Catherine Chislova
Encyclopedia
Catherine Gavrilovna Chislova (Russian: Екатерина Гавриловна Числова) (September 21, 1846 – December 13, 1889) was a Russian ballerina. She was the mistress of Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich; they had five children.
. She was an unrivalled partner to the famous Felix Kschessinsky in the Polish mazurka.
In the mid 1860s, Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, the third son of Emperor Nicholas I
, fell in love with her and they became lovers. Although the Grand Duke was married, they have an open affair that caused a great scandal. He installed her in a fashionable house situated directly across from his own palace in the capital. When Chislova wanted her paramour to visit, she would light two candles and set them on her windowsill, where the Grand Duke could see them from the windows of his study. In 1868, Catherine gave birth to the first of their five children.
Tsar Alexander II
advised his brother to be more discrete and the couple traveled to San Remo and the Crimea. In 1881, the Grand Duke’s wife, Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna, retired to a convent in Kiev
. Catherine Chislova was ambitious and nagged Nicholas Nikolaievich to provide for her and their family. He arranged a change of class into the gentry for Catherine, and the couple’s illegitimate children were granted the surname Nikolaiev on December 8, 1882 by Tsar Alexander III of Russia
.
Unable to obtain a divorce, Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich hoped to survive his wife and then marry his mistress. However, Catherine Chislova died unexpectedly in Crimea on December 13, 1889. She was buried in the monastery of Saint Serge in St Petersburg under the name Catherine Gavrilovna Nikolaiev. The Grand Duke had cancer and survived her by only two years. The couple’s two sons were elevated to the Russian nobility in 1894.
The eldest daughter Olga, who resembled her grandfather Tsar Nicholas I
, married in 1892 Prince Michael Mikhailovich Cantacuzene (1858–1927). They had two daughters: Princess Irina Cantacuzene (1895–1945) and Princess Olga Cantacuzene (1899–1983). After the Russian Revolution, Olga Nikolaievna and her family lived in France
.
Validimir, the eldest son, followed a career in the army. In 1899, he joined a Cavalry Regiment. By 1913, he was aide-de-camp to Tsar Nicholas II
. During World War I, he commanded a Cavalry regiment. Married four times, he divorced his first wife, Vera Popov, in 1907. After his second wife, Eleonore Lencione, died in 1913, Vladimir married his brother’s widow, Olga Zabotkine. He survived the Russian revolution and settled in France, but Olga stayed behind and died during the famines in the Soviet Union
. In exile, Vladimir married Marina Zabotkine, Olga’s sister.
Catherine Nikolaevna had one daughter from her marriage to Nicholas Korevo; after they divorced, she married in 1914 Ivan Alexandrovich Persiani, who worked at the Russian Embassy in Rome
. After the Russian revolution, Catherine Nikolaievna lived in exile. She died in Belgrade
during World War II
.
Nicholas Nikolaevich followed a military career under the direction of his uncle Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich of Russia
, eventually becoming his aide-de-camp
. In 1894, he and his brother were admitted into the Russian nobility. He married Olga Zabotkine and they had two daughters. Nicholas died young. His widow eventually married Nicholas’ brother. His two daughters emigrated to Western Europe.
Life
Catherine Chislova was born on September 21, 1846, the daughter of Gabriel Chislov. She became a danceuse with the Imperial BalletMariinsky Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet is a classical ballet company based at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world's leading ballet companies...
. She was an unrivalled partner to the famous Felix Kschessinsky in the Polish mazurka.
In the mid 1860s, Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, the third son of Emperor Nicholas I
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...
, fell in love with her and they became lovers. Although the Grand Duke was married, they have an open affair that caused a great scandal. He installed her in a fashionable house situated directly across from his own palace in the capital. When Chislova wanted her paramour to visit, she would light two candles and set them on her windowsill, where the Grand Duke could see them from the windows of his study. In 1868, Catherine gave birth to the first of their five children.
Tsar Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
advised his brother to be more discrete and the couple traveled to San Remo and the Crimea. In 1881, the Grand Duke’s wife, Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna, retired to a convent in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. Catherine Chislova was ambitious and nagged Nicholas Nikolaievich to provide for her and their family. He arranged a change of class into the gentry for Catherine, and the couple’s illegitimate children were granted the surname Nikolaiev on December 8, 1882 by Tsar Alexander III of Russia
Alexander 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:...
.
Unable to obtain a divorce, Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich hoped to survive his wife and then marry his mistress. However, Catherine Chislova died unexpectedly in Crimea on December 13, 1889. She was buried in the monastery of Saint Serge in St Petersburg under the name Catherine Gavrilovna Nikolaiev. The Grand Duke had cancer and survived her by only two years. The couple’s two sons were elevated to the Russian nobility in 1894.
Children
- Olga Nikolaevna Nikolaeva, (June 10, 1868 - August 31, 1950) m. Prince Michael Cantacuzene
- Vladimir Nikolaevich Nikolaev (June 4, 1873 - January 28, 1942)
- Catherine Nikolaevna Nikolaeva (1874 - January 26, 1940)
- Nicholas Nikolaevich Nikolaev (April 16, 1875 - January 9, 1902)
- Galina Nikolaevna Nikolaeva (January 28, 1877 - August 3, 1878)
Lives of Chislova's children
Catherine Chislova’s youngest daughter, Galina, died in childhood. Her remaining four children survived her. They were well provided by their father and, from 1882, bore the last name Nikolaiev.The eldest daughter Olga, who resembled her grandfather Tsar Nicholas I
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...
, married in 1892 Prince Michael Mikhailovich Cantacuzene (1858–1927). They had two daughters: Princess Irina Cantacuzene (1895–1945) and Princess Olga Cantacuzene (1899–1983). After the Russian Revolution, Olga Nikolaievna and her family lived in 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...
.
Validimir, the eldest son, followed a career in the army. In 1899, he joined a Cavalry Regiment. By 1913, he was aide-de-camp to 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...
. During World War I, he commanded a Cavalry regiment. Married four times, he divorced his first wife, Vera Popov, in 1907. After his second wife, Eleonore Lencione, died in 1913, Vladimir married his brother’s widow, Olga Zabotkine. He survived the Russian revolution and settled in France, but Olga stayed behind and died during the famines in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. In exile, Vladimir married Marina Zabotkine, Olga’s sister.
Catherine Nikolaevna had one daughter from her marriage to Nicholas Korevo; after they divorced, she married in 1914 Ivan Alexandrovich Persiani, who worked at the Russian Embassy in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. After the Russian revolution, Catherine Nikolaievna lived in exile. She died in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Nicholas Nikolaevich followed a military career under the direction of his uncle Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich of Russia
Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich of Russia
Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia was the fourth son and seventh child of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Charlotte of Prussia...
, eventually becoming his 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...
. In 1894, he and his brother were admitted into the Russian nobility. He married Olga Zabotkine and they had two daughters. Nicholas died young. His widow eventually married Nicholas’ brother. His two daughters emigrated to Western Europe.