grand duchess olga alexandrovna – The Romanov Family

January 2, 2016Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: HOW MANDARIN ORANGES BECAME RUSSIA’S NEW YEAR TREAT

Grand Duke Peter of Olderburg, the first husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II, was the Romanov family member who introduced mandarin oranges into Russia. — Grand Duke Peter of Oldenburg (right), the first husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II, was the Romanov family member who introduced mandarin oranges into Russia.

New Year celebrations are arguably the most major holidays in modern Russia. One of the traditional treats on a Russian New Year’s table are mandarin oranges. This fruit was not native to Russia – it was introduced only a few years prior to the Russian revolution – by a member of the Romanov family Grand Duke Peter of Oldenburg, a great grandson of Tsar Nicholas I and first husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II.

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.

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