 |
Pierre GilliardFrench teacher
Country:
 Switzerland |
Content:
- Biography of Pierre Gilliard
- Teaching the Romanovs
- Assistance in Siberia
- Investigating Anna Anderson
- Conclusion
Biography of Pierre Gilliard
IntroductionPierre Gilliard was a French language teacher originally from Switzerland. He graduated from Lausanne University in 1904 and was invited to Russia to teach French to the children of the Duke of Leuchtenberg. In September 1905, he was offered the opportunity to teach French to the children of Nicholas II.
Teaching the Romanovs
Starting from 1913, Gilliard became the tutor of the Crown Prince Alexei Nikolaevich. After the overthrow of Nicholas II, he accompanied the imperial family into exile in Tobolsk and later to Ekaterinburg. However, he was separated from the royal family upon their arrival in Ekaterinburg. Gilliard described the moment he saw his student for the last time, just before the execution of the Romanovs.
Assistance in Siberia
Following the murder of the Romanovs, Gilliard remained in Siberia where he assisted investigator Sokolov and also exposed an impostor pretending to be Crown Prince Alexei Nikolaevich. In 1920, Gilliard returned to Switzerland from the Russian Far East. He began teaching French at the University of Lausanne and was awarded the French Legion of Honour.
Investigating Anna Anderson
In 1921, Gilliard published a book titled "The Tragic Fate of Nicholas II and His Family." In 1925, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, sister of Nicholas II, sought Gilliard and his wife's help in investigating Anna Anderson, who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna. Gilliard's wife received a letter from Grand Duchess Olga asking for assistance.
Conclusion
Gilliard first saw Anderson at the Marien Hospital in Berlin and concluded that she was not who she claimed to be. Despite several more encounters, he did not change his opinion. In 1958, Gilliard provided testimony in a Hamburg court case to determine whether Anderson was indeed Grand Duchess Anastasia. Shortly after giving his testimony, Gilliard was involved in a car accident from which he never fully recovered. He passed away four years later at the age of 83.
