Nicholas and Alexandra

12 “I saw the Tsarevich”: Vyrubova, 16.

13 “I could see she was transfused”: Gilliard, 205.

14 Doctors shake their heads: ibid., 251.

15 “God is just”: Pares, 133. The private chapel: Kokovtsov, 449; Pares, 132; Fülöp-Miller, 112, 122.

16 “God has heard me”: Gilliard, 52. Guilt feeling: Kokovtsov, 451; Gilliard, 53.

17 “I must have a person to myself”: Buxhoeveden, 166.

18 Urge to help others: Gilliard, 127.

19 “The Empress had great moral influence”: Buxhoeveden, 169.

20 “I feel somehow nearer her like this”: ibid., 214.

21 Anna and Alexandra: Vyrubova, 28; Dehn, 48. “I remember Vyrubova”: Botkina, 8.

22 Lieutenant Vyrubov: Vyrubova, 30; Pares, 128.

23 “I thank God”: Vyrubova, 23. “Now you have subscribed”: Pares, 128.

24 “When Their Majesties came to tea with me”: Vyrubova, 35.

25 Anna at the palace: Paléologue, I, 229.

26 “No royal favorite”: Fülöp-Miller, 95; Paléologue, I, 229.

27 “I will never give Anna an official position”: Dehn, 49.

28 “A vehicle,” “A gramophone disc”: Pares, 129.

29 A virgin: Vyrubova, 395; Kerensky, Crucifixion, 170.

30 The Empress’s health: AF to N, 272, 284, 289, 295, 296, 298, 299, 301, 302, 305, 308, 360; Vyrubova, 10–11; Buxhoeveden, 197.

31 “Indeed a sick woman”: Vorres, 130.

32 “A family weakness of the blood vessels”: Kobylinsky, 219.

33 “I have been ill nearly all the time”: Buxhoeveden, 128. “Don’t think my ill health depresses me”: ibid., 126.

34 “She keeps to her bed”: N to MF, 248. “Botkin has persuaded her”: ibid., 254. “It is too sad and painful”: MF to N, 237–8.

35 “Some trouble of the circulation”: Marye, 394.

CHAPTER 13 THE ROYAL PROGRESS

1 “This bog”: Kokovtsov, 304.

2 The Imperial train: Mosolov, 241–5; Vyrubova, 97.

3 Zakouski: Vyrubova, 97; Bruce Lockhart, 57; Mosolov, 224.

4 Heat and discomfort: N to MF, 247. Silver toboggans: Mosolov, 55.

5 The Finnish fjords: Gilliard, 97.

6 The Standart: Mosolov, 246.

7 Informality aboard the yacht: Botkin, 10; Almedingen, 120.

8 “During performances of the opera”: Vorres, 92. Sailor-nannies: Vyrubova, 29.

9 Nicholas ashore: ibid., 18, 28–9. Alexandra aboard: ibid., 18, 29.

10 “Just like any other grandmother”: ibid., 88. Evening prayer: ibid., 29. Rocked to sleep: ibid., 18.

11 Shipwrecked: Mosolov, 247; Vyrubova, 33; Buxhoeveden, 114.

12 “The Emperor rather disheveled”: Vyrubova, 33.

13 “Ashore and afloat, there were dinner parties and balls”: Heckstall-Smith, 77.

14 Prince Albert’s whooping cough: Wheeler-Bennett, 42.

15 “The one and only time I ever saw Tsar Nicholas”: Windsor, 69.

16 “Dear uncle … most kind”: Buxhoeveden, 122.

17 “He said he would be happy”: N to MF, 122. “His joke … was in very doubtful taste”: MF to N, 125.

18 “Emperor William’s visit was a success”: N to MF, 269.

19 The flowering of the Crimea: Vyrubova, 36.

20 “To see a cavalcade of Tartars”: ibid., 38.

21 Livadia Palace: ibid., 41–3; Botkina, 13.

22 The Empress at Livadia: Vyrubova, 39.

23 “Little Alexis and I saw it happen”: Vorres, 110.

24 “Just now, Alexei has come in”: N to MF, 250.

25 “Madame, this is for umbrellas”: Botkina, 9.

26 The Tsar at Livadia: Vyrubova, 39.

27 Nicholas’s march in private’s uniform: Mosolov, 22; Botkina, 9–10.

28 Easter at Livadia: Vyrubova, 47.

29 Fabergé: This account of the master jeweler and his art draws heavily on Bainbridge and Dennis. In addition, I have seen Fabergé collections at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, at Mrs. Merriweather Post’s home in Washington, D.C., in the Kremlin in Moscow and in the Hermitage in Leningrad.

30 The Great Siberian Railway Easter Egg: Tupper, 260–70.

31 “They should realize the sadness”: Buxhoeveden, 180.

32 Alexis at the charity bazaars: Vyrubova, 26.

33 Yalta parties: Vorres, 56; Vyrubova, 44.

34 The Emir of Bokhara: Vorres, 92; Vyrubova, 39.

35 Olga’s necklace: Vyrubova, 43.

36 Olga’s birthday ball: ibid., 44–5.

CHAPTER 14 “THE LITTLE ONE WILL NOT DIE”

1 “Darling Madgie”: Buxhoeveden, 129.

2 Borodino Centenary: Botkin, 89. “A common feeling of deep reverence”: N to MF, 270.

3 Moscow ceremonies: N to MF, 273; Bruce Lockhart, 74. “Alexis got hold of a glass of champagne”: N to MF, 274.

4 Bialowieza: Mosolov, 251. “The weather is warm”: N to MF, 274. Alexis fell jumping into a boat: ibid., 275.

5 The house at Spala: Vyrubova, 91. The Road of Mushrooms: ibid., 92. Flaming torches: ibid., 91.

6 “Alexis had looked to me ill”: Gilliard, 28.

7 “An experience in horror”: Vyrubova, 92.

8 Botkin’s examination: N to MF, 276. “The days between the 6th and the 10th were the worst”: ibid., 276. Screams pierced the walls: Gilliard, 29.

9 “Mama, help me!”: Buxhoeveden, 132.

10 “I was hardly able to stay in the room”: N to MF, 276. Nicholas weeping: Vyrubova, 93.

11 “It will not hurt any more, will it?”: Buxhoeveden, 132. “Build me a little monument”: Vyrubova, 93.

12 The household routine unchanged: Gilliard, 29, 31.

13 “I could see the Tsaritsa in the front row”: ibid., 29.

14 Medical bulletins: ibid., 30. Prayers: ibid., 31.

15 “All the servants, the Cossacks”: N to MF, 277.

16 The end had come: Vyrubova, 93.

17 “The Little One will not die”: ibid., 94.

18 “The doctors notice no improvement yet”: Paléologue, I, 148.

19 “We decided to give him Holy Communion”: N to MF, 276–8.

20 “I do not agree with my colleagues”: Mosolov, 151–2. “The recovery was wholly inexplicable”: Vorres, 143.

21 “It is impossible to predict”: M. Litten, Hemorrhagic Diseases (New York, W. B. Saunders and Co., 1905).

22 Poinsard: Brinkhous, 249–53.

23 Resumption of normal life: Vyrubova, 95–6.

24 “Alexis’s recovery will be very slow”: N to MF, 277–8. The journey home: Mosolov, 152; Vyrubova, 97.

25 Alexis’s leg: Gilliard, 32; Vyrubova, 93. Hot mudbaths: Gilliard, 37.

CHAPTER 15 RASPUTIN

1 Rasputin’s appearance: Fülöp-Miller, 3–4; Iliodor, 92; Pares, 135.

2 Rasputin’s eyes: Vyrubova, 153; Iliodor, 209; Paléologue, I, 292.

3 “The starets made me lie down on the sofa”: Yussoupov, 208.

4 “Well, my dear”: Yussoupov, Rasputin, 103.

5 Rasputin and the country girl: Fülöp-Miller, 6–7.

6 “He ran his pale eyes over me”: Rodzianko, 24.

7 “When Rasputin came into my study”: Kerensky, Murder, 46.

8 “When you select your starets”: qtd. by Gilliard, 54.

9 “Rasputin” means “dissolute”: Paléologue, I, 138; Pares, 134.

10 The horsethief: Fülöp-Miller, 14–15. The rake: ibid., 16.

11 Verkhoturye: ibid., 17–18; Pares, 134.

12 The Khlysty: Paléologue, I, 139; Fülöp-Miller, 19, 30–2; Wilson, 38. Praskovie Rasputin: Rasputin, 45; Fülöp-Miller, 45. “He has enough for all”: Pares, 145.

13 “Gregory has turned pilgrim”: Wilson, 33.

14 John of Kronstadt, Theophan, Hermogen: Fülöp-Miller, 54–7.

15 “We have got to know a man of God, Gregory”: Pares, 137; Fülöp-Miller, 145; Almedingen, 117.

16 Philippe Vachot: Paléologue, I, 203–10; Pares, 131.

17 Impeccable credentials: Gilliard, 62.

18 Bedtime stories: Vyrubova, 161; Fülöp-Miller, 141.

19 “Will you come and meet a Russian peasant?”: Vorres, 138.

20 Rasputin’s behavior at the palace: ibid., 140.

21 “A good, religious, simple-minded Russian”: Rodzianko, 11; Pares, 139; Paléologue, II, 93.

22 “It was the boy’s illness: Pares, 138. “Call it what you will”: ibid., 138. “Rasputin’s presence in the palace”: Gilliard, 84.

23 “Rasputin took the empire”: Haldane, 39.

24 General Beletsky: Pares, 138.

25 Dr. Lucas: Lucas, passim.

26 Relationship between emotions and bleeding: Drs. Agle, Mattsson and Gross, Poinsard (in Brinkhous) and Lucas all describe this relationship.

27 “The power, the nervous force … from my father’s eyes”: Rasputin, 39.

28 “There is no doubt”: Vorres, 142.

29 “The poor child lay in pain”: ibid., 142.

CHAPTER 16 THE HOLY DEVIL

1 Rasputin’s costume: Vorres, 141.

2 “Curiosity, unbridled and embarrassing”: ibid., 139.

3 “In Alicky’s boudoir”: ibid., 139.

4 “Our eyes met”: Dehn, 100.

5 “Come, my lovely mare”: Fülöp-Miller, 271. “Yes, yes, my dears”: ibid., 271.

6 “Dirty hands into his favorite fish soup”: Pares, 140.

7 “He had too many offers”: Pares, 142.

8 “Women found in Gregory Efimovich”: Fülöp-Miller, 207.

9 “Would you be ready?”: ibid., 206–7.

10 “You think that I am polluting you”: ibid., 215.

11 “Rasputin was there”: Vorres, 139.

12 “Oh please, he wants to see you so much”: ibid., 140.

13 The Tiutcheva episode: Fülöp-Miller, 146; Gilliard, 62–3; Mosolov, 163–4.

14 Breach between the sisters: Paléologue, I, 161.

15 St. Petersburg in an uproar: Rodzianko, 31.

16 “I have shut his trap”: Iliodor, 202.

17 “This is not a family affair”: Rodzianko, 27–8.

18 “Let one man bring a plank”: Iliodor, 67; Fülöp-Miller, 60.

19 Rasputin in Tsaritsyn: Iliodor, 108. “Gregory, you are Christ”: ibid., 111.

20 “Take your choice”: ibid., 116.

21 “My beloved, unforgettable teacher”: Moorehead, 72.

22 Were they lovers?: Pares, 145; Kokovtsov, 299.

23 “You are smashing our sacred vessels”: Pares, 146; Iliodor, 233–4.

24 “Never and nowhere”: Pares, 146; Iliodor, 238. Rasputin’s revenge: Kokovtsov, 293.

25 Iliodor produces the letters: Iliodor, 255.

26 “You have bowed down to the Devil”: Pares, 150.

27 “It was my intention to start a revolution”: Iliodor, 269.

28 60,000 roubles: Vyrubova, 172, 399.

29 Rasputin avoided the palace: ibid., 160.

30 “Saints are always calumniated”: Botkin, 123. “He is hated because we love him”: Vyrubova, 162.

31 “I went often to Rasputin’s lodgings”: ibid., 165. “Rasputin had no harem”: ibid., 166.

32 “Rasputin was a Janus”: quoted by Almedingen, 127.

CHAPTER 17 “WE WANT A GREAT RUSSIA”

1 “We are not frightened.… We want a Great Russia”: Kokovtsov, 184; Pares, 112.

2 “His capacity for work”: Izvolsky, 98. “His nobility, courage and devotion”: Kokovtsov, 165. “An ideal man to transact business with”: Buchanan, I, 160.

3 “I cannot tell you”: Pares, 111.

4 Stolypin in Saratov: Pares, 94.

5 “An elderly man … with Picadilly whiskers”: Virginia Cowles, The Gay Monarch (New York, Harper, 1956), 340.

6 “Stolypin told us”: Kokovtsov, 153.

7 “Stolypin’s necktie”: Charques, 161; Kerensky, Crucifixion, 121.

8 The attempt on Stolypin’s life: Kokovtsov, 163–4; Florinsky, 1195.

9 Nicholas’s proposal to sell crown lands: Harcave, 251–2.

10 “If this should continue”: Wolfe, II, 31. “One must be able to look truth in the face”: Fischer, 54.

11 The opening of the First Duma: Kokovtsov, 129–31. “Let the executive power bow”: ibid., 140. “Retire! Retire!”: ibid., 143, 145.

12 “The sessions of the Duma are hereby resumed”: ibid., 155.

13 The ceiling caved in: ibid., 170.

14 A madhouse: ibid., 171. Police plots: ibid., 182–3. “Hands up!… Not afraid!”: ibid., 172.

15 “A grotesque deputation is coming from England”: N to MF, 219.

16 “All would be well”: N to MF, 228. Zurabov: Kokovtsov, 179–80.

17 The Third Duma: ibid., 197–8, 209; Florinsky, 1200; Pares, 109.

18 “May an Englishman”: Pares, 117.

19 “This Duma cannot be reproached”: Kokovtsov, 222. “The Duma started too fast”: Pares, 118.

20 Stolypin and Witte: Pares, 110.

21 Stolypin and Rasputin: Rodzianko, 24. Stolypin’s failing health: Kokovtsov, 249.

22 “A Tsar’s heart is in God’s hands”: ibid., 167.

23 Stolypin resigns: ibid., 263; Pares, 123. “This is not a question of confidence”: Kokovtsov, 223.

24 “I cannot accept your resignation”: ibid., 264.

25 “Unfortunately, my son is too kind”: ibid., 266.

26 Stolypin expects dismissal: ibid., 268. Petty slights: ibid., 271.

27 “We are superfluous”: Pares, 124. “Death is after him!”: ibid., 143.

28 Stolypin’s assassination: Kokovtsov, 272; Vorres, 126.

29 “Olga and Tatiana were with me at the time”: N to MF, 264–5.

30 Bogrov: Buchanan, I, 156–7; Florinsky, 1204.

31 “I cannot say how distressed”: MF to N, 262.

32 The Tsar urged to leave Kiev immediately: MF to N, 262. “I returned to Kiev in the evening”: N to MF, 265–6. “I went at once to the nursing home”: ibid., 266. The Tsar attended the service: Kokovtsov, 276.

33 Kokovtsov averts a pogrom: ibid., 273–4.

34 “I was accorded a most hearty welcome”: ibid., 281. “I notice you keep on making comparisons”: ibid., 283.

35 “Strange as it may seem”: ibid., 291. “Although they were absolutely impeccable”: ibid., 290. “We believed that the letters were apocryphal”: ibid., 293.

36 “That cunning conspirator”: Rodzianko, 33–4. Censorship fails: ibid., 8, 31. Unprintable stories: Almedingen, 124.

37 ‘I am simply stifling”: Pares, 152. “This disgusting affair”: Kokovtsov, 294, 303–4. The Imperial couple fails to understand: Mosolov, 176–7.

38 “She wept bitterly”: Kokovtsov, 295–6. “The Emperor is so pure of heart”: Rodzianko, 38.

39 Rodzianko’s interview: ibid., 40–1. “Have you read Stolypin’s report?”: ibid., 46.

40 “Who is it, Sabler?”: ibid., 53. Livadia: ibid., 59. “The Emperor is a saint”: Pares, 149.

41 “Remember, Vladimir Nicolaievich”: Kokovtsov, 78.

42 “God grant that the new Duma”: ibid., 192. “Tell us the truth”: ibid., 12.

43 “At first I enjoyed Her Majesty’s favor”: ibid., 454.

44 Nicholas’s letter to Kokovtsov: ibid., 418.

45 “I am like an old fur coat”: ibid., 439.

46 “I know you are an honorable man”: ibid., 470.

47 General Beletsky: Pares, 151.

CHAPTER 18 THE ROMANOV DYNASTY

1 “A war with Austria would be a splendid little thing”: Wolfe, II, 306.

2 “I was so happy then”: Vyrubova, 98.

3 “Sure enough, it was Rasputin”: Rodzianko, 76–7.

4 “The orchestra was a mass of uniforms”: Vyrubova, 99.

5 Alexandra’s gowns and jewels: ibid., 99; Almedingen, 130.

6 “She felt so ill”: Buxhoeveden, 175. The Maryinsky appearance: Meriel Buchanan, 35–7.

7 Fabergé egg: Bainbridge, 72.

8 Peasants waded into the water: Vyrubova, 100. “Wherever we went”: Vorres, 130.

9 Moscow: Vyrubova, 101. “The Tsarevich was carried”: Kokovtsov, 361–2.

10 “Nobody seeing those enthusiastic crowds”: Vorres, 130.

11 “The Tsar’s journey”: Kokovtsov, 360.

12 “And why did you separate me from my wife?”: Fennell, 193.

13 “Ladies and gentlemen … sleeping with their boots on”: Vorres, 47.

14 Idle arithmetic: Paléologue, I, 325.

15 “It is certainly the last generation”: Vorres, 114–15.

16 Divorce within the Imperial family: N to MF, 165; Vorres, 116.

17 “I had a rather stern talk”: N to MF, 164–5,

18 Michael and Alexander III: Witte, 40–1. “Floppy”: Vorres, 83.

19 Automobile accident: ibid., 93.

20 “Dina”: ibid., 80, 89.

21 “Three weeks ago Misha wrote”: N to MF, 213.

22 Michael’s mistress: Paléologue, II, 172.

23 “I saw a slender young woman”: ibid., 171.

24 Michael’s marriage: Vorres, 118.

25 “He broke his word”: Vyrubova, 96.

26 “A terrible blow”: N to MF, 253.

27 “What revolts me more than anything else”: ibid., 284.

28 Winter, 1913–1914: Meriel Buchanan, 71; Almedingen, 132. Nijinsky: Almedingen, 132.

29 Olga and Tatiana: Meriel Buchanan, 71. The train to Tsarskoe Selo: Buxhoeveden, 181.

30 Lena Goldfields: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 135–6.

31 “No one could oust us from the courts”: ibid., 135. “The government commission sat in one house”: ibid., 137.

32 “Strenuous political organizing”: ibid., 181. “In those days”: ibid., 193.

33 “The Tsarist Cheka”: ibid., 194.

CHAPTER 19 THE LONG SUMMER OF 1914

1 Red Rock: Gilliard, 92.

2 Visit to Rumania: Buxhoeveden, 181–3.

3 “Tell me the truth, Monsieur”: Gilliard, 94.

4 “I think with terror”: Sazonov, 110.

5 Marie only a schoolgirl: Vyrubova, 89.

6 “Never have I seen happier faces”: Buchanan, I, 188.

7 Beatty: Bruce Lockhart, 88–90.

8 Austria-Hungary: Mansergh, 116–20.

9 “The Archduke was an energetic man”: ibid., 216.

10 The Black Hand: Balfour, 344.

11 “Serbia’s declaration of war”: Mansergh, 219. Crush “the Serbian viper”: ibid., 132. “The Monarchy with unflinching hand”: ibid., 219. “The bloody deed”: ibid., 219. “Serbia must be eliminated”: Pares, 182.

12 Alexis hurt aboard the Standart: Gilliard, 97.

13 Whispers that Rasputin was stabbed: ibid., 97.

14 “I have killed the anti-Christ”: Rasputin, 21; Paléologue, I, 78–9.

15 “In him Russia possesses a reliable and true friend”: Mansergh, 170.

16 “M. Poincaré differs from many of his countrymen”: ibid., 170. “I like him very much”: Sazonov, 270.

17 “Nicholas II in the uniform of an admiral”: Paléologue, I, 12–13.

18 “I shall long remember the dazzling display of jewels”: ibid., 14.

19 “A blazing sun lit up the vast plain”: ibid., 21–2.

20 “It had indeed a kind of terrifying grandeur”: ibid., 24–5. “It was a splendid night”: ibid., 27–8.

21 The Austrian ultimatum: Mansergh, 345.

22 “The Austrian demands are such”: Pares, 181.

23 “C’est la guerre Européenne”: Mansergh, 225; Florinsky, 1315.

24 “As long as there remains the faintest hope”: Sazonov, 178.

25 Izvolsky and the Strait: Kokovtsov, 215; Sazonov, 32. “Russia could speak as in the past”: Mansergh, 124. Izvolsky a dandy: ibid., 122.

26 The Bosnian annexation: ibid., 122–37.

27 “Brazen impudence”: N to MF, 234.

28 “We expect a precise answer”: Mansergh, 133. “Of course we are not going to fight”: N to MF, 236. “German action … has simply been brutal”: ibid., 230–40.

29 “In the recent history of Russia”: Mansergh, 134. The Kiev military district: Pares, History, 471.

30 “This is my war! My war!”: Alexander, 259; Florinsky, 1299; Mansergh, 136.

31 “Listen to me, Nekliudov”: Mansergh, 196.

32 Sazonov plays for time: Sazonov, 153, 177.

33 “If His Majesty, the Emperor Franz Joseph”: Mansergh, 205. “Now or never”: Sazonov, 160; Pares, 182. The Austrian Ambassador’s message: Sazonov, 156.

34 “Good old Lichnowsky”: ibid., 165.

35 “This phantasm of a state”: Mansergh, 204.

36 “Austria is now going to come to a reckoning with Serbia”: ibid., 221.

37 “Count Pourtalès, Russia means it”: Pares, 184.

38 “Now that Serbia has given in”: Mansergh, 226.

39 Willy-Nicky telegrams: Buchanan, I, 200–4. The telegram referring to The Hague was not included by Buchanan and is taken from Paléologue, I, 270.

40 The Kaiser’s rage: Cowles, 356.

41 “I don’t think Your Majesty can postpone”: Sazonov, 201.

42 “Think of the responsibility”: Paléologue, I, 45.

43 “The Tsar remained silent”: Sazonov, 204–5.

44 Sazonov and Pourtalès: ibid., 212–13. “In that case, my government charges me”: Paléologue, I, 48.

45 Alexandra and her daughters at Peterhof: Gilliard, 105–6.

46 “He was never sincere, not for a moment”: Paléologue, I, 196–7.

CHAPTER 20 FOR THE DEFENSE OF HOLY RUSSIA

1 The ceremony at the Winter Palace: Vyrubova, 106; Pares, 187; Almedingen, 133–4.

2 The Tsarevich, weeping: Gilliard, 106.

3 Salle de Nicholas: Paléologue, I, 50; Buchanan, I, 212; Vyrubova, 107.

4 “I solemnly swear”: Paléologue, I, 51.

5 The crowd knelt: Rodzianko, 109. “God Save the Tsar”: Gilliard, 112. “The absolute master of their bodies and souls”: Paléologue, I, 52.

6 Moscow, Kiev, Odessa, etc.: ibid., 74; Botkin, 105.

7 “Vive la France”: Paléologue, I, 57. “The flags of the three nations”: ibid., 59.

8 Sack of the German Embassy: ibid., 58.

9 “For the defense of Holy Russia”: Golovine, 205.

10 “The war with Japan”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 235.

11 “Now all Russia is involved”: Rodzianko, 109.

12 “This is not a political war”: Paléologue, I, 71. “If we are unlucky”: ibid., 135.

13 “Not a trace was left”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 195.

14 “Six months”: Botkin, 111. “Sausages”: ibid., 68.

15 Moscow: Gilliard, 113; Buchanan, 214–15.

16 “Alexis is complaining of his leg”: Gilliard, 113. “When Alexis found he could not walk”: ibid., 113.

17 “From this place”: Paléologue, I, 90.

18 “As it is God himself”: ibid., 95.

19 “The Heir! The Heir!”: Gilliard, 115.

20 St. Petersburg becomes Petrograd: Paléologue, I, 108. Nicholas’s patriotism: Gilliard, 121.

21 “Let Papa not plan war”: Pares, 188. Nicholas tore up the telegram: Vyrubova, 104, 173.

22 “Dear Friend, I will say again”: The original of this letter is in the Beinecke Rare Book Library at Yale, where I saw it. A version of the same letter is published by Maria Rasputin, My Father, page 23. She describes it as “the last letter my father wrote to Nicholas II before the declaration of war.”

23 “This war is madness”: Paléologue, I, 122–3.

24 Dress uniforms for the ceremonial parade: Botkin, 112.

25 Russian army on the march: Paléologue, I, 63, 77.

26 “William to St. Helena!”: ibid., 65–6.

27 “One … was very young”: ibid., 64.

28 “The troops grey with dust”: Bruce Lockhart, 95.

29 “A wide road that leads to war”: Knox, 50.

30 Numbers of soldiers: Golovine, 45, 50. “Russian steamroller”: ibid., 53. Railroads compared to France and Germany: ibid., 34.

31 Twenty-three days on the train: Knox, 17. “The railroads decided”: ibid., 449. Factories in Russia and Britain, ibid., xxxiii. Court-martial for firing more than three rounds per day: ibid., 255.

32 Russian imports and exports: Golovine, 37. Russian and British seaport traffic: Knox, xxxiii.

33 “A barred house”: Golovine, 37.

34 “His sly look”: Paléologue, I, 83, 8,000-mile round trips: Knox, 220.

35 “A drawing room soldier”: Meriel Buchanan, 107.

36 “Eager for pleasure like a youth”: Sazonov, 286.

37 German and Russian artillery: Golovine, 32. “Sukhomlinov believed”: ibid., 12. Funny stories: Knox, 220.

38 “General Fly-Off”: Pares, 194.

39 Grand Duke Nicholas: Paléologue, I, 62; Knox, 43.

40 Sukhomlinov and the Grand Duke hated each other: Paléologue, I, 57.

41 “Go to the devil”: Knox, 220.

42 “We hope in six weeks”: Mansergh, 214.

43 “Lunch in Paris”: Pares, 195.

44 France wants 700,000 men on M-15: Golovine, 35; Mansergh, 37.

45 Paléologue urges the Russians to hurry: Golovine, 212–13.

46 Paléologue’s interview with Nicholas: Paléologue, I, 60–1.

47 Paléologue’s interview with Grand Duke Nicholas: ibid., 61–3.

48 Russian strategy in East Prussia: Knox, 56; Tuchman, 65–6.

49 Grand Duke Nicholas leaves St. Petersburg: Knox, 43. Samsonov: ibid., 60. Rennenkampf, ibid., 204–5. The German machine gun: Gilliard, 111.

50 Russian cavalry charges the guns: Pares, 198.

51 Russian invasion of East Prussia: Tuchman, 293, 274. The terrain: ibid., 66.

52 Russians believe Allenstein is Berlin: Knox, 84. “Advancing according to timetable”: Tuchman, 287.

53 “To see the enemy where he does not exist”: Tuchman, 295.

54 Tannenberg. German artillery the decisive factor: Golovine, 133.

55 “The enemy has luck one day”: Knox, 74. Russian losses: Paléologue, I, 107.

56 “We are happy to have made such sacrifices”: Knox, 90. “We owed this sacrifice to France”: Paléologue, I, 106.

57 “If the Russians arrive in Berlin”: Tuchman, 293.

58 “This was perhaps our salvation”: Golovine, 214.

CHAPTER 21 STAVKA

1 Nicholas’s desire to take command of the army: Florinsky, End, 61.

2 “We may be forced to retreat”: Paléologue, I, 56.

3 Stavka: ibid., 302–5; Knox, 46, 233; Hanbury-Williams, 13.

4 “We all attended the little wooden church”: Hanbury-Williams, 246.

5 The Tsar’s train at Stavka: Paléologue, I, 302.

6 Red and blue lines on the maps: N to AF, 3.

7 “I was summoned to meet the Emperor”: Hanbury-Williams, 14.

8 Yorkshire pudding: ibid., 15. “A torchlight procession”: ibid., 18.

9 Nicholas’s comparison of Russia and the U.S.: ibid., 75.

10 “You see what it is to be an autocrat”: ibid., 58.

11 The Tsar walking, rowing: ibid., 40, 56.

12 “We are passing through picturesque country”: N to AF, 16.

13 “My hanging trapeze”: ibid., 13.

14 Alexis to Stavka: Gilliard, 148.

15 “See that Tiny”: AF to N, 182. “Tiny loves digging”: ibid., 192.

16 “Take care of Baby’s arm”: ibid., 225. The Empress went to his empty room: Vyrubova, 127.

17 Gilliard and the Empress: Gilliard, 167–8.

18 “We used to start out immediately after lunch”: ibid., 125.

19 “At his father’s heels”: ibid., 149.

20 The Governor’s house: N to AF, 73; Gilliard, 150; Vyrubova, 143.

21 “It is very cosy”: N to AF, 95. “I read all letters aloud”: ibid., 197.

22 “A thunderstorm broke out”: ibid., 186.

23 “He wakes up early”: ibid., 96. “He always carries his little gun”: ibid., 97.

24 “We go out in the car”: ibid., 96. “Soft sand”: ibid., 184.

25 “Peasant boys”: ibid., 211. “An enormous hotel”: ibid., 227. “He sits on my left hand”: ibid., 96.

26 Alexis at Stavka: Hanbury-Williams, 237–9.

27 “He dragged some of us off after lunch”: ibid., 109.

28 “Wet sleeves and boots”: N to AF, 225.

29 Front-line dressing station: Gilliard, 152. “Very few hands were lifted”: ibid., 154. Four British submarines: ibid., 153.

30 “Alexei crept into every possible hole”: N to AF, 102.

31 The cavalry charge: Gilliard, 154–5.

32 “The Heir! The Angel! The pretty boy!”: N to AF, 108. “Alexei’s cat ran away”: ibid., 284. “Alexei has borne the strain”: ibid., 110.

33 The Empress visits Stavka: Vyrubova, 142–3.

34 “Much easier to get on with”: Hanbury-Williams, 93. “She is so proud of Russia”: ibid., 117.

35 “Baby played the fool”: N to AF, 104. “His elbow would not bend”: ibid., 236.

36 “The Little One is suffering”: ibid., 291. “Baby’s leg hurts”: ibid., 292.

37 “He rarely refers to the Tsarevich’s health”: Hanbury-Williams, 57.

38 The nosebleed: Gilliard, 155–6; Vyrubova, 169–70.

39 “Owing to the deep, thick mud”: N to AF, 119. “Tell him that they always finish their zakouska”: ibid., 124.

40 “Thank God, your heart can be quiet”: AF to N, 235. “Baby has got up”: ibid., 240. “Sunbeam is at last going out”: ibid., 243. “He received a charming telegram”: ibid., 248.

41 The snowball: Gilliard, 165 n.

42 “He is very proud of his stripes”: Hanbury-Williams, 104.

43 “Papa told me to come to sit with you”: ibid., 138.

CHAPTER 22 “POOR FELLOWS, THEY ARE READY TO DIE FOR A SMILE”

1 Austrian defeat in Galicia: Golovine, 214; Pares, 204–5.

2 “It instructs me to impress”: Paléologue, I, 129.

3 “If you chase two hares”: Knox, 144.

4 “The poor boys were keen as mustard”: ibid., 102.

5 Russian cavalry and infantry tactics: ibid., 103, 109.

6 One million casualties: Golovine, 217.

7 The officers walked erect: Pares, 211. Losses in the Preobrajensky Guard: Knox, 189. In the 18th Division: ibid., 194. “These people play at war”: ibid., 249.

8 3,000 cadets: ibid., 177. 15,000 students: Paléologue, I, 171.

9 “Remember what I am going to say”: Golovine, 66.

10 Officers asked no questions: Knox, 115. German officer shot his stretcher bearers: ibid., 65.

11 “The value of prayer”: Knox, 262. “Poor fellows”: ibid., 262.

12 The German attack at Easter: Pares, 358.

13 New recruits: Golovine, 107. Przemysl fell: Pares, 227. “Nicolasha came running”: N to AF, 38.

14 “Colossal works”: ibid., 48.

15 The Russians storm the Carpathians: Pares, 228–9.

16 The German General Staff decided to destroy Russia in 1915: Golovine, 145. 1,500 guns, 700,000 shells: Knox, 282.

17 “From a neighboring height”: Pares, 230.

18 “Lost all its blood”: ibid., 231. “Poor Nicolasha”: N to AF, 55.

19 Arm the infantry with axes: Golovine, 127. “These poor devils had to wait”: Paléologue, II, 34. “Churned into gruel”: Knox, 270, 319.

20 “You know, sir, we have no weapons”: Pares, 232.

21 “We are playing the game”: Golovine, 240.

22 Preserve the army: ibid., 224. “We will retire to the Urals”: Knox, 309. Half the army was destroyed: Golovine, 98.

23 “The spring of 1915”: ibid., 145.

24 20,000 guns: Cornelius Ryan, The Last Battle (New York, Simon and Shuster, 1966), 352.

25 Silent crowds: Meriel Buchanan, 108. “Nitchevo, little sister”: ibid., 121.

26 Anti-Germanism: Almedingen, 137. “I am going to make a row”: AF to N, 37.

27 Nemtsy: Paléologue, I, 238. The story about the Tsarevich: Bruce Lockhart, 102–3.

28 Pianos thrown into the street: ibid., 110.

29 Grand Duchess Elizabeth: Paléologue, II, 13; Almedingen, 143.

30 “All faithful sons of the fatherland”: Paléologue, II, 23.

31 Polivanov: Knox, 415.

32 “Where our retreat will end”: Golovine, 231.

33 The Tsar’s patriotism: Florinsky, End, 60–1. “You have no idea”: Gilliard, 137.

34 Alexandra distrusted the Grand Duke: Mosolov, 87. “Nicholas III”: Pares, 250. “Yes, do come. I’ll hang you”: Knox, 334; Buchanan, I, 238.

35 Rasputin’s arguments: Paléologue, I, 286, 341.

36 “Please my angel”: AF to N, 87. “Would to God”: ibid., 89. “I have absolutely no faith in N”: ibid., 97. “N’s fault and Witte’s”: ibid., 100. “I loathe your being at Headquarters”: ibid., 110.

37 “I never discuss an opinion”: Paléologue, I, 305. “All faithful subjects know”: ibid., 261.

38 “Darling mine, I do not agree”: N to AF, 43.

39 “I consider it my duty”: Golovine, 231–2.

40 “The Emperor, white and trembling”: Vyrubova, 123.

41 Private visit to Petrograd: Paléologue, II, 68.

42 Anna and the Empress: Vyrubova, 124.

43 The ministers aghast: Pares, 139; Gilliard, 265.

44 “Gentlemen,… I leave for Stavka”: Vyrubova, 125.

45 The Tsar’s letter: Paléologue, II, 70–1.

46 “God be praised”: ibid., 62–3. “N. came in with a kind, brave smile”: N to AF, 70.

47 “The Grand Duke was really a great soldier”: Pares, 201.

48 Alexandra’s letter to Nicholas: AF to N, 113–16.

49 Relief in England and France: Gilliard, 138–9. Nicholas a figurehead: Golovine, 235; Pares, 275.

50 Alexeiev: Knox, 49; Hanbury-Williams, 261. “My cross-eyed friend”: N to AF, 55. “I have such good help”: ibid., 74.

51 The front stabilized: Golovine, 237.

52 Germans transferred: Florinsky, 1333. 1.2 million men: Golovine, 98.

53 Hindenburg: Pares, 367. Total casualties were 7.9 million: Golovine, 93.

54 Importance of the military collapse of 1915: Mosolov, 23–4; Florinsky, End, 75.

CHAPTER 23 THE FATEFUL DECEPTION

1 “To some it may seem unnecessary”: Buxhoeveden, 192.

2 Hospitals: Vyrubova, 108–9.

3 “I have seen the Empress of Russia”: ibid., 109–10.

4 “Tsaritsa, stand near me”: ibid., 110.

5 “Very bad wounds”: AF to N, 11. “Three operations”: ibid., 12. “My nose is full of hideous smells”: ibid., 26. “I went in to see the wound of our standard bearer”: ibid., 41. “An officer of the 2nd Rifles”: ibid., 24. “Whole arm was cut off”: ibid., 25. “I had wretched fellows”: ibid., 26.

6 “During an operation a soldier died”: ibid., 31. “A young boy kept begging for me”: ibid., 32. “The young boy gradually getting worse”: ibid., 33.

7 “My poor wounded friend is gone”: ibid., 53.

8 630 letters in a black suitcase: AF to N, Pares’s Introduction, vi; Pares, 248.

9 “I yearn for your kisses”: AF to N, 248. “It was hard bidding you goodbye”: ibid., 3. “I gave my goodnight kiss”: ibid., 14. “I try to forget everything”: ibid., 246.

10 “So much sorrow and pain”: ibid., 256. “We show nothing of what we feel”: ibid., 21. “32 years ago my child’s heart”: ibid., 249. “Our children be equally blessed”: ibid., 267.

11 “My eyes are moist”: N to AF, 169. “I do not know how I could have endured it all”: ibid., 122.

12 “The sun behind the trees”: AF to N, 108. “The pink sky”: ibid., 237. “The Dnieper broke up yesterday”: N to AF, 160.

13 “Baby madly enjoys your bath”: AF to N, 51. “The girls are wild”: ibid., 58. “Baby eats lots of blini”: ibid., 272. “Baby … on the balalaika”: ibid., 310. “Marie, alas”: ibid., 43. “To get brown”: ibid., 334.

14 “He dreads the night”: ibid., 41. “Baby was awfully cheery and gay”: ibid., 318. “This afternoon I spent in Baby’s room”: ibid., 318.

15 “Twenty years have I spent in Russia”: Buxhoeveden, 186.

16 “What has happened to the Germany of my childhood?”: Gilliard, 110. “I have no news of my brother”: ibid., 109.

17 “I blush to have been a German”: Paléologue, I, 239.

18 “I long that our troops”: AF to N, 9. “I do wonder what will be”: ibid., 288.

19 “Forgive me, precious one”: ibid., 62. “Be more autocratic”: ibid., 57.

20 “That horrid Rodzianko”: ibid., 110. “We’re not a constitutional country”: ibid., 145. “For Baby’s sake, we must be firm”: ibid., 305.

21 Rasputin: Gilliard, 141.

22 Rasputin’s call to Anna: Paléologue, I, 137.

23 Anna’s accident: Vyrubova, 118–19; Pares, 223; Paléologue, I, 257.

24 “No, harken unto Our Friend”: AF to N, 86.

25 “I am haunted by Our Friend’s wish”: ibid., 87. “I fully trust in Our Friend’s wisdom”: ibid., 390.

26 “The bedroom was small”: Yussoupov, 203.

27 “All were drawn up the same way”: Mosolov, 153. “A lady in a low-cut dress”: ibid., 153. A supply prepared in advance: Fülöp-Miller, 236.

28 Payment for Rasputin’s services: Mosolov, 148.

29 “Anastasia Shapovalenkova”: Fülöp-Miller, 183. “An unknown woman”: ibid., 184. “Madame Likart”: ibid., 185. “The wife of Colonel Tatarinov”: ibid., 185. These episodes also appear in the Red Archives (Krasnyi Arkhiv), 25, 42, 44, 50.

30 “Maria Gill”: Fülöp-Miller, 188. Katia: ibid., 189. Utilia: ibid., 190; Red Archives, 47, 29, 30.

31 The detectives: Fülöp-Miller, 190. Two angry husbands: ibid., 294; Pares, 298. The Villa Rode: Fülöp-Miller, 196–7; Red Archives, 45.

32 Drunkenness: Fülöp-Miller, 199; Red Archives, 28, 41, 43, 48.

33 Titillated Petrograd: Fülöp-Miller, 200. “The Emperor Tiberius”: Marye, 446.

34 The Yar: Paléologue, I, 331. “I was at Yar”: Bruce Lockhart, 125–6. Exposed himself; the “Old Girl”: Paléologue, I, 331. Nicholas summons Rasputin: Pares, 225. “My enemy Dzhunkovsky”: AF to N, 105.

35 “Remember that I need neither the Emperor or yourself”: Paléologue, I, 147.

36 Rasputin’s telegrams: AF to N: 35, 144, 149.

37 “It is getting empty in the villages”: Pares, 253.

38 Rasputin and Paléologue: Paléologue, I, 292–3.

39 Cancel all passenger trains: AF to N, 195.

40 “Brother, go and help them sing”: Fülöp-Miller, 269. Khvostov’s appointment due to Rasputin: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 221.

41 “Responsible government … would be the ruin”: AF to N, 290.

42 Nicholas’s reaction to her letters: Pares, 252.

43 Witte’s death: N to AF, 29. “Do not drag Our Friend into this”: ibid., 298.

44 Nicholas unwilling to deprive Alexandra of Rasputin: Gilliard, 177.

CHAPTER 24 THE GOVERNMENT DISINTEGRATES

1 Fredericks in 1905: Buxhoeveden, 232.

2 “When the Emperor went to war”: Pares, 280.

3 “Think, my wify”: N to AF, 71–2. “Yes, truly, you ought to be my eyes and ears”: ibid., 269. “You will truly help me”: ibid., 270. “There is nothing to forgive you for”: ibid., 289.

4 “Speak like a waterfall in Russian”: AF to N, 409.

5 Goremykin: Pares, 194. “He would not last through the winter”: Florinsky, End, 77.

6 “The candles have already been lit around my coffin”: Paléologue, II, 14.

7 “To me, His Majesty is the annointed one”: Florinsky, End, 77.

8 “He sees and understands all so clearly”: AF to N, 103.

9 “I call upon you, gentlemen”: Florinsky, End, 79. “I beg you to inform the Emperor”: ibid., 83. “It is our duty to tell the Tsar”: ibid., 82.

10 “The behavior of some of the ministers”: N to AF, 85.

11 The “Ministerial Leapfrog”: Rodzianko, 239; Florinsky, End, 86–7.

12 “After the middle of 1915”: ibid., 67.

13 “The ministers do not wish to work well”: N to AF, 91. “If in any way”: AF to N, 145. “He cannot bear the idea”: ibid., 219.

14 “I keep wracking my brains”: N to AF, 131. “Our Friend told me to wait”: AF to N, 214. “Tomorrow, Gregory sees old Khvostov”: ibid., 216.

15 Stürmer: Florinsky, End, 88; Paléologue, II, 166: Pares, 317.

16 “A bad memory”: Sazonov, 306. “An utter nonentity”: Rodzianko, 178. “False and double-faced”: Pares, 317. “Worse than a mediocrity”: Paléologue, II, 166.

17 “I begat Pitirim”: Pares, 315. “Lovy, I don’t know”: AF to N, 256.

18 “Dogs collected”: Pares, 304. “For a few words”: AF to N, 219.

19 Nicholas at the Duma: Rodzianko, 175–6; Paléologue, II, 187: Pares, 308.

20 “Is he not Our Friend’s enemy?” AF to N, 91.

21 Polivanov: Pares, 299. Four automobiles: Rodzianko, 183. “Get rid of Polivanov”: AF to N, 260. “Any honest man”: ibid., 297. “Lovy, don’t dawdle”: ibid., 297. “Oh the relief!”: ibid., 297. “The ablest military organizer”: Knox, 412.

22 “A nice old man”: ibid., 415.

23 “Long-nosed Sazonov”: AF to N, 210. “Such a pancake”: ibid., 156.

24 “Wish you could think of a good successor”: ibid., 305.

25 Sazonov and Poland: Pares, 341; Paléologue, I, 81, 84.

26 “I won all along the line”: Paléologue, II, 297. Dismissed: Sazonov, 313–14; Buchanan, II, 15–18. Nicholas pleased with British decoration of Sazonov: Hanbury-Williams, 119.

27 “I can never hope to have confidential relations”: Buchanan, II, 18. Paléologue’s view: Pares, 344; Paléologue, II, 224, 257.

28 Marye’s interview with Nicholas: Marye, 475.

29 Protopopov: Pares, 379; Vyrubova, 188; Kerensky, Crucifixion, 214. “I chose Protopopov”: Rodzianko, 260. “He was handsome, elegant, captivating”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 214.

30 “He proposed his tovarich Protopopov”: N to AF, 219. Protopopov’s mission to England, France and Sweden: Paléologue, III, 46. “Yesterday, I met a man I like very much”: N to AF, 223.

31 Protopopov’s health: Paléologue, II, 46; Kerensky, Crucifixion, 214.

32 Badmayev: Paléologue, III, 51–2.

33 “Gregory earnestly begs”: AF to N, 394. “Please take Protopopov”: ibid., 295. “This Protopopov is a good man”: N to AF, 256. “God grant”: ibid., 269. “God bless your new choice”: AF to N, 398.

34“I hope I shall succeed”: Rodzianko, 213. “I alone shall have the power”: ibid., 214.

35 Protopopov’s eccentric behavior: ibid., 218; Paléologue, III, 51, 88.

36 The icon: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 218.

37 “I feel that I shall save Russia”: Rodzianko, 219.

38 Food supply: ibid., 217; Pares, 383. “Forgive me for what I have done”: AF to N, 428.

39 “Sweet angel … Rumania”: ibid., 211. “Our Friend was afraid”: ibid., 210. “Advance near Riga”: ibid., 221. “Our Friend sends his blessing”: ibid., 346.

40 “I told Alexeiev”: N to AF, 202. “I was very painfully impressed”: ibid., editor’s note, 203. “I beg you, my love”: ibid., 78. “Only for you”: ibid., 154. “Not a single soul must know”: ibid., 203. “He won’t mention it to a soul”: AF to N, 411.

41 Brusilov’s offensive: Golovine, 98, 241.

42 “Our Friend finds better”: AF to N, 377. “Hope we won’t climb over the Carpathians”: ibid., 382. “Very satisfied with Father’s orders”: ibid., 411.

43 “Alexeiev has asked permission”: N to AF, 268. “Our Friend was much put out”: AF to N, 412. “I have only just received your telegram”: N to AF, 270.

44 “Stop this useless slaughter”: AF to N, 413. “My dear, Brusilov …”: N to AF, 272. Gurko: N to AF, 273 n. “An offensive without casualties”: Golovine, 95.

45 “Stürmer and Protopopov both completely believe”: AF to N, 428.

46 Manuilov: Rodzianko, 211; Paléologue, III, 17. The October Mutiny: Paléologue, III, 74, 83.

47 “Stürmer is an excellent, honest man”: N to AF, 206. “It seems that my head will burst”: ibid., 248. “These changes make my head go round”: ibid., 257. “The eternal question of supplies”: ibid., 266.

48 “Nicky so pale”: Vorres, 150. “He had never seemed to me so worried”: Gilliard, 178.

49 “A young, wounded deserter”: Vorres, 150–1.

50 Miliukov’s attack: Paléologue, III, 92. “Woe to that country”: Pares, 392.

51 “Protopopov and Our Friend both find”: AF to N, 436.

52 “All these days I have been thinking”: N to AF, 295. “Our Friend says Stürmer can remain”: AF to N, 437. “I am receiving Stürmer in an hour”: N to AF, 296. “It gave me a painful shock”: AF to N, 438.

53 Trepov: Pares, 395; Paléologue, III, 107. “I am sorry for Protopopov”: N to AF, 297. “Only I beg, do not drag Our Friend into this”: ibid., 298.

54 “Don’t go and change Protopopov now”: AF to N, 439. “The man is as sane as anyone”: ibid., 441. “The man Protopopov or x.y.z”: AF to N, 442.

55 “Those days spent together were difficult”: N to AF, 299. “Great and beautiful times”: AF to N, 453–5.

56 “Tender thanks for the severe scolding”: N to AF, 307,

57 “Alexander Fedorovich, I order you”: Paléologue, III, 108.

58 The bribe: Mosolov, 170–3; Moorehead, 107; Pares, 395.

59 Petrograd society: Pares, 301. Officers drinking champagne: Bruce Lockhart, 157.

60 “From the stalls to the back row”: Paléologue, III, 26. The Narodny Dom: ibid., 80.

61 Balanchine in the treetops: Taper, 47.

62 “Beautiful, beautiful—like Grace Kelly”: George Balanchine to Suzanne Massie, January 12, 1965.

63 German spy mania: Florinsky, End, 69. The Tsar not included: Buchanan, I, 245. Clandestine wireless station: Buxhoeveden, 225.

64 No evidence that Rasputin was a spy: Pares, 335. “It would have been inexplicable”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 220.

65 Dinner with Manus: Paléologue, III, 63, 115.

66 “The Empress is a German”: Knox, 515. “I cannot believe she is a traitoress”: Kerensky, Murder, 55. Soldiers’ letters: Knox, 515. Disrespect in hospitals: Vyrubova, 136. “Nemka”: Paléologue, III, 121; Florinsky, End, 70. “If the young Tsarina”: Alexander, 271.

67 “Bomb the Tsar’s motorcar”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 244. Captain Kostenko: Kerensky, Russia, 147.

68 Nicholas Mikhailovich: Pares, 390. Grand Duke Paul: ibid., 419,

69 Grand Duchess Elizabeth: Pares, 420; Gilliard, 181–2; Paléologue, III, 159.

70 Purishkevich: Pares, 376.

71 “Wonderful energy”: N to AF, 196. Purishkevich’s speech: Pares, 396–7; Paléologue, III, 111.

72 Yussoupov turned pale and trembled: Paléologue, III, 153.

CHAPTER 25 THE PRINCE AND THE PEASANT

74 Yussoupov wealth exceeded that of the tsars: Vorres, 98.

75 “One of our estates”: Yussoupov, 65. A mountain as a birthday present: ibid., 101.

76 Yussoupov genealogy: ibid., 13–28. Archangelskoe and Prince Nicholas’s amusements: ibid., 21–5.

77 The Moika Palace: ibid., 67–71. Moscow palace, ibid., 78–79.

78 “Look, isn’t baby pretty”: ibid., 29. The bear: ibid., 75. King Edward VII: ibid., 90.

79 “I flung myself passionately into a life of pleasure”: ibid., 87. “A charming young girl”: ibid., 115.

80 “Prince Felix Yussoupov is twenty-nine”: Paléologue, III, 132. “The Empress is a very wise ruler”: Yussoupov, 211–12.

81 “Town and women are poison for him”: AF to N, 294.

82 “This time it is for you to bless me”: Vyrubova, 174.

83 “The spirit of Gregory Efimovich”: quoted by Pares, 399.

84 “My intimacy with Rasputin”: Yussoupov, 202. “Spend the evening with me soon”: ibid., 218.

85 “He had long wished to meet my wife”: ibid., 218.

86 “I heard Rasputin say that he expected to pay a late evening visit”: Vyrubova, 178.

87 “A low vaulted ceiling”: Yussoupov, 219–20.

88 “My head swam”: ibid., 226.

89 “With God in thought”: ibid., 227. “You’d far better look at the crucifix”: ibid., 228. “I then saw both eyes”: ibid., 229.

90 “A savage, inhuman cry”: Purishkevich, 105. “What I saw would have been a dream”: ibid., 106–7.

91 Rasputin died by drowning: Vyrubova, 182. “Next morning”: ibid., 179.

92 “I have killed Grishka Rasputin”: Purishkevich, 108. The dog alibi: Vyrubova, 181. Felix telephoned the Empress: ibid., 180.

93 “I swear it”: Paléologue, III, 171. Alexandra lying on a couch: Dehn, 118. “My own beloved sweetheart”: AF to N, 461.

94 “No trace yet”: Fülöp-Miller, 365. The Beast was slain: Paléologue, III, 135.

95 “To the moujiks, Rasputin has become a martyr”: ibid., 189.

96 “Am horrified, shaken”: N to AF, 312. “A faith that kept her alive”: Gilliard, 177. “Before all Russia, I am filled with shame”: Vyrubova, 183. “A murder is always a murder”: Paléologue, III, 164.

97 “There was nothing heroic about Rasputin’s murder”: Vorres, 145.

98 “It was a glorious morning”: Dehn, 123. The signatures on the icon: Kerensky, Murder, 106.

99 “My dear martyr”: Paléologue, III, 136.

CHAPTER 26 LAST WINTER AT TSARSKOE SELO

1 Nicholas at Tsarskoe Selo: Pares, 413. “How lovely it was in the woods”: Rodzianko, 254. Maps on the billiard table: Vyrubova, 196.

2 “The time for peace has not yet come”: Paléologue, III, 125–6. “A kind of political will”: ibid., 152.

3 “As usual, Nicholas II was kind and natural”: ibid., 166. “The Emperor’s words”: ibid., 151–2.

4 “During the year that I had not seen him”: Kokovtsov, 478–9.

5 “Do you not see?” ibid., 480. “The Tsar was seriously ill”: ibid., 480.

6 “If I die or you desert me”: Paléologue, III, 191.

7 Alexandra’s reaction to the murder: Pares, 412; Gilliard, 183.

8 Anna moved to the palace: Vyrubova, 185. The telephone, portrait of Marie Antoinette: Fares, 414. “I thought that the door”: Kokovtsov, 478.

9 The concealed balcony: Pares, 414. “If someone else had used the language”: Kaun, 134.

10 Protopopov the only minister who mattered: Pares, 416. “I noticed he was following me”: Rodzianko, 251.

11 Telephoned every morning at ten: Pares, 416. “Oh, Majesty, I see Christ behind you”: Paléologue, III, 119.

12 “Oh, Madame, why are you so sad?”: Dehn, 137.

13 “Taken down a long passage”: quoted by Frankland, 88. “It seems as certain as anything”: ibid., 87.

14 “I allow no one to give me advice”: Paléologue, III, 167.

15 “One should forgive”: MF to N, 302.

16 “Your interference … is causing harm”: Alexander, 283.

17 “Remember, Alix”: ibid., 283. “One cannot govern”: ibid., 184.

18 The Vladimirs: Vorres, 58; Paléologue, III, 160–1; Buchanan, I, 175–6.

19 “What an awful set”: AF to N, 280.

20 Rodzianko’s conversation with Marie Pavlovna: Rodzianko, 246.

21 The grand-ducal plot: Paléologue, III, 140–1. “Prince Gabriel Constantinovich”: ibid., 157.

22 Paléologue’s interview with Nicholas: ibid., 149–52.

23 Sir George Buchanan: Bruce Lockhart, 115, 119.

24 “Za Pivo”: ibid., 150.

25 Buchanan’s interview with Nicholas: Buchanan, II, 43–9.

26 “The Empress must renounce all interference”: Rodzianko, 214.

27 “Alexandra Fedorovna is fiercely and universally hated”: ibid., 249.

28 Rodzianko’s interview with Nicholas: ibid., 252. “I consider it my duty, Sire”: ibid., 261.

29 “I will do everything afterwards”: Vyrubova, 146. “The Empress is a foreigner”: Paléologue, III, 172.

30 Protopopov’s countermeasures: Pares, 437. “The time is such, Sire”: ibid., 437.

31 “What about a responsible ministry?” Rodzianko, 263.

CHAPTER 27 REVOLUTION, MARCH 1917

1 The women, the workers, the soldiers: Paléologue, III, 213, 264.

2 “The ministers are but fleeting shadows”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 261.

3 “Be sure, we shall never give you up”: ibid., 262.

4 The overburdened railroads: ibid., 204. Cars and locomotives: Florinsky, End, 42.

5 Food prices: Paléologue, III, 44.

6 “Our Friend … spoke scarcely about anything else”: AF to N, 195.

7 Boilers burst: Paléologue, III, 213.

8 “We older men may not live”: Payne, 252, Hair oil: ibid., 251. Lenin’s mother-in-law: ibid., 250.

9 The events of March 8: Paléologue, III, 213; Pares, 440; Moorehead, 141. Pavlova, Karsavina and Kschessinska: Paléologue, III, 214.

10 The events of March 9: ibid., 214; Pares, 440–1; Knox, 558. Enesco: Paléologue, III, 215–16.

11 “I order that the disorders in the capital”: Pares, 442.

12 Condition of the Petrograd garrison: Knox, 551; Paléologue, III, 81.

13 The events of March 11: Pares, 442; Moorehead, 143; Knox, 558; Paléologue, III, 216.

14 Rodzianko’s telegram, “May the blame not fall,” and “That fat

15 Rodzianko has sent me some nonsense”: Pares, 443.

16 Ivanov’s expedition: ibid., 457.

17 “The part of the city through which we passed”: Buchanan, II, 58.

18 The Radziwill party: Paléologue, III, 214, 217.

19 The workers were tired of being killed: ibid., 217.

20 “The Reaction is gaining strength”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 266–7; Pares, 443.

21 Sergeant Kirpichnikov: Pares, 445; Moorehead, 146.

22 “The same wide streets”: Meriel Buchanan, 164.

23 “At half past eight”: Paléologue, III, 221.

24 “The depot troops … had mutinied”: Knox, 553.

25 “Frightened inhabitants were scattering”: Paléologue, III, 222–3.

26 Soldiers join the revolution: Moorehead presents a timetable of defections, 149.

27 “Now there is nothing left … but shoot myself”: Pares, 451.

28 “The Emperor wishes to express thanks”: Kerensky, Murder, 78.

29 The mob arrives at the Duma: Knox, 556; Pares, 453.

30 “I must know what I can tell them”: Pares, 449.

31 “I don’t want to revolt” and “If you don’t, others will”: ibid., 451.

32 The appearance of the Soviet: ibid., 460. “The entire garrison had mutinied”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 274.

33 “Two different Russias settled side by side”: ibid., 275.

34 “He seemed to grow every minute”: Pares, 450.

35 “Waves of hatred … beat against the walls”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 219.

36 “It is I, Protopopov”: Pares, 454.

37 Fall of the Winter Palace: ibid., 453.

38 Butchery at Kronstadt: Botkin, 139; Paléologue, III, 282. Wild celebrations: Paléologue, III, 225. Kschessinska’s mansion: ibid., 229; Kschessinska, 169.

39 “They marched in perfect order”: Paléologue, III, 232.

40 Countess Kleinmichel: Vorres, 99.

41 Grand Duke Cyril: Pares, 460; Kerensky, Murder, 89. The Red Flag on his roof: Paléologue, III, 259. “I have been alone in carrying out my duties”: Kerensky, Murder, 89. “I have asked myself several times” Paléologue, III, 265. “Who can tell?” ibid., 265.

42 “On the steps of Our Lady of Kazan”: ibid., 226.

43 “We will begin with the Germans here”: Knox, 558.

CHAPTER 28 ABDICATION

1 “Here in the house it is so still”: N to AF, 313.

2 “I shall take up dominoes again”: ibid., 313.

3 “An excruciating pain in the chest”: ibid., 316.

4 Voeikov: Buchanan, II, 61.

5 “I hope Khabalov will be able to stop these street disorders”: N to AF, 316.

6 “After yesterday’s news from town”: ibid., 317.

7 “Concessions inevitable”: Kerensky, Murder, 79.

8 Nicholas chose a longer route: Pares, 458–9.

9 Stopped at Malaya Vishera: Kerensky, Murder, 86–7.

10 “Well, then, to Pskov”: Pares, 459.

11 Met by Ruzsky: Kerensky, Murder, 87.

12 Failure of Ivanov’s expedition: Pares, 458.

13 Ruzsky’s exchange with Rodzianko: Kerensky, Murder, 90–2.

14 Formation of a Provisional Government: Paléologue, III, 236.

15 Nicholas must abdicate: ibid., 234. “It is of vital importance”: ibid., 233.

16 The generals unanimous: Pares, 465.

17 “On my knees”: Mosolov, 27.

18 Peeped out the window: Kerensky, Murder, 93.

19 Unwilling to start a civil war: Pares, 465.

20 “In favor of my son, Alexis”: Kerensky, Murder, 93.

21 Shulgin and Guchkov to Pskov: Pares, 466.

22 Nicholas’s conversation with Fedorov: Benckendorff, 46–7; Mosolov, 124. “Science teaches us, Sire”: Gilliard, 195.

23 “This long speech is unnecessary”: Bykov, 25–6; Pares, 467.

24 The abdication document: The text quoted is from Pares, 467. Slightly different translations from the Russian can be found in Gilliard, 196, and Paléologue, III, 237.

25 “The Emperor looked at me”: quoted by Pares, 468.

26 “Treason, cowardice and deceit”: Kerensky, Murder, 94–5.

27 “The same scene met me everywhere”: Paléologue, III, 247.

28 “It was not so much the Emperor”: Buchanan, II, 86.

29 “Well, so he’s gone”: Gorer and Rickman, 71.

30 “Bliss was it in that dawn”: quoted by J. C. Squire in his Introduction to Buxhoeveden, xvii.

31 Congratulations and fraternal greetings”: Paléologue, III, 254.

32 Wilson’s speech: quoted by Kennan, 18.

33 “It is the shallow fashion of these purblind times”: Churchill, World Crisis (Scribner), 695–7.

34 “Nicky must have lost his mind,”: Alexander, 287–8.

35 “The immediate accession of the Tsarevich”: Paléologue, III, 251.

36 “I needn’t tell you of my love for the Emperor”: ibid., 265–6.

37 Michael and Constantinople: Pares, 470.

38 “To His Majesty, the Emperor Michael”: Kerensky, Murder, 95.

39 “No more Romanovs”: Paléologue, III, 238.

40 “Long live the Emperor Michael”: Kerensky, Murder, 94.

41 The meeting on Michael’s future: Pares, 470. “He asked me point-blank”: Kerensky, Murder, 94. “I cannot answer for the life of Your Highness”: Bykov, 29. “Monseigneur, you are the noblest of men”: Paléologue, III, 241. Children’s schoolroom: Pares, 470.

42 Nicholas not considered a threat: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 269.

43 “He was absolutely calm”: Paléologue, III, 251.

44 Nicholas’s address to the army: Pares, 472–3. Other translations in Gilliard, 203–4; Paléologue, III, 259.

45 Nicholas says goodbye to his staff: Alexander, 290; Kerensky, Murder, 102.

46 Hanbury-Williams’s last interview: Hanbury-Williams, 168.

47 The new oath of allegiance: Alexander, 290–1; Kerensky, Murder, 102. The town was illuminated: Alexander, 291. Two red flags: Hanbury-Williams, 171.

48 “The deposed Emperor understands”: Kerensky, Murder, 09.

49 “The news of Nicky’s abdication came like a thunderbolt”: Vorres, 151–2.

50 Nicholas greets Marie: Alexander, 288; Kerensky, Murder, 101.

51 “Let the Germans in”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 269.

52 Nicholas’s farewell to Marie: Alexander, 292; Kerensky, Murder, 103–4.

53 Alexeiev’s bow to the Duma representatives: Bulygin, 188.

CHAPTER 29 THE EMPRESS ALONE

1 “I want you to come to Tsarskoe Selo”: Dehn, 147.

2 “How is it in Petrograd?”: ibid., 148. “There is no danger, Your Majesty”: ibid., 148.

3 The cadet with measles: Vyrubova, 204–5. “She spent all the succeeding days”: ibid., 205. The children’s temperatures: Buxhoeveden, 251.

4 “Lili, it is very bad”: Dehn, 148. “I have wired him”: ibid., 150.

5 “Petrograd is in the hands of the mob”: ibid., 149.

6 “I don’t want the girls to know anything”: ibid., 152.

7 Benckendorff’s messages from Rodzianko and from the Tsar: Benckendorff, 2–3.

8 The morning of March 13: Benckendorff, 3. “Owing to the state of her children’s health”: ibid., 5. “When a house is burning”: Gilliard, 211. The railway lines would be cut: Benckendorff, 5.

9 “We could not leave”: Gilliard, 211.

10 “Lili, they say that a hostile mob”: Dehn, 155. The troops defending the palace: Benckendorff, 6–7.

11 “It’s just like being on the yacht”: Dehn, 153. The rebels were on their way: Gilliard, 212.

12 “The scene was unforgettable”: Buxhoeveden, 255. Benckendorff displeased: Benckendorff, 8. “Some inward exaltation”: Dehn, 156.

13 Extra blankets: Benckendorff, 9.

14 “How astonished Papa will be”: Dehn, 158.

15 “Perhaps the blizzard detains him”: ibid., 158. “Address of person mentioned unknown”: Vyrubova, 209; Bykov, 32.

16 White handkerchiefs: Benckendorff, 14–15. “In the hands of the Duma”: Dehn, 160. “Why, Madame? In the name of God, why?”: ibid., 162.

17 Electricity and water: ibid., 67, 160; Buxhoeveden, 256. “I must not give way”: Dehn, 163.

18 The leaflets: Benckendorff, 16–17.

19 “Abdiqué!”: Dehn, 165. “I saw her in Alexis’s room”: Gilliard, 213. “She was deadly pale”: Buxhoeveden, 261–2.

20 State of siege lifted: Benckendorff, 18.

21 “The Emperor is on the phone”: Dehn, 174. “You know?”: Buxhoeveden, 264.

22 Guchkov’s visit: Benckendorff, 20–2. “Bloodsuckers!” Buxhoeveden, 266.

23 Queen Victoria’s letters: ibid., 91. “A fierce fire”: Dehn, 176.

24 Troops electing officers: Benckendorff, 25. Chevalier Guards: Buxhoeveden, 267–8.

25 Kornilov arrests Alexandra: Benckendorff, 30–5. Sitting together at a table: Bulygin, 190.

26 Kornilov addresses the suite: Benckendorff, 31. “Lackeys!”: Bulygin, 191.

27 “The soldiers of the new guard:” Benckendorff, 38.

28 Gilliard’s explanation to Alexis: Gilliard, 214–15.

29 Killing the deer: Benckendorff, 39.

30 “I went quietly downstairs”: Dehn, 185–7.

31 Nicholas’s arrival at the station: Kobylinsky, 170. “This offensive comedy”: Benckendorff, 43. “Nicholas Romanov”: Buxhoeveden, 271.

32 “His Majesty, the Emperor”: Dehn, 188.

33 Nicholas wept: Vyrubova, 212.

CHAPTER 30 CITIZEN ROMANOV

1 “The Emperor was deathly pale”: Dehn, 189.

2 Arrangements for outdoor exercise: Benckendorff, 33, 48.

3 “You can’t go there, Gospodin Polkovnik”: Vyrubova, 213.

4 “The crushing grip of the Revolution”: Dehn, 190.

5 Three armored cars at Tsarskoe Selo: Kerensky, Murder, 110.

6 “I found the Emperor with his sick children”: Benckendorff, 50.

7 Burning of Rasputin’s body: Paléologue, III, 266; Kerensky, Murder, 105; Kobylinsky, 172.

8 “Like the survivors of a shipwreck”: Vyrubova, 218.

9 “The roads too dirty”: Botkin, 142.

10 Letters, telephone calls, toothpaste tubes and chocolate bars: Benckendorff, 34; Buxhoeveden 285–6.

11 Soldiers at the sickroom door: Benckendorff, 52.

12 “The man only wanted cushions”: Buxhoeveden, 284.

13 “He was dozing”: Dehn, 192.

14 Stealing gold trinkets: Buxhoeveden, 285.

15 “Where is Alexei?”: Vyrubova, 211. “Don’t hang about here”: Gilliard 222.

16 “Derevenko … bawled at the boy”: Vyrubova, 222.

17 The film performances: Benckendorff, 95–6.

18 Lessons resumed: ibid., 78–9.

19 “Good morning, dear colleague”: Gilliard, 228.

20 “The Tsar accepted all these restraints”: ibid., 216.

21 Nicholas followed military and political events: Kobylinsky, 179. “The Soldiers’ Committee refused. What humiliation!”: Gilliard, 229. “Our love of exaggeration”: ibid., 229.

22 Easter service: ibid., 221, 225; Benckendorff, 68; Buxhoeveden, 296–7; Paléologue, III, 319.

23 “Luxuries unnecessary for prisoners”: Buxhoeveden, 286.

24 “I’m only an Ex”: Dehn, 199. Alexandra believes the country still loyal: Buxhoeveden, 275.

25 Prince Lvov’s letter and Grand Duke Nicholas’s reply: Hanbury-Williams, 179, 182.

26 “Citizen Romanov” and “Alexandra the German”; Paléologue, III, 257.

27 The menu: Almedingen, 209. “If Nicky killed a few more”: ibid., 200–10.

28 Kerensky’s speech to the servants: Benckendorff, 54; “He was dressed in a blue shirt”: ibid., 55. “His manner was abrupt and nervous”: ibid., 55–6.

29 Kerensky and Vyrubova: Vyrubova, 223–4.

30 “Everything is going well”: Benckendorff, 59.

31 “A state of feverish agitation”: ibid., 59.

32 Kerensky’s first meeting with the Imperial family: Kerensky, Murder, 122–3.

33 “The white hand of the Empress”: Vyrubova, 225.

34 “By suffering we are purified”: Dehn, 215.

35 “A group of white-clad figures,” Anna Vyrubova and Lili Dehn leave Tsarskoe Selo for the last time: Vyrubova, 226; Dehn, 215.

36 Inhuman to separate a mother from her sick children: Benckendorff, 66.

37 Kerensky’s interview with Alexandra: ibid., 75–6. “Your wife does not lie”: ibid., 76.

38 Kerensky’s interview with Nicholas: ibid., 77.

39 “Kerensky’s attitude toward the Tsar is no longer what it was”: Gilliard, 227. “The confidence which the Emperor felt in Kerensky increased”: Benckendorff, 77. “He is a man who loves Russia”: Pares in the Introduction to Kerensky, Murder, 15.

40 Bayonet in the bicycle spokes: Buxhoeveden, 299. “Not for anything in the world”: Kobylinsky, 177. “What have you got against me?”: Benckendorff, 71.

41 The crowds whistle and jeer: Kerensky, Murder, 114; Bulygin, 192.

42 Alexandra talks to the soldier: Buxhoeveden, 300, Benckendorff, 80.

43 Colonel Kobylinsky: Kobylinsky, 167–8; Benckendorff, 91; Bulygin, 180–90. “My last friend”: Bulygin, 190.

44 The toy-gun episode: Benckendorff, 83; Gilliard, 230–1; Kobylinsky, 177.

45 The kitchen garden and cutting firewood: Benckendorff, 79–80; Gilliard, 220–31.

46 Red and green lights: Benckendorff, 87; Gilliard, 232; Kerensky, Murder, 114–15.

47 “Our Captivity at Tsarskoe Selo”: Gilliard, 217–18.

CHAPTER 31 “HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INSIST”

1 “Simply human beings”: Kerensky, Murder, 112.

2 “It’s a mistake”: Buchanan, II, 73.

3 “I will not be the Marat of the Russian Revolution”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 161.

4 “He should lose no time in getting away”: Paléologue, III, 253.

5 “It’s the last chance”: ibid., III, 258.

6 Lloyd George’s speech: quoted by Pares, 260; by Paléologue, II, 43.

7 Lloyd George’s telegram: Lloyd George, 507. The decision to invite the Russian Imperial family: Nicolson, 300.

8 Buchanan’s conversations with Miliukov: Buchanan, II, 104–6.

9 “The Republic must be safeguarded”: Bykov, 33. One scornful Bolshevik writer, ibid., 35.

10 Provisional Government pledges to the Soviet that the sovereigns will remain in Russia: Paléologue, III, 268. Miliukov cannot deliver

11 King George V’s telegram: Buchanan II, 103; Paléologue, III, 278. Text of the telegram: Nicolson, 299.

12 The King and Queen … were asking for news of their Russian relatives: Gilliard, 222.

13 “Nothing has yet been decided”: Lloyd George, 512.

14 “His Majesty’s Government does not insist”: Kerensky, Murder, 117.

15 “An excuse for rousing public opinion against us”: Buchanan’s message quoted by Lloyd George, 512.

16 Bertie’s letter: quoted by Lloyd George, 514.

17 The plan suspended until early summer: Kerensky, Murder, 116–17.

18 “The British Government’s final refusal”: ibid., 118.

19 “Not masters in their own house”: Buchanan, II, 106. Meriel Buchanan’s account of the episode: Meriel Buchanan, 195–7. Lloyd George “probably would have given such advice”: quoted by Meriel Buchanan, viii a.

20 “An unseaworthy Ark”: Lloyd George, 480. “A crown without a head”: ibid., 483. “This country cannot be … held responsible”: ibid., 516.

21 “His Majesty cannot help doubting”: Nicolson, 301. The King suggests that Britain withdraw its offer: ibid., 301.

22 The Duke of Windsor’s recollection: Windsor, 131.

23 “We older ones …”: Payne, 252.

24 “Our tactics”: Fischer, 108. “Ilyich did not sleep”: ibid., 108.

25 “A plague bacillus”: Churchill, World Crisis: The Aftermath, 71.

26 Lenin’s return: Trotsky, I, 295–8; Moorehead, 184–7.

27 Lenin’s initial failure: Trotsky, I, 300–11; Florinsky, 1401–3; Fischer, 128. “Why, that is raving”: Trotsky, I, 310. “Lenin was a hopeless failure”: Paléologue, III, 302.

28 Trotsky in America: Kennan, 31–2. The Root Mission, ibid., 10–23.

29 The Kerensky offensive: Florinsky, 1400–10. Nicholas’s happiness: Benckendorff, 94. The “July Uprising”: Florinsky, 1431. “More than a demonstration but less than a revolution”: ibid., 1432.

30 “The Bolsheviks are after me”: Pares in Introduction to Kerensky, Murder; Benckendorff, 98.

31 Kerensky’s search for a haven: Kerensky, Murder, 119. “I chose Tobolsk”: ibid., 120.

32 “I have no fear”: ibid., 121.

33 The suite: Benckendorff, 99.

34 “The ceremony was poignant”: ibid., 103.

35 The family’s departure a secret: Kerensky, Murder, 128.

36 “No hitting a man when he is down”: Kobylinsky, 183; Bykov, 40; Kerensky, Murder, 128.

37 “Colonel Kobylinsky’s orders”: Bulygin, 194. The soldiers refuse to work: Benckendorff, 105–6.

38 Grand Duke Michael: Benckendorff, 107. “How is Alix? How is Mother?”: Kerensky, Murder, 129.

39 “Is that Uncle Misha?”: Kobylinsky, 184.

40 “Weeping like any ordinary woman”: Kerensky, Murder, 130.

41 The soldiers cursed and grumbled: Benckendorff, 108. The officers would not sit with Nicholas Romanov: ibid., 110.

42 Nicholas could freely return: ibid., 107.

43 Departure from Tsarskoe Selo: ibid., 111–12; Gilliard, 234–5.

CHAPTER 32 SIBERIA

1 The train to Siberia. Stocked with wines: Benckendorff, 121. Gems worth a million roubles: Wilton, 74. Suite and servants: Bykov, 40, and Kobylinsky, who lists them by name, 187–8.

2 Train routine: Kerensky, Murder, 131. Walks by the track: Benckendorff, 121.

3 Heat, shades drawn: N’s Diary, quoted by Kerensky, Murder, 134.

4 Stopped at Perm: Kobylinsky, 185.

5 The boat trip: Kerensky, Murder, 135. Pokrovskoe and Rasputin’s house: Gilliard, 230–40; Yussoupov, Rasputin, 28–9.

6 Arrival in Tobolsk: Kerensky, Murder, 132–3; Gilliard, 240; Benckendorff, 121; Botkina, 37.

7 Tobolsk and the governor’s house: Botkin, 156; Botkina, 39; Gilliard, 240.

8 Kornilov house: Benckendorff, 122; Bulygin, 194.

9 Enclosed yard: Gilliard, 240. Suite has free access: Gibbs, in Wilton, 244.

10 Attitude toward the Imperial family. Townspeople: Gilliard, 242. Soldiers: Bykov, 60.

11 Pankratov and Nikolsky: Kobylinsky, 190–1; Bulygin, 196; Botkina, 42.

12 “Not wishing to infringe the rules of politeness”: Pankratov, With the Tsar in Tobolsk, quoted by Bykov, 43–4.

13 Pankratov’s tales: Wilton, 61.

14 “We were once ordered by the police”: Kobylinsky, 191.

15 Case of wine: Bykov, 45; Botkina, 43.

16 Political education of the soldiers: Bulygin, 196. “The result of these lectures”: Kobylinsky, 192.

17 The Kornilov affair: Florinsky, 1436–42.

18 “History will not forgive us”: Florinsky, 1445.

19 The October/November Revolution. There are innumerable accounts of the Bolshevik coup d’état. Most draw heavily on John Reed’s vivid eyewitness account, Ten Days That Shook the World. I also consulted Trotsky, III, 200–75; Florinsky, 1447–50; and Kennan, 4–6, 71–3. “The Provisional Government appeals”: Reed, 103;

20 “Kerensky … merely hung around the revolution”: Trotsky, I, 183.

21 “The Tsar regret his abdication”: Gilliard, 243.

22 “Lessons began at nine”: Vyrubova, 311.

23 “One by one all earthly things”: ibid., 313.

24 “It is bright sunshine”: ibid., 314–16.

25 “A real ice house”: Gilliard, 253.

26 “Today there are 29 degrees of frost”: Vyrubova, 325.

27 “You never know when they might be useful”: Gibbs, in Wilton, 256.

28 “We often sit in the windows”: Vyrubova, 309.

29 The plays: Botkina, 49. “I want to talk to you”: ibid., 50.

30 “In this atmosphere of family peace”: Gilliard, 243.

31 Christmas. “The children were filled with delight”: Gilliard, 246. Ribbons and waistcoats: Vyrubova, 302. The church service: Kobylinsky, 194–5; Bykov, 48, 53.

32 “I heard an extraordinary noise”: Bykov, 54. “They have weapons”: Kobylinsky, 196.

33 The epaulets. 100 votes to 85: Gilliard, 251. “After dinner”: ibid., 252. “I felt I could bear it no more”: Kobylinsky, 197–8.

34 “All the old soldiers … are to leave us”: Gilliard, 253.

35 The snow mountain: Gilliard, 252–5. The Soldiers’ Committee disapproves: Kobylinsky, 196. “The soldiers with a hang-dog look”: Gilliard, 255.

36 Obscene words: Kobylinsky, 198; Gilliard, in Wilton, 229.

37 Money. Kobylinsky arrived entrusted with a large sum: Benckendorff, 127. The sums stopped coming: Kobylinsky, 197. An anonymous offer of enough for six months: Benckendorff 129. An advance of 20,000 roubles: Kobylinsky, 197. “Nicholas Romanov … must be put on soldier’s rations”: ibid., 199; Bykov, 57. “Since everyone is appointing committees”: Gilliard, 255. Eggs, sweetmeats and delicacies: Bykov, 44–5.

38 “The strange thing about the Russian character”: Vyrubova, 318.

39 “Today is Carnival Sunday”: Gilliard, 256.

CHAPTER 33 GOOD RUSSIAN MEN

1 “From there … via Japan”: Kerensky, Murder, 118.

2 The family not be separated: Gilliard, 256.

3 Mysterious visitors with fine-combed beards: Botkina, 45; Bykov, 47.

4 Margaret Khitrivo: Kerensky, Murder, 138–9; Bulygin, 195–6.

5 “My lord, you bear the name of St. Hermogen”: Bykov, 48.

6 Benckendorff’s efforts: Pares, 486. Soloviev’s leadership; ibid., 486.

7 Who was Soloviev?: Bulygin, 197; Bykov, 50–1; Pares, 486.

8 “I went to Anya’s house last night”: Bulygin, 198.

9 “Gregory’s family and his friends are active”: Bulygin, 198. “The 489 Brotherhood of St. John of Tobolsk”: ibid., 199. “Three hundred faithful officers”: Bykov, 57.

10 Soloviev in Tyumen: Bulygin, 199–201. Soloviev arrested by the Bolsheviks, ibid., 211. Siberia to Berlin: ibid., 211, 216. Petrograd banker: ibid., 216. Romanova marries a Bolshevik: ibid., 215. A German agent?: ibid., 217. Released: ibid., 207.

11 “The royalists were captained by the traitor Soloviev”: Kerensky, Murder, 27. Agreement that Soloviev was a Bolshevik agent and possibly also a German agent: Wilton, 131–3.

12 Alexandra dreamed of English gardens: Vyrubova, 340. “God will not leave it like this”: ibid., 336.

13 The wooden sled on the stairs: Botkina, 56. Worst since Spala: Gilliard, 258–9. “He is frightfully thin and yellow”: Vyrubova, 338. “Yesterday, for the first time …”: ibid., 339.

14 “The atmosphere is … electrified”: ibid., 341.

15 Loss of territory at Brest-Litovsk: Fischer, 287. One Russian general shot himself: Botkin, 172.

16 “Suicide,” “a disgrace for Russia”: Gilliard, 257. “To think that they called Her Majesty a traitor”: Bulygin, 202. “I should never have thought the Emperor William …”: Gilliard, 257.

17 “After what they have done to the Tsar”: ibid., 257.

18 The Red Urals: Bykov, 61. Bring the family to Ekaterinburg, ibid., 62–3.

19 The Omsk detachment: Bulygin, 203. “Good Russian Men”: ibid., 201, 203, 205; Bykov, 58. “His Majesty tells me”: Gilliard, 258.

20 Zaslavsky: Kobylinsky, 202.

21 Yakovlev: ibid., 202; Bulygin, 206–8. Had tea with the Tsar: Gilliard, 259.

22 “Your Majesty” and “Bonjour, Monsieur”: Bulygin, 208. “Everyone is restless and distraught”: Gilliard, 259.

23 “The first document was addressed to me”: Kobylinsky, 203. Yakovlev visits the Tsarvich: ibid., 204; Gilliard, 259. “We feel we are forgotten by everyone”: Gilliard, 260.

24 “I have received an order”: Kobylinsky, 205. “After lunch at two o’clock”: ibid., 205. “I refuse to go”: Bulygin, 208.

25 “They want to force me to sign”: Kobylinsky, 206; Bulygin, 209, 222. “I shall also go”: Kobylinsky, 206. “The commissar says that no harm will come”: Gilliard, 260.

26 “But Mother, if Father has to go”: ibid., 261.

27 “Doctors demand immediate departure”: Bulygin, 221; Bykov, 67. “Unfortunately we have no data”: Bulygin, 221; Bykov, 67; Benckendorff, 135. “Had to submit”: Bulygin, 221.

28 Yakovlev nervous: Koblinsky, 207. “It makes no difference to me”: Bulygin, 209.

29 “Mama, Mama!”: Gibbs, in Wilton, 249. “I am convinced the river will overflow”: Bykov, 68.

30 The last evening in Tobolsk: Gibbs, in Wilton, 250. “This splendid serenity”: Gilliard, 262.

31 The tarantasses: Gilliard, 262; Gilliard’s deposition in Wilton, 234. The Empress sends Gilliard to Alexis: Gilliard, 263. Yakovlev’s courtesy: Kobylinsky, 209; Bulygin, 209.

32 The girls sobbing: Gilliard, 263.

33 The journey to Tyumen: ibid., 263; Bykov, 68–9; Pares, 490. Waving white handkerchiefs: Bykov, 69. The sign of the Cross: Kobylinsky, 209; Bulygin, 212.

34 Red cavalry: Bulygin, 212. “Proceeding safely”: Kobylinsky, 210.

35 Yakovlev leaves in the wrong direction: Pares, 490.

36 “A traitor to the revolution,” “To all, to all, to all”: Bykov, 70.

37 Kulomzino: Gibbs, in Wilton, 235; Pares, 490. Telephone conversation with Sverdlov: Bykov, 71; Bulygin, 225.

38 “I have orders to take you to Ekaterinburg”: Kobylinsky, 210.

39 “Judging from the local papers”: Bykov, 72.

40 Yakovlev a monarchist agent: Bykov, 69. Pares believes that Yakovlev was trying to save the Imperial family from falling into the clutches of the Ekaterinburg Soviet and that he may possibly have been trying to rescue them completely: Pares, 491.

41 German domination of Russia: Bulygin, 223.

42 “Be calm”: ibid., 202, 219. The Kaiser’s personal responsibility: ibid., 220–1. Restoration of the Tsar: ibid., 223.

43 Mirbach’s game: Wilton, 151. Sverdlov’s game: Gilliard, 282–3; Bulygin, 224–5.

44 Yakovlev deserted to Kolchak: Bykov, 73; Pares, 491.

45 Mirbach outwitted: Bulygin, 226.

46 Yussoupov and the German envoy: Yussoupov, 268.

47 “The fate of the Russian Emperor”: Bulygin, 227. “The dictatorship of Mirbach”: Bruce Lockhart, 296–7.

CHAPTER 34 EKATERINBURG

1 Ekaterinburg and the Ipatiev house: Wilton, 19; Bykov, 72.

2 “Show us the Romanovs”: Bykov, 72.

3 Nicholas steps out, carrying his own bags: Bulygin, 230–1; Benckendorff, 136.

4 “Citizen Romanov, you may enter”: Bulygin, 231.

5 “So far, we have had polite treatment”: Kobylinsky, 216.

6 The swastika: Gilliard, 274; Kobylinsky, 239.

7 Telegram to Kobylinsky: Gilliard, 264.

8 “Dispose of the medicines”: Bulygin, 232; Wilton, 74.

9 Tatiana supervised the children: Kobylinsky, 220.

10 Rodionov: Bulygin, 228–30; Gilliard, 264. “Nobody is permitted to look at the windows”: Botkin, 208. “The child is ill”: Bulygin, 230; Gilliard, 265. Fourth-class carriage: Bulygin, 233.

11 “Several carriages were drawn up”: Gilliard, 269.

12 The suite divided: ibid., 270. Gilliard rescued: ibid., 273.

13 Living arrangements in the Ipatiev house: Medvedev, in Wilton, 287; Gilliard, 283. The guards: Bulygin, 231–2; Gilliard, 282. Avadeyev: Yakimov, in Wilton, 261–2.

14 Avadeyev’s drinking and pilfering: Bulygin, 232; Yakimov, in Wilton, 267.

15 “Let them go to hell”: Yakimov, in Wilton, 273.

16 The daily schedule: Bykov, 74; Benckendorff, 137; Yakimov, in Wilton, 271; Proskuriakov, in Wilton, 299; Gilliard, 284.

17 “You’ve had enough, you idle rich”: Bulygin, 232.

18 Nagorny’s defense of Alexis: Gibbs, in Wilton, 252–3; Gilliard, 272.

19 “Nagorny was going to the carriage”: Gilliard, 272. In the cell with Prince Lvov: Gibbs, in Wilton, 252–3.

20 “I have still an impression of them”: Yakimov, in Wilton, 274–5.

21 “We spent long hours discussing ways and means”: Vorres, 243.

22 “Half-crazy ladies, countesses and baronesses”: Bykov, 76.

23 “The hour of liberation is approaching”: ibid., 78. An assessment of the rescue plots in Ekaterinburg: Pares, 493–4.

24 “With God’s help and your prudence”: quoted by Bykov, 78.

25 “The second window from the corner”: quoted by Bykov, 79.

26 “We spent an anxious night”: Krasny Arkhiv, 1928, Vol XXVII, p. 136, quoted by Bykov.

27 The “Letts”: Bulygin, 235; Wilton, 82–3; Yakimov, in Wilton, 268. Yurovsky: Wilton, 29, 81.

28 “This specimen we like least of all”: Pares, 495.

29 “Anxiety unnecessary”: Gilliard, 286; Bulygin, 235, 242.

30 Goloshchekin and Sverdlov: Bulygin, 243; Wilton, 27–8, 75; Pares, 495. Public trial with Trotsky as prosecutor: Bykov, 75.

31 The Czechs: Pares, 485.

32 The decision to shoot the Romanovs: Wilton, 127, 139; Bykov, 80.

33 The “Four Brothers”: Bulygin, 248. Gasoline and acid: ibid., 249, Wilton, 101.

34 Yurovsky had no strong feelings: Yakimov, in Wilton, 277. His conversation with Alexis: Bulygin, 237; Gilliard, 286.

35 Father Storozhov: Bulygin, 236. “At Rest with the Saints”: Pares, 496.

36 Nicholas carried Alexis: Medvedev, in Wilton, 289. Anastasia and Jimmy: Wilton, 95. The basement room: Wilton, 88.

37 The Tsar and his daughters went for a walk: Yakimov, in Wilton, 277. “Tonight, we will shoot the whole family”: Bulygin, 237; Medvedev, in Wilton, 288.

38 The murder: Bulygin, 237–8; Gilliard, 287–8; Pares, 497. Demidova pierced thirty times: Yakimov, in Wilton, 281. Jimmy killed: Wilton, 95, Anastasia: Gilliard, 288.

EPILOGUE

1 Destruction of the bodies: Bulygin, 240–50; Wilton 101–2; Gilliard, 290. “The world will never know what we did with them”: Pares, 498. Voikov becomes Soviet ambassador: Pares, 496.

2 Ekaterinburg falls to the Whites: Wilton, 104. “Joy” found in the courtyard: Buxhoeveden, Left Behind, 154. Appearance of the murder room: Gilliard, 274.

3 “But the children—”: Gilliard, 277. Sokolov: Bulygin, 248; Wilton, 15.

4 Evidence found in the mine: Gilliard, 293–4; Wilton, 116–17; Gibbs, in Wilton, 254; Bulygin, 252. Jimmy’s body: Wilton, 95.

5 “Comrade Sverdlov wants to make a statement”: Bykov, 82.

6 “Tell Sverdlov that the whole family met the same fate”: Bulygin, 244.

7 Text of the death announcements: Gilliard, 292; Wilton, 14.

8 Bolsheviks arrest 28 Social Revolutionaries: Wilton, 21, 103.

9 “Oh, yes, and where is the Tsar?”: Trotsky’s Diary in Exile, 1935 (Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1953), p. 81.

10 Wilson at Lane’s dinner party: Walworth, II, 171. Death of Grand Duke Michael: Wilton, 121; Pares, 493. Death of Grand Duchess Elizabeth: Wilton, 124; Benckendorff, 140–2; Bulygin, 256; Pares, 498–9. Death of the four Grand Dukes: Wilton, 127. “The Revolution does not need historians”: Vyrubova, 294.

11 Was Lenin murdered by Stalin? In two recent biographies of Lenin, both excellent, the two biographers disagree. Louis Fischer doubts that Stalin had a hand in Lenin’s death; Robert Payne is certain that Stalin had Lenin poisoned.

12 Yalta Conference in Livadia Palace: Winston Churchill, Triumph and Tragedy (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1953), 346, 349, and Robert E. Sherwood, Roosevelt and Hopkins (New York, Harper, 1948), 850–1.

13 Sverdlov’s death: Wilton (p. 161) declares that although Sverdlov was said to have died naturally, he was in fact “knocked on the head” by a Moscow workman.

14 American correspondents visit Sverdlovsk: Harrison Salisbury, New York Times, Aug. 1, 1959.

15 The account of Empress Marie’s last years is taken from Vorres (the memoirs of her daughter Grand Duchess Olga). Marie leaves Russia: Vorres, 163. Refuses to believe Nicholas is dead: ibid., 171. Argues with King Christian over the light bill: ibid., 169. A pension from King George V: ibid., 170. Her death: ibid., 181.

16 Grand Duchess Olga. Moves to Toronto: ibid., 192. Invited to lunch by Queen Elizabeth: ibid., 213. Dies in an apartment over a barbershop: ibid., 221.

17 Grand Duke Cyril. Nicholas’s heir: Vyrubova, 207; Vorres, 236. “The day of glory is near”: Cyril’s obituary in New York Times, Oct. 13, 1938. Vladimir Cyrilovich: Kschessinska, 252; Vorres, 236.

18 Grand Duke Nicholas: Pares, 501.

19 Grand Duke Dmitry: Time, March 16, 1941; Kschessinska, 150–60, 248.

20 The fate of the suite: Pares, 499

21 The ministers: Pares, 500. Prince Lvov: Kokovtsov, 545.

22 Alexeiev and Kornilov: Pares, 500. Brusilov and Polivanov, ibid., 501.

23 “The Poles are besieging Russian fortresses”: Vorres, 232.

24 Sukhomlinov: Escaped in a sailboat: Kokovtsov, 526. Dedicated his memoirs to the Kaiser: Tuchman, 63. Wife married a Georgian officer and was killed: Vyrubova, 191.

25 Buchanan: Buchanan, II, 93, 261.

26 Benckendorff: Benckendorff, vii, 166. Fredericks: Botkin, 40

27 Vyrubova, Polar Star: Vyrubova, 276–7. Gorky: ibid., 292–4.

28 Gilliard: from his obituary, Gazette de Lausanne, June 8, 1962.

29 Iliodor: New York Herald Tribune, July 5, 1933. Time, Feb. 11, 1952.

30 Maria Rasputin: Time, Dec. 4, 1939. In November, 1966, a circus poster advertising Mlle. Rasputin was on display in a collection of circus posters at the Lincoln Center Museum in New York City.

31 Kschessinska instructed Margot Fonteyn: Kschessinska, 237. Danced at Covent Garden, 238.

32 Yussoupov: The author attended the 1965 trial in its entirety.

33 Hemophilia. Alfonso and Gonzalo; McKusick, 94. The possibility that hemophilia will recur in this family is remote: Armand J. Quick, M.D. “International Forum on Hemophilia,” Spectrum, Vol. 10, No. 2, (March-April, 1962).

34 The legend of the Romanov gold. All Imperial properties taken: Benckendorff, 125–6. Nicholas’s capital on abdication: Benckendorff, 89. The relics buried near Paris: Vorres, 171. Marie’s jewels valued at $2 million: ibid., 183. Many appeared in Queen Mary’s possession: ibid., 184. Funds in Berlin: ibid., 179. Valued at $1,500: New York Herald Tribune, Nov. 18, 1965.

35 English deposits brought back to Russia: Vorres, 179.

36 “I see Buchanan tomorrow”: AF to N, 123, 125.

37 Sir Edward Peacock. Instructed by King George V: Vorres, 183. “I am pretty sure there never was any money”: ibid., 246.

38 The Tsar in London: Benckendorff, 146. In Rome: ibid., 147. Family on a ship in the White Sea: Bulygin, 272. Dozens of claimants: ibid., 271, 276–7.

39 Numerous Anastasias: Vorres, 201, 202. Mrs. Anderson and Grand Duchess Olga: ibid., 175–6. “Dear Aunt Olga”: ibid., 200. “My telling the truth does not help”: from a letter published in Life, Dec 30, 1963, written by Ian Vorres.