How Alexander II, after 14 years of a forbidden romance, decided to marry a favorite

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The son of Nicholas I was remembered by descendants as a liberal ruler, whose name was immortalized by the reform to abolish serfdom. But Alexander II was distinguished not only by active political activity - the personal life of the Russian monarch was no less intense. Charming and attractive in appearance, the king won the hearts of hundreds of beauties! However, he experienced true love only for two women: he made one of them a legal wife, with the second - Ekaterina Dolgorukova - he had an open love affair, which ended 14 years later with a morganatic marriage.

Sweet and funny Katenka, or how the young daughter of Prince Mikhail Dolgorukov amazed the Tsar

The first acquaintance of the emperor with his future favorite took place in 1857. While on state affairs near Poltava, Alexander stopped at Teplovka, an estate that belonged to Prince Mikhail Dolgoruky. Walking one August day in the princely garden, the tsar met a 10-year-old girl in it. After talking to her, Alexander Nikolayevich learned that the child's name was "Ekaterina Mikhailovna", and she was here because "she wants to see the emperor."

The girl, who turned out to be the daughter of Prince Dolgorukov, amazed the tsar with her prudence and lively mind. He found Katenka not stupid and funny child, with whom he could chat carelessly for several hours, walking slowly through the garden. Ekaterina Mikhailovna was delighted with such a pastime, which she later recalled more than once.

Later, when the emperor learned that the prince had died, and the Dolgorukovs were on the brink of poverty, he ordered to help the family of the deceased. By order of the tsar, the four sons of the guards captain were assigned to a military school, two daughters were sent to study at the Smolny Institute.

How a chance meeting in the Summer Garden turned the life of the emperor

Alexander's second meeting with the already matured Catherine happened by chance at the end of December 1865. Walking in the Summer Garden, the tsar drew attention to a pretty schoolgirl with a very familiar face: first passing by, the emperor returned to clarify if the young lady was Katya Dolgorukova. From that day on, Alexander II began to see the young princess almost constantly - they met in the Summer Garden, as well as at the Smolny Institute, where the tsar came just to look at the girl.

For more than a year, romantic encounters continued, consisting of innocent walks around the neighborhood and long conversations in nature. Accustomed to easy victories, Alexander was in no hurry this time - he communicated with his chosen one in the most delicate way, fearing to frighten the 18-year-old girl with excessive pressure. The turning point in relations came after April 4, 1866, when another attempt was made on the king.

This is how Dolgorukova described her condition when she learned about the shocking news: “As soon as I left the Summer Garden through a small gate near the canal, I learned that the emperor was shot, waiting for him at the gate. This news shocked me so much that I got sick from tears and thoughts that such an angel of kindness has enemies who wish him death. Despite what had happened, Alexander visited me on the same day at the institute, thereby showing how much he needed me. After all the experiences and this meeting, I realized that my heart will belong to this person until the end of my life."

Two weeks later, the emperor invited Catherine to the Winter Palace, where he gave the guest tea and presented an elegant bracelet, never daring to reveal his feelings. The close relationship between the lovers began at the end of November 1866, before Catherine's trip abroad, where her relatives were taken away in order to cut off the connection with the tsar.

How the emperor managed to live in two families

Katya returned from a foreign "exile" almost a year later, and her meetings with the monarch resumed with the same force. In winter, the couple retired in the Winter Palace, in the warm season they met in Peterhof or Tsarskoe Selo. In the summer of 1870, by order of Alexander, his mistress became the maid of honor of Maria Alexandrovna, the legal wife of the emperor. True, Dolgorukova was freed from performing court duties, leaving only one right - to attend balls and sovereign holidays, at which she could freely dance and communicate with the tsar.

At the end of April 1872, Catherine's first child was born - son George. A year later, a daughter, Olga, was born. In February 1876, Alexander II became the father of the second son from Dolgorukova, Boris, who, having fallen ill with pneumonia in March, died before he lived two months. The fourth child - daughter Katya, the princess gave birth to in September 1878.

At this time, Alexander had already settled his second family in the palace, allocating three rooms above his chambers to his mistress with children. True, the children were present in the palace only during the daytime - they were supposed to sleep in a separate house on Konyushennaya Street, where they were taken every evening after talking with their parents.

The illegal relationship aroused great discontent among the Romanov clan. Tsarevich Alexander, who loved his father and worried about the state of his sick mother, was especially negative towards Dolgorukova. The emperor saw and understood everything, but did not want to change anything. He rushed between his dying lawful wife and a young favorite, giving the first all kinds of care in return for the love he gave to the second.

The price of love: princely title and security of 3 million rubles

After the death of Empress Maria Alexandrovna in May 1880, Alexander II hastened to legalize relations with his long-term mistress, unable to withstand even half the mourning period. Already on July 6, his secret wedding with Catherine took place, after which she became the king's morganatic wife.

Alexander, who survived several assassination attempts, feared that if his second family died, they might find themselves in distress. Therefore, having entered into a marriage, a few hours later, he ordered to assign to his wife the title of "Most Serene Princess" and to assign her and her children the surname Yurievsky. Moreover, returning in November from the Crimea, where the newlyweds spent their honeymoon, the tsar opened an account in the name of Catherine, putting on it about 3 million rubles in gold.

The precautions were not in vain: after 3 months, on March 1, 1881, Alexander II died after a bomb exploded, which was detonated by the Narodnoye member Grinevitsky. And participated in this daughter of the tsarist governor, who joined the terrorists.