The personality of Emperor Nicholas II illustrated by Presidential Library’s rare materials

May 18 marks 153 years since the birth of the last Russian emperor Nicholas II.

The Presidential Library provides his life and reign from the collections Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna in the collection State Authority and Nicholas II (1868-1918) in the collection The House of Romanov. The Zemsky Sobor of 1613 on the institution’s portal. The collection includes not only historical and biographical research, but also original documents of that era, for example, unique film and photographs Correspondence of Wilhelm II with Nicholas II (1923) and The Diary of Emperor Nicholas II (1923), provided with detailed commentaries.

According to the journalist Ilya Vasilevsky in his book Nicholas II (1923), “It is easy to talk about the reign of Nicholas II, but it is difficult to talk about the personality of Nicholas. And this is not only because his reign was in plain sight, and his personal life was hidden, but also because a person is always a mystery and mysticism".

A detailed diary that Nikolai Romanov kept every day for several decades, despite the brevity of the entries, helps to see the life of the last ruler of Russia hidden from prying eyes, to learn about his feelings.

In the "introductory remarks" to the publication of the emperor's diary, published in 1923 in Berlin, it is explained that "the records concern mainly the household chores of the royal family and its entourage, and here the very fact is noted, without its assessment and the emotional experiences it causes. As for the events of the political and social life of Russia, they are also mentioned only insofar as they are associated with the highest methods, ideas and others".

The diary gives an idea of ​​the hobbies of the first Tsarevich and then Emperor Nicholas, about his attitude to his wife Alexandra Feodorovna - Alix, as he called her, about trips, travels and everyday state affairs.

In his youth, Nikolai Alexandrovich willingly enjoyed himself and loved to visit the theater. “…There was a very merry dance at the Vorontsovs'. We danced until we dropped”, “We ​​had a lot of fun at different dances”, “We ​​skated. I fell and hurt myself”, “They built a fortress, played with a big ball, broke it and got terribly wet”, “… went to the Volkonskys’ for the performance of “Tsar Theodore Ioanov”. It went perfectly in all respects”, “After lunch we went to the theater. There was a great play, Friends, associates".

Nikolai Romanov loved nature and walks. Almost every day the diaries mention the weather - “The day was clear but cold. The steppes had a beautiful view", "It was a gray day, quite corresponding to my state of mind" - not only Nikolai's mood is associated with it, but also the possibility of walks: "We rode with Alix; the snow was falling, rather it was falling in flakes, so the faces were completely wet”, “The frost intensified and reached 14°, then it passed. Despite this, in the morning we still went for a walk”, “I worked in the garden and rode a bicycle”. Nikolai was a big fan of hunting: “… In wonderful weather we went on the first hunt. I was lucky".  

It was not only everyday joys and everyday moments that occupied Nikolai Romanov and were reflected in his diary. His relationship with Alexandra Feodorovna, Alix, is touching - from an ardent love for a bride to tender care for his wife and mother of his children: “What happiness I felt when I woke up in the morning when I remembered that I live under the same roof with my beloved Alix!”, “My love and reverence for dear Alix is ​​constantly growing!”, “I cannot express how I enjoy such quiet, calm evenings with my dearly beloved wife”, “Riding Alix in a chair and then in a boat”, “I read Alix aloud".

Nicholas II kept his diary with both state affairs and problems. Very rarely come across such records: "The evening turned out to be free, since I did not receive any papers", much more often: "I did not have time to walk in the morning. There were three reports. He strenuously read and signed all kinds of decrees", "At 3 o'clock he received in the Winter Palace a lot of deputations from all over Russia, up to 460 hours in number, all at once in the Nicholas Hall".

The more complicated and tense the internal and external political situation in Russia became, the more emotional became the emperor's diary entries: “It was hard and painful, although it was foreseen, but I wanted to believe that the army would help out the fortress”, - about the surrender of Port Arthur, “Lord, how painful and hard it is!" - about Bloody Sunday January 9, 1905, “I received stunning news from Odessa that the crew of the battleship Potemkin-Tavrichesky, which had arrived there, rebelled, interrupted the officers and took possession of the ship, threatening unrest in the city. I just can't believe it!”, “I signed the manifesto at 5 o'clock. After such a day, my head became heavy and my thoughts began to get confused. Lord, help us, pacify Russia", - October 17, 1905", ... In the Meeting under my head. began consideration of the draft establishment of the State. Duma. The meeting lasted until almost 7 o'clock. He returned in a somewhat softened form...".

Nicholas II kept a diary exclusively for himself. The introductory remarks to this historical document note that "...its author did not for a minute suppose that his diary would ever be published"...