This is a list of those members of the
Russian Imperial House
The House of Romanov (also transcribed Romanoff; rus, Романовы, Románovy, rɐˈmanəvɨ) was the reigning dynasty, imperial house of Russia from 1613 to 1917. They achieved prominence after the Tsarina, Anastacia of Russia, Anastasi ...
who bore the title ''velikaia kniaginia'' (russian: великая княгиня) or ''velikaia knazhna'' (russian: великая княжна) (usually translated into French and English as
grand duchess
Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a European hereditary title, used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. In status, a grand duke traditionally ranks in order of precedence below an emperor, as an approxi ...
, but more accurately ''grand princess''). This
courtesy title
A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title).
In some co ...
was borne (usually) by daughters and male-line granddaughters of the emperors and empresses of Russia, as well as by wives of
grand dukes of Russia, all along with the style of
Her Imperial Highness.
Grand duchesses of Russia
After 1917 no such daughter was born into the deposed imperial house who would have been entitled to the title grand duchess - i.e., had been a male-line granddaughter of a reigning emperor; although such would have been technically possible, as there lived sons of reigning emperors and their daughters would have been so entitled
Grand Duchesses of Russia by marriage
![Imperial Standard of the Grand Duchess of Russia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Imperial_Standard_of_the_Grand_Duchess_of_Russia.svg)
Although male grand dukes of Russia (sons or male-line grandsons of reigning emperors) existed after 1917, when the imperial house was deposed, none of them contracted an
equal marriage
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being Mexico, constituting ...
after that date; so the title grand duchess was not gained by marriage thereafter — though it would have been technically possible.
Note that a
grand duke
Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a European hereditary title, used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. In status, a grand duke traditionally ranks in order of precedence below an emperor, as an approxi ...
or grand duchess as a translation is not necessarily associated with a grand duchy; see the relevant articles for more information.
A Russian grand duchess was styled as ''Her Imperial Highness''. With the exception of Charlotte-Christine, women marrying into the Imperial family converted to
Russian Orthodox
Russian Orthodoxy (russian: Русское православие) is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, whose liturgy is or was traditionally conducted in Church Slavonic language. Most ...
y (except for the Montenegrin and Greek princesses, who were already Orthodox). They also took Russian names — of the 17 converts: four took patronyms using their fathers' names, eight took Fyodorovna (after the
Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God
The Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God (russian: Феодоровская икона Божией Матери), also known as Our Lady of Saint Theodore and the Black Virgin Mary of Russia, is the patron icon of the Romanov family. It is one ...
), three took Alexeievna, one Alexandrovna (her husband's name) and one Pavlovna (her husband's patronym, the late Paul I); eight also changed their own given name.
See also
*
List of Grand Dukes of Russia
This is a list of those members of the Russian Imperial Family who bore the title ''velikiy knjaz'' (usually translated into English as grand duke, but more accurately grand prince). This courtesy title was borne by the sons and male-line gran ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Grand Duchesses Of Russia
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
Grand Duchesses
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
Grand Duchesses