Prince Rostislav Alexandrovich of Russia
Encyclopedia
Prince Rostislav Alexandrovich of Russia (2 November 1902 – 31 July 1978) was a member of the Imperial Family of Russia.
‘Sandro’ (1866–1933) and HIH the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna (1875–1960). His parents were first cousins once removed. Consequently Prince Rostislav was the great-grandson of Tsar Nicholas I
(from his father's side), also the great-great-grandson of the same Tsar Nicholas I (from his mother's one), the grandson of Tsar Alexander III
and the nephew of Tsar Nicholas II
.
During the Russian Revolution Prince Rostislav was imprisoned along with his parents and grandmother the Dowager Empress at Dulber, in the Crimea
. He escaped the fate of a number of his Romanov cousins who were murdered by the Bolsheviks when he was freed by German
troops in 1918. He left Russia in December 1918 abroad the Royal Navy
ship HMS Marlborough
for Malta
were they spent nine month before moving to England
and later settling in Cannes
, France
.
. They had one child before divorcing in 1944.
Rostislav married Alice Eilken (b. 30 May 1923) on 24 November 1944. The couple had one child before they divorced on 11 April 1951.
Rostislav married Hedwig Maria Gertrud Eva von Chappuis
(6 December 1905 – 9 January 1997) on 19 November 1954. No children were born of this marriage.
It is often alleged that Rostislav's marriage with Princess Alexandra Galitzina would have been morganatic. However, Pieter Broek holds that it was as acceptable dynastically as the Bagrationi marriage of Vasili's cousin, Vladimir Kirillovich.
N.B. After the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov.
Russian prince
Prince Rostislav Alexandrovich was the son of HIH the Grand Duke Alexander MikhailovichGrand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexander Mihailovich of Russia, Александр Михайлович Aleksandr Mihailovits was a dynast of the Russian Empire, a naval officer, an author, explorer, the brother-in-law of Emperor Nicholas II, and an advisor of the said Emperor.-Biography: Alexander was born the son of Grand Duke...
‘Sandro’ (1866–1933) and HIH the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna (1875–1960). His parents were first cousins once removed. Consequently Prince Rostislav was the great-grandson of 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...
(from his father's side), also the great-great-grandson of the same Tsar Nicholas I (from his mother's one), the grandson of Tsar Alexander III
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:...
and the nephew of 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 the Russian Revolution Prince Rostislav was imprisoned along with his parents and grandmother the Dowager Empress at Dulber, in the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
. He escaped the fate of a number of his Romanov cousins who were murdered by the Bolsheviks when he was freed by 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...
troops in 1918. He left Russia in December 1918 abroad the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
ship HMS Marlborough
HMS Marlborough (1912)
HMS Marlborough was an Iron Duke-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named in honour of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and launched in 1912. In World War I she served in the 1st Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet based at Scapa Flow...
for Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
were they spent nine month before moving to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and later settling in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, 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...
.
Family
Rostislav was married three times. He married first Princess Alexandra Pavlovna Galitzine (7 May 1905 – 5 December 2006) on 1 September 1928 in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. They had one child before divorcing in 1944.
- Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich (3 December 1938 – 7 January 1999).
Rostislav married Alice Eilken (b. 30 May 1923) on 24 November 1944. The couple had one child before they divorced on 11 April 1951.
- Prince Nicholas Rostislavovich (9 September 1945 – 9 November 2000) the owner of a direct mail business.
Rostislav married Hedwig Maria Gertrud Eva von Chappuis
Chappuis
Chappuis is surname of:* Robert "Bob" Richard Chappuis , a American football player* Eduardo Dibós Chappuis , a Peruvian politician...
(6 December 1905 – 9 January 1997) on 19 November 1954. No children were born of this marriage.
It is often alleged that Rostislav's marriage with Princess Alexandra Galitzina would have been morganatic. However, Pieter Broek holds that it was as acceptable dynastically as the Bagrationi marriage of Vasili's cousin, Vladimir Kirillovich.
Title and style
- His Highness Prince Rostislav Alexandrovich of Russia
N.B. After the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov.