Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna | |
---|---|
Head of the House of Romanov (disputed) | |
Tenure | 21 April 1992 – present |
Predecessor | Vladimir |
Heir apparent | George |
Born | Madrid, Francoist Spain | 23 December 1953
Spouse |
Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia (m. 1976; div. 1985) |
Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov | |
Father | Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia |
Mother | Princess Leonida Bagrationi of Mukhrani |
Religion | Russian Orthodox |
Russian imperial family |
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Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia Princess Inez Romanoff |
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia (
Early life
Birth
Maria Vladimirovna was born in
Education
Maria was educated in
Maria Vladimirovna lives in Madrid. She is fluent in Russian, English, French, and Spanish, and also speaks some German, Italian, and
On 23 December 1969, upon reaching her dynastic majority, Maria swore an oath of loyalty to her father, to Russia, and to uphold the Fundamental Laws of Russia which governed succession to the
Marriage
In
Franz Wilhelm converted to the Eastern Orthodox faith prior to the wedding, taking the name Michael Pavlovich and receiving the title of a Grand Duke of Russia from Maria's father.[10][11] The couple separated in 1982, a year after the birth of their only child, George Mikhailovich, who had been granted the title Grand Duke of Russia at birth by his grandfather Vladimir. Following the divorce on 19 June 1985, Franz Wilhelm reverted to his Prussian name and style.[6]
Succession claims
Styles of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna | |
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Her Imperial Highness | |
Spoken style | Your Imperial Highness |
Maria Vladimirovna is a patrilineal descendant of
When Vladimir Kirillovich died on 21 April 1992, his daughter Maria claimed to succeed him as head of the Russian Imperial Family on the grounds that she was the only child of the last male dynast of the Imperial house according to the Romanovs'
By the Romanov
From there, the line of succession looks to Alexander III's father, Alexander II. His sons, Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of Russia, and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia both died without issue. Excluding the future Alexander III, the third boy Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia – born after the childless Tsarevich and Alexander III, whose descendants couldn't claim leadership for many reasons – had four sons. The eldest died in infancy and the second eldest, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia, had one son, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia. His only child is Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, making her the legal heir to the Russian throne.
Following the discovery of the remains of Emperor
When questioned about the ongoing rift among Romanov descendants, Maria said:
"Attempts to disparage my rights have originated with people who, firstly, do not belong to the Imperial Family, and, secondly, either do not themselves know the relevant laws or think that others do not know these laws. In either case, there is unscrupulousness at work. The only thing that causes me regret is that some of our relatives waste their time and energy on little intrigues instead of striving to be of some use to their country. I have never quarreled with anyone about these matters and I remain open to a discussion and cooperation with all, including, of course, my relatives. But there can be no foundation for cooperation without respect for our dynastic laws, fulfilling these laws, and following our family traditions."[20]
Role in Russia and activities
Maria hopes for the restoration of the monarchy someday and is "ready to respond to a call from the people".[8]
In a 2018 interview, she defined her own understanding of her role as follows:[22]
„The Imperial House of Russia considers it its main goal to help preserve the historical and cultural continuity of our house and country, and to do all we can to strengthen the ethnic, religious, and civil peace and harmony of Russia. As a matter of principle, we do not engage in any form of politics whatsoever. We believe that the idea of a legitimate, hereditary monarchy, which preserves an unbroken, living connection with the centuries-long history of Russia and which conceives of society as a unified family, still has resonance today and remains a viable choice for our country and peoples. But we are hardly unaware that, at the present time and for the foreseeable future, the conditions are not right in Russia for a restoration of the monarchy. For now, the spheres of our activities are limited to promoting philanthropy; participating in social peace-making processes; reviving and maintaining traditions and preserving our country’s historical, cultural, and natural heritage; strengthening the spiritual and moral foundations of our nation; helping to foster patriotism; and advancing a positive image of Russia in the wider world.“
In 2002, Maria became frustrated with the internal strife within the Russian monarchist movement. When representatives of the Union of Descendants of Noble Families, one of two rival nobility associations (the other, older one being the Assembly of the Russian Nobility) were discovered to be distributing chivalric titles and awards of the Order of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, without her approval, she published a relatively strongly worded disclaimer.[23]
In 2003,
She did not claim restitution of confiscated assets, but she made several requests to rehabilitate the Romanovs through the courts, which were repeatedly rejected until the Tsar's family was finally rehabilitated by the Supreme Court's decision on October 1, 2008.[25][26] In May 2010, Maria and other members of the Romanov dynasty met with members of the Ottomans at Topkapı Palace, which was the first official meeting between these two former ruling (and rival) families.[27]
In March 2013, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, made a statement which seems to have drawn further supporters. In an interview, he was asked if any of the Romanovs had a legitimate claim to the throne and responded: "Well, to the second part of your question: are the claims, as you say, of the descendants of the Romanovs to the Russian throne legitimate? I would like to say right away that there are no claims. Today, none of the descendants of the Romanovs make claims the Russian throne. But in the person of the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her son George, the succession of the Romanovs is preserved - not to the Russian imperial throne, but simply historically." (Сегодня никто из лиц, принадлежащих к потомкам Романовых, не претендует на Российский престол. Но в лице Великой княгини Марии Владимировны и ее сына Георгия сохраняется преемственность Романовых — уже не на Российском императорском престоле, а просто в истории).[28] Further, the Patriarch noted: "And I must thank this family and many other Romanovs with gratitude for their today's contribution to the life of our Fatherland. Maria Vladimirovna supports a lot of good initiatives, she visits Russia, she meets people, she elevates the most ordinary people who have distinguished themselves to a nobility. I remember well how on the Smolensk land an old peasant woman was elevated to the dignity of nobility, who did so much for those who were by her side during the difficult years of the war and in the post-war period. Therefore, the cultural contribution of this family continues to be very noticeable in the life of our society. " [28]
On May 14, 2013, at a ceremony at the Romanov Museum in Kitay-gorod, Maria awarded the Order of Saint Anna (1st Degree) to San Francisco Archbishop Kyril of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the first arward of this historic Romanov dynastic order since the October Revolution of 1917.[29] In December 2013, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna visited the United States at the request of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which received her with full honours and recognition as head of the Russian Imperial House.[30] On July 20, 2014, at a ceremony in the Church in the Izmailovo district of Moscow, Maria awarded Russian Vice-Admiral Oleg Belaventsev the Order of Saint Anna (1st Degree), Prosecutor General of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Natalia Poklonskaya, the Imperial Ladies' Order of Saint Anastasia (founded by herself in 2010), and the former cosmonaut Alexei Leonov the Order of Saint Stanislaus (1st degree), dynastic house orders of the Romanovs.[31][32]
On 17 July 2018 she participated in the liturgical commemoration of the centenary of the assassinations of Saints Nicholas II,
In January 2021, Grand Duchess Maria announced the
Maria has in particular come to terms with the new Russian elite around President Vladimir Putin and not only awards the historical dynastic orders of the House of Romanov,
After previously voicing her support for Crimea and Donbas annexation in 2014 by Russia[50] she said in an interview on her website in April 2018: „Before the Russian people today and our descendants stretches a long and gradual path toward the restoration of the power and might of Russia.“[51] She issued a statement with regard to the Russian invasion of Ukraine,[52] regretting the civil war between brotherly nations and stressing that the imperial family does not feel entitled to express a political position.[53] This attitude has not gone without criticism.[54] She herself admitted in an interview that her stance inevitably affects the relationship between herself and other European royal families, but that they would never forget the fact that they are related and continue the dialogue. But, as she emphasized, „no normal person could possibly think that the House of Romanov would be on the side of those who seek to weaken Russia. Foreigners therefore treat us as rivals who are worthy of respect... Every imperial and royal family naturally promotes and defends the position of their country“.[55]
In 2023, on the occasion of the seventieth birthday of the Grand Duchess, Patriarch Kirill made an unequivocal recognition of her position as Head of the House of Romanov in a congratulatory letter published on the Patriarchal website addressing her as "Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Russian Imperial House" (Великой княгине Марии Владимировне, главе Российского Императорского Дома), and praising her efforts in the fields of charity, philanthropy, and culture.[56]
Honours
Russian Dynastic honours
- House of Romanov: Sovereign Head of the Order of St. Andrew Disputed[57][58]
- House of Romanov: Sovereign Head of the Order of the White Eagle Disputed[57][58]
- House of Romanov: Sovereign Head of the Order of St. George Disputed In abeyance[57][58]
- House of Romanov: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle[59]
- House of Romanov: Sovereign Head of the Order of Saint Michael the Archangel Disputed
Russian Orthodox Church
- Russian Orthodox Church: Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 1st Class [60]
- Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia: Order of Our Lady of the Sign,[61]1st Class
- Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia: Medal of John of Shanghai and San Francisco[62]
Moldovan Orthodox Church
- Saint Paraskevi[63]
Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Foreign dynastic
- Ethiopian Imperial Family: Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Queen of Sheba[65][66]
- Georgian Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Queen Tamara[67]
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Bailiff Grand Cross of Sovereign Military Order of Malta[68][69]
- Portuguese Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saint Michael of the Wing[70]
States
- Transnistria: Commander of the Order of the Republic[71]
Awards
- Italy: Honorary Citizen of the City of Agrigento[72]
- Russia: Winner of the Russian International Person of the Year[73]
- Russia: Honorary Citizen of the Ivolginsky District[74]
- Russia: Honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts[75]
- Russia: Medal of the Assembly of the Russian Nobility[76]
Ancestry
Ancestors of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia Princess Leonida Bagration of Mukhrani | | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14. Sigismund Nowina Złotnicki | |||||||||||||
7. Helena Nowina Złotnicka | |||||||||||||
15. Princess Maria Elisabarowna Eristavi of Ksani | |||||||||||||
See also
References
- ^ a b Massie, p 269
- ^ Flintoff, John-Paul (20 September 2003). "Tsar Struck". Flintoff.org. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "Empress Maria in Vladivostok". Vladivostok Times. 11 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
- ^ Dumin, Stanislav (1993). Восходящая родословная вдовствующей Великой княгини Леониды Георгиевны // Летопись Историко-родословного общества в Москве. 1993. Вып. 1. С. 40-41 [The Ascending Lineage of the Dowager Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna // Chronicle of the Historical and Genealogical Society in Moscow. 1993. Issue 1. pp. 40-41.] (in Russian). Moscow: Historical and Genealogical Society in Moscow.
- ^ a b c "Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her justified claim to the Imperial throne of Russia". goodreads.com. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ ISBN 91-6305964-9
- ^ a b Massie, p 263
- ^ a b c "Maria I Wladimirovna". Imperialhouse.ru. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
- ISBN 3-7980-0700-4.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-0901-3.
- ^ Massie, pp. 263-264.
- ^ ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
- ^ "The Romanov Family Association". Romanovfamily.org. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ISBN 0-224-04192-4
- ^ "Succession of the Imperial House of Russia". Romanovfamily.org. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "The Romanov Fund For Russia". Romanovfamily.org. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "Almanach de Gotha". Russianlegitimist.org. 1938. p. 107. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Massie, p. 270.
- ^ "Viktor Aksyuchits interview". MK RU. 14 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Interview with Maria Vladimirovna". Imperialhouse.ru. 12 December 2005. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
- ^ Massie, p. 274.
- ^ Interview on their website from April 14, 2018: [1]
- ^ "Declaration by Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna". Imperialhouse.ru. 11 December 2002. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
- ^ (Gundyayev), Kirill. "Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia". imperialhouse.ru. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ Court Rehabilitates Status of a Czar and His Family, in New York Times, Oct. 1, 2008
- ^ The rehabilitation of Czar Nicholas II, www.washingtonpost.com, July 20, 1992
- ^ Kai Strittmatter:Gipfel der Erbfeinde (German article: Summit of hereditary enemies), in: Süddeutsche Zeitung, 17 May 2010
- ^ a b "Слово пастыря". Выпуск от 9 марта 2013 года. Patriarchia.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 16 July 2013.
- ^ Archbishop Kyrill is Awarded the Imperial Order of St Anne, 1st Degree. Website of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, 1st June 2013.
- ^ "Celebrations of the Feast Day of the Kursk-Root Icon". Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ Полномочный представитель Президента РФ в Крымском ФО О.Е. Белавенцев и прокурор Крыма Н.В. Поклонская сопричислены к императорским орденам. politikus.ru. 24 July 2014
- ^ В Покровском соборе Москвы состоялось награждение отличившихся в присоединении Крыма к России. tv-soyuz.ru. 24 July 2014
- Tass. 17 July 2018. Patriarch Kirill I Leads Procession Commemorating Slain Czarist Family. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ Великая Княгиня Мария Владимировна Романова. website of Irkutsk State University, 1 August 2014.
- ^ Notice on their website imperialhouse.ru dated July 28, 2017
- ^ Image of Maria Vladimirovna, meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin during her visit to Moscow in September 2012
- ^ On February Revolution Centenary, Calls For The Restoration Of The Russian Monarchy, on: www.memri.org, 23 March 2017
- ^ [2] kyivpost.com, 15 March 2017
- ^ Die Patruschew Familie und Russlands Monarchisten (German article: The Patrushev family and Russia's monarchists, 16 Febr 2024
- ^ tsarnicholas.org , the Double-Headed Eagle Society's website tsarnicholas.org
- ^ Scarsi, Alice (21 January 2021). "Royal Wedding 2021: Russian Grand Duke to celebrate imperial nuptials THIS year". Express.co.uk.
- ^ "Великий князь Романов венчается в Исаакиевском соборе. Что ждет Петербург (фото)". fontanka.ru - новости Санкт-Петербурга (in Russian). 2021-09-29
- ^ Russia Hosts First Royal Wedding in a Century in Former Imperial Capital, in: The Moscow Times, Oct. 2, 2021
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ The historic dynastic orders of the Romanovs are: The Order of St. Andrew, Order of Saint Catherine, Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Order of St. George, Order of Saint Vladimir, Order of Saint Anna, Order of Saint Stanislaus, Insignia of Saint Olga, during the Partitions of Poland in the 19th century the Order of the White Eagle, and, after the Russian Revolution, the Order of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (founded in exile in 1929), Order of Saint Michael the Archangel (founded in exile in 1988), and the Order of Saint Anastasia (founded by Grand Duchess Maria herself in 2010 as the first women's order).
- dameif female.
- ^ German article: Die Patruschew Familie und Russlands Monarchisten (The Patrushev family and Russia's monarchists), 16 February 2024; Russian-language sources: Хотят ли русские царя?, on svoboda.org; Тронулись! Источник: https://versia.ru/rossijskaya-yelita-oderzhima-ideej-restavracii-monarxii on versia.ru; geroldia.ru LIST OF THE HEROLDY E.I.V. APPROVED PERSONS IN HEREDITARY NOBILITY AND INCLUDED INTO THE ALL-RUSSIAN NOBILITY GENEALOGY BOOK IN 2005
- ^ Russia’s New Nobility − The Rise of the Security Services in Putin’s Kremlin, in: Foreign Affairs (foreignaffairs.com), 1. September 2010
- ^ Comment devenir membre de l'UNR, on www.noblesse-russie.org, website of the Union de la Noblesse Russe, Paris (French): “Absolute condition: Belonging to the hereditary nobility of the former Russian Empire through legitimate and direct male descent.” The same applies to the Association of Baltic knighthoods, which unites the families of the Baltic-German enrolled nobility of the former Russian Empire.
- ^ "Grand Duchess Maria: Russia will not give up Crimea despite sanctions". Russia Beyond. 17 April 2014.
- ^ Statement on their website from April 14, 2018: Grand Duchess Maria of Russia: No One Has the Right to Sit in Judgment of Russia
- ^ "Ukraine: Princess Romanova condemns the invasion". GlobalHappenings. 24 March 2022.
- ^ „The Grand Duchess of Russia calls for peace in Ukraine with an ambiguous statement“: La gran duquesa de Rusia pide la paz en Ucrania con un ambiguo comunicado, in: Vanity Fair (Spanish edition), 25 February 2022
- ^ The unholy alliance of Maria and Vlad, by Paul Gilbert, March 5, 2022 on tsarnicholas.org
- ^ Interview with Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna (by Vyacheslav Terekhov on her website) from April 14, 2018: Grand Duchess Maria of Russia: No One Has the Right to Sit in Judgment of Russia
- ^ "Congratulations of His Holiness the Patriarch Kirill to Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna on her Jubilee". Official Site of the Moscow Patriarchate. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ ISBN 9780971196674.
- ^ a b c d e f g h ""Register of Orders of Chivalry: Report of the International Commission for Orders of Chivalry; 2016"" (PDF). icocregister.org. International commission for orders of chivalry. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Imperial and Royal Order of Saint Stanislas — Nicholas B.A. Nicholson". Nicholasbanicholson.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ Gilbert, Paul. "Grand Duchess Maria Awarded Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh Ist Class". ROYAL RUSSIA. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ Gilbert, Paul (12 December 2013). "ROYAL RUSSIA: News, Videos & Photographs About the Romanov Dynasty, Monarchy and Imperial Russia - Updated Daily". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia - Official Website". Synod.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Romanov Anniversary - Liturgy and Panihida in the Assumption Cathedra…". 26 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 November 2014.
- ^ "Press Release on the Visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, to Russia for the Divine Services and Celebrations on the Occasion of the Enthronement of His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, 30 January – 3 February 2009". Imperialhouse.ru. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Decree №1/Nic.-2001". Imperialhouse.ru. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "The Estonian Monarchist League: In Honour of the Heir of Imperial Russia". Estonianmonarchistleague.blogspot.co.uk. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Royal House of Georgia". Ordenskreuz.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "2014-04-03. Meeting of the Head of the House of Romanoff, the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and the Heir, Tsesarevich, and Grand Duke George of Russia with the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fr". Imperialhouse.ru. 3 April 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Photographic image". Imperialhouse.ru. Archived from the original (JPG) on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "News Release of the Official Visit to Portugal of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, 6-9 November 2003". Imperialhouse.ru. 9 November 2003. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Press Release On the Official Visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, to Moscow, Odessa, and the Transdniestria 4-13 May 2009". Imperialhouse.ru. 13 May 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Press Release : The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and H.I.H. the Heir, Tsesarevich, and Grand Duke George of Russia, traveled to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine to participate in the Celebrations of the 400th Anniversary of the Ending of the Time of Troubles and the Ascension to the Throne of the House of Romanoff, September 19-23, 2013". Imperialhouse.ru. Archived from the original (DOC) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ Gilbert, Paul (2 November 2012). "ROYAL RUSSIA: News, Videos & Photographs About the Romanov Dynasty, Monarchy and Imperial Russia - Updated Daily". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "The Head of the House of Romanoff Travels to Moscow, Buryatia, and the Irkutsk Region". Imperialhouse.ru. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Princess Maria Romanova was made an honorary member of the Academy of Arts - Official Web site Online magazine IMPERIAL CLUB". 5 December 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014.
- ^ "Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, sent an official congratulatory notice to the Chair of the Russian Nobility Association, Prince A. S. Obolenskii, on the occasion of his 80-th birthday". Imperialhouse.ru. 12 October 2003. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ISBN 0-85011-023-8
Bibliography
- OCLC 185630578.