Biographies of the Romanov Family – Page 3

December 4, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ILEANA OF ROMANIA: WOULD BE TSARINA OF RUSSIA?

PRINCESS ILEANA OF ROMANIA: WOULD BE TSARINA OF RUSSIA?

Princess Ileana of Romania and Tsarevich Alexei of Russia on the imperial yacht

Princess Ileana with her mother, Queen Marie of Romania

Born on January 5, 1909 in Bucharest – Romania’s capital, Princess Ileana was the youngest daughter of King Ferdinand I and Princess Marie of Edinburgh, who was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England and first cousin to Empress Alexandra of Russia.

As a young child Princess Ileana met and befriended the children of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II, who were her 2nd cousins. The little girl became especially fond of Tsarevich Alexei, Heir to the throne of Russia. In fact, both sets of parents did not exclude the possibility of marriage between their children some time in future; Alexei’s eldest sister – Grand Duchess Olga – was also thought to have been a good dynastic match for Ileana’s big brother Carol, heir to the Romanian throne. Of course the possibility of any Russian marriages ended with the brutal murder of the entire Romanov family in 1918.

November 22, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

NIKOLAI KULIKOVSKY AND GRAND DUCHESS OLGA ALEXANDROVNA: THEIR LIFE AND MARRIAGE

Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna with her new husband, Nikolai Alexandrovich Kulikovsky.

Nikolai Alexandrovich Kulikovsky (5 November 1881- 11 August 1958) was a Russian nobleman and military man. Educated at the Gurevich School in St. Petersburg and later at the Nicholas Cavalry School (1900-1902), Kulikovsky joined Her Majesty’s Own Life-Guards Cuirassiers Regiment upon graduation.

In 1903, Kulikovsky met Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna at a military parade, and from then on, the couple drew closer, despite the fact that Grand Duchess Olga was already (unhappily) married to her cousin Duke Peter of Oldenburg.

In 1906, Kulikovsky was appointed the Duke of Oldenburg’s aide, and their relationship became a decorous open secret.

November 21, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ANASTASIA ROMANOV: “THE SHVYBZIK”

Grand Duchess Anastasia or “Nastasia”, was also known as “Shvybzik” or “Shvybz” – the nickname which referred to her quick and naughty nature.

Anastasia Romanov was said to be made of mercury instead of flesh and blood.

She was the family comedian who excelled at mimicking those around her, was rather witty and loved to play practical jokes – to the chagrin of her siblings, governesses, tutors and friends.

Looking at the many photos, and reading the many letters of Anastasia Romanov, one can easily see and feel her sparkling personality come through.

November 4, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY POET: GRAND DUKE KONSTANTIN KONSTANTINOVICH “KR”

Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, known as KR.

October 21, 2015Helen Azar 1 Comment

GRAND DUCHESS ELIZAVETA MAVRIKIEVNA: “AUNT MAVRA”

This photograph was taken in the apartments of Grand Duchess Elizaveta Mavrikievna, wife of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich (1858-1915), the Romanov family poet known as “KR”. Known to the extended Romanov family as “Aunt Mavra”, Elizaveta Mavrikievna lived out her last years (1922-1927) in exile in this Oldenburg castle.

On the wall of her room you can see a portrait of her husband, a drawing of the Madonna and Child (Elizaveta Mavrikievna did not convert to Orthodoxy and remained Lutheran), photographs of her children who were murdered by Bolsheviks in Alapayevsk. Read more GRAND DUCHESS ELIZAVETA MAVRIKIEVNA: “AUNT MAVRA”

October 5, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: “AUNT OLGA” – GRAND DUCHESS OLGA ALEXANDROVNA AND HER NIECES

Grand Duchess Olga with her aunt and namesake Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna and her two sisters Grand Duchesses Maria and Anastasia.

Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, Tsar Nicholas II’s youngest sister was the closest to his four daughters. Olga Alexandrovna’s four nieces regularly recorded in their diaries and letters the time they spent with their beloved aunt, and it is clear that she was a steady and welcome part of their lives. Olga Alexandrovna was not only aunt to Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia’s but also their friend, who visited them often, and took them out on day visits to St Petersburg for teas and dinners. It was a truly special relationship. Read more ROMANOV FAMILY: “AUNT OLGA” – GRAND DUCHESS OLGA ALEXANDROVNA AND HER NIECES