Alexander Georgievich, 7th Duke of Leuchtenberg
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Alexander Georgievich, 7th Duke of Leuchtenberg, also known as Prince Alexander Georgievich Romanovsky or less commonly Alexander de Beauharnais (13 November 1881 – 26 September 1942) was the only son of George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg
by his first wife Duchess Therese of Oldenburg. He was a descendant of Paul I of Russia
from both of his parents.
by his first wife Duchess Therese of Oldenburg. Like his father, Alexander was styled His Imperial Highness from birth. His mother died on 19 April 1883, leaving a widow and young son. His father would not remarry for six years, until he caught Princess Anastasia of Montenegro's eye at her sister Milica's wedding. They soon married and produced two children, Sergei and Elena.
to the Russian emperor. Later he became attached to the Fourth Battalion of the Chasseurs of the Guard of the Imperial Family.
with American Marjorie Gould, a daughter of wealthy railroad executive George Jay Gould I
. They reported Alexander met Marjorie the previous summer in Paris
, and that his father later approached George Gould and asked for his daughter's hand for his son. One stated Alexander's father "would not sanction a marriage merely for love, and would insist that the Prince's bride must bring with her a fortune suitable to the rank of an Imperial Princess". George Gould and others put down these rumors vehemently, stating there the two were mere friends and there was no engagement.
In 1912, Alexander was reported to have gained the reluctant consent of Emperor Nicholas
to marry the wealthy Marriane Friedlander Fuld, but only on the condition that the union would be considered unequal, with none of his titles being passed onto his wife or possible children. Despite being the senior descendant of Eugene de Beauharnais
(son of Empress Josephine), Alexander was far from rich, and served as a captain of the Russian Hussars of the guard and as an aide-de-camp
to the Emperor. He was however the principal heir to his grandfather.
Alexander later morganatically married to Nadezhda (or Nadejda) Nicolaevna Caralli on 22 January 1917 in Petrograd.
and his family. Several days after Nicholas' abdication on 15 March 1917, Alexander visited Muriel Buchanan, the daughter of Sir George Buchanan
, British ambassador to the Russian court, with the hopes of gaining her father's help. She noticed that the duke seem distracted and somehow different, "then I realized suddenly that he had discarded all his decorations, and no longer wore the golden aiguilettes. Russia had no Emperor now, I remembered". Alexander said he had come to urge her father, Sir George, to take swift action and get the tsar and his family out of Russia. He continued that the family was in "the gravest danger", and that if they did not leave soon, it would be too late to get them away and save them from possible disaster. Muriel subsequently called her father over, where he and Alexander discussed the situation; Sir George agreed to do all he could, but stated he had already sent several messages to London warning of the dangers.
In 1918, the year the family was murdered, Alexander traveled to Berlin
and tried to get the help of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, who was a cousin of Nicholas'; in this attempt, the duke tried to persuade Nicholas to agree to a plan based on German help. Alexander was in favor of spiriting the family away to Berlin, but Nicholas refused, causing rumors that Wilhelm's government was considering "kidnapping the Tsar and his family and bringing them to Germany". Empress Alexandra insisted she "would rather die in Russia than be rescued by the Germans". In the end, nothing came of these plans, as monarchist groups could not decide whether to restore Nicholas or his son Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich.
Near the end of 1917, while lodging with Prince Felix Yusupov
, Alexander was arrested by Bolshevik
authorities, along with four or five prominent members of the monarchical party. In 1919, a Bolshevik
wireless message sent to The Washington Post
asserted that after a meeting of Russian monarchists in Siberia
, Alexander was offered and accepted the Russian throne, though no further reports confirmed this.
, France
. He was succeeded as Duke of Leuchtenberg
by his younger half-brother Sergei.
George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg
George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg, also known as Prince Georgii Romanovsky or Georges de Beauharnais was the youngest son of Maximilian de Beauharnais, 3rd Duke of Leuchtenberg and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia.-Family and early life:George's father Maximilian de...
by his first wife Duchess Therese of Oldenburg. He was a descendant of Paul I of Russia
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
from both of his parents.
Family and early life
Alexander Georgievich ("Sandro") was born on 13 November 1881, as the only surviving child of George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of LeuchtenbergGeorge Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg
George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg, also known as Prince Georgii Romanovsky or Georges de Beauharnais was the youngest son of Maximilian de Beauharnais, 3rd Duke of Leuchtenberg and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia.-Family and early life:George's father Maximilian de...
by his first wife Duchess Therese of Oldenburg. Like his father, Alexander was styled His Imperial Highness from birth. His mother died on 19 April 1883, leaving a widow and young son. His father would not remarry for six years, until he caught Princess Anastasia of Montenegro's eye at her sister Milica's wedding. They soon married and produced two children, Sergei and Elena.
Military career
Alexander served as a sub-Lieutenant of the Hussars of the guard, and as an aide-de-campAide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Russian emperor. Later he became attached to the Fourth Battalion of the Chasseurs of the Guard of the Imperial Family.
Marriage
In 1909, Alexander featured in many newspapers after rumors spread that he would enter into a morganatic marriageMorganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
with American Marjorie Gould, a daughter of wealthy railroad executive George Jay Gould I
George Jay Gould I
George Jay Gould I was a financier and the son of Jay Gould. He was himself a railroad executive, leading both the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad and the Western Pacific Railroad ....
. They reported Alexander met Marjorie the previous summer in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and that his father later approached George Gould and asked for his daughter's hand for his son. One stated Alexander's father "would not sanction a marriage merely for love, and would insist that the Prince's bride must bring with her a fortune suitable to the rank of an Imperial Princess". George Gould and others put down these rumors vehemently, stating there the two were mere friends and there was no engagement.
In 1912, Alexander was reported to have gained the reluctant consent of Emperor Nicholas
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
to marry the wealthy Marriane Friedlander Fuld, but only on the condition that the union would be considered unequal, with none of his titles being passed onto his wife or possible children. Despite being the senior descendant of Eugene de Beauharnais
Eugène de Beauharnais
Eugène Rose de Beauharnais, Prince Français, Prince of Venice, Viceroy of the Kingdom of Italy, Hereditary Grand Duke of Frankfurt, 1st Duke of Leuchtenberg and 1st Prince of Eichstätt ad personam was the first child and only son of Alexandre, Vicomte de Beauharnais and Joséphine Tascher de la...
(son of Empress Josephine), Alexander was far from rich, and served as a captain of the Russian Hussars of the guard and as an aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Emperor. He was however the principal heir to his grandfather.
Alexander later morganatically married to Nadezhda (or Nadejda) Nicolaevna Caralli on 22 January 1917 in Petrograd.
Russian revolution
As he was closely related to the Russian royal family, Alexander made several attempts to save Tsar Nicholas IINicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
and his family. Several days after Nicholas' abdication on 15 March 1917, Alexander visited Muriel Buchanan, the daughter of Sir George Buchanan
George Buchanan (diplomat)
Sir George William Buchanan GCB GCMG GCVO PC was a British diplomat. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, he was the son of British Ambassador Sir Andrew Buchanan, Bt.....
, British ambassador to the Russian court, with the hopes of gaining her father's help. She noticed that the duke seem distracted and somehow different, "then I realized suddenly that he had discarded all his decorations, and no longer wore the golden aiguilettes. Russia had no Emperor now, I remembered". Alexander said he had come to urge her father, Sir George, to take swift action and get the tsar and his family out of Russia. He continued that the family was in "the gravest danger", and that if they did not leave soon, it would be too late to get them away and save them from possible disaster. Muriel subsequently called her father over, where he and Alexander discussed the situation; Sir George agreed to do all he could, but stated he had already sent several messages to London warning of the dangers.
In 1918, the year the family was murdered, Alexander traveled to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and tried to get the help of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, who was a cousin of Nicholas'; in this attempt, the duke tried to persuade Nicholas to agree to a plan based on German help. Alexander was in favor of spiriting the family away to Berlin, but Nicholas refused, causing rumors that Wilhelm's government was considering "kidnapping the Tsar and his family and bringing them to Germany". Empress Alexandra insisted she "would rather die in Russia than be rescued by the Germans". In the end, nothing came of these plans, as monarchist groups could not decide whether to restore Nicholas or his son Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich.
Near the end of 1917, while lodging with Prince Felix Yusupov
Felix Yusupov
Prince Felix Felixovich Yusupov, Count Sumarokov-Elston , was best known for participating in the murder of Grigori Rasputin, the faith healer who was said to have influenced decisions of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna.-Biography:...
, Alexander was arrested by Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
authorities, along with four or five prominent members of the monarchical party. In 1919, a Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
wireless message sent to The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
asserted that after a meeting of Russian monarchists in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Alexander was offered and accepted the Russian throne, though no further reports confirmed this.
Death
Alexander died in exile on 26 September 1942 in Salies-de-BéarnSalies-de-Béarn
Salies-de-Béarn is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.The name comes from its naturally occurring saline water...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was succeeded as Duke of Leuchtenberg
Duke of Leuchtenberg
Duke of Leuchtenberg was a title created by Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria and awarded to his son Maximilian Philipp Hieronymus. Little is known about this title until its re-creation by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria on 14 November 1817 and awarded to his son-in-law Eugène de Beauharnais...
by his younger half-brother Sergei.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 13 November 1881 – 16 May 1912: His Imperial Highness Prince Alexander of Leuchtenberg (also known as Prince Alexander Georgievich Romanovsky)
- 16 May 1912 – 26 September 1942: His Imperial Highness The Duke of Leuchtenberg
Honours
- Order of Saint Andrew (1881)
- Order of St. Alexander NevskyOrder of St. Alexander NevskyThe Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was an order of chivalry of the Russian Empire.-History:The introduction of the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was planned by Emperor Peter I of Russia...
(1901) - Order of the White EagleOrder of the White EagleThe Order of the White Eagle is Poland's highest decoration awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. It was officially instituted on November 1, 1705 by Augustus II the Strong and bestowed on eight of his supporters: four Polish magnates, three Russian field marshals , and one...
(1901) - Order of St. AnnaOrder of St. AnnaThe Order of St. Anna ) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia...
(1901) - Order of St. Stanislaus (1901)