ɪnðɪ ˈeɪtiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, ɪt wʌz pˈɜːtʃɪst baɪ mˈeɪdʒɚdʒˈɛnɚɹəl pɹˈɪns sˈɜːdʒi vˈɑːlkənskˌɪi ænd ðˈɛn pˈæst tə hɪz sˈʌn, dʒˈɛnɚɹəlɪntʃˈiːf pɹˈɪns nˈɪkəlˌaɪ vˈɑːlkənskˌɪi, ðə ɡɹˈændfɑːðɚɹ ʌvðə ɹˈaɪɾɚ.
In the 18th century, it was purchased by major-general Prince Sergey Volkonskiy and then passed to his son, general-in-chief Prince Nikolai Volkonskiy, the grandfather of the writer.