Empress Maria Alexandrovna,wife of Alexander II - discussion and pictures

Hi Thomas,
I wonder why there´s still no proper biography of Empress Maria Alexandrovna...
My all time favourite recollection-legend linking the two empresses is (surely you all know it) when Maria and Alexander were visiting Darmstadt and Alix and her brother and sisters were  presented to them. When the turn came for the young Alix the empress told her lady in waiting, Baroness Anna Pilar von Pilhau:
" Kiss her hand, that´s your Tsarina-to-be"

Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna (vs Empress, spouse of Alexander II)

Some information about Maria:
- born 8th August 1824 in Darmstadt as Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine
- daughter of Grand Duchess Wilhelmine of Hesse, née Princess of Baden and her lover Baron Auguste von Senarclens-Grancy
- her brother was Alexander of Hesse, the father of the Battenberg Princes
- married Alexander on April 16th 1841 (aged 16) in St. Petersburg
- the pair had 8 children (6 boys and 2 girls)
- died 8th June 1880 in St. Petersburg (Alexander remarried only one month later! The bride was his mistress, who already had 3 children by him)

Thank you! How cool, my real name is in fact Linnea.

Is it really confirmed that her father was Baron Auguste?

Does anyone have any photos/paintings to share?

Thank you! How cool, my real name is in fact Linnea.

Is it really confirmed that her father was Baron Auguste?

Does anyone have any photos/paintings to share?

Mine too! Are you Swedish?
Well, the fact that her father was a Baron made the parents of Alexander to dissaprove with the marriage at first. A beautiful portrait of Marie:

I also read that she was a great aunt of Tsarina Alexandra, can anyone confirm that?

Mine too! Are you Swedish?

Yep, I´m swedish.

I also read that she was a great aunt of Tsarina Alexandra, can anyone confirm that?

              Wilhelmine of Hesse, née of Baden
              |                                          |
Prince Karl of Hesse                   Princess Marie of Hesse
              |                                          | 
Grand Duke Louis of Hesse        Alexander III. of Russia
              |                                          |        
Princess Alix of Hesse                Nicholas II. of Russia

As you can see, Marie was the great aunt of Alix

i read it was a sort of love at first sight for alexander. and that he said he'd marry her or no-one else.  and then...

My understanding from Romanov Autumn, is that Alexander II liked to help women in "need". And by need I mean, women who seemed unhappy, in "need" of a rescue. Once he rescued Maria from her unhappy home, I believe after awhile he sought to "rescue" again. And well... along came Ekaterina.

Here is a quote from the chapter "The Tale of Two Women" - The wives of AII:

It was history repeating itself. In Darmstadt in 1839, Alexander has been captivated by a pretty fourteen-year-old who was obviosly unhappy and out of place. Now he felt the same awakening interest in another unhappy teenager.

As well, as the book notes, that Ekaterina looked much like the young Maria (to which I agree). Also, at this time, any physical relationship between AII and Maria was slim to none. Maybe more reason to find "love" again.

My understanding from Romanov Autumn, is that Alexander II liked to help women in "need". And by need I mean, women who seemed unhappy, in "need" of a rescue. Once he rescued Maria from her unhappy home, I believe after awhile he sought to "rescue" again. And well... along came Ekaterina.

Here is a quote from the chapter "The Tale of Two Women" - The wives of AII:
As well, as the book notes, that Ekaterina looked much like the young Maria (to which I agree). Also, at this time, any physical relationship between AII and Maria was slim to none. Maybe more reason to find "love" again.

True, that was one of the reason to find a new woman.  Also, he felt he was growing old and weak.  He sought a teenager to "revive" him and to give him young children to play with.  

I think in the Cameras of the Tsar, Zeepvat said when Alexander II met Marie, she was eating cherry and had to spit out the stones before she could talk to him!

Does anyone have any photos of Maria Aleksandrovna?? The Winterhalter portrait is certainly beautiful......

I think in the Cameras of the Tsar, Zeepvat said when Alexander II met Marie, she was eating cherry and had to spit out the stones before she could talk to him!

That's funny! I like that!  I really enjoy Zeepvat's book.

Does anyone have any photos of Maria Aleksandrovna?? The Winterhalter portrait is certainly beautiful......

I'm sure there are some around these boards somewhere. But here are some I have:

Pic 1
and
Pic 2

Marie always has her fingers on her chin or is working on crafts in her photographs!  

Marie always has her fingers on her chin or is working on crafts in her photographs!  

In most of her photos I'd say but not always  



Here with her spouse, daughter and youngest sons