We will talk about the first ladies of the Russian Empire, their crowned spouses, favorites and favorites of the members of the Russian Imperial House from Peter I to Nicholas II. In order to appreciate these people, you need to immerse yourself in their lives and history, understand what worried them, what scared them, what they hoped for and what they sought. And the answers will not always be clear. Autocratic rulers, overseas princesses... they were not the only ones near the throne. At the Russian court there was no official position of “royal favorite,” as was customary in France. The love affairs of emperors and empresses remained under a veil of secrecy. And yet they were, prudent temporary workers and young people, carried away by the splendor of the court and dreaming of rising to the heights of power, pleasing the empress; sophisticated lovers and young girls who were sent to court by their ambitious parents... Did they manage to find what they were looking for? Did you manage to find happiness, at least for a short time? Or is the royal palace an enchanted place where even the best intentions do not lead to good? Let's try to figure this out.