Prince of Oldenburg. History of the Oldenburg dynasty

German Oldenburg House is one of the most powerful and ancient in Europe, whose representatives were on the thrones of Denmark, the Baltic States, Norway, Greece and were related to the house of the Romanovs, to the kings of Sweden, as well as to the children and grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II in Britain. Now, in 2016, it is headed by the Duke of Christians, who was born in 1955.

The Oldenburg Dynasty

Before moving to the Russian Empire, it is necessary to indicate the branches of this mighty house. The oldest branch of the dynasty ruled in Denmark from about 1426 to 1863, and also in Livonia for 10 years in the 16th century. The kings of Denmark and Norway wore the title of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein. The Oldenburg dynasty spawned the Glücksburg line from 1863, originating from the house of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which ruled Denmark from 1863 to the present. Members of this line are now on the Norwegian throne. Its representatives were Basileus of Greece from 1863 to 1974.

Russian empire

After the death of the grandson of Peter the Great's grandson in 1730, the male generation of the Romanov family ended. But for some time Russia was ruled by the daughter of Peter the Great, Empress Elizabeth. She died, leaving no offspring, in 1761. After the coup in 1762 on the Russian throne was a German princess, the daughter of Prince Anhalt-Zerbstsky. Her husband was Karl-Peter-Ulrich (Peter III), a representative of the Holstein-Gottorp branch, the younger line of Oldenburg. Thus, their son and his subsequent children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were only nominally Romanovs. They all married princesses from German and Danish families.

Oldenburg in Russia

Alexander I invited a young, well-educated relative to the service in Russia. Georgy Petrovich Oldenburg (1784-1812), cousin of the emperor, was appointed in 1808 by Governor-General of Estland. He vigorously set to work. The prince paid special attention to the peasant question. In 1909 he married Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna, sister of Alexander and Nikolay Pavlovich. In the same year, Prince Oldenburgsky was appointed to the post of Tver, Novgorod and Yaroslavl Governor-General.
He vigorously engaged in the improvement of these places and actively visited the county cities, supervising the work of the administration. Simultaneously with this work, he was invited to do shipping in Russia. In addition, work on the land routes of the message has also joined. The location of the young couple was Tver. And already in 1909 the deepening of the Ladoga Canal began. Since there were not enough specialists, the prince proposed to open a new educational institution, in which engineers will be graduated. The emperor supported his undertakings, visited the prince in Tver, where he became acquainted with the works of Karamzin on history. Very energetically, the prince built up old canals, which earned the Emperor's gratitude. When the war broke out, Georgy Petrovich collected militia, food, and placed prisoners. But, suddenly ill, the young prince of Oldenburg died in 1812, leaving young children.

Children and grandchildren

He had a son, Peter, in 1812, who became an orphan at the age of eight. At the request of his mother, he was brought up by his grandfather. Prince Oldenburg Peter lived in Germany and received a good education. Abroad, he studied Russian as well. Emperor Nicholas I called his nephew to serve in Russia. He was granted an estate in Peterhof, as well as enrolled in the elite Preobrazhensky regiment.
He quickly ascended the ranks and four years after his arrival in Russia he was promoted to Lieutenant-General. Then he moved to the civil service and became a senator. He was engaged in jurisprudence and, having convinced that in Russia there are not enough lawyers, has achieved the establishment of the School of Jurisprudence. At the same time the building was bought with own money. Petr Georgievich was actively engaged in public activities. Great attention was given to women's education for 20 years. At his own expense, he opened an orphanage. Actively continued the noble activity of his son, Alexander Petrovich.

Childhood

Prince Alexander was born in 1844. As it should be in the environment of the highest aristocracy, Prince Oldenburgsky was immediately taken to the guard in the Preobrazhensky regiment with the rank of ensign. Similarly, they prepared for service for the good of the country and three of his brothers. They received home education, they were all waiting for the military career.

Youth

Because two brothers at different times have committed morganatic marriages and lost the favors of Emperor Alexander II and titles of princes, Alexander Petrovich became the heir to the head of the house of the Grand Dukes of Oldenburg. He got home the most versatile, one might say, encyclopaedic education, he read a lot, since the family had a wonderful library, and eventually became a professional lawyer.

Marriage

Prince Oldenburgsky married the daughter of the Duke of Leuchtenberg. Evgenia Maximilianovna was engaged in large-scale social activities. Princess Oldenburg patronized the Red Cross, the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, and the Mineralogical Society. Together with her husband, she carried care for charitable, educational and medical institutions, which was overseen by her husband's father. Princess Oldenburg attracted to work on the creation of art postcards with reproductions of paintings by the Hermitage, the Tretyakov Gallery of prominent artists of his time. Her enlightenment activity continued after the revolution. She also opened art schools in the provinces and St. Petersburg.

Activities of Alexander Petrovich

And in the Life Guards in peacetime, and in the Balkan War, Prince Oldenburgsky showed himself to be energetic, demanding, first of all, to his own officer. During the war, he lived as a Spartan. No additional amenities in the form of a crew or a personal cook did not use. His troops distinguished themselves in crossing the passes of the Balkan Mountains. He was awarded a gold sword and a dagger "For Bravery". When he retired, he continued his father's activities.
He stood at the origins of the creation of the Institute of Experimental Medicine, in which later he worked. Pavlov, conducting experiments on physiology. It also carried out studies to combat tuberculosis. The plague that erupted in the Caspian was suspended when Prince Alexander personally went to fight the epidemic. In addition, he created a climate resort in Gagra, which is currently used.

Castle of the Prince of Oldenburg

It was built in Gagra. Around him on the coast was a park with citrus trees, slender cypresses and exotic agaves. The castle of Prince Oldenburg is built in the style of Art Nouveau by the architect I.K. Lutheran. The snow-white palace, covered with red tiles, with chimneys and the falcon's tower, is strikingly beautiful. But neither time nor people spared him. Now the palace is in desolation and needs urgent restoration.

Despite the diverse activities that Prince Alexander has been involved in, his services are almost forgotten. He went to the fields of the World War and was the supreme head of the sanitary and evacuation units, supplied the army with food. After the February Revolution, he was fired. And in the autumn of 1917 he left the country forever. The prince died in France at the age of 88, having survived both the spouse and the only son.