Coronation of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna



The coronation of Emperor Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was the last coronation during the Russian Empire. It took place on Tuesday, 14 May (O.S., 26 May N.S.) 1896, in Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. Nicholas II, known in Russian as Nikolai II Aleksandrovich, was the last emperor of Russia.

Preparations
On 1 January (O.S., 13 January N.S.) 1896, the manifesto "On the upcoming Holy Coronation of Their Imperial Majesties" was published, according to which the coronation ceremony was to be held in May, and inviting the Government Senate in Moscow, and other representatives of the Russian Empire, to attend. Responsibility for organizing the ceremony was assigned to the Ministry of the Imperial Court, on the basis of which the Coronation Commission and the Coronation Office were organized.



The official coronation period was from 6 May to 26 May 1896, with 25 May being the birthday of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. On 26 May, a manifesto was published that expressed the gratitude of the monarch to the inhabitants of Moscow.



It was proposed that all persons participating in the 9 May ceremonial entrance of the imperial couple to Moscow arrive in Moscow no later than 5 May. The ceremonial entry was to be from the Petrovsky Palace on Petersburg Highway and further along Tverskaya-Yamskaya and Tverskaya streets.

Preparations for the celebrations were the responsibility of the Minister of the Imperial Court Count I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkov. The High Marshal was Count K. I. Palen; the supreme master of ceremonies was Prince A. S. Dolgorukov. The duties of the herald were performed by E. K. Pribylsky, an official of the Senate. A coronation unit was formed from 82 battalions, 36 squadrons, 9 companies, and 28 batteries, under the command of the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, under whom was a special headquarters with the rights of the General Staff led by Lieutenant General N.I. Bobrikov. Vladimir Alexandrovich arrived in Moscow and took command on 3 May 1896.



In April 1896, more than 8,000 pounds of table settings were brought from St. Petersburg to Moscow, with gold and silver sets alone weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The Kremlin arranged 150 special telegraph wires to connect all the embassies.

Pre-coronation festivities
On Sparrow Hills—where the Vorobyov Palace used to be, and where, starting in 1817, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour designed by Karl Whitberg was constructed—a special "royal pavilion" was erected for the newly crowned couple.

On 6 May, the birthday of Nicholas II, the emperor and empress arrived at the Smolensky railway station in Moscow, where they were met by members of the imperial family, dignitaries, imperial officials, and crowds of people. The Governor-General of Moscow—uncle to the emperor and husband of the empress's sister Elizabeth Feodorovna—Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich arrived with the couple, having met the emperor and empress at Wedge station. From the station the imperial couple proceeded in a closed carriage to Petrovsky Palace.

The scale and pomp of the preparations significantly exceeded previous coronations.



On 7 May, the imperial couple held an audience for the Emir of Bukhara Mohammed Alim Khan and his heir, as well as the Khan of Khiva Muhammad Rahim Khan II, in the Petrovsky Palace.

On 8 May, Maria Feodorovna, the Empress Dowager, arrived at Smolensky Railway Station, and was met by a large crowd of people.

That same evening, outside Petrovsky Palace, the imperial couple were serenaded by 1,200 people, which included the choir of the Imperial Russian Opera, conservatory students, members of the Russian Choral Society.

On 9 May, the solemn entry into the city took place. A police escort came first, with a platoon of gendarmes, next came the imperial convoy, a string of carriages with dignitaries, followed by the horse guards, imperial personal convoy, one hundred of the Life-Cossacks, His Majesty's regiment, six in a row, and so on.

Coronation ceremony


On 14 May, the day of the Coronation, in all the churches in St. Petersburg, the liturgy was read and prayers of thanksgiving recited. The metropolitan cathedrals could not accommodate all the worshippers, in view of which prayers were also recited in the squares near a number of cathedrals and some churches, as well as in the Horse Guards.

The coronation ceremony began at 10 am, with the emperor, his mother, and his wife seated on thrones on a special raised platform installed in the middle of the cathedral. The emperor sat on the throne of Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, Empress Maria Feodorovna on the throne of Tsar Alexy Mikhailovich Tishayshy, and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna on the throne of Grand Prince Ivan III of Russia.

The ceremony was presided over by Metropolitan Palladium, of St. Petersburg, the preeminent member of the most Holy Synod (the Synod at the time of the coronation having been transferred to Moscow). During the liturgy, the metropolitan con-celebrated with the metropolitans of Kiev, Ioanikiy (Rudnev), and of Moscow, Sergius (Lyapidevsky). At the end of the liturgy the emperor and empress were anointed and then took communion of the Holy Mysteries at the altar. In the ministry of the liturgy, among others, John of Kronstadt also took part.



Documentary film footage


The French journalist Camille Cerf shot the only documentary movie footage of the coronation.

Royal and foreign guests

 * The Empress Dowager of Russia, the Emperor's mother
 * Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia, the Emperor's sister and brother-in-law (also paternal first cousin once removed)
 * Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia, the Emperor's sister
 * Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich and Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna of Russia, the Emperor's paternal uncle and aunt
 * Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia, the Emperor's paternal first cousin
 * Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia, the Emperor's paternal first cousin
 * Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia, the Emperor's paternal first cousin
 * Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia, the Emperor's paternal first cousin
 * Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia, the Emperor's paternal uncle
 * Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fyodorovna of Russia, the Emperor's paternal uncle and aunt (also the Empress' brother-in-law and sister)
 * Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia, the Emperor's paternal uncle
 * Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia, the Emperor's paternal grandaunt by marriage
 * Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mavrikievna of Russia, the groom's paternal first cousin once removed and his wife
 * Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich of Russia, the Emperor's paternal first cousin once removed
 * Duchess Vera of Württemberg, the Emperor's paternal first cousin once removed
 * Duchess Elsa of Württemberg, the Emperor's paternal second cousin
 * Duchess Olga of Württemberg, the Emperor's paternal second cousin
 * Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia, the Emperor's paternal first cousin once removed
 * Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich and Grand Duchess Militza Nikolaevna of Russia, the Emperor's paternal first cousin once removed and his wife
 * Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, the Emperor's paternal first cousin once removed
 * 🇩🇰 The Crown Prince of Denmark, the Emperor's maternal uncle (representing the King of Denmark)
 * The Queen of the Hellenes, the Emperor's maternal aunt by marriage and paternal first cousin once removed (representing the King of the Hellenes)
 * The Duke of Sparta, the Emperor's maternal first cousin
 * Prince George of Greece and Denmark, the Emperor's maternal first cousin
 * Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, the Emperor's maternal first cousin
 * The Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Emperor and Empress' mutual uncle and aunt
 * The Crown Princess and Crown Prince of Romania, the Emperor and Empress' mutual first cousin and the Empress' maternal third cousin (representing the King of the Romanians)
 * The Grand Duchess and Grand Duke of Hesse, the Emperor and Empress' mutual first cousin and the Empress' brother
 * Princess and Prince Louis of Battenberg, the Empress' sister and brother-in-law (also the Emperor and Empress' mutual first cousin once removed)
 * 🇬🇧 The Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn, the Empress' maternal uncle and aunt (representing the Queen of the United Kingdom)
 * Prince Henry of Prussia, the Empress' brother-in-law and maternal first cousin (representing the German Emperor)
 * The Duke of Leuchtenberg, the Emperor's paternal first cousin once removed
 * The Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, the Emperor's paternal first cousin twice removed
 * The Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, the Emperor's paternal third cousin
 * 🇱🇺 The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, the Emperor's maternal second cousin (representing the Grand Duke of Luxembourg)
 * Duke Alexander of Oldenburg, the Emperor's paternal second cousin once removed
 * Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg, the Emperor's paternal second cousin
 * Duke Constantine Petrovich of Oldenburg, the Emperor's paternal second cousin once removed
 * The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the Emperor's paternal second cousin once removed and paternal first cousin once removed
 * Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg, the Emperor's paternal second cousin once removed
 * The Prince of Bulgaria, the Empress' maternal second cousin once removed
 * Prince Albert of Belgium, the Empress' maternal second cousin once removed (representing the King of the Belgians)
 * Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Emperor's paternal second cousin once removed
 * Duke Karl Michael of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Emperor's paternal second cousin once removed
 * The Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, the Emperor's second cousin once removed (representing the Grand Duke of Baden)
 * Prince and Princess Albert of Saxe-Altenburg, the Emperor and Empress' mutual third cousin once removed and the Emperor's paternal second cousin once removed (representing the Duke of Saxe-Altenburg)
 * 🇲🇨 The Hereditary Prince of Monaco, the Emperor and Empress' mutual third cousin (representing the Prince of Monaco)
 * Duke Albrecht of Württemberg, the Empress' maternal third cousin (representing the King of Württemberg)
 * The Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg, the Emperor's paternal third cousin once removed (representing the Grand Duke of Oldenburg)
 * 🇸🇪 The Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway, the Emperor's fourth cousin (representing the King of Sweden and Norway)
 * The Emir of Bukhara
 * The Crown Prince of Bukhara
 * The Khan of Khiva
 * The Crown Prince of Khiva
 * The Prince of Montenegro
 * The Crown Prince of Montenegro
 * Prince Mirko of Montenegro
 * Prince George of Saxony (representing the King of Saxony)
 * The Prince of Naples (representing the King of Italy)
 * Prince Fushimi Sadanaru (representing the Emperor of Japan)
 * Prince Chirapravati Voradej (representing the King of Siam)
 * Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (representing the Prince Regent of Bavaria)
 * Archduke Eugen of Austria (representing the Emperor of Austria-Hungary)
 * Yusuf Ziya Pasha (representing the Sultan of Ottoman)
 * Dragutin Franasović (representing the King of Serbia)
 * The Marquis Suy (representing the Emperor of China)
 * Min Young-hwan (representing the King of Korea)
 * Prince Anoushiravan Mirza (representing the Shah of Persia)
 * Prince Amanullah Mirza Qajar
 * Prince Abbas Mirza III
 * 🇱🇮 Prince Franz of Liechtenstein (brother of the Prince of Liechtenstein)
 * Bishop Antonio Agliardi (representing the Pope)
 * 🇫🇷 Raoul Le Mouton de Boisdeffre (representing the President of France)
 * 🇲🇽 Don Manuel Iturbe (representing the President of Mexico)
 * 🇪🇸 The Duke and Duchess of Najera (representing the Queen Regent of Spain)
 * The Count of Ficalho (representing the King of Portugal)
 * 🇳🇱 Ambassador Wittewaal-van-Stoetwegan (representing the Queen Regent of the Netherlands)
 * Friedrich von Maltzan (representing the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz)
 * 🇺🇸 Clifton R. Breckinridge (representing the President of the United States)

Post-coronation festivities
After the ceremony, on the same day, a royal meal was served in the Palace of Facets, in the Kremlin, which was attended by invited Russian subjects and by foreign representatives; and by tradition food was served in other parts of the palace. The following day, 15 May (O.S.), at 10.30 am, a reception for ambassadors took place. From 11:30 am to 3 pm, the emperor and empress accepted greetings from deputations, from all over Russia, in the Andreevsky throne room.

On the morning of 16 May, the kurtag (masked ball ) in the Kremlin Palace was the first ball held, and was the first of a number of celebrations and balls.

In his diary, Nicholas II described what happened during those days:

"May 13th. Monday.

We woke up with wonderful weather. Unfortunately I did not have time to take a walk because of the reports of Lobanov and Goremykin. Went to dinner at 11 o'clock. Breakfast with Mom and D. Fredy. We walked with them. We are very sorry to leave Alexandria; exactly that minute when the weather became summer and the green began to grow rapidly. At 3 1/2 we left for Moscow and settled in the Kremlin in our former rooms. I had to take the whole army of retinues of the princes who had come. At 7 o'clock we went with the whole family to the all-night vigil to "I will save for the golden lattice". Dined at 8 1/2 Mom and left early to her. Confessed in the bedroom. May the merciful Lord God help us, may he support us tomorrow and bless on peace-working life !!! ✙

14 May. Tuesday.

Great, solemn, but heavy in a moral sense, for Alix, mom and me, day. From 8 am they were on their feet; and our procession began only in 1/2 10. The weather was fortunately wondrous; the Red Porch represented a radiant look. All this happened in the Assumption Cathedral, although it seems like a real dream, but do not forget all my life !!! Returned to his half past one. At 3 o'clock the same procession went again in the Faceted Chamber to the meal. At 4 o'clock everything ended quite well; a soul full of gratitude to God, i completely rested afterwards. Dined with Mom, which fortunately stood the whole test. At 9 o'clock went to the upper balcony, where did Alix ignite the electric illumination on Ivan the Great and then the towers and walls of the Kremlin were lit up consistently, as well as the opposite embankment and Zamoskvorechye.

We went to bed early."

On 26 May, a commemorative silver medal was struck "In memory of the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II".

The Khodynka tragedy
Early in the morning of 18 May 1896, the day of the "national holiday" public feast on the Khodynka Field in honor of the coronation, a stampede led to 1,389 people being killed and 1,300 left with severe injuries, according to official figures—4,000 according to unofficial figures. On 19 May, an official government agency issued a telegram from Moscow that read: "Moscow, May 18th. The brilliant course of coronation celebrations was darkened by a regrettable event. Today, 18 May, long before the start of the national holiday, a crowd of a few hundred thousand moved so swiftly to the place of distribution of treats on the Khodynka field, that the elemental force crushed a multitude of people ...". Coronation events continued according to schedule: in particular, on the evening of the same day a ball was held at the French embassy. The sovereign was present at all the planned events, including the ball, and that presence was perceived ambivalently in the wake of the tragedy.

The Khodynka tragedy was considered a grim omen for the reign of Nicholas II,   and at the end of the twentieth century it was cited by some as one of the arguments against his canonization (2000).