So far, we are in full agreement.
Although I should note that the pro-Monarchists constitute a really, really small minority. While the mere idea of a "Monarchy" is a very romantic and appealing one, Russians don't have short memories: Monarchy in Russia meant absolute power, when the few had everything, while the majority of people were even worse than slaves. Even when Monarchs in France and England had absolute power, they never come anywhere near to committing all the atrocities Russian Monarchs /Royals / Boyars are responsible for. There is nothing romantic and hardly anything positive about the role of the Monarchy in Russia, and the Romanovs were probably the worst (in terms of oppressive rule) of them all, even if they did give Russia some of its best Rulers (like Alexander I and Alexander II).
Thanks for your reply.
I totally agree that the Romanovs were hardly the most democracy-loving of dynastys but looking through the history of alot of ruling Royal Houses, they're hardly blemish free. You only have to look at the Japanese Imperial Family's history. But that is all history and the Grand Duchess has made it very clear that if a restoration was on the cards, the only way it could work is with a constitutional monarchy. It's all "Ifs" because I very much doubt Russia would restore it's monarchy but IF they did, Maria (I suspect) has no intention of becoming Maria the Terrible.
As I noted in my previous post, I consent that Maria Vladimirovna is a more accepted claimant on the International Level. I am even prepared to agree that she has a slightly sounder basis for her claims than Prince Nicholas. However, the thing about Russian Monarchists (not only the contemporary ones, mind you) is that most of them don't care[/] who has the most rights: History of Russia is so full of examples when the 'rightful Heir' was bypassed in favour of someone different.
And I think that this is a case of "Russia's Got Royals". People look at Nicholas and Dmitri and they see two old men in grey suits who don't undertake the same duties as the Grand Duchess. You have to look at the profiles of Nicholas and Maria and it's fairly clear who seems to have the stronger claim, not based on ancestry but based on their roles today and let's face it, IF there was ever a chance of the monarchy coming back to Russia then the Russian people are going to look at both candidates and decide who they prefer. The Grand Duchess has a pretty strong case, her heritage aside (and for the record I think she does have the strongest claim birth-right wise). You only have to look at the way Maria was treated at the reburial of Empress Maria Feodorovna. She was the star of the show that day and thats for three reasons as I see it.
One, the Church. The Grand Duchess is faithful Orthodox. She is recognised by the Patriarch (and his predecessors) as the Head of the family and in eyes of the Church, Her Imperial Highness is the one they regard as being important. She has always followed the guidelines of the Church on the issue of recognition of Romanov remains, she visits Orthodox churches regularly and for the Orthodox believers in Russia who want a Royal but aren't sure who to vote for, they'll follow the example of the Church and see Maria being raised up as the Romanov heir and support her.
Two, the State. At the re-burial, it was the Grand Duchess who was given a place with the Heads of State and their representatives. She was also given the task of welcoming them. The pictures clearly show Maria standing alongside the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark, the former King and Queen of Greece and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Where was Nicholas? Outside of the burial, we've seen quite a few meetings between Maria and Putin and the State seem to be on her side where the rehabilitation of relatives is concerned. They seem to recognise her as the Head of the family, so anyone in Russia who wants a Royal but isn't sure who to vote for could look to the Government example and see Maria being the Romanov heir and support her.
Three, Maria's role. The Grand Duchess has pretty much taken her lead from other exiled monarchs (Yes she was never a monarch). Let's take an example of the former King and Queen of Romania. They do charity work, they represent Romania, they live there, they behave pretty much like they would as monarchs but have no political power. Their daughter goes about recieving bows and curtsies, doing pretty much everything the Prince of Wales does in the UK but on a much smaller scale. The Grand Duchess is seen to be travelling the world representing Russia and when she does so, she is doing so off her own bat. No-one's forced her to do it. People see her visiting Belarus and Australia and being recieved as the Head of the Imperial Family and recieving the diplomatic treatment accorded to Royalty so anyone looking at how Nicholas and Maria are treated and how they work abroad will see Maria's activities and support her.
So you see, the Grand Duchess has a higher profile than Nicholas and she has the key support of those she needs to retain that profile. Yes Nicholas and Dmitri have visited Russia but so has Maria. They have their Romanov Fund for Russia but similarly, the Grand Duchess does her bit for charities both in Russia and those outside of Russia with a Russian outreach. She speaks Russian and she's in touch with the state affairs of Russia. In my view, she's not only equal in her qualification to Nicholas but she's done even more to show that a restored monarchy, even an exiled Imperial House, is better in her hands.
Queen Elizabeth II is a Reigning Monarch and Head of the State. Common tact, if not protocol, dictates that curtseys are in order. But even Her Majesty does not insist on bows. Whereas Maria Vladimirovna, who is a Claimant to non-existing Throne, insisted upon bows, curtseys and kissing the hand. That’s very out of touch and egocentric, in my opinion.
The King and Queen of Greece aren't reigning yet they recieve bows and curtsies all the time. The same goes for a whole host of exiled monarchs and this is what makes monarchy monarchy. It only takes one man to say "You're my King" and give him allegiance and he's a monarch. If Maria's entourage told those she was due to meet that the correct protocol was to bow, curtsey, kiss the Imperial hand etc etc then they're really not doing any different to how the Romanian entourage instruct people on the protocol for meeting King Michael and Queen Anne. I doubt Maria
insisted.
Russo said:
Bea, Darling, I think my issue is that I would like to see MORE solutions in Belarus from Maria. We are in a down economy, can she help them in any way to warrant a restoration?
I think this is very much the first step on the ladder for the Grand Duchess. Rome wasn't built in a day and she's very limited in what she can do but what she can do is exactly the same as what Elizabeth II does when she goes to a failing country like Belarus. She gives them hope because they see people are interested in what they are doing and she gives them recognition of their hard work to encourage them. Whether that encouragement means as much coming from Maria as it does from Elizabeth is a matter for the people in Belarus who get a Royal visit but I think Maria is pretty much in mind that places like Belarus are part of the Russian family and that as the Head of the Imperial Family, she has just as much responsibility to them as to mainland Russians.
Yes, her relevance is pretty low but what the Grand Duchess is doing is in reality, all she can do. She knows Russia isn't screaming for a Romanov return but she does know that there's a minority who are Royalists and she's now making sure that the Russian monarchy-in-exile has a face, has a living symbol of what it is. And that's no different to any other monarchy in the world, indeed, it's what every monarchy needs to survive. Whether you prefer Nicholas or Maria, neither will get to sit on the Imperial throne but in their exile, they've got a chance to give the Romanovs back some dignity and some relevance, character and accessibility. Maria seems to take that more seriously than Nicholas and maybe thats why she gets the Royal treatment from the right people?
