to Kamenny Island. to Tinchen, but she was lying; so we swept through the islands and returned home by 4 o'clock. Walked in the garden. I read a lot. At 8 o'clock we went to dinner at Mama's and spent the whole evening with her. It was snowing.
Sunny frosty day. I read a lot in the morning. He had reports from Lobko and Romanov. Received 43 people presenting themselves. Sergei (dej.) had breakfast. Having accepted Abaza, he went for a walk. Stana came from France with letters and good news from "our friend"(*1).
About 9 o'clock. the whole family gathered in the Romanov Gallery. There was a very successful performance in the Hermitage. They gave the prologue and the 4th act of "Mephistopheles", in the cat. Medea, Chaliapin and Sobinov sang. Dinner ended...
Emperor Nicholas II *
diaries
* Romanov-Koshkin-Zakharyin Nikolai Alexandrovich
Content
Started in Tsarskoye Selo
Got up early. Left dear Alix for half a day, leaving for the city at 93/4. Mom was dressing in Winter in our bedroom. At 11 o'clock. exit started. After Mass the diplomats worked and returned to Malachitovaya at 11/2. Family breakfast as always. After that, Mama favored the ladies to hand. He left at 3 o'clock.
Alix did not get up, although she felt well. They answered a lot of telegrams. Dined in the bedroom and went to bed early.
A lot of snow fell and the thaw began. After the usual reports received 6 people. deputations from the troops of the Odessa district, who arrived at the funeral of A. I. Musin-Pushkin. Orlov had breakfast (dej.). Accepted Plehve's report. At 71/4 we went to the city for lunch at the village of Alexei. Returned to Tsarskoye at 103/4 with Boris. Alix did not get up all day, her head and pace hurt. was still elevated.
Alix again lay all day.
Had three regular reports. Uncle Sergey came to breakfast. After a long conversation with him went for a walk. It melted, the weather was pleasant. We drank tea together in the bedroom and dined at 8 o'clock. In the evening he went back to Moscow. I read a lot.
It was a clear good day.
At 11 o'clock. went to mass with Olga and Tatyana. Then I had breakfast with them. I walked for a long time and enjoyed the air. I read a lot. Uncle Vladimir drank tea with me. Nikolasha dined with me. Alix got up in the evening and went to the couch for several hours. He stayed with us until 111/2 o'clock.
There was only uncle Alexei with a report. At 111/2 I went with Olga to mass with water blessing. He also had breakfast with Kotya Obolensky (Dej.). Walked for a long time. Read. At 6 o'clock. received Abaza. Alix got up in the evening. Dined with Obolensky in the "mauve room" while Alix lay on the couch. In the evening he continued aloud our old reading of "Fracture".
The day was festive and sunny. In 93/4 I went to the city. Mom was dressing in our bedroom. In 103/4 he began to bypass the troops in the halls. At 11 o'clock exactly the exit began. The episcopal service did not drag on. Jordan was very pleasant. Sat down for breakfast at one.
Having changed clothes, he received Lamzdorf's report. Returned to Tsarskoye at 41/2. Alix was already up; Thank God she felt better. They dined together. In the evening I read aloud to her.
Again the thaw, the whole day was foggy. I had a great welcome. Obolensky (dej.) had breakfast. He also received Zhelobovsky and Protasov with a report. Went out for a walk after 4 o'clock. I read a lot. They had a real dinner together, that is, Alix was also sitting at the table. Read aloud to her.
Got up late. Before reports read. Breakfast: Olga and Petya (dej.). Alix went sleighing in the morning. I took a walk during the day. At 7 o'clock I went to the city and for the first time to the theater. They gave "Gutter dammerung" wonderfully well; Litvin and Ershov sang. Mom, Misha and Olga also arrived. Everyone enjoyed together. He returned to Tsarskoye in 121/4.
Nice sunny day. After reading the papers, I managed to take a short walk. Had a small reception before breakfast. Ate alone with children.
Alix's health, thank God, is getting stronger! In the afternoon I received Sturmer (1) with his interesting report on the Tver zemstvo affairs.
Did a lot. After dinner Alix read aloud.
In the morning I read for a long time and walked a little. The reports ended on time. After breakfast, took gr. A. P. Ignatieva.
It was melting, it was quite warm.
Alix went sleighing twice today. After dinner I read aloud to her.
It was a wonderful sunny day at 4°C. The two of us went to dinner at 10:00. Then, returning and hastily changing into a hunting dress, he went to the station. All the participants with whom they went to Gatchina were already waiting there. We had breakfast on the way. The raid was in a pheasant near Remiz.
Deeply enjoyed the magnificent weather and spring day. The hunt was very successful - a total of 879 pieces were killed. By me: 115 - 21 partridges, 91 pheasants, hare and 2 rabbits.
Returned to Tsarskoe at 5 o'clock. After dinner I read aloud. Started packing for Peter.
Such warm weather as yesterday. In the morning, on the occasion of the name day, Tatiana received gifts. I had two regular reports and several governors. D. Alexey and Kirill had breakfast (dej.). Then he received Witte in the case of a trade agreement with Germany (2). Did a long walk without dogs as they had already been moved into town. I did a lot of work in the evening and fit in. Alix read aloud.
I overslept heavily and could not wake up before 91/4. Having tidied up everything and packed what was necessary, he went for a walk in the pretty park for the last time. There were only two reports. We had breakfast with the children. At 3 o'clock they left Tsarskoye Selo. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, we went to Anichkov to see Mama. At 41/2 they arrived at their place. Now they began to sort it out and very soon brought the rooms into a residential form. Read after tea. They dined together. Reading aloud in the evening.
Got up early. I read a lot in the morning; twice ran around the garden with the children. After the reports received 10 senators. I put on a Prussian uniform and walked with Alix and Misha to breakfast with the German embassy on the occasion of Wilhelm's birthday. At 3 o'clock I received two Don Kalmyks - Officer Ulanov and Lama Ulyanov, who are going to Tibet (3).
We visited Comrade Sani, saw Kostya and Mavra. We went to the fortress and on the way home we stopped at the village of Vladimir and Comrade Mikhen. He and Comrade Evgenia drank tea with us. Drenteln (dej.) dined. Before 9 o'clock. let's go to "Gotter dammerung". We returned home at 113/4.
We got up early, thanks to which I read a lot and managed to take a walk. There were all three reports. Tinchen and Boris (dej.) had breakfast. The weather is surprisingly warm, there is some snow left in the garden, and the streets are ridden all winter long. Strange winter!
We dined at about 8 o'clock and then went to the Alexandrinsky Theatre. There was a new rather meaningless play called "An Ordinary Woman". They returned disappointed at 121/4.
Pretty busy day. After the reports received 21 people. I had breakfast with Solovoy (dej.). He also received Skrydlov, who had come from Sevastopol. Walked, the weather was windy. At 5 o'clock. Let's go to Mama's for tea. Worked for a long time. We dined at 8 o'clock. and spent the evening quietly at home reading aloud.
The published text of the diary is a very strange document
The diary of Nicholas II is revered among neo-Soviet publicists as the most convincing evidence of the insignificance of the emperor. Extensive excerpts from the text are abundantly cited on all sorts of "red" sites, with invariably mocking comments. And indeed, there is something to inspire the tsar with deep contempt mixed with disgust. On the most crucial days for Russia, Nikolai describes in detail how many crows he shot, how he played dominoes, drank tea and read some books aloud.
Nicholas II. Photo from wikimedia.org
Involuntarily, you will wonder if this ruler was generally sane? Well, it goes without saying that the entries in the diary lead the modern reader to an ironclad conclusion: yes, such a monarch would inevitably lose power, and the monarchical principle itself is worthless if such empty people get on the throne.
But here's what's interesting. In addition to the stupid diary, Nicholas II left a sea of state documents. This is a huge number of analytical notes that the first persons of the country compiled for him, draft laws, transcripts of the Military Councils, diplomatic telegrams and much more. On these papers are the resolutions of the king, which contrast sharply with the crazy entries in the diary.
Strictly speaking, if we evaluate a statesman, then it is logical to study him according to government documents rather than home notes. And here is the picture changes dramatically.
Nikolai's resolutions clearly show that he is well versed in the most complex issues of the economy, politics, defense and social problems in Russia. The emperor's remarks made on the documents show that he carefully studies the reports of the ministers and is well versed in what they tell him. Moreover, Nikolai persistently seeks the adoption of the decision that he considers optimal. This is also at odds with the image of the weak-willed emperor, subject to all sorts of external influences and mystical revelations of Rasputin.
For example, during the negotiations in Portsmouth, Witte repeatedly asked the tsar for permission to give up all of Sakhalin and pay indemnity to the Japanese. The tsar replied steadily in style: not a penny of money, not an inch of land.
"His Imperial Majesty did not deign to agree to the proposals made by Japan", - Witte lamented.
We know that half of Sakhalin still had to be ceded, but this happened not at the request of Witte, but under the pressure of the unfolding terrorist war, better known as the "revolution of 1905"
As for the actions of the tsar during the war, Nicholas was intensively engaged in public administration, constantly received generals and ministers, who covered events on the fronts in detail.
In addition, the emperor is always also a PR figure. So, Nikolai traveled all over Russia in order to personally address the military units with parting words before they were sent to Manchuria. Nikolai also visited shipyards that were preparing the fleet for a trip to the Far East.
financial matters and foreign policy were under the special control of Nicholas, and here, too, there are many documents showing how carefully, delving into all the important subtleties, the king studied the emerging problems. The reports of the finance ministers and Nikolai's comments on them are well known to historians. They have nothing to do with the image of a fool on the throne.
It is clear that in Soviet time an objective study of the activities of Nicholas II was impossible. In all articles and books, there was obviously supposed to be a "accusatory bias", sometimes reaching shameful barking. However, now in scientific turnover previously inaccessible documents entered, and experts noticed a literally conspicuous discrepancy between two completely different personalities. The one that develops after reading the diary, and the one that wrote resolutions on documents.
Gradually, versions began to appear that could somehow explain the obvious contradiction. So, for example, it was suggested that the king considered the diary precisely as a way of rest.
Indeed, many people who are doing intense intellectual work deliberately switch their attention to nonsense. They read one-day detective stories, watch light films, play computer games, and so on. Sometimes an outside observer is perplexed: how can a smart and deep man to engage in such ridiculous nonsense? And the answer is simple. That is why he is engaged in order to temporarily escape from the heavy thoughts and complex issues in which he is immersed daily.
I personally know people of science who have been doing puzzling calculations all their lives, and then solving crossword puzzles at the level: “it does not lay eggs, but it is born from an egg.” If you evaluate such people only on one side of their life, then you really get the impression that this is the level of a child.
There is another, at first glance, completely unrealistic version. The diary is partly fake, fabricated specifically to discredit Nikolai.
Despite the seeming absurdity of this assumption, it has strong evidence. Oddly enough, but one of such evidence was given by a Marxist historian, a member of the RSDLP, an ardent enemy of the tsar, who later became the Deputy People's Commissar of Education of the RSFSR - Mikhail Pokrovsky. So the Bolsheviks instructed him to sort out the papers of the tsar already in 1918. He estimated the information found by Pokrovsky from the diary as follows:
“What I managed to read, diaries during the revolution, is interesting beyond measure and cruelly denounces not Nikolai (this man knew how to keep silent!), But Kerensky. If you needed a moral justification October revolution, it would be enough to print it, which, however, will not be done today or tomorrow "
Please note that Pokrovsky is interested in the diary beyond measure. But what's interesting there? Is Pokrovsky also a notable lover of crow hunting and playing dominoes? Hardly. And what does Kerensky have to do with it then?
There are no serious entries exposing Kerensky in the text presented as a diary. Pokrovsky, on the other hand, says that he unearthed the killer compromising evidence, and he is sure that this compromising evidence will become known to the general public from day to day. Almost a hundred years have passed since then, and nothing of the kind has been done, but there is no shortage of those passages that describe the details of shooting birds, breakfasts, festivities, and the like. Agree, something is not right.
The published “diary of Nicholas II” amazes not only with regularly repeated stories about shooting at crows, the number of birds shot and misses, it amazes not only with a description of the game of dominoes, mention of reading books to his wife. The problem is not only that there are a lot of obviously unnecessary details in the diary, the problem is that there is nothing else there. The king's diary is incredibly empty. Terror is unfolding in the country, a war with Japan, a sharp struggle with the Duma bawlers, and so on, and all these events pass by the head of state. It is clear that from this fact people draw conclusions about the complete incompetence of Nikolai. And indeed, if we proceed from common sense, then only a mentally handicapped person could write such a thing.
Let's note one more important point. Excerpts from the diary first appeared in the Pravda newspaper after the murder of Nikolai. He could neither confirm nor refute what was printed, even physically. There is also no handwriting examination so far, or at least, this has simply not been announced openly, and accordingly, no one has provided the public with either the methodology of the examination or their results, indicating the organization and persons who carried out the verification.
At the same time, a log of events at the court of the king is now available. This is the so-called camera-furier journal, which simply recorded those who came to the emperor for a report, the time of the audience, the names of the regiments that Nicholas met, and the like.
So, it has long been noticed that the text of the diary and the text of the camera-Fourier magazine coincide at the copy-paste level. The impression is that someone literally took fragments of the recordings of the camera-furier and inserted them into Nikolai's diary. Did the Emperor himself do this? Just at the end of the working day, he called a clerk to his place with a journal and carefully, to a comma and a letter, rewrote registration entries in his diary?
Look at the fantastic accuracy with which Nikolai describes the events of 1904-1905 in his diary:
“I woke up at 9 o’clock. The weather was dark but frosty. Received 56 people before breakfast. military and sailors in the Rotunda. Uncle Alexei was present and then had breakfast with us and Engalychev (dej.). From 3 to 4½ accepted another 21 people. We only managed to walk for half an hour. After tea, I had a Lamzdorf under the Japanese agreement. They dined together. I went to the theatre. The Sleeping Beauty was on - excellent, I haven’t seen it for a long time. Was at home at 11¾."
56 people accepted. Not 57, not 55, but 56. Did you personally count? Or was the tsar told “to you 56 people”, but he remembered, and with painful accuracy entered this empty figure in his diary?
Further more. I received 21 people, and I didn’t forget the exact time of the reception. And this goes through the diary all the time: I received 43 people, then I received 11 people, “Before breakfast I received 13 people who were introduced, and at 2½ another 42 officers”, “After the report I received 33 people”, “After the report I received 19 people who were introduced.”
And so, day after day, year after year, all my life. Usually this obvious oddity is explained by the phenomenal memory of the emperor, who paid special attention to details. But it is completely incomprehensible why duplicate the registration log? It is kept precisely in order to always have the opportunity to look at the records, and not to memorize them, and even more so not to rewrite them in personal papers. The secretarial service, the office, is needed in order to simplify the life of the boss, and not for the exact opposite.
It is also interesting to analyze how the tsar behaves from May 22 to July 31, 1916, that is, during the Brusilov breakthrough. The Tsar, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, reflects in a very peculiar way the course of this grandiose, unprecedented battle, in which millions of armies were involved, and which led to Russia's greatest success, and, therefore, to the worst defeat of the enemy.
We look at the diary for the corresponding days and make sure that the king is not just a schoolboy keeping a diary of observations. It is not enough for him to accurately record the air temperature, wind direction, etc. The king is not only a killer of crows, maniacally recording crow trophies in his diary. The king is also a master of military reports. That is, as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, he found himself an “interesting job”, accurately copying current military messages into his diary.
See:
May 23rd. Monday
“Yesterday in many areas of the South-West. front after heavy shelling of enemy positions, their lines were broken through and in general 13,000 people were captured, 15 guns and 30 machine guns. Bless, Lord, our valiant troops with further success! The weather was hot and windy. During the day I rode with Alexei along the Gomel highway and walked to the Dnieper. Came back around 7 o'clock. Received Tatishchev and Sandro. I worked out for a long time in the evening."
Well, let's say 13,000 prisoners, that's a fairly large figure that should be under the control of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, but 15 guns and 30 machine guns, what's the point? How will the High Command use such "valuable information"?
May 24th. Tuesday
“Today the news from the Southwestern Front is also comforting. For both days, our troops captured up to 480 officers and more than 25,000 lower. rank. Captured 27 guns and more than 50 machine guns. The day was hot. At 3 o'clock I made a review of the automobile semi-battery Det. baht. for the defense of the Headquarters and a machine-gun platoon with it. Parts have just returned from Dvinsk. I set off with Alexei and others on a motor down the Dnieper to an oak forest, where I climbed out and walked back along the shore, as I had done last autumn. We returned to Mogilev by 7 o'clock. Received Senator Krivtsov. In the evening I learned that Lord Kitchener, who left England for Arkhangelsk, died from a mine with a cruiser!
Again he recorded that 27 guns were captured.
“Birthday dear Alix - it was sad to spend away from her. But he was illuminated by our major successes in the South-West. front. By yesterday, the number of prisoners had increased - up to 900 officers. and lower rank. over 40,000 people Captured 77 guns, 134 machine guns and 49 bombers and a lot of all kinds of property. After mass and prayer there was a report.
In the afternoon I took a walk with Alex[her] and others along the highway beyond Stavka. We walked and looked around the trenches. Two echelons passed by on their way south. Got caught in a good rain. After tea, I read and wrote to Mama in the evening.
Again 77 guns, 49 bombers. M-yes.
“Behind the report, I learned that 58 officers and 11,000 lower troops were taken in battle yesterday. ranks, therefore almost 1000 of. and for 51,000 n. h. In the morning there was a little rain and then the weather turned wonderful. Gr. Frederiks left for Petrograd. We made the usual walk from the big [bridge] to "Evpatoria". Before lunch I took Shakhovsky - min. Bargain. and Promysh. Worked out in the evening."
58 officers taken. He writes everything down, he adds numbers. Typical behavior of a small statistician at headquarters.
“The total of prisoners is growing - yesterday 185 officers and 13,700 n. hours - so now the total is 1143 officers and more than 64,700 people. lower rank. After breakfast, I received a deputation with Alexei to the 12th volost. foremen from the Kherson province., who brought 600 thousand rubles from the peasants. for the needs of the war. Touching. He went down the Dnieper on a deuce, Alexey and others on the mot. boat, he ran in the water, and we roasted on the shore in the sun. Drank tea at 6 o'clock. He received Shuvaev, then Sazonov.
The insanity grew stronger. The tsar-statistician continues to calculate the "cumulative total" This disgrace drags on throughout the entire Brusilov breakthrough.
“A more accurate count gave a trace. the number of prisoners and trophies taken: 1 general, 3 regiment commanders, 2467 officers, 5 doctors and up to 150,000 lower. rank., 163 guns, 266 machine guns, 131 bombers and 32 mortars. And how many Austrians lost killed and wounded? The weather was warm with three heavy showers. In the afternoon I made a good trip up the Dnieper to the bishops' chapel on a deuce, and down on the Desna motor. I calmly studied and wrote after dinner.
As expected, there is a “clarification of stat. data". Well, just a petty clerk.
Perhaps Nikolai, at least on the eve of his overthrow, "came to his senses"? Here is what the “tsar” writes literally on the eve of the February Revolution:
"At 10 o'clock. went to dinner. The report ended on time. A lot of people had breakfast and all cash foreigners. Alix wrote and drove along Beaver. [Uyskoye] highway to the chapel, where I took a walk. The weather was clear and frosty. After tea I read and took sen. Tregubov before lunch. I played dominoes in the evening.
Suspicions of falsification intensify when you study the period of January-early February 1917. The fact is that from January 19 to February 7, 1917, an Entente conference was held in Petrograd with the participation of the delegation of Russia, Great Britain, France and Italy. This is one of the key events in the history of the 20th century, since it was there that the critical issues First World War.
On January 18, representatives of the delegations were personally received by Nikolai, and there were reports about this in the then press. How does the tsar record this exceptionally important moment in “his diary”? And like this:
January 18th. Wednesday
Sunny day, 14° frost and fresh S-W. Walked for a while. At 11 o'clock he received members of the assembled conference - from England, France and Italy, a total of 37 people. Talked to them for about an hour. At 12 o'clock I had Sazonov, who was appointed ambassador to England. Alexei's tonsils hurt, he lay all day. Went around the entire park. At 6 o'clock. received Taneyev. Read.
***
All! Nothing more. I received a delegation, no less than three key allies, and so, between a morning walk and a walk in the park, I also talked with Sazonov. But this is before the opening of the conference, so to speak, a prologue. And what does the tsar write the next day, when the real work began?
January 19th. Thursday
“The frost increased, the day stood bright. After a walk, he received Mamantov, gene. Frolov, Piltz and the Penza governor Evreinov. After breakfast I sat with Alexei - he felt better and there was almost no fever. Did a nice walk with Tatiana. Before tea I received A. S. Botkin, after Dobrovolsky. In the evening I studied and then sat with Anya with Denami, Groten and N.P.
Not a word about the conference on the opening day. And the king is not a king, but a schoolboy lower grades who keeps a weather diary. Remember, we all in the USSR were like this in childhood?
“In the morning, Kirill visited me on my return from a trip to Murman in the city of Romanov. After the walk he took Barca and at 12 o'clock. — Lord Milner. He, V. Dolgorukov, and N. P. (dej.) were having breakfast. Walked with Tatyana. The frost was hefty - by night it reached 23 °. At 7 o'clock he received Protopopov. I dined N.P. I read a little.
Did you find at least one word about the conference? That's what I didn't find.
“Frosty clear day. He received Belyaev, Kulchitsky and Frederiks, who was having breakfast, also Mordvinov (dej.). At 2 o'clock I received Dumerg and talked with him until 3½ o'clock. I walked for half an hour and received Raev. After tea I had Gurko and then Prince. Golitsyn. At 8 o'clock. there was a big dinner for all the members of the union conference. The conversation ended at 10½ o'clock."
Oh, I remembered! At my side, the delegations of the superpowers are conferring. You have to eat with them. And not another word.
“Sunny frosty day. At 10 o'clock. received the Italian minister from among the members of the conference - Shaloya. At 10½ we went with our daughters to Mass. We had breakfast: Mordvinov and Serdyukov (dej.). I sat with Alexei and then took a walk with Tatyana. I read and wrote until 8 o'clock. After dinner, we spent the evening on the other side with Dena, Anya, N.P., Soltanov and Chistyakov.
It's like "Nikolai at work." Received one minister. But three days of the conference have passed. At 10 o’clock he had a conversation with the minister, and after half an hour he was going to mass with his daughters, then he sat, walked, read, peed, had lunch. The fate of the First World War is being decided, and with it the country. The king does nothing. Even as a protocol figure, he is not present at the conference, he does not discuss military, political, or diplomatic issues with anyone.
January 23rd. Monday
“In the morning I had Groten and Grabbe with a new officer of the 1st Grebensky Regiment, Vertepov. After the walk, he received Grigorovich and the commander Baltic Fleet v. [ice] - a. [dmiral] Nepenin. Then the French [Uz] general Castelnau, who had breakfast with us. From 2½ to 4½ o'clock they received officers who had completed an accelerated course of the military academy, in the number of 227 people; a huge number of them were wounded and shell-shocked. I ran out into the garden for half an hour. At 6 o'clock. received Bulygin. Read. Dined - Anya and Eristov (dej.). I read aloud in the evening.
All in the same spirit. He received one foreign general, then dealt with the wounded and shell-shocked, carefully recording their number: 227. How. The remaining days of the conference are reflected in the same way, if not worse. But, perhaps, at the closing of such an important event for Russia, the tsar will somehow show himself? What does the diary say?
"Freezing day. From 10½ he received: Gurko, Belyaev, the new Japanese - Ambassador Ushida with an embassy and Pokrovsky. Svechin (dej.) had breakfast. Walked alone. At 6 o'clock. there was D. [uncle] Pavel with a report. I read and wrote. We spent the evening together."
Not a word about how the conference ended! Where are the results? Where at least a characteristic at the level of personal impressions, satisfied, not satisfied, achieved their goal or not. But they discussed the decisive offensive of the Entente on all fronts.
Yes, it looks like we have a fake, black PR. The alleged forger armed himself with a chamber-furier magazine, official press reports, and weather reports. Added for "soulfulness" references to family affairs, and in such a mean wording that they are applicable to any person. Who among us has not drunk tea in the circle of children and wife? Who has not read a newspaper or a book in the evening?
It is possible that some remarks from the real diary also got into the fake diary. This is for persuasion. But in general, all the same, the document turned out to be more than strange. So the version about the falsification of the king's diaries is quite conclusive and weighty.
Of course, only an objective, independent examination can dot the “i” and give a final answer. And it is very strange that no one took up this work.
