Yusupov Felix Felixovich. The family curse of the Yusupov princes - a little bit of good things Count Yusupov biography

The “golden boy” of the degenerating Russian aristocracy, he did a lot to become famous, but in history he remained the murderer of Grigory Rasputin.

Frivolous aristocrat

The blood of the nomadic ancestors who founded the Yusupov family, oddly enough, left a special imprint on the indirect heir of the dynasty. In all European salons they talked about Felix’s unbridled and frivolous disposition. Contemporaries retained memories of how, after failing the military school exams, he, without hesitation, became friends with the gypsies, participated in camp performances, singing the soprano part. After lengthy attempts to enter Oxford, having finally achieved his goal, he preferred the comfortable chairs of London theaters to the hard benches of university auditoriums.
The prestige of his own family did not seem to bother Felix at all. For some time he even performed in a cabaret - an unheard of baseness for an aristocrat. Moreover, he played a female role, instead of one of the “blue-eyed actresses” of the Aquarium Theater. The deception was discovered when one of the guests noticed the Yusupov family diamonds on the singer.

Zinaida Nikolaevna, Felix's mother, wanted a daughter. She even made a pink dress for the unborn child. The woman compensated for the disappointment of the birth of her son by raising Felix to be a future lady. Until the age of four, Felix wore a “girl’s” dress, loved to try on his mother’s jewelry and put on makeup. “Mother’s whim subsequently left its mark on my character,” Felix recalled in his memoirs. Felix Yusupov loved to dress up in women’s clothes even in adulthood. Despite his high origins, he remained one of the first “freaks” of his time: he loved to come to a restaurant wearing makeup, in a woman’s dress, and performed romances in this form. They couldn’t help but talk about this; they gossiped about the oddities of the “golden boy” on every corner. The marriage to Irina Romanova largely “whitened” Felix’s biography, although even after the wedding he did not abandon his old habits.

Rasputin's killer

Hundreds of books have been written and dozens of films have been made about this page in the life of Felix Yusupov. The official version is that the murder was committed in the interests of the monarchy. Rasputin was invited to Yusupov’s house, either under the pretext of curing Felix of homosexuality, or for the sake of Rasputin’s acquaintance with Irina (who was in Crimea at that time). One way or another, Felix Yusupov remained in history primarily as the murderer of Grigory Rasputin. A non-military man, a sophisticated esthete, he took part in a bloody affair, which largely determined his future life. Wherever Felix found himself after December 1916, he was first and foremost the “same” killer of Rasputin.

English spy

Felix Yusupov’s connections with British intelligence were unofficial. One of the participants in the murder of Rasputin, Oswald Reiner, a close friend of Yusupov since his Oxford days, was an agent of British intelligence. The death of the "old man" was beneficial to the British Empire. Rasputin advocated peace with Germany; Russia's exit from the war threatened Great Britain with defeat. Eliminating the influence of the “old man” on the royal family was thus the primary task of British intelligence. Reiner and Yusupov dealt with it. It is not surprising in this regard that Yusupov was released from exile by Kerensky, who was an open lobbyist for the interests of the British.

The IrFe fashion house, opened in exile by Felix and Irina, was a unique phenomenon of its kind. Countesses and princesses worked there as models and seamstresses. One of the models, for example, was Natalie Paley, daughter of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, a fatal beauty who later became the face of Vogue. The rise of IrFe was rapid, Felix and Irina focused on the “Russian style”, used silk painting, and produced several lines of clothing, including a “sports” style that was revolutionary for that time. However, as quickly as the spurugs took off, they went bankrupt just as quickly. The Great Depression, the Yusupov spouses’ habit of unjustified spending, and a change in society’s tastes towards simplification had an impact. In 1930, IrFe went bankrupt.

As they say, if you want to live, know how to spin. What did Felix Yusupov take with him abroad, except for a small part of the family jewelry? Felix took with him the glory of the murderer of Rasputin. He was not at all embarrassed by such fame. Even more: this fame allowed him to save money for subsistence. He gave reminiscences, gave interviews, and wrote an autobiography. All he had left of Russia was memory. It is not surprising that he was very unhappy when they tried to slander this memory. In 1932, the film “Rasputin and the Empress” was released. It proved that Irina Yusupova, Felix’s wife, was the “elder’s” mistress. No one believed in the success of Felix's venture, but he sued the MGM film studio and won the case, receiving $25,000 in compensation. It is significant that just after this incident, the credits of Hollywood films began to indicate that everything that happens on the screen is fiction, and any coincidences are unintentional.

I wrote about the history of the Yusupov family in a post. Separately, I would like to remember Prince Felix, who became famous as the killer of Rasputin. The prince's story about the murder of this enemy is reminiscent of a modern horror film. In his youth, Felix led a bohemian lifestyle; his favorite pastime was singing and dancing in city cabarets, dressed in women's dress. “Russian Dorian Gray” tried all the pleasures of a vicious society, where the smell of opium was in the air. In circles of decadence, such a lifestyle was considered quite acceptable and commonplace.

The memoirs of Prince Felix are interesting; he describes with self-irony the oddities of his life, when he became the laughing stock of the public, speaks honestly about his personal shortcomings and talks in detail, without embellishment, about the murder of Rasputin - “a demon in a peasant’s guise.”

Prince Felix Yusupov in Russian costume. Here he resembles Fedka Basmanov, the beloved guardsman of Ivan the Terrible. Fedka also liked to “dress up like a woman.” I have this in my post

As Prince Felix himself writes, his fiancée, Princess Irina, the niece of Emperor Nicholas II, helped him reconsider his views on life and pleasures. The prince called his former hobbies “poor.”

This is how Felix wrote about his future wife:
“I could not forget the young stranger I met while walking on the Crimean road. From that day I knew that this was my destiny. While still a girl, she turned into a dazzlingly beautiful young lady. She was reserved out of shyness, but her restraint added to her charm, surrounding her with mystery. Compared to this new experience, all my previous hobbies turned out to be wretched. I understood the harmony of true feeling.”

You can take Felix at his word. But an anecdote involuntarily appears.
The prince returns home in the morning. And his wife says to him:
- Where have you been?
- Played billiards with the officers.
- Why are you wearing a lady’s dress and your mother’s jewelry?
- Well, Ira, you walk like this every day. Did I even say a word to you?

Felix with his beloved wife Irina

It should be noted that Felix liked to dress up not only in women’s tchotchkes. He often appeared in the costumes of historical characters, perfectly fitting into the image of the heroes. The prince especially liked the character Cardinal Richelieu.
“At that time, costume balls became fashionable in St. Petersburg. I was a master of costumes, and I had many costumes, both men's and women's. For example, at a masquerade at the Paris Opera, I exactly repeated the portrait of Cardinal Richelieu by Philippe de Champaigne. The whole hall applauded me when I appeared in a cardinal’s robe, carried behind me by two black boys in gold trinkets.”

One day, dressed in a woman's dress, Prince Yusupov gained the favor of the English King Edward VII. This incident reminded me of the story of the Chevalier d'Eon, who almost became the royal favorite because of his disguise.

Masquerade scenes of the early 20th century in paintings by Konstantin Somov

“Once, we decided to go to a costume ball at the Opera as a couple: my brother put on a domino, and I put on a woman’s dress. Before the masquerade began, we went to the De Capucine Theater. We sat down in the first row of the stalls. Soon I noticed that an elderly person from the literary box was persistently lorning me. At intermission, when the lights came on, I saw that it was King Edward VII. The brother went out to smoke in the foyer and, upon returning, said with a laugh that a pompous fellow had approached him: I ask, on behalf of His Majesty, to tell you the name of your lovely companion! To be honest, I was pleased with it. Such a victory flattered one’s pride.”- Felix boasted.

By the way, the idea of ​​jokes with dressing up belonged to Nikolai, Felix’s brother and his girlfriend Polenka. Just for fun, Nikolai even helped Felix get a job as a singer in the chic Aquarium cabaret. The debut of the “singer” was very successful; after the performance, the conspirators roared with laughter in the dressing room, reading love messages from enthusiastic fans.

Cabaret "Aquarium", where Prince Felix shone

“Having diligently visited cafes, I knew almost all the fashionable songs and sang them myself as a soprano. When we returned to Russia, Nikolai decided that it was a sin to bury my talent and that it was necessary to bring me to the stage of the Aquarium, the most luxurious cabaret in St. Petersburg. He came to the director of the Aquarium, whom he knew, and invited him to listen to a French singer with the latest Parisian verses...

This is what posters looked like during the Art Nouveau era

On my poster there were three stars instead of my name, whetting the public’s interest. As I walked onto the stage, I was blinded by the spotlights. Wild fear gripped me. I was numb and numb. The orchestra began to play the first bars of “Dreams of Paradise,” but the music seemed dull and distant to me. Someone in the audience clapped out of compassion. With difficulty opening my mouth, I began to sing. The public treated me coolly. But when I performed “Tonkinka,” the audience applauded wildly. And my “Lovely Child” caused an ovation. I encored three times.

Excited Nikolai and Polenka were waiting behind the scenes. The director came with a huge bouquet and congratulations. I thanked him as best I could, but I myself was choking with laughter. I stuck my hand out to the director for a kiss and hurried to send him away.

There was an agreement in advance not to let anyone come to me, but while Nikolai, Polenka, and I fell on the sofa and roared with laughter, flowers and love notes arrived...

Six of my performances at the Aquarium went well. On the seventh evening, I noticed my parents’ friends in the box. They looked at me extremely carefully. It turned out that they recognized me by my resemblance to my mother and by my mother’s diamonds.

A scandal broke out. My parents made a terrible scene for me. Nikolai, defending me, took the blame upon himself. My parents' friends and our family swore that they would remain silent. They kept their word. The matter was hushed up. The café singer's career died before it even began. However, I didn’t give up this dress-up game. The fun was too great."

Living room of the Yusupov house on the Moika

Door to the bathroom

You can make a comedy about the adventures of Prince Felix. Perhaps the adventures of Prince Felix in the cabaret inspired the creators of the film “Some Like It Hot” (“Some Like It Hot”). The cross-dressing joke again led to a family scandal.

“I had a tragicomic story. I portrayed the Allegory of the Night, wearing a dress with steel sequins and a diamond star tiara. In such cases, my brother, knowing my eccentricity, accompanied me himself or sent reliable friends to look after me.

That evening, a guards officer, a well-known red tape guy, hit on me. He and three of his friends invited me to dinner at the Bear's. I agreed despite, or rather, because of the danger. The fun was breathtaking. At that moment my brother was playing nice with his mask and didn’t see me. I slipped away.

I came to “Bear” with four gentlemen, and they immediately asked for a separate office. The gypsies were called in to create the mood. Music and champagne inflamed the gentlemen. I fought back as best I could. However, the bravest one contrived to pull off my mask. Frightened by the scandal, I grabbed a bottle of champagne and threw it at the mirror. There was the sound of broken glass. The hussars were taken aback. At that moment I ran up to the door, pulled the latch and pulled. On the street I shouted to the cab driver and gave him Polenkin’s address. Only then did I notice that I had forgotten my sable fur coat at the Bear.

And a young beauty in a half-naked dress and diamonds in an open sleigh flew into the icy cold at night. Who would have thought that this crazy beauty is the son of worthy parents!”

Of course, Felix's father was outraged by such behavior and disobedience. Once he already demanded that his son stop the stupid antics that disgrace the family.
“My adventures, of course, became known to my father. One fine day he called me to his place. He called me only in the most extreme cases, so I chickened out. And not without reason. The father was pale with anger, his voice trembled. He called me a villain and a scoundrel, saying that a decent person would not shake hands with me. He also said that I was a disgrace to the family and that my place was not in the house, but in Siberia in hard labor. Finally he told me to get out. After all, he slammed the door so hard that a painting fell from the wall in the next room...”

Respectable family of the prince.
Mother - Zinaida Nikolaevna, father - Felix Feliksovich, older brother Nikolai and younger brother Felix.

For the first time, the prince dressed up as a young lady as a child; together with his cousin, they decided to fool around and, stealing outfits from his mother’s closet, went for a walk along Nevsky Prospekt...
“We were twelve or thirteen years old. One evening, when my father and mother were not there, we decided to take a walk, dressed in women's clothes. We found everything we needed in my mother’s closet. We dressed up, put on our rouge, put on jewelry, wrapped ourselves in velvet fur coats that were too tall for us, went down the far stairs and, waking up my mother’s hairdresser, demanded wigs, they say, for the masquerade.

In this form we went into the city. On Nevsky, a haven for prostitutes, we were immediately noticed. To get rid of the gentlemen, we answered in French: “We are busy” - and moved on importantly. They fell behind when we entered the chic restaurant “Bear”. We walked into the hall right in our fur coats, sat down at a table and ordered dinner. It was hot, we were suffocating in these velvets. They looked at us with curiosity. The officers sent a note inviting us to have dinner with them in their office. The champagne went to my head. I took off my pearl beads and began throwing them like a lasso over the heads of my neighbors. The beads, of course, burst and rolled across the floor to the laughter of the audience.

Bar of the restaurant "Bear" at the beginning of the 20th century

Now the whole hall was looking at us. We wisely decided to give it a go, picked up the pearls in a hurry and headed for the exit, but the head waiter caught up with us with the bill. We didn't have any money. I had to go explain to the director. He turned out to be a great guy. He laughed at our invention and even gave us money for a cab. When we returned to Moika, all the doors in the house were locked. I shouted out the window to my servant Ivan. He came out and laughed until he cried when he saw us in our coats. The next morning there was no time for laughter. The director of “The Bear” sent his father the rest of the pearls collected on the floor in the restaurant, and... the bill for dinner!”

The prince honestly explained his eccentric antics with his vanity and pride:
“In truth, this game amused me and, moreover, flattered my pride, because women liked me too little, but I could conquer men. However, when I was able to conquer women, my difficulties appeared. Women submitted to me, but did not stay with me for long. I was already used to being looked after, and I didn’t want to look after me. And most importantly, I loved only myself. I liked being the object of love and attention. And even this was not important, but it was important that all my whims were fulfilled. I believed that this was how it should be: I do what I want, and I don’t care about anyone.”

Prince Felix himself denied rumors about his dislike for ladies:
“They often said that I don’t like women. Not true. I love it when there is something for it. Others meant a lot to me, not to mention the friend who made my happiness. But I must admit that the ladies I knew rarely met my ideal. More often than not they charmed and disappointed. In my opinion, men are more honest and unselfish than women.”

Although the prince treated same-sex love with understanding.
“I have always been outraged by human injustice towards those who love differently. You can blame same-sex love, but not the lovers themselves. Normal relationships are contrary to their nature. Are they to blame for being created this way?”

As chronicler N. M. Romanov wrote: “I am convinced that there were some physical outpourings of friendship in the form of kissing, mutual groping and perhaps ... even more cynical. How great was Felix’s carnal perversion is still little clear to me, although rumors about his lusts were widespread. In 1914, he married the niece of Nicholas II and “reformed.”

Irina's sincerity and kindness especially attracted Felix. She did not have the characteristic qualities of secular young ladies, which repelled the prince. Secularism has always spoiled character.
“Irina little by little overcame her shyness. At first she spoke only with her eyes, but gradually I was able to appreciate her intelligence and correctness of judgment. I told her my whole life. Not at all shocked, she greeted my story with rare understanding. I understood what exactly disgusted me about female nature and why I was more drawn to the company of men. Women’s pettiness, unscrupulousness and indirectness disgusted her in the same way...”

As it turned out, Felix’s friend, Prince Dmitry (who later became an accomplice in the murder of Rasputin), also courted Irina, but seeing the reciprocity between the princess and Felix, he retreated.
“My engagement has not yet been officially announced. Unexpectedly, Dmitry came to me asking if I would really marry his cousin. I replied that nothing had been decided yet. “But I also wanted to marry her,” he said. I thought he was joking. But no: he said that he had never spoken more seriously.

Now it was up to Irina to decide. Dmitry and I promised each other not to influence her decision in any way. But when I relayed our conversation to her, Irina declared that she would marry me and only me. Her decision was irrevocable, Dmitry retreated. The cloud overshadowed our friendship with him and never dissipated.”

Although historians argue who Prince Dmitry loved more - Irina or her fiancé - Felix, or maybe both at once, and therefore suffered doubly, not knowing who to prefer. And while he was suffering and thinking about his choice, both objects of his love decided to get married.

Is Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich a rival or lover of Felix Yusupov?

However, the bride's parents doubted the correctness of their choice and decided to terminate the engagement. Yusupov learned this news in Paris. Immediately, he went to Grand Duke Alexander to convince him. As it turned out, Felix was slandered in front of his future relatives by people whom he considered his friends.

Felix Yusupov in the portrait of Zinaida Serebryakova

“Arriving in Paris at the Gare du Nord, I met Count Mordvinov. I heard with horror that he had been sent by Grand Duke Alexander to announce to me that the engagement was broken! I was forbidden to even seek a meeting with Irina and her parents. In vain I bombarded the Grand Duke's envoy with questions. He stated that he was not authorized to speak further.

I was shocked. However, I decided that I would not allow myself to be treated like a small child. They have a responsibility to listen before they judge. I will defend myself and defend my happiness. I immediately went to the hotel where the Grand Duke and Princess lived, went straight up to their room and entered without report. The conversation was unpleasant for both. However, I managed to convince them and achieve their final consent. On the wings of happiness, I rushed to Irina. My bride repeated once again that she would not marry anyone but me. Subsequently, it turned out that those who slandered me in the eyes of Irina’s parents, I considered, alas, my friends. I knew before that my engagement was a misfortune for others. It turned out that they resorted to meanness just to upset her. Their affection for me, even in this form, excited me.”
It is believed that Felix's rejected fans decided to stop his wedding.

The wedding day has arrived. Again there was some curiosity. The groom got stuck in the elevator, and the king himself, along with his relatives, had to rescue his future son-in-law from trouble.
“On the wedding day, a carriage drawn by four horses drove for the bride and her parents to take them to the Anichkov Palace. My own arrival did not shine with beauty. I got stuck in an old, shaky elevator halfway to the chapel, and the imperial family, led by the emperor himself, worked together to get me out of trouble.”

Description of the wedding from the prince's memoirs:
“Irina’s wedding outfit was magnificent: a white satin dress with silver embroidery and a long train, a crystal tiara with diamonds and a lace veil from Marie Antoinette herself.

But it took me a long time to choose an outfit. I didn’t want to be in a tailcoat in broad daylight and wanted to get married in a business card, but the card outraged my relatives. Finally, the uniform of the nobility - a black redingote with a gold-embroidered collar and cuffs and white trousers - suited everyone.
Members of the royal family who married persons of non-royal blood were required to sign an abdication of the throne. No matter how far Irina was from the throne, she too submitted to the rule. However, I wasn’t upset.

Accompanied by my parents, I crossed two or three halls, already crowded and full of ceremonial dresses and uniforms with orders, and entered the chapel, where, waiting for Irina, I took the seats allotted to us.

Irina appeared arm in arm with the emperor. The Emperor brought her to me, and as soon as he took his place, the ceremony began.

The priest laid out a pink silk carpet, along which, according to custom, the bride and groom should walk. According to the legend, whichever of the young people steps on the carpet first will be the first in the family. Irina hoped that she would be quicker than me, but she got entangled in the train, and I got ahead.
After the wedding, we headed the procession to the reception hall, where we stood next to the imperial family to receive, as usual, congratulations. The line of congratulators lasted more than two hours. Irina could barely stand. Then we went to Moika, where my parents were already waiting. They met us on the stairs, as usual, with bread and salt. Then the servants came with congratulations. And again everything is the same as in Anichkovo.

Finally departure. A crowd of family and friends at the station. And again shaking hands and congratulations. Finally, the last kisses - and we are in the carriage. On a mountain of flowers rests a black dog’s muzzle: my faithful Punch reclined on wreaths and bouquets.

When the train started moving, I noticed the lonely figure of Dmitry in the distance on the platform.”

Princes Yusupov
Vladimir Polushko

In terms of nobility they were not inferior to the Romanovs, and in terms of wealth they were significantly superior to them. The Yusupov family began in 1563, when two sons of the ruling prince of the Nogai Horde, Il-Murza and Ibrahim-Murza, arrived in Moscow.

Tsar Ivan IV received them favorably and endowed them with rich estates “according to the nobility of the family.” The line of descendants of Ibrahim Murza ended early. The younger brother Il-Murza died in 1611, bequeathing his five sons to faithfully serve Russia. His grandson and heir Abdullah converted to Orthodoxy in 1631 and was named Dmitry Yusupov. Instead of the Tatar name “Murza”, he received the title of prince and royal charters for hereditary ownership of new estates. The first prince Yusupov was granted the title of steward and was appointed to voivodeship and ambassadorial positions. He significantly increased the family wealth by marrying the rich widow Katerina Yakovlevna Sumarokova, the daughter of the devious Khomutov, who was close to the royal court.

The heir to most of this wealth was their son Grigory Dmitrievich Yusupov (1676 - 1730). He was a companion of Peter I's youth games, and in adult life he became one of the closest associates of the reformer Tsar. Prince Gregory participated in the implementation of all, as we would now say, “projects” of Peter I and, of course, hastened with him to the banks of the Neva to open a “window to Europe.” So the history of the St. Petersburg branch of the Yusupov family began simultaneously with the history of our city. Prince Gregory was the organizer of the Russian galley fleet, a member of the State Military Collegium. At the burial of Peter the Great, only the three state dignitaries closest to him followed immediately behind the coffin. These were A.D. Menshikov, F.M. Apraksin and G.D. Yusupov.

The heir of Grigory Yusupov, his son Boris Grigorievich (1695 - 1759), can also be considered a “chick of Petrov’s nest”. Among a group of young noble offspring, he was sent by Peter to study in France, and successfully graduated from the Toulon School of Midshipmen. During the reign of “Petrova’s daughter” Elizabeth, he held a number of high government positions: he was director of the Ladoga Canal, president of the Commerce Collegium.

Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov (1750 – 1831) achieved even more noticeable success in public service. He was a member of the State Council, a diplomat of the highest rank, communicated with kings and emperors, met with Voltaire, Diderot, Beaumarchais. As the supreme marshal of the coronation, he led the crowning ceremony of three Russian emperors: Paul I, Alexander I and Nicholas I. On the instructions of Catherine II, Nikolai Borisovich collected artistic works from the best masters throughout Europe for the imperial collection. At the same time, he began to collect his own collection, which over time became one of the best private collections of works of art not only in Russia, but throughout Europe. According to contemporaries, Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov was one of the most truly noble and cultured people of his time, without the slightest hint of stupid arrogance. It was to him that A.S. Pushkin dedicated the poem “To the Nobleman.”

The grandson of the “enlightened nobleman,” named after the legendary grandfather Nikolai Borisovich Jr. (1827 – 1891), at the age of 28 he was the commander-in-chief of the coronation ceremony of Alexander II. But in addition to honorary duties and high titles, he inherited from his grandfather a creative nature, a subtle artistic taste, and a passion for collecting and philanthropy. Nikolai Borisovich himself was no stranger to communicating with muses. He was fond of playing music and studied composition. His sonatas, nocturnes and romances were performed not only in St. Petersburg halls, but also in music salons in other European cities. He also paid tribute to literary creativity: he wrote novels and religious and philosophical treatises. N.B. Yusupov's books are stored in the former Imperial Public Library, of which he was vice-director for four years.

N.B. Yusupov Jr. became the last representative of an ancient family in the direct male line - he died without leaving any male heirs. Several years before his death, he received the highest permission to transfer the surname, title and coat of arms to the husband of his eldest daughter Zinaida, Count F.F. Sumarokov-Elston, and then to their descendants. To the credit of the Yusupovs, it should be noted that back in 1900 (that is, long before the coming catastrophic upheavals), a will was drawn up, according to which, in the event of the termination of the family, all artistic values ​​become the property of the state and remain in Russia.

Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova (1861 – 1939) completes the series of spiritually beautiful women who have graced the Yusupov family for centuries. We can judge their beauty by ancient portraits created by the best artists. The portrait of Zinaida Nikolaevna was painted by the great Valentin Serov, who managed to convey to us his admiration for the spiritual and physical beauty of this woman. Next to this portrait in the Russian Museum hangs a portrait of her son Felix, created in the same 1903.

Prince Felix Yusupov, Count Sumarokov-Elston (1887 - 1967) became the most famous of the Yusupov family, although he did not perform any feats of arms and did not distinguish himself in public service. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he was the idol of St. Petersburg's golden youth, had the nickname Russian Dorian Gray, and remained an admirer of Oscar Wilde throughout his life. In 1914, Felix married Grand Duchess Irina (Note from the site keeper: Irina Alexandrovna wore the title of Princess of the Imperial Blood), the Tsar’s niece. The Yusupovs became related to the Romanovs three years before the collapse of the dynasty. In December 1916, Felix became the organizer of a monarchist conspiracy, as a result of which Grigory Rasputin was killed in the family mansion on the Moika. The conspirators were sure that they were acting to save the Russian Empire. In fact, the murder of Rasputin only accelerated the inevitable collapse of the three-hundred-year-old dynasty and the subsequent revolutionary upheavals.

In emigration, the Yusupovs learned for the first time in the centuries-old history of their family what it meant to make a living. Felix worked as an artist, wrote and published memoirs. His wife opened a sewing workshop and a fashion salon. During the Great Patriotic War, Felix Yusupov showed real courage and patriotism, decisively rejecting all offers of cooperation from the fascists.

The Yusupovs left Russia in 1919 on board the English dreadnought Marlborough, which was sent for the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna by her august nephew King George V. The exile lasted for many decades. Only Felix Feliksovich's granddaughter Ksenia, born in France in 1942, waited to return. In 1991, she first crossed the threshold of the family mansion on the Moika, where the Leningrad Teacher's House was located.
On January 7, 1994, on the landing of the main staircase of the Yusupov Palace, Ksenia Nikolaevna Yusupova-Sfiri met the guests of the Christmas ball, which opened the “St. Petersburg Seasons”. The author of these lines was among those invited. And I remember very well that, despite the proletarian skepticism towards the noble-monarchical traditions (brought up by many years of experience in Soviet journalism), I experienced something similar to sacred awe. It was one of those rare moments when you visibly feel the cyclical nature of history and the fact that it moves, if not in a circle, then in a spiral.

At the very end of the 19th century, Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova commissioned a painting from the increasingly popular artist Serov. More precisely, paintings, since she needed portraits of all members of her family.

Valentin Alexandrovich was famous for the fact that he extremely disliked writing “the rich, famous and arrogant,” but he liked the princess and her family. The artist gallantly noted that if all rich people were the same, then there would be no injustice and misfortune left in the world. The princess sadly replied that not everything in life is measured by money. Alas, the history of the Yusupov family was so complex and tragic that it had every reason to be sad.

Origin of the family

The origin of the family was very ancient. Even at the end of the 19th century, when among the highest nobility of the Russian Empire there were more and more people from among wealthy merchants and manufacturers, the Yusupovs remained not only rich, but also respected their family and knew a lot about their ancient roots. In those years, not everyone could boast of this.

So, the history of the Yusupov family begins with the khan - Yusuf-Murza. He, knowing full well about the glory of Ivan IV the Terrible, did not at all want to quarrel with the Russians. Wanting reconciliation with the formidable sovereign, he sent his sons to his court. Ivan appreciated this behavior: Yusuf’s heirs were not only showered with villages and rich gifts, but also became “forever the rulers of all the Tatars in the Russian land.” So they found a new homeland.

This is how the Yusupovs (princes) appeared. The history of Russian families has added another glorious page. The progenitor of the family himself ended badly.

Khan knew perfectly well that in distant and alien Muscovy his sons would be much better off. As soon as they managed to cross the borders of their former state, their father was treacherously stabbed to death by his own brother. The history of the Yusupov family says that the tribesmen were so enraged by the news that the sons of the murdered khan had converted to Orthodoxy that they asked one of the most powerful steppe witches to place a curse on their entire family. It was scary.

Curse of the family

The Yusupovs themselves passed on the words of the curse from generation to generation: “And let only one of the family live to be 26 years old. And so it will be until the entire race is destroyed.” Superstitions are superstitions, but the words of such an ornate spell came true without fail. No matter how many children the women from this family gave birth to, only one of them always lived to reach the ill-fated age of 26 or older.

However, modern historians say that the family probably had some kind of genetic disease. The fact is that the “ancestral curse of the Yusupov princes” did not begin to manifest itself immediately, no matter what legend says. One child at a time began to survive only after Boris Grigorievich (1696-1759). Until then, there is no information about the small number of surviving heirs, which suggests a hereditary disease. This suspicion is confirmed by the fact that with the girls in the family everything was much better - they lived to adulthood much more often.

Since then, each head of the clan had only one son. Because of this, throughout the 18th-19th centuries, the family was actually on the verge of complete extinction. However, this sad circumstance also had its positive side: unlike all other princely families, which by the end of the 19th century, for the most part, completely squandered their fortunes, the Yusupovs’ money was more than in order.

Family well-being

However, problems with the gene pool did not in any way affect material well-being. By the time of the revolution, the Yusupov family was only slightly “poorer” than the Romanovs themselves. Although the history of the Yusupov family clearly hints that in fact the family was much richer than the imperial family.

According to official information alone, Yusuf’s distant descendants owned more than 250 thousand acres of land, they also owned hundreds of factories, mines, roads and other profitable places. Every year, the profit from all this exceeded 15 million (!) gold rubles, which, translated into modern money, exceeds 13 billion rubles annually.

The luxury of the palaces that belonged to them aroused envy even among families whose ancestors came from the times of Rurik. Thus, in the St. Petersburg estate, many rooms were furnished with furniture that previously belonged to the executed Marie Antoinette. Among their property were such paintings that even the Hermitage collection would consider it an honor to have them in their collection.

In the boxes of women from the Yusupov family, jewelry that had previously been collected all over the world lay carelessly. Their value was incredible. For example, the “modest” pearl “Pelegrina”, with which Zinaida Nikolaevna can be seen in all the paintings, once belonged to the famous Spanish crown and was the favorite decoration of Philip II himself.

However, everyone considered their family happy, but the Yusupovs themselves were not happy about it. The history of the family has never been characterized by an abundance of happy days.

Countess de Chauveau

Zinaida Nikolaevna's grandmother, Countess de Chauveau, probably lived the happiest life (compared to the rest of the women in the family). She came from an ancient and noble family of the Naryshkins. Zinaida Ivanovna was married to Boris Nikolaevich Yusupov at a very young age.

She gave birth to her mature husband, first a son, and then a daughter, who died during childbirth. Only later did she find out that all the Yusupovs faced this. The story of the family so impressed the still young girl that she flatly refused to give birth again: “I don’t want to produce dead people.”

About the hardships of family life

She immediately told her husband that he was free to run after all the girls in the yard, she would not force him into bondage. This is how they lived until 1849, when the old prince died. The princess at that time was not even forty years old, and therefore she, as they say now, “went into all kinds of troubles.” In those years, gossip about her adventures was spread throughout the empire, to say nothing of St. Petersburg!

But the most scandalous episode of her biography was her passion for one young Narodnaya Volya member. When he was imprisoned, she abandoned all the balls and masquerades, by hook or by crook, seeking a softening of the prison regime for her beloved.

New husband

In those years, even for lesser sins it was possible to fly out of high society, but they pitied Zinaida Ivanovna: after all, they were the Yusupovs! The incredible story continued, but for a long time it was believed that the princess’s quirks were over. Her revelry suddenly stopped; the woman lived as a complete recluse for a long time. Then she meets a handsome, well-born, but completely ruined Frenchman, falls in love and leaves Russia forever. She abandoned the “cursed name” and became Countess de Chauveau, Marquise de Serres.

Strange find

Everyone forgot about this strange and stupid story, but then the revolution broke out. The Bolsheviks were well aware of the family’s wealth, since the curse of the Yusupov family was well known even in Moscow. They assumed that the “crazy potbelly stove” could well have hidden her jewelry somewhere in her former home on Liteiny Prospekt, and therefore they rattled all its premises literally millimeter by millimeter. An absolutely incredible discovery awaited them: they discovered a secret room, the door to which was walled up.

In the room there was a coffin in which rested the embalmed body of a young man. We can safely assume that the solution to the missing Narodnaya Volya has been found. Most likely, the countess was unable to get the sentence reviewed, and therefore went on a spree. Only after redeeming the body of her executed lover did she manage to calm down.

Zinaida Ivanovna, as we have already said, had an only son. Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov himself had three children at once. The eldest was son Boris. There were two daughters - Zinaida and Tatyana. No one was surprised that Boris died of scarlet fever at an early age. The parents were only consoled by the fact that their daughters grew up to be beautiful and were completely healthy. It was only in 1878 that a misfortune befell Zinaida.

New trouble

The family lived in their Arkhangelsk estate in the fall of that year. Nikolai Borisovich, being constantly busy at work, came home rarely and not for long. Tatyana preferred to read, and Zinaida loved to go on long horseback rides. One day she injured her leg. The wound was tiny and did not seem to pose any danger, but by the evening the girl had a fever.

Doctor Botkin, hastily summoned to the estate, made a disappointing diagnosis. Blood poisoning in those days only resulted in death. By morning, Zinaida’s fever did not subside, she fell into unconsciousness. It seemed that the family of the Yusupov princes would soon suffer another loss.

John of Kronstadt: phenomenon

Subsequently, Zinaida recalled that in that strange and unsteady state that separated reality from dreams, she dreamed of Saint John of Kronstadt, with whom her family had long been friends. When she suddenly regained consciousness, the elder was urgently called to the estate. He prayed for her, and the girl quickly recovered. But the sad story of the Yusupov princely family did not end there. At 22, Tatyana died of measles.

Continuation of the family line

It is not surprising that the old prince passionately desired his daughter’s marriage. Zinaida Nikolaevna then recalled that her father, who by that time had begun to get sick a lot, was very afraid of not living to see his grandchildren.

Soon a contender was found. Young Yusupova was wooed by the Bulgarian prince Battenberg, who was a direct relative of the imperial couple. The prince's retinue included a modest young man, Felix Elston, whose duties included introducing the future bride to the groom. And then thunder struck. Felix and Zinaida fell in love literally at first sight, and the feelings were mutual. Soon the young people got married.

Nikolai Borisovich at first almost fainted from such an extravagant decision of his daughter, but he did not dare to contradict his only heiress. Just a year later, the young couple had their first child, who was named Nikolai in honor of his grandfather.

New shocks

The boy was very withdrawn and unsociable; the princess tried all her life to bring him closer to her, but did not achieve much success. On Christmas Day 1887, a little boy said to his mother with icy calm, “I don’t want you to have any other children.” It soon turned out that one of the nannies told him that the Yusupovs were a cursed family. The stupid woman was immediately fired. Zinaida, who by that time was expecting the birth of her second child, thought with fear how his older brother would greet him.

At first, everything indicated that the boy hated his younger brother Felix. Only when he turned ten years old did they begin to communicate normally. But all contemporaries noted that the relationship between the two young princes simply resembled strong friendship, but not brotherly love. This is how the history of the Yusupov family continued. Discussion of the terrible curse that hung over their family gradually faded away. But then 1908 came.

Death of Nicholas

Nikolai fell madly in love with Maria Heyden, who was soon to marry Arvid Manteuffel, and the wedding took place because the young people loved each other.

Despite the desperate admonitions of all his friends, the offended Nikolai followed them on their honeymoon. The duel was only a matter of time. It took place on June 22, 1908. Nikolai died six months before his twenty-sixth birthday. The parents almost went crazy with grief, and from now on all their thoughts were directed towards young Felix. Unfortunately, the obvious happened: the spoiled boy became a “spoiled cherub,” greedy and capricious.

However, the trouble was not this, but his exceptional wastefulness. When the family sailed from burning Russia in 1919, they had more than enough money. For just a couple of “small and faded” diamonds, Felix bought French passports for all his household, and they bought a house in the Bois de Boulogne. Alas, the prince did not give up the comfortable life he led in his homeland. As a result, his wife and daughter Irina were buried right in the grave of Zinaida Nikolaevna. There was no money for the funeral. The line was completely interrupted.

Describing the history of our region (Rakityansky district of the Belgorod region), it is impossible to ignore the story of one of the influential princely families - the Yusupovs, who left an indelible mark on the history of Russia.

In the book of Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov “Before the expulsion 1887-1917” a brief biography of the Yusupov family is given:

“The family archive presents us with the founder of the family of the Yusupov princes - Abubekir ben Rayok, who lived in the 6th century and was a descendant of the Prophet Ali - the nephew of Mohammed. He was the supreme ruler and received the name Emir al Omr - prince of princes, sultan of sultans and khans. His descendants also held prominent positions: they were kings in Egypt, Damascus, Antioch and Constantinople. Some of them ruled Mecca...

...Khan Yusuf among the Murzas / Murza - Tatar prince / was the most powerful and the most educated"

Khan Yusuf was the ruler of the Nogai Horde.

“...Tsar Ivan the Terrible, to whom Khan Yusuf was devoted for twenty years, considered the Nogai Horde a sovereign state and addressed its head as an equal, calling his ally: “My friend. My brother."

Yusuf had eight sons and one daughter, Sumbek, who became the queen of Kazan. The princess became famous for her beauty, intelligence, ardor and courage...

Sumbek ruled her kingdom in peace for several years. Soon she had quarrels with Ivan the Terrible. Besieged Kazan capitulated to the more powerful Russian army, and Queen Sumbek became a prisoner...

Sumbek died as a captive at the age of thirty-seven. But memories did not allow her name to sink into eternity...

...After the death of Yusuf, his descendants fought with each other without respite until the end of the 17th century. His great-grandson Abdul-Murza converted to Orthodoxy, was named Dmitry, and under Tsar Fyodor received the surname and title of Prince Yusupov...” Dmitry was married to the Russian princess Tatyana Fedorovna Korkodinova. The newly-minted Russian princes married representatives of the most noble families.

“...The son of Prince Dmitry Grigory Dmitrievich was one of the associates of Peter the Great. He participated in the creation of the fleet and took an active part in the battles, as well as in the government reforms of the great king. His intelligence and his character earned him the respect and friendship of the Emperor...”

Lieutenant General Prince Grigory Dmitrievich Yusupov /1676-1730/ was the hero of the Battle of Poltava.

Under Peter II (reigned from 1727 to 1730), large grants were made to the Yusupov princes in the Kursk province, including the Rakitnaya settlement; the same emperor grants Grigory Dmitrievich the current Yusupov Palace in Moscow.

“...Grigory Yusupov’s son Boris /1695-1759/ continued the work of his ancestors... During the reign of Empress Anna, Prince Boris Grigorievich received the rank of Governor General of Moscow, and under Empress Elizabeth he was director of the Gentry Cadet Corps. He was very popular among his students, and they saw him more as a friend than as a boss. He selected the most gifted of them to create an amateur troupe of actors. They performed classical plays, as well as works by their peers... Empress Elizabeth heard rumors about a troupe consisting exclusively of Russians, which was a novelty for that time. They were invited to give a performance at the Winter Palace. This made an impression on the empress, and subsequently she even found some charm in dressing the actors herself; she provided her best clothes and her jewelry to the young men who played female roles. This prompted Prince Boris to ensure that Empress Elizabeth signed an order in 1756 to create the first public theater in St. Petersburg. The prince's artistic activity did not distract him from government affairs...

Prince Boris had two sons and four daughters..."

His daughters married Izmailov, Protasov, Golitsyn, Duke of Courland. Of all the children of Boris Grigorievich Yusupov, the most significant person was his son Nikolai /1751-1831/.

Felix Feliksovich Yusupov writes about him this way: “Prince Nikolai is one of the most remarkable figures in our family. He lived the life of an intellectual and an original: a great traveler, erudite, who knew five languages, was a very famous person for his era. Nikolai Borisovich showed himself as a philanthropist of science and art and was also an adviser and friend of Empress Catherine; lived during the reigns of Paul I, Alexander I, Nicholas I...

Prince Nicholas was proud of his friendship with King Frederick the Great of Prussia and Emperor Joseph II of Austria. He was familiar with Diderot, D'Alembert and Beaumarchais. The latter composed poems for him wishing him happiness. After his first meeting with the prince, Voltaire wrote to Catherine II that he thanked her for the pleasure of meeting a very interesting person..."

Nikolai Borisovich was also a relative and interlocutor of A.S. Pushkin. Among the highest awards of the empire, titles, stars and estates, the highest is A.S. Pushkin’s message to him, consisting of 106 lines of poetry.

“In 1793, Prince Nikolai married Tatyana Vasilyevna Engelhardt /1767-1841/, five years earlier the former wife of Prince Potemkin /we are talking about General Potemkin M.S. - a relative of His Serene Highness Prince Grigory Potemkin/...

After the death of Prince Nikolai Borisovich, all estates passed to his son Boris Nikolaevich Yusupov /1794-1849/. He did not share his father's worldview. His independent nature, directness and frankness provided him with more enemies than friends. When he was elected leader of the St. Petersburg nobility, the decisive role was played not by his rank and fortune, but by kindness and decency ... "

Prince Boris was married twice. First on Princess Praskovya Pavlovna Shcherbatova, who died of childbirth when she was 24 years old. Then to Zinaida Ivanovna Naryshkina /later Countess de Chevaux/, from whom a son, Nikolai Borisovich Jr., was born.

Prince Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov - Jr. /1827-1891/, writer, musician, philosopher-theologian, vice-director of the Imperial Library. Author of the two-volume publication “On the Family of Princes Yusupov...”, 1866-67. From his marriage to Countess Tatiana Alexandrovna de Ribopierre /1828-1879/ he had three children. Unfortunately, son Boris died very early, daughter Tatyana died at 22 years old. Thus, Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna remained the heir to a huge fortune. As a result of the fact that Nikolai Borisovich had no male heirs, it was Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova who ended the direct line of the Nogai Murzas.

The elite magazine “Our Heritage” /5th issue, 1990/ published a portrait of her as a child, painted by an unknown artist. Even then, the girl promised to become a beauty and became one to the delight of her mother. L.N. Tolstoy in his “Autobiographical Notes” writes: “Zinaida Nikolaevna remains for everyone who knew her the perfect type of a charming secular woman. It seemed that she set out to charm and enchant everyone, and everyone who approached her unwittingly fell under her charm. A very pleasant face with charming light gray eyes, which she either squinted or opened somehow, smiling at the same time with her charming small mouth. Her slender figure and early graying hair later gave her the appearance of a powdered doll...”

In 1887, Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova married Count Felix Feliksovich Sumarokov-Elston. His father, Felix Nikolaevich Sumarokov-Elston /1828-1877/, was the illegitimate son of the Hungarian Countess Josephine Forgacs and the Prussian King Frederick William IV. /Other authors call the father of Felix Nikolaevich Baron Karl Huegel or “a certain Viennese banker”/ (Note from the site keeper: in the Yusupov family tradition, the mother of Felix Nikolaevich is recognized as Countess Katharina von Tyzenhausen, granddaughter of His Serene Highness Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov-Smolensky). As a seven-year-old boy in 1827, for unknown reasons, he was transported to Russia by Countess Tizenhausen, née Kutuzova. He was given the surname Elston - after the name of the hero of an English novel. Felix Nikolaevich Elston married Countess Sumarokova in 1856 and received the title of count.

And years later, his son Felix Feliksovich Sumarokov - Elston, thanks to his marriage to Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova, was elevated to princely dignity with the condition that only his eldest son would inherit the princely title. The eldest son of Zinaida Nikolaevna and Felix Feliksovich was Nikolai, but since at the age of 26 he was shot in a duel, the title, with the special permission of Nicholas II, passed to his younger brother Felix.

So, the last name of Prince Yusupov reads: Prince Yusupov, Count Sumarokov-Elston.

The last bearer of these high-profile titles was Felix Felixovich Yusupov /1887-1967/, who graduated from Oxford University, Major General of the Retinue (Note from the site keeper: here the author of the article confused Prince Felix with his father Felix Yusupov Sr., he was the adjutant general. His son did not have the rank of general.), who married Grand Duchess Irina Alexandrovna Romanova /niece of Tsar Nicholas II/, was most remembered by the residents of Rakitan.

The Yusupov family inspired great works and great artists. One of these artists was the wonderful Russian painter Valentin Serov. He painted many paintings of members of this family; portrait of Z.N. Yusupova, 1900-1902; portrait of F.F. Sumarokova-Elston, 1903; portrait of F.F. Yusupov, 1903, etc.

Felix Feliksovich Yusupov, thanks to his high origin, without making the slightest effort, was the heir to fabulous wealth, which, as if from a cornucopia, rained down on him. He had weight in secular society, an impeccable reputation, high connections, in short, everything to live carefree.

Constantly traveling around the world, Felix Yusupov did not forget to visit his family estates. This is what he writes in the book Before the Expulsion.

“...Before heading to the Crimea, where we spent the autumn, we stopped for hunting in Rakitnoye, in the Kursk province. This was one of our most extensive estates and included a sugar refinery, numerous sawmills, brick and woolen mills, and many cattle farms. The house of the manager and his subordinates was in the center of the property. Each unit - stables, kennels, sheepfolds, chicken coops, etc. – had separate management. Horses from our factories have won more than one victory at the hippodromes of St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Horses were my favorite sport, and at one time I was exclusively interested in hound hunting. I loved to gallop through fields and forests with greyhounds on a leash. Often the dogs noticed the game ahead and made such leaps that I could barely stay in the saddle. The rider held the reins on a strap over his shoulder, and squeezed the other end in his right hand: it was enough to open his hand to release the dogs, but if he did not have a keen eye and quick reaction, he risked being knocked out of the saddle.

My interest in hunting was short-lived. The cries of the hare, which I wounded with a gun, were so painful that from that day on I refused to participate in the cruel game.

Our life in Rakitnoye did not leave me with particularly pleasant memories. Since I lost my taste for hunting, I have seen only a disgusting spectacle in it. One day I gave away all my weapons and refused to go with my parents to Rakitnoye...”

But still, Felix Yusupov still had to visit his estate in Rakitnoye. After the murder of Grigory Rasputin, initiated by the prince, he was exiled here...

Tsar Nicholas II punishes the organizers and perpetrators of the murder: Purishkevich goes to the front, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich goes to Persia, and Prince Felix Yusupov is assigned an estate in the Kursk province - Rakitnoe - as a place of exile.

From the book by F.F. Yusupov “Before the expulsion 1887-1917”:

“...The journey was slow and without entertainment, but upon arrival I was glad to see my parents and Irina, who, warned by my father-in-law, immediately left Crimea to join me in Rakitnoye, leaving our little daughter with a wet nurse in Ai-Todor.

My arrival in Rakitnoye did not go unnoticed, but the curious came across an order not to let anyone in.

Our life in Rakitnoye flowed rather monotonously. The main entertainment was sleigh rides. The winter was frosty, but magnificent. The sun was shining, and not the slightest breath of wind; we went out in open sleighs at 30 degrees below zero and did not freeze. In the evening we read aloud..."

The last years of Yusupov's life were spent in Paris. At 60 years old, he looked dashing, dressed just as elegantly as in his youth (before and after marriage), lightly painted his lips and cheeks, loved to take relaxed poses, while a long-learned ambiguous smile reigned on his face. All the decades separating him from the night of December 18, 1916, when he committed his most significant act, Felix Yusupov lived as the murderer of Rasputin and no longer embarked on any political adventures. In Parisian, London, and New York drawing rooms they whispered at his appearance, looked at him with exciting curiosity, and he took such signs of attention for granted.

By killing Rasputin, Yusupov probably dreamed of becoming the idol of all of Russia.

During the first years of emigration, the Yusupovs did not live in poverty. Some part of their fortune ended up abroad. But the habit of luxury soon undermined this base.

In the Russian cemetery of Saint-Genevieve des Bois near Paris, under the Russian Orthodox cross, are buried: Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova, her son Felix Feliksovich Yusupov and daughter-in-law Princess Irina Alexandrovna, nee Grand Duchess Romanova (Note from the site keeper: Irina Alexandrovna did not bear the title of Grand Duchess, but , being the great-granddaughter of Emperor Nicholas I on her father’s side and the granddaughter of Emperor Alexander III on her mother’s side, held the title of Princess of the Imperial Blood), the daughter of Felix and Irina is Countess Irina Feliksovna Sheremetev and her husband Count Nikolai Dmitrievich Sheremetev.

Count and Countess Sheremetev had a daughter, Ksenia, in 1942. In 1965, in Athens, she married the Greek Ilia Sfiri, and in 1968 they had a daughter, Tatyana, the great-granddaughter of Felix and Irina Yusupov.

After the revolution, Ksenia and her daughter Tatyana, the only ones from the Yusupov family, visited Russia, the homeland of their ancestors.
This is the history of the family of former owners and organizers of the Rakitan land.