The House of Romanov celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2013. The day when Mikhail Romanov was proclaimed tsar remained in the distant past. For 304 years, the descendants of the Romanov family ruled Russia.
For a long time it was believed that with the execution of the imperial family of Nicholas II, it was over with the entire royal dynasty. But even today the descendants of the Romanovs live, the Imperial House exists to this day. The dynasty is gradually returning to Russia, to its cultural and social life.
Who belongs to the dynasty
The Romanov clan originates in the 16th century, with Roman Yuryevich Zakharyin. He had five children, who gave rise to numerous offspring that have survived to this day. But the fact is that most of the descendants no longer bear this surname, that is, they were born on the maternal side. Only descendants of the Romanov family in the male line, who bear an old surname, are considered representatives of the dynasty.
Boys in the family were born less often, and many were childless. Because of this, the royal family was almost interrupted. The branch was revived by Paul I. All the living descendants of the Romanovs are the heirs of Emperor Pavel Petrovich, son of Catherine II.
Branchingfamily tree
Paul I had 12 children, two of them were illegitimate. Their ten legitimate children are four sons:
- Alexander I, who ascended the Russian throne in 1801, left no legitimate heirs to the throne.
- Konstantin. He was married twice, but the marriages were childless. Had three illegitimate children who were not recognized as descendants of the Romanovs.
- Nicholas I, All-Russian Emperor since 1825. He had three daughters and four sons from his marriage to the Prussian princess Frederica Louise Charlotte, in Orthodoxy Anna Feodorovna.
- Mikhail, married with five daughters.
Thus, only the sons of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I continued the Romanov dynasty. So all the remaining descendants of the Romanovs are his great-great-great-grandchildren.
Continuation of the dynasty
The sons of Nicholas I: Alexander, Constantine, Nicholas and Michael. They all left behind offspring. Their lines are informally called:
- Aleksandrovichi - the line went from Alexander Nikolaevich Romanov. Now live the direct descendants of the Romanovs-Ilyinskys Dmitry Pavlovich and Mikhail Pavlovich. Unfortunately, they are both childless, and with their passing away, this line will be stopped.
- Konstantinovichi - the line originates from Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov. The last direct descendant of the Romanovs in the male line died in 1992, and the branch was cut short.
- Nikolaevichi - descended from Romanov Nikolai Nikolaevich. To this day, a direct descendant of this branch, Dmitry Romanovich, lives and lives. He doesn't haveheirs, so the line is fading away.
- Mikhailovichi are the heirs of Mikhail Nikolaevich Romanov. It is to this branch that the rest of the Romanov-men who live today belong. This gives the Romanov family hope for survival.
Where are the descendants of the Romanovs today
Many researchers wondered if the descendants of the Romanovs remained? Yes, this great family has male and female heirs. Some branches have already broken, other lines will soon fade away, but the royal family still has hope for survival.
But where do the descendants of the Romanovs live? They are dispersed throughout the planet. Most of them do not know the Russian language and have never been to the homeland of their ancestors. Some people have different last names. Many got acquainted with Russia exclusively through books or reports from television news channels. And yet, some of them visit their historical homeland, they do charity work here and consider themselves Russians at heart.
To the question of whether the descendants of the Romanovs remained, one can answer that today only about thirty known offspring of the royal family live in the world. Of these, only two can be considered purebred, because their parents entered into marriages according to the laws of the dynasty. It is these two who can consider themselves full representatives of the Imperial House. In 1992, they were issued Russian passports to replace the refugee passports they used to live abroad until that time. Funds received as sponsorship from Russia allow family members to applyhome visits.
It is not known how many people live in the world who have "Romanov" blood in their veins, but they do not belong to the family, as they came from the female line or from extramarital affairs. Nevertheless, genetically they also belong to an ancient family.
Head of the Imperial House
Prince Romanov Dmitry Romanovich became the Head of the House of Romanov after the death of Nikolai Romanovich, his elder brother.
Great-great-grandson of Nicholas I, great-grandson of Prince Nikolai Nikolaevich, son of Prince Roman Petrovich and Countess Praskovya Sheremetyeva. Was born in France on May 17, 1926.
From 1936 he lived with his parents in Italy, later - in Egypt. In Alexandria, he worked at the Ford automobile plant: he worked as a mechanic, he sold cars. Upon returning to sunny Italy, he worked as a secretary in a shipping company.
I visited Russia for the first time back in 1953 as a tourist. When he got married in Denmark with his first wife Johanna von Kaufman, he settled in Copenhagen and worked there for more than 30 years in a bank.
All numerous members of the royal family call him the Head of the House, only the Kirillovichi branch believes that he does not have legal rights to the throne due to the fact that his father was born in an unequal marriage (Kirillovichi, the heirs of Alexander II - this is Princess Maria Vladimirovna, who herself claims the title of head of the Imperial House, and her son Georgy Mikhailovich, who claims the title of crown prince).
Dmitry Romanovich's old hobby is orders and medals from different countries. Himcollected a large collection of awards, about which he writes a book.
The second time was married in the Russian city of Kostroma with Dorrit Reventrow, a Danish translator, in July 1993. He has no children, therefore, when another last direct descendant of the Romanovs goes into the world, the Nikolaevich branch will be stopped.
Legitimate members of the house, fading branch of the Alexandrovichs
Today, such true representatives of the royal family are alive (on the male line from legal marriages, direct descendants of Paul I and Nicholas II, who bear the royal surname, the title of prince and belong to the line of Alexandrovichs):
- Romanov-Ilyinsky Dmitry Pavlovich, born in 1954 - the direct heir of Alexander II in the male line, lives in the USA, has 3 daughters, all are married and changed their last names.
- Romanov-Ilyinsky Mikhail Pavlovich, born in 1959 - the half-brother of Prince Dmitry Pavlovich, also lives in the USA, has a daughter.
If the direct descendants of the Romanovs do not become fathers of sons, then the Alexandrovich line will be interrupted.
Direct descendants, princes and possible successors of the Romanov family - the most prolific branch of Mikhailovich
- Aleksey Andreevich, born in 1953 - a direct descendant of Nicholas I, married, no children, lives in the USA.
- Petr Andreevich, born in 1961 – also a purebred Romanov, married, childless, lives in the USA.
- Andrey Andreevich, born in 1963 - legally belongs to the Romanov family, has a daughter from his second marriage, lives in the USA.
- Rostislav Rostislavovich, born in 1985 - the direct successor of the genus, untilmarried, lives in the USA.
- Nikita Rostislavovich, born in 1987 – legal descendant, not yet married, lives in the UK.
- Nikolas-Christopher Nikolaevich, born in 1968, is a direct descendant of Nicholas I, lives in the USA, has 2 daughters.
- Daniel Nikolaevich, born in 1972 - a legal member of the Romanov dynasty, married, lives in the USA, has a daughter and a son.
- Daniil Danilovich, born in 2009 - the youngest legitimate descendant of the royal family in the male line, lives with his parents in the USA.
As can be seen from the family tree, only the branch of Mikhailovich, the direct heirs of Mikhail Nikolayevich Romanov, the youngest son of Nicholas I, gives hope for the continuation of the royal family.
Descendants of the Romanov family who cannot inherit the royal family, and controversial applicants for membership of the Imperial House
- Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, born in 1953 – Her Imperial Highness, who claims the title of Head of the Russian Imperial House, is the legitimate heiress of Alexander II, belongs to the Alexandrovich line. Until 1985, she was married to Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, from whom in 1981 she gave birth to her only son George. At birth, he was given the patronymic Mikhailovich and the surname Romanov.
- Georgy Mikhailovich, born in 1981 - the son of Princess Romanova Maria Vladimirovna and the Prince of Prussia, claims the title of Tsarevich, however, most representatives of the Romanov family rightly do not recognize his rights, since he is not a descendant in the direct male line, namely, the right of inheritance is transferred through the male line. His birth isjoyful event in the Prussian palace.
- Princess Elena Sergeevna Romanova (by her husband Nirot), born in 1929, lives in France, one of the last representatives of the Romanov dynasty, belongs to the Alexandrovich line.
- Georgy Aleksandrovich Yuryevsky, born in 1961 - the legitimate heir to Alexander II, now lives in Switzerland. His grandfather George was an illegitimate son from the Emperor's relationship with Princess Dolgorukova. After the relationship was legalized, all the children of Dolgorukova were recognized as legitimate from Alexander II, but the Yuryevsky received the surname. Therefore, de jure Georgy (Hans-Georg) does not belong to the Romanov dynasty, although de facto he is the last descendant of the Romanov dynasty in the male line of the Alexandrovichs.
- Princess Tatyana Mikhailovna, born in 1986 - belongs to the house of the Romanovs along the line of Mikhailovich, but as soon as he gets married and changes his surname, he will lose all rights. Lives in Paris.
- Princess Alexandra Rostislavovna, born in 1983 – also a hereditary descendant of the Mihailović branch, unmarried, lives in the USA.
- Princess Karline Nikolaevna, born in 2000 - is the legal representative of the Imperial House through the Mikhailovich line, unmarried, lives in the USA,
- Princess Chelly Nikolaevna, born in 2003 – direct descendant of the royal family, unmarried, US citizen.
- Princess Madison Danilovna, born in 2007 - on the line of Mikhailovich, a legal family member, lives in the USA.
Unification of the Romanov family
All other Romanovs are children of morganatic marriages, so they cannotbelong to the Russian Imperial House. All of them are united by the so-called "Association of the Romanov family", which was headed in 1989 by Nikolai Romanovich and performed this duty until his death, in September 2014.
The biographies of the most prominent representatives of the Romanov dynasty of the 20th century are described below.
Romanov Nikolay Romanovich
Great-grandson of Nicholas I. Watercolor artist.
I saw the light on September 26, 1922 near the French city of Antibes. There he spent his childhood. In 1936 he moved to Italy with his parents. In this country, in 1941, directly from Mussolini, he received an offer to become the king of Montenegro, which he refused. Later he lived in Egypt, then again in Italy, in Switzerland, where he married Countess Svevadella Garaldeschi, then returned to Italy again, where he became a citizen in 1993.
"Association" headed in 1989. On his initiative, in Paris in 1992, a congress of the Romanov-men was convened, at which a decision was made to create the Russian Relief Fund. In his opinion, Russia should be a federal republic, where the central government is strong, the powers of which are strictly limited.
He has three daughters. Natalia, Elizaveta and Tatyana started families with Italians.
Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich
Born on August 17, 1917 in Finland, in exile with Sovereign Kirill Vladimirovich. He was raised as a truly Russian person. He was fluent in Russian, manyEuropean languages, knew the history of Russia perfectly, was a well-educated erudite person and felt true pride that he belongs to Russia.
At twenty years old, the last direct descendant of the Romanovs in the male line became the Head of the Dynasty. It was enough for him to enter into an unequal marriage, and by the 21st century there would no longer be legitimate members of the imperial family.
But he met Princess Leonida Georgievna Bagration-Mukhranskaya, daughter of the Head of the Georgian Royal House, who became his lawful wife in 1948. In this marriage, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna was born in Madrid.
He was the Head of the Russian Imperial House for several decades and by his own decree announced the right of his daughter, born in a legal marriage, to inherit the throne.
In May 1992, he was buried in St. Petersburg in the presence of many family members.
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna
The only daughter of Prince Vladimir Kirillovich, a member of the Imperial House in exile, and Leonida Georgievna, daughter of the Head of the Georgian Royal House, Prince George Alexandrovich Bagration-Mukhransky. Born legally on December 23, 1953. Her parents provided her with a good upbringing and an excellent education. At the age of 16, she swore allegiance to Russia and its peoples.
After graduating from Oxford University, she received a diploma in philology. He is fluent in Russian, many European and Arabic languages. Worked in administrative positions in France and Spain.
Bproperty, the imperial family has a modest apartment in Madrid. The house in France was sold due to the inability to maintain it. The family maintains an average standard of living - by the standards of Europe. Has Russian citizenship.
Upon reaching adulthood in 1969, according to the dynastic act issued by Prince Vladimir Kirillovich, she was proclaimed guardian of the throne. In 1976, she married Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia. With the adoption of Orthodoxy, he received the title of Prince Mikhail Pavlovich. The current pretender to the Russian throne, Prince Georgy Mikhailovich, was born from this marriage.
Tsarevich Georgy Mikhailovich
Applies to the heir to the title of His Imperial Highness the Sovereign.
The only son of Princess Maria Vladimirovna and the Prince of Prussia, born in marriage on March 13, 1981 in Madrid. Direct descendant of German Emperor Wilhelm II, Russian Emperor Alexander II, Queen Victoria of England.
He graduated from school in Saint-Briac, then continued his studies in Paris at the College of St. Stanislaus. Lives in Madrid since 1988. He considers French to be his native language, he is fluent in Spanish and English, he knows Russian a little worse. He first saw Russia in 1992, when he accompanied the body of his grandfather, Prince Vladimir Kirillovich, together with his family to the burial place. His independent visit to the Motherland took place in 2006. He worked in the European Parliament, the European Commission. Single.
In the anniversary year for the House, they established a fundcancer research.
Andrey Andreevich Romanov
Great-great-grandson of Nicholas I, great-grandson of Alexander III. Born in London on January 21, 1923. Now lives in the United States, California, in Marin County. He knows Russian very well, because everyone in his family always spoke Russian.
Graduated from London Imperial Service College. During World War II, he served on a warship of the British Navy as a sailor. It was then, escorting cargo ships to Murmansk, that he visited Russia for the first time.
Has an American citizenship since 1954. In America, he was engaged in agriculture: farming, agronomy, agricultural technology. He studied sociology at Berkeley University. Worked for a shipping company.
Among his hobbies are painting and graphics. Creates childlike artwork and color drawings on plastic that is later heat treated.
He is in his third marriage. From his first marriage he has a son Alexei, from the second two: Peter and Andrey.
It is believed that neither he nor his sons have rights to the throne, but how can candidates be considered by the Zemsky Sobor on a par with other descendants.
Mikhail Andreevich Romanov
Great-great-grandson of Nicholas I, great-grandson of Prince Mikhail Nikolaevich, was born in Versailles on July 15, 1920. Graduated from the Royal College of Windsor, London Institute of Aeronautical Engineers.
Served in World War II in Sydney as a volunteerRoyal Air Force Reserve of the British Navy. He was demobilized in 1945 to Australia. There he remained to live, being engaged in the aviation industry.
He was an active member of the M altese Order of the Orthodox Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, was even elected Protector and Grand Prior of the Order. He was part of the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy movement.
He was married three times: in February 1953 to Jill Murphy, in July 1954 to Shirley Crummond, in July 1993 to Julia Crespi. All marriages are unequal and childless.
Died September 2008 in Sydney.
Romanov Nikita Nikitich
Great-grandson of Nicholas I. Born in London on May 13, 1923. Childhood spent in the UK, then in France.
Served in the British Army. In 1949 he moved to the USA. He received a master's degree in history from Berkeley University in 1960. He earned his own money for study and life, working as a furniture upholsterer.
At Stanford University, and later at San Francisco, he taught history. He wrote and published a book about Ivan the Terrible (co-author - Pierre Payne).
His wife - Janet (Anna Mikhailovna - in Orthodoxy) Schonvald. Son Fedor committed suicide in 2007.
Repeatedly visited Russia, visited the estate of his business Ai-Todor in the Crimea. He lived in New York for the last forty years until he died in May 2007.
Brothers Dmitry Pavlovich and Mikhail Pavlovich Romanov-Ilyinsky (sometimes under the surname Romanovsky-Ilyinsky)
Dmitry Pavlovich, born in 1954, and MikhailPavlovich, born in 1960
Dmitry Pavlovich is married to Martha Mary McDowell, born in 1952, has 3 daughters: Katrina, Victoria, Lelu.
Mikhail Pavlovich was married three times. First marriage to Marsha Mary Lowe, second to Paula Gay Mair and third to Lisa Mary Schiesler. In the third marriage, a daughter, Alexis, was born.
Currently, the descendants of the Romanov dynasty live in the United States, recognize the legitimacy of the rights of members of the Imperial House to the Russian throne. Princess Maria Vladimirovna recognized their right to be called princes. Dmitry Romanovsky-Ilyinsky is recognized by her as the senior representative of the male gender of all the descendants of the Romanovs, regardless of what marriages they have.
In closing
For about a hundred years there has been no monarchy in Russia. But to this day, someone breaks spears, arguing about which of the living descendants of the royal family has the legal right to the Russian throne. Some still strongly demand the return of the monarchy. And although this issue is not easy, since laws and decrees relating to issues of succession to the throne are interpreted in different ways, disputes will continue. But they can be described by one Russian saying: the descendants of the Romanovs, whose photos are presented in the article, “share the skin of an unkilled bear.”
