Ella's Relationship with other Romanov family members

[Romanov_fan]

Ella did follow a path to become what she later was, certainly. To some extent, we are all works in progress, and she was no exception, and she did really blossom after 1905. I think Ella might not have been aware of the more negative side of her sister in Hesse which brings me to a point James1941 made, that distance was a factor. Ella might not have even known to ask around that much, because she was long gone from Hesse, how much did she visit there later? Ella I don't believe might have been aware of all the Hessian stuff. As for Russia, I guess I don't remember what people thought of Alexandra on her visits to Russia before, although certainly how she was seen after was obvious. I am just curious more about that point, because I don't recall anything of that sort, although I recall the negative stuff in Hesse.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. Ella was going into the convent and she tried to arrange a match for MP, but it was never a forced match by any means (as letters between MP & Wilhelm showed). Had MP said no, she would be transferred as a ward to the Tsar and the Tsarina (just like her brother Dimitri). Ella was a real person with likes and dislikes, but gernerally she tried to take the high road. 

[lori_c]

Agreed.  In everything I have ever read or learned about Ella, that's what I have thought.  Ella would never have been malicious or vindictive in any way.  She honestly thought she was making a proper offer to her neice, and at least giving her chance.  GD Paul either had no say so or simply hadn't thought about MP coming of marriage age.  Somebody had to do it.  So Ella did.

Alix was generally thought from the very beginning - from the time she visited Russia as a young adult that she was haughty and stiff, likening her to somebody who had "swallowed a yardstick".  This first iimpression stuck and could never be overcome by the poor woman.  Even though this stiffness was due to her inordinate shyness and lack of preparation for introduction into mighty Russian society, so unlike Darmstadt.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed ! That is why I felt so sick of MP blaming her sad life in Ella. She wasn't complaining when Ella contributed to her future home in Sweden (even though she did not have that much money after her widowhood). To me she was a spoilt brat ! Dimitri fared better as he never blamed his life on others. I also think he had a better relationship with Ella than his sister. 

[lori_c]

I agree.  But Ella wasn't in a financial bind, in fact the death of GD Sergei left her as one of the richest Grand Duchesses in the family.  If she was financially strapped it would have been after her decision to give everything away to the poor.

[Romanov_fan]

Does anyone feel that Ella would have gotten along worse or better with the other Romanovs if she hadn't been in Moscow, and then after Sergei's death had a whole new life far from the typical Imperial family's lifestyle? I think she might have gotten along the same, but perhaps her relationships with other Romanovs would have defined her more, especially as Alexandra become a not very popular figure in the country, and she was Ella's sister.

[lori_c]

Sometimes I think the distance she had between herself and the IF gave her more of an edge.  What she said and her opinions mattered more, to the Tsar at least, because she wasn't in the middle of it all - so to speak. But if she HAD lived in St. Petersburg, I don't think it would have served Ella's purpose any less.  She adapted very well and certainly would have applied her principles there as well as Moscow.

[gem_10]

WHat was Ella's relationship like with the Nikolaievsky and Mikhailovsky? We know that Sandro was very fond of her but about his brothers and sister? The Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna became a nun later in her life just like Ella. Are there any correspondence between the two? Or any reference about AP by Ella when Ella became a nun?

[Eddie_uk]

This cynical remark from the Empress Marie made me smile. Apparently on public occasions Ella presented herself as "a theatrical martyr, relishing the attention" drawn by her costume!

[KarlandZita]

Two pictures of Ella and OTMA :

[Eric_Lowe]

Oh I thought so too (about Ella's financial situation after Serge's death). However that wasn't the case at all. After Serge's death, the income from him stopped and Ella was left with much property (some of which belonged to the crown) and his belongings. Which is why Ella had to sell Serge's property & goods even had she decided NOT to become a nun. Evidently the system favours those born in the family than those married into it.   

[Romanov_fan]

This cynical remark from the Empress Marie made me smile. Apparently on public occasions Ella presented herself as "a theatrical martyr, relishing the attention" drawn by her costume!

I think that was more typical of Marie, actually. Anyway, Ella really did not behave that way. She did everything quite sincerely, not that Marie of Romania did not, but she was more of a exhibitionist. Ella stood out among the Romanovs without being any sort of theatrical anything, in that she wasn't yet another dull German princess nor was she one of those who became very involved in society and wholly swept up in a lavish lifestyle, like Miechen or MF. She followed a path unusual among the Romanov women, which is perhaps why, despite the fact she could be very Romanov, she never become one of the Romanovs, perhaps, but was always one apart. But, that was apart in a good way.

[Eddie_uk]

Having been so fond of clothes and elaborate jewels I wonder if Ella ever looked back and missed the glorious privilages and possesions. Considering it was such a way of life for her and she did really love being beautifully adorned it wouldn't be suprising if she did miss it. I suppose Serge's death changed her completely and maybe as she got older she wanted different things from life.

[lori_c]

Oh I thought so too (about Ella's financial situation after Serge's death). However that wasn't the case at all. After Serge's death, the income from him stopped and Ella was left with much property (some of which belonged to the crown) and his belongings. Which is why Ella had to sell Serge's property & goods even had she decided NOT to become a nun. Evidently the system favours those born in the family than those married into it.   

Really?  I was under the impression from Hugo Mager's book that GD Serge has wealth beyond income.  He had inheritence left from his Mother and was very watchful of his money. Even though he spent quite a bit at Illinksoie, he obviously knew that it wouldn't put a dent in his wealth.

[lori_c]

Having been so fond of clothes and elaborate jewels I wonder if Ella ever looked back and missed the glorious privilages and possesions. Considering it was such a way of life for her and she did really love being beautifully adorned it wouldn't be suprising if she did miss it. I suppose Serge's death changed her completely and maybe as she got older she wanted different things from life.

Having been the "belle of the ball" so to speak, i often wondered if  she ever looked back and missed it.  But as she became more involved in Orthodoxy, material things meant little to her, especially aftter the GD's death