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Lot Essay
While the lack of archival records makes an attribution difficult, evidence points to Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich (1779-1831) as the likely recipient of the present charger. The initial 'K' beneath the Russian Imperial crown, the date of production, and the military ornament all point to Konstantin.
Konstantin Pavlovich was the second son of Emperor Paul I (1754-1801) and Tsesarevich of Russia throughout the reign of his elder brother Alexander I (1777-1825). For sixteen days, from November 27 to December 13, 1825, Konstantin Pavlovich was officially regarded as Emperor Konstantin I, although he did not recognize his own ascension to the throne and never reigned. A manifesto of Emperor Alexander I, dated August 16, 1823, officially confirmed the abdication of Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich and designated his younger brother, Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich, as heir. The manifesto was to be made public immediately following the death of Emperor Alexander I. However, upon receiving the news of the Emperor's death, the majority of the State Council and Nicholas Pavlovich were concerned about legal precedent and found it impossible to fulfill the manifesto. Konstantin Pavlovich was given the oath of allegiance and even a rouble coin with the profile of the new emperor was struck at the St. Petersburg Mint. Regardless, Konstantin demanded the manifesto be fulfilled and twice confirmed his abdication. Thus on December 13, 1825 Nicholas proclaimed himself Emperor. A controversy surrounded the succession and led on the following day to the Decembrist revolt against Nicholas's assumption of the throne. Nicholas prevailed and went on to rule the Russian Empire for thirty years. Konstantin, although he had been excluded from the line of succession, continued to be called the Tsesarevich.
The date of the present charger, 1826, falls just one year after Konstantin's disputed ascension to the throne and the Decembrist revolt.
Konstantin Pavlovich was the second son of Emperor Paul I (1754-1801) and Tsesarevich of Russia throughout the reign of his elder brother Alexander I (1777-1825). For sixteen days, from November 27 to December 13, 1825, Konstantin Pavlovich was officially regarded as Emperor Konstantin I, although he did not recognize his own ascension to the throne and never reigned. A manifesto of Emperor Alexander I, dated August 16, 1823, officially confirmed the abdication of Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich and designated his younger brother, Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich, as heir. The manifesto was to be made public immediately following the death of Emperor Alexander I. However, upon receiving the news of the Emperor's death, the majority of the State Council and Nicholas Pavlovich were concerned about legal precedent and found it impossible to fulfill the manifesto. Konstantin Pavlovich was given the oath of allegiance and even a rouble coin with the profile of the new emperor was struck at the St. Petersburg Mint. Regardless, Konstantin demanded the manifesto be fulfilled and twice confirmed his abdication. Thus on December 13, 1825 Nicholas proclaimed himself Emperor. A controversy surrounded the succession and led on the following day to the Decembrist revolt against Nicholas's assumption of the throne. Nicholas prevailed and went on to rule the Russian Empire for thirty years. Konstantin, although he had been excluded from the line of succession, continued to be called the Tsesarevich.
The date of the present charger, 1826, falls just one year after Konstantin's disputed ascension to the throne and the Decembrist revolt.