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

 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.  

He could also have played with his grandchildren or go in the kindergarten!

(fingers on the chin as always )

He could also have played with his grandchildren or go in the kindergarten!

He sought a woman who would love him. And love as if he is not THE EMPEROR but just an ordinary man.

Maria Alexandrovna was a nice and intelligent woman, devoted to her family and duties, undoubtedly a great woman...but she was more a saint and heavenly creature  than an ordinary flesh-and-blood woman (like Ekaterina Dolgorukaya with her unceremoniousness and simple ways).

.....but she was more a saint and heavenly creature  than an ordinary flesh-and-blood woman (like Ekaterina Dolgorukaya with her unceremoniousness and simple ways)

That sounds to me exactly the sort of thing Alexander II was saying to himself when he broke his marriage vows and dumped her in favour of a younger woman.  There is no indication Maria Alexandrovna was unduly pretentious, just that she was older and presumably less 'fresh'.  She might have been saintly but only in putting up with Alexander's selfish behaviour.  

Such wonderful pictures! She has such a cold gaze - tired, worn... And she looks so petite, especially in the photographs...

She does look so petite in those photo's. She also was trying to help in the dispute about  G.D. Marie marrying the Duke of Edinburugh. She actually in a way reminds me of Princess Alice.

She does look so petite in those photo's. She also was trying to help in the dispute about  G.D. Marie marrying the Duke of Edinburugh. She actually in a way reminds me of Princess Alice.

In what way? Why Princess Alice?

I do not think that she did not love her husband.  The affair he had on the side with Dolgorukaya hurt her very much and his children were all very upset at him.  I personally think as life goes, in so many marriages especially today, when husbands reach a "certain" age, many (not all) get this wanderlust...  How the heck can Maria Alexandrovna compete with a young girl, bearing in mind the health problems she had.  I personally think her husband is also to blame for her failing health in a psychosomatic sort of way.  She is one of my favourite members of the Imperial Family, on whose sarcophagus I have twice went and laid peonies.  This is a woman of great depth, wisdom and character.

Poor Marie! I feel so sorry for her.

If i ever die and go to heaven, first thing i'll do is give Marie a hug. Well if i go the other place, i'll make that a pit stop!

Poor Marie! I feel so sorry for her.

If i ever die and go to heaven, first thing i'll do is give Marie a hug. Well if i go the other place, i'll make that a pit stop!

LOL--I'll go to the other place straight away, so there won't be any chance of ME hugging her...I really do admire her.

Alexander II. with his Children: Maria,Sergej, Pavel, Alexander, Alexej and Nikolaj (left to write), 1861

Maria Alexandrovna as an ill woman