Olga's official suitors, marriage prospects, and proposals

[blessOTMA]

Alexander seems the ticket..the trouble  was a marriage with  Serbia at that point might seem a provocation to  Germany....Russia and Germany were looking for a fight over the Balkans for sometime before WW1.  Alexander and Olga might have suited each other, but I don't know there would  be much good in such a marriage for Russia and it's telling they went to Romania looking for a marriage and alliance . I think Serbia was already enough in Russia's  sphere of influence and didn't require a marriage alliance as well... The difference the four years of the war made in European power structures  is amazing...it's like speaking of  two totally different planets 

[Kalafrana]

blessOTMA

I agree, the political aspects for a marriage with Alexander were awkward. Also, the Serbian dynasty wasn't that secure on the throne, having overthrown the Obrenovichi has recently as 1903. However, personal liking might have done the trick. After all, marriage to Alexandra brought no political benefit to Russia.

Incidentally, it seems quite possible that Olga did meet Boris of Bulgaria, though long before either were old enough to be thinking of marriage. According to Boris's wikipedia entry, Nicholas II was his godfather at his Orthodox baptism in 1896 (was he present or was it by proxy?) and when Ferdinand went to St Petersburg in 1898, he took Boris with him. Boris, born in January 1894, was then going on five and Olga around the time of her third birthday. Arguments over whose turn it was for the rocking horse, perhaps?

Ann

[matushka]

Olga's diary for 1914 contains an interesting notation about Alexandra of Serbia. 6 october: "... Ioann, Gavriil and Kostia and Elena had lunch. They spoke a lot of interesting things. She is a little part (in russian "kusochek") of Alexander and I love her."

[Eric_Lowe]

Maybe Maria or Anastasia for Boris...

[Condecontessa]

What about the Thyra of CUmberland's son George?

[blessOTMA]

blessOTMA

I agree, the political aspects for a marriage with Alexander were awkward. Also, the Serbian dynasty wasn't that secure on the throne, having overthrown the Obrenovichi has recently as 1903. However, personal liking might have done the trick. After all, marriage to Alexandra brought no political benefit to Russia.

Well Ann marriage to Alexandra  could  have been seen as really a marriage with England  instead of simply Hesse and on Rhine, as AF was  reportedly Queen Victoria's favorite granddaughter. Plus Nicholas insisted on Alexandra and for years . If Olga did likewise with Alexander, perhaps it would have happened. But I think Russian officials, on thier own,  would not be looking that way for the Tsar's first born ...seems to me some wanted less of a connection to the powder keg called Serbia, not a closer one

Incidentally, it seems quite possible that Olga did meet Boris of Bulgaria, though long before either were old enough to be thinking of marriage. According to Boris's wikipedia entry, Nicholas II was his godfather at his Orthodox baptism in 1896 (was he present or was it by proxy?) and when Ferdinand went to St Petersburg in 1898, he took Boris with him. Boris, born in January 1894, was then going on five and Olga around the time of her third birthday. Arguments over whose turn it was for the rocking horse, perhaps?

Ann

lol! I can certainly see 3 year old Olga pitching into that one!

[blessOTMA]

Olga's diary for 1914 contains an interesting notation about Alexandra of Serbia. 6 october: "... Ioann, Gavriil and Kostia and Elena had lunch. They spoke a lot of interesting things. She is a little part (in russian "kusochek") of Alexander and I love her."

This is a very interesting! Thank you for pointing this out.

[Kalafrana]

'What about the Thyra of CUmberland's son George?'

He was killed in a road accident while on the way to the funeral of Frederik VIII of Denmark in 1912. It was as a result of this that his younger brother Ernst August met Victoria Louise of Prussia and fell in love.

Ann

[Eric_Lowe]

I think Tatiana would have made a royal marriage had she the chance. She seemed more level headed than Olga.

[LisaDavidson]

I think that Olga was very level headed. She was passionate, a Christian, and very devoted to her family. Had she been able to marry, I think she would have been a terrific wife and mother.

The political marriage for Nicholas would have been Helene d'Orleans but we know that did not happen. I don't think that Nicky and Alix saw their daughters' marriages as chances to advance the dynasty. So, if Alexander and Olga had wished to marry, I am certain they would have consented.

[Eric_Lowe]

Well...Olga lost her heart to a guard and that is not very level headed for a daughter of the Tsar. Olga had more heart than head, while Tatiana was much more level headed and knew that it would be a royal marriage that is expected of her and her sisters. In fact, It was a long while (plus being in a war) that their Aunt Olga Alexandrovna was allowed to marry her commoner husband (and she married once for rank & duty).

[blessOTMA]

If Tsarism had survived WW1, I believe Olga would have made a royal marriage....or at least one acceptable in that context. There was a practical side to this dreamer....just as Tatiania had a " whimsical "  bent according to some. Their natures were not set in stone. They could surprise those around them.  Olga was very aware of her duty to her county and her parents and would, I believe, have  made a marriage they found suitable. And it's to be remembered they were sticklers for  marriages deemed correct ...they had very decided opinions on that.

But Tsarism did not survive and so I don't think one can say what would have happened, besides  to say  Olga Nicholaievna would have married: she wanted that.  Olga  told her fellow nurse, Valentina Ivanovna Chebotaryova, that  her big dream was to marry  ,live always in a village and with no formality...well by that time the war was  already changing Olga's  world  and the world at large. I believe in the spring of 1917, Olga  had  hopes of a wider field of choice, that just a short time  before seemed impossible.....Her parents allowing Olga Alexandrovna to finally marry the commoner  she had loved for years , was a bit of an earth quake...even before the Revolution . But sadly Olga Nicholaievna's hopes, whatever they were, were not to be realized.

I do not think Nicholas and Alix saw their daughters as  royal chips to bargain with...but they were not adverse  to seeing if  something could be made of an opportunity. All I know is they took Olga to Romania...and it wasn't Olga's idea.  However if Olga had insisted on someone suitable, I believe her parents would have agreed...but it seems in 1914 she was not ready to do so...and afterwards the war  and captivity made marriage to anyone impossible. 

[Kalafrana]

Nicholas and Alexandra had four daughters. Realistically, given the time they lived in, I think they would have liked royalm arriages for all four, but, given that the supply of suitable princes was limited, might have been content with royal marriages for Olga and Tatiana and lesser marriages - perhaps to Russian Princes of the Imperial Blood for Marie and Anastasia.

Realistically, I think they would have been unhappy about Olga marrying an 'ordinary' Russian aristocrat.

Ann

[Eric_Lowe]

But what do you expect when Alicky had the girls so sheltered ? Their cousin Irina had a bigger field and did more socialing than her cousin Olga did. Unlike the Fredensborg days in Denmark or trips to see grandmama queen in England a generation ago. There were few chances for the girls to meet suitable partners. Missy was very correct that the girls (OTMA) were nice and unspoilt but very isolated and naive.

[blessOTMA]

Ann, I quite agree with your assessment of N and A's expectations for the girls if their world had continued...Eric....when it came to young men, suitable and unsuitable,  these girls had sharp eyes and wits....Olga and Marie were particularly aware of who was about...I think a large part of the tragedy,  and for us the mystery, of what would have happened , is  that in 1914 of course Marie was too young and Olga was not  yet ready to settle down to a life outside her immediate family ....and after 1914  marriage to anyone became impossible due to the war and captivity ...if they were a little older, had more time, of course  more would be known to us today. In some ways OTMA was  isolated and sheltered...but imo  in others  ways they were experienced royals and palace veterans.  When they were ready to marry, I believe they would have found someone acceptable to themselves and their parents...there just wasn't enough time for them to do so , either as royals or former royals .