Dimitri Obolensky was born Prince Dmitriy Dmitrievich Obolensky at St Petersburg on 19 March/1 April 1918 and died at died at Burford, Oxfordshire on 23 December 2001.

Obolensky's parents were Prince Dimitri Alexandrovich Obolensky (1882-1964) and Countess Maria Shuvalov (1894-1973). He was descended from Rurik, Igor, Svyatoslav, St Vladimir of Kiev, St Michael of Chernigov, and Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov. Rurik or Riurik (Old East Norse Rørik, meaning famous ruler) (ca 830 – ca 879) was a Varangian who gained control of Ladoga in 862 and built the Holmgard settlement (Rurikovo Gorodische) in Novgorod. ... Kniaz Sviatoslav I, Prince of Kiev (c. ... Detail of the Millennium of Russia monument in Novgorod (1862) representing St Vladimir and his family. ... Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov (1782–1856), was a Russian prince and field-marshal, renowned for his success in the Napoleonic wars, and most famous for leading the Russian invasion of the Caucasus from 1844 to 1853. ...

After the Revolution, the Royal Navy helped Obolensky and his family to escape from Russia, together with the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna and the Grand Duke Nicholas. Obolensky eventually became a British subject in 1948. In 1988 returned to Russia as an official delegate to the Sobor (Council) of the Russian Orthodox Church convoked to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the conversion of Russia to Christianity. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... There have been two Empresses of Russia who took the name Marie Feodorovna: Sophia Dorothea of Württemberg, consort of Emperor Paul Dagmar of Denmark, consort of Emperor Alexander III ... Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich. ... The Russian Orthodox Church (also known as the Orthodox Catholic Church of Russia) (Русская Православная церковь) is that body of Christians who are united under the Patriarch of Moscow, who in turn is in communion with the other patriarchs and primates of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... Clandestine Christian communities existed in Kiev for decades before the official baptism. ...

Obolensky was educated at Lynchmere Preparatory School, Eastbourne, and at the Lycée Pasteur in France before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he distinguished himself with a Blue for lawn tennis. Full name The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Motto Virtus vera nobilitas Virtue is true Nobility Named after The Holy Trinity Previous names Kings Hall and Michaelhouse (until merged in 1546) Established 1546 Sister College(s) Christ Church Master The Lord Rees of Ludlow Location Trinity Street... A University Sporting Blue is earned by sportsmen and women at Cambridge, Oxford and some other universities in designated sports for competing at the highest level of university sport. ...

Obolensky became a distinguished academic. He was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge (1942-48, Honorary Fellow 1991-2001) and Lecturer in Slavonic Studies, University of Cambridge (1946-48). He became Reader in Russian and Balkan Medieval History, University of Oxford (1949-61) and subsequently Professor of Russian and Balkan History (1961-85, Emeritus 1985-2001). He was a Student, Christ Church, Oxford (1950-85, Emeritus 1985-2001). He was Vice-President of the Keston Institute, Oxford. Full name The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Motto Virtus vera nobilitas Virtue is true Nobility Named after The Holy Trinity Previous names Kings Hall and Michaelhouse (until merged in 1546) Established 1546 Sister College(s) Christ Church Master The Lord Rees of Ludlow Location Trinity Street... The University of Cambridge (often called Cambridge University, or just Cambridge), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... The University of Oxford (often called Oxford University), located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... College name Christ Church Named after Jesus Christ Established 1546 Sister College Trinity College Dean The Very Revd Christopher Andrew Lewis JCR President William Dorsey Undergraduates 426 MCR or GCR President {{{MCR President}}} Graduates 154 Home page Boat Club Christ Church (Latin: Ædes Christi, the temple or house of Christ... College name Christ Church Named after Jesus Christ Established 1546 Sister College Trinity College Dean The Very Revd Christopher Andrew Lewis JCR President William Dorsey Undergraduates 426 MCR or GCR President {{{MCR President}}} Graduates 154 Home page Boat Club Christ Church (Latin: Ædes Christi, the temple or house of Christ...

Obolensky's most enduring achievement was The Byzantine Commonwealth (1971).

Obolensky was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (1974, Vice-President 1983-85) and appointed Knight Bachelor (1984). He was a member of the Athenaeum. The British Academy is the United Kingdoms national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. ... The dignity of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. ... The Athenaeum Club in 1830. ...

Obolensky married Elisabeth Lopukhin in 1947; the marriage was dissolved in 1989. He died without issue.

Obolensky's memorial service was held at the Cathedral and he is buried at Wolvercote Cemetery. Christ Church Cathedral spire. ... The grave of J. R. R. and Edith Tolkien Wolvercote Cemetery is in the north Oxford suburb of Wolvercote off the Banbury Road. ...

External links

Anthony Bryer, Obituary, The Independent (31 December 2001)

Michael Bourdeaux, 'Sir Dimitri Obolensky: Distinguished scholar of Byzantium whose infectious enthusiasm drew students to the fields of Russian and Balkan history', The Guardian (4 January 2002)

Robin Milner-Gulland, 'Professor Sir Dimitri Obolensky, 1918-2002', Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies