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{{short description|German noble}}
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[[File:Countess Sophie of Merenberg, Countess de Torby (LOC ggbain.00604).jpg|thumb|right]]
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
'''Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg, Countess of Torby''', (1 June 1868 – 14 September 1927) was the eldest daughter of [[Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau]] and [[Alexander Pushkin#Descendants|Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina]].
{{Infobox Nobility
|name=Sophie of Merenberg
|title=Countess de Torby
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|image=File:Countess Sophie of Merenberg, Countess de Torby (LOC ggbain.00604).jpg
|CoA=|tenure=|predecessor=|successor=|birth_date=1 June 1868
|birth_place=[[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]
|death_date={{death date and age|1927|9|13|1868|6|1|df=yes}}
|death_place=[[London]], [[England]]
|burial_place=[[Hampstead Cemetery]]
|noble family=[[Count of Merenberg|Merenberg]]
|spouse=[[Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia]]
|father=[[Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau]]
|mother=[[Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina]]
|issue=[[Anastasia de Torby]]<br>[[Nadejda Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven|Nadejda de Torby]]<br>[[Michael de Torby]]
}}
'''Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg, Countess de Torby''' (1 June 1868 – 14 September 1927), was the elder daughter of [[Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau]] and his [[morganatic marriage|morganatic]] Russian wife, [[Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina]] (who had been granted the title of [[Count of Merenberg|Countess of Merenberg]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 June 2020 |title=Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg {{!}} FOSTER History & Collective Memory |url=https://www.fosterhistory.com/l/countesssophienikolaievnaofmerenberg/ |access-date=15 December 2023 |website=www.fosterhistory.com}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Sophie was born at [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]], the first child of [[Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau]] and Natalya Alexandrovna Pushkina.<ref name="cp">C. Arnold McNaughton, The Book of Kings: A Royal Genealogy, in 3 volumes (London, U.K.: Garnstone Press, 1973), volume 1, page 153. Hereinafter cited as The Book of Kings.</ref> As the marriage of her parents was considered [[Morganatic marriage|morganatic]] she was ineligible to bear her father's title or rank.
She was born at [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]], the first child of Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of [[House of Nassau-Weilburg|Nassau-Weilburg]] and [[Russian nobility|Russian noblewoman]] [[Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina]].<ref name="cp">C. Arnold McNaughton, ''The Book of Kings: A Royal Genealogy'', in 3 vols. (London, U.K.: Garnstone Press, 1973), vol. 1, p. 153. Hereinafter cited as The Book of Kings.</ref> As the marriage of her parents was considered [[morganatic]], she was ineligible to bear her father's title or rank. Her paternal grandparents were [[William, Duke of Nassau]] and [[Princess Pauline of Württemberg (1810–1856)|Princess Pauline of Württemberg]]. Her maternal grandparents were [[Alexander Pushkin]], the renowned Russian poet, and his wife, [[Natalia Pushkina|Natalia Goncharova]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-06-08 |title=Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg {{!}} FOSTER History & Collective Memory |url=https://www.fosterhistory.com/l/countesssophienikolaievnaofmerenberg/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=www.fosterhistory.com |language=en}}</ref>
Her paternal grandparents were [[William, Duke of Nassau]] and [[Princess Pauline of Württemberg]]. Her maternal grandparents were the renowned Russian poet, [[Alexander Pushkin]], and [[Natalya Pushkina]].


Her brother, Count Georg Nikolaus von Merenberg ([[Wiesbaden]], 13 February 1871 – [[Wiesbaden]], 31 May 1948); married firstly on 12 May 1895 in [[Nice]], [[Princess Olga Alexandrovna Yurievskaya]] ([[St. Petersburg]], 8 November 1873 – [[Wiesbaden]], 10 August 1925), daughter of [[Alexander II of Russia]] and his morganatic second wife, [[Catherine Dolgorukov|Princess Ekaterina Mikhailovna Dolgorukova]]. Sophie would go on to marry the Tsar's cousin, [[Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia]].<ref name=":0" />
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==Marriage and family==
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[[File:Miche- Miche and his children.JPG|thumb|{{center|Grand Duke Michael Mikailovich of Russia (right) with his children (from left to right), Nadejda, Michael and Anastasia de Torby}}]]


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==Marriage and children==
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She married morganatically, on 26 February 1891, [[Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia]], grandson of [[Nicholas I of Russia]] at [[Sanremo]], [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italy]] in secret. The Grand Duke and Sophie had met in [[Nice]] and fell instantly in love. When his mother heard of the secret marriage to a bride of unequal Royal status, she collapsed and fell ill, but subsequently died of a heart attack in [[Kharkov]]. He was blamed for her death and was forbidden to attend the funeral. Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich was denied his military rank and was sent into exile. <ref name="cp" /> Sophia was later created '''Countess de Torby''' in 1891 by her uncle, [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]; the title was extended to all three of her children.
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[[File:Miche- Miche and his children.JPG|thumb|267px|{{center|Grand Duke Michael Mikailovich of Russia (right) with his children (from left to right) Nadejda, Michael and Anastasia de Torby}}]]

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She married morganatically (for him), on 26 February 1891, [[Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia]], grandson of [[Nicholas I of Russia]], in secret at [[Sanremo]], [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italy]]. Michael and Sophie were related, as her father Prince Nikolaus was Grand Duke's third cousin. They had met in [[Nice]] and instantly fell in love. When his mother heard of the secret marriage to a bride of unequal status, she collapsed and fell ill, then subsequently died of a heart attack in [[Kharkov]]. He was blamed for her death and was forbidden to attend the funeral. Grand Duke Michael was denied his military rank and was sent into exile.<ref name="cp" />

Sophia was created '''Countess de Torby''' in 1891 by her uncle, [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]. The title was extended to all three of her children.


They had two daughters and one son:
They had two daughters and one son:
*[[Anastasia de Torby|Countess Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby]] known as "Zia" (9 September 1892 – 7 December 1977); married, in 1917, [[Harold Augustus Wernher|Sir Harold Wernher, 3rd Baronet]].
*[[Anastasia de Torby|Countess Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby]], known as "Zia" (9 September 1892 – 7 December 1977); married, in 1917, Major [[Harold Wernher]] (later Major-General [[Sir]] Harold [[Wernher baronets|Wernher]], 3rd [[Baronet]]).
*[[Nadejda Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven|Countess Nadejda Mikhailovna de Torby]] known as "Nada" (28 March 1896 – January 1963); married, in 1916, [[George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven|Prince George of Battenberg]] (later 2nd [[Marquess of Milford Haven]]).
*[[Nadejda Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven|Countess Nadejda Mikhailovna de Torby]], known as "Nada" (28 March 1896 – January 1963); married, in 1916, [[George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven|Prince George of Battenberg]] (later the 2nd [[Marquess of Milford Haven]]).
*[[Count Michael Mikhailovich of Torby]] (8 October 1898 – 8 May 1959).
*[[Michael de Torby|Count Michael Mikhailovich de Torby]] (8 October 1898 – 8 May 1959); an artist, who was not married.


==Later life and Death==
==Later life and death==
{{Unsourced|section|date=December 2022}}
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She and her husband lived at [[Kenwood House]] in [[Hampstead]], London, prior to World War I. However, the [[Russian Revolution]] reduced the Grand Duke's finances. Despite their reduced circumstances, they were friends of King [[George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]], and they continued to attend society events.


Sophie died in London on 13 September 1927, aged 59, and was buried at [[Hampstead Cemetery]]. Grand Duke Michael contracted influenza and died in London on 26 April 1929, aged 67. He was buried alongside his wife.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Duke George Romanov & Countess Sophie de Torby at Cannes Tennis Club 1900 |url=https://www.bibelotslondon.com/grand-duke-george-romanov--countess-sophie-de-torby-at-cannes-tennis-club-1900-5461-p.asp |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Bibelots London |language=en-GB}}</ref>
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Sophie and her husband lived at [[Kenwood House]], [[Hampstead]], London prior to World War I, however the Russian Revolution reduced the Grand Duke's finances. Despite their reduced circumstances, they were friends of King [[George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]] and continued to attend society events.

Sophia died in London on 13 September 1927 and was buried at [[Hampstead Cemetery]]. Grand Duke Michael contracted influenza and died in London on 26 April 1929, aged sixty-seven. He was buried alongside his wife.


==Ancestry==
==Ancestry==
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|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;
|1= 1. '''Countess Sophie of Merenberg'''
|1= 1. '''Countess Sophie of Merenberg'''
|2= 2. [[Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau]]
|2= 2. [[Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau]]
|3= 3. [[Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina|Natalya Alexandrovna Pushkina]]
|3= 3. [[Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina]]
|4= 4. [[William, Duke of Nassau]]
|4= 4. [[William, Duke of Nassau]]
|5= 5. [[Princess Pauline of Württemberg]]
|5= 5. [[Princess Pauline of Württemberg (1810–1856)|Princess Pauline of Württemberg]]
|6= 6. [[Alexander Pushkin]]
|6= 6. [[Alexander Pushkin|Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin]]
|7= 7. [[Natalya Pushkina|Natalya Nikolaevna Goncharova]]
|7= 7. [[Natalia Pushkina|Natalia Nikolayevna Goncharova]]
|8= 8. [[Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg]]
|8= 8. [[Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg]]
|9= 9. [[Burgravine Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg]]
|9= 9. [[Burgravine Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg]]
|10= 10. [[Prince Paul of Württemberg]]
|10= 10. [[Prince Paul of Württemberg]]
|11= 11. [[Princess Katharina Charlotte of Saxe-Hildburghausen]]
|11= 11. [[Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Hildburghausen]]
|12= 12. Sergei Lvovich Pushkin
|12= 12. Sergei Lvovich Pushkin
|13= 13. Nadezhda Ossipovna Hannibal
|13= 13. Nadezhda Ossipovna Hannibal
|14= 14. Nikolay Afanasievich Goncharov
|14= 14. Nikolay Afanasievich Goncharov
|15= 15. Natalia Ivanovna Zagriajskaya
|15= 15. Natalia Ivanovna Zagriajskaya
|16= 16. [[Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg]]
|17= 17. [[Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau]]
|18= 18. Burgrave William George of Kirchberg, Count of Hachenburg
|19= 19. Princess Isabelle of Reuss-Greiz
|20= 20. [[Frederick of Württemberg]]
|21= 21. [[Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]]
|22= 22. [[Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg]]
|23= 23. [[Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]]
|24= 24. Lev Aleksandrovich Pushkin
|25= 25. Olga Vasilievna Chicherina
|26= 26. Osip Abramowitsch Hanibal
|27= 27. Maria Alekseevna Pushkina
|28= 28. Afanasy Nikolaevich Goncharov
|29= 29. Nadejda Platonovna Musina-Pushkina
|30= 30. Ivan Aleksandrovich Zagriajski
|31= 31. Euphrosyne Ulrica von Liphardt
}}
}}


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==References==
==References==
<references />
<references />
[http://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00010334&tree=LEO Genealogics - Leo van de Pas Gräfin Sophie von Merenberg, Countess Torby]

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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:People from Geneva]]
[[Category:People from Geneva]]
[[Category:Morganatic spouses of Russian royalty]]
[[Category:Morganatic spouses of Russian royalty]]


{{Europe-royal-stub}}

Latest revision as of 08:48, 15 November 2024

Sophie of Merenberg
Countess de Torby
Born1 June 1868
Geneva, Switzerland
Died13 September 1927(1927-09-13) (aged 59)
London, England
BuriedHampstead Cemetery
Noble familyMerenberg
Spouse(s)Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia
IssueAnastasia de Torby
Nadejda de Torby
Michael de Torby
FatherPrince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau
MotherNatalia Alexandrovna Pushkina

Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg, Countess de Torby (1 June 1868 – 14 September 1927), was the elder daughter of Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau and his morganatic Russian wife, Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina (who had been granted the title of Countess of Merenberg).[1]

Early life

[edit]

She was born at Geneva, Switzerland, the first child of Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau-Weilburg and Russian noblewoman Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina.[2] As the marriage of her parents was considered morganatic, she was ineligible to bear her father's title or rank. Her paternal grandparents were William, Duke of Nassau and Princess Pauline of Württemberg. Her maternal grandparents were Alexander Pushkin, the renowned Russian poet, and his wife, Natalia Goncharova.[3]

Her brother, Count Georg Nikolaus von Merenberg (Wiesbaden, 13 February 1871 – Wiesbaden, 31 May 1948); married firstly on 12 May 1895 in Nice, Princess Olga Alexandrovna Yurievskaya (St. Petersburg, 8 November 1873 – Wiesbaden, 10 August 1925), daughter of Alexander II of Russia and his morganatic second wife, Princess Ekaterina Mikhailovna Dolgorukova. Sophie would go on to marry the Tsar's cousin, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia.[3]

Marriage and children

[edit]
Grand Duke Michael Mikailovich of Russia (right) with his children (from left to right) Nadejda, Michael and Anastasia de Torby

She married morganatically (for him), on 26 February 1891, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia, grandson of Nicholas I of Russia, in secret at Sanremo, Italy. Michael and Sophie were related, as her father Prince Nikolaus was Grand Duke's third cousin. They had met in Nice and instantly fell in love. When his mother heard of the secret marriage to a bride of unequal status, she collapsed and fell ill, then subsequently died of a heart attack in Kharkov. He was blamed for her death and was forbidden to attend the funeral. Grand Duke Michael was denied his military rank and was sent into exile.[2]

Sophia was created Countess de Torby in 1891 by her uncle, Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The title was extended to all three of her children.

They had two daughters and one son:

Later life and death

[edit]

She and her husband lived at Kenwood House in Hampstead, London, prior to World War I. However, the Russian Revolution reduced the Grand Duke's finances. Despite their reduced circumstances, they were friends of King George V and Queen Mary, and they continued to attend society events.

Sophie died in London on 13 September 1927, aged 59, and was buried at Hampstead Cemetery. Grand Duke Michael contracted influenza and died in London on 26 April 1929, aged 67. He was buried alongside his wife.[4]

Ancestry

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg | FOSTER History & Collective Memory". www.fosterhistory.com. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b C. Arnold McNaughton, The Book of Kings: A Royal Genealogy, in 3 vols. (London, U.K.: Garnstone Press, 1973), vol. 1, p. 153. Hereinafter cited as The Book of Kings.
  3. ^ a b "Countess Sophie Nikolaievna of Merenberg | FOSTER History & Collective Memory". www.fosterhistory.com. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Grand Duke George Romanov & Countess Sophie de Torby at Cannes Tennis Club 1900". Bibelots London. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
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