Friday, March 11, 2011

Funeral for young Grand Duke

March 11, 1895

The body of the young Grand Duke Alexis Mikhailovich arrived at the Nicholas Station in St. Petersburg this morning, shortly after 10 a.m., according to the New York Times.  A funeral procession began at the station and made its way to the Fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul.  The young grand duke's father and brothers, and several other Grand Dukes and Emperor Nicholas II and Russian Orthodox clergy all took part in the procession to the cathedral, where the body will remain "until burial tomorrow."

Earlier this morning,  Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievitch and his remaining sons and Prince Max of Baden, traveled by train from Gatchina and arrived shortly before the train that carried the remains of Grand Duke Alexis. 
 
The Emperor and Empress, all the Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses, and members of the Imperial Household gathered on the railway's platform to await the arrival of the train.  Eight officers and four generals acted as pallbearers.  The car was "drawn by eight horses, with postilions, and alongside walked naval officers, bearing open cushions the orders" of the young Grand Duke.    Nicholas II and his great uncle, Grand Duke Michael, walked  "immediately behind the funeral car." The rest of the Grand Dukes followed in the procession.  The distaff members of the Imperial Family, including the Empress,  Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, Grand Duchess Elisabeth Feodorovna,  Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, and Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna."

Grand Duke Alexis, the seventh son of Grand Duke Michael, brother of Alexander II died at San Remo on March 2.  He was 19 years old.   His body was embalmed and was taken on March 7 to the San Remo railway station "for conveyance to Russia.   The report in The Times' Court Circular further states that "all the shops on the route followed by the funeral procession were closed, and the street lamps were draped in crape.  The streets were lined by dense crowds of people."   King Umberto was represented by the Marquis Borea and Admiral Frigerio.

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