Princess Zenaida Yusupova - discussion and pictures

[Valmont]

 I have that very same opinion, they did not remain friends.
There is a thread about them, where the subject  has been previously disscussed.


Arturo Vega-Llausás

[Joanna]

In St. Petersburg Protrait of an Imperial City by Boris Ometev & John Stuart, on page 119 there is a beautiful full page photograph of Princess Zinaida taken in 1914!

Joanna

[Sandy Evans]

I have a few things to comment on after reading this.

One, I have seen a picture of the Yussupov grave in Paris and the husband, Count Felix, is not buried there. It is only Zinaida, Felix, Irina, Bebe, and her husband. Isn't the husband buried in Italy?

Also, I read in the book by Greg King that though Felix smuggled those paintings out of Russia, he got no money for them, he was swindled by a crooked American dealer. He even came to the US and sued but lost. I usually hear he lived off those, but it is not true!
They had sold some jewelry, and had some property in western Europe, and had the Irfe business, but were they not almost broke when they sued MGM in 1934?

I still can't believe Felix encouraged the duel. He was so honestly heartbroken over the death of his brother the effect it had on his mother. After his death, Felix discovered some letters showing his brother had been under the influence of a French psychic who assured him he would win the duel. I can believe this considering how into spiritualism and such they all were.

[sandy evans]

One more thing regarding Zinaida and Ella- it seems very true that they were great friends for many years, perhaps Zinaida felt a little different about her after she became a nun? Still, they were together in trying to get Alexandra to drop Rasputin. Felix spoke only glowingly of Ella. Perhaps Zinaida was only fed up and having a bad day when she wrote that letter. For the most part I'm sure she loved Ella.

Also, has anyone else ever mentioned that Zinaida had to have been pregnant by several months when she married Count Felix Sumarakov? They were married in April 1882, that is a fact. They had their silver anniversary in 1907 and recieved a Fabrege' egg with portraits of their sons on it, so that's 25 years. Felix refers to his brother as being 5 years older than him many times. Felix was born in 1887, making 1882 five years older. When speaking of the duel in the summer of 1908, it is mentioned that the family is worried because Nicholas is about to turn 26 and in every generation of the Yussupov family only one heir has survived past age 25! There again, 1882 +26= 1908. Therefore, if Zinaida was married in April 1882 and Nicholas born in July or August 1882, she was about 5 months pregnant when she married! Is this why they had the small ceremony in the guards' chapel instead of a huge Imperial Russian affair? I'm sure her father was heartbroken, having hoped she'd marry high up, but supported her just the same.

Does anyone know what Zinaida's older sister died of? What about the 2 sons she bore between Nicholas and Felix? Does anyone have birth dates, names, or how long each surivived recorded anywhere?

[kensue]

This question is posed to any of you who speak russian.
How do you pronounce "Zenaida"?  Is it "aida" like the opera or is the first 'a' long like "aid" in english? :-/
With a rather long first name, did she have a nickname like some many of them had?

Thanks  
kensue

[Lisa]

It's "Zinaïda" (like the Opera). The occidental version is Zénaïde (like Marie for Maria, Xénie for Xénia, Anastasie for Anastasia or Alexis for Alexei, etc...)
The nickmane of the "Zinaïdas" is Zina. I don't if it's the one of the Princess...

[Annie]

Definitely, P Zenaida Yussupova was a also a Tragic figure in  Imperial Russian History, regardless of her wealthy and Flamboyant lifestyle, I think I can Understand  why  women like her and Gran Duchess Vladimir, did not live much longer after the Russian Revolution..but they left their stories, that keep amazing us  up to this day.

Did not live long after the revolution? Zenaida lived another 20 years after they fled on the Marlborough. She died in Paris in 1939.

[thijs smoorenburg]

hallo there

hat a wonderfull site i found!
I am interested in the history of the youssoupoff familiy and i try to collect information and photographs from this family. Especially Zenaida is my interest. One of you tipped the book by Jacques ferrand "les princes youssoupoff comtes sumarokov elston"  but it is impossible to get my hands on it untill now. Perhaps any of you has an idea where i can become this book. Till then you would much please me if any of you would post a message with pics. I learned from reading theese messages that there is a lot of photographical material. So folks, give it a try and send your pics! Thanks!!

[Lisa]

Hello!
It's very difficult to find J. Ferrand's books, even in France!
Here is his web site

http://www.geocities.com/tfboettger/jferrand/english.htm

and your book
http://www.geocities.com/tfboettger/jferrand/yous.htm

but it's quite old, beacause the price is still in Francs and not in Euros!...

[ashanti01]

Does anyone know if there are any books written about her or are going to be written?

[olga]

How do you pronounce "Zenaida"?  Is it "aida" like the opera or is the first 'a' long like "aid" in english?

Zee-nah-ee-dah. Possible diminutives are Zina, Zinochka, Zinushka, Zinulya, Zinka.

[Vera_Narishkin]

The question remains : did he ever get into a physical relationship? Well, considering his aristocratic selfishness (and I mean that with no disrespect),and to put it bluntly, I believe he got what he wanted everytime .

Actually, he didn't get what he wanted every time! He was crazy about my father, but never got his way that way! My great-grandfather was the brother of Felix's great-grandmother, and Felix and my father practically grew up together, and later on were both living in London and then in Oxford. They were always very close, but my father refused Felix's amorous advances, since my father wasn't at all that way inclined!

[Martyn]

Vera, it is simply marvellous for us to have you as such a wonderful link to Felix and his family.
Please keep supplying us with information - I love the tale about your father repelling Felix's amorous advances.  We have had many discussions about Felix's preferences and this helps us to understand him better.  Thank you!

[Annie]

Yes it is! Welcome, and please tell us more!

[Valmont]

 My great-grandfather was the brother of Felix's great-grandmother, and Felix and my father practically grew up together.

Are you talking  about Zenaida Ivanovna Naryshkina? She was born in 1809, and felix was born in 1887.  So, you are saying Zenaida Ivanovna's mother had another child almost 80 years (more or less) after Zenaida was born???...Interesting