#Voyeikov

[otmaaromanovas]

Alexei Nikolaevich with his beloved Spaniel Joy and his cat, Kotka. More about Kotka below…

Kotka was gifted to Alexei Nikolaevich by Count Major General Vladimir Nikolaevich Voeikov during his stay at Military HQ, ‘Stavka’, with his father. Judging by this photograph and General Voeikov’s memoir, Kotka was a Siamese cat. 

“I have on my farm… Siyam…ones. They were so beautiful, colour like chocolate with blue eyes, etc…. [the] Heir asked for one…

Next time, I gave him a wicker [basket] with a cat. He was dithyrambic [note: probably a rough translation of very enthusiastic and excited]. To Sisters (OTMA) a letter was sent, and they wanted some too…”

Count Major General Voeikov, and with Alexei at Stavka, December 1916. Also pictured are Pierre Gilliard ('Zhillik'), Sydney Gibbes ('Sig'), and Pyotr Vasilievich Petrov ('PVP')

Throughout his letters and dairies, Alexei frequently mentions Kotka, including how she and Alexei’s spaniel dog Joy liked to sleep together, and how he woke up one morning to fine Kotka asleep next to him.

As the months as Stavka went by, Kotka began to accompany Alexei to his lessons with tutors Pierre Gilliard, Pyotr Vasilievich Petrov, and Sydney Gibbes, preferring to cuddle up next to Joy and nap throughout the teaching. Alexei even trained Kotka to accompany him and Joy on their daily car rides with Pierre Gilliard!

It’s unknown exactly what happened to Kotka and her fellow feline friends: Maria’s cat, and Olga’s cat Zubrovka. However, the general understanding is that they weren’t allowed to accompany the family to Tobolsk, and remained at the Alexander Palace until homes were found for each of them. 

Sources: Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich, diaries and letters, volume 2: 1916-1918 by George Hawkins

#Alexei Nikolaevich #Alexei Romanov #Tsarevich Romanov #sources #Voeikov #Voyeikov #Vladimir Nikolaevich Voeikov #pets #cat #Kotka #Stavka #Mogilev #1916 #Romanovs #Romanov family #my own #vintage cats #Joy #Pierre Gilliard #Sydney Gibbes #Sidney Gibbes #Pyotr Vasilievich Petrov #PVP

[mashkaromanova]

Nicholas II and Grand Duchess Tatiana, 1915

“My dear Papa,

Yesterday Mama and I went to Petrograd to a central distribution center for refugees, seeking asylum then drove to the Gutuevsky Island where accommodations for refugees have been set up in a former boarding house, then also to the Land Customs. There they also set up a space for 300-odd people. Very well arranged. No one knew that we would be there. All the women with children climbed to kiss Mama’s hands and Mama talked with them. Neydgart, Prince Obolensky, Count Tolstoy, Count Rostovtsev and Apraksin were with us. Please tell Nikolai Pavlovich that I than him very much for his lovely letter. Princess Gedroitz asked to send big regards to You.

I want to see You so much, darling Papa. The weather is the vilest that one can imagine. This morning we went to Obednya downstairs at 9 o’clock. Then changed dressings at the infirmary. We are going to have tea at Aunt Olga’s and Aunt Mavra’s. Yesterday we were in Pavlovsk at Tatiana’s. She now lives in Strelna. Well, may God keep You. I kiss and hug You firmly and gently, as I love [you]. Your Voznesenetz.”

- Grand Duchess Tatiana to Nicholas, 6th September 1915

“Dearest Tatiana,

I thank you very much for your lovely letter. I am pleased to receive them together with the letters of dear Mama - from the daughter on duty. - Here, although U.[cle] Boris, U. Georgii and Dmitri are here with me now, I am still bored here without you and sometimes feel lonely. Time passes very quickly.

I am busy all morning at the headquarters with my good general Alekseev until breakfast. After eating, I’m in a hurry to finish the paperwork, as the train leaves at 3 o’clock. I then leave in the motor, sometimes [go] far away and walk along the highway. Have tea with the gentlemen and study before lunch. In the evenings I either write to Mama or play dice in a small room next to the dining room. The view of the Dnepr from there and of the other bank is very beautiful. Generally speaking, all the areas of Mogilev are picturesque and you all would have liked them.

Your telegram about the scandal that happened with Ortipo [Tatiana’s dog] had me very amused - I imagine what it would be like... the little monster! Today passing one village, at low speed, hit a very fat pig, which ended up under the motor [car], because it got scared of a big dog. She immediately got up and let out a squeal and galloped home; with a little blood dripping from her snout! The weather is now cold, but the barometer rises, hopefully it will be an Indian summer. I have not heard anything about A.[unt] Olga! 

Well, goodbye. I embrace my dear Voznesenetz. Christ be with you. + Your Papa. Do not respond to me with a telegram.”

- Nicholas to Tatiana, 9th September

"My dear darling Papa, 

 Today the weather is finally good, and I am going riding with Maria and Anastasia. Just returned from my walk. It was very nice. I rode Count Frederick's horse 'Rita'. He rides her during parades, she is nice. Our wounded Erivansty told us that they heard that their regiment again suffered. Do you know anything? My Voznesentzy also talked about my Ulans. But they do not know for sure. If you know something, Papa darling, let me know somehow, please. I am dying to see you, darling Papa. When are You coming back? Soon or not yet? Alexei asked me to send You his letter. Please send my regards to the Uncles, Dmitri and Nikolai Pavlovich. Today in Pavlovsk I saw the wonderful Ural Cossacks on all the roads. So attractive. Some have St. George Cross and medals. Well, good-bye. I am afraid for the letter to be too late. God keep you. I kiss You firmly and gently, as love. Your Voznesenetz." 

 - 10th September [sent a few days after her first letter, before Nicholas’ had arrived]

“My dear darling Papa,

I was awfully glad to get Your first letter, for which I kiss you on both cheeks very very affectionately and thank you. Last time I wrote to you that my Ulans did not know where the regiment was. And now they found out that the regiment is with other divisions [who] broke through and now [they are] somewhere behind the German lines. All our wounded are recovering, and there are a lot of empty beds. There are only two Erivantzy, but the ward is still called ‘Life-Erivan’ since initially it was filled with them. They wrote on the doors, and now there are officers from different regiments, and the ward has remained under the same name.

I laughed a lot when I read about the poor pig that you ran over. And with whom do You usually ride? With the adjutant on duty and Voyeikov or someone from the outside? And does Dmitri walk with you? Please send him and the other relatives regards. Have you seen Alek. Pavlovich? We saw him once in the evening at Anya’s. Was he there with Cossacks? Did you have breakfast with little V.E. Well, the weather is nasty, raining. It was nice for three days. We rode horses, and now the weather turned bad.

Well, goodbye. May God keep you. I kiss [you] firmly and once again thank you for the great pleasure brought to me by the letter. Voznesenetz.”

- Tatiana to Nicholas, 14th

#nicholas ii #tatiana nikolaevna #1915 #1910s #letter #letters #romanov #romanovs