Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia: Difference between revisions
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'''Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia''' (14 May 1879 – 30 October 1956) was a Russian [[grand duke]], the youngest son of [[Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia]] and [[Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Maria Pavlovna of Russia)|Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna]]. |
'''Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia''' (14 May 1879 – 30 October 1956) was a Russian [[grand duke]], the youngest son of [[Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia]] and [[Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Maria Pavlovna of Russia)|Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna]]. |
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==Early life== |
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Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia was born on {{OldStyleDate|14 May|1879|2 May}} in Tsarkoe Selo, at his parents country residence, the Vladimir Villa.<ref name="Beéche 25">Beéche, ''The Other Grand Dukes'', p. 25.</ref><ref name="Korneva & Cheboksarova 71">Korneva & Cheboksarov, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 71</ref> He was, the youngest of the four Vladimirovich sons; a sister followed him few years later and the eldest of his brother died in early childhood.<ref name = "Chavchavadze 241">Chavchavadze, ''The Grand Dukes'', p. 241</ref> His father, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, a brother of Tsar Alexander III of Russia, was a renowned patron of the arts. Andrei’s mother, Grand Duchess, Maria Pavlovna, née a Princess of [[Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Mecklenburg-Schwerin]], was one of the greatest hostesses of Russian society.<ref name = "Hall 72">Hall, ''Imperial Dancer'', p. 72</ref> Both parents doted on their four surviving children: Andrei, his two eldest brothers, Kirill and Boris, and their younger sister, Grand Duchess Elena. The children were educated at home.<ref name="Korneva & Cheboksarova 71">Korneva & Cheboksarov, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 71</ref> |
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Raised by British nannies, English was Andrei's first language. He also learned Russian, French and German. His father, who loved art, assigned [[Léon Bakst]] as a drawing master for the children.<ref name = "Hall 71">Hall, ''Imperial Dancer'', p. 71</ref> Grand Duke Andrei grew up on opulence. The family main residence was the Vladimir palace in St Peterburg, but as his father preferred country life, they spent the greater part of the year at the Vladimir Villa, a mansion in Tsarkoe Selo, returning to St Peterburg during the winter. <ref name="Korneva & Cheboksarova 41">Korneva & Cheboksarov, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 41</ref> The children also accompanied their parents in many of their travels abroad to France, Germany and Italy, staying in Conurg, Paris, Berlin and Schwerin.<ref name="Korneva & Cheboksarova 153">Korneva & Cheboksarov, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 153</ref> |
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Following Romanov tradition, Andrei was destined to follow a military career. While his eldest brother, Kirill, chose the Imperial navy, Andrei and his brother Boris joined the infantry. Andrei began his military service in August 1898 as lieutenant in the Guards Horse-Artillery Brigade. In 1899 he was appointed adjutant, graduating in 1902 from the Mikhailovsky Artillery School. He then studied law at the Alexandrovskaya Military Law Academy at Potseluev bridge, graduating with honors in 1905.<ref name="Korneva & Cheboksarova 77">Korneva & Cheboksarov, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 77</ref> He was subsequently listed by the military-judicial department. The military law Academy assigned him to translate foreign military criminal statutes. He was appointed Lieutenant in 1902, captain in 1906, colonel on 18 April 1910.<ref name="Korneva & Cheboksarova 78">Korneva & Cheboksarov, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 78</ref> In March 1911 he was appointed senator. From 1911 to 26 February 1914, he commanded the Life Guards 2nd Don Cossack artillery. In spite of his appointments, Grand Duke Andrei did not have much interest in his military career. Instead, he pursued a life of leisure enjoying the privileges provided by his royal status and wealth. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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He escaped Russia following the [[Russian Revolution of 1917]] and married his long-time mistress, [[Mathilde Kchessinska]] (1872–1971) in 1921. He claimed paternity of Kchessinska's son, Prince [[Vladimir Romanovsky-Krasinsky]] (30 June 1902 – 23 April 1974) <ref>{{cite web | author= Paul Theroff| year=2007 | title= Russia | work=An Online Gotha| url=http://www.angelfire.com/realm/gotha/gotha/russia.html | accessdate= 5 January 2007 }}</ref> Andrei was introduced to Kchessinska by his elder brothers, [[Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia|Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia]] and [[Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia]]. Kschessinska, a ballet dancer, had previously been the mistress of Andrei's cousins [[Tsar Nicholas II]] and [[Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich of Russia]]. Kschessinska liked Andrei's looks when she first met him, as she described in her memoirs: |
He escaped Russia following the [[Russian Revolution of 1917]] and married his long-time mistress, [[Mathilde Kchessinska]] (1872–1971) in 1921. He claimed paternity of Kchessinska's son, Prince [[Vladimir Romanovsky-Krasinsky]] (30 June 1902 – 23 April 1974) <ref>{{cite web | author= Paul Theroff| year=2007 | title= Russia | work=An Online Gotha| url=http://www.angelfire.com/realm/gotha/gotha/russia.html | accessdate= 5 January 2007 }}</ref> Andrei was introduced to Kchessinska by his elder brothers, [[Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia|Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia]] and [[Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia]]. Kschessinska, a ballet dancer, had previously been the mistress of Andrei's cousins [[Tsar Nicholas II]] and [[Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich of Russia]]. Kschessinska liked Andrei's looks when she first met him, as she described in her memoirs: |
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Revision as of 00:06, 1 December 2014
| Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 May 1879 Tsarskoye Selo |
| Died | 30 October 1956 (aged 77) Paris |
| Spouse | Mathilde Kschessinska |
| Issue | Prince Vladimir Romanovsky-Krasinsky |
| House | House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov |
| Father | Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich |
| Mother | Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia (14 May 1879 – 30 October 1956) was a Russian grand duke, the youngest son of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.
Early life
Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia was born on 14 May [O.S. 2 May] 1879 in Tsarkoe Selo, at his parents country residence, the Vladimir Villa.[1][2] He was, the youngest of the four Vladimirovich sons; a sister followed him few years later and the eldest of his brother died in early childhood.[3] His father, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, a brother of Tsar Alexander III of Russia, was a renowned patron of the arts. Andrei’s mother, Grand Duchess, Maria Pavlovna, née a Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was one of the greatest hostesses of Russian society.[4] Both parents doted on their four surviving children: Andrei, his two eldest brothers, Kirill and Boris, and their younger sister, Grand Duchess Elena. The children were educated at home.[2]
Raised by British nannies, English was Andrei's first language. He also learned Russian, French and German. His father, who loved art, assigned Léon Bakst as a drawing master for the children.[5] Grand Duke Andrei grew up on opulence. The family main residence was the Vladimir palace in St Peterburg, but as his father preferred country life, they spent the greater part of the year at the Vladimir Villa, a mansion in Tsarkoe Selo, returning to St Peterburg during the winter. [6] The children also accompanied their parents in many of their travels abroad to France, Germany and Italy, staying in Conurg, Paris, Berlin and Schwerin.[7]
Following Romanov tradition, Andrei was destined to follow a military career. While his eldest brother, Kirill, chose the Imperial navy, Andrei and his brother Boris joined the infantry. Andrei began his military service in August 1898 as lieutenant in the Guards Horse-Artillery Brigade. In 1899 he was appointed adjutant, graduating in 1902 from the Mikhailovsky Artillery School. He then studied law at the Alexandrovskaya Military Law Academy at Potseluev bridge, graduating with honors in 1905.[8] He was subsequently listed by the military-judicial department. The military law Academy assigned him to translate foreign military criminal statutes. He was appointed Lieutenant in 1902, captain in 1906, colonel on 18 April 1910.[9] In March 1911 he was appointed senator. From 1911 to 26 February 1914, he commanded the Life Guards 2nd Don Cossack artillery. In spite of his appointments, Grand Duke Andrei did not have much interest in his military career. Instead, he pursued a life of leisure enjoying the privileges provided by his royal status and wealth.
Biography
He escaped Russia following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and married his long-time mistress, Mathilde Kchessinska (1872–1971) in 1921. He claimed paternity of Kchessinska's son, Prince Vladimir Romanovsky-Krasinsky (30 June 1902 – 23 April 1974) [10] Andrei was introduced to Kchessinska by his elder brothers, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia and Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia. Kschessinska, a ballet dancer, had previously been the mistress of Andrei's cousins Tsar Nicholas II and Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich of Russia. Kschessinska liked Andrei's looks when she first met him, as she described in her memoirs:
He was exceptionally good-looking and also very shy, which did not spoil things at all -- quite the reverse! During dinner he accidentally knocked over a glass of red wine whose contents spilled on my dress. Far from being angry, I saw in this a happy omen ... For from that moment my heart was filled with an emotion which I had not felt for a long time.[11]
Andrei and his family settled in Paris following the Revolution. He was one of the few members of the Romanov family to believe the claim of Anna Anderson to be Tsar Nicholas II's youngest daughter Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. When he first met the woman, he said it was "an unshakable recognition ... Her face is striking in its profound sadness, but when she smiles, it is she, it is Anastasia, without a doubt." He offered the woman support for her claim and financial assistance throughout her life.[12]
Andrei was distraught during World War II when his son Vladimir, who had been a Young Russian and regarded as pro-Soviet by the Nazi Party, was held in a concentration camp for 119 days before being released. Andrei visited German Police Headquarters multiple times and asked for help from Russian émigrés to get his son released, but neither group would help him.[13] Andrei and his wife lived in Paris, where they enjoyed entertaining. Unlike his brother Kirill, he was largely uninterested in politics. He died in 1956 at age seventy-seven.[14]
Ancestry
Notes
- ^ Beéche, The Other Grand Dukes, p. 25.
- ^ a b Korneva & Cheboksarov, Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna, p. 71
- ^ Chavchavadze, The Grand Dukes, p. 241
- ^ Hall, Imperial Dancer, p. 72
- ^ Hall, Imperial Dancer, p. 71
- ^ Korneva & Cheboksarov, Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna, p. 41
- ^ Korneva & Cheboksarov, Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna, p. 153
- ^ Korneva & Cheboksarov, Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna, p. 77
- ^ Korneva & Cheboksarov, Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna, p. 78
- ^ Paul Theroff (2007). "Russia". An Online Gotha. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
- ^ Charlotte Zeepvat, The Camera and the Tsars: A Romanov Family Album, Sutton Publishing, 2004, p. 108.
- ^ Peter Kurth, Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson, Back Bay Books, 1983, p. 205
- ^ John Curtis Perry and Constantine Pleshakov, The Flight of the Romanovs, Perseus Books Group, 1999, pp. 314-315
- ^ Perry and Pleshakov, p. 340
References
- Peter Kurth, Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson, Back Bay Books, 1983, ISBN 0-316-50717-2
- John Curtis Perry and Constantine Pleshakov, The Flight of the Romanovs, Basic Books, 1999, ISBN 0-465-02462-9
- Paul Theroff, An Online Gotha
- Charlotte Zeepvat, The Camera and the Tsars: A Romanov Family Album, Sutton Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-7509-3049-7