Este libro es el resultado de una larga evolución orgánica. Fascinados como están los autores por la dinastía Romanov e interesados en investigar aspectos únicos y emocionantes de su historia, se toparon con la coronación de Nicolás II como un tema potencial por accidente. La ceremonia en sí misma formó parte integral de la obra de Greg King de 2005 The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power, and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II (La corte del último zar: pompa, poder y pompa en el reinado de Nicolás II) . En el proceso de investigación y escritura, Janet Ashton descubrió una gran cantidad de materiales previamente desatendidos sobre el tema que ayudaron a dar vida dramática al evento: tanto material, de hecho, que fue imposible incluir más que una insinuación tentadora en un solo capítulo. La coronación fue hermosa, opulenta y casi surrealista. Tenues nubes de incienso se elevaban a través de rayos dorados de sol, mientras que las "voces agudas y claras de los muchachos se mezclaban con las notas graves más profundas de los hombres" entonando himnos sonoros mientras Rusia celebraba sin saberlo la coronación de su último emperador. Las llamas parpadeantes de mil velas votivas brillaban sobre los vestidos de brocado plateado, destellaban sobre los iconos dorados, centelleaban contra los diamantes y se reflejaban en las medallas. Este embriagador espectáculo de sonidos y colores, aromas y sensaciones dejó aturdidos a los espectadores. La coronación de Nicolás II en la Catedral de la Asunción de Moscú, aquel mayo de 1896, fue una obra de teatro cuidadosamente elaborada, destinada a transportar a la congregación densamente poblada a un reino de intenso poder espiritual fusionado con una autocracia inquebrantable. La escena no carecía de ironía: el esplendor imperial y los rituales religiosos de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa celebraban a un monarca que apenas llevaba una gota de sangre rusa en sus venas. ¡El libro contiene más de 220 hermosas imágenes que ilustran 248 páginas brillantes!
In 1913, the Romanovs celebrated three hundred years of sitting on the Russian Imperial throne. Great fanfare and hope accompanied the celebrations. A year later, Imperial Russia entered a “war to end all wars,” with the hope of “being back home for Christmas.” It was not to be. Instead, in February 1917, after years of administrative and military ineptitude and incompetence, the Russian people had enough of its government’s inefficacy and corruption. The consequences, as it turned out, changed the world. Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown; members of the Imperial Family faced persecution, arrest, financial instability, uncertainty, and worse. This is the compelling story of how the Romanovs dealt with glory, war, revolution, persecution, imprisonment, and escape!
Arturo E. Beéche, founder and publisher of The European Royal History Journal, thought of the idea for an anthology on Russia’s Grand Duchesses in 2004. Consequently, a companion book on the Russian Grand Dukes became imperative. The Grand Dukes: Sons & Grandsons of Russia’s Tsars Since Paul I examines the biographies of nearly forty men whose birth gave them the right to one of the world’s most prestigious positions. All sons of Russian tsars are covered in Volume I. The sons of collateral grand ducal branches are covered in Volume II. The biography of each of the Grand Dukes of Russia brings to life a deeply gripping human saga. These men were born into what then was one of the world’s most powerful ruling dynasties. They were not all saints; they were not all demons – they were men whose birth showered them with untold privilege. Some used their birthright for the common good; some did not. Yet, they all remain amazingly intriguing, complex, complicated and conflicted human beings. At birth they were showered with untold privilege, including a lump sum of money placed in trust for them. By the time these funds were made available to a Grand Duke, the interest alone made them amazingly wealthy. Added to this benefit, they derived salaries from their military appointments, investments, real estate and inheritance. Thus, the Grand Dukes were able to maintain a lifestyle only surpassed by today’s oligarchs and yesteryear’s robber barons. They were consummate spenders in paintings, art, architecture, jewels, all while acting as sponsors of talented writers, thinkers, poets, ballerinas, among many others. One was a playwright of considerable talent. Another played a role in working toward the liberation of the serfs. One was a leading admiral with a fondness for “fast women and slow ships.” Another Grand Duke lived a tortured existence as a closeted homosexual, yet became the father of nine children. Told in a two-volume set, this is their story.
Included in this unique work, the Second Volume in a two-volume series, are 18 biographies of Russian grand dukes. These were the junior lines of the Russian Imperial Family at the time of the Revolution in 1917: Vladimirovichi, Pavlovichi, Konstantinovichi, Nikolaevichi and Mikhailovichi. The book is illustrated with exquisite and rare photographs of these intriguing men, their families and descendants. It also includes several family trees. The chapters were authored by some of today’s most recognized authors and scholars on the Romanov Dynasty.
This excellent book authored by Galina Korneva and Tatiana Cheboksarova includes nearly 600 photos, an overwhelming majority among them collected from the main archives of Russia and several European countries. The moment captured by these original photos is able, often times, to tell the reader far more about the unique world of royalty and aristocracy than countless pages of text. The authors also relied on important information obtained from Russian and foreign periodicals, memoirs and scientific literature. The English-language version of this book was expanded with contributions by Arturo Beéche, founder and publisher of Eurohistory / The European Royal History Journal. He is an expert on European Royalty, as well as author of more than a dozen books about the various royal families that have shaped the continent’s history.
Prince Vladimir Paley, first cousin of the last tsar, was a poet among the Romanovs. The rules of the Imperial Family prevented him from being considered a member of the dynasty due to the unequal marriage of his parents. This circumstance could have saved his life. Instead, when he was requested by the Bolsheviks to denounce his father, Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia, young Prince Vladimir chose love, loyalty, honor, and affection. His only crime was being related to a dynasty of which he had not even been an official member. This is the compelling story of a young man, and a talented poet, who in different circumstances would have attained great heights.. Destiny, however, played a sad role in bringing a brutal and early death to a promising life.
Jorge F. Sáenz brings to life the previously unknown figure of Prince Vladimir Paley. In doing so, Mr. Sáenz adds to a long and distinguished list of historical studies he has written over the last thirty years. His books number well over a dozen, most of them focusing on various aspects of Costa Rica’s history and unique democratic traditions, that make the country a bastion of democracy in Latin America. His study of the life of Prince Vladimir Paley was first published as a biographical essay in Eurohistory — The European Royal History Journal. The success of this essay led to the story of Vladimir Paley becoming a full-on book. Mr. Sáenz is a career diplomat for Costa Rica, as well as a distinguished law professor at the University of Costa Rica. EUROHISTORY is pleased to announce the hardback publication of this rare and uniquely extraordinary work of royal biography! This book was first published in paperback nearly 20 years ago. The UPDATED and EXPANDED hardback edition contains more information than the original, as well as a new 24-page photo section different than the few images included in the original paperback edition!
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“The coffin was lowered into the grave. Soon there was a burial mound above. It was quickly covered with wreaths, flowers and crowned with a plain wooden cross. Prince Oleg’s promising life was finished.”
Muerte de un príncipe Romanov narra la breve historia del príncipe Oleg Konstantinovich, uno de los miembros menos conocidos de la poderosa y privilegiada familia imperial rusa. Era un joven talentoso, con un genio intelectual y artístico. Oleg era el hijo dotado del talentoso gran duque Konstantin Konstantinovich, que escribía bajo el seudónimo de KR. El gran duque era amigo de Chaikovski, que puso música a sus numerosos poemas y que estableció círculos literarios para sus tropas, tradujo Hamlet al ruso y escribió El rey de los judíos, una obra original que él y sus hijos representaron. El lector seguirá al príncipe Oleg Konstantinovich, a su familia y a sus primos imperiales, mientras su vida lo lleva a través de los lujos de los cuatro magníficos palacios de la familia de Pavlovsk, en Tsarskoye Selo, el Palacio de Mármol en San Petersburgo, el Palacio de Constantino en Strelna; y la finca de Ostashevo cerca de Moscú; así como numerosas vacaciones en Crimea. El joven príncipe disfrutó de la más liberal educación literaria, científica y artística. Fue el primer Romanov matriculado en una escuela civil y se graduó en el Liceo Imperial de San Petersburgo, donde en 1913 ganó la Medalla Pushkin por sus logros académicos. A la edad de 21 años, el príncipe Oleg Konstantinovich estaba en la cima de una brillante carrera y grandeza personal cuando comenzó la Primera Guerra Mundial. Entonces sobrevino la tragedia.
La muerte de un príncipe Romanov lleva al lector a los campos de batalla del Frente Oriental de la Primera Guerra Mundial. Se libraron sangrientas batallas en el norte de Polonia y en los lagos de Masuria, en Lituania. Fue durante la lucha que el príncipe Oleg dirigió a sus tropas en heroicas cargas de caballería contra los alemanes.
