Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark
Encyclopedia
Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark (22 January 1872 – 8 February 1938), of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
, was the fourth child and third son of George I
, King of the Hellenes, and of Queen Olga. He was known as "Greek Nicky" in the family to distinguish him from his cousin Czar Nicholas II of Russia
. Prince Nicholas was a talented painter, often signing his works as "Nicolas Leprince."
(1882–1957), daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia
and Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
, and the only sister of the future Russian imperial pretender, Grand Duke Kyril Vladimirovich
, on 29 August 1902 in Tsarskoye Selo
, Russia
.
They had three daughters:
Their three daughters were famous because of their beauty.
and George, Nicholas helped to organize the 1896 Summer Olympics
in Athens
, the first to be held since 393. Nicholas served as president of the Sub-Committee for Shooting.
In 1913 the Prince took a very controversial position on his father
's assassination in Thessaloniki
, declaring that the King's murderer was an instrument of the German
Secret Service; a theory that would have certainly displeased the new Queen, his sister-in-law Sophia of Prussia
.
His father bequeathed him the Royal Theater of Greece which Nicholas, in turn, transferred to the Greek state in 1935. He was friends with George Simitis and was godfather to his son, future Socialist Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.
.
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
The House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg , known as the House of Glücksburg for short, is a German ducal house, junior branches of which include the royal houses of Denmark and Norway, the deposed royal house of Greece, and the heir to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms The House...
, was the fourth child and third son of George I
George I of Greece
George I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
, King of the Hellenes, and of Queen Olga. He was known as "Greek Nicky" in the family to distinguish him from his cousin Czar Nicholas II of Russia
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...
. Prince Nicholas was a talented painter, often signing his works as "Nicolas Leprince."
Marriage and issue
He married Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia 17 January 1882 – 13 March 1957, sometimes known as Helen, Helena, Helene, Ellen, Yelena, Hélène, or Eleni, was a Russian grand duchess as the daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia and Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin...
(1882–1957), daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia ) was a son of Emperor Alexander II of Russia...
and Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Maria Pavlovna of Russia)
Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was born Marie Alexandrine Elisabeth Eleonore of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, daughter of Grand Duke Frederick Francis II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz...
, and the only sister of the future Russian imperial pretender, Grand Duke Kyril Vladimirovich
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia was a member of the Russian Imperial Family. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the deaths of Tsar Nicholas II and his brother Michael, Cyril assumed the Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia and later the title Emperor and Autocrat of all the...
, on 29 August 1902 in Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo is the town containing a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility, located south from the center of St. Petersburg. It is now part of the town of Pushkin and of the World Heritage Site Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.-History:In...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
They had three daughters:
- OlgaPrincess Olga of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Olga of Greece and Denmark was the granddaughter of King George I of Greece and wife of the last Prince Regent of Yugoslavia.-Early life:...
(1903–1997). Married Prince Paul of YugoslaviaPrince Paul of YugoslaviaPrince Paul of Yugoslavia, also known as Paul Karađorđević , was Regent of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia during the minority of King Peter II. Peter was the eldest son of his first cousin Alexander I...
. - ElizabethPrincess Elizabeth, Countess of Toerring-JettenbachPrincess Elisabeth of Greece and Denmark was the middle daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia.-Biography:-Early life:...
(1904–1955). Married Count Carl Theodor of Toerring-Jettenbach. - Marina (1906–1968). Married Prince George, Duke of KentPrince George, Duke of KentPrince George, Duke of Kent was a member of the British Royal Family, the fourth son of George V and Mary of Teck, and younger brother of Edward VIII and George VI...
.
Their three daughters were famous because of their beauty.
Public life
Along with his brothers ConstantineConstantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
and George, Nicholas helped to organize the 1896 Summer Olympics
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, the first to be held since 393. Nicholas served as president of the Sub-Committee for Shooting.
In 1913 the Prince took a very controversial position on his father
George I of Greece
George I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
's assassination in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, declaring that the King's murderer was an instrument of the German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
Secret Service; a theory that would have certainly displeased the new Queen, his sister-in-law Sophia of Prussia
Sophia of Prussia
Princess Sophie of Prussia was Queen of the Hellenes as the wife of King Constantine I.-Princess of Prussia:...
.
His father bequeathed him the Royal Theater of Greece which Nicholas, in turn, transferred to the Greek state in 1935. He was friends with George Simitis and was godfather to his son, future Socialist Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.
Death and burial
Prince Nicholas died in Athens on February 8, 1938 and was buried in the Royal tomb at the Palace of TatoiTatoi
Tatoi, located 5 km north of Athens's suburbs, and 27 km from the Athenian Acropolis was the summer palace and 10,000 acre estate of the former Greek Royal Family, and the site of George II of the Hellenes's birth...
.
Titles and styles
- 22 January 1872 – 8 February 1938: His Royal Highness Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark