Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich of Russia

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich of Russia (September 9, 1827 – January 13, 1892) was the second son of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. During the reign of his brother Alexander II, Grand Duke Konstantine as an admiral of the Russian fleet reformed the Russian Navy, he was also an instrumental figure in the emancipation of the serfs. The Grand Duke was less fortunate as viceroy of Poland and had to be called back to Russia where his liberalism made him a target of his enemies. After the assassination of his brother, Alexander II, the Grand Duke fell from favour. The new tsar, Alexander III, his nephew, opposed Konstantine’s liberal ideas and gradually stripped him of all his governmental positions. His retirement was marked with personal turmoil and family setbacks. After suffering a stroke, he spent his last years as an invalid. September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Nicholas I (Russian: Николай I Павлович, Nikolai I Pavlovich), July 6 (June 25, Old Style), 1796–March 2 (18 February Old Style), 1855), was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855. ... Alexander (Aleksandr) II Nikolaevich (Russian: Александр II Николаевич) (born 17 April 1818 in Moscow; died 13 March 1881 in St. ... Russian Navy Jack Russian Navy Ensign The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Navy of Imperial Russia, before the Soviet Union. ... The Emancipation Reform of 1861 in Russia was the first and most important of liberal reforms effected during the reign of Alexander II of Russia. ... Alexander III (10 March 1845-1 November 1894) reigned as Emperor of Russia from 14 March 1881 until his death in 1894. ...

Education

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich was the second son and fifth child of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. He was born on September 9, 1827 in St. Petersburg. His parents were happy to have a second son after nine years of having only daughters. Nicholas I and his wife were devoted to each other and to their children, providing an excellent education for them. Nicholas I (Russian: Николай I Павлович, Nikolai I Pavlovich), July 6 (June 25, Old Style), 1796–March 2 (18 February Old Style), 1855), was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855. ... ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...

Normally the Imperial children were kept under female supervision until they were seven. However, by the time he was five Konstantine had become too willful and difficult for a governess to handle and his father appointed a male tutor for him ^[1]. Nicholas I intended that Konstantine would eventually become Admiral General of the Russian Fleet and with this in mind chose Feodor Litke as tutor for his son. Litke, who had circumnavigated the globe at the age of twenty, was a brash and bold man, unafraid of controversy or offense, and he passed these qualities along to his student. He trained the boy in naval sciences and filled his head with tales of the sea, gaining the friendship of his pupil for life ^[2]. Languages were an important part of the Grand Duke's education and he learned Russian, English ,German and French ^[3]. As he grew older, his lessons increased in length and complexity to encompass mathematics, science, statistics, and government administration. There were also early military lessons and drills. Konstantine also enjoyed music, learning to play the piano and cello. He loved drawing and had great appreciation for the arts. He also became an enthusiastic reader and his fascination with Homer lead him to translate the Odyssey from German. Count Fyodor Petrovich Litke (Russian: Граф Фёдор Петро́вич Ли́тке) (September 28 (September 17, O.S.), 1797 - August 28 (August 17, O.S.), 1882) was a Russian navigator, geographer, and Arctic explorer. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Homer (Greek: , ) was an early Greek poet and aoidos (rhapsode) traditionally credited with the composition of the Iliad and the Odyssey. ... Beginning of the Odyssey The Odyssey (Greek Οδύσσεια (Odússeia) ) is one of the two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to the Ionian poet Homer. ...

In 1835, he accompanied his parents to Germany and from age eight onwards was taught to keep a diary. When he was just eight years old, he was given a small yacht, which he would sail between Peterhof and Kronstadt, spending his days at sea and returning home at night. In 1836, accompanied by Litke, he embarked on a lengthy sailing expedition and finally he was given command of the Russian frigate Hercules under Litke’s direction. During his training Konstantine Nikolaievich was treated like all other naval cadets, even to the point of his title of Grand Duke being dispensed with. He was placed on watch duty at midnight as well as in rain and storms ^[4]. At the age of sixteen, The Grand Duke was promoted to the rank of captain and served as commander of the frigate Ulyses, visiting various ports along the Gulf of Finland and embarking on a southern tour that included the Mediterranean. | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Peterhof: the Samson Fountain and Sea Channel Peterhof (Russian: , Petergof, originally Piterhof, Dutch for Peters Court) is a series of palaces and gardens, laid out on the orders of Peter the Great, and sometimes called the Russian Versailles. It is located about twenty kilometers west and six kilometers south... 1888 map of Kronstadt bay Kronstadt (Russian: ), or Kronshtadt, Cronstadt, is a strongly fortified Russian seaport town, located on Kotlin Island, near the head of the Gulf of Finland, at , . It lies thirty kilometers west of Saint Petersburg, of which it is the chief port. ... Year 1836 (MDCCCXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Baltic Sea The Gulf of Finland is an arm of the Baltic Sea that extends between Finland (to the north) and Estonia (to the south) all the way to the city of Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. ...

The encouragement and guidance of his aunt, Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, was another important influence in Nikolaievich's education. Pavlovna took him under her wing, broadening his taste in literature and music and introducing him to the latest scientific ideas. She was well known for her liberal bent and had a big influence in her nephew’s political views. Under Litke’s influence, Konstantin began his forays into official life, taking on patronage of the new Imperial Russian Geographical Society. The Geographical Society was subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which was home to a conspicuous number of liberal bureaucrats including Nikolai Miliutin. The Russian Geographical Society is a learned society, founded on 6 August 1845 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. ...

Marriage

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich of Russia and his eldest son Grand Duke Nikolas Konstantinovich

The male members of the Romanov family were famous for their good looks and their height, but Konstantine was rather short and ugly. He was described by one observer: “ His complexion was sallow, the color of his hair was rather neutral, and resembled the sand of the seashore. His eyes were gray, dreamy, and half closed and an enormous wooden looking nose took the place of his father’s Grecian outline” ^[5]. He had a loud voice, imposing personality and brusque manners. With a quick temper, Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich was a difficult man and often unpleasant. The House of Romanov (Рома́нов, pronounced ) was the second and last imperial dynasty of Russia, which ruled the country for five generations from 1613 to 1761. ...

In 1846 when Konstantine’s sister, Grand Duchess Olga, married the King of Wurtemberg he went with her to Stuttgart then he continued to Altenburg to be introduced to Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg. His parents had arranged the meeting thinking in the Princess of Altenburg as a good match for Konstantine. Alexandra was strikingly beautiful, tall and slim and Konstantine was immediately eager to marry her. “I don’t know what is happening to me. It is as if I am a completely new person. Just one thought moves me, just one image fills my eyes: forever and only she, my angel, my universe. I really do think I’m in love. However, what can it mean? I’ve only know her just a few hours and I’m already I’m up to my ears in Passion ^[6]. 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... City Center seen from Weinsteige Road Stuttgart Palace Square - New Palace Solitude Palace The 1956 TV Tower U.S. Army Kelley Barracks Stuttgart [], located in southern Germany, is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg with a population of 591,528 (as of April 2006) in the city... Altenburg is a town in the German Bundesland of Thuringia. ... Alexandra Iosifovna, born Princess Alexandra Friederike Henriette of Saxe-Altenburg, (1830-1911) married Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov of Russia, second son of Nicholas I of Russia in September 1848. ...

Konstantine was nineteen and Alexandra three years younger, they were engaged but had to wait two more years to get married. On 12 October 1847, she arrived in Russia. In February she converted to Russian Orthodoxy, taking the name of Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna. They were married six months later on September 11, 1848 in the Winter Palace. Both were musical: he played the cello and she the piano. They seem to have been a good match. For the first years of their marriage, they were a devoted couple, starting their married life happily. In the following years, they had six children. The couple lived in some of the most luxurious palaces of the Empire: Pavlovsk, Strelna and the Marble Palace. The Grand Duke received the Marble Palace in St Petersburg as a wedding gift from his parents with Strelna, on the Gulf of Finland, as their country retreat. A year after his marriage Konstantine inherited Pavlovsk from his uncle Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich, and, at the death of his mother, the palace of Oreanda in Crimea. 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (Russian: ), also known as the Orthodox Christian Church of Russia, 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. ... Alexandra Iosifovna, born Princess Alexandra Friederike Henriette of Saxe-Altenburg, (1830-1911) married Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov of Russia, second son of Nicholas I of Russia in September 1848. ... September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ... Year 1848 (MDCCCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Located between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, the Winter Palace (Russian: Зимний Дворец) in Saint Petersburg, Russia was built between 1754 and 1762 as the winter residence of the Russian tsars. ... Pavlovsk (Russian: Павловск) is a town situated in the Leningrad oblast, Russia, 30 km from St. ... The Constantine Palace in 1921 Strelna (Russian: Стрельна) is a historic village situated about halfway between Saint Petersburg and Peterhof and overlooking the shore of the Gulf of Finland. ... The Marble Palace is in North Calcutta and still residence of a family. ... The Constantine Palace in 1921 Strelna (Russian: Стрельна) is a historic village situated about halfway between Saint Petersburg and Peterhof and overlooking the shore of the Gulf of Finland. ... Motto: Процветание в единстве - Prosperity in unity Anthem: Нивы и горы твои волшебны, Родина - Your fields and mounts are wonderful, Motherland Location of Crimea (red) on the map of Ukraine. ...

Early career

In 1849 as a young officer, Konstantine Nikolaievich took part in a campaign assisting the Austrians to put down an uprising in Hungary. It was his first real taste of military conflict, and the Grand Duke took part in three dangerous clashes, coming under enemy fire. For his bravery he received the St. George's Cross. During this campaign, he wrote to his father who maintained they were the best reports he received. A year later, Konstantine was appointed a member of the State Council. 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1853, his father Tsar Nicholas I made him General- Admiral of the Imperial Navy and head of the Department of the Imperial navy. In this position, he was in charge with reforming a navy that had largely remained unchanged since the time of Peter the Great. It fell upon Grand Duke Konstantine to not only preside over an archaic fleet but also to see it through the disaster of the Crimean War. On the midst of the conflict, his father died and Konstantine Nikolaievich advised his brother to search for peace in a war already lost ^[7]. In early 1856, he accompanied his brother Alexander II to the Crimea to view first-hand the devastation of the War. These early military experiences gave Konstantine a loathing of army life and the futility of war. From then on, he was a man of peace, despite his keen interest in the navy, and in political terms a progressive. There was a close working relationship between the two brothers, which was responsible for many reforms. Konstantine was also sent on a diplomatic mission to Napoleon III. 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Peter I Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia Peter I (Pyotr Alekseyvich) (9 June 1672–8 February 1725 [30 May 1672–28 January 1725 O.S.1]) ruled Russia from 7 May (27 April O.S.) 1682 until his death. ... Combatants Allies: Second French Empire United Kingdom Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia Russian Empire Bulgarian volunteers Casualties 90,000 French 35,000 Turkish 17,500 British 2,050 Sardinian killed, wounded and died of disease ~134,000 killed, wounded and died of disease The Crimean War (1854–1856) was fought... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Alexander (Aleksandr) II Nikolaevich (Russian: Александр II Николаевич) (born 17 April 1818 in Moscow; died 13 March 1881 in St. ... Motto: Процветание в единстве - Prosperity in unity Anthem: Нивы и горы твои волшебны, Родина - Your fields and mounts are wonderful, Motherland Location of Crimea (red) on the map of Ukraine. ... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808 - January 9, 1873) was the son of King Louis Bonaparte and Queen Hortense de Beauharnais; both monarchs of the French puppet state, the Kingdom of Holland. ...

Naval reform

Plans for naval reform absorbed Konstantine’s attention at the start of his brother’s reign. He visited England and France in 1857 to study modern navies. Knowing Russia was an inferior military power, Konstantine made concerted efforts to modernize the Russian fleet. Under his orders, old wooden frigates equipped with cannon were replaced with new iron and steel vessels outfitted with modern French and German artillery. Beginning in 1857, the Grand Duke supervised a comprehensive building program that completely transformed the Imperial Navy and made it into a world superpower. Under his plans, the Baltic fleet received 18 battleships, twelve frigates, and 100 canon boats, while the Pacific fleet was reinforced with twelve new armored vessels, nine transport ships and four frigates. Only the Black Sea Fleet was largely neglected due to the restriction forced upon Russia after the Crimean War. Nevertheless, the Grand Duke added nineteen new vessels, the maximum allowed to the Empire. Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... NASA satellite image of the Black Sea Map of the Black Sea The Black Sea is an inland sea between southeastern Europe and Anatolia that is actually a distant arm of the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Mediterranean Sea. ... Combatants Allies: Second French Empire United Kingdom Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia Russian Empire Bulgarian volunteers Casualties 90,000 French 35,000 Turkish 17,500 British 2,050 Sardinian killed, wounded and died of disease ~134,000 killed, wounded and died of disease The Crimean War (1854–1856) was fought...

Konstantine’s spirit of reform had to confront an overstaffed bureaucracy which obstructed his every move. “ I want shipwrights and sailors, no crowds of clerks”,^[8] he said. The Grand Duke was energetic and determined. As he pushed forward his plans for the navy, he was involved in the reform of the naval and military colleges, as well as a thorough investigation of corruption in the army and the revision of the county’s censorship laws. Abrupt, quick-tempered, and utterly contemptuous of anyone who opposed him, he could forger through problems that daunted his more sensitive elder brother. As is usual with reformers, the Grand Duke was both praised and despised. One critic called him " the most intelligent and able of Alexander II’s brothers", but declared that he was “ too self-centered to take any real interest in the welfare of others “. However, the Grand Duke’s work had a lasting influence on the Russian Imperial Navy. Under his tenure, it was rebuilt and strengthened, with new armored, steam powered vessels replacing the old wooden frigates of his father’s reign. He left Russia with the world’s third largest sea power, a naval force recognized for its strength and feared for its disciplined approach.

Emancipation of the serfs

The most important reform of all was the emancipation of the serfs, an unpopular policy with large sections of the nobility. When the committee appointed to bring it about dug in their heels and made difficulties, Alexander II asked his brother Grand Duke Konstantine to join the committee in September 1857. Where the Tsar was unsure of himself, his younger brother was more forceful, quick tempered, and cared not what others might think of him. The Emancipation Reform of 1861 in Russia was the first and most important of liberal reforms effected during the reign of Alexander II of Russia. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1858 a central group for emancipation, which included only the more progressive members, the Grand Duke, Lanskoy, Yakov Rostovtsev , Nikolay Milyutin and their allies, replaced the original committee. Even then, progress was still slow, particularly as several members objected to the Grand Duke’s brusque manner ^[9]. Iakov Ivanovich Rostovtsev (9 January 1804 (O.S. 28 December 1803) – 18 February [O.S. 6 February] 1860) was a leading figure in the formulation of statutes which effectively emancipated the Russian serfs. ... Nikolay Alekseyevich Milyutin (1818—1872) was a Russian statesman remembered as the chief architect of the great liberal reforms undertaken during Alexander IIs reign, including the emancipation of the serfs and the establishment of zemstvo. ...

Diehards on the committee knew better than to argue with the Grand Duke, but continued to use every means possible to provoke him by acting as a brake on progress. He faced a fractured group of representatives, divided between dedicated reformers intent on enacting the Emperor’s reforms immediately, and a hoist of conservative aristocrat representatives who vehemently opposed the emancipation of the serfs. Konstantine Nikolaievich was particularly scornful of the numerous aristocratic protests against his plan, commenting once that they were not even worthy for him to spit upon ^[10]. On several occasions, the Grand Duke only just managed to keep the Committee from disintegrating under the strain. The post was a difficult one and the pressures wore on the Grand Duke. His enemies retaliated with ludicrous and poisonous gossip: Konstantine, they said, was insane, the result of too much masturbation ^[11].

Although his brother never ceased to support him, after twelve stormy months Konstantine decided he had had enough of “the ignoble nobility”. Frustrated and disheartened, he departed for a relaxing cruise abroad. He returned to his post almost a year later, refreshed by his absence. The brothers' joint determination for results eventually paid off ^[12]. A general plan of procedure was soon produced and after almost five years, the emancipation finally became law in 1861. Alexander II publicly thanked Konstantine for his contribution. 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by...

Viceroy of Poland

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich of Russia

In 1861, the Russian sector of Poland, partitioned since the previous century, was disturbed and under martial law.^[13] Alexander II needed a skillful governor for Poland and decided to appointed Konstantine for the job. In early 1862, Konstantine arrived in Warsaw as the new Namestnik of the Kingdom of Poland. On July 4, 1862, his second day as Governor-General, a tailor’s apprentice and Polish nationalist named de Jonza saw him leaving a Warsaw theater, and shot him; the bullet grazed the Grand duke in the shoulder, but left him otherwise unhurt.^[14] The Grand Duke described the attack as follows :“ I went into the square”, Konstantine wrote, “ and a man came from the crowd approaching me. Form the breast he pulled a pistol, and fired. I ran back to the theater, otherwise I would have been dead’.^[15] Motto: Contemnit procellas (It defies the storms) Semper invicta (Always invincible) Coordinates: Country Poland Voivodeship Masovia Powiat city county Gmina Warszawa Districts 18 boroughs City Rights turn of the 13th century Government  - Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz (PO) Area  - City 516. ... Namestnik of the Kingdom of Poland (Polish: ) was the title of the official representatives of the king of Poland (i. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Although the Tsar sent him a telegram ordering him to return to St. Petersburg at once Konstantine preferred to stay, and his wife Grand Duchess Alexandra supported him. His assailant was tried and hanged and the Grand Duke publicly appealed to the citizens of Warsaw to end the violence. After this attack, Konstantine was always escorted by a contingent of Cossacks wherever he went. Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of Ottoman Empire. ...

In July 1862, his wife gave birth to the couple’s sixth and last child in Warsaw. As a compliment to the Poles, they decided to give their son a Polish name, Vacslav, but the Russians insisted that the true Russified form, Viacheslav, should be used, a compromise which pleased neither nation. Alexander II’s second son, Grand Duke Alexander, was sent to Warsaw to stand as a godfather to the child. A large, clumsy youth of seventeen, the future Alexander III spilt a decanter of red wine at the dinner table. Konstantine, with his abrupt manners, scolded his clumsy nephew, remarking “See what a pig they have sent us from St. Petersburg” ^[16]. The future Alexander III would never forget his uncle for this insult and for the rest of his life he bore a grudge against him. 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Alexander III (10 March 1845-1 November 1894) reigned as Emperor of Russia from 14 March 1881 until his death in 1894. ...

Konstantine sympathized with the Poles and, ignoring the advice of his brother’s generals, he ended martial law and embarked on a program of liberalization. Polish was reinstated as the official language, universities were opened and the Grand Duke appointed Poles to administrative positions, gathering a distinguished court of Poles and Russians around him ^[17]. The Grand Duke did all he could to appease the Poles, but his well-meant reforms did not go far enough for the Polish nationalists who wanted nothing short of independence, by force if necessary.

Acting on the advice of the Emperor, Konstantine ordered a forcible conscription of certain young Poles. The move, announced on New Year’s Day 1863, was designed not to reinforce the rolls of the Army, but to round up a number of dangerous young nationalist radicals. The measure backfired, marking the outbreak of the so-called January Uprising. National resistance turned to general rebellion that spread into the nine formerly Polish provinces known as Russia’s western region, where powerful landlords and Catholic clergy were ready to give vent to their hatred of Russian domination. Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Polonia (Poland), 1863, by Jan Matejko, 1864, oil on canvas, 156 × 232 cm, National Museum, Kraków. ...

Intense fighting, protest, strikes, and even political assassinations, all threatened to undermine the advances that Konstantine Nikolaievich had pushed so strenuously. The Grand Duke then had to declare martial law and severely repressed the uprising. Although adept when it came to naval matters, the Grand Duke had little taste for political fights, and none for ruthlessly crushing revolts. In August 1863, he asked the emperor to relive him of the post of Viceroy, and Alexander II, aware of how tormented his younger brother had become by the situation in Warsaw, accepted his resignation. The insurrection was finally quelled in May 1864, when the more conservative Count Theodore Berg was sent to replace Konstantine as viceroy.

President of the Council of State

Back in St. Petersburg, Grand Duke Konstantine devoted all his attention to the navy. He spent seven years reforming the Naval Department, altering laws and reorganizing trainings on recruits, and successfully managed to transform the previous often-grim conditions on board most vessels to meet modern standards and expectations. Corporal punishment was abolished in 1863 and the traditional system of naval recruitment was drastically altered. Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Alexander II, who appreciated his brother’s work, made Konstantine Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, where the Grand Duke presided over long sessions and recommended revolutionary measures to bring the laws of the Russian Empire in line with the other leading countries. In recognition of his services, Alexander II appointed him Chairman of the Council of Ministers in 1865. In all Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich was President of the Council of State for sixteen years. Though lacking in tact, he always had the Emperor's ear and defended the council's view. This also made him many enemies. 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich presided over many Russian institutions; he was Chairman of the Russian Geographic Committee and president of several educational institutions, including the Russian Musical Society. A promoter of Slavic causes, the Grand Duke saw Russia’s future in the East, nevertheless perceiving Russia’s continued hold on Alaska as a burden to the Empire. He was instrumental in convincing his brother to sell it to the United States in 1867.

Family crisis

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich of Russia with his family(from left to right) : Grand Duke Dimitri Konstantinovich; an unidentified aide; on the floor Grand Duke Konstantine Konstantinovich; sitting Grand Duchess Alexandra and Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich holding Grand Duke Viacheslav; standing behind: Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna and Grand Duke Nicholas Konstantinovich

Grand Duke Konstantine was a loving father. In 1867, his eldest daughter, Olga, married King George I of Greece. She was only sixteen, and Konstantine was initially reluctant to let her marry so young. In July 1868 Olga’s first child was born and was named Konstantine after the Grand Duke. The start of his daughter's family coincided with the breaking up of Konstantine's marriage. Cunt BAg Twat Fuk suck my penis ring 0778851865!!!!!!Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Olga, Queen of Greece Olga Konstantinovna of Russia later Queen Olga of Greece (in Russian Великая Княжна Ольга Константиновна in Greek Βασίλισσα Όλγα της Ελλάδος) (3 September 1851 - 18 June 1926), was the queen consort of King George I of Greece and briefly in 1920, Regent of Greece. ... George I, King of the Hellenes (Greek: Γεώργιος A, Βασιλεύς των Ελλήνων) (December 24, 1845 – March 18, 1913) was King of the Hellenes (Greece) from 1863 to 1913. ...

Although he was only forty Grand Duke Konstantine’s struggles and travails of the previous decade- naval and judiciary reforms, the freeing of the serfs- had prematurely aged him. As Alexander II turned away from the reform that had marked his first decade on the throne, Konstantine's influence began to wane and the Grand Duke began to focus more in his personal life. After twenty years of marriage he had drifted away from his wife, their divergent political views and interests slowly tearing away the foundations of their marriage. Alexandra Iosifovna was as conservative as her husband was liberal, self-absorbed with her own beauty and her mysticism. Soon, Konstantine turned elsewhere for comfort.^[18] Alexandra Iosifovna, born Princess Alexandra Friederike Henriette of Saxe-Altenburg, (1830-1911) married Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov of Russia, second son of Nicholas I of Russia in September 1848. ...

At the end of the 1860s, the Grand Duke embarked on an affair, having an illegitimate daughter, Marie Condousso. In the 1880s, Marie was sent to Greece, later serving as lady in waiting to her half sister, Queen Olga. Marie eventually married a Greek banker.^[19] Soon after the birth of Marie, Konstantine began a new liaison. Around 1868, Konstantine began to pursue a young dancer from the St Petersburg Conservatoire. Anna Vasilievna Kousnetzova was a talented ballerina and mime. She was the illegitimate daughter of ballerina Tatiana Markianovna Kuosnetzova and actor Vassili Andreevich Karatyguine. Anna was twenty years younger than the Grand Duke and initially she resisted his advances, but in 1873 she gave birth to their first child. Four more would follow.^[20] 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Konstantine Nikolaievich bought his second family a large, comfortable dacha on his estate at Pavlovsk, in fact lodging his mistress and their illegitimate children in close proximity to his estranged wife to whom he now referred to as his “government–issue wife”. Once more Konstantine gave ammunition to his enemies and society sided in the scandal with his suffering wife, who tried to bear his infidelity with dignity.

In 1874, scandal erupted when it was discovered that his eldest son, Grand Duke Nicholas Konstantinovich, who had lived a dissipated life and had revolutionary ideas, had stolen three valuable diamonds from an icon in the bedroom of Alexandra Iosifovna in complicity with his mistress, an American courtesan. His twenty four year old son was found guilty, declared insane and banished for life to Central Asia. Konstantine suffered another bitter blow when in 1879, his youngest legitimate son, Visasheslav, died unexpectedly from a brain hemorrhage. Year 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Grand Duke Nikolai Konstantinovich (1859–1918) was the first-born son of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia and a grandson of Nicholas I of Russia. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Retirement

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich of Russia in his late years

Since 1865, Konstantine had been pushing for a constitution in Russia. As President of the Council of State, he helped to prepare the proposal for a limited elective assembly which Alexander II was due to approve on the very day he was assassinated. For Konstantine and his fellow reformers, hopes ended within months of the new Emperor's ascension to the throne. Alexander III destroyed the document and as he never had liked his uncle Konstantine, whom he regarded a 'liberal powerhouse', requested his uncle's resignation. Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich refused to resign, saying that his father had “ directed me to serve both my deceased brother, and his successors.” “In my capacity as chairman of the State Council, and as Admiral- Generals of the Imperial navy, I plan to serve Your majesty with just as much faith and energy. By doing so, I will fulfill my beloved father’s last wishes”. This was not the answer Alexander III had anticipated and the second time he presented his uncle not with a suggestion but with an order.^[21] After sixteen years as chairman of the Council of ministers, Konstantine Nikolaievich was stripped of the office and was replaced by his brother, the more pliable Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich of Russia; Alexander III also took away his position as head of the Naval Department, handing it over to his own brother, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich. The Grand Duke was no longer welcome at court. Alexander III (10 March 1845-1 November 1894) reigned as Emperor of Russia from 14 March 1881 until his death in 1894. ... Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich of Russia (October 13, 1832 - December 18, 1909) was the fourth son and seventh child of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Charlotte of Prussia. ...

The dismissal fell heavily on the still vibrant, energetic Grand Duke, leaving him adrift without any proper role.^[22] He was an enthusiastic chess player and his chess problems were published in international journals, but that was not a substitute for the position he once had at the center of affairs. He spent increasingly more time with his second family, further humiliating his legitimate wife. With nothing left to do, the Grand Duke retired to Pavlovsk, spending most of his time abroad or on his Crimean estate of Oreanda. In August 1881 a fire completely destroyed Oreanda. The palace was never rebuilt and Konstantine lived from then on in a wooden pavilion. Tragedy struck him again while living there. In April 1885, his two surviving illegitimate sons died days apart of scarlet fever.^[23] Of the five children he had had with Kousnetzova, only the two daughters, Marina and Anna, thrived and the Grand Duke showered them with affection. Konstantine was also particularly close to his eldest daughter Olga. In 1883 he visited her in Greece. His grandson Prince Christopher of Greece remembered him for his sharp and loud voice, which the Grand Duke enjoyed using, usually for new servants and preferably in the presence of guests. Without any reason he would glare at the new servant and then scream the servant's name. Some were used to the trick and remained calm, while others dropped the dishes in terror, which amused him.^[24] Pavlovsk (Russian: Павловск) is a town situated in the Leningrad oblast, Russia, 30 km from St. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Last years

In 1886, Konstantine was furious when Alexander III restricted the title of Grand Duke to only children and grandchildren of Emperors, as this meant that Konstantine's grandchildren would merely be princes, but there was little he could do. He had been shunned from society and Alexander III only called his uncle to court for the wedding of Konstantine’s eldest granddaughter, Alexandra of Greece to his nephew Grand Duke Paul. Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia (Павел Александрович) (October 3, 1860 N.S.–January 24, 1919 N.S.) was the eighth child of Tsar Alexander II of Russia by his first wife Maria Alexandrovna of Hesse. ...

At the beginning of August 1889, Konstantine Nikolaievich suffered a severe stroke that left his legs paralyzed and him unable to speak. The loss of his health struck the once vibrant Konstantine particularly hard.^[25] As an invalid, he depended from then on on the care of adjutants while confined in a bath chair. The Grand Duke was cared for by his wife, who gained a sort of revenge for his unfaithfulness and past humiliations. Alexandra Iosifovna did not expel Anna Kounetzova and her children from the nearby house that Konstantine had provided for them, but she made sure that Konstantine's attendants never took him there.^[26] Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The Grand Duke tried in vain to convince his attendants to take him to see his second family, but they were under strict orders not to do so and pretended not to understand the invalid's wishes. One day, brought home by his attendants, the Grand Duke grabbed his wife’s hair and beat her with a stick before anyone could intervene.^[27]

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich's ordeal ended when he died at Pavlovsk on January 13/ 25 1892.^[28] Before he died his wife invited Konstantine’s mistress and their two daughters to see him for a last time. Pavlovsk (Russian: Павловск) is a town situated in the Leningrad oblast, Russia, 30 km from St. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Children

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich and his wife Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna had six children :

• Nicholas Konstantinovich 1850-1918
• Olga Konstantinovna 1851-1926
• Vera Konstantinovna 1854-1912
• Konstantin Konstantinovich 1858-1915
• Dimitri Konstantinovich 1860-1919
• Viacheslav Konstantinovich 1862-1879

Grand Duke Konstantine Nikolaievich had five illegitimate children with his mistress Anna Kousnetzova (1847-1922), they bare the last name Kniazev Grand Duke Nikolai Konstantinovich (1859–1918) was the first-born son of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia and a grandson of Nicholas I of Russia. ... Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinova, Queen of Greece ( 3 September 1851 - 18 June 1926) married King George I of Greece. ... Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia. ... Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich Romanov (1860-1919), was the son of Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov, and a grandchild of Nicholas I of Russia and a brother to Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia. ...

• Sergei Konstantinovich Kniazev 1873-1873
• Marina Konstantinovna Kniazeva b. Dec 8, 1875 d.June 8 1941. m. Apr 24, 1894 Alexander Pavlovich Erchov b. July 6, 1861, son of Gen. Paul Erchov
• Anna Konstantinovna Kniazeva b. Mar 16, 1878 St. Petersburg d. Feb 5, 1920 (of typhoid) Ekaterinodar (m.) Apr 29, 1898 St. Petersburg Nikolai Nikolaevich Lialin b. Aug 15, 1869 d. Feb 14, 1920 (of typhoid) Ekaterinodar, son of Gen. Nikolai Lialin, Military Governor of Helsingfors
• Ismael Konstantinovich Kniazev 1879-1885
• Lev Konstantinovich Kniazev 1883-1885

Notes

Bibliography

• Chavchavadze, David, The Grand Dukes, Atlantic, 1989, ISBN 0938311115
• Ferrand, Jacques, Descendances naturelles des souverains et grands-ducs de Russie, de 1762 à 1910 : répertoire généalogique,1995.
• King Greg, Gilded Prism, Eurohistory, 2006, ISBN 0-9771691-4-3
• Van Der Kiste, John, The Romanovs 1818-1959, Sutton Publishing, 1999, ISBN 0-7509-2275-3.
• Zaeepvat, Charlotte, Romanov Autumn , Sutton Publishing, 2000, ISBN 0-7509-2739-9