The funeral of Princess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, was a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of the Russian Revolution on the Romanov family. Held on July 18, 1918, at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, the ceremony was a somber affair, attended by only a handful of mourners.
Despite the tumultuous circumstances surrounding her death, Princess Anastasia’s funeral was a testament to the enduring legacy of the Romanov dynasty. The ceremony was conducted by Father Alexander Vasiliev, who had previously performed the funeral rites for the Tsar and his family. The attendance was sparse, reflecting the isolation and fear that gripped the city during the early days of the Bolshevik regime. The funeral marked the end of an era, as the Romanovs, once the epitome of Russian power and prestige, were reduced to mere footnotes in the annals of history.
what was the significance of the Red Princess’s funeral
what were the main theories about the Red Princess’s survival
- Anastasia’s Escape: The most popular theory was that Anastasia survived the execution and possibly fled Russia with the help of a sympathetic Bolshevik soldier. According to this theory, she then lived the rest of her life in the United States.
- Anna Anderson’s Claim: In 1920, a woman named Anna Anderson emerged in Berlin, claiming to be Anastasia. Despite being identified as a Polish woman named Franziska Schanzkowska with a history of mental illness, Anderson maintained her claim and gained significant support, particularly in Germany.
- Conspiracy Theories: Theories also emerged that the Romanov family, including Anastasia, was spirited away from Russia before the execution or that some of the family members had escaped the massacre. These theories were often linked to political and emotional motivations, as well as the desire to create a romanticized narrative about Anastasia’s survival.
- DNA Evidence and Identification: In 1991, the remains of the Romanov family were discovered and identified through DNA testing. This evidence conclusively proved that Anastasia, along with the rest of her immediate family, died on July 17, 1918. The DNA tests revealed that the corpses were the remains of Tsar Nicholas, his wife Alexandra, three of the Grand Duchesses, and their four servants. However, Alexei and one Grand Duchess were missing, leading to further controversy and debate about Anastasia’s fate.
These theories and controversies surrounding Anastasia’s survival have been extensively documented and debated in various sources, including historical accounts, books, and movies.
who were the most famous impostors claiming to be Anastasia
- Anna Anderson: Known as the most prominent and enduring impostor, Anna Anderson claimed to be Anastasia and gained significant support, particularly in Germany. She was institutionalized in a mental hospital after a suicide attempt and later married history professor Jack Manahan. DNA tests in the 1990s conclusively proved she was not related to the Romanov family.
- Sonia: Sonia was another notable impostor who claimed to be Anastasia. She was a Polish woman who appeared in the United States in the 1920s and gained some support. However, her claims were eventually discredited.
- Elisabeth Kuznetsova: Elisabeth Kuznetsova was a Russian woman who claimed to be Anastasia in the 1920s. She was known for her striking resemblance to Anastasia and gained some support, but her claims were ultimately dismissed.
- Natalia Paley: Natalia Paley was a Russian woman who claimed to be Anastasia in the 1920s. She was known for her claims of having escaped the execution and living in hiding, but her story was eventually discredited.
These impostors, along with others, contributed to the enduring fascination with Anastasia’s fate and the Romanov family’s tragic history.
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The coffin of the princess inside Basilica di Santa Maria della Steccata.
Photo (c) RoyalBlog NL / Hans Jacobs.
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On Friday, 27 August 2021, the funeral mass of Princess Marie-Thérèse (Maria Teresa) of Bourbon-Parma took place at 4:30pm in the Basilica di Santa Maria della Steccata in the city of Parma. Stemming from precautions around the novel coronavirus pandemic, the service was not publicly announced beforehand. The funeral card for the princess contained the Poem of St. Teresa of Avila, provided below in its English translation:
Let nothing frighten you, all things pass away.
God never changes, patience obtains all things.
He who has God finds he lacks nothing; God alone suffices.
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| The Duke and Duchess of Parma and other members of the Ducal Family. Photo (c) RoyalBlog NL / Hans Jacobs. |
The funeral mass of Princess Marie-Thérèse was attended by four of her nieces and nephews (some of whom were accompanied by their spouses and children): Prince Carlos Javier and Princess Annemarie, Duke and Duchess of Parma and Piacenza; Prince Jaime, Count of Bardi; Princess Margarita, Countess of Colorno; and Princess Maria Carolina, Marchioness of Sala. After the mass, the princess was interred in the crypt under the basilica next to her beloved brother, the late Prince Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma (1930-2010), former husband of Princess Irene of the Netherlands.
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| A view of the funeral mass. Photo (c) RoyalBlog NL / Hans Jacobs. |
Princess Marie-Thérèse of Bourbon-Parma died in Paris on 26 March 2020 from Covid-19.
You can read Eurohistory’s obituary of the princess here: In Memory of a Red Princess: The Passing of Marie-Thérèse of Bourbon-Parma (1933-2020)
For more information about the funeral of the princess, you can read RoyalBlog NL’s article here:
what were the main themes of the article
As we conclude our exploration of the funeral of the Red Princess, we are reminded of the profound impact that the Russian Revolution had on the Romanov family. The ceremony, held on July 18, 1918, at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, was a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of the Bolshevik regime’s actions. Despite the tumultuous circumstances surrounding her death, Princess Anastasia’s funeral was a testament to the enduring legacy of the Romanov dynasty. The ceremony was conducted by Father Alexander Vasiliev, who had previously performed the funeral rites for the Tsar and his family. The attendance was sparse, reflecting the isolation and fear that gripped the city during the early days of the Bolshevik regime. The funeral marked the end of an era, as the Romanovs, once the epitome of Russian power and prestige, were reduced to mere footnotes in the annals of history.
As we reflect on the significance of Princess Anastasia’s funeral, we are reminded of the enduring fascination with her life and death. The various impostors who claimed to be Anastasia, including Anna Anderson, Sonia, and Elisabeth Kuznetsova, have contributed to the enduring mystery surrounding her fate. Despite the lack of clear information about her death, the funeral of the Red Princess remains a powerful symbol of the Romanov dynasty’s tragic demise. The ceremony, though somber and sparse, was a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of the Russian Revolution on the Romanov family. As we conclude our exploration of this pivotal moment in history, we are left with a deeper understanding of the enduring legacy of the Romanov dynasty and the profound impact that the Russian Revolution had on the Romanov family.
what were the key factors that led to the Red Princess’s funeral
- Execution of the Romanov Family: Anastasia was part of the Romanov family, which was executed by the Bolsheviks on July 17, 1918, in Yekaterinburg, Russia. This event led to the funeral and the subsequent identification of her remains.
- DNA Evidence: The discovery of the Romanov family’s remains in 1991 and subsequent DNA testing conclusively proved that Anastasia, along with the rest of her immediate family, died on July 17, 1918. This evidence conclusively identified the remains and put an end to speculation about her survival.
- Historical Context: The funeral was held in the context of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of the Bolshevik regime. The ceremony reflected the tumultuous circumstances surrounding her death and the devastating impact of the revolution on the Romanov family.
- Legacy and Enduring Fascination: The funeral of the Red Princess remains a significant event in history, with ongoing fascination about her life and death. The various impostors who claimed to be Anastasia, including Anna Anderson, Sonia, and Elisabeth Kuznetsova, have contributed to the enduring mystery surrounding her fate.
These factors collectively led to the funeral of Princess Anastasia Romanova, which remains a poignant reminder of the Romanov family’s tragic demise and the enduring legacy of the Red Princess.
