Chapter I: Front Matter

(Given to the Author at Tsarskoe Selo, Spring, 1909)]

THE

REAL TSARITSA

BY

MADAME LILI DEHN

CLOSE FRIEND OF THE
LATE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA

THORNTON BUTTERWORTH LTD.
15 BEDFORD STREET, LONDON, W.C.2

_First Published---- April, 1922_

TSARKOE SELO

To

H.I.M. ALEXANDRA

THE LATE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA

_Adieu, c’est pour un autre monde_

The fate which destined thee for lofty power,
And crowned thee Sovereign o’er an Empire wide,
Placed too the cup of suffering by thy side
And sorrow gave thee for imperial dower:
How little did’st thou dream in Fortune’s hour
Thy barque would founder on such tragic tide
Of blood as wrecks a mighty nation’s pride,
While black the clouds of Revolution lower!
What force sustained thee in those days of stress
When death and ruin held their sombre court,
And frenzied mob set might all right above?
What made thee still thy prayers to Heav’n address,
And solace to thy stricken spirit brought?
’Twas faith unshaken in a God of love.

OSWALD NORMAN.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

H.I.M. Alexandra _Frontispiece_

Anna (Ania) Virouboff _to face page_ 48

Her Imperial Majesty with Titi " 56

Her Imperial Majesty with the Tsarevitch " 56

H.I.M. The Tsar with Officers of the Royal Yacht “Standart” " 96

The Empress on board the “Standart” " 96

H.I.M. on board the tender of the “Standart” " 96

Grand Duchess Olga " 104

Grand Duchess Tatiana " 104

The Imperial Family " 152

Royal Shooting Party " 160

The Tsarevitch at G.H.Q. " 160

The Tsarevitch and his Spaniel “Joy” " 160

His Imperial Majesty and the Tsarevitch " 184

H.I.M. Alexandra (end of 1915) " 184

The Empress at Tobolsk " 208

The Empress with Tatiana at Tsarkoe Selo " 208

The Grand Duchesses Marie and Anastasie " 208

FACSIMILIA

Part of letter of June 5/18, 1917 _to face page_ 240

Part of letter of March 2/15, 1918 " 245

Note from the Empress " 208

Part of letter on day of departure for Siberia " 234

Letter from the Empress (1916) " 235

Part of letter of 30th July, 1917 " 241

Christmas Card drawn by the Empress " 242