Death & Funeral of HIH Grand Duchess Leonida (1914-2010)

[Stefan]

Grand Duchess leonida Georgievna, the widow of Grand Duke Vladimir died this weekend at the age of 95 at a hospital in madrid. She will be buried next to her late husband at the St. Peter and Pauls fortress in St. Petersburg.

[MAfan]

She died today, 24 May 2010.
Here is an entry from TRF blog, written on her 95th birthday last Semptember.

[vsriCo]

The Dowager Grand Duchess of Russia died early on Monday at the age of 95, the Ekho Moskvy radio station reported citing a spokesman for the Romanov house.
Alexander Zakatov said Leonida Georgievna Romanov, the de-jure empress, passed away in Madrid.
She will be buried in Russia near her husband, Duke Vladimir, in St. Petersburg's Peter and Paul Fortress. The date of the burial has not yet been set.
Leonida Georgievna was born in 1914. She descended from the House of Mukhrani, a collateral branch of the Bagrationi dynasty. Her family ruled ancient Georgia and Armenia from the early Middle Ages until the beginning of the 16th century.
She first married Sumner Moore Kirby in 1934, and gave birth to a daughter Helen. After divorcing Kirby, the princess married Grand Duke Vladimir Cyrillovich Romanov, who claimed to be the Russian Emperor from 1938 to his death.
Grand Duke Vladimir and Duchess Leonida of Russia gave birth to another daughter, Maria, who has styled herself as the heir to the Russian imperial throne since her father died in 1992.
Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II, his wife, their four daughters and son, and several servants, were shot dead by the Bolsheviks in a basement in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg in the early hours of July 17, 1918.
The Romanovs were canonized in 2000, and are buried in St. Petersburg's Peter and Paul Cathedral.

De-jure Empress Dowager of Russia dies at 95 | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire


RIP.

[RJ TAYLER]

My condolences to The Imperial Family her loyal friends and to the people of Russia.

[alan basil grobler]

My sincere condolence to the family of Grand Duchess Leonida.
Мои искренние соболезнования семье великой княгини Леониды Георгиевны.

[Vasillisos Markos]

What is the Act of 1946 which allowed Grand Duke Vladimir to raise Leonida in rank and avoid a morgantic marriage to her?

[Benjamin]

Dear Vasillisos Markos,

Following are links to the 1946 decree recognizing the royal rank of the Bagration-Mukhranskys and the 1948 decree concerning the marriage of GD Vladimir and GDss Leonida:
Decree of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, on the Recognition of the Royal Rank of the House of Bagration, 22 November/5 December 1946.
Decree of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, concerning His Marriage to H.R.H. Princess Leonida Georgievna, the Daughter of the Head of the Georgian Royal House, H.R.H. Prince George Alexandrovich Bagratio

[kirstie]

Does anyone have an address to which I can send my condolence??

[Russophile]

Here's an article related to this:
Romanov grand duchess dies

This article says the same thing just about verbatim though it's got a cool looking double eagle crest on it.
Romanov grand duchess dies aged 95 - World Report - World - Dalje.com

another one here:
Her Imperial Highness, the Dowager Grand Duchess (de-jure Empress Dowager) Leonida Georgievna

I've been searching Kristi for info. on your question and cannot seem to find it. Warren might know.

[Benjamin]

Matriarch of Russia's Romanov Imperial House dead at 95
24 May 2010

Grand Duchess Leonida Georgyevna, mother of the Head of the Russian Imperial House - Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna - has died in Madrid on May 24, Interfax reports.

The Grand Duchess passed away in hospital after her health rapidly deteriorated over the weekend.

Full article: Russia Today
__________________________________________

Moscow Patriarchate expresses condolences over death of eldest Romanov
24 May 2010

The Moscow Patriarchate expressed its condolences on Monday over the death of Grand Duchess of Russia Leonida Georgievna Romanov.

"Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna, who had lived a very dramatic, complicated and long life, never forgot Russia," archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, who is in charge of the Russian Orthodox Church's relations with society, said.

The de-jure empress, the eldest representative of the Romanov family, died late on Sunday at the age of 95 in Madrid.

Source: RIA Novosti

[Vasillisos Markos]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

Dear Vasillisos Markos,

Following are links to the 1946 decree recognizing the royal rank of the Bagration-Mukhranskys and the 1948 decree concerning the marriage of GD Vladimir and GDss Leonida:
Decree of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, on the Recognition of the Royal Rank of the House of Bagration, 22 November/5 December 1946.
Decree of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, concerning His Marriage to H.R.H. Princess Leonida Georgievna, the Daughter of the Head of the Georgian Royal House, H.R.H. Prince George Alexandrovich Bagratio

Benjamin,

thank you for answering my question and posting these links. Am I correct in interpreting them that if the head of the royal family decrees the marriage to be between equals, that is what will happen? In other words, if Vladimir wished to marry the scullery maid, could he raise her rank or was there more to this particular marriage, such as Leonida's antecedents, her royal status and the wish of the head of the Romanov family to avoid a morgantic liaison?

[Benjamin]

Dear Vasillisos Markos,

According to article 183 of the Fundamental Laws that govern the Imperial House: "Permission of the reigning emperor is necessary for the marriage of every Member of the Imperial House, and a marriage contracted without such permission is not recognised as lawful."

Also, according to article 185: "A person of the Imperial Family who has entered into a marriage alliance with a person of a status unequal to his, that is, not belonging to any royal or ruling house, cannot pass on to that person, or to posterity that might issue from such a marriage, the rights which belong to members of the Imperial Family."

Therefore, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich's decree making clear the equality of his marriage is based on the fact that Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna was born into the Royal House of Bagration, which reigned in Georgia for hundreds of years until the kingdom was absorbed by Russia in 1801.

[Vasillisos Markos]

Dear Benjamin,

Thank you once again for the explanation and information. It appears that the Royal House of Bagration was "mediatized" like many royal houses throughout Europe, thereby allowing Vladimir and Leonida's marriage to be accorded full style and rights of an imperial marriage. Thus, it now appears doubtful that Vladimir could make the scullery maid his "equal" in order to be married, even if he was the head and absolute ruler of the family.

[Benjamin]

Last Romanov Born in Russian Empire Dead at 95
25 May 2010

Grand Duchess Leonida Georgiyevna Romanov, the last member of the Russian royal family born before the 1917 Revolution, died late Sunday in Madrid, Spain, RIA-Novosti reported. She was 95.

Leonida had requested to be buried in Petropavlovsk Cathedral in St. Petersburg next to her late husband, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich Romanov, the great-grandson of 19th-century Tsar Alexander II.

“She visited Russia several times, and she will return to the country for good,” Alexander Zakatov, head of the chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, told The Moscow Times.

The burial is pending approval by state authorities but is tentatively scheduled for June 3, an official with the State Museum of St. Petersburg History, which oversees the Petropavlovsk Cathedral, told Interfax.

Full article: The Moscow Times
________________________________________________

Memorial service for Russian Grand Duchess in Madrid
25 May 2010

A memorial service for Grand Duchess of Russia Leonida Georgievna Romanova (born Bagration-Mukhranskaya) has been held in Spain's capital of Madrid.

The ceremony was attended by her close friends and relatives including her daughter Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, and officials of the Russian embassy in Spain.

Full article: Voice of Russia
_________________________________________________

Russian Patriarch commends Grand Duchess's role in restoring church unity
25 May 2010

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has expressed his condolences over the death of Grand Duchess Leonida Georgiyevna, the mother of the head of the Romanovs dynasty.

"We are grateful to the deceased Grand Duchess for her role in church life at home and abroad, and for her significant contribution to the restoration of church unity," Patriarch Kirill said in a condolence letter posted on the Moscow Patriarchate's website.

Grand Duchess Leonida Georgiyevna had never lost "the keenest interest in what was going on in Russia, and shared our grief and joy," he said.

Full article: Interfax

[AuntyTam]

May she rest in peace.

My prayers and sympathies to the family.

[vonKageneck]

Вечная Память!
Memory Eternal!
Memoria Eterna!
Mémoire éternelle!
Eterna Memória!

[kell]

Grand Duchess Leonida of Russia - Telegraph this is intersting says some points on her father in law and his claims as well

[The Grand Prince]

Very sad news.

May she rest in peace.

[Vasillisos Markos]

Very interesting article posted by Kell above. It seems there are many disputes regarding Maria's claim to the Imperial Throne, not the least that a female cannot claim the throne, as well as the other Romanovs denuciation of her father and grandfather's claim to be head of the family.

[kell]

St. Petersburg mourns for Grand Duchess Leonida Romanova - RT Top Stories
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