Coronation of Nicholas II 1896 & other Grand Occasions - Page 3

shadowed_rain · #41 08-23-2008, 02:34 AM

I absolutely agree. One the things that struck me most about the pictures were that the personalities are reflected within the stances and posture of each person photographed. That's the amazing thing about candid pictures; they catch one acting in such a way that we get a glimpse of their "true selves." Alexandra was very shy, which gave her the (false) impression that she was aloof and unfeeling. Minnie, however, was just that...outgoing, elegant, and proud of the fact that she was the wife and mother of Tsars.

I love looking at pictures and portraits that portray the coronation, because one can imagine that it wasn't easy for anyone involved, especially Minnie, whose position was "being taken away" (although she certainly never conceded to her daughter-in-law) by a woman who thwarted her hold over her son and the monarchy. Scrutiny would have been unavoidable...the gossips would have been avidly hunting for the slightest hint or inclination that something was amiss between the empresses.

Odette · #42 08-24-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnastasiaEvidence

This disaster happened all from a rumor that there might not be enough beer and presents for everyone.
Nicholas and Alexandra are not guilty, they had nothing to do with the problem.. All they could have done was visit the hospitals and help out with the wounded peasants. They did all they could to help. But, some of them were mad that the peasants that were killed, didn't get their graves marked.

I understand. Throughout history some never got away with anything, even when things happened that were beyond their control. One could think that if Nicholas had married someone who was vivacious, more open, less shy that Alexandra, he could be more loved and forgiven by the Russian people. Even if he still reigned the way he did.

CarolinaLandgrave · #43 08-24-2008, 07:34 PM

King's book The Court of the Last Tsar was GREAT reading!! There are sections on about every aspect of the NII's court - including the 1896 Coronation.
I'd suggest it for any fan of the latter days of the Romanovs.

COUNTESS · #44 08-24-2008, 09:14 PM

I have visited Versailles and the Hermitage/Winter Palace and had the same thought at both places. When people have so much and the rest have so little, there is little doubt that one will atack the other. Yes, they traded for other difficult regimes, but the French have made out well and the Russians, too, may have a better life. Al Bina is correct. There was nothing to gain under their old regimes.

sophie25 · #45 08-24-2008, 09:16 PM

It's amazing to think that Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna is the great grandmother of The Duke of Kent; Prince Michael and Princess Alexandra as her daughter, Grand Duchess Helen, was Princess Marina's mother. They certainly have an ancestry that no other British Royal can match.

CarolinaLandgrave · #46 08-25-2008, 09:25 AM

The Kent family is by far the truly most royal of the British Royals.....
However, if I remember correctly.... the late Queen Mother, the late Princess Diana, and the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester all had royal ancestors (though not legitimate).

maria-olivia · #47 02-15-2010, 11:11 AM

Warren , thanks for the great pictures , I never saw such a lot of jewelry to-gether.
Behind there are 7 Grand Duchesses, you missed one , in your list they are 6?

Royal Fan · #48 02-15-2010, 07:03 PM

Was their an Oath of Office when he was Crowned??

Russophile · #49 02-15-2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Fan

Was their an Oath of Office when he was Crowned??

That Nicky took? I am not sure on that one though I do know that there was an oath that the Grand Dukes swore to Nicky and it was that same oath that prevented Mischa from ursurping the throne when his relatives wanted to put Alexandra in a convent and him to take up Regency with Alexis. (See the Crawfords Book: Michael and Natasha.)

Velkoknezna Maria · #50 02-19-2010, 07:46 AM

For those interested in picture form the coronation there is this great album at webshots:

maria-olivia · #51 02-19-2010, 09:01 AM

Perhaps coronations should not take place in poor countries such for Russia,
The Shah of Iran and President Bokassa.

Duchessmary · #52 02-19-2010, 12:01 PM

It was a holy event for a Russian Tsar to be crowned. Not so much for pagentry.

Vasillisos Markos · #53 02-22-2010, 06:51 PM

Such pageantry was probably welcomed by the people as a continuation of the monarchy and an occasion to celebrate. The unfortunate stampede and massacre at Khondynka caused a lot of resentment and who knows, maybe if Nicholas had more of a back bone, he might have stood up to his uncles and canceled the ball given by the French Ambassador.

Russophile · #54 02-23-2010, 02:29 AM

Exactly, look how Catherine the Great used pagentry to her advantage when she was Tsarina. She must have taken a page from Cleopatra and the Ptolomy's.

CarolinaLandgrave · #55 02-26-2010, 08:39 PM

Out of curiosity.... what was the length of the Empress' & Dowager Empress' trains?
And the Grand Duchesses?
Didn't they all have to stand for hours and hours through the long services???

And her gown was cloth of gold & all the ermines....
and the dowager empress was cloth of silver????

Duchessmary · #56 02-26-2010, 09:25 PM

I can't remember the exact length of the Empress' train, but I know she was covered from head to foot literally with every preciouos gem imaginable. Yes, They all had to stand for hours and hours.

shadowed_rain · #57 02-27-2010, 02:12 AM

The Empress' gown and robes were made of cloth of gold, which is extremely heavy. I can't remember from which article the quote came from, but in summation, a noble recalled seeing the Empress standing stock-still for a moment, simply because she couldn't move without assistance from a page or one of her ladies-in-waiting due to the weight of her ornaments.

On alexanderpalace.org, there's an article pertaining to court dress, and it seems that the other ladies of the court could only wear cloth of silver if the Empress wore cloth of gold, which was on rare and special occasions. It seems safe to assume that the Dowager Empress wore cloth of silver at their coronation.

Russophile · #58 02-27-2010, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolinaLandgrave

And her gown was cloth of gold & all the ermines....
and the dowager empress was cloth of silver????

Which gave Alix headaches and fatigued her. I would imagine it did the same to the other Grand Duchesses and Minnie.

CarolinaLandgrave · #59 02-27-2010, 09:52 AM

Thanks!! I remember reading all that somewhere as well. I guess I will have to ransack books and remember where it was.....

Russo -didn't just about everything give Alix a headache and fatigue?

snowflower · #60 02-28-2010, 03:45 PM

I don't know if " everything" would give her a headache (she was definitely easily tired), but certainly the coronation itself would. It was a royal and extremely formal event and the worst part was that she couldn't avoid it. And I don't think that having to pass this through wearing a dress heavily embroidered with tissue made from a precious metal was helping her to deal more easily with the situation. It must have been a true nightmare for her shy nature.