Olga Valerianovna Paley
Encyclopedia
Princess Olga Valerianovna Paley (Ольга Валериановна Палей) (2 December 1865–2 November 1929), was the second wife of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia.
) in 1884, by whom she had four children:
to marry Olga, but he refused.
In 1902, Paul married her morganatically, but the marriage was not approved, and she was given no titles. In 1904, Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria
granted Olga the title of Countess von Hohenfelsen. Nicholas II later acquiesced to the marriage and made her Princess Paley.
Olga and Paul had three children:
, after her son and her husband were executed by the revolutionary government. She died in exile in Paris
on 2 December 1929, at the age of 64.
Early life and first marriage
She was born Olga Karnovitsch at St. Petersburg, the daughter of Valerian Karnovich and his wife Olga Vasilyevna Meszaros. She married to Erich Gerhard von Pistohlkors (1853–1935 RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
) in 1884, by whom she had four children:
- Alexander Erikovich von PistohlkorsAlexander PistohlkorsAlexander 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:...
(1885–1944), who married Alexandra TaneyevaAlexandra PistohlkorsAlexandra 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...
. - Olga Erikovna von Pistohlkors (1886–1887),
- Olga Erikovna von Pistohlkors (1888–1963), married in 1906 to Alexander, Count Belzig von Kreutz and 1922 to Sergius FürstFürstFürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz...
Kudaschew - MariannaMarianne PistohlkorsMarianne Pistohlkors, born Marianna Erikovna von Pistohlkors, , was a suspected co-conspirator in the murder of Grigori Rasputin.-Early life:...
, or Marianne, von Pistohlkors (1890–1976), who married 1908 Peter Durnowo, 1912 Christoph von Derfelden and 1917 Count Nicolaus von Zarnekau.
Scandal of second marriage
She later began an affair with Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia, causing a great society scandal, and bore him a child, Vladimir. Her marriage to Pistohlkors was terminated by divorce, and Paul asked permission of 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...
to marry Olga, but he refused.
In 1902, Paul married her morganatically, but the marriage was not approved, and she was given no titles. In 1904, Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria
Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria
Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria , was the de facto ruler of Bavaria from 1886 to 1912, due to the incapacity of his nephews, King Ludwig II and King Otto.-Early life:...
granted Olga the title of Countess von Hohenfelsen. Nicholas II later acquiesced to the marriage and made her Princess Paley.
Olga and Paul had three children:
- Prince Vladimir Pavlovich Paley (1897–1918), a poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. - Princess Irina Pavlovna PaleyIrina Pavlovna PaleyPrincess Irina Pavlovna Paley, , was the daughter of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia and his second wife Olga Valerianovna Paley.-Early life:...
(1903–1990), married her cousin Prince Feodor Alexandrovich and later Count Hubert Conquere de Monbrison. - Princess Natalia Pavlovna Paley (1905–1981), a fashion model and film actress, married firstly Lucien Lelong and secondly John Chapman Wilson.
Exile
Olga left Russia in 1920 with her two daughters to FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, after her son and her husband were executed by the revolutionary government. She died in exile 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...
on 2 December 1929, at the age of 64.