Zinaida Yusupova

Princess Zinaida Yusupova VII
The Princess of Yusupov
The 7th Princess of Yusupov
Period 19 July 1891 – 24 November 1939
Predecessor Prince Nikolai Yusupov VI
successor Prince Felix Yusupov VIII
Spouse(s) Count Felix Felixovich Sumarkov-Elsto

Issue

Prince Nicholas Felixovich Yusupov
Prince Felix Felixovich Yusupov VIII

Full name

Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova
Father Prince Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov VI
Mother Countess Tatiana Alexandrovna de Ribeaupierre
Born 2 September 1861
St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Died 24 November 1939 (aged 78)
Paris, France
Religion Russian Orthodox Church

Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova, (Russian: Зинаида Николаевна Юсупова; 2 September 1861 in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire – 24 November 1939 in Paris, France), (variously transliterated from Russian as Yussupov, Yossopov, Iusupov, Youssoupov, Youssoupoff), was a Russian noblewoman best known as the mother of Prince Felix Yusupov, the murderer of Rasputin.

Early life

Princess Zinaida Nikolaievna Yusupova was the only surviving child of Prince Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov (October 12, 1827 – July 31, 1891), Marshal of the Imperial Court, and Countess Tatiana Alexandrovna de Ribeaupierre (June 29, 1828 – January 14, 1879). Prince Yusupov was a patron of the arts, and first served in the chancery of Nicholas I. Zinaida's mother, a lady-in-waiting to the Empress, was the daughter of Comte Alexandre de Ribeaupierre and his wife Ekaterina Mikhailovna Potemkina, another niece of Prince Potemkin. As the only child of this distinguished, highly placed, and vastly rich couple, Zinaida enjoyed great favor at court. She was the greatest Russian heiress of her day, and the last of her line at the House of Yusupov.

Marriage

The Yusupov family in 1912: Prince Felix, Prince Nicholas, Count Felix Felixovich Sumarkov-Elston and Princess Zinaida.

Zinaida Nikolaevna married Count Felix Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston (October 5, 1856, Saint Petersburg, Russia - June 10, 1928, Rome, Italy), General Governor of Moscow (1914–1915), son of Count Felix Nikolaievich Sumarokov-Elston. They married on April 4, 1882 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. After his father-in-law died, in 1891, Felix was granted special permission by Tsar Alexander III to carry the title Prince Yusupov as well as that of Count Sumarokov-Elston and to pass them both to his and Zinaida's heir. Prince Felix was appointed adjutant to the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich in 1904 and commanded the Cavalry of the Imperial Guards. In 1914 he was appointed Governor General of Moscow. At the beginning of World War I the Yusupovs owned more than 100,000 acres (400 km²) of land and their industries included sugarbeet factories, brick plants, saw-mills, textile and cardboard factories, mines and distilleries, in addition to more than 16 palaces and estates.

The couple had her own mansion in Liteyny Avenue, where the Institute of Economic Relations, Economics and Law is currently located. She owned the palace at Nevsky Prospect 86 as well.[1]

As a leading figure in pre-Revolutionary Russian society, Zinaida was famed for her beauty and the lavishness of her hospitality. In private, she became a severe critic of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. Her son, Felix, was best known for participating in the murder of Grigori Rasputin. Her eldest son Nicholas was killed in a duel, an event which cast a shadow over the rest of her life. Following the Russian Revolution, she and her husband moved to Rome. After his death she moved to Paris, where she died in 1939.

Jewel collection

As the head of one of the most important noble family in Russia, she also inherited a vast fortune, which meant owning the largest collection of historical jewels in Russia, second only to that of the vaults of the Russian Imperial Family. She was in the possession of 21 Tiaras, 255 Brooches, 42 Bracelets, 210 kilos of assorted Objet d'art and hundreds of thousands of loose gems.[2] Some of the famous gems were: The mid-16th century La Pelegrina pearl, The "The Polar Star Diamond" (41.28 carat diamond), The "La Regente Pearl" (fifth largest pearl in the world), The 17th century "Ram’s Head Diamond" (a 17.47-carat diamond), The 17th century "Sultan of Morocco Diamond" (35.67 carats, fourth largest Blue diamond in the world),[3] The 17th century "Diamond Earrings of Marie Antoinette" (two 34.59 carat diamonds),[4] The "Blue Venus Statuette Sapphire" (4-inch-tall sapphire statuette of the goddess Venus atop a large Spinel)[5] and also The 15th century "Ruby Buddha" (70+ carat Ruby statue).[6]

Following her narrow escape during the Russian Revolution, she was forced to leave back all her financial assets in Russia; her entire jewel collection was hidden in a secret vault in Moika Palace in hope that she would retain the use in their return to Russia, however all were found and sold by the Bolsheviks in 1925. During her exile she took only the major jewels and of historical importance and had them sold to fund her family's life.[7]

Honours

Ancestry

References

  1. ↑ Соболева, Инна Аркадьевна (2013). Невский проспект: Дорога, ведущая к храму (in Russian). Издательский дом "Питер". p. 236-237. ISBN 9785496006521.
  2. ↑ , About The Jewels of Princess Yusupouv
  3. ↑ http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/sultanofmoroccodiamond.html
  4. ↑ http://geogallery.si.edu/index.php/en/1002082/marie-antoinette-diamond-earrings
  5. ↑ http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/an-antique-sapphire-spinel-and-diamond-blue-5250434-details.aspx
  6. ↑ http://www.jewelsdujour.com/2013/05/a-15th-century-ruby-buddha-and-the-yusupov-jewels/
  7. ↑ http://www.jewelsdujour.com/2013/05/a-15th-century-ruby-buddha-and-the-yusupov-jewels/
  8. 1 2 Gogmsite, The Princess Yusupouv in mourning and upon accession as head of the house of Yussupov
  9. ↑ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/372602569144735603/
  10. ↑ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/372602569144735603/

Further reading

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