Zdravstvuyte: For research for a book project, I am seeking information regarding Aleksandra Konstantinovna von Zarnekau, the Countess de Zarnekau. It is my understanding that the Countess was born May 10, 1883 in Kutaisi, Georgia, Russian Empire, the daughter of Duke Constantine Petrovich of Oldenburg and Agrippina Japaridze, Countess von Zarnekau. I know that Prince Georgii Aleksandrovich Yourievsky and Aleksandra Konstantinovna von Zarnekau were married in Nice, France in 1900. Their son, Aleksandr Georiievich Yourievsky, Prince Yourievsky, was born December 20, 1901. Prince Georgii and the Countess von Zarnekau were divorced in 1908. On October 17, 1908, the Countess married Leo Vassilievich Narishkin in Paris. I am particularly interested in receiving information regarding the following questions: 1) What is the generally-recognized explanation for the divorce of Prince Georgii and the Countess von Zarnekau in 1908? 2) I would be most grateful in learning about the Countess' life in Paris. Was she already living in Paris at the time of the divorce? Do we know where she was living? Did she also have a home outside of the city? Do we know what the nature of her financial circumstances were at that time? 3) I would also welcome any information regarding Leo Vassilievich Narishkin. It is my understanding that Narishkin is a prominent name in Russian Imperial history, but I do not know where to place Leo Vassilievich in that family tree, if at all. I have found one brief book reference to him in which he is described as a former military officer, but I do not have any details beyond that. Leo Vassilievich died on April 4, 1931. 4) Do we know where in Paris the Countess was living at the time of Leo Vassilievich's passing? The Countess de Zarnekau herself died on May 28, 1957 in Paris. Many thanks in advance to the Citizens of the APTM Forum for your consideration of my inquiry. Bal'shoye spaseeba. Da sveedaneeya. Sincerely Yours -- PGNUCLA pnagle@ucla.edu
