Marianne Pistohlkors
Encyclopedia
Marianne Pistohlkors, born Marianna Erikovna von Pistohlkors, (June 30, 1890 - May 14, 1976), was a suspected co-conspirator in the murder of Grigori Rasputin
.
and her first husband Erik Augustinovich von Pistohlkors. Her mother divorced her father when she was a small child, causing a scandal in society, and began an affair with the widowed Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia
. Her mother married the grand duke some years later without the permission of Tsar Nicholas II
. Her stepbrother through her mother's second marriage was Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich of Russia
, another suspected co-conspirator in Rasputin's murder. Her older brother, Alexander Erikovich Pistohlkors
, was married to Alexandra Taneyeva
, a supporter of Grigori Rasputin and sister of the Tsarina's lady in waiting and Rasputin supporter Anna Vyrubova
.
in the weeks before the murder. Pistohlkors' nickname was Malanya.
She, like Grand Duke Dimitri, was later arrested by the Tsar's secret police following the murder. However, the Tsar later ordered her release Sympathies were on Pistohlkors' side, according to her mother's memoirs, Memories of Russia 1916-1919. "When we arrived at 8 Theatre Square, where Marianne lived, we were stopped by two soldiers who let us through only after taking down our names. All the highest society was at Marianne's! Some ladies she barely knew arrived in order to express sympathy with her. Officers came up to kiss her hand." According to one author, the Tsar did not want to more public displays of sympathy for the murderers of Rasputin. He also knew that his sickly uncle Grand Duke Paul was taking Dimitri's involvement in the murder and punishment of exile to the Persian front badly and did not want to add to the grand duke's suffering by also charging his stepdaughter. None of the male co-conspirators ever publicly identified Pistohlkors or the other woman, ballerina and film star Vera Karalli
.
. She later married Count Nikolai de Zarnekau. She had previously been married to a man named Derfelden. Her marriage to Count Zarnekau later ended in divorce 1930.
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...
.
Early life
Pistohlkors was the daughter of Olga Valerianovna PaleyOlga Valerianovna Paley
Princess Olga Valerianovna Paley , was the second wife of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia. -Early life and first marriage:...
and her first husband Erik Augustinovich von Pistohlkors. Her mother divorced her father when she was a small child, causing a scandal in society, and began an affair with the widowed 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...
. Her mother married the grand duke some years later without the permission of Tsar Nicholas II
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...
. Her stepbrother through her mother's second marriage was Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich of Russia
Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia
Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia was a Russian imperial dynast. He is known for being involved in the murder of the mystic peasant faith healer Grigori Rasputin, who he felt held undue sway over Tsar Nicholas II.-Early life:Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich was born at Ilinskoe near Moscow, the...
, another suspected co-conspirator in Rasputin's murder. Her older brother, 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:...
, was married to Alexandra Taneyeva
Alexandra Pistohlkors
Alexandra Alexandrovna Pistohlkors,, 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...
, a supporter of Grigori Rasputin and sister of the Tsarina's lady in waiting and Rasputin supporter Anna Vyrubova
Anna Vyrubova
Anna Alexandrovna Vyrubova, née Taneyeva , was a lady-in-waiting, best friend and confidante to Tsaritsa Alexandra Fyodorovna.-Early life:...
.
Murder of Rasputin
Pistohlkors was allegedly one of two women and several men present in the palace belonging to Felix Yussupov on the night that Rasputin was lured there in December 1916. "Malanya's also taking part," Yussupov wrote to his wife Princess Irina of RussiaPrincess Irina of Russia
Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia was the only daughter of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia...
in the weeks before the murder. Pistohlkors' nickname was Malanya.
She, like Grand Duke Dimitri, was later arrested by the Tsar's secret police following the murder. However, the Tsar later ordered her release Sympathies were on Pistohlkors' side, according to her mother's memoirs, Memories of Russia 1916-1919. "When we arrived at 8 Theatre Square, where Marianne lived, we were stopped by two soldiers who let us through only after taking down our names. All the highest society was at Marianne's! Some ladies she barely knew arrived in order to express sympathy with her. Officers came up to kiss her hand." According to one author, the Tsar did not want to more public displays of sympathy for the murderers of Rasputin. He also knew that his sickly uncle Grand Duke Paul was taking Dimitri's involvement in the murder and punishment of exile to the Persian front badly and did not want to add to the grand duke's suffering by also charging his stepdaughter. None of the male co-conspirators ever publicly identified Pistohlkors or the other woman, ballerina and film star Vera Karalli
Vera Karalli
Vera Alexeyevna Karalli was a notable Russian ballet dancer, choreographer and silent film actress during the early years of the twentieth century.-Early life and career:...
.
Exile
Pistohlkors escaped to the west following the Russian Revolution of 1917Russian 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...
. She later married Count Nikolai de Zarnekau. She had previously been married to a man named Derfelden. Her marriage to Count Zarnekau later ended in divorce 1930.