Maria Fedorovna and Nikolai 2. “I don’t believe that my son is dead”
Almost 90 years ago, Maria Dagmar Romanova, who went down in history as the wife of Emperor Alexander III and the mother of Nicholas II, passed away. She was the bride of Tsarevich Nicholas, and became the wife of his brother, was the mother of the Russian emperor, and became an exile, losing her son and grandchildren and ending her days alone. There were so many sharp turns and difficult trials in her destiny that it could have broken the will of even a strong-willed person, but she endured all the difficulties with steadfastness.
The fate of the Danish princess Maria Sophia Frederica Dagmar was predetermined from birth. Her parents were called father-in-law and mother-in-law throughout Europe - their daughters were enviable brides for many royal houses. They married their eldest daughter Alexandra to the English king Edward VII, and Dagmar was engaged to the heir to the Russian throne, Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov. The young people treated each other with great tenderness, things were heading towards the wedding, but then Nikolai fell ill with meningitis and died suddenly. The bride spent her last days in Nice next to him. Together with her, his younger brother Alexander also looked after the heir. Their common grief brought them closer, and after the death of Nicholas, Alexander took his place not only in inheriting the throne, but also next to Dagmar.
According to legend, the dying Nicholas himself blessed his brother and bride for this union. The political benefits of such a marriage were obvious, the family pushed Alexander to this decision, and he himself felt sympathy for the Danish princess. And a year later, after the end of mourning, Dagmar agreed to his proposal. In 1866, she went to Russia, where she was greeted with jubilation by several tens of thousands of people. Later, she will be able to justify people's love with sincere devotion to her new homeland and her deeds.
The wedding took place in October 1866. Dagmar accepted the Orthodox faith and began to be called Maria Fedorovna. Six children were born in this marriage, and the firstborn was named in honor of the deceased Tsarevich Nicholas. It was he who was destined to become the last Russian emperor. During the reign of Alexander III, Maria Dagmar (or Dagmara, Dagmaria, as her husband called her) did not interfere in state affairs, but was actively involved in social activities: she headed the Russian Red Cross Society and many educational and charitable institutions, opened shelters for children and the poor, took patronage over the Cavalry and Cuirassier regiments, and together with the emperor participated in the creation of the funds of the Russian Museum.
After the death of Alexander III in 1894, Maria Feodorovna bore the title of Dowager Empress. The illness and death of her husband were a heavy blow for her. She wrote: “I still can’t get used to this terrible reality that my dear and beloved is no longer on this earth. It's just a nightmare. Everywhere without him there is a killing emptiness. Wherever I go, I miss him terribly. I can't even think about my life without him. This is no longer life, but a constant test that we must try to endure without lamenting, surrendering to the mercy of God and asking him to help us bear this heavy cross!”
Maria Feodorovna did not approve of her son’s choice; the German princess seemed to her not a strong enough support for Nicholas, who was too soft and delicate for a sovereign. Their relationship with their son deteriorated, she often expressed her dissatisfaction, for which she earned the nickname “angry empress” in court circles. According to the memoirs of E. Svyatopolk-Mirskaya, Maria Feodorovna more than once complained that “it’s terrible for her to see that her son is ruining everything, to understand this and not be able to do anything.”
The revolution overtook her in Kyiv, and from there she later moved to Crimea, where she lived for about two years. For a long time, the Empress did not want to believe rumors about the death of her son and his entire family. After the White Guards and the English squadron came to Crimea, Maria Feodorovna succumbed to the persuasion of her relatives and agreed to leave Russia. Then it seemed to her that it was temporary, and after the revolutionary events subsided, she would be able to return. But she never saw her second home again.
At first, the Empress lived in England, and then returned to Denmark, where she spent the last years of her life, which were very lonely and restless - her nephew, the Danish king, did not like his aunt. On October 13, 1928, Maria Dagmar Romanova died.
Her last wish was to rest next to her husband, but her will was fulfilled only in 2006, when her ashes were transported to Russia. In St. Petersburg, she was solemnly buried next to Alexander III, in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the tomb of the Russian emperors.
Marrying the Danish king Christian IX, Louise of Hesse-Kassel did not suspect that many years later her grandchildren, cousins Nicholas II and George V, who were as similar as two peas in a pod, would stand at the head of the most powerful empires of the Entente. Louise’s connections allowed her and King Christian to become, as they said on the sidelines of many European courts, “the mother-in-law and father-in-law of all of Europe.” But it was on the marriage of Maria Sophia Frederica Dagmar, who went down in history under the Orthodox name Maria Feodorovna, that her parents had high hopes, because an alliance with the Russian Empire could strengthen the position of Denmark, whose lands were continually encroached upon by Prussia and Austria-Hungary in the 19th century.
Dagmar was born in 1847 in Copenhagen. Since childhood, she studied languages, under the guidance of her strict mother, she learned the art of managing a household, and practiced painting and handicrafts. The princess was a passionate equestrian; numerous photographs of her on horseback have survived to this day. When in September 1864, with the blessing of her parents, Tsarevich Nicholas, the heir to the Russian throne, proposed to her, Dagmar actively began to study the Russian language and culture, and memorize Orthodox prayers.
Despite the fact that their marriage was largely a political decision, the young people fell in love with each other, as evidenced by their tender correspondence. But the wedding, scheduled for September 1865, was not destined to take place. In April 1865, the Tsarevich died suddenly in Nice from inflammation of the spinal cord. Neither the best doctors, nor the care of his brother and devoted bride could save the crown prince. According to legend, when he was dying, he asked his younger brother Alexander to take care of Dagmar and become her husband, but it is unknown whether such a conversation actually took place.
Be that as it may, the decision to marry the new heir to the throne, Alexander Alexandrovich, and the Danish princess was soon made: in response to the invitation of Empress Maria Alexandrovna to stay with her daughter in Peterhof, the Danish Queen Louise replies that Dagmar is still in mourning, but “continues to teach Russian". She continued her correspondence with the father of both of her suitors, Emperor Alexander II.
In the summer of 1866, after an engagement in the Danish capital, the princess sailed to her new homeland, where she soon converted to Orthodoxy and henceforth began to be called Maria Feodorovna. The entire local intelligentsia gathered to see her off to Russia; Hans Christian Anderson, who often visited Bernstorf during the princess’s childhood, remembers this moment with sadness. The wedding took place on October 28, 1866 in the Winter Palace. So she became the wife of Alexander 3.
Maria Feodorovna faced many trials in Russia. She saw her father-in-law die from a terrorist bomb in 1881. In 1887, there was almost an attempt on the life of Alexander III. And in 1888, a derailed train almost killed the whole family. Six years later, the empress’s beloved husband dies, and her eldest son, whom his mother continued to call Niki, ascends the throne.
Maria Feodorovna was one of the most revered empresses in all layers of Russian society. She became the mother of six children (including Nicholas 2). Together with Alexander 3, she took an active part in creating the funds of the Russian Museum, and headed numerous charitable societies both in peacetime and during the First World War (already as the Dowager Empress). I personally worked in hospitals. She continued her charitable work even in immigration, having very meager means of subsistence.
Until her death, Maria Feodorovna did not believe in the death of her eldest son and his family. However, after listening to the persuasion of numerous relatives, she left Russia in 1919, believing that this was only temporary. After staying with her sister in Great Britain, she returned to her native Denmark, and in 1928 she died not far from the place where she was born. In 2006, her remains were transported to Russia, where, according to Maria Feodorovna’s last will, they were reburied in the Peter and Paul Fortress next to the body of her husband.
Part two
EMPEROR NICHOLAS II AND HIS AUGUSTIC MOTHER
Chapter first
MARRIAGE OF EMPEROR NICHOLAS II AND GERMAN PRINCESS ALICE OF HESS
On November 14 (26), 1894, on the birthday of Empress Maria Feodorovna, 25 days after the death of Emperor Alexander III, the wedding ceremony of Nicholas II and the German princess Alice, who was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, took place in the Church of the Holy Image of the Holy Image of the Winter Palace.
According to tradition, in the Malachite Hall of the Winter Palace, in front of the golden toilette of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, where the royal and grand ducal brides were combed before the wedding, Alice was dressed in a silver brocade dress with a neckline and a large train. Empress Maria Feodorovna personally placed a crown decorated with diamonds on her head. The princess also wore a diamond tiara and a veil made of antique lace, and around her neck was a necklace of large diamonds. A crimson robe trimmed with ermine fur is draped over the shoulders over the dress.
When all preparations were completed, the solemn procession moved through the halls of the palace to the church. The marshal of the court, Prince Trubetskoy, walked ahead. In his hand sparkled a golden staff, topped with a diamond crown. Lord Carrington, sent by Queen Victoria of England to St. Petersburg, in a letter to the queen on November 14, 1894, described the entire wedding ceremony in great detail: “The palace was already crowded - there were so many people in most of the halls that it was difficult to get through. All the ladies are in Russian dresses, some have amazing diamonds...
It was said that 8,000 or even 10,000 people were present. It is quite possible, since the halls are huge, and there is no end to them...<…>ladies and gentlemen were led into separate rooms and stood there until the end of the ceremony. The path or passage along which the reigning persons were led was very narrow and 2 chamberlains assigned to each room probably had great difficulty holding back the onslaught of those invited: generals, admirals, army and navy officers, all the ladies presented to the court, dignitaries of the first four classes, mayors of St. Petersburg and other big cities and many large businessmen...
At 12.30 the doors opened and the King of Denmark opened the imperial procession, leading the Empress Mary. She was dressed in white and looked pale and sad, but very calm and collected and showed no signs of agitation. Throughout this terrible time, the Empress’s courage was truly amazing, and one can hope that she will have enough strength not to break under the weight of grief when everything takes its normal course.” Behind them walked the august bride with the young emperor, who was dressed in a life hussar uniform.
“The bride was absolutely gorgeous. She looked exactly as a Russian Empress was supposed to look when walking to the altar, and she moved simply and with great dignity,” Lord Carrington reported to London.
The hall where the wedding ceremony was to take place could not accommodate all the guests. Most of those present listened to the singing of the choir, which began at the beginning of the service from adjacent halls.
Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov noted in his diary: “It was painful to look at the poor empress. In a simple cut-out dress covered in white crepe with pearls around the neck, she seemed even paler and thinner than usual, like a victim led to the slaughter. It was inexpressibly difficult for her to appear before thousands of eyes at this difficult and inconvenient time for her.”
For Maria Feodorovna, as evidenced by her letter to her son Georgy in Abastuman, this was a real test: “For me it was a real nightmare and such suffering... To be obliged to appear in public like this with a broken, bleeding heart was more than a sin, and I still don’t understand how I could decide to do this.”
The Danish artist L. Tuxen, the author of several works dedicated to the royal houses of Europe, and who, at the request of Queen Victoria, Alice’s grandmother, painted a picture dedicated to the marriage of Nikolai Alexandrovich and Alice of Hesse, recalled: “Candles were burning, and the priests were all in gold brocade , wearing golden or dark miters, entered the church to meet those coming towards them. The wedding couple stopped in front of a light azure curtain, each with a candle in his hand. Three priests stood on each side of the altar.
A bride, full of grace and dignity, with her head slightly bowed... A diamond crown, dark brown hair curly over her forehead. Curls falling on the neck and chest, bare shoulders, ermine robe. The train is carried by 5 royal hussars, dressed in a red uniform with many braids and dark blue trousers... Him (the emperor. - Yu. K.) the profile emerges directly against the background of the dark uniform of our king (Danish king Christian IX. - Yu. K.). To the right of the King: the Dowager Empress, Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Coburg (Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna. - Yu. K.), Queen Olga (Greek queen, Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna. - Yu. K.), someone's brother, other relatives - all in white...
I was absolutely delighted and intoxicated. It is unlikely that I have ever been possessed by the same feeling of delight from seeing such a beautiful spectacle. A delightful bride, bewitching singing, a riot of colors, golden clothes in flickering lighting. Gold, shimmering with green, orange reflection of purple. The flaming depth of dark military uniforms, orders, the white color is muted by light greenery. Only the mutual movement of earth and sky could create such a beautiful spectacle.”
When, after the wedding, Nikolai and Alexandra entered the palace, they were greeted by an honor guard from the Life Ulan regiment, and on the threshold, according to Russian custom, Maria Feodorovna stood with bread and salt.
“The ceremony was indescribably exciting,” Alexandra’s sister (Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna) telegraphed to her grandmother, Queen Victoria. - Dear Alix looked absolutely charming, the service was beautiful and impressive; she was full of dignity and definitely made the best impression.”
Romanian Princess Maria wrote about the wedding: “All eyes were fixed on her. Her cheeks glowed with the warm light of the candles that illuminated the church glittering with gold; her facial expression was concentrated and absent; it seemed as if she felt neither joy nor pride, but was in another world..."
On November 16, Alix herself described her impressions of the great day in a letter to her grandmother in London: “You can imagine how we felt during the wedding - ten years ago at Ella’s wedding, our beloved fathers were with us, and now! Poor Aunt Minnie is all alone. She is an angel of kindness, she holds herself so touchingly and so steadfastly, it is even impossible to express in words what a comfort it is that her father came, there was someone to walk next to her... It’s good that we are already married, I can be with him more, and I love him stronger and stronger every day..."
Later, Alexandra will tell Nikolai about those moments: “I prayed in my soul for you and our beloved country.”
Nicholas II in his diary described the experiences of this exciting day in his life: “My wedding day! After general coffee we went to get dressed: I put on my hussar uniform and at 11? I went with Misha to Zimny. There were troops stationed all over Nevsky to pass Mom? with Alix. While her toilet was taking place in Malachite, we all waited in the Arab room. At 10 minutes past twelve, the exit to the large church began, from where I returned as a married man. My best men were Misha (Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. - Yu. K.), Georgie (cousin of Nicholas II, later King George V of England - Yu. K.), Kirill (Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, cousin of Nicholas. - Yu. K.) and George (Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich, uncle of Nicholas II. - Yu. K.). In Malakhitova they presented us with a huge silver swan from the family.”
But the wedding was unusual. Due to the mourning for the deceased emperor, which continued throughout the country, wedding celebrations and receptions were cancelled. “You can imagine this feeling,” Alexandra Fedorovna wrote to her sister, “you’ve just been in the deepest mourning, mourning a dear person, and now you’re already in an elegant wedding dress. A greater contrast cannot be imagined, but it brought us even closer - if more was possible.”
The end of 1894 and the whole of 1895 passed under the sign of mourning. There were no court balls, but numerous church services were held in the Winter Palace, and the young emperor, who was a very religious man, did not miss a single one.
From the book “Golden” century of the Romanov dynasty. Between empire and family author Sukina Lyudmila BorisovnaEmperor Nicholas II Alexandrovich (05/06/1868-07/17/1918) Years of reign - 1894-1917 Emperor Nicholas II was the last sovereign of the Romanov dynasty. He had the opportunity to rule the country in difficult times. Having ascended the throne, he found himself hostage to political traditions and an outdated structure
From the book Emperor Nicholas II and his family author Gilliard PierreChapter XII. Emperor Nicholas II Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Arrival of the Tsarevich at Headquarters. Trips to the front (September-December 1915) Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich left Headquarters on September 7, i.e. two days after the arrival of the Sovereign. He left for the Caucasus, taking with him the general
From the book Theater Street author Karsavina Tamara PlatonovnaChapter XVI. Emperor Nicholas II Nicholas II, wanting to say goodbye to his troops, left Pskov on March 16 and returned to Headquarters. He remained there until the 21st, still living in the governor's house and receiving daily reports from General Alekseev. Empress Dowager Maria
authorPart one. The pupil Part two. Mariinsky Theater Part three. Europe Part Four. War and revolution Part five. Diaghilev Part
author Ilyin VadimChapter XI. Emperor Nicholas II 1. Like his father, Emperor Alexander III, Emperor Nicholas II was not intended to reign. The orderly line of succession from father to eldest son was disrupted by the premature death of the Emperor's eldest son, Alexander II,
From the book Book of Memories author Romanov Alexander MikhailovichEmperor Nicholas II and his family Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov, the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, who became the last emperor of Russia under the name of Nicholas II, was born on May 6 (18), 1868 in Tsarskoe Selo - a country royal residence under
From the book Thoughts and Memories. Volume II author von Bismarck OttoChapter XI. Emperor Nicholas II 1Like his father, Emperor Alexander III, Emperor Nicholas II was not intended to reign. The orderly line of succession from father to eldest son was disrupted by the premature death of the Emperor's eldest son, Alexander II,
From the book Memories author Izvolsky Alexander PetrovichCHAPTER THIRTY-TWO EMPEROR WILHELM I By the mid-70s, the emperor’s mental abilities began to weaken, he had difficulty assimilating other people’s thoughts and expressing his own; speaking and listening, he sometimes lost the thread of the conversation. It’s surprising that after Nobiling’s assassination attempt his health
From the book The Secrets of the Death of Great People author Ilyin VadimChapter Nine Emperor Nicholas II I refrained from including this chapter in my memoirs, since for its appearance it was necessary to choose the time to complete the difficult and delicate task of describing the characteristic features of Emperor Nicholas II. I cannot, however, now refuse
From the book Memoirs of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich Romanov author Romanov Alexander MikhailovichEmperor Nicholas II and his family Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov, the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, who became the last emperor of Russia under the name of Nicholas II, was born on May 6 (18), 1868 in Tsarskoye Selo, a country royal residence under
From the book Love Letters of Great People. Compatriots by Ursula DoyleChapter XI Emperor Nicholas II 1Like his father, Emperor Alexander III, Emperor Nicholas II was not intended to reign. The orderly line of succession from father to eldest son was disrupted by the premature death of the eldest son of Emperor Alexander II,
From the book of the Russian Head of State. Outstanding rulers that the whole country should know about author Lubchenkov Yuri NikolaevichEmperor Nicholas II (1868–1918) My love, you are terribly missed, so missed that it is impossible to express! The first meeting of the future Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov with Princess Alice of Hesse took place in 1884, and a few years later he made her
From the book Thoughts and Memories author von Bismarck OttoEmperor Nicholas II to his wife Alexandra Feodorovna (November 18, 1914) My beloved sun, darling little wife. I read your letter and almost burst into tears... This time I managed to pull myself together at the moment of parting, but the struggle was hard... My love, I’m scared of you
From the author's bookEmperor Nicholas I Pavlovich 1796–1855 Third son of Emperor Paul I and Empress Maria Feodorovna. Born on June 25, 1796 in Tsarskoye Selo. The main supervision of his upbringing was entrusted to General M.I. Lamsdorf. A stern, cruel and extremely hot-tempered man, Lamsdorf did not
From the author's bookEmperor Nicholas II Alexandrovich 1868–1918 Son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna. Born on May 6, 1868 in Tsarskoe Selo. Newspapers on October 21, 1894 published a manifesto on the accession to the throne of Emperor Nicholas II. The young king was immediately surrounded
From the author's bookChapter thirty-two Emperor Wilhelm I By the mid-70s, the emperor’s mental abilities began to weaken, he had difficulty assimilating other people’s thoughts and expressing his own; speaking and listening, he sometimes lost the thread of the conversation. It’s surprising that after Nobiling’s assassination attempt his health
The biography of this amazing woman - the most influential empress of the Russian Empire - is filled with joyful events and sad experiences. Maria Sophia Frederica Dagmar outlived two lovers: Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich and the emperor, and also learned about the execution of her own son and the entire royal family.
Childhood and youth
On November 26, 1847, in the Bergum mansion, located in Copenhagen, a girl, Maria Sophia, was born to the Danish king Christian IX and his wife Louise of Hesse-Kassel, the second of three daughters (there were six children in the family). Unfortunately, there is not much information about Dagmar’s childhood and youth. It is known that the girl was a favorite in the house, although she was not distinguished by a brilliant mind or exceptional beauty, but due to her innate charm she could please almost everyone.
Young Dagmar loved to play the piano and read classical literature. The princess's favorite writer was a French novelist who wrote philosophical stories about the severity of women's fate. From an early age, Maria Sophia knew that, according to tradition, she was destined to marry not for love, but for convenience: it is no secret that representatives of different royal dynasties tied their blood ties to support both foreign and domestic policies.
In addition, South Scandinavian beauties were especially popular among European grooms at the “bride fair,” since an alliance with a Danish woman guaranteed that the future owner of the throne would not meddle in royal affairs. But it is worth noting that the 16-year-old lady was sincerely happy for her sister Alix, who in 1863 accepted a marriage proposal from the heir to the British crown, Prince of Wales Albert Edward.
Empress
Young Maria Sofia was famous for her temperament both in her native country and abroad - they had heard a lot about the girl’s character in Russia. At that time, the All-Russian Emperor, together with his wife, was just looking for a future chosen one for Tsarevich Nicholas. By the way, Nix (that was the name of the heir in the family circle) was the beloved eldest son in the Romanov family: he personified integrity, honesty, and also had an extraordinary mind and good appearance.
It is known that the Danish-Russian alliance was mutually beneficial. It gave Russia the opportunity to establish family ties with European countries, including Great Britain, with which relations, to put it mildly, did not work out. According to rumors, she did not like Russia because she was rejected by the young Alexander II. For Denmark, unity with Russia would also be beneficial: the Scandinavian country did not dominate foreign policy, so it needed a strong ally.
The last word remained with Nix: when the young crown prince was shown a photograph of Dagmar, the girl made an indelible impression on him, but to his brother, Alexander Alexandrovich, the Danish princess seemed like an unremarkable young lady. In 1864, the heir to the Russian crown went abroad, where on his birthday (September 20) he was engaged to Maria Sofia. However, the union of lovers did not last long.
While traveling in Italy, the Tsarevich unexpectedly fell ill. Soon, doctors announced a terrible death sentence to the heir - tuberculous meningitis. Since the autumn of 1864, Nix has been treated in Nice, but a year later the young man’s health begins to deteriorate sharply. On the night of April 12, after four hours of agony, the successor of Alexander II died. It is noteworthy that Dagmar and the heir’s brother looked after Nikolai Alexandrovich together: according to legend, the three of them held hands on their deathbed. The last words of the dying man were: “Stop the car!”
Thus, after the death of Nix, Alexander Alexandrovich became crown prince. But the Russian family did not forget about the modest Danish woman: Alexander II demanded that his son marry the princess. However, the successor referred to the fact that he was not ready to be the heir to the throne. In addition, Alexander Alexandrovich’s heart was occupied by Maria Meshcherskaya, his mother’s maid of honor.
Alexander told his parents about his love, but they insisted that their son visit Copenhagen in order to win Dagmar’s favor. The Tsarevich was determined, but after a serious conversation with his father he finally gave in: Alexander left for Denmark, and his beloved princess was exiled to Paris and married off.
Alexander did not know what feelings Minnie had for him (as Maria Sofia was called in the Romanov family), so for a long time he did not dare to talk to the Danish woman, although they were often alone and looking at photographic albums. On one of these days, the beauty threw herself on the young man’s neck and began to cry: her soul was tormented by memories of Nyx. The common grief brought the princess and the future emperor closer together, so Dagmar and Alexander soon fell in love with each other. In the summer of 1866, the lovers got engaged in the capital of Denmark, and in the fall Dagmar converted to Orthodoxy, becoming Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna.
By the way, Maria Fedorovna was initially stunned by the decoration and luxury of the Russian court. It is noteworthy that the life of royal families in some European countries was fundamentally different from the life inherent in those close to the throne of the Russian Empire. For example, the obligatory publicity that royal families needed to maintain traditions was often perceived by monarchs as a heavy burden. Therefore, Dagmar had difficulty adapting to the new environment and new environment. Some rules were strange for the princess: for example, she did not know that she could not choose a dress for the evening on her own, and also did not realize that starting a conversation with the emperor first was a strict prohibition.
Family relationships
The cheerful and modest princess was warmly received in the court and capital societies. Although the relationship between Maria Feodorovna and Alexander did not begin on a happy note, subsequently the husband and wife had the strongest affection for each other. The future emperor tried to spend all his time with his wife: they went hunting and fishing, and also traveled around the city and saw the sights, for example, they visited the Peter and Paul Cathedral, where Nix was buried.
The main place of residence of the lovers was Gatchina. Sometimes they lived in Peterhof and Tsarskoe Selo, and when coming to St. Petersburg, they stayed in the Anichkov Palace. Dagmar bore the emperor six children, among whom was the future heir to the throne, Nikolai Alexandrovich (Nicholas II).
Reign of Alexander III
During the reign of Alexander III, Maria Fedorovna patronized the arts: the politician was a frugal person (for example, balls were held no more than four times a year), but a significant share of the budget was spent on paintings. Dagmar spent most of her time on family obligations, since the emperor suppressed any attempts by the princess to interfere in state and official affairs. Rumor has it that Alexandra's beloved disliked Germany because, in her opinion, this country influenced the emperor's foreign policy.
In the fall of 1894, the Grand Duke died in the Livadia Palace due to progressive kidney disease, which began to develop after a train crash near Borki station. The royal family remained alive thanks to Alexander, who managed to hold the collapsed roof of the carriage on his shoulders. But this feat had a dramatic impact on the leader’s health.
Alexander III died painfully and for a long time, and Maria Feodorovna (who was with her husband all this time) experienced the same feelings as back in 1864, when she watched Nix fade away. It is known that when the emperor’s heart stopped, Dagmar lost consciousness.
Reign of Nicholas II
Two hours after the death of Alexander III, Russia meets the new emperor - Nikolai Alexandrovich. Unlike his father, the new ruler was not so decisive in state affairs.
During the reign of Nicholas II, his mother also tried not to interfere with Dawesization, but the woman was upset by the surrounding reality: the unsuccessful Russo-Japanese War, the difficult situation of industry and agriculture, etc.; Moreover, under Nicholas, the first shoots of the October Revolution were emerging in the country, popular unrest was growing, and the general political situation was becoming more complicated.
According to rumors, the widow patronized the Minister of Finance Sergei Yulievich Witte and did not like her daughter-in-law - according to Dagmar, this secretive girl could not be a strong support for her husband. Among other things, Maria Fedorovna was a supporter of the women's patriotic society, was involved in charity work, and also personally helped wounded soldiers during the First World War.
Revolution
The cause of the February Revolution was the domestic and foreign policies of Nicholas II. The popular movement grew like a tsunami: workers went on strike at factories, riots broke out in the streets, and demonstrative marches and clashes with the police only added fuel to the fire. According to society, only one thing could save the Russian Empire and dynasty: the abdication of Nicholas II from the throne.
Therefore, on the afternoon of March 15, the emperor renounces the Russian crown in favor of Tsarevich Alexei under the regency of Mikhail Alexandrovich. Maria Feodorovna learns about this fateful event in Kyiv and leaves for Mogilev to see her son. Then the widow goes to Crimea, later to Great Britain and finally stops in her native Denmark, where she settles in Vider.
However, in Copenhagen, the Empress did not find the reverence of her relatives: Danish politicians believed that Dagmar was a hindrance that could cause problems with Moscow. Also, despite requests from white emigration, the widow refuses to participate in political affairs.
Death
In the fall of 1928, a lonely woman, the former empress and mother of Nicholas II, died. Her death was often called the end of an era of great upheaval. Maria Feodorovna was buried in the Orthodox Church of Copenhagen named after.
In 2004–2005, Dagmar’s remains were transferred from Denmark to Russia: Maria Feodorovna was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral next to her husband Alexander III. The Danish woman left behind an inheritance - a single jewelry box and diaries in which her memories were stored.
The wife of Tsar-Peacemaker Alexander III had a happy and at the same time tragic fate
Photo: Alexander GLUZ
Change text size:
A AEleven years ago, on September 28, 2006, a coffin containing the remains of Alexander III’s wife, Maria Fedorovna, was buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. A few days earlier, the coffin was delivered from Denmark, the empress's homeland. Thus, the will of the monarch’s wife was fulfilled: to be buried next to her husband.
The ceremony was quite modest. Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir, members of the Romanov family were present. A white marble tombstone with a gilded cross on top was installed on the grave, identical to the tombstones in the imperial tomb.
Eight years earlier, here, in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, in the presence of the then Russian President Boris Yeltsin, the remains of Maria Feodorovna's son, Emperor Nicholas II, her daughter-in-law and granddaughters were buried. True, discussions about who these remains actually belong to still continue.
Should have married my older brother...
...She was adored in her native Denmark, immediately accepted and loved in Russia, always mysterious to foreigners. She was an ardent bride, a tender and devoted wife, a loving and affectionate mother.
Her name was Sofia Frederika Dagmara, she was born in Copenhagen, the daughter of Prince Christian of Luxembourg, later King Christian IX of Denmark.
Princess Dagmara was not even eighteen years old when her marriage to the heir to the Russian throne, the eldest son of Emperor Alexander II, Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, was decided. That rare case when young people, matched for dynastic reasons, immediately sincerely fell in love with each other. They became engaged in 1865, while he was traveling in Europe. But soon the Tsarevich fell seriously ill. Doctors diagnosed him with tuberculous meningitis. His brother Alexander Alexandrovich arrived in Nice, where the heir was hastily sent for treatment. Together with Princess Dagmara, he looked after the sick.
It was then, near the bed of his dying brother, that the future Russian Emperor Alexander III felt that his heart was filled with love for this fragile girl. And in his thoughts Alexander did not allow blasphemous desires: with all his soul he wished for his brother’s recovery. But Nikolai himself soon realized that he was doomed. The illness burned him, and two days before his death he told his brother: “Sasha, don’t leave Mini! (this is how Princess Dagmara was nicknamed in the Romanov family - Author). Be her protection and support... If she is dear to your heart, marry her! Mini, become a good wife to him.” The future emperor was silent, stunned and depressed, and Dagmara, sobbing, exclaimed: “Come to your senses! You will definitely get better!”
After the death of his betrothed, Alexander did not speak about the will of his dying brother. But he tried in every possible way to please Dagmara: he gave flowers, knowing that she loved music very much, he took performances to concerts, and he brought books. And the heart of the young Danish woman thawed! The huge and powerful young man, next to whom she was like a thin stalk, turned out to be a wise and kind man, capable of understanding her soul...
The engagement took place in Copenhagen, and the wedding took place in the Church of the Winter Palace. This happened on October 28 (November 9 according to the new style) 1866. The princess converted to Orthodoxy and became Maria Feodorovna.
Did not interfere in government affairs
Almost fifteen years later, after the death of Emperor Alexander II, who was killed by the Narodnaya Volya, his son inherited a difficult inheritance: the empire was rocked by unrest and conspiracies. Alexander Alexandrovich managed to strengthen the power, thereby delaying its collapse. During the reign of the Tsar the Peacemaker, Russia did not wage wars, and industry and the national economy developed at a speed that alarmed the Western world.
The Empress always understood her husband well, but she never interfered in his affairs or tried to influence the decisions he made.
But, without touching on state affairs, Alexandra Fedorovna brought considerable benefit to her new Fatherland. On her initiative, girls' schools were opened. Under the patronage of the queen, in particular, were the Alexander Lyceum, St. Petersburg and Moscow commercial schools, the Gatchina Orphan Institute, and charitable societies.
Maria Fedorovna was, in addition, a talented artist. The portraits, still lifes, and plot sketches she created have been preserved.
Without relying only on tutors and teachers
The Emperor and Empress had six children: Nicholas, the future Emperor Nicholas II, Alexander, George, Ksenia, Mikhail and Olga. Alexander died in infancy, George did not live to be thirty years old. Mikhail shared the fate of his crowned older brother: he was shot in 1918. Ksenia and Olga lived to a ripe old age and died abroad.
According to the memoirs of contemporaries, Maria Feodorovna actively participated in the upbringing of her sons and daughters, not relying only on tutors and teachers. However, she never sought to suppress the will of the children. In this regard, the story of the matchmaking and marriage of her eldest son, the heir Nikolai Alexandrovich, is indicative.
In 1894, the Tsarevich met in Crimea the German Princess Victoria Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt, who had come to stay with her Russian relatives. The twenty-six-year-old heir quickly fell in love with a beautiful and intelligent girl. The future emperor told his parents that he was going to woo and get married.
The Emperor and Empress were against this marriage. Alexander III, among others, put forward this very compelling argument. Alice was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England and, as doctors claimed, she probably inherited from her a terrible disease - hemophilia. That is, a crowned couple may have terminally ill sons. And this is a threat to the Russian state itself! Maria Feodorovna shared her husband's concern. But, after listening to her son, she firmly told the monarch: “If he loves, then let him marry! We can’t make our son unhappy when we ourselves have been living happily for so many years!”
The imperial couple were not bothered by the heir’s contacts with the ballerina.
Here we cannot help but say about the empress’s attitude towards the love affair between the heir to the throne and the ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya. In the language of the Soviet era, this topic has recently attracted unhealthy interest that resembles mass insanity. Meanwhile, according to historians, the king and queen did not attach much importance to this hobby of their son.
Nikki’s contacts with Matilda did not alarm anyone, because it was clear that marriage was out of the question, Doctor of Historical Sciences Vladlen Izmozik told Komsomolskaya Pravda. - The marriage of the heir to the throne was a matter of national importance. Another question is that the young man needed to gain sexual experience, and in decent families this role was performed by milliners, maids, seamstresses, and finally, ballerinas.
In Valentin Pikul’s sensational novel “At the Last Line,” which is dedicated to the events preceding the collapse of the Russian Empire, there are the following lines: “The Tsarina spoke with Madame Myatlyova, who had a broken daughter and four dachas on the Peterhof highway, costing 100,000 rubles . “And I will pay you three hundred thousand for these dachas,” said Tsarina Myatlyova, “but you must close your eyes to the behavior of your daughter... What if my Niki needs a hygienic prelude to marriage!”
The October Revolution was met in Crimea
On October 20 (November 1, new style), 1894, having lived only 49 years, Emperor Alexander III died. And then everything went downhill. Russia was gripped by revolutionary fever, terrorists killed statesmen one after another. The courtiers who came into contact with all kinds of conspirators betrayed Emperor Nicholas II. How it all ended is well known.
In October 1917, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, along with her daughters and a small group of relatives, was in Crimea. A few months before this, she last saw her eldest son: she went to see him at Headquarters, in Mogilev.
In Crimea, the Bolsheviks put the former empress and her relatives under house arrest. Eyewitnesses recalled that during the search, the Bible was snatched from Maria Fedorovna’s hands. She begged him to leave her the book. And she heard in response: “An old woman your age has no business reading such nonsense!”
It's hard to say what saved their lives. They say that this was done by the head of the guard named Zadorozhny, who probably only posed as a Bolshevik...
In 1919, the British, finally remembering that the Romanovs were close relatives of their royal family, sent the cruiser Marlboro for the Dowager Empress: at that moment Crimea was in the hands of the White Guards. But she categorically refused to leave Russia unless all her relatives who were on the peninsula were allowed to emigrate. Allowed!
Photo: Wikipedia. The former empress aboard the cruiser Marlboro
Here the question arises: why didn’t the British Lion bother to save Emperor Nicholas II himself and his family:
“I understand that in 1917 the British authorities sought at all costs to keep Russia in the world war,” says Professor Izmozik. – And in order not to displease the Provisional Government, they gave up on the fate of the Russian monarch.
“Impostors” annoyed me
Maria Fedorovna did not remain in England for long. She left for her homeland, Denmark, where she lived her last years, not succumbing to the persuasion of emigrant circles to get involved in political activities.
But even more annoying than the politicians, she was besieged by “impostors”: her “granddaughters” who allegedly miraculously escaped execution. To one young lady who claimed that she was Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, the Empress said: “Young lady! You are still very young. You will have time to achieve success. But I’m not your helper: we both know very well that you are not my granddaughter!”
I didn’t believe in my son’s death
When the Empress settled in Copenhagen, a colonel who had arrived from Russia, sent to Denmark by Alexander Kolchak, wanted to visit her. He brought the results of an investigation proving the death of the royal family. But Maria Feodorovna refused to accept the messenger. She stated that she did not believe in the death of the family and forbade serving a memorial service for the murdered.