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Prince Vasili Alexandrovich

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Birth Date:
07.07.1907
Death date:
24.06.1989
Person's maiden name:
Prince Vasili Alexandrovich of Russia
Extra names:
Князь Василий Александрович, Князь Василий Александрович Романов
Categories:
Aristocrat, Knyaz (Prince, Duke)
Cemetery:
Set cemetery

Prince Vasili Alexandrovich of Russia (7 July 1907 – 23 June 1989) was the sixth son and youngest child of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia. He was a nephew of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

Born in Imperial Russia during the reign of his paternal second cousin and maternal uncle Nicholas II, he was on vacation in Crimea at the fall of the Russian monarchy. He was joined there by his immediate family. They escaped the fate of many of his relatives killed by the Bolsheviks. He left Russia in April 1919, at age 11. In the late 1920s, he emigrated to the United States where he met Princess Natalia Golitsyna. They married in 1931. The couple had one daughter and lived for decades in Woodside, California.

Early life

Prince Vasili Alexandrovich Romanov was born in the Palace of Gatchina on 7 July 1907, the sixth son and last of the seven children of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia. Although a grandson of Emperor Alexander III through his mother, he was not entitled to the title Grand Duke of Russia because he was only a great-grandson of Emperor Nicholas I in the male line through his father. He was a sickly child and after his birth there was some doubts that he would survive so he was baptized in the nursery. Shortly after his birth his parents started to live separate lives.[3] Prince Vasili spent his early years in Imperial Russia during the reign of his maternal uncle Tsar Nicholas II. At the fall of Russian monarchy in February 1917 Vasili, aged ten, was on vacation in Ai-Todor, his father's estate in Crimea. By the end of March both of his parents, all his siblings and their grandmother Empress Maria Feodorovna were also in Crimea.

After the Russian Revolution, when the Bolsheviks seized power in October 1917, Prince Vasili along with his parents, siblings and grandmother the Dowager Empress were placed under house arrest at Ai-Todor. On 11 March 1918 they were transferred with other Romanovs relatives to Dulber, the estate of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich in Crimea. He escaped the fate of a number of his Romanov relatives imprisoned who were murdered by the Bolsheviks when he was freed with the Romanovs in his group by German troops in May 1918. 

He escaped from Russia on 11 April 1919 with the help of his great aunt Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom (née Princess Alexandra of Denmark), Dowager Empress Maria’s sister. King George V of the United Kingdom sent the British warship HMS Marlborough which brought Vasili's family and other Romanovs from the Crimea over the Black Sea to Malta and then to England. Prince Vasili, who was eleven years old at the time, spent the rest of his life in exile.

Exile

During his first years in exile, Prince Vasili lived in England with his mother. In the late 1920s, he emigrated to the United States where he spent the rest of his life. Vasili earned a living by finding work as a cabin boy, shipyard worker, stockbroker, winemaker and a chicken farmer in northern California.

Prince Vasili married in New York City on 31 July 1931, Princess Natalia Golitsyna (Moscow 26 October 1907 – Woodside 28 March 1989), a fellow Russian exile — they met in the United States. Natalia was a distant cousin of Prince Rostislav's wife.[11] Her sister, Princess Olga Golitsyna, married Geoffrey Tooth, who would become the second husband of Vasili's niece, Princess Xenia Andreevna. Princess Natalia came from one of Russia's most aristocratic families, the noble Golitsyns. Her father, Prince Alexander Golitsyn, the son of the governor of Moscow, was a country doctor. Her mother belonged to the Lyubov family. Princess Natalia escaped revolutionary Russia with her family in 1920 through Siberia to China.

In 1927, they moved to the United States. For a time, she pursued a career as an actress playing small parts in the theater and in silent films. Prince Vasili met Princess Natalia Golitsyna in 1931, marrying her a few months later. The couple moved to Northern California in 1934. They lived for the rest of their lives in a house, 30 km. south of San Francisco. Prince Vasili and his wife had one daughter:

  • Princess Marina Romanov (born in San Francisco 22 May 1940); married in Woodside, California on 8 January 1967 (divorced) William Beadleston (born in Long Branch, New Jersey 31 July 1938) an art dealer. They had four children.

In 1980, Prince Vasili was appointed president of the Romanov Family Association in succession to his brother Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich. He remained president until his death in Woodside, California aged 81. He was buried at the Serbian Cemetery in San Francisco.

Titles, styles, honours, and arms

Titles and styles
  • 7 July 1907 – 23 June 1989: His Highness Prince Vasili Alexandrovich of Russia

N.B. After the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov.

Arms

It is often alleged that Vasili's marriage with Princess Golitsyna would have been morganatic. However, Romanov biographer Pieter Broek holds that it was as acceptable dynastically as the Bagrationi marriage of Vasili's cousin, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia. Since the extinction of the Korecki family in the 17th century, the Golitsyns have claimed dynastic seniority in the House of Gediminas. The Gediminids were a dynasty of monarchs of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that reigned from the 14th to the 16th century and Emperor Peter I had permitted the Golitsyns to incorporate the emblem of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania into their coat of arms.

Source: wikipedia.org

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        Relation nameRelation typeBirth DateDeath dateDescription
        1Grand Duke Alexander MikhailovichGrand Duke Alexander MikhailovichFather13.04.186626.02.1933
        2Великая княгиня Ксения АлександровнаВеликая княгиня Ксения АлександровнаMother06.04.187520.04.1960
        3Князь Андрей АлександровичКнязь Андрей АлександровичBrother24.01.189708.05.1981
        4Князь Никита АлександровичКнязь Никита АлександровичBrother16.01.190012.09.1974
        5Ростислав АлександровичРостислав АлександровичBrother24.11.190231.07.1978
        6Князь Дмитрий АлександровичКнязь Дмитрий АлександровичBrother15.08.190107.07.1980
        7Irina Alexandrovna of RussiaIrina Alexandrovna of RussiaSister03.07.189526.02.1970
        8
        Princess Natalia GolitsynaWife26.10.190728.03.1989
        9Prince Albert VictorPrince Albert VictorUncle08.01.186414.01.1892
        10Konstantin NikolayevichKonstantin NikolayevichUncle21.09.182725.01.1892
        11Великий Князь Георгий МихайловичВеликий Князь Георгий МихайловичUncle23.08.186330.01.1919
        12Михаил Михайлович, Великий князьМихаил Михайлович, Великий князьUncle16.10.186126.04.1929
        13Алексей МихайловичАлексей МихайловичUncle28.12.187502.03.1895
        14Nicholas  MikhailovichNicholas MikhailovichUncle14.04.185930.01.1919
        15Великий князь Сергей МихайловичВеликий князь Сергей МихайловичUncle07.10.186918.07.1918
        16Prince AlfredPrince AlfredUncle15.10.187406.02.1899
        17George  VGeorge VUncle03.06.186520.01.1936
        18Vladimir  PaleyVladimir PaleyUncle09.01.189718.07.1918
        19Mikhail Aleksandrovich RomanovMikhail Aleksandrovich RomanovUncle, Cousin04.12.187813.06.1918
        20Princess Victoria of the  United KingdomPrincess Victoria of the United KingdomAunt06.07.186803.12.1935
        21Natalia PaleyNatalia PaleyAunt05.12.190527.12.1981
        22Maud of WalesMaud of WalesAunt26.11.186920.11.1938
        23Анастасия МихайловнаАнастасия МихайловнаAunt28.07.186011.03.1922
        24Ольга  РомановаОльга РомановаAunt13.06.188224.11.1960
        25Olga  NikolaevnaOlga NikolaevnaAunt11.09.182230.10.1892
        26Grand Duchess Maria PavlovnaGrand Duchess Maria PavlovnaAunt18.04.189013.12.1958
        27Marie of RomaniaMarie of RomaniaAunt29.10.187518.07.1938
        28David MountbattenDavid MountbattenNephew12.05.191914.04.1970
        29Prince Michael  Andreevich RomanoffPrince Michael Andreevich RomanoffNephew15.07.192022.09.2008
        30Prince Alexander  RomanovPrince Alexander RomanovNephew04.11.192921.09.2002
        31Prince Nikita  Nikitich RomanovPrince Nikita Nikitich RomanovNephew13.05.192303.05.2007
        32Irina YusupovaIrina YusupovaNiece21.03.191530.08.1983
        33Княгиня Ксения  РомановаКнягиня Ксения РомановаNiece10.03.191922.10.2000
        34
        Georgina KennardNiece17.10.191928.04.2011
        35
        Tatiana Elizabeth MountbattenNiece16.12.191715.05.1988
        36Мария Илларионовна Воронцова-ДашковаМария Илларионовна Воронцова-ДашковаSister in-law13.01.190315.06.1997
        37Марина  Голенищева-КутузоваМарина Голенищева-КутузоваSister in-law20.11.191200.00.1969
        38Елизавета  СассоЕлизавета СассоSister in-law29.10.1940
        39Felix  YusupovFelix YusupovBrother in-law23.03.188727.09.1967
        40Alexander IIIAlexander IIIGrandfather10.03.184501.11.1894
        41Михаил НиколаевичМихаил НиколаевичGrandfather25.10.183218.12.1909
        42Мария ФёдоровнаМария ФёдоровнаGrandmother26.11.184713.10.1928
        43Olga  FeodorovnaOlga FeodorovnaGrandmother20.09.183912.04.1891
        44Константин КонстантиновичКонстантин КонстантиновичGreat grandfather10.08.185802.06.1915
        45Alexander IIAlexander IIGreat grandfather29.04.181813.03.1881
        46Leopold BadenLeopold BadenGreat grandfather29.08.179024.04.1852
        47Nicholas I of RussiaNicholas I of RussiaGreat grandfather06.07.179618.02.1855
        48Maximilian de  BeauharnaisMaximilian de BeauharnaisGreat grandfather02.10.181701.11.1852
        49Николай СтаршийНиколай СтаршийGreat grandfather27.07.183113.04.1891
        50Charles FrederickCharles FrederickGreat grandfather02.02.178308.07.1853
        51Christian IX DenmarkChristian IX DenmarkGreat grandfather08.04.181829.01.1906
        52Михаил ПавловичМихаил ПавловичGreat grandfather08.02.179828.08.1849
        53George IGeorge IGreat grandfather24.12.184518.03.1913
        54Георгий Петрович ОльденбургскийГеоргий Петрович ОльденбургскийGreat grandfather00.00.178400.00.1812
        55Екатерина ПавловнаЕкатерина ПавловнаGreat grandmother10.05.178809.01.1819
        56Grand Duchess Maria  Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of RussiaGreat grandmother18.08.181921.02.1876
        57Duchess Alexandra  Petrovna of OldenburgDuchess Alexandra Petrovna of OldenburgGreat grandmother02.06.183825.04.1900
        58Olga  Constantinovna of RussiaOlga Constantinovna of RussiaGreat grandmother03.09.185118.06.1926
        59Louise of  Hesse-KasselLouise of Hesse-KasselGreat grandmother07.09.181729.09.1898
        60Александра ФёдоровнаАлександра ФёдоровнаGreat grandmother13.07.179801.11.1860
        61Maria  AlexandrovnaMaria AlexandrovnaGreat grandmother08.08.182403.06.1880
        62Maria  PavlovnaMaria PavlovnaGreat grandmother04.02.178611.06.1859
        63Елена ПавловнаЕлена ПавловнаGreat grandmother28.12.180621.01.1873
        64Elisabeth  of Saxe-AltenburgElisabeth of Saxe-AltenburgGreat grandmother25.01.186524.03.1927
        65Princess Nina GeorgievnaPrincess Nina GeorgievnaCousin20.06.190127.02.1974
        66Дмитрий Константинович РомановДмитрий Константинович РомановCousin01.06.186030.01.1919
        67Cecilie  Mecklenburg Schwerin, DuchessCecilie Mecklenburg Schwerin, DuchessCousin20.09.188606.05.1954
        68Andrei  VladimirovichAndrei VladimirovichCousin02.05.187930.10.1956
        69Nadejda MountbattenNadejda MountbattenCousin28.03.189622.01.1963
        70Lennart  BernadotteLennart BernadotteCousin08.05.190921.12.2004
        71князь Николай  Романовкнязь Николай РомановCousin00.00.192215.09.2014
        72Prince George Duke of KentPrince George Duke of KentCousin20.12.190225.08.1942
        73Princess Xenia  Georgievna of RussiaPrincess Xenia Georgievna of RussiaCousin22.08.190317.09.1965
        74Петр  ОльденбургскийПетр ОльденбургскийCousin21.11.186811.03.1924
        75Великая княжна Мария НиколаевнаВеликая княжна Мария НиколаевнаCousin26.06.189917.07.1918
        76Ольга  НиколаевнаОльга НиколаевнаCousin15.11.189517.07.1918
        77Boris  Wladimirowitsch RomanowBoris Wladimirowitsch RomanowCousin24.11.187709.11.1943
        78Edward  VIIIEdward VIIICousin23.06.189428.05.1972
        79Anastasia RomanovaAnastasia RomanovaCousin18.06.190117.07.1918
        80Vladimir  RomanovVladimir RomanovCousin30.08.191721.04.1992
        81Дмитрий  РомановДмитрий РомановCousin17.05.192631.12.2016
        82Grand Duke Nicholas  Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of RussiaCousin18.11.185605.01.1929
        83Тихон Куликовский-РомановТихон Куликовский-РомановCousin25.08.191708.04.1993
        84Alexandrine  of Mecklenburg-SchwerinAlexandrine of Mecklenburg-SchwerinCousin24.12.187912.12.1952
        85Кира  РомановаКира РомановаCousin09.05.190908.09.1967
        86Grand Duchess Elena VladimirovnaGrand Duchess Elena VladimirovnaCousin17.03.188213.03.1957
        87Anastasia de TorbyAnastasia de TorbyCousin09.09.189207.12.1977
        88Maria of YugoslaviaMaria of YugoslaviaCousin06.01.190022.06.1961
        89Гурий  КуликовскийГурий КуликовскийCousin23.04.191911.09.1984
        90Elisabeth of  RomaniaElisabeth of RomaniaCousin12.10.189414.11.1956
        91
        Наталья МамонтоваCousin00.00.190300.00.1969
        92Татьяна РомановаТатьяна РомановаCousin10.06.189717.07.1918
        93Nikolajs II RomanovsNikolajs II RomanovsCousin19.05.186817.07.1918
        94Кирилл ВладимировичКирилл ВладимировичCousin12.10.187612.10.1938
        95Николай КонстантиновичНиколай КонстантиновичCousin14.02.185027.01.1918
        96George VIGeorge VICousin14.12.189506.02.1952
        97George BrasovGeorge BrasovCousin06.08.191021.07.1931
        98Великий князь Пётр НиколаевичВеликий князь Пётр НиколаевичCousin10.01.186417.06.1931

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