#Lili Dehn

[roses-of-the-romanovs]

Alice and Alix

Alice on her daughter:

“She is a sweet, merry little person, always laughing, with a deep dimple in one cheek just like Ernie.”

“She is quite the personification of her nickname “Sunny”—much like Ella, but a smaller head, and livelier, with Ernie’s dimple and expression.”

“‘Sunny’ in pink, was immensely admired. She is still improving in looks since you saw her.”

“Aliky is very handsome and dear.”

Alexandra Feodorovna on her mother:

“I cried when I thought of my mother; this [the wedding of her brother Ernst] was the first festival since her death. I seemed to see her everywhere.”

“Darmstadt is only a little spot in the garden of my memories, but my mother died there, so I can’t really be blamed for liking Darmstadt.”

And one final tribute:

“The Empress’s boudoir, known as ‘Le Cabinet Mauve de l’Imperatrice,’ was a lovely room … Lovely pictures adorned the walls—and one of the Annunciation, and another of St. Cecilia, faced a portrait of the Empress’s mother, the late Princess Alice of England, Grand Duchess of Hesse-Darmstadt.”

“The mauve boudoir was flooded with moonlight, which fell directly on the portrait of the Empress’s mother, and on the picture of the Annunciation. Both seemed alive.... The sad eyes of the dead woman watched the gradually unfolding tragedy of her daughter’s life, whilst the radiant Virgin, overcome with divine condescension, welcomed the angel who hailed her as blessed among women.”

[otmaaromanovas]

Hi, it would be awesome if you could give us an idea about alexei's personality described by people in his close circle

Hello! Sorry for the late reply. Here are some quotes about Alexei from the people closest to him, and some extracts from his letters and diaries that show his personality.

Alexei's personality

"The Heir ran along the shore and loudly expressed his joy with every surge of water. In general, how much noise and fun there was! I still remember this time with pleasure. Water splashed, flushed and cheerful children returned home." - Sofia Ivanovna Tyutcheva, nurse/nanny, A Few Years Before the Catastrophe

"Alexei, the only son of the Emperor and Empress, a more tragic child than the last Dauphin of France, indeed one of the most tragic figures in history, was, apart from his terrible affliction, the loveliest and most attractive of the whole family. Because of his delicate health Alexei began life as a rather spoiled child." - Anna Vyrubova, close family friend, Memories of the Russian Court

"The more the boy opened his heart to me the better I realised the treasures of his nature, and I gradually began to feel certain that with so many precious gifts it would be unjust to give up hope. Alexis Nicolaievitch was then nine and a half, and rather tall for his age. He had a long, finely-chiselled face, delicate features, auburn hair with a coppery glint in it, and large blue-grey eyes like his mother's. He thoroughly enjoyed life — when it let him — and was a happy, romping boy. Very simple in his tastes, he extracted no false satisfaction from the fact that he was the Heir — there was nothing he thought about less — and his greatest delight was to play with the two sons of his sailor Derevenko, both of them a little younger than he. He had very quick wits and a keen and penetrating mind. He sometimes surprised me with questions beyond his years which bore witness to a delicate and intuitive spirit. I had no difficulty in believing that those who were not forced, as I was, to teach him habits of discipline, but could unreservedly enjoy his charm, easily fell under its spell. Under the capricious little creature I had known at first I discovered a child of a naturally affectionate disposition, sensitive to suffering in others just because he had already suffered so much himself." - Pierre Gilliard, Alexei's tutor, Thirteen Years at the Russian Court

"Spring 1915 …Yesterday he [Alexei] gorged on black crackers and in the evening, he was sent directly to [Dr.] Derevenko." - Letter from Maria to Nicholas II, Maria Romanov: Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Diaries and Letters

"18 March [1912] - Pavlovsk… Recently, on the 14th, my wife had lunch with their Majesties, and was embarrassed by the behaviour with the Heir, who is almost two years older than Vera. He wouldn’t sit up, ate badly, licked his plate and teased the others. The Emperor turned away, perhaps to avoid having to say anything, while the Empress rebuked her elder daughter Olga, who was next to her brother, for not restraining him. But Olga cannot deal with him." - 1912 Diary of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich

"In appearance he resembled his sister Tatiana : he had the same fine features, and her beautiful blue eyes ; he loved his sisters, and they adored him, and patiently submitted to his teasing. The Tsarevitch was a lively, amusing boy, with a wonderful ear for music, and he played well on the balalika : like Tatiana he was shy, but, once he knew and liked anyone, this shyness vanished. The Empress insisted upon her son being brought up, like his sisters, in a perfectly natural way. There was no ceremonial in the daily life of the Tsarevitch : he was merely a son, and a brother to his family, although it was sometimes quaint to see him assume '' grown up " airs. One day, when he was indulging in a romp with the Grand Duchesses, he was told that some officers of his regiment had arrived at the Palace and begged permission to be received by him. The Tsarevitch instantly ceased his game, and, calling his sisters, he said very gravely : *' Now, girls, run away. I am busy. Someone has just called to see me on business." - Lili Dehn, close family friend, The Real Tsaritsa

"Sunday 13th August 1906 …we were all invited to have tea with Their Majesties. All four daughters came to the dinging room, and also, the the great joy of our children, the two-year-old Tsesarevich. He went around the tea table and after greeting everyone, climbed onto his mother’s lap. Igor was sitting beside her, and the little Heir happily moved onto his lap and called him “New” as he was someone unfamiliar. After that, my boys and the Tsar’s girls played with him merrily on the floor…We were all delighted." - Diary of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich

The following are all from the diary of Sidney Gibbes, English tutor:

"25 January: [Alexei is] On sofa: foot tied up. Talked about the dog and then showed him new picture-book. Afterwards made a paper hat each, which turned out badly, and then began paper boxes; I showed him one complete. He spoke more English in making the box and asked the questions relative to it in English."

"3 February: We drew things on the blackboard with eyes shut. Added tails to pigs, and his manner lost much of its shyness."

"8 February: During this lesson we played on the floor, and I made him flags out of paper by drawing it and colouring. He coloured one and I the other. Flagstaff was also rolled out of paper and tied with wire."

"3 March …Began the story of ‘The Fisherman of York’. He understood very little. A[nastasia] N[ikolaevna] came in from Music [lesson] and explained in Russian." - Printed in Tutor to the Tsarevich

"The Tsarevich lay all day, while we tried to amuse him as best we could. The poor little man longed for Monsieur Gilliard's company. He knew so well how to entertain him and make him forget how ill and weak he still felt" - Sophie Buxhoeveden recalling Alexei's attachment to tutor Pierre Gilliard during imprisonment, Left Behind: Fourteen Months in Siberia During the Revolution

"If the Tsarevitch had any peculiarities, I think the most striking was a decided penchant for hoarding. Many descendants of the Coburgs have been unusually thrifty, and perhaps the Tsarevitch inherited this trait. While thrifty he was really a most generous child, although he hoarded his things to such an extent that the Emperor often teased him unmercifully. During the sugar shortage he saved his allowance of sugar, which he gravely distributed among his friends." - Lili Dehn, close family friend, The Real Tsaritsa

"This unusual and exciting night seemed to fill the Czar’s young son with mischief. As I sat in the room near the Emperor’s study, giving the final orders and' awaiting news of the arrival of the train, I could hear the youngster running about noisily, trying to get across the corridor to where I was, to see what was going on there" - Alexander Kerensky, head of the Provisional Government describing the night the Romanov's waited to be moved from the Alexander Palace, The Catastrophe

"Suffering and self-denial had their effect on the character of Alexei. Knowing what pain and sacrifice meant, he was extraordinarily sympathetic towards other sick people. His thoughtfulness of others was shown in his beautiful courtesy to women and girls and to his elders, and in his interest in the troubles of servants and dependents." - Anna Vyrubova, close family friend, Memories of the Russian Court

Alexei was "elegant, intelligent, and had unusual presence of mind. He possessed, moreover, other winning qualities: a warm, happy disposition, and a generous nature which made him eager to be of help and enabled him quickly to establish rapport with others." - General Count Alexander Grabbe, Major-General of the Tsar's convoy, The Private World of the last Tsar

"in the periods of what may be called his good health, he had all the spirits and mischief of any ordinary boy of his age… As time went on and his first shyness wore off, he treated us as friends and… had always some fun with us. With me it was to make sure that each button on my coat was properly buttoned, a habit which naturally made me take great care to have one or two unbuttoned, in which case he used at once to stop and tell me I was 'untidy again'" - General Sir John Hanbury-Williams, British ambassador in Mogilev, The Emperor Nicholas II, as I Knew Him

""He had a kind heart and was very fond of animals. He could be influenced only by his feelings, and would not yield to authority. He submitted only to the emperor. He was a clever boy but was not fond of books. His mother loved him passionately. She tried, but could not be strict with him, and most of his desires were obtained through his mother. Disagreeable things he bore silently and without grumbling. He was kind-hearted and during the last period of his life he was the only one who liked to give things away. In Tobolsk he had some odd fancies -- for example, he liked collecting old nails, saying: "They may be useful."" - Testimony of Sidney Gibbes to the Sokolov Report, The Last Days of the Romanovs (1920)

"Alexis Nicholaevitch, being a very playful and mischievous boy, on one occasion peeped through the fence. After this was learned by Nikolsky [deputy guard at Tobolsk] he came and made a huge fuss about it. He reprimanded the soldier who was on duty and spoke in a very sharp tone to the czarevitch. The boy got offended and protested to me that Nikolsky was shouting at him." - Testimony of Evgeny Kobylinsky to the Sokolov Report, The Last Days of the Romanovs (1920). To find more about Kobylinsky's unique relationship to the family, see this post.

Alexei's relationship with his sisters

"We all kissed the Empress' hand and that of the Grand Duchesses. That year, we kissed the Tsarevitch's little hand, too; but afterwards, that custom was stopped, since the Tsarevitch didn't miss his chance to boast about it and give himself airs in front of his sisters." - General Alexander Spiridovich, Chief of Security, Last Years at Tsarskoe Selo, Volume 1

"10 January. Aleksei and Anastasia are both moving their beds into the playroom, where they lie next to each other all day. During the day we all have tea up there." - Extract from Tatiana's 1917 diary, Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters

"Aleksei, my little soul, darling little one. It is so boring here without you and Papa… I was just at the Grand Palace with Maria and Shvybz [Anastasia]… I squeeze you in my mind and love you very very much." - undated letter from Tatiana to Alexei, circa 1916, Russia’s Last Romanovs: In Their Own Words 

"As for poor Alexei Nikolaevich, he was as if rooted to the armchair the whole time [unwell]. It was touching to see his sister, Tatiana Nicholaievna, lavishing attention on him before the luncheon." - General Alexander Spiridovich, Chief of Security, Last Years at Tsarskoe Selo, Volume 2

"Sweet Piggy! Sleep well and wake up in the morning with a belly full of milk! Alexei 1914" - letter from Alexei to Anastasia, Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings (Volume 1)

"...Don’t tease Maria" - Letter from Alexandra to Alexei, 1 December 1914, Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings (Volume 1)

"28 January Tuesday …Too lazy to write this by himself, so Olga is writing it!" - Alexei's 1916 diary, Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings (Volume 2)

Alexei's haemophilia

"Everything possible, everything known to medical science, was done for the child Alexei. The Empress nursed him herself, as indeed, with the assistance of professional women, she had nursed all her children. Three trained Russian nurses were in attendance, with the Empress always superintending. She bathed the babe herself, and was with him so much that the Court, ever censorious of her, complained that she was more of a nurse than an Empress." - Anna Vyrubova, close family friend, Memories of the Russian Court

"Livadia. 30 August 1913 …Alexei is well. He has already had 4 mud baths. I took a photo of him when he was being treated in the mud and will glue in an album for you. Alexei’s leg stretched 175 degrees and the leg is almost straight" - letter from Maria to former nanny/nurse Maria Ivanovna Vishnyakova. Maria Ivanovna Vishnyakova was Alexei’s nanny, though was dismissed by Alexandra following disagreements and allegations against Rasputin. I find it intriguing that the girls stayed in touch with her and kept her informed of Alexei's health.

I have slightly less information/quotes on Alexei saved as my research is largely about his sisters, but I hope that this was insightful nonetheless. Thank you for your question!

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

♡ ~ OTMA ~ ♡

~ The Grand Duchesses were fast leaving childhood behind them and blossoming into charming girls; they did not greatly resemble one another, each was a type apart, but all were equally lovely in disposition. I cannot believe that any men so inhuman existed as those who, it is said, shot and stabbed those defenceless creatures in the house of death at Ekaterinburg. Apart from their beauty, their sweetness should have pleaded for them, but, if it is true that they have "passed," then surely no better epitaph could be theirs than the immortal words, "Lovely and pleasant were they in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." ~

~ Lili Dehn

(Inspired by @abigaaal 🤍)

[foreverinthepagesofhistoryy]

✿ ༻ OTMA ༺ ✿

❧ “The Grand Duchesses were fast leaving childhood behind them and blossoming into charming girls; they did not greatly resemble one another, each was a type apart, but all were equally lovely in disposition. I cannot believe that any men so inhuman existed as those who, it is said, shot and stabbed those defenceless creatures in the house of death at Ekaterinburg. Apart from their beauty, their sweetness should have pleaded for them, but, if it is true that they have passed, then surely no better epitaph could be theirs than the immortal words, lovely and pleasant were they in their lives, and in their death they were not divided” - Lili Dehn (friend and confidante of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna)

Edit and audio made by me using Capcut

[loiladadiani]

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna's closest friends at the Russian Court:

Anna Vyrubova: Anna was related to the Tolstoys on her mother's side, and her father was the Chief Stewart of His Majesty's Chancellery and a musician of note. She was devoted to Empress Alexandra and Alexandra to her and considered her like an older daughter. Anna vacationed with the Imperial family on the Standart for three years in a row. People are still wondering if Anna was crafty and smart and pretended to be an innocent or if she really lacked insight. She was one of the only few who tried to coordinate an attempt to save the Romanovs (which totally failed.) Anna underwent prison. She ended her days as a nun.

Anna saved many of the pictures of the Romanovs that we enjoy today.

Lily Dehn:  Yulia Alexandrovna Smolskaia became Yulia Alexandrovna Von Dehn when she married an officer in the imperial yacht, Standart. The officer was a favorite of the Imperial children, and the Empress befriended his wife. The Empress was the godmother to Lily's son. Lily was also taken prisoner because of her relationship with the Imperial Couple. She escaped Russia with her family and died in Caracas, Venezuela.

Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden (Isa): She was a lady in waiting to the Tzarina and was later chosen by her to accompany the Grand Duchesses on their public duties. She followed the family to Siberia and wanted to join them in the Ipatiev House but was not allowed to. Escaping from Russia was an ordeal for her. She eventually settled in England and acted as a lady in waiting to the Tzarina's older sister, Victoria. She was a good writer. Her books Life and Tragedy of Alexandra Feodorovna, Left Behind: Fourteen Months in Siberia During the Revolution, and Before the Storm are definitely worth reading, although the last two are difficult to find.

Princess Sonia Orbeliani: Sonia was a Georgian Princess who became a lady-in-waiting and friend to Empress Alexandra. She was vivacious, cultured, and independent, and most who met her liked her. Sonia and the Empress shared an interest in music. Sonia developed a progressive spinal disease (most like multiple sclerosis.) She remained at the Alexander Palace at the Empress' behest; Alexandra was devoted to her, and she cared for her until the end.

The objection of courtiers to these ladies (at least to Anna and Lili) had nothing to do with their character. It had to do with the fact that the Empress did not include enough of the old aristocracy in her circle of friends, and many felt slighted.

[delightfullyatomicfest]

Ok I was googling Rasputin and found John Lennon

[laurapetrie]

The girls were addicted to perfumes, and when they bathed at night, the water was perfumed and softened with almond bran. They always used Coty. Tatiana favoured Jasmin de Cors; Olga, Rose Thé; Marie constantly changed her perfumes, but was more or less faithful to Lilas, and Anastasia never deviated from Violette.

Lili Dehn, The Real Tsaritsa (1922)

[alice-and-ethel]

Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova

❈ “We swung on the swing; boy, did I laugh when I fell off so splendidly!” ◦ “I took this picture of myself looking at the mirror. It was very hard as my hands were trembling.” ◦ “Goodbye. Don’t forget me.” • Anastasia (various sources)

❈ “My favorite goddaughter was she indeed! I liked her fearlessness. She was a fearful tomboy. And what a bundle of mischief!” • Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna

❈ “Anastasia Nicolaevna was the originator of all mischief, and was as witty and amusing as she was lazy at her lessons. She was quick and observant, with a keen sense of humour, and was the only one of the sisters who never knew the meaning of shyness. Even as a baby she had entertained grave old men, who were her neighbors at table, with her astonishing remarks.” • Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden

❈ “Her French accent was excellent, and she acted scenes from comedy with remarkable talent. ... Ingenuousness and utter simplicity were the most characteristic qualities of Anastasia Nicolaievna. She was the imp of the whole house, and the glummest faces would always brighten in her presence, for it was impossible to resist her jokes and nonsense. [S]he was aflame with life and animation.”  • Pierre Gilliard 

❈ “The youngest Grand Duchess might have been composed of quicksilver, instead of flesh and blood; she was most amusing, and she was a very clever mimic. She saw the humorous side of everything, and she was very fond of acting.” • Lili Dehn

[adini-nikolaevna]

Romani people have always seemed to me as unique beauties. Especially the children of Tsar Nicholas I and Tsar Nicholas II were wonderfully beautiful. My question is the famous dark blue eyes of the Romanovs, which are known to everyone. Are there any quotes about these eyes, which are admired and praised by everyone? Were their eye colors really that perfect? Thanks in advance for your answer 🤗

Hi! Here are a few quotes for you:

"Her eyes have that unusual sparkle which poets and lovers describe as heavenly." - Dutch General Friedrich Gagern on Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (1822-1892)

"... a tall and slender blonde, a perfect beauty, with the profile of a cameo and big blue eyes." - A.I. Sokolova on Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (1822-1892)

"She was slightly above the medium height, with a fresh complexion, deep blue eyes, quantities of light chestnut hair, and pretty hands and feet." - Yulia "Lili" Dehn on Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (1895-1918)

"Extremely pretty, with brilliant blue eyes and a lovely complexion, Olga resembled her father in the fineness of her features, especially in her delicate, slightly tipped nose." - Anna Vyrubova on Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (1895-1918))

"She had not the regular features, the almost mystical beauty of her sister, Tatiana Nikolaevna, but with her rather tip-tilted nose, her wide laughing mouth, her sparkling blue eyes, she had a charm, a freshness, an enchanting exuberance that made her irresistible." - Meriel Buchanan on Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (1895-1918)

“... very tall, slender as a reed, [with] an elegant cameo profile, grey eyes and brown hair. She was fresh, clean and fragile, like a rose." - Lili Dehn on Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna

“Certainly she was a different type from the others even in appearance, her hair being a rich brown and her eyes so darkly gray that in the evening they seemed quite black... " --Anna Vyrubova on Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna

"She had beautiful, regular features, and resembled some of the beauties among her royal relatives, whose family portraits decorated the palace. Dark haired, pale, with wide-set eyes – she had a poetic, faraway look that did not fit her personality.” -- Anna Vyrubova on Grand Duchess Tatiana NIkolaevna.

"A real beauty, with enormous blue eyes." - Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna on Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna

“Marie Nicolaevna was like Olga Nicolaevna in colouring and features, but all on a more vivid scale. She had the same charming smile, the same shape of face, but her eyes, ‘Marie’s saucers,’ as they were called by her cousins, were magnificent, and of a deep dark blue. " - Baroness Sophia Buxhoeveden on Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna

“… tall, healthy, with sable eyebrows and a bright blush on her open Russian face; she was especially lovely to a Russian heart… her eyes illuminate her entire face with a unique, radiant luster; they sometimes seem black, as long eyelashes throw shadows over the bright blush of her soft cheeks. She is merry and alive, but she has not yet awakened completely to life; probably concealed in her are the immense forces of a real Russian woman.” - Sofia Ofrosimova on Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna

 "Her features were regular and finely cut. She had fair hair, fine eyes, with impish laughter in their depths, and dark eyebrows that nearly met." - Baroness Sophia Buxhoeveden on Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

"... her eyes, exact copies of the soft blue eyes of her father." - Gleb Botkin on Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

[thestarik]

Alexandra and Tatiana visiting Anna Vyrubova with Lili Dehn.

[roses-of-the-romanovs]

Tatiana Nikolaevna’s extraordinarily beautiful handwriting and signature ❤️ Letter to Lili Dehn, July 24, 1917.

[otmaaromanovas]

Lili Dehn's last moments with the Romanovs, as described in her memoir

"We walked slowly towards the head of the great staircase . . . the moment for saying farewell had arrived … I tried to be brave . . . the silence was unbroken save by Tatiana 's stifled sobbing. Olga and the Empress were quite calm, but Tatiana, who has been described by most contemporary historians as proud and re- served, made no secret of her grief."

Lili named her daughter, born after the revolution, 'Maria Olga' presumably after the Grand Duchesses.

Source: The Real Tsaritsa - Lili Dehn

Photo: Tatiana Nikolaevna with Lili Dehn, circa 1910, at Anna Vyrubova's house

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

Olga Nikolaevna edit <3

“She was a most amiable girl, and people loved her from the moment they set eyes on her. She took life seriously, and she was a clever girl with a sweet disposition. I think she possessed unusual strength of character.”

— Lili Dehn, close friend of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna

Made by me using IMovie

Overlay credits:

[foreverinthepagesofhistoryy]

Which otma book is best to start off with if you haven't read anything before?

Hi anon! My recommendation for this question is the book called “The Romanov Royal Martyrs” by Mesa Potamos Publications.

I would recommend this book the most because it is a collaboration between many historians and authors to create one big book about the Romanovs. This book has everything you need to know to learn about them and is very reliable. After you read this and get a broad picture of their story, I would suggest reading some of the books by people who knew them like books by Sophie Buxhoevden and Lili Dehn (both can be found on the Alexander Palace website) or reading the diaries and letters compilation of the girls by Helen Azar. These books are wonderful when recounting old memories and really show what the girls’ lives were like.

Thank you for asking and I hope this helps!

[worldoftheromanovs]

Olga Nikolaevna’s diary, 22nd January/4th February 1913

“Had lessons. 3 degrees below. At 10 o’cl. Otetz Alexander came over and gave Mama communion. She is feeling better, thank God. Had breakfast with her and Trina. Papa went to the consecration of the new barracks of the 4th Rifle Regiment’s 2nd Battalion and had breakfast there. In the afternoon we 4 walked with him. There was more snow. Exercises at 4 o’cl. as usual. Uncle Pavel had tea with Papa and Mama. [We] had a dance lesson. Had dinner with Papa, Mama and Veselkin. Kaisorsky was telling funny stories. In the afternoon Lili Dehn and Titi came to [see] Mama. So sweet.”