Ladies-in-waiting,maids-of-honor,maids of Empress Alexandra F.

[olga]

If Countess Hendrikova's father had no sons, would the title have passed to the daughters?

[anna]

Hi Anne,

I have never come across your book. Does the author explain why Alix was seen crying? This is quite intriguing!

Hi Belochka,

Yes, I thought it quite intriguing myself but unfortunately the author didn't explain the reason why she was crying. It was mentioned beneath a photo of Alix.
Of course there could be so many reason's for Alix feeling so sad but here's my guirk of the brain: The meeting in Reval (now Tallin) wasn't only for family fun, Edward wanted to discuss politics with Nicky - pact between France, Brittain and Russia. Also the fact that  D.E. Marie was meeting her sister Q. A. we know the sisters were fond of each other and perhaps Alix felt alone and neglected. All together it might have been an exhausting and stressfull experience.

The book is still available on Amazon.co.uk, so have a look there

Anna

[Belochka]

If Countess Hendrikova's father had no sons, would the title have passed to the daughters?

Hi Olga,

Count Hendrikov would have passed his title to his daughters, but they could not have passed any of their titles to the next generation. It was the end of the noble line for that branch of the family.

Heriditary nobility is patrilineal.

[Belochka]

The book is still available on Amazon.co.uk, so have a look there

Anna

Thanks for letting me know Anna!

[dracona]

Who were the ladies in waiting of Alexandra. I know of the old Countness Hendrikova and later her younger daughter who went with her in captivity, baroness Buxhoeveden, Princess Naryskina, Mll Schneider.

But were there more ladies in waiting?

Did Hendrikova have a daughter or any children, felix told me she never married, i'm trying to find information on any survivors of her family.

[Tsarina_Liz]

Hi Olga,

Count Hendrikov would have passed his title to his daughters, but they could not have passed any of their titles to the next generation. It was the end of the noble line for that branch of the family.

Heriditary nobility is patrilineal.

Okay, I have two questions stemming from this.  1) Was there any way around this rule?  Some little loop in the law, or the whim of a monarch that could ensure that Countess Hendrikova could have passed the title on to her children?

And 2) I've read so many books and never had this question answered: where do they come up with all of these titles?  If someone ascends into nobility through a great deed or something, and they are ennobled (right word?) where does the title and any subsequent land come from?  Is the title just made up on the spot?  I was reading something about the Tudors about someone being given the title of Duke of 'X' but had never seen the dukedom of 'X' being mentioned before or attached to any person.  

[Teddy]

For abouth the first question i could tell you this.

A Tsar had the oppurtunity to create new titles, such like Princes Iskander. Some titles started because out of special support to the IF other because of marriage.

For about Countess Hendrikova. If she had asked the Tsar that she could pass her title to her childeren (which she didn't have) it was the Tsar who could decide that.

Think about Princess Yousopoff, mother of Felix. She was the last in end of the family line. She asked the Tsar if her husband, who was a count if he could pass her title to her children. The Tsar granted it and the Count could call himself a prince Yousopoff.

[L.]

  Did Alexandra ever  hed a lady in waiting who was from Serbia?

[lancashireladandre]

Another of Alexandra's ladies in waiting ( not just an honorary one although not part of the daily,innermost circle)was Princess Elisabeth N Obolensky. Lili as the unmarried Princess was known later made her way out of Russia and settled in Paris. More details are mentioned on a thread under that name on this section.

[dp5486]

I was curious if anyone knew more about the maid of honor Mlle. Olenina or Mme. Geringer. I've been unsuccessful finding anything on them.

[Thomas_Hesse]

Other ladies were Madelaine Zanotti, Mme Tudelberg, Princess Bariatinskaya (who left the court in the late 1890ies), Lili Dehn of course (tho unofficial), Olga Butzova.

As Princess of Hesse Alexandra had her own lady since 1888: Margarethe (Gretchen) Baroness Fabrice

[Rasputin]

I am unable to pinpoint the exact reference (possibly in one of Buxhoeveden's memoirs), but I recall that there were over 200 Maids-of-Honor of varying rank who served Alexandra. They could only serve the Court if they were unmarried. There names were not made public. However some who survived the Revolution in exile wrote about this phase in their lives in their memoirs.

Where I can find some memories of these Maids-of-Honor? Any links, please.

[ashdean]

Other ladies were Madelaine Zanotti, Mme Tudelberg, Princess Bariatinskaya (who left the court in the late 1890ies), Lili Dehn of course (tho unofficial), Olga Butzova.

As Princess of Hesse Alexandra had her own lady since 1888: Margarethe (Gretchen) Baroness Fabrice

Zanotti was a ladies maid not a maid of honour !

[Svetabel]

I was curious if anyone knew more about the maid of honor Mlle. Olenina or Mme. Geringer. I've been unsuccessful finding anything on them.

Maria Fedorovna Geringer (nee Adeloung) (1859-1905) was Ober-Kamer-Frau, a lady-maid in fact. She wrote memoirs, all her papers are in the Russian State Archives.

As fpr Mlle Olenina - probably you meant Anna Olenina (1808-88), a maid-of-honour of another Empress Alexandra Fedorovna , spouse of Nicholas I ?

[dp5486]

Thank you for the information on Mme. Geringer. I've only found passing references to her in books on the family.

The Mlle. Olenina that I was refering to was mentioned in the memoirs of Mossolov. He refers to those who were close to the empress and this included Countess Hendrikova, Princess Obolensky, and the Mlle. Olenina that I mentioned.

Thanks again!