French-russian Alliance, Lyon: Program For October 25, 1893, Visit By The Russian Fleet

Contains the menu from the banquet at Lyon City Hall in French and Russian, followed by 12 engravings depicting the main monuments of the city of Lyon.

Cover in straw-yellow Lyon silk, with motto, coat of arms, date, and title gilded with a hot iron.

In very fine condition, with a few tiny stains on the silk

Dimensions: 15.5 x 10 cm

In October 1893, Lyon welcomed a visit from the Russian fleet. Through this partnership between the French Navy and its Russian counterpart, the governments hoped to overcome the diplomatic isolation from which France had suffered since its humiliating defeat in 1870.

The Franco-Russian Alliance was initially a military cooperation agreement signed between France and Russia that was in effect from 1894 to 1917. This agreement stipulated that the two countries would support one another if attacked by any of the countries of the Triple Alliance—comprising the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, and the Kingdom of Italy. Broadly speaking, it involved military, economic, and financial cooperation between the two powers.

An initial agreement was reached unofficially during the summer of 1891 through an exchange of letters between the foreign ministers , following which a secret military convention was signed on August 17, 1892, by General Raoul de Boisdeffre and his Russian counterpart, General Obrutchev. It provided for mutual mobilization in both countries in the event of the mobilization of one of the powers of the Triple Alliance. As part of the initial agreements, a French naval squadron traveled to Russia during the summer of 1891.

For 16 days in October 1893, the Russian fleet paid a visit to the French fleet, stopping in Toulon, Paris, and Lyon, which gave rise to grand festivities.

After staying in Paris, the Russian squadron stopped in Lyon on October 25, 1893. At 8:00 a.m., Admiral Avellan’s train arrived at Perrache Station, where a large crowd had gathered. The Russian delegation was then welcomed by Prefect Rivaud and Antoine Gailleton, mayor of Lyon.

The procession toward City Hall began around 10:30 a.m. andPaul Boyer, in “The Golden Book of Franco-Russian Celebrations,” recounts: “It’s no small feat to cover the distance between the Cours du Midi and the Place des Terreaux. The enthusiasm is indescribable. Flowers are being thrown from every balcony. Handkerchiefs, hats, and fans are waved. At every street corner, young girls force the procession to stop, read out compliments, offer bouquets, and receive kisses in return.”

Upon their arrival at City Hall, the Russian delegation was presented with silk scarves, an overcoat featuring a large solid-silver basin, and a chiseled velvet gown for the Empress of Russia.

The stay in Lyon continued with a visit to the Exhibition Palace in the Parc de la Tête d’Orand again with a banquet at City Hall.

The Russian delegation ended its evening at the Grand Théâtre, where conductor Alexandre Luigini had the orchestra play the Russian anthemat the end of the second act of Samson and Delilah. Their train departed for Toulon late that night.

The treaty sealing the Franco-Russian Alliance was ratified by Tsar Alexander III on December 27, 1893, and on January 4, 1894, by the French government.

Source: https://www.archives-lyon.fr/pages/1893-une-visite-des-marins-russes