Royal Portrait: The Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna of Russia

“I always get a pleasant feeling every time I see something that reminds me of her. Strangely, I love her immensely, although I have never known her, and not only because she was dear to you, but also because of all the things I heard about her; it was said that she was really a great woman: she was able to keep people’s deep affection for her.”

–Grand Duchess Elizabeth Alexeievna about her aunt, the Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna (nee Princess Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt), the first wife of Emperor Paul I of Russia, in a letter to her mother on July 1, 1797.

The First Bavarian Queen: Princess Caroline of Baden

Princess Caroline of Baden, Queen of Bavaria

by Johann Christian von Mannlich, 1817.

Princess Caroline of Baden was born on July 13, 1776 in Karlsruhe. She and her twin sister Amalie were the oldest daughters of Hereditary Grand Duke Charles Louis of Baden and Princess Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. Caroline had one surviving brother, Charles, and four younger sisters: Louise, Frederica, Marie, and Wilhelmine. All the children of Charles Louis made grand marriages to the different royal houses of Europe and this success was largely attributed to his wife's wise political judgment and strength of character. Amalie was certainly a force to be reckoned with; she made sure that all of her children were highly educated and prepared for their future roles, but at the same time, she was also a caring and devoted mother who fostered a warm and close relationship among her children.

Caroline grew up in a warm and close-knit family. She was very close to her sisters and they would always call and refer to their mother as "my dear beloved Mama". Caroline inherited her mother's love for the arts and talent for painting, but she also developed a strong dislike for anything French. And this was further reinforced by her personal dislike for Napoleon Bonaparte, who was said to be involved with the murder of the Duke of Enghien.

As a teenager, Caroline was considered to be a potential wife for Louis Antoine Henri de Bourbon, Duke of Enghien, a relative of the Bourbon monarchs of France. She was said to be very much in love with him, but before any marriage negotiation began, Caroline's family dropped the matter for fear of French opposition.

In 1796, Caroline met Maximilian, Duke of Zweibrucken, in Ansbach, while both their families were on the run from the advancing French army. Maximilian was a 40-year-old widower with four children, and he fell in love with the 21-year-old Caroline. At first, Caroline hesitated, but due to her mother's cajoling and her budding feelings for Maximilian, who was said to be "kind and simple", made her accept him. They married in Karlsruhe on March 9, 1797 and the family settled in Mannheim.

As a young stepmother, Caroline got on quite well with her stepchildren, Augusta (aged 8), Caroline (age 4) and Karl Theodore (age 2). The children lost their mother just over a year ago and Caroline provided all the maternal love and affection they need. Despite her determination to build a strong relationship with them, she had a great difficulty getting along with her eldest stepson, Ludwig, who couldn't completely accept his stepmother. She would have a lifelong strained relationship with him.

Maximilian became Elector of Bavaria in 1799 and he, Caroline and the children moved to Munich in the spring of 1799. That September, Caroline gave birth to a stillborn son and was followed by another son a year later. She would give birth to six daughters: the first set of twins Elisabeth and Amalie, followed by another twins Sophie and Maria Anna, and then daughters Ludovika, and Maximiliana. She and Maximilian's marriage was considered to be happy and harmonious and Caroline was a supportive wife to her husband. She was also a devoted and loving mother to her children and stepchildren; she carefully supervised their education and upbringing and raised them with a deep sense of duty.

Maximilian maintained a close relationship with France and its emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, and because of this support, Bavaria was elevated into a kingdom by the Treaty of Pressburg, thus Caroline and Maximilian became the first King and Queen of Bavaria. Caroline had a strong sense of duty and relished in her role as Queen. She was a clever and able consort and she used her position and influence for the welfare of the people. As a lover of the arts, she helped her husband in transforming Munich into a cultural center.

When her beloved stepdaughter Augusta was eyed by Napoleon as wife for his stepson, Eugene de Beauharnais, Caroline was against the match. She disliked Napoleon, and sensing this, the French emperor went out his way to gain her favor. He and Josephine showered many presents to Caroline and Augusta, but when Caroline realized that Augusta and Eugene were in love, she finally gave her blessing to the couple.

An older Queen Caroline.

Caroline was allowed to remain a Protestant even after she married Maximilian and had her own pastor. Since the Bavarian court was predominantly Catholic, a new wave of religious tolerance was established in Bavaria and this led to an increased influx of Protestant traders and dealers in the country. This, and the many charitable institution established by the Queen made Caroline popular and well-loved by the people.

King Maximilian died in 1825. Before he died, he made his eldest son and successor, Ludwig I, to promise to take care of his stepmother and siblings. As a youth, Ludwig had an uneasy relationship with Caroline and when he became King, he tried to send her away from Munich. She resisted but decided to stay in Tegernsee Castle, a country seat built by Maximilian for her. Caroline died in 1841, 16 years after her husband. Due to her Protestant faith, her funeral was conducted with little dignity as befitted a Queen. The Protestant clergy were not allowed to enter the church, so the funeral service was given outside. Meanwhile, the attending Catholic clergy wore ordinary clothes rather than their religious vestments. When the funeral procession was dissipated, the coffin was placed in the tomb without any ceremony. This undignified treatment of her stepmother by the Catholic clergy greatly angered Ludwig I. His strong pro-Catholic views were changed forever and his attitude towards Protestant softened permanently.


Read about Queen Caroline's daughters here:
The Daughters of King Maximilian I
Princess Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, Queen of Prussia

Read about Queen Caroline's two sisters here:
Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna of Russia
Queen Frederica of Sweden

Empress Maria Ludovica of Austria

Queen Louise of Prussia was not the only female sovereign to intensely dislike Napoleon Bonaparte. The Empress Maria Ludovica of Austria was also one of his sworn enemies. She had enough political influence to encourage her husband and Austria to go to war against France.

Maria Ludovica of Austria-Este,
Empress of Austria.

The beautiful and gentle Empress was the third wife of Emperor Franz I of Austria. Born on December 14, 1784 in Monza, Italy, she was the youngest daughter Archduke Ferdinand of Austria (a son of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria) and Maria Beatrice d'Este. Having brought up in a strict atmosphere, Maria Ludovica received a good education. She inherited her parents' talent for organizing and appreciation for the arts.

Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna

A miniature portrait of Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna nee Princess Juliane Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld from the Royal Collection. She was the first wife of Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia, and an aunt of Queen Victoria.

Anna was around 15 to 16 years old when this portrait was painted. This was how her sister-in-law and close friend, the future Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna of Russia, described Anna:

"Julie is such a wonderful child: kind, polite, trustworthy, and she is the best friend I could ever dream of. She is cheerful and amusing... She has brown hair, brown dazzling eyes, and a pretty mouth..."

"The Four Lovely and Noble Sisters on the Throne"

"Aphrodite, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia once looked down into the clear-obscure of earth, and, weary of the ever-bright but cold Olympus, yearned to enter in beneath the clouds of our world. ... Then they determined to take the earthly veil, and to clothe themselves in our mortal form. They came down from Olympus...and our nightingales fluttered to meet them out of the bosom of May. But, as they touched the first flowers of earth...Fate raised her eternal scepter and said: "The immortal becomes mortal upon the earth, and every spirit becomes a human being!" So they became human beings and sisters, and were called Louisa, Charlotte, Theresa, Frederica... And the dream was ended and fulfilled... Therefore, be it consecrated to the four fair and noble sisters..."  

--Jean Paul Fr. Richter.

This was how German Romantic writer Jean Paul dedicated his work, Titan, to the four beautiful daughters of Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The sisters were Louise, Queen of Prussia, Charlotte, Duchess of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Therese, Princess of Thurn-Taxis, and Frederica, Queen of Hanover. 

Charlotte, Therese, Louise and Frederica were all born and raised in Hanover, where the princesses's father served as governor. Their mother, Princess Friederike, died when the princesses where still very young. Grand Duke Charles remarried, and his second wife was the princesses' maternal aunt, Charlotte. Princess Charlotte was a loving and devoted stepmother, and her stepchildren dearly loved her. Unfortunately, she died a year later, shortly after giving birth to her son. 

With no mother to look after his daughters, Charles decided that his daughters would received proper education and have better upbringing if they live with their grandmother in Darmstadt. And so in 1785, all sisters, except the eldest, Charlotte, went to Darmstadt to be brought up by their grandmother, Princess George. There they were given the kind of education suitable for their position, and this would be of great use to them once they married into the different royal houses of Europe.

Charlotte Georgine, Duchess of Saxe-Hildburghausen

Born in 1769, Charlotte was the eldest of the four sisters. At the 16, he married Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen, and together they had 12 children! It was not a happy marriage, however. Charlotte was far more intelligent than her husband, and he treated her with indifference. The couple was also plagued by financial problems, and had to live in a reduced civil list. When Charlotte's grandmother came over to Hildburghausen, she noticed the cold relationship between husband and wife. She wrote: "Of all his duties, he only fulfills his marital duties with zeal. Charlotte, who never loved this man, is always pregnant." Despite her country's financial problems, Charlotte gave half of her annual income to charity and educational institutions, and she provided support to poor families and women. Under Frederick and Charlotte, Saxe-Hildburghusen prospered, and its cultural life reached its peak. As a result, poets and artists called Hildburghausen "little Weimar". Charlotte had a beautiful singing voice, and her remarkable talent for singing earned her the nickname "Singlotte". Writer Jean Paul Richter wrote about Charlotte to a friend: "Paint to yourself the heavenly Duchess, with her childlike eyes, her whole face full of love and the charm of youth, her voice like the nightingale's..."

Therese, Princess of Thurn and Taxis

Therese was the second daughter, and she was born 4 years after Charlotte. While she and her sisters Louise and Frederica were living in Darmstadt, they received as their guest the Prince Carl of Thurn and Taxis. His parents were planning to marry him off to a British princess, but upon meeting Therese, he declare that he would not marry no one else but her. They were allowed to get married, on the condition that after marriage, Therese would not convert to Roman Catholic and remain a Lutheran. She was married to Carl at the age of 16 in Neustrelitz, and together they settled down in the Palais Thurn und Taxis in Frankfurt. Therese was very interested in the arts and literature. Possessing political acumen like her sister Louise, she made efforts to reinforce the sovereignty of the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis, and staunchly defended its interest at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Therese's marriage with Prince Carl was greatly strained by her husband's "political incompetence". He was far more interested in hunting than in the affairs of the government. As a result, she embarked in an affair with a Bavarian diplomat, Count Maximilian von Lerchenfeld, and Therese gave birth to two illegitimate children: George and Amalie, Baroness von Krudener. Because of her contributions to her adopted country, historians viewed Therese as "one of the great women of Thurn and Taxis".

Louise, Queen of Prussia

The most famous of the four sisters, Louise was destined to be a queen and a legend. She married the heir to the Prussian throne, Frederick William, and when he became king, and she, a queen, she used her beauty, influence, charm, determination, and political savviness to ensure Prussia's honor. Her love and devotion to her husband, family, country, and people greatly endeared her to the masses, and she was regarded as the personification of German nationalism. Her influence was greatly feared by even Napoleon Bonaparte who called her his "beautiful enemy". She openly encouraged her husband to declare war on France, and favor a Russian alliance. The queen had many admirers, and it was said that the Prussian soldiers were ready to sacrifice their life in war for their beautiful queen. Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun described Louise in her memoirs: "...but here my pen must remain powerless for it cannot convey the impression that my first meeting with the Princess made upon me. her charming and heavenly face shone with an expression of gentle virtue and she possessed the finest and most regular features. The beauty of her figure, her neck, her arms, the dazzling freshness of her complexion, everything about her surpassed the most perfect ideal. She was in deep mourning and wore a crown made with spikes of jet which, far from unbecoming, gave her palid cheeks a certain radiance."

Frederica, Queen of Hanover

Frederica was the youngest of the sisters, and the closest to Louise. As a young girl, she caught the eye of Prince Louis of Prussia, the younger brother of the Crown Prince of Prussia. They had a double wedding; her sister Louise married the Crown Prince. But while Louise's marriage was happy, Frederica's was not. Prince Louis had many mistresses and preferred their company to that of his wife. The neglected wife was hurt and soon tried to find solace elsewhere. Three years later, Prince Louis died, and Frederica was now a young widow with three children. Still very beautiful, she was unofficially engaged to her cousin, Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, but she later became pregnant by the Prince Frederick of Solms-Braunfels. To avoid a scandal, the Prince married her, but after their daughter died, he became disappointed and embittered, and soon resumed his usual dissipated lifestyle of alcohol and mistresses. The couple lived  separate lives, and by this time, Frederica had become notorious in Europe for her life and affairs. When the Duke of Cumberland came to Mecklenburg on a visit, he met Frederica and fell in love with her. She and the Prince of Solms-Braunfels were allowed to divorce, but before divorce proceedings could start, the Prince suddenly died. His death was regarded as a "little too convenient", and some suspected Frederica that she had something to do with his death. Nevertheless, Frederica and Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland were married in 1815. They traveled back to England and had a place of their own, Carlton House. Queen Charlotte, Ernest Augustus's mother, didn't like her new daughter-in-law and refused to receive her. When Ernest Augustus became King of Hanover, he and Frederica, now Queen of Hanover, moved to Hanover where they held court at Altes Palace. Despite Ernest Augustus's difficult personality and Frederica's checkered past, fortunately for the couple, they had a happy and harmonious marriage.

Frederica of Baden, Queen of Sweden

Princess Frederica was one of the many daughters of Karl Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Baden and Princess Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. She was born in Karlsruhe on March 12, 1781, the fourth daughter of the grand ducal couple.

Frederica grew up in an idyllic and happy family life. She and her sisters enjoyed a close and warm relationship with each other, and they were particularly close to their mother. Throughout their adult lives, their correspondence with their mother was incessant, and they always confide in her about their joy and unhappiness, and even the political situation in their respective countries. Amalie was a strong and formidable woman, and she was always sympathetic to her daughters' plight. She gave them valuable advice and kept reminding them that their duties to their respective countries and husbands must be foremost in their minds.

Portrait of Queen Frederica of Sweden
by Johan Erik Bolinder.

Frederica studied together with her sister Louise, who was only two years older than Frederica. They were taught about history, art, music, dancing, and etiquette. Their first language was German, but they also learned fluent French. When Louise and Frederica were 14 and 12 respectively, an unexpected proposal came from Russia. Empress Catherine II was looking for brides for her grandsons Alexander and Constantine, and after receiving favourable reports about the Princesses of Baden, she agreed to invite them to Russia. Louise and Frederica duly arrived in St. Petersburg in the autumn of 1792, and after meeting them, Catherine was impressed with their appearance and manners. She thought them well-educated and with high morals. The arrival of these two very young but pretty princesses caused so much celebration and sensation in the Russian court. Louise was a blond and shy beauty while Frederica was a brunette and more animated than her older sister. In the end, it was Louise who captured the heart of the heir to the Russian throne, Alexander, and she and Alexander were subsequently engaged and married. Louise became the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Alexeievna after her conversion to the Orthodox faith. Catherine was hoping that Constantine would like Frederica, but he did not want anything to do with her. She was sent back to Baden, loaded with expensive gifts and praises from Russia. But her touching farewell to her sister Louise was still etched in their memories even years after.

For the time being, Frederica contented herself with her life in Baden with her mother. But one day, news came to Baden from Sweden that would eventually turn Frederica's fate. She was selected by King Gustav IV Adolf to be his wife.

There was an interesting story about how King Gustav IV Adolf came to know about Frederica. The young king, who always wanted to have a beautiful wife, was first betrothed to Princess Louise-Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin when he was 16 years old. He haven't had met Louise-Charlotte, but he was initially positive about the engagement. However, when he started receiving reports that she was not beautiful, he broke off the engagement. Almost immediately, the King and the Swedish court looked for another candidate. This time the girl was from Russia. She was the Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna, the granddaughter of Empress Catherine. Catherine was very keen on marrying off her eldest granddaughter to the Swedish king. Gustav went to Russia to meet and 'inspect' the princess, but before meeting her in person, he saw a portrait of Alexandra in the studio of the painter Mme. Vigee Le Brun. He was so captivated by her beauty that he fixed his gaze at the portrait for such a long time that his hat, which he held with his hand, fell on the floor. After meeting and spending time with Alexandra, he asked for her hand, and announced that he was in love. Unfortunately, there was no wedding to be concluded. Gustav found out from the engagement contract that Alexandra would not change her religion even after she became Queen. Gustav was incensed and remained adamant that he would not give his people an Orthodox queen. He broke the engagement, and he refused to see Alexandra from then on. Later on, before Gustav left Russia, he had a conversation with Alexandra's sister-in-law, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, the former Princess Louise of Baden and Frederica's sister. The king thought Elizabeth remarkably beautiful, and he felt 'a little in love' with her. But Elizabeth laughed off the king's little attention for her, and sympathetic as ever, tried to comfort him by showing him a portrait her sister Frederica. Upon seeing Frederica's beautiful face, Gustav's expression brighten and thenceforth became resolved in marrying her.

King Gustav IV Adolf 
and Queen Frederica.

Gustav's interest on Frederica was a surprise for Princess Amalie. She wrote to her daughter, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, about the Swedish king's proposal to Frederica: "Judge of my surprise: M. de Taube, who is here, has just asked, on behalf of the King of Sweden, for the hand of one of your younger sisters in marriage. I am so astounded that I do not know what to reply."

Gustav came to Germany to personally see Frederica, and they met in Erhfurt. They were married in Stockholm on October 1797, and later settled in Haga Palace, which Frederica really liked. She was quite popular with the people, and she had no difficulty in getting along with her in-laws, especially her mother-in-law, who treated Frederica with great kindness. But she had a difficult time adjusting to the rigid etiquette of the Swedish court, and felt lonely and homesick in the first few years of her marriage. Gustav was very much in love with his wife, and he often exhaust her with his sexual needs. But his behaviour towards her was very formal, especially in the presence of other people.

Frederica gave birth to the couple's first child, Gustav, in 1799, and he was followed by 4 more children: Sophie, Carl Gustav, Amalia, and Cecilia. Like her sister, now the Empress Elizabeth, Frederica kept a detailed correspondence about her life in Sweden to her mother in Baden.

Gustav and Frederica's marriage started off quite well; Frederica genuinely loved her husband despite his difficult character, but differences in their lifestyle and point of view, and not to mention, the tense political situation in Sweden during those times, greatly strained the couple's marriage. Her letters to her sister Elizabeth paints a woman who had to undergo many difficulties in her life in Sweden. But Frederica possessed a very determined character which would be of great use to her in facing her misfortunes in life. Countess Golovina wrote about her: "She was full of wit and ingenuity... Alas! Her destiny, though brilliant, exposed her to great trials, and the crown placed on her head was woven with many thorns."

These words by Countess Golovina perfectly portrayed Frederica's fate as Queen of Sweden. She was a well-liked queen, but Gustav was an unpopular king, and his inept leadership and the failure of his policies caused him and Frederica the throne. In 1809, the King and Queen were deposed by a coup d'etat of army officers. Gustav was arrested and incarcerated in the Castle of Gripsholm, while Frederica and her children were allowed to remain in Haga Palace. In order to ensure his son's succession as the next king, Gustav abdicated, but the Swedish government announced that he and all his descendants were deprived of the right to succeed the Swedish throne. It was a devastating news for Gustav and Frederica. Gustav's uncle was proclaimed as the new king under the name of Charles XIII, thus giving way to another Swedish dynasty, the Bernadottes.

Queen Frederica in exile. Painted by
Karl Stieler in 1810.

During Frederica and her children's house arrest, her dignity and fortitude earned her the people's respect, sympathy and admiration. The new queen, Hedvig Elizabeth Charlotte, treated her with kindness and respect, and sympathize with her. She wanted to help Frederica to preserve her son's right to be king, but Frederica refused. All she ever wanted, she said, was to keep her son and be reunited with her husband. She also firmly explained that "her duty as a wife and mother told her to share the exile with her husband and children". Upon Frederica's request, and with Hedvig's intervention, Gustav was reunited with his family.

Gustav, Frederica, and all their children were allowed to leave the country and lived in exile in Germany. They first settled in Baden with Frederica's mother, but Gustav, restless as ever, did not want to remain there. The couple's relationship greatly deteriorated after their exile, and they eventually divorced in 1812. Gustav settled in St. Gallen in Switzerland until his death in 1837, while Frederica and her children settled in Lausanne. Despite her frail health, she travelled extensively under the name Countess of Itterburg. She died in 1826 of heart failure, and was buried in Schloss und Stiftskirche in the small town of Pforzheim, Germany.

A Polish Princess

Portrait of Princess Aniela Czartoryski nee Radziwill
by Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun

Princess Aniela Radziwill was born on 3 October 1781 in Vienna, the eldest daughter of prominent Polish-Lithuanian nobleman Michał Hieronim Radziwiłł and Helena Przeździecka. She was also the younger sister of Prince Anton Radziwill, husband of Princess Louise of Prussia.

Princess Aniela was one of the leading beauties of her time. By the time she was 16, she was starting to make a charming impression on every young man who made her acquaintance. Aniela's sister-in-law, Princess Louise of Prussia, the wife of her brother Anton, wrote about Aniela in her memoirs: "My sister-in-law had grown much prettier... Her noble features, her beautiful touching face won her a great deal of admiration." She had many admirers, one of them was the Comte Clary. There were talks of marriage between the two, but Aniela's family had to give up the idea when they learned that she and Prince Constantine Czartoryski, a Polish nobleman, had fallen in love with each other.

It was said that he had eyes for no one but Aniela, and he was very keen in marrying her. But the marriage did not take place immediately. Prince Constantin's mother was not enthusiastic about the match because of some old resentment between her and Aniela's mother. But Princess Czartoryski had a change of heart after she met Aniela.

Constantin and Aniela were married in 1802 in Nieborow, and soon after the wedding, the portrait painter Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun was tasked to paint a portrait of Aniela. "Her beauty matched the portrait they had drawn of her," wrote Princess Louise, "but the gentle and engaging expression of her features, the rather melancholy look in her eyes, the expressive tones of her voice - especially when she sang - everything threw a charm over her face such as I have never known in anyone else." Constantin and Aniela settled in Pulawy where they enjoyed a happy married life.

Aniela had always had a delicate health, and she became constantly ill the years after her marriage. Unfortunately, only six years after her wedding, she succumbed to an illness and died, leaving her husband with two small children, Eudoxia and Adam.

Alexander and Elizabeth

The marriage of the future Tsar Alexander I of Russia and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Alexeievna in September 1793 was one of the highlights of Catherine the Great's life and reign. Dubbed by contemporaries as the marriage of "Cupid and Psyche", the couple won universal acclaim throughout Europe because of their angelic appearance and their charming nature. It was an arranged marriage, but Alexander and Elizabeth started their married life genuinely fond of and happy with each other. Sadly, marriage bliss for the couple was short-lived. The unfathomable Alexander drifted away from Elizabeth, got a mistress, and fathered several illegitimate children, while Elizabeth - with her placid nature and retiring ways - became a solitary and melancholy figure, neglected by her husband and treated with indifference by his family. It was only towards the end of their lives that the couple had a reconciliation - they were finally reunited and promised to devote themselves to each other. But this new-found happiness was cut short by Alexander's sudden death at the age of 47. Elizabeth, now a tired and broken woman, followed Alexander to the grave 5 months later.

The relationship between Alexander and Elizabeth was best summed up by the Countess of Choisseul-Gouffier in her memoirs:

"What a difference would it have made in the happiness of both, if they had been able to understand each other! They seemed to have been made the one for the other; the same goodness, the same gentleness and intellectual power. Yet there seemed to have been one point on which their hearts could not meet. Why is it that death alone has reunited such perfect souls?"

Queen Hortense: Recollections by the Duchess d'Abrantes

From the memoirs of Laure Junot, Duchess d'Abrantes:

"Hortense de Beauharnais was at this time, 17 years old; she was as fresh as a rose, and though her fine complexion was not relieved by much color, she had enough to produce that freshness and bloom which was her chief beauty; a profusion of white hair played in silky locks round her soft and penetrating blue eyes. The delicate roundness of her figure, slender as a palm tree, was set off by the elegant carriage of her head; her feet were small and pretty; her hands very white, with well-rounded nails. But what formed the chief attraction of Hortense was the grace and suavity of her manners which united the Creole nonchalance with the vivacity of France. She was gay, gentle and amiable; she had wit, without the smallest ill temper, is enough to be amusing. A polished and well conducted education has improved her natural talents; she dances excellently, sang harmoniously, and performed admirably in comedy. ...She became one of the most amiable princesses in Europe. I have seen many, both in their own countries and in Paris, but I never knew one who had any pretensions to equal talents. She was beloved by everyone..."

Queen Hortense

The Pearl of Russia: Maria Pavlovna of Russia

Maria Pavlovna, Grand Duchess of Russia,
Grand Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

The Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia was the fifith child and third daughter of Paul I of Russia and Empress Maria Feodorovna. She was born in Pavlovsk Palace in St. Petersburg on February 4, 1786, and was named after her mother. Maria was raised along with her four sisters in Pavlovsk and Gatchina under the strict guidance of their mother. As a child, "Masha", as she was called within the family, was distinguished from her sisters as a bit of a tomboy. Her grandmother, the Empress Catherine, wrote that Maria would have been better to have been born a boy and earn a place in the dragoons ("a guardsman in a skirt", her grandmother called her). She was inclined to enjoy boy's games, and swaggered by clenching her hands and putting them on her hips. The Empress Catherine despaired, "...I don't know what will become of her..." The little Maria was also considered not pretty: her features where disfigured as a result of a pioneering application of the smallpox vaccine. "My third granddaughter was unrecognizable", wrote Empress Catherine. The grandmother and the parents were so concerned about Maria that they, especially the Empress, started to pay special attention to her development.

Fortunately, as she grew older, Maria began her transformation from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan. The pox marks were now barely visible, and by the time she reached adolescence, people at court started admiring her. She was now a very pretty girl, with deep-set brown eyes and an aquiline nose, and was called "the pearl of the family". She was not as beautiful as her sister Elena, who was considered the beauty of the family, but she had grown up to be an attractive girl. "...She looked like an angel," said one courtier. If Maria did not stand out as the beauty among her sisters, she made it up through her remarkable talent in music. This was especially praised by her grandmother, who noted how, at the age of nine, Maria was able to play the piano with such genius. She also became a favorite of her father, who admired her cheerful and lively disposition, strength of character, will power, and candor. A highly precocious child with a serious interest in intellectual pursuit, Maria loved reading so much that courtiers were amazed to see her holding and reading a book for hours.

In 1799, Maria's two elder sisters, Alexandra and Elena, were married in St. Petersburg, and soon departed  with their respective husbands for their new home. Fourteen-year-old Maria was left as the eldest daughter of the family. But after a year, there were already talks about a possible marriage between her and the heir to the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Prince Charles Frederick, a nephew of Paul I's first wife, Natalia Alexeievna. Negotiations were conducted, and in the summer of 1803, Charles Frederick arrived in Russia. He was warmly greeted by the imperial family and the court, was made Lieutenant-General, and was given his own suites in the palace. He was to spend a year in Russia with his future bride. This was a great opportunity for the couple to know each other thoroughly, and to better understand each other's personality, habits and tastes.

The young grand duchess Maria in
1804.

Charles Frederick was said to be handsome, kind, and with a good sense of humor, but he was considered too "simple-minded" and obtuse for the intelligent Maria. Nevertheless, he and Maria were finally married in St. Petersburg after nine months of "getting to know each other". They spent their honeymoon in Pavlovsk.

Maria's future adoptive homeland, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, was nothing like Russia when it comes to wealth, power, and prestige. The duchy was small and impoverished, but it was well-known throughout Europe to be a center of culture and science. Its capital, Weimar, was the home of great poets like Goethe and Schiller, dramatists, philosophers, writers and other eminent scholars. Curiously, the cultural glory of this duchy was not created by its ruling dukes, but by the Dowager Duchess Anna Amalia, who was a Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel before her marriage to the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. It seemed that Maria's talent and love of music and the arts had found their rightful place in this duchy.

Meanwhile in Weimar, the people were already excited for the arrival of their prince and their new princess. They were very eager to meet her. The poet Friedrich Schiller wrote to his friend: "We are all waiting anxiously for the appearance of the new star from the East." In the autumn of 1804, Charles Frederick and Maria left Russia for Weimar, where they were greeted with much festivities. Her arrival caused great enthusiasm to the people of Weimar. Cristoph Martin Wieland, a German poet and writer, described the happy event: "The most festive part of all the magnificence of balls, fireworks, promenades, comedies, illuminations was the widespread and genuine joy at the arrival of our new princess". She was not only warmly welcomed by the two duchesses - Dowager Duchess Anna Amalia and the reigning Duchess Louise - but they also "fell in love with her". Anna Amalia wrote to a friend: "It is indeed with great joy and genuine love to speak to you about my new granddaughter - who was a real treasure. I love and respect her endlessly. She was blessed with the ability to charm us all." Maria charmed not only her new relatives, but also those people who had the opportunity to converse with her. Wieland wrote to his friend about his impression of the Russian grand duchess: "She was inexplicably charming, and knows how to connect innate majesty with extraordinary politeness, delicacy and tact. She was perfect when she speaks. It is impossible not to wonder how, in the first hours of her arrival, when she has not been to court before, she was able to addressed each person with such tact and politeness. She will probably begin a new era for Weimar... It will go on and bring to perfection what Amalia has begun forty years ago." Schiller seconded Wieland's impression: "She has a talent for music and painting, is very well-read, and shows strength of mind which aimed at serious things... Her face is attractive, but not pretty. She seems a very determined character, and as she strives for truth and goodness, we can hope that she will reach her goals. In other words, if we had a choice and we could choose any princess, then we would still choose her... If she feels at home here, there is a promise of a great Weimar era."

As a Russian grand duchess, Maria's marriage to Charles Frederick was considered by the people of Weimar to be politically advantageous. Through her marriage, the duchy gained the friendship and protection of powerful and wealthy Russia. The couple's arrival in Weimar in 1804 coincided with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte in France, and in the succeeding years, the defenseless duchy found itself in constant threat by Napoleon's aggressive political ambition. 

The French Army then started attacking Prussia, which was an ally of Saxe-Weimar, and successfully defeated it in the Battle of Jena and Battle of Auerstadt. With the advancement of the French Army in Weimar, Maria, her husband, and her children were forced to flee to Schleswig. They returned in Weimar after a year. Although the terms of peace for the duchy were hard, it was allowed to retain its independence, thanks to Maria's position as the sister of the Russian emperor. 

During the French campaign in Russia, Maria and her family left Weimar once again and stayed in Bohemia, where the family received the protection of Austrian troops. After the Battle of Leipzig, they returned to Weimar. During the Congress of Vienna, heads of state and diplomats all over Europe participated and Maria was one of them. Through her efforts, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was elevated to a Grand Duchy and added more territories.

Throughout her life, Maria showed great interest in the arts and sciences. Gifted with intelligence, and, in the words of Schiller, "a great talent for painting and music, and a love for reading", she spent the first years of her marriage in constant contact with intellectual people. She wanted to continue the work began by her predecessors by cementing Weimar's place as the cultural capital of Germany. She wanted to further her education by taking up logic, history and philosophy in the University of Jena. She maintained a correspondence with Russian poet Vasily Zhukovsky and Schiller even dedicated his last poem to her.

When Maria and Charles Frederick succeeded to the Grand Duchy, she became the patroness of art, science and social welfare. Through her efforts, a museum was built as a dedication to Goethe, Schiller, Wieland, Herder, and helped establish the Falk Institute in Weimar. "Literary Evenings" were conducted in her home, the Wilhelmsthal Castle, where scholars and professors from Jena University and others from outside the grand duchy were invited to give lectures on various topics. Maria also encouraged the study of history, and expanded the Weimer Library that was founded by the Dowager Grand Duchess Anna Amalia. She was also interested in nature. She facilitated the opening of a horticulture school and donated a substantial amount of money for the planting of trees along roads, and creating new parks, squares, and gardens.

Maria was also involved in charity. She gave loan fund to help assist the poor, and established workhouses and a variety of trade schools. She also set up committees that would donate equipment and medicine for hospitals. Because of her efforts, she was called by the people as "the angel of the poor, the sick and the orphans". And Goethe declared that she was "one of the greatest and most outstanding women of our time".

Although she kept herself busy in her adopted homeland, Maria still remained in contact with her relatives in Russia. After the death of her eldest brother, Alexander, and her eldest sisters, Alexandra and Elena, Maria became the eldest child in her family (Constantine was still alive but he was distant). Her younger brothers and sisters, particularly, Nicholas and Michael, held her in high esteem. They treated her as their second mother figure (their mother was still alive), and her authority over family affairs was never overlooked.

Charles Frederick and Maria's marriage was far from being perfect but the couple seemed to enjoy a harmonious relationship. The couple had different personalities and temperament, but the success of their marriage was largely attributed to Maria's acceptance of her position in Weimar. She never complained about her destiny and learned to make the most out of it.

Grand Duke Charles Frederick died in 1853, and he was succeeded by his son, Charles Alexander as the new Grand Duke. Meanwhile, Maria's youngest daughter, Augusta, made a grand marriage to Prince William of Prussia, who would one day become the first German Emperor as William I.

The now widowed Maria spent most of her time in Schloss Belvedere on the outskirts of Weimar. It was there that she received the sad news that her brother Tsar Nicholas I had died. She was deeply affected by his death that she started suffering from ill health. Nevertheless, she was still strong enough to travel to Russia to attend the coronation of her nephew, Alexander II. While in Russia, she wandered through the parks of Pavlovsk and Gatchina, remembering her happy childhood days. She wrote to Vasily Zhukovsky, "Who among us old people can forget the dreams of our youth?"

She seemed to know that this trip to her homeland was to be her last. On the evening of June 23, 1859, Maria passed away in her bedroom at Schloss Belvedere. She had died of heart attack. She was buried beside her husband in a mausoleum that was constructed in a lot purchased by the Russian government. Next to the mausoleum, a Russian Orthodox church was erected. Her burial was attended by the members of her family, among them was her daughter, the Empress Augusta of Germany, and the empress's daughter, Louise, Grand Duchess of Baden.

Maria Pavlovna's contribution to her adoptive country cannot be underestimated. With her strong character and powerful intellect, she had become a highly-respected and well-loved figure throughout Germany, and with the number of people who greatly mourned her death, it was a proof of that.

Read more about Maria's sisters:

Alexandra | Elena | Catherine

Napoleon's Beautiful Enemy: Queen Louise of Prussia

Princess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,
Queen of Prussia

She was a glamorous figure of her day. A beautiful and fashionable young woman, her popularity is very similar to that of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Austrian Empress Elizabeth. She was probably the most famous and well-loved queen consort in German history. She was Queen Louise of Prussia, wife of King Frederick William III of Prussia. She influenced her contemporaries and modern Germany probably more than any other woman. Often called the “Queen of Hearts”, she impressed those around her with her beauty, charisma and cheerful, friendly nature. Her legacy was further cemented by her infamous meeting with Napoleon Bonaparte of France, and thus became the symbol of German national unity that eventually led to the creation of the German Empire.

Almost an Empress - Anna Feodorovna of Russia

Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna of Russia
Born Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
From a portrait by Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun
(The Royal Collection)

Little has been written about the Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna of Russia in English so it's not surprising that many people reading about the Romanovs are not familiar with her. And yet, she bears that distinction as the first princess who married into the Romanov Family to be divorced from her husband. She was related to almost all royal families in Europe, and perhaps the most famous of her relatives was Queen Victoria. Anna Feodorovna was the sister of Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, as well as Leopold, King of the Belgians, thus, Anna was aunt to Victoria.

The Courage of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth

This is an excerpt from the memoirs of Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, a Polish stateman in Russian service and a best friend of Tsar Alexander I, where he recalls the night of the murder of Tsar Paul I in 1801, and how he admired the courage that was displayed by the future Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna, wife of Alexander I and the woman rumored to be his great love.

"During the first terrible moments Alexander was so absorbed by his remorse that he seemed incapable of saying a word or thinking of anybody. His mother, on the other hand, was in a passion of grief and animosity; the only member of the Imperial family that retained her presence of mind was the young Empress [Elizabeth]. She did her utmost to console Alexander and give him courage and self-reliance. She did not leave him during the whole of the night, except when she went for a few moments to calm her mother-in-law and persuade her to stop in her room and not expose herself to the fury of the conspirators. While in this night of trouble and horror some were intoxicated with triumph and others plunged in grief and despair, the Empress Elizabeth alone exercised a mediatory influence between her husband, her mother-in-law, and the conspirators. "

The murder of Tsar Paul I of Russia, March 1801

Portrait of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth

'Dear Katya': Catherine Pavlovna of Russia

Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia,
Duchess of Oldenburg
Queen of Wurttemberg

"Catherine had eyes of fire and a figure of demi-goddess." 

- Nikolai M. Karamzin

Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia or "Katya" as she was affectionately called by her family, was the favorite sister of Alexander I and one of the few people he trusted implicitly. Elegantly beautiful, vivacious, highly-intelligent and ambitious, Catherine was one of the brightest stars in the Russian court. She exercised a considerable moral influence to Alexander and he kept up a detailed and continual correspondence with her over the years. Their 10 year age gap and their differences in personality didn't prevent these two people to become deeply attach to each other. Alexander was calm, humble and reserved. Catherine was whimsical, dramatic and impulsive. She had a fiery nature that Alexander found irresistible, and he adored and worshiped her, so much so that some people in the Russian court even suspected that they were having an incestuous relationship. But I strongly doubt that such a thing between Alexander and Catherine ever existed. They were simply too devoted to each other.

Catherine Pavlovna (or Ekaterina Pavlovna, the Russian equivalent of her name) was the fourth daughter of Paul I of Russia and Maria Feodorovna. She was born on 10 May 1788 in Tsarskoe Selo and was named in honor of her formidable grandmother, Empress Catherine II. Her birth was a disappointment to her parents, who were expecting a son, but the Empress was delighted with this little baby girl who was named after her. She wrote: "Yesterday, the grand duchess gave birth to a daughter that received my name - Catherine. Mother and daughter are healthy now."

Catherine's education began under the supervision of the Empress, and Countess Lieven became her governess. After the Empress's death, Maria Feodorovna continued the supervision of her daughter's education. Her education was "rigid" and Catherine grew up to be a witty and very intelligent woman, with a good sense of independence and individuality. In addition to French, German and English, Catherine was also fluent and wrote well in Russian - something that was rare for Russian women of high rank during those times. She was well-read in mathematics, economics, politics, history and geography. She was also taught in music and painting, and she was engaged in engraving. By the age of 16, her beauty became more noticeable. Her character became even more lively and sociable, and shyness was alien to her. But it was her eyes that greatly stood out, as the historian Nikolai Karamzin recalled: "Catherine had eyes of fire..." With her remarkable beauty, slender figure, brilliant mind and royal descent, Catherine was a much sought-after bride. The Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna wanted her daughter to be Empress of Austria, and this prospect was shared by the ambitious Catherine herself. However, Alexander I, who wanted a fine husband for his favorite sister, would not hear of it, since he thought that the Emperor Franz was too old for her, feeble and weak-willed. Furthermore, Alexander never forgot the unhappy life of his sister Alexandra in the Austrian court, which eventually resulted to her premature death.

Catherine on the other hand, was very keen to marry Emperor Franz and live in Austria. She wrote to her brother that even though Franz was already 40 years old, she didn't find that a problem, adding: "I understand that he is no Adonis, but he is a decent man, enough to make a happy family life." However, nothing came out from this possible marriage with Austria (due to the strong opposition of Alexander I), and soon Catherine, by this time already 20 years old, finds herself still unmarried.

In the summer of 1807, Alexander received a proposal from Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon wished to strengthen France's ties to Russia and he thought about marrying one of Alexander's sisters who was of marriageable age - Catherine. Alexander was shocked and he communicated this to his mother. The Dowager Empress was horrified; she didn't want any of her daughters to become wife of a "tyrant", as she called Napoleon. Catherine was likewise averse of Napoleon and she said "I would rather marry the last Russian stoker than that Corsican." Hastily, the Dowager Empress arranged for the meeting and subsequent betrothal of Catherine to Prince George of Oldenburg. They were married on 18 April 1809 when Catherine was already 21 years old. The tragic short life of Catherine's older sisters, Alexandra and Elena, who both died in childbirth, made the Dowager Empress determine not to marry off her remaining daughters in such early age.

Although it was said that Prince George of Oldenburg was neither handsome nor imposing, he was an honest and respectable man. Catherine became deeply attached to him, and felt happy and contented with her married life. Their honeymoon was spent in Pavlovsk and eventually Alexander gave them the Anichkov Palace in St. Petersburg. Later, Prince George was made Governor-General of Tver and he and Catherine moved there in August 1809. Catherine gave balls in the palace, festivities, illuminations and fireworks. She changed "the quiet and simple provincial life" in Tver. She made every effort to "give this dear place a piece of St. Petersburg". She became involved in charity, and, with a great sense of duty, adopted many public causes. According to the French Ambassador Joseph de Maiste: "The life of the Grand Duchess Catherine in Tver is truly astonishing. In the evening, her home is like a monastery. A famous writer, Mr. Karamzin, reads her lectures in Russian history... The Princess teaches Russian language to her husband and serves as a mediator between him and the common people. Her kindness and courtesy are unparalleled. If I were a painter, I would send a picture of her eyes, that you may have seen her good nature... And this young princess was high in favor to her brother [Alexander], who lavishes her...with much attention. She is very well-educated and very intelligent. Hers is a mind that can foresee a lot and take the most decisive measures."

In 8 August 1810, Catherine gave birth to her first son, Frederick Paul Alexander. And two years later, another son, Peter. During these times, Catherine exercised considerable influence to Alexander. He took her advice concerning domestic and foreign policy. She even showed consideration to his mistress, the wily and astute Maria Narishkina, which touched Alexander deeply. During the war with Napoleon, amidst the general confusion and distress, Catherine showed a remarkable energy and initiative. She was tireless in her every effort and Alexander admired her more than ever. Unfortunately, on December 1812, before the expulsion of the French troops from Russia, her husband Prince George fell ill and died of typhus. Catherine was devasted and wrote to Alexander: "I lost with him all." She felt her loss so much that for weeks, she refused to leave her room, crying and lamenting. Her family and her friends became so concerned about her that they feared her sanity, and persuaded her to travel around Europe to take her mind off things.

The widowed Catherine traveled extensively abroad, writing numerous letters to her mother. While staying in England, she met the Prince Regent, and he proposed to her. Catherine was shocked and refused his proposal. Thereafter, she refused ever meeting him again. Because of her behavior, which provoked the outrage of the royal court and the British public, relations between Russia and Britain became even more strained.

While staying in England, Catherine met her cousin, Crown Prince William of Wurttemberg. William was married to the gentle Princess Caroline of Bavaria but their marriage was deeply unhappy and remained childless. They divorced in 1814. And now William, lonely and very unhappy, fell in love with his charming and beautiful cousin. Catherine reciprocated his feelings, and finally William proposed to her. In January 1816, they were married. Soon, the couple moved to Stuttgart. Months later, King Frederick of Wurttemberg fell gravely ill. Despite the fact that Catherine was in the last month of her pregnancy, she was almost always near the patient and taking care of him. The king died and in the same day, Catherine gave birth to a daughter. She was named Marie Frederika Charlotte. William and Catherine were now the King and Queen of Wurttemberg.

Catherine's life in Wurttemberg didn't start off very well. She had to deal with difficult in-laws and the poor financial state of the kingdom. But, having a strong character and keeping in mind that she was a Russian grand duchess, she was able to install herself perfectly in her position, and gained the respect of the people. Just like what she did in Tver, she continued her efforts to the benefit of her new country. She became involved in charity and promoted many social causes, such as establishing schools, orphanages and workhouses, and helping farmers and horticulturists to better cultivate the land. Unfortunately, Catherine's life in Wurttemberg would be cut short.

In early 1819, less than three years in her adopted homeland, Catherine fell gravely ill with erysipelas which later complicated by pneumonia. She died in the morning of 9 January 1819. Her husband, who loved her and was greatly devoted to her, was devastated, and her children were deeply affected by the death of their mother. When Empress Maria Feodorovna received the news that her daughter had died, she burst into uncontrollable sobs and cried "No, it's not true! Dear Katya is not dead, it's a lie!"

To house the remains of her precious wife, the inconsolable William commissioned the Italian architect Giovanni Salucci to build a mausoleum at the peak of the Wurttemberg Hill in Stuttgart.
Catherine was outspoken, exuberant and had a very strong personality, but she also possessed great kindness, intellectual prowess and a non-judgmental approach towards people. She was devoted to Russia, and after marrying William, to Wurttemberg, which welfare was of an utmost important for her. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, and the people of Wurttemberg greatly mourn the premature loss of their beloved Queen.

The Countess Lieven wrote about Catherine as Queen of Wurttemberg:

"I've never met a woman who was so much afflicted with the need to move, act, play a role and overshadow others. She has charming eyes and manners, confident gait, a proud and graceful posture. Although her features were not classic, her striking fresh complexion, bright eyes and gorgeous hair captivated everyone. She knew perfectly well all the rules of decency and was blessed with strong feelings of the sublime. She spoke briefly but eloquently, her tone was always commanding."

Maid-of-honor to the Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna, Countess Edling, wrote about Catherine:

"Ekaterina Pavlovna, sister of the emperor, later Queen of Wurttemberg, whose greatness of heart was equal to that of her mind, could charm any and dominate everyone who surround her. Beautiful and fresh as Hebe, she was able, had a charming smile, and eyes that penetrate into one's soul. Her eyes sparkled with wit and gaiety... [Her] lively conversation exuded her peculiar charm. The family adored her and she felt that by staying in Russia, she could play the most brilliant role!"

Read more about Catherine's sisters:

Alexandra | Elena | Maria 

Angel of Schwerin: Elena Pavlovna of Russia

Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia,
Hereditary Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Portrait by Josef Grassi, 1803

On December 13, 1784, in Gatchina, Tsarevich Paul of Russia and his wife Maria Feodorovna gave birth to a second daughter. The proud parents and the formidable grandmother Empress Catherine were surprised with the unusually regular features of this baby. She was named Elena - after Greek mythology's Helen of Troy - and true enough the baby would grow up to be a great beauty.

Elena was educated privately at home together with her elder sister Alexandra, to whom she shared a close relationship. The first years of her education were strictly supervised by her grandmother, and Elena was given a governess, Countess Charlotte Lieven. The Countess closely monitored the child's spiritual and emotional qualities and she quickly realized that the child was particularly sensitive to all things beautiful. Countess Lieven reported this to the Empress, and in turn the Empress ordered to decorate the room of the little grand duchess with special care and fill it with flowers everyday. The Empress, filled with pride about her granddaughter, wrote to Baron Grimm about Elena: "She seems to be a beauty in the full sense of the word. She has an unusually regular features. She is slim and graceful by nature, she had a lively and playful character and a kind heart. Her brothers and sisters are extremely fond of her cheerful disposition..." The Empress was meticulous when it comes to matters about her grandchildren but she was particularly proud and quick to compliment Elena. She wrote: "...beautiful Helen is thriving and I believe that in the next six months she will be smarter and livelier than her older sister, who will be two years old next week."

Elena, together with her sister Alexandra, learned painting, music and languages. By the time they were in their early teens, they could already speak five languages. As Elena grew older, her grandmother never tried to hide her preference for "beautiful Helen", comparing her with her sisters and was always praising her appearance. For the Empress, Elena was the embodiment of beauty and grace. She was fond of drawing flowers and plants, loved taking long walks in the parks of Pavlovsk, and probably kept a diary - but it was not preserved. She grew up to be a thoughtful and sensitive but impressionable girl.

When Elena was 12 years old, the French painter Madame Vigee Le Brun did a portrait of the two eldest grand duchesses: Alexandra and Elena. Another painter, Vladimir Borovikovsky, also painted a portrait of Elena. These portraits were shown to the European courts, and monarchs and ministers were fascinated with the two grand duchesses.

Soon there were talks about Elena's marriage. Emperor Paul chose the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. This German state is not only small but it is also not wealthy. Nevertheless, Paul saw it was politically advantageous for Russia. Negotiations were conducted and fortunately no problems arose and so it was completed successfully.

On February 17, 1799, Prince Frederick Louis, the heir to the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin arrived in St. Petersburg. He was introduced to his bride-to-be. According to contemporaries, Frederick was rather "naive and plain, but he is kindhearted, handsome and has a strong sense of humor". He was obviously captivated with his bride's "elegant beauty, refined manners and gentle eyes". Elena was also fascinated with the young man, and they quickly fell in love. She was happy to meet his entourage and was eager to see his future father-in-law. She sent him letters, almost everyday, which she diligently and respectfully written in German and French.

Elena and Frederick Louis were engaged on May 5, 1799 in Pavlovsk and on October 12, 1799 they were married in Gatchina. A week later, Elena's sister Alexandra was married to Archduke Joseph of Austria. These two weddings were celebrated with great joy and pomp, and celebrations lasted for a month.

In early 1800, Elena and her husband left Russia for Schwerin. On their arrival, she was warmly received by her father-in-law, the Duke. He immediately liked Elena and she was to become his favorite daughter-in-law. A banquet was held in honor of the newlyweds. Elena appeared in her magnificent dress decorated with diamonds, things that were never seen in impoverished Schwerin. She quickly realized the condition of her new homeland and she became involve in charity.

Despite the fact that Schwerin is far from being magnificent or opulent like the Russian court, Elena was happy and contented with her new country and tried her best to make the most out of it. The new Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was affectionate and amiable. She was friendly to all people: from her in-laws to the street urchins. She and Frederick explored the streets on foot while generously giving the people, especially the children, with flowers, coins and sweets. She became involve in encouraging children's education and did her best to help those in need. She quickly won the hearts of her people. They loved their Princess and were proud of her kindness and beauty. Elena was indeed lovely and charming, with blond hair, a slender figure and beautiful blue eyes, but she also possessed a warm heart devoid of any pretensions. She treated people with respect and in the way they would not feel intimidated nor distressed in her presence. On her birthday, her maid got hold of something rare in those days: a bunch of Parma violets (these normally bloom during warm season, and Elena's birthday is in December). She presented the flowers to her mistress, and Elena, deeply moved with her maid's thoughtfulness, gave her something that is "more valuable than gold" - she simply embraced her. Both stood for several minutes in silence and with tears in their eyes.

On September 1800, she gave birth to her first child - a son - and he received the names Paul Frederick. He was named in honor of his grandfathers. In the following year, she and her husband visited Berlin. She met the Prussian royal family and became friendly with Queen Louise. The people of Berlin were fascinated with the sight of these two lovely creatures walking together, and they were called "A Pair of Roses".

In 1803, when Elena was expecting her second child, her fragile health deteriorated rapidly. There were signs of consumption. Physicians were called from Berlin and St. Petersburg, but there was nothing they can do to save her. Consumption was incurable during those times. She died in the evening of September 24, 1803. She left behind a bereaved husband and in-laws, a one year old son and a newborn daughter. The people of Schwerin were saddened by her sudden death. She was buried with great sorrow in a mausoleum in Ludwiglust. On the day of her death, a paper was found under her pillows. It contains a long list of the names of families she intended to help in the future.

The people of Schwerin called Elena an "Angel" because she made no enemies and was loved by everyone. Despite her short life, Elena was still luckier than her older sister Alexandra. While both princesses grew up together, were almost inseparable, married almost at the same time, and had relatively short life and both dying in childbirth, Elena was more fortunate. Until her untimely death, she was surrounded by loving and kind people. Her husband was loving towards her, her father-in-law gave her with fatherly affection and the servants all loved and respected her (strikingly different from the cold and stiff Austrian court that Alexandra had to endure).


Read about Elena's sisters:
Alexandra | Maria | Catherine 

Psyche: Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna of Russia

"Her features were well formed and regular, her face a perfect oval; her fine complexion was not bright, but was of a paleness completely in harmony with the expression of her countenance, whose sweetness was angelic. Her fair hair floated over her neck and forehead. She was clad in a white tunic, a carelessly knotted girdle surrounding a waist as slender and supple as a nymph's. As I have described her, so ravishingly did this young person stand out against the background of her apartment, adorned with pillars and draped in pink and silver gauze, that I exclaimed, "That is Psyche!" It was Princess Elisabeth, the wife of Alexander." 

-Madame Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun

 

I have always been fascinated about Elizabeth Alexeievna, wife of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. She was one of the saddest figures of the Romanov family. Extraordinarily beautiful, sensitive, charming, compassionate, intelligent and kindhearted, it seemed she had all the requirements to please the future Alexander I of Russia and become the perfect Empress-Consort of Russia. Alexander himself was a handsome and very charming man, and his marriage to Elizabeth was dubbed as 'the marriage of Cupid and Psyche'; it was said that no other couple looked so perfect together. Everybody commented that Alexander was married to the most desirable of women. Indeed. But with all her beauty and good character, Elizabeth was not able to find happiness in her marriage to Alexander nor in her life in Russia.

Elizabeth as Princess Louise of Baden

Elizabeth was born as Princess Louise Augusta Marie of Baden on January 13, 1779 third daughter of Hereditary Prince Charles Louis of Baden and Princess Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. Louise grew up in a tightly-knit family. She was very close to her brother and sisters and they in turn had a warm relationship with their parents. Louise was particularly close to her mother and would remain her confidant even when she was already married and lived in Russia.

Around the time when Louise was thirteen years old, the Empress Catherine II of Russia was on a search for a wife for her favorite grandson, the Tsarevich Alexander. She was informed about the princesses of Baden who were said to be very pretty and well-educated. The Empress immediately communicated her interest to the Baden court and invited its two unmarried princesses, Louise and Frederica.

Louise was not completely unfamiliar with Russia. Her maternal aunt, Princess Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt married the then Tsarevich Paul, the Empress's son. She was with Louise's mother, Amalie, when she traveled to Russia when they were also in their early teens, and Wilhelmine was subsequently chosen by Paul to be his wife and became Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna. Amalie had told stories about Natalia to Louise and the young impressionable girl of thirteen was filled with admiration to an aunt whom she never met.

Just like her mother and aunt before her, Louise traveled to Russia with her younger sister Frederica at the invitation of the Empress Catherine. It must have been a very daunting experience for these two young girls barely age 13 and 11 to travel to a foreign land unaccompanied by their parents. They were naturally filled with apprehension if they would make a good impression to the Empress, otherwise they will be sent back to Baden. Upon their arrival in St. Petersburg, they were met by the Empress herself and she was immediately impressed by the princess's appearance and the magnificence of their trousseau. She was amused of the pretty and dark-haired Frederica for her vivaciousness, and admitted that she would make a good bride for another grandson. However, she was particularly taken with the blond and blue-eyed Louise, whom she also described to have possessed an angelic face and a melodious voice. She found her to be the epitome of beauty and charm. In her heart, the Empress was secretly hoping that Alexander would choose Louise to be his wife.

The reluctant groom-to-be, Alexander, was not very keen to the idea of marriage, however he admitted that Louise was indeed pretty and charming. He was very shy on her presence and had no idea how to treat her. Eventually, the two of them warmed up to each other and their initial awkwardness blossomed into friendship. He told his parents and his grandmother that he liked the princess and on their blessing, wrote a letter to Louise telling her his feelings and asking her to marry him.

Upon their engagement ceremony, Louise was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church and was given the names and title Elizabeth Alexeievna, Grand Duchess of Russia. A few months later, Alexander and the new Elizabeth were married with great pomp in the Chapel of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The bride was radiant in her wedding gown of silver brocade and on her ash-blond hair was a diadem of diamonds. It was said that the couple were so good-looking together that they were compared to two angels getting married. The Empress could hardly contained her happiness and contentment to this beautiful couple whom she referred to as "Cupid and Psyche".

Elizabeth as Grand Duchess of Russia

After the wedding, Elizabeth's sister went back to Baden. Elizabeth felt homesick and she relied to her husband for comfort and companionship. She wrote to her mother that her husband was worthy of her love and affection. Alexander, in turn, admitted to his tutor that he loved his wife and that she was an angel of kindness. As the wife of the Tsarevich, Elizabeth poured out her energy and enthusiasm in learning the history and language of her new country. Her tutors, one of them was Princess Dashkova, were impressed by the speed to which she mastered the Russian language and the way she spoke it without any hint of a foreign accent. People at court were filled with admiration to her resolve to become fully accustomed to her new country and the St. Petersburg society admired her beauty, kindness and humility.

The court of the Empress Catherine was opulent, lively and magnificent but it was also beaming with intrigues. There was also the tension and rivalry between the Empress and the Tsarevich Paul: the Empress's court against the Tsarevich's court. Alexander and Elizabeth were full of anxiety about the tensions and intrigues surrounding them and they only found solace in the company of each other. This drew them closer together and their relationship deepened as the time went by.

After the death of the Empress and the ascension of Paul as the new Emperor, things turned upside down. The magnificence of the court under Empress Catherine was replaced by a militaristic one created by Emperor Paul. He had an erratic character and a volatile temper that made earned him a lot of anger and hatred among the people. His wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna was rather cold towards her daughter-in-law and proved to be unsympathetic to her. During the Coronation Day of Emperor Paul and Empress Maria Feodorovna, all wore court dresses, and Elizabeth - desiring to supplement her attire, fastened fresh roses with the diamonds attached on her dress. When the Empress saw her, she immediately pulled out the roses and threw them on the floor, saying, "These don't suit the court dress." Elizabeth's only consolation during those times, other Alexander, was her sister-in-law Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna, wife of Alexander's brother Grand Duke Constantine. She was Elizabeth's constant support and companion. She wrote to her mother after Empress Catherine's death how Anna was her only consolation, as she was for her. "She spends almost all of her time in my place. She comes in the morning and take meals with me almost everyday, and stay with me all day..." But when Anna left St. Petersburg permanently for Coburg because of her failed marriage to Constantine and with Alexander started his dalliances with different court ladies, Elizabeth felt completely alone.

In the summer of 1799, Elizabeth became pregnant. Everyone at court were rejoicing for the upcoming birth of an heir. She gave birth in the spring of the following year, but to the disappointment of everyone at court, the baby was a daughter. She was dark-haired and dark-eyed as opposed to the baby's blond parents that the Emperor Paul remarked how could two blond parents have a dark-haired baby. Malicious people at court began to gossip that the baby's father was not Alexander, but instead it was his best-friend, a Polish prince named Adam Czartoryski. Prince Czartoryski was handsome and intelligent and he was attracted to the then Grand Duchess Elizabeth. It was said that Alexander encouraged his best-friend's affection towards his wife so that he could be free to pursue other women. Whether Elizabeth did succumb to the charm of the handsome Polish prince was debatable. There was no strong evidence to suggest that Czartoryski and Elizabeth had sexual relations. But almost certainly, he was in love with Elizabeth and he admitted this on his journals. Nevertheless, his association with Alexander (and Elizabeth) caused him the ire of Emperor Paul and he was sent on a diplomatic mission in Italy.

The years 1800-1801 proved to be trying years for Elizabeth. Her baby daughter Maria died of teething infection in July 1800. In her sorrow, she wrote to her mother: "Not an hour of the day passes without my thinking of her, and certainly not a day without my giving her bitter tears. It cannot be otherwise so long as I live, even if she were to be replaced by two dozen children." The following year, Emperor Paul, with his erratic character and volatile temper which earned him the anger and hatred of many people, was consequently murdered in his bedroom by a group of conspirators. Alexander was said to be in full knowledge of the plans by the conspirators to kill his father. The murder of his father left an indelible mark of remorse on his inner psyche that he would always carry with him for the rest of his life and this was best summed up by Elizabeth to her mother: "His sensitive soul will forever remain torn."

With the death of Emperor Paul, Alexander and Elizabeth suddenly found themselves Emperor and Empress of Russia. It was a tremendous responsibility for their age. Alexander was only 24 and Elizabeth was 23 and though both of them possessed intellectual power and noble character, they were virtually unprepared for the task that lies ahead of them. They were overwhelmed by their new roles and the burden that goes with them. Their relationship which sweetly formed out of friendship, respect, warmth and affection began to crumble. Alexander, tortured by his grief and guilt, became a restless soul. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was too placid to keep him down, and he gradually drifted away from her.

Elizabeth as a young Empress of Russia

As a young Empress, Elizabeth tried to fulfill her role in the best way she can. She exhibited such calm and strength of will when she had to pull her husband together (who was completely overcome with grief after the murder of Emperor Paul) and encourage him to take the reins of the government. She dutifully presided over court ceremonies and balls and started setting up charities, schools and hospitals. However, she was superseded in her role by the Dowager Empress herself. This was something unique in Russia and Alexander was more than willing to let his mother take the center stage."The Dowager Empress sought to eclipse [Elizabeth] by a more majestic demeanor, and at every State pageant occupied a place by the side of the emperor. She regarded Elizabeth as her chief rival - a feeling she showed with some haughtiness towards her daughter-in-law..." Elizabeth was more than willing to let her mother-in-law upstage her, but she would also be upstaged, unwillingly, by another woman in her husband's heart.

Soon after his ascension as Emperor of Russia, Alexander began an affair with a Russian primadona, Princess Maria Naryshkina. Maria Naryshkina was a Polish princess and she was married to Prince Dmitri Naryshkin, court-master of the Russian court. She was said to be a woman whose beauty was so perfect that it was "almost impossible". Her jet black hair and black eyes were her main charms and she had a habit of wearing a simple white gown without any jewels in every ball and court ceremonies so she would stand out. She was not intelligent as Elizabeth and was rather vulgar and distasteful in her remarks, Nevertheless, Alexander found her irresistible and greatly enjoyed her company. Some historians often wonder why Alexander would fell for a woman like Maria Naryshkina who was described as "without any merit other than the charm of her beauty". Alexander's affair with Naryshkina would last for 13 years. And in those years, they virtually lived together as husband and wife. They had several children together who would unfortunately lived until their teenage years only.

Elizabeth, with her gentle character and forbearance, became withdrawn. She was determined that if she would to suffer due to her husband's infidelity and neglect, she would do it in silence and with dignity. She was sustained by the knowledge that it was only she who had known the depths of his emotions and the hope that her husband would someday return to her. Indeed, it was with his moments with Elizabeth that Alexander found a sort of oasis for his tortured soul. When  he was undecided with a certain matter, he asked Elizabeth for her opinion. He relied on her for current events because according to him "she was more of a reader than him". He made efforts to have meals with her as often as his schedule allowed and she showed her kindness and respect when in public. When Maria Naryshkina tried to persuade him to divorce Elizabeth, he rebuked her and vehemently refused; the subject was not brought up anymore.

In 1804, Elizabeth, then 24 years old and who was by this time at the height of her beauty had fallen in love with a handsome Guard Officer, Alexei Okhotnikov. Alexei called her in French: "My little wife" and "My friend, my wife, my Goddess, my Elise, I love you." According to a diary entry by Elizabeth's sister-in-law, the future Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Alexei would climb to a window in Elizabeth's room "when the moon was not shining" and the lovers would spend around 3 hours together. Soon enough, Elizabeth became pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl who was also named Elizabeth and called "Lisinka" by her mother. Nevertheless, Alexander declared that the child was his, but during the baptismal ceremony, according to the Dowager Empress, he felt quite ambivalent and showed little attention to the infant. Alexei and Elizabeth's affair lasted for only two years. He died after an attempt in his life. After his death, she felt abandoned and lonelier than ever and turned to her only solace, her daughter Elizabeth. Unfortunately, the little girl died after just fifteen months. Elizabeth was grief-stricken and wrote to her mother: "Now, I am not longer good for anything in this world, my soul has no more strength to recover from this last blow."

Towards the end of their lives, Alexander became more religious and reserved while Elizabeth's health declined. He regretted his past actions and sought to redeem himself. He left Maria Naryshkina for good and returned to Elizabeth. He wanted to spend more time with her and somehow the couple tried to bring back a certain piece of their past together. They traveled to Taganrog in 1825 due to Elizabeth's ill health and stayed in a small house. There, Alexander and Elizabeth enjoyed a happy and quiet life together. She wrote to her mother while in Taganrog: "Sometimes I am reduced to thinking of myself as Alexander’s mistress, or as if we had been married secretly." Near the end of 1825, Alexander caught a cold that developed into typhus while returning to Taganrog from Crimea. On December 1825, he died in the arms of his wife. Elizabeth was stricken by her loss, writing in her diary, "I do not understand myself, I do not understand my destiny. "

The Empress Elizabeth by George Dawe

Elizabeth was now too weak to go back to St. Petersburg for the funeral and decided to stay for some time. When the journey finally started, she felt very sick and they had to stopped at Belev in Tula. In the early hours of May 16, 1826, five months after her husband's death, Elizabeth was found dead in her bed by her maid. She had died of heart failure. Her remains were buried in St. Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

The Comtesse of Choiseul-Gouffier wrote sadly about Alexander and Elizabeth: "What a difference would it have made in the happiness of both, if they had been able to understand each other! They seemed to have been made the one for the other; the same goodness, the same gentleness and intellectual power. Yet there seemed to have been one point on which their hearts could not meet. Why is it that death alone has reunited such perfect souls?"

Elizabeth's life in Russia had been unhappy and unfulfilled. She was an example of one of those women who, despite their rare qualities and nobleness of heart, were destined to lead a lonely and deeply unhappy life. Neglected and abandoned by her husband throughout most of her life in Russia, her potential as a woman and as an empress were not fully realized. Certainly, she deserved more, all the goodness and the happiness in her life, just as the Comtesse de Choiseul-Gouffier declared wistfully, "How happy she deserved to be!"

Further Reading:

Catherine the Great by Henri Troyat

Alexander of Russia: Napoleon's Conqueror by Henri Troyat

Memoirs of Countess Golovine: A Lady at the Court of Catherine II by Countess Varvara Nikolaevna Golitsyna Golovina

Historical Memoirs of the Emperor Alexander I: and the Court of Russia by Sophie, Comtesse de Choiseul-Gouffier

Life and Times of Alexander I Emperor of All the Russias by F.R. Grahame