On May 26, 1896, the ceremonial coronation of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna took place in Moscow.

Nevertheless, the days from May 6 to May 26, 1896, were declared the Coronation Period, during which various ceremonies and celebrations took place.

Undoubtedly, among the numerous delegations from abroad and the Russian Empire that arrived for this important event were people from Kharkiv. But the question arises: Who exactly was given the honor of representing our hometown and province?

It is extremely difficult to single out the residents of Kharkiv from among the representatives of various agencies and ministries. However, Kharkiv and the province were officially part of the following delegations:

1) In the delegation from the Stock Exchange Committees and the Committees on Trade and Manufactures:

— Committee Chair, Commercial Advisor A. K. Alchevsky;
— Senior Member of the Stock Exchange Committee, Hereditary Honorary Citizen—N. A. Zheverzheev;
— Hereditary Honorary Citizen—P. I. Kharitonenko.

2) Among the delegation of representatives of the Russian nobility who participated in the ceremonial entry and procession during the sacred coronation:

— Kammerjunker, Titular Counselor—N. A. Rebinder;
— Second Lieutenant—A. Ya. Sobolev;
— Actual State Counselor—V. K. Biskupsky;
— Reserve Cornet—Prince K. N. Gagarin;
— Court Counselor—V. V. Shirkov;
— Retired General Staff Captain—Y. V. Kucherov;
— A. V. Neklyudov;
— V. A. Zadonsky.

3) The delegation of representatives of the nobility selected to attend the coronation ceremonies:

— Provincial Leader of the Nobility, Court Master, Privy Councilor—Count V. A. Kapnist;
— State Councilor—S. N. Kurcheninov;
— Retired Guard Colonel—V. F. von der Launz;
— District Chief of the 6th Precinct of Sumy County, Retired Second Lieutenant—V. N. Zolotarev.

4) The delegation of urban residents selected to attend the coronation ceremonies:

— Mayor of Kharkiv, retired Captain I. T. Golenishchev-Kutuzov;
— Hereditary Honorary Citizen—I. K. Velitchenko;
— Merchant of the 2nd Guild—N. V. Orlov.

5) The delegation of zemstvo representatives elected to attend the coronation ceremonies included:

— Chairman of the Provincial Zemstvo Council, State Councilor—P. V. Kondratyev;
— Titular Councilor—N. V. Rozvalon-Soshal’sky;
— State Councilor—V. V. De Conor.

Among what is now commonly referred to as the “officially accredited press”:

— Efim Moiseyevich Babetsky – correspondent for the newspaper *Yuzhny Krai*;
— Alexander Alexandrovich Yuzefovich – editor of the newspaper *Yuzhny Krai*;
— Nikolai Andreevich Tretyakov—correspondent for the newspaper *Kharkiv Provincial Gazette*.

Total: 24 people.

This list, though not entirely complete from our perspective, is extremely important. Thanks to it, we can understand the specific significance (prominence, popularity) of our fellow townspeople. And in the future, we can use this data to supplement research on individual outstanding figures. For example, regarding Alchevsky, Zheverzheev, Kapnist, Kharitonenko, Neklyudov, and others…

In the photo—from left to right:

1. Row (top):
   — His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich;
   — His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich;
   — His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich.
2. Rank:
   — Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna;
   — His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich;
   — Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Milica Nikolaevna.
3. List:
   — His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich;
   — His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich;
   — His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich.

Source: “Coronation Anthology.” Volume 2. 1899.