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Auction LII 13 Jan 2021
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Medal of 20 Ducat weight. GOLD. 48 mm. 69.46 gm. Unknown engraver. On the Marriage of Tsarevich Alexei and Princess Charlotte, 1711.
Diakov 41.1 (R5), Reichel 1150, Sokolov 163 (R5) -- unpriced. Conjoined busts right of Alexey Petrovich, heir to the throne, and Charlotte Christine Sophie, Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Latin legend around / Two hands clasped above a flaming altar festooned with two shields bearing the Arms of Russia and Brunswick, Latin legend around, in ex: "Celebrating the marriage in Torgau 25 October 1711". Excessively rare an apparently UNIQUE. Reverse edge cud as made
Extremely Fine.
Son of Tsar Peter and his first wife Eudoxia Lopukhina, Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich was bought up by his mother who was disdainful of Peter. Because of the animosity between his parents (who divorced in 1698), Alexei came to feel little affection for his father and grew to despise him, repeatedly thwarting his father's plans to raise him as a successor to the throne. Alexei married Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, who was connected by marriage to many of the greatest families in Europe, in Torgau, in October 1711. As part of the marriage contract any forthcoming children would be raised in the Orthodox faith, but Charlotte was allowed to keep her Protestant faith – an agreement opposed by Alexei's followers. The first six months of marriage were happy, but spiraled downward in the next six months. Alexei was frequently drunk, pronounced his wife "too-thin" and "pockmarked", ignored her in public and insisted on separate apartments. Nonetheless, the couple had two children, Natalia, born July 21, 1714 and Peter, born October 23, 1715 (the future Peter II). Charlotte died giving birth to Peter. On the day of her funeral, Tsar Peter sent Alexei a stern missive, threatening to cut him off if he did not take an interest in affairs of the state. Alexei replied by offering to renounce his succession in favor of his infant son Peter. Tsar Peter agreed to this but on condition that Alexei remove himself as a dynastic threat and become a monk. In August, 1716, Peter requested Alexei join him and his army if he wanted to remain tsarevich. Rather than give in to his father's demands, Alexei fled to Vienna, placing himself under the protection of his brother-in-law, Emperor Charles VI, who ensconced Alexei first in a Tyrolean fort and then Castello Sant'Elmo in Naples. The Tsar was insulted, considering the flight of the tsarevich to a foreign power as a reproach and a scandal. He believed it imperative that Alexei return. Alexei would only consent to return if his father solemnly swore to not punish him in any way, to cherish him as a son and to allow him to live quietly on his estates with his Finnish mistress Afrosinia. On the 31st of January 1718, Alexei reached Moscow. But concerned about reactionaries and in a bout of paranoia and hatred, Peter embarked on an inquisition and campaign of terror against Alexei and anyone connected to him. A "confession" regarding his flight to Vienna was extorted from Alexei which implicated most of his friends. Alexei's mother, the ex-Tsarina Eudoxia was dragged from her monastery and publically tried for alleged adultery. Any who had befriended Alexei where impaled or broken on the wheel while being savagely tortured. Alexei's servants were beheaded or had their tongues cut out. On June 19, 1718, a weak and ailing Alexei received 25 strokes of the knout, then another 15 a few days later. On June 24, through more coerced and extorted "confessions", Alexei was found guilty of treason by the Senate and court magistrates and sentenced to death. Alexei died two days later in the Fortress of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg.
Ex Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, Christie's, London, July 3, 1950, lot 300: Ex Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, Adolph Hess, Luzern, 25 October 1939, lot 74
Diakov 41.1 (R5), Reichel 1150, Sokolov 163 (R5) -- unpriced. Conjoined busts right of Alexey Petrovich, heir to the throne, and Charlotte Christine Sophie, Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Latin legend around / Two hands clasped above a flaming altar festooned with two shields bearing the Arms of Russia and Brunswick, Latin legend around, in ex: "Celebrating the marriage in Torgau 25 October 1711". Excessively rare an apparently UNIQUE. Reverse edge cud as made
Extremely Fine.
Son of Tsar Peter and his first wife Eudoxia Lopukhina, Grand Duke Alexei Petrovich was bought up by his mother who was disdainful of Peter. Because of the animosity between his parents (who divorced in 1698), Alexei came to feel little affection for his father and grew to despise him, repeatedly thwarting his father's plans to raise him as a successor to the throne. Alexei married Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, who was connected by marriage to many of the greatest families in Europe, in Torgau, in October 1711. As part of the marriage contract any forthcoming children would be raised in the Orthodox faith, but Charlotte was allowed to keep her Protestant faith – an agreement opposed by Alexei's followers. The first six months of marriage were happy, but spiraled downward in the next six months. Alexei was frequently drunk, pronounced his wife "too-thin" and "pockmarked", ignored her in public and insisted on separate apartments. Nonetheless, the couple had two children, Natalia, born July 21, 1714 and Peter, born October 23, 1715 (the future Peter II). Charlotte died giving birth to Peter. On the day of her funeral, Tsar Peter sent Alexei a stern missive, threatening to cut him off if he did not take an interest in affairs of the state. Alexei replied by offering to renounce his succession in favor of his infant son Peter. Tsar Peter agreed to this but on condition that Alexei remove himself as a dynastic threat and become a monk. In August, 1716, Peter requested Alexei join him and his army if he wanted to remain tsarevich. Rather than give in to his father's demands, Alexei fled to Vienna, placing himself under the protection of his brother-in-law, Emperor Charles VI, who ensconced Alexei first in a Tyrolean fort and then Castello Sant'Elmo in Naples. The Tsar was insulted, considering the flight of the tsarevich to a foreign power as a reproach and a scandal. He believed it imperative that Alexei return. Alexei would only consent to return if his father solemnly swore to not punish him in any way, to cherish him as a son and to allow him to live quietly on his estates with his Finnish mistress Afrosinia. On the 31st of January 1718, Alexei reached Moscow. But concerned about reactionaries and in a bout of paranoia and hatred, Peter embarked on an inquisition and campaign of terror against Alexei and anyone connected to him. A "confession" regarding his flight to Vienna was extorted from Alexei which implicated most of his friends. Alexei's mother, the ex-Tsarina Eudoxia was dragged from her monastery and publically tried for alleged adultery. Any who had befriended Alexei where impaled or broken on the wheel while being savagely tortured. Alexei's servants were beheaded or had their tongues cut out. On June 19, 1718, a weak and ailing Alexei received 25 strokes of the knout, then another 15 a few days later. On June 24, through more coerced and extorted "confessions", Alexei was found guilty of treason by the Senate and court magistrates and sentenced to death. Alexei died two days later in the Fortress of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg.
Ex Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, Christie's, London, July 3, 1950, lot 300: Ex Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, Adolph Hess, Luzern, 25 October 1939, lot 74