MARIA ROMANOV’S FIRST LOVE: “FATSO” NIKOLAI DEMENKOV

Nikolai Dmitrievich Demenkov, an officer with whom Grand Duchess Maria fell in love
Nikolai Dmitrievich Demenkov, an officer with whom Grand Duchess Maria fell in love

MARIA ROMANOV’S FIRST LOVE:  “FATSO” NIKOLAI DEMENKOV

The scion of a noble family, who was always associated with the Fleet, Nikolai Demenkov was born on the first day of September, 1885. At 25, he graduated from the Marine Corps. His comrades always referred to him as “the benevolent Demenkov”. Shortly after his release  from the Corps, he enlisted in the Black Sea Navy, and started going on international voyages on “The Kubanetz”. In 1913 he became a Flag Officer in the Mine Division, under the command of V. Trubetskoy.  In July 1913 his division became security guard of Livadia. Demenkov commanded the boats that were close on duty to the Romanov family: guarding them when someone from “The Standard” went for a swim or kayaking. Read more MARIA ROMANOV’S FIRST LOVE: “FATSO” NIKOLAI DEMENKOV

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DIARY OF TATIANA ROMANOV: GRAND PALACE INFIRMARY

DIARY OF TATIANA ROMANOV: GRAND PALACE INFIRMARY
Sisters [of Mercy] Olga Romanov and Tatiana Romanov at the Grand Palace infirmary. Tsarskoe Selo.
Sisters [of Mercy] Olga Romanov and Tatiana Romanov with the wounded outside of the Grand Palace infirmary in Tsarskoe Selo. Click on photo to enlarge. Photo credit:ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 68 фото 1005

From the 1915 diary of Tatiana Romanov: Read more DIARY OF TATIANA ROMANOV: GRAND PALACE INFIRMARY

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GRAND DUCHESSES MARIA AND ANASTASIA’S INFIRMARY

GRAND DUCHESSES MARIA AND ANASTASIA’S INFIRMARY

After the start of the First World War, “The Little Pair” – Grand Duchesses Maria and Anastasia  were still too young to be certified as “Sisters of Mercy” like their elder sisters Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana. However they too had their own infirmary located within a short distance of the Alexander Palace. The girls visited the patients at their infirmary daily: reading to them, helping them write letters, playing games, and generally trying to boost the morale of the wounded soldiers and officers. This was probably the first time the young grand duchesses faced the darker side of life – and death – as war time became their new reality. They recorded news of the infirmary regularly in  their diaries and letters. Read more GRAND DUCHESSES MARIA AND ANASTASIA’S INFIRMARY

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GRAND DUCHESS TATIANA: WORK AT THE INFIRMARY DIARY

GRAND DUCHESS TATIANA: WORK AT THE INFIRMARY
Sisters of Mercy Olga Romanov and Tatiana Romanov posing for pictures with the wounded at their infirmary
Sisters of Mercy Olga Romanov and Tatiana Romanov posing for pictures with the wounded at their infirmary

From the 1914 diary of Sister [of Mercy] Tatiana Romanov: Read more GRAND DUCHESS TATIANA: WORK AT THE INFIRMARY DIARY

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GRAND DUCHESS MARIA: HER SISTERS’ INFIRMARY

L-R: Grand Duchess Maria, Grand Duchess Olga, Tsarina Alexandra, Grand Duchess Tatiana and Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov
L-R: Grand Duchess Maria, Grand Duchess Olga, Tsarina Alexandra, Grand Duchess Tatiana and Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov

Grand Duchesses Maria and Anastasia – the “little pair” – were too young to get certified as Sisters of Mercy, as their elder sisters and mother did, so they became patrons of their own infirmary at Tsarskoe Selo. At the same time they also regularly visited Grand Duchesses Olga’s and Tatiana’s infirmary. Grand Duchess Maria often mentions these visits in her war time letters and diary. Read more GRAND DUCHESS MARIA: HER SISTERS’ INFIRMARY

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Maria Romanov to Nicholas II: 7 October, 1915.

 

 

Maria Romanov to Nicholas II: 7 October, 1915

Grand Duchesses Maria and Tatiana Romanov with their father Nicholas II
Grand Duchesses Maria and Tatiana Romanov with their father Nicholas II in 1915. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 71 фото 1053

Read more Maria Romanov to Nicholas II: 7 October, 1915.

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