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Maria RomanovaGrand Duchess, Head of the Russian Imperial House
Date of Birth: 23.12.1953
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna: Head of the Russian Imperial House
- Marriage and Family
- Head of the Russian Imperial House
- Rights and Recognition
- Contested Status
- Social Activities
- Legacy
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna: Head of the Russian Imperial House
Early Life and Royal LineageGrand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna is the only child of Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich Romanov, the son of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, who proclaimed himself Emperor in exile in 1924. From the perspective of those who recognize her claim to the Russian throne (the "Kirillovists"), she is considered de jure Empress of All the Russias under the name Maria I.
Born in Spain, Maria Vladimirovna studied at Oxford University. She currently resides in Spain.
Marriage and Family
In 1976, Maria Vladimirovna married Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, who converted to the Orthodox faith and became Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich. Their wedding ceremony, held in Madrid, was attended by a distinguished gathering of royalty. The couple welcomed their son, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, on March 13, 1981. Their marriage was dissolved in 1985, but Mikhail Pavlovich remained Orthodox.
Head of the Russian Imperial House
In 1989, upon the death of Vasily Alexandrovich and the absence of male heirs, Maria Vladimirovna was proclaimed heir to the Russian throne by her father. After Vladimir Kirillovich's death in 1992, she issued a "Manifesto on the Assumption of the Headship of the Russian Imperial House" and declared her son, George, as Heir Apparent.
Rights and Recognition
Maria Vladimirovna uses the title of Grand Duchess and claims to be the head of the Russian Imperial House. The legitimacy of this claim has been disputed by members of the "Nikolaevich" branch of the Romanov family, including Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich-Junior.
Maria Vladimirovna bases her claim on the laws of succession of the Russian Empire, which she argues entitle her to the throne and leadership of the Imperial House. She considers all other Romanovs born in morganatic marriages or to be illegitimate.
Her status as head of the Imperial House is recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church and certain socio-political organizations. While it has no official state recognition in Russia, attempts have been made to secure a form of recognition. In 2011, the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic granted the Imperial House a unique historical status.
Contested Status
The validity of Maria Vladimirovna's claim has been challenged by Nikolai Kirillovich Leiningen, who also asserts a right to the throne and has возглавил a political project named "Romanovskaya Imperiya."
Social Activities
Maria Vladimirovna has been involved in charitable work, including the donation of religious relics to churches in Russia. She has also supported the rehabilitation of the executed members of the last Russian imperial family.
In 2009, the Imperial House expressed a desire to return to Russia and play a role in Russian society. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church's public relations department suggested dialogue and cooperation as a possible means of finding a form of presence in the country.
Legacy
Maria Vladimirovna's legacy is intertwined with the history and disputed succession of the Russian Imperial House. Her claim to the throne remains a matter of debate, but her humanitarian work and efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of the Romanov dynasty have earned her recognition and support among some.
