The costume ball held in the Winter Palace on February 11 and 13, 1903 is the famous masquerade, during which all the nobility of the Russian Empire were present in extremely luxurious costumes of the “pre-Petrine time”. These costumes have come down to our time captured in photographs, which are a valuable historical source. Until now, this ball remains the most famous holiday in St. Petersburg during the reign of Nicholas II.
The ball, arranged to commemorate the next anniversary, the 290th anniversary, of the Romanov dynasty, took place at the end of the Advent and took place in two stages: on February 11, 1903, the Evening took place, and on February 13, the Costume Ball itself.
On February 11, the guests gathered in the Romanov Gallery of the Hermitage, then, marching in pairs, greeted the imperial family, making the so-called “Russian bow”. This was followed by a concert at the Hermitage Theatre, with scenes from Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov (performed by Fyodor Chaliapin and Medea Figner), Minkus' ballets La Bayadère and Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake staged by Marius Petipa (with the participation of Anna Pavlova). After the performance, they danced "Russian" in the Pavilion Hall. It was followed by a gala dinner held in the Spanish, Italian and Flemish halls of the Hermitage. The evening ended with dancing.
On February 13, 1903, the second (main) part of the ball took place. All participants dressed up in costumes of the era of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. So, for example, Nicholas II was dressed in the costume of the tsar (“Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich’s evening dress”: a caftan and a golden brocade trim, a royal hat and a baton are now kept in the Armory), and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in the costume of Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna. The ladies of the court were dressed in sarafans and kokoshniks, and the gentlemen appeared in the costumes of archers or falconers. Among the 390 guests there were 65 “dancing officers” appointed by the Empress, also in the clothes of archers or falconers of the 17th century.
The dances took place in the Hermitage Concert Hall (the court orchestra was also dressed in ancient Russian costumes) and continued until one in the morning. General waltzes, quadrilles and mazurkas began after the performance of specially prepared three dances: Russian, round dance and dance under the guidance of the chief director of the ballet troupe Aistov and dancer Kshesinsky. 20 couples participated in the “Russian”, and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and Princess Zinaida Yusupova were the soloists. (The ball was preceded by a dress rehearsal on February 10, 1903). Dinner was accompanied by the famous Arkhangelsk choir.
After graduation, at the wish of the Empress, the participants were photographed by the best photographers of St. Yasvoin, L. Gorodetsky and E. Mrazovskaya, D. Zdobnov, Iv. Voyno-Oransky, Renz and F. Schrader, and others), who created single portraits and group photographs of the participants. In 1904, by order of the Imperial Court, the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers issued a special gift album “Costume Ball in the Winter Palace”, containing 21 heliogravures and 174 phototypes. Copies were distributed for a fee with a charitable purpose, primarily among the participants of the ball.
Also, in the same costumes, some guests appeared at the ball in the Sheremetev Palace, which took place on February 14 of the same year. In addition, a similar ball à la russe took place 20 years earlier, on January 25, 1883, in the palace of Vladimir Alexandrovich and Maria Pavlovna; and 1894 in the Sheremetevs' palace.
The costumes for the ball were created in advance according to special sketches by the artist Sergei Solomko and with the involvement of consultants and cost a fortune. Contemporaries also note the huge amount of jewelry that was showered on the guests.
Several of the costumes worn by the participants in these festivities have been preserved in the Hermitage funds. They came to the museum from various sources: from the palaces that belonged to members of the imperial family (Zimny and Novo-Mikhailovsky), from the mansions of the St. Petersburg nobility (Yusupovs, Golitsyns, Bobrinskys).
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Here I present to you a brief summary of the part of the textbook that covers the period from Alexander 3 to Putin.
sterligov
This is just a brief and not heavily illustrated summary of the main events that make up the causal relationship of historical events. Everything is so brief that it is more like a table of contents for the final part of a history textbook. There is neither time nor energy to select photos, documents, to detail what happened. Anyone who is interested can do this on their own. There is a lot of evidence for this position in the public domain. Actually, all that is reliable in the public domain is confirmation of the truth. After all, even a lie becomes clear when you know the truth.
So, God bless.
Since 1892, Tsarevich Nicholas 2 has been fornicating for two years with the Jewish hypocrite Matilda Kshesinskaya. This is his first love. All for show, everyone knows, the prince does not care. It is difficult to overestimate such integration of the future king into the Jewish world. After two years in the arms of Matilda, the Jews become especially trusted and close people for Nicholas 2. Subsequently, Nicholas even personally takes part in the opening of synagogues in Russia. After 25 years, it was Matilda's palace that would become the first "headquarters of the Bolshevik Jews" sent to Russia by the Jew Rothschild to take control of Russia from the hands of the provisional government. (After fornication with Nikolai, Matilda incestuously fornicated with Nikolai's cousin Andrei Vladimirovich and even had a son from him).
⁃ since 1910, Stolypin seduced the naive Russian peasants with a little money and sent millions of families from their homes to distant Siberia. There, the peasants quickly ran out of money, almost all quickly went bankrupt, mortgaged their lands to banks and turned into workers for the development of underground minerals in the Siberian region. Stolypin sharply increased the mass "transfer" of peasants to Siberia. This was called the “peasant Stolypin reform”. Then Stalin and Molotov would continue this “pumping”. Already not millions but tens of millions of peasants will go to Siberia in the same Stolypin wagons, but with an armed NKVD escort.
⁃ 1913 Witte created the Federal Reserve of Russia, and then this pyramid was transferred to the USA and filled with Russian gold - it turned out the US Federal Reserve.
⁃ since 1914 cousins Wilhelm 2 and Nicholas 2 imitated positional warfare among themselves. The troops sat in the trenches opposite each other. There was only one breakthrough in the entire war - Brusilovsky. At the same time, scientists tested a bunch of weapons. The war provided the main thing - all the upcoming changes of power and dynasties now had something to write off. The war untied the hands of the cousins and gave them a maneuver. Very expressive to the question “when will the war end?” Wilhelm once answered: “The war will end when my brother Nikolai wishes it.”
All this time, all kinds of revolutionary movements were nurtured and encouraged in every possible way in Russia. Those who burrowed heavily and “lost their shores” were executed. But these were isolated cases. Basically, officials from the autocracy blew the dust off the revolutionaries. Without the "revolutionaries" it was impossible to explain the coming radical change of power in Russia. Until Alexander 3, inclusive, the revolutionaries were not touched because both the “enlightened” sovereigns and the revolutionaries had one common goal and a common dream - the speedy development of science and the creation of a new unprecedented “perfect” society. Only the proposed methods and pace were different - the revolutionaries demanded a radical and rapid reorganization of the entire society according to the patterns of scientists - it was not for nothing that most of the revolutionaries were students, that is, students of sorcerers-scientists. Therefore, they fought against autocracy, which, from their point of view, was a brake on the path of scientific progress. The kings were sympathetic to such demands. But they did not want to give up power. But the revolutionaries were not severely punished either - it was their circle, people who read the same books and received the same education from the same scientists. But Nicholas 2 already has an additional motivation not to touch the revolutionaries. He already has a specific plan. As well as the longed-for scientific breakthrough to make and preserve and even strengthen and increase its power.
So, the time has come for a powerful worldwide industrialization. Scientists have developed a plan for the electrification of the entire planet. The triumvirate of world power in the faces of three cousins George 5, Nicholas 2 and Wilhelm 2 adopted the mega-industrialization plan for execution. World industrialization assumed 10-15 years of hard labor for hundreds of millions of people. The brother-kings did not want to take responsibility for the seas of blood. Part of the territory was subject to concession to the Jews of the Rothschilds, including Russia, most of it. It was Russia that had to suffer the main victims, since it was here that the boundless Siberian and Ural wild expanses were, requiring the most difficult development in order to extract underground minerals for the needs of world industrialization. Therefore, it was for the Russians that these plans of scientists cost the most. That is why since then Russia has been a raw material power.
⁃ In October 1915, George 5 breaks his hip bone as a result of a fall from a horse while visiting Belgium and becomes crippled. Before Nicholas II, the prospect of ruling alone instead of two opens up - the unique similarity of George and Nicholas gives this unique opportunity.
December 16, 1916 The murder of Rasputin by a very close person of Nicholas 2, Prince Yusupov. Rasputin was doomed in the future development of events. He had to be removed, because he would certainly have understood that instead of the royal family, a family of twins had appeared and would have opened up on this topic. With Rasputin alive, deceit was impossible, or at least very risky. He was the most dangerous and uncontrollable witness for the upcoming operation. Yes, and the hemophilia of the heir ended - after all, this is a disease of adolescence.
⁃ March 2, 1917 The beginning of the main phase of the transfer of Russia to the centenary concession to the Rothschilds. Nikolai 2 from Headquarters, where he was in the role of commander in chief, went to a certain Dno station in the dense forests of the Pskov province. He knew when and where he would go, because at the same time a group of Duma deputies from Petrograd arrived at this remote station. At the Dno station, the deputies were handed a left unformed piece of paper with a text about the abdication of the tsar from the throne, and the deputies went back to St. Petersburg and published the "abdication". And the abdicated sovereign returned to Headquarters to his officers and soldiers, to the whole army.
There he writes:
“For the last time, I am addressing you, my dearly beloved troops. After My abdication from the Throne of Russia, power was transferred to the provisional government, which arose at the initiative of the State Duma. May God help him lead Russia along the path of glory and prosperity! Fulfill your duty, defend your great Motherland valiantly, obey the provisional government, listen to your superiors, remember that any weakening of the order of service is only in the hands of the enemy. I firmly believe that the boundless love for the cup of the great Motherland has not faded away in your hearts. May the Lord bless you and may the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George lead you to victory!”
Rate, March 8th day (O.S.) 1917
If the “renunciation” in the Pskov forest had been wrested from the tsar by force or deceit, then all this could have been instantly nullified. The tsar-commander-in-chief had more than enough armed resources for this. But instead, Nicholas immediately issues an order for the army to faithfully obey the new Provisional Government. There is still no Provisional Government, and Nikolai is already aware that it will be and orders the entire army to obey him not out of fear, but out of conscience. That is, the one to whom the army swore an oath informs the soldiers and officers whom he now orders to obey. Thus, both civil and military transfers of power took place. Non-violent and prepared. Engaged historians called these two days "the overthrow of the royal power." After returning to Headquarters, Nicholas II spends half a day in the company of his mother and after that departs for London, where his family is already waiting for him. Further, a double acts as a king in Russia. And in the role of the family of the king, a combined family of twins. Even before the revolution, the head of the Okhrana, General Dzhunkovsky, mentioned in his memoirs that the royal family had prefabricated families of doubles.
⁃ On March 8, 1917, without the usual escort, the tsar's double was sent from headquarters to Tsarskoye Selo, and in Tsarskoye Selo a combined family of twins was waiting for him. Before that, absolutely the entire convoy and guards in Tsarskoye Selo are being replaced. Everyone who personally knew Nicholas 2 is removed, and devoted monarchist officers are put in their place, who were treated kindly by Nicholas through awards and awards, but never personally communicated with him. These people were ready to give their lives for the king, and it was they who guarded the family of twins both in Tsarskoye Selo and further on their journey up to Tobolsk. Of course, they were absolutely sure that this was a real royal family. The convoy was not subordinate to Kerensky, but to the “tsar”. Even Kerensky could see the "tsar" only with the permission of the escort. And the “king” was subordinate to the employees of Mi-6, such as the teacher of the royal children, Charles Gibbs. Gibbs, through the "king", orders the convoy to separate the family so that they communicate as little as possible. Apparently something caught the eye of the guards. No one visits the “king” from March to August!!! Although it is in the power of the “king” to accept everyone he does not want, because the guards are subordinate to him. Pay attention to all the known photos of the “family” of this period. The “supervised” sit or lie lounging in a businesslike way, and the “jailers” stand in front of them exclusively at attention.
⁃ Starting from March 1917, the Rothschilds mobilize every Jewish rabble in America and Europe and send them to Petrograd to create the already permanent government of Russia and take over the concession "Russia" from the Provisional Government. Trotsky is sailing from New York to Russia with a crowd of American Russian-speaking Jews, and Lenin is traveling by train from Europe with a gang of European Jews. At the same time, additional handlers from the Mi-6 from London arrive Lockhart, Robinson, Reinstein and Thompson with comrades. The Jewess Kshesinskaya provides them with the first refuge in her palace, presented to her by her lover Nicholas 2nd. All the Jews of the future Soviet government go straight from the railway stations or the seaport to her palace. There for them and a shelter and a table and a workplace. I remind you who forgot, Matilda is Nikolai's first love.
⁃ July 17, 1917 in London, by royal decree, the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty is “abolished” and it is announced that from now on the English throne is occupied by the “Windsor dynasty”. There never was such a dynasty. Windsor is the name of a castle in England, where George 5, Wilhelm 2, Nicholas 2 and Alice, his wife, spent part of their childhood. Thus, the “Windsor dynasty” became a kind of single united name of the three dynasties that ruled the world before, as if the name of the common world throne and the common world power of Saxe-Coburg-Goths, Holstein-Gottorps and Hohenzollerns.
August 1917, the combined royal family of twins departs for the Urals by train of the “red cross” (“the red cross” is a well-known cover for the special services of His Royal Majesty Mi-6), accompanied by a high-ranking English intelligence officer Charles Gibbs and guarded by a convoy devoted to the “king”. (After the disappearance of the family of twins, Gibbs for some time heads the secret! Kolchak - this indicates that he is a professional English intelligence officer). In all the cities along the route, the meeting and provision of the “royal family” takes place according to all the standards of pre-revolutionary Russia. Under them, the governor's palace and all the surrounding buildings are immediately vacated for accompanying persons, attendants and the royal escort.
⁃ October 26, 1917 The Provisional Government peacefully transfers power to the already formed permanent Jewish government of Rothschild - Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin (the so-called "Soviet power"), acting under the direct supervision of the commissars from London. All members of the provisional government are arrested in the Winter Palace and released literally a few hours later. Who wished to go abroad, the rest joined the government bodies of Soviet power. From this day, the hundred-year term of the Rothschild concession begins to count - the people sent by them begin to rule.
March 11, 1918 - War is no longer needed. Peace is made with Germany. In order for the soldiers to go home faster and not pose a threat to the new Jewish government, simultaneously with the decree on peace, a decree on land is issued - foolish peasant soldiers run home, so as not to be late for the division of the land.
⁃ August 1918 Under an additional agreement to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, without any additional requirements from Germany, the Soviet chief Jews export all the gold reserves of Russia to Germany Wilhelm 2. Can you imagine Jews who are eager to give a train with pure gold to someone abroad? It can only be the fulfillment of the order of the formidable master.
⁃ On July 17, 1918, an imitation of the murder of the Tsar's double takes place in the Urals. And he and the whole combined family of twins are transported by British intelligence officers in different directions with subsequent evacuation abroad. The twins of the royal family were not killed not because of humanity, but so that there were no corpses left for subsequent identification and exposure of the substitution. It is known for certain how the double of Tsarevich Alexei was taken out. It was exported through China and Australia by Charles Gibbs himself. First, with the passport of the orphan Georgy Paveliev, and then in general with the name Gibbs as a result of the adoption of a young man by Charles Gibbs to leave for Australia from China. Here is a report photo of Gibbs with “Aleksey” made in Harbin for London.
⁃ November 9, 1918 Wilhelm II abdicates the throne and departs for his palace in Holland, transferring power to the provisional German government headed by his old friend Hindenburg. With Wilhelm, a whole train with the treasures of the Second Reich and with the Russian gold reserve transferred by Trotsky and Lenin departs for Holland (the remains of the gold reserve of Russia will soon be taken to England through Siberia by the “killed and drowned” Kolchak - remember the missing “Kolchak gold”. Usually they forget about that Kolchak disappeared along with the gold. Nobody has ever seen his corpse. A significant part of the gold was taken out even before the revolution to provide for the US Federal Reserve. So, the Holstein-Gottorps did not leave any of their treasures in Russia. Then for a long time they will take out all sorts of paintings and sculptures, books and jewelry (this will be entrusted to Soros and the production of a copy of the exported - to Grabar)
The Holstein-Gottorps feared for a long time that the plan would fail and for a long time left the possibility of a reverse move - hence the miserable implausible piece of paper about the abdication and vague information about the murder of the king - either he abdicated, or a fake, or killed, or not killed. You never know, all of a sudden someone unplanned there from Trotsky and Lenin will take away power over Russia - then Nikolai will appear again. All in white. And again he will take the throne, declaring the renunciation a fake, and even more so his murder. But everything settled down. Soviet power was firmly established. The king and family were declared to have been murdered “martyrs”.
A civil war is raging in Russia. A number of people who sincerely did not understand what happened are trying to overthrow the Jews and take power in Russia. All of them are “helped” by British intelligence. Both sides of the conflict are under the complete control of the British. That's what the secret services, the knights of the cloak and dagger, mean. Puppeteers play with dolls. The English officer Kolchak was generally sent from America with a whole English staff and declared him the "supreme ruler of Russia." The whole civil war is the “Soviet” Rothschild Jews against the “systemic controlled opposition” controlled by the British. The outcome of the civil war was a foregone conclusion. The task assigned to the secret services of His Majesty the King of England was brilliantly accomplished - power over Russia remained the same in the person of the "killed" Nicholas 2 sitting in London, with new managers in Moscow in the form of the Soviet government of Jews - proteges of Rothschild, who himself remained in London at hand and under full control of Nicholas 2 and his special services.
Everything is generally going according to plan. In Russia, the most brutal collectivization and the sadistic Gulag begin, at the same time in the United States many years of exhausting unpaid public work as part of the “global depression”, in Europe and public work for stew and Hitler's concentration camps. The industrialization of the world is in full swing. Highways are being built, mines are being dug, dams are being poured - scientists are in charge of the whole process.
⁃ 1928 Beginning of collectivization.
From the same 1928, three pre-war five-year plans began - industrialization itself.
⁃ 1924 -1953 - Filling the Gulag with labor force. All plans for dispossession of kulaks, as well as for the number and targeted sending of enemies of the people to industrialization construction sites, descend on the Lubyanka from the Soviet Academy of Sciences. Created "sharashki" of sorcerer-scientists attached to the camps for the direct management of the construction of objects of the national economy.
⁃ January 20, 1936 Edward 8 succeeds to the throne of England. According to the initial agreement, he should abdicate in favor of Alexei, but Edward is pulling. Renunciation occurs only on the 325th day!!! after Edward's accession to the throne. Interestingly, the coronation of Edward for so long did not happen. The entourage of Nicholas 2, and then Alexei, remained faithful to the Holstein-Gottorps and forced Edward 8 to fulfill his obligations to his relatives and brothers in lodges.
⁃ December 10, 1936 Edward 8 finally abdicates the throne. He is sent to the mainland under supervision in the Rothschild castle, where he is under supervision until the coronation of Alexei 2 (“George 6″)
⁃ December 11, 1936 Alexei Holstein-Gottorpsky son of Nicholas 2 (“George 6″) sits on the English throne.
But then suddenly force majeure. One of the heirs buckled. The son of George 5 Edward, who abdicated in accordance with the initial agreements from the English throne in favor of George (son of Nicholas 2 Alexei), finally rebelled and went to Hitler with a proposal to return the throne to him by force of arms. Hitler agreed to support Edward and went to war with England. The whole world of elites was divided into two camps: supporters of Edward of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and supporters of George (Aleksey) Holstein-Gottorp. Both are Windsors. Stalin initially supported his masters from London. Then he entered into an agreement with Hitler, and then again went over to the side of London. And already, together with Roosevelt and Churchill, he destroyed Hitler. Edward 8 lost. English, read the world throne, was retained by Alexei of Holstein-Gottorp (George 6). Chronologically, it went like this:
⁃ In October 1937 of your era, Edward 8 and his wife, after abdicating the throne, arrive to Hitler in Germany, and they are greeted as “their majesties”. In Nuremberg, a super-rich royal reception for all the aristocrats of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty and some representatives of the Hohenzollern dynasty, where Edward 8 is given royal honors and all the ladies curtsy to Edward's wife, thus publicly recognizing her as queen. This is an open rebellion.
⁃ Stalin enters into an agreement with Hitler on the side of Edward 8 against Alexei (“George 6″). The motivation of Stalin and Hitler is understandable - they are just proteges and external managers, not even of the English kings, but only moneylenders of the Rothschilds. And in the event of a victory over George and the return of the throne to Edward 8, the new English king himself becomes THEIR protege. At the same time, Hitler tried all the time to deceive and betray Stalin, and Stalin tried to deceive and betray Hitler. By the way, the real George 5 never had a son named George. He had a son, Albert. And where he went is unknown. According to the official version, he kind of renamed himself “George” in honor of the pope when he ascended the throne. Surprisingly, no children's photographs of Albert-Georg have survived, despite the fact that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of children's photos of Eduard 8 or Alexei Holstein-Gottorp. This is not indirect, but direct evidence of the substitution of an individual.
The Rockefellers made a bet on Edward and entered into an alliance with Hitler. Their motivation is also understandable. The Rockefellers are aiming for the place of the Rothschilds in the global financial hierarchy.
Stalin completely destroys Soviet foreign intelligence, mostly of Jewish nationality, who worked closely with the Rothschild people and under the control of MI6. Stalin already needs his own special services independent of the Rothschilds.
Edward 8 behaves like a coward. He dragged Hitler and Stalin into the conflict, but neither yours nor ours.
In AD 1940, Hitler addresses all European countries with a proposal for reconciliation. He is ready to withdraw German troops from all occupied territories, except for the primordially German Austria, part of Czechoslovakia, part of Poland and Alsace-Lorraine and pay compensation to all countries affected by Germany's actions. All Germany's peace initiatives were frustrated by the urgently launched unilateral bombing of German cities by British aircraft. Only two months after the beginning of the British air raids, Hitler in response begins to bomb London. And for a very short time. The English king does not want reconciliation. The traitor Hitler is sentenced.
Churchill arrests and imprisons more than 2,000 English aristocrats of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty, the Hognzollern dynasty and other supporters of Edward 8. No one is executed or tortured, but they will be released from English prisons only after the end of World War II.
⁃ May 1941 - flight of Rudolf Hess to England. Hitler assures England that he is not going to attack her and assures that he will attack Stalin. Churchill informs Stalin of Hitler's impending attack.
⁃ At the same time in May, Hitler sends a messenger to Stalin. Hitler promises Stalin to attack England and not attack Stalin. Stalin believes and waits. So that after Hitler's attack on England, with all his might, hit him in the back and free all of Europe from Hitler and, most importantly, atone for his temporary weakness and act as the savior of Alexei 2 (“George 6”) from Hitler. To do this, on the border with Germany, Stalin concentrates almost the entire Soviet army. The count to the victorious liberation campaign all the way to the Atlantic goes on for days.
⁃ Hitler, instead of the promised landing in England (Operation Sea Lion), unexpectedly for Stalin, delivers a massive blow to the narrow border strip of the USSR, where Soviet troops and equipment are crammed, and in just a few days destroys everything that takes several years at an accelerated pace and terrible victims Gulag produced the entire industry of the USSR. Millions of Soviet soldiers and officers were destroyed, captured or surrounded. For the first few hours, Stalin refuses to believe in the perfidious attack of his ally and hopes that this is just a provocation by the pro-English-minded German generals. If Hitler had not unexpectedly burned the super-powerful Soviet army on June 22-23, then the liberation of Europe from Hitler would have lasted not four years, but a couple of months.
For the next four years, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt, under the general leadership of "George 6", put out Hitler. Stalin has to painfully long to re-produce everything that was burned on the Soviet-German border in a few days in June 41st.
⁃ Edward 8 was sent by Churchill into exile away from Hitler in the Caribbean. Edward obediently departs on a passenger liner. continues to act like a coward. Hitler hangs in the air. Both Edward and Hitler are losing all support of the world elites.
⁃ 1941-1945 Stalin corrects himself in the eyes of the English king. He spares neither the strength nor the means to defeat his former accomplice.
⁃ 1943 at a conference in Tehran in the third year of the war, Churchill, on behalf of Alexei 2 (“George 6”), presents a knightly sword to Stalin as a reward for defending the English throne from Hitler. Stalin publicly kneels before Churchill. Like a vassal before the master's messenger. From now on, Stalin is a marshal. Subsequently, this place was cut from the video chronicles. The cut is disguised as camera flashes.
⁃ The end of World War II. Hitler is defeated. Edward 8 is put to shame. World power remained in the hands of Alexei 2 (George 6). All the enemies of the English king crawl towards him on their knees. Some are executed. From the rest, such as the Rockefellers, the king takes huge indemnities. Stalin claims to increase the status - after all, it is the territory under his control that has the biggest losses in protecting the world domination of the Holstein-Gottorp. The height of his ambition is to report directly to the king, and not to the Rothschilds. But changing the status is not possible. The king believes that it is enough that additional territories of Eastern Europe were given under external control to Stalin, those countries whose elites supported the rebellion of Edward and Hitler.
1947 Stalin gets out of control of the Rothschilds. The Cold War begins. The USSR begins to conduct a policy independent of the former owners and shows independence until the death of Stalin. Stalin's independence is visibly manifested in a complete ban on Jews being part of not only intelligence but also internal Soviet special services, and, most importantly, in the refusal to accept the dollar as money not backed by gold. From now on, it is the dollar that is the main instrument of the world power of the “Windsors”. Whoever accepts dollars in payment for everything is a vassal of London, whoever does not accept is an enemy. The owners of the US Federal Reserve are the Windsors. The military power of the "Windsors" is concentrated on the territory of the United States - this is honestly called the "role of the world gendarme." Just a "gendarme".
England is betting on Beria.
⁃ Beria is appointed as the external manager of Russia and immediately begins the policy of returning Russia to the hands of the main concessionaires - the Rothschilds.
April 1953 Khrushchev assassinates Beria and continues the Cold War policy, i.e. the policy of independent rule initiated by Stalin.
⁃ The period of independent power of Khrushchev and Brezhnev. Cold War.
⁃ Andropov's coming to power. Andropov turns back under British rule.
⁃ Andropov's henchman is Gorbachev. End of the Cold War. The Rothschilds get their concession back. The dollar is recognized as the main unit of account for Russia.
⁃ Andropov's henchman is Yeltsin.
"We looked at each other in amazement: as if by magic, all the familiar figures turned into wonderful images from our eastern past."
Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna
The brightest and most famous ball of the period of the reign of Nicholas II is a costume ball of 1903, timed to coincide with the next anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The ball took place on February 11 and 13, 1903, at the end of the Advent.
General photo of the participants of the costume ball in the Winter Palace
Looking at the photographs of the participants and the surviving costumes, one can hardly imagine that the idea of holding this bright and perhaps one of the most famous balls in the history of European royal courts was born in a dispute between the son of the famous Russian poet Zhukovsky and the Minister of the Imperial Court, Baron Frederiks, during breakfast with the emperor at the end 1902. The meaning of the dispute was that Pavel Vasilievich Zhukovsky accused Tsar Peter I of destroying Russian identity and imposing a Western costume, and Baron Frederiks defended himself with the words: “if we were all dressed in Russian costumes now, we would look like the Chinese, whose embassies, arriving in their national costumes, excite laughter in Europe.” Zhukovsky, on the other hand, described Russian costumes so colorfully that by the end of breakfast, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna wished to see all this splendor at a court ball. The ball was decided to coincide with the accession of the Romanovs to the Moscow throne in 1613, and the era of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was chosen for the costumes.
Already on January 1, 416 notifications were sent to persons belonging to the highest nobility, but at first this idea was accepted by many without much enthusiasm. The coming year 1903 had already been scheduled in detail, and since the event was decided not to be postponed, it was decided to close the last theater evening of the season with a costume ball and appointed it at the beginning of February. There was practically no time left for expensive suits, development and tailoring had to be done immediately, and all this spontaneity entailed unscheduled crazy waste. More than 100 people immediately declined the invitation, while others, regardless of the cost, took up the preparation.
Despite the fact that the ball was supposed to take place in the near future, the requirements for costumes were very strict. The outfit had to be unique and fully correspond to the era of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. All invited persons, as the director of the imperial theaters V.A. Telyakovsky "divided into two camps: some went to us for advice, others to Vsevolozhsky ..." It was thanks to the advice and instructions of V.A. Telyakovsky and I.A. Vsevolozhsky, as well as archival research, the ball turned into a historically reliable event.
In the winter of 1903, in secular Petersburg, all the talk was about a costume ball scheduled for February 11th. "Especially the ladies were completely stunned and forgot all the rules of secular relations," Telyakovsky was indignant. The bulk of the costumes were sewn in the workshops of the St. Petersburg imperial theaters, and dozens of tailors were involved in preparing the costumes, who worked tirelessly.
The costumes were created according to the sketches of the artist S.C. Solomko, E.P. Ponomarev with the involvement of consulting historians and were as reliable as possible. It was decided not to skimp on the decor of the costumes and they were generously decorated with the rarest furs, huge diamonds, pearls, gems - mostly in old settings, and even the orchestra members were dressed up in old Russian costumes.
The Empress' "Great Outfit" was designed by the artist E.P. Ponomarev. The image of one of the icons of the Exaltation of the Cross Church of the Moscow Kremlin was taken as the basis. It depicted Maria Miloslavskaya, the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. A year later, the ballerina Tamara Karsavina recalled: "The Empress in a heavy crown looked like a Byzantine icon." The queen's outfit was adorned with a magnificent palm-sized emerald bordered with 54 diamonds. The sovereign, as Vsevolozhsky later recalled, "ordered me to find a suitable suit for him. He would like something long and not too flashy." The Empress was against the "modest" attire and insisted that her husband's suit should not be inferior in luxury to her own.
Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
The costume of the sovereign, as well as the empress, was developed by I.A. Vsevolozhsky and E.P. Ponomarev, and sewn by theatrical costume designer of the Imperial Theaters I.I. Kaffi. The "small royal" outfit of Nicholas II consisted of a caftan adorned with genuine precious stripes from ancient royal clothes, a hat made of gold brocade made in the Bruno brothers' hat workshop and the staff of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In addition, 38 authentic items of royal costumes of the 17th century were issued from the Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin, 16 of them were selected, including pearl wrists that belonged to the son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsar Fedor Ioannovich.
The outfit of the younger brother of the tsar, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich was completely reconstructed based on archaeological materials and was the costume of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in which he was on the day of choosing a bride. It should be noted that Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich in this outfit conquered the whole society, and his sister Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna wrote in her diary: "Misha came in his costume and killed everyone."
Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich
Despite the news on the eve of the ball that the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich would not be due to illness, the guests began to arrive by 8 pm on Tuesday, February 11, for a performance at the Imperial Hermitage. The invitees were in costumes from the time of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the ladies of the court - in sundresses with kokoshniks, gentlemen - in costumes of falconers or archers, gathered in the Romanov Gallery and, marching in pairs, greeted the imperial family with a "Russian bow". Then the whole audience watched a performance in the Hermitage Theater with scenes from Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov, from Minkus' ballets La Bayadère and Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake staged by Marius Petipa turned off. Fyodor Chaliapin, Nina Figner and Anna Pavlova shone on the stage. Afterwards, a dinner was held in the Spanish, Italian and Flemish halls of the Hermitage with champagne, Madeira, Ropshinsky trout in Russian and many other dishes. After dinner, the evening continued with dancing in the Pavilion Hall until two in the morning.
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna
On February 13, 1903, the second costume ball took place in the Concert Hall of the Winter Palace. The diplomatic corps was added to the former guests. The ball opened with a polonaise from M.I. Glinka's "Life for the Tsar", then they danced "Russian" and continued with traditional dances: square dances, mazurkas, waltzes. Dinner followed as usual. 34 round tables were set in the Great Nicholas Hall. Buffets were located in the Small Dining Room and the Concert Hall, and tables with wine and tea were located in the Malachite Dining Room. For dinner, accompanied by folk songs and epics about Dobrynya Nikitich, foie gras, nantua with oysters, timbale from ruffs and even pickles, madeira drinks, champagne and red wine "Chateau Margaux" were served. Then the ball continued with dancing and ended at three in the morning.
February 14 at the ball to Count A.D. Sheremetev, the guests dressed in the same costumes. Later, by order of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, the best photographers of St. Petersburg: Boasson and Egler, Renz and Schroeder, Levitsky and others made single portraits and group shots of the ball participants. In 1904, albums containing 173 images were printed. They were distributed primarily among the participants of the ball for a fee with a charitable purpose.
Despite the Great Nikolaev Ball of 1904, the costume ball of 1903 went down in history as the last ball of the Russian Empire, and none of those present had any idea that everything would disappear so soon and irrevocably.
P.S. The article was written specially for the exhibition: "Russian Tsars in London". The event was dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and was held at the London office of Rossotrudnichestvo.
English version
From the memoirs of the participants of the ball:
"February 11th. The hall filled with ancient Russian people looked very beautiful. After dinner there was a small cotillion, during which 12 couples danced a Russian dance. Everything turned out very well and ended at 2 1/2.
February 13th. Thursday. At 9 1/2 a ball in costumes from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich began in the Concert Hall - a repetition of the previous one for Mama. Misha also came. The ball passed cheerfully, beautifully and amicably. Russian dance was very successful. We dined in the Nicholas Hall.
February 14th. Friday. At 102 we went to the ball to Count A.D. Sheremetev. Half of the society was "ours" - in historical costumes. There was a repetition of yesterday's Russian dance."
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich
“Ksenia was in a noblewoman’s outfit, richly embroidered, shining with jewels, which suited her very well. I was dressed in a falconer’s dress, which consisted of a white and gold caftan with golden eagles sewn on the chest and back, a pink silk shirt, blue trousers and yellow morocco boots. The rest of the guests followed the whims of their imagination and taste, remaining, however, within the framework of the epoch of the 17th century .... Alix looked amazing, but the sovereign was not tall enough for her luxurious attire. At the ball there was a competition for the championship between Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (Ella ) and Princess Zinaida Yusupova .... The ball was a great success and was repeated in all details a week later in the house of the richest Count A.D. Sheremetev. "
Letters from Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna addressed to Princess Alexandra Alexandrovna Obolenskaya. January 1903
"Dear Aprak,
Okay, I'll find out tomorrow, in? On the 12th I will have Ivanova with a costume model, I have to try it on - I would very much like to have you! Faberge also sent me a drawing for the kokoshnik. If you can, please come!
Ksenia
Dear Aprak,
Tomorrow at? On the 12th I will have a dressmaker Ivanova and some gentleman whom I saw at the exhibition (historical costume) and asked him to make me a drawing of a shoe! He seems to understand something about the old days and can give directions about the costume! I'm tired of this question and I finally want to finish it tomorrow. Would you like to come too? I would be very grateful, I hope you will have breakfast with us.
Ksenia
Dear Aprak,
Please come tomorrow for breakfast at? 1st. Let's decide about the kokoshnik and everything else! Thanks for the drawing. Haven't done anything yet on the Becker case.
Kiss. Ksenia"
Anna Alexandrovna Vyrubova-Taneeva, maid of honor to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
“The winter of 1903 was very cheerful. I especially remember this year the famous balls at the Court in costumes from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich; the first ball was in the Hermitage, the second in the concert hall of the Winter Palace and the third at Count Sheremetev. My sister and I were among 20 couples who danced Russian. We rehearsed the dance several times in the hall of the Hermitage, and the Empress came to these rehearsals. On the day of the ball, she was strikingly beautiful in a gold brocade suit, and this time, as she told me, she forgot her shyness, walked along hall, talking and looking at costumes."
Baroness Sofia Karlovna Buxgevden, maid of honor to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
"The Empress showed particular interest in all the preparations for this ball; she herself, with the help of the director of the Hermitage Museum Ivan Alexandrovich Vsevolozhsky, who provided her with the necessary historical information, designed her costume and the costume of the emperor.<...>Men and women from high society competed with each other at this ball. Magnificent staves, jewelry and furs were taken from private collections especially for this occasion. The officers dressed up in uniforms of that time, and the courtiers dressed in dresses adopted at the court of Tsar Alexei. The Grand Duchesses were dressed like their grandparents, and their outfits were created by the best contemporary craftsmen. The Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna looked the most charming of all at this ball. Everyone danced old Russian dances, carefully learned in advance - the spectacle was truly bewitching.
Nicholas II was very fond of the era of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, considering him something of a role model. One of the manifestations of such love was a costume ball in the Winter Palace in February 1903, where all the guests were in costumes from the 17th century. I will post here some photos from this event (not all, of course, there were about four hundred guests).
Emperor Nicholas and Empress Alexandra dressed as Tsar Alexei and Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna:
Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich:
As the only brother of Nicholas II (another one, George, died of consumption in 1899), Mikhail was the heir to the throne in those years. Nicky and Alix had only daughters. Michael later entered into a morganatic marriage against his brother's wishes. His only son, the last male descendant of Alexander III, died in a car accident in 1931, when he was 20 years old...
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich with his wife Xenia:
Xenia is the younger sister of Nicholas II (outward resemblance, in my opinion, is noticeable). Alexander Mikhailovich is her cousin uncle and husband. The six sons born in this marriage would have had a very significant weight within the Romanov family, if not for their unequal marriages. And the only daughter of Alexander and Xenia became the wife of the famous Prince Yusupov, one of the murderers of Rasputin.
Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich:
Son of Alexander II and uncle of Nicholas II. In the eyes of society, he bore the main responsibility for the Khodynka disaster, the emperor's refusal to reform and Bloody Sunday. The Social Revolutionaries in 1905 sentenced him to death and killed him.
Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna: 
Elder sister of the Empress and wife of Sergei Alexandrovich. She was executed by the Bolsheviks in Alapaevsk.
Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich:
Head of the Naval Department, responsible for the defeat of the fleet in the Russian-Japanese.
Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (Mecklenburg-Schwerinskaya), wife of another imperial uncle, Vladimir Alexandrovich:
Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich:
Nicholas' cousin. His older brother Cyril later declared himself emperor.
Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich:
The emperor's cousin, later - the Supreme Commander at the beginning of the First World War. He commanded unimportantly.
Konstantin Konstantinovich, another cousin of the emperor:
The last Romanov who died before the revolution and loss of status.
Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich, the youngest of the sons of Nicholas I and the great-uncle of the emperor:
Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, son of the previous one:
He was an outstanding numismatist. he was shot in 1919 in the Peter and Paul Fortress, along with three other members of the dynasty, in response to the murder of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.
Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna, daughter of the King of Greece and wife of her cousin uncle Georgy Mikhailovich:
After the revolution, she still managed to be the wife of a Greek admiral.
Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Leuchtenberg, born Countess Grabbe:
Wife of Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich of Leuchtenberg, grandson of one of the daughters of Nicholas I.
Agrippina Konstantinovna Zarnekau, nee Japaridze:
Morganatic wife of Prince Konstantin of Oldenburg, grandson of one of the daughters of Paul the First.
Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitzky, maternal grandson of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich:
Mikhail Georgievich Mecklenburg-Strelitzky, brother of the previous one:
Countess Natalya Karlova (née Vonlyarlyarskaya), morganatic wife of Georgy Mecklenburg-Strelitzky:
Her descendants, by the way, are now the only representatives of the Mecklenburg dynasty.
Count Alexei Alexandrovich Bobrinsky:
Great-great-grandson of Catherine II and Grigory Orlov.
Obolenskaya:
Daughters of Alexander Sergeevich Taneyev: Anna (married Vyrubova, one of the most enthusiastic admirers of Rasputin at court) and Alexandra, married - Pistolkors: 
These ladies were, by the way, the descendants of Field Marshal Kutuzov.
Vera Grigorievna Gerngross, nee Chertkova:
Count Vladimir Alekseevich Musin-Pushkin:
His ancestor, the first Count Musin-Pushkin, was considered in society the actual son of Tsar Alexei (Peter the Great even privately called him brother); on his mother's side, the count was the great-grand-nephew of Catherine's Chancellor Bezborodko, and he was married to the granddaughter of the Decembrist Kapnist and the great-granddaughter of the playwright, respectively.
Elizaveta Alexandrovna Sheremeteva:
Daughter of Count Alexander Dmitrievich and great-granddaughter of Praskovya Zhemchugova, who began as a serf actress. She later married Count Zubov.
Princess Anna Vladimirovna Shcherbatova, born Princess Baryatinsky:
Princess Maria Pavlovna Chavchavadze, née Rodzianko:
Rodzyanki - a very respectable and wealthy Little Russian family, from the Cossacks. This lady was the niece of the chairman of the State Duma.
Princess Tatyana Mikhailovna Gagarina, nee Chertkova:
Nadezhda Vladimirovna Bezobrazova, nee Countess Stenbock-Fermor:
She came from a Swedish aristocratic family, and through the female line - from General Fermor, who commanded under Zorndorf.
Nadezhda Dmitrievna Vonlyarlyarskaya, nee Nabokova:
One of the few beauties here. The Nabokovs were a very respectable family; and this lady had a nephew - Volodenka, then three years old. Looks like no?
Colonel Fyodor Nikolaevich Bezak, from the Little Russian nobility:
Most Serene Princess Maria Mikhailovna Golitsyna:
The wife of Prince Lev Sergeevich, the founder of Russian winemaking in the Crimea. In girlhood she was Orlova-Denisova, a descendant of counts of Cossack origin.
Sophia Viktorovna Gall, nee Princess Golitsyna:
Sofia Petrovna Durnovo, born Serene Highness Princess Volkonskaya:
A.I. Soloviev:
Alexey Zakharovich Khitrovo:
A prominent collector who lived in two houses - in Russia and Florence (his mother was Countess Pandolfini); bequeathed all collections to the Hermitage.
Anna Sergeevna Istomina:
Prince Konstantin Alexandrovich Gorchakov:
Prince Dmitry Borisovich Golitsyn (son-in-law of Musin-Pushkin, who was somewhere higher):
E.V. Baryatinskaya:
Elena Nikolaevna Bezak:
Elena Vladimirovna Golitsyna:
Elena Dmitrievna Rodzianko:
Elena Ivanovna Zvegintsova:
Princess Elena Konstantinovna Kochubey, nee Princess Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya:
Her husband was a descendant of the most famous scammer in Russian literature.
General Theophilus Meyendorff:
Baroness Fredericks:
Christopher Platonovich Derfelden (from the Baltic nobility):
Konstantin Nikolaevich Gartong:
General Kutepov:
Maria Nikolaevna Vasilchikova, nee Isakova:
Maria Nikolaevna Voeikova:
Maria Vasilievna Golenishcheva-Kutuzova:
Maria Nikolaevna Lopukhina, nee Kleinmikhel (granddaughter of the builder of the railway between Moscow and St. Petersburg):
Nadezhda Golitsyna:
Princess Nadezhda Alexandrovna Baryatinsky:
Another lady from Stenbock-Fermor. The Bolsheviks shot her in the Crimea in 1920 along with her pregnant daughter.
Nadezhda Dmitrievna Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya:
Natalia Zvegintsova:
Prince Nikolai Dmitrievich Obolensky:
Nikolaev:
Anton Vasilyevich Novosiltsev:
Obolenskaya:
Olga Mikhailovna Zografo:
Olimpiada Alexandrovna Baryatinskaya:
Countess Maria Mikhailovna Orlova-Davydova, nee Zografo (her sister is taller):
What kind of family Zographo - I have no idea, but the first Count Orlov-Davydov was the grandson of one of the Orlov brothers and cousin of the notorious Denis Vasilyevich.
Prince Prozorovsky-Golitsyn:
Princess Shakhovskaya:
Prince Shervashidze (descendant of Abkhaz rulers):
Baron Stackelberg:
Skoropadskaya. Another representative of the Little Russian aristocracy (the Skoropadskys were neighbors of the Kochubeys since the 17th century). very sad:
Sofia Dmitrievna Evreinova:
Alexander Petrovich Strukov:
Countess Elizaveta Feliksovna Sumarokova-Elston (maiden):
Her mother was Countess Sumarokova, and her father was the first Count of Elston, possibly the illegitimate son of one of the kings of Prussia, and in this case the brother of Alexander II.
Alexander Alexandrovich Timashev:
"History of the Russian State from Gostomysl to Timashev" is the name of A.K. Tolstoy. So: Tolstoy Timashev is the father of this.
Thick (I find it difficult to determine which one: the genus was branched):
Varvara Musina-Pushkina:
Vladimir Ivanovich Zvegintsev:
Felix Feliksovich and Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupovs:
Prince Felix was by birth Count Sumarokov-Elston, and by marrying the last of the Yusupovs, he also acquired a princely title. And a huge fortune. And Zinaida Nikolaevna was considered a great beauty.
Zinaida Yusupova:
Countess Alexandra Illarionovna Shuvalova, nee Vorontsova-Dashkova:
Countess Sofia Alexandrovna Ferzen:
Princess Elizaveta Nikolaevna Obolenskaya:
Princess Sofya Ivanovna Orbeliani:
Maria Antonovna Toropcheninova:
Maria Fedorovna Sheremeteva:
Nadezhda Ilyinichna Novoseltsova:
Nadezhda Sergeevna Timasheva:
Maid of honor Mansurova:
It seems that women here turned out to be noticeably more than half. But it's nothing.
Some observations:
First. Nicholas II was clearly unlucky with his relatives. People of little ability and not prone to self-criticism, they could screw up any big business. This is what they did in the public service.
Second. The house of Romanov was already planning a bad future - for a different reason. The sharp increase in the number of morganatic marriages, which began in the 20th century, quickly led to the fact that, with the general number of dynasties, the formal rights to the throne passed to Hohenzollern. All Romanovs became "Romanovskys".
Third. The Russian aristocracy looked exactly like the imperial aristocracy. Large replenishment at the expense of the nobility of Little Russia, Georgia, the Ostsee region. Here the Poles are somehow invisible. It seems that the Polish counts and princes preferred either other powers that once participated in the partitions, or Paris in general, and they did not like Russia very much. A striking example: the Branitskys, descendants of almost the main figure of the "Russian party" and Potemkin's niece, formed some Polish military units in France during the Crimean War.
Fourth. Lots of completely unknown names. Zografo, Garthongs, Gerngrosses, Strukovs, etc. Who are these people? They did not have definitely long pedigrees or immediate ancestors with great merit.
And fifth. I just look at the faces: ordinary people. Ordinary, I would say. Portraits of aristocrats still aestheticize the appearance, ennoble it - both due to facial expressions and due to the situation. Photography is a more honest genre. Quite average intellectual abilities are perfectly visible, for example, which some men partially compensate for due to their youthfulness. An unequal replacement, but they had no other. Women are also very ordinary. I catch myself thinking that in the photographs of our ancestors, ordinary Russians or, say, German peasants, one can see approximately the same faces. Thinking about it, you begin to understand: the aristocratic society has become obsolete for a very, very long time.
21 heliogravures and 174 light prints. Album du bal costume au Palais d "hiver, Fevrier 1903. 21 photogravues et 174 phototypies. St. Petersburg, printed in the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers, 1904. Title in Russian and French. In p / c binding of the era with gold stamping on the spine and top cover 45.7 x 35.2 cm Alternatively, in a publisher's calico folder 10 notebooks. The album is a collection of photographs of the highest persons and persons who were at the aforementioned ball in Russian costumes of the 17th century. Very rare, because. the publication was originally intended for the participants of the ball.
Bibliographic sources:
Antiquarian catalog of the Joint-Stock Island "International Book" M., 1924-1936, No. 54. M., 1934. Books on Art. No. 22 - $20!
A group of dancers during the ball "Russian".
A group of officers of the L-Gds. Preobrazhensky Regiment.
A group of officers of the L-Gds. Horse regiment.
A group of officers of the L-Gds. Gusarsky E.I.V. shelf.
All participants of the famous ball were dressed in costumes of the “pre-Petrine era”, specially created by the outstanding artist A.Ya. Golovin, as well as I.A. Vsevolozhsky, S.S. Solomko and the best tailor-dressers N.P. Lamanova, I.I. Caffey, A.F. Ivashchenko and E.T. Ivanova. Luxury in costumes was successfully combined with grace. According to contemporaries, the ball was not just "a magnificent spectacle, but an integral work of art." At the request of the last Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, the best photographers of St. Petersburg took photographs of all participants in the costumed action. In 1904, an album of these photographs was released in a limited edition. Some of the ball gowns have survived to this day. The brilliance of carnival costumes was so dazzling that they became the standard for stage and film artists who later turned to historical themes.
E.I.V. Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich.
E.I.V. Empress Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
The costume ball, which took place in the Winter Palace on February 11 and 13, 1903, was a famous masquerade, during which all the nobility of the Russian Empire were present in extremely luxurious costumes of the “pre-Petrine time”. These costumes have come down to our time captured in photographs, which are a valuable historical source. Until now, this ball remains the most famous holiday in St. Petersburg during the reign of Nicholas II. The ball, arranged to commemorate the next anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, took place at the end of the Nativity Fast and took place in two stages: on February 11, 1903, the Evening took place, and on February 13, the Costume Ball itself. On February 11, the guests gathered in the Romanov Gallery of the Hermitage, then, marching in pairs, greeted the imperial family, making the so-called “Russian bow”. This was followed by a concert at the Hermitage Theatre, with scenes from Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov (performed by Fyodor Chaliapin and Medea Figner), Minkus' ballets La Bayadère and Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake staged by Marius Petipa (with the participation of Anna Pavlova).
E.I.V. Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.
E.I.V. Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich.
E.I.V. Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich.
After the performance, they danced "Russian" in the Pavilion Hall. It was followed by a gala dinner held in the Spanish, Italian and Flemish halls of the Hermitage. The evening ended with dancing. On February 13, 1903, the second (main) part of the ball took place. All participants dressed up in costumes of the era of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. So, for example, Nicholas II was dressed in the costume of the tsar (“Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich’s evening dress”: a caftan and a golden brocade trim, a royal hat and a baton are now kept in the Armory), and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in the costume of Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna. The ladies of the court were dressed in sarafans and kokoshniks, and the gentlemen appeared in the costumes of archers or falconers. Among the 390 guests there were 65 “dancing officers” appointed by the Empress, also in the clothes of archers or falconers of the 17th century. “The most spectacular entertainment in the old Moscow style was a fancy-dress ball in February 1903. Nicholas considered it not as an ordinary masquerade, but as the first step towards restoring the rituals and costumes of the Moscow court. The courtiers were instructed to come to the ball in the clothes of the 17th century. “The hall filled with ancient Russian people looked very beautiful,” Nikolai wrote in his diary. “The impression turned out to be fabulous,” wrote an eyewitness of the event, “from the mass of ancient national costumes, richly decorated with rare furs, magnificent diamonds, pearls and semi-precious stones, mostly in ancient frames. On this day, the family jewels appeared in such abundance that exceeded all expectations.
E.I.V. Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich.
E.I.V. Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich.
E.I.V. Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich.
E.I.V. Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich.
E.I.V. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna.
The dances took place in the Hermitage Concert Hall (the court orchestra was also dressed in ancient Russian costumes) and continued until one in the morning. General waltzes, quadrilles and mazurkas began after the performance of specially prepared three dances: Russian, round dance and dance under the guidance of the chief director of the ballet troupe Aistov and dancer Kshesinsky. 20 couples participated in the “Russian”, and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and Princess Zinaida Yusupova were the soloists. (The ball was preceded by a dress rehearsal on February 10, 1903). Dinner was accompanied by the famous Arkhangelsk choir. After graduation, at the wish of the Empress, the participants were photographed by the best photographers of St. Yasvoin, L. Gorodetsky and E. Mrazovskaya, D. Zdobnov, Iv. Voyno-Oransky, Renz and F. Schrader, and others), who created single portraits and group photographs of the participants. Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich - A book of memoirs: "Xenia was in the outfit of a noblewoman, richly embroidered, shining with jewels, which suited her very well. I was dressed in a falconer's dress, which consisted of a white and gold caftan, with golden eagles sewn on the chest and back, pink silk shirt, blue trousers and yellow morocco boots. The rest of the guests followed the whims of their imagination and taste, remaining, however, within the framework of the epoch of the 17th century. "The Sovereign and Empress came out in the outfits of the Moscow Tsar and Empress of the times of Alexei Mikhailovich. Alix looked amazing, but the Sovereign was not big enough for his luxurious outfit."
E.I.V. Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich.
E.I.V. Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich.
E.I.V. Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovich.
“At the ball there was a competition for the championship between the Grand Duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna (Ella) and Princess Zinaida Yusupova. My heart ached at the sight of these two “crazy hobbies” of my early youth. I danced all the dances with Princess Yusupova until the turn reached the “Russian.” The princess danced this dance better than any real ballerina, but my lot was applause and silent admiration. "On January 22, 1903, "all" Petersburg danced in the Winter Palace. I remember this date exactly, since it was the last big court ball in the history of the Empire. Almost a quarter of a century has passed since that memorable night when Nikki and I watched the appearance of the Tsar Liberator, arm in arm with the princess, under the gait of these halls, which reflected in their mirrors seven generations of the Romanovs. invitation, according to which all guests had to be in Russian costumes of the 17th century.For at least one night, Nikki wanted to return to the glorious past of his kind ... The ball was a great success and was repeated in all details a week later in the house of the richest Count A.D. Sheremetev. This wonderful reproduction of the 17th century painting probably made a strange impression on foreign diplomats. While we were dancing, workers were on strike in St. Petersburg, and the clouds were gathering more and more in the Far East. "
His Highness Prince Chakrabon of Siam.
His Highness Duke Mikhail Georgievich Mecklenburg - Strelitsky.
In 1904, by order of the Imperial Court, the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers issued a special gift album “Costume Ball in the Winter Palace”, containing 21 heliogravures and 174 phototypes. Copies were distributed for a fee with a charitable purpose, primarily among the participants of the ball. In the same costumes, some guests appeared at the ball at the Sheremetev Palace, which took place on February 14 of the same year. In addition, a similar ball à la russe took place 20 years earlier, on January 25, 1883, in the palace of Vladimir Alexandrovich and Maria Pavlovna; and 1894 in the Sheremetevs' palace. The costumes for the ball were created in advance according to special sketches by the artist Sergei Solomko and with the involvement of consultants and cost a fortune. Contemporaries also note the huge amount of jewelry that was showered on the guests. Several of the costumes worn by the participants in these festivities have been preserved in the Hermitage funds. They came to the museum from various sources: from the palaces that belonged to members of the imperial family (Zimny and Novo-Mikhailovsky), from the mansions of the St. Petersburg nobility (Yusupovs, Golitsyns, Bobrinskys).
On February 11, 1903, the Evening took place in the Winter Palace, and on February 13 of the same year, a grandiose costume ball was held. Until now, this ball, which was given the code name "Ball of 1903", remains the most famous holiday in St. Petersburg during the reign of Nicholas II - the last emperor of the Romanov family. 
Preparations for the ball lasted several months. For the masquerade, those invited to the ball ordered Russian national costumes in the style of the 17th century: boyars and boyars, governors, stewards, gunners, falconers, townspeople, etc. 
His Imperial Majesty Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich - the evening dress of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich On February 11, 1903, the guests gathered in the Romanov Gallery of the Hermitage, and in the Great (Nikolaev) Hall of the Winter Palace, marching in pairs, they gave the "Russian bow" to the hosts. 
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna - ceremonial clothes of the Russian queen
The central event of the evening was a concert at the Hermitage Theater with scenes from Modest Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov" (the title roles were performed by Fyodor Chaliapin and Nina Figner), from Minkus' ballets "La Bayadère" and P.I. Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" directed by Marius Petipa (with the participation of Anna Pavlova). 
Anna Sergeevna Istomina After the performance, they danced "Russian" in the Pavilion Hall. Dinner was held in the Spanish, Italian and Flemish halls of the Hermitage, where an evening table was served. Then Their Majesties with the participants of the ball proceeded to the Pavilion Hall, where the evening ended with dancing. 
Baron Feofil Yegorovich Meyendorff On February 13, 1903, the second part of the ball took place; among the guests were 65 "dancing officers" appointed by Her Majesty. Members of the royal family gathered in the Malachite Drawing Room, the rest in the adjoining rooms. 
Baroness Emma Vladimirovna Frederiks At eleven o'clock in the evening, all the participants went to dance in the Concert Hall, where behind a gilded lattice on the podium there was a court orchestra dressed as trumpeters of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, and 34 round tables for dinner were set up in the large Nicholas Hall. Buffets were located in the Concert Hall and the Small Dining Room, tables with tea and wine - in the Malachite Hall. 
Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna - Boyarynya
After dinner, the guests and hosts returned to the Concert Hall and danced until one in the morning. General waltzes, quadrilles and mazurkas began after the performance of specially prepared three dances: Russian, round dance and dance under the direction of the chief director of the ballet troupe Aistov and dancer Kshesinsky. The young officers of the guards regiments acted as cavaliers: cavalry guards, horse guards and uhlans. 
Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna - Peasant woman of the city of Torzhok
The group of dancers underwent serious training: on February 10, 1903, at the general rehearsal in the Pavilion Hall, the ladies appeared in sundresses and kokoshniks, the men in the costumes of archers, falconers, etc. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna were present at the rehearsal as a "jury". 
Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich
Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Up to four hundred people danced at the ball. Those present especially liked the Russian dance performed by 20 couples, in which Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna and Princess Z.N. Yusupova Countess Sumarokova-Elston soloed. 
Adjutant General Prince Dmitry Borisovich Golitsyn
Duke George Georgievich of Mecklenburg-Strelitz By order of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, after the balls on February 11 and 13, 1903, the best photographers of St. Petersburg took individual portraits and group photographs of the ball participants. These photographs served as the basis for the publication of an album of phototypes containing 173 images. Albums were distributed (for a fee) for charitable purposes, primarily among the participants of the ball. 
Chamberlain of the court Count Alexei Alexandrovich Bobrinsky - Boyarin
“The impression turned out to be fabulous,” wrote an eyewitness of the event, “from the mass of ancient national costumes, richly decorated with rare furs, magnificent diamonds, pearls and semi-precious stones, for the most part in ancient frames ...” 
Countess Alexandra Dmitrievna Tolstaya
Countess Varvara Vasilievna Musina-Pushkina In the same costumes, they appeared at a ball in the Sheremetev Palace, which took place on February 14 of the same year. Acquaintance with phototypes allows us to imagine the direction of artistic design of masquerade costumes of the ball participants in their real embodiment. Boyars and young ladies, various court ranks from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich, falconers, archers, townspeople in various clothes are represented here: from rich ferezes and dresses to peasant sundresses with soul warmers. 
A group of officers of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment in the outfits of the Primary People from the tenants of the times of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich In general, the masquerade of 1903 in the Winter Palace, which caused a wide public outcry among contemporaries, now seems to be an event that has acquired a special meaning and significance that goes far beyond the scope of a specific action. 
Princess Elena Vladimirovna Golitsyna - Boyar
Princess Elena Konstantinovna Kochubey
Princess Elizabeth Nikolaevna Obolenskaya
Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova - Boyar
Princess Nadezhda Alexandrovna Baryatinsky
Princess Nadezhda Dmitrievna Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya
Princess Natalya Fyodorovna Karlova - Boyarynya
Princess Elena Nikolaevna Obolenskaya
Princess Olimpiada Alexandrova Baryatinsky
Felix Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston, Prince Yusupov
Marina Nikolaevna Voeikova
Maria Nikolaevna Lopukhina
Most Serene Princess Maria Mikhailovna
His Serene Highness Prince Konstantin Alexandrovich
Sofia Dmitrievna Evreinova
Adjutant of the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, Staff Captain A.A. Belyaev in the clothes of a 17th century tenant with his wife M.F. Belyaeva in the costume of a noblewoman of the 17th century.
Adjutant of the Grand Duke, Commander-in-Chief of the Guards of the Petersburg Military District Vladimir Alexandrovich Count M.N. Grabbe in the clothes of a tenant in 1647.
Alexandra Alexandrovna Taneeva in a costume for a performance at the Russian ball
Alexandra Petrovna Skoropadskaya (nee Durnovo) in the princely women's attire of the time of Dmitry Donskoy.
Baron Major General, head of the court orchestra Konstantin Karlovich von Shtakelberg in the costume of a boyar of the 17th century.
Baron, Lieutenant of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment K.S.
Baroness Jadwiga Johanna Alexandra Frederiks dressed as a noblewoman of the 17th century.
