Princes Shakhovskoy

[Imyarek]

Hello

I have a request of this estemed group; I would like to find or get some information on:

Princess Eugenie M. Shakhovskaya

1. Any breif background available online. Like her maiden nane before marraige and why she was a princess? Date of birth and date of death?

2. Picture if any?

3. Any online information would be the best, but any help would be apperciated. So far I have been fruitless in my search save repeats of this information:

"Princess Eugenie M. Shakhovskaya was the first woman to become a military pilot when she flew reconnaissance missions for the Czar in 1914. She became a member of the secret police during the Russian Revolution and was later named chief executioner of Kiev.

Princess Eugenie M. Shakhovskaya was Russia's first woman military pilot. Served with the 1st Field Air Squadron. Unknown if she actually flew any combat missions, and she was ultimately charged with treason and attempting to flee to enemy lines.

Sentenced to death by firing squad, sentence commuted to life imprisonment by the Tsar, freed during the Revolution, became chief executioner for Gen. Tchecka and drug addict, shot one of her assistants in a narcotic delerium and was herself shot."

However I feel the reference in the above to a "Gen. Tcheka" actually is for The Cheka!

The fasinating thing is the inglorious fall from grace, but given the nature of the Cheka and the courts of the time, the information after the revolution might be suspect.

Still she strikes me a fascinating.

Imyarek (aka MR. COLD)

[Grand_Duke]

Hello Mr. Cold

I found this:

According to The Imperial Russian Air Service by Alan Durkota, et al, Russia's second woman pilot, Princess Eugenie Shakhovskaya, was also the world's first female combat pilot. She became interested in aviation on a trip to Germany in 1911 and paid for her own flight lessons, learning to fly the Wright Flyer at Johannisthal in Berlin. She received her pilot's certificate on 16 August 1911.

In 1912, Princess Eugenie volunteered to serve as a recon pilot for the Italians in the Tripolitan War but was refused. During the next two years, she continued flying, narrowly escaping death in 1913 when a crash killed her passenger and left her with a concussion.

When Russia declared war on Germany in 1914, the Princess wrote to the Czar and requested assignment as a military pilot. Her request was granted and she reported for duty in November 1914. As a Praporshik (Ensign), she was posted to the Northwestern Front where she joined the 1st Field Air Detachment as a recon pilot.

Unfortunately for the Princess, she was later charged with treason for aiding the enemy and was scheduled to die in front of a firing squad. Instead, she was sentenced to life in a convent thanks to the intervention of the Czar. When she was freed during the revolution, she joined the Reds and was later killed by them.

[Grand_Duke]

There is also Princess Sophie Alexandrovna Dolgorunaya who with Princess Eugenie Shakhovskaya were first women to become military pilots in Europe during WWI.

[Grand_Duke]

2. Picture if any?

Of course, no problem!

Princess Eugenie M. Shakhovskaya
She seems a very nice girl  

[olga]

Her name would have been Yevgeniya, not Eugenie.

[Imyarek]

   Remarkable!! Thank you for your help.

If I could get a hint of her birth and family... But this is great thank you, again.

The enigma of a Imperial Princess that flew combat aircraft, became a (rumored) executioner and a morphine addict.

Strikes me as a powerful tragic character.

The life of Princess Yevgeniya M. Shakhovskaya:

The high social position privilage and elevated presence,
to heroine and explorer (Aviation),
then martyr and prisoner,

Then her descent (if not fabricated, or over exagerated)
a tragic anti-heroine and desperate,
addiction and torment,
murderess and executioner,
executed.

If there is something out there and could be found her story would be a tragedy Shakespear, Chekov or Arthur Miller could place on stage.

I am wowed by this woman in a sad way, one could imagine the slow descent and terrible desperation, to make her a choose to be killer and tormentress to live. And if the implication is true of her addiction, the anguish of the memories of a past life and the self loathing, that fueled such a blazing fall from grace, to end as many did with a bullet to the head.

I added the below, this morning as I felt more should be said on my position in regards to this still, remarkable woman.

Of course, to restore her life's tale to a meaningful level, if the truth is much that she was held in prison for a long time, (as this was often the case) and the mention of any of the disparaging words in order to create a case and execute the unfortunate woman. (that story recounted in previous posts fabricated)

I would rather have that the story given is that; she was used as an example and exageration of the Russian noble families, so called, faults and criminality according to revolutionary dogma. Frankly though, I would like to have her story rise above the previous sensational outline, as the truth has more meaning.

As it was during the revolution and afterwards in the Soviet, much was made of the accusations in the courts, that was to sensationalize and 'prove' the victims, guilt.

Such a tale, her life had been.

Imyarek

[Grand_Duke]

Her full name: Eugenie Mikhailovna Shakhovskaya.

So, I think, her father's name was: Mikhail Shakhovsky.

Princess Eugenie M. Shakhovskaya was described as a "wild nymphomaniac who shared her bed with countless officers...". (from Amazon pilots and Lady Warbirds article in C&C 16/4).

[Imyarek]

Posted by: Grand Duke

Her full name: Eugenie Mikhailovna Shakhovskaya.  
 
So, I think, her father's name was: Mikhail Shakhovsky.

 

You got me thinking there...so I tried searching the Web for Mikhail Shakhovsky and did not find much. But in reading in other sections standardisation of of naming convetions was all over the plave so I changed the search abit.

Mikhail Shakhovskoi

The Kreenholm Strike of 1872
The largest "Russian" textile mill of its day employing 5000 Estonian and Russian workers, the Kreenholm cotton spinning and weaving factory on the Narova river existed as a "frontier outpost" of industrial St. Petersburg in Estland province. Although the imperial Russian capital was only 85 miles to the east, Kreenholm operated as a sort of "barony" in "near feudal isolation" (35), beyond the effective control of state officials.

The actual "strike" consisted of a series of work stoppages in late August and early September inspired by management's limited concessions, broken promises, and tactics of delay and manipulation, which ended in a "riot" of stone-throwing workers.

Enter the imperial Russian state in the figure of the Governor of Estland Province, Prince Mikhail Shakhovskoi, who found it easier to restore order at Kreenholm and prosecute "violent" workers than to force the factory administration to adhere to an August 21 agreement which the Governor had brokered. Shakhovskoi's efforts to bring justice to Kreenholm and to place labor-management relations under the "rule of law" were frustrated not only by the deliberate obstructionism of Kreenholm's management, but also by lack of support from the Governor's own superiors in St. Petersburg.

This was exciting but, further chases lead to no where...drat.

Thank you again.

Did I type 'Spaciba' correctly?

[Grand_Duke]

I think you should search for:

Eugenie Shakovskaya --> without H

Mikhail Shakovsky --> without H


And others changes: Eugenia, Michael, Yevgeniya, Shakhovskaia, Shakovskaia...

[Imyarek]

 

Thank You very much!!!

Governor of Estland Province
7 Oct 1870 - 26 Mar 1875 Knyaz Mikhail Valentinovich (b. 1836 - d. 1892) Shakhovskoiy -Glebov-Strezhnev

Knyaz = prince

This perhaps could be the Mikhail??

[Imyarek]

At least as I understand there are many Noble Shakhovskoi families that only clue I have is various spellings and hints.

I am a novice at this and would apperciate any help in regards to this.

The Kreenholm Strike of 1872
The largest "Russian" textile mill of its day employing 5000 Estonian and Russian workers, the Kreenholm cotton spinning and weaving factory on the Narova river existed as a "frontier outpost" of industrial St. Petersburg in Estland province. Although the imperial Russian capital was only 85 miles to the east, Kreenholm operated as a sort of "barony" in "near feudal isolation" (35), beyond the effective control of state officials.

The actual "strike" consisted of a series of work stoppages in late August and early September inspired by management's limited concessions, broken promises, and tactics of delay and manipulation, which ended in a "riot" of stone-throwing workers.

Enter the imperial Russian state in the figure of the Governor of Estland Province, Prince Mikhail Shakhovskoi, who found it easier to restore order at Kreenholm and prosecute "violent" workers than to force the factory administration to adhere to an August 21 agreement which the Governor had brokered. Shakhovskoi's efforts to bring justice to Kreenholm and to place labor-management relations under the "rule of law" were frustrated not only by the deliberate obstructionism of Kreenholm's management, but also by lack of support from the Governor's own superiors in St. Petersburg.

And this

Governor of Estland Province 7 Oct 1870 - 26 Mar 1875

Knyaz Mikhail Valentinovich (b. 1836 - d. 1892) Shakhovskoiy-Glebov-Strezhnev
Knyaz = prince

Which is close  (I am guessing) to being about the right time and one would assume relation to...

Princess Yevgeniya (Eugenie) Mikhailovna Shakhovskaya

Yes I am caught up in the story I afraid, but it is this princely Shakhovskoi that ties to her or others around Keiv. Regardless I find this fascinating and say Thank You again in advance...

Yours Servant
Imyarek

[Imyarek]

I have been about for a time has there been anything else that someone could find. I feel in my heart, from my last post, that I have a connection there, but cannot find anything to substanciate this assertion. The proximaty to Germany where she learned to fly and the Prince governing the region is a leap I know but it is plausable.

Amazon pilots and Lady Warbirds article in C&C 16/4 where is this please forgive my ignorance i am new to the forum world and am at a disadvantage.

Thank You once again.

Mr. Cold

[David_Pritchard]

The Princes Shakhovsky descend from the Rurikid Princes Yaroslavsky.

The Governor of Estland, Lt. General Prince Mikhail Valentinovich Shakhovsky-Glebovy-Streshnevy, appears to have died without issue.

DAP

[David_Pritchard]

The entire worker's strike in which the Governor of Estland played a part is covered in great detail in the book "Law and Disorder on the Narova River, the Krenholm Strike of 1872" written by Reginald E. Zelnik and published by the University of California Press in 1995.

Prince Mikhail Valentinovich Shakhovsky-Glebovy-Streshnevy died without issue. He was granted Imperial permission in 1866 to take up the triple barreled name as he was the heir in the female line to two other noble houses. The Princely Shakhovsky arms were altered with the addition of two crests, supporters and additional quarterings representing the two other families. The prince is the only one to carry this last name.

The Princely House of Shakhovsky are a very large family. Knowing the princess' patronomic would be a great help in finding more information about her background.

DAP

[lancashireladandre]

There was a writer Princess Zenaida Shakhovskoy who was married to a diplomat (also of aristocratic russian background) and returned to Moscow during the cold war because of his postion at the embassy there.I read one of her books which dealt with that period of her life.She was still alive in the 1970's.I think she had escaped to Belguim through the Black Sea with her mother (who was descended from the architect Rossi)and siblings.Her father who had been a marshall of the nobility or provincal governer stayed & was shot