19th C. Russian Court Etiquette

Alexander II succeeded to the throne upon the death of his father in 1855. The 1st year of his reign was devoted to the prosecution of the Crimean War. After the fall of Sebastopol, negotiations for peace were led by his trusted counsellor Prince Alexander Gorchakov. Few imagined that he would be known to posterity as a leader able to implement the most challenging reforms undertaken in Russia since the reign of Peter the Great.

Russian Imperial Court Dance Etiquette

According to Russian etiquette, no subject who is not attached to the Court, can dance with the Princesses of the blood. A young Lieutenant of Hussars, ignorant of the established etiquette, asked the Grand Duchess Olga to dance with him, and she, who saw by his “orders” that he was a Crimean, consented. The Emperor, who saw his sister “polking” with the young sub, sent for the latter as soon as he had left his partner, and smilingly told him that he had committed an offence against etiquette. “As I hear,” continued the good-natured monarch “that you distinguished yourself greatly at Sebastopol, I take you into my Adjutantar; and now, as you are attached to the Court, you can dance with the Grand Duchess again, if she has no objection.” — Wide West News, 1856

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Royal Etiquette as Court Pest

Teresa, Contessa Guiccioli was the married lover of Lord Byron while he was living in Ravenna, Italy, and writing "Don Juan." Teresa had married Count Guiccioli, and then three days later, she met Lord Byron. A writer herself, she wrote the biographical account "Lord Byron's Life in Italy." Alexandre Dumas included her as a minor character in his novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," using the same disguised name "Countess G-" as Lord Byron did for the Countess in his personal journals.

Court Pests

The pests of the small courts are the importance attached to etiquette and the thin skinnedness and jealousy of the courtiers. Great pests of all courts, but chiefly of the greater, are the hosts of fussy people, humbugs of all kinds and projectors who want to secure royal patronage as a means of advertisement. They are much more likely to get it than the deserving because their instinct tells them how to make their approach. 

Queens are now pestered all over Europe with individuals who imagine money is to be made in getting up unions to secure artistic and literary employment for women. The poor weak things would go to the wall if they were not brought into droves. The larger the drove the greater the number of subscriptions and the better for the drover. 

The Empress Frederick is ready to help feminine unions, but for handicrafts requiring trained skill and talent, and not to get poor scribbling or painting shot into the market. The Queens of Sweden and Denmark are of the same mind. But the Queen of Sweden likes to patronize authoresses on the side of religion and good morals. The Empress of Russia feels her way. 

My maid of honor tells me that the Prince of Wales' daughters are credited in northern courts with shrewdness and insight into the motives of fussy philanthropists. The most pleasant court for maids of honor is that of St. Petersburg. The Countess Gamba Guiccioli was there on a visit and wondered whether there were limits to the liberties of the courtiers. 

One sex is as free as the other. The ladies smoke, skate, dance, take sentimental drives in the long daylike summer nights, flirt with grand dukes or with no matter whom, throw themselves into love, diplomatic, palace and even political intrigues. The latter may lead to Siberia. But the gambling spirit is strong in them. Danger gives zest to enterprise and forbidden fruit is sweetest. —Paris Correspondent for The London Truth, 1896

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia