Baptisms of OTMAA and other Romanovs

[QueenEna1887]

Who were the godparents of OTMAA? Please specify in Order of birth.

[bluetoria]

I can't 'specify in order of birth'   but Ella was one of Maria's godmothers; and the entire Russian army was included named as 'one of' Alexei's godfathers!

[pinklady]

Apparently in honour of the Army which was then fighting in Manchuria, all the combatants were inscribed as Godfathers to Alexei.

His other Godfathers included the King of England, his great grandfather King Christian IX of Denmark, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich, his Great Uncle.

[Georgiy]

I think this was discussed in an earlier thread.

[Kevin_Australia]

1895, November 26
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Olga of Russia
Place: The Palace of Tzarskoe Selo
Godparents:
H.M. The Queen of Great Britian & Ireland
H.M. The King of Denmark
H.I.M. The Empress Alexander of Russia
H.I.M. The Empress Frederick of Germany
H.M. The Queen of the Hellenes
H.R.H. the Grand Duke of Hesse by the Rhine
H.I.H. Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia

1897, June 20
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Tatiana of Russia
Place: Peterhof, the Grand Palace, Church of Sts Apostles Peter and Paul
Godparents:
H.I.M. The Dowager Empress of Russia
H.M. The King of Denmark
H.R. & I.H. the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha
H.I.H. Grand Duke George Alexandrovitch of Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duke Michael Nichaelovitch of Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrevna of Russia
H.R.H. the Duke of York
H.G.D.H. Princess Louis of Battenberg

1899, July 9
H.I.H.Grand Duchess Marie of Russia
Place: the Grand Palace Church, Peterhof
Godparents:
H.I.M. Empress Marie Feodorevna, the Dowager Empress of Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch of Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorevna of Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Alexandra Josefevna of Russia
H.R.H. Prince George of Greece
H.G.D.H. Prince Henry of Hesse by the Rhine

1901, June 30
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia
Place: Peterhof, the Grand Palace, Church of Sts Apostles Peter and Paul
Godparents:
H.I.M. The Dowager Empress of Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrevna of Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duke Sergius Alexandrovitch of Russia
H.R.H. Princess Henry of Prussia

1904, August 12
H.I.H. Grand Duke Alexis, Ceasarevitch of Russia
Place: Grand Palace Church, Peterhof
Godparents:
H.I.M. the Empress Marie Feodorevna, the Dowager Empress of Russia
H.I.M. The Emperor of Germany (represented by H.R.H. Prince Henry of Prussia
H.M. The King of Denmark (represented by H.R.H. Prince Christian of Denmark)
H.M. The King of Great Britian and Ireland (represented by H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg)
H.R.H. the Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine
H.R.H. the Princess Victoria of Great Britian and Ireland
H.I.H. Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovitch of Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Alexandra Josefevn aof Russia
H.I.H. Grand Duke Michael Nichaelovitch of Russia

[clockworkgirl21]

That's interesting. So if Nikolai and Aleksandra had died, the children would have been split up? It looks like Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Aleksey would have went with their grandmother, and Olga would have lived with the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland.

[Lanie]

Olga Nikolaevna was one of Alexei Nikolaevich's godparents.  I also wouldn't be surprised if the Duke and Duchess of York (George V and Queen Mary) were among Olga's godparents as Nicky and Alix were their first son's godparents.

[pinklady]

The children would never have been split up, they would have remained together and in Russia.

[clockworkgirl21]

Olga Nikolaievna was a godparent of Aleksey Nikolaievitch? When did they decide this? It couldn't have been just after he was born, because Olga would only have been nine.

[Lanie]

Olga Nikolaievna was a godparent of Aleksey Nikolaievitch? When did they decide this? It couldn't have been just after he was born, because Olga would only have been nine.

Olga was named as a godmother at the christening; she helped Maria Feodorovna hold him during the ceremonies.  I have someone writing about this SOMEWHERE. If I can find it I'll share, but I know I've read a direct source regarding this!

[clockworkgirl21]

Wow, a godmother at nine. lol. How soon after he was born did they find out he had hemophilia? If they knew he was ill, it surprises me they allowed Olga to help hold him. It would be dangerous enough dropping a small baby, but it would be even more dangerous dropping a baby with hemophilia.

[Lanie]

Wow, a godmother at nine. lol. How soon after he was born did they find out he had hemophilia? If they knew he was ill, it surprises me they allowed Olga to help hold him. It would be dangerous enough dropping a small baby, but it would be even more dangerous dropping a baby with hemophilia.

Alexei apparently started to bleed from the navel when the umbilical cord came off in September.  Olga helped Maria F. hold the pillow where Alexei was resting during the christening.  I'm sure she just sort of held on to the edges or something while their grandmother took charge of the baby.

[QueenEna1887]

Interesting theory Lanie! Who held Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia at their christenings?

[Lanie]

Probably Maria Feodorovna or Pss Golitsina (sp?) who carried them to the font I think.  I remember reading that at Alexei's christening she had to wear tennis shoes since she was so old, everyone was afraid she'd drop him!

[Kevin_Australia]

An excellent site that has details of many of the christenings of the Romanovs is Dimitry Macedonsky's, http://macedonsky.narod.ru/english.html