Аннотация: Lenya Bobrov reflects on Borki and Björkö. A story.
Lenya Bobrov reflects on Borki and Björkö. A story.
The anniversary of the train crash of Emperor Alexander III near the Borki station in 1888 is gradually approaching.
The anniversary of the Russian-German union treaty signed off the Baltic island of Björkö (1905) passed unnoticed.
One of the results of the collapse of the imperial train was the ascent under Alexander III of the hierarchical ladder of Sergei Witte, who warned about the danger of an accident before (untill) the crash.
The imperial retinue is used to traveling with high speed, like a breeze... And they not used to listening to people who have an independent opinion.
However, the matter had deeper roots.
The absolute monarchy had an immanent defect - it brought up the habit of obedience and provoked the adoption of catastrophic decisions.
Alexander III, even before his accession to the throne, having examined the paintings of Vasily Vereshchagin about the war of 1877-1878, was distinguished by caution and deserved the name "Peacemaker".
The train disaster predicted by Sergei Witte became a sufficient argument for inviting a person (Witte) who was not distinguished by a habit of obedience.
In 1905, less than a year remained before the resignation of Sergei Witte, when the Treaty of Bjork was signed.
It was a secret Russian-German alliance treaty. It was signed by the Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the German Emperor Wilhelm II (near the Baltic island of Björkö).
Lenya Bobrov is especially interested in the figure of Aleksei Birilev, the Russian Minister of the Navy.
The signatures of the emperors had to be certified (confirmed) by the signatures of officials.
According to the memoirs, Nicholas II invited Birilev and asked him to sign the contract without reading the text. Birilev could not object to the emperor's request.
So, on the part of Russia, the treaty was signed by two officials - the emperor and the Minister of the Navy - and one of the figures, who signed this treaty, did not read it. S. Yu. Witte, even before his resignation, convinced (together with Foreign Minister Vladimir Lamsdorf) the emperor of the need to terminate the Treaty of Björkö.
Sergei Witte was replaced in 1906 by Ivan Goremykin.
Now it is fashionable to recall various historical events.
What to post online? A photo of Borki train disaster (1888)? Photo of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the German Emperor Wilhelm II? Photo of Witte and Birilev - the heroes of Borki and Björkö?
Lenya posts a photo of Ivan Goremykin. Below the photo is a caption (an epigram from 1914):
Friend, in vain
Not believe false hope:
Woe [Gore] we were myking earlier,
Woe [Gore] we are myking now.
[unofficial translation]
After this publication, Lenya's authority in the historical environment will grow, and he will be included in the number of authoritative Russial historians (who are eligible to receive state scientific mega-grants).
August 16, 2022 17:38
Translation from Russian into English: August 16, 2022 18:25.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Борки и Бьёркё размышляет Лёня Бобров. Рассказ'.
{ 3133. О Борки и Бьёркё размышляет Лёня Бобров. Рассказ.
MMMCIV. Lenya Bobrov reflects on Borki and Björkö. A story.
Vladimir Zalessky Internet-bibliotheca. Интернет-библиотека Владимира Залесского}