Maria Feodorovna of Russia Archives - History of Royal Women

The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna by C. W. Gortner Book Review

February 7, 2019 Moniek Bloks 0

While most will remember the last Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna, not all will remember Nicholas’s mother who managed to escape the revolution. Maria Feodorovna was born Dagmar of Denmark on 26 November 1847 as the daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark and Louise of Hesse-Kassel. Her sister was Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, the wife [read more]

Investigative Committee refutes Emperor Alexander III’s poisoning theory

July 25, 2018 Moniek Bloks 1

The Investigative Committee, which recently confirmed that the remains found in 1991 and 2007 in Yekaterinburg belong to Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra Feodorovna and their five children, has also done additional research. While investigating Emperor Alexander III’s DNA to compare to the remains found in Yekaterinburg, they also ran a hair sample to refute a [read more]

Alexander III’s shrine was opened last Tuesday for DNA study in probe into death of last Russian tsar’s family

November 26, 2015 Moniek Bloks 0

The shrine of Emperor Alexander III of Russia was opened last Tuesday to take DNA-samples. These will be sent to Moscow to be studied and are a part of the criminal probe into the death of the last Russian Imperial family. The remains of Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duchess Maria were found separate from the [read more]

Alexander, Napoleon & Joséphine: A Story of Friendship, War and Art

March 31, 2015 Moniek Bloks 0

Last week I was invited to view the new Alexander, Napoleon & Josephine: A Story of Love, War and Art exhibition at the Hermitage Amsterdam. The exhibition holds many art objects collected by Empress Joséphine after her divorce from Napoleon and also treasures such as Napoleon’s death mask, a briefcase used by Alexander I and [read more]

Under the protection of Catherine the Great – Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

January 5, 2015 Moniek Bloks 0

Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was born 3 December 1764 to Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick and Princess Augusta of Great Britain. Her younger sister Caroline married George IV of the United Kingdom. To her family, Augusta was known as Zelmira. On 15 October 1780, she married Prince Frederick of Württemberg. He was heir presumptive to [read more]

The women of Soestdijk Palace

January 3, 2015 Moniek Bloks 0

Every house has traces of its former inhabitants. Soestdijk has had many over the years, and I went there in search of its royal women. Soestdijk Palace has only been open to the public since 2006, and its future is still uncertain. The last inhabitant, Queen (then Princess) Juliana, died at the palace in 2004. [read more]