Prince Kuli Mirza serving the Empire

Yekaterina Tesemnikova exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

Big states are usually accused of “imperial ambitions.” The phrase “imperial ambitions” appeared in the Russian political rhetoric right after the USSR’s collapse. Some think that the term is negative, others believe it confirms that Russia has global, unifying, all-human world outlook. In a way Russia’s history was a story of establishing a multinational empire where different nations were gathered under the idea of joint building their common home. And the best representatives of the nations stayed in the history as the great imperial idea persons.

Caucasian Muslims appeared in the escort of Russian Emperor in 1828, and the escort became an object of envy of all foreign monarchs. Bold and skillful riders who were masters of arms were taught in the Noble Regiment.

Emperor was sure that Caucasian Muslims approached to the court would encourage peace in the Caucasus. He personally consulted experts in religion, adat and Sheriah to provide adaptation of the escort to St. Petersburg life. They said that once a mountaineer killed his Russian servant in a blaze of anger. His comrades judged and executed him. Nikolai I asked a Muslim cleric what he should do, and he told Emperor to award those who committed rough justice because they “cleared the capital of the madman.”

In 1836 a group of Lezgians was invited to serve Emperor; in 1839 – Azerbaijanis; in 1857 – Georgians. The last escort of Emperor was Alexander Riza Kuli Mirza. He was one of those who tried to rescue the imperial family of Romanovs from Bolsheviks’ captivity, ahead of their execution, proving devotedness to the throne and the principles of patriots of Russia.

Alexander Riza Kuli Mirza was a prince. He was a cousin of the last shah of Persia from Kadjar dynasty. His father was general. He was born in 1869 and baptized as an Orthodox.

His military career was determined. Alexander graduated from Riga Three-Grade College and Wilen Infantry School and in 1903 he was accepted to the Escort of His Majesty. He became captain in 1914. The escort followed Nikolai II in trips all over the country, guarded the Headquarters. For some time Alexander served under command of the younger brother of Emperor, Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich. It was the beginning of their friendship. During the First World War Riza Kuli Mirza headed construction of barracks, the Escort House in Tsarskoe Selo and so on, and after the beginning of the revolution handed in material accountability (about 2 million rubles).

The power of Bolsheviks severely executed officers of the imperial escort, but Alexander managed to escape. However, he didn’t want to go abroad. When he found out that the imperial family was taken to Yekaterinburg, he went there. As Riza Kuli Mirza was not only a bold warrior, but also a skillful manger, a wise man, he planned the operation in details, collecting information about the situation in Ipatievsky house. There were several plans on rescuing the tsar family from the captivity, but all of them failed.

Soon the White Army occupied Yekaterinburg and Riza Kuli Mirza was appointed the commander of the city, later he became the military aide of Major General Golitsyn. On February 24, 1919, Admiral Kolchak left Yekaterinburg. The train included several automobiles, and Kolchak was in the last one, it was escorted. Prince Kuli Mirza outstood in the escort by his handsomeness and close attention to Kolchak’s car.

When the civil war was lost, Riza Kuli Mirza migrated to Harbin and then to the U.S. where he died, however, an exact date of his death is unknown. He left memoirs which were published in the newspaper “New Russian Word.”