The German Oldenburg House is one of the most powerful and oldest in Europe, whose representatives were on the thrones of Denmark, the Baltic states, Norway, Greece and were related to the Romanovs house, the kings of Sweden, as well as the children and grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II in Britain. Now, in 2016, he is led by the Duke of Christians, who was born in 1955.
Dynasty of the oldenburgs
Before moving on to the Russian Empire, one must indicate the branches of this mighty house. The eldest branch of the dynasty ruled in Denmark from about 1426 to 1863, as well as in Livonia for 10 years in the 16th century. The kings of Denmark and Norway held the title of Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein. The Oldenburg dynasty spawned the Glucksburg line from 1863, originating from the house of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg, which ruled in Denmark from 1863 to the present. Members of this line are now on the Norwegian throne. Its representatives were the Vasileus of Greece from 1863 to 1974.
the Russian Empire
After the death of smallpox, the grandson of Peter the Great in 1730 ended the male generation of the Romanov family. But for some time Russia was ruled by the daughter of Peter the Great, Empress Elizabeth. She died without leaving offspring in 1761. After the coup of 1762, the German princess, the daughter of Prince Anhalt-Zerbst, was on the Russian throne. Her husband was Karl-Peter-Ulrich (Peter III), a representative of the Holstein-Gottorp branch, the younger line of the Oldenburgs. Thus, their son and his subsequent children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were Romanovs only nominally. They all married princesses from German and Danish families.
Oldenburgs in Russia
Alexander I invited a young, well-educated relative to serve in Russia. Georgy Petrovich Oldenburgsky (1784-1812), cousin of the emperor, was appointed in 1808 as Governor-General of Estonia. He energetically set to work. The prince paid particular attention to the peasant question. In 1909, he married Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna, sister of Alexander and Nikolai Pavlovich. In the same year, the Prince of Oldenburg was appointed to the post of Tver, Novgorod and Yaroslavl Governor General.
He energetically engaged in the improvement of these places and actively visited district cities, supervising the work of the administration. Simultaneously with this work, he was invited to engage in shipping in Russia. In addition, work on land routes has also joined. The place of constant residence of the young couple was Tver. And already in 1909, the deepening of the Ladoga Canal began. Since there were not enough specialists, the prince suggested opening a new educational institution in which engineers would graduate. The emperor supported his undertakings, visited the prince in Tver, where he got acquainted with Karamzin's works on history. Very energetically, the prince rebuilt the old canals, which earned the gratitude of the emperor. When the war broke out, Georgy Petrovich collected the militia, food, and placed prisoners. But, suddenly ill, the young prince of Oldenburg died in 1812, leaving young children.
Children and grandchildren
He had a son, Peter, in 1812, who became an orphan at the age of 8. At the request of his mother, his grandfather raised him. Prince Oldenburg Peter lived in Germany and received a good education. Abroad, he studied including the Russian language. Emperor Nicholas I called on his nephew to serve in Russia. He was granted the estate in Peterhof, and also granted admission to the elite Preobrazhensky regiment.
He quickly rose up the ranks and, just four years after arriving in Russia, received the post of lieutenant general. Then he switched to public service and became a senator. He was engaged in jurisprudence and, making sure that in Russia there are not enough lawyers, he achieved the establishment of the School of Law. At the same time, he bought the building with his own money. Petr Georgievich was actively engaged in social activities. For 20 years, he paid great attention to female education. At his own expense, opened a children's shelter. Actively continued the noble activity of his son, Alexander Petrovich.
Childhood
Prince Alexander was born in 1844. As it should be among the highest aristocracy, the prince of Oldenburg was immediately admitted to the guard in the Preobrazhensky regiment with the rank of ensign. In the same way, three of his brothers prepared for service for the good of the country. They received home education, they all were waiting for a military career.
Youth
Due to the fact that two brothers at different times committed morganatic marriages and lost the mercies of Emperor Alexander II and the titles of princes, Alexander Petrovich became the heir to the head of the house of the Grand Dukes of Oldenburg. He received at home the most versatile, one could say encyclopedic education, read a lot, as the family had a wonderful library, and eventually became a professional lawyer.
Marriage
Prince of Oldenburg married the daughter of the Duke of Leuchtenberg. Evgenia Maksimilianovna was engaged in a large public activity. Princess Oldenburg patronized the Red Cross, the Society for the Promotion of the Arts, and the Mineralogical Society. Together with her husband, she carried the care of charitable, educational and medical institutions, which was supervised by her husband's father. Princess Oldenburgskaya involved in the creation of art postcards with reproductions of paintings by the Hermitage and the Tretyakov Gallery of prominent artists of her time. Her educational activities continued after the revolution. She also opened art schools in the provinces and Petersburg.
The activities of Alexander Petrovich
And in the Life Guards in peacetime, and in the Balkan War, the Prince of Oldenburg proved himself to be an energetic, demanding officer, primarily to himself. During the war he lived like a Spartan. I did not use any additional amenities in the form of a crew or a personal chef. His troops distinguished themselves in crossing the passes of the Balkan Mountains. He was awarded the Golden Sword and Dagger "For Courage". When he retired, he continued his father's activities.
He stood at the origins of the Institute of Experimental Medicine, in which I.P. subsequently worked. Pavlov, conducting experiments in physiology. It also conducted research on the fight against tuberculosis. The plague that erupted in the Caspian was stopped when Prince Alexander personally went to fight the epidemic. In addition, he created a climatic resort in Gagra, which is used today.
Prince Oldenburg Castle
It was built in Gagra. Around it on the coast was a park with citrus trees, slender cypresses and exotic agaves. The castle of Prince Oldenburg was built in the modern style by the architect I.K. Lutheran. The snow-white palace, covered with red tiles, with chimneys and a falconry tower, is amazingly beautiful. But neither time nor people spared him. Now the palace is desolate and needs urgent restoration.
Despite the diverse activities that Prince Alexander was involved in, his merits were almost forgotten. He went to the fields of World War II and was the supreme commander of the sanitary and evacuation units, and supplied the army with food. After the February Revolution, he was fired. And in the autumn of 1917 he left the country forever. The prince died in France at the age of 88, having survived both his wife and his only son.