Catherine had a noticeably different anatomy so you can’t be her: Russia of the 18th century was not advanced enough to accept an arbitrary (or any other) change of a gender.
The “Magnificent Age” - Catherine II TL
- Thread starter alexmilman
- Start date
It imposes a cost even without erasing it off the map: each of the three countries ended up with a considerable number of the Poles who belonged to the various social classes and probably would consider the situation differently. As I understand (corrections are welcomed), Prussia ended up with a considerable percentage of the German speakers, which, of course, guarantees little. Austria got (again, corrections are welcomed) the Polish lands but at least in the Eastern Galicia (or all Galicia?) the landowners and probably urban population were predominantly the Poles (or polonized) while the peasantry was Ukrainian and this provided Austrian administration with a space for maneuver, all the way to allegedly condoning revolts against the landowners. But in both these cases the Polish nobility did not consider itself superior to their new masters.
Russia ITTL got situation similar to Austrian and in a certain aspect easier one because (in OTL and perhaps ITTL) many landowners were implicated in various types of the anti-Russian activities prior to the partition and fled with their estates being in the state disposal and in OTL ending up mostly being distributed to the Russian nobles (TTL may be somewhat different). However, the attitudes were different: the Poles nobles tended to look at their Russian counterparts down their noses because (a) they were “Sarmatians” vs. some semi-Asiatic mongrels and (b) because they were “Westerners” (don’t ask me why, I have no idea) and the Russians were not by the definition. Having the masters who are your culturally equals or even slightly more equal was one thing but having the masters who are your inferiors was humiliating, with the resulting attitudes. AFAIK, in Smolensk region even in mid-XVIII local Polish (in whichever generation) nobility tended to avoid marriages with the Russian nobility.
Plus, the Polish state nearby, weakened or not, inevitably was a factor at least somewhat stimulating the nationalism.
So the potential problems are there one way or another.
Yes, the problems may somewhat change but they are not going away.
A rump Polish state may be harmless for a while but if ITTL we will be ending with Nappy like scenario, it may became an important figure on a chess board.
@TeluguKhan Austria+Prussia are just OTL numbers. For Russian numbers, there's this map, which roughly corresponds with what was implied looking at other estimates for some of the regions and population distribution in the later Russian Guberniya: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2e/53/33/2e5333b0463c6dc5919f9e6d58e71358.png (though they messed up a digit for Brzesc-Litewski's population). 1.2 million OTL, minus Polotsk and Latgale, plus ~2.7 million in additional territories. May be closer to 3.4 million than 3.5, though realistically Poland-Lithuania population #s lack that kind of precision.
36. Piece of cake #3
New
36. Piece of cake #3
The confederation Sejm started on schedule, which was a pleasant surprise for the ambassadors involved but it would be too much to expect that it would not turn into the circus.
Descriptions of this historical performance are differ in the details and, while they agree on identity of the main performer, Tadeusz Rejtan, even his portraits (below) are differ (except for the mustaches part). So one can chose a preferred depiction based upon haircut, more or less heroic look or some other principle.
Anyway, there are (at least) two versions of what did happen:
Well, anyway, the noisy three days long performance probably would be too much even for the admirers of the (not composed, yet) Wagnerian operas [2] and, while the deputies had a duty to attend, the ambassadors and other viewers did not. The Prussian Ambassador, Benoit, and especially the commander of the Prussian army, General Lentulus, offered Stackelberg to capture Rejtan; he replied that since his Prussian Majesty was an equal participant in affairs, he, Stackelberg, agreed that the Prussian hussars would seize Rejtan, but that he decided not to use violence, that they, the ambassadors of the three allied courts, had nothing to worry about the cries of the madmen and he undertakes to force the king to accept the treaty at his palace without entering the deputies hall. To fulfill this promise, Stackelberg summoned both chancellors and asked them to inform the king that if he will not enter into the treaty discussion within 24 hours, an order would be sent to move the troops. The king did not agree and invited Stackelberg to his place on April 11 and presented him with the inconveniences and slowdowns that would occur from his arrival in the Senate Hall if Rejtan and his comrades would come there, which will most probably happen. The king agreed to convene the Senate in the royal palace, ordered the chancellor to repeat Stackelberg's threat and summon the confederate marshals.
"All this is done," Stackelberg wrote in St. Petersburg, "the marshals made speeches, the king began the treaty, the senators signed separately, the chambers will join on the 13th, Rejtan and his adherents were frightened and ask for mercy, everything is calm."
But this was just the end of the beginning because the next step was discussion of the constitution and, while Stanislaw-Ausgust was OK with giving away the territory, giving away his own rights was a completely different story and he was fully intended to hold the ground and his position on this subject was much stronger because the ambassadors had to negotiate with the representatives of both the senators and the deputies and while the deputies were elected with the active ambassadorial participation and the proper representatives could be picked up, the senators were appointed by the king. And Stanislaw-August rejected the ambassadorial list even of it included his own ministers and relatives. The Prussians and Austrian brought, again, proposal about moving the troops but Stackelberg wrote to Panin: "I beg you to claim that, if you agree to this proposal, these troops should devastate the republic. I must throw poor Poland at the footsteps of our August sovereign and beg her for mercy. All Greater Poland has turned from a rich and inhabited province almost into a desert due to the occupation of Prussian troops, to which it delivers fodder and indemnities for 40,000 thalers per month, while its deputies at the Sejm do everything possible in our favor; it is not surprising that these people are beginning to retreat from us out of despair.”
Sejm sent to the ambassadors a note asking for participation of the neutral countries as the intermediaries in a dispute regarding the territorial concessions and got a response that proof of the claims was already given and the Polish counter-arguments were inadequate. The three states already defined an alternative for Poland: either the issue will be resolved by June 7 or sizes of the claimed territories will increase. It is a pity that Sejm is wasting time arguing about the wording and other non-issues while ignoring the deadline about which it seemingly does not care. The Polish spirit of the obstinacy produced internal revolt and caused a bloody and prolonged war between Russia and the Porte. So, if the Sejm within 8 days will not appoint the representatives for the talks with the ambassadors, it will be responsible for the consequences.
For the ongoing situation Stackelberg blamed personally the King who told the ambassadors “I can't oppose the partition, but I will never allow the Sejm delegation to decide on my rights and government form.” However, in the ambassadors’ view these two issues were inseparable and to the King’s complains about injustice and the bad state system which will result from their version of the constitution the answer was that there is no, yet, a final decision about his rights but the turmoil in PLC clearly demonstrated that the existing system id bad and that he can’t fear his domestic enemies because he will be appointing the whole Senate. Stanislaw-August answered with crying and making more speeches, the best phrases of which became immediately known in Warsaw.
Enough was enough and the ambassadors spread the rumor that they are planning to move the troops into Warsaw. The Prussian ambassador even got an order from Frederick to use the most decisive measures at any sign of a resistance but Stackelberg asked not to punish the whole nation for the King’s personal resistance. As an psychological measure the information was spread in Warsaw that the troops are ordered to move and, to hammer down the point, the Russain, Austrian and Prussian quartermasters had been sent to assign the places for the troops in the noble houses. This worked out and appearance of a Prussian squadron within half a mile from Warsaw completed the job.
On May 1 Stackelberg assembled the deputies in his residence and, in presence of the Prussian and Austrian ambassadors declared that it does not make sense for them to suffer the military occupation because even the king agreed with the partition and his objections are strictly about the domestic issues which are not decided upon, yet. During that meeting two Austrian and two Prussian squadrons rode along the streets. Warsaw was stricken by a fear and only the king, supported by his little private council, which consisted of his mistress, one Swiss and one Frenchman, called for the fight against three countries telling the deputies that the new constitution will result in the aristocratic rule of 12 tyrants. He came to the Sejm with his own act of the representatives election which was saying that representatives assigned to discussion of the internal affairs can’t make the decision, which would be left to the Sejm, which meant more delays.
Confederation’s Marshal, Poninsky, declared that only he, the marshal, has a right to offer the subjects voted by the majority. King and his party disagreed but Bishop Ostrowski in the strong terms explained to the king that he puts nation in danger. He was supported by a number of the senators who were saying that the king personally risks nothing while the people and their property will be endangered. King persisted but a vote came against him and the ambassador agreed to give the Sejm a postponement until May 3.
On May 2, the ambassadors used to secure a majority in the Chamber of Deputies and by common agreement spent 8,000 cherwontsy on this subject. At the same time, they explained to the king's relatives that the first consequences of the execution of the threats would, of course, fall on them if they did not find the means to turn his majesty away from perseverance, disastal and useless together. They also issued a declaration to the Sejm with the explanation that acceptance of the King’s proposal is impossible. King made more speeches in the Senate but this did not help: he was outvoted.
While this process was going on, the Austrian ambassador played the usual Austrian game telling one thing to his colleagues and another to the Poles. However, on May 8 the representatives were appointed: all available senators and 60 of the deputies, totaling 100. More delays was caused by waiting for the instructions from Vienna so the talks started only on May 22. The Austrian position now was to keep the royal power strong limiting “liberum veto”. Its ambassador, Rewitsky, declared that the Prussian share presented by its ambassador goes against the agreed upon convention and presented new Austrian plan, with a border by the river which nobody could find on a map, and demanded a further delay until Austrian map will arrive from Vienna. Of course, the Prussians replied with a statement that they’ll require more territory, etc.
Now, the Poles were requiring the speedy solution because the countryside was being destroyed by the Prussian occupying forces who did not pay for anything and, looking at them, the Austrians were doing the same.
As a result, the talks restarted only in August and it is not clear if what followed was a rehearsed performance or the impromptu [3] . The Polish representatives appealed to Stackelberg to ask for the protecting of their rights and territories to the Empress, their benevolent protector, and got an answer that certain malicious people managed to destroy these cordial relations and now Her Majesty can do nothing. On a cue, Bishop Ostrowski asked to name these malicious personages because they must suffer the severe consequences. His statement caused a wave of enthusiasm. To which Stackelberg answered that the first things must be dine first and when the treaties are signed, he will gladly help with all necessary investigations.
The unrest aroused by Ostrowski’s speech was predictably cannibalistic and terribly frightened the old man Czartoryski, the Chancellor of Lithuania. He turned pale when the bishop said the words: "If I'm guilty, let them throw me in the Vistula!" It seemed to Czartoryski that he would first have to experience this bathing. The Family had to endure humiliation, listening silently to reproaches and threats. There were voices that if the attempted assassins of of the king would have their heads and hands cut off, it would be unfair to spare the murderers of the fatherland.
This managed to scare not only the King’s uncles but the King himself and, after few more rounds of bargaining about his rights (with Austrian ambassador undermining actions of his colleagues), a compromise had been worked out. King retained a right of appointment to all Church and secular positions except for the bishops, voievods, ministers, and military and financial commissioners who would have to be picked out of three candidates presented by the Permanent Council. In the army King appoints officers in the selected Polish units and in the rest of the army the officers are appointed by a seniority. The king waives the right to distribute royal estates, the proceeds of which are used for state needs. The Saeima will appoint members of the Permanent Council by secret ballot. Four Guards regiments will be, as traditionally, under the state control but now the Hetmans will share power with the Military Commission and both they and commission will be subordinated to the Permanent Council. The King will be getting annual allowance for maintaining 2,000 troops which will be completely in his disposal.
The deal was done. On September 30, the partition treaties were approved by the Sejm, and on November 8, 1773, Stanislaw-August ratified them. Nevertheless, work on the border demarcation continued for several more years. Anyway, the Polish pie was cut to the pieces and it was now up to each of the recipients to consume his or her piece. Preferably, without getting an indigestion.
________________
[1] Painter who immortalized the most famous events of the Polish history, real and imaginable (like capture of Pskov by Stephen Báthory). Mostly in a size close to the natural (even the battle of Grunwakd) and, which definitely raised him above the average level, always managing to put into each painting pretty much all prominent personages who happened to be alive at that time even if they were not present at the specific event. As far as I can tell, on the painting above the main hero has a haircut different from those on his portraits but who cares?
[2] May be not. Personally, I could not bear them for more than 5 minutes but, AFAIK, some people (including at least one painter) had been attending the whole performances lasting for up to 6 hours. I doubt that a daily Sejm’s session lasted longer.
[3] Actually, the impromptus must be well rehearsed so the options are not mutually exclusive.
“Mercy is unusual for fate, and if she decided to hit you, it will definitely do it. And the more you resist it, the stronger you get on the head in the end.”
S.Mysanif, ‘Shooter’s third rule’
“They can't think, they can't imagine. Most of them can't even spell. They just run things.”
Douglas Adams, ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’
“What the legislative, political, legal and similar institutions do? They correct the evil they have caused.”
P. Y. Chaadaev
“Bureaucracy consists of mercenary ministers, aristocracy consists of idols, and democracy consists of idolaters.”
George Bernard Shaw
“Anarchy always leads to absolutism.”
Napoleon I Bonaparte
“Freedom gives birth to anarchy, anarchy leads to despotism, and despotism returns to freedom. Millions of creatures died without achieving the triumph of any of these systems.”
Honoré de Balzac, ‘Shagreen leather’
“Anarchy under the monarchy is the best state structure. The monarch must be the guarantor of anarchy.”
Salvador Dali
S.Mysanif, ‘Shooter’s third rule’
“They can't think, they can't imagine. Most of them can't even spell. They just run things.”
Douglas Adams, ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’
“What the legislative, political, legal and similar institutions do? They correct the evil they have caused.”
P. Y. Chaadaev
“Bureaucracy consists of mercenary ministers, aristocracy consists of idols, and democracy consists of idolaters.”
George Bernard Shaw
“Anarchy always leads to absolutism.”
Napoleon I Bonaparte
“Freedom gives birth to anarchy, anarchy leads to despotism, and despotism returns to freedom. Millions of creatures died without achieving the triumph of any of these systems.”
Honoré de Balzac, ‘Shagreen leather’
“Anarchy under the monarchy is the best state structure. The monarch must be the guarantor of anarchy.”
Salvador Dali
The confederation Sejm started on schedule, which was a pleasant surprise for the ambassadors involved but it would be too much to expect that it would not turn into the circus.
Descriptions of this historical performance are differ in the details and, while they agree on identity of the main performer, Tadeusz Rejtan, even his portraits (below) are differ (except for the mustaches part). So one can chose a preferred depiction based upon haircut, more or less heroic look or some other principle.
Anyway, there are (at least) two versions of what did happen:
- Version immortalized by Jan Matejko [1] shows Retjan laying on a floor at the entry to the whole where the event will have place (by a rather peculiar flight of a patriotic fantasy Matejko placed the Russian grenadier inside that hall as an allegory of the Russian oppression) offering to step over his, not dead, yet, body. It is not quite clear why it was necessary to bare his chest or why wouldn’t he just stand at the door with a sword (on painting he is laying on it). IMO, this would be much more effective, especially taking into an account that most of the depicted personages are either unarmed or not in a fighting condition. A big, well-armed guy laying on a floor begging “Kill me, pretty please!” looks rather pathetic, IMO, but who am I to prescribe to other how their patriotism must manifest itself. There is probably a technical possibility that he is trying to prevent them from getting out, thus creating a hostages situation, but a desperate crowd could just break through stomping upon him. This interpretation would make sense taking into an a count that there are viewers on a balcony (again, the Russian ambassador; implication that Russia was doing partition alone).
- An alternative version is no less entertaining (IMO): “But just now, the marshals of the crown and Lithuanian confederation entered the meeting hall and the first deputy of Kraków opened the meeting with the announcement of the confederation, as a huge Lithuanian, named Reitan, rose, and began to shout to the whole castle: "Nie pozwolam!" This cry lasted for three days, and the Sejm stopped. When the crown marshal of the confederation, Count Poninsky stood up to knock, according to custom, with a stick to restore order, Reitan grabbed another stick and, standing in the marshal's place, shouted: "I am the marshal myself and can be as good a marshal as another, chosen in darkness and mystery!"”
Well, anyway, the noisy three days long performance probably would be too much even for the admirers of the (not composed, yet) Wagnerian operas [2] and, while the deputies had a duty to attend, the ambassadors and other viewers did not. The Prussian Ambassador, Benoit, and especially the commander of the Prussian army, General Lentulus, offered Stackelberg to capture Rejtan; he replied that since his Prussian Majesty was an equal participant in affairs, he, Stackelberg, agreed that the Prussian hussars would seize Rejtan, but that he decided not to use violence, that they, the ambassadors of the three allied courts, had nothing to worry about the cries of the madmen and he undertakes to force the king to accept the treaty at his palace without entering the deputies hall. To fulfill this promise, Stackelberg summoned both chancellors and asked them to inform the king that if he will not enter into the treaty discussion within 24 hours, an order would be sent to move the troops. The king did not agree and invited Stackelberg to his place on April 11 and presented him with the inconveniences and slowdowns that would occur from his arrival in the Senate Hall if Rejtan and his comrades would come there, which will most probably happen. The king agreed to convene the Senate in the royal palace, ordered the chancellor to repeat Stackelberg's threat and summon the confederate marshals.
"All this is done," Stackelberg wrote in St. Petersburg, "the marshals made speeches, the king began the treaty, the senators signed separately, the chambers will join on the 13th, Rejtan and his adherents were frightened and ask for mercy, everything is calm."
But this was just the end of the beginning because the next step was discussion of the constitution and, while Stanislaw-Ausgust was OK with giving away the territory, giving away his own rights was a completely different story and he was fully intended to hold the ground and his position on this subject was much stronger because the ambassadors had to negotiate with the representatives of both the senators and the deputies and while the deputies were elected with the active ambassadorial participation and the proper representatives could be picked up, the senators were appointed by the king. And Stanislaw-August rejected the ambassadorial list even of it included his own ministers and relatives. The Prussians and Austrian brought, again, proposal about moving the troops but Stackelberg wrote to Panin: "I beg you to claim that, if you agree to this proposal, these troops should devastate the republic. I must throw poor Poland at the footsteps of our August sovereign and beg her for mercy. All Greater Poland has turned from a rich and inhabited province almost into a desert due to the occupation of Prussian troops, to which it delivers fodder and indemnities for 40,000 thalers per month, while its deputies at the Sejm do everything possible in our favor; it is not surprising that these people are beginning to retreat from us out of despair.”
Sejm sent to the ambassadors a note asking for participation of the neutral countries as the intermediaries in a dispute regarding the territorial concessions and got a response that proof of the claims was already given and the Polish counter-arguments were inadequate. The three states already defined an alternative for Poland: either the issue will be resolved by June 7 or sizes of the claimed territories will increase. It is a pity that Sejm is wasting time arguing about the wording and other non-issues while ignoring the deadline about which it seemingly does not care. The Polish spirit of the obstinacy produced internal revolt and caused a bloody and prolonged war between Russia and the Porte. So, if the Sejm within 8 days will not appoint the representatives for the talks with the ambassadors, it will be responsible for the consequences.
For the ongoing situation Stackelberg blamed personally the King who told the ambassadors “I can't oppose the partition, but I will never allow the Sejm delegation to decide on my rights and government form.” However, in the ambassadors’ view these two issues were inseparable and to the King’s complains about injustice and the bad state system which will result from their version of the constitution the answer was that there is no, yet, a final decision about his rights but the turmoil in PLC clearly demonstrated that the existing system id bad and that he can’t fear his domestic enemies because he will be appointing the whole Senate. Stanislaw-August answered with crying and making more speeches, the best phrases of which became immediately known in Warsaw.
Enough was enough and the ambassadors spread the rumor that they are planning to move the troops into Warsaw. The Prussian ambassador even got an order from Frederick to use the most decisive measures at any sign of a resistance but Stackelberg asked not to punish the whole nation for the King’s personal resistance. As an psychological measure the information was spread in Warsaw that the troops are ordered to move and, to hammer down the point, the Russain, Austrian and Prussian quartermasters had been sent to assign the places for the troops in the noble houses. This worked out and appearance of a Prussian squadron within half a mile from Warsaw completed the job.
On May 1 Stackelberg assembled the deputies in his residence and, in presence of the Prussian and Austrian ambassadors declared that it does not make sense for them to suffer the military occupation because even the king agreed with the partition and his objections are strictly about the domestic issues which are not decided upon, yet. During that meeting two Austrian and two Prussian squadrons rode along the streets. Warsaw was stricken by a fear and only the king, supported by his little private council, which consisted of his mistress, one Swiss and one Frenchman, called for the fight against three countries telling the deputies that the new constitution will result in the aristocratic rule of 12 tyrants. He came to the Sejm with his own act of the representatives election which was saying that representatives assigned to discussion of the internal affairs can’t make the decision, which would be left to the Sejm, which meant more delays.
Confederation’s Marshal, Poninsky, declared that only he, the marshal, has a right to offer the subjects voted by the majority. King and his party disagreed but Bishop Ostrowski in the strong terms explained to the king that he puts nation in danger. He was supported by a number of the senators who were saying that the king personally risks nothing while the people and their property will be endangered. King persisted but a vote came against him and the ambassador agreed to give the Sejm a postponement until May 3.
On May 2, the ambassadors used to secure a majority in the Chamber of Deputies and by common agreement spent 8,000 cherwontsy on this subject. At the same time, they explained to the king's relatives that the first consequences of the execution of the threats would, of course, fall on them if they did not find the means to turn his majesty away from perseverance, disastal and useless together. They also issued a declaration to the Sejm with the explanation that acceptance of the King’s proposal is impossible. King made more speeches in the Senate but this did not help: he was outvoted.
While this process was going on, the Austrian ambassador played the usual Austrian game telling one thing to his colleagues and another to the Poles. However, on May 8 the representatives were appointed: all available senators and 60 of the deputies, totaling 100. More delays was caused by waiting for the instructions from Vienna so the talks started only on May 22. The Austrian position now was to keep the royal power strong limiting “liberum veto”. Its ambassador, Rewitsky, declared that the Prussian share presented by its ambassador goes against the agreed upon convention and presented new Austrian plan, with a border by the river which nobody could find on a map, and demanded a further delay until Austrian map will arrive from Vienna. Of course, the Prussians replied with a statement that they’ll require more territory, etc.
Now, the Poles were requiring the speedy solution because the countryside was being destroyed by the Prussian occupying forces who did not pay for anything and, looking at them, the Austrians were doing the same.
As a result, the talks restarted only in August and it is not clear if what followed was a rehearsed performance or the impromptu [3] . The Polish representatives appealed to Stackelberg to ask for the protecting of their rights and territories to the Empress, their benevolent protector, and got an answer that certain malicious people managed to destroy these cordial relations and now Her Majesty can do nothing. On a cue, Bishop Ostrowski asked to name these malicious personages because they must suffer the severe consequences. His statement caused a wave of enthusiasm. To which Stackelberg answered that the first things must be dine first and when the treaties are signed, he will gladly help with all necessary investigations.
The unrest aroused by Ostrowski’s speech was predictably cannibalistic and terribly frightened the old man Czartoryski, the Chancellor of Lithuania. He turned pale when the bishop said the words: "If I'm guilty, let them throw me in the Vistula!" It seemed to Czartoryski that he would first have to experience this bathing. The Family had to endure humiliation, listening silently to reproaches and threats. There were voices that if the attempted assassins of of the king would have their heads and hands cut off, it would be unfair to spare the murderers of the fatherland.
This managed to scare not only the King’s uncles but the King himself and, after few more rounds of bargaining about his rights (with Austrian ambassador undermining actions of his colleagues), a compromise had been worked out. King retained a right of appointment to all Church and secular positions except for the bishops, voievods, ministers, and military and financial commissioners who would have to be picked out of three candidates presented by the Permanent Council. In the army King appoints officers in the selected Polish units and in the rest of the army the officers are appointed by a seniority. The king waives the right to distribute royal estates, the proceeds of which are used for state needs. The Saeima will appoint members of the Permanent Council by secret ballot. Four Guards regiments will be, as traditionally, under the state control but now the Hetmans will share power with the Military Commission and both they and commission will be subordinated to the Permanent Council. The King will be getting annual allowance for maintaining 2,000 troops which will be completely in his disposal.
The deal was done. On September 30, the partition treaties were approved by the Sejm, and on November 8, 1773, Stanislaw-August ratified them. Nevertheless, work on the border demarcation continued for several more years. Anyway, the Polish pie was cut to the pieces and it was now up to each of the recipients to consume his or her piece. Preferably, without getting an indigestion.
________________
[1] Painter who immortalized the most famous events of the Polish history, real and imaginable (like capture of Pskov by Stephen Báthory). Mostly in a size close to the natural (even the battle of Grunwakd) and, which definitely raised him above the average level, always managing to put into each painting pretty much all prominent personages who happened to be alive at that time even if they were not present at the specific event. As far as I can tell, on the painting above the main hero has a haircut different from those on his portraits but who cares?
[2] May be not. Personally, I could not bear them for more than 5 minutes but, AFAIK, some people (including at least one painter) had been attending the whole performances lasting for up to 6 hours. I doubt that a daily Sejm’s session lasted longer.
[3] Actually, the impromptus must be well rehearsed so the options are not mutually exclusive.
He got proceeds from the royal estates with a fixed minimal income, but lost the right to give away starostvos arbitrary.
Not for a person who was bemoaning that he is dying from a starvation. 😉
What a good idea, we should definitely try that with India
My Sir have you ever heard of a SI? You should try!
Just kidding, what you're already doing is much better
Its the only one worth taking
Well, he had a mistress (I don’t know which of them supported other), was planning to invite a famous French actress for performance in Warsaw and, judging by the OTL treatment of Bibikov, at least part of the expensive entertainments was done by the court. Him not paying the personnel
is not an indication of anything: perhaps he just came to a reasonable conclusion that service to the king is an award on its own (and those with brains can augment it by stealing and selling all types of stuff, like their Russian colleagues were doing).
India is yours with a task to tach its inhabitants the meaning of the word “bribe”. 😂
I’m too old to even know what you are talking about because the meanings I do know of would not fully implement his dream. 😉
But let’s not get carried away, remembering what the wise people said about attracting attention of the superior powers: I really don’t want that TL to suffer a fate of some newsgroups….
37. Domestic Affairs. #1 The Family
New
37. Domestic Affairs. #1 The Family
Grand Duke Paul was born in September 20 (October 1), 1754 in St. Petersburg. The first years after his birth, Pavel grew up under the supervision of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, who was going to make him her heir and did everything wrong. The child was kept in the overheated room, which seriously impacted his health. Up to five years old, the child was considered an infant who should only be protected. Then he became a “conditional adult” with all the necessary attributes, including adult clothes, wigs, jewelry and some government duties. For example, attending parades, receptions or imoortant church services, which could last for several hours. In general, nothing good for his health.
It was also a time to start his education and Elizabeth appointed F.D. Bekhteev as his governor. By background, he was a professional diplomat but turned to be a good pedagogue. During the classes, he used a special method that combined fun with teaching, and quickly taught the Grand Duke reading and numbering with the help of toy soldiers and a folding fortress "made for His Highness bone grenadiers and musketeers, who had French letters on bows and hats. They also made wooden dragoons, which had Russian letters on the bows. The Grand Duke studied the alphabet on these toys ". Similarly, the numbers had been studied using the toy fortress with the numbers on its parts. The method worked well but Bekhteev also was something of a fanatic of the military style with its clear orders, regulations, etc. Later, he was accused in making Paul too fond of the military things. Well, fortunately or unfortunately, he got seriously ill and in 1760 Elizabeth appointed to his place another diplomat, Count N.I. Panin, who came with an ambitious educational program.
The upbringing of the Tsarevich Panin, formally, led in the French spirit, since at that time the French language, French literature and French fashion dominated the cultural strata of European society. Pavel Petrovich had to be brought up as a French Dauphin, with the usual atmosphere of knightly characters, chevallerie, etc. Aesthetic impressionability, weakness of heartlessness, on the one hand, worship of knightly virtues: generosity, courage, desire for truth, protection of the weak and respect for a woman - on the other hand, were forever instilled in Paul's nature. But most of the invited teachers were Germans, and not of the best sort, with their pedantic boring style of the teaching that was boring the student (as a result, Paul was hating the German language). The two exceptions were religious teacher Hieromonk Platon and S.A.Poroshin who developed a real influence upon his student. This was one of the main reasons of him being removed from his position: Panin did not want anybody else’s influence. The second reason was that he fell in love (seemingly mutual) with the Countess Sheremeteva who was not just well above his social status but also Panin’s intended bride. Poroshin was made a regimental commander and on a way to his unit died from some mysterious illness.
Panin was hardly involved into that period of education limiting himself to the superficial performance of his duties and dumping most of the responsibilities upon the dumb "informant" Osterwald. According to Nikita Ivanovich's educational plan, Tsarevich's training in "state science" was supposed to begin only from the age of 14, when Pavel Petrovich was to become his more or less meaningful political tool.
And here the important part starts. Since 1762 Catherine was the Russian Empress but during the coup the Senate and the troops swore loyalty both to her and Tsesarevich Paul. The legal side of the situation was not clarified opening the field for various options. One of them being a scenario under which Catherine reigns until Paul’s adulthood (which also was not clearly identified and could be anywhere between 16 and 19). Panin (and he was not alone) was supporter of this interpretation but was too indecisive to voice it during the coup. So now he had to wait while in a meantime trying to make Paul his puppet in a future game. And an important part of the game was to drill down the idea that his mother is an usurper of the throne. This was pretty much the only item in the “state science” program that he was teaching.
Now, what about Catherine? For the first few years she was separated from her son and, seemingly, did not care too much being busy with her own love affairs and intrigues. After the coup she was too busy arranging herself comfortably on the throne and, while Grigory Orlov remained her favorite, an option of legitimizing their son, Alexey Bobrinksy, and make him a heir was a non-zero possibility. In general, she found herself in a peculiar position when her foreign policy and her son had been in the hands of her pretty much open political opponent and she could do little about the situation. Panin was considered #1 Russian specialist in the foreign affairs with no obvious alternative for his replacement. The only thing Catherine could do was not to make him a Chancellor: he remained just a President of the Foreign Affairs Collegium. With all the ongoing domestic and international affairs Paul remained almost off her radar screen [2] until he was 16, or maybe 17, even better 18 or perhaps 19 but this would be the “last ditch”.
But starting from 1770 Catherine faced a dilemma. She needed an alliance with Denmark to counter the French anti-Russian intrigues in Sweden and Denmark wanted implementation of the agreed upon territorial settlement in Schleswig-Holstein, which could be made formal only by the Duke of these territories, aka, by Paul. So far, the Danish foreign policies were not as firmly pro-Russian as Catherine wanted, for which her ambassador blamed Johan Frederik, Greve af Struensee, favorite of Caroline Matilda of Great Britain, sister of George III. Of course, Britain was formally a friend of Russia but there was a considerable ambiguity related to the rather stormy process of the negotiations regarding the trade agreement and a complete failure to come to the terms of the military agreement so it would be nice to strengthen the pro-Russian faction at the court.
Domestically, Catherine was somewhat squeezed between the two cliques:
Intemission: Benevsky and other exiles captured a ship on which they sailed to Formosa and then to Macao. From it they sailed to Canton and then, on then French ship, to Ile-de-France (Mauritius) and from it to France. The became quite popular at the French court and got an offer to led expedition to Madagascar where he landed in 1774 and founded a “capital” but after expedition was decimated by the diseases returned to France where Louis XVI made him a count and brigadier-general. Then he participated in a War of Bavarian Succession, for which Maria Theresa also made him a count, returned to France, sailed to America presenting George Washington with a project of creating a mercenary “American Legion”, sailed to Madagascar again, this time as a private person, entered into an agreement with the natives, expelled the French, founded a new “capital” and eventually was killed in a fight with the landed French troops.
The suspicions regarding the plot proved to be true but the plotters were absolutely inept and did nothing (Panin could be “a spiritual leader” but as a man of action he was below “pathetic” level). However, potential disloyalty of the Guards also proved to be correct and Catherine, without taking any outward action or displaying a disfavor, started moving some of the officers and noncoms into the army regiment and stopped adding new people to the Guards regiments to compensate for the losses.
With the first dangerous date safely over, Orlov was sent to deal with the revolt in Moscow and, while he was generously awarded for his performance, the days of his influence were over and, at least for a short while Catherine was playing a good mother taking Paul everywhere with her (and away from Panin). Finally, Paul ceased to be scared of her but that was it.
She even tried to teach him “state business” but her method of doing so proved to be mostly a waste of time: Paul was to be present when her secretaries were presenting her the state papers and she was signing them without making any explanation of her decisions. He was not present at the Cabinet meetings and discussions and generally kept out of the loop.
The only place where he was, so far, to get more or less directly involved, was Admiralty: at the age of 10 he was made Admiral-General, aka, a person responsible for managing all aspects of the Russian Navy. The appointment was purely honorary because the real power was in the hands of his deputy, Ivan Chernyshov. But he got interested and Catherine saw no problem expecting that Chernyshov will keep things under control and her son will be off her back. However, Paul got different idea [3].
In 1772 Catherine decided to kill two birds with a single stone declaring that Paul reached an adulthood:
______________
[1] Needless to say that those two in whom upbringing she managed to play a role grew up to be the total a—holes, each in his own way. So much for her pedagogical talents.
[2] The Russian science being, as it well known, always ahead of the rest of the world, there had to be at least one radar available. BTW, a famous sentence of Ivan the Terrible “I can see through you, traitorous dogs” is a clear indication that the X-rays equipment already was available at his time. 😉
[3] In OTL this function remained purely ceremonial and the Dearest Mommy was taking a good care that her son is not interfering in any aspect of the state business. So, as bad as the things are ITTL, in OTL they were worse.
“To teach the pupil of the "female terem" that he is the future man and the Tsar.”
Instruction of Elizabeth I to F.D. Bekhteev
“Here [on a map] you see, sir, the inheritance that your glorious grandfathers spread with victories.”
Bekhteev to Grand Duke Paul
“If His Highness was particular peron and could completely indulge in mathematical teaching alone, he could be very possible in his sharpness by our Russian Pascal.”
S.A.Poroshin
“There is certain Semyon Andreevich Poroshin, and his student Pavel Petrovich Romanov, aren’t they mathematicians?”
Paul to Poroshin
“We have never had so much fun as in these nine weeks spent in Tsarskoye Selo, with my son, who is being made a good boy. My son doesn't want to lag behind me one step. He always wants to sit next to me at the table.”
Catherine, 1771
“My son has poor health and a bad soul, then the consequences of bad upbringing. It will be different with my grandchildren!” [1]
Instruction of Elizabeth I to F.D. Bekhteev
“Here [on a map] you see, sir, the inheritance that your glorious grandfathers spread with victories.”
Bekhteev to Grand Duke Paul
“If His Highness was particular peron and could completely indulge in mathematical teaching alone, he could be very possible in his sharpness by our Russian Pascal.”
S.A.Poroshin
“There is certain Semyon Andreevich Poroshin, and his student Pavel Petrovich Romanov, aren’t they mathematicians?”
Paul to Poroshin
“We have never had so much fun as in these nine weeks spent in Tsarskoye Selo, with my son, who is being made a good boy. My son doesn't want to lag behind me one step. He always wants to sit next to me at the table.”
Catherine, 1771
“My son has poor health and a bad soul, then the consequences of bad upbringing. It will be different with my grandchildren!” [1]
Grand Duke Paul was born in September 20 (October 1), 1754 in St. Petersburg. The first years after his birth, Pavel grew up under the supervision of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, who was going to make him her heir and did everything wrong. The child was kept in the overheated room, which seriously impacted his health. Up to five years old, the child was considered an infant who should only be protected. Then he became a “conditional adult” with all the necessary attributes, including adult clothes, wigs, jewelry and some government duties. For example, attending parades, receptions or imoortant church services, which could last for several hours. In general, nothing good for his health.
It was also a time to start his education and Elizabeth appointed F.D. Bekhteev as his governor. By background, he was a professional diplomat but turned to be a good pedagogue. During the classes, he used a special method that combined fun with teaching, and quickly taught the Grand Duke reading and numbering with the help of toy soldiers and a folding fortress "made for His Highness bone grenadiers and musketeers, who had French letters on bows and hats. They also made wooden dragoons, which had Russian letters on the bows. The Grand Duke studied the alphabet on these toys ". Similarly, the numbers had been studied using the toy fortress with the numbers on its parts. The method worked well but Bekhteev also was something of a fanatic of the military style with its clear orders, regulations, etc. Later, he was accused in making Paul too fond of the military things. Well, fortunately or unfortunately, he got seriously ill and in 1760 Elizabeth appointed to his place another diplomat, Count N.I. Panin, who came with an ambitious educational program.
The upbringing of the Tsarevich Panin, formally, led in the French spirit, since at that time the French language, French literature and French fashion dominated the cultural strata of European society. Pavel Petrovich had to be brought up as a French Dauphin, with the usual atmosphere of knightly characters, chevallerie, etc. Aesthetic impressionability, weakness of heartlessness, on the one hand, worship of knightly virtues: generosity, courage, desire for truth, protection of the weak and respect for a woman - on the other hand, were forever instilled in Paul's nature. But most of the invited teachers were Germans, and not of the best sort, with their pedantic boring style of the teaching that was boring the student (as a result, Paul was hating the German language). The two exceptions were religious teacher Hieromonk Platon and S.A.Poroshin who developed a real influence upon his student. This was one of the main reasons of him being removed from his position: Panin did not want anybody else’s influence. The second reason was that he fell in love (seemingly mutual) with the Countess Sheremeteva who was not just well above his social status but also Panin’s intended bride. Poroshin was made a regimental commander and on a way to his unit died from some mysterious illness.
Panin was hardly involved into that period of education limiting himself to the superficial performance of his duties and dumping most of the responsibilities upon the dumb "informant" Osterwald. According to Nikita Ivanovich's educational plan, Tsarevich's training in "state science" was supposed to begin only from the age of 14, when Pavel Petrovich was to become his more or less meaningful political tool.
And here the important part starts. Since 1762 Catherine was the Russian Empress but during the coup the Senate and the troops swore loyalty both to her and Tsesarevich Paul. The legal side of the situation was not clarified opening the field for various options. One of them being a scenario under which Catherine reigns until Paul’s adulthood (which also was not clearly identified and could be anywhere between 16 and 19). Panin (and he was not alone) was supporter of this interpretation but was too indecisive to voice it during the coup. So now he had to wait while in a meantime trying to make Paul his puppet in a future game. And an important part of the game was to drill down the idea that his mother is an usurper of the throne. This was pretty much the only item in the “state science” program that he was teaching.
Now, what about Catherine? For the first few years she was separated from her son and, seemingly, did not care too much being busy with her own love affairs and intrigues. After the coup she was too busy arranging herself comfortably on the throne and, while Grigory Orlov remained her favorite, an option of legitimizing their son, Alexey Bobrinksy, and make him a heir was a non-zero possibility. In general, she found herself in a peculiar position when her foreign policy and her son had been in the hands of her pretty much open political opponent and she could do little about the situation. Panin was considered #1 Russian specialist in the foreign affairs with no obvious alternative for his replacement. The only thing Catherine could do was not to make him a Chancellor: he remained just a President of the Foreign Affairs Collegium. With all the ongoing domestic and international affairs Paul remained almost off her radar screen [2] until he was 16, or maybe 17, even better 18 or perhaps 19 but this would be the “last ditch”.
But starting from 1770 Catherine faced a dilemma. She needed an alliance with Denmark to counter the French anti-Russian intrigues in Sweden and Denmark wanted implementation of the agreed upon territorial settlement in Schleswig-Holstein, which could be made formal only by the Duke of these territories, aka, by Paul. So far, the Danish foreign policies were not as firmly pro-Russian as Catherine wanted, for which her ambassador blamed Johan Frederik, Greve af Struensee, favorite of Caroline Matilda of Great Britain, sister of George III. Of course, Britain was formally a friend of Russia but there was a considerable ambiguity related to the rather stormy process of the negotiations regarding the trade agreement and a complete failure to come to the terms of the military agreement so it would be nice to strengthen the pro-Russian faction at the court.
Domestically, Catherine was somewhat squeezed between the two cliques:
- One was clamoring for the acknowledgement of Paul’s adulthood. Panin was a most prominent figure but there were numerous other and loyalty of the Guards was suspected.
- Another was for delaying the pronouncement. Bobrinsky’s candidacy lost any traction since G.Orlov ceased to be a favorite but he was still influential and Z. Chernyshov was his friend (or at least Panin’s enemy).
Intemission: Benevsky and other exiles captured a ship on which they sailed to Formosa and then to Macao. From it they sailed to Canton and then, on then French ship, to Ile-de-France (Mauritius) and from it to France. The became quite popular at the French court and got an offer to led expedition to Madagascar where he landed in 1774 and founded a “capital” but after expedition was decimated by the diseases returned to France where Louis XVI made him a count and brigadier-general. Then he participated in a War of Bavarian Succession, for which Maria Theresa also made him a count, returned to France, sailed to America presenting George Washington with a project of creating a mercenary “American Legion”, sailed to Madagascar again, this time as a private person, entered into an agreement with the natives, expelled the French, founded a new “capital” and eventually was killed in a fight with the landed French troops.
The suspicions regarding the plot proved to be true but the plotters were absolutely inept and did nothing (Panin could be “a spiritual leader” but as a man of action he was below “pathetic” level). However, potential disloyalty of the Guards also proved to be correct and Catherine, without taking any outward action or displaying a disfavor, started moving some of the officers and noncoms into the army regiment and stopped adding new people to the Guards regiments to compensate for the losses.
With the first dangerous date safely over, Orlov was sent to deal with the revolt in Moscow and, while he was generously awarded for his performance, the days of his influence were over and, at least for a short while Catherine was playing a good mother taking Paul everywhere with her (and away from Panin). Finally, Paul ceased to be scared of her but that was it.
She even tried to teach him “state business” but her method of doing so proved to be mostly a waste of time: Paul was to be present when her secretaries were presenting her the state papers and she was signing them without making any explanation of her decisions. He was not present at the Cabinet meetings and discussions and generally kept out of the loop.
The only place where he was, so far, to get more or less directly involved, was Admiralty: at the age of 10 he was made Admiral-General, aka, a person responsible for managing all aspects of the Russian Navy. The appointment was purely honorary because the real power was in the hands of his deputy, Ivan Chernyshov. But he got interested and Catherine saw no problem expecting that Chernyshov will keep things under control and her son will be off her back. However, Paul got different idea [3].
In 1772 Catherine decided to kill two birds with a single stone declaring that Paul reached an adulthood:
- Territorial settlement with Denmark was signed.
- Panin ceased to be Paul’s governor.
______________
[1] Needless to say that those two in whom upbringing she managed to play a role grew up to be the total a—holes, each in his own way. So much for her pedagogical talents.
[2] The Russian science being, as it well known, always ahead of the rest of the world, there had to be at least one radar available. BTW, a famous sentence of Ivan the Terrible “I can see through you, traitorous dogs” is a clear indication that the X-rays equipment already was available at his time. 😉
[3] In OTL this function remained purely ceremonial and the Dearest Mommy was taking a good care that her son is not interfering in any aspect of the state business. So, as bad as the things are ITTL, in OTL they were worse.
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In OTL, as you know, everything was just fine so TTL will try to improve the perfection.