The Romanovs

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

  8

  McGrew 289–300. Roberts on Napoleon/Paul invasion plans 286. Paul and Georgia: Donald Rayfield, Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia (henceforth Rayfield), 256–7.

  9

  McGrew 282–312. Sacking of Lopukhin: RA (1876) 2.90, Rostopchin to Vorontsov, 22 December 1798, and RA (1876) 3.76–92, 12 June 1799 and 10 July 1799. Appointment of Obolyaninov, lack of suspicion: Sablukov 1.234; Arakcheev ‘the Ape’ 1.235; Alexander and Constantine terrified, tremble 1.234. Sacking of Arakcheev and relationship with Alexander: Arakcheev 61–68. Alexander, Elizabeth and Constantine, Alexander unhappy, liberal feelings, orders Czartoryski to draft manifesto of reform and abdication: Czartoryski 1.161–8. Paul locks Demidora in room with Alexander: Golovina 186

  10

  Changes of alliance and early Panin conspiracy: McGrew 312–341

  11

  This account of the conspiracy and assassination is based on Comte de Langeron, Memoire sur la mort de Paul I, par le comte de Langeron, Richelieu Collection, Mémoires de documents, MS 99, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne, Paris, the unpublished memorandum of Langeron who interviewed Pahlen and most of the conspirators. McGrew 341–355. Shilder 1.291, Paul to Pahlen, 26 February 1797; Paul suspicions 1.302, Paul to N. I. Saltykov, 29 January 1801. Kutaisov never known to injure anyone 1.233; Obolyaninov as procurator: Sablukov 1.234; three officers struck with cane for which Paul paid dearly 2.306; Gagarina into Mikhailovsky Palace 2.311; Pahlen ‘the brave man acts’, exile of Rostopchin/Arakcheev, Alexander and Constantine under arrest, retake the oath, Sablukov dismissed, the murder 2.311–20. Leo Lowenson, The Death of Paul I and the Memoirs of Count Bennigsen, SEER (1950) 29.212–32. Golovina 227–38; Pahlen tells Paul of conspiracy of Maria and sons 227. Napoleon alliance: Roberts 286–7. Czartoryski 1.187; Alexander’s view, regrets and plans for Paul after deposition; Bennigsen, view of Constantine, Nikolai Zubov Herculean, informs Alexander, Maria, I am Empress 1.222–46. On Prince General Vladimir Yashvili struck by cane: S. L. Seeger (ed.), Alexander Izvolsky, Recollections of a Foreign Minister: Memoirs of Alexander Izvolsky (henceforth Izvolsky) 39–40. NM, Elisabeth 273, Empress Elizabeth to her mother, 13 March 1801, Maria hysterical, Alexander damaged, mad joy. Pushkin sees Skariatin at balls in 1834: Tim Binyon, Pushkin (henceforth Binyon) 440. Paul’s illegitimate daughter Moussine Yuriev: NM, Elisabeth 2.111, Empress Elizabeth to mother, 10/22 October 1803; 2.336, Empress Elizabeth to mother, 3/15 August 1809; death of Princess Gagarina, Paul’s mistress 2.155, to mother, 28 April/10 May 1805. NM, Alexandre on plot 7–8, inc. description of Alexander, on 12 March by Lt Sanglin. The night of the conspiracy, Michael ‘I bury my father’ etc: GARF 728.1.1394.4–31, Notes of Nicholas I. Arakcheev – dismissed twice and summoned: 69–80.

  12

  Pahlen treacherous, Alexander I and Grand Duchess Catherine, Scenes of Russian Court Life, being the Correspondence of Alexander I with his sister Catherine, Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich (ed.) (henceforth Catiche) 112–18, Alexander to Grand Duchess Catherine, 18 September 1812. Czartoryski 1.223–55, Alexander summons Czartoryski, Alexander’s view of conspiracy, get rid of a fly (Pahlen), forgiveness of Valerian Zubov, plans for Paul to garden 267–8; ‘court of exaggerated simplicity’ 327. NM, Alexandre 10–15; ability to hide feelings by Baron Korff 21. GARF 728.1.1394.4–31, Notes of Nicholas I. Napoleon’s rage at killing of Paul: Roberts 295.

  SCENE 6: THE DUEL

  1

  Alexander character Roberts 295. Caulaincourt quoted in Price 37. Carnival: NM, Elisabeth 2.43–50, Elizabeth to mother, 6/18 September, 9/21 September; 24 September/6 October 1801. Liberalism: Rey 87–130. Czartoryski 1.257–70; change in foreign policy 271–9; coronation increased sadness 278; meeting with king of Prussia 1802 283; Kamenny Ostrov 290; ministries 297–304; universities 307. Memel Prussian meeting, 29 May 1802: NM, Alexandre 25–6; reforms and Secret Committee 26–32. Serfdom: LeDonne 84–91; serfs exiled for insolence 1760, repealed 1802, 212–14. Alexander liberal view of Russian blood libel: John Klier, Krovavyi navet v Russkoi provoslavnoi traditsii, in M. Dmitriev (ed.), Evrei I khristiane v pravoslavnykh obshchestvakh vostochnoi evropy (henceforth Klier) 191–2. Abolition of Secret Expedition and its replacement by interior ministry under Kochubey and later under Petersburg governor-generals plus interior, justice and war ministries: LeDonne 125–7; Arakcheev returns as artillery inspector 102–3; new ministries, Council of State, Alexander’s distrust of grandees 105–12. Arakcheev 84–109.

  2

  Maria Naryshkina: NM, Elisabeth 2.131, 10 June 1804; 2.145 death of Naryshkina’s child, Elizabeth to mother, 21 November/3 December 1804; 253 Catiche behaviour, Elizabeth to mother, 29 August/10 September 1807; 278 death of Lisinka Alexandrovna, 2/14 May 1808. Catiche 27–31: Alexander’s passionate letters to her 15, 19, 20, 24 September 1805; 84 my little family, Alexander to Catiche, 18 January 1812; 82 my happiness in my little household, 24 December 1811; 67 take interest in my children, 25 April 1811; 72 thanks for kindnesses to my little family, 5 July 1811. Binyon 560: Vigel quote. Naryshkina dress, Choiseul-Gouffier quoted in Golovina 55; Naryshkins 191. B. Arutunova (ed.), Lives in Letters: Fifteen Letters from Tsar Alexander I to Princess Z. A. Volkonskaya (henceforth Lives in Letters) 97. Alexander feelings of eclipse by Napoleon: Czartoryski 1.331–5. Catiche 83: Napoleon as infernal, 24 December 1811; 112–18 Napoleon as talent, 18 September 1812.

  3

  NM, Alexander 34–9. NM, Elisabeth 2.175, Alexander at Austerlitz, Elizabeth to mother, 11/23 December 1805. Dominic Lieven, Russia against Napoleon (henceforth Lieven) 43–7. Rey 158–174. Napoleon/Austerlitz: Roberts 357–90, inc. quotes from Napoleon on Dolgoruky’s arrogance; letter to Josephine on Russian destruction; on Alexander as fickle and weak 359; Francis makes love to one woman 392. Czartoryski as Russian minister 268; Alexander eclipsed by Napoleon, hostility to Czartoryski of Dolgoruky, Alexander mocks Chancellor Vorontsov 331–5.

  4

  Roberts 390; Eylau 442–5; Friedland 449–55. Lieven 43–7. Rey 174–178. NM, Alexandre 41–5. NM, Elisabeth 2.240, Elizabeth to mother, 16 March 1807.

  5

  Tilsit: Roberts 456–63, inc. 459–60 Napoleon chattered; Alexander I on Napoleon’s grey eyes to Sophie de Tisenhaus, later comtesse de Choiseul-Gouffier, quoted Roberts 635; Alexander duplicity 29. Rey 178–186. Lieven 46–56. NM, Alexandre, inscrutability, Korff 21; Napoleon on Alexander missing something; Finland war Petersburg beauties 65. NM, Elisabeth on disloyalty of family, Dowager Empress and Constantine and Catiche, Elizabeth to mother, 29 August/10 September 1807. Catiche to Alexander on Napoleon and marriages to stupid and clever princes, bad joke letters from 26 April, 5 May, 13 May, on Tilsit 25 June 1807, 33–42; 43 Alexander to Catiche on laughing longest 1808; on possible Catiche marriages to Emperor Francis, Napoleon, Oldenburg 292, Empress Maria to Alexander, 11 May 1807, and Napoleon rumours on Catiche and Catiche offered herself as bride to Napoleon if state demanded it 297, Maria to Catiche, 23 December 1809, and refusal of Napoleon suit, Catiche to Maria, 26 December 1809.

  6

  Lieven 70–85. Erfurt conference: Roberts 488–93, inc. Napoleon letters. Rey 186– 211. Arakcheev 110–138. Arakcheev The Vampire: NM, Alexandre 266. LeDonne 102–5, 112. Speransky: NM, Alexandre 58–63, inc. Arakcheev quote; Council of State and general jealousy 68–71; contrasts by Batenkov between Speransky and Arakcheev 71–2. Elizabeth embarrassed by Savary and French alliance: NM, Elizabeth 2.199, Elizabeth to mother, 23 August 1807. Talleyrand: Rosalynd Pflaum, By Influence and Desire (henceforth Pflaum) 61–101. Swedish war: Michael Josselson and Diana Josselson, The Commander: A Life of Barclay de Tolly (henceforth Barclay) 46–72; reforms as war minister 73–90. Alexander slipperiness: Roberts 295; Price 37. Price 37.

  7

  Swedish war: Barclay 46–72. Arakcheev 114–26. Peace; appointment of Rumiantsev: NM, Elisabeth 2.344, Elizabeth to mother, 7/19 September 1809.

  8

  Roberts 295, 517, 537–41. Catiche 48: Napoleon marriage to Anna, Alexander to C
atiche, 23 December 1809; Napoleon marriage 297, Maria to Catiche, 23 December 1809.

  9

  Gruzino and Minkina: Arakcheev 84–110,. Description of Arakcheev and Minkina grenadier figure: A. K. Gribbe, Graf Alexei Andreevich Arakcheev, v 1822–1826, RS (1875) 12.84–124. Catiche 52, Alexander on Gruzino, 7 June 1810. Barclay reforms as war minister: Barclay 73–90. LeDonne 101–5. End of relationship with Maria Naryshkina: NM, Alexandre 71. A. N. Krylov-Tolstikevich, Imperator Alexandr I i imperatritsa Elizaveta (henceforth Krylov-Tolstikevich) 163.

  10

  Rey 212–232. Arakcheev 138–150. Declining Russo–French alliance: Lieven 60–101, preparations by Arakcheev and Barclay 100–37; intelligence gathering by Chernyshev and Nesselrode 79–85, Continental System 78–80; Alexander offensive plans 92–3, Polish probes 123–132; Russian reforms and preparations 102–36. Roberts on Alexander offensive plans; Continental System 548–50; Russian preparations 562–7; Napoleon–Alexander letters 563–4. Alexander’s creation of police ministry: LeDonne 127–30. NM, Alexandre 83–91. Alexander and Barclay reform army: Barclay 91–146. Catiche 54: blood will flow, 26 December 1810; 57 my family are at your feet, 19 January 1811; 67, 25 April 1811; 72 What can be hoped of Napoleon? Speransky reform, 5 July 1811; 78 ‘a dog’s life’, 10 November 1811. On tension and preparations: Adam Zamoyski, 1812: Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow (henceforth Zamoyski, 1812). On Chernyshev: Bruce Menning, A. I. Chernyshev: A Russian Lycurgus, Canadian Slavonic Papers (1988) 30.2 (henceforth Menning) 190–219. Warnings to Napoleon: Caulaincourt report to Champagny, duc de Cadore, foreign minister, 19 September 1810, quoted in Price 37.

  11

  This is based on Lieven, Roberts, Zamoyski, 1812, and Rey; personal decisions based on Alexander’s correspondence with Catiche. and Prince Golitsyn. Alexander’s and Rostopchin’s key correspondence with Kutuzov is from L. G. Beskrovnyi (ed.), M. I. Kutuzov. Sbornik dokumentov 4. Fall of Speransky, rise of Rostopchin: NM, Alexandre 91–119; religious revelations and relationship with Prince Alexander Golitsyn 160–7 and Koshelov 175–6. Oligarchy of grandees/families limits tsar, ‘They took away Speransky, who was my right hand’: LeDonne 105–12. Lieven 85–90; diplomatic manoeuvres with Austria 91–4; Kutuzov and Ottoman war 95. Rey 233–257. Catiche 81: sentry duty, no foot–kissing, 21 November 1811; 83 infernal being, 24 December 1811; 84 horizon darkening, 18 January 1812. Relations deteriorate, Roberts 557–64, Napoleon, size of army, leaves Paris, bids for Ottoman support: Roberts 564–79. Georgia: Rayfield 259–71.

  12

  Lieven 138–73. Roberts 567: Caulaincourt’s warnings and Napoleon’s answer; Napoleon’s strategy and deployments 569–70; leaves Paris 575; numbers of Grand Army 576–9, ‘largest invasion force’; crosses Niemen 580; splits in Russian command 581.

  13

  Retreat: Lieven 138–73. Roberts 580–99, Balashov bon mot and Napoleon’s letters to Alexander I 586; Napoleon follows Barclay 594; Smolensk ‘at last I have them/bodies sweet’ quotation 596–7. Recriminations in high command and Alexander’s mysticism: Bagration to Arakcheev and Yermolov, from Vilna to Moscow: NM, Alexandre 91–119; religious revelations and relationship with Prince Alexander Golitsyn 160–7 and Koshelov 175–6. Kutuzov, imposed on Alexander by oligarchs, families: LeDonne 108. Catiche 98: Constantine hopeless, why you had to leave the army, June 1812; 102 Alexander to Catiche, my coming to Moscow not in vain, it made me cry like a child, 12 July 1812; 104 the blame is yours, 5 August 1812; 308, Prince George of Oldenburg on possible commanders, 5 August 1812; 105 Alexander to Catiche, 8 August 1812, choosing Kutuzov; 112–18 Alexander’s explanation, 18 September 1812. GARF 679.1.6.2–3, Alexander appoints Kutuzov, 8 August 1812. RGVIA 1/L 1.3574.III.56, Kutuzov to Rostopchin, 17 August 1812.

  14

  Borodino and after: Lieven 174–214. No one is sure of the exact size of the armies: these figures are Lieven’s; Roberts computes Napoleon 103,000, Kutuzov 120,000. Roberts 600–6: bloodiest battle till Marne, casualty figures 604, 607. RGIA 1409.1.710.1.234, Kutuzov reports on Borodino to Alexander, bloodiest of battles, withdrawal, 29 August 1812. RGVIA 1/L. 1.1.3574.IV.22, Kutuzov abandonment of Moscow to Rostopchin, 1 September 1812. RGIA 1409.1.710.1.230, Kutuzov tells Alexander not the fall of Russia. RGVIA fond VUA.453.19, Alexander to Kutuzov, shock 7 September 1812. GARF 679.1.8.1, Alexander to Kutuzov, 17 September 1812. RGVIA, fond VUA.453.20–2, Alexander to Kutuzov, 2 October 1812. Colonel Michaud’s interviews with Alexander quoted in Shilder 3.124, 509–10.

  15

  Lieven 215–41. Roberts 609–19. Catiche 108, Catiche to Alexander, 3 September 1812; 108 ‘You are loudly accused’, 6 September 1812; 109 Alexander to Catiche, my determination; 109 Catiche to Alexander, ‘Bagration died yesterday’, 13 September 1812; 112–18. ‘Those fatal four miles poisoned all delight’, 18 September 1812; Catiche to Alexander, 23 September 1812; 123 Alexander to Catiche, Bagration paper ‘my commission is fulfilled’, 24 September 1812. Burning of Moscow and Rostopchin: see Alexander Mikaberidze, The Burning of Moscow: Napoleon’s Trial by Fire 1812.

  16

  Lieven 241–84. Catiche 129, Alexander to Catiche, ‘God has done everything’, 2 November 1812; 136 Catiche to Alexander, ‘Delight is general’, 25 November 1812; 142 death of Prince George, Catiche to Alexander, 15 December 1812. After Borodino, Barclay 145–6. Retreat: Roberts 634–5 and quotes Alexander I to Tisenhaus, later Countess Choiseul-Gouffier on Napoleon, ‘What a career he’s ruined’.

  17

  This is based on the following: Lieven chapters 9–14. Price chapters 3–7; Rey 258–270. Roberts 642–60. Alexander’s letters in NM, Alexandre, Elizabeth’s letters in NM, Elisabeth. Arakcheev 158–70. Barclay 166–204. Price: Metternich profile, Stendhal quote 40–1; Lützen and Bautzen 61–75; Reichenbach negotiations 79–88; Prague congress 101–9; Schwarzenberg 115; tsar’s court 116, letter to his wife; defeat at Dresden 119–27; Kulm 127–34. Volkonskaya: Lives in Letters 92–132. Maria Fairweather, Pilgrim Princess (henceforth Fairweather) 57–71. Alexander I to confidant Alexander Golitsyn, Alexander to Golitsyn and negotiations with allies, description by Golitsyn, NM Alexandre, 119–43. Catiche 164, Alexander at Kalisch with Prussian alliance, 23 February 1813; 174–85 Catiche in Prague and Teplitz from 28 April 1813; 185 Alexander, Lützen, Bautzen and after 14 May 1813; 190 truce, 28 May 1813; 193 Catiche bribes Metternich, 20 July 1813. On Nesselrode, background: W. Bruce Lincoln, The Ministers of Nicholas I: A Brief Inquiry into their Backgrounds and Service Careers, Russian Review (July 1975) 34.308–23 (henceforth Lincoln, Nicholas I Ministers) 314.

  18

  Rey 261–77. Roberts on Leipzig 660–86; invasion of France 687–99. Price on Battle of Nations, Alexander threatened by cavalry 135–52; Frankfurt 161; Alexander’s plan for a French republic 117 (General Moreau); crossing into France 168–70; Châtillon Congress, Castlereagh 187–90, Schwarzenberg on Alexander’s buffoonery 190; Alexander vs Bourbons 191; republic or kingdom 198; Blücher pregnancy with elephant, advance 217. On the road to Paris with ministers: Adam Zamoyski, Rites of Peace: The Fall of Napoleon and Congress of Vienna (henceforth Zamoyski, Rites), Metternich quote 108; Metternich tells off Alexander 116–17; middle-class mistress Catiche arrives 123; evenings with Alexander 132. Catiche 196: Alexander ‘dog’s life’ at Teplitz, 5 October 1813; 198 doleful on Switzerland, 15 December 1813. Castlereagh with Alexander: John Bew, Castlereagh (henceforth Bew) 335–51. Arakcheev 166–70. Barclay 166–86.

  19

  The entry to Paris: Price 224–8. Arakcheev 166–7. Barclay 200–1.

  20

  Talleyrand ‘gold mixed with shit’: Price 161; notes to Marie-Louise 217; Talleyrand wants Marie-Louise regency 222–6; Alexander at Talleyrand’s house, Senate deposes Bonapartes 227–36; mission of Caulaincourt, Elba 237–44. Roberts 700–16. Arakcheev 167–70. Barclay 194–2004. Zamoyski, Rites 180–5. Catiche 224, 8 April 1814; 228 Alexander on Napoleon’s abdication, 20 April 1814.

  21

  Catiche 217–30. Charmley 7, 10
, 18–34. Rey 277–8.

  22

  Zamoyski, Rites – Nesselrode 68; Wilhelmina 79; Madame Schwartz 302; Constantine as Angry Hyena; tsar flirts with Auersperg, called oaf 313; threats to Saxony 325; blackmails Metternich through Sagan 330–1; Constantine hits Windischgrätz 340; Alexander chat–up, Countess Szechenyi bon mot, tsar’s big bottom 350–2; Czartoryski and Elizabeth 353; Beethoven 376; Razumovsky fire 384; Saxon settlement, Alexander rude to wife 410; dictator of alliance 461; Chernyshev pimps harlots, Volkonsky mistress and Bethmann letter 476; Czartoryski heartbreak 483. NM, Alexandre 143–55, on Naryshkina, Holy Alliance, Alexander to Koshelev 175; and Alexander to Golitsyn, 8–15 February 1821, inc. anti-Christian revolutionary conspiracy and idea of Holy Alliance coming to Alexander at Vienna, only prevented by return of Napoleon 221–31; change of government, rise of Arakcheev and Golitsyn in Petersburg 165–6. Elizabeth in Vienna: NM, Elisabeth 2.584–6, Elizabeth to mother, 2 October and 11 November 1814. Arakcheev 166–73. Fairweather 101–18. Bew 373–89. Courland sisters: Pflaum 208–60.: Zamoyski, Rites 510–12. Rise of Krüdener: Rey 278–86. Paris after 100 Days/promotion to prince: Barclay 200–3.

  23

  Zamoyski Rites 510–12. Krüdener: Rey 278–86. Barclay 200–3. Alexander to Catiche on Virginia, 3 June 1815. NM, Alexander – Krüdener, Stourzdza, Golitsyn and Koshelev 155–71; Holy Alliance and Alexander’s description in letter to Count Lieven, 16 March 1816, quoted 169–77.