Part one of my great knowledge quest about Russia during the Crimean War (I’m doing some research for a book my father is writing and I’m editing for him).
Firstly, how would a common Russian (soldiers, both enlisted and officers specifically) have referred to the tsar in common vernacular?
Judging from reading War and Peace (though it takes place 40 years earlier), the tsar were popular amongst the general populace (ignoring the many assassinations, naturally), so I presume that some formality would have been in general use. Wiki and other sources seem to be ambiguous about whether tsar was a king or an emperor (much depending on foreign policy of the state you’re asking). So “His Highness”, “His Imperial Highness”, “His Royal Highness”?
Second question is about the availability of wheat in Russia, and to the Russian army in particular. I know that black bread is a Russian staple food, much thanks to the fact that rye survives in far colder climes and poorer soils than most grains. Would wheat have been available, or a pure luxury? If any localization is needed, this part of the story takes place in Ukraine, in the Kiev Fortress.
His official title was “Imperator”. But regardless of whether you count him as a king or an emperor, he is in any case “His Majesty”, not “His Highness”. Highness is less then Majesty. Kings and Emperors are always Majesties, while princes (sovereign or not) are always Highnesses.
Bringing to mind the old Russian quote “God is high above, and the Tsar far away”, rumored to be said to new politicial prisoners to let them know their stay in Siberia was not going to be pleasant
This accords with what I’ve read as well. The Wikipedia may be helpful:
My impression, though, is that the term (transliterated batyooshka), is a diminutive of affection, and was in common use as the informal way to refer to the Tsar, as opposed to his formal and official style and titles.
Indeed, and what would a correct formal title be? I’m thinking of two officers mentioning the tsar in polite conversation.
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“And what did (His Majesty|His Imperial Majesty|His Tsarifficness) say to Duke Constantine?”
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I’ve heard that quote (except for “Pope” in place of “Tsar” before but never as a negative…although I guess it could be taken that way. I’ve heard and always took it to mean that you could do what you wanted without repercussions.
Sort of. There’s nowhere (AFAIK) that has a name homonymous with the English phrase “below zero.” But “ozero” is “lake” and “b[sup]y[/sup]elo” is “white” and usually precedes the noun, as in English syntax. And places called “Belo Ozero” are about as common in Russia as ones called “White Lake” in English-speaking countries.
It is, however, quite likely that the alleged Tsar title is a made-up factoid for humor value, kind of like referring to Elizabeth II as “Queen of Diamonds (Alberta)”.