Mdivani
Encyclopedia
Mdivani is the name of a family of nobility
, originating from the nation of Georgia
. The best known bearers of this name were the children of Zakhari and Elizabeth Mdivani. The five siblings fled to Paris after the Russian Revolution of 1917
, and became known as the "Marrying Mdivanis", as they all managed to marry into wealth and fame. The Mdivani siblings were:
Serge Mdivani (1903-1936), who married actress Pola Negri
in 1927, but when she lost her fortune in the Stock Market Crash of 1929, he abandoned her and took up with opera singer Mary McCormic
, who divorced him in a highly-publicized trial. He then married his former sister-in-law, Louise Astor Van Alen Mdivani
, in 1936, but died later that year in a polo accident.
Alexis Mdivani (1905-1935), who married Louise Astor Van Alen
(a member of the Astor family
) in 1931, but divorced her to marry Woolworth
heiress Barbara Hutton
, one of the world's richest women at the time. He died in an automobile accident.
Isabelle Roussadana Mdivani (1906-1938), aka Roussie or Roussy. A sculptor, she married the Spanish painter Jose Maria Sert
in 1928.
David Mdivani (1907-1984), who married actress Mae Murray
, and had a son, Koran David (1927-), with her. After he bankrupted her, she divorced him in 1933 and they became involved in a fierce custody battle over their child. He was involved with French actress Arletty
. David then married Sinclair Oil
heiress Virginia Sinclair in 1944, and they had a son, Michael (1945-1990).http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69523091
Nina Mdivani (died 1987), who was married to Charles Huberich from 15 July 1925 until their divorce on 19 May 1936. On 18 August 1936 she married Denis Conan Doyle, a son of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
, the creator of Sherlock Holmes
. After Denis's death on 9 March 1955, she married Anthony Harwood.
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
, originating from the nation of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. The best known bearers of this name were the children of Zakhari and Elizabeth Mdivani. The five siblings fled to Paris 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...
, and became known as the "Marrying Mdivanis", as they all managed to marry into wealth and fame. The Mdivani siblings were:
Serge Mdivani (1903-1936), who married actress Pola Negri
Pola Negri
Pola Negri was a Polish stage and film actress who achieved worldwide fame for her tragedienne and femme fatale roles from the 1910s through the 1940s during the Golden Era of Hollywood film. She was the first European film star to be invited to Hollywood, and became a great American star. She...
in 1927, but when she lost her fortune in the Stock Market Crash of 1929, he abandoned her and took up with opera singer Mary McCormic
Mary McCormic
Mary McCormic was an American operatic soprano and a professor of opera at the University of North Texas College of Music ....
, who divorced him in a highly-publicized trial. He then married his former sister-in-law, Louise Astor Van Alen Mdivani
Astor family
The Astor family is a Anglo-American business family of German descent notable for their prominence in business, society, and politics.-Founding family members:...
, in 1936, but died later that year in a polo accident.
Alexis Mdivani (1905-1935), who married Louise Astor Van Alen
Astor family
The Astor family is a Anglo-American business family of German descent notable for their prominence in business, society, and politics.-Founding family members:...
(a member of the Astor family
Astor family
The Astor family is a Anglo-American business family of German descent notable for their prominence in business, society, and politics.-Founding family members:...
) in 1931, but divorced her to marry Woolworth
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
heiress Barbara Hutton
Barbara Hutton
Barbara Woolworth Hutton was an American socialite dubbed by the media as the "Poor Little Rich Girl" because of her troubled life...
, one of the world's richest women at the time. He died in an automobile accident.
Isabelle Roussadana Mdivani (1906-1938), aka Roussie or Roussy. A sculptor, she married the Spanish painter Jose Maria Sert
Jose Maria Sert
Josep Maria Sert i Badia was a Catalan muralist, the son of an affluent Catalan textile industry family and friend of Salvador Dalí....
in 1928.
David Mdivani (1907-1984), who married actress Mae Murray
Mae Murray
Mae Murray was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "The Gardenia of the Screen"....
, and had a son, Koran David (1927-), with her. After he bankrupted her, she divorced him in 1933 and they became involved in a fierce custody battle over their child. He was involved with French actress Arletty
Arletty
Arletty was a French actress, singer, and fashion model.-Life and career:Arletty was born Léonie Marie Julie Bathiat in Courbevoie , to a working-class family. Her early career was dominated by the music hall, and she later appeared in plays and cabaret. Arletty was a stage performer for ten years...
. David then married Sinclair Oil
Sinclair Oil
Sinclair Oil Corporation is an American petroleum corporation, founded by Harry F. Sinclair on May 1, 1916 as the Sinclair Oil & Refining Corporation by combining the assets of 11 small petroleum companies. Originally a New York corporation, Sinclair Oil reincorporated in Wyoming in 1976...
heiress Virginia Sinclair in 1944, and they had a son, Michael (1945-1990).http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69523091
Nina Mdivani (died 1987), who was married to Charles Huberich from 15 July 1925 until their divorce on 19 May 1936. On 18 August 1936 she married Denis Conan Doyle, a son of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
, the creator of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
. After Denis's death on 9 March 1955, she married Anthony Harwood.