Grand Duke Peter Nicolaievich of Russia
Encyclopedia
Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia (10 January 1864 – 17 January 1931) was a member of the Russian Imperial Family.
He was born in Saint Petersburg
. As was the custom for Russian Grand Dukes (the title applied to all sons and grandsons of a Russian Emperor), the Grand Duke Peter served in the Russian army as a Lt.-General and Adjutant-General.
On 26 July 1889, he married Princess
Milica of Montenegro
(1866 – 1951), daughter of King Nicholas I of Montenegro
(1841 – 1921). The Grand Duke and Duchess had four children:
. They are credited with introducing first a charlatan
mystic
named merely Philippe, and then, with graver consequences, Grigori Rasputin
(1869–1916) to the Imperial family. Prince Felix Yussupov (1887–1967) — who was their neighbour in Koreiz
— once described Znamenka, the Grand Duke and Duchess's palace, as "the central point of the powers of evil". This was later to be a widely held belief within the higher echelons of the divided Russian court. The Dowager Empress Marie firmly believed that the couple plotted with Rasputin and others to gain influence and favours through the neurotic Empress Alexandra (1872–1918). However, by 1914, Alexandra herself referred to them as "the black family" and felt herself to be manipulated by them.
to the south of France. Here Grand Duke Peter Nicholaievich died at Cap d'Antibes, near Antibes
on 17 June 1931. His wife died in Alexandria
, Egypt
in September 1951.
Early life and marriage
Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich was the second son of Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich the Elder (1831 – 1891) and Duchess Alexandra of Oldenburg (1838 – 1900).He was born in 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...
. As was the custom for Russian Grand Dukes (the title applied to all sons and grandsons of a Russian Emperor), the Grand Duke Peter served in the Russian army as a Lt.-General and Adjutant-General.
On 26 July 1889, he married Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Milica of Montenegro
Milica of Montenegro
Princess Milica Petrović-Njegoš, also known as Grand Duchess Militza, was a Montenegrin princess. She was the daughter of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro and his wife, Milena Vukotić...
(1866 – 1951), daughter of King Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
(1841 – 1921). The Grand Duke and Duchess had four children:
- Princess Marina Petrovna of RussiaPrincess Marina Petrovna of RussiaPrincess Marina Petrovna of Russia was a daughter of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia and his wife Grand Duchess Militza Nicholaevna, born Princess of Montenegro...
(1892 – 1981) - Prince Roman Petrovich of RussiaPrince Roman Petrovich of RussiaPrince Roman Petrovich of Russia was a member of the House of Romanov.-Russian prince:Prince Roman Petrovich was born in the Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg the only son of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia and his wife Princess Milica of Montenegro...
(1896 – 1978) - Princess Nadejda Petrovna of RussiaPrincess Nadejda Petrovna of RussiaPrincess Nadejda Petrovna of Russia was the third child of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia and his wife Grand Duchess Militza....
(1898 – 1988) - Princess Sofia Petrovna of Russia (3 March 1898 – 3 March 1898); buried in the convent cemetery in KievKievKiev 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....
by her grandmother, Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna, who was a nun there
Life at court
In 1907, his elder brother Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich married Grand Duchess Militza's sister Princess Anastasia of Montenegro, known as Stana. The two couples were socially very influential at the Russian imperial court in the early 20th century. Nicknamed joined "the black peril", a group interested in the occultOccult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
. They are credited with introducing first a charlatan
Charlatan
A charlatan is a person practicing quackery or some similar confidence trick in order to obtain money, fame or other advantages via some form of pretense or deception....
mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
named merely Philippe, and then, with graver consequences, Grigori Rasputin
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...
(1869–1916) to the Imperial family. Prince Felix Yussupov (1887–1967) — who was their neighbour in Koreiz
Koreiz
Koreiz is a townlet in the Yalta region of Crimea, Ukraine. The name of the town means "villages" in Greek. The nearby spa of Miskhor was absorbed into Koreiz in 1958.Koreiz is best known as the site of two palaces...
— once described Znamenka, the Grand Duke and Duchess's palace, as "the central point of the powers of evil". This was later to be a widely held belief within the higher echelons of the divided Russian court. The Dowager Empress Marie firmly believed that the couple plotted with Rasputin and others to gain influence and favours through the neurotic Empress Alexandra (1872–1918). However, by 1914, Alexandra herself referred to them as "the black family" and felt herself to be manipulated by them.
Exile
The couple escaped the Russian RevolutionRussian 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...
to the south of France. Here Grand Duke Peter Nicholaievich died at Cap d'Antibes, near 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...
on 17 June 1931. His wife died in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in September 1951.
Ancestry
| Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia (1864–1931) |
Father: Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia (1831–1891) |
Paternal Grandfather: Emperor 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... (1796–1855) |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Emperor 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:... (1754–1801) |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Duchess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg (1759–1828) |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Princess Charlotte of Prussia (1798–1860) |
Paternal Great-grandfather: King Frederick William III of Prussia Frederick William III of Prussia Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:... (1770–1840) |
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| Paternal Great-grandmother: Princess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III... (1776–1810) |
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| Mother: Princess Alexandra of Oldenburg (1838–1900) |
Maternal Grandfather: Duke Peter of Oldenburg Duke Peter of Oldenburg Duke Konstantin Friedrich Peter Georgievich of Oldenburg was a Duke of the House of Oldenburg. He was the grandfather of Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg as well as grandfather of Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, General of the Imperial Russian Army during World War I... (1812–1881) |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Duke George of Oldenburg Duke George of Oldenburg Duke George of Oldenburg was a younger son of Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and his wife Duchess Frederica of Württemberg. He was a son-in-law of Paul I of Russia through marriage to his daughter Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia... (1784–1812) |
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| Maternal Great-grandmother: Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia (1788–1819) |
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| Maternal Grandmother: Princess Therese of Nassau-Weilburg Princess Therese of Nassau-Weilburg Princess Therese Wilhelmine Friederike Isabelle Charlotte of Nassau-Weilburg, full German name: Therese Wilhelmine Friederike Isabelle Charlotte, Prinzessin von Nassau-Weilburg was a member of the House of Nassau-Weilburg and a Princess of... (1815–1871) |
Maternal Great-grandfather: William, Duke of Nassau William, Duke of Nassau Wilhelm, Duke of Nassau, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg was the father of Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Queen Sophia .-Biography:Wilhelm was the eldest son of Frederick... (1792–1839) |
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| Maternal Great-grandmother: Princess Louise of Saxe-Hildburghausen Princess Louise of Saxe-Hildburghausen Princess Charlotte Luise Friederike Amalie Alexandrine of Saxe-Hildburghausen, full German name: Charlotte Luise Friederike Amalie Alexandrine, Prinzessin von Sachsen-Hildburghausen was a member of the House of Saxe-Hildburghausen and a Princess of Saxe-Hildburghausen Princess Charlotte Luise... (1794–1824) |