ALEXANDER II (1818-1881, St. Petersburg), Emperor (since 1855). He was a son of Emperor Nicholas I and Empress Alexandra Fedorovna. Tsarevitch (from 1831), General of Infantry (1847), Honorary Member of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1826). His first marriage was to the Princess of Hesse and Rhine, who took the name of Maria Alexandrovna; his second (morganatic) marriage to Princess E.M. Dolgorukova (1880), who received the title of Princess Yuryevskaya. He was a member of the Committee for the Neva Bridge Construction (1841), and the head of the Committee of the St. Petersburg - Moscow Railway Construction (1842). From 1849, he commanded the Guard and Grenadier Corps, was the head of the Main Military Schools (until 1860), and Trustee of the Chesme Military Hospital. In the 1860-70s, he carried out various reforms, such as peasant (abolishment serfdom, 1861), judicial (1864), land (1865), city (see City reform 1870), and military (the 1860-70s) reforms, all of which came to be known in Russian history as the Great Reforms of Alexander II. Many people had considerable influence on state affairs and government throughout different periods of his reign, including his brother Grand Prince Konstantin Nikolaevich, aunt Grand Princess Elena Pavlovna, P.D. Kiselev, Y.I. Rostovtsev, P.A. Valuev, D.A. Milyutin, A.M. Gorchakov, P.A. Shuvalov (see the Shuvalovs), and M.T. Loris-Melikov. In 1866-81, members of secret revolutionary societies made a number of attempts on Alexander II's life, some of them in St. Petersburg. In 1866, D.V. Karakozov shot at the Tsar through the ironwork of the Summer Garden (a chapel was built on the place of attempt; not preserved), in 1879, A.K. Solovyev made an attempt on Palace Square; in 1880, S.N. Khalturin planted an explosive in the Winter Palace. On 1 March 1881, Alexander II was fatally wounded on the Catherine Canal Embankment (today Griboedova Canal) as a result of a terrorist attack by members of the group Narodnaya Volya (People's Will), and died several hours later in the Winter Palace. He was buried in the SS. Peter&Paul Cathedral. The Holy Resurrection Cathedral was built on site of the assassination. Before taking the crown, Alexander II lived in Anichkov Palace, then in the Winter Palace. In summertime he preferred the Tsarskoe Selo (particularly the Zubov Wing of the Catherine Palace), and the Farmer Palace in Alexandria. He owned Petrovsky Island, Anichkov Palace, a cottage, a personal dacha in Peterhof (1843), the Ropsha grange in the Peterhof District, and the city of Gatchina.

References: Александр II и его эпоха: К 140-летию со дня восшествия на престол: Тез. докл. конф. СПб., 1995; Захарова Л. Г. Александр II // Романовы: Ист. портреты, 1762-1917. М., 1997. Кн. 2. С. 404-490; Толмачев Е. П. Александр II и его время: В 2 кн. М., 1998; Александр II и Царское Село: Кат. выст. / Гос. музей-заповедник "Царское Село". СПб., 2000.

Y. A. Kuzmin.

BENCKENDORFF (v. Benckendorff) Alexander Khristoforovich (Konstantin Alexander Karl Wilhelm Christopher) (1781, St. Petersburg 1844), Count (1832), statesman and military officer, Infantry General, Cavalry General (1829), honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1827). Brought up and educated in the boarding school of abbot C.D. Nicholas. From 1798 was on military service, took part in the Russo-Prusso-French War (1806-07) and Russo-Turkish War (1809-11). At the time of the Patriotic War of 1812 and campaigns of 1813-14 commanded an independent cavalry detachment, operating at the enemy rear. In 1814 appointed Brigade Commander, in 1816 - Division Commander, in 1819 — Chief of Staff of the Guards Corps. In the 1810s became a mason, and member of the St.Petersburg Masonic Lodge "United Friends". His conduct during the disorders in the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment (1820) caused the displeasure of Emperor Alexander I, who disregarded his memorandum on secret societies and the organisation of secret police (1821). Appointed Division Commander in 1821. From 10 November 1824 to 14 March 1825 served as acting Military Governor of Vasilievsky Island, was in charge of the recovery and rebuilding of this district after a devastating flood on 7 November 1824. Exerted himself in suppressing the insurrection on the Senate Square 14 December 1825, member of the Investigation Commission on the case of Decembrists, from then onwards enjoyed confidence and favour of Emperor Nicholas I. In June 1826 was appointed Gendarme Chief, initiator of establishment and Chief of the Third Section of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery (secret police), from December 1826, senator, and from 1831, member of the State Assembly and the Cabinet of Ministers. Despite the common misconception, Benckendorff took little interest in the activities of secret police, leaving it to his subordinates. In 1839 was elected honorary member and trustee of Demidov's Charity House for Workers. From 1841, chairman of the Committee of the Prison Welfare Society. From 1842, chairman of the Building Commission for Construction of the St. Petersburg - Moscow Railroad. In 1831-44, patron of St. Catherine's Lutheran Community in St. Petersburg. One of the founders, and, from 1835, chairman of the board of the Second Russian Fire Insurance Society and Life Insurance Society. In St. Petersburg resided in the house of Baron Chabeaut on Fontanka River Embankment, later in a state apartment in the house of Gendarme Chief (10 Panteleymonovskaya Street). He left behind him his personal papers (some of which have been published).

Work: Benckendorff's notes: 1812 Patriotic War. 1813 Liberation of the Netherlands. Moscow, 2001.

References: Олейников Д. И. Александр Христофорович Бенкендорф // Российские консерваторы. М., 1997. С. 63-94.

D. N. Shilov.

NICHOLAS I (1796, Tsarskoe Selo - 1855, St. Petersburg), Emperor (from 1825). Emperor Pavel I and Empress Maria Fedorovna's third son. Married the Princess of Prussia (1817), who took the name of Alexandra Fedorovna. From 1796, he was Lieutenant General, and from 1817, Inspector General of Engineering. He commanded a guard brigade, and then, from 3 March 1825, commanded the second Guard Infantry Division. In 1823, he was named Crown Prince in declaration by Alexander I, who died before it was made public. After Alexander I's death, Nicholas I could not proclaim himself Emperor immediately on account of the ambiguity surrounding the interregnum. Members of secret societies used the opportunity to attempt an armed uprising on the day of Nicholas I's enthronement (see the Decembrists' Rebellion, 14 December, 1825), which was suppressed. Nicholas I personally commanded the army summoned against the insurgents, and later supervised the investigation and sentencing of the Decembrists. He took interest in engineering and architecture, ratifying plans for the city's development, fortresses, individual buildings, including those of St. Petersburg, and often adjusted them personally. St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg was completed during Nicholas I's reign, and the city was beautified by many large-scale buildings and structures. Within Russia, Nicholas I reinforced central state control, suppressed even the mildest uprising or oppositional attitude, and militarised all aspects of state life, creating a Secret Political Police (see the Third Section) and the Gendarmerie. Some of Nicholas I closest associates were Grand Prince Mikhail Pavlovich, the Emperor's brother, Count A.Kh. Benckendorff, Prince A.F. Orlov, Count M.M. Speransky, Count P.D. Kiselev, Count P.A. Kleinmichel. Before taking the crown he lived at Anichkov Palace, presented to him by Emperor Alexander I in 1817, and to which he returned after the fire at the Winter Palace in 1837. During summertime, he lived in the Alexandrovsky Palace at Tsarskoe Selo. He ordered the Alexandria Palace and Park, named after his wife, to be created on the territory of the former Menagerie (Peterhof), which was presented to him. After taking the crown, he lived at the Winter Palace. He also owned Gatchina. He was buried at the SS. Peter&Paul Cathedral. A monument to Nicholas I erected on St. Isaac's Square in 1859.

References: Шеманский А. В., Гейченко С. С. Кризис самодержавия: Петергофский Коттедж Николая I. 4-е изд. М.; Л., 1932; Мироненко С. В. Николай I // Романовы: Ист. портреты. М., 1997. Кн. 2. С. 331-403; Выскочков Л.В. Николай I. М., 2003.

Y. A. Kuzmin.

The wooden pavilion Elephants with small Indian style towers and service rooms and sheds, surrounded the yard, was built by the architeсt Menelaws in 1828. Appartments of the park wardens and elephant supervisor were placed in this pavilion. This year elephants belonged to Emperor Nicholas I, which were placed in the Volynkin Yard before, were transported to the Elephants pavilion. One more elephant, delivered by three Afghans, was brought here in some years. One more elephant , which had been being here since 1849, was presented to the Emperor by the Emir of Bukhara. Then were brought another elephants. At last the elephant, that was brought by the Heir and Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich from a round-the-world journey, was delivered into Tsarskoye Selo in July 1891. It was kind and good-natured to its guide, a Tatar, who willingly showed the elephant to visitors. In summer the elephant was walked in the park and every day it was bathed in the Great Llama Pond. Now only the second name the Krasnoye Selo Gate , the Elephant Gate, remembers about elephants and the pavilion. Menelas Adam Adamovich
Nicholas I, Emperor
Nicholas II, Emperor

The Moscow Gate, representing two stone guardhouses with gate folds between them, was constructed in 1830-1831. Facades of the guardhouses was decorated in the Empire style. Ya. V. Zakharzhevsky, a Governor of Tsarskoye Selo, himself received the project, approved by the Emperor on 14 December 1829, from the Emperor. Nicholas I with his own hand marked off by the pencil the place of the gate location on the plan in Sophia Boulevard, at the beginning of Moscow Road. The estimate for building work was calculated by the architect V.M. Gornostayev. The cast iron gate folds, cast on V.A. Glinka’s drawing and installed in 1831, were decorated with imperial eagles with crowns. Figures of eagles and crowns were annihilated after 1917. Glinka Vasily Alexeevich
Gornostaev Vasily Maximovich
Nicholas I, Emperor
Zakharzhevsky, Ya.V.
Sofiisky Boulevard/Pushkin, town

In the Tsarskoye Selo Palace of Tsarina Catherine Alexeyevna at first there was an camp private chapel of St. Catherine the Great Martyr. The main sight of this church was a carved iconostasis of dark blue colour. Building the palace church, being now, was begun in spring of 1746 to the design and under direction of S.I. Chevakinsky. The ceremonial laying of the Church of the Resurrection, performed by the Eminent Theodosius, Archbishop of Saint Petersburg and Schlusselburg, was been on 8 August of the same year in the presence of Empress Elisabeth, Heir Tsesarevich Pyetr Fiodorivich and his wife Catherine Alexeyevna. During bulding Elisabeth Petrovna ordered to remake a piece of done work and continue building under the direction of the chief-architect F.-B. Rastrelli.
Court painters G.-K. Grot, L. Karavak, B. Tarsia, I.Ya. Vishnyakov, A. Perezinotti were recruited to painting icons. In total in the church there were 114 icons, 59 of them were painted and 14 were corrected by famous icon-painter Fedot Kolokolnikov and Mina Kolokolnikov. The painting plafond with the image of the Ascension of Our Lord was painted by the painter G. Valeriani with assistants. Carving work was made by I.F. Dunker. The decoration of the interior was completed and Eminent Sylvester, Archbishop of Saint Petersburg and Schlusselburg, consecrated the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord on 30 July in 1756 .
Religious services in the Palace Church of the Resurrection were performed by the court clergy during staying the Imperial court in Tsarskoye Selo. The Imperial retinue, ministers, diplomats, courtiers, officers of Life Guards regiments are present at the services. On Sundays and holidays the pupil of the Lyceum could be seen near Alexander I during liturgies.
The historian Karamzin with his family visited the church. Weddings of the Imperial family members and courtiers, christening of the Imperial family babies, who were born in Tsarskoye Selo, took place in the church. The future emperors Nicholas I and Nicholas II were among them. The church parish included the palace officials, lived in Tsarskoye Selo permanently. In 1917 public religious services were stopped and the church interior was included in the museum exposition.
The church interior had magnificent forms in the Baroque style. It was not subjected to considerable changes although the building experienced fires in 1820 and 1863. After the first fire the artist V.K. Shebuyev restored the lost in fire plafond, the church domes were restored to the design of the architect V.P. Stasov, their silhouettes were changed. The restoration of the original view of domes in the Baroque style were made by the architect A.F. Vidov after the second fire. During World War II the church inside decoration was plundered and got considerable damages, 97 icons were robbed, only some fragments were survived. After war restored repair of facades was made during 1957-1963 to the design of the architect A.A. Kedrinsky . But the church interior of the Palace Church has not been restored yet. Alexander I, Emperor
Catherine II, Empress
Chevakinsky Savva Ivanovich
Dunker Johann Franz
Elizaveta Petrovna, Empress
Grot, G.-K.
Karamzin Nikolay Mikhailovich
Kedrinsky Alexander Alexandrovich
Kvasov Andrey Vasilievich
Nicholas I, Emperor
Nicholas II, Emperor
Peter III, Emperor
Rastrelli Francesco de
Stasov Vasily Petrovich
Tarsia, B.
Valeriani Giuseppe
Vidov Alexander Fomich

The East architecture touches and the name of the Turkish Bath pavilion, occupying the foreground in the Great Pond panorama, remember about the Adrianople Peace treaty with Turkey in 1829. The pavilion was erected on the order of Emperor Nicholas I in 1850-1852 according to the design of I. Monighetti. 37.838 Rubles were required on the architect’s estimate for building according to the imperial ordered design. But the Emperor allocated only 30.000 Rubles for building and he ordered to Monighetti to “dodge”. Monighetti fulfilled the Imperial command, he gave the work order , for the specified sum, to the Italian architect Kamutstsi. The pavilion never used as a bath, it was a typical park pavilion for resting. The pavilion suitably completed Catherine’s tradition of constructing monuments of the battle glory in the Catherine Park. A peaked small tower with a crescent, remembered minaret, the main dome, the entrance like a niche-mihrab make the pavilion looking like a mosque. The dome was decorated with relief planer pattern, made of gilded copper, framing the round many-coloured windows. Inside there are many-coloured encrustations made of natural and artificial marble, stalactite pattern, bright marble mosaic with an eastern pattern, a marble basin of the fountain in the center of the hall, carved Olonets marble attracting the attention. The original details of the marble decoration of a Turkish sultaness bath, brought to the Emperor from Adrianople as trophies, were used in decorating the interior. Marble plaques with Turkish ligature signs, murmurous “fountains of tears” , placed on walls, bring Turkish motifs into the Mauritanian style of the decoration. Monighetti Ippolito Antonovich
Nicholas I, Emperor

The pavilion White Tower of 38-metre-high, the highest construction in Tsarskoye Selo, was built by the architect A. Menelaws on the place of the Menagerie lusthouse in 1821-1827. The ensemble was designed as a Middle-Age knight castle-fortress. It includes some constructions: the Gate-Ruin with guardhouses, decorative Ruin Bridge, East bulwark of the Menagerie. The White Tower is placed on the bastion ground. The tower walls were plastered and painted in white color so it got the name white tower. The tower-castle is placed inside of spacious bastion ground, earlier it was surrounded with flowerbeds. The five-storeyed building of square section was divided in three tiers run up with ledges decorated with forged grilles. Sculpture lions are placed in the corners of the terrace which is the foot of the tower. Eight statues of Middle-Aged and Old-Russian knights, made of cast iron, were placed in niches in tower walls. An interior winding stairs led to the roof of the upper tier surrounded with the parapet. Here there was an inspection ground from which could be admired with views of parks, Tsarskoye Selo and its environs, even Saint Petersburg was seen. Photographs of Tsarskoye Selo for postcards, which were widely distributed in the early 20th century, were shot from this ground. The White Tower was almost completely destroyed during the war and restored according to the design of the architect A.A. Kedrinsky. The restoration was doing during almost twenty years and has not been finished yet.
The Ruin-Gate with guardhouses built in the Gothic style forms the entrance into the White Tower. The Ruin-Gate looks like ruins of fortress constructions, it is monumental and imitates castle entrance with the falling herse. A moulding with the heraldic coat of arms was placed over the arch. An earth bank was located in front of the gate in side as if it protects the entrance to the White Tower from the Farm road. According to the star-form of the layout the bank looks like a kronverk, an auxiliary defence construction in front of a fortress. A ditch joined with a small pond surrounded the bank. Sons of Emperor Nicholas Pavlovich were visual taught fortification on building the earth fortification. Later a high mast with rope-ladders was set inside of the “star”; a trampoline was spread around the mast. In summer when the park was opened for public, many children gathered here. Kedrinsky Alexander Alexandrovich
Menelas Adam Adamovich
Nicholas I, Emperor

6 July. Ceremony of the baptism of Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich, the future Emperor Nicholas I, took place in the Palace Church of the Resurrection of Christ.

12 June. Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich and his wife moved into the Alexander Palace which was reconstructed.

6 November. Empress Catherine II died and her 42 -year- old son ascended the throne as Paul I. Alexander I, Emperor
Catherine II, Empress
Nicholas I, Emperor
Paul (Pavel) I, Emperor

The construction of the Egyptian Gates (architect A.Menelaws) and the Moscow Gates designed by V.M. Gornostayev, V.A. Glinka and A.P. Gildenbrandt was finished.

Small house, at the Children's Island on the pond of the Alexander Palace, was constructed to the design by A.M. Gornostayev for the playing of the children of Emperor Nicholas I. Gildebrant, A.P.
Glinka Vasily Alexeevich
Gornostaev Alexey Maximovich
Gornostaev Vasily Maximovich
Menelas Adam Adamovich
Nicholas I, Emperor

The Heir Alexander Nikolayevich married Princess Marie of Hesse-Darmstadt and then newly married couple moved to Tsarskoe Selo and settled in Zubov's Wing of the Tsarskoye Selo Palace which became their the favorite permanent residence.

Racecource was opened in Tsarskoye Selo, near the road to Kolpino, beyond the railway, that was the beginning of the annual horse race lasted until the late 19th cent.

24 November (7 December NS). The ceremonial consecration of the Cathedral of St. Catherine in the presence of Emperor Nicholas I and Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolayevich took place. Alexander II, Emperor
Maria Alexandrovna, Empress
Nicholas I, Emperor

Architect I.A. Monighetti constructed the Turkish Bath pavilion in the commemoration of the Russian victory in the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829. 16 October. Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich visited the Palace hospital reconstructed from the dilapiadated wooden building into the stone building according to the design by the architect N.S. Nikitin. Monighetti Ippolito Antonovich
Nicholas I, Emperor
Nikitin, N.S.