From awe to passion: how did Emperor Nicholas II fall in love with a ballerina and how did it end?

The story of Matilda Kshesinskaya and Nicholas II is filled with many mysteries and contradictions. Some believe that the ballerina remained the only love of the Tsesarevich until his death. Others say that there was no relationship at all. Where is the truth?

historian, teacher

“The story of Matilda and Nicholas II over the years has become covered with a huge number of different speculations. Their relationship lasted four years. I tell you how the passion ignited and how it all ended.”

Matilda Kshesinskaya was born in 1872 in a family of ballet dancers. Not surprisingly, this art became her life’s work. From an early age, the girl quickly progressed in her studies.

Already at the age of nine Matilda first performed on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater, and then became its prima ballerina. Her technique, grace and emotionality caused admiration of the audience. The future Emperor Nicholas II could not resist.

The first meeting of the ballerina and the Tsesarevich

They first met on March 23, 1890 at the graduation party of the theater school, where the entire royal family gathered. After the performance, the influential guests stayed for dinner with the pupils. Nicholas II sat down at the table with Matilda. It was at this moment, according to the memoirs of the ballerina, between them with the Tsesarevich there was a first feeling.

Among historians there is an opinion that their seating was not accidental. It is quite possible that Emperor Alexander III himself had a hand in it. He had his own ideas about the formation of the personality of the heir to the throne.

Nicholas II

After dinner, Matilda described in her diary her impressions. The girl noted the amazing beauty and some shyness of Nicholas II. However, the Tsesarevich mentioned his sympathy for her only later.

This happened July 6, 1890, two days after Kshesinskaya’s performance at the theater. Ballerina made every effort to crush the head of the future emperor. The plan worked. Nicholas several times cast a glance at her in the theater, and in his diary noted that he was very interested in Kshesinskaya.

That month they saw each other several more times during performances and short meetings. According to Matilda’s notes, she tried to get in front of the Tsesarevich more often. Sympathy between them gradually grew. During intermissions, the heir liked to go backstage. There they exchanged shy smiles.

The rapprochement of Kshesinskaya and Nicholas II

The duties of the heir to the throne have always stood above feelings. That same summer, Nicholas went on a training camp, a trip around the world, and then to Denmark. For the first time Kshesinskaya and Tsesarevich were alone only a year and a half after meeting.

The final rapprochement happened when the ballerina fell ill. She had an eye infection. The future emperor wanted to visit the girl and learn about her well-being. After this meeting, Nicholas began to call the ballerina affectionately Maley. Their correspondence and visits became regular, as far as possible.

Matilda Kshesinskaya

On March 23, 1892, the heir sent a letter to Mathilde, in which he reported his visit to her at 11 pm. The ballerina described the day in detail in her diary. Cesarevich quickly entered the room without taking off his coat. And then kissed Kshesinskaya for the first time. All night they spent talking.

Records of Nicholas and Matilda convey a wide range of feelings: from awe to experience. It is quite permissible to say that this was practically the first conscious love affair of the last Russian emperor. The royal family did not particularly hinder the development of the affair, finding nothing criminal in it.

The breakup of Matilda and Nicholas II

Nicholas regularly sent bouquets and gave jewelry to Matilda. But the more the couple got closer, the more often the girl found reasons for jealousy. She was upset if it seemed to her that the Tsesarevich was looking at other ladies for too long. Nicholas’s communication with ballet dancers also irritated Kshesinskaya. Matilda dreamed of being the only woman with whom he could openly appear in public.

At a certain point, Nicholas made it clear to the ballerina that their relationship would live only until his official engagement. And so it happened. The last meeting took place at the end of 1893. After the announcement of the engagement of Nicholas II with Alice of Hesse, they stopped communicating. Even friendly relations could seriously hit the reputation of the Tsesarevich.

Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna

Public reaction

Most of society, which at that time consisted of peasants, did not even know about the affair. The other, educated, if and discussed, then in an informal atmosphere. Probably, condemnation of the affair appeared later, already during the reign of Nicholas II. Especially among those who sought to form a negative image of him. After all, the emperor in the mass consciousness was supposed to personify the ideal – in all spheres of life.

However, even in the days of Alexander II, some of his opponents found a reason to condemn the personal life of the royal family. This became a kind of tradition, although both emperors were impeccable family men.

Interestingly, Matilda herself noted in her memoirs that the tsesarevich lacked the qualities necessary for an emperor. Perhaps she adopted such a position because of her personal feelings.