Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...
George Alexandrovich Yuryevsky (russian: Гео́ргий Алекса́ндрович Ю́рьевский; 12 May 1872
O._S..html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="0 April 1872
O._S.">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html"_;"title="0_April_1872_Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O._S.–_13_September_1913)_was_the_Legitimacy_(family_law).html" "title="Old Style and New Style dates">O. S.">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="0 April 1872 Old Style and New Style dates">O. S.– 13 September 1913) was the Legitimacy (family law)">natural
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are p ...
son of Alexander II of Russia by his mistress (and later wife), Princess
Catherine Dolgorukova
Princess Catherine Dolgorukova (; 15 February 1922) was a Russian aristocrat and the daughter of Prince Michael Dolgorukov (from Rurik dynasty) and Vera Vishnevskaya.
Catherine was a long-time mistress of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and lat ...
.
The
morganatic marriage
Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spous ...
of George's parents on 6 July 1880, eight years after his birth, resulted in the legitimation of their three surviving children, and George gained the style of ''
Serene Highness
His/Her Serene Highness ( abbreviation: HSH, second person address: Your Serene Highness) is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Thailand. Over the past 400 years, it has also used as a style for senior members ...
''.
Family and early life
George's mother,
Catherine Dolgorukova
Princess Catherine Dolgorukova (; 15 February 1922) was a Russian aristocrat and the daughter of Prince Michael Dolgorukov (from Rurik dynasty) and Vera Vishnevskaya.
Catherine was a long-time mistress of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and lat ...
, met
Tsar Alexander II
Alexander II ( rus, Алекса́ндр II Никола́евич, Aleksándr II Nikoláyevich, p=ɐlʲɪˈksandr ftɐˈroj nʲɪkɐˈlajɪvʲɪtɕ; 29 April 181813 March 1881) was Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Fin ...
when he visited the
Smolny Institute
The Smolny Institute (russian: Смольный институт, ''Smol'niy institut'') is a Palladian edifice in Saint Petersburg that has played a major part in the history of Russia.
History
The building was commissioned from Giacomo Quar ...
in the autumn of 1864. She became his
mistress
Mistress is the feminine form of the English word "master" (''master'' + ''-ess'') and may refer to:
Romance and relationships
* Mistress (lover), a term for a woman who is in a sexual and romantic relationship with a man who is married to a ...
in July 1866, despite early resistance.
Their affair caused great scandal at court, with Alexander's heir (
the Tsarevich) in particular protesting, though it was to be in vain. The tsar was devoted to Catherine and promised to marry her as soon as he was "free," meaning when his estranged and sickly wife
Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna finally died.
[ George ("Gogo") was the first child of Catherine and Alexander and was born in the tsar's study on 12 May 1872, in a difficult birth that almost killed his mother.][Radzinsky (2005), p. 233.] Alexander had ordered that if the circumstances called for it, Catherine, and not the child, must be saved; but mother and son both lived, and the father happily wrote "The Lord is so generous. I praised God, in tears I thank Him".[ Three more siblings later followed: Olga, Boris, and ]Catherine
Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria.
In the early Christ ...
. Their births further tied the couple together.
The devotion Alexander showed to his mistress and children concerned all around him, many feeling that the relationship damaged his reputation irreparably. In 1878, Alexander secretly had his children legitimated with noble
A noble is a member of the nobility.
Noble may also refer to:
Places Antarctica
* Noble Glacier, King George Island
* Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land
* Noble Peak, Wiencke Island
* Noble Rocks, Graham Land
Australia
* Noble Island, Great B ...
status under the name of "Yuryevskii," clearly marking his second family as Russian, compared to the German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
heritage of his other children. When revolutionary groups like the Nihilist movement
The Russian nihilist movementOccasionally, ''nihilism'' will be capitalized when referring to the Russian movement though this is not ubiquitous nor does it correspond with Russian usage. was a philosophical, cultural, and revolutionary movem ...
increased in power, the tsar's "first family", as well as the princess and their children, removed themselves to the Winter Palace
The Winter Palace ( rus, Зимний дворец, Zimnij dvorets, p=ˈzʲimnʲɪj dvɐˈrʲɛts) is a palace in Saint Petersburg that served as the official residence of the Emperor of all the Russias, Russian Emperor from 1732 to 1917. The p ...
for security reasons, where their rooms were said to be directly above the dying tsarina.[
]
Legitimation
The tsarina died on 8 June 1880, and her widower promptly married Catherine a month later in a secret, morganatic
Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spous ...
ceremony in the presence of five witnesses, though none belonged to the Imperial family.[ The tsar had believed he was in danger of assassination, and was consequently in favor of a speedy remarriage, as this would help to provide for his second family.][Radzinsky (2005), pp. 368–69.] The marriage was heavily criticized, with one source speculating that it "deprived lexander'simage of both the moral and cultural attributes that had come to justify autocratic power". Catherine took the title ''Princess Romanovskaia-Yurevskaia'' and the status of ''Serene Highness
His/Her Serene Highness ( abbreviation: HSH, second person address: Your Serene Highness) is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Thailand. Over the past 400 years, it has also used as a style for senior members ...
'', along with her children.[ All the children began using the ]patronymic
A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor.
Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...
''Aleksandovich'' (Aleksandovna for the girls), causing fears that despite the morganatic status of the marriage, the tsar was contemplating giving them dynastic rights.[ George's birth had already caused concern among the Imperial family, because he was viewed as a threat to the true heir, who often had strong disagreements with his father.][ Rumours were constantly circulating that George would be the tsarevich's replacement.][ It was well known that Alexander regarded George as a "true Russian", remarking in 1881 of George: "This is a real Russian; in him at least there flows only Russian blood".][ Furthermore, although the order of the succession had been made clear in a law of 1797, the tsar still had the power to do as he wished.][ One incident that caused concern occurred at a family reception, when Alexander playfully asked his son: "Tell us Goga, what is your name?" George replied, "My name is Prince Georgy Alexandrovich Yuryevsky", to which the tsar declared, "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Prince Yuryevsky! And wouldn't you like to become a grand duke, young man?" This conversation was the tsar's barely concealed attempt to test his relatives' reactions, were he to legally adopt and make his son and daughters a grand duke and grand duchesses.][ The princess however renounced all succession rights on behalf of her son, who was eight years old at the time.][ The morganatic nature of the marriage meant that not only did Catherine not automatically become tsarina, but the children had absolutely no succession rights.]
The newly married Princess Yuryevsky and her son made their first official appearance on 4 October during a military review of the Cossacks
The Cossacks , es, cosaco , et, Kasakad, cazacii , fi, Kasakat, cazacii , french: cosaques , hu, kozákok, cazacii , it, cosacchi , orv, коза́ки, pl, Kozacy , pt, cossacos , ro, cazaci , russian: казаки́ or ...
, with George wearing a Cossack uniform.[Wortman, p. 153.] Alexander begged his heir to accept her into the family, and introduced him to George as his "eldest brother" whom he was "to love and obey" and by whom he would be looked after.[ The year they married, the tsar arranged financial security for his second family and asked the tsarevich to care for them when he died.][ Catherine and their children began to appear at official family dinners, where George enjoyed playing with the tsarevich's children, to the displeasure of the future tsar's wife.][
There is evidence that Alexander was preparing to crown his second wife as tsarina-consort, much as ]Peter the Great
Peter I ( – ), most commonly known as Peter the Great,) or Pyotr Alekséyevich ( rus, Пётр Алексе́евич, p=ˈpʲɵtr ɐlʲɪˈksʲejɪvʲɪtɕ, , group=pron was a Russian monarch who ruled the Tsardom of Russia from t ...
had done with his wife Marta Helena Skowrońska, who became Catherine I.[Wortman, p. 154.] Indeed, the tsar ordered research be done on the subject in order to evaluate how Catherine's coronation might be achieved. The tsarevich was so upset by these plans that he threatened to leave for Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
with his family, but he chose to stay after the tsar threatened to replace him as heir by his half-brother.[ Another rumour suggested the tsar might abdicate, at the urging of his wife, and go to live with her and their children in ]France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
.[Hughes, p. 189.]
Death of the tsar
Tsar Alexander II died on 13 March 1881, when after visiting his cousin Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna he was assassinated on the road leading back to the Winter Palace. His death stopped all plans for Catherine's coronation, which some considered fortunate, as they feared it would have caused lasting damage to the monarchy.[ In his ]Will
Will may refer to:
Common meanings
* Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death
* Will (philosophy), or willpower
* Will (sociology)
* Will, volition (psychology)
* Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will
...
, Alexander II left his widow the same amount he bequeathed to each of his sons from his first marriage.[ Despite his earlier opposition, the tsar's son, now Alexander III, made an official visit of condolence to Catherine and gave her an additional allowance as well as a small palace for her to live in after she left the Winter Palace.][ George and his family attended the tsar's funeral, but they were ignored as much as possible by the Imperial family, until Alexander III himself approached his father's widow and spoke to her.] His wife, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna was nearby, but as she had been greatly opposed to the princess, she hesitated to acknowledge her. After being embraced by Catherine however, they both broke down crying, and George and his sisters kissed Maria's hand.[ The couple left, and the widow and children went to another private chapel for a separate mass, as she was not to be allowed to mingle with the Imperial family in the more public funeral planned for later.]
Alexander's widow later published her memoirs, ''Alexander II: Unedited Details of his Private Life, and Concerning his Death'', in which she claimed that as the tsar's favorite child, George was the "child of his private home and life, finding in him the child of the Russian nation to which he had given so much affection".
Later years
After his father's assassination, George, along with his mother and sisters Olga and Catherine
Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria.
In the early Christ ...
(brother Boris died the year he was born), went to live in Nice
Nice ( , ; Niçard: , classical norm, or , nonstandard, ; it, Nizza ; lij, Nissa; grc, Νίκαια; la, Nicaea) is the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative c ...
, France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
.[ He was educated at the ]Lycée Condorcet
The Lycée Condorcet () is a school founded in 1803 in Paris, France, located at 8, rue du Havre, in the city's 9th arrondissement. It is one of the four oldest high schools in Paris and also one of the most prestigious. Since its inception, var ...
and graduated from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, in 1891 with a bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
. Though his mother secured a considerable amount of money from her husband, little was left in their children's names; as a result, she was in full control of the family fortune, and treated her children parsimoniously.[
George's half-brother, Alexander III, would not let him join the ]Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army (russian: Ру́сская импера́торская а́рмия, tr. ) was the armed land force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian Ar ...
or live in Russia, but Alexander grudgingly allowed him to join the Imperial Russian Navy
The Imperial Russian Navy () operated as the navy of the Russian Tsardom and later the Russian Empire from 1696 to 1917. Formally established in 1696, it lasted until dissolved in the wake of the February Revolution of 1917. It developed from a ...
as a midshipman
A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...
if served in foreign waters.[
In 1893, George's half-brother ]Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia (russian: Алексе́й Алекса́ндрович; in St. Petersburg – 14 November 1908 in Paris) was the fifth child and the fourth son of Alexander II of Russia and his first wife Maria Alex ...
allowed him to join the navy despite his lack of qualifications. George borrowed money from the other officers so that he could throw gold coins at girls during carnival season, and he did not pay back his debts. He failed his examinations, and Alexei privately told the naval authorities to "examine him until he passes." He took an unofficial leave of absence without Alexei's approval, and Alexei gave up on him.[John Van der Kiste, “The Romanovs 1818-1959," p. 122]
In a 24 December 1893 letter, Alexei complained to Princess Yurievskaya about George's behavior in the navy:
Nicholas II
Nicholas II or Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov; spelled in pre-revolutionary script. ( 186817 July 1918), known in the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer,. was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Pola ...
, the new tsar, was more kindly disposed to George, and allowed the prince to move back to Russia, where he transferred from the navy to serve a commission of lieutenant in the regiment of the Hussars of the Guard.[ He retired after a few years with the rank of ]captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
, upon his marriage.[ George became a prominent figure in St. Petersburg society and at the imperial court.][
]
Marriage and death
In 1901, George was described as a "tall and rather stout man of thirty", who partly resembled his father in his looks and bearing. On 16 February 1900 in Nice, he married Countess Aleksandra Konstantinovna von Zarnekau, described by some as "a very beautiful woman". Her birth was similar to his own, as she was the daughter of Duke Constantine Petrovich of Oldenburg and his morganatic marriage
Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spous ...
with Georgian Princess Agrippina Japaridze, Countess von Zarnekau.[ The only member of the Russian Imperial family to attend was Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich, himself banished due to his morganatic marriage to Countess Sophie of Merenberg, the sister-in-law of George's sister, Olga.][ Tsar Nicholas II disapproved of the union because he disliked Aleksandra's parents, and consequently the couple abandoned their St. Petersburg residence and went to live abroad.][
After their marriage, the couple planned to reside in a St. Petersburg palace that had been built by Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich and purchased by his brother Alexander II for his morganatic wife; Catherine in turn passed it down to their son.] George and Aleksandra had one son:
*Alexander Georgiyevich Yuryevsky, Prince Yuryevsky (21 December 1900 – 29 February 1988); married Ursule Anne Marie Beer de Grüneck and had a son named Hans-George (b. 1961),[ who married Katharina Verhagen (2003-2012) and then Silvia Trumpp (2013).
The couple became unhappy, and Aleksandra secured a dissolution on the grounds of "neglect and ill treatment by her husband", and she subsequently divorced him in 1909.] Financial troubles were another explanation attributed to their divorce.[ Aleksandra remarried quickly.
After a long and incurable illness, Prince George died on 13 September 1913 in a private hospital in ]Marburg
Marburg ( or ) is a university town in the German federal state (''Bundesland'') of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district (''Landkreis''). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has a population of approximate ...
, Hesse
Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major histor ...
. He was buried at St. Elizabeth's Church in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden () is a city in central western Germany and the capital of the state of Hesse. , it had 290,955 inhabitants, plus approximately 21,000 United States citizens (mostly associated with the United States Army). The Wiesbaden urban area ...
, Hesse.
See also
*Branches of the Russian Imperial Family
The Russian Imperial Family was split into four main branches named after the sons of Emperor Nicholas I:
*The Alexandrovichi (descendants of Emperor Alexander II of Russia) (with further subdivisions named The Vladimirovichi and The Pavlovichi ...
*Yuryevsky
Prince Yuryevsky (russian: Юрьевский - masculine) or princess Yuryevskaya (russian: Юрьевская - feminine) may refer to:
*Catherine Dolgorukova (1847–1922), styled Princess Yuryevskaya after her morganatic marriage with Tsar Ale ...
Ancestry
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yuryevsky, George Alexandrovich
1872 births
1913 deaths
Russian princes
Lycée Condorcet alumni
Morganatic issue of Romanovs
19th-century people from the Russian Empire
20th-century Russian people
Children of Alexander II of Russia
Sons of emperors
Illegitimate children of emperors