Princes of Viazemsky/Wiazemsky

[Tony de Gandarillas]

I know of the French actress,  Princess Anne Wiazemsky, who is descended from the Russian Rurikid family of Princes Vyazemsky-Counts Levashov.  Through her mother, Claire Mauriac,  she is the granddaughter of François Mauriac, member of L'Académie française. Between 1967 and 1979, Princess Anne Wiazemsky was married to Jean-Luc Godard, French-Swiss film director, screen writer and critic.  I would like to know more about this family, especially the origins of this title and any interesting members throughout the years.  Can anyone recommend to me any books or internet sites that might help me learn more.  I thank you in advance for your time.

[ashdean]

I know of the French actress,  Princess Anne Wiazemsky, who is descended from the Russian Rurikid family of Princes Vyazemsky-Counts Levashov.  Through her mother, Claire Mauriac,  she is the granddaughter of François Mauriac, member of L'Académie française. Between 1967 and 1979, Princess Anne Wiazemsky was married to Jean-Luc Godard, French-Swiss film director, screen writer and critic.  I would like to know more about this family, especially the origins of this title and any interesting members throughout the years.  Can anyone recommend to me any books or internet sites that might help me learn more.  I thank you in advance for your time.

Prince Wiazemsky from whom this lady in doubt descended left Russia in 1919 on one of the british warships accompanying the Dowager Empress,Amongst others on the ships were his sister Princess Ilarion Wassitchikoff and her husband and family.
His widowed mother was also a refugee as was the widows of his two older brothers Boris and Dimitri who had been  murdered by the pesants on his estate and mutineering troops. All 3 brothers had married in the space of a month in 1912 three first cousins the grand daughters of the very grand Count Ilarion V?orontsov Dashkov )died 1916) and his imperious wife Countess Lily (nee Shouvalova) the owners of Alupke the grandest house in the Crimea.
Princess Lydias daugher Princess Metternich wrote very interesting memoirs "Tatiana" which talks about the family estate of Levashov and her mothers imperious grandmother Princess Wiazemsky nee Countess Levashov the great heiress.

[Tony de Gandarillas]

Thank you very much, Ashdean.

I appreciate the information.

[Speedycat]

Is this the same family name that married the daughter of famous London shop-owner Harry Selfridge?


"Marriage annoucement The New York Times ~ Thursday 8th Aug 1918 "Rosalie Selfridge Weds Daughter of London Merchant marries Serge De Bolotoff, Aviator London Aug 7th Rosalie Dorethea eldest daughter of Harry Gordon Selfridge, American owner of one of Londons largest stores was married this afternoon to Serge De Bolotoff, eldest son of the Princess Wiazemsky, member of one of the oldest famllies of Russia"

[Forum Admin]

Serge de Bolotoff's mother was Princess Maria Viazemski (Vyazemsky) according to the records of Kingswood House. She was not on board the HMS Marlborough.  On Board was Prince VYASEMSKY. Admiral of the Imperial Yachts. with his wife Princess Margaret Vyasemsky.  They are likely cousins.

[Превед]

Serge de Bolotoff's mother was Princess Maria Viazemski (Vyazemsky) according to the records of Kingswood House.

Something suspicious with this family.... Some sources claim the de Bolotoffs being counts and calling them Viazemski de Bolotoff and his widowed mother keeping her paternal title even after marriage? BTW Vyazemskiy is not an uncommon name in Russia.

[Превед]

Bingo!

In Shopping, seduction and Mr Selfridge it is noted that the separated Madame de Bolotoff's title was not quite comme il faut: "She hadn't entirely made it up"! She claimed descent from the Rurikid Vyazemskiys through maternal lines and had allegedly obtained a permission from the Emperor in 1908 to use it. Among her friends and supporters were Admirals'ha Kolchak and Lady Tyrrell*, wife of the Foreign Ofice Under-Secretary, who swore she had seen the Emperor's decree granting her use of the title. (In reality perhaps use of the name? I can not imagine the Emperor granting such a request, when there were agnatic Princes Vyazemskiy around, like his Admiral of the Imperial Yachts.)

* Perhaps she recognized the issue too well: Her husband was allegedly the grandson of an Indian princess!

[Speedycat]

Thank you for the replies and all the interesting information!

[bednayaliza]

Alexandra Pavlovna Viazemski (born Shuvalov)

[Превед]

BTW Rosalie "Viazemski" de Bolotoff was not the only Selfridge daughter to marry into a dubiously titled family. Her sisters Violette and Beatrice married respectively the brothers "Vicomte" Jacques de Sibour and "Comte" Louis de Sibour. Although the de Sibour family was a genuine noble family, whose noblesse de robe dated from the 18th century, they were untitled nobility and probably just assumed the comital and vicecomital titles to show off that they were pre-Revolutionary nobility.