14 March 1917. Alexander Spiridovich

Alexander Spiridovich

At 10pm, the Empress received a telegram from the Emperor with the following message: “I hope to be home tomorrow morning.” The Tsarina passed on this news to her retinue. Everyone brightened up. The soldiers were happy. The palace announced that the Empress would emerge to see the troops. Everything was galvanised into activity. The wide doors were suddenly flung open and two elegant footmen took up position on either side of the doorway, each holding a silver candelabrum, complete with tapers, high in the air. The Empress emerged with Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna by her side. A quiet command was issued to the troops.

Holding her daughter by the hand, the calm, majestic Empress quietly descended the marble steps. There was a fairy-tale like quality to the extraordinary way in which the Russian Empress emerged to inspect the troops, at night, under the flickering light of the candelabra, in the snow-enveloped grounds... The silence was broken only by the creaking of snow underfoot. The sounds of shooting floated in from afar. The Empress slowly walked from row to row, acknowledging the soldiers with nods and smiles. The soldiers, for their part, followed her with their eyes in rapt silence. She said something or other to more than a few of the officers: “How cold it is, a serious frost…”

, and others

3 Like

1 Comment

Ivan Pavlov

Vvedenskaya, 4, Petrograd, Russian Empire

My assistant came in late today. He tried to explain that the revolution has halted all street transport. I believe that a revolution is no excuse for being late!

, and others

38 Like

1 Comment

Sergey Prokofiev

Apartment house, 122, Fontanka embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Thousands, tens of thousands of people are wandering the streets today with red bow-knots on their chests. This monotonous loitering has begun to annoy me. Right now I sit at home and work with great pleasure, I finished the 3-rd Sonnet and continued working on the Violin concerto.

, and others

24 Like

Comment

Nikolai Wrangel

Petrograd, Russian Empire

The sovereign still reigns, but his guard, carrying red banners, is already hurrying to the Tavrichesky palace to express its readiness to serve the Revolution.

, and others

13 Like

Comment

Nicholas II

Pskov, Russian Empire

Shame and disgrace! I was unable to reach Tsarskoye [Selo]; but my thoughts and feelings are always there! It must be hard for poor Aliks to live through these developments alone! God help us!

, and others

11 Like

1 Comment

Vladimir Voyeykov

Dno station, Russian Empire

The train pulled in to Dno Station, to be greeted by a telegraph official bearing a telegram addressed to the Emperor. The telegram was handed over to His Majesty, and I entered his carriage to find out who it was from. The telegram, as the Tsar informed me, was from Rodzianko, who had requested that we stop off at Dno and await his arrival from Petrograd. The Tsar asked me if I had any information as to when Rodzianko would arrive. I replied that I did not, and that I would enquire by telegraph whether he had already left Petrograd. See more

, and others

3 Like

1 Comment

Alexander Kerensky

Shpalernaya, 47, the Tauride Palace, Petrograd, Russian Empire

At that moment, we were primarily preoccupied with the development of the ministries. The issue of supreme executive power was not on the agenda: the majority of the Provisional Duma Committee’s members still took it as a given that the Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich would serve as regent until the coming of age of Alexei, the heir to the throne. See more

, and others

8 Like

2 Comment

Felix Dzerzhinsky

Butyrkaya prison, Moscow, Russian Empire

Is released from Butyrka prison

Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Nicky should have arrived today from the General Headquarters, but didn’t, and it was not known where the train was, rumours said that it was in Bologoe. All power is concentrated in the Interim Committee, which finds it really hard, considering the strong pressure that it is under from the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.

, and others

1 Like

1 Comment

Kira Allendorf

Moscow, Russian Empire

When I had breakfast and went to the gymnasium, it turned out that the gymnasium had already been disbanded due to rioting in Moscow where crowds traverse the streets, shouting and singing. On Vozdvizhensky square the junkers even shot blank rounds into the people; the people are dissatisfied with the sovereign and he will probably renounce his throne and we will have a republic like they do in France.

, and others

4 Like

Comment

Nadezhda Krupskaya

Spiegelgasse, 14, Zurich, Switzerland

When Ilyich was about to head off to the library and I’d finished clearing away the dishes, Bronski came in, saying, “What, you don’t know what’s happened?! There’s a revolution in Russia!” And he told us about the latest reports published in the special editions of the newspapers. After he’d left, we went down to the lake, on whose shore all the newspapers were posted up as soon as they came out. We read the reports several times. A revolution really had happened in Russia. Ilych was all activity. See more

, and others

18 Like

Comment

Alexander Blok

The 13th engineering and construction squad of the Union of Zemstvos and Towns, Pinsk marshes, Minsk guberniya, Russian Empire

Nothing has changed here - everyone is bored witless. Despite the fact that this swamp has been forgotten by both God and the Germans, the air here is surprisingly fresh, the wind often changes its direction, the snow is deep and at night the village is charmingly lit. It all feels very real. Tonight, for example, we heard rapid fire coming from the front, the floodlights and flares got to work, lighting up the horizon, and we got on our horses and rode over the hills to the front. While we were riding, of course, the commotion stopped, but the ride itself was pleasant enough.

, and others

4 Like

Comment

Alexander Kolchak

Sevastopol, Russian Empire

I received a telegram from Rodzianko, in which he informed me that power has reverted to the Provisional Comittee of the State Duma. He asks me to maintain calm, to bear in mind that everything that is happening is happening for the best, that the previous government, in showing itself incapable, is being replaced by one that will rise to the challenge, and asks me to take measures to prevent complications and excesses.

, and others

1 Like

Comment

Maxim Gorky

23, Kronversky ave., Petrograd, Russian Empire

The events currently unfolding appear grandiose, moving even, but the meaning behind them is not as profound and great as everyone takes it to be. I am trying to remain scepitcal, although I am also moved to tears by the sights and songs of the soldiers marching to the State Duma. We can never go back, but we’ll not move much forward. A sparrow’s step maybe. A lot of blood will be spilt – more than has ever been spilt before.

Zinaida Gippius

Sergievskaya 83, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Kerensky arrived. We kissed uncontrollably. He ran around the room, suddenly began to hurry:

“Well, it’s time for me to go…as I am incognito here with you…”

Unsettled, as well as without “incognito” - he disappeared. Yes, the former Kerensky, and - at to some degree - not the same.

, and others

2 Like

Comment

Mikhail Alekseyev with Nicholas II

Mogilev, Stavka, Russian Empire

The ever-growing danger of anarchy spreading throughout the whole country, the continued disintegration of the army, and the impossibility to continue the war under the present conditions, forcefully demand the passing of an Imperial Edict that can still appease the minds, which can only be done by calling on the respective ministry and instructing the chairman of the Duma with drafting it.

, and others

1 Like

Comment