The photographs to the right were taken between 1914 and 1917.
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia is shown with her dog, Ortipo. Ortipo was given to Tatiana by her favorite wounded officer, Dmitri Malama, and was named after his favorite horse. Unlike Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia’s dog, Jimmy—who was killed in the basement with the family—Ortipo was killed separately, likely because the dog barked loudly.
Tatiana was very fond of animals, and her beloved French bulldog often slept in the bedroom shared by the “big pair,” Tatiana and Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia. This arrangement sometimes frustrated Olga, who was occasionally kept awake by the dog’s snoring.
Below are several diary entries mentioning Ortipo.
(1) Tatiana Romanova, 1913–1918
“Anya brought me a little French bulldog from Malama—an incredibly sweet one. I am so happy.”
(2) Tatiana’s diary, 12/25 October 1914
“Ortipo is growing and is awfully cute, runs around a lot, and is terribly happy.”
(3) Tatiana to Nicholas II of Russia, 26 October / 8 November
“Ortipo is so sweet and, in my opinion, has grown bigger.”
(4) Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia to Nicholas, 31 October / 13 November
“Ortipo is terribly sweet and was with me again in Vilna and Kovno. There she had her first walk.”
(5) Tatiana to Nicholas, 25 November / 7 December
“I taught Ortipo to ‘serve,’ and today to give paw. She does it so well, the darling.”
(6) Anastasia Nikolaevna to Nicholas, 30 January / 12 February 1915
“Ortipo is running around the room like a mad dog.”
(7) Tatiana to Nicholas, 7 / 20 March
“Ortipo was chasing the little machine and Trupp’s shoe buckle and has now calmed down.”
(8) Olga Nikolaevna to Nicholas, 9 / 22 May
“Your telegram about the scandal that happened with Ortipo amused me greatly—I can imagine what it must have been like… the little monster!”
(9) Nicholas to Tatiana, 9 / 22 September
“Yesterday they brought Ortipo with the children [her puppies] to show them. They are very small and rather ugly—who knows what or whom they resemble. But Ortipo lay quietly beside them in a basket and seemed very afraid that we might tease or torment the little ones. They were later taken away again, and afterward only Ortipo will be brought out to play.”
(10) Tatiana to Nicholas, 17 / 30 September
“Ortipo is now lying on the floor and chewing her football.”
(11) Tatiana to Nicholas, 28 March / 10 April 1916
“Ortipo is doing well but is becoming terribly lazy. She lies by the fireplace all day or on the sofas and does not want to walk
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