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February 17, 1740

Discussion in '"Today in History", Literature & Media Review' started by Martin Antonenko, Feb 16, 2021.

  1. Martin Antonenko A Fixture

    Country:
    Germany
    Today's story really happened that way! It has been handed down several times. Nothing was invented!


    The wedding of Prince Golitsyn

    In 1740, Prince Michail Golytsin, who comes from one of the oldest aristocratic families in Russia, also lives at the Tsar's court in St. Petersburg ...:

    [IMG]

    He had committed the following - unforgivable of course - crimes:

    In 1692 he traveled to France and studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris. In doing so, he also came into contact with Western ideas about life.

    During his stay in Western Europe, Golytsin married an Italian woman - and converted to Catholicism in order to be able to do this!

    Tsarina Anna Ivanovna (1693 - 1740) ...

    [IMG]

    ... had absolutely no fun with such things!

    Otherwise, the lady herself was a bit quirky: She let herself be - politically completely disinterested! - wherever she went and stood accompanied by a group of "jokers", most of whom were short people, whose only task was to please the ruler...:

    [IMG]

    That she "kept" many lovers is also proven.

    But back to our story:

    When Golytsin returned to Russia with his wife in 1732, the Tsarina initially declared his marriage to be illegal and then appointed the prince her official court jester and named him "Kwasnik". Golytsin had to “work” in this role for almost eight years!

    The picture shows the prince (in red clothes and stooped ) at "work" ...:

    [IMG]

    In addition, the Tsarina announced that she would punish the prince (or rather "Kwasnik", as he was now called according to her highest will) for his "crime"!

    Golytsin's wife was of course immediately expelled from Russia.

    The “punishment” of the prince happened on February 17th, 1740:

    The Tsarina, who must have had an extremely unusual taste, had a palace built from ice. The first version of this “palace” was built on the Neva, but it turned out to be too heavy. The river's ice sheet bent, broke, and water flowed in.

    The Tsarina then had a second, lighter version of the Ice Palace built. The area in front of the Winter Palace was chosen as the place where the castle bridge turns off from the Admiralty Quay today.

    The house was 16 m long, 5 m deep and 6 m high; the walls were an average of 3 feet thick, built from blocks of ice weighing 120 kg.

    The blueprint has been preserved ...:

    [IMG]

    The carved gable porch divided the house into two parts. Each part contained two rooms: there was a living room, a dining room, a bedroom and a toilet. Furniture and household items were available, but also made entirely of ice!

    In one of the rooms there were two mirrors, a dressing table, some candlesticks, a large bed, a chair and a fireplace with firewood - all made entirely of ice!

    The second room contained a carved table, two sofas, two armchairs and a small cupboard for a tea set with glasses, as well as for wine glasses and dishes, all made of ice.

    The corners of the room were decorated with two statues of Cupid. To the right of the house stood a life-size elephant and a group of Persians, again made of ice.

    Two mortars and six six-pound cannons - also made of ice! - were posted next to the entrance. They survived the attempt to fire them with four ounces of powder without damage!

    First, some splendid parties were celebrated in the building, on February 17th came the "highlight" ...:

    Prince Golytsin and now court jester “Kwasnik” was forced to marry a Christian Kalmuck woman named Avdotja Buscheninowa...

    [IMG]

    ... according to an official church rite.

    [IMG]

    This woman had been a servant at the court of the tsars and had once complained too loudly about her loneliness, so loudly that the - obviously sadistic - tsarina heard about it.

    After the church wedding, the bride and groom were put on public display. They had to parade through Saint Petersburg in a large cage carried by an elephant and accompanied by over 400 people, some of whom rode camels and others on sleds pulled by reindeer, pigs, dogs, goats and cats.

    [IMG]

    The wedding bed was of course also made of ice. On the express orders of the Tsarina, Golytsin and Buscheninova had to stay under guard all night! - spend in it.

    [IMG]

    Thereafter, the prince and his forcibly married wife were ostracized and banished from Saint Petersburg. This banishment continued even when the tsarina died eight months later.

    The ice palace has since been rebuilt several times at the original location according to the original plans...

    [IMG]

    ... with all accessories, including the ice cannons, which can be seen from the side ...:

    [IMG]

    In 1888 they tried to fire them - which succeeded without any problems ...
  2. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Martin

    Brilliant ..you couldn't make it up !

    Currently watching a TV series called "The Great " ..needs to be seen with a open mind ! ........Peter and Catherine ....certainly life at court was unusual to say the least !

    Thanks again

    Nap
  3. Airkid A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    Excellent. That Tsarina Anna Ivanovna was a mean old bag, and ugly with it! Imagine a country the size of Russia being at the whim of an old witch like her.

    Phil

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