How the tragedy led to the strongest marriage on the Russian throne: Empress Maria Feodorovna's hopes and tears

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Sweet Dagmar, as both sons of Alexander II called her, was written to become the Empress of Russia. And even tragic events could not change its purpose. Maria Feodorovna went down in history as the beloved of two Tsarevichs and the mother of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. She was incredibly resilient, survived the loss of the most dear people and the country she loved. The body of Maria Fedorovna returned to Russia 78 years after her death, because she bequeathed to bury herself next to her beloved spouse.

The bride of the two heirs of the Russian tsar

The daughter of the Danish king Christian IX and his wife Louise was well brought up, intelligent, reasonable and very sweet. And she was also so touchingly shy that Tsarevich Nikolai, sent by his parents to Europe in search of a future wife, fell in love with the princess almost at first sight. Nikolai Alexandrovich, having received the preliminary blessing of his parents, officially offered his hand and heart to Princess Dagmar. She agreed and began to prepare for the wedding.

Unfortunately, the marriage, scheduled for September 1865, never took place, as the Tsarevich died of cerebrospinal meningitis on April 24. Two weeks before his death, Nikolai Alexandrovich, seeing his brother Alexander and dear Dagmar at his bedside, held out his hands to them. These were the people closest to the Tsarevich, and they stood next to him.

After the death of Nicholas, the princess went home to Copenhagen, while Alexander, after the funeral events, began to prepare for the succession to the throne. Before the death of his elder brother, his parents were preparing for the succession to the throne of Nicholas, and now it was necessary to take care of the younger one. And, first of all, find him a bride.

When it came to the need to get married soon, Alexander suddenly remembered sweet Dagmar, who was standing in tears at the bedside of her dying brother. The Tsarevich's parents immediately contacted King Christian IX and Queen Louise, but they asked the royal family to postpone a new proposal, because their daughter was still mourning for her fiance. A year later, Alexander arrived in Copenhagen and paid a visit to Christian IX and Louise, and was also able to meet with Dagmar.

General sad memories of Nicholas seemed to have tied his brother and bride with invisible threads. For several weeks Tsarevich Alexander just talked with Dagmar before he decided to talk to her about the real purpose of his visit to Denmark. He hoped that the Danish princess would not reject his proposals and agree to become his wife. After all, he fell in love with her with all his ardor and did not even want to think about the fact that another woman could enter his house. Fortunately, Princess Dagmar agreed to accept his proposal and noted that after the death of the groom, she could not love anyone except his beloved brother.

28 years and all life

After Alexander left for his homeland, Princess Dagmar diligently studied Russian and exchanged letters with her fiancé. Shortly before the wedding, she converted to Orthodoxy, became Maria Fedorovna and on October 28, 1966, she married Alexander Alexandrovich.

In Russia, Princess Dagmar fell in love even at a time when she was the bride of Nikolai Alexandrovich, and after the wedding with Alexander she was accepted unconditionally. Her marriage became the strongest in the history of the Russian throne. The happiness of the spouses was quiet and calm, they tried never to be separated and together endured all the joys and troubles.

They were destined to survive the death of Alexander's second son, and then mourn the death of Alexander II's father together. On March 14, 1881, Alexander III ascended the throne, and next to him was his dearest wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna. While Alexander III was working on solving the foreign policy and internal problems of the Russian Empire, Maria Fedorovna was engaged in education and art, initiated the creation of obstetric paramedic schools and tried to improve the lives of children, especially those with disabilities and were deprived of parental care. …

For 28 years of marriage, they have never given each other and others a reason to doubt their love and loyalty. Unfortunately, at the age of 49, Alexander III died. Maria Fedorovna escaped from longing for her beloved spouse only by work and caring for her loved ones. She went on diplomatic trips and tried in every possible way to help her son Nicholas II save the great empire. But he did not hear the warnings of matter and did not react in any way to her words about the imminent and sad end of the Russian monarchy.

Subsequently, Maria Fedorovna refused to believe that her son and grandchildren were shot. Even leaving the country in April 1919, she continued to believe in the miraculous salvation of the royal family. And she was indescribably sad that she had to leave Russia, which had become a native for the empress. For more than half a century, she shared all the joys and sorrows with the country and believed: she would definitely return soon.

Until her death in 1928, Maria Feodorovna continued to pray for Russia. Once, giving consent to Alexander III to become his wife, Princess Dagmar accepted and fell in love with the country of her future husband. After the death of Alexander Alexandrovich, Maria Fedorovna lived for another 34 years. And all this time, she sincerely believed that they could be reunited in a world where there is no pain and suffering.

The eldest son of Maria Feodorovna Nicholas II had four daughters and a son. The Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia were all very different, each with its own character. During the reign of their father, three of them reached the age when they could already marry. And they were all extremely disappointed when Nicholas II refused to marry them off. It is worth noting that the last Russian emperor himself once married against the will of his parents.