Princess Nathalie Galitzine

Identity

Princess Nathalie (Nadine) Galitzine (nee unknown; Russian: Голицына), a Russian princess of the Galitzin/Golitsyn family. Marie gives her the nickname "Bête" (French: "beast" or "stupid one"), one of her characteristically unflattering yet affectionate monikers. Marie herself explains the nickname: "Bête que j'ai injustement nommée ainsi; mais Bête est plus court que princesse et je le préfère" (015.0044, Jan 5, 1874) -- she chose "Bête" simply because it was shorter than "princesse." In 1876, looking back from Rome, she refers to her as "ma chère princesse que j'avais surnommée si bêtement Bête" (055.0935, Mar 22, 1876) -- "my dear princess whom I had nicknamed so stupidly Bête."

The identification is confirmed by multiple raw carnet indices which explicitly state: "Bête: Galitzine (princesse)" and "Galitzine (Mme Nathalie, princesse), [Bête, Cunegunda]." Marie also uses "Cunegunda" as an alternate nickname -- an allusion to Voltaire's Candide, where Cunégonde is the naive heroine, used here with affectionate irony for the princess's simplicity: "la Bête, l'insipide Cunegunda" (014, Dec 11, 1873).

Background

Princess Galitzine was married to Prince Galitzine, whom Marie holds in low regard. Marie notes that the princess "a probablement cherché le titre et a trouvé cette canaille que son mari" (007, Jul 13, 1873) -- probably sought the title and found that scoundrel of a husband. The prince "fait des folies et sa femme a dit que lui dit qu'elle est trop vieille pour lui" (007, Jul 29, 1873) -- he behaves recklessly and tells her she's too old for him. Marie later describes her as a "femme de peu d'esprit mais que je trouvais agréable" (026, Nov 22, 1874) -- a woman of little wit but whom Marie found agreeable.

She had at least one daughter, mentioned in the September 29, 1873 name day entry (010.0124): "C'est la fête de ma tante, de Bête, de sa fille et de la petite Véra Anitchkoff." A "petite blonde Nathalie Galitzine" appears in a later entry (050.0730, Dec 16, 1875), described as having died recently in Russia "dans les bras" of her lover Simiane -- this may refer to the daughter rather than the princess herself, since the princess is still alive in 1876.

The Bashkirtseff family financially supported Princess Galitzine, a fact that led to social complications. In January 1874, the family friend Abrial warns that the princess is "un ennemi" who "ne pardonnera jamais les bienfaits dont on la comble" (015, Jan 25, 1874) -- an enemy who will never forgive the kindness heaped upon her. Marie agrees: "Je suis parfaitement de son avis."

Relationship with Marie

Despite the unflattering nickname and occasional exasperation, Princess Galitzine was one of Marie's closest companions during the Nice period (1873-1874). Their relationship was multifaceted:

Confidante and social equal: Marie feels at ease with her in ways she cannot be with others: "Je suis à mon aise avec elle, je puis dire ce que je pense" (007, Jul 13, 1873). She can freely express her snobbery about bourgeois society, discuss marriage prospects, and critique others without restraint.

Hamilton obsession partner: The princess is Marie's primary sounding board for her infatuation with the Duke of Hamilton. She teases Marie about the Duke, jokes about future proposals ("Come into my arms, you bundle of charms!" -- 009, Sept 10, 1873), and even fabricates stories to provoke reactions (Oct 4, 1873). She declares herself Marie's willing audience: "Le duc, dit la Bête" (009.0075) -- completing Marie's sentence about what she "adores."

Walking and shopping companion: Marie takes her everywhere -- the promenade, the London House for chocolate and ice cream, Maizonié and Auda for dress fittings, the sea for bathing: "Je sors avec Bête" appears dozens of times across the 1873-1874 period.

Source of exasperation: Marie can be withering about her intellectual limitations. "Vraiment souvent Bête m'ennuie avec ses banalités communes" (017, Mar 4, 1874). Marie finds her repetitive and parrot-like: "maintenant que je sais qu'elle répète comme un perroquet, comme une perruche, des bêtises sans fin, je suis tout à fait dégoûtée." Yet the nickname's affectionate edge is unmistakable.

Deep emotional bond: After parting, Marie's feelings reveal genuine attachment. In April 1875, she writes: "J'ai un désir insensé de voir la princesse Galitzine, si elle entrait en ce moment je me jetterais à son cou. Elle, ma compagne pendant tout ce temps heureux et terrible. Avec elle seule j'ai parlé de Lui!" (031.0101-0102, Apr 6, 1875). In March 1876 from Rome, she calls her "ma chère princesse" and learns she writes "lettre sur lettre" asking about Marie's progress (055.0935).

Character as Marie Describes Her

- Plainspoken to a fault: Touches on topics Marie considers sacred; announces Hamilton news at dinner with no tact
- Playful and teasing: Fabricates stories, makes jokes, calls Marie "Bébelle"; says "Parti, Bébelle, parti" when passing Hamilton-related locations (011, Oct 28, 1873)
- Observant about social dynamics: Notices who looks at Marie, reports on Gioia's appearance and behavior
- Flattering when it matters: Tells Marie she is prettier than Gioia, "pointed out" Marie's best features (009, Sept 21, 1873)
- Financially dependent: The princess pays for ice cream when she receives money from her belle-mère (mother-in-law), but Marie has paid for her for two months prior (008.0302, Aug 31, 1873)
- Vulgar humor: Provides the comparison of an aging woman's chest to "une bourse vide n'ayant qu'une pièce de dix sous au bout" (021, Jul 16, 1874), which Marie gleefully records
- Practical marriage advice: "Épousez un boulanger, mais pourvu qu'il soit riche; ne cherchez pas les titres" (007, Jul 13, 1873) -- Marry a baker, as long as he's rich
- Memorable aphorisms: "Il vaut mieux pleurer à travers de l'or qu'au travers du fer" (026, Nov 22, 1874) -- Better to weep through gold than through iron. Marie calls this "une phrase d'or."

Diary Coverage

Princess Galitzine is referenced approximately 123 times across the diary, making her one of the most frequently mentioned people. The nickname evolves across the diary:
- Carnet 007 (Jul 1873): Referred to by her title "princesse Galitzine" -- first appearances, daily visits, evening outings
- Carnet 008 (Aug 1873): Still "la princesse" in the text; note that "Bête que je suis" in 008.0300 is Marie calling herself stupid, not the nickname
- Carnet 009 (Sep 1873): Transition period -- both "la princesse" and "la Bête" / "Bête" used interchangeably. The nickname has taken hold
- Carnets 010-019 (Sep 1873 - May 1874): Height of usage -- "Bête" is the dominant form, with dozens of daily references. Also "Cunegunda" appears (carnet 014)
- Carnets 020-023 (Jun-Sep 1874): Declining frequency as Marie's world expands
- Carnet 026 (Nov 1874): Quoted by name -- "princesse Nadine Galitzine"
- Carnet 031 (Apr 1875): Nostalgic longing -- "mon désir insensé de voir la princesse Galitzine"
- Carnet 050 (Dec 1875): "la petite blonde Nathalie Galitzine" -- her death or her daughter's death reported
- Carnet 055 (Mar 1876): Final reference from Rome -- "ma chère princesse que j'avais surnommée si bêtement Bête"
- Carnet 064 (Aug 1876): Reunion in Russia -- Marie visits her in villegiatura near St. Petersburg

Key Paragraph References

- 007 (Jul 13, 1873): First appearance; Marie at ease with her, marriage advice, "cette canaille que son mari"
- 007 (Jul 14, 1873): "La princesse Galitzine est toujours chez nous" -- almost daily presence
- 007 (Jul 19, 1873): Comments on Marie's portrait -- "air malin, vif, et un peu penché, langoureux"
- 007 (Jul 28, 1873): "La princesse Galitzine m'aime beaucoup, elle m'appelle cher brigand"
- 007 (Jul 29, 1873): Prince Galitzine "fait des folies," tells his wife she's too old
- 008.0302 (Aug 31, 1873): "la princesse me paye une glace" -- after Marie paid for her two months
- 009 (Sep 9, 1873): First use of nickname "la Bête" -- "Le duc, dit la Bête"
- 009 (Sep 10, 1873): "Come into my arms, you bundle of charms!" joke about Hamilton proposal
- 009 (Sep 18, 1873): "Bête ne veut pas sans la permission de Walitsky" -- responsible guardian figure
- 009 (Sep 21, 1873): "J'ai tant parlé avec Bête que je suis fatiguée" -- hours of intimate conversation
- 010.0124 (Sep 29, 1873): Name day shared with ma tante, her daughter, and Vera Anitchkoff
- 011 (Oct 28, 1873): "Parti, Bébelle, parti. Ah ! ! dit Bête en passant la maison Wittgenstein"
- 011 (Nov 1, 1873): "Je vais avec Bête à la gare à trois heures rencontrer l'institutrice" -- helps welcome Miss Hitchcock
- 014 (Dec 10, 1873): "Cunegunda" first used -- alongside Bête in same passage
- 014 (Dec 11, 1873): "la Bête, l'insipide Cunegunda" -- Voltaire allusion at peak frustration
- 015 (Jan 5, 1874): Marie explains the nickname: "Bête est plus court que princesse"
- 015 (Jan 25, 1874): Abrial's warning -- "un ennemi" who resents the family's generosity
- 016 (Feb 1, 1874): "Bête dit qu'elle le dit au nom de Mme Bashkirtseff" -- acts as family spokesperson to dismiss Hitchcock
- 017 (Mar 2, 1874): "Bête et ma tante" -- late-night scene, Marie ranting about visitors
- 019 (May 6, 1874): "Moi, Dina et Bête, allons à l'église" -- "la princesse me présenta à Mme Angel"
- 020 (Jun 11, 1874): Last Nice reference -- Walitsky blames Bête for gossip about Marie and Fedus
- 023 (Aug 18, 1874): "Julie est le portrait de Bête" -- comparing someone to her looks
- 026 (Nov 22, 1874): Named as "princesse Nadine Galitzine" -- famous quote about gold vs. iron
- 031.0101-0102 (Apr 6, 1875): "J'ai un désir insensé de voir la princesse Galitzine" -- deepest nostalgia
- 050.0730 (Dec 16, 1875): "la petite blonde Nathalie Galitzine" -- death in Russia
- 055.0935 (Mar 22, 1876): "ma chère princesse que j'avais surnommée si bêtement Bête"
- 064.0443 (Aug 7, 1876): Reunion near St. Petersburg -- "j'allai chercher la princesse Galitzine"

Erroneous Identifications

Several LAN annotations incorrectly identify "Bête" as "Princess Hitchcock" or conflate her with Miss Hitchcock, the English governess. Miss Hitchcock is a completely separate person -- a "thin, brown, dry Englishwoman" (011, Nov 1, 1873) hired as Marie's English tutor, whom Marie despises and eventually has dismissed. The LAN comment in 014/1873-12-11.md ("Marie's contemptuous name for Cunegunda/Hitchcock") and in 014/1873-12-21.md ("nickname for Princess Hitchcock") are both errors. "Bête" and "Cunegunda" refer exclusively to Princess Nathalie Galitzine.

Related Entries

- #Ma_tante -- Shares name day; both part of the core household
- #Dina -- The other regular companion in the Hamilton discussions
- #Duke_of_Hamilton -- Central topic of conversation between Marie and Bête
- #Paul -- Marie's brother, present in many scenes with Bête
- #Walitsky -- Family steward, also part of the social circle
- #Gioia -- The Duke's mistress, constantly discussed with Bête