Alternate Matches for the Romanovs (Emperors, Empresses, Grand Dukes and Duchesses)

[QueenMaud]

Name of Czar: Nicolas II
Name of possible consort: Maud of Wales
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: Nicky was in love with Alice, in addition to being both first cousins
Results of a successful marriage into Russia: Maud was the favorite niece of Alexander III and Edward VII's favorite daughter - which would certainly ensure that she was well received at court - and she and Maria Feodorovna (who in turn would certainly have good relations with her niece-daughter) could influence Nicky on the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. In addition we would have an Empress more willing with the court and children without hemophilia

 

[QueenMaud]

Name of Czar: Nicolas II
Name of possible consort: Alexandra of Greece and Denmark
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: Nicky was in love with Alice, Aline was in love with Paul Alexandrovich, and they were first cousins
Results of a successful marriage into Russia: Alexandra was Orthodox, easily adapts to the Russian court when she married Paul, was the daughter of a Russian, the children would not be hemophiliacs and Russia would be even closer to the balkans

 

[alexmilman]

Name of Czar: Peter III Feodorovich
Name of possible consort: MariaAnna Sophia of Saxony
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: Empress Elizabeth wanted a less important princess for czarina in case fertility issues cropped up, so that she could send her home with little fuss.
Results of a successful marriage into Russia: (note, this doesn't necessarily mean that the marriage itself is successful, simply that the tsarevich and the princess get married).: Would cement the Bourbon-Russian alliance (since her sisters would be married to the king of Naples/Spain and the dauphin of France)

As far as the results for Russia are concerned:
(a) Stronger alliance with Prussia - Peter III was an admirer of the Old Fritz. In OTL Catherine II also was Prussia-oriented for quite a while but Peter was a little bit "overdoing" the whole thing by emphasizing personal attachment and admiration while for his widow it was just a politics. Wofe's origin and relations would be of a limited importance (unless she manages to stage a successful coup).
(b) Most probably, more reforms than in Catherine's time: she was always restricted by the considerations of practicality and self-preservation while Peter seems to be more impulsive. High probability of the equality of the religions. Earlier establishment of the state bank (it took Catherine years to implement this Peter's idea). He seems to be well-intentional but not always practical.
(c) Probably war with Denmark (yes, I know that Denmark was absolutely undefeatable but neither Peter nor his contemporaries were aware of this fact ).
(d) Probably more or less the same as far as the wars against the Ottomans are involved (with an advantage of not having a nincompoop like Potemkin as commander-in-chief during the 2nd one).
(e) Probably the same as far as the 1st Partition is involved (Fritz was advocating it) but I doubt that Poniatowski would be made a king of the PLC.

 

[alexmilman]

Name of Czar: Nicolas II
Name of possible consort: Alexandra of Greece and Denmark
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: Nicky was in love with Alice, Aline was in love with Paul Alexandrovich, and they were first cousins
Results of a successful marriage into Russia: Alexandra was Orthodox, easily adapts to the Russian court when she married Paul, was the daughter of a Russian, the children would not be hemophiliacs and Russia would be even closer to the balkans

The problem was that this still does not eliminate the "Montenegrian gang" (Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaevich was married to Princess Anastasia of Montenegro and her sister Milica to the Grand Duke Peter Nicholaevich) and their potential influence. Of course, there would be nothing good in Russia being even closer to the Balkans and related mess.

 

[alexmilman]

Her son by the Grand Duke was Prince Vladimir Romanovsky-Krasinsky. The title means Vladimir was legitimate within Romanov house law.

The problem is that both her marriage and princely title of her and her son belong to the post-revolutionary times (she officially married Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich in 1921 in Paris). The title was given by a formal head of the Romanov family and self-proclaimed emperor, Grand Duke Kirill and at that time the issues of legitimacy and Romanov house laws had only a theoretical value (ditto for Kirill's right to grant any titles).

 

[alexmilman]

I'm not sure about that. She might've married Grand Duke Andrei with Alexander III's permission, but that doesn't mean the marriage wasn't morganatic. The Romanov house laws are pretty clear that any marriage to someone from a non-royal or non-ruling family is dynastically unequal and the children thereof have no succession rights. So I'm guessing that we'd be as likely to see a Czarina Mathilda (not to mention she was Catholic, only converting to Russian Orthodoxy much later) as we would an Empress Sophie von Chotek.

The whole idea related to Mathilda is non-starter: could not happen just because it could not happen.

2nd marriage of Alexander II is irrelevant: Princess Dolgorukova belonged to the top Russian aristocracy (the Rurikids): the 1st Prince of that name was founder of Moscow. In other words, they were more aristocratic than the Romanovs (at least in their "Romanov" line). No comparison whatsoever with a Polish ballet dancer of a humble origin.

More appropriate analogy would be marriage of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich and Olga Karnovich. She ended up being recognized as a morganatic wife with a title of Princess Paley. When Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich married Natalia Sergeyevna Wulfert, it was in a hope that he would be removed from the line of succession. Nicholas II, who did not approve this marriage granted her title "Countess Brasova".

 

[QueenMaud]

The problem was that this still does not eliminate the "Montenegrian gang" (Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaevich was married to Princess Anastasia of Montenegro and her sister Milica to the Grand Duke Peter Nicholaevich) and their potential influence. Of course, there would be nothing good in Russia being even closer to the Balkans and related mess.

In a scenario where the heir to the throne is not homophile this influence would certainly be much smaller.
Since it would not be good for Russia to get closer to the balkans, I would have chosen Nicky with Maud (Talve sophie of Prussia was good too, but Maria Feodorovna would have tried to prevent it?)

 

[Jonathan]

no matches between Alexander II and Queen Victoria, or something like that, please.

I'm sorry but have to be the exception to the rule.

Name of Czar: Alexander II
Name of possible consort: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: In OTL she was queen of Great Britain
What changed: In this ATL, William IV, has a son while still styled as simply Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews, with his wife, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen; their son, William, born 10 December 1820, becomes Prince of Wales on his 10th birthday (six months after his dad becomes king) and succeeds his father on 20 June 1837, becoming William V at the age of 16. In 1838–39, as a young bachelor, Alexander made the Grand Tour of Europe which was standard for young men of his class at that time. One of the purposes of the tour was to select a suitable bride for himself. He stayed for three days with the 17-19 year old king, and was introduced to the king's cousin, Alexandrine, who is one year younger than him and the two got along well.
The young King and his council agree to Alexandrine marrying Alexander, only if she accepts, that she and her descendants, are to be excluded from the line of succession, which she accepted.
Results of a successful marriage into Russia:
Keeping her name as Alexandrina.
Giving ample amount of children, might even be able to satisfy his high sex drive.
Be a wise adviser to her husband, son and grandson.
Assist with reformation
Inspire Russian arts and literature to improve greatly
Hemophiliacs is sent else where
Brings Russian closer to the European Table.

 

[alexmilman]

In a scenario where the heir to the throne is not homophile this influence would certainly be much smaller.

Temptation is too strong to let it go winkytongue: "homophile" means homosexual. You are talking about hemophiliac.

 

[Jonathan]

Temptation is too strong to let it go winkytongue: "homophile" means homosexual. You are talking about hemophiliac.

Technically Homo can be used as the Latin word that means man, or human as in "Homo sapiens" or the Greek word homos, meaning the same, as in same sex "Homosexual", while Phile means "one that loves, likes, or is attracted to,"

So Homophile could simply be "One that loves Humans" or "Human who likes Humans" not everything has to be sexualized lol

 

[QueenMaud]

Temptation is too strong to let it go winkytongue: "homophile" means homosexual. You are talking about hemophiliac.

hahaha yes i´m talking about hemophiliac

 

[QueenMaud]

Name of Czar: Nicolas II (Tsarevich Nicolas Alexandrovich OTL)
Name of possible consort: Louise of United Kingdom
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: Nicky was in love with Dagmar of Denmark, Louise Mother not like the Russians, and there was the question of religion
Results of a successful marriage into Russia: Nicolas and Louise succeeding Alexander II, Russia would certainly adopt a constitutional monarchy, and the couple would certainly turn the court into a kindly liberal place

 

[The_Most_Happy]

Let's all just come out and say it, kids: Nicholas II with literally anybody but Alix of Hesse

 

[alexmilman]

Technically Homo can be used as the Latin word that means man, or human as in "Homo sapiens" or the Greek word homos, meaning the same, as in same sex "Homosexual", while Phile means "one that loves, likes, or is attracted to,"

So Homophile could simply be "One that loves Humans" or "Human who likes Humans" not everything has to be sexualized lol

To think about it, if we look at "likes" from a gastronomic perspective, than it means "cannibal".

 

[Jonathan]

Let me go back to Feodor III, the third Romanovs monarch.

marries
Name of Czar: Feodor III
Name of possible consort: Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: In 1675 she was betrothed to King Charles XI of Sweden. The purpose of the match, from the Swedish viewpoint, was to prevent Denmark from forming an alliance with the enemies of Sweden.
Her brother, the King of Denmark, was not enthusiastic about the match, but he left the decision to her mother, who was very eager to complete it because it would give Ulrika the status of queen.
Marrying him when she was 24.

What if her brother was stronger willed, wanting to put Sweden in a difficult position and her mother, was more eager at the thought of Ulrika becoming Empress.
Results of a successful marriage into Russia: Although 5 years older than him, she is apt to give him an heir.

If we have her at 21, marry him a year after his succession to the throne, at the age of 16, in 1677, that gives us, 5 years until his death in 7 May 1682, allowing for at least one issue, maximum 5, allowing his lineage to carry on, instead of being succeeded by his brothers Ivan V or Peter I.

 

[JonasResende]

So Homophile could simply be "One that loves Humans" or "Human who likes Humans" not everything has to be sexualized lol

Or maybe it can mean someone who just really likes staying at home? i.e. antisocial or agoraphobic?

 

[JonasResende]

Be a wise adviser to her husband, son and grandson.Inspire Russian arts and literature to improve greatly

Um...how would this work exactly? Victoria was OTL pretty (politically) naive when she first came to the throne, and this was exploited, first by Melbourne and then by Albert. I'm not sure her having a male cousin is going to change this much.
As to the arts and literature, the driving force wasn't so much Victoria IIRC. Her artistic tastes were borderline dreadful. Even her own daughter, Louise, who was of an artistic bent (sculptor) decried her mother as having no taste. An Empress Alexandrina would certainly not be fashionable - the French court (both Louis Philippe and Napoléon III's) was put in some stitches by her outfits that she wore. On one occasion where the Napoléon III was actually impressed with an outfit she was wearing and told her so, Victoria replied that it was the work of a Parisian dressmaker Eugènie had recommended.

Let me go back to Feodor III, the third Romanovs monarch.

marries
Name of Czar: Feodor III
Name of possible consort: Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: In 1675 she was betrothed to King Charles XI of Sweden. The purpose of the match, from the Swedish viewpoint, was to prevent Denmark from forming an alliance with the enemies of Sweden.
Her brother, the King of Denmark, was not enthusiastic about the match, but he left the decision to her mother, who was very eager to complete it because it would give Ulrika the status of queen.
Marrying him when she was 24.

What if her brother was stronger willed, wanting to put Sweden in a difficult position and her mother, was more eager at the thought of Ulrika becoming Empress.
Results of a successful marriage into Russia: Although 5 years older than him, she is apt to give him an heir.

If we have her at 21, marry him a year after his succession to the throne, at the age of 16, in 1677, that gives us, 5 years until his death in 7 May 1682, allowing for at least one issue, maximum 5, allowing his lineage to carry on, instead of being succeeded by his brothers Ivan V or Peter I.

While a Danish match sounds interesting, would the Russians be willing to consider it? There had been a history of failed engagements with Danish suitors (Xenia Godunova to Prince Johan of Holstein, Emperor Mikhail to a Holsteiner princess, Irina Mikhailovna (Feodor's aunt) to Prince Waldemar). Usually, the marriage arrangements foundered on the shoal of religion. Russia expected that the foreigner would convert. Everyone else considered Russia as being unreasonable.

 

[Jonathan]

Or maybe it can mean someone who just really likes staying at home? i.e. antisocial or agoraphobic?

Home and homo has no links, home comes from old English ham "dwelling place”

Um...how would this work exactly? Victoria was OTL pretty (politically) naive when she first came to the throne, and this was exploited, first by Melbourne and then by Albert. I'm not sure her having a male cousin is going to change this much.
As to the arts and literature, the driving force wasn't so much Victoria IIRC. Her artistic tastes were borderline dreadful. Even her own daughter, Louise, who was of an artistic bent (sculptor) decried her mother as having no taste. An Empress Alexandrina would certainly not be fashionable - the French court (both Louis Philippe and Napoléon III's) was put in some stitches by her outfits that she wore. On one occasion where the Napoléon III was actually impressed with an outfit she was wearing and told her so, Victoria replied that it was the work of a Parisian dressmaker Eugènie had recommended.

In this alternative timeline Alexandrine is able to bring British ideas and art to Russia, she may not been seen as great by her daughters

While a Danish match sounds interesting, would the Russians be willing to consider it? There had been a history of failed engagements with Danish suitors (Xenia Godunova to Prince Johan of Holstein, Emperor Mikhail to a Holsteiner princess, Irina Mikhailovna (Feodor's aunt) to Prince Waldemar). Usually, the marriage arrangements foundered on the shoal of religion. Russia expected that the foreigner would convert. Everyone else considered Russia as being unreasonable.

It’s not asb.

 

[QueenMaud]

Name of Czar: Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch (succeeded his brother Nicholas II on the latter's abdication in 1903)
Name of possible consort: Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria
Why the marriage plans foundered OTL: I believe that such a marriage was not imagined at the time, but the religious question would surely prevent it (Franz I wanted her to marry Crown Prince William, it might not be a problem of course)
Results of a successful marriage into Russia: Elisabeth would undoubtedly be the most progressive and liberal Empress of Russia (I can imagine the Red Archduchess receiving Lenin in the winter palace for a tea hahaha). It would also bring new blood, healthy children, and most importantly, the marriage between her and Miguel could be used to start an alliance between Austria and Russia, and reduce tensions between the two countries that had opposing interests in the Balkans same scenario Olga Alexandrovna or Helena Vladimirovna could marry Franz Ferdinand maybe

 

[JonasResende]

Home and homo has no links, home comes from old English ham "dwelling place”

Sigh. I was simply making a joke. Sorry if the tone didn't come across.

In this alternative timeline Alexandrine is able to bring British ideas and art to Russia, she may not been seen as great by her daughters

True. They'd simply see her as another brood-mare most likely (Victoria herself hated being pregnant and once compared herself to such. No naming of her pet cow after a daughter when said girl displeases her, probably (Alice). But admittedly, it is an interesting match. Might help smooth Anglo-Russian tensions.

It’s not asb.

Again, an interesting match, and I never said it was ASB - sorry if it came across that way - I merely asked if Russia would consider it after getting their fingers burned by the Danes again (in the Romanovs at least - with the bridegroom's aunt and paternal grandfather). But still, I like the idea of blocking both Ivan and Pyotr from the throne.