#grand duke konstantin nikolaevich

[adini-nikolaevna]

Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich of Russia by Hau.

[queenalexandraofdenmark]

Adini🥺💔

The first Nicholas and Alexandra and the three graces

Before Nicky and Alix and OTMAA, there was Nicholas I (who was said to be not only the Iron Tsar but also the best-looking man in Europe) and his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Princess Charlotte of Prussia or "Muffy" as he called her.)

The couple had seven children, four sons and three daughters. Their sons (Tsar Alexander II and Grand Dukes Konstantin Nicholaevich, Nicholas Nicholaevich, and Mikhail Nicholaevich) are better known than their daughters, even though they were said to be not only beautiful but exceptional in intelligence and education.

Nicholas and Alexandra's eldest daughter was Grand Duchess Maria Nicholaevna, who would become the Duchess of Leuchtenberg through marriage. I have read that Maria's face resembled her father's and that she would dare argue with him, and when she did, their countenances would terrify those around them. She is described as energetic and willful. She was an art connoisseur and collector.

The second daughter was Grand Duchess Olga Nicholaevna, who became the Queen Consort of Wurttemberg. She was elegant, stately, kind, intelligent, and educated. She did many good works in her adopted land and was beloved by her people.

The third daughter was Alexandra, better known as Adidini. While the two older daughters resemble their father, Adini is said to have resembled her mother. She was interested in nature and music, in particular singing. Her story is very sad. She died young and, in doing so, broke her father's heart.

These women deserve more than three lines...so you will be hearing more about them. As far as I know, there is no picture of Adini, so I have included a painted portrait instead.

[graceofromanovs]

Members of the House of Romanov, the last reigning Dynasty of Russia.

From the first Romanov Russian Tsar Michael I (reigned 1613-1645) until the last Emperor Nicholas II (reigned 1894-1917). Including the 18 members of the house executed from 1918 until 1919; Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich (13 June 1918). Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Grand Duchesses Olga Nikolaevna, Tatiana Nikolaevna, Maria Nikolaevna, Anastasia Nikolaevna, and Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich (17 July 1918). Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich, Prince Ioann Konstantinovich, Prince Konstantin Konstantinovich, Prince Igor Konstantinovich, and Prince Vladimir Paley (18 July 1918). Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich, Grand Duke Dmitri Konstantinovich, Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich, and Grand Duke George Mikhailovich (28 January 1919).

[konstantinovichisstuff]

Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich 💕

[look-sharp-notes]

Не могу обойти вниманием этот факт. Русской тельняшке исполнилось 150 лет! 19 августа 1874 году по инициативе Великого Князя Константина Николаевича Романова, носившего тогда высший военно-морской чин — генерал-адмирал, император Александр ІІ подписал указ о введении новой формы, которым тельняшка (специальная «нательная» рубаха) была введена как часть обязательной формы одежды русского моряка.

I cannot ignore this fact. The Russian sailor's shirt is 150 years old! On August 19, 1874, on the initiative of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov, who then held the highest naval rank - General Admiral, Emperor Alexander II signed a decree on the introduction of a new uniform, by which the sailor's shirt (a special "undershirt") was introduced as part of the mandatory uniform of the Russian sailor.

[loiladadiani]

There are four individuals I do not recognize. Actually, this is an impressive gathering of Grand Dukes and Duchesses. I have included all the names of individuals in the group that I recognize on the tags.

Emperor Alexander III surrounded by family

[romanovsonelastdance]

Hey I wonder, how many branches are there in the Romanov family, anyway?

It depends on how you want to divide them up!

Most historians tend to do it by the sons of Nicholas I, so we end up with: The Alexandrovichi - Alexander II and his descendants. This group is sometimes subdivided by Alexander II's sons, so we have the continuation of the Alexandrovichi with Alexander III, and then the Vladimirovichi (descendants of Vladimir Alexandrovich) and Pavlovich (descendants of Pavel Alexandrovich). I don't tend to label things as 'alexandrovichi' because they're the main line of the Imperial Family.

The Konstantinovichi - Descendants of Konstantin Nikolaevich. This can include the Greek Royal Family as their founding matriarch was Konstantin's daughter, Olga Konstantinovna. But usually people think of the poet Konstantin Konstantinovich (KR) and his many children.

The Nikolaevichi - descendants of Nikolai Nikolaevich Sr. He only had two children, Nikolai Nikolaevich Jr (Nikolasha) and Peter Nikolaevich, and of the two, only Peter had children of his own, so it's a small branch.

The Mikhailovichi - the descendants of Mikhail Nikolaevich. This includes Sandro, the husband of Nicholas II's sister Xenia, so her kids are technically part of the Mikhailovichi branch but you could argue they are Alexandrovichi through their mother. Also OTMAA's playmates Nina and Xenia Georgievna are in this branch.

Another major branch are the Leuchtenbergs, who are the descendants of Nicholas I's daughter Maria and her husband Maximilian of Leuchtenberg. They lived in Russia, were granted the style of Imperial Highness, and while their title was Prince/ss Romanovsky, they were essentially treated like Grand Dukes/Duchesses.

[palecleverdoll]

Women of Imperial Russia: Ages at First Marriage

I have only included women whose birth dates and dates of marriage are known within at least 1-2 years, therefore, this is not a comprehensive list. This data set ends with the Revolution of 1917.

Eudoxia Lopukhina, wife of Peter I; age 20 when she married Peter in 1689 CE

Catherine I of Russia, wife of Peter I; age 18 when she married Johan Cruse in 1702 CE

Anna of Russia, daughter of Ivan V; age 17 when she married Frederick William Duke of Courland and Semigallia in 1710 CE

Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter I; age 17 when she married Charles Frederick I, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, in 1725 CE

Catherine II, wife of Peter III; age 16 when she married Peter in 1745 CE

Natalia Alexeievna, wife of Paul I; age 17 when she married Paul in 1773 CE

Maria Feodorovna, wife of Paul I; age 17 when she married Paul in 1776 CE

Elizabeth Alexeivna, wife of Alexander I; age 14 when she married Alexander in 1793 CE

Anna Feodorovna, wife of Konstantin Pavlovich; age 15 when she married Konstantin in 1796 CE

Alexandra Pavlovna, daughter of Paul I; age 16 when she married Archduke Joseph of Austria in 1799 CE

Elena Pavlovna, daughter of Paul I; age 15 when she married Frederick Louis, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1799 CE

Maria Pavlovna, daughter of Paul I; age 18 when she married Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in 1804 CE

Catherine Pavlovna, daughter of Paul I; age 21 when she married Duke George of Oldenburg in 1809 CE

Anna Pavlovna, daughter of Paul I; age 21 when she married William II of the Netherlands in 1816 CE

Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas I; age 19 when she married Nicholas in 1817 CE

Joanna Grudzinska, wife of Konstantin Pavlovich; age 29 when she married Konstantin in 1820 CE

Elena Pavlovna, wife of Mikhail Pavlovich; age 17 when she married Mikhail in 1824 CE

Maria Nikolaevna, daughter of Nicholas I; age 20 when she married Maximilian de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg, in 1839 CE

Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II; age 17 when she married Alexander in 1841 CE

Elizaveta Mikhailovna, daughter of Mikhail Pavlovich; age 17 when she married Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, in 1844 CE

Alexandra Nikolaevna, daughter of Nicholas I; age 19 when she married Prince Frederick-William of Hesse-Kassel, in 1844 CE

Olga Nikolaevna, daughter of Nicholas I; age 24 when she married Charles I of Wurttemberg, in 1846 CE

Alexandra Iosifovna, wife of Konstantin Nikolaevich; age 18 when she married Konstantin in 1848 CE

Catherine Mikhailovna, daughter of Mikhail Pavlovich; age 24 when she married Duke Georg August of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, in 1851 CE

Alexandra Petrovna, wife of Nicholas Nikolaevich the Elder; age 18 when she married Nicholas in 1856 CE

Olga Feodorovna, wife of Michael Nikolaevich; age 18 when she married Michael in 1857 CE

Maria Feodorovna, wife of Alexander III; age 19 when she married Alexander III in 1866 CE

Olga Konstantinovna, daughter of Konstantin Nikolaevich; age 16 when she married George I of Greece in 1867 CE

Vera Konstantinovna, daughter of Konstantin Nikolaevich; age 20 when she married Duke Eugen of Wurttemberg in 1874 CE

Maria Pavlovna, wife of Vladimir Alexandrovich; age 20 when she married Vladimir in 1874 CE

Maria Alexandrovna, daughter of Alexander II; age 19 when she married Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1874 CE

Anastasia Mikhailovna, daughter of Michael Nikolaevich; age 19 when she married Friedrich Franz III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1879 CE

Nadezhada Alexandrovna Dreyer, wife of Nicholas Konstantinovich; age 21 when she married Nicholas in 1882 CE

Elizabeth Feodorovna, wife of Sergei Alexandrovich; age 20 when she married Sergei in 1884 CE

Olga Valerianovna Paley, wife of Paul Alexandrovich; age 19 when she married Erich von Pistolhkors in 1884 CE

Elizabeth Mavrikievna, wife of Konstantin Konstantinovich; age 19 when she married Konstantin in 1885 CE

Anastasia of Montenegro, wife of Nicholas Nikolaevich the Younger; age 21 when she married George Maximilianovich, Duke of Leuchtenberg in 1889 CE

Milica of Montenegro, wife of Peter Nikolaevich; age 23 when she married Peter in 1889 CE

Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, wife of Paul Alexandrovich; age 19 when she married Paul in 1889 CE

Sophie Nikolaievna, wife of Michael Mikhailovich; age 23 when she married Michael in 1891 CE

Victoria Feodorovna, wife of Kirill Vladimirovich; age 18 when she married Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, in 1894 CE

Xenia Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander Mikhailovich; age 19 when she married Alexander in 1894 CE

Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas II; age 22 when she married Nicholas in 1894 CE

Olga Alexandrovna, daughter of Alexander II; age 18 when she married Count George-Nicholas von Merenberg in 1985 CE

Maria of Greece and Denmark, wife of George Mikhailovich; age 24 when she married George in 1900 CE

Alexandra von Zarnekau, wife of George Alexandrovich; age 16 when she married George in 1900 CE

Catherine Alexandrovna, daughter of Alexander II; age 23 when she married Alexander Baryatinksy in 1901 CE

Olga Alexandrovna, daughter of Alexander III; age 19 when she married Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg

Elena Vladimirovna, daughter of Vladimir Alexandrovich; age 20 when she married Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark in 1902 CE

Natalia Brasova, wife of Michael Alexandrovich; age 22 when she married Sergei Mamontov in 1902 CE

Elisabetta di Sasso Ruffo, wife of Andrei Alexandrovich; age 31 when she married Alexander Alexandrovitch Frederici in 1907 CE

Maria Pavlovna, daughter of Paul Alexandrovich; age 18 when she married Prince Wilhelm of Sweden in 1908 CE

Helen of Serbia, wife of Ioann Konstantinovich; age 27 when she married Ioann in 1911 CE

Tatiana Konstantinovna, daughter of Konstantin Konstantinovich; age 21 when she married Konstantine Bagration of Mukhrani, in 1911 CE

Irina Alexandrovna, daughter of Alexander Mikhailovich; age 19 when she married Felix Felixovich Yusupov in 1914 CE

Nadejda Mikhailovna, daughter of Michael Mikhailovna; age 20 when she married George Mountbatten in 1916 CE

Antonina Rafailovna Nesterovkaya, wife of Gabriel Konstantinovich; age 27 when she married Gabriel in 1917 CE

Nadejda Petrovna, wife of Nicholas Orlov; age 19 when she married Nicholas in 1917 CE

Anastasia Mikhailovna, daughter of Michael Mikhailovna; age 25 when she married Sir Harold Wernher in 1917 CE

59 women; average age at first marriage was 20 years old. The oldest bride was 31 at her first marriage; the youngest was 14.

[ykzzr]

Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich and his children Grand Duke Nicholas, Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Dukes Dimitri, Konstantin and Vyacheslav 1865.

[oldsardens]

Adolf Ignatevich Ladurner - Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Taking an Oath of Allegiance in the Georgievsky Hall in the Winter Palace, 8th September 1843

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

I know that princess Vera Kostantinovna had a sad childhood.

But i dont know much about her adult life cuz its very hard to find.

Did she ever got married? Or had kids

Hi! Grand Duchess Vera Konstantinovna (1854-1912) had a very sad childhood because of her nervous condition that she was diagnosed with and her cold parents who thought that she was a “menace”.

Marriage: She ended up marrying Duke Eugen of Württemberg (a descendant of the Sicilian branch of the Württemberg family) at the age of 17 in 1871. The marriage was arranged by her adoptive parents (and paternal aunt and uncle) Karl and Olga (GD Olga Nikolaevna Of Russia). The marriage was definitely a relieving one for both of Vera’s families because for Karl and Olga, she could stay in the country, and for her biological parents, Konstantin Nikolaevich and Alexandra Iosifovna, she would have a suitable match. A lot of people (mostly extended family) sympathized Eugen because they thought that Vera was “ugly” and didn’t exactly think she was the most eligible women, but Eugen didn’t really care what they thought and was kind to Vera. But Alas! Vera and Eugen’s married life didn’t last long as Eugen died while in the Württemberg army. Vera wasn’t over saddened or grief stricken by his death but was still sad. She never ended up marrying again and remained a widow for the rest of her life.

Children: before her husband died, she managed to have 3 children with him. The first, named Charles Eugen of Württemberg sadly died seven months later and a year later she had twin daughters named Olga and Elsa a whom she loved dearly

Later life: Her life after marriage and childbirth was good. She preferred to stay in her adopted country of Württemberg (which she now considered to be her own country) instead of Russia but she visited her sister Queen Olga of Greece often. She was known to be quite talkative at Court and was very eccentric. In her later years of life, she visited Russia a lot because of the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. Her daughters had many children which gave Vera many grandchildren whom she loved dearly. She was also known to be very humorous and she was well loved by her growing family. By the late 1800s, Vera was in very poor health and her nervous condition was getting worse (she often suffered from random bouts of movement and other various attacks). She was extremely nearsighted which required her to wear old fashioned spectacles permanently. In 1909, she abandoned her orthodox faith and converted to Lutheranism which she thought that she “understood” better. In 1911, Vera suffered a stroke, slowly recovered, and died six months later in April of 1912 of acute renal failure at the age of 58. The loss was deeply mourned by her family and the country of Württemberg where she was loved deeply.

Thank you for asking!

[adini-nikolaevna]

Caricature of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich of Russia by Vsevolozhsky.

[loiladadiani]

Emperor Nicholas I (1796 - 1855) and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (1798 -1860 - nee Princess Friederike Luise Charlotte Wilhelmine of Prussia

Nicholas I, the Iron Tzar, and his sons

This couple was the first “Nicholas and Alexandra” in the Romanov Dynasty. They were Nicholas II's great grant-parents.

It was said that he was the best-looking man in Europe. She was tall and fair and enjoyed jewels, gowns, and balls. They loved each other, and their union was not unhappy, but he did not remain faithful to her (after he died, his last mistress was employed as Alexandra’s lectrice, and they became friends.) Nicholas and Alexandra had seven children, four sons, and three daughters. Those four sons would ensure that the generation of Romanovs following them would not want for male heirs. As a matter of fact, there would be too many Grand Dukes, making it necessary for his grandson, Alexander III, to change the Pauline laws, re-defining who would be considered a Grand Duke or Duchess, among other things (only grandsons/grandaughters of a Tzar would be Grand Duke/Duchesses; great-grandsons and so on would be Princes and Princesses of the blood).

Nicholas I with his four sons: Tsarevich Alexander Nikolayevich (1818 - 1881 - future Alexander II), Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich (1827 - 1882), Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolayevich (1831 - 1891), and Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich (1832- 1909.)

According to the literature, Nicholas raised his two elder sons very strictly but had more of a paternal relationship with the younger two. His priority was to bring them up so that they were true soldiers and so that when Alexander inherited the throne, the other three would help and support him. And they did. Nicholas I adored his daughters and was devastated when his youngest daughter Alexandra (better known as Adini), died. (His daughters would be discussed in another post.)

Below are the sons of Nicholas I and their spouses:

1. Emperor Alexander II and his first wife Empress Maria Alexandrovna (born Princess Wilhemine Marie of Hesse); Issue listed below (Only legitimate issue surviving to adulthood listed; not in birth order)

Grand Duchess Marie

Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich

Alexander III

Grand Duke Vladimir

Grand Duke Alexei

Grand Duke Sergei

Grand Duke Pavel

2. Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna (Princess Alexandra of Saxe Altenburg); Issue listed below (Only legitimate issue surviving to adulthood listed; not in birth order) - They would be known as the "Konstantinovichi"

Grand Duke Nicholas

Grand Duke Konstantin

Grand Duke Dmitry

Grand Duke Vyacheslav

Grand Duchess Olga

Grand Duchess Vera

3. Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolayevich (the Elder) and Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna of Russia, born Duchess Alexandra Frederica Wilhelmina of Oldenburg. Issue listed below (Only legitimate issue surviving to adulthood listed; not in birth order); Known as the "Nikolayvichi”

Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolayevich

Grand Duke Peter Nikolayevich

4. Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich and Grand Duchess Olga Feodorovna (nee Princess Cecilie of Baden) Issue listed below (Only legitimate issue surviving to adulthood listed; not in birth order) They were known as the "Mikhailovichi" (although they preferred to be called the "Michels;" the family called them the "Wild Caucasians" because they grew up in the Caucus and had strong opinions that they voiced loudly)

Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna

Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich

Grand Duke Mikhail

Grand Duke George

Grand Duke Alexander

Grand Duke Sergei

Grand Duke Alexei

The children and grandchildren of these couples would be directly involved in one way or the other in the Great War, the Russian Revolution, the Civil War in Russia, and the overthrow of the monarchy and the Romanov Dynasty. Some would lose their lives, others would lose children, brothers, and spouses, and all would lose their country, status, and privileges.

[imperial-russia]

Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich with his eldest son, the later disgraced Nicholas Konstantinovich

[graceofromanovs]

GODPARENTS OF PRINCE KONSTANTIN KONSTANTINOVICH

Prince Konstantin Konstantinovich was born on 1 January 1891 in Saint Petersburg, Imperial Russia. He was the third son and fourth child of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia and his German-born wife Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mavrikievna. Konstantin was christened on 3 January at 2 in the afternoon at Marble Palace Church, St. Petersburg, by the Confessor of Their Majesties. His godparents were:

ALEXANDER III, EMPEROR OF RUSSIA - his father’s first cousin was named as one of his many godparents. He was highly reactionary in domestic affairs and reversed some of the liberal reforms of his father, Alexander II. He was most likely present at his young cousin’s christening.

GRAND DUKE KONSTANTIN NIKOLAEVICH OF RUSSIA - his paternal grandfather and namesake was one of his numerous godparents. He was the Viceroy of Poland from 1862 to 1863. His real influence on internal affairs after 1868 was insignificant. He was reportedly absent at his grandson's christening, due to his ill health.

CHARLES ALEXANDER, GRAND DUKE OF SAXE-WEIMAR-EISENACH - his parents' distant cousin (as a grandson of Emperor Paul I of Russia) was also named as the young Konstantin's godparent. He was absent at the prince's christening. He was the penultimate ruler of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, from 1853 until his death in 1901.

QUEEN MARIE OF HANOVER - his great-aunt, the last Queen consort of Hanover, was amongst his numerous godparents. She was absent at his christening.

ELISABETH, GRAND DUCHESS OF OLDENBURG - another of his great-aunt named as his godmother. Elisabeth, upon her marriage to the Grand Duke of Oldenburg used the funds given to her by her father to set up the Elisabeth Foundation, which still exists today. Like her sister Queen Marie, she was absent at her great-nephew's christening.

GRAND DUKE ALEXEI ALEXANDROVICH OF RUSSIA - his father's illustrious first cousin was named as the prince's godfather. Chosen for a naval career, Alexei started his military training at an early age. By the age of 20 he had been appointed lieutenant of the Imperial Russian Navy, eventually becoming general-admiral.

GRAND DUCHESS ALEXANDRA PETROVNA OF RUSSIA - his great-aunt,  the wife of Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, was another of his godmothers.A plain, and serious woman, her marriage to Grand Duke Nicholas was an unhappy one. Nevertheless, she would enjoy and maintain a good relationship with a few of her nephews including Emperor Alexander III and Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, who were sympathetic to her.

GRAND DUCHESS ALEXANDRA GEORGIEVNA OF RUSSIA - his paternal first cousin, the eldest daughter of King George I and Queen Olga, had been present and named as a godparent of Prince Konstantin, who was merely nineteen years her senior. In 1889, she married Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich, the youngest brother of Emperor Alexander III.

GRAND DUKE MICHAEL NIKOLAEVICH OF RUSSIA - his great-uncle was also listed as his godparent, and had been present at the christening. A soldier for most of his adult life, he enjoyed a favourable relationship with the three last Emperors of Russia - his brother Alexander II; nephew Alexander III; and great-nephew Nicholas II.

GRAND DUKE PETER NIKOLAEVICH OF RUSSIA - his father's first cousin was another of his many godparents. He was the younger son of Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich and his wife grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna (also named as a godparent of Prince Konstantin, listed above).

PRINCESS AUGUSTA OF SAXE-MEININGEN - his maternal grandmother was also named as his godmother. In 1862, she married Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg, and bore him five children.

PRINCESS LOUISE CHARLOTTE OF SAXE-ALTENBURG - his maternal aunt, the youngest sister of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mavrikievna was amongst his numerous godparents. Both Louise Charlotte and her mother Augusta were absent at Konstantin's christening.

Source

[konstantinovichisstuff]

Grand Duke konstantin Nikolaevich