Grand Duke Vladimir (Voldemar)

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-06 Diary Coverage: Up to 1874-04-30

Identity

Russian Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (1847-1909), son of Emperor Alexander II. Marie remembers him as exemplifying aristocratic perfection like the Hamiltons.

Diary References

1874

• April 30: "Je me souviens vaguement des grands-ducs Voldemar et Alexis, mais je me souviens assez pour savoir que ce sont deux hommes dans le genre Hamilton." Their walk, eyes, gestures "tout est grand et sublime, incomparable."

Historical Context

• Son of Alexander II
• Brother of future Alexander III
• Known for cultural patronage
• Married Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1874
• President of Imperial Academy of Arts

Context

• Met in Nice or Baden-Baden
• Exemplifies aristocratic ideal
• Compared to Hamilton brothers
• "Hommes comme j'aime"
• Grand bearing and sublime manner

Related Entries

• #Grand_Duke_Alexis - Brother
• #Duke_of_Hamilton - Comparison

Research Notes

• Romanov family in Nice
• Russian imperial presence abroad
• 1870s aristocratic networks

• 10 August 1876, Petersburg (spelled «Wladimir», merged entry GRAND_DUKE_WLADIMIR): «J'ai vu chez Bergamasco un portrait du grand-duc Wladimir, il y a huit ans. Je ne pus m'arracher de ce portrait» (064.0520); she and Giro end by kissing the portrait, and that evening she stops thinking of the Duke of Hamilton as her «ombre chérie».