Grand Duke Dmitriy Pavlovitch, his wife Audrey Emery, and descendants

[ashanti01]

Does anyone know if he actually had true romantic feelings for any of OTMA girls?

Also, the thing with Irina, does anyone know more about that subject?

[LisaDavidson]

Irina was one of the most beautiful women of her age, and the fact that she was the Tsar's only niece only made her more desirable. It's hard to say what exactly her interests were beyond the comfortable life that Felix was able to provide her for such a short time.

It is clear, however, that she preferred Felix to Dmitri so it is most likely that this attachment was casual in nature and that she was not very interested in DP.

None of OTMA were able to form mature romantic attachments due to the war, Revolution, and how the girls were raised. I've always thought had things been different that DP would have made Anastasia a wonderful husband.

[Hellfire]

One question that is alwyas on my mind is what exactly were the girls thoughts on DP and Felix's friendship?  and what did tey think of Irina's chose of husband in Felix?   Dimitri was obviously the ladies man but were there other members of the family that liked Dimitri?  

much is known about Dimitri from the outside but what about the inside?  are there no diaries or letters that look inside his thoughts and what he say in the situation hapening in Russia and the IF?

[Annie]

One question that is alwyas on my mind is what exactly were the girls thoughts on DP and Felix's friendship?  and what did tey think of Irina's chose of husband in Felix?   Dimitri was obviously the ladies man but were there other members of the family that liked Dimitri?  

much is known about Dimitri from the outside but what about the inside?  are there no diaries or letters that look inside his thoughts and what he say in the situation hapening in Russia and the IF?

Yes the IF loved Dmitri like a son, and I heard at one time hoped for marriage between him and Olga. Felix reported in his memoirs that Dmitri was jealous that Irina chose to marry him instead and it hurt their friendship for awhile. But what really ruined it was Felix bragging about killing Rasputin when Dmitri  thought they should all remain silent on it. Dmitri never left his acount of the Rasputin murder, he didn't want to. I don't think he left a diary either.

[Janet_W.]

Lisa, I'm curious as to why you think Anastasia would have been a good match for Dmitri?!

[olga]

What was Dmitri Pavlovich's relationship like with Paul Ilyinsky?

[Jane]

Off-topic I know, but Olga, your avatar has me laughing my head off.  Very clever (and naughty  )

Jane

[Annie]

What was Dmitri Pavlovich's relationship like with Paul Ilyinsky?

In Flight of the Romanovs, Paul was quoted as saying he was 10 when he and his mother left for America when his parents broke up. Dmitri patted him, gave him some toy soldiers and told him to be a good soldier. I don't think he ever saw him again. Paul was only 13 or 14 when Dmitri died and he had been sick with TB the last 2 or so. Also the war was going on and travel was hard. I don't think they had much of a relationship at all, but I bet they would have later if Dmitri had lived.

Who is that in your avatar and what is the joke?

[olga]

Thankyou Jane.  

It's Lenin.

[Belochka]

According to Countess Nostitz's memoir, The Countess of Iowa @ p 185:

Grand Duke Dimitri was involved in killing Rasputin "not to save Russia"  as he so loudly claims, but to revenge himself upon the Empress for having broken off his engagement to her eldest daughter Olga.  Alexandra having heard ... that her favorite in the family ... was leading the life of a young "blood", surrounded by decadent, idle sycophants, grew frightened and influenced her husband to withdraw his consent to the marriage. Dimitri never forgave, and forgetful of all her past kindness, took a horrible revenge.

I wonder about the veracity of these words ....  

[BobAtchison]

I think Felix, Dmitri and Purishkevitch may have had more than one reason for being involved.  Revenge for various personal slights or insults could be a reason.  Purishkevitch felt Alix had slighted him many times and did not appreciate his war work.  He hated her.

I also believe a larger part of the Romanov family was involved in the Rasputin murder plot - an effort to exile/murder Alix would have been next.

[Annie]

Also Zenaida and Ella had both been disowned by Alix because they spoke out against Rasputin, and Old Count Felix lost his job in Moscow for talking down Rasputin to Nicholas.

[Johnny]

II also believe a larger part of the Romanov family was involved in the Rasputin murder plot - an effort to exile/murder Alix would have been next.

I don't think that Felix told even half the story of Rasputin's murder in his book. I certainly agree with Radzinsky's explanation that Felix couldn't even shoot a mouse, and it would take an atletic Dimitri to shoot and kill him. Purishkevich in his book claims to have killed Rasputin. But he lies in order to save the Royal youth's name and honor. He also lies about the identity of the woman (Irina) that was the carrot to woe Rasputin to Felix's palace. He calls her Countess X.
So even after reading Felix's book we don't really know what happened that night. I actually wonder why Dimitri was so upset with Felix, since Felix's tale is not really accurate. Felix was nice enough to keep many names out of his book.
Alexandra liked Dimitri because he was cute, funny and fun to be with. So initially she approved of him as a match for Olga. However, Dimitri had a very loose and promiscuous lifestyle. He practically lived a double-life. Many believed that his friendship with Felix, at least in the beginning, was not all that platonic. It was this rumor that reached Alexandra and spoiled every thing. After that Alexandra simply wouldn't want Dmitri near any of her girls. I don't think Dmitri would have made a good husband to any of Alix's daughters, since they were all very naive, decent and religious. Everything that Dimitri wasn't. He would have been bored to death with them, and probably found a mistress right away.
By the way, Dimitri was not the only one fascinated by Michael's widow. Apparently she was one of the most fascinating, elegant and intelligent women around.

[Lanie]

Well, Alix certainly let Dmitri stay around them since there are photos of Dmitri with the girls and Alix in the Imperial Train in 1916 during a visit Alix and OTMA took to General HQ.

The only place I've heard of the rumor of Olga and Dmitri being engaged was from Radzinsky, thus I take it with a grain of salt.

[Belochka]

I think Felix, Dmitri and Purishkevitch may have had more than one reason for being involved.  Revenge for various personal slights or insults could be a reason.  Purishkevitch felt Alix had slighted him many times and did not appreciate his war work.  He hated her.

I also believe a larger part of the Romanov family was involved in the Rasputin murder plot.

Somewhere in my books there are statements which claim exactly this (but where?). Many wanted a piece of Rasputin, including some of the Ministers of the Duma.