The Romanov dynasty celebrated its centenary in 2013. There was a day in the distant past when Mikhail Romanov was proclaimed king. For as long as 304, the descendants of the Romanov clan ruled Russia.
For a long time it was believed that the execution of the imperial family of Nicholas II 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, in its cultural and social life.
Who belongs to the dynasty
The Romanov clan originates in the 16th century, from Roman Yuryevich Zakharyin. He had five children who gave birth to numerous offspring that have survived to this day. But the fact is that most descendants no longer bear this surname, that is, they were born on the maternal side. Representatives of the dynasty are considered only descendants of the Romanov clan on the male line, who bear the old name.
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.
Branching a Family Tree
Paul I had 12 children, of whom two were illegitimate. Their ten legitimate - four sons:
- Alexander I, in 1801, ascended the Russian throne, did not leave behind himself the legal successor throne.
- Konstantin. He was married twice, but the marriages were childless. He had three illegitimate children who were not recognized as descendants of the Romanovs.
- Nicholas I, the All-Russian Emperor since 1825. He had three daughters and four sons from marriage to the Prussian princess Frederick Louise Charlotte, in Orthodoxy Anna Fedorovna.
- Michael, married had 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
Sons of Nicholas the First: Alexander, Konstantin, Nikolay and Mikhail. All of them left posterity. Their lines are unofficially called:
- Alexandrovichi - the line went from Alexander Nikolaevich Romanov. Now live the direct descendants of the Romanov-Ilyinsky Dmitry Pavlovich and Mikhail Pavlovich. Unfortunately, they are both childless, and with their passing away this line will be suppressed.
- 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.
- Nikolaevich - descended from Romanov Nikolai Nikolaevich. To this day, a direct descendant of this branch, Dmitry Romanovich, lives and lives. He has no heirs, so the line is fading.
- Mikhailovich - the heirs of Mikhail Nikolaevich Romanov. It is to this branch that the remaining Romanov men live today. This gives hope to the Romanov family for survival.
Where are the descendants of the Romanovs today?
Many researchers asked whether the descendants of the Romanovs remained. Yes, this great family has heirs along the male and female lines. Some branches have already been 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 scattered around the planet. Most of them do not know the Russian language and have never been to the homeland of their ancestors. Someone's names are completely different. Many became acquainted with Russia exclusively from books or from news reports on television channels. And yet, some of them are in their historical homeland, they are engaged in charity work here and consider themselves Russian at heart.
To the question 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 married 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 in exchange for refugee passports, for which they had lived abroad until that time. Funds received as sponsorship from Russia allow family members to pay visits to their homeland.
It is not known how many people live in the world who have Romanov’s blood flowing in their veins, but they don’t belong to the genus, because they came from the female side or from extramarital affairs. Nevertheless, genetically, they also belong to an ancient surname.
Head of the Imperial House
Prince Romanov Dmitry Romanovich became the Head of the House of Romanov after Nikolai Romanovich, his older brother, passed away.
Great-great-grandson of Nicholas I, great-grandson of Prince Nikolai Nikolayevich, son of Prince Roman Petrovich and Countess Praskovya Sheremetyeva. He was born in France on May 17, 1926.
Since 1936 he lived with his parents in Italy, and later in Egypt. In Alexandria, he worked at a Ford automobile plant: he worked as a mechanic, sold cars. Upon returning to sunny Italy, he worked as a secretary in a ship company.
He visited Russia for the first time in the distant 1953 as a tourist. When he married in Denmark with his first wife Johanna von Kaufmann, he settled in Copenhagen and served in a bank there for more than 30 years.
All the numerous members of the royal family call him the Head of the House, only the branch of the Kirillovich believes that he does not have legal rights to the throne due to the fact that his father was born in an unequal marriage (Kirillovich, the heirs of Alexander II - this is Princess Maria Vladimirovna, who herself claims for the title of the head of the Imperial House, and her son George Mikhailovich, claiming the title of crown prince).
A long-standing hobby of Dmitry Romanovich are orders and medals of different countries. He has a large collection of awards, about which he writes a book.
The second time he 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 leaves the world, the Nikolaevich branch is cut short.
Legitimate members of the house, fading branch of Alexandrovich
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 the Alexandrovichs):
- Romanov-Ilyinsky Dmitry Pavlovich, b. 1954 - The direct heir to Alexander the Second on the male line, lives in the United States, has 3 daughters, all are married and have changed their names.
- Romanov-Ilyinsky Mikhail Pavlovich, b. 1959 - The half-younger younger brother of Prince Dmitry Pavlovich, also lives in the United States, has a daughter.
If the direct descendants of the Romanovs do not become fathers of sons, then the line of the Alexandrovichs will be interrupted.
Direct descendants, princes and possible successors of the Romanov clan - the most prolific branch of the Mikhailovich
- Alexey Andreevich, b. 1953 - A direct descendant of Nicholas I, married, no children, lives in the USA.
- Petr Andreevich, b. 1961 - also a purebred Romanov, married, childless, lives in the USA.
- Andrei Andreyevich, b. 1963 - Legally belongs to the Romanov dynasty, has a daughter from a second marriage, lives in the USA.
- Rostislav Rostislavovich, b. 1985 - A direct successor to the clan, while not married, lives in the United States.
- Nikita Rostislavovich, b. 1987 - A legitimate descendant, until married, lives in the UK.
- Nicholas-Khristofer Nikolaevich, born in 1968, is a direct descendant of Nicholas I, lives in the United States, has 2 daughters.
- Daniel Nikolaevich, born in 1972 - A legal member of the Romanov dynasty, married, lives in the USA, has a daughter and son.
- Daniil Danilovich, b. 2009 - The youngest legitimate descendant of the royal family in the male line, lives with his parents in the United States.
As can be seen from the family tree, only the branch of the Mikhailovichs, the direct heirs of Romanov Mikhail Nikolaevich, the youngest son of Nicholas I, gives hope for the continuation of the royal family.
Descendants of the Romanov family, who cannot inherit a royal surname, and controversial applicants for membership of the Imperial House
- Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, b. 1953 - Her Imperial Highness, claims the title of Head of the Russian Imperial House, the legitimate heiress of Alexander the Second, belongs to the line of Alexandrovich. 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 of Mikhailovich and the surname Romanov.
- Georgy Mikhailovich, b. 1981 - the son of Princess Romanova Maria Vladimirovna and Prince of Prussia, claims to be the crown prince, but most of the representatives of the Romanovs house rightly do not recognize his rights, since he is not a descendant in a direct male line, namely, the inheritance right is transferred through the male line. His birth is a joyful event in the Prussian palace.
- Princess Elena Sergeevna Romanova (after her husband Nirot), born 1929, lives in France, one of the last representatives of the Romanovs house, belongs to the Alexandrovich line.
- Georgy Aleksandrovich Yurievsky, b. 1961 - The legitimate heir of Alexander the Second, now lives in Switzerland. His grandfather George was the illegitimate son of 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 surname was Yuryevsky. Therefore, de jure George (Hans-Georg) does not belong to the house of the Romanovs, although de facto he is the last descendant of the Romanov dynasty on the male line of the Alexandrovichs.
- Princess Tatyana Mikhailovna, b. 1986 - belongs to the house of the Romanovs on the line of Mikhailovich, but as soon as she gets married and changes her surname, she loses all rights. Lives in Paris.
- Princess Alexandra Rostislavovna, b. 1983 - also a hereditary descendant of a branch of the Mikhailovich, not married, lives in the United States.
- Princess Karline Nikolaevna, born 2000 - is the legal representative of the Imperial House on the line of Mikhailovich, is single, lives in the USA,
- Princess Chelly Nikolaevna, b. 2003 - A direct descendant of the royal family, single, US citizen.
- Princess Madison Danilovna, b. 2007 - along the line of Mikhailovich, he is a legal family member, lives in the USA.
The union of the Romanov clan
All other Romanovs are children from morganatic marriages, therefore they cannot belong to the Russian Imperial House. All of them are united by the so-called “Association of the Romanov clan”, which was headed by Nikolai Romanovich in 1989 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-great-grandson of Nicholas I. Watercolor painter.
I saw the light on September 26, 1922 near the French city of Antibes. His childhood passed there. In 1936 he moved with his parents to Italy. In this country in 1941, directly from Mussolini received an offer to become king of Montenegro, which he refused. Later he lived in Egypt, then again in Italy, in Switzerland, where he married his Countess Svedevadella Garaldeschi, then returned to Italy again, where in 1993 he accepted citizenship.
"Association" headed in 1989. On his initiative, in 1992, a congress of Romanov-men was convened in Paris, at which a decision was made to create a Fund to help Russia. In his opinion, Russia should be a federal republic where the central government is strong, whose powers are strictly limited.
He has three daughters. Natalya, Elizaveta and Tatyana created families with Italians.
Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich
Born on August 17, 1917 in Finland, in exile with Sovereign Kirill Vladimirovich. He was raised by a truly Russian man. He was fluent in Russian, many European languages, knew the history of Russia perfectly, was a well-educated erudite person and felt true pride that belongs to Russia.
At twenty, the last direct descendant of the Romanovs in the male line became the Head of the Dynasty. It was enough for him to conclude an unequal marriage, and by the 21st century the legal members of the imperial family would no longer be left.
But he met Princess Leonida Georgievna Bagration-Mukhranska, daughter of the Head of the Georgian Royal House, who became his legal wife in 1948. In this marriage, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna was born in Madrid.
For several decades he was the Head of the Russian Imperial House and, by his own decree, announced the right of his daughter, who was legally married, 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 of Prince George Alexandrovich Bagration-Mukhransky. Born in a legal marriage on December 23, 1953. Her parents provided her with a good upbringing and excellent education. At the age of 16, she swore allegiance to Russia and its peoples.
After graduating from Oxford University, she received a philologist diploma. Fluent in Russian, many European and Arabic. She worked in administrative positions in France and Spain.
The imperial family owns a modest apartment in Madrid. The house in France was sold because of the inability to maintain it. The family maintains an average standard of living - by the standards of Europe. He 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 was married to Prince of Prussia Franz Wilhelm. With the adoption of Orthodoxy, he received the title of Prince Mikhail Pavlovich. The current candidate for the Russian throne, Prince George Mikhailovich, was born from this marriage.
Tsesarevich Georgy Mikhailovich
He claims to be 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 a marriage on March 13, 1981 in Madrid. A direct descendant of the German emperor William the Second, the Russian emperor Alexander the Second, Queen Victoria of England.
He graduated from school in Saint-Brieuc, then training continued in Paris at the College of St. Stanislav. Lives in Madrid since 1988. He considers French as his native language, speaks Spanish and English perfectly, 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 place of burial. His independent visit to his homeland took place in 2006. He worked in the European Parliament, the European Commission. Single.
In the anniversary year for the House, he established a research fund to fight cancer.
Andrey Andreevich Romanov
Great-great-grandson of Nicholas I, great-grandson of Alexander III. Born in London on January 21, 1923. He currently resides in the United States, California, in Marine County. He knows the Russian language perfectly, because always and everyone in his family spoke Russian.
He graduated from the London College of Imperial Service. During World War II he served on a warship of the British Navy as a sailor. It was then that, escorting cargo ships to Murmansk, he first visited Russia.
Has been an American citizen since 1954. In America, he was engaged in agriculture: farming, agronomy, agricultural technology. At university, Berkeley studied sociology. Worked in a shipping company.
Among his hobbies are painting and graphics. Creates work in a "children's" manner, as well as color drawings on plastic, which is later subjected to heat treatment.
He is in his third marriage. From his first marriage he has a son Alexei, from the second two: Peter and Andrew.
It is believed that neither he nor his sons have the right to the throne, but as candidates can be considered by the Zemsky Sobor in a row with other descendants.
Mikhail Andreevich Romanov
The great-great-grandson of Nicholas I, the great-grandson of Prince Mikhail Nikolaevich, was born in Versailles on July 15, 1920. Graduated from Royal College of Windsor, London Institute of Aeronautical Engineers.
He served in World War II in Sydney in the British Navy Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was demobilized in 1945 to Australia. There he remained to live, engaged in the aviation industry.
He was an active member of the Order of the Orthodox Knights of Malta of St. John of Jerusalem, even was elected protector and great prior of the Order. He was a member of the movement "Australians for a constitutional monarchy."
He was married three times: in February 1953 to Jill Murphy, in July 1954 to Shirley Krummond, and in July 1993 to Julia Crespi. All marriages are unequal and childless.
Passed away in September 2008 in Sydney.
Romanov Nikita Nikitich
Great-great-grandson of Nicholas I. Born in London on May 13, 1923. Childhood passed in the UK, then in France.
He served in the British Army. In 1949 he moved to the United States. At the University of Berkeley in 1960 received a master's degree in history. He earned his studies and life by 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 is Janet (Anna Mikhailovna - in Orthodoxy) Shonvald. Son Fedor committed suicide in 2007.
Repeatedly visited Russia, visited the estate of his business Ai-Todor in the Crimea. The last forty years he lived in New York until he died in May 2007.
Brothers Dmitry Pavlovich and Mikhail Pavlovich Romanov-Ilyinsky (sometimes under the name Romanovsky-Ilyinsky)
Dmitry Pavlovich, born in 1954, and Mikhail Pavlovich, born in 1960
Dmitry Pavlovich is married to Martha Merry MacDowell, b. 1952, has 3 daughters: Katrina, Victoria, Lela.
Mikhail Pavlovich was married three times. The first marriage is with Marches Mary Lowe, the second with Paula Gay Mair and the third with Lisa Mary Schisler. In the third marriage, daughter Alexis was born.
Currently, the descendants of the Romanov dynasty live in the United States, recognize the legality 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 masculine gender of all the descendants of the Romanovs, regardless of what kind of marriages they entered into.
Finally
About a hundred years in Russia there is no monarchy. But to this day, someone breaks the spears, arguing about which of the living descendants of the imperial family has the legal right to the Russian throne. Someone today resolutely demands the return of the monarchy. And even if this question is not simple, since laws and decrees regarding succession issues are interpreted differently, disputes will continue. But they can be described in one Russian proverb: the descendants of the Romanovs, whose photos are presented in the article, "share the skin of an unkilled bear."