Alexandre Babanine

Identity

Alexandre Babanine was Marie's maternal uncle, one of the sons of #Grand_papa (Etienne Babanine) and brother of #Maman (Maria Stepanovna), #Georges, Etienne (another brother), Wladimir, and #Ma_tante (Sophie). He was emphatically NOT paternal (Bashkirtseff) -- in carnet 067 (1876-11-11), when a military officer on a train asks his name, he replies "Babanine" (067.0036). Grand-papa had nine children; Alexandre was among several sons who defied their father by marrying without permission.

Alexandre married #Nadine_Martinoff and settled at #Tcherniakovka, Grand-papa's estate, which he eventually took over. He died on or around January 2, 1884, of a stroke ("attaque d'apoplexie"), at which point his wife Nadine was 33 years old (102.0099). They had three children: Etienne (called "Stiopa" as a child; aged 7 in February 1875, 14 in October 1882, 16 at his father's death), Julie (aged 6 in February 1875, 15 at his death), and a baby Alexandre (10 months old at his death).

Marie describes him and his wife as "un couple excessivement rapace, cupide et heureux" (an excessively rapacious, greedy and happy couple), yet her view of him was more complex than that devastating summary suggests. She alternately calls him "un mechant homme" (a wicked man) and acknowledges him as a force of nature she "almost respects."

The Marriage to Nadine Martinoff (Book 00)

The Setup

Alexandre's most notable action in Marie's retrospective preface (000-04) is his calculated marriage to Nadine Martinoff, the young orphan adopted by his aunt #Vassilissa_Babanine. When 14-year-old Nadine arrived at Grand-papa's estate at Tcherniakovka:
- She had abandoned her benefactor Vassilissa
- She brought with her about 20,000 rubles
- Alexandre was described as "tres pratique" (very practical)
- He "endoctrinated" her ("l'endoctrinait")
- Marie adds parenthetically "(elle aussi)" -- she too was practical

The Marriage

They married as soon as Nadine reached 15 1/2 years old (circa 1866-1867, based on Nadine being 33 in January 1884). Grand-papa was furious about the marriage, though Marie notes that "presque tous ses fils se sont maries sans le lui dire" (almost all his sons married without telling him) -- suggesting this defiance was typical of the Babanine brothers.

The Rapacious Couple

Marie's characterization is devastating: "Ca a fait un couple excessivement rapace, cupide et heureux" (That made an excessively rapacious, greedy and happy couple).
- Rapace (rapacious): Like a bird of prey, seizing opportunities
- Cupide (greedy): Focused on money and material gain
- Heureux (happy): Content in their mercenary partnership

Treatment of Vassilissa

After Grand-papa's departure from Tcherniakovka, Alexandre and Nadine:
- Relegated Vassilissa (who had adopted and enriched Nadine) to a miserable room
- Left her in an old pavilion where she died (circa 1881-1882)
- Abandoned the woman who had been "belle, riche, jeune, elegante, charmante et spirituelle" in her youth
- This despite Vassilissa having been "toujours veneree" by the family

Estate Manager and Land Acquisitor

Alexandre's central role in the family was as the manager of the Babanine estates in the Poltava region of Ukraine. He lived at Tcherniakovka and controlled revenues from the family's lands. This gave him enormous practical power, but also made him a source of constant friction.

Revenue Withholding (1875)

In January 1875, Marie reveals that Alexandre was withholding estate revenues from the family in Europe. She writes two carefully crafted letters to Russia: one to Uncle Etienne about traveling to Russia "pour louer les terres car l'oncle Alexandre n'envoie pas les revenus" (to lease the lands because Uncle Alexandre doesn't send the revenues), and one to Alexandre himself designed "d'adoucir Alexandre" (to soften Alexandre) while concealing her true purpose -- to remove him from managing Ma tante's properties. Marie describes him bluntly: "c'est un mechant homme, quelquefois, et pourrait me faire du mal" (he's a wicked man sometimes, and could hurt me). Her plan was to arrange the leases so tenants would send money directly to her aunt "sans passer par les mains de mon oncle et de son frere" (without passing through the hands of my uncle and his brother) (028.0111).

The Money Courier (1875)

In June 1875, Marie records that "Alexandre en arrivant avait apporte cent huit mille francs" (Alexandre on arriving had brought 108,000 francs). Within two months the money was entirely squandered, prompting Marie's exasperated remark: "Cent huit mille francs en deux mois, et vivre comme nous vivons ! C'est a en perdre la tete !" (034.0413). Despite his reputation for rapacity, Alexandre functioned as the family's financial courier between Russia and Western Europe.

Buying Out His Brothers

The most revealing passage about Alexandre's long-term strategy comes from Marie's 1882 visit to Russia. After a warm reception at Tcherniakovka, Marie penetrates Alexandre's motives: "il vient d'acheter a Etienne sa part d'heritage; Etienne y a donc passe comme les autres. Il ne reste plus que Nicolas, mais il y passera malgre tous ses cris, et alors Alexandre aura toutes les terres de son pere." (He has just bought Etienne's share of the inheritance; Etienne has been taken in like the others. Only Nicolas remains, but he'll go the same way despite all his protests, and then Alexandre will have all his father's lands.) Marie's assessment is remarkable: "C'est une force que cet homme, il marche a son but et y arrivera; c'est une force. Je m'incline et je le respecte presque." (This man is a force; he moves toward his goal and will reach it; he is a force. I bow and almost respect him.) This grudging admiration from the normally contemptuous Marie reveals how effective Alexandre was at accumulating the Babanine patrimony.

Managing Georges's Inheritance (1882)

When Georges faked his death in March 1882, it was Alexandre who held Georges's inheritance. Marie notes acidly: "c'est Alexandre qui detient l'heritage de Georges. Et ce cher Alexandre qui a sans doute pris toutes les dispositions pour mieux evincer Dina et l'autre soeur." (It's Alexandre who holds Georges's inheritance. And dear Alexandre has no doubt taken all measures to better squeeze out Dina and the other sister.) Marie's father had to send telegrams to Alexandre to send funeral money -- for a death that turned out to be fabricated (094.0207).

The Soulima Affair

Alexandre was involved in a long-running legal case known as the "affaire de Soulima." The Babanine brothers (Georges and Alexandre) had "donne des calottes a quelqu'un" (slapped someone -- an ispravnik, a district police chief), and Ma tante Sophie was present at age 19. This assault resulted in a legal proceeding that dragged on for years. The family members involved were placed "sous jugement" (under legal judgment), which had practical consequences -- Alexandre's status "sous jugement" caused his "derniere election" (likely a local zemstvo position) to be annulled.

The case was eventually resolved by jury acquittal in 1880: "Les affaires de Soulima et de Dikan se sont terminees par un acquittement triomphal de jure, maman se fait presenter, Alexandre et Etienne etaient deja acquittes" (The Soulima and Dikan affairs ended with a triumphant jury acquittal; Maman is being formally cleared; Alexandre and Etienne were already acquitted) (089.1880-07-23). Marie had long urged the family to confront the matter directly rather than avoiding it out of fear.

The Zamiatine Lawsuit and Legal Representative (1880)

Alexandre served as the family's legal agent in the drawn-out Romanoff-Zamiatine inheritance lawsuit. In October 1880, Maman was bound as guarantor for 200,000 rubles. M. Bashkirtseff (Marie's father) had signed as surety for her, and the Zamiatine family (adversaries in the lawsuit) had the guarantee imposed to trap Maman in Russia. Alexandre went to St. Petersburg to have the restriction lifted. Marie's account reveals both her dependence on him and her suspicion of his motives: "Si Alexandre ne parvient pas a faire lever cette chose, maman restera jusqu'au jugement du proces" (If Alexandre doesn't manage to get this lifted, Maman will stay until the trial judgment) (090.1880-10-15).

In November 1880, Alexandre wrote that Maman needed to stay in Russia longer "pour en finir avec cette sale affaire" (to finish this dirty business). Marie was helpless in Paris: "moi je ne dis plus rien" (I say nothing more) (090.1880-11-24).

Marie characterized the family's lack of legal representation before Alexandre's efforts: "Vous savez que jusqu'a present nous n'avions meme pas d'avocat en Russie de sorte qu'il n'y avait que Dieu pour nous defendre et quelquefois l'oncle Alexandre" (You know that until now we didn't even have a lawyer in Russia, so there was only God to defend us and sometimes Uncle Alexandre) (059.0301).

The Injustices (1877)

In August 1877, Uncle Etienne arrived in Paris and the family discussed "les injustices d'Alexandre" (Alexandre's injustices). Marie was "tres irritee ne sachant et ne pouvant rien faire a tout cela" (very irritated, not knowing and not being able to do anything about it all) (073.0471). These "injustices" likely referred to Alexandre's manipulation of the family estates and revenues, which was a recurring grievance.

Marie sarcastically quotes Alexandre's habitual excuse-making in letters: "'Mon chirurgien me promet qu'a la fin de la semaine je pourrai partir' (extrait des lettres historiques d'Alexandre)" (My surgeon promises that by end of the week I can leave -- extract from Alexandre's historic letters) (073.0474). The word "historiques" drips with irony -- these promises were apparently never kept.

Manipulating Family Relations (1881)

During Marie's 1881 visit to Gavronzi, she observes Alexandre's skill at setting family members against each other. When Maman turned hostile toward Paul, Marie identified the source: "C'est ce cher oncle Alexandre qui l'a soufflee" (It's dear Uncle Alexandre who whispered to her / incited her) (092.0222). The sarcastic "cher" (dear) underscores Marie's contempt for this manipulation. In 1882, Marie noted "les memes histoires agacantes sur la rapacite, la rouerie d'Alexandre; ses prouesses d'escamotage au prejudice de tous" (the same annoying stories about Alexandre's rapacity, his cunning; his sleight-of-hand feats at everyone's expense).

Life in Paris (1878)

Alexandre visited Paris multiple times. In February 1878, he arrived from Russia bringing news (078.0320). In the autumn of 1878, he was living in Paris with notable style -- Marie praises his equipage: "Alexandre a les plus jolis chevaux et la plus jolie voiture de Paris. Il est vraiment tres chic" (Alexandre has the prettiest horses and the prettiest carriage in Paris. He is truly very chic) (082.1878-10-12). His "delicieux chevaux noirs" (delicious black horses) became a recurring image.

But Marie also mocked him freely. She reports with comic horror that Alexandre accompanied a "cocotte" (courtesan) on horseback, earning her nickname "Monsieur vingt francs l'heure" (Mr. Twenty Francs an Hour), associating him with the prostitute's tariff. That evening, he walked with his brother -- a "systeme de compensation" (compensation system) to restore respectability (082.1878-09-15). Earlier, the family joked darkly about his arrival being bad luck: "pour comble de malheur il y a votre ami Alexandre qui vient d'arriver, on assure qu'il a le mauvais oeil" (to cap our misfortune, your friend Alexandre has arrived; they say he has the evil eye) (082.1878-09-10).

The Mediator (1877)

Alexandre also served as a mediator in the Bashkirtseff family. When Marie's half-brother Paul fled Gavronzi because their father "lui rendait la vie si dure" (made life so hard for him), Marie hoped "que l'oncle Alexandre le ramenera a Gavronzi et que tout marchera tant bien que mal de nouveau" (that Uncle Alexandre will bring him back to Gavronzi and everything will go along more or less again) (074.0216). Despite being a Babanine, Alexandre maintained enough influence over the Bashkirtseff estate to broker family truces.

Letter-Writer from Russia (1879)

During the Eristoff-Tutcheff crisis in Nice (March 1879), when the Tutcheffs filed a legal complaint against the Babanine family, Marie drafted a formal letter for Alexandre to send from Russia to the French Procureur de la Republique, defending the family honor. The letter, written in Alexandre's voice, protested "au nom de tous mes freres qui depuis la mort de Monsieur Etienne Babanine le pere, representent la famille Babanine" (on behalf of all my brothers who, since the death of Etienne Babanine the father, represent the Babanine family) (084.0261). This confirms both his family name and his role as the senior representative of the Babanine brothers.

Marie's Visit to Tcherniakovka (1882)

During Marie's autumn 1882 trip to Russia, she visited Alexandre at Tcherniakovka for an elaborate hunting party. Alexandre prepared lavishly: "Alexandre a ete chercher trois cuisiniers de Harkoff, le fameux Prosper du club" (Alexandre fetched three cooks from Kharkiv, the famous Prosper from the club). He "se mettait en quatre pour etre agreable avec mille flatteries a mon egard. Nadine aussi." (was bending over backwards to be agreeable with a thousand flatteries toward me. Nadine too.) (096.0404).

Marie was moved by revisiting the estate where she had spent her childhood, noting how beautifully Grand-papa had designed the house, garden, park, ponds, and allees. But she saw through Alexandre's hospitality: during the fire that broke out from fireworks, "Alexandre a distribue quelques horions a droite et a gauche a ceux qui ne couraient pas assez vite" (Alexandre distributed blows left and right to those who didn't run fast enough) (096.0414). The lord of the manor, punching servants who moved too slowly -- a vivid portrait of the provincial despot.

Death (January 1884)

Alexandre died of a stroke around January 2, 1884. Marie received the news by telegram on the same day she learned of the death of her paternal aunt Helene. The entry is one of the most psychologically complex in the entire diary. Marie's characterization pivots dramatically:

"Et ce pauvre homme... qui avait de mauvais cotes, adorait sa famille, sa femme qu'il avait fini par aimer a la folie." (And this poor man... who had his bad sides, adored his family, his wife whom he had ended up loving to distraction.) She then quotes his own words about Nadine -- remarkable because Alexandre was not a reader of novels and spoke without literary formulas:

"Eh bien ! Quand meme cette infamie serait vraie ! Est-ce que ma femme que j'ai epouse a quinze ans, n'est pas ma chair, mon sang, mon age, est-ce que nous ne sommes pas un ! Si j'avais failli moi, est-ce que je ne me pardonnerais pas ? Comment pourrais-je ne pas pardonner a ma femme; mais c'est comme si pour me punir moi-meme je me crevais les yeux ou me coupais un bras !" (Well! Even if this infamy were true! My wife whom I married at fifteen -- is she not my flesh, my blood, my years? Are we not one? If I had sinned, would I not forgive myself? How could I not forgive my wife? It would be like gouging out my own eyes or cutting off my own arm to punish myself!) (102.0099)

Alexandre also confided to Marie during her last visit to Russia: "Avant j'avais tant de preoccupations, tant de tourments, une telle soif d'acquerir, de devenir riche que je ne pensais pas comme il le fallait a Nadine, mais maintenant tout est arrange... maintenant la vie est tout autre, maintenant il n'y a que du bonheur et la continuelle preoccupation des moindres souhaits de ma femme, cette pauvre chere Nadine adoree" (Before I had so many worries, so many torments, such a thirst to acquire, to become rich, that I didn't think enough about Nadine; but now everything is settled... now life is completely different, now there is only happiness and the continual care for my wife's smallest wishes, that poor dear beloved Nadine) (102.0100).

He left behind Nadine (aged 33), their son Etienne (16), daughter Julie (15), and baby Alexandre (10 months). Marie adds that Nadine was rumored to have been unfaithful "avec un starovoi" (with a village police functionary), but she doesn't believe it: "je n'en crois rien. C'est bien triste." (102.0102)

Character Analysis

Marie's portrait of Alexandre is the most psychologically layered of any family member in the diary. He was simultaneously:
- Calculating: "Tres pratique" -- ruthlessly practical in pursuing advantage
- Opportunistic: Married Nadine for her 20,000 rubles; bought out his brothers one by one
- Manipulative: "Endoctrinated" a 14-year-old girl; whispered against Paul to Maman; played family members against each other
- Cruel: Relegated Vassilissa to poverty; beat servants during the fire
- Stylish: Kept the finest carriage and horses in Paris; hosted lavish hunting parties
- Reliable: Handled family legal matters; served as financial courier between Russia and Europe; defended the family name
- Superstitious: Reputed to have "le mauvais oeil" (the evil eye)
- Genuinely loving: His late-life devotion to Nadine, expressed in unpolished but deeply felt words, moved even Marie
- A force of nature: "C'est une force que cet homme, il marche a son but et y arrivera"

The progression from "un couple excessivement rapace, cupide et heureux" (1884 preface, written after his death) to the tender death-entry suggests Marie held both truths simultaneously: Alexandre was a predator AND a man capable of profound love. That the same man who married a 15-year-old for her money could, decades later, speak about her with such unaffected tenderness is the kind of human contradiction Marie never flinched from recording.

Key Diary References

Book 00 (1884 Preface)

- 000-04: Marriage to Nadine Martinoff, characterization as rapacious couple, abandonment of Vassilissa

1875

- 028.0111 (January 1): Alexandre withholding revenues; Marie's diplomatic letters; plan to remove him from estate management
- 029.0170-0172 (February 7): Alexandre arrives in Nice from Russia with family; children Stiopa (7) and Julie (6); Marie's ambivalence: "est-il bonhomme ? est-il ruse ? That is the question"
- 034.0413 (June 25): Alexandre brings 108,000 francs from Russia, squandered in two months

1876

- 059.0301 (May 1): "only God to defend us and sometimes Uncle Alexandre"
- 064.0502 (August 8-9): Alexandre sends money to Marie in St. Petersburg
- 067.0030-0041 (November 11): Alexandre in Russia; identifies himself as "Babanine" on a train; amusing anecdotes with Nadine and servants

1877

- 073.0471, 0474 (August 18): Etienne arrives, discusses "les injustices d'Alexandre"; Marie quotes his procrastinating letters
- 074.0216 (September 3): Marie hopes Alexandre will mediate Paul's crisis at Gavronzi

1878

- 078.0320 (February 28): Alexandre arrives in Paris from Russia
- 079.0078, 0091 (March-April): Alexandre in Paris with family; departs for Russia in April
- 082.1878-09-10: Arrives in Paris; "evil eye" joke
- 082.1878-09-13: "Alexandre ne connait personne ici, par consequent il pose devant nous au Bois" (knows nobody, so shows off for us)
- 082.1878-09-15: Escorts a courtesan; nicknamed "M. vingt francs l'heure"
- 082.1878-10-12: "the prettiest horses and carriage in Paris"

1879

- 084.0258-0261 (March 1): Marie drafts letter for Alexandre to send from Russia defending Babanine family honor

1880

- 089.1880-07-23: Soulima affair resolved; Alexandre and Etienne acquitted
- 090.1880-10-15: Alexandre goes to Petersburg for Zamiatine lawsuit; Maman trapped as guarantor
- 090.1880-11-03: Marie writes to Alexandre about Maman's situation
- 090.1880-11-24: Alexandre writes that Maman must stay in Russia

1881

- 092.0222 (July 8): Alexandre manipulates Maman against Paul at Gavronzi

1882

- 094.0207 (March 13): Alexandre holds Georges's inheritance; suspected of positioning to dispossess Dina
- 096.0399-0414 (October 23): Tcherniakovka visit; lavish hospitality; Alexandre has bought out brother Etienne's land share; "c'est une force"; punches servants during fire
- 096.1882-10-05: Soulima affair mentioned -- Georges and Alexandre slapped someone
- 096.1882-10-29: Alexandre at Paul's baby's baptism
- 097.0032 (November 6): Lunch at Alexandre's in Poltava; all family "plus ou moins brouille"

1884

- 102.0099-0102 (January 2): Death by stroke; Marie's complex tribute; his words about loving Nadine; three children left behind

Related People

- #Nadine_Martinoff -- His wife, married for her fortune at 15 1/2, later genuinely loved
- #Vassilissa_Babanine -- His aunt, whom he and Nadine abandoned to die in poverty
- #Grand_papa -- His father Etienne Babanine, furious about the marriage
- #Maman -- His sister Maria Stepanovna, Marie's mother
- #Georges -- His brother, the family scoundrel; Alexandre held his inheritance
- #Ma_tante -- His sister Sophie Tutcheff; he managed her estate revenues
- Etienne Babanine (brother) -- Whose inheritance share Alexandre bought
- Wladimir Babanine (brother) -- Another of the Babanine brothers
- Nicolas Babanine (brother) -- The last holdout against Alexandre's land consolidation

Related Places

- #Tcherniakovka -- Grand-papa's estate, which Alexandre took over and eventually consolidated
- #Gavronzi -- The Bashkirtseff estate where he mediated family disputes
- #Poltava -- Provincial capital near the family estates
- #Petersburg -- Where he handled legal matters in 1880
- #Paris -- Where he visited with notable style

Historical Context

Alexandre's behavior reflects several aspects of 19th century Russian provincial nobility:
- Estate Consolidation: Buying out siblings' inheritance shares was a common strategy for keeping family estates intact -- or enriching oneself at relatives' expense
- Early Marriage: Marrying Nadine at 15 1/2 was legal and not uncommon in the Russian Empire
- Legal Entanglements: The Soulima affair (slapping a police official) and the Zamiatine lawsuit illustrate how Russian legal proceedings could drag on for decades, entangling entire families
- Family Couriers: With the Babanine women living in Western Europe while estates remained in Ukraine, someone had to physically transport funds -- a role that gave Alexandre both power and opportunity for embezzlement
- Provincial Despotism: His treatment of servants (beating those who ran too slowly during the fire) and his control over the estate's peasantry was typical of the landed gentry's unquestioned authority

Research Notes