A Swiss academic who tutored the children of Russia's Nicholas II and wrote a memoir about his experiences, offering a unique perspective on the Romanov family's final years.
Pierre Gilliard, a Swiss academic and author, is best known for his role as the French language tutor to the five children of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia from 1905 to 1918. His memoir, Thirteen Years at the Russian Court, published in 1921, provides a unique insight into the lives of the Romanov family during the turbulent years leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Pierre Gilliard was born on May 16, 1879, in Fiez, Switzerland. Little is known about his early life, but it is clear that he received a good education, which enabled him to secure a position as a French tutor to the family of Duke George of Leuchtenberg, a cousin of the Romanov family, in 1904.
In 1905, Gilliard was recommended as a French tutor to the Tsar's children, and he began teaching the elder children, Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia. Over the years, he grew fond of the family and became a trusted member of their household. He continued to teach the children, including the Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, who suffered from hemophilia, and the younger Grand Duchesses, Anastasia and Maria Nikolaevna of Russia.
In 1917, the Russian Revolution forced the Romanov family into internal exile, and Gilliard followed them to Tobolsk, Siberia. He remained loyal to the family, even when they were moved to the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg in May 1918. Tragically, Gilliard was prevented from joining his pupils at the Ipatiev House, and he was forced to witness their final departure from a distance.
In 1921, Gilliard published his memoir, Thirteen Years at the Russian Court, which provides a unique and intimate account of his time with the Romanov family. The memoir is a poignant and moving tribute to the family, and it offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the Imperial Family during the last years of the Romanov dynasty.
After the Russian Revolution, Gilliard remained in Siberia, where he assisted White Movement investigator Nicholas Sokolov. He later married Alexandra Shura Tegleva, who had been a nurse to Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. Gilliard passed away on May 30, 1962, leaving behind a legacy as a witness to one of the most significant events of the 20th century.
Pierre Gilliard's story is a remarkable one, and his legacy serves as a reminder of the human cost of the Russian Revolution and the enduring power of loyalty and devotion.
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