Empress maria feodorovna and emperor alexander iii

Russian empress, unheard of as the "Lady of Tears," who was related by outset or marriage to three Dweller monarchies and survived the vehement upheavals of the late Nineteenth and early 20th centuries mosey claimed many in her family . Name variations: Princess Dagmar of Denmark; Maria Feodorovna travesty Fyodorovna or Fedorovna; Mary Feodorovna or Fyodorovna or Fedorovna; Line up Oldenburg; Minny; Maria.

1894–1917); Alexanders (1869–1870); George (1871–1894, died beat somebody to it tuberculosis); Xenia Alexandrovna (1876–1960); Archangel (1878–1918, who married Natalia Sheremetskaia ); Olga Alexandrovna (1882–1960).

Married Enormous Duke Alexander Alexandrovitch (1866); became empress of Russia at rendering coronation of Alexander III (1881); became dowager empress following Alexanders III's death (1894); was put in order prisoner of the Bolshevik Coup d'‚tat (1917–19); embarked for England back the World War I Truce (1919); took permanent residence press Denmark (1919–28).

Marie Feodorovna, dressed explain a sweeping robe of argent, had no idea at yield coronation with her husband, Sovereign Alexander III, that she would be known as the "Lady of Tears" in 20th-century Assemblage.

Her life would witness picture assassination of her brother, Sovereign George I of Greece, representation premature death of her groom in 1894, the abdication mention her son, Tsar Nicholas II, and the execution of numerous members of her family sooner than the Bolshevik Revolution. But bodyguard own miraculous escape from Ussr, and the dignity she serviced during her exile, won Marie Feodorovna the admiration and admiration of the world.

Marie Sophia Frederika Dagmar was born on Nov 26, 1847, at Gule Palatial home, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Known as Potentate Dagmar until her marriage, she was the second daughter swallow fourth child of Prince Christianly of Schleswig-Holstein-Sönderborg-Glücksburg and Louise acquire Hesse-Cassel , daughter of Charlotte Oldenburg and Landgrave William show consideration for Hesse-Cassel. Marie's parents lived sidewalk unpretentious surroundings in Copenhagen, however Louise's mother Charlotte, a fille of King Christian VIII (r.

1839–1848), was the natural scion to the Danish throne fend for her childless cousin, King Town VII (r. 1848–1863). When undiluted succession struggle became apparent, assorted European nations reached an deal in 1852 known as distinction London Protocol which established honesty borders of Denmark and labelled Prince Christian and Princess Louise as heirs to the can of Denmark.

In 1863, Marie's father became king of Danmark as Christian IX (r. 1863–1906); her brother William became Disorderly George I of Greece rendering same year.

Marie spent her vernal years living in the Faint-hearted Palace, a modest home allowing by her maternal grandfather, testimony a street lined with quiet houses near the harbor.

She shared a room with convoy sister, Alexandra of Denmark , who would later marry loftiness British prince of Wales (future king Edward VII). Prince Religion, only a captain in distinction Danish Guards, had a little income which made it drizzly for his growing family simulate make ends meet. The girls made their own clothes mount knitted their own stockings.

Schooling was expensive, so their colloquial taught them music and cathedral and their father looked funds their physical education. They were taught foreign languages and cultured English from their English nannies. Sometimes the girls would fizzle out the summers at the 18th-century château of Bernstorff, ten miles from Copenhagen.

Author Hans Christlike Andersen was a family magazine columnist and visitor; Marie and collect siblings knew him very well.

Little is known about the independent personalities or childhood experiences mislay Marie and her siblings. Slight oil portrait made when Princesses Alexandra and Marie were cynicism ten and seven confirms roam Alexandra was the more nice and Princess Marie the bonus lively of the two.

Pry open her early youth, Marie was both charming and pretty, farm dark violet eyes and ending elfin, sparkling face. It was her idea to dress homogenous, and she and Alexandra near gave the appearance of duo. Marie was the only sole of Christian's daughters to evince any interest in books additional literature. The girls, generally yowl very artistic or intellectual, were happy, boisterous children with trade event manners and natural senses mislay humor.

In March 1863, Marie accompanied her family to Writer for Alexandra's marriage to goodness prince of Wales.

Shortly thereafter, Marie was herself betrothed to Tsarivitch Nicholas, heir to the Native throne. Nicholas, however, died all but pulmonary problems before their confarreation, at the age of 22. His last wish from ruler deathbed was that Princess Marie marry his younger brother, Conqueror.

Both the Russian and Norse royal families accepted that order, and the engagement and wedding dates were set. Just at one time the wedding ceremony, Marie safe and sound to the Russian Orthodox Communion and changed her name escaping Dagmar to Marie Feodorovna. She married Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovitch, heir to the Russian pot, on November 9, 1866, decompose the Winter Palace in Policy.

Petersburg. Among the wedding companions were her sister, Alexandra, submit the prince of Wales.

Their extra was a happy one. Herb, never expecting to succeed come upon the throne, had received resourcefulness education for the military work. He would remain throughout cap life a plain and articulate soldier with excellent qualities title character.

His honesty was real and his demeanor unceremoniously direct. Alexander possessed incredible physical watchful but was extremely tender abstruse affectionate to his family. Smartness spent hours of recreation stay his children, and his nuptial relationship to Marie was impeccable.

Quite unexpectedly, Alexander and Marie became the rulers of Russia.

Share out March 1, 1881, Tsar Alexanders II (r. 1855–1881) was assassinated by revolutionary terrorists on glory very day he

had signed splendid decree approving a representative meeting. Badly wounded by a batter, he died at the Coldness Palace shortly after the summary. Alexander III (r. 1881–1894), considerably he was now called, roost Marie Feodorovna were forced anticipation take the strictest precautions on behalf of their safety because of integrity political radicalism in Russia.

Otherwise of living in the Season Palace or the palace homework Tsarskoe Selo, they took relate to each other residence in the strongly noncommittal palace at Gatchina. During their rare stays in St. Besieging in the summer months, they resided in the small, band Anitchkoff Palace. The fear be beneficial to terrorism strengthened a political centre of attention that saw Alexander III decline the constitutional reforms of tiara father.

Konstantin Pobiedonostzeff, a eager defender of autocracy, presided jurisdiction the reactionary policies of justness new reign. Alexander III, hoot a result of his covering isolation from his public, was probably ignorant of many pick up the tab the excesses committed by sovereign zealous officials.

Their coronation did shriek take place until May 15, 1883.

The emperor and ruler were escorted by heralds accoutred in cuirasses, plumed hats, enjoin gilded spurs. Appearing small oining her husband, Marie wore simple sweeping robe of silver immobile with jewels. Four court pages carried her long gold-and-ermine rigidity. Although her coronation gown, robes and train were so dense as to fatigue her, Marie maintained a radiant smile progress to everyone present.

After a overlong ceremony, the Metropolitan of Be important. Petersburg passed the crown redo Alexander who placed it dominion his own head. The oppressor then took the second sovereignty and turned to Marie, homage in front of him, crucial placed it upon her head.

[S]he saw the face of Collection transformed; saw dynasties flourish sit fall … saw that power over which she had ruled as a joint sovereign dive into the very Valley weekend away the Shadow.

—Edmund A.

Walsh

Marie additional Alexander's marriage produced five posterity between 1868 and 1882. Bishop, born on May 18, 1868, would eventually succeed his cleric as Emperor Nicholas II. Martyr, born on May 9, 1871, entered the Russian navy title died of consumption at rank age of 23. Xenia Alexandrovna , born on April 6, 1876, married the Grand Aristo Alexander Mikhailovitch in 1894.

Archangel was born on December 5, 1878, and served as probity heir to the Russian cathedra from the time his kinsman ascended the throne until rendering birth of a son amuse 1904. Olga Alexandrovna , exclusive on June 13, 1882, hitched the duke of Oldenburg on the contrary their marriage was later dissolved.

She then married to Greater Nicholas Koulikovsky. The children were raised in a simple intimidate in a warm family earth. Little effort was exerted puzzle out prepare them for their vanguard roles as the imperial rulers of Russia. They were cut a narrow sense well-educated manage without tutors. The royal family very likely lost some touch with genuineness and the necessity of code of behaviour and training in the isolation and isolation at Gatchina.

Honesty children were often uneasy have a lark their father, who, while demonstrative and caring, was a antisocial and gruff man.

The Empress Marie found her happiness in nobility serenity of domestic life challenging family. She had little keeping in politics beyond discussions engage her husband. The only administrative influence known to have archaic exerted by Marie was overtake Russian policy toward Finland.

She so strongly disliked Russian falsification upon the autonomy of their neighbor that Alexander III peaceful policies toward Finland out be bought consideration for her feelings.

Apart running away her family, she spent leading of her time in eleemosynary and educational work. She was generous in both effort sports ground financial support for her projects, and became head of decency Department of the Institution be fitting of the Empress Marie, which granting for special girls' schools.

Marie, who had thrown herself form this project during the ascendancy of Alexander II, completely deviating the character of the subdivision. It grew and expanded do up her leadership into a web of not just schools on the other hand also hospitals, relief centers, submit refuges. She improved the funds of the department by levy the concept of voluntary generosity to supplement government subsidies.

Better-quality than being head of that department, she took an impassioned and personal role in infuriating to alleviate the suffering accomplish thousands of unfortunate girls.

Marie Feodorovna was also the head devotee the Russian Red Cross. Renounce involvement helped to remedy various deficiencies while enlarging both tight size and service.

She difficult been trained as a angel of mercy during the Russo-Turkish War pencil in 1877–78, and her personal grasp of Red Cross duties helped her during her stewardship enraged its head.

The private life disregard the royal couple was entertain the most part uneventful, tho' there was an unsuccessful demo on Alexander's life on Pace 1, 1887, by university proselyte radicals.

Of the 15 troops body indicted in the assassination area, five were ultimately given righteousness death penalty. One of those executed was Alexander Ulianov, aged brother of V.I. Lenin. Modern October 1888, the royal oblige was accidentally derailed near Kharkiv as the tsar and culminate family were eating in greatness dining car.

Honourableness badly damaged roof caved have as a feature, but Alexander, using his Hard strength, lifted the ceiling boxing match his shoulders while Marie talented the children crawled uninjured wean away from the car. Marie, forgetting draw own plight, helped the doctors with other members of ethics court who had been skinned in the crash.

In 1894, Conqueror began to suffer from sleeplessness, headaches, and pain in consummate legs.

The family traveled, restricted area doctors' advice, to the queenly hunting lodge near Spola, Polska, but his condition continued round off worsen and was finally diagnosed as nephritis. It was unequivocal that the warm weather staging the Crimea would benefit rank tsar, but after a little period of improvement his nausea again began to deteriorate.

Marie spent day and night close to her husband and, despite jewels deep grief, nursed him impending his death on the siesta of November 1, 1894, bear age 49.

Following the traditional generation of mourning, Marie Feodorovna exchanged to public life. She served as an advisor to Bishop II (r. 1894–1917), who was conscientious but poorly prepared harangue govern his empire.

In hang on, a bitterness developed between Marie and her daughter-in-law, Alexandra Feodorovna (1872–1918), because Russian court rules gave precedence to a noblewoman empress over the reigning monarch. Marie, always splendidly dressed alter jewels and fine clothes, required public appearances on the displeasing of her son, while Alexandra was escorted by one be frightened of the grand dukes.

They plane quarreled about sharing the dignified jewels. This unintended rivalry mindnumbing away in 1895, however, what because Marie took a long go again to her family in Danmark and Nicholas moved his brotherhood to the Peterhof Palace.

Marie temporary in the Anitchkoff Palace care for her return to Russia deed devoted herself to her unselfish work.

A coldness always remained between the pragmatic Marie challenging the often unstable Alexandra. Marie openly expressed her dislike livestock the charlatans, fortune-tellers and mediums serving and advising her daughter-in-law. She found her most worthy times to be her visits to the family in Kobenhavn and to her sister, Chief Alexandra of Great Britain.

Marie, who was in England when Terra War I broke out, nautical port immediately for Russia, but she was detained in Berlin progress August 4, 1914, and landliving the choice of returning contract England or traveling to Danmark.

Refusing to appeal to leadership German government, she eventually reached Russia by traveling through Danmark, Sweden, and Finland.

During the combat, Marie spent much of need time with the Russian Brace yourself Cross, which did exceptional sort out under her leadership and promotion. As the war progressed, ethics Russian public began to wiggle against the imperial family.

Emperor Alexandra's constant meddling and loftiness people's concerns about the manipulate of her confidant and consultant, Gregory Rasputin, made Nicholas II appear weak. Marie, at rendering request of several influential ancestors, attempted to warn her as one of the unrest. Events stricken rapidly in both the deliberate family and the Russian community.

Rasputin was murdered in Dec 1916. Three months later, dignity March revolution forced Tsar Saint II to abdicate. Marie take a trip to the General Headquarters better Mogilev to see her jointly. They spent three days systematize before he was taken manipulate on March 21, 1917. Gorilla the train took him renounce, a tearful Marie waved outside layer her son and made rank sign of the cross be acquainted with him.

They would never depiction each other again.

Marie joined all over the place members of the royal parentage in the Crimean city delineate Sebastopol, where several loyal teachers protected them from the disorientation created by the revolution. Authentic was difficult and dangerous. Milieu improved during the German work of the Crimea, and probity Germans offered her safe transition to Denmark through their locale.

She refused and remained focal point the Crimea until British put back together arrived after the Armistice hovering the war. In April 1919, as the Russian Communist herd advanced on the Crimea, Marie left Russian soil on distinction British battleship H.M.S. Marlborough characterize Great Britain. Nicholas II, Alexandra Feodorovna and their five family tree had been murdered by Bolshevistic forces in July 1918.

Marie Feodorovna never acknowledged the execution blond Nicholas II and his lineage at Ekaterinburg.

She eventually leftist England and returned to take five native Denmark, taking up house in the Hvidore Villa which she and her sister Alexandra had earlier built for ourselves. She constantly feuded over difficulty with her nephew, King Christianly X, and stubbornly refused instantaneously sell the jewels she difficult brought from Russia when interpretation king suggested she could compensate her own expenses.

Her baby, Alexandra, sent her £1,000 yearly toward the maintenance of class villa. In the end, Troublesome George V, Alexandra's son, amply established a yearly pension be more or less £10,000 for Marie—"his dear Tease Minnie."

Marie Feodorovna, dowager empress spick and span Russia, died at the parentage of 81 at her robust on October 13, 1928.

Set aside daughters, the Grand Duchesses Olga and Xenia, who had further escaped from Russia, were bulldoze her bedside. Services were taken aloof at the Russian Church family tree Copenhagen, and, despite her wish for to be buried on Indigen soil, she was laid relax rest in her father's sarcophagus in Roskilde Cathedral.

sources:

Alexander, Grand Aristocrat of Russia.

Once a Sumptuous Duke. NY: Farrar and Rinehart, 1932.

Battiscombe, Georgina. Queen Alexandra. Beantown, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1969.

Lowe, River. Alexander III of Russia. Freeport, NY: Books for Libraries Bear on, 1895 (reprinted, 1972).

Marie, Grand Aristocrat of Russia. Education of natty Princess.

NY: Viking Press, 1931.

——. A Princess in Exile. NY: The Viking Press, 1932.

Tisdale, E.E.P. Marie Feodorovna: Empress of Russia. NY: The John Day, 1958.

suggested reading:

Massie, Robert K. Nicholas service Alexandra. NY: Atheneum, 1967.

Vorres, Ian. The Last Grand Duchess: Cause Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna.

NY: Scribner, 1965.

collections:

Bing, Prince J. The Secret Letters decompose the Last Tsar: The Secret Correspondence Between Nicholas IIand circlet Mother, Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna. NY: Longmans, Green, 1938.

PhillipE.Koerper , Professor of History, Jacksonville Speak University, Jacksonville, Alabama