#coryne hall

[obscurehistoricalinterests]

„Princess Zenaide was worried about the company her daughter-in-law was keeping. Irina was frequently visited by a friend whose presence seemed to bother Zenaide.

In my opinion she poses most impudently as a member of the family, Zenaide told Felix on 11 December. She calls Irina by her Christian name, and even Tata [sic, she means Titi]. I strongly object to her behavior. When I visit Irina I constantly find her there, lounging in a chair… She sports a kind of operatic costume of a sister of mercy [nurse] and generally spoils the whole atmosphere by her presence. Irina seems to accept it all as inevitable…

Most books wrongly identify this ‘sister’ as Grand Duchess Ella, who at the time was away at a monastery. The young woman was Olga Vassiliev, a nurse at Grand Duchess Olga‘s hospital in Kiev, where she had been seeing rather too much of Sandro. At the end of 1916 she was at Ai-Todor recovering from illness. Olga Vassiliev would cause Irina‘s family a lot of distress in the future, before redeeming herself many years later.“

- Rasputin‘s Killer and his Romanov Princess, Coryne Hall

[teatimeatwinterpalace]

Princess Dagmar of Denmark, later Empress of Russia, 1862.

Thirteen-year-old Dagmar's chief attraction was her dark brown, velvety eyes. She was 'a dear little ting with a pretty figure and a very plain face - all excepting her eyes which are very pretty'. Her elfin-like, sparkling face with a wide flashing smile had less regular features than Alix's and, although never a classic beauty, she was slender with the same flair for clothes as her sister. She was also more intelligent and quick-witted, with wider interests.

The girls knew how to fight. Bernhard von Bulow, a childhood playmate of Dagmar and Alexandra and later Chancellor of Germany, recalled their rough treatment. Alexandra was already becoming a beauty but Dagmar, although lively and clever, impressed him as being ' a more vivid personality' and 'desperately hard-headed and obstinate.'

'Little Dagmar is a darling" Vicky, 1861.

Little mother of Russia : a biography of the empress Marie Feodorovna by Coryne Hall.

[lesyoussoupoff]

Prince Felix Youssoupoff in 1909 when he was at Oxford. Lifelong friendships were formed while he was in Oxford. He would always remember his time at Oxford with great fondness.

Photo from "Rasputin's Killer and His Romanov Princess" by Coryne Hall.

[otmaaromanovas]

i know this is a bit outside your purview but i was hoping you could help me - would you be able to recommend some memoirs of russian aristocrats from the imperial family's immediate circle who survived the revolution and settled in the west? something in the vein of felix yusupov or alexander mikhailovitch's memoirs, maybe? i'm interested in how they adjusted to the change in political and cultural circumstances. thanks in advance :)

Hello there!

Yes, I know of a few! I will also link you to Felix Yusupov and Alexander Mikhailovich’s memoirs, just in case you didn’t know they could be read online for free :) Where possible, I will include links to access them online for free.

Lost Splendour by Felix Yusupov

Once a Grand Duke by Alexander Mikhailovich

25 Chapters of my Life by Olga Alexandrovna - the later chapters detail how she, her husband, and two young children fled Russia

The Last Grand Duchess by Ian Vorres - a memoir written and based off interviews with Olga Alexandrovna, with quotes from her.

Vera by Paul Gilbert includes some memoirs by Vera Konstantinovna. The memoirs focus mostly on her childhood, but touch a little on the Revolution and her life in America after.

Memories of Russia, 1916-1919 by Princess Paley and John van der Kiste - more focus on the Revolution rather than settling elsewhere, but I hope it will be helpful!

Dancing in St. Petersburg by Mathilde Kschessinska - details her life as the first love of Nicholas II, her work as a Prima ballerina, her relationship with Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich. She and Andrei eventually fled Russia to France.

Not sure if this counts as he wasn’t Russian, but Tutor to the Tsarevich by Sydney Gibbes and J. C. Trewin details Gibbes’ life, including his fleeing to Asia and then to Oxford.

If you can speak French, this interview with Felix and Irina might be of interest to you. They talk mostly about Rasputin, but it does show their situation living outside of Russia.

Education of a Princess by Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna details her marriage to Duke of Södermanland, which saw her relocate to Sweden

These aren’t memoirs but instead secondary sources, but I thought I would include them in case they were valuable to you. Once a Grand Duchess: Xenia by John van der Kiste and Coryne Hall details Xenia’s escape from Russia and her adjustment to life in England living in Frogmore Cottage, using sources in the form of letters written by Xenia herself.

I hope that this was somehow helpful! Enjoy your reading :)

[loiladadiani]

I am back!

To my dear, precious mutuals, followers, and visitors...I am back after a few days away; I will start posting again shortly. While I was away, I kept a loved one company in the hospital and had a lot of time to read. I really enjoyed my reading...it helped me deal with the stress. I found the two books I finished very interesting in different ways. In case you are looking for a reading recommendation, here you have two worth considering:

This is one of the better books I have read about Grand Duchess Elizabeth; it is full of well-documented details, and it manages to put her in the context of the society where she was raised as well as of the one where she married and died. It provides a very objective picture of her husband Grand Duke Sergei, frequently called the "Romanov Enigma." It is extremely well-researched. It brings Ella and those around her to life. It was not the easiest of reads but well worth it.

This book was fun, but don't let the word "fun" mislead you. It contains plenty of substantial information. I like how Coryne Hall writes (I have read several of her books; she is imminently readable), and from studying the lists of references she uses, she is an excellent and creative researcher. (I also feel I have an emotional bond with her - entirely one-sided; she does not know about it - since she became interested in the Romanovs after she discovered one of her great-grandmothers had been born in Saint Petersburg and was a contemporary of Tsar Nicholas II; one of my great-grandmothers was born in the Caucasus (Georgia) and was just a few years younger than the Tsar. Following the trail of some of her sources, I learned several things I have wanted to know for a while (trifles, which I thought were lost to history). But more importantly, one of the scenarios that the book proposes for Rasputin's murder is one I was unaware of and found more plausible than the one conventionally accepted.

[cagliostrohq]

Your adventure begins here, ROBIN. it’s dangerous to go alone! before starting your journey, make sure to FOLLOW OUR STARTER BLOG, and go over THIS CHECKLIST! you have 48 HOURS to post in-character and send in your blog to the main.

(megan thee stallion, she/her, spirit warrior) To KHIONE TALLHART, the whole world looks like an open page. With a leap of faith, their ability of TOXIKINESIS grows a little stronger. They’re pledged to the HOUSE OF FRASER to defend the enchanted lands of Cagliostro with their POISONED INFUSED FAN. For TWENTY EIGHT years, they have survived a world of magic with both their METICULOUS and DISTURBING PERSONALITY. They work as a HERBALIST, but if they could change their fate, they’d want to SEEN FOR MORE THEIR POWER. (robin, 25+, she/her, est)

(nijiro murakami, he/him, spirit warrior) To CORYN WATANABE, the whole world looks like an open page. With a leap of faith, their ability of REALITY WARPING grows a little stronger. They’re pledged to the HOUSE OF BELTRAN to defend the enchanted lands of Cagliostro with their ENCHANTED OPAL NECKLACE. For TWENTY EIGHT years, they have survived a world of magic with both their CREATIVE and ANTI-HERO PERSONALITY. They work as a GRAPHIC NOVELIST, but if they could change their fate, they’d want to PROTECT THEIR BROTHER FROM HARM. (robin, 25+, she/her, est)

(jasmine tookes, she/her, dreamshade) To MUNROE ST. CROIX, the whole world looks like an open page. With a leap of faith, their ability of WEATHER MANIPULATION grows a little stronger. They are a SPOTTED LEOPARD shade aligned to HOUSE OF FRASER. For ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY-ONE years, they have survived a world of magic with both their ADEPT and HEAD-STRONG PERSONALITY. They work as a MAKEUP ARTIST, but if they could change their fate, they’d want to RECONNECT WITH THEIR TRUE LOVE. (robin, 25+, she/her, est)

(halle bailey, she/her, dreamshade) To ARIEL SPEEDRAGON, the whole world looks like an open page. With a leap of faith, their ability of SIREN PHYSIOLOGY grows a little stronger. They are a mermaid shade aligned to NO ONE. For TWENTY THREE years, they have survived a world of magic with both their SELF ASSURED and BOSSY. They work as a CAPTAIN ON HER BROTHER'S AIRSHIP + NAVIGATOR, but if they could change their fate, they’d want to SEE THE WORLD BEYOND THE VEIL.  (robin, 25+, she/her, est)

[ladysophy]

(And to add) According to Coryne Hall, witnessing indirectly her Aunt’s awful relationship with Konstantin led Queen Victoria to have ambivalent opinions at best about the Romanovs.

Do you know anything about anna feodorovna? There's even less info about her than her sister in law Elizabeth. But she seems to be an interesting woman.

Hi! Helen Rappaport is currently at work on a biography of Anna Feodorovna. She seems to be a controversial historian around the Romanov “fandom,” but I am personally very excited to read the new book—as you said, there isn’t much information available about Anna Feodorovna. In the meantime, I will give you what I can: Anna was born Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, so she was sister to King Leopold I of the Belgians and aunt to both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who even had a portrait of her at (I think)Kensington Palace. Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was small, and by royal standards, poor, but when Catherine the Great’s adjutant went on the hunt for a bride for Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, he fell ill there and was tended to by Coburg court doctor Baron Stockmar; Stockmar pointed the Russian general in the direction of the Coburg princesses, whose parents were very enthusiastic about the possibility of such an advantageous match. So, Juliane traveled to St. Petersburg with her mother and sisters, and Konstantin ultimately (albeit unwillingly—he did not want to get married in the first place) chose her as his bride. He referred to her as “the little monkey” and remarked that “it dances prettily.” The marriage took place, although the new Grand Duchess Anna was only 14, but it was a VERY unhappy union. Konstantin was jealous of his wife’s popularity, and he was was physically and emotionally abusive. He even forbade her to leave her room! Anna was close to her sister-in-law, Elizaveta Alexeievna, and the two girls supported each other through their difficult marriages. After her father-in-law became emperor, Anna pleaded illness and returned to Coburg for treatment, but she had no intention of returning to Russia… and she did not. She wanted a divorce, but the Russian court refused, and she began having romantic not-so-secret affairs; she was still legally married, but she wanted to be a mother, and she had two illegitimate children. During the Napoleonic wars, Alexander I tried to bring about a reconciliation between Konstantin and Anna, but the grand duchess adamantly refused to go back to the man who had made her life so miserable, and the marriage was finally annulled after almost 20 years of separation. Konstantin remarried, morganatically, to a Polish countess, but Anna never married again. She lived the rest of her life in Germany, where she was devoted to charity work and musical societies. That’s about all the info I have, but I think it’s safe to say that she was a strong, brave woman who was far ahead of her time.

[leifgrandeduchesse]

Literary works by both Russian and Danish writers also figured strongly in Dagmar's possessions and she kept a small book of autographs of famous musicians and composers. She often attended the literary soirées which were such a popular feature of society in the late 1870s. At one such evening Feodor Michailovitch Dostoevsky read a chapter from The Brothers Karamazov, in which he describes a woman's pain at the loss of her three-year-old son. As Dagmar listened, everybody noticed that she wept at the memory of her own little boy Alexander.

Little Mother of Russia by Coryne Hall

[official-saltbag]

"Yup! Pulled a bunch of dried... uh, rust... colored stuff off the floor when she got spooked. Followed her unconscious whims like a brown, dusty cloud, tagging along behind her down the hall."

"..." Coryn. Decides to say nothing.

...

"Blood?"

How the FUCK do you know that word?!

[imperial-russia]

I was pleasantly surprised to read about the contributions of Alexandra Feodorovna, Olga and Tatiana Nikolaevna, and Olga Alexandrovna during WW1. I haven't heard of many other royal women being so hands-on in their assistance. Do you know if this level of involvement, actually training/working as a nurse, was commonplace among royal ladies at the time or quite rare?

There is a wonderful book called Princesses on the Wards by Coryne Hall which is fully dedicated to the royal women who, thoughout many wars, took up nursing. There were actually quite a few noble ladies who decided to become nurses during the First World War. Aside from Alexandra, both Olgas and Tatiana, also Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna became one and her experiences were actually pretty hands-on and quite harrowing. All of the Romanov women went through schooling (in case of Olga Alexandrovna it has been quiet extensive, since she had been interested in learning long before the war even started) and received certificates. Naturally their skills were still limited, since courses were rather short in order to get ready as many nurses as possible and send them to hospitals and to the front lines.

[diaboliique]

Here they were once again, only under very different circumstances. This was the wedding they were supposed to have, with family and friends surrounding them, with no worries about going into labor or feeling uncomfortable in a wedding gown, lavish and so very much them. Of course, life always had a funny way of making things happen not quite the way you want it to, and now here they were, almost 5 months into their marriage, finally having the formal ceremony and reception. The legals were done in Indianapolis City Hall with only Lux for a witness, but Coryn and Max knew that they’d never hear the end of it if they didn’t have a ‘formal religious’ ceremony, especially from his mother. It took a month or two of hurried planning and some, frankly, overpriced invoices from florists and caterers, but they’d managed to pull off something that spoke to who they both were, while making the extended families happy… or at least Coryn hoped.

She’d managed to learn a little bit about Jewish wedding ceremonies in her time reading up on the faith during the early stages of her pregnancy; having chosen to raise Chloé in the faith opened her eyes to so many things she hadn’t ever considered, but she did find a few bits of tradition that spoke to her, and she’d be ok with letting them happen, but made it abundantly clear to her very-liberal yet very-Catholic grandmother that, no, it’s not just a Jewish wedding. There’d be a brief mention of some vaguely Pagan traditions (she’d given up protesting a while ago that she didn’t identify as Pagan, no one really listened to her anyhow, and there was no way she was having a Catholic wedding since the only non-lapsed Catholic in the family was her Nina.) It was a good mix of their lives, their stories, and the household they now had.

What made it all easier was the ceremony being held at their home in Long Island. The massive chunk of land they lived on, conveniently near the shore, was an idyllic setting for a party the night of the summer solstice, and Coryn had basically begged people to come stay before because of all it tended to get rather echoing and lonely when Max would be away. Now, it echoed less with loneliness and instead, the rather boisterous chatter of family, friends, and coworkers as they made their way to their seats, the ceremony almost ready to begin.

For the second time, Max wasn’t nervous. He was more amused than anything, watching his cousins, friends, colleagues completely shocked with how well he was taking everything. Jokes about how this was his second marriage floated around and he laughed along before giving them a pointed look when they joked about there possibly being a third. No, this was it. She was it. Nothing could pull him away from her.

His closest...friend, more of a father than anything, Ethan was just as calm as him. Although Max was the first to get married, Ethan was the first to go through this entire actual wedding day. And every so often Max found himself looking to the older man for some indication that he was doing things right. It was more of a calming reassurance than anything.

Even though they were in the same building, he knew his mother and the rest of Coryn’s party would throw a riot if he tried to make his way over to where she was to see Chloé. He settled on agreeing to a Facetime call, pulling away from the rest of his group to talk to his daughter. Although he knew that Coryn was the one for him before Chlo came along, she was the force that pulled them together sooner.  He didn’t keep her long, just enough to get in a few words that she only made noises in response to. After the call, he was more than ready to meet his wife at the altar.

Coryn and Max’s mothers made a scene of getting Coryn out of the way, while Chloé babbled away at the phone screen that was displaying Max’s face, despite her protesting that ‘obviously he’s seen me, we’re already married!!’ It was of no use though, and after being hurried away, a few final details (a family heirloom pearl necklace, some last few flowers braided into her hair, small little tokens of protection tucked into her bouquet) were completed before it was time. Finally, everyone had gotten themselves seated, and the ceremony could begin.

Brushing at the sleeves of her gown, she waited for the cue from one of the event planners she’d hired before making her way down the aisle. It felt like something from a movie, the sight of family and friends crowded together, an aisle covered with fabric and flower petals, and at the end, an ornately decorated chuppah covered in boldly colored flowers… with her husband standing beneath it. No nerves were in her body, instead it felt like the butterflies on her dress were in her stomach, fluttering about, making her want nothing more than to laugh at it all.

They’d chosen the Summer Solstice ‘because it seems witchy,’ as Max had put it, and here now, at nightfall, with the sun setting over the waves, the twinkling of fairy lights in the distance of the trees in their yard, it really did seem magical. It landing on a Friday night, a day not only deemed a day of love in most witchcraft traditions, but also the start of the Shabbos in Judaism… it just all worked out. That was how their life had always seemed to be… just falling into place, everything at the right time, even when it seemed like it was almost impossible circumstances.

Coryn was broken from her thoughts at the happy gurgling of Chloé from where her mother sat with her, and as she stood at the altar, handing her bouquet to Dinah, she waved at her daughter, who was much more preoccupied trying to gnaw off one of the nubs on her teething toy.

She was some sort of dream demon. That had to be it. There was no other way Max could explain the magic that she seemed to put on him whenever he laid eyes on her. But especially not in that moment. Everything, from the flowers on her dress to the matching ones in her hair, made him smile. Of course, it was perfect for her. A perfect compliment to her timeless beauty.

So there he stood, smiling like a big dumb idiot as she walked towards him. For the rest of his life he would deny it, but it was obvious that he brought the back of his hand up to wipe at his eyes in a flash. (Ethan definitely got it on camera.)

There was no need to put on a front at that time. No need to hold back the emotions, the love in his eyes, as he stood across from her, his hand reaching forward to brush against hers before lacing their fingers together.

The justice of the peace nodded at them both, before starting off the ceremony.

“We’re gathered here today to celebrate the love and union of Coryn and Maxwell. Although already legally bound in marriage, we are here to celebrate before family and friends, ancestors, spirits, and the Divine, to bind them together in a union that surpasses the laws of man.

“In the culture of the Jewish people, wine… or in this case, grape juice, is the symbol of happiness. Although you are two distinct persons, both respecting the dignity of the other, you have chosen to unite your lives and to seek your happiness together. Your individual joy will be all the greater because it is shared. Your individual fulfillment will be all the stronger because it rests in the fulfillment of the other. Take this goblet and drink as an affirmation of your hope for the future, a future that welcomes your dreams and makes them real.

“Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, boreh p’ri ha-gafen. Blessed are You, Eternal One our God, Ruler of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Ashray hehatan v’hakalla sheyimtzoo ahava b’nee-soo-een. Happy are the groom and bride who find love in marriage.”

The few chuckles at the correction from wine to grape juice made even Coryn break, knowing that her not drinking was something she was worried about while looking into a traditional wedding ceremony, but after being handed the tiny silver goblet, she took a small sip, the sweetness of it seemingly waking her from the odd trance she’d already found herself in from the ritual of it all.

At first Max had worried that Coryn would feel overwhelmed by the traditions his faith brought, but he was happy to see she took it all in stride. When a droplet of grape juice escaped the corner of her mouth, he brought his hand up to wipe it away with his thumb and momentarily cradle her face in his hand. Then it was his turn and downed the rest of liquid, not wanting to waste a single drop of symbolic happiness.

Next, a multicolored braided cord was held in the justice’s hands, as she continued on.

“Next, in lieu of a ring ceremony, the couple have opted to do a handfasting ceremony. This cord will be tied around their clasped hands, to symbolize their unity.

“Like the element of earth, may you support one another, provide stability when the other finds themselves faltering, and help nurture each other to grow. Like the element of air, may you lift each others spirits, and act with wisdom in all the choices you make. Like the element of fire, may you love passionately, and become a beacon of light when the other finds themselves in the dark. Like the element of water, may your feelings flow freely and deeply, so you are never left wondering. By the earth below, and the stars above, let all that you do be done in perfect trust and perfect love.”

With a gentle squeeze at Max’s hands, Coryn watched as the cords were loosely wrapped around their clasped hands, before being knotted three times. She gave a quick glance over to her cousins who responded with thumbs up, clearly appreciating the nod to their shared love for all things witchy.

Max couldn’t help but throw in a little wink when fire and passion was mentioned, alluding to their instant chemistry. And he had to bite his tongue back when the word “deeply” was thrown out, knowing he would never hear the end of it from anyone if he chose that moment to make a lewd comment. He was lucky she was already in love with him, he thought to himself. Otherwise she had a long road ahead of her.

“And finally… the part everyone knows. The breaking of the glass. There are multiple interpretations of this tradition. Some say it is to recall the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem, a reminder that even in our most joyous occasions, we must remember the painful history of our ancestors that led us to this moment. Some say that it is to act as a reminder that relationships are fragile, that one wrong move can shatter it to pieces, and while it may be recovered, it can never be put back together again the way it was before. Go now into your marriage with this knowledge, and these blessings.”

Someone had been foolish enough to let Max pick what to break and for a good moment he had debated framing a picture of Coryn’s ex or father and going to town on the glass. But someone wise reminded him that the day was about their love, not about any petty arguments. So he opted instead for a glass bottle, filled halfway with black glitter. Biodegradable of course, because he’d never hear the end of it from Coryn or his sisters about polluting the Earth, all for a reference to Cor’s love of all things spooky and beautiful.

At the sound of the glass popping beneath Max’s foot, his entire side of the guests, and even some of Cor’s, shouted Mazel Tov! The justice of the peace could barely get the words out before Cor felt Max grab her, bringing her in for a deep kiss, her body feeling warm, full of magic, and happiness, and love.

( @betterthanyoulosers )

[aloneinstitute]

Retrato da princesa Juliana “Julie” de Saxe-Coburgo-Saalfeld, pintado em 1796 por Elisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun. Casada com o grão-duque Constantino Pavlovich da Rússia, ela levava uma existência infeliz ao lado do marido. Depois de se converter à religião Ortodoxa e adotar o nome de Ana Feodorovna, ela foi muito bem recebida na corte do czar Paulo I, que adorava seus modos e conversa agradável. A popularidade da esposa fez com que o grão-duque ficasse bastante enciumado e a tratasse mal. Ele a proibia de participar de eventos sociais, exceto em sua companhia. Em 1799, quando Julie teve que fazer uma viagem para tratar da saúde, ela quis regressar, pois sua vida em São Petersburgo ao lado do marido insuportável. Como não obteve apoio da família em Coburgo, não lhe restou opção a não ser voltar a tempo de estar presente nos casamentos de suas cunhadas, Alexandra e Helena.

Com o assassinato do czar Paulo I em 1801, Julie alegou novamente que sua saúde se encontrava em estado grave. O novo czar, Alexandre I, consentiu que ela retornasse junto com a mãe, a duquesa Augusta, para fazer um tratamento com águas termais. Dessa vez, a grã-duquesa nunca mais regressou. Nos próximos 19 anos, Ana Feodorovna travou uma árdua batalha judicial para conseguir um divórcio do marido. Nesse meio tempo, ela manteve um caso amoroso com Rodolphe Abraham de Schiferli, do qual resultou no nascimento de uma filha bastarda. A despeito de todas as tentativas de Alexandre I em conseguir a reaproximação da grã-duquesa com seu irmão, Constantino, Ana/Julie conseguiu um divórcio em 1820. Essa história se tornou matéria de fofoca em muitas cortes da Europa.

Só podemos imaginar o quanto dela a pequena Alexandrina Vitória de Hanôver, princesa de Kent, absorveu. Ela não só era afilhada do czar Alexandre como foi batizada em sua homenagem. Na opinião de Coryne Hall, a relação da futura rainha com os Romanov era multifacetada. Ela nutria franca simpatia por alguns membros da família imperial, enquanto para outros reservava o oposto.

Texto: @renatotapioca

#saxecoburgsaalfeld #julianeofsaxecoburgsaalfeld #vigeelebrun #hanover #russia #romanovfamily #romanovdynasty #romanovs #rainhastragicas

[donzamora]

Departure for Tritania

Walking towards the front of our castle gates, I feel the winds of change breezing all around me. There is nothing like a vague adventure full of danger to take your mind off of a family that likes to lie their asses off!

“Zamora, would you like to ride with me?” Serenity asks as I hand her my bag. Before I can answer, I hear familiar footsteps.

“You were gonna leave without me?! That is quite some nerve!”

I turn and see Coryn standing there with her long curly hair slightly covering her face. It is apparent that she is fuming. I can tell she’s genuinely angry because her gloves are faintly glowing.

“Coryn, we’ve gone on so many missions together, you know I would love to have you once more, it’s just that all the Seville children will be vacant from our homeland. It’s imperative that Mother and Father have people close to them that they can trust.” Her gloves start fading and I see sadness overcome her face.

“Yeah…but.” Before Coryn could finish her sentence I see Sofia fly in from over the castle walls. Coryn curtsies, “My Lady”.

“Coryn, you have been a member of this family for years, no water trial can change that, please, no need for such formalities.” Coryn lets out a faint smile that can be seen from her lowered head.

“Well, if I’m a member of this family, why do I have to stay while you all get to leave?”

Sofia walks closer to Coryn and gently moves the hair from her face.

“Because as a member of this family we all have a duty. There is literally nobody we trust more to safeguard these lands.”

“And what would stop me from joining up with you guys later? It is my sworn oath to protect you as well Sofia.”

Sofia’s tiara begins to glow,

“No, Sofia, please!”

“Because, as the Next in Line, I command you to stay within these lands until a Seville child returns.”

For a brief second you can see Coryn’s veins more prominently as she fights against the command. Witnessing this scene I am fighting back tears, it kills me to see her so distraught, but this is for best. Coryn releases the seal on her wings with a simple extension of her arms.

“If you command it my lady, then so it shall be.”

And just like that my best friend flew off without saying a word. Her tears fell down on us as she soared towards the mountains.

“She shouldn’t be unbalanced for long.” Serenity slyly states. Watching her hand movements carefully, I proceed to see her transform the bag into a small crystal and place it onto her shoulder blade armor. This was the first time I had seen my dance teacher in battle gear. Her flight suit had long arching pieces, with every section possessing the most beautiful color gradient. Each part had a dark blue hue, originating from her heart and extending into a deep pink. Although the colors are rather eccentric, it still has a sense of regality radiating from it.

“So which are you better at Sere? Dancing or magic?” There’s no real point in being mad with her deception, when I still hide my own magic techniques from the world.

“They are one in the same, the quicker you learn that, the easier this shall be.” Serenity had a completely different aura to her since that moment in the Hall of The Named. Normally she is only in teacher mode during lessons, but immediately after, she flips a mental switch and feels like one of my close friends, or possibly even a cool aunt. However, now, she has that switch turned back on.

“So then, the better dancer I become, the more adept I will be at magic?” Serenity’s eyes turn to a serious gaze. “It’s okay, my sister has known for years, with her sensory skills, I was never able to cast anything without her knowing!”

“No coincidence, you are heavy footed.” Serenity says while fighting back a chuckle.

“Hey now! I am probably the most elegant moving 6’6 man you have ever seen! Besides, I don’t think turning my knees outwards will particularly help with my magic.”

“It is why you can’t turn out your knees that you should focus on, or perhaps less.” Confused, I knew this was a sensei moment that I would have a revelation for at a later time. But for now, I couldn’t help but long for my own battle armor.

Sofia interjects my thoughts, “Well, anymore last-minute cuss-outs, or are we prepared to depart?”

I smile back despite still being saddened by leaving Coryn, I nod my head.

Sofia turns towards Serenity with a forming smile. I can feel the excitement is hitting everyone as we finalize our departure. What will this journey teach us? The opportunities are endless! “Are you familiar with Gateway Artes?”

“Yes my Lady, but is it not a custom of your people to pray to your own prospective God before any trial?”

Sofia lets out a slight chuckle and I say,

“Yeah Sere we only really pray to our Gods when we go on Trials with Mother, but sure I guess, it can’t hurt!”

Sere then stands tall with her legs crossed, she softly rests her back left fist over my heart and holds her right fist out waiting. “Wait? I thought you prayed to different Gods?”

“You will learn it is one and the same” I softly laugh and roll my eyes in jest. Standing behind her, I reach out and grab the back of her other hand.

“Our beloved Goddess of Serenity, we ask that you inspire us with your beauty, and project it into those close to our hearts. We ask that you give us the clarity to see the beauty in all things, today, and on our day of calling.” We break our stance and touch each other’s’ foreheads. I say to her,

“I see your beauty.” She says it back.

We turn to see Sofia already done with her prayer. It is a rather quick one, where she kneels and eats a piece of dirt. But hey, how one gets in touch with their Deity is not of my concern. “Which port are you using?”

She closes the lid on a water canister and responds, “I have some things that should be shipped into Tritania that may help out with our journey.“

“Sounds perfect!” I place my arms across my chest, “You ready?” Sofia nods, she holds out her hand out and spins it in a small circle and…

[lesyoussoupoff]

Coryne Hall recently released a book titled ‘Rasputin’s Killer and His Romanov Princess,’ and it’s been my highly anticipated read of the year. In fact, I’ve eagerly awaited its release ever since I first heard murmurs about it.

To my knowledge, there are two English-published biographies about Prince Felix Youssoupoff: Greg King’s biography from 1996 and Christopher Dobson’s from 1989. However, over the past twenty years, a wealth of information has emerged from various Russian archives and the families’ personal collections.

This newfound information has not only shifted perspectives on the events leading to the downfall of the Romanov Dynasty but has also brought enigmatic figures, previously footnotes in biographical books, into the spotlight.

One such figure is Irina, who was vaguely addressed in Felix’s previous biographies. Perhaps this was due to the scarcity of information about her. However, in this book, we are presented with enough fragments to grasp the nature of Irina’s character and the less-than-ideal life she led, not just after the revolution but before. The book also paints a clear picture of her complex relationships with various members of her immediate and extended family.

The same can be said for Felix. While we may be aware of his love for his mother, their relationship is more intricate than many realize. Felix’s adoration for his mother is unquestionable, yet it becomes apparent that he struggled to meet her expectations, especially after the death of his brother, Nicholas. The book also delves into Felix’s previous flirtations and romances, particularly his relationship with Grand Duchess Elena.

Coryne Hall skillfully provides an updated biography that touches on the known facts while addressing fresh revelations that have emerged through personal correspondence. Naturally, not every aspect could be covered, but at its core, Hall does a wonderful job presenting Felix and Irina and their unconventional yet resilient relationship.

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all readers. Given the limited availability of English biographies on Felix and Irina, this is a valuable addition to any collection of Romanov-related books.

[otmaaromanovas]

Hey. I was wondering what your favourite books about OTMA/The Romanovs are? I have read quite a few and I’m looking for new recommendations. I love your posts btw :)

Hiya! Thanks for your question.

As you said you have read quite a few books about the Romanovs and want new recommendations, I'll try and think of some of the less common/more obscure books I've read, which I don't see talked about too much!

Once a Grand Duchess by John van der Kiste and Coryne Hall

Admittedly, this book sometimes reads like a long wikipedia page, but has some very interesting information on Xenia Alexandrovna. If you are interesting in the British royal family and their history, the second half of the book has some great info on Xenia's stay at Frogmore Cottage and Hampton Court

The False Anastasia by Pierre Gilliard and Constantine Savitch

Written half by Gilliard and half by Savitch, it combines some of Pierre Gilliard's memories of Anastasia and the Romanovs with debunking the Anna Anderson myth. Some great work here on Anderson's actual identity. However, I will warn you straight away that if you do get this book in its English translation, the translator Edgar A. Lucidi is VERY antisemitic. Throughout the book, he goes to great pains to try and say that Anastasia survived, and has a whole preface about it, including photos of him posing with a pretender. It's frustrating and insulting, especially when he makes actual notes in the text trying to 'debunk' Gilliard and Savitch's writing. I'm recommending this book purely because of what Pierre Gilliard and Constantine Savitch have written, which is very interesting and revealing. If you can read French (I definitely can't!) it's worth getting the original.

Tutor to the Tsarevich by John C. Trewin and Charles Sydney Gibbes

This book is FANTASTIC and really underrated! It's more of a coffee table format, with plenty of photos, but has some really fantastic information. It has a lot of Gibbes' original writings and reflections, published for the first time I believe. Some great anecdotes about Tobolsk and some rare photos of Gibbes and his life after the Romanovs.

The Romanovs & Mr Gibbes: The Story of the Englishman Who Taught the Children of the Last Tsar by Frances Welsh

This book focusses on the life of Charles Sydney Gibbes, later known as Father Nicholas, who was the English tutor to the children. Although it is definitely not as good as Tutor to the Tsarevich, it provides an interesting picture of Gibbes' life. It's quite short, and focusses a lot more on Gibbes than the Romanovs, but is worth a read if you're interested in the tutors of OTMAA.

A Few Years Before the Catastrophe by Sofia Ivanovna Tyutcheva, translated by George Hawkins

This book is *TINY* so you might be better served getting the online kindle edition rather than actually buying it. Sofia, or 'Savanna' as OTMA called her, was a nanny to the children from 1906-1912, before being dismissed by Alix for disagreements over Rasputin and the raising of the children. As I said, the book itself is very short, but paints an interesting picture especially of Ernst of Hesse and Nicholas' personalities. There are some fun anecdotes about OTMA, but not too many. The reason I recommend this book is because I am currently reading Anna Vyrubova's memoirs and she goes on a four page rant about poor Savanna, saying that she was a traitor and sold out Nicky and Alix. Reading Savanna's recollections almost entirely prove this wrong.

The Camera and the Tsars: The Romanov Family in Photographs by Charlotte Zeepvat

This book is BEAUTIFUL! Anything Charlotte Zeepvat writes is worth buying in my opinion. But this book especially... *chef's kiss*. It has so much detail about the whole of the Romanov family, and is mainly in picture form with detailed captions and text too. The photos are high quality. A great overview of the whole of the Romanov family and its many branches.

The Grand Duchesses: Daughters & Granddaughters of Russia's Last Tsars

This book is comprised of multiple different biographies about Romanov Grand Duchesses and princesses over a span of about 200 years. It is very unique in focussing entirely on the women in the Romanov family. There are a couple of errors in it, but nothing too awful. Great if you want to dive in and learn about some of the Grand Duchesses that came before (and after) OTMA.

‘After that we wrote.’: A Reconsideration of the Lives of Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, 1895-1918 by Althea Thompson

The last recommendation isn't a book, but a thesis written for their Master's Degree, and focusses entirely on OTMA. It's fascinating, with plenty of great sources sprinkled in. It looks to re-examine how historians have viewed OTMA and aims to create an accurate picture of their daily lives. It's a long academic read, but has fantastic information. You can read it here.

I hope this was helpful! I probably missed out some great gems, but these are the first ones that come to mind which are less common :)

[loiladadiani]

Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich, Mathilde Kschessinska and their son, Vladimir (Vova)

A little follow-up on Mathilde Kschessinska, Nicholas II's mistress before his marriage:

When the Revolution broke out, Mathilde left Russia with her son Vladimir, her then lover Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich, his mother, the formidable Maria Pavlovna the Elder, and Andres' brother Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich (and his mistress). She married Andrei in exile, and their marriage lasted until his death. She finally had her Grand Duke. Mathilde always sustained that Vova, her son, was Andrei's son (there were rumors that he might have been Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich's son, and Sergei accepted him as such for a time.) Later, when Grand Duke Kyrill Vladimirovich (Andrei's eldest brother) declared himself Tsar, he made Mathilde a Princess, and her son became H.S.H. Prince Romanovsky-Krasinsky.

The following is a typically self-serving narration, by Keschessinska, of the night she met Andrei:

"...I hosted a dinner at my house. The dining room was too small to accommodate all the guests. The table was laid in the hall...To this dinner, I invited Grand Dukes Kirill and Boris Vladimirovich, who had previously visited me, and for the first time Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich. Opposite me, in the center of the table, I seated Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich as the eldest, Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich to my right, Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich to my left, and Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich sat at the end of the table, behind the host...Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich immediately made a huge impression on me that first evening that I met him: he was surprisingly handsome and very shy, which did not spoil him at all, on the contrary. During dinner, he accidentally touched a glass of red wine with his sleeve, tipping over my direction and spilling over my dress... I was not upset that the wonderful dress was lost, I immediately saw in this an omen that this would bring me a lot of happiness in life...From that day on, a feeling crept into my heart that I had not experienced for a long time; it was no longer an empty flirtation ... ".

If you want to learn further about this very ambitious woman and, most interestingly, the members of the Imperial Family she associated with, I recommend Coryne Hall's book (see below). Mathilde's biography is available at Amazon also, but I would take that with a grain of salt.

By the way, Mathilde never made any claims about meeting the Tsar after his marriage, and there is no evidence whatsoever that such a thing happened...neither does she claim to have had a child with him, which is another baseless rumor that creeps up every once in a while. (gcl)

Hall, Coryne, Imperial Dancer: Mathilde Kschessinska and the Romanovs, Sutton Publishing, England, 2005.

Dancing in Petersburg the Memoirs of Kschessinska Hardcover – Import, January 1, 1960