Dimitri Obolensky
Encyclopedia
Sir Dimitri Obolensky was born Prince Dmitriy Dmitrievich Obolensky to Prince Dimitri Alexandrovich Obolensky (1882–1964) and Countess Maria Shuvalov (1894–1973). He was descended from Rurik
, Igor, Svyatoslav
, St Vladimir of Kiev
, St Michael of Chernigov
, and Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov
. However, as one of his students has written, "he was a sober enough scholar to know that Riurik may not actually have existed."
After the Revolution, the Royal Navy
helped Obolensky and his family to escape from Russia, together with the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna and the Grand Duke Nicholas
. Obolensky eventually became a British subject in 1948. In 1988 he returned to Russia as an official delegate to the Sobor (Council) of the Russian Orthodox Church
convoked to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the conversion of Russia to Christianity
.
Obolensky was educated at Lynchmere Preparatory School, Eastbourne, and at the Lycée Pasteur
in Neuilly-sur-Seine
before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he distinguished himself with a Blue
for lawn tennis.
Obolensky became a distinguished academic. He was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
(1942–48, Honorary Fellow 1991-2001) and Lecturer in Slavonic Studies, University of Cambridge
(1946–48). He became Reader in Russian and Balkan Medieval History, University of Oxford
(1949–61) and subsequently Professor of Russian and Balkan History (1961–85, Emeritus 1985-2001). He was a Student, Christ Church, Oxford
(1950–85, Emeritus 1985-2001). He was Vice-President of the Keston Institute, Oxford.
Obolensky's most enduring achievement was The Byzantine commonwealth
(1971), a large-scale synthesis of the medieval history of eastern Europe. Other major studies include The Bogomils: a study in Balkan neo-Manichaeism (1946) and Six Byzantine Portraits (1988).
Obolensky was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
(1974, Vice-President 1983-85) and appointed Knight Bachelor
(1984). He was a member of the Athenaeum
.
Obolensky married Elisabeth Lopukhin in 1947; the marriage was dissolved in 1989. He died without issue.
Obolensky's memorial service was held in Oxford Cathedral
, and he is buried at Wolvercote Cemetery
.
Rurik
Rurik, or Riurik , was a semilegendary 9th-century Varangian who founded the Rurik dynasty which ruled Kievan Rus and later some of its successor states, most notably the Tsardom of Russia, until 1598....
, Igor, Svyatoslav
Sviatoslav I of Kiev
Sviatoslav I Igorevich ; , also spelled Svyatoslav, was a prince of Rus...
, St Vladimir of Kiev
Vladimir I of Kiev
Vladimir Sviatoslavich the Great Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь Old Norse as Valdamarr Sveinaldsson, , Vladimir, , Volodymyr, was a grand prince of Kiev, ruler of Kievan Rus' in .Vladimir's father was the prince Sviatoslav of the Rurik dynasty...
, St Michael of Chernigov
Michael of Chernigov
Saint Michael of Chernigov or Mikhail Vsevolodovich was a Rus' prince...
, and Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov
Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov
Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov , was a Russian prince and field-marshal, renowned for his success in the Napoleonic wars, and most famous for his participation in the Caucasian War from 1844 to 1853....
. However, as one of his students has written, "he was a sober enough scholar to know that Riurik may not actually have existed."
After the Revolution, the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
helped Obolensky and his family to escape from Russia, together with the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna and the Grand Duke Nicholas
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaevich the younger
Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolayevich Romanov of Russia was a Russian general in World War I...
. Obolensky eventually became a British subject in 1948. In 1988 he returned to Russia as an official delegate to the Sobor (Council) of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
convoked to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the conversion of Russia to Christianity
Baptism of Kievan Rus'
The Christianization of Kievan Rus took place in several stages. In early 867, Patriarch Photius of Constantinople announced to other Orthodox patriarchs that the Rus', baptised by his bishop, took to Christianity with particular enthusiasm...
.
Obolensky was educated at Lynchmere Preparatory School, Eastbourne, and at the Lycée Pasteur
Lycée Pasteur
The Lycée Pasteur is a French state-run secondary school in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on the outskirts of Paris. It accept students from collège through to classes préparatoires .Built in the grounds of the former chateau de Neuilly, the lycée is named in...
in Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he distinguished himself with a Blue
University Sporting Blue
A Blue is an award earned by sportsmen and women at a university and some schools for competition at the highest level. The awarding of Blues began at Oxford and Cambridge Universities...
for lawn tennis.
Obolensky became a distinguished academic. He was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
(1942–48, Honorary Fellow 1991-2001) and Lecturer in Slavonic Studies, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
(1946–48). He became Reader in Russian and Balkan Medieval History, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(1949–61) and subsequently Professor of Russian and Balkan History (1961–85, Emeritus 1985-2001). He was a Student, Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
(1950–85, Emeritus 1985-2001). He was Vice-President of the Keston Institute, Oxford.
Obolensky's most enduring achievement was The Byzantine commonwealth
Byzantine commonwealth
Byzantine Commonwealth is a term coined by 20th century historians to refer to the area where Byzantine liturgical tradition and general cultural influence was spread during the Middle Ages by Byzantine missionaries...
(1971), a large-scale synthesis of the medieval history of eastern Europe. Other major studies include The Bogomils: a study in Balkan neo-Manichaeism (1946) and Six Byzantine Portraits (1988).
Obolensky was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
(1974, Vice-President 1983-85) and appointed Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
(1984). He was a member of the Athenaeum
Athenaeum Club, London
The Athenaeum Club, usually just referred to as the Athenaeum, is a notable London club with its Clubhouse located at 107 Pall Mall, London, England, at the corner of Waterloo Place....
.
Obolensky married Elisabeth Lopukhin in 1947; the marriage was dissolved in 1989. He died without issue.
Obolensky's memorial service was held in Oxford Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
, and he is buried at Wolvercote Cemetery
Wolvercote Cemetery
Wolvercote Cemetery is a cemetery close to the north Oxford suburb of Wolvercote, England, off the Banbury Road. Unusually, this single cemetery is divided into areas to accommodate graves of the Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as all categories of Christians. Many Russians, Poles and other...
.
External links
- Anthony Bryer, Obituary, The Independent (31 December 2001)
- Michael Bourdeaux, 'Sir Dimitri Obolensky: Distinguished scholar of Byzantium whose infectious enthusiasm drew students to the fields of Russian and Balkan history', The Guardian (4 January 2002)
- Robin Milner-Gulland, 'Professor Sir Dimitri Obolensky, 1918-2002', Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies