Alexandra Pistohlkors
Encyclopedia
Alexandra Alexandrovna Pistohlkors,(1888–1968), née Taneyeva, was the younger daughter of noted Russian composer Alexander Taneyev
, sister of Anna Vyrubova
, and wife of Alexander Erikovich Pistohlkors
, who was the stepson of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia
.
Like her sister, Alexandra was for a time a devotee of the starets
Grigori Rasputin
.
"Sana was a very nice looking woman with a little porcelain face, and she produced the charming impression of a spoiled and self-centered child," recalled the singer Alexandra Belling.
Alexandra married Alexander Pistohlkors, a former Life Guards officer who was reportedly famous for his cruelty in putting down the rebellion following the Russian Revolution of 1905
. The couple had three daughters, Tatiana, Olga, and Alexandra, born in 1910, 1912, and 1914. Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia
was the godmother for the eldest daughter, Tatiana.
Alexandra and her husband were featured in a widely circulated portrait of Rasputin with admirers that was taken in his apartment in St. Petersburg in 1914.
At first the starets was a frequent visitor to the Pistohlkors in their home and Alexandra introduced Rasputin to many of her friends and relatives. Later, because Alexandra's mother-in-law, Olga
, detested Rasputin, the young couple had to meet with Rasputin in her sister Anna's house, though Alexandra was a frequent visitor to Rasputin's apartment without her husband. Alexandra was one of several society women who became followers of Rasputin. She also sent him telegrams, asking for his prayers or help. Rasputin persuaded some of his female followers "that they must not confess the sin of adultery, since that would only confuse their confessors, who would not understand it."
"I am very sick. I implore you to help. Sana," Alexandra wrote in a telegram to Rasputin in 1913. In another telegram, sent in April 1916, she wrote that she was "gloomily sick at heart" and "I beg for help."
Alexandra's sister-in-law, Marianne Pistohlkors
, has been implicated by some historians as one of the co-conspirators in the murder of Rasputin in December 1916.
Their daughter Olga Ramel (1912-2011) later settled in Sweden.
Alexander Taneyev
Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev was a Russian composer of the late Romantic era, specifically of the nationalist school. Among his best works were three string quartets, believed to have been composed between 1898–1900....
, sister of Anna Vyrubova
Anna Vyrubova
Anna Alexandrovna Vyrubova, née Taneyeva , was a lady-in-waiting, best friend and confidante to Tsaritsa Alexandra Fyodorovna.-Early life:...
, and wife of Alexander Erikovich Pistohlkors
Alexander Pistohlkors
Alexander Erikovich Pistohlkors, , was a Russian Life Guards officer who was known for his cruelty in putting down the rebellion following the Russian Revolution of 1905.-Background and connections:...
, who was the stepson of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia was the eighth child of Tsar Alexander II of Russia by his first wife Empress Maria Alexandrovna. His birth was commemorated by the naming of the city of Pavlodar in Kazakhstan...
.
Like her sister, Alexandra was for a time a devotee of the starets
Starets
A starets is an elder of a Russian Orthodox monastery who functions as venerated adviser and teacher. Elders or spiritual fathers are charismatic spiritual leaders whose wisdom stems from God as obtained from ascetic experience...
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox Christian and mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their only son Alexei...
.
Background
Alexandra was the third and youngest child of Taneyev and his wife Nadezhda Illarionovna Tolstaya. Her nickname was Sana."Sana was a very nice looking woman with a little porcelain face, and she produced the charming impression of a spoiled and self-centered child," recalled the singer Alexandra Belling.
Alexandra married Alexander Pistohlkors, a former Life Guards officer who was reportedly famous for his cruelty in putting down the rebellion following the Russian Revolution of 1905
Russian Revolution of 1905
The 1905 Russian Revolution was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire. Some of it was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies...
. The couple had three daughters, Tatiana, Olga, and Alexandra, born in 1910, 1912, and 1914. Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia , , was the second daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, the last monarch of Russia, and of Tsarina Alexandra...
was the godmother for the eldest daughter, Tatiana.
Relationship with Rasputin
At first the starets was a frequent visitor to the Pistohlkors in their home and Alexandra introduced Rasputin to many of her friends and relatives. Later, because Alexandra's mother-in-law, Olga
Olga Valerianovna Paley
Princess Olga Valerianovna Paley , was the second wife of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia. -Early life and first marriage:...
, detested Rasputin, the young couple had to meet with Rasputin in her sister Anna's house, though Alexandra was a frequent visitor to Rasputin's apartment without her husband. Alexandra was one of several society women who became followers of Rasputin. She also sent him telegrams, asking for his prayers or help. Rasputin persuaded some of his female followers "that they must not confess the sin of adultery, since that would only confuse their confessors, who would not understand it."
"I am very sick. I implore you to help. Sana," Alexandra wrote in a telegram to Rasputin in 1913. In another telegram, sent in April 1916, she wrote that she was "gloomily sick at heart" and "I beg for help."
Alexandra's sister-in-law, Marianne Pistohlkors
Marianne Pistohlkors
Marianne Pistohlkors, born Marianna Erikovna von Pistohlkors, , was a suspected co-conspirator in the murder of Grigori Rasputin.-Early life:...
, has been implicated by some historians as one of the co-conspirators in the murder of Rasputin in December 1916.
Life following the Revolution
Alarmed by the worsening political situation, Alexandra and Alexander Pistohlkors fled the country for Helsinki, Finland in 1916. The von Pistohlkors family had Baltic estates, among them a castle in Latvia, where they lived following the Russian Revolution. Alexandra's sister Anna Vyrubova also later emigrated to Finland, where she became a nun after the Revolution.Their daughter Olga Ramel (1912-2011) later settled in Sweden.