{"product_id":"intimate-empire-the-mansurov-family-in-russia-and-the-orthodox-east-18551936-9780192844415","title":"Intimate Empire: The Mansurov Family in Russia and the Orthodox East, 1855-1936","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eThe Russian Empire struggled to reassert its position as a global power after the Crimean War. A small noble family, the Mansurovs, returned from the siege of Sevastopol and joined the efforts to advance Russian standing in the decades until 1917. They built churches and pilgrim hostels to increase Russian dominance within its borders and in the Ottoman Empire. When the Revolution came, they faced stigmatization as former nobles, believers, and monarchists. Intimate Empire is a study of the role played by elite families in Russia's international involvement in the age of empire, showing how three generations of a mobile noble family advanced the intertwined causes of the Russian Empire and Orthodoxy, using family resources and tools of intimacy. Women were crucial for the family's efforts, both behind the scenes and in public. It is the first monograph to examine the interplay between family and empire-building in Russian history. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 240 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 29 April 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter a humiliating defeat in the Crimean War, the Russian Empire struggled to reassert its position as a global power. A small noble family returned from the siege of Sevastopol and joined the rulers' efforts to advance Russian standing in the decades until 1917. Intimate Empire tells the story of the Mansurovs, who were known to nineteenth-century observers as resourceful imperial agents and staunch supporters of Orthodoxy. In close interplay with scholarship and the media, they built churches and pilgrim hostels to increase Russian dominance within its borders and in the Ottoman Empire. Some of the family's achievements stand to this day: the Russian complex in Jerusalem and an impressive Orthodox Convent in Riga. When the Revolution came, they faced stigmatization as former nobles, believers, and monarchists. Impoverishment and arrests became part of their daily lives in Soviet Russia. Intimate Empire is a study of the momentous role played by elite families in Russia's international involvement in the age of empire. It shows how three generations of a mobile noble family advanced the intertwined causes of the Russian Empire and Orthodoxy, using family resources and tools of intimacy. Women were crucial for the family's efforts, both behind the scenes and in public. It is the first monograph to examine the interplay between family and empire-building in Russian history, a topic that has proven extraordinarily prolific for British imperial history yet remains virtually unexplored for the Russian case. Russia, Orthodoxy, and noble family life emerge as part of the European trans-imperial scene. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter the defeat in the Crimean War, the Russian Empire faced significant challenges in reasserting its position as a global power. The country struggled to recover from the humiliation and loss of territory, and the ruling elite sought ways to restore Russian prestige and influence. One family, the Mansurovs, played a significant role in these efforts during the decades leading up to 1917.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Mansurovs:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Mansurovs were a small noble family from the Caucasus region who had returned from the siege of Sevastopol. They were known for their resourcefulness and their loyalty to the Russian Empire. The family had a long history of involvement in Russian politics and had close ties with the ruling elite.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Family's Efforts:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the decades until 1917, the Mansurovs worked tirelessly to advance Russian standing in the world. They used their family resources and connections to build churches and pilgrim hostels throughout the Russian Empire and in the Ottoman Empire. These projects were designed to increase Russian dominance within its borders and to promote Orthodoxy as the dominant religion in the region.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Russian Complex in Jerusalem:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the family's most significant achievements was the construction of the Russian Complex in Jerusalem. This complex was a monumental structure that served as a Russian embassy and a place of worship for Russian Orthodox Christians. The Mansurovs invested significant resources in the project, and it became a symbol of Russian power and influence in the Middle East.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Orthodox Convent in Riga:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnother impressive project the Mansurovs undertook was the construction of the Orthodox Convent in Riga. This convent was a beautiful and elaborate structure that served as a place of worship for Russian Orthodox Christians and a center of cultural and educational activities. The family invested significant resources in the convent, and it became a symbol of Russian dominance in the Baltic region.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStigmatization and the Revolution:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, the Mansurovs faced stigmatization and discrimination during the Russian Revolution. They were considered former nobles, believers, and monarchists, and they were targeted by the Soviet government. The family's fortunes declined, and they were subjected to poverty and arrests.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntimate Empire is a study of the momentous role played by elite families in Russia's international involvement in the age of empire. It shows how three generations of a mobile noble family advanced the intertwined causes of the Russian Empire and Orthodoxy, using family resources and tools of intimacy. The Mansurovs' achievements, such as the Russian Complex in Jerusalem and the Orthodox Convent in Riga, remain a testament to their dedication and commitment to the Russian cause. However, their stigmatization and persecution during the Russian Revolution serve as a reminder of the challenges and risks faced by those who sought to advance Russian interests in a changing world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 506g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 241 x 163 x 18 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780192844415\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alexavon Winning","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44504939757818,"sku":"9780192844415","price":106.51,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1692362011502_book.jpg?v=1692612824","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/intimate-empire-the-mansurov-family-in-russia-and-the-orthodox-east-18551936-9780192844415","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}