The three daughters of Tsar Nikolai I.

[Dru]

It was mentioned in another thread that Olga Nikolaevna was chief of the Elizavetgradsky Hussar regiment.  Does anyone know the regiments of Maria and Alexandra?  Are there any portraits of them in uniform?  What exactly were their military duties?  Thanks in advance!

[Svetabel]

Alexandra and Maria didn't have their "own" regiments. Olga became the Chief of Elizavetgrad Hussars in 1845 year as Nicholas I wanted to please his daughter who was left alone at home - I mean without sisters, one married, one died in 1844.

[Dru]

Portraits of the daughters of Nicholas I (Olga and Alexandra) by Sokolov.

[TanushkaRose]

Personally I've always thought Olga and Maria were the prettiest of the sisters.

[Dru]

Personally I've always thought Olga and Maria were the prettiest of the sisters.

Really?  That's interesting, because when Alexandra was a child, her father referred to her as "sweet, but not really pretty."  However, from everything I've read, most people would come to disagree with him (and he did change his mind as she grew up), since she bore a striking resemblance to her maternal grandmother, Queen Louise of Prussia, who was a renowned beauty.

[Russian Art Lover]

Maybe fashions and tastes change? At the time, Maria was considered the most beautiful. Her sister Olga wrote: "She combined a strict classical face with lively facial expressions. Her forehead, nose and mouth were completely regular, her shoulders and chest were perfectly developed, and her waist was so slender that the band from her Greek coiffure could fit around it."

[Dru]

I found this picture of Nicholas I and Alexandra Feodorovna, with a girl I assume is one of their daughters.  I think it could be Olga, but I'm wondering what everyone else thinks.

[Dru]

Maria


Olga



Alexandra

These statues are at the base of the Nicholas I memorial statue in St. Petersburg.  They are allegorical representations:  Maria is force, Olga is wisdom, and Alexandra is faith.  Their mother, not pictured, is justice.

[gem_10]

I found a possible portrait of Alexandra Nikolaievna. This is actually a portrait on a porcelain dessert plate from the dowry service of Alexandra. It was dated in 1844. I'm guessing that since this plate was part of Alexandra's dowry, the portrait on it could be Alexandra. 

[Dru]

Gem,

I've seen the plate before, but not an up-close version of the portrait; there is a bit of resemblance, but I can't say for sure  

I don't know if you read German or not, but there is a great book called Die Mitgift Einer Zarentochter, and it's all about Alexandra's dowry.  It's full of fabulous pictures you won't see anywhere else.  

[Svetabel]

Alexandra and Maria didn't have their "own" regiments. Olga became the Chief of Elizavetgrad Hussars in 1845 year as Nicholas I wanted to please his daughter who was left alone at home - I mean without sisters, one married, one died in 1844.

Need to correct myself. Maria did have her regiment - 4th Novo-Troitzkiy Dragoon regiment.

[Dru]

Alexandra and Maria didn't have their "own" regiments. Olga became the Chief of Elizavetgrad Hussars in 1845 year as Nicholas I wanted to please his daughter who was left alone at home - I mean without sisters, one married, one died in 1844.

Need to correct myself. Maria did have her regiment - 4th Novo-Troitzkiy Dragoon regiment.

Really?  Thank you so much for sharing!  Have you ever seen an image of her in uniform (I've seen one of Olga)? 

[Svetabel]

Alexandra and Maria didn't have their "own" regiments. Olga became the Chief of Elizavetgrad Hussars in 1845 year as Nicholas I wanted to please his daughter who was left alone at home - I mean without sisters, one married, one died in 1844.

Need to correct myself. Maria did have her regiment - 4th Novo-Troitzkiy Dragoon regiment.

Really?  Thank you so much for sharing!  Have you ever seen an image of her in uniform (I've seen one of Olga)? 

No, never seen Maria N. in uniform. I've done a research recently on the Romanov women in uniform (posted in my LJ page) and Maria N. is in the list of those whose images in uniform had never been seen or published.

[Dru]

Hi Sveta,

I read on your LJ page (excellent job, by the way) that Maria Nikolaevna received her regiment in 1837; do you know if there is a reason why Nicholas I's other daughters were not given regiments at the same time?  

[Svetabel]

Hi Sveta,

I read on your LJ page (excellent job, by the way) that Maria Nikolaevna received her regiment in 1837; do you know if there is a reason why Nicholas I's other daughters were not given regiments at the same time?  

I think Nicholas I 'granted' the regiments to his daughters in the case of their marriage. Olga N. in 1846, Maria N. in 1837 but it's strange that Alexandra did not receive any regiment in 1843...