posted by Paul Rowe, 21 March, 2021.
HCMC, Vietnam.
HCMC, Vietnam.
Saigon welcomes Nicholas ii of Russia - 1891
The old poster below celebrates the ROYAL VISIT TO SAIGON
during March 1891 of Nicholas ii of Russia.
“Between 1890 and 1891, the tsarevitch […] undertook a world tour to the Far East " (K. Snow, 2007). The prince was royally received in many Asian countries.
The central feature of the 130 year old poster is
Saigon's royal welcoming-gate.
during March 1891 of Nicholas ii of Russia.
“Between 1890 and 1891, the tsarevitch […] undertook a world tour to the Far East " (K. Snow, 2007). The prince was royally received in many Asian countries.
The central feature of the 130 year old poster is
Saigon's royal welcoming-gate.
I wanted to know more about the commemorative gate:
I contacted Tan Man Kien Truc of Architecture Excursions for additional information about this piece of historical architecture?
“The "l'arc de triomphe" [according to the poster] was placed on "place Rigault de Genouilly" which is now "Mê Linh Square". The triumphal arch was totally removed after the voyage of Tsar Nicolai II, and was made of temporary and decorative materials only, so now nothing is left.”
Nothing left of the gate now. Shame. Let's look closer at the photo and see if it reveals any secrets.
I contacted Tan Man Kien Truc of Architecture Excursions for additional information about this piece of historical architecture?
“The "l'arc de triomphe" [according to the poster] was placed on "place Rigault de Genouilly" which is now "Mê Linh Square". The triumphal arch was totally removed after the voyage of Tsar Nicolai II, and was made of temporary and decorative materials only, so now nothing is left.”
Nothing left of the gate now. Shame. Let's look closer at the photo and see if it reveals any secrets.
By zooming in to the text atop the gate we can make out the words ‘SAIGON CZAROWITZ’. Immediately something does not seem correct. All articles stated the tsesarevich visited. But the sign welcomes a czarowitz.
What is a 'czarowitz'?
According to Britannica, "The term tsar [...] generated a series of derivatives in Russian: tsaritsa, a tsar's wife, or tsarina; tsarevich, his son; tsarevna, his daughter; and tsesarevich, his eldest son and heir apparent (a 19th-century term)." Feb 4, 2021.
No mention of a 'czarowitz' though.
*
Maybe czarowitz was a French word?
At the time of the royal visit, the country of Vietnam no longer existed; it had been part of colonial French Indochina for 40 or so years.
I asked a friend Lina Ngo, a resident of France, who currently works at the French Consulate in HCMC about the word.
“Czar, tsar or even csar are old French.
Tsar and tsarévitch are modern French.
The use of "czar" is said to be influenced by an Austrian diplomat's writing.
It is no longer used,” was her reply.
Merci beaucoup Lina.
Again, no mention of 'czarowitz'.
*
Maybe czarowitz was a Russian word?
I contacted another Lena. This time a Russian who once lived on Vung Tau island, Vietnam, in a past life. Lena Gordienko is now a student of Religious Studies at Russian State University in Moscow.
According to Lena, czarowitz is NOT a Russian word,
it is an "old European way of writing."
Спасибо Lena.
..
And of course, if it was a genuine Russian word it would have been written in Cyrillic alphabet.
**
What is a 'czarowitz'?
According to Britannica, "The term tsar [...] generated a series of derivatives in Russian: tsaritsa, a tsar's wife, or tsarina; tsarevich, his son; tsarevna, his daughter; and tsesarevich, his eldest son and heir apparent (a 19th-century term)." Feb 4, 2021.
No mention of a 'czarowitz' though.
*
Maybe czarowitz was a French word?
At the time of the royal visit, the country of Vietnam no longer existed; it had been part of colonial French Indochina for 40 or so years.
I asked a friend Lina Ngo, a resident of France, who currently works at the French Consulate in HCMC about the word.
“Czar, tsar or even csar are old French.
Tsar and tsarévitch are modern French.
The use of "czar" is said to be influenced by an Austrian diplomat's writing.
It is no longer used,” was her reply.
Merci beaucoup Lina.
Again, no mention of 'czarowitz'.
*
Maybe czarowitz was a Russian word?
I contacted another Lena. This time a Russian who once lived on Vung Tau island, Vietnam, in a past life. Lena Gordienko is now a student of Religious Studies at Russian State University in Moscow.
According to Lena, czarowitz is NOT a Russian word,
it is an "old European way of writing."
Спасибо Lena.
..
And of course, if it was a genuine Russian word it would have been written in Cyrillic alphabet.
**
When Mr. Tan supplied information about the welcoming-gate, he also included some interesting maps of ‘place Rigault de Genouilly’. (It included my favourite map of French Saigon. Thank you Mr. Tan.)
I have often walked or driven through today’s Mê Linh Square; usually on the way to somewhere else. You cannot miss the towering Tran Hung Dao statue on his pedestal, but traffic at the large roundabout can be a tad intense,
and you tend not to ‘take-in’ much else.
It is not until you see the ‘place Rigault de Genouilly’ ON A MAP, that you can appreciate the elegance of the early city plan. The civic planner may have been providing the future with enough space for all roads (and economics) to pulse from this part of the river; the heart of Saigon.
In recent times, due to endless deconstruction and construction projects in the immediate area, ‘the heart’ seems to need a little surgery.
and you tend not to ‘take-in’ much else.
It is not until you see the ‘place Rigault de Genouilly’ ON A MAP, that you can appreciate the elegance of the early city plan. The civic planner may have been providing the future with enough space for all roads (and economics) to pulse from this part of the river; the heart of Saigon.
In recent times, due to endless deconstruction and construction projects in the immediate area, ‘the heart’ seems to need a little surgery.
I then wanted to know about the history of ‘place Rigault de Genouilly’.
Mr. Tan had correctly predicted my peaked curiosity, and thoughtfully included an English version of the history of today’s Mê Linh Square, by Tim Doling.
Click here >> Saigoneer. It turns out that this small space in Ho Chi Minh City has undergone many changes across time.
*
Click here >> Saigoneer. It turns out that this small space in Ho Chi Minh City has undergone many changes across time.
*
So we now know a little more about the interesting old poster, the welcome-gate and where the gate was erected. But ...
WHY was the future Emperor of Russia visiting Saigon?
Karen Snow, an established researcher into Russian history, provides the answer to that. She provides the small and big picture of the royal Russian visit. Her article is an extremely interesting analysis of Russian-Asian RELATIONS of the time. Here is the link Karen’s to St. Petersburg's Man in Siam.
Ever wondered why Russian business is so successful in Vietnam? (Apart from being on the correct side 1975.) Snow's article makes for fascinating reading.
Ever wondered why Russian business is so successful in Vietnam? (Apart from being on the correct side 1975.) Snow's article makes for fascinating reading.
The young Russia prince was on a fact-finding and relationship building tour of Asia.
“When Europeans encounter native elements in the East, they seem to be people from another planet, but Russians, on the other hand, are acquainted with the customs of the East […] so that in the end we do not have any critical attitude toward the East because we are part of its existence, live its same order and interests and our geographical position allows us to be more conscious of its existence.” E.E. Ukhtomskii, Puteshestvie na Vostok ego Imperatorskago Vysochestva gosudaria Naslednika Tsesarevicha 1890-1891 (Leipzig: F.A. Brokgauz, 1897), 44.
“When Europeans encounter native elements in the East, they seem to be people from another planet, but Russians, on the other hand, are acquainted with the customs of the East […] so that in the end we do not have any critical attitude toward the East because we are part of its existence, live its same order and interests and our geographical position allows us to be more conscious of its existence.” E.E. Ukhtomskii, Puteshestvie na Vostok ego Imperatorskago Vysochestva gosudaria Naslednika Tsesarevicha 1890-1891 (Leipzig: F.A. Brokgauz, 1897), 44.
And there is more...
Remember Lina Ngo, from the French Consulate? She is passionate about the study of European royal families. She added some crucial information about this tour. Apparently prince Nichollas II WAS NOT THE ONLY ROYAL on the Asian tour. Let's look at the group photograph again (below).
Bonhams Auction House details' sheet to the above photograph. Lot 34.
“RUSSIA
NICHOLAS II, Tsar of Russia. A fine group portrait including a very youthful Nicholas in a tropical suit at Saigon, albumen print, on the mount of L. Talbot of Saigon, image 280 x 230mm., French Indo-China, 1891
Footnotes
The Tsarevich visited Saigon during his extensive tour of 1890-1891. Here he is pictured with Prince George of Greece and Denmark (fourth from right).”
Thanks again Lina.
“RUSSIA
NICHOLAS II, Tsar of Russia. A fine group portrait including a very youthful Nicholas in a tropical suit at Saigon, albumen print, on the mount of L. Talbot of Saigon, image 280 x 230mm., French Indo-China, 1891
Footnotes
The Tsarevich visited Saigon during his extensive tour of 1890-1891. Here he is pictured with Prince George of Greece and Denmark (fourth from right).”
Thanks again Lina.
**
So, Saigon's royal welcoming-gate of 1891 was erected on the banks of the Saigon River to welcome two princes (cousins) visiting Saigon,
while on a tour of Asia.
**
So, Saigon's royal welcoming-gate of 1891 was erected on the banks of the Saigon River to welcome two princes (cousins) visiting Saigon,
while on a tour of Asia.
**
The above drawing is the lower quarter of the poster. In the bottom right hand corner is an artist's signature. I can not make out the name.
Can anyone help give credit to the designer of this poster?
**
Can anyone help give credit to the designer of this poster?
**
THE ROYAL TOUR WAS DOCUMENTED
by Prince E.E. Oukhtomsky in his book Voyage in the Orient.
It is an extremely rare book, with only 75 copies printed.
The cover is shown below.
by Prince E.E. Oukhtomsky in his book Voyage in the Orient.
It is an extremely rare book, with only 75 copies printed.
The cover is shown below.
Oukhtomsky described the royal arrival to Saigon :-
“Light skies with clear clouds in the color of the sea.
The set of white canoes exploded a series of welcoming guns.
Behind, to the left is a splendid greeting gate. Crowds were packed at the jetty, which was where the Prince's visit was warmly welcomed with parade, with a concert in the city theater, and with a lavish banquet."
“Light skies with clear clouds in the color of the sea.
The set of white canoes exploded a series of welcoming guns.
Behind, to the left is a splendid greeting gate. Crowds were packed at the jetty, which was where the Prince's visit was warmly welcomed with parade, with a concert in the city theater, and with a lavish banquet."
***
VIETNAM HISTORY, CULTURE
and other good stuff.
and other good stuff.
posted by Paul Rowe, 21 March, 2021.
HCMC, Vietnam.
HCMC, Vietnam.