What are Maria Vladimirovna and her son doing?

[Robert_Hall]

While I agree that the laws of the Imperial Family are dreadfully out-of-date, I do not think anyone is claiming a non-existant throne. It is more of a "Head of the House" contention. What benefits such a "headship" bestows is not known to me personally.

[nene]

Honestly, I can't imagine why ANYBODY is still abiding by these rules and claiming to be the heir to a throne that exists in their imagination. The Romanovs will never be restored to the throne of Russia. The Russian Revolution happened for a reason. Just let it be.

I totally agree with you there 100%! I think all the Russian people really want is to be free, free to live their own lives, to make their own choices, without the interference of a tsar. After everything that has happened since 1917 (and before that), if the Romanovs return to the throne, it's like history repeating itself all over again, with the people being repressed.

[Robert_Hall]

There is NO throne of Russia, except in the museums.

[David_Pritchard]

I totally agree with you there 100%! I think all the Russian people really want is to be free, free to live their own lives, to make their own choices, without the interference of a tsar. After everything that has happened since 1917 (and before that), if the Romanovs return to the throne, it's like history repeating itself all over again, with the people being repressed.

I find it interesting that you relate reppression to the Empire rather than the Soviet Union. I can write that if I had to live within one of these time periods, say 1800-1850 or 1925-1975, I would pick the earlier period.

As for a loss of freedom, this has happened most recently under the auspices of President Putin. The first half of President Yelstsin's presidency was probably the most free period in Russian history.

If the Russian people were to have a restored limited monarchy, it would be for them to choose the person and family to fill this role. It may not be a Romanov or even a princely family but a Zhukhov, Tolstoy, Suvorov or Pushkin descendent.

David

[nene]

I find it interesting that you relate reppression to the Empire rather than the Soviet Union. I can write that if I had to live within one of these time periods, say 1800-1850 or 1925-1975, I would pick the earlier period.

As for a loss of freedom, this has happened most recently under the auspices of President Putin. The first half of President Yelstsin's presidency was probably the most free period in Russian history.

If the Russian people were to have a restored limited monarchy, it would be for them to choose the person and family to fill this role. It may not be a Romanov or even a princely family but a Zhukhov, Tolstoy, Suvorov or Pushkin descendent.

David

Oh goodness, I'm so sorry about that! I wasn't entirely clear on this subject. What I meant was, repression from BOTH the Empire and the Soviet Union. Both regimes should be ashamed of themselves for the way they treated millions of their countrymen. I hope to God that neither regime ever comes back to Russia. Those people deserve so much better.

[Tania]

Hello David,

Would you kindly state why you chose these particular names [stated below my post], whom you say might be chosen by the Russian people to lead Russia ? On what basis might they be chosen please ? Thank you.

Tatiana+


Zhukhov, Tolstoy, Suvorov or Pushkin descendent

[David_Pritchard]

Hello David,

Would you kindly state why you chose these particular names [stated below my post], whom you say might be chosen by the Russian people to lead Russia ? On what basis might they be chosen please ? Thank you.

Tatiana+

Zhukhov, Tolstoy, Suvorov or Pushkin descendent

These families are known and respected by all Russians and have largely escaped any negative taint from the Imperial or Soviet periods.

Since the demise of the Soviets there may well be more streets, towns, theatres, museums, metro stations, monuments etc. dedicated to Pushkin in Russia than to anyone else.

I believe that during his life Marshal Zhukhov was so popular with the Russian people that even Stalin did not dare have him executed. The magnificent equestrian statue now near the entry to Red Square has only enhanced his standing and that of his family.

David

[imperial angel]

yes, this isn't really a Romanov struggle for the Imperial throne, because there is no throne, except in museums, as someone stated. It is just the who is the head of the house of Romanov battle that has been dragging on for years, with the same arguments. From dynastic law, it seems that Grand Duchess Maria, and Grand Duke George, have the best claim to me. Sure, there are violations of the old laws everywhere, but their branch seems to have violated it the least, from that standpoint. But Russia certainly does not need anything like that right now, although I think this Branch of the Romanovs realizes that.

[Ariadna]

I bought an edition of Spanish Vogue 2 years ago that had a special tribute to the heirs of royal thrones all around the world (existing and non-existing). Grand Duke George of Russia was included.

Unfortunately I cannot understand Spanish, but I can tell you what it says under occupation:

"Ayudante y asistente personal de Loyola de Palacio, Vicepresidenta de la Comision Europea"

So I'm guessing Grand Duke George is doing something in politics!

[LisaDavidson]

I bought an edition of Spanish Vogue 2 years ago that had a special tribute to the heirs of royal thrones all around the world (existing and non-existing). Grand Duke George of Russia was included.

Unfortunately I cannot understand Spanish, but I can tell you what it says under occupation:

"Ayudante y asistente personal de Loyola de Palacio, Vicepresidenta de la Comision Europea"

So I'm guessing Grand Duke George is doing something in politics!

There are better Spanish translators on the board, but here's my best effort:

Aide and Personal Assistant to Loyola de Palacio, Vice-President of the European Commission.

I welcome corrections from those better suited to such work.

[Tania]

I believe in time the peoples of Russia will choose what is best for them.
It cannot be done from outside the country. The people themselves must choose.
They are going through a very long period of adjustment in many ways.
There are no quick answers. Perhaps in another twenty-five years or so.
I wish only for the best for Russia. God save Russia !

Tatiana+

[Belochka]

I believe in time the peoples of Russia will choose what is best for them.
It cannot be done from outside the country. The people themselves must choose.
They are going through a very long period of adjustment in many ways.
There are no quick answers. Perhaps in another twenty-five years or so.
I wish only for the best for Russia. God save Russia !

Tatiana+

With every passing year, Russia enjoys her newly acquired democratic constitutional rights and privileges. The recreation of a monarchic system is furtherest from their minds, especially in the style and form which a Spanish citizen mythologizes how it should it be.

[GD_vassily]

i do not endors nor support maria (or that son of hers') claim to the romanov "throne", she is in simple english a gold digging meglomaniac. her branch starting with kyril is not the most upstanding branch of the Family, kyril was just as bad as maria, a meglomaniac pretender... a better candidate would be one from the line of one the Tsars' sisters.

[AlexP@asia.com]

GuangZhou, PRC
2006.06.20

Dear Belochka,

I need David's help here.  Is she actually a Spanish citizen?  Can we be sure of that?  I thought that she was a French citizen and that had been reported to me by friends in Paris.  David, can you confirm this?

Next, surprise, surprise, but since 1992, at least,  she is ALSO a Russian citizen again, by decret of the B. Yelstin and she has travelled to and from Russia on a  "spetzpasport", definitely not the ordinary Red one and this I know for a fact from "tamozhniki" friends of mine  "no  rodinu".

And frankly, to stir things up around here, she is a superb choice.  She is by far the most talented, most soberminded, most educated and well-travelled Romanov that has ever existed.  She has a presence about her and the quality of her Russian language (unlike that of her father) is quite classical and literary.

Twenty years ago, everyone in the world thought for sure that the "CCCP" would last for centuries.  My God, what a plague on humanity it was.

And no frankly, I would not surprised if there were a return to a constitutional monarchy, but as Tania so correctly writes, that is the choice of the Russian people alone.

BUT

The revised and now exceptionally powerful Russian Orthodox Church is extremely monarchist, whether they admit it publickly or not.  For centuries, the Monarchy and particularly the Romanovs bestowed their largess upon the Church...and it  was not forgotten.

And now, particularly with the younger ranks of Bishops and Archbishops who are so far removed from the Soviet taint, there has been a marked shift, in many cases very publickly, in favor of the monarchy...

In  all  honesty, the Royal Martyrs were canonized (glorified in the Russian) in 2000 not because the Patriarch and all the former Soviet church nomenklatura wanted it (they didn't) but because of
of the extreme pressure from the younger bishops and archbishops and especially from the abbots and abbesses  of the monasteries and the clery in the country.

My thoughts, here, that's all..

[Tania]

[size=10]Dear AlexP,

Apparently unbeknonst to you, you are not alone in your thoughts !  
I as well think along the sameness of underestandings.
Centuries, can not, nor will not wipe out what the church has received, and in that alone
remembers well. If you look at the people, you will see again the fast rising of 'believers'.
God has not closed His eyes on Russia, but watches as it once again, rises to its full state of being.
If you watch again carefully, you will see that Putin has not forgot this, nor disallowed the connects
to slowly being secured in many ways. The Russian Orthodox Church has always been with the monarchy, was beside, and behind it fully. The Russian people are somewhat aware of this, but wait.
They are in no rush for blood to be spilled again. This time, as the Americans say, all the t's must
be crossed, and the i's dotted superbly. If the rule of the CCCP did not make them overly cautious,
then nothing else will. Their only impedment is the russian mafia...and another, but I can't say...but
do watch the people, and the church. In that will come the strongest of backing, from inside Russia !

Tatiana+[/size]