His Imperial Highness Grand Duke, adjutant general, infantry general, inspector general v. educational zavny, 2nd son of His Emperor. Highness Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich and Her Emperor. Highness Princess Alexandra ... ... Big biographical encyclopedia
KONSTANTIN KONSTANTINOVICH, see ROKOSSOVSKY. Source: Encyclopedia Fatherland ... Russian history
His Imperial Highness Prince, the second son led. book. Konstantin Nikolaevich, b. August 10, 1858 Chief of the 15th Tiflis Grenadier Regiment, President of Akd. Sciences (since 1889), commander l. guards Preobrazhensky Regiment (since 1891), and before that ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
Konstantin Konstantinovich- (1858 1915) Grand Duke, grandson of Nicholas I, general, president of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Poet (wrote under the pseudonym K.R.), author of several collections of poems and poetic tragedy King of the Jews ... Orthodox Encyclopedic Dictionary
Konstantin Konstantinovich- (1858 1915) led. book, 2nd son led. book. Konstantin Nikolaevich. Gene. Adjutant, Gen. from infantry. Military began his service in the navy. Member of the Russian tour. war of 1877 78, awarded the order. St. George. In 1878 he was enlisted in the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment in ... ... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary
Konstantin Konstantinovich- KONSTANTIN KONSTANTINOVICH, see K. R ... Biographical Dictionary
Konstantin Konstantinovich- (Romanov, 1858 1915) Grand Duke, poet, pseudonym. In 1889 1915. President of the Academy of Sciences. Published in Russian Bulletin, Bulletin of Europe. Compositions: collection. Poems K. R., New poems K. R. 1886 1888 (including the poem by Sebastian ... ... Dictionary of literary types
Konstantin Konstantinovich Jr. Konstantin Konstantinovich (December 20, 1890 (January 1, 1891), Petersburg July 18, 1918, near Alapaevsk) Russian prince of imperial blood, son of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich and Grand Duchess Elizabeth ... Wikipedia
Books
- Harpagonias, Konstantin Konstantinovich Vaginov. Konstantin Konstantinovich Vaginov was one of the smartest, kindest and noblest people I have ever met in my life. And perhaps one of the most gifted`, - Nikolai Chukovsky recalled. ...
- Harpagonias, Konstantin Konstantinovich Vaginov. Konstantin Konstantinovich Vaginov was one of the smartest, kindest and noblest people I have ever met in my life. And perhaps one of the most gifted, "recalled Nikolai Chukovsky. ...
Konstantin Romanov "Diaries 1903-1905"
Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov was known as a talented poet who signed under the pseudonym KR. Tchaikovsky created many romances based on his poems. One of them, "I opened the window, it became unbearable," was adored by the murderer of his sons, Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin).
All the great princes were obliged to serve. Konstantin Konstantinovich was the commander of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. The future Emperor Nicholas II served under him. We keep the diaries of Nicholas II in our archive. They have a wonderful record of how he was, for the first time, in an exercise, was to command a battery as part of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. How worried he was - all his feelings are reflected in the diary: "If only everything went well!". How happy he was when his uncle, Grand Duke Konstantin, praised him. Later, the Grand Duke commanded military schools. He was deeply fond of art, was a connoisseur of elegance, translated "Hamlet" into Russian.
The Grand Duke kept diaries all his life, which are also kept in the State Archives. Russian Federation. This is a kind of encyclopedia of Russian culture of this period. Having managed to do a lot for the development of Russian culture and science, the Grand Duke died early - in 1915. His diaries are very frank. He wrote most openly about himself, about his experiences. Dying (before his death, he was ill for a long time, and he had time to think about his will), he left a will - his diaries are being taken over Russian Academy Sciences. There was one condition in the will: the diaries were not to be made public for 90 years from the date of his death.
Konstantin Konstantinovich described his homosexuality in his diaries with unusual frankness. This amazing document, which shows how the Grand Duke tried to fight her, considering her sinful. And for the society in which he lived, his inclinations were vicious. He was a family man, had 9 children. To confess on paper before the court of one's own conscience one's adventures and leave evidence for posterity - this required great courage.
Studying his diaries, I often thought - why didn't he destroy them, why did he keep them for posterity? Later I realized - this is an act of a person of high spirit. It seems to me that it was important for him to show us, the descendants, how difficult the internal struggle with passion is. He was right in showing life as it really is.
Director State Archive Russian Federation
Sergei Mironenko.
November 19, 1903 - St. Petersburg.
[I am called] "the best man in Russia". But I know what this one really is best person". How amazed all those people who love and respect me would be if they knew about my depravity! I am deeply dissatisfied with myself.
November 24
I feel energized again and ready to fight my passions. After a fall, it's always like that; but this time I feel more determined than, for example, 10 years ago, on exactly the same day, i.e. November 22nd.
December 15, 1903 - St. Petersburg.
I reread my diaries for the past 10 and 20 years. I am dissatisfied with myself. Ten years ago, I started on the right path, began to seriously struggle with my main sin and did not sin for seven years, or rather, sinned only mentally. In 1900, immediately after my appointment as head of military educational institutions, in the summer in Strelna I lost my way.
Then two years were better, but in 1902, after my illness, I sinned a lot during a trip along the Volga. Finally, in this year, 1903, I completely lost my way and lived in a constant struggle with my conscience.
A trip to Moscow and Tver seemed to distract me from impure thoughts and desires, but now they have captured me again. I keep fighting, telling myself that God has given me the heart, mind, and strength to fight successfully, and yet I am often defeated. The trouble is that I could, but I can’t fight, I weaken, I forget the fear of God and fall. And the years are running, I'm already in my 50s; I know that the later, the deeper the habit takes root, the harder and harder the struggle. Again he almost fell, but this time he held on. But for how long? Help, Lord! The Lord helps, but I myself reject his help.
21 December
Bad thoughts keep coming into my head; they especially pester me in church. It's embarrassing to admit, but it's true. It has never been as bad as the last six months.
December 28, 1903 - St. Petersburg.
My life flows happily, I am truly a "darling of fate", I am loved, respected and appreciated, I am lucky in everything and succeed in everything, but ... there is no main thing: peace of mind.
My secret vice has completely taken possession of me. There was a time, and quite a long one, that I almost defeated him, from the end of 1893 to 1900. But since then, and especially since April of this year (just before the birth of our charming George), I again slipped and rolled and still roll, as if by inclined plane, lower and lower.
Meanwhile, I, who is at the head of the upbringing of many children and young men, must be aware of the rules of morality.
Finally, I am no longer young, married, I have 7 children, the older ones are almost adults, and old age is not far off. But I’m like a weather vane: it happens, I take a firm intention, pray fervently, stand idle for a whole mass in fervent prayer, and then immediately, when a sinful thought appears, everything is immediately forgotten, and I again fall under the power of sin.
Is it really impossible to change for the better? Am I really going to wallow in sin?
April 19, 1904
My soul is not feeling well again, again sinful thoughts, memories and desires haunt me. I dream of going to the bathhouses on the Moika or ordering the bathhouse to be flooded at home, I imagine familiar bath attendants - Alexei Frolov and especially Sergei Syroezhkin. My lusts have always been towards simple peasants, outside their circle I did not look for and did not find participants in sin. When passion speaks, the arguments of conscience, virtue, and prudence fall silent.
April 23
Family breakfast in the Alexander Palace. The Empress - the birthday girl, is undoubtedly pregnant; now it is very noticeable. The addition of the family must be expected, probably in July or August.
May 15
Again, according to the recollections of past years, he fell under the influence of bad thoughts and seductive dreams and ideas. The path lay past the baths. I thought that if I saw the attendant's rooms at the outer doors, I would not stand it and come in. He was greatly agitated, all good things were almost suppressed, he almost lost the ability to reason rationally, ready to succumb to temptation almost without a fight. The door to the rooms was ajar, but the attendants were not visible. By some miracle, he managed to keep up and drive past.
One should think that this victory over oneself should please, but no; on the contrary, for a long time afterwards I was annoyed with myself for not taking advantage of opportunity, did not go.
May 18
In the meeting, sinful thoughts overcame me. On Morskaya, before reaching the corner of Nevsky, he dismissed the coachman and went on foot to the Police Bridge and, having crossed it, turned left along the Moika. Twice I walked back and forth past the doors to the numbered baths; entered the third. And here I am again sinful in the same. My moral state is bad...
June 4
For my part, I believe that I would never have completely agreed with Sandro: he easily makes mistakes in people, falls under their influence, then becomes disappointed in them and looks for other advisers; he seems to have some materialistic direction and is inclined towards personal gain.
June 23
I again refused to fight with my lust, not that I could not, but I did not want to fight. In the evening they heated our bathhouse for me; bath attendant Sergei Syroezhkin was busy and brought his brother, a 20-year-old guy Kondraty, who works as a bath attendant in the Mustache Baths. And I made this guy sin. Perhaps for the first time I made him sin, and only when it was too late did I remember scary words: woe to him who offends one of these little ones.
July 24, 1904
Since the 15th, they have been looking forward to the addition of the family to the Sovereign.
July 26, 1904 - St. Petersburg.
Bath in the morning. And again, like a squirrel in a wheel, I found myself in the same place.
July 30, 1904 - St. Petersburg.
Newspaper clipping: "By the Manifesto of June 28, 1899, We called upon Our most kind brother, our Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, to inherit Us until Our son is born. From now on, by virtue of the fundamental state laws of the Empire, Our son Alexei holds the high rank and title of Heir Tsesarevich with with all the rights attached to it."
God gave their Majesties a son. What happiness! For the tenth year, Russia has been waiting for an heir, and now it has waited. Soon they began firing from cannons from the fortress - a salute of 301 shots. The heir is named Alexei. When we arrived at the Gothic church, the prayer service had just departed. The tsar left the church and, together with his mother and three older daughters Olga, Tatyana and Maria, went around those present and accepted congratulations. The whole family was there, the closest of the courtiers and the Headquarters and the officers of the combined guards battalion and His Majesty's own convoy. It was said that the birth lasted only two hours and went quite well, that the baby was 58 centimeters tall and weighed 11 pounds.
September 12, 1904 - St. Petersburg.
Sent for Yatsko, and he was with me this morning. I easily challenged him to be frank. It was strange for me to hear familiar features: he had never been attracted to a woman and more than once fell in love with men. I didn't confess to him that personal experience I know these feelings. We had a long talk with Yatsko.
Before parting, he kissed my face and hands; I should not have allowed him this, but I felt sorry for him, for which I was later punished with shame and vague remorse. He told me that since the first time we met at the Vilna cadet school, enthusiastic feelings had awakened in his soul for me, all growing stronger. How it reminds me of my own younger years.
September 15 - Strelna.
I heard from Xenia and Sandro, who were traveling to us and met me on the way, that Empress Maria Feodorovna begged the Sovereign not to appoint Nikolasha *
, which was followed by surprise and the answer that it was not expected. Moscow marshal of the nobility, Prince. Trubetskoy wrote to Count Il. Iv. Vorontsov-Dashkov that the rumors about the appointment of Nikolasha make the most painful impression on Moscow society, which, like the whole of Russia, believes in Kuropatkin. This letter will be reported to the Sovereign.
I went along the road along which Lieutenant Yatsko was supposed to arrive in a carriage sent for him. I sent for him to fulfill his desire to visit me again and say goodbye before he left for Vilna. I confess that I rejoiced at him and at the same time was afraid of a new meeting.
Now that I knew his inclinations, similar to mine, there was something to fear. Last time I resisted, but who can vouch for the future. He confessed his sins to me with even greater frankness: he had a breakdown in spirit, self-loathing, remorse. I cheered him up, of course, did not push him away and, it seems, eased his soul, pointing out that we must forget the old and start living, as it were, again. And he was afraid that I would despise him.
I heard from him the names of people whom I vaguely suspected of unnatural inclinations; with some of them, Yatsko sinned, but now, it seems, he has firmly decided to give up all this. God help him.
December 4, 1904
It was as if a dam had burst in our country: in some two or three months Russia was seized by a thirst for transformations; talk about them loudly. Kaluga, Moscow, and now the St. Petersburg Duma has unanimously decided on an address in which they most humbly demand all freedom. The revolution seems to be loudly knocking at the door. The constitution is spoken of almost openly. It's embarrassing and scary.
21 December
Terrible news! I have just read in Novoye Vremya a report, though received from foreign sources, about the fall of Port Arthur. The newspaper says that he surrendered, that Stessel agreed to the honorable conditions set by the Japanese **
. But the word surrendered torments me; Let "fell", but "surrendered"! Do the Russians give up?
December 23
The news of the surrender of Port Arthur stunned me like thunder. His defenders had no shells left, everyone was sick with scurvy and typhoid, the wounded were abyss, Japanese shells hit hospitals and wounded the already wounded. We blew up the forts and ships in the port. This is the second Sevastopol and exactly in 50 years.
December 28, 1904
Bad thoughts haunted me all day. I wanted to go to the bathhouse in the evening, from the Moika, but for some reason I didn’t go. It's almost 11 o'clock now. Why didn't I go?
I'm afraid of sin, I'm afraid of discord with conscience, and yet I want to sin. This fight is painful.
December 30th
Another day spoiled by bad thoughts. This is something physiological, and not just promiscuity and lack of will. There are days when, if thoughts come, you easily drive them away; otherwise they will come flooding in - and I won’t get along with them in any way. We must not give in, endure, and there it will become easier again.
Behold, another day has held; but I don't want to pray.
31th of December
Bad thoughts disturbed me much less today. Conscience and reason tell me that I must once and for all cut off my path of retreat, that is, not to go to the bathhouse, either in my room or in the room.
And the will and feeling rise up. I would like to see Sergei Syroezhkin, who does not have to be tempted, since he is the first to be ready for this. And here is the fight. God help me.
Will I get rid of vice, will I overcome myself, or will it master me?
Something will give us a new year?
Blessed be the Name of the Lord from now on and forever.
February 28, 1905 - St. Petersburg.
And for 6 months I did not sin, as before, i.e. together; True, he sinned with himself three times.
March 12
In the afternoon I took Tatyana to a historical exhibition of portraits from the time of Peter I to the present day. It was conceived by Nikolai Mikhailovich, and it was an excellent success. We were led by Diaghilev ***
. It is unpleasant for me to meet him, although he does not suspect it, but unpleasant, because I know something about him from Yatsko.
March 28, 1905 - St. Petersburg.
The parade in the highest presence was not appointed. The possibility of the departure of Their Majesties from Tsarskoye is still out of the question.
Although recently the detective police managed to catch 12 revolutionaries with documents and a warehouse of explosives, the danger of attacks on high-ranking officials has not been eliminated. Vladimir is also not allowed to appear in places where he is expected in advance.
December 22, 1905
I was greatly embarrassed by the letter of Captain Sosnitsky, who spent up to 3 thousand money in the cadet tea house and, as he did not replenish the waste of the dismissed from the service.
Justifying himself, he writes that sin does not happen to anyone; "at least with you," he continues, and mentions that one evening in the summer of 1903, in the evening, I came to his duty at the camp of the Pavlovsk school and from there went to the Krasnoselsky baths. "What happened there, you probably remember," writes Sosnitsky. The next day, having been relieved from duty, he went to the bathhouse and heard from the bath attendant who used me that I had an affair with him and that I gave him 20 rubles for it. Sosnitsky continues that he keeps this circumstance secret for the time being, but if it were published in the press, it would hardly be convenient for me to remain in my post.
What Sosnitsky mentioned in this case is incorrect: I remember that evening well - I really was in the bathhouse, but 20 r. I didn’t give it to the attendant at all, and there was nothing for it. But what is mentioned is false only with respect to the case cited. The scary thing is that there have been other cases and that they are getting publicity.
I did not receive Sosnitsky yesterday and I will not accept it, I will not take any measures. Come what may. Am I not worth the punishment?
* Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich succeeded Kuropatkin as commander-in-chief of the army in Manchuria.
** A.M. Stessel - lieutenant general, commander of the Kwantung Fortified Region; December 20, 1904 surrendered Port Arthur to the Japanese. He was put on trial, sentenced to 10 years in the Peter and Paul Fortress, released in 1909.
*** Prominent figure of Russian culture, organizer of foreign "Russian Seasons". He was known for his homosexual tendencies.
Konstantin Romanov "Diaries 1903-1905" // Moskovsky Komsomolets, December 6, 1998
Romanov Konstantin Konstantinovich - poetic pseudonym K. R. (August 10 (22), 1858, Strelna - June 2 (15), 1915, Pavlovsk) - Grand Duke, President of the Imperial St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, poet, translator and playwright.
The second son of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna, grandson of Nicholas I. He received a versatile home education. Participated in his education and upbringing famous historians S. M. Solovyov, K. I. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, music critic G. A. Laroche, cellist I. I. Zeifert, writers I. A. Goncharov and F. M. Dostoevsky. From childhood, the Grand Duke was prepared for service in the Navy. At the age of 7, Captain 1st Rank I.A. Zelenoy was appointed his tutor, who held this position until the age of the Grand Duke. The classes were conducted according to the program Maritime School. In 1874 and 1876 he served as midshipman long-distance navigation V Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea on the frigate "Svetlana". In August 1876, he passed the exam according to the program of the Naval School and was promoted to the rank of midshipman.
From 1877 to 1898, Konstantin Konstantinovich served in various naval and land units, participated in Russian-Turkish war 1877-1878. Since 1898 he was appointed to the retinue of His Majesty. In 1887, Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich was awarded the title of honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, and in 1889 he was appointed its President ("August President"). This was the first and only case in the history of Russia when the Academy of Sciences was headed by a member of the royal house.
From 1900 - chief boss Military educational institutions. Under the leadership of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, a lot of work was done to develop and improve education in military educational institutions. Honorary member of the Nikolaev Academy of Engineering (since 1904), the Imperial Military Medical Academy and the Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy, and many others. others
Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov was also a famous Russian poet, translator and playwright who published his poems under the initials K. R. Sign your works full name he was not allowed to act as a professional poet, actor or musician; one of the members of the royal house was "out of order".
The first works of poetry were published in the journal Vestnik Evropy in 1882. The first book, Poems by K. R. (1886) did not go on sale, was sent to those whom the poet considered close to himself in spirit (including Fet, Ap. Maikov, Polonsky). She evoked poetic dedications and responses in letters - enthusiastic and not entirely objective. Believing in his talent, the Grand Duke began to print everything that came out of his pen: love, landscape lyrics, salon poems, translations, and soon took a strong place in literature. In 1888, K. R. published the first poem, Sebastian the Martyr, then the collections New Poems of K. R., The Third Collection of K. R. Poems. (1900), "Poems of K. R." (1901).
The melodic stanzas of Konstantin Konstantinovich's poetry easily turned into romances (the most famous is the romance "I opened the window ..." with music by P. I. Tchaikovsky). They stayed in the vocal repertoire, as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Glazunov, Gliere wrote music for them. The poem "The poor man died in a military hospital" became a popular song. The most significant work of K. R. - the mystery "King of the Jews" (1913) was banned from staging by the Synod, which did not allow the gospel history of the Passion of the Lord to be brought down to the theatrical stage. By permission of the king, the play was staged by an amateur court theater, where the author played one of the roles.
I. A. Goncharov, Ya. P. Polonsky, A. A. Fet corresponded with the Grand Duke, who appreciated his taste and even instructed him to correct his poems. K. R. also translated a lot into Russian: the tragedy of F. Schiller "The Bride of Messina", the tragedy of J. W. Goethe, Shakespeare's "King Henry IV". K. R. - the author of a successful translation of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" into Russian, on which he worked from 1889 to 1898; translation with extensive comments in 3 volumes was published in 1899 and reprinted several times.
Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich died on June 2, 1915. He was the last of the Romanovs who died before the revolution and was buried in the grand ducal tomb of the Peter and Paul Fortress.
K. R. - literary pseudonym of the Grand DukeKonstantin Konstantinovich Romanov
. For the first time this pseudonym appeared in 1882 in the Vestnik Evropy under the poem "Psalmist David", in order to then enter Russian poetry for three decades. The three volumes of the poet, published in the year of his death, included hundreds lyrical works, the poems "Revived Manfred" and "Sebastian the Martyr", translations of "Hamlet" by Shakespeare and "The Messinian Bride" by Schiller. Romances based on his poems were written by P. I. Tchaikovsky, S. V. Rachmaninov, A. K. Glazunov, R. M. Glier and other composers. For more than a quarter of a century he stood at the head of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. Under his chairmanship, the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Pushkin was organized and events related to it were held. He was elected an honorary member of the Stockholm Academy of Sciences. His whole life was inextricably linked with military activities. He commanded a company of the Izmailovsky regiment, then the Preobrazhensky regiment, was the chief head of military educational institutions in Russia and the chief of the 15th Grenadier Regiment. It harmoniously combined three main hypostases of his personality: a poet, president of the Academy of Sciences and a military man.
Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, grandson of Nicholas I and great uncle Nicholas II, was born on August 10, 1858 in Strelna near St. Petersburg. His father was the younger brother of Alexander II, Konstantin Nikolaevich - Admiral General, head of the fleet and the maritime department as a minister, who did a lot for the reform of the Russian fleet, a diplomat, a well-educated figure who patronized the arts. Mother - Alexandra Iosifovna (nee Princess of Saxe-Coburg). The future poet lived in an atmosphere of parental love, serenity and comfort. Childhood and the whole subsequent life of Konstantin Konstantinovich were associated with the Marble Palace, which belonged to his father.He received a comprehensive home education. Famous historians took part in his education and upbringing.S. M. Solovyov , K. I. Bestuzhev-Ryumin , musical criticG. A. Laroche , cellistI. I. Seifert , pianistRudolf Kündinger , writersI. A. Goncharov AndF. M. Dostoevsky . From childhood, the Grand Duke was prepared for service in the Navy. At the age of 7, he was appointed tutorcaptain 1st rank I. A. Zelenoy , who held this position until the age of the Grand Duke. The classes were conducted according to the programMaritime School . In 1874 and 1876midshipman made a long voyage toAtlantic Ocean AndMediterranean Sea onfrigate "Svetlana". In August1876 passed the syllabus examMaritime School and was produced inrank midshipman .
Deep spiritual sympathy connected Konstantin Konstantinovich with his older sister, the “Queen of the Hellenes” Olga Konstantinovna, the wife of the Greek King George I. It was to her that he turned for support in his first poetic experiments. She is devoted to many penetrating lyric poems. One of the poems of 1888 reflects the nature of their relationship:
Tomorrow I'll bring you these verses to show you.
We sit side by side; again I will develop the cherished scroll;
Gently bow your head on my shoulder again,
My intricate handwriting on the scroll is hard to decipher ..,-
Friendly ties are established with the Grand Duke, who is keenly interested in art, withF. M. Dostoevsky, I. S. Turgenev, P. I. Tchaikovsky. Turgenev becomes for him an indisputable authority in the field of art.
In 1882, the first works of the poet K.R. appeared in print; by this time, Konstantin Romanov is already aware of himself as a poet. In one of his 1882 poems he writes:
I am all love, all the best aspirations,
Everything that excites the chest in the silence of the night,
And all the impulses of a fiery soul
Poured into poems...
ParticipantRussian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 . 17 October1877awardedOrder of St. George4 degrees:
"In retribution for courage and diligence in the case with the Turks on the Danube near Silistria, October 2, 1877, where His Highness personally launched a fire-ship against a Turkish steamer."
In May1878 produced inlieutenants fleet. In August1878 appointedadjutant wing . January-September1880 commanded a company of the Guards crew. In September 1880 he was appointed officer of the watch on the ship "Duke of Edinburgh", on which until January1882 was sailing in the Mediterranean.
In 1882, due to illness, he was transferred to the land department and in August he was promoted tostaff captains guards. To end1883 was on vacation abroad, during which he met his future wife.
In 1884, he marries Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg, Duchess of Saxony, to whom he was engaged in May 1883. Nine children were born from this marriage - six sons and three daughters. A. A. Fet dedicated a poem to the wife of the Grand Duke-poet:
Two forget-me-nots, two sapphires
Her eyes are a welcoming look,
And the secrets of the mountain ether
In living azure they glide.
Her curls are a golden fleece
In such a light, what one,
Depicting unearthly,
He brought gin to the land of Peru.
Since 1883 KR's military career has continued in the army.December1883 appointed commander of a company of His Majesty the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment. IN1887produced incaptains guards, andApril 23 1891 - Vcolonels and was appointed commander of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment. IN1894 produced inmajor generals , with approval in the position of regiment commander. IN1898 assigned toRetinue of His Majesty . congenitalbenevolence, fidelity to duty earned him respect in the army, helped build his relationship with his subordinates. In the regiment, according to his plans and initiative, literary and musical evenings were organized - "Izmailovsky Leisures", in which they took part famous poets and writers, including I. A. Goncharov, Ya. P. Polonsky, A. N. Maikov. In the poem "On the 25th anniversary of Izmailovsky leisure" he recalls:
We wove the lyre and the sword with flowers
And didn't think about
How our altar will burn over the years
Light and hot fire.
For reading on these literary evenings K. R. wrote many poems and began to compose the poem "Returned Manfred". Special evenings were devoted to the work of Russian writers and poets. Along with writers, musicians, actors, scientists took part in "leisure".
Fate gave Konstantin Konstantinovich the opportunity to travel a lot, to see the world. He spent a lot of time abroad and because of poor health. But his thoughts always returned to Russia. In 1887 he wrote from Altenburg:
But I can't wait for the day
When I return from here to you,
To employment, to service and labor.
Konstantin Konstantinovich eschewed politics, preferring poetry to her. “How I would like to be able to write poetry constantly, uninterruptedly,” he wrote in his diary dated May 8, 1885. Konstantin Konstantinovich was familiar, and sometimes friendly, with many wonderful Russian writers and poets. The Marble Palace has always been open to writers, poets, artists, composers - artists. Among its visitors are I.A. Goncharov, A.N. Maikov, A.A. Fet, Ya.P. Polonsky, A. N. Apukhtin, artist K. Makovsky, composer A. G. Rubinstein; K. R. was on friendly terms with P. I. Tchaikovsky.
In the summer of 1886, the first collection of poems by K. R. was published; It was published in a small edition and was not for sale. At the end of 1887, K. R. was awarded the title of honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, and on May 3, 1889, by decree of the emperor, he was appointed its president. In the same year, two collections of his poems were published at once - “Poems of K. R.” (1879-1885) and "New Poems by K. R." (1886-1888), very positively received by the public. It was necessary to have extraordinary energy in order to combine military service, a great scientific and social work and at the same time write and publish poems. At the same time, the Grand Duke did not have the right to neglect numerous secular duties, which often caused him nothing but irritation.
In 1889, Konstantin Konstantinovich began to translate Shakespeare's Hamlet, and his truly gigantic work continued for almost twelve years. The year 1892 was difficult for the poet: on January 13, his father dies, and in the fall, his beloved teacher and friend A. A. Fet. Over the next few years, Konstantin Konstantinovich almost did not write original poems, focusing mainly on
translations.
In 1897 and 1899 the first productions of excerpts from Hamlet appeared in the translation of K. R. The role of Hamlet was played by Konstantin Konstantinovich himself. The tragedy was staged in its entirety for the first time on the stage of the Hermitage Theater in February 1900, and in the autumn the premiere took place in the Alexandria Theater.
theater.
Konstantin Konstantinovich took an active part in the preparations for the celebration of Pushkin's centenary. He headed a special commission for the celebrations. On his initiative and with his direct participation, an academic edition of Pushkin's works was prepared, the Pushkin Foundation was founded, a category of fine literature was established at the Department of the Russian Language and Literature of the Academy of Sciences, the most famous Russian writers were elected members of the Academy in 1900, an estate was purchased for the treasury Mikhailovskoye, as well as other anniversary events.
In 1900, two more collections of poems by K. R. were published, he is published a lot in the journals Russkaya Starina, Russkiy vestnik, Russkoe obozrenie.March 4 1900 was appointed Chief of the Military Educational Institutions (sinceMarch 13 1910 - Inspector General of Military Educational Institutions). Under the leadership of the Grand Duke, a lot of work was done to develop and improve education in military educational institutions. In January1901 produced inlieutenant generalsand appointedadjutant general. IN1907 produced ininfantry generals. 2nd of March1911 assigned to attendGoverning Senate (with remaining in other positions). IN1913 awarded for meritorious serviceOrder of St. Vladimir 1st degree (4th degree - 1883, 3rd degree - 1896, 2nd degree - 1903).
The events of the Russo-Japanese War and the revolutionary unrest of 1905 left a deep imprint on the soul of Konstantin Konstantinovich. Realizing the plight of Russia, he nevertheless did not believe in the reality of the impending catastrophe, retaining faith in the autocracy, the dignity of the Romanov dynasty. In these difficult years, he finds support for himself in activities associated with the name of Pushkin. In 1907, with the direct participation of Konstantin Konstantinovich, the “Regulations on the Pushkin House” were approved at the Academy of Sciences. In these troubled troubled years, K. R. did not write poetry. Konstantin Konstantinovich keenly feels dislike for himself as a member of the imperial family, which is reflected in his diary entries. The health of the Grand Duke was also deteriorating, although he continued his public and official activities.
In menacingly disturbing last years Art remains the only refuge, consolation and means of serving people in KR's life. In 1910, he completed the translation of Goethe's Iphigenia in Taurida with an extensive research essay on Goethe and his work. Soon he begins work on his latest originaldrama a literary work - "The King of the Jews", which subsequently caused a sharp controversy in society and attacks from the right, led by Purishkevich. The premiere took place in 1914 in the Hermitage
theater.
IN1887 Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich was awarded the title of honorary memberImperial Academy of Sciences , and in1889 was appointed its President ("August President"). On his initiative, a category of fine literature was established at the Department of the Russian Language and Literature, according to which famous writers - P. D. Boborykin ( 1900 ), I. A. Bunin ( 1909 ), V. G. Korolenko ( 1900 ), A. V. Sukhovo-Kobylin ( 1902 ), A. P. Chekhov ( 1900 ) and others. Headed the committee for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birthA. S. Pushkin . With the assistance of the Grand Duke, a new building was openedZoological Museum in St. Petersburg .
IN1889 was elected an honorary trustee of the Pedagogical Courses at St. Petersburg Women's Gymnasiums. Served as chairmanImperial Russian Archaeological Society (since 1892),Imperial Society of Lovers of Natural Science, Anthropology and Ethnography , Imperial Russian Society water rescue,Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society and St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Active MemberImperial Society for the Encouragement of Arts , Imperial Russian Musical Society . Honorary MemberRussian Astronomical Society , Russian Historical Society , the Russian Red Cross Society, the Russian Society for the Promotion of Merchant Shipping. The Grand Duke, in his youth himself a former sailor, provided patronage to the equipped Academy of Sciences where once secretly
were goingDecembrists . He wrote about this to his eldest son: “Mama and I spent a very quiet and pleasant time in Ostashevo. It far exceeded Mom's expectations, to my great joy. She liked the area and the house very much, and she was not the only one - everyone is delighted with our new estate. Since then, the Grand Duke lived for a long time on the banks of the Ruza and raised children here; one day the whole family made a trip to " World War I ; Theywere detained and deported from Germany,where did you leave immediatelyAndin Russia. Five eldest sons went to the front, and in September his favorite Oleg was seriously wounded and died in the arms of his parents. This wound, inflicted on him by fate, became fatal for Konstantin Konstantinovich. His illness progressed, and on June 2, 1915, Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich died .
Perhaps the main role in the poetic fate of K. R. was played by Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet, who highly appreciated his poetic experiments. He became his teacher, whom K. R. followed, and sometimes frankly imitated: “Not a single poet captivates me more than Fet; this is true poetry, pure, beautiful, elusive" (August 17, 1888, letter
P. I. Tchaikovsky).
To a certain extent, the work of K. R. stands apart. There is no citizenship in it, but there is also no pessimism that prevailed in the eighties, characteristic of the work of the idols of the reading public - Apukhtin and Nadson. Nihilism, pessimism, cynicism, so widespread in Russian society by the end of the last century, were absolutely alien to the worldview of K. R., a poet of bright, life-affirming feelings. For K. R. poetry was a special, created world, sublime and devoid of indispensable authenticity, materiality, worldly prose. He appreciated the semantic capacity in poetry, the subtlety of the transmission of all shades of human emotions through poetry.
KR gave priority to the perfection of the poetic form, the sound of the word. “I began to find particular pleasure in trying to sacrifice many successful verses in order to comply with the form and positively prefer verses that are weak in content, but impeccable in form, to verses that are thoughtful, but vague, drawn out, tedious in length.”
In many ways, under the influence of P. I. Tchaikovsky, K. R. seeks to comprehend the synthetic nature of Russian artistic culture, especially the relationship between music and poetry, the commonality and difference of their creative worlds.
K. R. considered himself a successor of the Pushkin tradition in Russian poetry, and Goncharov, Fet, and many others called him such. The roll call of poetic motives, the ascent of artistic perception to the Christian acceptance of the world and harmony with it - this is what unites the two poets.
Developing in line with traditional classical Russian poetry, the lyrical talent of K. R. is remarkable for its sincerity, melodiousness, and musicality. The author of works filled with bright life-affirming power, K. R. occupies a worthy place among such lyric poets as Fet, Maikov, Polonsky, ministers of “pure art”.
K.R. (1858-1915)
K. R. - literary pseudonym of the Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov. For the first time this pseudonym appeared in 1882 in the Vestnik Evropy under the poem “Psalmist David”, in order to then enter Russian poetry for three decades. The poet's three-volume edition, published in the year of his death, includes hundreds of lyrical works, the poems Manfred Reborn and Sebastian the Martyr, translations of Shakespeare's Hamlet and Schiller's The Messinian Bride. Romances based on his poems were written by P. I. Tchaikovsky, S. V. Rachmaninov, A. K. Glazunov, R. M. Glier and other composers. For more than a quarter of a century he stood at the head of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. Under his chairmanship, the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Pushkin was organized and events related to it were held. He was elected an honorary member of the Stockholm Academy of Sciences. His whole life was inextricably linked with military activities. He commanded a company of the Izmailovsky regiment, then the Preobrazhensky Regiment, was the chief head of military educational institutions in Russia and the head of the 15th Grenadier Regiment. It harmoniously combined three main hypostases of his personality: a poet, president of the Academy of Sciences and a military man.
Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, grandson of Nicholas I and great uncle of Nicholas II, was born on August 10, 1858 in Strelna near St. Petersburg. His father was the younger brother of Alexander II, Konstantin Nikolaevich - Admiral General, head of the fleet and the maritime department as a minister, who did a lot for the reform of the Russian fleet, a diplomat, a well-educated figure and patron of the arts. Mother - Alexandra Iosifovna (nee Princess of Saxe-Coburg). The future poet lived in the atmosphere of parental love, serenity and comfort. Childhood and the whole subsequent life of Konstantin Konstantinovich were associated with the Marble Palace, which belonged to his father. K. R. received his initial education in the family. He did a lot and regularly engaged in various sciences, music, taught languages. Among his teachers were famous historians, musicians, artists. From the age of eleven, the boy took part in training voyages and long-distance sea voyages of Russian warships.
Deep spiritual sympathy connected Konstantin Konstantinovich with his older sister, the “Queen of the Hellenes” Olga Konstantinovna, the wife of the Greek King George I. It was to her that he turned for support in his first poetic experiments. Many heartfelt lyrical poems are dedicated to her. One of the poems of 1888 reflects the nature of their relationship:
Tomorrow I'll bring you these verses to show you.
We sit side by side; again I will develop the cherished scroll;
Gently bow your head on my shoulder again,
My intricate handwriting on the scroll is hard to decipher ..,-
In August 1876, Konstantin was promoted to midshipman and went to long hike on the frigate Svetlana. In 1877, he took part in the fighting on the Danube, was awarded the St. George Cross of the 4th degree. In 1887, in connection with the age of majority, Konstantin takes the military oath.
Friendly ties are established with the Grand Duke, who is keenly interested in art, with F. M. Dostoevsky, I. S. Turgenev, P. I. Tchaikovsky. Turgenev becomes for him an indisputable authority in the field of art.
In 1882, the first works of the poet K.R. appeared in print; by this time, Konstantin Romanov is already aware of himself as a poet. In one of his 1882 poems he writes:
I am all love, all the best aspirations,
Everything that excites the chest in the silence of the night,
And all the impulses of a fiery soul
Poured into poems...
In 1884, he marries Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg, Duchess of Saxony, to whom he was engaged in May 1883. Nine children were born from this marriage - six sons and three daughters. A. A. Fet dedicated a poem to the wife of the Grand Duke-poet:
Two forget-me-nots, two sapphires
Her eyes are a welcoming look,
And the secrets of the mountain ether
In living azure they glide.
Her curls are a golden fleece
In such a light, what one,
Depicting unearthly,
He brought gin to the land of Peru.
The military career of K. R. since 1884 continues in the army. He was appointed company commander of the Izmailovsky regiment, commanded it for more than seven years, then nine years - the Preobrazhensky regiment. Congenital benevolence, fidelity to duty earned him respect in the army, helped build his relationship with his subordinates. In the regiment, according to his plans and initiative, literary and musical evenings were organized - "Izmailovo leisure", in which famous poets and writers took part, including I. A. Goncharov, Ya. P. Polonsky, A. N. Maikov. In the poem "On the 25th anniversary of Izmailovsky leisure" he recalls:
We wove the lyre and the sword with flowers
And didn't think about
How our altar will burn over the years
Light and hot fire.
For reading at these literary evenings, K. R. wrote many poems and began to compose the poem “Returned Manfred”. Special evenings were dedicated to the work of Russian writers and poets. Along with writers, musicians, actors, scientists took part in "leisure".
Fate gave Konstantin Konstantinovich the opportunity to travel a lot, to see the world. He spent a lot of time abroad and because of poor health. But his thoughts always returned to Russia. In 1887 he wrote from Altenburg:
But I can't wait for the day
When I return from here to you,
To employment, to service and labor.
Konstantin Konstantinovich eschewed politics, preferring to read poetry to her. “How I would like to be able to write poetry constantly, uninterruptedly,” he wrote in his diary dated May 8, 1885. Konstantin Konstantinovich was familiar, and sometimes friendly, with many wonderful Russian writers and poets. The Marble Palace was always open to writers, poets, artists, composers and artists. Among its visitors are I.A. Goncharov, A.N. Maikov, A.A. Fet, Ya.P. Polonsky, A. N. Apukhtin, artist K. Makovsky, composer A. G. Rubinstein; K. R. was on friendly terms with P. I. Tchaikovsky.
In the summer of 1886, the first collection of poems by K. R. was published; It was published in a small edition and was not for sale. At the end of 1887, K. R. was awarded the title of honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, and on May 3, 1889, by decree of the emperor, he was appointed its president. In the same year, two collections of his poems were published at once - “Poems of K. R.” (1879-1885) and "New Poems by K. R." (1886-1888), very positively received by the public. It was necessary to have extraordinary energy in order to combine military service, great scientific and social work and at the same time write and publish poems. At the same time, the Grand Duke did not have the right to neglect numerous secular duties, which often caused him nothing but irritation.
In 1889, Konstantin Konstantinovich began to translate Shakespeare's Hamlet, and his truly gigantic work continued for almost twelve years. Fet. Over the next few years, Konstantin Konstantinovich almost did not write original poems, studying mainly
translations.
In 1897 and 1899 the first productions of excerpts from Hamlet appeared in the translation of K. R. The role of Hamlet was played by Konstantin Konstantinovich himself. The tragedy was staged in its entirety for the first time on the stage of the Hermitage Theater in February 1900, and in the autumn the premiere took place in the Alexandria Theater.
theater.
Konstantin Konstantinovich took an active part in the preparations for the celebration of Pushkin's centenary. He headed a special commission for the celebrations. On his initiative and with his direct participation, an academic edition of Pushkin's works was prepared, the Pushkin Foundation was founded, a category of fine literature was established at the Department of the Russian Language and Literature of the Academy of Sciences, and in 1900 the most famous Russian literary ditch, the Mikhailovskoye estate was purchased for the treasury, and other anniversary events were held.
In 1900, two more collections of poems by K. R. were published, he is published a lot in the journals Russkaya Starina, Russkiy vestnik, Russkoe obozrenie. In the same year, he leaves the Preobrazhensky Regiment in connection with the appointment of the chief head of military educational institutions. In 1901, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed adjutant general to the emperor.
The events of the Russo-Japanese War and the revolutionary unrest of 1905 left a deep mark on the soul of Konstantin Konstantinovich. Realizing the difficult situation in Russia, he nevertheless did not believe in the reality of the impending catastrophe, retaining faith in the autocracy, the dignity of the Romanovs. In these difficult years, he finds support for himself in activities associated with the name of Pushkin. In 1907, with the direct participation of Konstantin Konstantinovich, the “Regulations on the Pushkin House” were approved at the Academy of Sciences. In these troubled troubled years, K. R. did not write poetry. Konstantin Konstantinovich keenly feels dislike for himself as a member of the imperial family, which is reflected in his diary entries. The health of the Grand Duke was also deteriorating, although he continued his public and official activities.
In the menacingly disturbing last years of K. R.’s life, art remains his only refuge, consolation and means of serving people. In 1910, he completed the translation of Goethe's Iphigenia in Taurida with an extensive research essay on Goethe and his work. Soon he begins work on his latest original drama a literary work - "The King of the Jews", which later provoked sharp controversy in society and attacks from the right, led by Purishkevich. The premiere took place in 1914 in the Hermitage
theater.
The outbreak of the First World War found the Grand Duke in Germany, from where he urgently left for Russia. Five eldest sons went to the front, and in September his favorite Oleg was seriously wounded and died in the arms of his parents. This wound, inflicted on him by fate, became fatal for Konstantin Konstantinovich. His illness progressed, and on June 2, 1915, Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantin; The novice died in Pavlovsk in his office.
Almost the main role in the poetic fate of K. R. was played by Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet, who highly appreciated his poetic experiments. He became his teacher, whom K. R. followed, and sometimes frankly imitated: “Not a single poet captivates me more than Fet; here is true poetry, pure, beautiful, elusive” (August 17, 1888, letter
P. I. Tchaikovsky).
To a certain extent, the work of K. R. stands apart. There is no citizenship in it, but there is also no pessimism that prevailed in the eighties, characteristic of the work of the idols of the reading public - Apukhtin and Nadson. Nihilism, pessimism, cynicism, so widespread in Russian society by the end of the last century, were absolutely alien to the worldview of K. R., a poet of bright, life-affirming feelings. For KR, poetry was a special, co-created world, sublime and devoid of indispensable authenticity, materiality, worldly prose. He appreciated the semantic capacity in poetry, the subtlety of the transmission of all shades of human emotions through poetry.
KR gave priority to the perfection of the poetic form, the sound of the word. “I began to find particular pleasure in trying to sacrifice many successful verses in order to comply with the form and positively prefer verses that are weak in content, but impeccable in form, to verses that are thoughtful, but vague, drawn out, tedious in length.”
In many ways, under the influence of P. I. Tchaikovsky, K. R. seeks to comprehend the synthetic nature of Russian artistic culture, especially the relationship between music and poetry, the commonality and difference of their creative worlds.
K. R. considered himself a successor of the Pushkin tradition in Russian poetry, and Goncharov, Fet, and many others called him such. The roll call of poetic motives, the ascent of artistic perception to the Christian acceptance of the world and harmony with it - this is what unites the two poets.
Developing in line with traditional classical Russian poetry, the lyrical talent of K. R. is remarkable for its sincerity, melodiousness, and musicality. The author of works filled with bright life-affirming power, K. R. occupies a worthy place among such lyric poets as Fet, Maikov, Polonsky, ministers of “pure art”.
