NIKOLAI DEMENKOV TO GRAND DUCHESS MARIA NIKOLAEVNA (LAST LETTER)
Grand Duchess Maria and Lieutenant Nikolai Demenkov.
Linear ship “Empress Maria”. 18 July, 1916. Sevastopol.
Your Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna!
Loyally I dare to report a significant day in the life of our ship: on the 9th July we took first military shots at the cruiser “The Breslau”, into which we ran at sea. We shot from 12 cannons, but unfortunately we were not able to sink it, because having had speed privilege, it changing course at far distance from us and releasing white smoke screen, which merged with the clouds on the horizon, – it escaped. It shot a few explosives at us, which fell without reaching [their target].
This Romanov history enthusiast decided to look into my country´s archives to learn what relationship there was between Tsar Nicholas II and Estonia.
Estonia has been part of Russia several times, the latest being 1944-1991 as part of the Soviet Union; prior to that it was 1710-1918, as of what we call “The Russian era”. Between these two time periods, we fought for our independence – the Estonian Declaration of Independence was read out in Pärnu on 23 February 1918. So for Estonia, the year 2018 is a centennial celebration, and myself I somehow feel sad, as it´s also 100 years since the deaths of the Russian Imperial family.
Romanov Tsar Peter the Great with the very first “The Standart”.
Most Romanov history buffs know of “The Standard”, the beloved imperial yacht which belonged to the Romanov family. But did you know that the original “Standart” belonged to another member of the Romanov family – Tsar Peter the Great? Frigate “The Standart” – the first ship in the Baltic navy, was built on orders of Peter the Great on 24 April, 1703.
OLGA ROMANOV AND PAVEL VORONOV – THEIR 1913 ROMANCE
Grand Duchess Tatiana and Grand Duchess Maria with Officer Pavel Voronov, who later became the romantic interest of Grand Duchess Olga. This photo was taken on the Standart in 1911, which means Olga Romanov knew him for several years before developing any feelings.
1913 was the Tercentennial of the Romanov family’s dynastic rule, and the eldest Grand Duchess Olga Romanov was coming of age (she turned 18 in early November). The Grand Duchess’s life was full of romance, pageantry and fun. One of her two love interests during that year was a young handsome officer from the imperial yacht: Pavel Alekseyevich Voronov.