Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg
Encyclopedia
Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg (Peter Friedrich Georg, Duke of Oldenburg) (21 November 1868 – 11 March 1924) was the first husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia
, the youngest sister of Tsar Nicholas II.
, the only child of Duke Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg
(1844–1932) and Eugénie Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg
(1845–1925). His mother was a granddaughter of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia
through Nicholas's daughter, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolayevna, and his father was a great-grandson of Tsar Paul I of Russia
through his paternal grandmother Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna. He was known by the name of "Petya".
, to the theatre and opera. His proposal of marriage the following year came as a surprise to Olga, who later explained, "I was so taken aback that all I could say was 'thank you'". She assumed that Oldenburg was pushed into proposing by his ambitious mother. Perhaps Olga accepted his proposal to gain independence from her mother, or avoid marriage into a foreign court. The marriage was announced in May 1901, and was unexpected by many, as Oldenburg had shown no prior interest in women. The Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark) wrote to her son, Tsar Nicholas II, "I am sure you won't BELIEVE what has happened. Olga is engaged to PETYA and BOTH are very happy. I had to consent, but it was all done so quickly and unexpectedly that I still cannot believe it." Tsar Nicholas replied to his mother, "...I cannot believe Olga is actually ENGAGED to Petya. They were probably both drunk yesterday. ... We both laughed so much reading your note that we have not recovered yet." A prenuptial agreement drawn up by a committee of the Tsar, the Oldenburg family, and government ministers, promised Olga an annuity of 100,000 rubles from the Tsar, and one million rubles to be deposited in a fund from which she could draw interest.
On 9 August 1901, they were married at Saint Petersburg in a grand ceremony attended by family, government ministers, foreign ambassadors, and courtiers. They honeymooned at the Oldenburg estate near Voronezh
, but the atmosphere was soured by a quarrel between Oldenburg and his father over gambling. Oldenburg was an inveterate and well-known gambler. The money he coaxed out of his wife was often lost at the table. In the fall of 1901, they traveled onto Biarritz
, where a fire at their hotel destroyed many of Oldenburg's uniforms and medals, including a specially-commissioned Danish Order of the Elephant
from Fabergé
. King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
lent them a yacht, in which they sailed to Sorrento
. On their return to Russia, they moved into a palatial 200-room house at 46 Sergievskaya street, Saint Petersburg
, made available to them by the Tsar.
Their marriage remained unconsummated, and Oldenburg was believed by family and friends to be homosexual. Two years after their marriage, Olga met a cavalry officer her own age, Nikolai Kulikovsky
, to whom she was attracted. She confronted Oldenburg and asked for a divorce
, which he refused with the qualification that he might reconsider after seven years. However, Oldenburg appointed Kulikovsky as an aide-de-camp
, and allowed him to live in the same residence as Oldenburg and the Grand Duchess on Sergievskaya street.
, after living separately for two years, Oldenburg's marriage to Olga was annulled on 16 October 1916. Olga married Kulikovsky the following month. After the Russian revolution of 1917
, Oldenburg and his mother managed to escape Russia, and settled in France. His second marriage was to Olga Vladimirovna Ratkova-Rognova (1878–1929), and took place on 3 May 1922. There were no children from either marriage.
An acquaintance, Senator A. A. Polovtsev, said Oldenburg "comes across as a sickly person". He was thought to be a hypochondriac, had a slender, delicate build, and preferred indoor activities to sports and outdoor pursuits. He died aged 55 in 1924 in exile in Antibes
, France
. Buried in the crypt of the Russian orthodox St. Michael the Archangel Church, Cannes
.
Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia was the youngest child of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. Her older brother was Tsar Nicholas II....
, the youngest sister of Tsar Nicholas II.
Early life
He was born in Saint PetersburgSaint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, the only child of Duke Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg
Duke Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg
Duke Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg was the second son of Duke Peter Georgievich of Oldenburg and his wife Princess Therese of Nassau-Weilburg. Though he had a German title and ancestry, Alexander and his siblings were born and raised in St...
(1844–1932) and Eugénie Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg
Princess Eugenia Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg
Princess Eugenia Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg, also known as Princess Evgenia Romanovskya, or Eugenia, Princess Romanovskaja was a member of the French House of Beauharnais, though she was born and raised in her mother's native country, Russia...
(1845–1925). His mother was a granddaughter of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
through Nicholas's daughter, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolayevna, and his father was a great-grandson of Tsar 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:...
through his paternal grandmother Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna. He was known by the name of "Petya".
Marriage
In 1900, he began to escort the 18-year-old Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882–1960), the youngest daughter of Tsar Alexander III of RussiaAlexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
, to the theatre and opera. His proposal of marriage the following year came as a surprise to Olga, who later explained, "I was so taken aback that all I could say was 'thank you'". She assumed that Oldenburg was pushed into proposing by his ambitious mother. Perhaps Olga accepted his proposal to gain independence from her mother, or avoid marriage into a foreign court. The marriage was announced in May 1901, and was unexpected by many, as Oldenburg had shown no prior interest in women. The Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark) wrote to her son, Tsar Nicholas II, "I am sure you won't BELIEVE what has happened. Olga is engaged to PETYA and BOTH are very happy. I had to consent, but it was all done so quickly and unexpectedly that I still cannot believe it." Tsar Nicholas replied to his mother, "...I cannot believe Olga is actually ENGAGED to Petya. They were probably both drunk yesterday. ... We both laughed so much reading your note that we have not recovered yet." A prenuptial agreement drawn up by a committee of the Tsar, the Oldenburg family, and government ministers, promised Olga an annuity of 100,000 rubles from the Tsar, and one million rubles to be deposited in a fund from which she could draw interest.
On 9 August 1901, they were married at Saint Petersburg in a grand ceremony attended by family, government ministers, foreign ambassadors, and courtiers. They honeymooned at the Oldenburg estate near Voronezh
Voronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
, but the atmosphere was soured by a quarrel between Oldenburg and his father over gambling. Oldenburg was an inveterate and well-known gambler. The money he coaxed out of his wife was often lost at the table. In the fall of 1901, they traveled onto Biarritz
Biarritz
Biarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers....
, where a fire at their hotel destroyed many of Oldenburg's uniforms and medals, including a specially-commissioned Danish Order of the Elephant
Order of the Elephant
The Order of the Elephant is the highest order of Denmark. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1849, is now almost exclusively bestowed on royalty and heads of state.- History :A Danish religious...
from Fabergé
Fabergé
Fabergé may refer to:*House of Fabergé, a Russian jewelry firm founded by Gustav Faberge in 1842*Fabergé workmaster, goldsmiths who produced jewelry for the House of Fabergé*Fabergé eggs, the most famous works of the House of Faberge...
. King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
lent them a yacht, in which they sailed to Sorrento
Sorrento
Sorrento is the name of many cities and towns:*Sorrento, Italy*Sorrento, Florida, United States*Sorrento, Louisiana, United States*Sorrento, Maine, United States*Sorrento, Victoria, a township on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia...
. On their return to Russia, they moved into a palatial 200-room house at 46 Sergievskaya street, Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, made available to them by the Tsar.
Their marriage remained unconsummated, and Oldenburg was believed by family and friends to be homosexual. Two years after their marriage, Olga met a cavalry officer her own age, Nikolai Kulikovsky
Nikolai Kulikovsky
Nikolai Alexandrovich Kulikovsky was the second husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia, the sister of Tsar Nicholas II and daughter of Tsar Alexander III....
, to whom she was attracted. She confronted Oldenburg and asked for a divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
, which he refused with the qualification that he might reconsider after seven years. However, Oldenburg appointed Kulikovsky 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...
, and allowed him to live in the same residence as Oldenburg and the Grand Duchess on Sergievskaya street.
Annulment
In the middle of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, after living separately for two years, Oldenburg's marriage to Olga was annulled on 16 October 1916. Olga married Kulikovsky the following month. After the Russian revolution of 1917
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
, Oldenburg and his mother managed to escape Russia, and settled in France. His second marriage was to Olga Vladimirovna Ratkova-Rognova (1878–1929), and took place on 3 May 1922. There were no children from either marriage.
An acquaintance, Senator A. A. Polovtsev, said Oldenburg "comes across as a sickly person". He was thought to be a hypochondriac, had a slender, delicate build, and preferred indoor activities to sports and outdoor pursuits. He died aged 55 in 1924 in exile in Antibes
Antibes
Antibes is a resort town in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It lies on the Mediterranean in the Côte d'Azur, located between Cannes and Nice. The town of Juan-les-Pins is within the commune of Antibes...
, 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...
. Buried in the crypt of the Russian orthodox St. Michael the Archangel Church, Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
.
Titles and styles
- 21 November 1868 – 11 March 1924 His Imperial Highness Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg
Ancestors
Sources
- Crawford, Donald; Crawford, Rosemary (1997). An Innocent Abroad. New York: Scribner. ISBN 0-684-83430-8
- Phenix, Patricia (1999). Olga Romanov: Russia's Last Grand Duchess. Viking/Penguin. ISBN 0-14028-086-3
- Vorres, Ian (2001) [1964]. The Last Grand Duchess. Toronto: Key Porter Books. ISBN 1-55263-302-0