King George I & Queen Olga (nee Romanov) of Greece, Part II

[Alixz]

One would think that the Greeks would have had sympathy for Sophie as Kaiser Wilhelm II almost threw her out of the family for changing her religion to Greek Orthodox in order to marry Constantine and be at one with the Greek people.

Sophie, from what I have read, was not a German sympathizer any more than Marie of Roumania, or Alexandra of Russia.  But people, as usual have to put a "spin" on that which they don't understand.

Remember how happy the Greeks were that a Constantine and Sophia would be on the throne to bring about the "dream" of pushing out the Turks?  Where did that go?

[Eric_Lowe]

I don't think the Greek public knew how Sophie suffered for her country, she was more the suffer in silence type and did not openly complain like Missy or Ducky.

[Clemence]

Remember how happy the Greeks were that a Constantine and Sophia would be on the throne to bring about the "dream" of pushing out the Turks?  Where did that go?

well, when a country in at war for 10 years, first the 2 balkan wars, then the great war, together with a civil war and right after that another war in asia minor and a terrible loss of lives and properties there might just not be enough time for greek people to sympathise with poor Sophia's problems ... but people loved especially Alexandros, and he also used to say he wished to marry a greek (Aspasia) rather than a german cold blooded woman like his own mother. so maybe greeks were not so wrong about her image (not what she was ofcourse).

[Alixz]

What a horrible thing to say about his own mother!

Germans through all of the years have gotten such bad press for their lack of outward emotion.  That didn't mean that they didn't have emotions!

Some people prefer dignity in public, as I guess Sophie did, than crying and "gnashing of teeth" about their personal problems.  Sophie was not only the daughter of Princess Victoria (Empress Frederick) but also the granddaughter of Queen Victoria.  Neither one of those women would have let their "dirty laundry" show in public.

And it was not Sophie's fault that the Greeks had been constantly at war or going to war.  That responsibility fell directly on the men in the family not their consorts.

The election of a king who was born into another dynasty in another country has always seemed, to me, a kind of fickle thing to do.  The Greeks were not the only country to do it, but they were a country that then undermined their choice.  First with the assassination of George I (and I know that was not a country wide decision) but then in the constant acceptance and rejection of his heirs.

It seems to me that poor Sophie got caught in the crossfire.

[Eric_Lowe]

Where did you get that quote that King Alexandros calling Queen Sophie "A coldblooded German woman" ? I would really want to know because as faras I can recall he was very devoted to his family.

Sophie was a bit like Alicky minus the political ambition. The thing is that Sophie was much more retiring than even her mother Vicky or Queen Olga. That she should be branded as a political intriguer is really one of the sick ironies of history.

[Clemence]

the way I see it, Alexandros was saying that just because his parents were so against his relationship with Aspasia and he wanted to point out that even if his family were all against them, greek people would be thrilled to have a greek girl in the royal family at last, and they would love her for being one of them, and she would not behave anything like his mother. And he was right. But he talked of how greek people thought his mother was, not of what he thought of her! And I read about this in many books in greek, but since I'm not at home right now, I'll come back to you in a day or two and will give you the exact words.

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks. It would be helpful since it was so out of character with Alexandros. He was waving to his parents at the pier the last time and say "Come back soon" while his parents were holding back tears towards the seperation. It broke Queen Sophie's heart to leave her son behind...

[Svetabel]

Queen Olga in 1880

[Eric_Lowe]

Newspaper print image based on a photo I guess. Is this from Russian Newspapers ?

[Carolath Habsburg]

in fact is based in this  well known photoshoot

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes ! Thanks ! I think most realistic looking prints came from actual photos.

[Svetabel]

Queen Olga

[Carolath Habsburg]

Young George


 

[Svetabel]

Queen Olga and her youngest boys, Andrea and Christo

[Svetabel]

Queen Olga

The same 1892 year, gathering in Fredensborg. Queen Olga with her mother, children Marie and Christopher, nieces Xenia, Victoria, Maud and Lovisa.