Ma tante -- Nadine (Nadejda) Romanoff, nee Babanine

Identity

Full name: Nadine (Nadejda) Romanoff, nee Babanine (nicknames: Nadia, Nadinka)

Relationship: Marie's MATERNAL aunt -- younger sister of Maman (Marie Bashkirtseff, nee Babanine). Daughter of Stepan (Etienne) Babanine and Julie Babanine, nee Cornelius.

Married name: Mme Romanoff, married to M. Thadee Romanoff (wealthy landowner, c. 1866-1867). Romanoff died of mental illness sometime after 1870, leaving her a widow with a substantial fortune.

NOT to be confused with: Sophie Tutcheff (nee Bashkirtseff), Marie's PATERNAL aunt and family enemy. Sophie Tutcheff is a separate glossary entry. The two women are on opposite sides of the family conflict.

Overview

"Ma tante" is one of the most important figures across the entire diary (1873-1884), not merely the early entries. She appears in every single carnet indexed by Apostolescu, making her the most frequently mentioned person after Maman. She was Marie's primary guardian, financial manager, chaperone, and devoted caretaker throughout the family's European life.

Marie's preface (carnet 000) describes her aunt before marriage: "Ma tante, plus jeune que maman, mais pas jolie, restant sacrifiee et se sacrifiant a tout le monde" (My aunt, younger than Mama, but not pretty, remaining sacrificed and sacrificing herself to everyone). This double construction -- both victim and agent of sacrifice -- defines her role in the family.

Marriage to Romanoff

The marriage to M. Romanoff was orchestrated by the family, particularly Georges, around 1866-1867. Marie describes the scheme in her 1884 preface (000-05): > "Et un beau matin chacun se dit qu'il fallait en finir et que ma tante ne trouverait jamais un aussi beau parti. Il fallait seulement le consentement du monsieur. Mais c'etait une grosse bete habitue a nous tous, et pas le moins du monde amant de maman, quoiqu'on ait dit, ce fut facile. Moi-meme j'y deployais mon eloquence de neuf ans." Marie dismisses Romanoff as "une grosse bete" (a big oaf) and denies that he was Maman's lover despite rumors. The nine-year-old Marie claims to have helped persuade him. The marriage brought the family "cette grande fortune" (this great fortune) that financed their European travels. Three days after the wedding, Grand-maman died suddenly. Romanoff then suffered "acces de delire et de folie" (attacks of delirium and madness). He was cared for by Dr. Walitsky, who traveled with the family from 1870.

Role in Marie's Life

Primary Guardian and Chaperone

Ma tante was Marie's constant companion. She accompanied Marie everywhere -- to the Promenade des Anglais, to Monaco, to the opera, to Worth's atelier in Paris, on trips to Vienna and Rome. The diary consistently lists "moi et ma tante" as a unit.

Financial Controller

As the widow of Romanoff, she controlled the family's primary fortune. Marie's diary reveals:
- She managed household expenses and property purchases (villa Boismilon, villa Baquis in Nice)
- She resisted Marie's spending impulses but usually yielded
- She made a testament (July 29, 1873) leaving everything to Marie, with payments of 25,000 roubles each to Dina, Paul, Georges, and Maman, plus 3,000 to Walitsky

Indulgent Caretaker

Marie oscillates between gratitude and manipulation: > "Ma tante et maman m'adorent, toutes leurs pensees sont portees vers moi, surtout maman [...] Ma tante, tous ces jours, commence a etre si bonne pour moi, elle me caresse souvent et je les apprecie parce qu'elles sont rares et nouvelles." (July 18, 1873)

> "Maman me promet, ma tante aussi, mais sur, je le vois par le ton. La tante surtout me l'a bien promis." (same entry, about buying a racehorse)

Character Traits

Devotion

- "Comme ma tante m'adore!" (How my aunt adores me!) -- August 11, 1873
- Rushed to Marie's side in alarm when Marie was unwell (August 14, 1873): "Ma tante est dans une frayeur terrible."
- Waited for Marie before retiring, never made decisions without considering her

Social Propriety

- Refused to let the girls attend a cafe-concert: "ma tante s'y oppose, disant que c'est un cafe, c'est commun, c'est mauvais, que c'est une honte d'y aller" (June 8, 1873)
- Once tried to prevent Marie from swimming by secretly asking another mother to forbid her daughters from going, so Marie would have no companions (carnet 05)

Tendency to Gossip and Embellish

Marie notes with affectionate exasperation: > "Elle (pas pour mentir), dit quelquefois des choses qu'elle ne connait pas, et toutes defigurees. Seulement pour soutenir la conversation." (August 24, 1873, about the Duke of Hamilton's horses)

Financial Caution

- Refused Marie's request to go to Paris, citing costs (August 12, 1873)
- Worried about money despite controlling substantial Romanoff fortune
- The pattern of refusal-then-capitulation characterizes their relationship

Key Episodes

The Testament (July 29, 1873)

During a dinner at an inn, Ma tante raised the possibility of dying without a will. M. Anitchkoff dictated the testament while Marie kept making jokes. Ma tante attempted to copy it, ruining several sheets. She left everything to Marie, with specified payments to family members.

The Paris Campaign (August 12, 1873)

Marie's extended negotiation to convince her aunt to go shopping in Paris. Initial firm refusal, persistent pleading, cost calculations, eventual capitulation -- a pattern that repeated throughout their relationship.

The Dina Death Notice (carnet 08)

When Dina Babanine died, the official death notice listed: "Monsieur Babanine, Madame Romanoff, Madame Bashkirtseff et Mademoiselle Bashkirtseff" -- placing Ma tante (Mme Romanoff) as the second-ranking family member.

The Romanoff Lawsuit

The Romanoff family sued Maman, Ma tante, and Alexandre, accusing them of having manipulated M. Romanoff into the marriage and defrauding his estate. Marie describes (carnet 14): "maman incriminee d'avoir capte la confiance de l'homme et de l'avoir marie de force presque avec sa soeur." The lawsuit dragged on for roughly twelve years, causing immense social damage in Nice and beyond. Ma tante's enemies (the Tutcheffs, the Boutowskys, the Skariatines) spread rumors that amplified the scandal.

Letters and Property

Marie writes to correspondents identifying herself as being with her aunt: "Je suis avec ma tante, Mme Romanoff, d'ailleurs je crois que vous la connaissez" (carnet 05). Ma tante owned or managed property in Nice, and the family's villa was associated with "Mme Romanoff" in local knowledge. A cab driver once offered his services "en criant qu'il a servi Mme Romanoff" (carnet 12).

Relationship to Other Family Members

- Maman: Her older sister. They frequently appeared together at social events, consulted on decisions, and collectively managed the household.
- Grand-papa (Stepan Babanine): Her father. He traveled with the family to Europe in 1870.
- Grand-maman (Julie Babanine): Her mother. Died shortly after Nadine's marriage to Romanoff.
- Georges: Her brother. The family's most troubled member; Ma tante endured his scandals alongside the rest.
- Dina: Her niece (another Babanine sister's daughter or her own ward). Close companion in the household.
- Marie: The object of her devotion. Marie was both grateful and manipulative.
- Paul: Marie's brother. Part of the household.
- Walitsky: The family doctor, always part of the entourage. Ma tante allocated 3,000 roubles to him in her testament.

What Happened to Her?

Ma tante remained with the family throughout the entire diary period (1873-1884). She appears in carnet 16 (the last indexed carnet), still part of the household in Paris and Nice. She never remarried. The Romanoff lawsuit consumed years of the family's energy and reputation but was ultimately resolved in their favor. Her fortune, though diminished by legal costs, continued to support the family. She accompanied the family's moves from Nice to Paris and back. In the later diary, references to "ma tante" decrease in frequency as Marie's world expands (art studies, salon life, political interests), but she remains a steady background presence -- the reliable, devoted aunt who sacrificed her own life for the family.

Historical Context

In 19th century Russian aristocratic families, widowed female relatives often served as guardians and financial anchors for extended households. Ma tante's role was amplified by several factors:
- Her Romanoff fortune was the family's primary wealth
- Maman was socially compromised (separated from her husband, subject to gossip)
- Grand-papa, though present, was elderly and ineffectual
- The family needed a respectable "Mme Romanoff" as its public face in Nice society The death notice for Dina lists Mme Romanoff before Mme Bashkirtseff, reflecting the social hierarchy: the wealthy widow outranked the separated wife.

Note on Naming

Marie almost always refers to her as "ma tante" or "la tante." In formal contexts, she is "Mme Romanoff." Marie occasionally uses "Nadinka" or "Nadia" in later entries. The index compiled by Ginette Apostolescu consistently identifies her as "Romanoff (Mme Nadine), [Nadejda] [Nadia] [Nadinka] nee Babanine, tante." She is NOT the same person as "Sophie" who appears alongside "ma tante" in the early diary (e.g., February 23, 1873: "nous etions maman, ma tante, Sophie, Emile, Dina, moi"). That "Sophie" is Sophie Tutcheff (nee Bashkirtseff), Marie's paternal aunt, who visited Nice with her son Emile. Mme Tutcheff later became one of the family's bitterest enemies.

CORRECTION: Previous Identification Error

The earlier RSR note (2026-02-11) incorrectly identified Ma tante as "Sophie Tutcheff, married into the Tutcheff family" based on a Kernberger glossary entry. This was wrong. The Apostolescu indexes in ALL carnets (01 through 16) consistently and unambiguously identify "ma tante" as "Romanoff (Mme Nadine), nee Babanine." The entry for February 23, 1873 lists "maman, ma tante, Sophie, Emile, Dina, moi" -- with Sophie and Ma tante as SEPARATE people. Sophie Tutcheff (nee Bashkirtseff, Marie's paternal aunt) is an entirely different person on the opposite side of the family divide.

%% 2025-06-30T20:00:00 RSR: Created basic entry for Ma_tante based on diary references from Book 02 %% %% 2026-02-11T13:45:00 RSR: SUPERSEDED -- see correction below. Original note incorrectly identified Ma tante as Sophie Tutcheff based on Kernberger. %% %% 2026-05-24T12:00:00 RSR: MAJOR CORRECTION. Ma tante is NOT Sophie Tutcheff. She is Nadine (Nadejda) Romanoff, nee Babanine -- Marie's MATERNAL aunt. Evidence: Apostolescu's indexes in ALL raw carnets (01-16) consistently identify "ma tante" as "Romanoff (Mme Nadine), nee Babanine, tante." The Feb 23, 1873 entry lists "maman, ma tante, Sophie, Emile, Dina, moi" -- showing Sophie and Ma tante are DIFFERENT people. Sophie is Sophie Tutcheff (nee Bashkirtseff), Marie's paternal aunt and family enemy. The earlier RSR note was based on a misreading of Kernberger (2013). The Kernberger glossary entry "Tutcheff, Mme Sophie" refers to a different person (paternal aunt), while "Romanoff, Mme, nee Nadya Babanine" is in fact the same person as Ma tante. Nadine married M. Romanoff c. 1866-67; he died of mental illness; she kept the Romanoff fortune and name. Expanded to Comprehensive with diary quotes from carnets 000, 001-016. Sources: Apostolescu transcription indexes, Kernberger (2013) re-examined, diary text throughout. %%