Photo of members of the Mongolian delegation in Russia, 1912

One of the results of the Chinese revolution of 1911 was the collapse of the Qing Empire that had existed since the XVII century. On December 1, 1911, an independent Mongolian state headed by Bogdo Khan (Bogdo-Gegen VIII) was proclaimed on the territory of the so-called Outer Mongolia. After his death in 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic was formed, which still exists today.

The photo shows one of the episodes of the visit to Russia in 1912 by the Mongolian delegation. In the center of the first row is the head of the delegation, Tugs–Ochiryn Namnansuren (Sayn-Noyon Khan), a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, Prime Minister, and since 1915 - Minister of War in the government of Bogdo-Gegen VIII. In addition to him, the delegation included the Comrade of the Minister of Justice Uday-Wang, the Comrade of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Tsyren-Dorji, comrade of the Minister of War Chilid-Dorji and personal secretary of the Prime Minister Tsonto-Ochir (the latter probably stands behind his superior).

On the right hand of the Mongolian Prime Minister is the Russian Consul in Urge Ya. P. Shishmarev. Yakov Parfenyevich Shishmarev, who served in the office of the Kyakhta mayor since 1855, was fluent in Chinese and Mongolian, and, according to contemporaries, knew Mongolia "like the streets of his city." From the late 1850s he served in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Participated in the conclusion of the Beijing Treaty of 1860, from 1864 he served as consul. He was in the consular service until 1911. The author of a number of translations from Sanskrit and Tibetan and works on the history of Mongolia, a full member of the Siberian Department of the Russian Geographical Society. The last rank is a privy Councilor. In the photo, Y.P. Shishmarev is depicted in the uniform of an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with sewing of the 4th category and white cloth dress trousers. The badge of the Order of St. Nicholas is worn on the ribbon over the left shoulder. Anna of the 1st st., her own star is on the right side of her chest. On the neck is the badge of the Order of St. Stanislaus of the 1st art., his star is the upper one on the left side of the chest. Below the Anninsky star is the star of the Grand Cross of the Austrian Order of Franz Joseph, below the Stanislavskaya on the left is the star of the 1st class of the 2nd degree of the Chinese Order of the Double Dragon. The first in the breastplate is a medal in memory of Emperor Nicholas I ("In memory of the tsar who served him by faith"), followed by a medal in memory of Emperor Alexander III. The last award on the chest is the badge of an officer of the French Order of Academic Palms. Attention is also drawn to the Red Cross badge for caring for wounded and sick soldiers in 1877-1878 and 1904-1905 . Below all awards, next to the Chinese star is a badge for 50 years of immaculate service in civilian ranks.

In the frock coats in the background are Russian translators at the mission, one of them (in the photo to the left of Shishmarev) has the rank of provincial secretary. This is probably the senior dragoman Gian Sarano. On his neck is the sign of the Chinese Order of the Double Dragon, the first in the block is the Russian Order of St. Anna 3rd art.

Judging by the presence of Russian awards among the distinguished guests, the picture was taken after the highest audience. Tugs-Ochiryn Namnansuren was awarded the Order of St. Anna of the 1st art. (a scarlet ribbon with yellow edges over the left shoulder and a star on the right side of the chest), his neighbor on the left hand – the Order of St. Stanislav 1st art. (scarlet and white ribbon over the right shoulder and a star on the left side of the chest). Two more members of the Mongolian delegation were awarded a very rare award – the Order of St. Stanislav 2nd art. (neck badge on the ribbon) with a star. Since 1839, the Order of St. Stanislaus of the 2nd art. with a star could only be granted to foreigners, as a rule, as a diplomatic gesture. The photo was taken in the studio of the court photographer K.K. Bulla, which gives it a special value. Size 245*310 mm. Guarantee of authenticity.