What is it like to be a Russian tsarina: how difficult was the life of the chosen one of the tsar

Do you often want to live like a queen? Or the Russian princess, at worst? Do not rush to envy them. They were largely limited.

The princesses could not walk in the fields or pick flowers, go to the cottage, visit their relatives in their home - all this was not available. The Russian kingdom was really afraid of black magic, the evil eye and other things, so most of the tsarina’s life passed in her chambers.

Since the time of Ivan the Terrible, brides for the tsar were chosen at special shows. This tradition entered Russia from Byzantium. The most beautiful daughters from noble families were brought to Moscow from all over the country, and the tsarist matchmakers chose the best of them. Not nobility or wealth mattered, but only the beauty and health of the bride.

After the preliminary selection, six or seven girls were invited to the royal chambers, so that the young groom himself looked at the beauties. After choosing the king, the “lucky girl” became the queen.

It was believed that the first wife of Ivan the Terrible (1530-1584) Anastasia (1530-1560) became a victim of black magic on the orders of the boyars. Ivan tortured, interrogated, executed many. The king was devastated after the death of his wife, but his second and third wives also died early, and the third, Martha Sobakina, died two weeks after the wedding in 1571. This death also entailed the execution of many close associates, including relatives of Martha herself. Most likely, the cause was poisoning, since various medicinal potions were often used at the royal court.

Maria Khlopova (she died in 1633), the named bride of Mikhail Fedorovich, the first Russian tsar of the Romanov dynasty (1596-1645), fell ill shortly after her engagement to the tsar. Vomiting continued for several days. This was enough for the boyars to declare her unsuitable for marriage and sent to exile. Then the first wife of Mikhail Maria Dolgorukova (1608-1625) died 5 months after being proclaimed queen. Therefore, when Mikhail chose his second wife Evdokia Streshnev (1608-1645), he brought her to the palace just three days before the appointed wedding - the tsar was afraid that Evdokia could also be poisoned. Many wanted the death of the young queen. First of all, the families of those who were not chosen at the bride show. Therefore, in the 17th century, strict measures were taken in the royal palace to protect the women of the royal family.

When the noblewoman became queen, she was no longer allowed to visit her relatives in their own home. This was due to security. She, of course, could see ordinary people, go out and communicate, but only with proper supervision. Her parents and close relatives moved to live in the royal palace. They held high posts at court.

The Tsar’s wooden palace in the Kremlin was huge, with hundreds of rooms and a good half of women's chambers. The queen and her daughters did not take part in official ceremonies, where men were present. But they had their own ceremonial hall - the Golden Tsaritsyna Chamber. Here, on her throne, the empress received guests during important Orthodox holidays and the birthday of her patron saint. These were the only days when she could see people previously unknown to her - mainly the clergy, noble boyars and their wives. When the tsarina and her daughters went to monasteries outside Moscow, they rode in a closed carriage. When they walked from the carriage to the church, the servants kept velvet curtains around, which protected women from unwanted exposure and the evil eye.

In the female half of the palace all the servants were women. The queen of the noblewoman served. They watched her treasury, controlled the queen's clothes and food. One of them also served as a judge for all conflicts and crimes within women's chambers.

But if someone were suspected of serious crimes, such as the evil eye or black magic, the case would have been transferred to the terrible Secret Order established for political investigations. His activities were personally controlled by the king.

In 1638, workers in the royal laundry reported that one of their girls, Daria Lamanova, had stolen fabric for the Queen’s underwear. The investigation revealed that Daria was dating a witch named Nastasya. According to her instructions, she dusted the traces of Queen Eudokia, left on the ground in the courtyard, with ashes. This was a way of cursing the queen. All the women involved in the case were questioned in the Secret Order and eventually died of torture.

In addition, the queen had about 50 confidants who made up her daily retinue. They did not live in the palace and consisted of younger noblemen, daughters of the king’s close associates, brought up with the sovereign’s children.

In addition, there was a whole army of female servants. They made the queen's bed, were present in the rooms, so that at any time it was possible to complete small tasks, hemmed and washed clothes. There were special female readers who read aloud books to the tsarina and her daughters, akathists and prayers, and for amusement at the court they kept dwarfs and female jesters.

The few men who could be admitted to women's chambers are priests. The female half of the palace had its own home church and a separate prayer room next to the Queen’s bedroom. Just like the king. Priests held services there.

Several dozen young men (10-15 years old) served the tsarina and her daughters at the table, as soon as they reached maturity, they were sent from women's chambers. About 100 adult men guarded the chambers day and night. But they were not allowed to see women as often as stokers. The kindling of the furnace was carried out only in the presence of the hostess of the room.

In addition to visiting churches and monasteries, the queen had a charity and official work. Often the complaints of the nobility were not sent to the king, but to the queen. She had less government responsibilities and more time to resolve a specific issue. In addition, she could influence the king in making decisions.

The queen devoted a lot of time to embroidery. Things made by her hands were considered one of the most magnificent gifts that a foreign ambassador or ruler could receive from a Russian ruling family.

Her evenings were held in the family circle with her husband and children. They could play chess, read the Bible or Orthodox books, listen to stories told by travelers or pilgrims, who were often invited to entertain the king and his family. The king could spend the night in the queen's chambers, but this was not a common occurrence and required special measures to maintain security.

Women's chambers ended with the reign of Peter the Great (1672-1725). His mother Natalya Naryshkina (1651-1694) was the first Russian tsarina to ever attend theatrical performances, loved to dance and watch diplomatic receptions. She literally destroyed the old habits and rules of women's chambers, and in the end, the separation of the palace into two halves was forbidden by her son - by the 18th century the Russian imperial house was very similar to the European one.

Watch the video: Russia Before the 1917 Revolution I THE GREAT WAR Special (April 2024).