Russia

Posts in The Copybook tagged ‘Russia’

43
‘Not to Exploit, Sir, but to Help’ Herbert Bury

Herbert Bury believed that it was the British way to profit with another country, not to profit from it.

In 1912, the Lena massacre in Russia saw 250 gold miners shot during protests over low wages and harsh conditions in a mine backed by British money. Investors were ashamed when they learnt of the systematic exploitation, and Herbert Bury assured Tsar Nicholas II that decent Englishmen wanted Russia’s people to prosper.

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44
Dear Elizabeth Herbert Bury

Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna was a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria, but to one ordinary Russian she was simply ‘dear Elizabeth’.

Herbert Bury was Anglican bishop for Northern Europe from 1911 to 1926. His duties took him to Russia, where he met Tsar Nicholas II and was deeply impressed by the Royal Family. The following story about the Tsar’s sister-in-law Grand Duchess Elizabeth, who was later martyred by the Communists, shows why.

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45
Peter and Fevronia Clay Lane

Beneath a clutter of mediaeval legend lies a heartwarming tale of a Russian Prince and his peasant bride.

Over the centuries, the tale of St Peter and St Fevronia has been told and retold with growing embellishment. But at its core lies a touching and credibly historical story of married love from the infancy of Christian Rus’, and the Church keeps their feast on June 25th (July 8th) as a Day of Family, Love and Faithfulness.

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46
Misreading Russia Richard Cobden

Richard Cobden asked Parliament to make a better effort to understand the Russian mindset.

Back in 1801, Napoleon almost persuaded Tsar Paul I to invade India. Further lobbying fell on deaf ears but many in London still believed Russia was poised to invade India, and even Western Europe. After pre-emptive wars in Afghanistan (1838-42) and the Crimea (1853-56), Richard Cobden urged Westminster to get to know Russia better.

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47
‘Never Trust Experts’ Robert Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Lord Salisbury seeks to calm the Viceroy of India’s nerves in the face of anti-Russian hysteria.

In 1877, military advisers urged Britain to ready themselves for war against the Russian Empire, citing St Petersburg’s diplomatic ties with Afghanistan, and warning that the Russians ‘could’ invade Turkey or even India. Lord Salisbury, Secretary of State for India, wrote to the Viceroy, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, urging calm.

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48
Edward the Exile Clay Lane

Two young English princes were banished to the court of Yaroslav the Wise, and one returned to claim the crown.

Edward the Exile was one of two princes, sons of Edmund Ironside, driven to Kiev after the Danish warrior-king Cnut the Great took their father’s crown in 1016. In 1054, Edward returned to England with his wife and young son Edgar, encouraged by his uncle King Edward the Confessor to believe that he was about to regain his lost throne.

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