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Maria Alexandrovna

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Birth Date:
08.08.1824
Death date:
03.06.1880
Extra names:
Мария Александровна, Максимилиана Вильгельмина Августа София Мария Гессенская, Maximiliane Wilhelmine Auguste Sophie Marie von Hessen und bei Rhein, Marie of Hesse and by Rhine, Maximili
Categories:
Aristocrat, Princess
Cemetery:
Grand Ducal Burial Vault

Marie of Hesse and by Rhine (8 August 1824 – 3 June [O.S. 22 may] 1880) was, under the name Maria Alexandrovna (Russian: Мария Александровна), Empress of Russia as the wife of Emperor Alexander II. She was born in Darmstadt, the capital of the Grand Duchy, and died in Saint Petersburg. The Mariinsky Theatre and the city Mariehamn in Åland are named after her.

Early life

Marie was the youngest of seven children born to the Grand Duchess Wihelmine of Hesse (1788–1836), the youngest sister of the Russian Empress Elizaveta Alexeievna. The younger four were likely the biological children of Baron August von Senarclens de Grancy, but to avoid a scandal, Ludwig II, Grand Duke of Hesse acknowledged Alexander and Marie as his own children; the other two had died young.

Marriage

When in 1838, the Tsarevich Alexander Nikolayevich toured Europe to find a wife, he fell in love with the 14-year-old Marie. He married her on 16 April 1841, even though he was well aware of the "irregularity" of her birth. His mother Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna objected, but Alexander insisted.

As she was very shy, she was regarded as stiff, austere, and with no taste in dress, no conversation, no charm. The damp climate of St. Petersburg did not agree with the delicate chest Marie had inherited from her mother, so that she had a racking cough and recurring fever. Nevertheless, she became the mother of eight children. These pregnancies together with ill health kept her away from many Court festivities, which brought temptations to her husband.

He didn't always treat her well. Marie knew Alexander was unfaithful and had many lovers. He already had three children with his favourite mistress, Princess Catherine Dolgoruki, and he moved her and their children into the Imperial Palace during Marie's final illness, and entered into a morganatic marriage with Princess Catherine Dolgoruki, on 18 July [O.S. 6 July] 1880.

Russian Empress

In 1855 Alexander became Emperor, which forced her to attend more State functions whether she was ill or not. Although Alexander II always treated her well, she knew from 1858 onwards that his feelings were for someone else. In 1865, the death of her eldest and favourite son, the Tsarevich Nicholas, was a great blow.

Every now and again she was able to go to her brother Alexander who lived with his morganatic wife in Heiligenberg. There she met Princess Alice, second daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, wife of her nephew Prince Louis. She resented Alice's suggestion that her brother Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Marie's daughter, Maria Alexandrovna marry, but the marriage ultimately went through. When Alice died in 1878, Marie often invited the motherless children for visits to Heiligenberg. It was during these visits that her second youngest son, Grand Duke Sergei, met his future wife, Alice's second daughter, Princess Elisabeth and Maria also met Elisabeth's youngest surviving sister, Princess Alix, who would eventually become the devoted, yet ill-fated, wife of Maria's eldest grandson, Tsar Nicholas II. One legend states that on a visit to Darmstadt, upon meeting Alix, Marie turned to her maid of honor telling her to "kiss her hand. That is your empress to be." In later years Nicholas II’s eldest daughter, the Grand Duchess Olga, claimed to have seen the ghost of her great-grandmother, the Empress Maria Alexandrovna as a small child, according to her nanny, Miss Margaretta Eagar.

Children

  • Grand Duchess Alexandra Alexandrovna
  • Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich
  • Alexander III
  • Maria, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
  • Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich
  • Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich
  • Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich
  • Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich

Source: wikipedia.org

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        Relation nameRelation typeBirth DateDeath dateDescription
        1Louis II Hesse, Grand DukeLouis II Hesse, Grand DukeFather26.12.177716.06.1848
        2Wilhelmine   Baden, PrincessWilhelmine Baden, PrincessMother21.09.178827.01.1836
        3Сергей  РомановСергей РомановSon11.05.185717.02.1905
        4Alexander IIIAlexander IIISon10.03.184501.11.1894
        5Paul  AlexandrovichPaul AlexandrovichSon03.10.186030.01.1919
        6Владимир АлександровичВладимир АлександровичSon10.04.184704.02.1909
        7Сергей АлександровичСергей АлександровичSon11.05.185717.02.1905
        8Maria AlexandrovnaMaria AlexandrovnaDaughter17.10.185324.10.1920
        9Louis IIILouis IIIBrother09.06.180613.06.1877
        10Карл ГессенскийКарл ГессенскийBrother23.04.180920.03.1877
        11Alexander IIAlexander IIHusband29.04.181813.03.1881
        12Карл  Великий герцог БаденскийКарл Великий герцог БаденскийUncle08.06.178608.12.1818
        13Elizabeth  AlexeievnaElizabeth AlexeievnaAunt24.01.177916.05.1826
        14Louis IVLouis IVNephew12.09.183713.03.1892
        15Nicholas I of RussiaNicholas I of RussiaFather in-law06.07.179618.02.1855
        16Александра ФёдоровнаАлександра ФёдоровнаMother in-law13.07.179801.11.1860
        17Alfrēds Edinburgas, Olsteras un Kentas, Saksen- Koburgas  un Gotas HercogsAlfrēds Edinburgas, Olsteras un Kentas, Saksen- Koburgas un Gotas HercogsSon in-law06.09.184431.07.1900
        18Maria  PavlovnaMaria PavlovnaDaughter in-law14.05.185406.09.1920
        19Елизавета ФёдоровнаЕлизавета ФёдоровнаDaughter in-law01.11.186418.07.1918
        20Alexandra  GeorgievnaAlexandra GeorgievnaDaughter in-law30.08.187024.09.1891
        21Olga  PaleyOlga PaleyDaughter in-law02.12.186502.11.1929
        22Мария ФёдоровнаМария ФёдоровнаDaughter in-law26.11.184713.10.1928
        23Grand Duchess Maria  Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of RussiaSister in-law18.08.181921.02.1876
        24Матильда Каролина БаварскаяМатильда Каролина БаварскаяSister in-law30.08.181325.05.1862
        25Olga  NikolaevnaOlga NikolaevnaSister in-law11.09.182230.10.1892
        26Елизавета ПрусскаяЕлизавета ПрусскаяSister in-law18.06.181521.03.1885
        27Olga  Constantinovna of RussiaOlga Constantinovna of RussiaSister in-law03.09.185118.06.1926
        28Дмитрий Константинович РомановДмитрий Константинович РомановBrother in-law01.06.186030.01.1919
        29Николай СтаршийНиколай СтаршийBrother in-law27.07.183113.04.1891
        30Михаил НиколаевичМихаил НиколаевичBrother in-law25.10.183218.12.1909
        31Николай КонстантиновичНиколай КонстантиновичBrother in-law14.02.185027.01.1918
        32Konstantin NikolayevichKonstantin NikolayevichBrother in-law21.09.182725.01.1892
        33Константин КонстантиновичКонстантин КонстантиновичBrother in-law10.08.185802.06.1915
        34Vladimir  PaleyVladimir PaleyGrandson09.01.189718.07.1918
        35Boris  Wladimirowitsch RomanowBoris Wladimirowitsch RomanowGrandson24.11.187709.11.1943
        36Prince AlfredPrince AlfredGrandson15.10.187406.02.1899
        37Кирилл ВладимировичКирилл ВладимировичGrandson12.10.187612.10.1938
        38Mikhail Aleksandrovich RomanovMikhail Aleksandrovich RomanovGrandson04.12.187813.06.1918
        39Andrei  VladimirovichAndrei VladimirovichGrandson02.05.187930.10.1956
        40Dmitri  PavlovichDmitri PavlovichGrandson06.09.189105.03.1942
        41Всеволод  РомановВсеволод РомановGrandson20.01.191418.06.1973
        42Nikolajs II RomanovsNikolajs II RomanovsGrandson19.05.186817.07.1918
        43Георг IIГеорг IIGrandson19.07.189001.04.1947
        44Великая княгиня Ксения АлександровнаВеликая княгиня Ксения АлександровнаGranddaughter06.04.187520.04.1960
        45Надежда  РомановаНадежда РомановаGranddaughter15.03.189821.04.1988
        46Ольга  РомановаОльга РомановаGranddaughter13.06.188224.11.1960
        47Natalia PaleyNatalia PaleyGranddaughter05.12.190527.12.1981
        48Grand Duchess Maria PavlovnaGrand Duchess Maria PavlovnaGranddaughter18.04.189013.12.1958
        49Grand Duchess Elena VladimirovnaGrand Duchess Elena VladimirovnaGranddaughter17.03.188213.03.1957
        50Empress Alexandra  FeodorovnaEmpress Alexandra FeodorovnaGranddaughter06.06.187217.07.1918
        51Helen of Greece and DenmarkHelen of Greece and DenmarkGranddaughter02.05.189628.11.1982
        52Natālija AndrosovaNatālija AndrosovaGranddaughter23.02.191725.07.1999
        53Marie of RomaniaMarie of RomaniaGranddaughter29.10.187518.07.1938
        54George VIGeorge VIGreat grandson14.12.189506.02.1952
        55George BrasovGeorge BrasovGreat grandson06.08.191021.07.1931
        56Дмитрий  РомановДмитрий РомановGreat grandson17.05.192631.12.2016
        57Vladimir  RomanovVladimir RomanovGreat grandson30.08.191721.04.1992
        58Prince Vasili AlexandrovichPrince Vasili AlexandrovichGreat grandson07.07.190724.06.1989
        59Князь Никита АлександровичКнязь Никита АлександровичGreat grandson16.01.190012.09.1974
        60Князь Андрей АлександровичКнязь Андрей АлександровичGreat grandson24.01.189708.05.1981
        61Князь Дмитрий АлександровичКнязь Дмитрий АлександровичGreat grandson15.08.190107.07.1980
        62Elisabeth of  RomaniaElisabeth of RomaniaGreat grandson12.10.189414.11.1956
        63Ростислав АлександровичРостислав АлександровичGreat grandson24.11.190231.07.1978
        64Edward  VIIIEdward VIIIGreat grandson23.06.189428.05.1972
        65Prince George Duke of KentPrince George Duke of KentGreat grandson20.12.190225.08.1942
        66Sophia of  PrussiaSophia of PrussiaGreat grandson14.06.187013.01.1932
        67Гурий  КуликовскийГурий КуликовскийGreat grandson23.04.191911.09.1984
        68George  VGeorge VGreat grandson03.06.186520.01.1936
        69Lennart  BernadotteLennart BernadotteGreat grandson08.05.190921.12.2004
        70Prince Nikita  Nikitich RomanovPrince Nikita Nikitich RomanovGreat grandson13.05.192303.05.2007
        71Тихон Куликовский-РомановТихон Куликовский-РомановGreat grandson25.08.191708.04.1993
        72Maria of YugoslaviaMaria of YugoslaviaGreat granddaughter06.01.190022.06.1961
        73Sophia of PrussiaSophia of PrussiaGreat granddaughter14.06.187013.01.1932
        74Татьяна РомановаТатьяна РомановаGreat granddaughter10.06.189717.07.1918
        75Anastasia RomanovaAnastasia RomanovaGreat granddaughter18.06.190117.07.1918
        76Alice von BattenbergAlice von BattenbergGreat granddaughter25.02.188505.12.1969
        77Irina Alexandrovna of RussiaIrina Alexandrovna of RussiaGreat granddaughter03.07.189526.02.1970
        78Ольга  НиколаевнаОльга НиколаевнаGreat granddaughter15.11.189517.07.1918
        79Кира  РомановаКира РомановаGreat granddaughter09.05.190908.09.1967
        80Великая княжна Мария НиколаевнаВеликая княжна Мария НиколаевнаGreat granddaughter26.06.189917.07.1918
        81Princess Elizabeth of  Greece and DenmarkPrincess Elizabeth of Greece and DenmarkGreat granddaughter24.05.190411.01.1955
        82Princess Marina  of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Marina of Greece and DenmarkGreat granddaughter13.12.190627.08.1968
        83Жозефина БаденскаяЖозефина БаденскаяCousin21.10.181319.06.1900

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