Grand Duchess Maria Nikolayevna, and her descendants

Here's coat of arms of the Leuchtenbergs:

BTW - does anybody know what the second quarter (third quarter in the original grant), a sword on a green field with golden stars, represents? Some allusion to Eugène de Beauharnais' military career?
(The blue fess is the ancient arms of the Landgraviate of Leuchtenberg and the black fess with the ducks are the Beauharnais arms.)

Hm, the mysterious quarter is in the livery colours of the Napoleonic Empire. Does anybody know what the Leuchtenbergs' livery colours were? The black and white of Beauharnais or the blue and white of Leuchtenberg?

A rare photo of Duke Eugeniy of Leuchtenberg and his 2nd wife, famous Zenaida Skobeleva (lover of GD Alexei A.)

Re. Reply 162: photo Duke Konstantine and Daria

Would any one have a photo of Duke Konstantine von Leuchtenberg in later life (Ottawa, Ont. Canada). I am from Ottawa and believe my Mother knew him and were close when I was a child. There was no Russian church in Ottawa, but a Greek Orthodox Church. Every service we went to as a child, there was an elderly Russian gentleman, elegant, tall with white hair and a walking stick. He was striking and always impeccable. At the end of every service this gentleman would come to us and greet my Mother, kiss her hand and the two of them would go off to the side and chat for some time. He would then give me a wink and pat my head before setting off. I would very much like to ask if someone has a photo of him from the late 1960's or 1970's. I cannot remember the name of the gentleman, but would know his face in a heartbeat!  There were not very many Russian emigrés in Ottawa - very few from the nobility. I am trying to see if this is the gentleman I remember from my childhood.

With many thanks!
C

A miniature of the Grand Duchess I had never seen before:

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/eGallery/object.asp?collector=12787&display=acquired&pagesize=20&object=420715&row=908

This is what Evgeniy Pchelov says about Daria Leuchtenberg

In 1893, at the age of 23, she married prince Lev Kochubey, a rich heir. But , in all probability, carefree life didn`t suit her so she went to paris where ahe studied at the Sorbonne University. She divorced her husband and remarried in 1912. According to Daria, her second husband, baron von Grevenits, a captain of the ship, saw her and became totally charmed with  when he was looking in his binoculars. They both were sailing in the Baltic sea, and Daria`s ship was sailing in the opposite direction. When she saw her, he stopped the ship, and Daria found herself on board of the baron`s ship. Nicholas was going to punish baron von Grevenits, but on learning who captured his heart he didin`t punish him and said that meeting Daria was punishment in itself.  Members of the Imperial court had already got used to her strange ways.   

Maria Nikolaevna with her eldest children, Maria and Nicholas, by Hau.

Maria Nikolaevna with her father.

Sketch of Maria by Neff.

Gdss Maria Nicholaevna by Vladimir Ivanovich Hau

Emperor Nicholas I was obviously delighted by the fact that his first born was a boy, the future Alexander II. But glad as he was, he must have had a soft spot for his younger child  MAria Nikolaevna because fathers (perhaps) tend to adore their girls.

A letter of Maria Feodorovna to her daughter, Anna, the Dutch Crown Princess

Monday, 15.03, 1820

The little girl (i.e. MAria) is getting much prettier and will be as pretty as her mother. She is very-and already cherishes her father who gives her a lot of attention and who is muc amused by her. He truly loves her.


Tuesday evening, 23.03.1820

Anna was pregnant


Are you showing yet, dear child and do you still expect to have a baby girl?...That`s what I`m hoping for as you already have the great joy of having 2 sons. Fathers welcome daughters. Nick is crazy over his little girl whio in fact is a little angel, pretty  as picture, very gay and very lively.

GDss by Franz Lenbach

This is how GD Olga Nikolaevna, the queen of Wuerttemberg,remembered her sister Maria Nikolaevna and her husband and her marriage

Maria nad Max of Leuchtenberg met for the 2nd time during the Imperial family`s stay in Bavaria. Mary remembered him well when they met in Russia. She also took to him immediately. Max was a son of Napoleon`s stepson that`s why Bavarian court looked down on him and never let him forget his humble origins e.g. when members of the court were served food on golden dishes Max`s food was served on silver plates. Max`s mother was distressed by such attitude to her son but Max ignored people`s behavior and just laughed.

Nicholas I liked Max and hoped that Max would follow Maria to Russia. When Nicholas I gave his consent to Max and Maria`s marriage the former was absolutely delighted. Max agreed to join the Russian army and agreed that their children would be orthodox. Max`s mother was distressed that her grandchildren would be orthodox.

Mary was delighted and head over heels in love with Max. The Imperial family was happy to have such a nice son-in-law but many people including aristocracy and some members of the Imperial family didin`t like the fact that a member of Napoleon`s family would marry the tzar`s daughter. Even Alexander, the future Alexander II, had some misgivings. 

   

Olga sympathized with MAx. He was so sincere, he gave his heart to Russia but people didn`t welcome him.

Maria gave birth to 2 daughters in the first years of marriage. But one of the daughters, Alexandra, called Adini, died. Both girls fell ill just at the time when Maria gave birth to son, Nikolay. The condition of Adini deteriorated and the members of the Imperial family were reluctant to inform Maria of her daughter`s condition as she was just rcovering from the birth. On the night of Nikolay`s birth Adini died. Doctors allowed her family to inform maria only 12 days after birth. Max entered her room holding Marusya in his hands. MAria asked where Adini was but immediately guessed that the child died.

Never ever did she pronounce her child`s name!

maria nikolaevna in 1841

Zenaida Skobeleva