Maria Fyodorovna

Princess Marie Sophie Frederikke Dagmar (November 26, 1847 - October 13, 1928) was born as the second daughter of Louise of Hesse and Christian of Glucksburg. She was named after her kinswoman Marie Sophie Frederikke of Hesse (1767-1852), Queen Dowager of Denmark. Her father soon became a hereditary heir to the Throne of Denmark, mostly on basis of her mother's succession rights.

Adult life

She was married to Alexander III. Pretty and popular, Maria Fyodorovna rarely interfered with politics, preferring to devote her time and energies to her family, to her charities, and to the more social side of her position. Her one exception to this "hands off" policy was her militant dislike of Germany.

Related Topics:
Alexander III - Germany

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Despite the overthrow of the monarchy (1917), the Empress Maria at first refused to leave Russia: it was only in 1919, at the urging of her sister Alexandra, that she grudgingly departed. After a brief visit to London, she returned to her native Denmark, choosing as her home Hvidøre, her former holiday villa near Copenhagen. There she remained until her death in 1928; following services in Copenhagen's Orthodox church, she was interred at Roskilde Cathedral. In 2005, the governments of Denmark and Russia agreed that the Empress's remains should be returned to St. Petersburg, where she will finally be interred next to her beloved husband, seventy-seven years after her death. The ceremony will take place from 23 to 28 September 2006.

Related Topics:
1917 - London - Hvidøre - Copenhagen - Roskilde - St. Petersburg - 23 - 28 September - 2006

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Plays and films aside, Maria Fyodorovna never met any of the Anastasia claimants; indeed, to the end of her life, she refused to acknowledge that the massacre of her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren had ever taken place.

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The children of Tsar Alexander III and Maria Fyodorovna:

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• Tsar Nikolai II (May 6, 1868 - July 17, 1918).
• Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich of Russia (June 7, 1869 - May 2, 1870).
• Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia (May 6, 1871 - August 9, 1899).
• Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia (April 6, 1875 - April 20, 1960).
• Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich (November 28, 1878 - c. June 12, 1918).
• Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia (June 13, 1882 - November 24, 1960).