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NTV company presents:
To the 300th anniversary of the Russian Empire,
and the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.
The empire could have ceased to exist afterthe first emperor -
the first and the last.
lt would've been the case when an exceptional state
existed solely by the will of an exceptional monarch. As if by
intent the first years after Peter's death were a proof - test.
The dynasty fever.
For a short time the country is ruled by widow Catherine.
Then for an equally short time - by grandson Peter ll.
Followed by the more stable and lengthy 'women's era'.
Ten years of the rule of Peter's niece Anna, and
twenty years of the rule of Peter's daughter Elizaveta.
They remembered about her and thought: What a lucky thought!
She had a reputation for being non - ambitious, easily influenced.
Anna loanovna was the daughter of Peter's stepbrother lvan.
The widowed duchess of Kurzeme.
This tiny Baltic estate was destined
to play a special role in Russia's history.
The greater part of the then Latvia was Livland with the
capital Riga, and the smaller part - Kurzeme.
The capital of Kurzeme - Mitava - is modern Yelgava. We know it
by the automobile plant 'RAF', that produced Soviet minibuses.
Two ports - Libava and Vindava now Liepae and Vensprus.
Kurzeme was Poland's vassal, but because of the two ports
the little duchy is the bone of contention for Prussia and Russia.
That's why Peter married his niece off to the local duke.
Anna's husband, the duke of Kurzeme, soon died. She took
over as sole ruler, and
for 20 years watched overthe two ports forthe Russian Empire.
Members of the Supreme Secret Council, who 'appointed' Anna to
the throne, submitted her a list of conditions limiting her power.
At first Anna agreed to the conditions,
but later simply tore the paper into shreds.
One of the restrictions: not to ever bring Biron to Russia.
Anna's favorite will become the
most dark figure in Russia's history,
more notorious than the empress herself.
'Bironovschina' will become the symbol of the predominance of
'seasonal' foreigners, who 'sucked all Russia's juices'.
Lomonosov - about Biron: Pride, arrogance and anger -
' - all have merged in this monster of a man.
Biron and Anna are very close.
The widowed empress lives in Biron's family.
They say she is he mother of his youngest son.
Wishing to justify the obtrusive presence of herfavorite in
St. Petersburg Anna presses for putting Biron on the Kurzeme
throne. After all he is a duke and the ruler of the friendly
neighbor - state, and therefore he is her equal.
Biron doesn't leave Russia even for a day, but at home
he orders a wide - scope construction of 2 palaces.
His monogram: E.J. - Ernst Johann.
The summer residence in Rundala, the winter palace - in Metava.
ln this palace, the most
splendid in Latvia, they now hold official ceremonies.
Like the inauguration of Latvia's president. Then it
was the main shock - construction site in the Russian Empire,
with all the masons of St. Petersburg working here.
The construction of two palaces for an absentee - monarch
was supervised by Rastrelli.
No matter how hard they tried, the construction was still
unfinished when Anna died. Biron was exiled to Siberia.
Biron outlives Anna, Elizaveta and the Siberian exile.
He survives another 20 odd years of exile in Yaroslavl,
and returns to Kurzeme during the reign of Catherine ll.
At home Biron is shocked by the sight of bare walls. Even the
palace parquet had been removed and taken to Russia. Biron
restores the once - splendid decorations. He will rule
Kurzeme for another 9 years. Here stood the duke's throne.
Here Biron was cursed as Russia's protege, in Russia
he was cursed as the embodiment of the notorious 'bironovschina'
- even though after Biron there will be not less foreigners.
'Biron - the 'Kurzeme scoundrel', the demon of the 18 century.
But they demonized the poor man.
Anna loanovna didn't trust the Russian nobility.
They in turn tried to deprive her of autocratic power.
She knew she could rely on foreigners - they owed
everything to the empress, and understood that if anything
happened to her, they will be dealt with.
Pushkin about Biron:
'He had the misfortune of being a German: he was blamed
for all the misfortunes of Anna's reign, that were all in
'the spirit of his time. But he had great talents.
Biron was a great admirer of horses.
he knew about them and was a true connoisseur.
He drew Anna loanovna in his hobby,
despite her obesity.
And it was actually the terrible Ernst Johan Biron,
who founded horse - breeding in Russia.
Afterthe Northern Warthe industry was totally disrupted.
There was a shortage of horses even in the court stables.
At a time when all transport was horse - driven, when the power
of all machines was measured literally with 'horse power',
and all the mobile army was the cavalry, -
horses and horse - breeding were a vital strategic factor, -
and not just the 'amusement of the lords', as one might think.
ln the 18 century horses and horse - breeding were - what
today are: the automobile industry, civil and military
aviation, locomotives, tanks, armored personnel carriers,
prime - movers for cannons - all combined.
lt was a sport - more than today's bicycles.
Forthe nobility it was the only way to work out.
The only available work - out equipment.
They were the combines and tractors forthe agriculture.
Six items.
And horses are each one of them, and all of them combined.
From the Decree of Anna loanovna, 1732:
'We needn't import horses from abroad,
'when we can do with our own fine ones.
But even though they set the 'horse business' going, the war
campaigns are unsuccessful. Afterthe war with Poland they
elevate to the throne a Saxon Elector. A rare example of an
inane foreign policy, totally useless for Russia's interests.
The Russians put a Saxon over Ukrainians and Belorussians.
To become a Black Sea power
they waste millions of lives and spend millions of Rubles
on another war with Turkey.
After all the losses and the victory they claim the lands
from Kuban to Danube, including the Crimea, but are content
with just the Azov, and on the condition that they bring down
all fortifications. ln the absence of her own victories
Anna immortalizes those won by her great uncle Peter.
Peter's plan of monumental propaganda envisaged
fountains as the symbol of victorious triumph.
The then V - day - June 27 - the Poltava battle.
Also the day of St. Samson. The most famous fountain
sculpture: 'Samson, tearing apart a lion's jaws'.
Symbolizing crushing defeat of the Swedes.
The exploit of the Bible hero was very apropos:
there was a golden lion on Sweden's state emblem.
'Samson' is unveiled in Petergof - on the day of the 25th
anniversary of the Poltava battle. They stretch the line of
fountains to the sea, open a new cascade.
There's not one pump. 32 km from here are the Rokshinsky springs.
ln Peter's time from here they dug the first water - canal.
The fountains function due to heights overfall.
The principle of communicating vessels.
Nothing changed in principle from the 18 to the 21 centuries.
ln the reign of Anna loanovna Petergof was crowded.
Almost like now - in the tourist season.
Later it ceases to be the official residence,
but the 20 palaces and pavilions,
7 parks with hundreds of fountains,
will remain the favorite Romanovs' 'close dacha'.
However descendents give Anna Romanovna credit
not forthis well - known splendid suburban corner,
but for another unique structure, that no one ever saw in nature.
Every winterthey built ice hills and ice fortresses.
But in 1740 they introduce a special amusement.
The 'lce House' will be immortalized in the novel of
Lazhechnikov of the same name - mixture of truth and fiction,
containing scrupulously accurate descriptions of German
academician Georg Kraft, who supervised the works.
To try to recreate the lce House using modern technologies -
is easy and difficult at the same time.
First,
you have to prepare the specific construction material -
ice slabs to build the walls.
lt's best to use natural ice from frozen water reservoirs.
The ice from tap water is a bit whitish.
The 'living' ice is transparent,
and after it is being processe it acquires a bluish tint.
The winter of 1740 was the severest in the 18 century.
The temperature below 30 degrees Centigrade held up to March.
Now they use petrol - driven saws, but then, in 1740, they had
two - handle saws like this one.
You had to hold it by both handles.
Of course it took a lot more time, but in the end
you got geometrically shaped ice cubes.
The lce House was meant as a palace forfictitious weddings.
Anna loanovna had a woman living with her - Avdotya -
a Kalmyck by ethnic origin, not young and unpleasant - looking.
She was given a surname by the empress' favorite dish -
Buzheninova ('Boiled pork'). Avdotya dreamed of getting
The empress promised to find her a good match,
and chose the 50 - year - old Prince Golitsyn, who was demoted to the
rank of buffoon because of his secret marriage to a Catholic.
A nobleman from a distinguished family served 'kvass'
and was nicknamed: 'Golitsyn - the kvass - man'.
The thought of marrying a clown to a jester enraptured the empress.
They didn't spare the money forthat wedding.
The lce House was built like a real house.
2.5 'sazhens' wide, 8 'sazhens' long.
ln today's measures: 5.5m X 17m.
The walls were 3 'sazhens' high - over 6 m.
Nowadays it would be too risky to build the roof -
Severe frosts are rare, and the ice is heavy material.
Amazing technology: ironing the ice walls with a hot iron.
Maximum heat, for ironing linen.
The walls become polished and and see - through.
Coal - heated irons cooled down fast.
But the electric ones cool down instantly.
Afew strokes - and you have to give it some time.
The house was surrounded with ice trees. There even was a
bathhouse, where they somehow managed to take steam baths.
They painted the ice with colored gouache.
An ice playing card.
The lce Palace was tinted like marble,
but contemporaries claimed, it looked much more splendid.
Gouache penetrates through the ice,
and even the biggest slabs, when painted with it, looked
as though they were colored all through. An enchanting sight.
Guests at the wedding were two representatives of each of
the 'tribes' living in the Russian Empire. Forthe first
time they bring to St. Petersburg all non - Russian representatives.
A living ethnographical exhibition.
The wedding procession was led by the bride and groom.
They are put in a cage, that stands on an elephant's back.
Then follow Ukrainians on oxes, Finns on ponies, Tartars on pigs,
Yakuts on dogs, Kalmycks on camels.
All in all 150 couples representing national minorities.
The procession heads forthe lce House.
More amazing things - in front of the House.
A huge natural - size elephant spat fire.
Fountains of crude oil spurted out of his trunk. The elephant
made a blaring sound - there was a trumpeter inside.
There were also ice cannons - short - barrel mortars.
They were loaded with real shells and fired for real.
Amid all this Bacchanalia
the then first poet Vassili Tredyakovsky
recites an ode in honor of the newlyweds.
The first lines of the ode:
'Buffoon weds buffoon,
'Fat - *** weds goon!
'Now it's time we had fun, today going wild is allowed!
ln front of the lce House stood fire - spitting dolphins and fish,
inside were an ice drawing - room,
an ice bedroom, an ice pantry, all furniture and appliances
were made of ice, but painted to look like real objects.
An ice clock stood on the ice mantelpiece.
The wood in the fireplace was made of ice, but the logs were
set ablaze: they were sluiced with crude.
Afterthe wedding ceremony they were confined in the ice
bedroom, on the ice bed, watched by guards.
They will let them out only in the morning, both barely alive.
Count Panin::
'The whole idea was wildly extravagant.
'ls it at all permissible to so shamelessly
'humiliate and deride humankind?
The lce House will remain unsurpassed. Nothing of the
kind will ever be repeated in Russia, nor anywhere else.
lncredible barbarism, a wild madcap feast.
As though especially meant as a reminderto future generations
of the time of the kings, queens and aces who amused
themselves in such an extravagant way. Solid marble,
meant to outlive ages. You take it in your hand - and it's gone.
The cruelest, yet the grandest festivity ever
in the reign of Russia's most dissipated empress.
The lce House was herfarewell whim.
Anna loanovna passed away in the autumn of that same year.
Anna bequeathed the throne to her grand - nephew,
baby loann Antonovich.
Biron was succeeded on the throne by loann's mother,
Anna Leopoldovna, Princess of Braunschweig.
Elizaveta was a strange woman,
and her coup was presented as the patriotic renascence.
She, the direct heiress of the great Peter, vegetates in
obscurity, and the Russian crown is given away to the Germans.
At nightfall Elizaveta puts on cuirasses, makes her way to the
barracks of the Preobrazhensky regiment, and calls on the
Grenadiers company to storm the Winter Palace. Her argument:
'You know whose daughter l am'. lt hits the right strings.
300 guardsmen leave the barracks.
But first they crush all the army drums.
lf the remaining soldiers wake up,
they won't be able to beat the alarm.
ln commemoration of that night Elizaveta will erect a wooden
Preobrazhenskaya (Transfiguration) church in this place. lt will
later be replaced with the stone Transfiguration Cathedral.
Elizaveta was popular with the Grenadiers. She gave them
generous presents, was the godmother of their children.
Now the fathers of her godchildren repay her if full.
There is not one officer in the storm group.
Elizaveta herself takes command.
Having reached the beginning of Nevsky, the plotters leave
their horses and proceed on foot.
The modern Zimny (Winter) Palace was built in Elizaveta's reign.
The then Zimny Palace stood in the same place, only its facade
was facing the Admiralty.
The soldiers hurry to make it past the palace guard.
But Elizaveta can't move fast.
The long hem and the numerous underskirts get in the way. Then
her supporters lift her up, and carry her in on their shoulders.
That was the first storm of the Winter palace in our history.
lt was a quick and bloodless coup.
ln the 20 years of her rule Elizaveta hadn't passed a single
death sentence.
Elizaveta was reputed to be the first beauty in Europe.
She was of a stately appearance, even though a bit on the stout
side, with a blooming round face. Atireless dancer and
horsewoman. She will go down in history as the splendid Elizabeth.
ln the middle of St. Petersburg stands this remarkable building.
Decorated with whimsical scrolls and sensual curves.
But the main attraction are the countless statues, vases and
goblets up on the roof, - so high, they're hardly visible
from the ground. But that didn't matter.
lt is the creation of a duet: sculptor Rastrelli
and Elizaveta - with almost unlimited resources.
The Winter palace is the masterpiece of Russian Baroque -
the most splendid Baroque in the world. The main palace.
Elizaveta and Rastrelli have for all times demonstrated to
the world, what is true royal splendor.
Rastrelli's style will be dubbed 'Elizabeth's'.
The next epoch will abandon it as too heavy and excessive.
From then on the notion of beauty will change with each new monarch.
But distant descendants will appreciate the ltalian grandeur
much more than the direct heirs.
And Rastrelli is still the most famous Russian architect.
St. Petersburg white nights. Some people can't sleep at all.
The sky is bright 24 hours a day.
Now it is a little over one a.m.
Elizaveta never slept at night.
She went to bed at daybreak, got up at noon. The quaint
madcap Russian Baroque is a reflection of her lifestyle.
However, with all the refined sense of style and the love for
clothes and entertainment, Elizaveta was still a Russian
queen - with superstitions and prejudices, with a boosted staff
of 'scratchers' who massaged her feet when she went to bed.
Elizaveta wasn't able to enjoy the Winter palace,
even though she hurried Rastrelli with the finishing touches.
There's no sculpture of Elizaveta. Only her architectural monuments.
Formerly all 4 words were written with a capital letter:
Main Flagstaff of the Russian Empire.
Professor Kluchevsky about Elizaveta:
'Lively and jolly, but keeping her eyes glued on herself.
She spent a third of hertime in front of the mirror - getting
ready for a public appearance, choosing the right attire.
The rosy - cheeked fashion - monger will leave a wardrobe that
will be used forfestivities and court celebrations during
the reign of Alexander l. That's half a century later.
18th century dress. Not some little rag hanging
on the rack. lt is a real architectural masterpiece.
Elizaveta counted those masterpieces by the thousand.
Super - model parameters of today 90 - 60 - 90 - can be applied partly.
The breast - 90. Possible. The waist - 60. Could be.
A sumptuous bust and a slim waist were valued at all times.
Hips - 90. lmpossible to measure because of the farthingale
that reached 1.5 m in width. This carcass is the most
recognizable element of an 18 century silhouette.
But Elizaveta had a magnificent figure, and the only way to show
off her slender hips and legs - was to arrange a masquerade,
where women would wear men's clothes, and men - women's.
ln the apex of her life she would arrange countless
fancy - dress balls, - to the utmost displeasure of other
women most of whom looked rather ugly in skin - tight
knickers, and to an even stronger displeasure of men,
who couldn't make a step in the bulky awkward dresses.
This is a modest winter home dress.
The fine stitching - handmade, naturally - the only decoration.
Elizaveta's coronation dress was also brought back to life.
4 thousand of her dresses were destroyed by a fire.
Elizaveta's reign is a despotism of fashion that substituted life.
By putting taffeta beauty - spots in certain places
they gave coded love signals. They made
the most luxuriant hairdos shaped as flowers or ships.
The empress's decrees sound like a fashion magazine.
The season of spring - summer, 1748.
From a decree of Elizaveta Petrovna:
'Forthe ladies - cuffs, edgings and green skirts with fine braids.
'Forthe men - narrow cuffs, green collars,
'with braids laid out along the buttonholes.
However Elizaveta took full advantage of another Rastrelli
creations - the Czarskoselsky palace.
Gold against a blue background. What can be more refined?
Even the watchman's booth was gilded.
Guests were received at the far entrance at the end of
the palace, so they could admire the facade.
Catherine ll will recall the whims of spendthrift Elizaveta.
6 times the palace was razed to the ground, and erected anew,
before the empress was finally satisfied with the result.
A lady couldn't wearthe same dress twice to royal receptions.
And god forbid, that anyone would look granderthan the empress.
She had to shine as the brightest star.
The empress made her appearance through these doors.
There never will be so many and so grand a balls and masquerades,
as there were in the main hall of the Czarskoselsky palace.
Ballet - master Lande claims that no one could dance
the minuet in such a refined way as they did in St. Petersburg.
700 candles are reflected in 300 mirrors and thousands of diamonds.
The ladies use them for decorating their hairdos,
the men - their orders, buckles and buttons. Jeweler Posier
assures, nowhere in the world could you see that many diamonds.
Diamond jeweler Posier:
'Every Sunday they would give a reception and a ball.
'lt is hard to imagine a gathering more grand:
'the guests rarely numbered less than 3 thousand.
Of all the abundant splendor of the Czarskoselsky palace
most known to broad public is the Amber Room.
Not so much the room itself, as the fact that it existed.
That it was stolen, and that laterthey found a little
fragment, and now it is being restored.
With so many rooms the numerous staff
is busy not so much with taking care of the premises,
as with waiting on the table:
supplying the food, cooking, serving the dishes.
The chef, *** - the first famous chef in Russia.
Before cooks were considered menials of the lowest rank.
Sometimes Elizaveta cooked herself.
They say, she cooked on this oven in Petergof,
that later was used by Catherine.
Elizaveta introduced the fashion for
gourmet dishes in her court and among the gentry.
lt developed and became more refined with time,
but the tradition started here, at this stove.
The recipes came from France,
national cuisine was left for commoners
and provincial landowners.
Peter's habit of getting the guests *** is forgotten.
Nobody gets drunk, they serve only European wines.
The poultry is domestic, the fish, fruit and vegetables are
brought all the way from Astrakhan, crayfish - from
Ukraine, oysters are delivered via Kronstadt, fresh pates
are supplied to St. Petersburg from Strasbourg every day.
There are name plates: every guest is assigned a certain seat.
At first they ordered splendid dinner sets abroad,
but Elizaveta brings into fashion Russian chinaware.
'The lmperial China Factory' - now the Lomonosov factory.
Toasts are said often, they drink to the empress standing.
Cannons fire outside. 'On the Day of the Empress -
June 29, 1748 - the canons saluted 82 times.
A ceremonial dinner would go on for 7 - 8 hours, they'd
change scores of courses, at least 5 soups.
An example of exquisite culinary extravaganza - soup made of
herring cheeks, that used up several thousand herrings.
ln the 18 century they called Elizaveta's 'choice of heart'
a lucky 'chance', unbelievable luck.
Peter was set on marrying his daughter off to the French king,
but Elizaveta chose a Russian Cossack over Louis.
The old Ukrainian village Chemer of the Kazeletsky region,
in the Chernigov oblast.
Here started the most amazing pastoral love story ever.
lt's getting dark, the shepherd drives his cattle home. lf they
hadn't demolished the church, they would be serving high mass.
Now the paths are overgrown with grass.
ln 1731 a colonel from St. Petersburg was passing
through Chemer. He stepped inside the church, and in the choir he
instantly distinguished a beautiful tenor. lt belonged to
a local shepherd Alesha Rozum, a very young and handsome man.
The colonel took the boy with him to St. Petersburg,
and he was accepted into the court choir.
He was instantly noticed by the heiress Elizaveta Petrovna.
When she became the empress, she bestowed all sorts of awards,
honors and titles on him. The holder of the order of
Andrei Pervozvanny, field - marshal count Alexei Razumovsky
was for 20 years the only favorite of Elizaveta,
and in 1742 he became her secret husband.
The half - proved fact of their church wedding,
and the half - proved fact of Elizaveta having his children
will foryears to come threaten the Romanov house with scandals.
Elizaveta adored her Alesha. Using as a pretext a mass at
the Kievo - Pecherskaya church, she went to meet his parents.
The empress was absolutely enchanted with Ukraine.
Elizaveta - about Ukrainians:
'God, love me in your kingdom,
'as l came to love these people, so gentle and forgiving.
These epithets could be easily applied to herfavorite:
Alexei Razumovsky was a true son of his people.
Good - natured, placid and handsome, he was a loafer,
and never interfered into state matters.
With but one exception: the return of Ukrainian privileges.
Even though herfather's precepts were sacred to her,
for Razumovsky she restores hetmanate - that Peter
loathed so much after Mazepa's betrayal.
But to let her lover become the hetman
and go away to live at the empire's outskirts, - was more
than she could take.
The town Baturin, 240 km from Chernigov.
Capital of the Ukrainian hetmanate.
Here lived the last head of Ukrainian local self - government,
Kirill Razumovsky, the younger brother of the omnipotent Alexei
Razumovsky, also a field - marshal. He started off as a shepherd,
but at the age of 16 Kirill,
the empress's secret brother - in - law,
is sent to study abroad, at 22 he is made Hetman.
This is his palace.
Kirill Razumovsky combined hetmanship with the post of
president of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Hence his wish
to set up the first Ukrainian university in Baturin.
But his dream didn't come true. When Catherine ll ascended the
throne, she abolished Ukrainian hetmanate, this time for good.
Educated in Germany and France, all his life Kirill kept the
shirt and pants in which he used to graze his cows.
As the Hetman he will abolish customs on the border of Ukraine
and Russia. For 50 years he will be the president of the Academy
of Sciences. He will be lucky not to make any enemies.
Thanks to the inherited pleasantness and good - heartedness
of Razumovskys, even the loss of interest and the weakening
of Elizaveta's feelings for Alexei won't be fatal forthem.
Alexei gets the Anichkin palace as compensation, and leaves,
unpursued by the new favorite.
Elizaveta's last love, her closest associate lvan Shuvalov,
founder of the Academy of Arts, the first curator of the
Moscow University and the patron of Lomonosov.
Mikhailo Lomonosov:
'The Russian land is equally capable of growing its own
'Platos and quick - witted Newtons. -
the famous line from the Ode to Elizaveta marks
a patriotic shift in the educational policy. Peter
preferred to educate Russians abroad, Elizaveta - at home.
The Moscow University bears the name of Lomonosov. Mikhailo
Vasilyevich is officially considered its founder.
A Soviet fable.
Lomonosov took part in drawing up the curriculum.
But officially the founder was lvan Shuvalov.
ln Soviet times they couldn't admit that the University had
been founded by a grandee. Nor was Lomonosov a brilliant
discoverer. He was a scientist, the first Russian professor.
However he is not known to have made any pioneering discovery.
Though his merits shouldn't be belittled.
Lomonosov was a great enlightener of his time,
and in one person the Centre of Strategic Studies.
Back in the time of Anna loanovna, the peasantry
supplied the state with this great man.
A physicist and a lyricist,
Lomonosov becomes the living encyclopedia of Russian thought.
He writes about the atmosphere on Venice, the styles of
languages, birth rate and the Northern maritime way.
His contemporaries know him as a poet, who glorifies the
unique national culture that absorbs all the best traits of
its peoples and leaves out the worst. Lomonosov is the author
of the 'Pochvenniky' (or Slavophiles)ideology.
- What are you hinting at?
'My thesis on the origins of the Russians?
- Exactly.
The academician could drink one too many, could get into a fight
with foreign colleagues. Without Shuvalov's support he wouldn't
last long. Shuvalov gives money for a chemical laboratory.
Lomonosov is into mosaics, he produces glass of all tints and
colors, and puts together a giant picture 'The Poltava Battle'.
He is elected to the Academy of Arts as a master of mosaics.
Pushkin about Lomonosov:
'lt would be true to say, he himself was ourfirst University.
From the very first affair,
that didn't end in her marriage to Louis XV,
Elizaveta is a francophone.
She introduced French as the second language for all monarchs.
Elizaveta ousted the Germans and invited the French - not to rule
the country. She welcomed language and dance teachers,
artists and chefs, fashion designers and jewelers.
'How could the 'gallant age' do without the Gauls' splendor?
The Russian nobility takes up French. For good.
Noblemen pronounced the 'r's' in the French manner. The Russian
common language retains the original Russian firm clear 'R'.
One can't imagine Russian folk songs sung with a burr.
But with the Russian gentry burring becomes almost a norm.
lt certainly isn't a speech defect.
Pushkin, for whom French was the first learnt language, must
have spoken that way. And also Leo Tolstoy, who didn't even
botherto provide translations of his long dialogues in French
in the first edition of 'War and Peace'.
Nabokov tried to explain to the Americans
the nuances of his peculiar 'noble' accent.
ln that he compared himself with Lenin -
forthe Russians the most known example of burring.
The fact was widely popularized by actors who enacted Lenin.
They liked to repeat his famous prefix: 'archi - ('archi - impoHtant').
Then there were the songs of Vertinsky.
'ln the babano - lemon SingapoHe, in the thunder - stoHm...'
So, you see, there was this continuity of tradition.
ln the dialect of descendants of third - wave emigrants you can
sometimes distinguish traces of Elizaveta's 'extinct star'.
Under Shuvalov's patronage in the 1750s they
launch the magazine 'Literary Chameleon' -
in French, and about France cultural news.
Howeverthe founderess of Russian francophonia
is no longer interested.
As all beautiful women Elizaveta bemoans herfading
beauty, and at 50 (in the 18th century a venerable age)
she stays in her room for days, and doesn't make any
public appearances. Shuvalov is the only one who brings her news.
Russia enters the Seven - year war.
ln truth, the Seven - year war
should've been called World War l. Forthe first time
the Europeans fight with each other all overthe world.
The British are warring in America, with the French -
for Kanada, with the Spanish - for Florida. Britain will win
lndia, and become the first ever colonial empire.
The redivision of Europe was started by Prussia with Britain's
support. German war - mongers are up in arms against all neighbors.
Sweden, France and Austria put up a resistance to Prussia.
Forthe most outstanding Prussian king Friedrich ll
this was a chance to show his warfare genius. He beats
the French and the Austrians, and captures Saxony.
Already then monarchs preferred to settle matters
of foreign policy in person.
lt was far more interesting than current home affairs.
The careless Elizaveta couldn't
write the French king a letter of reply for 3 years.
Global objectives are a means of self - assertion -
somewhat like the membership in the Big Seven.
The more so as in Russia's allied - states matters of major
importance are likewise decided by powerful women.
ln France - the favorite Marquise De Pompadour,
ln Austria - queen Maria Theresia.
For Russia the Seven - year war is a war of a new type.
The country is drawn into a conflict that has nothing to do
with Russia's interests. But as they say: 'noblesse oblige'.
ln Europe they divide the sphere of interests.
Russia's strategic interests lie with Poland and the Baltic sea,
with its wealthy Hanse cities,
military and trade water - roots.
Here Prussia knew its place.
lt came as a shock that the strong and formidable Russian
army existed only on paper.
Efficient was only the light cavalry:
The Cossacks, Kalmyks, Bashkirs and Tartars.
Naturally there was a shortage of money.
But to compensate that was the scale of strategic warfare.
lnstructions of chancellor Bestuzhev - Ryumin:
'You have to show everyone that you are ready to march left or
'right - be it through all of Poland, be it to Prussia.
The army learns in battle.
Elizaveta replaces four army commanders.
They amazingly managed to retreat after gaining a victory,
and they captured Eastern Prussia twice.
Urged on by St. Petersburg,
they finally seize Berlin.
The Germans are in shock at the sight of Cossacks
riding along Unter Den Linden.
There was not another army that looked quite like that.
Soldiers in 18 century Europe were well - shaven, dressed in
full - dress uniforms. The Russians were bearded horsemen in caftans,
armed with lances. But the Cossacks were no less shocked:
The Russian army had conquered a European capital forthe
first time. They try to appear civilized, not to be talked of
as barbarians. ln Berlin they blow up gunpowder and founding
factories and loot the arsenals.
They distribute the trophy guns among the troops, and the old
ones, with which they seized Prussia's capital,
they simply drown in the Spree -
the narrow river on which stands Berlin.
Dramatist Sumorokov gave way to his fantasy, picturing the
unclouded life of Germans underthe Russian crown.
The troops stayed in Berlin for two days, leaving it on the third.
The inability of Russians to use the fruit of victory to their
advantage will become a chronic illness. Just like the painful
susceptibility to foreign opinion of ourselves.
ln prostrated Berlin the Russians try to punish
the Germans fortheir winning the information war.
ln 1760 Berliners witnessed the first attempt to
once and for all finish off with
the slanderous figments about Russia in Western press.
They put up the gallows in the central square,
and under it pile up the newspapers,
notorious fortheir anti - Russian sentiments.
Then they set the pile of fire. Such was the punishment.
They drive the authors of the spiteful articles out into
the square for public lashing. The journalists are stripped of
their clothes. But at the last moment they are forgiven.
Since then the problem remained unsettled.
The seizure of Berlin wasn't the culmination of the campaign.
Forthe third time general Rumyantsev's corps storms the
German fortress Olberg on the Baltic Sea shore.
The coast is cut with harbors, and it's impossible to use the
conventional line tactics - invented by the Prussians.
Kolberg - now Polish Kolobzheg.
The city was severely damaged during World war ll.
But the cut coastline and the rugged terrain are unchanged.
And old mill, a river channel, another one.
On the other side of the bridge - a quagmire and the woods.
The final battle of that war will be decided by maneuvering.
Forthe first time in war history the infantry doesn't
fall in ranks, it is a helter - skelter attack.
Here, in Kolberg, the enemy saw swift dragoon offensives,
that brought the first fame to lieutenant - colonel Suvorov.
King Friedrich ll after the fall of Kolberg:
'Prussia lies in agony, awaiting the last rituals.
On the day news of the seizure of Kolberg was published
in St. Petesburg, empress Elizaveta passed away.
ln 10 days, when Friedrich had already prepared his abdication
papers, the new Russian emperor Peter lll
sends him his written proposition of friendship and cooperation.
From the very beginning this war was fought for Austrian
interests, but the sudden outcome made it altogether senseless.
The well - known verdict to these 20 years was brought in
the humorous book on Russian history written by
Alexei Tolstoy: 'Empress Elizabeth was a jolly queen,
'no order in the country, - On dancing she was keen.'
The reign of Elizaveta left behind
Rastrelli's palaces of unsurpassed beauty,
the empress's 15 thousand dresses, and an empty treasury.
To be followed in the next episode by:
The reign of Catherine ll. Part l.
The great empress from the town of Cerbsta.
Wife of madcap Petr Fedorovich. Parades in the master bedroom.
The Russian - Turkish wars.
The national health resort. Dreams of reviving Byzantine.
Suvorov collects all 18 century war decorations.
Favorites: Grigory Orlov - the man and the jewel.
Potemkin - head of the administration.
Vaccination against smallpox. New fashion for potatoes.
30 plays by Catherine. The Pugachev uprising.
The Russian Empire. On NTV.