Abastumani, the history of this small Georgian village, was described in the article, in which extraction was mentioned and from the newspaper "Caucasus" of 1899, which describes in detail the day and last minutes of the life of Grand Duke Georgy Romanov in Abastumani.
And what happened after? What is the order and traditions of that time in an essentially ordinary, but unusual, in relation to a Person of such a high rank, ceremony. With mourning ritual and “transportation of the body of the deceased Heir Tsarevich and Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich to Bose”
from Abastuman to St. Petersburg we will get acquainted if we read the Niva magazine No. 30 for 1899.
The text of the article is given almost unchanged, with all the phrases and titles that were accepted at that time.
On Monday, June 28 at 9 a.m., the Heir Tsarevich ordered a tricycle with a gasoline engine for a walk around the area of Abastuman. In good weather and little wind, His Imperial Highness (EIV) deigned to drive along the highway towards the Zekar Pass. I was driving very fast.
The road leading to the Zekar Pass.
Having noticed a cart ahead of him, slowly traveling from Abastuman to the estate of Count Olsufiev with the milkmaid Anna Dasoeva, the Heir Tsarevich (NC) deigned to give a signal and Dasoeva’s worker, the boy Afanasy Semenikhin, immediately turned the cart away from the road, thereby freeing the latter for Grand Duke's passage.
House of Anna Dasoeva in Abastuman.
To the greeting of those in the cart, EIV deigned to respond with a bow and continued on his way. Less than ten minutes after the described meeting, Dasoeva saw that EIV was returning back on a bicycle, the speed of the car was noticeably slower. Noticing the bloody jacket and foreseeing misfortune, Dasoeva sent Semenikhin to the palace, but she herself ran up to the Grand Duke, supported the Tsarevich and asked:
-What's wrong with you, Your Highness?
-Nothing, - the Tsarevich answered in a weak voice, and at that time his legs gave way.
Dasoeva quietly and carefully lowered the August Patient to the ground, on his side, placing the Tsarevich's head on a stone dais, she herself grabbed an empty milk jug and ran to the river. Having scooped up some water, she began to refresh the Suffering Tsarevich’s head and mouth, clearing his lips of dried blood.
Anna Dasoeva.
When asked to drink water, NC quietly nodded his head and with a weak movement of his hand gave his consent, but due to severe hemorrhage in his throat, he was unable to take the water. Here, to her horror, Dasoeva noticed that spots began to appear on the face of the August Patient, which did not foretell a happy end. “At 9 hours 35 minutes His Imperial Highness the Heir Tsarevich and Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich quietly, without suffering, rested in Bose...”
Meanwhile, Semenikhin managed to report the misfortune and the life physician Aikanov and members of the EIV retinue rushed from the palace to the scene of the tragedy. The body was transported to the palace, and on the spot stained with the blood of His Highness, a tent was temporarily erected and guards were posted.
Tent and guards at the place of death.
The next day, June 29, at 10 o’clock in the morning, an autopsy of the body of the deceased Tsarevich took place in Bose and embalming was carried out by the senior resident of the Semenovsky Hospital in St. Petersburg, Birulya, who was temporarily on the waters, in the presence of acting. Tiflis governor I.N. Svechin, local commandant Major General Rylsky, life physician Aikanov, prosecutor E.N. Nimander, chief physician of the local hospital Gopadze, doctors Tekutyev, Vosresensky, Maksimovich and others. An autopsy established that the death of the Heir The Tsarevich suffered from a sudden rupture of a pulmonary vessel and severe hemorrhage in the throat. Embalmed i e The body of the Heir to the Tsarevich ended at 8 ½ o'clock. evenings.
By Imperial command, Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich accompanied the ashes of the deceased Tsarevich from Abastuman to St. Petersburg. The transportation began on July 6th. Until this day, all the time from the day of the death of EIV, memorial services were served by the confessor of the Tsarevich, Archpriest Rudnev, in the co-service of the surrounding parish priests, in the palace of the Grand Duke and at the very place of his death, which was fenced, marked with a cross and decorated with fresh flowers.
Place of death of the Heir to Tsarevich Georgy Romanov.
All the time since the sad day, June 28, the local and surrounding Russian and Muslim population flocked to this place, making a pilgrimage on foot from different places. From June 30, people were allowed into the palace every day to worship the ashes of His Highness. The deceased Tsarevich, dressed in a naval uniform, rested in a temporary coffin, which in turn was covered with a naval flag, and was all decorated with flowers.
Local residents during a memorial service at the cross.
On July 6, on the 9th day of his death, the ashes of the Tsarevich were transferred from the palace to the Alexander Nevsky Church. The coffin was carried out in the arms of Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich, adjutant generals: Prince Golitsyn, Prince Dolgoruky, Count Olsufiev, lieutenant generals: Amilakhvari, Amiredzhibi, major generals of His Majesty's Retinue: Bibikov, Nikolaev, governor Svechin, life physician Aikanov and others.
Transfer of the body to the Alexander Nevsky Church in Abastuman.
In the palace garden, the coffin was placed on a golden stretcher, raised by the ranks of the Tsarevich's escort. The troops took guard, the convoy choirs began to play "Kohl is glorious." At 10 o'clock the procession moved to the church. In front walked the master of ceremonies with a baton, the aide-de-camp, the chamber cadet, banners, choristers, and clergy in light robes. The coffin of forged gold with gold coats of arms was covered with a golden shroud and the flag of the Heir to the Tsarevich; Convoy officers and Tenginians (?) walked on the sides. Following the coffin were officers, the Grand Duke, the Governor General, the Tsarevich's adjutant, His Highness's Retinue, doctors, officials of various departments, deputations, heterodox clergy, wreaths, the Tsarevich's servants, troops, a convoy, Khopertsy(?), Tengintsy(?) with a banner and choirs of music playing a funeral march. The procession stretched half a mile and arrived at the church at 11 o'clock.
Alexander Nevsky Church during the days of mourning.
In the fence, the coffin was lifted into the arms of the Grand Duke and generals and placed on a raised platform under a canopy with a grand ducal crown of fresh flowers. At the end of the funeral liturgy, the court clergy performed a memorial service in the presence of the chief generals, authorities, officials of all departments and Anna Dasoeva, who had the high honor of being present at the last minutes of His Highness, of seeing his last gaze.
Generals and court officials stood guard at the coffin. After the service, people were allowed into the church to worship. Wreaths were laid on the coffin.The church was open all night. The entire time the Gospel was being read at the tomb. At 4:15 a.m., July 7, Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich and the authorities arrived at the church. After the lition, the coffin with the ashes of the Tsarevich was taken out and placed on a hearse. The procession, led by the master of ceremonies and the clergy, set out from Abastuman at 4 hours 40 minutes. morning in Borjomi, accompanied by garrison troops.
In Borjomi, the coffin with the ashes of the deceased Heir Tsarevich, accompanied by Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich, the commander-in-chief Prince Golitsyn, the clergy and officials, was placed on an emergency train, which then departed for Batum. The funeral train arrived at the pier in Batumi Russian Shipping Society around 8 o'clock in the morning.
At the same time, the battleship GEORGE THE VICTORIOUS, escorted by the Black Sea squadron, arrived in Batumi, on which the bodies of the late Tsarevich deigned to arrive, His August Mother Empress Maria Feodorovna, Sovereign Heir Mikhail Alexandrovich, Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, great Princes Alexey Alexandrovich and Alexander Mikhailovich.
GEORGE THE VICTORIOUS
When the train stopped, lithium was served. Then the sad procession moved to the pier, where a barge with a hearse stood. After placing the coffin on the hearse, at 8:35 a.m. The barge in tow headed towards the battleship. At 9:15 a.m., the coffin with the body of the Tsarevich was carried onto the battleship and then a memorial service was celebrated by the archpriest of the Winter Palace Cathedral, Father Stakhovich, in the presence of the Empress and the Highest Persons. At this time, from all sides, the battleship bearing the name of the deceased Tsarevich was surrounded by steamships and boats with the public, who wanted to take a last look at the coffin with the untimely deceased Tsarevich. The coffin was placed on the ship's quarterdeck, among tropical plants.
In Batumi harbor.
At 10 o'clock 15m. The battleship, escorted by the squadron and the yacht of the late Tsarevich ZARNITSA, quietly sailed to Novorossiysk, where it arrived on July 9 at 11 a.m. and dropped anchor not far from the pier of the Vladikavkaz (?) railway. After the blessing of His Grace Arseny, Bishop of Sukhumi, the train set off. Military vessels in the roadstead and artillery batteries fired farewell salvos from their guns. The firing of guns and the sad ringing of the bells of the city churches rushed after the departing train. The funeral train departed from Novorossiysk along the Vladikavkaz railway to Rostov-on-Don. On July 10, he proceeded through the Kuban region and the land of the Don Army. Along the way, the funeral train had stops to perform memorial services at the coffin of the Tsarevich, during which the people stood on their knees all the time, tearfully praying to the Creator for the repose of the soul of the prematurely extinguished Tsarevich.
From Novocherkassk the funeral train proceeded through Kozlov and Ryazan to Moscow. From Perovo station, Moscow-Kazan railway, the funeral train on July 11 was transferred along the Simonov connecting branch to Kuskovo station, Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod railway, where it deigned to transfer to the funeral train that left to meet the body in Bose deceased brother His Majesty the Emperor.
The funeral train arrived in Moscow at 9:10 pm on July 11. The sad ringing in all the churches of the capital capital, which greeted the ashes of the deceased Tsarevich, continued all the time until the end of the requiem service, served by His Eminence Vladimir in the funeral carriage in the presence of Their Majesties and Their Highnesses. In Moscow, as at all stations along the train route, wreaths were laid on the coffin of the late Tsarevich, and people were also allowed to venerate the body of His Highness. At 10:50 a.m. the funeral train departed from the Tsar's Pavilion for St. Petersburg.
Funeral procession in St. Petersburg on Nevsky Prospect near Liteiny Prospect.
Upon the arrival of the funeral train on July 12, at 6 o'clock in the evening in St. Petersburg, at the Nikolaev railway station. His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony performed a litiya in front of the coffin, at the end of which the Sovereign Emperor and the Grand Dukes accepted the coffin from the carriage to transfer it to the sad chariot. Then the procession headed to the Peter and Paul Cathedral, following Nevsky Prospect, Sadovaya Street, through Tsaritsyn Meadow along the Summer Garden, through Suvorov Square, along the Palace Embankment, to the Trinity Bridge, to the Peter and Paul Fortress through the Petrovsky Gate.
Funeral procession on the embankment of the Swan Canal near the Field of Mars.
All along the path of the sad procession, from the Nikolaevsky station to the Peter and Paul Church, the streets and buildings were covered in deep mourning. A particularly solemn and sad sight was presented by Nevsky Prospekt, whose buildings were almost entirely dressed in mourning. Troops are lined up along the entire route with trellises.
Lithiums were performed in front of the Church of the Sign of the Mother of God and the Church of the Engineering Castle. Behind the sad chariot followed His Majesty the Emperor, with the Minister of the Imperial Household and duty behind him. His Majesty was in the uniform of the Life Guards Regiment of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Their Majesties were followed by Their Imperial Highnesses: Sovereign Heir and Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, Prince Waldemar of Denmark and the Grand Dukes. Then in the funeral carriages followed: Her Majesty the Empress Maria Feodorovna, Their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Duchesses and Grand Duchesses.
Upon the arrival of the procession at the western doors of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Sovereign Emperor, together with the Persons of the Imperial Family, the Minister of the Imperial Court and the Adjutants General, lifted the coffin and, preceded by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony and the clergy, carried it into the cathedral and placed it on a hearse. Then, after a brief funeral address by Metropolitan Anthony, a memorial service was performed by his Eminence, after which the reading of the Gospel began. Their Majesties and Their Imperial Highnesses then departed from the cathedral. All evening, all night and then all day on July 13 and the following night, people were allowed to venerate the body of the deceased Heir Tsarevich in Bose.
In the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Duty at the coffin.
The funeral took place on July 14th. After the liturgy and funeral service, performed by Metropolitan Anthony in concelebration with all the senior clergy, a touching moment of final farewell came. The Empress Mother was the first to approach the coffin and, shedding tears, bowed to the remains of Her Son. The Sovereign Emperor bowed to the ashes of his August Brother behind His Royal Mother. Then the entire Royal Family came up one by one to say goodbye. After that, while singing “Holy God,” the Sovereign Emperor, the Grand Dukes and the Minister of the Imperial Court raised the coffin and, preceded by the Metropolitan, bishops, two protopresbyters and the confessor of the deceased Tsarevich, brought the coffin to the grave, to the right of the altar, near the tomb of Emperor Alexander III. The palace grenadiers standing at the edges of the grave accepted and lowered the coffin to its place of eternal rest. At this moment, on signal, a farewell gun salute rang out. The Metropolitan performed his last litany over the open grave. Their Majesties and Their Highnesses then performed the rite of interment. The entire cathedral was filled with mournful and solemn sounds: “Eternal memory”, which ended the sad ceremony. Their Majesties and Their Highnesses then departed from the cathedral.
A temporary monument will be erected at the site of the grave.”
Many thanks to Alexandra for the material - amsmolich
It was surprising to find in this sad and far from the theme of the Exodus of 1920 history a mention of the battleship GEORGE THE VICTORIOUS. In Anastasia Shirinskaya's book "Bizerte. The Last Stop" an entire chapter was dedicated to this ship. Did Anastasia Shirinskaya know about the once mourning mission that was destined for the ship on which she spent her childhood? Did she know A.A. Nasvetevich (her grandmother was from the Nasvetevich family) - a person from whose photographs we today have the opportunity not only to know, but to see the events described above from the history of the Russian Imperial House, to recognize in them the very same George the Victorious, almost a quarter of a century before in distant Bizerte in 1924 he found his peace??
How interesting it is that destinies and events sometimes intertwine in life....
Message quote His Imperial Highness the Sovereign Heir Tsesarevich and
His Imperial Highness the Sovereign Heir Tsarevich
Georgy Alexandrovich
Georgy Alexandrovich 1871, Tsarskoe Selo - June 28, 1899 near Abastumani, Tiflis province) - His Imperial Highness, Tsarevich and Grand Duke, third son of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna, brother of Nicholas II.
As a child, Georgiy was healthier and stronger than his older brother Nikolai. He grew up to be a tall, handsome, cheerful child. Despite the fact that George was his mother's favorite, he, like the other brothers, was brought up in Spartan conditions. The children slept on army beds, got up at 6 o'clock and took a cold bath. For breakfast, they were usually served porridge and black bread; for lunch, lamb cutlets and roast beef with peas and baked potatoes. The children had at their disposal a living room, a dining room, a playroom and a bedroom, furnished with the simplest furniture. Only the icon, decorated with precious stones and pearls, was rich. The family lived mainly in the Gatchina Palace.
George with Tsarevich Nicholas
Maria Fedorovna with children Georgy, Ksenia and Nikolai
Tsarevich Nikolai, Ksenia, George
George and Tsarevich Nikolai
Family of Alexander III
Family of Alexander III
Education
The brothers had the same teachers, although they studied in different rooms. Among their mentors were the most respected professors. Both brothers were fluent in English, spoke fluent French and German, and spoke passable Danish. The boys were interested in shooting and fishing. George was destined for a career in the navy until he fell ill with tuberculosis.
Tsarevich Nicholas and George
George and Tsarevich Nikolai
George, Ksenia, Mikhail, Tsarevich Nikolai at the skating rink
Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna with their son George on board the yacht. 1892
By decision of his parents, in 1890, George and his older brother went on a trip abroad, the end point of which was to be Japan. Maria Feodorovna hoped that the sun and sea air would do her son good. However, about halfway, in Bombay, George had an attack, and he was forced to return back. Nikolai continued the journey without his brother.
Armored cruiser "Memory of Azov" and semi-armored frigate "Vladimir Monomakh"
in Piraeus, late 1880s or early 1890s
His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, Prince George, and Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich with the officers of the frigate "Memory of Azov""
Afternoon rest of the highest persons on the frigate “Memory of Azov” (Tsesarevich, Prince George, Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich)
In 1894, Alexander III died unexpectedly. Nicholas became emperor. Since he did not yet have children, George was declared heir to the crown prince.
Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich
However, Georgy's health remained poor, and it was decided to send him to Abasturman.
This is exactly what the small village, hidden in the forests of the Meskheti Mountains of Georgia, was called at different times.
It is known for its unique climate, life-giving springs, beautiful nature and exquisite architecture. In ancient times, the Odzrhe fortress stood on this site. In the Middle Ages, busy caravan routes ran through the gorge of the Otskhe River, which retained the name of the fortress. In 1829, under the name Abbas-Tuman, the village passed from the Ottoman Empire to the Russian Empire. Since this period, it has gradually turned into a fairly well-known balneological resort.
It has long been known among local residents that there are healing hot springs in Abastumani. For treatment, sick people came from surrounding villages on carts and carts, settled in huts near baths built in the ground and were treated, “took baths.”
View of the village of Abastuman
Life in Abastumani changed dramatically when Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich was chosen to live there. Various places were considered for treatment, but the sad experience of the Grand Duke’s stay in Algeria led to the fact that preference was given to Abastuman.
Probably, the opinion of the Grand Duke, governor in the Caucasus, Mikhail Nikolaevich, played a significant role in this. Having lived for many years in the Caucasus, knowing it well and loving it, he was an ardent admirer of everything Caucasian
Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich
Four of his children were born in the Caucasus, the Grand Dukes George, Alexander, Sergei and Alexei. In the future, his sons spent a lot of time in Abastumani with Georgy Alexandrovich and did a lot not only for Abastumani, but also for this entire region.
Entrance to Abastuma
In 1891, Empress Maria Feodorovna, together with Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich, accompanied by several retinues and a convoy, arrived in Abastuman. Before this, it was purchased from Dr. Adolf Remmert (a medical inspector in the Caucasus, engaged in the construction of mineral waters)) a plot of land in the upper part of Abastuman, near the river. Tents and temporary housing for guards and servants were pitched there. The empress and her son and their immediate circle settled in the best houses of Abastumani.
The so-called palaces were quickly built - two wooden and one stone. The walls of the wooden palaces were made of logs, covered with shields and then trimmed. It was believed that it was healthier to live in such a house. In the rooms of the first palace, high wall tiled stoves were built by skilled craftsmen, and in some, like in the hall, there were fireplaces. A beautiful staircase led from the hall to the second floor, where there were bedrooms.
Initial view of the first summer palace of the heir to the Tsarevich Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich
Empress Maria Feodorovna, Grand Duke, heir Tsarevich George, Grand Duke Mikhail and Grand Duchess Olga.1896 Abastuman
Empress Maria Feodorovna and Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich. Abastuman
Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich
The life of Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich in Abastumani consisted of medical procedures, trips around the surrounding area in the summer, and studies.. The constant companion of Prince Georgy Alexandrovich was Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich (Gigo), an expert on history, born in Georgia, in Tiflis, who was interested in these places and knew them well. These places are full of ancient ruins, ancient monuments of distant times.
The first gate of enchantment
Second Gate of Enchantment
View of a mountain road going along the Zekar Pass
A cart on one of the mountain roads running among the rocks that form the Eagle Gate.
Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich
Veliky Georgy Alexandrovich
Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich decided to build a church in Abastumani in the name of Alexander Nevsky- his heavenly patron.
Both grand dukes were greatly impressed by the visitZarzma Monastery.
Subsequently, the architecture of Zarzma was used as the basis for the architectureAlexander Nevsky Church, built at the expense of Georgy Alexandrovich. The church was built by Otto Simanson
Empress Maria Feodorovna often came to Abusturmani; brothers and sisters, great princes from the Caucasus, children of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich, the youngest son of Emperor Nicholas I, who lived in Tiflis and Borjomi, spent a lot of time in Abastumani. This is Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, Sandro, who later married Grand Duchess Xenia. Together with Georgiy Mikhailovich, they built a palace for themselves and their children not far from Georgiy Alexandrovich’s palaces, and spent time there from early spring to late autumn.
General view of the palace of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich
Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich, Gigo, who took an active part in all the enterprises of Georgy Alexandrovich, visited Abastumani a lot and often. And Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich, Bimbo, not only stayed in Abastumani, but also arranged for Georgy Alexandrovich to visit him in Likani, where an elegant palace was built according to the design of the architect Albert Benois.
Palace of Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich
Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich and Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich
The heir's entourage tried to organize interesting evenings, picnics, balls, often with costumes, which was very popular in St. Petersburg. There were always a lot of young people from St. Petersburg and Tiflis around the heir. It is known that the heir baptized the daughter of the local postal director, Artemy Kalamkarov. Kalamkarov's wife took part in Abastumani court life. Nothing foreshadowed the imminent tragic end. But misfortune came unexpectedly
A photograph taken during a masquerade in the Grand Duke's palace. He himself sits in front in a white Circassian coat. Behind him, presumably, is Princess Nizharadze, in the center in the Armenian national costume, A. Kalamkarova, the wife of the Abastumani postal director. The photograph belonged to Victoria Iskandarova and was posted on the Internet.
1. Artemy Nikitich Kalamkarov, director of the Abastuman Post Office. Later postmaster in Warsaw
2.Aykandukht Sergeevna Kalamkarova in Armenian national costume.
Easter egg given by the Grand Duke to his godson, little Ekaterina Kalamkarova
Death and burial
Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich
On Monday, June 28, the Heir Tsarevich, having ordered a tricycle with a gasoline engine, walked in the palace garden, inspecting the flower plantings. At 9 o'clock in the morning, His Imperial Highness deigned to get on a tricycle and take a walk along the highway towards the Zekar Pass. The weather was good, with little wind. The heir Tsarevich drove very quickly (His Highness's tricycle reaches speeds of up to 35 versts per hour).
The Tsarevich took a walk on such a motorcycle on the last day of his life.
Behind the palace of the Grand Dukes George and Alexander Mikhailovich, noticing ahead of him a slowly moving cart from Abas-Tuman to the estate of Count Olsufiev with the milkmaid Anna Dasoeva,
Anna Filippovna Dosaeva (Dasoeva). She lived all her life in Abastumani and was buried in the Abastumani cemetery.
The heir Tsarevich deigned to give a signal, and Dasoeva’s worker, the boy Afanasy Semenikhin, immediately turned the cart away from the road, freeing the latter for the passage of the Grand Duke. To the greeting of those on the cart, His Imperial Highness, smiling graciously, deigned to respond with a bow, quickly continuing his journey. After this meeting, Dasoeva’s cart always drove along the edge of the highway, leaving the road for the Tsarevich to freely return. According to Anna Filippovna Dasoeva, not even ten minutes had passed after the described meeting when she saw that His Imperial Highness, returning back on a bicycle, deigned to reduce the speed of the car and was spitting out thick blood, which was 35?. Fathoms from the place where the cross is now erected, and at what length the bypass route has now been laid. Dasoeva, noticing this and the bloody jacket on the Heir Tsarevich, immediately sent Semenikhin to the palace of His Highness for help, while she herself, running up to the Grand Duke, supported the Tsarevich and asked: “What’s wrong with you, Your Highness?”
“Nothing,” the Tsarevich answered in a weak voice, and at that time His Highness’s legs gave way.
Dasoeva quietly and carefully lowered the August patient to the ground, on his side, placing the Tsarevich’s head on a stone dais, and she, grabbing an empty milk jug, ran to the river flowing approximately 3 fathoms from this place. Having scooped up some water, she hastily began to refresh the Suffering Tsarevich’s head and mouth with water, clearing His mouth of dried blood. At Anna Dasoeva’s offer to take a bite of water, the Heir Tsarevich, directing his wide-open gaze at the woman, quietly nodded his head and with a weakened movement of his hand expressed consent to this; but His Highness, due to severe hemorrhage in his throat, could not take water. Then Dasoeva noticed, to her horror, that spots began to appear on the face of the August Patient, which did not foretell a happy end. At 9:35 a.m. His Imperial Highness the Heir Tsarevich and Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich rested quietly, without suffering, in Bose. From the moment the Grand Duke stopped the tricycle and got off it, no more than five minutes passed until the death of His Highness
Anna Dasoeva, still hoping for the possibility of saving His Highness, but convinced of her powerlessness, left the Tsarevich in place and ran to the Cossack post, located on this side of the palace of the Grand Dukes George and Alexander Mikhailovich, to let know about the sad event. On the way, having accidentally met some Muslim boy, and then Kasimov, a second lieutenant of the Mingrelian Grenadier Regiment, walking along the highway, Dasoeva hastily informed them, sobbing, about the misfortune with the Heir Tsarevich and, directing them to the scene of the disaster, she herself continued the path to the Cossacks.
Soldiers of the regiment in the garden of Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich.Georgia Abastuman
According to Dasoeva, the Cossacks immediately jumped onto their saddles and galloped to the scene of the disaster and the palace of His Highness. Meanwhile, Semenikhin managed to report the misfortune, and the doctor of the Heir to the Tsarevich, the life physician Aikanov, and members of His Highness’s retinue were rushing out of the palace in carriages. The body of the deceased Tsarevich in Bose was transported to the palace, and in the place stained with the blood of His Highness, a tent was temporarily erected and guards were posted. The next day, June 29, at 10 o’clock in the morning, an autopsy of the body of the deceased Tsarevich took place in Bose and embalming was carried out by the senior resident of the Semenovsky Hospital in St. Petersburg, Birulei, who was temporarily on the waters, in the presence of the Tiflis governor I. N. Svechin, local commandant Major General Rylsky, life physician Aikanov, prosecutor E.N. Nimander, chief physician of the local hospital Gopadze, doctors Messrs. Tekutyev, Voskresensky, Maksimovich and others. An autopsy established that the death of the Heir to the Tsarevich resulted from a sudden rupture of a pulmonary vessel and severe hemorrhage in the throat. The embalming of the body of the Heir to the Tsarevich ended at 8-30 o'clock. evenings
Mountain path leading through the forest of [Zekarsky Pass], called St. George's Path
Local residents during a memorial service at the site of the death of Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich. July 6, 1899
The military with regimental banners and standards are heading to the Alexander Nevsky Church. July 6, 1899A group of clergy goes to the Alexander Nevsky Church. July 6, 1899
His burial was carried out according to the Highest approved ceremonythe remains were taken toAnthony (Vadkovsky) , the Emperor and Empress were present; buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral next to his father's sarcophagus.
Caucasian egg. Carl Faberge.
Now located in the Museum of New Orleans, USA
Presented by Emperor Alexander III to Empress Maria Feodorovna for Easter 1893. Behind each of the doors is a view of Abastumani. The egg is crowned with a portrait of Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich
Types of Abastumani on the Caucasian egg. Drawings made in 1891
Drawing of the summer palace of Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich on the Caucasian egg.
French postcard with a portrait of Grand Duke George Alexandrovich
Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov (born in 1981)
Status
Great-great-great-grandson of Alexander II through his mother Maria Romanova. Georgy Mikhailovich's great-grandfather, Nicholas II's cousin Kirill Vladimirovich, proclaimed himself emperor in exile in 1924. Georgy Romanov's father is Franz-Wilhelm Hohenzollern, that is, Georgy Mikhailovich is also the great-great-grandson of the last German Emperor Wilhelm II.
What does he do?
Born in Madrid, studied at Oxford, worked in Luxembourg at the European Commission, and from 2008 to 2014 worked at Norilsk Nickel - first as an adviser to the general director, then as head of the European division. The theoretical Tsarevich was engaged in lobbying - he sought to exclude nickel from the list of hazardous substances. Now Georgy Romanov has opened his own PR agency, which will promote the interests of Russian companies in Europe.
Virtual Regent
Nikolai Kirillovich Romanov (born in 1952)
Status
Great-great-great-grandson of Alexander II, like Georgy Romanov. By birth Karl Emich Nikolaus Friedrich Hermann, Prince of Leiningen. In 2013 he converted to Orthodoxy and since then, from a legal point of view, he can lay claim to the throne.
What does he do?
A resident of the federal state of Bavaria, Nikolai Kirillovich, as a contender for the Russian throne is a project of the former chief PR officer of the SPS party and State Duma deputy of the 4th convocation Anton Bakov. Some time ago, Bakov registered the Monarchist Party, and also created the virtual state of the Russian Empire, laying claim to several atolls in the Pacific Ocean. And Nikolai Kirillovich is the regent of the virtual empire.
Bakov also created the “Imperial Palace Fund”, in which Nikolai Kirillovich works as an observer. Among the fund's projects is the creation of a monarchical mini-state near Yekaterinburg - naturally, with the permission of the authorities - to attract tourists. Apparently, Nikolai Kirillovich will be the main attraction there.
Film actress grandfather
Nikolai Romanovich Romanov (born in 1922)
Status
Great-great-grandson of Nicholas I, great-grandson of Nicholas I's son Nikolai Nikolaevich Sr. His grandfather’s brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich Jr., was the oldest surviving Romanov in the 1920s. Then Nikolai Nikolaevich rejected all Kirill Vladimirovich’s claims to the throne. Since then, the Nikolaevichs have been in a quarrel with the Kirillovichs. Nikolai Romanovich heads the organization “Union of Members of the Romanov Family”; he himself does not lay claim to the throne, although as a direct heir in the male line he could. But he doesn’t support the Kirillovichs’ claims either.
What does he do?
Born in France, he lived in Italy from 1936. The Nazis wanted to make him king of occupied Montenegro, but he refused. He lived in the USA, Egypt and Italy, was engaged in winemaking, and wrote books on the history of the fleet. The father of three daughters, his eldest granddaughter is the beautiful but not very famous Italian actress Nicoletta Romanoff.
Prince-businessman
Alexey Andreevich Romanov (born in 1953)
Status
Great-great-great-grandson of Nicholas I. From the Mikhailovich branch: Alexey Andreevich is a descendant of the fourth son of Nicholas I, Mikhail Nikolaevich, governor of the Caucasus at the very end of the Caucasian War. He does not consider himself the heir to the throne and does not support the claims of the Kirillovichs.
What does he do?
Born in San Francisco, studied at Berkeley, owns his own photography company, lives in Oakland, California.
Georgy Alexandrovich Romanov was the brother of Russian Emperor Nicholas II. He was the third son in the family of autocrat Alexander III and Maria Fedorovna.
Childhood and youth
Georgy was born on April 27 (May 9), 1871 in Tsarskoye Selo (Russian Empire). It is known that at first he was a beautiful, healthy, strong and extremely cheerful child. Despite the fact that Georgy was known as his mother’s favorite, he, like the other brothers, was raised in strictness. The boys slept and got up in the morning at 6 o'clock and washed with cold water. Their breakfast consisted of black bread and porridge, and for lunch they ate lamb cutlets or roast beef with baked potatoes and peas. When George was 11 years old, he was even flogged for one of his offenses, although such assault was not typical of the royal family.
At that time, the imperial couple quite often lived in the Gatchina Palace. There, the children had at their disposal a small bedroom, a playroom, a living room and a dining room, which were furnished with inexpensive furniture. The only valuable thing in their home was a large icon, generously inlaid with pearls and precious stones.
News of the disease
Usually the brothers studied in different rooms so that they would have no reason to distract each other. Moreover, all the teachers were the same. It is worth noting that they were given an excellent education, since their lessons were taught by real professors. The boys were very capable, as evidenced by the fact that they were fluent in French, German and English, and also spoke Danish well. In addition, the young men were fond of fishing and were good shooters.
Georgy Romanov grew up as a smart boy and was predicted to have a brilliant career in the navy. Unfortunately, this was not destined to come true. He became seriously ill, and soon doctors diagnosed him with tuberculosis. In 1890, his parents decided that George needed to go abroad. On this journey he was accompanied by his older brother Nikolai. They were supposed to arrive in Japan, since Empress Maria Feodorovna believed that sea air and sunbathing would help her sick son get better. But in Bombay, Georgy had an attack, which forced him to return to Russia. Nikolai had to continue the journey without his brother.
Caucasian resort
George's health was getting worse, so they decided to send him to Abastumani, a small Georgian village located at the foot of the Meskheti Mountains. It must be said that this choice was not random. Even then it was known about the unique climate, beautiful nature and life-giving springs of those places. The village gradually began to turn into a popular balneological resort. Residents from nearby villages came here for treatment, taking sick relatives and staying in huts not far from the baths built right in the ground.
Why was it decided to treat George in Abastumani? It is known that before sending him here, several places were considered where the young man would feel better. We stopped at Abastumani with its unique climate. This was greatly facilitated by Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich, who was at that time the governor of the Caucasus. He loved this region very much and was confident in the extraordinary healing properties of its climate. Here he had four sons, who would later spend a lot of time with Georgy Romanov.
Arrival in the Caucasus
In 1891, Maria Feodorovna, along with her sick son, several members of her retinue and a convoy, arrived in Abastumani. Previously, a plot of land was purchased here from Adolf Remmert, a medical inspector in the Caucasus, who supervised the work on the construction of mineral waters. They immediately began to build temporary residential buildings and set up tents for servants and guards. The empress herself, her son and her inner circle settled in the best houses of local aristocrats.
Meanwhile, on the purchased site, the rapid construction of so-called palaces was underway - one stone and two wooden. These buildings were quite unusual. The walls of wooden palaces were made of thick logs covered with shields, after which they were finished. It was believed that it was better to live in such houses. In one of the palaces, all the rooms were decorated by skilled craftsmen, who laid out beautiful tiled wall stoves in them, and there was a huge fireplace in the hall. On the second floor there were bedrooms, accessible by a wide staircase.
Life in Abastumani
Time passed slowly in a small, pretty town. There is no information about the personal life of Georgy Romanov. It is only known that here he underwent a complex of various medical procedures, and in the summer he made trips to the picturesque surroundings and studied. His faithful companion was always Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich, who was often called Gigo in the Georgian manner. He was born in Tiflis and was an excellent expert on history, since from childhood he was keenly interested in these places with so many ancient monuments.
Grand Duke Georgy Romanov fell in love with this region. He was especially impressed by the Zarzma monastery, which he visited together with his constant companion Georgy Mikhailovich. Later, the architecture of this monastery prompted him to decide to build a church dedicated to Alexander Nevsky, his heavenly patron. Its construction was led by Otto Simanson.
Heir Tsarevich
In 1894, Romanova, Emperor Alexander III, unexpectedly dies. Brother Nikolai becomes the new autocrat. However, he did not yet have his own children at that time, so George was declared heir-crown. His health was still poor, so for some time he had to live in Abastumani without a break. Despite the fact that he was with his father at the time of his death in Livadia, doctors categorically forbade him to go to St. Petersburg and take part in the funeral.
Georgy's real joy was the rare visits of his mother Maria Fedorovna at that time. In 1895, they made a joint trip to Denmark to visit relatives. It was there that one of the most serious attacks occurred, which confined George to bed for a long time. When he felt better, he returned back to Abastumani.
Friendly support
Despite his serious illness, Tsarevich Georgy Romanov never felt lonely. In Abastumani, his mother began to visit him much more often. In addition, his sisters and brothers constantly came to see him, as well as the children of Prince Mikhail Nikolaevich, the grand dukes permanently residing in the Caucasus.
The friendly surroundings tried their best to dispel Georgy’s sad thoughts. They organized fun picnics, interesting evenings, costume balls, which were so fashionable at that time in St. Petersburg. Not only from Tiflis, but also from the capital itself, many young people came to him. It is known that the Tsarevich even baptized the daughter of Artemy Kalamkarov, the director of the local post office. By the way, the official’s wife took an active part in Abastumani court life. There seemed to be no signs of trouble.
Death of the Tsarevich
Wednesday, June 28, 1899, 9 a.m. Georgy decides to take a walk around the outskirts of Abastumani. To do this, he asked for a tricycle powered by a gasoline engine. The weather was good and there was a pleasant breeze. The Grand Duke quickly drove along the highway to the Zekar Pass. Soon he noticed a cart ahead, in which the milkmaid Anna Dasoeva and her worker, a boy named Afanasy Semenikhin, were riding. The prince signaled and they gave way to him, directing their cart to the side of the road.
Less than 10 minutes had passed when the thrush saw George returning on his tricycle, but much more slowly. She immediately noticed his bloody jacket and, feeling trouble, sent the boy to the palace, and she ran up to the prince. His strength was rapidly leaving him, so she helped him to the ground. Soon Anna Dasoeva noticed that spots began to appear on George’s face. At 9:35 a.m. the heir to the Tsarevich and the Grand Duke was gone. He was only 28.
Causes of death
Meanwhile, Afanasy Semenikhin, sent to the palace, reported the misfortune. Physician Aikanov and several people from the prince’s retinue immediately went to the scene of the tragedy. George's body was transported to the palace, and at the place where he died, a tent was erected and a guard was assigned to it.
The next morning, an autopsy was carried out, and then the body was embalmed, which was carried out by the senior resident of the St. Petersburg Semenovsky Hospital, Mr. Birulya, who was vacationing in Abastumani. Present were the commandant, Major General Rylsky, prosecutor Nimander, chief. the doctor of the local hospital, Mr. Gopadze, as well as doctors Maksimovich, Tekutyev, Voskresensky and others. An autopsy established that the death of the crown prince occurred as a result of a sudden rupture of one of the pulmonary vessels, which resulted in severe hemorrhage. The embalming of the body was completed only in the evening.
Worship
Starting from the day of death, a large number of local people began to flock to the scene of the tragedy. Two days later, everyone began to be allowed to see the ashes of the Grand Duke, displayed for veneration in the palace, to say goodbye to the heir to the Tsarevich. His body rested in a temporary coffin covered with a naval flag. The Grand Duke himself was dressed in a naval uniform.
On the ninth day, the ashes of Georgy Romanov were transferred to the Alexander Nevsky Church. A funeral liturgy was held here, and at the end of it a memorial service was held, which was attended by representatives of various departments, authorities and generals. Anna Dasoeva, in whose arms the Grand Duke died, was also allowed to be present here.
The way to St. Petersburg
The Gospel was read in church all night. July 7 at 4:15 a.m. In the morning, Prince Nikolai Mikhailovich arrived here, accompanied by government representatives. Soon the coffin with ashes was taken out and placed on a hearse. After this, the procession led by the clergy and accompanied by garrison troops moved to Borjomi. Upon arrival, the coffin with the body of the Grand Duke was placed on an emergency train departing for Batumi.
There, the mournful procession was met by Empress Maria Feodorovna, the sisters and brothers of the deceased, and they also arrived in Batumi on the battleship “St. George the Victorious,” which was escorted by the Black Sea squadron. The coffin was transferred to a barge and taken to the ship. There it was installed on the ship's quarterdeck, surrounded by beautiful tropical plants. After this, the battleship began to be surrounded by boats and steamers with people who wanted to say goodbye to the deceased crown prince. At 10 o'clock 15 minutes. the ship headed towards Novorossiysk. From there the coffin was transported by rail to Rostov-on-Don. The funeral train stopped several times along its route to perform funeral services. On the morning of July 11, he arrived in Moscow, and the next day in the evening - in St. Petersburg.
Funeral
The burial of Georgy Romanov, whose biography turned out to be so short, took place on July 14. The liturgy and funeral service were performed by Metropolitan Anthony in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, after which the moment of farewell to the deceased came.
Maria Feodorovna was the first to approach the coffin, followed by the elder brother of the deceased, autocrat Nicholas II. After them, the entire royal family took turns saying goodbye to the Grand Duke. The coffin with his body was lowered into the grave located next to the sarcophagus of Alexander III.
Memory
Emperor Nicholas II never forgot about his brother Georgy Alexandrovich. Subsequently, he often recalled his extraordinary sense of humor. He even wrote down his most successful jokes on scraps of paper, and then collected them in a special casket, known as the “box of curiosities.” Over the years, Nikolai repeatedly turned to its contents in order to amuse his household.
In 1910, when Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich had a son, he named him George in honor of his older brother. Unfortunately, he also did not live long. At the age of 21, he died in a terrible car accident. It is also known that the settlement of Georgsfeld, located in Transcaucasia, founded by German colonists in 1885, was named in honor of Grand Duke Georgy Romanov. Now this is the settlement of Chinarly (Azerbaijan).
Genetic research
In 1994, it became necessary to conduct a DNA analysis of the remains of the imperial family executed in Yekaterinburg in 1918. To do this, it was decided to exhume the body of Nicholas II’s younger brother Georgy Romanov. This procedure put an end to the long-term problem of finding the DNA of the closest relatives of the murdered autocrat, since foreign descendants flatly refused to provide their biological material.
The result of these genetic studies was the conclusion that from a forensic, medical and scientific point of view, the result was excellent. This means that the genotype of Georgy Romanov completely coincided with the DNA of the object called “skeleton No. 4”. It was under this number that the remains of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II were listed.
His Imperial Highness the Sovereign Heir Tsarevich and Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich was born on March 13th. Art. 1981 in Madrid, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the martyrdom of his Great-great-great-grandfather Emperor Alexander II the Liberator (+ 1/14 March 1881), from the marriage of H.I.V. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna with H.I.V. Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich (Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia).
At the sacrament of the baptism of the Grand Duke, performed before the miraculous Kursk Icon of the Mother of God in the Orthodox Church of Saints Andrew and Demetrius in Madrid, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, King Simeon II and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria were present, and the godfather was King Constantine II of the Hellenes .
The Tsarevich spent his early childhood in Saint-Briac, and then he moved to Paris. Until 1999, the Heir, together with his August Mother, lived permanently in Madrid, where he graduated from college. From infancy, the Grand Duke was raised in the spirit of the Orthodox Faith and in the consciousness of his royal duty to the Motherland.
The heir Tsarevich first visited Russia in April 1992, when the entire Imperial Family arrived for the funeral service of the Sovereign Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich. Since then, he has visited the Fatherland many times, always showing a keen interest in all aspects of the life of the people.
An indelible impression on the Grand Duke was made by the ancient Russian Orthodox churches, which, in his opinion, created a very special prayerful mood. Visits to military installations and meetings with soldiers and officers of the Russian Army and Navy also always arouse his joy and deep interest.
The Tsarevich goes in for sports and shoots accurately. In addition to Russian, in which he always passed exams with honors, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich is fluent in English, French and Spanish. He knows Orthodox worship well and takes part in it himself.
On April 9, 1998, during the pilgrimage trip of the Imperial Family to the Holy Land, the Blessed Sovereign, Heir Tsarevich and Grand Duke George Mikhailovich took the dynastic oath of allegiance to the Fatherland and his August Mother established by the Basic Laws of the Russian Empire. The ceremony took place in Jerusalem, in the Throne Hall of the Patriarchal residence, where the oath of the Heir to the All-Russian Throne was taken by the outstanding Hierarch of the Holy Church and strict guardian of the purity of Orthodoxy, Patriarch Diodorus of Jerusalem, who blessed the Grand Duke to defend the Orthodox Faith, serve Russia and its people and inviolably protect the legal foundations of the Russian Imperial House .
After graduating from Oxford University, wanting to study the processes determining the development of Europe, His Imperial Highness worked in the European Parliament, then moved to the position of assistant to the Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Mrs. Loyola de Palacio in Brussels. Then he continued to work at the European Commission, but in Luxembourg, in the department of nuclear energy and nuclear production safety. Over the years, the Grand Duke visited the Fatherland several times on working visits.
In 2006, the Tsarevich’s first independent official visit to his homeland took place. On behalf of his mother, Head of the Dynasty Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, her son performed an honorable mission and, on behalf of the Imperial House, congratulated His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II on the 45th anniversary of his episcopal consecration. At the same time, meetings of the Grand Duke took place with the first deputy chairmen of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Oleg Morozov and Lyubov Sliska, chairmen of Duma committees and deputies.
During his November visit to Russia in 2008, Tsarevich Georgy Mikhailovich accepted the offer of the management of OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel and in December of the same year took up the post of Advisor to the General Director of Norilsk Nickel, Vladimir Strzhalkovsky. In this position, His Imperial Highness represented the interests of one of the largest Russian companies in the European Union. In addition, Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich was on the Board of the Nickel Institute.
Having gained experience in protecting the rights and interests of domestic manufacturers, after the end of the contract at Norilsk Nickel, the Tsarevich created his own PR agency, Romanoff & Partners, in Brussels. This agency represents the interests of Russian and Eastern European companies in the European Union.
Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich is firmly convinced that there are no obstacles for him to study a wide variety of professions and fields of activity: “My ancestor Peter the Great,” he says, “gave all subsequent generations of the Imperial House an excellent example that any work is worthy of respect. He himself did not disdain any work; everything was interesting to him. You can and should do something in which you can achieve success and benefit others, without any complexes or prejudices. And belonging to the Imperial House does not give any privileges, but imposes a more serious responsibility - so that your ancestors are not ashamed of you, so that the good name of the dynasty does not suffer.”
In addition to business activities, the Grand Duke, of course, invariably fulfills his duties as the heir to the Head of the Russian Imperial House.
Regularly visiting (together with his August Mother and independently) the Russian Federation and other states that arose on the territory of the former Russian Empire, the Tsarevich serves the cause of strengthening friendship between peoples and participates in charitable and cultural projects.
In the anniversary year of 2013, the Grand Duke established “The Russian Imperial Foundation for Cancer Research” in London.
His Imperial Highness discusses his vision of the role of the Imperial House in the modern world as follows: “Our main responsibility is to maintain continuity in history. Compared to this mission, even state power is less important.
“Our ancestors never aspired to power, from the very beginning. When the embassy of the Great Council in 1613 came to Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov and announced to him that he was the heir to the royal throne, he refused for a long time with horror.
“Power is a duty, and a very difficult one. If necessary, we will fulfill it without hesitation. We are ready to answer the people's call if the people of Russia want to restore the monarchy. But we ourselves do not strive for power and do not claim anything - neither political rights, nor any property.
“But maintaining a living connection between modern Russia and its entire thousand-year history is our duty and our right at all times, regardless of any political changes.”
