Elizabeth (daughter of Ernie)

I think it is more we interpret is more we can get as fact. History is actually an interpretation of what happened. We people actually saw, written down may not actually be fact.

The Grand Duke was the Reigning ruler of the Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, until it was abolished after WWI.
Only his wife or widowed mother held the rank of Grand Duchess. Wife - Grand Duchess. Mother - Dowager Grand Duchess.

The Grand Duke's oldest son and Heir (only males can inherit directly, very similar to the Pauline Laws in Russia)'s wife was titled “Hereditary Grand Duchess" like a Crown Princess will held.

Elisabeth was only a daughter of a Grand Duke, so she was in-titled Princess. Even though she was an only child at her death, she was not her father's heir.

Unless AND A BIG WHAT IF, she lived, only child, and married the next inline heir to the Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt were the Princes of Hesse-Cassel, a junior branch of the Hesse Family..anyways if Elisabeth married the eldest boy and heir to both branches, THEN she would have been a Grand Duchess.

A bit late, Mandie, but thanks for the explanation.

I wonder if Serge mentioned her in his diaries. They are published in Russian.

[Lucien Victor Guirand De Scevola]

Hello Thomas, I'm trying to investigate life and work of Lucien Victor Guirand De Scevola (1871-1950), which is not easy, because information is very scarce. Nevertheless, I've managed to collect details. Every bit helps! Your entry of 29th July 2008 makes me curious. Would you be willing to share the information you have on the German/Russian connections of Guirand? I've roamed the internet, but couldn't find any information on this subject, nore any photographs of paintings he made of/for the families you've mentioned. Many thanks in advance! Kind regards, Rik Wassenaar, The Netherlands 

Hey Rick,
my research was no success either... the only thing I know is that he did several portraits of Princess Elisabeth and her parents in 1901. I have seen some of the originals and a photograph of a portrait of Elisabeth with her mother.

Where are these located ? In Germany or Russia ?

Elisabeth Prinzessin von Hessen und bei Rhein

+ 16. 11. 1903 /2012

I visited her grave in Darmstadt. Very serene.