ABSTRACT
This chapter examines two ceremonials that took place in the final years of the Russian Empire: Poltava in 1909, and Bessarabia in 1912. It examines the role of public commemoration in late imperial Russia and the complex relationships on the right of Russian politics which sought to mobilize the diverse forces of Russian nationalism. Ceremonies and festivals were a key mechanism of rule in late imperial Russia. In the appearance of mass, nationalist festivals, Russia was following the European pattern set during the nineteenth century. The Poltava commemorations of May through July were also an attempt by the imperial regime to highlight the bond Nicholas II felt between himself and his subjects. Bessarabia was an area marked by poverty and social tensions. For Russia's ruling dynasty, the Bessarabia centennial was a celebration of military victory and the strength of Russian imperial power.
