Education and Upbringing of the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich's Children: Strategies and Results (1850-1870s)

The distinctive feature of the Russian Empire in the second half of the XIX century is the merger of the Imperial family with the state apparatus. Representatives of the ruling dynasty received higher education at home but were cut off from the country's education system. This work is devoted to the study of strategies and results of education and upbringing of six children of a major statesman Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich. Sons and daughters of Konstantin Nikolaevich and Alexandra Iosifovna, grown up in the conditions of rethinking of pedagogical theories and practices, as well as major changes in the house of the Romanovs, became outstanding representatives of the young Great generation. The use of little-known archival documents allowed to study in detail the legal and economic aspects of the preparation of royal children, the goals and content of educational programs, their cultural and ideological component. Also, it was enabled to analyze educational practices applied to both the Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses. Parents and teaching staff not always managed to follow the chosen strategies. An important precedent was the refusal of the sons of Konstantin Nikolaevich to continue the naval service and to devote their lives to the Navy. However, in general, we can assert that the developed plans were realized. The research subject refers to the current history of education, everyday life, childhood, family and private life.