Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Grand Duke Vladimir resigns his post in defiance of Emperor Nicholas II


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October 19, 1905

An "open quarrel" has ensued between Nicholas II and his uncle Grand Duke Vladimir, following Nicholas' "summary  action in stripping" Vladimir's eldest son, Grand Duke Kirill "of his all his decorations, dismissing him from the army, confiscating his fortune, and exiling him from Russia," reports the Chicago Daily Tribune.

Grand Duke Kirill has incurred the Czar's anger by marrying Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg, the divorced wife of the Grand Duke of Hesse and By Rhine, in defiance of Nicholas' wishes and the Russian Orthodox church.  

In return, Vladimir, who supports his son, has resigned his post as chief of the St. Petersburg military district and as "commander in chief of the imperial guard corps."   Nicholas has "dismissed from public service all of Vladimir's friends."

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