Fort Alexander III. Forgotten frontier of the empire. Forts of Alexander III. Forgotten frontier of the empire.
Order for the Baltic Fleet:
“Having decided to transfer the capital of the Kingdom to the sea, the Great Founder of the Russian fleet built the Kronstadt port and fortress for protection, commanding them to be defended to the last drop of blood. to concentrate naval armaments in non-freezing waters, and for this purpose undertook in the Baltic Port, the former Rogervik (Paldiski), constructions, by that time and then means, truly enormous. To my Empress Catherine II, nor to my deceased Grandfather and My Parent, who loved the fleet so much and cared about its strengthening.
Now, in view of the development of international relations and the strengthening of our naval power in the Far East, the need for an ice-free port has become even more urgent than before, and therefore, having decided to fulfill the testament of My Great Predecessor, I ordered that a port be built for the Baltic fleet in the most open part of the coast , near the city of Libau, and having laid this day with my own hand the foundation stone of this port, I entrust the defense of the newly built coastal stronghold to the valor of the Baltic sailors, fully convinced that, true to the traditions of so many victories won in the Baltic, and the glory of Chesma, Navarin and Petropavlovsk, they will be able to protect the approaches to our borders from any attempt, provide the Russian fleet with calm dominion in the waters washing them, and appear in a timely manner wherever the dignity of the Russian State requires.
On the original by His Imperial Majesty's own hand is signed: "Alexander".
Libava, August 12, 1893
"In the annals of national history, August 12, 1893 will forever remain a memorable day of first importance, a day of great significance in the more or less near future. On this day, in the Highest Presence, the laying of a military and commercial port in Libau took place.
: “In the summer of R.Kh. 1893, August 12 days, in the prosperous reign of Emperor Alexander III. This military port was personally founded by Their Imperial Majesties the Sovereign Emperor and Sovereign Empress under the Heir Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich and Admiral General Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich, when he was Admiral Chikhachev, chief inspector of the marine construction department, engineer, major general Chikolev and builder of the port engineer - Colonel MacDonald.