Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich

The Grand Duke compensated for his lack of external attractiveness with his defiant behavior - from childhood his favorite pastime was to shock others. He has a wide round face, large blue eyes, eyelashes and eyebrows almost black, a small mouth, lips quite crimson, a very pleasant smile, beautiful teeth and a fresh complexion. In his youth he was not handsome. Contemporaries described his appearance as rough, snub-nosed, and mongrel. Some features: • short upturned face; • chubby cheeks; • early baldness. Wide round face, snub nose Large blue eyes, which, according to the description, have a lot of intelligence and fire. Eyelashes and eyebrows are almost black. Small mouth, lips are crimson. Pleasant smile, beautiful teeth and fresh complexion. Strong, muscular build, but has a very small tummy in the part where the internal oblique muscle of the abdomen is located. Short, upturned nose, like that of Paul I's father. Chubby cheeks, wide round face, of medium height, slim, slightly stooped. Early baldness, which appeared after 30. Light brown hair, light, barely noticeable sideburns.

Konstantin Pavlovich's character was described as hot-tempered, sullen, harsh and unceremonious. He was often visited by outbursts of irritation, which were accompanied by bouts of unbridled anger. At the same time, the attacks of irascibility appeared so quickly and unexpectedly that it was impossible to prevent them. As a child, Konstantin Pavlovich was rude to his teachers, did not want to read or study at all. In anger, he threw books and notebooks off the table, erased written problems and exercises. At the same time, according to N. I. Grech, the Tsarevich was straightforward, forgiving and very kind. Konstantin Pavlovich also sincerely loved the army and military affairs. He personally led troops into attack, showed himself to be a courageous and brave warrior, competently commanded artillery Alexander Pavlovich and he were friends. Konstantin always supported his brother in everything. Alexander, despite his brother’s character flaws, spoke of him as a kind and sincerely devoted person, and showed him complete trust and friendship. Konstantin, unlike Alexander, knew nothing about the conspiracy against his father and was shocked by his death. • Military affairs. Konstantin Pavlovich sincerely loved the army, military affairs, possibly under the influence of Suvorov, with whom he made the Italian campaign. Some manifestations of love: Creation of the Polish army - having become the viceroy of the Kingdom of Poland in 1815, Konstantin Pavlovich saw his main concern in the creation of the Polish army, which under his command soon became considered exemplary in Europe. • Training of soldiers - military educational institutions were organized, where classes were conducted in Polish according to programs developed personally by Konstantin Pavlovich Military parades, inspections and drills - the passion for these activities was satisfied in the Kingdom of Poland: even in winter, when the temperature dropped below 18 degrees, he was given an inaccurate thermometer so that he would not miss his favorite parades on Saxon Square in the center of Warsaw. • Hot temper and harshness, which sometimes turned into unaccountable rage. Outbursts of irritation n

Konstantin Pavlovich was born on April 27 (May 8), 1779. He was the second son of the grand ducal couple – Pavel Petrovich and Maria Feodorovna. As with her first grandson, Alexander, the royal grandmother Catherine II did the same with her second grandson – she took him from his parents under her “wing”. And although she already had an heir to whom she dreamed of passing the throne, bypassing her unloved son Pavel – her first grandson Alexander, she also had grandiose plans for her second grandson. In accordance with these plans, she chose his name – Konstantin. And Catherine the Great had truly grand plans. The expansion of the Russian Empire was not enough for her. She wanted to conquer the Byzantine Empire as well – that’s it, no more, no less. Yes, Byzantium, captured by the Ottoman Turks, fell back in the 15th century. But the Russian Empire was constantly waging wars with Turkey for access to the Black Sea, and military operations under Catherine II were very successful. Having recaptured part of the northern coast of the Black Sea from the Ottomans, she decided to go further and revive the Byzantine Empire. Therefore, she really needed another grandson, whom she would make the emperor of Byzantium. And she gave him a corresponding name, in honor of the founder of Byzantium. And she dreamed of returning Istanbul to its former name - Constantinople. Catherine II showed her far-reaching intentions to the world right away. In honor of the birth of her grandson, a medal was issued with an image of Catherine on the front side, and on the back, against the background of the domes of the Cathedral of St. Sophia in former Constantinople, were depicted the figures of Faith, Hope and Love. At the same time, Love was holding the baby in her arms. Catherine immediately selected Greeks to surround her grandson – even his wet nurse was Greek. And when the Grand Duke grew up, he spoke both Russian and Greek equally well. True, these plans of Catherine were not destined to come true. And Konstantin Pavlovich chose a military career, which he began at the age of 16.

Personal characteristics of Grand Duke Constantine Pavel Petrovich's eldest sons, Alexander and Konstantin, were raised together. But how different they were! Both in childhood and later, as adults. And the hot-tempered, sullen, tough and unceremonious Constantine, not distinguished by a pleasant appearance. Flashes of irritation came upon him completely unexpectedly and turned into fits of unbridled rage. It was impossible to foresee and prevent these flashes. Once the tutor of the Tsareviches Laharpe complained that Constantine did not want to do even the simplest tasks. In a fit of anger, Constantine bit Laharpe on the hand. He was rude to the teachers, did not want to read or study at all. He threw books and notebooks off the table in anger, erased written problems and exercises. And yet – he was not stupid at all. Already in childhood he could really evaluate the features of his personality. Moreover, he could evaluate it critically. Konstantin wrote about himself: "At twelve years old I know nothing... To be rude, impolite, impudent - that is what I strive for. My knowledge and diligence are worthy of an army drummer. In a word, nothing will come of me in my entire life." His behavior was unbearable, there were no authorities for him. The Swedish king Gustav IV Adolf came to Petersburg to propose to his sister Alexandra. He and Konstantin were the same age – they were both 16 years old. In honor of the high guest’s arrival, the governor-general of Petersburg Samoilov was giving a ball. Konstantin approached the king and boldly declared: "Do you know who you're with? The greatest (expletive) in town." An angry Catherine II wrote to her grandson’s tutor: “Tell him from me and in my name that he should refrain from slander, foul language and debauchery in the future... I know of his disorderly, dishonest and indecent behavior in the house of the Governor-General, where he did not leave a man or a woman without a shameful curse... which even the Swedes could not hear without shuddering and disgust.”

The tutor, of course, tried to reprimand his pupil, but it was of no use. At the next reception, Konstantin approached the Swedish king again: "Do you know who my grandmother is?" And now he called Catherine obscene names. The royal grandmother could not tolerate this and the obstinate grandson was arrested. This method proved effective - Konstantin calmed down for a short time. And yet, it was Konstantin who was Pavel Petrovich's favorite son. Probably because of the similarity of their characters, outbursts of anger and unpredictable behavior. And Konstantin looked more like his father than the other children.

In 1799, Konstantin Pavlovich took part in the Italian and then in the difficult Swiss campaigns under the leadership of A.V. Suvorov, and showed himself to be a valiant warrior. And Field Marshal Suvorov showed himself not only as a great commander, but also as an excellent educator who was able to curb the obstinate nature of the Grand Duke.

At first, their relationship was not easy. The Grand Duke, in his usual manner, tried to interfere with the management of the army. Once, he personally took over the management of one of the Russian detachments, which was forced to accept a difficult battle that could have been avoided, and suffered losses.

A. V. Suvorov summoned the arrogant Grand Duke and gave him a real dressing down in private. According to the recollections of his fellow soldiers, Konstantin left Suvorov with tear-stained eyes and then behaved very decently. He personally led the troops into attack, showed himself to be a courageous and brave warrior, competently commanded the artillery. Along with the soldiers, he patiently bore all the hardships of service, made difficult marches on foot, showed himself to be a model of valor and heroism. Indeed, war was his true calling.

Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, having scolded him for a specific offense, was convinced that the Grand Duke understood everything and corrected himself, and gave him an excellent character reference. But Konstantin Pavlovich was only 20 years old.

Emperor Pavel Petrovich was very pleased with his son's success. He not only awarded him the diamond Maltese Cross and appointed him commander of the Life Guards Horse Regiment, but also, considering that Konstantin had also played a great role in the victories in the Swiss Alps, he awarded him, along with his son Alexander, who was the heir, the title of Tsarevich. In 1801, Paul I was assassinated. The death of his father shocked Konstantin incredibly. He said: "After what happened, my brother can reign if he wants. But if the throne were to fall to me someday, I would certainly never accept it." This was his first, but not his only, renunciation of the throne. Konstantin Pavlovich was indeed a brave warrior who served Russia faithfully. He learned the lessons he received from Field Marshal A.V. Suvorov. But they only affected the military life of the Grand Duke. Returning to Petersburg, he seemed to "break loose". His unbearable character, conceit, and outbursts of rage returned to him. He indulged in drunkenness and debauchery. Legends circulated around Petersburg about his "adventures", sometimes criminal ones. And there was a real basis for them. Konstantin Pavlovich showed his bad temper in full measure in his family life. What his wife had to endure cannot be compensated for by any titles or wealth and only causes disgust towards him and tears in the eyes when you imagine the suffering of his wife. As with her eldest grandson, Alexander, great grandmother Catherine II decided to marry her second grandson, Konstantin, early. True, the reason here was different. From infancy, Konstantin was distinguished by an unpredictable character, outbursts of anger, rudeness.

When his grandmother Ekaterina died in 1796, Konstantin Pavlovich did not hide his joy. His father, Paul I, quickly made his son the commander of the Izmailovsky Regiment, increased his allowance, and also gave him a palace in Strelna.

The poet Denis Davydov wrote in his memoirs about Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich:

"...gifted with remarkable physical strength, being of average height, rather slender, somewhat stooped, he had a physiognomy that struck everyone with its originality and lack of a pleasant expression. Let everyone imagine a face with a very small and upturned nose, in which thick vegetation only at two points above the eyes replaced eyebrows... Not stupid by nature, not devoid of kindness, especially in relation to those close to him, he remained a complete ignoramus until the end of his days..." Denis Davydov compared Konstantin with his father:

"Being gifted with a shallow soul, incapable of feeling high impulses, the Tsarevich, in whom mental disorder often manifested itself, had much in common with his father, with the difference, however, that the mental impairment of Emperor Paul, who could not be denied remarkable abilities and knightly nobility, was a consequence of those terrible circumstances in which his youth passed, and a complete lack of education, while in the Tsarevich, whose education was also very little studied, it was apparently hereditary. Only the army helped to tame the intolerable character of the Grand Duke. While still a teenager, Konstantin was enrolled in the Guards Corps, and under his command there were about a hundred grenadiers. And here he showed an uncharacteristic zeal for him, he drilled both soldiers and officers until they fainted. The parade lines of guards on the parade ground, clearly carrying out commands, simply hypnotized and delighted him.

In 1799, Konstantin Pavlovich took part in the Italian and then in the difficult Swiss campaigns under the leadership of A.V. Suvorov, and proved himself to be a valiant warrior.

And Field Marshal Suvorov showed himself not only as a great commander, but also as an excellent educator who was able to curb the obstinate nature of the Grand Duke.

At first, their relationship was not easy. The Grand Duke, in his usual manner, tried to interfere with the management of the army. Once, he personally took over the management of one of the Russian detachments, which was forced to accept a difficult battle that could have been avoided, and suffered losses.

A. V. Suvorov summoned the arrogant Grand Duke and gave him a real dressing down in private. According to the recollections of his fellow soldiers, Konstantin left Suvorov with tear-stained eyes and then behaved very decently. He personally led the troops into attack, showed himself to be a courageous and brave warrior, competently commanded the artillery. Along with the soldiers, he patiently bore all the hardships of service, made difficult marches on foot, showed himself to be a model of valor and heroism. Indeed, war was his true calling. Emperor Pavel Petrovich was very pleased with his son's successes. He not only awarded him the diamond Maltese Cross and appointed him commander of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, but also, believing that Konstantin also played a great role in the victories in the Swiss Alps, awarded him, along with his son Alexander, who was the heir, the title of Tsarevich.

In 1801, Paul I was assassinated. The death of his father shocked Konstantin incredibly. He said:

"After what happened, my brother can reign if he wants. But if the throne were to fall to me someday, I would certainly never accept it." This was his first, but not his only, renunciation of the throne.

Konstantin Pavlovich was indeed a brave warrior who served Russia faithfully. He learned the lessons he had received from Field Marshal A.V. Suvorov. But they only affected the military life of the Grand Duke. But they only affected the military life of the Grand Duke. Returning to Petersburg, he seemed to "break loose". His unbearable character, his conceit, and his outbursts of rage returned to him.

But they affected only the military life of the Grand Duke. Returning to Petersburg, he seemed to "break loose". His unbearable character, his conceit, and his outbursts of rage returned to him. He indulged in drunkenness and debauchery. Legends circulated around Petersburg about his "adventures", sometimes criminal ones. And there was a real basis for them.

Konstantin Pavlovich fully demonstrated his bad temper in his family life. What his wife had to endure cannot be compensated for by any titles or wealth and only causes disgust towards him and tears in the eyes when you imagine the suffering of his wife. Grandmother Ekaterina's Marriage Troubles

Just like her eldest grandson, Alexander, great aunt Catherine II decided to marry her second grandson, Konstantin, early. However, the reason was different. Since infancy, Konstantin had an unpredictable character, outbursts of anger, and rudeness. Catherine decided that marriage would help tame her grandson's violent temper. Although he was only fourteen years old. At the same time, knowing the nasty character of her grandson, Catherine proudly declared that the Grand Duke was an enviable match for any of the brides of Europe.

And indeed, as soon as Catherine's intentions became known, proposals to "become related" began to arrive from many European courts. But since Catherine herself was German, she believed that the best princesses grew up in Germany with its numerous small but noble counties and duchies. In addition, she believed that a girl from a small and poor county would be happy to marry a Russian Grand Duke, would not put on airs and would become a good wife (this is what happened with Maria Feodorovna, Paul's wife).

Naturally, no one asked young Konstantin whether he wanted to marry or not, and to whom. However, in the end he was given the right to choose.

Catherine chose the daughters of Duke Franz of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. They were described as well-bred, intelligent and educated girls. Their mother, Duchess Augusta, upon learning of Catherine II's intentions, was simply in seventh heaven - such happiness had befallen her! Having received the invitation, she immediately set off from Coburg to St. Petersburg with her three daughters.

Young German Bride

Konstantin, who was only 16 years old, was not thrilled with the prospect of becoming a family man at such a young age. But his great grandmother insisted, and after three weeks of dating, Konstantin was finally forced to make a choice. Of the three sisters, he liked the youngest the most - dark-haired, playful and constantly smiling Juliana (Juliana-Henrietta-Ulrika of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld). Konstantin and Juliana became bride and groom. He was 16, she was 14. Catherine immediately sent her mother and sisters home, although she generously rewarded everyone, and the girl was left alone. She began to live with Konstantin's sisters. But she became especially friendly with the groom's older brother - Alexander and his wife Elizaveta Alekseyevna. They were very sympathetic to the girl and later helped her a lot. As for the groom, the girl was not deprived of his attention. But how strange it was!

According to the recollections of contemporaries:

"...she was subjected to both his rudeness and his tenderness, which were equally offensive. He sometimes twisted her arms, bit her, but this was only a preface to what awaited her after marriage." Yes, Juliana was not deprived of her fiancé's attention. Konstantin liked to come to his bride for breakfast - at 6 o'clock in the morning. And so that the bride would wake up faster, he brought a drum with him. He made Juliana play military marches on the harpsichord, and he accompanied her on the drum. Juliana's days began joyfully! As did her entire family life.

At the beginning of 1796, Juliana converted to Orthodoxy and received a new name - Anna Feodorovna. And two weeks later, the wedding of Konstantin Pavlovich and Anna Feodorovna took place. Catherine II presented the newlyweds with the Marble Palace for the wedding, and after the celebration, the newlyweds went to their new home.

The ladies-in-waiting escorted Anna Feodorovna to her half of the bed, changed her clothes and left her alone to wait for her husband. But he still didn't show up. An hour passed, then another. The young wife didn't know what to think. Finally, an enraged Konstantin showed up. As it turned out, when he was already on his way to his wife's bedchamber, a soldier standing guard didn't salute him properly. This was enough for Konstantin to lose his temper and give the poor guy a dressing down. The "education" lasted for quite a long time. And when the young husband ascended the marriage bed, he "couldn't give his young wife the attention she deserved." But he was able to give attention to the soldiers who had angered him. Already at five in the morning, he was drilling them in the courtyard of the Marble Palace. But the first wedding night, which the young husband spent drilling the soldiers, was just the tip of the iceberg.

Family life

Konstantin fulfilled the wish of the royal grandmother - he got married. But Catherine was in vain expecting her grandson to settle down. In marriage, his bad character and unbridled nature began to manifest themselves even more - after all, she was HIS wife.

Adam Czartoryski wrote:

"The young princess was given to a young prince, barely out of childhood, whose violent character and some strange, cruel inclinations had already given rise to more than one conversation." Contemporaries were amazed by the incredible cynicism with which Konstantin told his drinking buddies about the intimate details of their honeymoon.

One of Konstantin's favorite pastimes was shooting a cannon loaded with live rats. And he did it not somewhere on a firing range, but in the riding hall of the Marble Palace. One day, he got bored with this too, and he came up with a new pastime. He dragged Anna Feodorovna into the vestibule, where there were large Chinese floor vases, and made her climb into one of them. And then he started shooting at the vase with a pistol!

But the first wedding night, which the young husband spent drilling soldiers, was just the tip of the iceberg.

Family life

Konstantin fulfilled the wish of the royal grandmother - he got married. But Catherine was in vain expecting her grandson to settle down. In marriage, his bad character and unbridled nature began to manifest themselves even more - after all, she was HIS wife.

Adam Czartoryski wrote:

"The young princess was given to a young prince, barely out of childhood, whose violent character and some strange, cruel inclinations had already given rise to more than one conversation." Contemporaries were amazed by the incredible cynicism with which Konstantin told his drinking buddies about the intimate details of their honeymoon.

One of Konstantin's favorite pastimes was shooting a cannon loaded with live rats. And he did it not somewhere on a firing range, but in the riding hall of the Marble Palace. One day, he got bored with this too, and he came up with a new pastime. He dragged Anna Feodorovna into the vestibule, where there were large Chinese floor vases, and made her climb into one of them. And then he started shooting at the vase with a pistol! The vase, despite its thick walls, shattered into pieces! How did Anna feel sitting there? It's good that the thick walls softened the impact of the bullets and the princess was not harmed. But only physically. She fainted from fear, and from then on they haunted her until the end of her life. In November 1796, Catherine II died. Anna Feodorovna was very worried. She sincerely grieved for her - and for herself, since she understood that she had lost her protector. She could at least restrain her unruly grandson a little. At the funeral, she fainted, which again caused great irritation to her husband.

In the spring of 1797, Konstantin Pavlovich and his wife arrived for the coronation of Paul I. Anna Feodorovna was unwell again. And again, her husband was the reason. The day before, early in the morning, when Anna was still asleep, he quietly brought drummers into her bedchamber. At his signal, they loudly beat the reveille, and the poor thing was incredibly frightened in her sleep and jumped up in horror.

In November 1796, Catherine II died. Anna Feodorovna was very worried. She sincerely grieved for her – and for herself, since she understood that she had lost her protector. She could at least restrain her unruly grandson a little. At the funeral, she fainted, which again caused great irritation to her husband.

In the spring of 1797, Konstantin Pavlovich and his wife arrived for the coronation of Paul I. Anna Feodorovna was unwell again. And again, her husband was the reason. The day before, early in the morning, when Anna was still asleep, he quietly brought drummers into her bedchamber. At his signal, they loudly beat the reveille, and the poor thing was incredibly frightened in her sleep and jumped up in horror.

Is it any wonder that such an abnormal family life, constant tension and humiliation affected both the physical health and the fragile psyche of the young Grand Duchess.

Contemporaries wrote:

"Anna Feodorovna had a very hard life because of Konstantin Pavlovich's impossible character, which no one could curb. His rude behavior and lack of tact turned married life into a real hard labor..." Anna Feodorovna became friends with Alexander Pavlovich's wife, Elizaveta Alekseyevna. She was also unhappy in love, but she was not mocked or humiliated - they simply did not pay attention to her. And she started an affair with her husband's friend, Prince Adam Czartoryski. And she introduced Anna to his younger brother, Konstantin. The sympathies were mutual. It is not known exactly whether there was an intimate relationship between them, or whether their love was limited to rare meetings and epistolary writing. But this was also an outlet for the young woman thirsting for love. But it did not last long. Paul I, having learned of his eldest daughter-in-law's affair with Prince Czartoryski, expelled both him and his brother from Russia. Anna was left alone again; her husband continued to treat her badly and even openly cheated on her. He arranged parties with officers and actresses in his apartments and forced Anna to attend them. Moreover, in her presence he brazenly discussed her feminine charms. He pointedly, in various ways

Her husband continued to treat her badly and even openly cheated on her. He arranged parties with officers and actresses in his apartment and forced Anna to attend them. Moreover, in her presence he brazenly discussed her feminine charms. He pointedly demonstrated his disrespect and disdain for his wife in various ways. They even said that he infected her with syphilis.

Anna's health deteriorated again. A council of doctors found her to be physically and nervously exhausted - which is not surprising. She was recommended to take the waters of Carlsbad for treatment.

Anna realized that this was her chance – a chance to leave Russia and get rid of her despotic husband. True, it was not so easy to get permission to leave from Emperor Paul I, but she still got it. And she left.

But first Anna came to her native Coburg. She had hoped to find support from her family. But when she told them about her plans to divorce Grand Duke Constantine, she was met with complete incomprehension. Her relatives were primarily concerned about the family's reputation and the fact that in the event of a divorce, they would lose financial support from St. Petersburg. Anna was sacrificed for the sake of her family.

Anna Feodorovna arrived at the waters even more upset. Previously, she had at least hoped for her relatives. But now she realized that she was completely alone. And soon Paul I learned of her intentions, and in anger ordered his daughter-in-law to return to Petersburg immediately. She had nowhere to go.

Final departure

After the death of Emperor Paul I, Anna Feodorovna again decided to leave Russia. This time, the reason was her mother's failing health. The young Emperor Alexander I, knowing full well about her "family life", did not object. And for Constantine, this was also simply a relief.

She never returned to Russia. And almost immediately began to petition for a divorce. Konstantin Pavlovich did not object – on the contrary, he would have been happy to acquire his own freedom. But the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna objected. She was afraid that Konstantin, having received his freedom, would marry morganatically. But she slyly explained that a divorce would harm the reputation of the Grand Duchess. Therefore, Anna Feodorovna had to wait a very long time for a divorce – only in March 1820 did she receive her long-awaited freedom.

• Relationship with the Polish Countess Jeanette (Joanna) Grudzinska (later Princess Lowicz). Konstantin Pavlovich treated Jeanette with tenderness, often liked to make her pleasant surprises. After the marriage, Jeanette received the title of Princess Lowicz Relations with soldiers and officers who served under his command. Konstantin Pavlovich attended soldiers' weddings, set up a school for Russian soldiers' children at his own expense, and lent money to officers who had lost their money or were in need, without demanding repayment. Entertainment • Shooting cannons loaded with live rats was Konstantin Pavlovich’s favorite pastime in the riding school of the Marble Palace, which was given to him. • Spending free time in the company of actresses - for example, at any time of the day or night, Konstantin could bring officers of the regiment entrusted to him to his wife's half; drinking and dancing to the sounds of the piano gave this army company a familiar ease. • Disliked: War. The Tsarevich did not like it, because war violated the order, harmony and cleanliness that he was accustomed to consider necessary. • Dangers. Konstantin Pavlovich constantly avoided them due to an obvious lack of courage. • Sciences. The Tsarevich was known for his aversion to science. • Laharpe. Konstantin Pavlovich did not enjoy the teacher’s favor and did not particularly like him himself. • Responsibility for the country. Konstantin Pavlovich did not want to become the Russian emperor and take on the responsibilities of governing the state Russian Tsarevich, the second son of Paul I and Maria Feodorovna, considered the heir to the Russian throne after Alexander Pavlovich. Konstantin Pavlovich recognized the superiority of his elder brother Alexander, considering him an emperor and himself a soldier.

Konstantin Pavlovich - Grand Duke, Tsarevich, heir to the Russian throne (1801-1822, formally until 1825), Russian military and statesman, colonel of the Life Guards (1796). Born on April 27 (May 8), 1779 in Tsarskoye Selo (now Pushkin). He was educated together with Alexander Pavlovich under the guidance of Count N. I. Saltykov and F. S. de La Harpe. During the Russo-Austrian-French War of 1805, he commanded the Life Guards and distinguished himself in the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, he was twice expelled from the army headquarters by the commander-in-chief for criticizing his actions. He enjoyed unlimited power in the Kingdom of Poland, without formally being a viceroy. After entering into a morganatic marriage (1820), in an official letter to Alexander I dated January 14 (26), 1822, he renounced his rights to the throne. Having learned of the death of the emperor, on November 25 (December 7), 1825, while in Warsaw, he swore allegiance to Nikolai Pavlovich as the new sovereign. After receiving news of the death of Alexander I in St. Petersburg on November 27 (December 9) of the same year, he was declared emperor under the name Constantine I. However, Konstantin Pavlovich's relationship with his second wife, Zhanetta Grudzinska, was different. She managed to tame her husband's unbridled temper and turn him into a model spouse. Konstantin surrounded Zhanetta with care and wrote in letters to relatives that only thanks to her happiness and peace reigned in his home. He was a striking contrast to Alexander: he was stern, rude, impudent, quick-tempered, did not like any useful activities, but at the same time he was straightforward, forgiving and very kind to those close to him.

• Irritability and harshness, which sometimes turned into unaccountable rage. Flashes of irritation came upon Konstantin unexpectedly, it was impossible to prevent them. sergeytsvetkov.livejournal.comdzen.ruvk.com • Disobedience to elders and riot of emotions. For example, as a child, Konstantin often acted contrary to his mentor, refusing to carry out his orders. historynetwork.ruannapeicheva.ru • Self-critical attitude - as a child he wrote about himself: “To be rude, impolite, impudent - that’s what I strive for.” dzen.ruvk.com Behavior • When not on duty, he was kind, friendly, hugged and kissed every officer, joked and made jokes, even at his own expense. • In service, he was often strict and rude in his treatment of everyone, and went beyond the boundaries of the rights granted to him by the charter. For example, once, during an inspection, he was indignant at the state of the ammunition of the soldiers of one regiment, and ordered the arrest of all the regimental officers, after first showering them with abuse in front of the formation. Military career • A penchant for military exercises - intense, harsh and responsible service under his father's eyes formed Konstantin into a stern, demanding, executive and knowledgeable soldier. • Display of bravery and courage - in 1799, the Grand Duke volunteered for the active army of Field Marshal A.V. Suvorov in Italy, and along with the soldiers, he made difficult transitions, steadfastly enduring all the hardships of life on the march. For his bravery and courage, Konstantin Pavlovich was awarded the title of Tsarevich. Personal life • Unsuccessful marriage with Anna Feodorovna - Konstantin Pavlovich never developed feelings for his wife, and demonstrated rude and offensive behavior. For example, he staged public scenes of jealousy, allowed himself physical violence, for example, at balls he locked Anna Feodorovna in a large floor vase, from which she could not get out on her own.

Personal life • Unsuccessful marriage with Anna Feodorovna - Konstantin Pavlovich never developed feelings for his wife, and demonstrated rude and offensive behavior. For example, he staged public scenes of jealousy, allowed himself physical violence, for example, at balls he locked Anna Feodorovna in a large floor vase, from which she could not get out on her own • Morganatic marriage with the Polish Countess Jeanette Grudzinska - she managed to tame Konstantin's unbridled nature and turn him into a model husband. Calling on him to be restrained, Jeanette gently remarked: "Konstantin! You need to think first and then act. You are doing the opposite!", and he humbly shook his head and agreed. But the second marriage was after 1820.

Many of the outbreaks were helped to be extinguished by his elder brother, Emperor Alexander silently approached, hugged and stroked his hair. Or he put his younger brother's head on his lap and scratched his head.

Alexander Pavlovich - elder brother Pavel Petrovich - father Maria Feodorovna - mother Catherine II Alekseevna – grandmother Nikolai Pavlovich - younger brother Mikhail Pavlovich is the second younger brother Elena Pavlovna - younger sister Ekaterina Pavlovna - younger sister Maria Pavlovna - younger sister Olga Pavlovna - younger sister Anna Pavlovna - younger sister Alexandra Pavlovna - younger sister Anna Fedorovna - first wife (Zhanetta Grudzinskaya – second wife. 1820)

1779 0 years 1789 10 years 1799 20 years 1809 30 years 1819 40 years 1829 50 years 1831 51 years