Nicholas I

He was born in 1796 as the ninth child of Emperor Paul I and Empress Maria Feodorovna. Brothers and sisters: Alexander I the Blessed (December 12, 1777 – November 19, 1825) was the Emperor, Constantine (April 27, 1779 – June 15, 1831) – during his father’s lifetime he was appointed Tsarevich, but renounced the throne to marry a Polish noblewoman, one of the few princes who was granted a divorce at that time, a very unpleasant person, Alexandra (July 29, 1783 – March 4, 1801), Elena (December 13, 1784 – September 12, 1803), Maria (February 4, 1786 – June 11, 1859) received from her grandmother, Catherine II, the nickname “guardsman in a skirt”, Grand Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, wife of Grand Duke Karl Friedrich of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Catherine (May 10, 1788 - unknown date of early death), Olga (11 July 1792 - 15 January 1795), Anne (1795 - 1865), Queen Consort of the Netherlands and Grand Duchess Consort of Luxembourg (1840-1849), wife of Willem II (since 1816), Michael (1798 - 1849), General Feldzeugmeister. Children: Alexander Nikolaevich (born April 17 (29), 1818, heir to the throne, Maria Nikolaevna (born August 6 (18), 1819, Olga Nikolaevna (born August 30 (September 11), 1822, Alexandra Nikolaevna (born June 12 (24), 1825, Konstantin Nikolaevich (born 1827) Nikolai Nikolaevich (the Elder) (July 27 (August 8), 1831, Mikhail Nikolaevich (born 1832). Nicholas is the only Russian emperor whose upbringing included flogging. He did not take part in military actions.

His workday starts at six in the morning, often staying up until two in the morning reviewing documents. He does morning exercises, including rifle exercises, and always eats five pickles for breakfast. He plays musical instruments, preferring brass instruments. In his limited free time, he draws (quite well, I must say) and goes to the theater; he enjoys comedies and is not averse to a good joke. He doesn't smoke, hates the smell of tobacco, and drinks alcohol only on holidays, and then only in small quantities.

A complex man. He combines lofty knightly nobility and a mania for control, reckless courage and petty caution, bravado and asceticism, a love of art and a dull mind, piety and cruelty, an almost childish irascibility and unyielding coldness. He is confident that his ascension to the throne is the fulfillment of God's will, although he sometimes doubts his legitimacy. He loves children and cares for them, even if they are the children of the Decembrists. He is very attached to his family and friends. A conservative, traditionalist, and patriot, he values ​​diligence, efficiency, and a lack of freethinking inclinations in those who serve him.

Nikolai has a Greek profile, a high but slightly sunken forehead, a straight and well-shaped Roman nose, a very handsome, moderate mouth, and a noble, oval, somewhat elongated face, military in appearance, more German than Slavic. His gait and bearing are relaxed and impressive. Nikolai is tall, almost two meters tall, not counting the heels of his officer's boots. He is lean, has a broad chest, somewhat long arms, a quick gaze, and a resonant voice reminiscent of a baritone tenor. He is slender and agile, and the freshness of his face bespeaks iron health. No face so mercilessly reveals a person's character as his. But most importantly, it is his eyes, sharp and cold as winter.