19-20th Cent. Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

 

Maria Alexandrovna was born on 17 October 1853, at Tsarskoye Selo, in the Russian Empire. She was the daughter of Maria Alexandrovna (8 August 1824 - 8 June 1880) and Tsar Alexander II of Russia (29 April 1818 - 1 March 1881). Her maternal grandparents were Grand Duchess Wihelmine of Hesse (21 September 1788 - 27 January 1836) and Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse (1777-1848). Her paternal grandparents were Charlotte of Prussia and Nicholas I. Maria's parents were married on 16 April 1841, in St Petersburg. Her siblings were: Grand Duchess Alexandra Alexandrovna (30 August 1842 - 10 July 1849), Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich (20 September 1843 - 24 April 1865), Tsar Alexander III (10 March 1845 - 1 November 1894), Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (22 April 1847 - 17 February 1909), Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich (14 January 1850 - 14 November 1908), Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich (29 April 1857 - 4 February 1905) and Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich (3 October 1860 - 24 January 1919). Maria Alexandrovna married Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (6 August 1844 - 31 July 1900) on 23 January 1874, at the Winter Palace, in St. Petersburg. He was the son of Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (24 May 1819 - 22 January 1901) and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (26 August 1819 - 14 December 1861). The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh made their public entry on 12 March 1874, into London. The couple had six children. Their first child, a son was born in 1874. Named Alfred after his father, he was called "Young Alfie".

The Children of Maria Alexandrovna and Alfred:

Prince Alfred (15 October 1874 - 6 February 1899)
Princess Marie (29 October 1875 - 18 July 1938) Married King Ferdinand I of Romania in 1893.
Princess Victoria Melita (25 November 1876 - 2 March 1936) Married Ist: Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine in 1894. Divorced in 1901. Married 2nd: Grand Duke Kyrill Vladimirovitch of Russia in 1905.
Princess Alexandra (1 September 1878 - 16 April 1942) Married Prince Ernst of Hohenloe-Langenburg in 1896.
Stillborn daughter (13 October 1879)
Princess Beatrice (20 April 1884 - 13 July 1966) Married Don Alfonso, Infante of Spain, 3rd Duke of Galliera in 1909.

Her mother, Maria died on 8 June 1880, in St. Petersburg. She was buried in Peter and Paul Cathedral. Her father, Alexander died on 1 March 1881, in St. Petersburg. He was buried in Peter and Paul Cathedral. Her daughter, Marie married Ferdinand I, King of Romania (1865-1927) on 10 January 1893. Her daughter, Princess Victoria Melita "Ducky" married her paternal first cousin Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (1868-1937) on 19 April 1894. Her daughter, Alexandra married Prince Ernst of Hohenloe-Langenburg (1863-1950) on 20 April 1896. In January 1899, their only son, Prince Alfred became involved in a scandal involving his mistress and shot himself. He survived, but was sent to Meran to recover. Alfred died on 6 February 1899, in Meran. Her husband, Alfred died of throat cancer on 30 July 1900, at Schloss Rosenau, in Coburg. He was buried at the Ducal family's cemetery outside Coburg. He was succeeded as the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha by his nephew, Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany. Victoria and Ernst Ludwig were divorced on 21 December 1901. Victoria married her second husband, Grand Duke Kyrill Vladimirovitch of Russia (1876-1938) on 8 October 1905. Her daughter, Beatrice married Don Alfonso, Infante of Spain, 3rd Duke of Galliera (1886-1975) on 15 July 1909. Maria died aged 67, on 24 October 1920, in Zürich, Switzerland.