How much did they tip the heir to the Russian throne?

On April 1, 1835, on the anniversary of the heir to the Russian throne coming of age, Emperor Nicholas I approved the staff of Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich’s own court, where, in addition to the size of the crown prince’s servants, spending limits were set for all his needs - from heating and lighting to the amounts allocated for the purchase of tea and sweets .

Despite the modest size of the court, the maintenance of the future king-liberator cost a very significant amount
Photo: Rosinform

Evgeny Zhirnov

In April 1834, all non-taxable classes of Russia celebrated an important event in the life of the empire - the coming of age of the heir to the throne, Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich - the future Emperor Alexander II. The nobility gave balls, merchants donated money to charity. And Nicholas I, on the anniversary of this event, approved the staff of the Tsarevich’s own court, which, against the backdrop of magnificent celebrations, looked rather modest. The seventeen-year-old boy was appointed secretary, giving him a salary of 1,200 rubles a year, which was equal to the salary of the manager of a small state-owned factory.

In addition, the heir was entitled to two valets with a salary of 600 rubles per year, which was higher than, for example, a district doctor, who received 500. The staff included two valets, a chamber footman, who were paid 225 rubles, and two footmen for the ceremonial rooms with a salary of 180 rubles. The servants included a tafeldeker, who received 600 rubles and, together with an assistant, took care of the decoration of the table and the heir’s cutlery. Four Reiknechts (grooms) were responsible for the Tsarevich's travel, each of whom cost the treasury 180 rubles. The largest staff was the stokers - 11 people, who were paid the same as the paramedic and hairdresser, 120 rubles a year.

The kitchen staff was paid much better. Its head - the cook - was entitled to 1000 rubles a year, the senior cook - 500, the junior, as well as the baker - 300. Two assistant cooks and an assistant baker had a salary of 150 rubles.

In addition, some ministers were entitled to “grain money” - for food and “apartment money”, which, however, was not paid to everyone: “Widows and singles,” the document said, “should be given half of the amount specified for apartments, and those who will to live in government apartments, in their own houses or their wives’, do not rely on the production of apartment money.”

Considerable money was allocated for other expenses.

“For the construction of the livery and other dresses - 18,000.

On the table of the Sovereign Heir Tsarevich with invited guests, per year - 51,310.

For tables of various ranks and persons serving under His Highness - 43,690.

Per portion for livery duty and other servants - 8,000.

For sugar, tea, coffee, cream, crackers, etc. for the Kofishensky part - 30,000.

For vodka, wine, drinks, etc. in the Mundschen part - 62,500.

For dessert, fruits, etc. for the confectionery department - 20,000.

For lighting lamps and wax and tallow candles - 19,000.

For firewood and coals in the kitchen and other parts for heating the rooms - 16,000.

For laundry materials for table linen - 3,000.

For repairing dishes... and for all kinds of kitchen needs - 8,000.

For hiring workers for kitchen and waiter positions - 6,746.

Total expenses such as: paper, pens, ink, kitchen and waiter expenses, purchasing perfume for smoking in rooms and other small expenses - 3,000.

For the issuance of a one-time annual salary to widows and children of court officials and servants of the state of His Highness the Sovereign Heir - 1,800."

The total cost of maintaining the heir's court was 327,000 rubles, which was far from modest money for that time. Therefore, the document prescribed: “Do not exceed the total amount determined by the state.” Perhaps that is why Alexander II, accustomed from his youth to closely monitoring expenses, tried to restore order to the financial affairs of the nobility and the country. But, in fact, I couldn’t.

"Do not go out of the total amount"