18 June 1917. Alexandre Benois

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

Alexandre Benois

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

Gorky introduced me to Lunacharsky. The latter seemed to me like a real charmer. Wide-ranging erudition, wonderful mastery of speech, an “almost Jewish” nimbleness! He seemed all around to belong to the chosen people, but the rumor goes that Lunacharsky isn’t a Jew at all, but a pure-blooded Russian and even a nobleman and a Southern landowner.

His strange surname seems to trace its roots to some kind of lunar enchantments that point to his “aristocratic roots from the left.” He treated me with great attention, as though he would even offer his services whenever they might be useful to me.

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Aleksei Brusilov

Mogilev, Stavka, Russian Empire

Let God’s Will reign over Russia. Victory over the enemy would have saved her… I require nothing, I seek no glory for myself, but Russia must be saved. Without victory, this is almost impossible, and in the case of defeat, she may well fall to pieces, fall into full-blown anarchy.

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Grand Duchess Anastasia

Turns 16

Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

We expected that a son would be born, but the birth of a fourth girl did not, to any extent, reduce the love of her relatives to her. She was not even a year old, but she already managerd to win universal affection with her amusing manners, her cheerful character and a sonorous laugh. She really is a Shwybzick. At thirteen, Anastasia began to get fat, despite the fact that she moved a lot. In addition, she was much shorter than her sisters. See more

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Alexandra Feodorovna

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

Anastasia turned 16 today. How quickly time flies… I am dwelling upon the past. I must think of everything more calmly. What is there to do? If the Lord sends us such hardships, then he clearly believes we are prepared to meet them. They are a test in their own way—we need to show that we have not passed through them in vain. See more

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Igor Stravinsky Leon Bakst

Diableler, Switzerland

I will gladly compose music for you, but I can not decide upon anything until I see you. I can not come to Paris. Telegraph me.

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Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich

Sevastopol highway, 8, Gaspra, Ai-Todor, Yalta, Russian Empire

The commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Kolchak, has departed for St. Petersburg in order to petition the American government for acceptance into the U.S. Navy as a volunteer. Kolchak endeavored till the final hour to maintain discipline in the fleet, but the Council’s promises seemed more attractive to his subordinates. See more

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Alexander Kolchak Anna Timiryova

Sevastopol, Russian Empire

In the 11 months of my command, I completed my primary task—I achieved complete control over the sea and even eliminated the activities of enemy submarines. But I no longer wish to think about the fleet. Only about you, Anna Vasilievna, my deity, my happiness, my infinitely dear and loved one, I want to think about you as I did in every minute of my command. See more

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17 June

"Moscow is a total dump, the yard cleaners are on strike and are preventing others from cleaning the streets"

Kerensky predicts a dictatorship

"Russia's isolation in the world cannot be allowed. Dreamy internationalism only pushes us into Asia and isolates us"

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

+19

in Petrograd

+21

in Moscow