Author Topic: Marie Feodorovna -  Your Opinion  (Read 101605 times)

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Offline Ally Kumari

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Re: Marie Feodorovna -  Your Opinion
« Reply #150 on: June 03, 2015, 03:19:08 AM »
While I agree Maria Fyodorovna was not overly enlightened on politics and other affairs, overal I do not agree with your view on how significant her faults and ill choices were in the fall of the Empire.

I cannot really comment on how much she knew about corruption in the Red Cross, or her investments in mining operations, since I have no knowledge on that, but Grand Duke Sergei was HUGELY unpopular for being stern, to the point of being perceived as cold-blooded and cruel in the public mind, for various reasons, not the least his part of blame for the Khodynka tragedy, allowed by him neglecting his duties. Even if there were not rumours about his corruption, the public would have reacted the same way to his assasination, and he would be assasinated, even if only for the sake of the post he held.

As for her bad relationship with Alexandra, both women tried getting on at first, but their utterly different characters as well as pigheadedness made any attempts of reconcilication impossible. The argument over jewelry can be put down to Maria Fyodorovna´s vanity, but I don´t think it hurt the prestige of the monarchy too badly at all. As for the dispute of precedence, has it not been sorted by a tsar much before Nicholas II´s time? Maria Fyodorovna, in this case, had protocol on her side.

Maria Fyodorovna, as a wife of the Tsar, knew perfectly well how exhausting a job ruling was, I am sure. And as much as I sypathize and understand that Alexandra in her poor health and worry about Alexei could hardly lead society, the isolation in which she brough her family, was definitely extreme which actually DID help to damage the imperial prestige. Even when her daughters grew up and everyone expected them to, if nothing else, start attending social gatherings once in a while, Alexandra did not allow it. Also do not forget that Maria Fyodorovna, at last for a time, did not know Alexei had hemophilia.

As for the gossip and rumours, it was Maria Pavlovna´s court, which was the main source of it all. Maria Fyodorovna did lead her own little campaign against Rasputin, who she honestly believed a dangerous fraud, but she did not spread rumours about him and his lecherous doings in the palace, like others did, because she knew better. She despaired over Alexandra´s refusals to listen. Had she defnded her son and daughter-in-law in the matter, it would have only done harm to her as well, not salvaging anything, least of all the whole monarchy, that was slowly rotting anyway - at least that is how I see it.

I agree her matchmaking efforts were disasters more or less, she certainly did not have her mother´s talent when it came to it, but I would not agree with the statement that she should have find Mikhail a suitable bride. He was a responsible adult and he chose to marry Natalia. How was that her fault?

Maria Fyodorovna was arguably the most popular and loved Romanov amongs the whole family, popular with both society and public. Yes, perhaps she could have done more - but what? When she came to Nicholas with a sensible advice, or recomended people to him, he did not listen. Yes, she was not willing to give up the glittering lead role in the society, then again Alexandra has no interest at all to seize it. Yes, Maria Fyodorovna was proud and vain, but she had social skills and perceptiveness, and enough intellect.

She had her part in the decay of the monarchy perhaps, but her share is nothing compared to actions of other Romanovs.


Offline Maria Sisi

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Re: Marie Feodorovna -  Your Opinion
« Reply #151 on: June 03, 2015, 11:26:43 AM »
Following the 1905 Revolution her influence dwindled and after Spala it became non-existent. And for a while after she did continue to try and fight for the minsters she believed were right, but she overall was pretty much a passive observer. Yes she played a roll in the fall of the dynasty but by the end she became a very small player and its not fair to blame her for the many faults of Nicholas, Alexandra and others. Maria bowed out far before the revolution occurred so everything could have been fixed before and the fact it wasn't isn't her fault.

She felt she was rejected by her daughter-in-law and her son was moving farther away from her so she simply stepped back. That's why she spent an increasing amount of time out of the country in Denmark or with her sister. Nicholas and Alexandra would not listen to her anymore so she gave up. It was Maria Pavlovna who became leader of society not Maria Feodorovna. She was not much part of society anymore by the end. Speaking up against gossip, which she liked to listen to, would have done no good since society was too much against Alexandra by that point.

And besides the jewel incident, which was her fault, protocol gave her the right to be #1. It wasn't her fault Alexandra refused to step up or make any effort. Alexandra refused long before Alexei and his hemophilia so that excuse doesn't fly either. Its impossible for Maria Feodorovna to help with the troubles of the Imperial Family when they closed her out to begin with and refused to let her in. You can't help people who refuse to be helped.

« Last Edit: June 03, 2015, 11:32:55 AM by Maria Sisi »

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Marie Feodorovna -  Your Opinion
« Reply #152 on: June 07, 2015, 02:16:58 PM »
Regarding MF's failure to find Mikhail a suitable wife, Mikhail was 34 when he married Natalia, so past normal marrying age for princes, which was 25-30. He also had a history of unsuitable infantuations. MF had had plenty of time to organise meetings with suitable royal ladies, but she and Nicholas seem to have been happy to let Mikhail drift, with no marriage and no serious responsibilities.

Ann

Offline mcdnab

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Re: Marie Feodorovna -  Your Opinion
« Reply #153 on: June 09, 2015, 01:19:28 AM »
Michael's marriage did occupy her and I believe she was not opposed to him marrying Beatrice of Edinburgh - that was down to Nicholas II who absolutely refused permission (as they were first cousins).
I think that was really the last time Michael himself attempted a "suitable match".
Her occupation with the matter also caused a minor scandal when her and Queen Alexandra's gossip on the matter leaked and some papers linked Michael and Princess Patricia of Connaught as on the brink of an engagement (Buckingham Palace had to do the unthinkable and issue a formal denial).

Offline Kalafrana

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Re: Marie Feodorovna -  Your Opinion
« Reply #154 on: June 09, 2015, 03:24:31 AM »
In Nicholas's position, he could not have gone against the Orthodox Churches' profit ion on marriage to first cousins (he was only browbeaten into recognising their marriage after the event).

A pity about Patricia of Connaught. She was an interesting girl and that could have worked.

Ann