Maria Feodorovna after the war

[ElizavetaRose]

I've never quite understood what really became of the Dowager Empress after the murder of her family members. I know that she left Russia on a British ship,but where did she go or what did she do from there?

[Margot]

ElizavetaRose Welcome!

This is a tricky one as their is heaps of information about Maria F's life in exile scattered about!

She basically ended up living permanently in Denmark, first as a guest of her nephew Christian X and then I believe she more or less moved permanently to Hvidore the house she and Queen Alexandra had bought together before the War! I believe Christian X found his aunt rather set in her ways and apparently there were tensions when she stayed in Copenhagen! Whether this is true I don't really know as I am not an expert of Maria F.

She and Olga A. and Olga's husband Nikolai and their sons all seem to have lived together first at the Amalienborg and then later permanently at Hvidore!

Sorry I can not be of more use! Maybe others will prove more useful!

[Eric_Lowe]

After leaving Russia on the Marlbrough. It was thought that she would spent time with her eldest sister Dowager Queen Alexandra in England. However after a while the sisters realised that they were not as compatable as they believe. Queen Alexandra was quite deaf and disoriented, much to the annoyance to the Dowager Russian Empress. It was then that it was decided that she should move back to Denmark. King George V, Queen Mary and Queen Alexandra all contributed to an income to Marie for life, and using the jewels she bought out in trust. The Dowager Empress thus return to Denmark , spending Summers in Hvidore and Winters in a wing of the Amaliaborg Palace. She remained active in the exiled circles and contributed to charities for the exile's benefit.

[ElizavetaRose]

Thank you both  .  I'm glad that she ended up somewhat happily in the end. God knows how sad it must have been for her after the murders of the IF.

[Eric_Lowe]

I think she was more or less settled in Denmark. The apearance of Anna Anderson did not create any notice for her (although her daughter Olga did investigate), although she did not approve or support Cyril's actions to proclaim himself Tsar. Her last years were spent with her daughters and their children who visited her. I read she was quite fond of her grandson George, the son of Grand Duke Michael (Misha).

[kmerov]

Yes, Maria Feodorovna lived in Denmark after her escape from Russia. She stayed for a few months in England, but her presence caused some trouble and she moved to Denmark. I don't think that the main problem was the sisters not getting along.
In Denmark her parents old home, Christian IX's mansion at Amalienborg Palace was her winter home. After Christian IX's death the mansion was put at the disposal of his daughters, so MF didn't really live there at the kindness of Christian X. During the summer she lived at Hvidøre. Knowing that she had two places to call home gave her much comfort.

At Hvidøre she lived very modest with a small loyal Russian retinue, consisting of Countess Mengden, Prince Dolgoruky and Prince Vyasemsky. I have also read that her Russian relative Princess Helena of Mecklenburg-Strelitz lived with her.

[Forum Admin]

Please remember her name is, most accurately, MARIE Feodorovna. She never signed her name Maria, and even Imperial publications done in English refer to her as Marie...

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. She also signed her named as "Minnie" ! 

[ashdean]

Yes, Maria Feodorovna lived in Denmark after her escape from Russia. She stayed for a few months in England, but her presence caused some trouble and she moved to Denmark. I don't think that the main problem was the sisters not getting along.
In Denmark her parents old home, Christian IX's mansion at Amalienborg Palace was her winter home. After Christian IX's death the mansion was put at the disposal of his daughters, so MF didn't really live there at the kindness of Christian X. During the summer she lived at Hvidøre. Knowing that she had two places to call home gave her much comfort.

At Hvidøre she lived very modest with a small loyal Russian retinue, consisting of Countess Mengden, Prince Dolgoruky and Prince Vyasemsky. I have also read that her Russian relative Princess Helena of Mecklenburg-Strelitz lived with her.

Princess Albert of Saxe Altenberg nee Duchess of Mecklenberg -Strelitz left Russia with the von Carlow family (widow and grown children of her late brothers morganatic marriage ) on another british warship from Odessa.She settled in Germany in what had been her late husbands family estate.

[ashdean]

After leaving Russia on the Marlbrough. It was thought that she would spent time with her eldest sister Dowager Queen Alexandra in England. However after a while the sisters realised that they were not as compatable as they believe. Queen Alexandra was quite deaf and disoriented, much to the annoyance to the Dowager Russian Empress. It was then that it was decided that she should move back to Denmark. King George V, Queen Mary and Queen Alexandra all contributed to an income to Marie for life, and using the jewels she bought out in trust. The Dowager Empress thus return to Denmark , spending Summers in Hvidore and Winters in a wing of the Amaliaborg Palace. She remained active in the exiled circles and contributed to charities for the exile's benefit.

The jewels were not used as any kind of trust/security as later records show...

[Eric_Lowe]

I think that was done to give the idea that Marie is not living in charity. she felt better that her jewels are paying for her lifestyle. Do remember her nephew Christian X always tried to ask his aunt to sell her jewels. George V's action caesed that tension.

[ashdean]

I think that was done to give the idea that Marie is not living in charity. she felt better that her jewels are paying for her lifestyle. Do remember her nephew Christian X always tried to ask his aunt to sell her jewels. George V's action caesed that tension.

Could you please state EXACTLY yr sources for which is a mere ASSUMPTION....Marie had no intention of selling or pawning her gems in any shape or form...indeed it has OFTEN been stated that at the end of her life the jewel box because of its contents preyed on her mind...because they provided the only legacy she could leave to secure her daughters future....indeed the realise of their share of Hvidore and its contents by Q Alexandras children proved they wanted no lien on anything belonging to their aunt wholely or partially!!

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed you answered the question already. After Marie's death, the content of the jewel box was taken to England where they were sold. Queen Mary bought quite a few and others were bought by others. If Empress Marie had not given the ok for the jewels to be held in trust by George V, they could not no authority to dispose the contents. It is as simple as that. Even Olga said she did not see the jewels before they were sold. As the benificary she should be consulted before hand. This proves that an agreement had been reached before hand with the British Royal Family, who had been paying the empress an income during her lifetime.

[rosieposie]

I saw on the doco about Olga A, that said that at times the relationship between Olga A and MF got a bit strained when they settled in Denmark because Olga A was still "looking" after Maria etc.   Tell me if that was true?

[Eric_Lowe]

Marie was a very pocessive mother. She had kept Olga near her and with intention of keeping her as a spinster daughter. The marriage with Peter of Oldenburg was 1. either Marie'sway of keeping her close by 2. Olga's way of having a marriage at all. Anyway it would not be surprising if Marie still required her daughter's help even after she was married. She was not close to Olga's second husband.