The last parade uniforms of the Emperor Nicholas II: prior to World War I (unknown document from the State Archive of the Russian Federation)

Abstract

This article introduced into the scientific discourse a previously unknown document from the personal fund of the Emperor Nicholas II stored in the State Archive of the Russian Federation. The document, dedicated to manufacturing of the imperial uniform, is interpreted via examining the sources of personal origin — diaries and memoirs of the last Russian emperor and his immediate circle, authentic uniforms of the Emperor Nicholas II from Moscow and St. Petersburg museums, as well as photographic documents from the Central State Archive of Cinema, Photography, and Audio Documents of St. Petersburg. Methodological framework is based on the chronologically problematic method. In the focus of research is the dynamics of prewar events that cover June – August 1914. Emphasis is also placed on the military representative events of foreign policy nature: parades held during the arrival of the King of Saxony Frederick Augustus III to Russia, as well as the visit of French President Raymond Poincaré. The acquired materials can be valuable for in-depth research on the military history of Russia, history of Russian culture as a whole, history of its tangible culture and costume history. Another area of possible practical implementation is the research work on studying the Russian military uniform in the museum, aimed at fulfillment of its historical-cultural potential and historical uniqueness.