Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna: June 2008-

[AristoCat]

I dunno :)

[Benjamin]

From 5-10 November, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna visited Armenia for the first time (which her father Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich visited twenty years ago in 1991). While there, she had meetings with Armenian Patriarch Karekin II and the Russian ambassador. The Grand Duchess was scheduled to see First Lady Rita Sargsyan, but as the latter's mother fell ill this was unable to take place. The Grand Duchess also toured several of the country's historical sites.

Sources:
http://nationalidea.am/publications.php?id=12290
Google Translate
http://www.panarmenian.net/rus/news/83357/
Google Translate

[BeatrixFan]

Interesting words from the Grand Duchess on this tour. According to Her Imperial Highness, Putin is willing to work with the Imperial House. 2013 anyone?

[AristoCat]

According to Her Imperial Highness, Putin is willing to work with the Imperial House. 2013 anyone?

I am sure that 2013 will be a zinger of a year. I keep getting vibes that something is going on in the background, don't you? I know I do.

[BeatrixFan]

I think certainly it's clear that the Kremlin now regard Maria as the Romanov spokesperson. Notice how the Romanovich's haven't been welcomed to the fold quite as much and they seem to turn to Maria now when events warrant a Romanov guest. I don't think that automatically means we'll see Maria become Empress in 2013 (far from it) but I do get the feeling that maybe 2013 will be the year that Her Imperial Highness settles in Russia permanently.

[NGalitzine]

Has the Russian government awarded Maria any official Russian decorations yet? I know she claims the old Tsarist order but they dont really count. Prince Dimitri was awarded the Russian Order of Friendship.

[BeatrixFan]

Not that we know of. Something tells me that Maria wouldn't accept the Russian Order of Friendship because it would invalidate her own orders. So maybe she was offered and declined? But I'd disagree that they don't count. Masonic ephemera matters to masons etc etc. There's lots of non-state approved orders with thriving memberships so I think they matter to the recipients (the recipients already being favourable to Maria).

[branchg]

Accepting an order from the Russian Government would be unacceptable to Maria. Since she believes strongly in her role as Curatrix of the Throne as Head of the Imperial House, the imperial orders she maintains would take precedence over any Russian State Order.

The implication being, of course, that she is the Russian Crown and above any governmental body. Without saying it out loud obviously.

[AristoCat]

Bad idea; Putin would fix any Romanov who tried to place themselves above the government and tell the Duma/President/Prime Minister/People what to do. This isn't the 1800's and this is not even the nineties with Yeltsin in charge.

[BeatrixFan]

Hence Maria's call for a constitutional monarchy, plenty of which survive with excellent popularity ratings.

[AristoCat]

If it were not supported by taxpayers, I would certainly support a restoration.

[Cory]

Grand Duchess gave an interview to The Moscow News

[Grandduchess24]

So is grand duchess Maria vladimirovna persuading the Russian people to reconsider and have a constitutional monarchy and have the Romanovs on the throne again?

[COUNTESS]

She has an agenda, which she, hopes, suits her or her son. She speaks as if the Romanovs brought bounty and love. They were no better or worse than the Soviet, just more exclusive. I, wish, Russia better than their present regime or the Romanovs.

[BeatrixFan]

Again, where is your evidence? You often repeat these claims against Maria but you never seem to offer anything to substantiate them. And I think the Romanovs were a damn sight better than the Soviet regime which was responsible for the deaths of millions of innocents as a form of government....

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Grandduchess24

So is grand duchess Maria vladimirovna persuading the Russian people to reconsider and have a constitutional monarchy and have the Romanovs on the throne again?

I think Maria is aiming for an arrangement similar to Romania or Yugoslavia, whereas the position of the formerly reigning dynasty is officially recognized by the Government and Church, with some support in the form of property and/or monies provided for the House.

Of course, Russia's history is quite different than Yugoslavia or Romania and it is difficult to imagine the Duma or the average Russian accepting any recognition of the imperial family. The fact is the Communists are still a very strong political force in Russia and they will be adamantly against it.

[COUNTESS]

So were the Romanovs, my friend. They were on an equal par. It is, too bad, that those who don't know history, have made a romantic ploy of this. They were sadistic, self indulging, anti-semtic, and ruled over this huge, backward nation for 3 milenia. People weren't willing to give up their lives if their lot was so great. Even good. The country revolted, not just a small handful. Now, the Soviet was no bargain, either. But, unfortunately, these people didn't have the experience to understand a democratic nation. As far as Maria, I have no, personal, idea of her motives, nor do you. But, what seems apparaent, and, quite humanly, plausible, is that she wants her son to be a Tsar. She is trying to sell the "romatic" idea of a benficent monarchy. She wants the best for her son, she wants what she was raised to think. Not unusual.

[NotAPretender]

I'm with Countess on this....the Romanovs were the full-roar match to the Soviets and over a longer period of time as well. Nicholas was quite rightly called Nicholas The Bloody, and the Romanovs veered between incompetency and brutality as leaders. Maria has been attempting to get recognition from whoever was in charge in Russia without regard to their politics or ethics for decades now: her goal, single minded, is to crawl into bed and bargain her son to whoever will place the crown of her distant ancestors onto her semi-Royal pate, or that of her Prussian princely son.

Putin however is nobody's fool, least of all Maria's. If he does anything for her, be sure that it will benefit him above anyone or anything else. And if the Russian people remember their history, they will not remember the Romanovs as rulers kindly. They remember the Romanovs as deceased icons quite fondly....because they are dead and have no further influence.

Make no mistake: a dead Romanov is a romantic ideal. Maria is appealing to a romantic ideal. Putin is a ruthless man in every respect. And if Maria gets into bed with Putin to further her aspirations and those of her son, she will be in for the ride of her life. And I can predict right here and now that she will not hold the whip hand in that relationship (although I strongly suspect she does in her relationship with her son.)

Perhaps Georgy is wise to be as non-committal as he is.

[AristoCat]

Nicholas had many chances to end up making things easier for Russians and avert revolution, but he didn't. As for Maria and Putin, Maria is out of her mind to think that Putin gives a fig about the Romanovs; his very ancestors were involved in the destruction of the Imperial Family.

[BeatrixFan]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

So were the Romanovs, my friend. They were on an equal par. It is, too bad, that those who don't know history, have made a romantic ploy of this. They were sadistic, self indulging, anti-semtic, and ruled over this huge, backward nation for 3 milenia. People weren't willing to give up their lives if their lot was so great. Even good. The country revolted, not just a small handful. Now, the Soviet was no bargain, either. But, unfortunately, these people didn't have the experience to understand a democratic nation. As far as Maria, I have no, personal, idea of her motives, nor do you. But, what seems apparaent, and, quite humanly, plausible, is that she wants her son to be a Tsar. She is trying to sell the "romatic" idea of a benficent monarchy. She wants the best for her son, she wants what she was raised to think. Not unusual.

Firstly, I do know my history and I think to imply someone is uneducated because they disagree with your point of view isn't good form. Secondly, you're talking about a dynasty that reigned for over 300 years with various personalities, you can't possibly make such a sweeping statement that they were all sadistic, anti-semitic, self-indulging leaders. Indeed, alot of Russians had life much better off under the Tsars than under the jack boot of communism and surely anyone can see that? It's actually impossible to know the number of people killed under Stalin (but you get the idea of how evil a regime it was when it was built on the deaths of five innocent children...). That's not to say the Russian Imperial system was totally flawless or that similar kinds of human rights abuses didn't take place, my point is that to say monarchy was better for Russia than communism isn't overly romantic or a ploy, it's my opinion based on the facts avaliable.

What really becomes a chore in this forum is the endless repetition of claims against Maria with absolutely no proof. You keep reciting parrot fashion your view that she has this negative, almost sinister, agenda but when you're asked to say why you think that and what your evidence is to support it, you can't give any. I think I've a pretty good idea of her motives based on my own personal research, yet you seem to have decided she's this wicked monstrous autocrat who'd sell her grandmother for a chance at being an Empress.