The Romanovs

The history of Romanovs Dynasty is comprised of personal stories of many individuals. Those of royal blood and those of more humble origins. Current project has its aim to offer a reflection of this amalgam. In addition, it looks at the origins of the name 'Romanov', and the family initially associated with it.

Etymology of the name 'Romanov'

The surname Romanov means the son of Roman.Roman is derived from the Latin name Romanus and refers to a citizen of the Roman Empire or Rome, Roma. There is also an ethnic byname from Rome/Roma - Romanus, a Greek version of the name. The name Romanus was born by several saints and martyrs, particularly Romanos Melodos (6th century), the major hymn writer of the Greek Orthodox Church. In Hebrew the name Romanus means strong, powerful. In Hindi - Warrior, where as in Punjabi Roman means Powerful and United.

Russia had strong ties with Byzantine or the Eastern Orthodox Church. Hence the adoption and use of the name Roman, as Christian religion was introduced to Kievan Rus by the ruling dynasty of Rurik, in particular, the wife of Igor who was the son of Rurik,- Olga (890-966). She was the first to convert to Christianity with her grandson Vladimir The Great was baptised around 988 and then proceeded to baptise his family and people in Kiev.

Romanos The Melodist is a central figure in the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church music. At first, he was not considered to be either a talented reader or singer. He was, however, loved by the Patriarch of Constantinople because of his great humility. The legend goes that he acquired his ability to sing and compose church music in a dream. As he slept, the Theotokos (Mother of God) appeared to him with a scroll in her hand. She commanded him to eat the scroll, and as soon as he did so, he awoke. He immediately received a blessing from the Patriarch, mounted the pulpit, and chanted the Kontakion of the Nativity, Today the Virgin gives birth to Him Who is above all being…. The emperor, the patriarch, the clergy, and the entire congregation were amazed at both the profound theology of the hymn and Romanos' clear, sonorous voice.

'History of the name 'Romanov'

In Russia, the surnames as well as middle names or father's names appeared only in the 14th century. Before that, people were called by their first names and a nickname that would describe their character, or professional occupation. Middle names ending with '-vich' (-вич) could be carried only by nobles, and not by common people. At the time the full name of a person would comprise in itself three generations: the son, the father, and the grandfather. For example, 'Roman Romano-vich Roman-ov' (the later means the son of Roman).

The name of the first member of the boyar family of the Romanovs would carry the names of his three generations: Fedor Nikitich Romanov (1553 – 1 October 1633) with Fedor being his first given name, Nikitich - his father's first given name, and Romanov - his grandfather's first given name - Roman.

House of Rurik vs House of Romanovs

In the history of rulers and ruling dynasties in Russia one major trait stands out. Rulers of the two prominent ruling dynasties - Rurik and Romanovs - were chosen by people. A semi-legendary Varangian chieftain, Rurik, was fetched from Sweden and persuaded to become a prince of Novgorod, which he did and settled there with his kinsmen. The Varangians were a group of Viking conquerors, traders, and settlers who hailed mostly from present-day Sweden.

The last Rurik to rule Russia as Tsar was Vasily IV, who reigned until 1610 and was from the House of Shuyiski. The House of Shuyski was a Rurikid family of Boyars who descended from Grand Duke Dimitri Konstantinovich of Vladimir-Suzdal and Prince Andrei Yaroslavovich, brother of Alexander Nevsky. The surname is derived from the town of Shuya, of which Shuyski gained ownership in 1403The Shuyski represented a senior line among the descendants of Vsevolod The Big Nest and therefore treated the ruling princes of Moscow, who were descendants from junior line, with arrogance. From 1606 to 1610, Vasili Shuyski ruled as Tsar over Russia during the Times of Troubles.

The Romanovs were also related to the descendants of Rurik through marriage.

Similarly to Rurik, the first Tsar in the dynasty of the House of Romanovs was also elected by people. He was the son of a prominent Boyar, Fedor Nikitich Romanov (1553 – 1 October 1633), - Mikhael Fedorovich (1596-1645). As with Rurik, Mikhael Fedorovich was invited to be a Tsar at a turbulent time in the history of Russia known as The Times of Trouble.

Boyars Romanovs

Ethnic background of the male line of the Boyar Family of Romanovs

Ethnically, the boyar family of Romanovs take their roots in Old Prussia - a historical region in Europe on the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, that ranges from the Vistula delta in the west to the end of the Curonian Spit in the east and extends inland as far as Masuria. Old Prussians spoke a language belonging to the Baltic group of the Indo-European language family. These early Prussians were related to the Latvians and Lithuanians. Their social organisation was loose and they were pagans. Early attempts to convert the Prussians to Christianity at the turn of the 11th century were unsuccessful. In the 13th century, however, the Prussians were conquered and Christianized by the German-speaking knights of the Teutonic Order.

Romanovs' ancestor left Prussia and arrived in Russia in the beginning of the 14th century. So, ethnically the founding father of the boyars Romanovs and subsequently their male descendants can be linked to this Baltic ethnic group.

'Founding fathers'

The founding father of the boyars Romanov who gave their name to the Russian Tsars and later to the Imperial House of Romanovs was a Moscow Boyar, Andrei Ivanovich Kobula, (1287-1351) who is the ancestor of many noble families in Russia, including Koshkins, Zaharievs, Yurievs, Sheremetevs, Romanovs.

The first person from the Romanovs family to bear the surname was Fedor Nikitich Romanov (1553 – 1 October 1633), the Patriarch of Moscow and Russia (1619-1633). He was the son of the prominent boyar, Nikita Romanovich.

In 1600, in the times of Boris Godunov the family of the boyars Romanovs were disgraced. In 1601, they were sentenced to exile, except Fedor Nikitich and his wife who were forced to become monks. Brothers of Fedor Nikitich - Aleksander Nikitich, Mikhail Nikitich, Ivan Nikitich, and Vasili Nikitich were sent to different remote parts of Russia, mainly to White Sea (the area between Arkhangelsk and Murmansk), Perm, and Ural. In 1605, the exile was ended by False Dmitriy I. Only two male members of the Romanovs family survived - Fedor Nikitich and his brother Ivan Nikitich 'Kasha'. In 1613 , the son of Fedor Nikitich - Mikhail Fedorovich (1596-1645) was elected the Tsar of Russia - the first in the dynasty of Royal House of Romanovs.

Tsars of the boyars family of Romanovs - the Royal House of Romanovs

1. Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov (1596-1645) - [https://youtu.be/7P7mOPKiKz8?si=l6SgpuaJB5doJgI0]
2. Aleksei Mikhailovich Romanov (19 March1629 – 29 January 1676)
3. Fedor Alekseevich Romanov (9 June 1661 – 7 May 1682) - [https://youtu.be/N8M-x8NcwSE?si=DH6ikYt19bsKizzn]
4. Ivan Alekseevich Romanov (27 August 1666 – 29 January 1696)
5. Petr I Alekseevich Romanov (30 May1672 – 28 January 1725) - [https://youtu.be/m67curWtS-o?si=zrOIS9GRzVswLWzi]
6. Tsesarevich, Aleksei Petrovich Romanov (28 February 1690 – 26 June 1718)
7. Peter Alekseevich Romanov (23 October 1715 – 30 January 1730)

The Tsar, Peter I Alekseevich Romanov (30 May1672 – 28 January 1725), was the last in the male line of the boyars Romanovs. The line of Romanovs ended with his death. However, the name of the 'Royal House - 'Romanov' - continued to be the name of the Russian Imperial House.

Imperial House of Romanovs

Ethnic background of the male line of the House of Romanovs

Similar to the male line of the the boyar family of Romanovs, the male line of the House of Romanovs starting from the Emperor of Russia, Pavel I (20 September 1754 – 11 March 1801) takes its roots in Old Prussia - a historical region in Europe on the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, that ranges from the Vistula delta in the west to the end of the Curonian Spit in the east and extends inland as far as Masuria.

Old Prussians spoke a language belonging to the Baltic group of the Indo-European language family. These early Prussians were related to the Latvians and Lithuanians. Their social organisation was loose and they were pagans. Early attempts to convert the Prussians to Christianity at the turn of the 11th century were unsuccessful. In the 13th century, however, the Prussians were conquered and Christianized by the German-speaking knights of the Teutonic Order, which had been awarded Prussian lands by the Polish duke Conrad of Mazovia for help against Prussian incursions. The Prussian countryside was subdued, castles were built for German nobility, and many German peasants were settled there to farm the land. By the middle of the 14th century, the majority of the inhabitants of Prussia were German-speaking, though the Old Prussian language did not die out until the 17th century.

Pavel I Romanov (20 September 1754 – 11 March 1801)

The reason for Pavel I having the Old Prussian ethnic background being that according to the diaries of Catherine The Great (2 May 1729 – 17 November 1796), his biological father was Sergei Vasilievich Saltukov (1722 - 24 September 1784). The fact that was well known in the court of the time. Interestingly, Saltukov was both a favourite of Catherine The Great and her husband Peter III. The fact that Peter III and Catherine The Great did not share the bed, as they say, became a problem as the country needed an heir to the throne. The situation was successfully resolved by involving Sergei Vasilievich Saltukov, who after the birth of Pavel I was sent abroad with a mission, for resemblance between him and Pavel I was way too obvious. Sergei Vasilievich was a Russian ambassador to Hamburg, Dresden, and Paris.

Sergei Vasilievich Saltukov (1722 - 24 September 1784)

Sergei Vasilievich Saltukov was the son of Vasili Fedorovich Saltukov (1675-1755) and Maria Alekseevna Golitsina (1 Jan 1701-14 October 1752). The founding father of the male line of Saltukovs was Mikhailo Ignatievich Saltuk born some time in the 15th century. In Russia, the nickname Saltuk was given to interpreters and ambassadors, as it meant 'a manner', 'a way', also 'tradition', 'a habit'. The word originates from turkic language.

The male line of Mikhailo Ignatievich Saltuk runs to an ancestor, Mikhailo Prushanin (Prashinich) who arrived in Novgorod, Russia, in the beginning of the 13th century. His son, Terenty Mikhailovich, was a boyar at the court of Alexander Nevsky (13 May 1221 – 14 November 1263).

Ancestral line of Saltukovs: [https://runivers.ru/bookreader/book58513/#page/68/mode/1up]

Emperors of Russia - the Royal House of Romanovs

1. Pavel I Romanov (20 September 1754 – 11 March 1801) - mtDNA H1af2
2. Alexander I Pavlovich Romanov (12 December 1777 – 19 November 1825)
3. Nikolai Pavlovich Romanov (25 June 1796 – 18 February 1855)
4. Alexander II Nikolaevich Romanov (29 April 1818 – 13 March 1881)
5. Alexander III Alexandrovich Romanov (10 March 1845 – 1 November 1894)
6. Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov (6 May 1868 – 17 July 1918) - mtDNA T2a1a

Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov (6 May 1868 – 17 July 1918) was the last Emperor of Russia. With his death the Royal House of Romanovs as a ruling Royal House ceased to exist.

The male members of the Romanov House were notorious for having morganatic marriages and unions, second families on the side, lovers, and illegitimate children.

Romanovs - Morganatic Marriages

Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spouse, or any children born of the marriage. The concept is most prevalent in German-speaking territories and countries most influenced by the customs of the German-speaking realms.

1. Konstantin Pavlovich Romanov, Grand Duke (27 April 1779 – 15 June 1831) married Joanna Grudzińska (17 May 1791 - 17 November 1831), had three issues - [https://youtu.be/aoTsZxRdGZs?si=3bsEehUdiwH67I6e]
2. Alexander II Nikolaevich Romanov, Emperor of Russia (29 April 1818 - 13 March 1881) married Ekaterina Mikhailovna Dolgorukova (2 November 1847- 15 February 1922), had three issues - [https://youtu.be/kdzH2rCEHbs?si=Owm9aSwwNGNZqffX]
3. Nikolai Konstantinovich Romanov, Grand Duke (14 Feb 1850 - 26 Jan 1918) married Nadegda Alexandrovna von Dreyer (1861—1929), had two issues, and later married a 16 year old girl, Valeria Hmelnitskaya
4. Pavel Alexandrovich Romanov, Grand Duke (3 October 1860 – 28 January 1919) married Olga Valirianovna Karnovich (2 December 1865 – 2 November 1929), had three issues
5. Mikhail Mikhailovich Romanov', Grand Duke (16 October 1861 – 26 April 1929) married Sophie of Merenberg, Countess de Torby, (1 June 1868 – 14 September 1927), had three issues
6. Michael Alexandrovich Romanov, Grand Duke (22 November 1878 - 13 June 1918) married Natalia Sergeevna Sheremetevskaya (Brasova) (27 Jun 1880 -26 January 1952), had one issue
7. Roman Petrovich Romanov, Prince (17 October 1896-23 October 1978) married Praskovia Dmitirevna Sheremeteva (18 October 1901 - 21 October 1980), had two issues
8. Dimitri Pavlovich Romanov, Grand Duke (18 Sep 1891 - 5 Mar 1942) married Anna Audrey Emery (4 Jan 1904-25 Nov 1971)

Romanovs - Families on the Side and Second 'Unions'

1. Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov (21 September 1827-25 January 1825) - family on the side and a union with Anna Kuznetsova (1847-1922), had five issues
2. Nikolai Nikolaevich Romanov (8 August 1831-25 April 1891) family on the side and a union with Ekaterina Gavrilovna Chislova (21 September 1846-13 December 1889), had five issues

Romanovs - out of the Dynasty Lines

1. Iskander
2. Knyazevs
3. Lukash
4. Nikolaevs
5. Yurievskys
6. Paley

Romanovs - Lovers

Nikolai (I) Pavlovich Romanov, Emperor of Russia (25 June 1796 – 18 February 1855)

1. Varvara Arkadyevna Nelidova (1814-1897)
2. Varvara Yakovleva
3. Anna Maria "Marianne" Charlotta Rutenskiöld (15 December 1791-August 2, 1856)

Mikhail Pavlovich Romanov, Grand Duke (8 February 1798-9 September 1849)

1. Karolina Karlovna Stieglitz

Alexander I Pavlovich Romanov, Emperor of Russia (12 Dec 1777-1 Dec 1825)

1. Maria Czetwertyńska-Światopełk (1779-1854)
2. Sophia Sergeievna Vsevolozhskaya (19 Nov 1775-Oct 1848)
3. Helena Dzierżanowska

Alexei Alexandrovich Romanov, Grand Duke (2 Jan 1850-14 November 1908)

1. Alexandra Vasilievna Zhukovskaya (11 November 1842-26 Aug 1899)
2. Zinaida Dmitrievna Skobeleva (-1899)

Dimitri Pavlovich Romanov, Grand Duke (18 Sep 1891 - 5 Mar 1942)

1. Marthe Davelli
2. Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (19 Aug 1883-10 Jan 1971)