3 February 1917. Elizaveta Naryshkina

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Elizaveta Naryshkina

Petrograd, Russian Empire

A rush of blood to the head. Sad thoughts: the Empress is abhorred. I believe danger will come from an unexpected source: Mikhail. His wifeNatalia Sheremetyevskaya, with whom Mikhail Romanov entered into a morganatic marriage, was the daughter of a Moscow lawyer. The marriage with Mikhail was her third. is “very much a member of the intelligentsia”, and, as such, lacks any constraints. She’s already wormed her way through to Maria Pavlovna. Her box at the theatre is teeming with Grand Dukes; they’ll connive together with Maria PavlovnaGrand Duchess Maria Pavlovna was the center of opposition to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of the Romanovs.. She’ll see to it that she’s accepted by the Empress-Mother and the Emperor. I sense that they’re plotting. Poor Misha will, in spite of himself, be implicated in this plot; first he’ll be regent, then he’ll be emperor. They’ll accomplish everything.

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Harry Kessler

Bern, Switzerland

In the evening a concert of Strauss’s music: Till Eulenspiegel, Salome, A Hero’s Life. A full half of those present were Frenchmen, Englishmen and Russians, so that each half of the audience would have been perfectly within their rights to torpedo the other half.

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Edvard Munch

at work on "Horse and Man in the field"

Ekely estate, Norway

Alexandre Benois

38, 1st line of Vasilyevsky Island, Petrograd, Russian Empire

An “intimate” lunch at the GorchakovsMikhail Gorchakov, aristocrat and public advocate of the monarchy.’. Delicious food, first-rate wine, a highly well-mannered maitre d’hotel such as are found in the best bonnes maisons, and an ecstatic (if sometimes exhausting) host. Akitsa and I are both terribly fond of these feasts, which extend long into the evening, are executed with great taste and accompanied by countless comforts (such as the oh-so delicious chocolates we enjoy after the meal). Not a word, thank God, was mentioned of the war; most of the time we spoke of friends and acquaintances.

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Max Linder

Premiere of the short comedy “Max and the handbag”

Hollywood, USA

Vasily Gurko

Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

Rumours have been circulating the world over to the effect that the Empress is a German sympathiser, with relevant evidence adduced. These rumours, which resist refutation, will undoubtedly find their way into the field army, and the consequences of their propagation may prove highly deleterious. It has been claimed, for example, that during one of my reports to His Majesty, the Empress entered his office, upon which I discontinued my report. His Highness, so it is alleged, proceeded to tell me that he had no secrets from the Empress, to which I am supposed to have responded that, on the other hand, did have such secrets. But, far from bespeaking the existence of any “fire”, as per the famous proverb, this tittle-tattle is “smoke-free”, too; during my time as Chief-of-Staff, the Empress has not been present at a single one of my reports to the Tsar, conversations at table excepted.

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Alexandra Feodorovna with Nicholas II

Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

N. had a big dinner, I received these gentlemen of the conference in the evening.

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Maurice Paleologue

10, Kutuzova embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

At eight o'clock state banquet at Alexander Palace. As a matter of fact, the state part of it was displayed only in the liveries, lights and plate, for the menu was simplicity itself, a thoroughly bourgeois simplicity which contrasted forcibly with the ancient and far-famed splendour of the imperial cuisine. The Tsar looked as he does on his good days; he feared, I am told, that the delegates would give him unwanted advice on internal politics; he is now reassured on the point. The Tsarina is not well and remained in her room.

Dinner ended at last and we went into the next room where coffee was served. The Emperor lit a cigarette and passed from group to group. While these dull conversations were in progress, the Empress received the chief delegates in turn in her room.

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2 February

One of the leaders of the Russian opposition: “We need to steer a course for a coup d’état.”

Lenin: “We oldsters won’t live to see the decisive battles of the impending revolution.”

German U-boats threaten Europe-wide hunger

Nightmare before Christmas

Death of Rasputin. Murder conspiracy and its consequences

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

-23

in Petrograd

-26

in Moscow