Through these letters, written in that Siberian prison in Tobolsk, the innocence and enormous piety of the young Alexei, as well as the Christian environment of his education, are made manifest - further aggravating the ruthlessness of their atheist murderers. . .
Editor's Note: This article was generated by machine translation, so our staff cautions the reader about possible inaccuracies that may have resulted from this. However, it was deemed worthwhile to still publish such a piece because of the intrinsic value of the message - which remains evident even in its translated form.
His Imperial Highness Crown Prince and Grand Duke Alexei Nikolayevich
From Heir, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolayevich
А. A. Vyrubova.
(Tobolsk, November 1917).
My sweet, dear, I hope you received my card. Thank you very, very much for the mushroom. The perfume reminds me of you so much. I pray to God every day that we all live together again.
God bless you.
Yours A.
- The Russian Chronicle, volume 4, page 238
His Majesty Nicholas Alexandrovich with his Heir Alexej Nikolaevich. Tobolsk, 1917.
From the Heir, Tsesarevich Alexej Nikolaevich.
А. A. Vyrubova.
24/XI. 1917. Tobolsk.
We often remember and miss it. We remember our little house. During the day we saw wood for the bath. Snow has fallen for a long time. The day passes unnoticed. God bless. Greetings to the girls.
- Russian Chronicle, volume 4, page 238. 1) Vyrubova's dacha in Tsarskoe Selo.
Portrait of A. A. Taneyeva from the study of His Majesty Nicholas Alexandrovich at the Alexander Palace
From the Heir, Tsesarevich.
Alexey Nikolayevich
А. A. Vyrubova.
Tobolsk, January 22, 1918.
My dear sweet Anya,
We are glad to hear news from you again and that you received our things. Today it is 29 degrees below zero, with a strong wind and sun. 1) I went for a walk, and I skied in the yard. Yesterday I played a French play with Tatiana and Gilik (P. Gilyar); 2) Everyone is preparing other comedies. We have a few good soldiers, and I play a checkers with them in the guardhouse; 3) Kolya Derevenko comes to my place on holidays. Nagorny (Naslednik's uncle) sleeps with me. Shednev (the children's footman) and Chemodurov (the Sovereign's valet) are with us. Time for breakfast. Kisses and love. God bless you.
А.
- Russian Chronicle, volume 4, page 238.
1) Extract from Gillard's diary, relating to this day (p.137):
Monday, January 22/February 4.
They say that the thermometer showed more than 30 degrees below zero at night (37 degrees Celsius). Terrible wind. The Grand Duchesses' bedroom is a real icebox.
2) Program of the performance of January 21, 1918 in Tobolsk,
Written in French by the Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolayevna. Translation from French:
At the Rise.
Comedy in Acts by Eugene Verconsin.
Actors:Roland Delannay (painter)
P. Gilliard.Lady
Т. Н. 1)Balthasar
А. Н. 2)Carrier
А. Н. 2)Director: P. Gilyar.
January 21, 1918.
Tobolsk.
- T. Melnik, born Botkina, p. 51
1) Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna.
2) Heir Caesarevich Alexey Nikolayevich.
Most of the soldiers of the 1st and 4th regiments - writes P. Gilyar - were very disposed towards the Royal Family and in particular towards the Children. The Grand Duchesses loved to speak with the simplicity that was part of their charm, to these people whom they felt had a soft spot for the past, just as they had for themselves.
The Grand Duchesses asked the soldiers about their families and villages, or about the battles they took part in during the war. Alexei Nikolaevich, who remained their "Heir," also won their hearts, and they did everything they could to please and amuse him.
The platoon of the 4th Regiment, which consisted entirely of soldiers of older conscription age, was especially distinguished in this respect, and the Tsar's Family was always glad when it was their turn. On those days, the Emperor and the Children would go secretly to the guardhouse and talk or play checkers with the soldiers, and not once did either of them appear to treat anyone in a liberal manner.
Once Commissar Pankratov caught them. He stood at the threshold in astonishment, looking through his spectacles at this unexpected sight. Seeing his bewilderment, the Emperor beckoned him to come to the table. But the Commissar, evidently feeling out of place, muttered a few unintelligible words and, on his heels, departed in utter confusion.
From Alexey Nikolayevich, Tsesarevich's Successor
Н. V. Derevenko 1).
(Pp. 188-189)
Easter greeting card, 12,5x6,5
1) Nikolai Vladimirovich (Kolya) Derevenko, son of Surgeon Lieutenant V.N. Derevenko, a pupil of the Tsarskoye Selo Imperial Nikolaev Gymnasium. One of the few childhood friends of the Tsesarevich, who was constantly invited to play with him. He followed his father, together with the Tsarist Family, to Tobol'sk, where he continued to visit the Lord Alexei Nikolaevich.
From Alexey Nikolayevich, Tsesarevich's Successor
To P.V. Petrov.
Tobolsk, November 27, 1917.
Dear Pyotr Vassilyevich.
Thank you very much for your letter. I apologize very much for not having written to you before, but I am very busy. I have five lessons every day, in addition to my preparations, and as soon as I am free, I rush out into the street. The day goes by unnoticed. As you know, I work with Claudia Mikhailovna (Bitner) in Russian, in arithmetic, in history, and in geography. Please accept my warmest embrace. Kowtow to all. I often think of you. God bless you.
А.
What a Pulka!!!
Nepeyin I. Before the shooting. The Last Letters of the Royal Family, page 117. 117. Kept at the Central State Archive of the October Revolution, Moscow, f. 611 (P.V. Petrova), op. 1, v. 66, p. 24.
From the Heir, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich.
Н. V. Derevenko.
Postcard on a tear-off map sheet, 12x9.
On the back of a fourfold folded sheet of lower right-hand square inscription:
Kohl. Tobolsk, April 1918.
1)
Dear Nicky,
Thank you very much for the cannon. I hope we will be able to see each other soon. My regards to Mother, Grandmother and Fefer. I cannot write well because I am lying in bed. My leg hurts, but I think it will go away soon.Your Jechela
2)
On the reverse at the top is written: I send you a chalice.
Remarks by P. Gillard:
At the last days of March, Alexei the Successor became seriously ill. This was the beginning of the strongest attack of hemophilia since his illness in Spas in the fall of 1912, when his position was considered hopeless, and he survived only by miracle.
During this winter in Tobolsk, He felt better than ever. Being very lively, merry, and cheerful, He was constantly running, jumping, and playing all kinds of wild games. When the soldiers spoiled the ice hill, the Baptist began to look for another way out for His effervescent vitality. He devised a way to skate down the stairs in a wooden boat on skids. He bruised himself during this game, and this bruise, just as it happened in Sleep under the same circumstances, caused severe internal bleeding in the groin.
Given the lack of medical supplies, this illness became more serious: both of His legs were taken away from Him, and the painful process itself was quite violent, causing Him great anguish. He suffered greatly, and despite some improvement, this time He was not destined to fully recover before His martyrdom.
Gilliard's notes on the beginning of his illness:
Friday, March 30. Alexei Nikolaevich remains in bed; since yesterday, he has had great pain in his groin as a result of the effort he made. He felt so good this winter!
Monday, April 2. Alexei Nikolaevich was very distressed yesterday and today. This is one of his strong attacks of haemophilia.
From Her Majesty's letters one can understand that improvement was slow. Only on 10/23 April did the Empress finally manage to write: "Yesterday was the first day that he laughed and talked, even played cards, and even fell asleep for two hours during the day. This is the first note written by the Heir during his illness. (Not before April 9/22).
Caesarevich Alexey and Kolya Derevenko at the Stavka.
Alexei's name written backwards.
From Alexey Nikolayevich's Successor in Office.
Н. V. Derevenko.
Tear-off note on a tear-off sheet, 16 x 10.5.
On the back of a four folded sheet of the bottom right square inscription:
To be given to Nikolai Vladimirovich Derevenko. (Tobolsk, May 4/17 [?] 1918)
Dear Kolya,
All my sisters bow to you, Mom and Grandma. I feel well. How is your grandmother's health? How is Fefer doing? My head hurt during the day, but now it is completely gone. I hug you tightly and push you down with my feet. Kowtow to Botkin from all of us.
Always Yours
Alexey.
Signed with a spiral, the full width of the sheet. End. On the reverse, in the upper left-hand square, it is inscribed in red ink:
Granted. Khokhryakov 1), 2).
1) Pavel Khokhryakov, Sailor Pavel Khokhryakov, President of the Tobolsk Council.
2) Khokhryakov subjected Derevenko to a formal interrogation. T.E. Botkina writes about this (T.Mel'nik, born Botkin, p. 61):
On the day of the change of the detachment of the Special Reassignment for Rogionov (May 4/17), another small incident occurred: Alexei Nikolaevich and Doctor Derevenko's son enjoyed correspondence in secret, although no one prevented them from doing it openly, through Derevenko himself. They also enjoyed sending their letters by some mysterious means, for example, through drilled prosphorae.
This time, Alexei Nikolaevich handed his letter to Kolya Derevenko through his footman Nagorny, who was to bring him a reply, but Nagorny was late and returned when the guard from the Special Purpose Group was replaced by Rogionovsky. They searched Nagorny and found a letter of the most innocent content, and a whole story was told. On the basis of this story with the letter, Dr. Derevenko was not sent to Their Majesties, but was not arrested either.
From Alexey Nikolayevich, Sucessor of Cesarevitch
Н. V. Derevenko.
Note on a sheet of paper, 12 x 6. Inscription on the envelope:
Kohl.
(Tobolsk, May 1918).
Dear Kolya,
I am sending you my favorite gun instead of yours. It seems we shall not see you again before our departure.
Regards to Mom, Grandma and Feffer. May the Lord God bless you and all your people. †
Kiss and the sign of the cross over you kindly. †
1) The departure of the August Children from Tobolsk for Ekaterinburg took place on 7th/20th May.
P. Peter V. Petrov, teacher of Russian Language and Literature, with Alexei the Heir.
From Alexey Nikolayevich, Tsesarevich's Dependent
Alexey Nikolayevich
P. Petrov.
Tobolsk, 19 December 1917.
My dear Pyotr Vassilyevich.
I congratulate you on the upcoming holiday and the new year. I hope you received my first letter. How is your health? We have very little snow at the moment, so it's hard to build a mountain. Joy (the dog) is getting fatter every day, because he eats all kinds of crap from the garbage pit. Everyone drives him away with sticks. He has many acquaintances in the city, and that is why he always runs away. I am writing to you during my French lessons, because I almost have no free time, but I will write you more often when there are vacations. Please give my best wishes and greetings to the teachers. May God bless you!
Your fifth student.
Alexei.
Nepeyin I. Before the shooting. The Last Letters of the Royal Family, page 117. 117. Kept at the Central State Archive of the October Revolution, Moscow, f. 611 (P.V. Petrova), op. 1, v. 66, p. 25.
From the Heir, Tsesarevich Alexey Nikolayevich.
Alexey Nikolayevich
P. Petrov.
Tobolsk, January 7, 1918.
Dear Pyotr Vassilyevich.
This is my third letter to you. I hope you receive them. My mother and others send their greetings. My classes will begin tomorrow. My sisters and I had rubella, and Anastasia was healthy alone, and she went for walks with my Papa. It is strange that we have not heard from you. It is 20 degrees below zero today, and it was warm until now. While I am writing you, Gilik (P.A. Gilyar) is reading a newspaper, and Kolya (Derevenko) is drawing his portrait. Kolya is frightened, so he disturbs me from writing to you. Dinner will be ready soon. Nagorny says a big bow for you.
Bow to Masha and Irena. May God bless you! Your loving
Alexey.
Nepeyin I. Before the shooting. The Last Letters of the Royal Family, page 117. 117. Kept at the Central State Archive of the October Revolution, Moscow, f. 611 (P.V. Petrova), vol. 1, v. 66, p. 26. 26.
From the Heir, Tsesarevich.
Alexey Nikolaevich
Н. V. Derevenko.
This is a tear-off 5.5x11 (width) on a postcard slip.
Signed on the back: Kolya. Urgent.
(Tobolsk, March 1918).
Dear Yalok [1],
Bring your bullet which you found in Tsarskoye Selo. I will also bring you my two. Goodbye.
Yessel [2].
[Till] Tomorrow!
1) Kolya's name written backward.
2) Alexei's name spelled backwards.
From Alexey Nikolayevich, Tsesarevich's Dependent
Alexey Nikolaevich
Н. Derevenko.
This note is on a tear-off sheet of paper, 4x9 (width). There is an inscription on the back:
Kohl.
(Tobolsk, April 1918).
Dear Kolya,
What is the word ending with three e's? Write it down and give it to Zhilik [1].
А.†
1) P.A. Gilyar, the tutor for the successor of the Tsesarevich.
From Heir Composer of Cesarevitch.
Alexey Nikolaevich
Н. Derevenko.
A note on a tear-off sheet in a cell, 12x9.
(Tobolsk, the second half of April 1918).
My dear Kolya,
Thank you for your letters and your drawings. I feel better now. There is terrible mud in the garden. Planks have been put everywhere. I am sending you a prosphora. Biny says he scolded the Feffer, and he deserves it, ha-ha-ha !!!!!!!! Shiny is your pope, I called him so in Crimea.
Kudos to all. Kisses.
Your Yessel.
There is a spiral strokes the length of the entire line.
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolayevna, Tsesarevich Alexey Nikolayevich with his dog Joy. Tobolsk, 1918.
Compiled by Ludmila Huhtiniemi. Letters of the Royal Martyrs from prison, edited by N. N. Shumskikh. St. Petersburg, 1998.
Source: 3rm.info (Russian)