Vasily Golitsyn

UNKNOWN ARTIST. PORTRAIT OF VASILY GOLITSYN. XVII CENTURY. STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM

A favorite of Princess Sofia Alekseevna, regent of the Russian state during the childhood of Ivan V and Peter I. Golitsyn headed the government, led the troops and was known as a lover of European culture. What kind of relationship the prince had with his patroness is unknown. Alexei Tolstoy in Peter the Great paints a convincing picture of ardent carnal passion, but he has no evidence.

The portrait of Golitsyn by an unknown artist is naive in style and proportions - in the 17th century in the Russian kingdom only such primitivist parsuns could paint. Above the prince’s head is the coat of arms of his family, in his hands is a visible sign of his political successes - the text of “Eternal Peace” with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. On the chest is a reward for the campaign against the Crimean Khan in 1687. The artist managed to paint sable and velvet better than to convey Golitsyn’s appearance - it is unlikely that he was so hunched over. His face seems to be attractive, at least he shaved his beard, contrary to custom, leaving a mustache in the Polish style. His contemporaries condemned him for such dandyism.

Maria Cantemir

IVAN NIKITIN. Supposedly a PORTRAIT OF MARIA CANTEMIR. 1710-20-E. GMZ "NEW JERUSALEM"

Maria was the daughter of the deposed ruler of Moldavia, who found refuge at the court of Peter the Great. Her brother Antiochus became one of the first poets of the Russian Empire, and she herself became the emperor's favorite. In 1722, Maria found herself pregnant, and Peter the Great’s attention to her was so great that some courtiers expected him to divorce the rootless Marta Skavronskaya in order to marry a Moldavian “princess”, whose mother was also a Byzantine Cantacuzene. But the newborn died, and Peter grew cold towards Mary. Two years later, having learned about his wife’s affair with Willim Mons, the emperor returned to Mary again, but died a few months later. She settled on the estate, lived in prosperity, remained unmarried and died at the age of 57.

The surviving portrait depicts either Mary or her sister. It was painted by Ivan Nikitin, the first Russian portrait painter who learned to paint in the European style. By the way, it was Peter who sent him to study in Italy. The girl in Nikitin’s painting is dressed in a discreet outfit of noble dark colors, decorated with jewelry and fine lace, which in those days cost a lot of money. The mantle, trimmed with ermine, indicates her princely dignity.

Ernst Biron

UNKNOWN 19TH CENTURY ARTIST (FROM AN ORIGINAL BY LOUIS CARAVAC, 1730). PORTRAIT OF ERNST BIRON. STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The gloomy favorite of Anna Ioannovna, thanks to whom the word “Bironovshchina” appeared in the Russian language, denoting both state violence mixed with stupidity and the dominance of the Germans. Anna's relationship with Biron lasted for many years - the poor young man became her secretary when she was still the Dowager Duchess of Courland. Having become the All-Russian Empress, Anna took him with her to St. Petersburg and secured the title of her late husband for her favorite. After the death of her patroness, Biron quarreled with Anna Leopoldovna and was exiled. He died under Catherine the Great, who returned the duchy to him, at the age of 82.

The painting by an unknown artist (possibly a copy of Caravaque's work) is the earliest known image of Biron. Here he, unlike his other portraits, is without the signs of the ducal title (ermine robe and crown on the pillow). This means that the painting dates back to the period when he was already Anna’s favorite, but had not yet become the Duke of Courland.

Ivan Shuvalov

FEDOR ROKOTOV. PORTRAIT OF IVAN SHUVALOV. 1760. STATE HERMITAGE

The last favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna was 18 years younger than her. Shuvalov had a cheerful, kind disposition, did not chase honors and money, did not get involved in politics, and refused the title of count. He loved art and science - together with Lomonosov he founded Moscow University and the Academy of Arts. After the death of the empress, he lived abroad and collected art.

The great Russian portrait painter Fyodor Rokotov also owes a lot to Shuvalov - at his invitation he came to St. Petersburg, and on the verbal order of the patron he was accepted into the Academy of Arts. Rokotov’s soft pictorial style suits Shuvalov’s meek character very well. This is an early work by the novice Rokotov, and not painted from life, but copied with variations from a portrait of Shuvalov by Toke.

Elizaveta Vorontsova

ALEXEY ANTROPOV. PORTRAIT OF ELIZAVETA VORONTSOVA. 1762. STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM

A favorite of Emperor Peter III, who openly expressed such admiration for her, neglecting his wife Catherine the Great, that in St. Petersburg they seriously expected a divorce and a new marriage. This, by the way, was one of the reasons for the coup that brought Catherine II to the throne. Vorontsova was very ugly, unclean, fat, with a wide face and olive skin covered with scars from pockmarks. Why Peter III expressed such “deplorable taste” is unclear. During the new reign, Vorontsova got married, did not appear at court, and died at 52.

The portrait by Antropov is an example of how art historians date paintings. On Vorontsova’s chest is an imperial portrait sprinkled with diamonds—the sign of a lady-in-waiting. Peter III granted her this title immediately after ascending the throne in January 1762. But the ribbon of the Order of St. Catherine, which she received on June 9 of the same year from his hands, is not in the picture. This means that Antropov painted the portrait during these six months of the reign of Peter III. The painting looks unsightly - firstly, it was left unfinished, apparently due to the coup; secondly, it has suffered greatly from time to time. By the way, Antropov also carried out other orders for the emperor - a rare example of Peter III’s interest in a Russian, and not in a foreigner. Apparently, it was Vorontsova who drew the emperor’s attention to this artist.

Platon Zubov

JOHANN BAPTIST LAMPI THE SR. PORTRAIT OF PLATO ZUBOV. 1793. TRETYAKOV GALLERY

Catherine the Great had so many favorites, and they were all so handsome, that it was honestly difficult to choose whose portrait to write about. Take, for example, Platon Zubov, the last favorite of the Empress. She was 60 and he was 22 when their relationship began. They spent seven years together, until her death, she called him “rezvka” and showered him with diamonds. The courtiers hated him and considered him mediocre.

The portrait by the visiting Austrian Lampi the Elder was created approximately in the fourth year of Zubov’s favor. A slender, handsome man in a powdered wig is depicted here as an intellectual and statesman (at a desk with a map of Poland, documents and an inkwell), who thinks about the fate of Russia day and night (dressed in a dressing gown).

Ekaterina Nelidova

DMITRY LEVITSKY. PORTRAIT OF EKATERINA NELIDOVA. 1793. RUSSIAN MUSEUM

A favorite of Emperor Paul I, who apparently inherited from his father a love for ugly women: Nelidova was ugly-faced and short in stature, although she had excellent posture and a beautiful figure. She served as a maid of honor first for Paul’s first wife, Grand Duchess Natalya Alekseevna, who died early, then for the second, Empress Maria Feodorovna, with whom she became very friendly. A few years later, Pavel replaced Nelidova with Lopukhina. The former favorite remained an old maid, lived in her old alma mater - the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens, and helped Maria Feodorovna in her charitable affairs.

The portrait by Levitsky is part of the famous “Smolyanka” series, depicting college girls in theatrical costumes. The 15-year-old future favorite appears here as a soubrette - a flirtatious maid from Pergolesi's opera. She is dressed in a theatrical costume and stands in a dance step from a minuet.

Maria Naryshkina

SALVATORE TONCHI. PORTRAIT OF MARIA NARYSHKINA. 1ST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. GMZ "PAVLOVSK"

For almost fifteen years, Maria Naryshkina and her children were the second family of Emperor Alexander I. However, the position of the favorite did not prevent her from benefactoring other handsome men. Her last affair with Prince Grigory Gagarin, from whom she apparently gave birth to a boy, led to the final break between the emperor and his beloved.

In the portrait by the Italian painter Salvator Tonchi, the beautiful Naryshkina is depicted according to all the laws of the Empire style that reigned at that time - no ostentatious luxury, gilding, or powder. The favorite is dressed in a simple white dress in antique fashion and has her hair done just as simply.

At this point, the tradition of Russian portraits of favorites is interrupted - Emperor Nicholas I, although he was not faithful to his wife, did not advertise his mistresses. Under the next emperors, two fashionable innovations appeared - photography and Victorian morality. Therefore, we know the face of Alexander II’s long-time friend, His Serene Highness Princess Yuryevskaya, from numerous photographs, and not from oil portraits. And his son and grandson Alexander III and Nicholas II were exemplary spouses.

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Over the almost 400 years of the existence of this title, it was worn by completely different people - from adventurers and liberals to tyrants and conservatives.

Rurikovich

Over the years, Russia (from Rurik to Putin) has changed its political system many times. At first, rulers bore the title of prince. When, after a period of political fragmentation, a new Russian state emerged around Moscow, the owners of the Kremlin began to think about accepting the royal title.

This was accomplished under Ivan the Terrible (1547-1584). This one decided to marry into the kingdom. And this decision was not accidental. So the Moscow monarch emphasized that he was the legal successor. It was they who bestowed Orthodoxy on Russia. In the 16th century, Byzantium no longer existed (it fell under the onslaught of the Ottomans), so Ivan the Terrible rightly believed that his act would have serious symbolic significance.

Such historical figures had a great influence on the development of the entire country. In addition to changing his title, Ivan the Terrible also captured the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, beginning Russian expansion to the East.

Ivan's son Fedor (1584-1598) was distinguished by his weak character and health. Nevertheless, under him the state continued to develop. The patriarchate was established. Rulers have always paid a lot of attention to the issue of succession to the throne. This time he became especially acute. Fedor had no children. When he died, the Rurik dynasty on the Moscow throne came to an end.

Time of Troubles

After Fyodor's death, Boris Godunov (1598-1605), his brother-in-law, came to power. He did not belong to the reigning family, and many considered him a usurper. Under him, due to natural disasters, a colossal famine began. The tsars and presidents of Russia have always tried to maintain calm in the provinces. Due to the tense situation, Godunov was unable to do this. Several peasant uprisings took place in the country.

In addition, the adventurer Grishka Otrepyev called himself one of the sons of Ivan the Terrible and began a military campaign against Moscow. He actually managed to capture the capital and become king. Boris Godunov did not live to see this moment - he died from health complications. His son Feodor II was captured by the comrades of False Dmitry and killed.

The impostor ruled for only a year, after which he was overthrown during the Moscow uprising, inspired by disgruntled Russian boyars who did not like the fact that False Dmitry surrounded himself with Catholic Poles. decided to transfer the crown to Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610). During the Time of Troubles, the rulers of Russia often changed.

The princes, tsars and presidents of Russia had to carefully guard their power. Shuisky could not restrain her and was overthrown by the Polish interventionists.

The first Romanovs

When Moscow was liberated from foreign invaders in 1613, the question arose of who should be made sovereign. This text presents all the kings of Russia in order (with portraits). Now the time has come to talk about the rise to the throne of the Romanov dynasty.

The first sovereign from this family, Mikhail (1613-1645), was just a youth when he was put in charge of a huge country. His main goal was the fight with Poland for the lands it captured during the Time of Troubles.

These were the biographies of the rulers and the dates of their reign until the middle of the 17th century. After Mikhail, his son Alexei (1645-1676) ruled. He annexed left-bank Ukraine and Kyiv to Russia. So, after several centuries of fragmentation and Lithuanian rule, the fraternal peoples finally began to live in one country.

Alexei had many sons. The eldest of them, Feodor III (1676-1682), died at a young age. After him came the simultaneous reign of two children - Ivan and Peter.

Peter the Great

Ivan Alekseevich was unable to rule the country. Therefore, in 1689, the sole reign of Peter the Great began. He completely rebuilt the country in a European manner. Russia - from Rurik to Putin (we will consider all the rulers in chronological order) - knows few examples of an era so saturated with changes.

A new army and navy appeared. For this, Peter started a war against Sweden. The Northern War lasted 21 years. During it, the Swedish army was defeated, and the kingdom agreed to cede its southern Baltic lands. In this region, St. Petersburg, the new capital of Russia, was founded in 1703. Peter's successes made him think about changing his title. In 1721 he became emperor. However, this change did not abolish the royal title - in everyday speech, monarchs continued to be called kings.

The era of palace coups

Peter's death was followed by a long period of instability in power. Monarchs replaced each other with enviable regularity, which was facilitated by the Guard or certain courtiers, as a rule, at the head of these changes. This era was ruled by Catherine I (1725-1727), Peter II (1727-1730), Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740), Ivan VI (1740-1741), Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761) and Peter III (1761-1762) ).

The last of them was German by birth. Under Peter III's predecessor, Elizabeth, Russia waged a victorious war against Prussia. The new monarch renounced all his conquests, returned Berlin to the king and concluded a peace treaty. With this act he signed his own death warrant. The Guard organized another palace coup, after which Peter's wife Catherine II found herself on the throne.

Catherine II and Paul I

Catherine II (1762-1796) had a deep state mind. On the throne, she began to pursue a policy of enlightened absolutism. The Empress organized the work of the famous laid down commission, the purpose of which was to prepare a comprehensive project of reforms in Russia. She also wrote the Order. This document contained many considerations about the transformations necessary for the country. The reforms were curtailed when a peasant uprising led by Pugachev broke out in the Volga region in the 1770s.

All the tsars and presidents of Russia (we have listed all the royal persons in chronological order) made sure that the country looked decent in the external arena. She was no exception. She conducted several successful military campaigns against Turkey. As a result, Crimea and other important Black Sea regions were annexed to Russia. At the end of Catherine's reign, three divisions of Poland occurred. Thus, the Russian Empire received important acquisitions in the west.

After the death of the great empress, her son Paul I (1796-1801) came to power. This quarrelsome man was not liked by many in the St. Petersburg elite.

First half of the 19th century

In 1801, the next and last palace coup took place. A group of conspirators dealt with Pavel. His son Alexander I (1801-1825) was on the throne. His reign occurred during the Patriotic War and Napoleon's invasion. The rulers of the Russian state have not faced such serious enemy intervention for two centuries. Despite the capture of Moscow, Bonaparte was defeated. Alexander became the most popular and famous monarch of the Old World. He was also called the "liberator of Europe."

Within his country, Alexander in his youth tried to implement liberal reforms. Historical figures often change their policies as they age. So Alexander soon abandoned his ideas. He died in Taganrog in 1825 under mysterious circumstances.

At the beginning of the reign of his brother Nicholas I (1825-1855), the Decembrist uprising occurred. Because of this, conservative orders triumphed in the country for thirty years.

Second half of the 19th century

All the kings of Russia are presented here in order, with portraits. Next we will talk about the main reformer of Russian statehood - Alexander II (1855-1881). He initiated the manifesto for the liberation of the peasants. The destruction of serfdom allowed the Russian market and capitalism to develop. Economic growth began in the country. Reforms also affected the judiciary, local government, administrative and conscription systems. The monarch tried to get the country back on its feet and learn the lessons that the lost beginnings under Nicholas I taught him.

But Alexander's reforms were not enough for the radicals. Terrorists made several attempts on his life. In 1881 they achieved success. Alexander II died from a bomb explosion. The news came as a shock to the whole world.

Because of what happened, the son of the deceased monarch, Alexander III (1881-1894), forever became a tough reactionary and conservative. But most of all he is known as a peacemaker. During his reign, Russia did not wage a single war.

The last king

In 1894, Alexander III died. Power passed into the hands of Nicholas II (1894-1917) - his son and the last Russian monarch. By that time, the old world order with the absolute power of kings and kings had already outlived its usefulness. Russia - from Rurik to Putin - has known a lot of upheavals, but it was under Nicholas that more than ever happened.

In 1904-1905 The country experienced a humiliating war with Japan. It was followed by the first revolution. Although the unrest was suppressed, the tsar had to make concessions to public opinion. He agreed to establish a constitutional monarchy and parliament.

Tsars and presidents of Russia at all times faced a certain opposition within the state. Now people could elect deputies who expressed these sentiments.

In 1914, the First World War began. No one then suspected that it would end with the fall of several empires at once, including the Russian one. In 1917, the February Revolution broke out, and the last tsar was forced to abdicate. Nicholas II and his family were shot by the Bolsheviks in the basement of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg.

Publications in the Museums section

Portraits of the favorites of the Russian emperors

The ladies and gentlemen who made our sovereigns go crazy have gone down in history. And some of them go into the history of Russian art. Let's take a look at the most interesting portraits of beloved monarchs and try to guess what their charm was..

Vasily Golitsyn

Unknown artist. Portrait of Vasily Golitsyn. 17th century State Historical Museum

Favorite of Princess Sofia Alekseevna - regent of the Russian state during the childhood of Ivan V and Peter I. Golitsyn headed the government, led the troops and was known as a lover of European culture. What kind of relationship the prince had with his patroness is unknown. Alexei Tolstoy in Peter the Great paints a convincing picture of ardent carnal passion, but he has no evidence.

The portrait of Golitsyn by an unknown artist is naive in style and proportions - in the 17th century in the Russian kingdom only such primitivist parsuns could paint. Above the prince’s head is the coat of arms of his family, in his hands is a visible sign of his political successes - the text of “Eternal Peace” with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. On the chest is a reward for the campaign against the Crimean Khan in 1687. The artist managed to paint sable and velvet better than to convey Golitsyn’s appearance - it is unlikely that he was so hunched over. His face seems to be attractive, at least he shaved his beard, contrary to custom, leaving a mustache in the Polish style. His contemporaries condemned him for such dandyism.

Maria Cantemir

Ivan Nikitin. Presumably a portrait of Maria Cantemir. 1710–20s. GMZ "New Jerusalem"

Maria was the daughter of the deposed ruler of Moldavia, who found refuge at the court of Peter the Great. Her brother Antiochus became one of the first poets of the Russian Empire, and she herself became the emperor's favorite. In 1722, Maria found herself pregnant, and Peter the Great’s attention to her was so great that some courtiers expected him to divorce the rootless Marta Skavronskaya in order to marry a Moldavian “princess”, whose mother was also a Byzantine Cantacuzene. But the newborn died, and Peter grew cold towards Mary. Two years later, having learned about his wife’s affair with Willim Mons, the emperor returned to Mary again, but died a few months later. She settled on the estate, lived in prosperity, remained unmarried and died at the age of 57.

The surviving portrait depicts either Mary or her sister. It was painted by Ivan Nikitin, the first Russian portrait painter who learned to paint in the European style. By the way, it was Peter who sent him to study in Italy. The girl in Nikitin’s painting is dressed in a discreet outfit of noble dark colors, decorated with jewelry and fine lace, which in those days cost a lot of money. The mantle, trimmed with ermine, indicates her princely dignity.

Ernst Biron

Unknown artist of the 19th century (from an original by Louis Caravaque, 1730). Portrait of Ernst Biron. State Historical Museum

The gloomy favorite of Anna Ioannovna, thanks to whom the word “Bironovshchina” appeared in the Russian language, denoting both state violence mixed with stupidity and the dominance of the Germans. Anna's relationship with Biron lasted for many years - the poor young man became her secretary when she was still the Dowager Duchess of Courland. Having become the All-Russian Empress, Anna took him with her to St. Petersburg and secured the title of her late husband for her favorite. After the death of her patroness, Biron quarreled with Anna Leopoldovna and was exiled. He died under Catherine the Great, who returned the duchy to him, at the age of 82.

The painting by an unknown artist (possibly a copy of Caravaque's work) is the earliest known image of Biron. Here he, unlike his other portraits, is without the signs of the ducal title (ermine robe and crown on the pillow). This means that the painting dates back to the period when he was already Anna’s favorite, but had not yet become the Duke of Courland.

Ivan Shuvalov

Fedor Rokotov. Portrait of Ivan Shuvalov. 1760. State Hermitage Museum

The last favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna was 18 years younger than her. Shuvalov had a cheerful, kind disposition, did not chase honors and money, did not get involved in politics, and refused the title of count. He loved art and science - together with Lomonosov he founded Moscow University and the Academy of Arts. After the death of the empress, he lived abroad and collected art.

The great Russian portrait painter Fyodor Rokotov also owes a lot to Shuvalov - at his invitation he came to St. Petersburg, and on the verbal order of the patron he was accepted into the Academy of Arts. Rokotov’s soft pictorial style suits Shuvalov’s meek character very well. This is an early work by the novice Rokotov, and not painted from life, but copied with variations from a portrait of Shuvalov by Toke.

Elizaveta Vorontsova

Alexey Antropov. Portrait of Elizaveta Vorontsova. 1762. State Historical Museum

A favorite of Emperor Peter III, who openly expressed such admiration for her, neglecting his wife Catherine the Great, that in St. Petersburg they seriously expected a divorce and a new marriage. This, by the way, was one of the reasons for the coup that brought Catherine II to the throne. Vorontsova was very ugly, unclean, fat, with a wide face and olive skin covered with scars from pockmarks. Why Peter III expressed such “deplorable taste” is unclear. During the new reign, Vorontsova got married, did not appear at court, and died at 52.

The portrait by Antropov is an example of how art historians date paintings. On Vorontsova's chest there is an imperial portrait sprinkled with diamonds - the sign of a lady-in-waiting. Peter III granted her this title immediately after ascending the throne in January 1762. But the ribbon of the Order of St. Catherine, which she received on June 9 of the same year from his hands, is not in the picture. This means that Antropov painted the portrait during these six months of the reign of Peter III. The picture looks unsightly - firstly, it remained unfinished, apparently due to the coup; secondly, it has suffered greatly from time to time. By the way, Antropov also carried out other orders for the emperor - a rare example of Peter III’s interest in a Russian, and not in a foreigner. Apparently, it was Vorontsova who drew the emperor’s attention to this artist.

Platon Zubov

Johann Baptist Lampi the Elder. Portrait of Platon Zubov. 1793. Tretyakov Gallery

Catherine the Great had so many favorites, and they were all so handsome, that it was honestly difficult to choose whose portrait to write about. Take, for example, Platon Zubov, the last favorite of the Empress. She was 60 and he was 22 when their relationship began. They spent seven years together, until her death, she called him “rezvka” and showered him with diamonds. The courtiers hated him and considered him mediocre.

The portrait by the visiting Austrian Lampi the Elder was created approximately in the fourth year of Zubov’s favor. A slender, handsome man in a powdered wig is depicted here as an intellectual and statesman (at a desk with a map of Poland, documents and an inkwell), who thinks about the fate of Russia day and night (dressed in a dressing gown).

Ekaterina Nelidova

Dmitry Levitsky. Portrait of Ekaterina Nelidova. 1793. Russian Museum

A favorite of Emperor Paul I, who apparently inherited from his father a love for ugly women: Nelidova was ugly-faced and short in stature, although she had excellent posture and a beautiful figure. She served as a maid of honor first for Paul's first wife, Grand Duchess Natalya Alekseevna, who died early, then for the second, Empress Maria Feodorovna, with whom she became very friendly. A few years later, Pavel replaced Nelidova with Lopukhina. The former favorite remained an old maid, lived in her old alma mater - the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens, and helped Maria Feodorovna in her charitable affairs.

The portrait by Levitsky is part of the famous “Smolyanka” series, depicting college girls in theatrical costumes. The 15-year-old future favorite appears here as a soubrette - a flirtatious maid from Pergolesi's opera. She is dressed in a theatrical costume and stands in a dance step from a minuet.

Maria Naryshkina

Salvatore Tonchi. Portrait of Maria Naryshkina. 1st half of the 19th century. GMZ "Pavlovsk"

For almost fifteen years, Maria Naryshkina and her children were the second family of Emperor Alexander I. However, the position of the favorite did not prevent her from doing good to other handsome men. Her last affair with Prince Grigory Gagarin, from whom, apparently, she gave birth to a boy, led to the final break between the emperor and his beloved.

In the portrait by the Italian painter Salvator Tonchi, the beautiful Naryshkina is depicted according to all the laws of the Empire style that reigned at that time - no ostentatious luxury, gilding, or powder. The favorite is dressed in a simple white dress in antique fashion and has her hair done just as simply.

At this point, the tradition of Russian portraits of favorites is interrupted - Emperor Nicholas I, although he was not faithful to his wife, did not advertise his mistresses. Under the next emperors, two fashionable innovations appeared - photography and Victorian morality. Therefore, we know the face of Alexander II’s long-time friend, His Serene Highness Princess Yuryevskaya, from numerous photographs, and not from oil portraits. And his son and grandson Alexander III and Nicholas II were exemplary spouses.

Greetings to all site visitors!
2013 marked the 400th anniversary of one of the great dynasties of the world - the Romanov dynasty. Since our site is predominantly female, I decided to make a publication about the women of the Romanov dynasty - those who were destined to become Russian empresses.

Catherine the First

Amazing fate! Laundress Marta Skavronskaya became the first Russian crowned empress! First, Field Marshal Sheremetyev liked it, then Menshikov and, finally, Peter the Great. She accompanied Peter on his campaigns and was distinguished by her good nature, excellent health, and cheerfulness. She knew how to “extinguish” the outbursts of anger of the hot-tempered Peter. True, in the last years of the life of Peter the Great, their relationship went wrong... After the death of her husband, she was elevated to the Russian throne, but reigned for only 2 years.

Anna Ioannovna

Niece of Peter the Great, daughter of his half-brother Tsar Ivan Alekseevich. She was married to the Duke of Courland to strengthen dynastic ties. She became a widow almost immediately after the wedding. She was invited to the Russian throne due to the lack of a direct heir. She was distinguished by her rude disposition and hard-heartedness. Russia was essentially ruled by its favorite Biron.

Elizaveta Petrovna


Daughter of Peter the Great. Could become a French queen! But somehow negotiations between Russia and France regarding a marriage with the heir to the French throne did not work out. Cheerful, kind, simple. When she was a princess, she baptized soldiers' children and adored folk festivities. The first fashionista of her time - after the death of Elizabeth, 15 thousand remained! dresses. She loved Russia, but really did not like to engage in government affairs and sign decrees...

Catherine II



Great woman!!! The princess from the seedy Principality of Anhalt-Zerbt came to Russia as a fifteen-year-old girl and was married to the future Peter the Third. She captivated and enchanted everyone! Enthroned by the guard, she overthrew her own husband. The years of her reign were the golden age of the Russian nobility. She managed to do everything - deal with government affairs, change favorites, add to the Hermitage collection, correspond with Voltaire, walk her beloved dogs, write plays and fairy tales. I repeat - Great woman!

Maria Feodorovna


Wife of Emperor Paul the First, mother of two emperors - Alexander the First and Nicholas the First. Born Princess of Württemberg. Catherine the Second called her daughter-in-law “cast iron” - apparently due to a lack of emotionality and sensitivity. The main merit of Maria Feodorovna is that she strengthened the gene pool of the dynasty - she gave birth to 10 children. Tried to play a political role during the reign of Alexander the First. She did a lot of charity work.

Elizaveta Alekseevna




Wife of Emperor Alexander the First. The most beautiful Russian empress. Born Princess of Baden. As her contemporaries called her, “a woman of the highest order.” Smart, educated, interested in music, history, literature. She was the only Russian empress who learned the Russian language perfectly. Pushkin admired her. According to modern literary scholars, it was Elizaveta Alekseevna who was his MUSE. “The Genius of Pure Beauty” is about her, and not at all about Anna Kern. The great historian Karamzin was a faithful friend of the empress.

Alexandra Fedorovna



Wife of Emperor Nicholas I. Daughter of the Prussian king. She was not interested in politics, preferring to be a “friend on the throne.” A wonderful wife and mother. She looked at her husband’s love “pranks” condescendingly, which contributed to their happy family life. She was invariably kind and friendly with her subjects. But I never learned Russian!

Maria Alexandrovna



Wife of Emperor Alexander II. Born Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt. As her maid of honor wrote in her memoirs, almost all her life the empress had to “tolerate and forgive the betrayals” of her amorous husband. Mother of seven children. She was distinguished by her intelligence, modesty, and sincerity. She helped those in need a lot, often doing it anonymously. In the last years of her life she was seriously ill and lived a lot abroad.

Maria Feodorovna




Wife of Alexander III. Born Danish Princess Dagmar. Perhaps the most beloved empress among the people. She was distinguished by her amazing charm, ability to win over a variety of people, and cheerfulness. She was a faithful support to her husband, Alexander III, and son, Nicholas II. She miraculously escaped from the Bolsheviks - the English king (the Empress’s own nephew) sent a warship to the Crimea for her. She died in Denmark, never believing in the execution of the royal family.

Alexandra Fedorovna





The last Russian empress. Born Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt. Beloved granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England. She and her husband, Emperor Nicholas II, were an exemplary family, maintaining strength and freshness of feelings throughout their marriage. The most slandered empress - she was accused of both spying for Germany and having close relations with Rasputin. She was a nurse at the Tsarskoe Selo hospital during the First World War. Shot along with her family in Yekaterinburg in 1918. Canonized by the Russian Church.

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Publications in the Museums section

Portraits of Russian queens and princesses

The first portraits in Rus' appeared in the 17th century, but artists painted women extremely rarely; an exception was made only for queens and princesses from the Romanov family. Our author Sofya Bagdasarova talks about how the inhabitants of the Kremlin towers were depicted.

The Tsar's Bride

Armory School. Portrait of Queen Martha Apraksina. 1681–1682. State Russian Museum

Unknown artist. Portrait of Queen Martha Apraksina. 1681–1682. State Russian Museum

Unknown artist. Portrait of Queen Martha Apraksina. XVIII century State Museum-Reserve "Gatchina"

Portraits that were created in Rus' in the 17th century mainly belong to the parsun genre. It is close to the iconographic style: people were depicted without emotions on their faces, but in rich clothes with carefully painted patterns. This is exactly what the parsuna of Queen Martha Apraksina from the Russian Museum looks like. In 1682, Martha became the wife of Tsar Feodor III Alekseevich (Peter the Great's elder brother), but spent only a few months on the throne - her husband was ill and soon died. Parsuna, judging by the girl’s headdress, was written even before the wedding, in those few months when Martha was listed as the royal bride. The painting, created by an unknown artist from the Kremlin workshops of the Armory, demonstrates all the features of naive portrait art. The queen has an unnatural pose, her dress looks like an appliqué, and her face is written in such a way that it is difficult for the viewer to believe that Martha was considered the first beauty of her time.

From queen to nun

Unknown artist. Portrait of Queen Evdokia Lopukhina. XVIII century State Historical Museum

Unknown artist. Portrait of Queen Evdokia Lopukhina. XVIII century State Russian Museum

Unknown artist. Portrait of Queen Evdokia Lopukhina. XVIII century Chukhloma Local Lore Museum named after A.F. Pisemsky, Kostroma region.

Peter I tonsured not only his sisters, but also his first wife as a nun: there was no other option for divorce in that century. A portrait of Queen Evdokia in monastic vestments and reading a prayer book ended up in the collection of the Historical Museum from the Novodevichy Convent. In this Moscow monastery she lived out the last years of her life during the reign of her grandson Peter II (son of Tsarevich Alexei), but the painting shows her young.

Another portrait of Evdokia Lopukhina is kept in the Russian Museum. In it, the former queen is dressed in modest secular clothes, reminiscent of the outfit of sister-nun Martha and the widows Apraksina and Naryshkina.

Louis Caravac. Portrait of Princess Elizaveta Petrovna as a child. 1716–1717. State Russian Museum

Other relatives of Peter I were awarded completely different portraits - women who demonstrated approval of the new policy and carried out orders regarding clothing and general lifestyle. We are talking about Tsarina Praskovya Saltykova - the widow of his brother Ivan V and her three daughters Ekaterina, Praskovya and Anna. Their portraits by one of the first real Russian painters, Ivan Nikitin, have been preserved - and they show the contrast between these women of modern times and the rest of the inhabitants of the royal chambers. From that moment on, the queens from the Romanov family dressed only this way - in a European way. And sometimes they were even presented without clothes: as a sign of a true appeal to Western culture with its cult of ancient mythology, the emperor ordered a portrait of his young daughter, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Petrovna, naked - in the image of the goddess Venus.