The Presidential Library tells about bringing up of emperors

On June 11th, 2024  an online webinar titled "Childhood and Upbringing of Russian Emperors" was held on the portal of the Presidential Library. The collection of materials at the Presidential Library depicts the childhood years of heirs to the Russian throne, including illustrative albums, ceremonial portraits, and photographs taken in their homes.

These materials trace the traditions of educating heirs to the Romanov dynasty from the late 17th century to the early 20th century and provide insight into the personality development of future monarchs.

From the book by historian Igor Zimin, The Daily Life of the Russian Imperial Court, one can learn about the significance of a royal birth in ensuring the stability of the ruling dynasty. When a child was born to a member of the imperial family, a corresponding manifesto was published to inform the subjects. Over time, a dedicated staff was assembled around the heir to ensure his health and well-being.

As an example, the staff dedicated to the future Emperor Nicholas I included 12 individuals.Until the age of 7-10, children of the imperial family were under the care of governesses and nannies. They received home education based on the traditions of patriotism and Orthodoxy, and the traditions of military training for future emperors were stable. The playful regiments of Tsarevich Peter Alekseevich were not unusual, as similar ones existed for his father and brothers. However, the favorite toy of future Emperor Nicholas I was tin soldiers, and he later collected a large collection of these figures. Since the imperial family placed great importance on work education, several generations of royal children worked in the garden and learned various crafts.

At the age of about 10-11, boys were placed under the supervision of military instructors and began a home schooling course according to the gymnasium curriculum, with the gradual addition of special subjects. The entire day was often scheduled according to the clock and followed a strict schedule, but there was still time for fun and children's activities. For example, the notes of tutor Karl Merder provide valuable insights into the life of future Emperor Alexander II, and in the album of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, unique photographs of events from the private lives of the royal family can be found.

In the second half of the 18th century, spiritual and aesthetic education began to gain importance. Pavel Petrovich, the first heir to the Russian throne, received upbringing and education that took into account the new realities. His mentors included the writer Semyon Poroshin, the diplomat Fyodor Bekhteev, and the statesman Nikita Panin. For Alexander I and his brother Konstantin, Catherine the Great personally prepared instructions filled with the pedagogical ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers of the 18th century. According to these instructions, the heirs to the throne were given simple food at strict meal times, forbidden from lying and "doing injustice," and slept on hard, hair-stuffed mattresses. Since Nicholas I, however, the educational system has become more liberal.

The coming of age, which sometimes occurs at the age of 13-14, was seen as a significant milestone in the lives of heirs, as from that point they would take an oath of loyalty to the tsar and their homeland, gaining the right to participate in state matters, attend receptions of foreign dignitaries, celebrations, and religious services, as well as acquire military and political experience.

The Presidential Library’s portal provides an information about all past and upcoming webinars in the Webinars section and information about remote access centers - in the Remote Access Centers section.