Page 290 - Russian History Viewed through Distorted Mirrors, Vol. 1

Nicolai Levashov. Russian History Viewed through Distorted Mirrors. Vol. 1

on the self-respect and pride inherent to the aristocrats: not to let down the honour of
the family was, sometimes, for most aristocrats more important than their own life;
and to conform to the requirements of court etiquette was for them an important fac-
tor to maintain the familial honour.

Thus, the gifts of splendid dresses and jewelry to the crowned persons resulted
in that the nobility of a country or empire ordered similar dresses and decorations ex-
cessively overpaying for them. In addition, using the bribed grandees, the Israelites
“softly” suggested to them the idea that the enlightened monarchs must patronize arts,
organize balls and arrange magnificent hunts and equipages. And what monarch does
not want to have a reputation of the enlightened person? With rare exception, the
monarchs of large or little countries and empires wished to leave the image of an en-
lightened ruler to the descendants and… began to arrange balls and hunts for their
subjects, when they appeared in the dresses and jewelry presented them by the Israel-
ites. The noble aristocrats emulated their monarchs and tried to outdo each other; also
every monarch tried to outdo his neighbour-monarchs in order to that the title of “en-
lightened monarch” was given only to him and nobody else!

It would seem there is nothing bad in leaving one’s “footprint” in history as an
enlightened monarch, a patron of arts, etc., but the matter is what method is used! The
grand entertainments of monarchs and the dresses and jewelry of aristocrats cost
enormous sums of gold or silver coins which were withdrawn from the treasure-
houses of these monarchs and aristocrats and “flew” into the bottomless pockets of
Judaic merchants! After most aristocrats had “renewed” their wives and daughters’
wardrobe and jewelry, the Israelites presented new “gifts” to the monarchs for the
next ball, yet more luxurious dresses and more unique decorations. And everything
was repeated again. Aristocrats reopened the treasure-houses and yet again the golden
and silver coins changed owners. Everything is over some day and sooner or later
treasure-houses appear to be empty.

But everyone had already joined this “game” and nobody wanted to demean
themselves. The “old” dresses and jewelry were already outdated and would not serve
and were brought to the Israelite-usurers which gave insignificant prices for them. In
order to “find” additional money, new taxes were imposed, real estate pawned and,
sooner or later, both monarchs and aristocrats appeared in debt up to their neck. On
reaching this stage, the Israelites “offered” their debtors a “simple” way out of this
delicate situation. They offered the monarchs to write off all their debts in exchange
for a “little favour” which consisted of permission for Judaic merchants to follow a
victorious army and buy everything that brave warriors would wish to sell for the
gold and silver coins.

But, what victorious army do “good” Israelites talk about? The talk is about
debts! What relation has this to the army and why do the Israelites ask for permission
to follow it and the right to buy up the loot? An army can not march victoriously over
its own territory. This is possible only on the lands of neighbours and for this purpose
it is “just” necessary to declare war on them, which is quite a “trifle” for a brave
monarch: in fact, he always dreamed of glorifying his name with great acts, and what
could be “better” than the glory of the greatest military leader? The fact that a treas-

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