Power does not have the best effect on people. Absolute power corrupts especially strongly. This is clearly illustrated by the example of Russian tsars and tsaritsa, who had unusual hobbies and got into funny stories.
Peter the Great and Karl
Emperor Peter I loved dwarfs since childhood, and during his reign it was common for noble nobles to keep midgets as jesters. However, Peter himself took this passion to the extreme. From time to time he ordered to bake a naked midget in a pie, so that in the middle of dinner he would suddenly jump out of the pie to the fear of the guests and for the amusement of the emperor.
Emperor Peter I is one of the most eccentric Russian rulers
Peter even tried to breed dwarfs. More than seventy dwarfs, mostly poor peasants, were brought from all over Russia to the wedding of the tsar's jester Yakim Volkov and the dwarf who served with the tsarina. They were dressed in specially tailored clothes of European styles, drunk with wine and forced to dance to entertain those present. The emperor was very pleased.
Peter I arranged weddings of Lilliputians
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Catherine II and erotica collection
According to rumors, the study, furnished with custom-made furniture with frivolous carvings, adjoined the personal chambers of the Empress in the Gatchina Palace. The room was filled with the finest examples of erotic painting and sculpture, some of which were brought from the excavations of Pompeii.
Catherine II has collected a large collection of erotic sculptures
According to the official version, the collection was destroyed in 1950. A catalog published in the 30s and several photographs taken by German officers during World War II have survived. There is a version that the secret office was located not in Gatchina, but in Peterhof, and it can still be found.
Ivan the Terrible and the fake tsar
In 1575, Ivan IV unexpectedly abdicated the throne and declared that from now on he was becoming a simple boyar Vladimir of Moscow. He gave the throne to the baptized Tatar Simeon Bekbulatovich, a direct descendant of Genghis Khan. Simeon was officially crowned king in the Assumption Cathedral, and Ivan settled on Petrovka. From time to time, the retired tsar sent petitions to Simeon, in which he signed Ivanets Vasiliev.
Ivan the Terrible "for show" abdicated
During the 11 months of Simeon's reign, Ivan with his hands returned to the treasury all the lands previously granted to monasteries and boyars, and in August 1576 he just as suddenly took the throne again. Simeon's relationship with subsequent kings was extremely unhappy. Boris Godunov ordered to blind him, False Dmitry I forced him to go to a monastery, Vasily Shuisky was exiled to Solovki. The burial place of Simeon is located under the foundation of the House of Culture of the Likhachev Plant, on the site where the necropolis of the Simonov Monastery was once located.
Alexander II and his sense of humor
Once Alexander II, passing a small provincial town, decided to attend a church service. The temple was overcrowded. The head of the local police, seeing the emperor, began to clear the way for him among the parishioners with blows of fists and shouts: “With respect! With trepidation!" Alexander, hearing the words of the chief of police, laughed and said that now he understands exactly how humility and respect are taught in Russia. Another ironic phrase attributed to Alexander II: "To rule Russia is not difficult, but pointless."
Alexander II had a specific sense of humor
Alexander III and genealogy
The penultimate emperor, nicknamed the Peacemaker (under him, the Russian Empire did not participate in wars), loved everything Russian, wore a thick beard and could hardly put up with the fact that the royal family actually consisted of Germans. Soon after the coronation, Alexander gathered the nearest courtiers and asked them who really was the father of Paul I. The historiographer Barskov replied that most likely Alexander's great-great-grandfather was Count Sergei Vasilyevich Saltykov. "Thank God!" - exclaimed the emperor, crossing himself. - "So, I have at least a little Russian blood!"
Alexander III was a consistent Slavophile
Elizaveta Petrovna and female pride
Having a naturally gentle character, the daughter of Peter the Great did not make concessions only in matters of fashion and beauty. No one was allowed to copy the dress and hairstyle of the Empress, or to appear at a reception in an attire more luxuriously superior to that of Elizabeth. At one of the balls, the empress cut off with her own hair the ribbons and hairpins of the wife of Chief Hoffmeister Naryshkin, on the pretext that her hair was vaguely reminiscent of the royal.
Elizaveta Petrovna loved balls and outfits most of all
Once, after the ball, the court hairdresser could not wash and comb Elizabeth's hair, which had stuck together from hairdressing drugs. The Empress was forced to cut her hair. Immediately, the ladies of the court were ordered to shave their heads and wear black wigs until the order was canceled. Only the future Catherine II avoided shaving her head, having recently suffered an illness and lost her hair during her time. Moscow ladies were allowed not to shave their heads on the condition that they hide their hair under black wigs.
Paul I and service zeal
Since childhood, Pavel Petrovich was addicted to strict order, military uniform and maneuvers. Alexander Suvorov, according to rumors, was removed from the command of the army because of statements about the inappropriateness of a German powdered wig and uncomfortable boots with buckles on the Russian soldier. Once Paul conducted a mock siege of a fortress, the defenders of which were ordered to hold out by all means until noon.
Paul I spent a lot of time in amusing battles
Two hours before the end of the exercises, the emperor, along with the regiments besieging the fortress, fell under a heavy downpour. The commandant of the fortress was ordered to immediately open the gate and let Paul in, but he flatly refused to comply with the order. The Emperor is soaked through and through. At exactly twelve o'clock the gates opened, and Paul, in anger burst into the fortress, attacked the commandant with reproaches.
Paul I built his residence, the Engineering Castle as a fortress
He calmly showed the emperor with his own hand the signed order. Pavel had no choice but to praise the colonel for his diligence and discipline. The commandant immediately received the rank of major general and was sent to bear the guard amid the continued rain.
Alexander I and honesty
In the last years of his life, Alexander the First was a very God-fearing man. On Christmas Eve, on a pilgrimage trip, the emperor stopped briefly at the post office. Entering the station superintendent's hut, Alexander saw the Bible on the table and asked if the superintendent reads it often.
By the end of his life, Alexedrus I became a very devout man.
He assured the king that very often. Having sent the caretaker out of the room under some pretext, the emperor put five hundred-ruble banknotes (gigantic money at that time) between the pages of Scripture and soon left. Twelve days later, at Epiphany, Alexander returned to Petersburg through the same station.
there is a legend that Alexander I did not die, but went to the skete under the name of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich
Seeing the book in the same place, the emperor again asked the caretaker if he had read the book since they saw each other. The caretaker again fervently assured him that he had read, and more than once. Alexander leafed through the Bible - the banknotes were in place. He chided the caretaker for deceiving and ordered to distribute money to orphans.