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Mariya Volkonskaya

Princess Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya (née Raevskaya; Russian: Мария Николаевна Волконская (Раевская); December 25, 1805 – August 10, 1863) was the youngest daughter of the Russian general Nikolay Raevsky and Sophia Konstantinova, granddaughter of Mikhail Lomonosov. In 1825 Maria married the future Decembrist Major General Prince Sergey Grigorievich Volkonsky. When Volkonsky was arrested and exiled to Siberia, she followed him into exile on the condition that her children born after her departure to Siberia would be forever struck from the noble estate and become bonded laborers (Russian: заводские крестьяне); the threat, however, was not put into practice.

Biography

Early Life

Mariya Volkonskaya was a Ukrainian aristocrat and the youngest of five children to General Nikolai Raevsky and Sofia Raevskaya. She was born on her families Ukrainian estate on December 25 1804. She grew up speaking mainly French, English, and German. Like many Russian aristocrats, Mariya was educated at home, she enjoyed reading books, playing the piano, and singing.