Empress dowager Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)

emperor nicholas ii , mother empress dowager maria feodorovna in 1896.

on 1 november 1894, alexander iii died aged 49 @ livadia. in diary maria wrote, utterly heartbroken , despondent, when saw blissful smile , peace in face came after, gave me strength. 2 days later, prince , princess of wales arrived @ livadia london. while prince of wales took upon himself involve himself in preparations funeral, princess of wales spent time comforting grieving maria, including praying , sleeping @ bedside. maria feodorovna s birthday week after funeral, , day in court mourning relaxed, nicholas used day marry alix of hesse-darmstadt, took name alexandra feodorovna.

once death of alexander iii had receded, maria again took brighter view of future. right, said. maria continued live in anichkov palace in st. petersburg , @ gatchina palace. in may 1896, travelled moscow coronation of nicholas , alexandra.

as new imperial train constructed nicholas ii in time coronation, alexander iii s temporary imperial train (composed of cars had survived borki disaster , few converted standard passenger cars) transferred empress dowager s personal use.

during first years of son s reign, maria acted political adviser tsar. uncertain of own ability , aware of connections , knowledge, tsar nicholas ii told ministers ask advice before making decisions, , ministers suggested themselves. reportedly on advice nicholas kept father s ministers. maria herself estimated son of weak character , better influenced worse. daughter olga remarked upon influence: “she had never before taken least interest … felt duty. personality magnetic , zest of activity incredible. had finger on every educational pulse in empire. work secretaries shreds, did not spare herself. when bored in committee never looked bored. manner and, above all, tact conquered everybody”. after death of spouse, maria came convinced russia needed reforms avoid revolution. according courtier paul benckendorff there scene when maria asked son not appoint conservative wahl minister internal affairs: “during 1 [the empress dowager] threw herself @ [the tsar s] knees begging him not make appointment , choose make concessions. said if nicholas did not agree, ‘leave denmark, , without me here let twist head around’.” p. 205 nicholas did appoint favored candidate, , reportedly told favoured candidate liberal reformist peter sviatopolk-mirsky accept saying: “you must fulfil son’s wish; if do, give kiss” p. 205 after birth of son tsar same year, however, nicholas ii replaced mother political confidant , adviser wife, empress alexandra.

maria feodorovna s grandson-in-law, prince felix yusupov, noted had great influence in romanov family. sergei witte praised tact , diplomatic skill. nevertheless, despite social tact, did not along daughter-in-law, tsarina alexandra, holding responsible many of woes beset son nicholas , russian empire in general. appalled alexandra s inability win favour public, , did not give birth heir until ten years after marriage, after bearing 4 daughters. fact russian court custom dictated empress dowager took precedence on empress consort, combined possessiveness maria had of sons, , jealousy of empress alexandra served exacerbate tensions between mother-in-law , daughter-in-law. sophie buxhoeveden remarked of conflict: “without clashing seemed fundamentally unable … understand 1 another,” , daughter olga commented: “they had tried understand each other , failed. utterly different in character, habits , outlook.” maria sociable , dancer, ability ingratiate herself people, while alexandra, though more intelligent , beautiful, shy , closed herself off russian people.

by turn of twentieth century, maria spending increasing time abroad. in 1906, following death of father, king christian ix, , sister, alexandra, had become queen-consort of united kingdom in 1901, purchased villa of hvidøre. following year, change in political circumstances allowed maria feodorovna welcomed england king edward vii , queen alexandra, maria s first visit england since 1873. following visit in 1908, maria feodorovna present @ brother-in-law , sister s visit russia summer. little under 2 years later, maria feodorovna travelled england yet again, time funeral of brother-in-law, king edward vii, in may 1910. during three-month visit england in 1910, maria feodorovna attempted, unsuccessfully, sister, queen dowager alexandra, claim position of precedence on daughter-in-law, queen mary.

marie feodorovna (left) sister alexandra (centre) niece maria of greece, (right) circa 1893



empress dowager maria feodorovna (right), elder sister, queen alexandra (centre) , niece, princess victoria (left), london, 1903

empress maria feodorovna, mistress of langinkoski retreat, otherwise known friend of finland. during first russification period, tried have son halt constraining of grand principality s autonomy , recall unpopular governor-general bobrikov finland other position in russia itself. during second russification period, @ start of first world war, empress dowager, travelling special train through finland saint petersburg, expressed continued disapprobation russification of finland having orchestra of welcoming committee play march of pori regiment , finnish national anthem maamme , @ time under explicit ban franz albert seyn, governor-general of finland.

in 1899, maria s second son, george, died of tuberculosis in caucasus. during funeral, kept composure, @ end of service, ran church clutching son s top hat been atop coffin , collapsed in carriage sobbing. 2 years later, according daughter, grand duchess olga, arranged olga s disastrous marriage peter, duke of oldenburg. years nicholas refused grant unhappy sister divorce, relenting in 1916 in midst of war. when olga attempted contract morganatic marriage nikolai kulikovsky, maria feodorovna , tsar tried dissuade her, yet, did not protest vehemently. indeed, maria feodorovna 1 of few people attended wedding in november 1916. in 1912, maria faced trouble youngest son, when secretly married mistress, outrage , scandal of both maria feodorovna , nicholas.

maria feodorovna disliked rasputin, whom regarded dangerous charlatan, , when activities damaged reputation of tsar, asked tsar , empress remove him vicinity. when tsar remained silent , empress alexandra answered , refused both of them, maria assumed empress true regent , lacked capability such position: “my poor daughter-in-law not perceive ruining dynasty , herself. sincerely believes in holiness of adventurer, , powerless ward of misfortune, sure come”, when tsar dismissed minister vladimir kokovtsov in february 1914 on advice of alexandra, maria again reproached son, answered in such way became more convinced alexandra real ruler of russia, , called upon kokovtsov , said him: “my daughter-in-law not me; thinks jealous of power. not perceive 1 aspiration see son happy. yet see nearing kind of catastrophe , tsar listens no 1 flatterers… why not tell tsar think , know… if not late”.

world war i

in may 1914 maria feodorovna travelled england visit sister. while in london, world war broke out (july 1914), forcing hurry home russia. in berlin german authorities prevented train continuing toward russian border. instead had return russia way of (neutral) denmark , finland. upon return in august, took residence @ yelagin palace, closer st. petersburg (renamed petrograd in august 1914) gatchina. during war served president of russia s red cross. had done decade earlier in russo-japanese war of 1904-1905, financed sanitary train.

during war, there great concern within imperial house influence empress alexandra had upon state affairs through tsar, , influence grigori rasputin believed have upon her, considered provoke public , endanger safety of imperial throne , survival of monarchy. on behalf of imperial relatives of tsar, both empress s sister grand duchess elizabeth feodorovna , cousin grand duchess victoria feodorovna had been selected mediate , ask empress alexandra banish rasputin court protect , throne s reputation, without success. in parallel, several of grand dukes had tried intervene tsar, no more success.

during conflict of 1916-1917, grand duchess maria pavlovna reportedly planned coup d état depose tsar of 4 regiments of imperial guard invade alexander palace, force tsar abdicate , replace him underage son under regency of son grand duke kirill.

there documents support fact in critical situation, maria feodorovna involved in planned coup d état depose son throne in order save monarchy. plan reportedly maria make final ultimatum tsar banish rasputin unless wished leave capital, signal unleash coup. how planned replace son unconfirmed, 2 versions available: first, grand duke paul alexandrovich of russia take power in name, , herself thereafter become ruling empress; other version further claims grand duke paul alexandrovich of russia replace tsar son, heir throne, maria s grandson alexey, upon maria , paul alexandrovich share power regents during minority. maria asked make appeal tsar after empress alexandra had asked tsar dismiss minister polianov. initially, refused make appeal, , sister-in-law grand duchess maria pavlovna stated french ambassador: “it’s not want of courage or inclination keeps back. s better don’t. she’s outspoken , imperious. moment starts lecture son, feelings run away her; says exact opposite of should; annoys , humiliates him. stands on dignity , reminds mother emperor. leave each other in rage.” eventually, convinced make appeal. reportedly, empress alexandra informed planned coup, , when maria feodorovna made ultimatum tsar, empress convinced him order mother leave capital. consequently, empress dowager left petrograd live in mariyinsky palace in kiev same year. never again returned russia s capital. empress alexandra commented departure: “it’s better motherdear stays … @ kiev, climate better , can live wishes , hears less gossip”.

in kiev, maria engaged in red cross , hospital work, , in september, 50th anniversary of arrival in russia celebrated great festivities, during visited son, nicholas ii, came without wife. empress alexandra wrote tsar: “when see motherdear, must rather sharply tell how pained are, listens slander , not stop it, makes mischief , others delighted, sure, put against me…” maria did ask nicholas ii remove both rasputin , alexandra political influence, shortly after, nicholas , alexandra broke contact tsar s family.

when rasputin murdered, part of imperial relatives asked maria return capital , use moment replace alexandra tsar s political adviser. maria refused, did admit alexandra should removed influence on state affairs: “alexandra feodorovna must banished. don’t know how must done. otherwise might go mad. let enter convent or disappear.”