Letters of Prince Vasily Alexandrovich Dolgorukov

Letters of Prince Vasily Alexandrovich Dolgorukov to his stepfather Count Pavel Konstantinovich Benckendorff. The letters describe conditions and events at the front during the First World War in Russia. Transcripts of the letters in Russian are available.

Prince Vasily Alexandrovich Dolgorukov was stepson of Count P.K. Benckendorff and Major-General in Suite of his Imperial Majesty. As Marshal of the Court, Dolgorukov was assistant to his stepfather (one rank junior in the Court hierarchy). Very devoted to the Emperor, Dolgorukov accompanied the Imperial family to imprisonment in Tobolsk. He was separated from them when they were transferred to Ekaterinburg. Later, Dolgorukov together with General Count Tatishchev was also moved to Ekaterinburg but not allowed into Ipatiev House (where the Imperial family was imprisoned). Both were shot, as was the Empress's lady-in-waiting, Countess Anastasya Hendrikova. Count and Countess Beckendorff shared the Imperial family's detention at Tsarskoe Selo, but did not go to Tobolsk. They escaped to Estonia, where Count Beckendorff died in great poverty in 1921.

Reference: Finding aid to the Letters of Prince Vasily Alexandrovich Dolgorukov.

The letters are arranged chronologically.

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

This collection was purchased by the University Library as an addition to the papers of N.P.Shishkin, 11 March 1974 from Sotheby's.

Please see online catalogue for further details.

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the University Archivist, Special Collections. Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

Further deposits are not expected.

University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department also holds the Shishkin Papers which document the career of N.P. Shishkin in the diplomatic service of the Russian Imperial Government.