Author Topic: Maria Feodorovna after the war  (Read 66059 times)

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kmerov

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #30 on: February 24, 2010, 06:56:32 PM »
Marie Feodorovna with Christian X during a visit to an institution in the 1920-ies. MF was an active lady also during her exile.

Eric_Lowe

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #31 on: February 24, 2010, 07:06:14 PM »
They seemed happy togather. Maybe that was before Christian X saw the electric bill.  ;)

ashdean

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #32 on: February 25, 2010, 12:07:04 PM »


Yes, you are right. Waldemar was her favorite, and then his children. I don't think she had anything against Alexandrine (although MF though she ought to spend more time with her mother in-law). She didn't like Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV.


 
Why did MF not like Friedrich Franz? Its something Ive never heard of before..

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #33 on: February 25, 2010, 12:57:41 PM »
I have been following this thread with interest but cannot pretend to any particular knowledge.

However, I cannot see why it was 'imperative' to keep the jewellery out of Christian X's hands.

Perhaps the main reason for the relative lack of visits from Queen Alexandra to her siister was her own increasing ill-heaqlth.

Ann

Eric_Lowe

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #34 on: February 25, 2010, 02:17:23 PM »
The simple fact that Christian X did not get along with his bossy aunt who is now living under his roof.

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #35 on: February 25, 2010, 02:34:22 PM »
I think there is a difference between not getting on with someone and being out to swindle them!

As an inveterate turner-off of lights, I have a certain sympathy with Christian X. (Now I have the pretext of climate change and can enjoy a sense of moral superiority about it too!)

Ann

Eric_Lowe

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #36 on: February 25, 2010, 02:41:20 PM »
Yes. I think Marie lived too long in fabled luxury to deal with bills (I doubt she ever did after she became empress). However the way he dealt was her was bordering on tactless (as it may appear to George V,Queen Mary and of course Queen Alexandra) and a slant of humiliation (maybe she should start selling her jewels to pay for her upkeep). Queen Alexandrine was rumoured that she was so ashamed of her husband's behavior that she cried. With the Briitish Royal Family coming to Marie's rescue, she was determined that her jewels should be safe from him. That was what happened.

kmerov

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #37 on: February 25, 2010, 04:37:02 PM »

  Why did MF not like Friedrich Franz? Its something Ive never heard of before..

She found him to be stiff and tiresome, and a real " german fool". She felt that his wife, Alexandra of Hannover was cowed by him.

kmerov

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #38 on: February 25, 2010, 04:53:10 PM »
MF was not wealthy (in relative) in her exile and she was aware of that. During her niece, Princess Margrethes wedding in 1921 she wore pre-war dresses, writting to Queen Alexandra," I have nothing else, but that is of no matter."
Her money situation was always strained, but it did help that the British RF gave her an annuity from 1923.

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #39 on: February 26, 2010, 03:28:07 AM »
'maybe she should start selling her jewels to pay for her upkeep.'

Times had changed. I don't think the Danish royal family was particularly well off.

Most people when their normal sources of income are cut off have to tighten their belts, sell things and find jobs!

Ann

Eric_Lowe

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #40 on: February 26, 2010, 09:41:35 AM »
I understand. However it was hard to tell an aged Russian Dowager Empress that without hurting her feelings. I do gave credit to the British Royal Family to support their relative through financial difficulty. To George V, it must be something of a guilt offering, as had he not recinded his offer of aslyum to his cousin Nicky, the whole family might have survived.

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #41 on: February 26, 2010, 10:59:59 AM »
Of course, Christian X was not only maintaining Marie herself, but her followers too. Does anybody know how large an entourage she had while in Denmark?

One reason I admire Olga Alexandrovna is that she and her family largely provided for themselves while in exile (apart from the share-out of the proceeds of the jewellery and the sale of Hvidore).

Ann

Eric_Lowe

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #42 on: February 26, 2010, 06:18:17 PM »
Yes. Hard to teach an old woman to economize. What she need was comfort and respect and not hard truths. It was no win situation with Christian X. However he wasn't too much of a popular figure with Queen Alexandra either.

Indeed, Olga decided to go her own way, yet emotionally she was still tied to her mother. Xenia and Olga did not remain close after their mother died.

kmerov

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #43 on: February 26, 2010, 07:43:33 PM »
Of course, Christian X was not only maintaining Marie herself, but her followers too. Does anybody know how large an entourage she had while in Denmark?
Ann

I don't think that Christian X maintained Marie or her entourage, but I have read that he did give her som financial help.
Marie had a small Russian "court" at Hvidøre. I posted the members of her suite earlier in this thread, and then she had her famous loyal cossacks, and some Russian and Danish servants. Besides that she had contact with exiled Russians in Copenhagen, such as the Princely Ladischensky family.

I don't think that she spend lavishly on herself, but of course maintaining even a small court was expensive. Some of her money went to Russian refugees, and she also spend money on a lawsuit against the Bolsheviks when they confiscated the Russian Church in Copenhagen.

Eric_Lowe

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Re: Maria Feodorovna after the war
« Reply #44 on: February 26, 2010, 08:11:53 PM »
Thanks for the information. I also read Marie spent much money on helping the Russian exiles. She remain the "mother to her people" even in exile.