Nikolay Leiningen-Romanov The eldest son of the 7th Duke of Leiningen, Emich II Date of Birth: 12.06.1952 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Family
2. Controversial Second Marriage
3. Succession Claims
4. Conversion to Orthodoxy and Imperial Title
5. Disputes and Litigation
6. Connection to British Royalty
7. Legacy

Early Life and Family

Karl-Emich was born as the eldest son of Emich II, 7th Prince of Leiningen, and his first wife, Princess Maria Kirillovna of Russia. His paternal grandfather was Emich, 5th Prince of Leiningen, and his paternal grandmother was Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. His maternal grandparents were Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia and Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Controversial Second Marriage

In 1991, Karl-Emich married Baroness Gabriela Thiessen, a Catholic from a family of industrialists. This marriage was considered a morganatic union by the House of Leiningen, as it violated their 1897 decree requiring members to marry only those of equal rank. Consequently, Karl-Emich was stripped of his rights to the headship of the Leiningen family, losing his inheritance.

Succession Claims

Karl-Emich's paternal grandmother, Princess Maria Kirillovna of Russia, was the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia, who proclaimed himself Emperor Cyril I in 1924. As a result, Karl-Emich is a descendant of Emperor Alexander II of Russia and is in line to the Russian throne according to the Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire.

Conversion to Orthodoxy and Imperial Title

On June 1, 2013, Karl-Emich and his wife, Isabella zu Egloffstein, converted to Orthodoxy, receiving the names Nikolai Kirillovich Romanov and Ekaterina Fyodorovna Romanova, respectively. In response, the Monarchist Party of Russia declared Nikolai Kirillovich as the heir to the Russian throne and proclaimed the formation of the Romanov Empire.

Disputes and Litigation

Karl-Emich contested his disinheritance in court, arguing that his father's will was invalid due to changes made shortly before his death. However, the German Constitutional Court rejected his appeal in 2000, upholding the decision to strip him of his inheritance.

Connection to British Royalty

Karl-Emich is also a descendant of British Queen Victoria through his paternal grandmother, Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. His great-uncle, Prince Carl of Leiningen, was Victoria's half-brother. As a result, Karl-Emich and his children are in the line of succession to the British throne, currently holding positions 159 through 162.

Legacy

Karl-Emich is a controversial figure in the Russian monarchist movement, with some acknowledging his claim to the throne and others disputing it. Despite his legal challenges and family disputes, he remains a symbol of the complex and contested history of Russian royalty.