Alexei's wife?

[Romanov_fan]

It is hard to say who he would have married, but for many reasons any claims from Princess Sofka Dolgorucky are suspect. It is unlikely. As for Princess Ileana, it would have been a good match, if it had happened, for many reasons. And there were others who would have been good matches for him as well. History doesn't really point to anyone in particular though, and he was pretty young at the time of his death.

One thing is sure: He would have needed a a good strong, capable wife, equal to her role, and supportive who could give  Russia healthy heirs, and deal with the many personal and political challenges she would have faced. Princess Ileana, I believe could have done this, but who's to say she would have married him? We really don't know.

[Ortino]

It is hard to say who he would have married, but for many reasons any claims from Princess Sofka Dolgorucky are suspect. It is unlikely. As for Princess Ileana, it would have been a good match, if it had happened, for many reasons. And there were others who would have been good matches for him as well. History doesn't really point to anyone in particular though, and he was pretty young at the time of his death.

One thing is sure: He would have needed a a good strong, capable wife, equal to her role, and supportive who could give  Russia healthy heirs, and deal with the many personal and political challenges she would have faced. Princess Ileana, I believe could have done this, but who's to say she would have married him? We really don't know.

We have to remember that not all royal couples married for love--Alexandra and Nicholas were rather lucky in this regard. Politically and economically, it would have been beneficial for Romania for them to marry--there's no real way that this would not have been taken into account. Sure love is nice, but there were other factors for them to take into consideration as well.

[Romanov_fan]

Yes, all the evidence is that Princess Ileana would have made a good match, and of course love sometimes had little to do with Royal matches. Since heirs were badly needed in Alexei's case, love might have had little to do with it for him. Of course he would have had to marry a suitable royal, not someone like Princess Sofka Dolgorucky, given the laws governing marriages then. Princess Ileana would have been a good choice.

[RissiaSunbeam1918]

Just a thought...
How much of an age gap do you think N&A would have been comfortable with and/or permitted to have between Alexei and whoever he would have married?
I never gave much thought to this before, but it makes me wonder...

[Ortino]

This is a rather sexist issue. I think a few years difference might be permissible, but even ten I think would be too much for a woman. It seems that in royal marriages, or really any marriage for that matter, men could be substantially older and be desirable, but never the other way around. The main reason for a young bride would be to produce heirs (fertility steadily decreases with age and complications go up) and as people generally lived shorter lives, starting early would be important. Alexei would have probably had a relatively young wife (18-25)--I would not expect him to be married to, for example, Mary, Princess Royal.

[Romanov_fan]

Yes, I agree that his wife would most likely have been about his age, or perhaps a bit younger than him. It would have been important for her to produce heirs, so she would have had to be young, and fertile, as well as possesing other qualities, as I mentioned. It does often seem much older men with younger women is permitted, even common, but the other way around it seems strange.

[crazy_wing]

Btw, what about Alice and Andrew of Greece's girls margarita, theodora, cecilie and sophie?  Sophie might have been way too much younger but margarita and theodora are about the same age as Alexei.  Would a marriage between them be possible in a relgious standpoint?

[Ortino]

Btw, what about Alice and Andrew of Greece's girls margarita, theodora, cecilie and sophie?  Sophie might have been way too much younger but margarita and theodora are about the same age as Alexei.  Would a marriage between them be possible in a relgious standpoint?

Sophie would have been 10 years younger than Alexei and Cecilie, 7. Since Margarita was born in 1905 and Theodora in 1906, they could have perhaps been potential matches for Alexei. As for the religious factor, if one of them was to marry Alexei, she would have had to convert to Russian Orthodoxy. As we've seen in Nicholas' case, the consort of an emperor must be a member of the Russian Orthodox church. I believe that even if Alexei wasn't the heir, the intensity of Nicholas and Alexandra's faith would have led them to encourage conversion anyway.

[Prince_Christopher]

Possible wives for Alexei: (b.1904)

**Princess Margarita of Greece (b.1905)
**Princess Theodora of Greece (b.1906)
**Princess Irene of Greece (b.1904), dau. of Constantine and Sophie
**Princess Sibylle of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (b.1908), dau. of Charles Edward, Duke of S-C-G
**May of Teck/Athlone (b.1906), dau of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and the Earl of Athlone/Prince of Teck

I think that, due to Alexei's condition, his parents would have picked a wife from among his cousins, (although this may not have been the wisest choice), most likely from Alexandra's side of the family, as she did not like many of the Russians.  The wife would probably have had to been "English" in breeding.  Any of the above girls would have fit the bill, although May of Teck might have been a disastrous choice due to the haemophilia aspect.

But I agree with earlier posters, I think Ileana of Roumania (b.1908) may have been the most likely choice.  I believe she and Alexei had been sweet on each other and when they were older, say 18 and 22, the age difference would not have mattered at all.  She was "English" in breeding and already Orthodox.  And, earlier, a marriage between Ileana's brother Carol and Alexei's sister Olga had been thought of, when the family sailed to Roumania for the young couple to meet but they apparently didn't get along.  So, Missy's children may have already been "approved marriage material" in the minds of Nicky and Alix.  I'm sure the lineage and upbringing were fairly acceptable to Alix, even if she and Missy were opposite poles.

Fun to think "what if"....

[crazy_wing]

Isn't Alexei first cousin with Margarita and Theodora's mother Alice.  Are Margarita and Theodora his first cousins once removed.  

[Prince_Christopher]

Isn't Alexei first cousin with Margarita and Theodora's mother Alice.  Are Margarita and Theodora his first cousins once removed.  

You are correct on both counts.

[Romanov_fan]

Ileana would indeed have been a good and obvious choice. I am sure she and Alexei would have had all the qualities between themselves as makes a good marriage, especially from a Royal/ Imperial standpoint. Her family, age, country, and religion, were all very suitable for a marriage. I think Alexei and she would have made a good couple. She was one of the best, if not the best, of Marie of Romania's daughters as well.

[Ortino]

Ileana would indeed have been a good and obvious choice. I am sure she and Alexei would have had all the qualities between themselves as makes a good marriage, especially from a Royal/ Imperial standpoint. Her family, age, country, and religion, were all very suitable for a marriage. I think Alexei and she would have made a good couple. She was one of the best, if not the best, of Marie of Romania's daughters as well.

She was, after all, Marie's favorite. Mignon and Elisabeth especially have always struck me as rather snobbish. Carol was a mess too, so I can understand why she loved Ileana so much. In my opinion, she was the most like her mother.

[Prince_Christopher]

And, as has been mentioned on other threads, I think Marie wanted a throne for ALL of her daughters.  She would have wanted the best for her favorite girl, and that, in my opinion, would have been Russia or Great Britain.

[La_Bella_Regina]

Ileana would have been a perfect choice, I reckon. The most "normal" of Missy's kids! I don't know about Elisabeth of Greece...Miechen would have liked it, had she lived. :-/


..What about a Catholic princess, like Mafalda d'Italia(1902)? Kinda stupid question, I know.