Felix Felixovich Yusupov Jr. Yusupov-Sumarokov-Elston Felix Feliksovich (Prince Felix Yusupov Jr.). Emigration: life in London
Rich heir
The father of Felix Feliksovich Yusupov - also, by the way, Felix Feliksovich - bore the title of Count Sumarokov-Elston. Only in 1885 did he receive the right to call himself Prince Yusupov, which is why we already know his son, born in 1887, by this name. In general, Felix Yusupov’s father made a dizzying career and, at the end of his years, rose to the position of mayor of Moscow. It was then that little Felix, who was the only heir to a huge family fortune, became one of the most eligible bachelors in the country.
16-year-old Felix Yusupov, portrait by Serov. (wikimedia.org)
The father decided to further strengthen his son’s position and sent him to study not just anywhere, but to Oxford University. During his three years at Oxford, Felix, without wasting any time, made influential friends and even organized the Russian Society of Oxford University.
Prince Felix Yusupov poses for Serov. (wikimedia.org)
Rebel
Felix was born in the St. Petersburg house of the Yusupov family on the Moika. However, his mother, Zinaida Nikolaevna, was really expecting a girl, but Felix was born. Zinaida Nikolaevna then began to often dress him like a girl, allowed him to play with her magnificent outfits and, in general, allowed him to do everything that is only permissible for a girl.
Yusupov Palace on the Moika. (wikimedia.org)
This is where, most likely, the young man’s fascination with women’s outfits and cross-dressing began. For example, in one of his diaries he recalls: “One evening, when my father and mother were not there, we decided to take a walk, dressed in a woman’s dress. We found everything we needed in my mother’s closet. We dressed up, put on our rouge, put on jewelry, and wrapped ourselves in velvet fur coats. In this form we went into the city. On Nevsky, a haven for prostitutes, we were immediately noticed.” For a long time, there were even rumors in society about the count’s homosexual inclinations, which, however, have no documentary evidence.
Marriage
“Tall, thin, slender, with an iconographic face of Byzantine writing,” that’s how pop idol Alexander Vertinsky described Yusupov. Obviously, it was not difficult for a person with such an outstanding appearance and huge fortune to find a profitable match. In 1914, with the consent of the emperor, Felix Yusupov married the niece of Nicholas II, Princess Irina Alexandrovna. For a long time, newlyweds who were caught traveling by the First World War were forced to remain in Europe until the end of hostilities.
Felix Feliksovich and Irina Alexandrovna. (wikimedia.org)
A year after the wedding, in 1915, the Yusupovs had a daughter, Irina. Even at that time, being a husband and father, Felix Yusupov writes in his memoirs: “I have always been outraged by human injustice towards those who love differently. You can blame same-sex love, but not the lovers themselves. Normal relationships are contrary to their nature. Are they to blame for being created this way?” Researchers still cannot figure out whether Yusupov is simply demonstrating the freedom of his views, or justifies his hobbies.
Not a survivor
It must be said that Yusupov played one of the main roles in the action-packed action film “The Murder of Grigory Rasputin”. Moreover, even the Yusupov family house on the Moika embankment was chosen as the site of Rasputin’s murder.
Wax figures of Felix Yusupov and Grigory Rasputin. (wikimedia.org)
Judging by the investigation documents, four accomplices gathered in the Yusupov Palace: Yusupov himself, Purishkevich, Prince Dmitry Pavlovich and British intelligence officer Rayner. Rasputin was first poisoned with potassium cyanide, and the dose was given enough to kill five. Then Yusupov went upstairs to get a pistol and shot him in the back. Grigory attacked Felix, who came to make sure that Rasputin was dead, and tried to strangle him. Then Rasputin was shot by all four participants in the conspiracy. Then they beat him some more, just in case. The matter did not end there - Rasputin, riddled with bullets, poisoned and beaten, allegedly tried to escape. He was caught, tied up and thrown into the Neva.
After the revolution
For obvious reasons, Yusupov managed to escape punishment for the murder of Rasputin. He emigrated with his family from the impending revolution. First they reached the Crimea, from there they sailed to Europe, finally stopping in Paris, in a house near the Bois de Boulogne.
Prince Felix Yusupov in exile. (wikimedia.org)
Prince Felix Yusupov never returned to Russia again, even by invitation. Felix Feliksovich Yusupov died on September 27, 1967 and was buried in the Russian cemetery of Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois.
Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov, count Sumarokov-Elston(March 11 (23), 1887, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire - September 27, 1967, Paris, France) - the last of the Yusupov princes, known as a participant in the murder of G. Rasputin and the author of two books of memoirs - “The End of Rasputin” (1927) and "Memoirs" (1953).
In Russia
The youngest son of Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova and Count Felix Feliksovich Sumarokov-Elston. In 1885, his father received the right to call himself Prince Yusupov.
He graduated from the Gurevich private gymnasium. He became the sole heir to the Yusupov family fortune after the death of his older brother Nikolai in a duel with Count Arvid Manteuffel (whose wife had an affair with the deceased) in 1908.
In 1909-1912 he studied at Oxford University (University College), where he founded the Russian Society of Oxford University. In the 1910s, he headed the First Russian Automobile Club, located in the house of the First Russian Insurance Company.
In his memoirs, F. F. Yusupov interestingly and fascinatingly talks about the fact that in his youth, he and his older brother Nikolai, as bright admirers of theatrical art, were fond of acting within the framework of a playful nature. F. F. Yusupov had extraordinary acting abilities in transforming himself into a variety of theatrical images, from the classic performance of the female role by men to Cardinal Richelieu and the role of the beggar of the Vyazemsk Lavra. Along with this, subsequently these events and the shocking behavior of adolescence became the reason for a number of authors to have thoughts about the prince’s homosexuality.
“Tall, thin, slender, with an iconographic face of Byzantine writing” (characteristic of A. Vertinsky), Prince Felix Yusupov Jr., with the consent of the emperor, on February 22, 1914, married the princess of imperial blood Irina Alexandrovna, daughter of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna, sisters of Nicholas II.
From “Memoirs” of Felix Yusupov:
The First World War found the newlyweds on their honeymoon. Upon arrival from London to their relatives in Kissingen, where they were undergoing treatment, Felix and Irina were detained in Germany as prisoners of war until the end of the war by order of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Irina unsuccessfully petitioned her cousin, the Kaiser's daughter-in-law, for permission to return to Russia. Due to the prevailing emergency circumstances, Prince Felix Yusupov Sr. hired the Spanish ambassador as a diplomatic mediator. During diplomatic negotiations with Foreign Minister Gottlieb von Jagow, an agreement was reached to place at the disposal of the Russian ambassador a special train for members of the embassy and other Russian citizens wishing to leave Germany. When Emperor Wilhelm was informed about the flight of the Yusupovs, he hastily ordered their arrest at the border, but the order was late. The Yusupovs managed to cross the border of neutral Denmark. In Copenhagen, the Yusupovs were visited by Empress Maria Feodorovna, the king and queen of Denmark with all their relatives who were passing through there. Everyone was shocked by what happened. The Empress asked and obtained several trains for the numerous Russians who fled from Germany and did not have the opportunity to return to their homeland on their own. Soon, together with Empress Maria Feodorovna, having traveled through Finland, they found themselves at home in St. Petersburg. During the First World War, Prince Felix Yusupov Jr. was exempt from conscription into the army because he was the only son in the family. However, he took up the construction of hospitals. The first hospital for the seriously wounded was located in a house on Liteiny. While working there, he decided to enroll in a one-year officer course in the Corps of Pages and fulfill the military qualification for the rank of officer in 1915-1916.
Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov, count Sumarokov-Elston(March 11 (23), St. Petersburg, Russian Empire - September 27, Paris, France) - the last of the Yusupov princes, known as a participant in the murder of G. Rasputin and the author of two books of memoirs - “The End of Rasputin” (1927) and “Memoirs” "(1953).
In Russia
In his memoirs, F. F. Yusupov interestingly and fascinatingly talks about the fact that in his youth, he and his older brother Nikolai, as bright admirers of theatrical art, were fond of acting within the framework of a playful nature. F. F. Yusupov had extraordinary acting skills in transforming himself into a variety of theatrical images, from the classic performance of the female role by men to Cardinal Richelieu and the role of the beggar of the Vyazemsk Lavra. Along with this, subsequently these events and the shocking behavior of adolescence became the reason for a number of authors to have thoughts about the prince’s homosexuality.
“Tall, thin, slender, with an iconographic face of Byzantine writing” (characteristic of A. Vertinsky), Prince Felix Yusupov Jr., with the consent of the emperor, on February 22, 1914, married the princess of imperial blood Irina Alexandrovna, daughter of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, sisters of Nicholas II.
From “Memoirs” of Felix Yusupov:
| Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich once came to my mother to discuss the proposed marriage between his daughter Irina and me. I was happy, because this answered my secret aspirations. I could not forget the young stranger I met while walking on the Crimean road. From that day I knew that this was my destiny. While still a girl, she turned into a dazzlingly beautiful young lady. She was reserved out of shyness, but her restraint added to her charm, surrounding her with mystery. Compared to this new experience, all my previous hobbies turned out to be wretched. I understood the harmony of true feeling. |
Irina and Felix with their daughter “Bebe”, 1916
Video on the topic
Rasputin
Together with State Duma deputy V. M. Purishkevich, lieutenant Sergei Sukhotin and his brother-in-law Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, Prince Felix Yusupov Jr. was a participant in organizing the murder of Rasputin G. E. F. F. Yusupov motivates the subjective side of criminal actions as follows: “ Without talking yet, each one alone, we came to a single conclusion: Rasputin must be removed, even at the cost of murder.»; « After all my meetings with Rasputin, everything I saw and heard, I was finally convinced that all the evil and the main cause of all the misfortunes of Russia are hidden in him: there will be no Rasputin, there will be no that satanic force into whose hands the Tsar and the Empress fell.»
In exile
Felix Yusupov and his wife Irina, 1930
In 1967, the Yusupov family adopted 18-year-old Mexican Victor Manuel Contreras, who later became a famous sculptor and painter, whose monumental bronze works decorate the central squares of cities in Mexico, the United States and many European countries.
Death
In 1967, at the age of eighty, the last of the Yusupov family died in Paris. He was buried in the Russian cemetery in Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois. His wife Irina Yusupova died in 1970 and was buried next to him.
Descendants
V.V. Putin, Metropolitan Kirill and Ksenia Nikolaevna Sfiris (Yusupova-Sheremeteva)
Film incarnations
- Conway Turl (The Fall of the Romanovs, USA, 1917)
- Irving Cummings (“Rasputin, the Black Monk” / Rasputin, the Black Monk. USA, 1917)
- Peter McEnery (I killed Raspoutin / J "ai tué Raspoutine, 1967)
- Martin Potter (Nicholas and Alexandra / Nicholas and Alexandra, )
- Alexander Romantsov (“Agony”, 1974)
- James Frain (Rasputin, 1996)
- Philip Yankovsky (“Rasputin”, 2011)
- Vladimir Koshevoy (“Gregory R.”, 2014; “Conspiracy”, 2007)
- Evgeny Miller (“Alchemist”, 2015).
Prince Yusupov Count Sumarokov-Elston Yusupov Felix Feliksovich
- Dates of life: 05.10.1856-10.06.1928
- Biography:
Orthodox. From the nobles of the St. Petersburg province. Prince. Until 1891, he was called Count Sumarokov-Elston (Yu’s father, Felix Elston, was the illegitimate son of German Emperor Wilhelm I and received the count title and double surname by marrying the only daughter and heiress of Count Sumarokov). He studied in the Corps of Pages (did not graduate). Entered service on July 21, 1876. Passed the officer's exam at Chuguevsky infantry. cadet school (1876). Cornet (art. 08/09/1876). Assigned to the 10th Odessa Lancers Regiment. From November 24, 1876, he was the orderly of the commander of the 10th Army Corps. Participant in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-78. Lieutenant (pr. 1878; art. 10/13/1878; for distinction). In 1879 he was seconded and transferred to the Cavalry Regiment with the rank of Cornet of the Guards. (Article 07/22/1879). Lieutenant (pr. 1882; art. 04/28/1882; for distinction). In 1882 he married Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova (09/20/1861-11/24/1939) - a maid of honor, the daughter of a chamberlain, the only heiress of a fading family. He became one of the richest people in Russia (personally owned 6,000 acres in the Kuban region, 4 dachas in Crimea and 4 in Sochi. As his wife’s dowry, he received palaces in both capitals and a number of estates with unique collections of paintings and sculptures). From 05.1882 he was under Adjutant General Count M.T. Loris-Melikov, and was assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (02/06/1883-07/05/1885). The adjutant led. book Sergei Alexandrovich (07.11.1886-06.04.1904). Headquarters-Rotmistr (pr. 1888; art. 04/24/1888; for distinction). In 1891 Yu was allowed to bear, in addition to his own, the title and surname of his wife (later on, only the senior son could inherit the title of Prince Yusupov). Captain (pr. 1892; art. 07/22/1892; for distinction). Commander of the 2nd squadron of the Cavalry Regiment (11/29/1894-02/29/1904). Colonel (07/05/1898). Commander of the Cavalry Regiment (04/06/1904-07/22/1905). Major General (07/22/1905; 11/26/1906; for distinction). Commander of the Cavalry Regiment (07/22/1905-10/28/1908). 12/09/1905 enlisted in the Retinue of His Grandfather. Commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Guards. Cav. divisions (28.10.1908-13.12.1911). From 08/07/1912 Chairman of the Council Imp. Stroganov Center. Art and Industrial School. Chief commander of the Moscow Military District and commander-in-chief of Moscow (VP 05/05/1915). Lieutenant General (addition to project 05/06/1915; article 05/06/1915; for distinction in service). Adjutant General (05/06/1915). On 06/19/1915 Yu was relieved of the post of chief, and on 09/03/1915 - from the post of commander-in-chief. On behalf of Nicholas II, he delivered it to France and presented it to the commander-in-chief of the French. army gen. Geoffroy insignia of the Order of St. George, 2nd class. On 07/10/1916 he was listed as a guardsman. cavalry. After the October Revolution, he left for Crimea, and on April 13, 1919, together with Empress Maria Feodorovna, he left Russia on the cruiser Marlboro. Lived in Italy. He died in Rome. He was buried in the Testaccio cemetery. Prince's father Yusupov Felix Feliksovich (03/11/1887–09/27/1967 n.st.), who gained fame in connection with his participation in the murder of G.E. Rasputin.
- Ranks:
aka - His Imperial Majesty's Retinue, Major General of the EIV Retinue, Major General of the EIV Retinue
- Awards:
- Additional Information:
- Sources:
- Zalessky K.A. Who was who in the First World War. M., 2003.
- Volkov S.V. Officers of the Russian Guard. M. 2002
- List of generals by seniority. Compiled on 04/15/1914. Petrograd, 1914
- List of generals by seniority. Compiled on July 10, 1916. Petrograd, 1916
- Ignatiev A.A. 50 years in service. Book 2, 4. Petrozavodsk, 1964; Collection of biographies of cavalry guards. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Cavalry Regiment. T.4. St. Petersburg, 1908; List of adjutant generals, major generals and rear admirals of His Majesty's Suite and adjutant wings by seniority as of 03/20/1916. Petrograd, 1916; VP 1914–1917 and PAF 1917. Information provided by Valery Konstantinovich Vokhmyanin (Kharkov)
- VP for the military department/Reconnaissance No. 1287, 07/07/1915
- VP for the military department/Reconnaissance No. 1288, 07/14/1915
- "Russian Necropolis" (issue 6) 2000 (St. Petersburg: VIRD Publishing House).
B geographical reference book persons mentioned in letters from Tobolsk from Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Her Children to Anna Alexandrovna Taneyeva (Vyrubova). The letters are given in the book by A.A. Taneyeva-Vyrubova “Pages of my life”
Mentioned:
Felix Feliksovich Yusupov-Sumarokov-Elston (03/11/24/1887, St. Petersburg - 09/27/1967, Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois, Paris) - Prince (Yusupov), Count (Sumarokov-Elston), Felix Jr., “Felix III”.
Enough has been said about Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov-Sumarokov-Elston (or simply Prince Felix Yusupov the Younger). Trying to add something is a hopeless task. And yet... For some, Yusupov Jr. is the embodiment of the best qualities of the Russian aristocracy and nobility, one of the noblest, selfless, fearless men who committed a heroic act, for others - a vicious representative of his family, guilty of a serious crime. Or the third: book. F. Yusupov is a collective image that marked a special phenomenon in Russian life, lying at the origins of the Russian revolution.
For the first and last time in his life, this man committed an act of national importance, which left such a significant mark on the history of Russia - he killed the peasant Grigory Rasputin. I would like to understand whether his actions were dictated by a case in which extraordinary circumstances came into an insoluble conflict with the peculiarities and unique originality of nature, which led to such an excessive, grotesque, unjustified and momentary reflection, or a certain pattern emerged that began to form long before the appearance on the light of the titled heir of an ancient family, a bright representative of the world of Russian nobility, a secular handsome man and everyone's favorite - Felix Yusupov. The answer to this question is only possible as a result of research into the historical roots. However, even a brief consideration of the extensive history of the Yusupov family would significantly increase the already rather voluminous outline of his life. Therefore, let’s quickly look at some of the most important circumstances in the biography of Prince Felix Yusupov Jr.
Yusupovs
Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova with her sons at the Arkhangelskoye estate near Moscow
Prince Felix Yusupov at a costume ball, 1903
The Yusupovs were not only the noblest, but also the richest people of the Russian Empire. Their fortune at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century was fabulous and was estimated at several tens of millions of rubles, backed by gold in Tsarist Russia. L.P. Minarik gives the following figures: “In 1900, the cost of their estates, dachas and houses was 21.7 million rubles, including the cost of St. Petersburg houses - 3.5 million rubles, a Moscow house - 427.9 thousand rubles, anthracite mine - 970 thousand rubles, a sugar factory - 1.6 million rubles, cardboard and paper factories - 986 thousand rubles. In 1900, the Yusupovs owned 23 estates; the largest of them were estimated: Rakitnoye - 4 million rubles, Milyatinskoye - 2.3 million rubles, Klimovskoye - 1.3 million rubles, Arkhangelskoye - 1.1 million rubles. By 1914, the Yusupovs had 3.2 million rubles. securities kept in the State Noble, Moscow Merchant, Azov-Don, St. Petersburg International, St. Petersburg Commercial and Industrial and Russian for Foreign Trade banks." [Minarik. Uk. op.]
On his father's side, Felix Jr.'s pedigree begins with his grandfather, Adjutant General Count Felix Nikolaevich Elston (1820 - 1877). According to rumors, he was the illegitimate son of Prince Friedrich-Wilhelm-Ludwig of Prussia and Ekaterina Fedorovna Tizengausen (1803-1888) - maid of honor of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (wife of Emperor Nicholas I). These rumors were confirmed by his grandson, Prince Felix Yusupov (Junior) in his memoirs. However, according to another version of F.N. Sumarokov-Elston was the son of the unmarried Baron Hugel and the Hungarian Countess Forgacs, née Andrássy, while Ekaterina Tizenhausen was only his adoptive mother. One way or another, but having married Countess Elena Sergeevna Sumarokova (1829 - 1901) - the grandmother of Felix Yusupov Jr. on his father's side, Felix Nikolaevich acquired the dignity of count along with the count's motto of the Sumarokovs: “One way without bends.”
Father of Felix Yusupov Jr. - Prince Felix Felixovich Yusupov, Count Sumarokov-Elston - served in the Life Guards Cavalry Guards of Her Majesty Empress Maria Feodorovna Regiment (from 1879), adjutant of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich (from 1886 to 1904), adjutant general of the Suite of Emperor Nicholas II, head of the Moscow Military District (from May 5 to 19 June 1915), commander-in-chief in Moscow (Moscow governor) (until September 3, 1915).
In 1882 F.F. Sumarokov-Elston married Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova (1861-1939). Since Zinaida Yusupova remained the only descendant of the Yusupov family, and with the death of her and her father the glorious Yusupov family was cut short, Sovereign Emperor Alexander III on December 2, 1891 issued a letter of grant allowing the husband of Princess Zinaida Yusupova, Count Felix Feliksovich Sumarokov-Elston to bear the title and surname wife and father-in-law and be further referred to as Prince Yusupov, Count Sumarokov-Elston, leaving the same title for his wife - Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova, Countess Sumarokov-Elston. This decision was contrary to the laws of the Russian Empire, but for them, like for their grandfather F.N. Sumarokov-Elston, an exception was made. Moreover, according to the royal will, the princely title and surname of the Yusupovs passed to the eldest male heir in the family in a descending line and only after the death of the title holder.
The mother of Felix Yusupov Jr. - Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova, Countess Sumarokova-Elston cannot be likened to a “miserly knight” or an evangelical rich man. Owning treasures, she tried to separate them from those who needed them, which apparently constituted a hereditary trait of the Yusupov family. Stinginess and miserliness were not part of their family traditions, which is also emphasized by Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, devoting space to Princess Zinaida Yusupova in his memoirs: “A woman of rare beauty and deep spiritual culture, she courageously endured the hardships of her enormous fortune, donating millions to charity and trying to alleviate human need. She got married a few years before my wedding and came to Ai-Todor, accompanied by her handsome son Felix. Then I did not imagine that eighteen years later my little Irina would be his wife.” [Vel. book Alexander Mikhailovich. Uk. op.]
As a member of the committee for the establishment of the Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, she donated about 50 thousand rubles. for the construction of the Roman Hall. At the expense of Princess Yusupova, a shelter for orphan girls was opened at the Elizabethan Society; in August 1914, a hospital for wounded soldiers was organized in Petrograd. And these are just some examples.
An important touch in the depiction of Zinaida Yusupova’s inner world is her friendship with Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. Their rapprochement was facilitated by the fact that the Moscow region estates of the Yusupovs in Arkhangelskoye and the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich in Ilyinskoye were nearby. Princess Z.N. Yusupova shared the grief of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna after the murder of her husband, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich.
The Yusupov-Sumarokov-Elston family also maintained friendly relations with the Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, who were frequent guests of the Yusupovs in their Arkhangelsk estate near Moscow, as well as in the Crimea (Koreiz). Confirmation of this can be found in the Diary of Emperor Nicholas II, and in the memoirs of contemporaries, in particular, S.K. Bugshoeveden. The visits were mutual.
Zinaida Nikolaevna became the mother of four boys. The middle two died in infancy. The elder brother Nikolai was killed on June 22, 1908 in a duel by Horse Guards Count A.E. Manteuffel, husband of Countess Marina Alexandrovna Manteuffel (ur. Heyden), with whom Nikolai Yusupov had an affair.
The originality of the nature of Felix Yusupov Jr.
Portrait of Felix Yusupov by Valentin Serov, 1903
The fourth and last child in the Yusupov family, Felix, is named after his grandfather and father. Count Felix Feliksovich Sumarokov-Elston (junior) remained the only heir to the title and the entire fortune. He received the title of “Prince Yusupov” only in 1914 in connection with his marriage to the princess of the imperial blood, Irina Alexandrovna Romanova. However, he became widely known throughout the world under the name of Prince Felix Yusupov Jr. Felix Yusupov was baptized into the Orthodox faith. He left the following memory of this event: “At the christening in the home church, the priest almost drowned me in the font, where he dipped me three times according to Orthodox custom. They say I came to my senses by force.”
There is no doubt that Felix Yusupov inherited many of the good traits of his ancestors, which turned out to be closely intertwined with the special properties of his nature, which constituted the exceptional originality of Prince Felix Yusupov the Younger. Felix's inimitable character type was formed from childhood. Until the age of 15, he suffered from sleepwalking. In his youth, he had a passion for dressing up in women's clothes. In connection with this, he participated in many entertainment events in the company of his older brother Nikolai. According to Felix, he misled many men, including King Edward VII. This continued until the son’s hobbies became known to the father, who called his son “a scoundrel and a disgrace to the family, to whom no decent person would lend a hand,” after which the disguises were put to an end. But Felix’s love for reincarnation, in the form of a touch of theatricality and unbridled flights of fantasy, remained throughout his life.
Felix was friends with Vel from a young age. Prince Dmitry Pavlovich Romanov, who among his contemporaries was known as a “rake and reveler.” It was on this basis that the young people came together. Surprisingly, in the future, accusing Rasputin of all the serious things and, ultimately, of discrediting the Royal Family, friends apparently did not consider that they themselves were discrediting the royal family, the Royal Family, and Russian aristocrats with the same behavior that they attributed Rasputin.
Another passion of Felix is spiritualism. A detailed description of cases involving the invocation of spirits, “observation of amazing things,” the fall of marble statues during seances, and the appearance of ghosts is given in the memoirs of Prince Felix Yusupov.
In 1908-1909 Felix Yusupov Jr. met with the Royal Family several times. In his memoirs, without mincing words, which distinguishes his style of narration, not constrained by self-esteem, he considered it necessary to say that the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna “sternly reprimanded him,” pointing out that “every self-respecting man should be a military man or courtiers." Felix dared to answer the Empress:
I can’t be a military man, because war is disgusting to me, and I’m not fit to be a courtier, because I love independence and say what I think. I see my calling in the reasonable management of estates and numerous lands and factories. Proper management of everything is also a kind of service to the Fatherland. And when I serve the Fatherland, I serve the Tsar!
The queen's face was covered with large red spots.
And the Tsar is the Fatherland! - she cried.
At that moment Nicholas II entered, and Alexandra Fedorovna told him:
Felix is a complete revolutionary! [Prince Felix Yusupov. Uk. op.]
Prince Felix Yusupov and Vel. Princess Elizaveta Feodorovna
Book Felix Yusupov Jr. and Vel. book Elizaveta Fedorovna Romanova
If you are not overly biased, the peculiar passions (or hobbies) of Felix Yusupov Jr. can be considered as temporary delusions of youth and treated with condescension. Apparently, not only their parents treated them this way, but also Vel. Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna, who took part in the spiritual education of Felix Yusupov. Here is a letter from Elizaveta Fedorovna to Felix dated February 28, 1911, permeated with a feeling of warmth and maternal care for her pupil. In this letter, Elizaveta Feodorovna warns Felix about the danger of another reckless hobby. As follows from the letter, the object of his sympathy was a certain E. - a married woman, by being carried away by whom he could destroy her fate, and himself repeat the fate of his brother. Elizaveta Fedorovna writes:
“Dear child!
God bless you.
<...>As I understand your joy and anxiety over the arrival of E., may the Lord deliver you from suffering, because these torments, unfortunately, can be disastrous when we do not have the strength to fight and fall victim to our feelings. May Saint Thomaida watch over you and protect you! How I wish you would get married and have children! How your parents would come to life! And the heart, in pursuit of unrealistic happiness, sometimes passes by - very close - to perfect joy, without noticing it, that’s what’s sad. Poor child. I will be happy to see you here; why not spend the summer in Arkhangelskoye and from here travel to other estates, instead of sitting in Tsarskoye? I’m afraid of this meeting, I’m afraid for her, because playing with someone else’s heart is very dangerous. You can't arrange her divorce and marry her - then why rush into danger, right? To say all this, I know, is essentially useless; all this has been known since the creation of the world. But, alas, no one is careful until it is too late.
I need to go to the temple now.
God bless you and give you strength and joy to be an honest person.
Elizabeth» [Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to GIM OPI, D. 84, L. 16-17 vol.].
Knowing Felix from childhood, having the opportunity to influence his upbringing with a good example and useful, gentle edification, Vel. Princess Elizaveta Feodorovna, throughout her life, nurtured feelings of love and hope for her spiritual pupil, maintaining them even after the murder of Felix G.E. Rasputin. From a letter from Elizabeth Feodorovna to Emperor Nicholas II dated December 29, 1916: “...For ten days I prayed for you, for your army, country, ministers, for those who are sick in soul and body, and the name of this unfortunate [Grigory Rasputin] was in the memorial so that God would enlighten him and... I return and find out that Felix killed him, little Felix, whom I knew as a child, who all his life was afraid of killing a living creature and did not want to become a military man, so as not to shed blood.” [Letters of the Prime Minister. Vel. book Elizaveta Feodorovna]
For his part, Felix Yusupov showed a mutual feeling of sympathy for Aunt Ella and treated her with deep respect. This is evidenced by the prince’s memoirs, in which he draws with love and gratitude the holy image of Elizabeth Feodorovna: “I do not intend to provide any new information about Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. Enough has been said and written about this holy soul in the chronicles of the last years of Tsarist Russia. But I can’t keep silent about her in my memoirs. Her influence in my life turned out to be too important and necessary. And from childhood I loved her like a second mother.<...>The people called her a saint. I have no doubt that one day the church will recognize this.<...>My life is forever illuminated by the light of this wonderful woman, whom I already revered as a saint in those years.” [Prince Felix Yusupov. Uk. Op.]
In truth, Elizaveta Feodorovna was a guardian angel for Felix Yusupov. She literally fought for his soul. Here is the episode cited by Felix in his memoirs:
One day, speaking to her face to face, I told her about my adventures, which, as it seemed to me, were unknown to her.
Calm down,” she smiled. - I know much more about you than you think. That's why I called you. He who is capable of much evil is also capable of much good, if he finds the right path. And a great sin is no greater than sincere repentance. Remember that reason sins more than the soul. But the soul can remain pure even in sinful flesh. Your soul is important to me. This is what I want to reveal to you yourself. Fate has given you everything a person could want. And to whom it is given, it will be asked. Think that you are responsible. You must be an example. You must be respected. Trials have shown you that life is not fun. Think of all the good you can do! And how much harm to cause! I prayed a lot for you. I hope the Lord listened and will help you.”
How much hope and spiritual strength sounded in her words! - concludes Felix Yusupov.
Under the influence of Elizaveta Fedorovna, young Felix Yusupov was filled with noble impulses, plans, the implementation of which could create a precedent for a radical change in life in Russia, for example, “turn Arkhangelskoye into an artistic center”, turn the palace into a museum, turn Yusupov’s estates in Moscow and St. Petersburg into “hospitals, clinics, shelters for the elderly,” open sanatoriums in Crimean and Caucasian estates, “land would go to the peasants, plants and factories would become joint-stock companies.” Vel. Princess Elizabeth approved of Felix's plans, but his mother, Zinaida Yusupova, did not, believing that her son, the last of the Yusupov family, should marry and continue the family line. Alas, the plans of Felix Yusupov Jr. were not destined to come true. By his own admission, he did not read the books given to him by Elizaveta Feodorovna; he left his homeland (and much earlier than forced emigration), received his education at Oxford, and married favorably.
Nevertheless, young Yusupov made an attempt to take the path that Elizaveta Fedorovna showed him by her example. He financed the creation of a House for consumptive women at the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent. For some time he walked through the Moscow slums, “where dirt and darkness reigned. People huddled in cramped conditions, sleeping on the floor in the cold, damp and slop.” Felix writes: “An unfamiliar world opened up to me, a world of poverty and suffering<...>I wanted to help everyone. But the enormity of the task was overwhelming. I thought how much is spent on war and on scientific experiments for the benefit of that same war, while people live and suffer in inhumane conditions. There were disappointments.<...>Almost every day I went to the hospital in Moscow to see consumptives. The patients thanked me with tears for my trifling handouts<...>I was immensely grateful to the Grand Duchess for understanding my despair and being able to guide me to a new life. However, I was tormented that she doesn’t know everything about me and considers me better than I am.” [Prince Felix Yusupov. Uk. op.]
On the persistent advice of Elizabeth Feodorovna, Prince Felix Yusupov Jr., on the eve of important events in his life related to his matchmaking with Princess Irina Alexandrovna Romanova, made a trip to the Solovetsky Monastery with Elizabeth Feodorovna in June 1913, from where he wrote to his chosen one: “This is the fourth day I am in the Solovetsky Monastery, living in a small, dark cell, sleeping on a wooden sofa without any mattress, eating monastic food and, despite all this, enjoying the journey. There are so many interesting things here. This is a completely independent small state, surrounded by a huge stone wall. They have their own ships, their own fleet, the abbot of the monastery - the king and ruler of this small country in the far north, surrounded by a raging sea.
How strange it is to come here after all our conversations about our life abroad, it’s all so different that you can’t even compare. We spend the whole day exploring the surrounding area, fishing in the huge lakes, of which there are about 400 and they are all connected by canals, so you can drive along them for hours, moving from one to another. The Grand Duchess [Elizabeth Feodorovna] has been in church more and more since 5 o'clock in the morning. Services last here for 5-6 hours, I’ve been there once, and that time is enough for me. While she is praying, I fish and come to the very end. There are a lot of schematics here in amazing costumes. It is completely impossible to sleep here, the bells ring day and night, hundreds of tame seagulls that scream incessantly and fly straight into the rooms, and the worst thing is the bedbugs, of which there are legions, and they bite mercilessly. The food is terrible and long monk hair sticks out and floats everywhere. It’s so disgusting that I only eat tea and prosphora.” [Cit. By: Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: GMI OPI. F. 411. Op. 1. D. 84. L. 102-103 vol.].
In July 1913, Yusupov Jr. arrived in London to meet with Princess Irina Alexandrovna, who was there with her parents. On July 28, 1913, Vel also arrived in London. Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna. The purpose of her trip, in addition to the desire to see relatives, was to help Felix establish a good relationship with the Vel family. Prince Alexander Mikhailovich, thereby contributing to a favorable outcome for Felix in his matchmaking with Irina Alexandrovna. In a letter to his mother, Felix says: “Dear Mother, I saw the Grand Duchess, who is delighted to be in London. I went to meet her at the station, but was 5 minutes late, i.e. the train arrived earlier than expected. She found some amazing train passing at 7 1/2 in the morning. When I returned home, I immediately called her to find out when I could see her. She answered the phone and laughed terribly and made jokes, it’s clear that she is so happy to be in London after so many years.”
From a letter from Felix Yusupov to his mother (July 1913 London): “I just returned from Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, who is leaving tomorrow for Kiel for a week, then to Russia... She and I talked a lot about me. She gave me very good advice, for which I am very grateful.” [Cit. By: Khrustalev. Uk. op.]
As for Elizaveta Fedorovna, although she was not able to completely overcome the attraction of the Yusupov world, to which she belonged due to her origin, position, and upbringing, yet her world and the world of Princess Zinaida Yusupova entered into a contradiction carefully hidden by both - there was a struggle.
This can be judged from Zinaida Nikolaevna’s response letter to her son regarding Vel’s arrival in London. Princess Elizabeth Feodorovna: “I believe how glad Elizabeth Feodorovna is to be in London and how she enjoys it, forgetting that she now doesn’t care where to be! How exaggerated and false all this is! Sometimes I feel deeply sorry for her!” - The letter exposed the abyss of misunderstanding of the natural feelings and noble impulses of his friend!
From letters from Z.N. Yusupova to her son on September 23 and 28, 1909, it follows that Valentina Sergeevna Gordeeva, the daughter of the actual state councilor of the governor of the Samara province Sergei Petrovich Ushakov, the first assistant of Vel., also maintained friendship with the Yusupovs. Princess Elizabeth Feodorovna in the establishment of the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent of Mercy. Subsequently, Valentina Sergeevna, after the arrest and execution of Elizaveta Feodorovna, headed the monastery. Valentina Sergeevna was the same age as Elizaveta Feodorovna and, apparently, just like her, she had a touching, tender, motherly attitude towards everyone’s favorite Felix Yusupov. Zinaida Nikolaevna writes from Koreiz: “My dear Felix, You have already frightened us all with your long silence!.. There has been no news of your arrival in London for 36 hours!<...>Finally, at 7 1/2 o'clock your telegram arrived, and the whole house came to life! Valentina [Gordeeva] also did not sleep, the young ladies were worried<...>. We accompanied Valentina [Gordeeva] to Kokkoz. I'm very sorry that she left. She loves you so much that it was nice to talk to her about you! She is a good person with a sensitive, warm heart, but in vain they force her to put on a monastic robe! It will never suit her!” [Cit. By: Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: GMI OPI. F. 411. Op. 1. D. 36. L. 27-28 vol.].
Again, a stone in Elizabeth Feodorovna’s garden: a strange attitude towards monasticism and the sincere impulses of a pure, believing, Orthodox soul.
Study at Oxford
Let us point out those aspects of the life of young Felix Yusupov in which, despite the oddities and carelessness of youth, serious grounds emerged.
In 1908, Felix became bored with the life of a young rake in St. Petersburg and decided to leave for England to get an education. In December 1908, Mr. Stanning, an English teacher, was discharged from London. In February 1909, Felix Yusupov made a study trip to England. In London, he was received by Princess Victoria of Battenberg (the sister of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna), Princess Marie-Louise of Schleswig-Holstein, as well as the Archbishop of London, who approved his decision to enroll in one of the British higher educational institutions. Having received letters of introduction, Felix, accompanied by his new English friend Mr. P. Steele and Mr. G. Stanning, visited Oxford, Cambridge and Winchester. In Oxford, Felix introduced himself to the rector of one of the university colleges. Having decided to enroll in the Faculty of Agriculture, Yusupov gave preference to Oxford, although Mr. Stanning, who took care of Felix, strongly recommended enrolling in Cambridge. “Not seeing the young prince’s obvious desire for study, the mentor advised Felix to enroll as a volunteer so as not to be bound by deadlines and to be able to travel at any time necessary.” [Yudin. Uk. op.]
At the end of September 1909, Felix began studying at Oxford University as a student. Mr. Stanning's recommendations were justified, since Felix's interest in studying really began to wane. Knowing English poorly, he decided, on the advice of the dean of the faculty, to change his chosen specialty - agriculture - to the study of English language and literature, but already at the end of 1910 he again decided to change his specialty to political economics.
The lifestyle of young Yusupov during this period can be understood from his letter to his mother: “Dear mother, ... Yesterday I dined at Lady Ripon and stayed overnight with an Englishwoman in the neighborhood. This morning a large group of us went to Brighton for the whole day. Tomorrow at Oxford. I'll be back in London on Monday. Yesterday the four of us dined, Lady Ripon, her husband, King Manuel and myself. We sat and chatted all evening. She remodeled her house and it turned out beautiful and just lovely. On Wednesday I have breakfast at Richmond. The king’s mother wants to meet me. I see him every day, he is truly touching, he comes to London every day, has breakfast, lunch with me, and goes to a concert with him.” [Yudin. Uk. op.]
As researcher E.E. writes Yudin: “An integral part of Felix Yusupov’s stay in England was his active involvement in British political and secular culture. Most of his time was occupied not by scientific studies, but by an endless series of receptions, visits, dinner parties, dinners and even breakfasts, visits to palaces and rural estates of the English aristocracy, balls and festive evenings. High English society showed significant interest in the young Prince Yusupov, as a representative of the elite of the great empire, which just in these years was becoming a foreign policy ally of Britain, and as, obviously, a man who possessed a huge fortune even in comparison with the high English standards. Felix Yusupov becomes a member of several elite closed clubs in Oxford and actively participates in the entertainment of the English “golden” youth. He acquires a large circle of not only social acquaintances, but also close friends. He often writes to his mother about the latter, praising their personal, human qualities. He will invite some of them to come to him in Russia later. It seems that Felix will maintain close personal contacts with his English friends in subsequent years, having already returned to Russia.” [Yudin. Uk. op.]
Perhaps the opinion of many researchers that Yusupov in England became a member of the Masonic lodge refers to this period of time, if “elite closed clubs” are associated with Masonic lodges. But there is no direct evidence of joining the lodge. Moreover, as one can judge from the letter from Princess Z.N. Yusupova to her son dated November 8, 1913 (written from Koreiz to Paris), in the Yusupov family this was considered reprehensible and unacceptable: “Be very careful with Nick. M. [Vel. Prince Nikolai Mikhailovich]. He is terribly false and many, not without reason, consider him Freemason». [Cit. according to Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: River of Time. Book 2. M., 1995. S. 135-136].
Apparently, during this period of time, Felix met and became friends with Oswald Reiner (Reiner), an agent of the British foreign intelligence service MI6, who also studied at Oxford.
At the same time, Felix became friends with ballerina Anna Pavlova. He writes the following about her: “I forgot Oxford, my studies, my friends. Day and night I thought about the ethereal creature that worried the hall, enchanted by the white feathers and the bloody sparkling heart of the ruby. Anna Pavlova was in my eyes not only a great ballerina and beauty, but also a heavenly messenger!<...>She understood me. “You have God in one eye, the devil in the other,” she told me.” [Prince Felix Yusupov. Uk. op.].
This is how the life of young Felix Yusupov proceeded in England - fun and carefree, not particularly bothered by studies and sciences. But now the time has come for exams, and according to their results - receiving (or not) a diploma. In this regard, E.E. Yudin draws attention to the research of Richard Thomas Batts, who, based on the diary entries of K.S. Lewis (“the famous English writer and apologist for Christianity, who served as professor at Magdalen College, Oxford from 1925 to 1954”), as well as on the testimony of A.D. Carlyle (since 1893, acting chaplain of University College, Oxford), writes that Felix Yusupov could not pass a single exam. Therefore, Farquharson and Carlyle, by agreement with Yusupov, “did it themselves and presented him with the certificate, arranging everything very importantly and solemnly.”
The presentation of a certificate (certificate) - a Diploma of the third (lowest) degree, meant that the prescribed course of lectures had been attended, and the examinee, although he received the lowest grade, still passed the exams and received a diploma of higher university education - to the unspeakable joy of the mother of Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna, who wrote to her son on June 18, 1912: “My dear boy, Thank God that I passed the exam, even if it’s for the 3rd diploma, and then thank you! Of course, if you had studied more, that is, more smoothly over these last two years, it would have been easier to get through now, but what’s past is past.” [Yudin. Uk. Op. with reference to the State Historical Museum of OPI. F. 411. Unit. hr. 39.]
Matchmaking and marriage of Prince Felix Yusupov Jr. to Princess Irina Alexandrovna Romanova
Felix and Irina Yusupov
Another serious act of Prince Felix Yusupov Jr., which characterizes him on the positive side, was matchmaking and marriage to the princess of imperial blood, Irina Alexandrovna Romanova.
It is believed that the family of Victoria of Battenberg really wanted their daughter Princess Louise, who liked the Russian prince Felix Yusupov, to marry him. Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna wanted the same. There were rumors about their engagement, but they remained only rumors. There were other contenders in England. However, Felix's choice turned out to be different. His daughter Vel had long attracted his attention. Prince Alexander Mikhailovich and Vel. Princess Ksenia Alexandrovna - princess of the imperial blood Irina Alexandrovna, niece of the Emperor, beloved, as historians believe, granddaughter of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna.
Judging by the memoirs, Felix was in love with Irina Alexandrovna, as they say, at first sight, from their first chance meeting, which took place in the Crimea, “during a horse ride,” when Felix “saw a lovely young girl” ... Since then , judging by the letters, he mentally did not part with her.
Among the contenders for Irina Alexandrovna's hand were the Greek Prince Christopher (the fifth son of King George I and Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna), and the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward. Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich and Prince Vladimir Paley treated her very favorably.
Therefore, Felix Yusupov, in order to carry out his honest intentions towards Irina Alexandrovna, had to show persistence, patience and even ingenuity in order to get the hand of his chosen one. In addition, he was forced to wait patiently for several years until Irina Alexandrovna came of age. Irina had a mutual feeling for Felix, and her parents, who had long been friends with the Yusupovs, were also interested in the younger Yusupov and were ready to forgive his scandalous adventures in Paris, which they became aware of during the engagement period. In fairness, it should be noted that carousing at that time was characteristic not only of Felix Yusupov, but of youth in general, as, indeed, it always was and is. It's all about the atmosphere of gossip in which secular society lived, and evil tongues that could inflate each case to incredible proportions. Although, thanks to Felix’s innate politeness, charm and determination, the incident was settled, an unpleasant aftertaste still remained with Irina’s parents - there is no smoke without fire.
The wedding of Felix Feliksovich Sumarokov-Elston and Princess Irina Alexandrovna Romanova took place on December 22 (old style) 1914 in the house church of the Anichkov Palace. Felix wrote in his memoirs: “I was happy, because this answered my secret aspirations. I could not forget the young stranger I met while walking on the Crimean road... In comparison with this new experience, all my previous hobbies turned out to be wretched. I understood the harmony of true feeling.”
Due to his marriage, Felix received the right from the Sovereign to bear the princely title and surname Yusupov during his father’s lifetime.
A year later, on March 8 (21), the Yusupov couple had a daughter, named, like her mother, Irina (1915-1983).
How the attitude towards Grigory Rasputin was formed in the Yusupov society
Probably, regarding the marriage of Felix and Irina, we can say that they were created for each other. Needless to say, both families also corresponded to each other in their way of thinking, their position, their neighborhood (dachas in the Crimea), and their mutual high-society interests. Despite many “buts”, in addition to purely human calculations, as well as petty claims, there was one common ground, or common theme, which undoubtedly contributed to the rapprochement of both respectable families, additionally giving family ties a certain dedication, a special conspiratorial status of people united by a common interest, a way of thinking, an idea, a common understanding of which provided a solid basis for strong, especially friendly relationships. The unifying super-idea was to rid the Royal Family, St. Petersburg, and the Empire from the terrible man Rasputin - the cause of all the troubles and evils of the Fatherland. Naturally, this attitude did not develop immediately, but the theme of Rasputin, from the very beginning of his appearance next to the Royal Family, excited minds, gradually acquiring more and more fantastic shapes.
Here, for example, are the feelings about this, which, however, are quite understandable, Vel. Princess Ksenia Alexandrovna, the Emperor’s sister, which is reflected in her diary entries: “In the carriage Olga [Vel. Princess Olga Nikolaevna] told us about her conversation with her [Alix]. She said for the first time that the poor little one had this terrible disease and that was why she herself was sick and would never completely recover. About Gregory, she said that how could she not believe in him when she sees that the little one feels better as soon as he is near him or prays for him.
In Crimea, it turns out that after we left, Alexey had bleeding in his kidneys (horror!) and they sent for Grigory. Everything stopped with his arrival! My God, how terrible this is and how sorry for them.
Anya V[yrubova] visited Olga today and also talked about Grigory, how she met him (through Stana) in a difficult moment of her life (during her divorce), how he helped her, etc.
Horrified by all the stories and accusations - she talked about the bathhouse, laughing, and about the fact that they say that she lives with him! That everything now falls on her neck!” [Cit. according to Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: Meilunas A., Mironenko S. Nikolay and Alexandra. Love and life. M., 1998]
“On March 16, Princess Yusupova arrived for tea. They sat for a long time and talked a lot. She told me about her conversation with A[lix] about Gregory and that’s all. He went to Siberia, and not to Crimea at all. Someone sent him an encrypted message without a signature telling him to come here. Alix knew nothing about this, was delighted and is said to have said: “He always feels when I need him.” [Cit. according to Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: Meilunas A., Mironenko S. Nikolay and Alexandra. Love and life. M., 1998]
"October 16th. I walked with Nikita in the morning. It’s wonderful, warm, quiet. - 12. - Felix was having breakfast. - There has been fermentation again about Rasputin - the newspapers are writing about him, God knows what. In "Evening Time" the impossible advanced is given. He just left here the other day. - Just despair.<...>» [Cit. by: Khrustalev with reference to: GARF. F. 662. Op. 1. D. 44. L. 23]
The increased interest in the Friend of the Royal Family of many high-ranking persons gradually gave way to hidden, and then undisguised irritation towards the Royal Family and, in any case, misunderstanding. On the part of the Yusupovs, the cause of discontent was the disapproval expressed by the Tsar and Tsarina of the marriage of the young Yusupov, because the scandalous Felix, who did not want to serve, became a relative of the Romanovs. From a letter from Princess Z.N. Yusupov's son November 8, 1913 from Koreiz:
“On the 6th there was a dinner and ball in Livadia, to which Elena was also invited, which was very nice. I was seated at the royal table, and during the dances I was invited to sit next to the hostess [Empress Alexandra Feodorovna], who congratulated me and talked a lot about you both. Despite ostentatious courtesy, there was a conversation dry, and it was clear how much I didn’t like her! He [Tsar Nicholas II] got off with smiles and a handshake, but nothing words didn't say. I could say a lot about this evening in words, but I don’t want to write. Of course, she doesn’t like your departure to Paris. “Tolstaya” [Anna Aleksandrovna Taneyeva (Vyrubova)] as the fifth daughter, and keeps himself that way» [Cit. according to Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: River of Time. Book 2. M., 1995. S. 135-136]
After the wedding of Felix and Irina, another reason appeared for the Yusupovs’ attitude towards the Royal Family to change for the worse. In 1915, Felix's father - Prince F.F. Yusupov-Sumarokov-Elston (senior) with the support of Vel. Prince Nikolai Nikolaevich was appointed to two key posts: chief commander of the Moscow Military District (from May to June) and commander-in-chief of the city of Moscow (from May to September). However, he was soon removed due to incompetent leadership during the Moscow riots in 1915. Regarding these events, Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II writes to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in a letter dated June 16, 1915: “Yusupov, for whom I sent, was present at the council on the first issue; we cooled his ardor a little and gave him some clear instructions. There were funny moments when he read his report on the Moscow riot - he became excited, shook his fists and pounded them on the table.” [Cit. according to Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: Correspondence of Nicholas and Alexandra 1914-1917. - M: Zakharov, 2013].
Everything that came from the Royal Family caused overt irritation. The main reason for hostility was still Grigory Efimovich Rasputin-Novy, and everything that was connected with him was subjected to malicious criticism, which determined the tone of the letters of Princess Z.N. Yusupova. In a letter to her son dated October 2, 1915, she writes: “I must say that what is happening in Tsarskoye Selo outrages me to such an extent that I would like to go somewhere far, far away and never return again! Gregory returned again. Barnabas [Bishop of Tobolsk Varnava (Nakropin), who was considered a protege of Gr. Rasputin], they say, is getting a promotion! And Samarin was directly pressed because of these scoundrels, on the orders of the crazy V[alida] [Empress Alexandra Feodorovna], who also drove her husband crazy. I’m literally choking with indignation and find that I can’t tolerate this any longer. I despise all those who endure all this and remain silent.” [Cit. By: Khrustalev. Uk. cit., with reference to: From the Yusupov family correspondence. /Publication by N.B. Strizhevoy. // River of times. Book 2. M., 1995. P. 140-141.].
Princess Zinaida Yusupova rebelled for now in her letters and set up those around her and, above all, her son accordingly. Vel's assent sounded in unison. Prince Alexander Mikhailovich and Vel. Princess Ksenia Alexandrovna. The intensity, the pathos, the degree, as they say, went off scale. Seething indignation at the decisions made by the Sovereign found justification in Rasputin’s allegedly obscene behavior. However, an indignant feeling bordering on hatred quickly spread from Rasputin to Anna Vyrubova, the Empress, and then the Sovereign. The atmosphere that reigned in the Yusupov and Vel families. Prince Alexander Mikhailovich on the eve of the murder of Gr. Eph. Rasputin-New, can be described as hysterical, with an obsession with the guilt of Rasputin, Vyrubova and the Tsarina in everything - but this was only a cover for a true attitude towards the Tsar...
Prince Felix Yusupov Jr. and Grigory Efimovich Rasputin-New. Confrontation
Acquaintance with the romantic period in the life of Prince F.F. Yusupov's work by Count Sumarokov-Elston (matchmaking and marriage) allows us to draw an important conclusion: behind the outward shockingness, as one can notice if desired, a subtle nature could be hidden, capable of high feelings, deep experiences, responsible decisions and serious actions. In any case, what else could attract noble and honest people to him, sincere and kind people, such as, for example, Maria Evgenievna Golovina? Maria, or, as she was called among her friends, Munya, was the daughter of the chamberlain, actual state councilor Evgeniy Sergeevich Golovin, and was the niece of Princess Olga Valerianovna Paley (ur. Karnovich). Olga Valerianovna became the morganatic wife of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, respectively, the stepmother of Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, a friend of Felix. Through Dmitry Pavlovich, apparently, Felix met the Golovin family.
Lyubov Valerianovna Golovina and her daughter Maria were admirers of the elder Grigory Efimovich Rasputin-Novy, and were part of his close circle. Through the Golovins, Felix Yusupov Jr. also met Grigory Efimovich, which he writes about in his memoirs: “I met Rasputin in the G. family in St. Petersburg in 1909. I have known G.’s family for a long time, and I was especially friendly with one of the daughters, M..”
Felix did not like Rasputin, his appearance and manners. To emphasize his hostile attitude, Yusupov in his memoirs, when describing his acquaintance with Rasputin in the Golovins’ house, did not hesitate to apply thick colors: “a strange subject”, “smiled evilly”, did not approach, but “swimmed up to the young lady”, “pressed them to his chest and kissed him with the air of a father and benefactor,” “at first glance, there was something I didn’t like about him, even repulsed me,” he only “feigned ease,” noted that Rasputin “is secretly shy, even cowardly.” Nevertheless, “his manners amazed him,” and in general, Grigory Rasputin made an “indelible impression” on Yusupov.
Feeling that Felix did not like Grigory Efimovich, Maria Golovina wrote him a letter on August 20, 1910, where she tried to dispel unpleasant impressions and explain the “oddities” in the behavior and speeches of Elder Gregory:
“Dear Felix Feliksovich!
I am writing to you to ask you not to show anyone the piece of paper that I gave you from Ali [Alexandra Pistolkors, Anna Vyrubova’s sister]. Your new friend [G.E. Rasputin-Novy] was with us today and asked about it, and I also find that the less talk about him, the better. I would really like to know your opinion about him, I think that you could not bear a particularly good impression, for this you need to be in a very special mood and then you get used to treating his words differently, which always imply something spiritual. But they do not relate to our everyday life.
If you understood this, then I’m terribly glad that you saw him and I believe that it was good for your life, just don’t scold him, and if he’s unpleasant to you, try to forget. ... " [Cit. By: Khrustalev. Uk. op.]
The way Felix Yusupov perceived Grigory Rasputin is strikingly different from the assessment given by G.E. Rasputin-New St. Petersburg journalist and publisher of the newspaper “Smoke of the Fatherland” A.F. Filippov, cited by V. Khrustalev: “There is no doubt that Rasputin has increased sensitivity and culture of the good old days, which gave us a peasant, equal in subtlety of perception to the bars, otherwise this semi-literate man would have long ago alienated representatives of the highest aristocracy, who are not often meet". [Cit. By: Khrustalev. Uk. op.]
The natural nobility of Yusupov collided with the “nobility”, or rather the natural peasantry of Rasputin - two elements came together, which, as it turned out, were irreconcilable. Intransigence is not the fault of the peasant, who turned out to be open to the end (the end of mortal life), direct and honest in his desire to reconcile, comprehend, understand and love the master, but due to the fault of the lordly opposite, who did not want to descend from the impregnable peak of his lordship, his legalized prosperity and well-being to holy simplicity, hidden behind the veil of “ignorance” and “illiteracy”, ignorance of secular manners and prim etiquette.
Felix’s subtle nature was still able to sense something unusual, bright, although it did not fit into the usual ideas of light. Grigory Rasputin, contrary to the first impression, attracted Yusupov and aroused genuine interest in himself. The personality of the elder and the events associated with his name (perhaps under the influence of his mother) worried Felix Yusupov more and more. This is evidenced by a letter from Maria Golovina to Felix Yusupov dated February 1 (14), 1912:
“Dear Felix Feliksovich!
Your telegram touched me very much; it is good that you wanted to find out the truth and were not satisfied with the information that the newspapers are full of. From them you probably know the main facts that a request was made in the Duma why [G.E. Rasputin] is forbidden to write that Bishop Hermogenes [Saratov (Dolganov)], who was his friend while he was seeking promotion, now considers him the culprit of his downfall and is raising all his friends against him, of whom he suddenly had a lot, and on the other hand, they want make a scandal in order to strike where he is loved and appreciated [i.e. e. a blow to the Royal Family - approx. Yu.R.]. This, I think, is the main reason for the noise made against him. He is directed to a completely different place, and he is used as a tool to hurt his friends [the Tsar and Queen] and, if possible, take away even this consolation! How much anger people have, and most importantly, envy! How they strive to destroy and pollute everything beautiful and bright. Of course, they took up arms against him out of envy; he bears his cross and experiences suffering for Christ. If you could see how far he is from everything that happens around him, he is in a completely different area, in the area of the spirit and is far from our understandings and passions, and we all judge in our own way, and so we ourselves are immersed in sin and temptation that we cannot understand the true purity that he preaches and puts into practice. After all, sin would not have power over people if they were stronger than it, and no matter what century people appear who discover another life, they will always be persecuted and persecuted, as they persecuted everyone who followed in the footsteps of Christ.
You know him too little and have seen him too little to understand his personality and the power that guides him, but I have known him now for two years and am sure that he bears the cross of God and suffers for the truth, which is incomprehensible to us and, if you are a little familiar with occultism, then you know that everything great is hidden under a certain shell, which for the profane closes the path to the truth. Remember the words - “Enter through the narrow gate,” but few people understand this, preferring, as he says, “the inviolable tree” of Pharisaic virtue, which, in my opinion, often borders on cruelty, to true Christian love!
That's all I can tell you about him, if you are particularly interested in anything, then write, I will always write to you with pleasure. While he is still here and wants to talk to us in the first week of Lent, and then he leaves, I don’t know for how long, and I don’t know whether he will come when you are here.
Write everything you think about it, I really value your opinion and want to feel you with me, just be frank, because I love you with a heartfelt, pure and clear love that will last until the grave and, I hope, that no human tricks will they will change our friendship, and we must tell a friend everything, without fear of offending him, because love must endure everything! The 5th is the feast day of the icon that I gave you, pray that it will save you!
And in general, write, goodbye.
Maria Golovina" [Cit. By: Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: GMI OPI. F. 411. Op. 1. D. 48. L. 40-43 vol.].
Amazing letter. So much holy love and trust in someone who will soon mercilessly carry out a bloody reprisal against another object of holy true love - that person who himself loved people holy and truly, who loved even his enemies and murderers, and proved this by his martyrdom, extending his hand before death to his executioner.
What is also surprising is the depth of penetration into the subtleties of the situation and the clarity of the assessment of those events and circumstances that still remain unclear and foggy for those who are more inclined to trust the Yusupovs’ interpretation of this historical dispute, in this age-old, universal confrontation between two spiritual elements: good and evil , love and hate, life and death.
Grigory Rasputin is the man whose life is sanctified by faith. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ led him, by faith he trusted his thoughts and feelings, faith guided his actions. What actually happened to him in St. Petersburg? He was not accepted, he was rejected, pushed out of the environment. He was a stranger to this environment. And few who could understand and appreciate his faith from the powers that be and those around them. This is the reason for the confrontation. In high society they are accustomed to treating a person in accordance with his real status and data - what a person is worth. You had to get a pass to high society, and, having received it, behave in accordance with the place that society has assigned you, and don’t dare cross the line, so as not to hear a menacing, threatening shout: who are you?! Grigory Efimovich, contrary to these rules, went beyond what was permitted, stepped beyond the line, encroaching on the “sacred” - the inviolability of strict etiquette and hierarchy.
But what could Grigory Efimovich offer these people? Only one thing - his living faith and the fruits of the spirit with which he was gifted from God. And now this living faith came into conflict with the dead letter of secular customs and rules, with completely false etiquette.
Both sides understood that they were different: both Grigory Efimovich and representatives of the Yusupov world. But what did the different, opposite sides do in this situation? Grigory Efimovich tried to understand, love, teach, heal, help. He was even ready to accept something useful from them, to understand, to comprehend their truth with his peasant mind - to adapt to them, maybe even become like them in order to understand better. In this he acted after the example of the apostles, becoming like them.
On the opposite side, on the contrary, at first there was surprise, interest, but they did not understand, did not agree, began to endure, but not for long, quickly fell (fell) into the fetid pit of undisguised irritation, gross lies, vile slander, banal shameful envy, poisonous gossip and evil gossip. Gradually increasing, these phenomena turned into hysteria, into some kind of frenzy, demonic possession. Finally, they got tired of it all, and, without much ceremony, they killed him.
Why did they kill, for what? The killer - the young prince Felix Yusupov was faced with what was destroying his life credo. No one ever questioned his primacy and superiority; neither his mother nor Aunt Ella, in essence, encroached on his freedom. Felix was unsurpassed, this was his element - social life, St. Petersburg, Paris, London, amusements, whims, no one limited him.
The appearance of Rasputin in his life became a threat to the world of his supremacy and independence. Felix Yusupov was afraid of losing freedom, but not freedom from sin, but freedom from restrictions in sin. In the face of the peasant Gregory, he felt something that was higher than him, that brought him from the patrician Olympus to the sinful earth, something that allowed him to feel weaker, more frail. Weaker, not in a physical or any other sense, but in a spiritual sense. For the first time he encountered the element of spirit, felt its power and height, and at the same time felt his insignificance and helplessness in front of it. Elder Gregory destroyed his idol, the idol of the secular crowd, Felix Yusupov. His authority, his position, his fortune were nothing before the truth and the height of genuine Christian love. His conscience denounced his wretchedness, but he could not agree with this, could not part with his undeniable superiority, which was given to him by secularly understood freedom, position and wealth - all dust, dust, ashes, nothing, and he himself, according to in truth, small, not figuratively, but literally, his soul turned out to be small and insignificant. Grigory Efimovich called him “small.” Felix could not agree with this, he could not come to terms with this, like a child.
It’s hard to say how sincere Felix Yusupov’s friendship with Maria Golovina was. But his mother, Zinaida Yusupova, was clearly burdened by this friendship, and after Felix left for England, Zinaida Nikolaevna would like to get rid of the obsessive attention of Maria Golovina, who, apparently, on her own initiative, as well as out of naivety and simplicity, continued as a friend to visit the Yusupovs even in Felix’s absence, which they were not particularly happy about. This can be judged from the letter from Z.N. Yusupova to her son dated September 23, 1909, where there is the phrase: “We didn’t get rid of Golovina, she was with Sonya [Dzhambakurian-Orbeliani] and drank tea with us.” [Cit. By: Khrustalev. Uk. Op. with reference to: GMI OPI. F. 411. Op. 1. D. 36. L. 23-26 vol.]
Thanks to Maria Golovina, Felix Yusupov was offered a choice: either continue the treacherous path of serving the world of the Yusupovs, or follow the path of correction and healing indicated by the Russian peasant-pagan, spiritual wanderer, Elder Gregory - the path of the primordial serving Russian nobility, the path of devotion and fidelity to God's Anointed One and God's Russian people. But the noble impulse of a pure soul did not touch Yusupov. He did not want to accept the meaning of her words about the elder Grigory Efimovich Rasputin-Novy, who, with his existence in St. Petersburg, the patrimony of the Yusupovs, posed a daring challenge to the world of the Yusupovs. And the son of this world, the prince of this world, Felix Feliksovich Yusupov Jr., accepted this challenge...
(To be continued)