Felix Yusupov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prince Felix Felixovich Yusupov
Born	23 March [O.S. 11 March] 1887 Moika Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Died	27 September 1967(1967-09-27) (aged 80) Paris, France
Burial	Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery
Spouse	Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia
Issue	Princess Irina Felixovna Yusupova
Full name Felix Felixovich Yusupov
House	Yusupov
Father	Count Felix Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston
Mother	Princess Zinaida Nikolayevna Yusupova

Prince Felix Felixovich Yusupov (born March 23, 1887 – died September 27, 1967) was a Russian nobleman. He came from the very wealthy Yusupov family. He is most known for his part in the death of Grigori Rasputin. Felix also married Princess Irina Alexandrovna, who was a niece of Tsar Nicholas II.

Early Life

Felix Yusupov was born in the Moika Palace in Saint Petersburg. At that time, Saint Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire. His father was Count Felix Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston. His mother, Zinaida Yusupova, was the last member of the rich Yusupov family. To keep the Yusupov name alive, his father was allowed to use his wife's family name and title.

The Yusupov family was one of the richest in Imperial Russia. They owned many palaces, including four in Saint Petersburg and three in Moscow. They also had 37 large estates across Russia. Their wealth came from mines, factories, and oil fields.

Felix lived a very grand life. From 1909 to 1913, he studied at University College, Oxford in England. He had a Russian cook, a French driver, and an English valet. He also owned three horses, a macaw, and a bulldog named Punch. He enjoyed dancing tango and often hosted parties.

Marriage

In the fall of 1913, Felix became engaged to Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia. She was the only niece of the Tsar. They married on February 22, 1914, at the Anichkov Palace in Saint Petersburg. After their wedding, the Yusupovs went on a honeymoon to many places, including Crimea, Italy, Egypt, and London. This was one of the last big royal weddings in the Russian Empire.

World War I

When World War I started in August 1914, Felix and Irina were briefly held in Berlin, Germany. Irina's relative, Crown Princess Cecilie, helped them. Eventually, they were allowed to return to Russia through neutral Denmark.

Their only daughter, Princess Irina Felixovna Yusupova, was born on March 21, 1915. Her nickname was Bébé. Her grandparents mostly raised her until she was nine years old. Felix and Irina were not used to raising a child themselves. Bébé loved her father very much.

After his brother died, Felix inherited a huge fortune. He decided to use some of his money to help others. He turned part of his Liteyny House into a hospital for wounded soldiers.

Life in Russia

Felix did not have to join the military during World War I. This was because he was the only son in his family. In 1915, he started to study at a military academy.

The Death of Rasputin

In late 1916, Felix Yusupov became involved in a plan to remove Grigori Rasputin. Rasputin was a mystic who had a lot of influence over the Tsar's family. Felix wanted to gain Rasputin's trust.

On the night of December 29/30, 1916, Felix, along with Grand Duke Dmitri, Vladimir Purishkevich, and others, killed Rasputin. This happened at the Yusupov's Palace in Saint Petersburg. They pretended to have a party to get Rasputin to come.

After Rasputin's death, the Empress ordered a police investigation. Felix and Dmitri were placed under house arrest. The Empress wanted them punished severely. However, the Tsar decided to send Dmitri to the front lines and banished Felix to his family estate in Rakitnoye, Belgorod Oblast.

Felix Yusupov later wrote several books about that night and the events surrounding Rasputin's death.

Exile

One week after the February Revolution in 1917, Tsar Nicholas gave up his throne. The Yusupovs returned to their Moika Palace to get some valuable items. These included jewels and two paintings by Rembrandt. Selling these paintings helped them live while in exile.

From Russia, the family boarded a British warship, HMS Marlborough. This ship took them from Yalta to Malta. From Malta, they traveled to Italy and then to Paris. In Paris, they lived in several different places over the years.

The Yusupovs started a fashion house called IRFĒ. The name came from the first two letters of their names, Irina and Felix. Irina herself modeled some of the clothes. However, Felix was not very good at managing money. The Wall Street crash of 1929 also hurt their business. Eventually, the company had to close.

Lawsuits

In 1965, Felix Yusupov sued the television company CBS in a New York court. This was because CBS showed a play about Rasputin's death. Felix claimed that some parts of the story were made up. CBS eventually won the case.

Earlier, in 1928, after Felix published his book about Rasputin's killing, Rasputin's daughter, Maria, sued Felix and Dmitri in a Paris court. She asked for a lot of money and called them murderers. However, the French court decided it did not have power over a political killing that happened in Russia. So, Maria's claim was dismissed.

Death

Felix and Irina were married for more than 50 years. Felix died in 1967. Irina was very sad and passed away three years later, in 1970. Felix was buried in the Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery near Paris.

Some of Felix Yusupov's personal papers and family items are now owned by Victor Contreras. He is a Mexican sculptor who lived with the Yusupov family in Paris when he was a young art student.

Descendants

Felix and Irina had one daughter:

• Princess Irina Felixovna Yusupova (born March 21, 1915 – died August 30, 1983). She married Count Nikolai Dmitrievich Sheremetev. They had one daughter:
  • Countess Xenia Nikolaevna Sheremeteva (born March 1, 1942). She married Ilias Sfiris. They had one daughter:
    • Tatiana Sfiris (born August 28, 1968). She has two daughters:
      • Marilia Vamvakidis (born July 7, 2004)
      • Yasmine Xenia Vamvakidis (born May 17, 2006)

Works

Felix Yusupov wrote several books about his life and the events he was part of:

• La Fin de Raspoutine (The End of Rasputin), published in French in 1927.
  • This book was translated into English as Rasputin: his Malignant Influence and his Assassination.
• Avant l'Exil: 1887-1919 (Before Exile: 1887-1919), published in French in 1952.
  • This book was translated into English as Lost Splendor.
• En Exil (In Exile), published in French in 1954.

Images for kids

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  The family estate near Moscow; Arkhangelskoye Palace

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  The hunting lodge at Sokolyne

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  The Yusupov family in 1901: Prince Felix, Prince Nicholas, Count Felix Felixovich Sumarkov-Elston and Princess Zinaida.

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  Portrait of Felix Yusupov (1903) by Valentin Serov

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  Yusupov's Palace in Saint Petersburg by Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe, bought in 1830 by Boris Yusupov

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  When the Yusupov palace was renovated at the end of 1916, Felix lived in the palace of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna on Moika 106.

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  Felix and Irina in 1915

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  Felix and Irina in exile

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  Château de Keriolet belonged to the Yusupov family. In 1956, Felix won a lawsuit and regained possession of the castle on Finistère. It was sold to the city of Concarneau in 1971.

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  The Yusupov's Mosque

See also

In Spanish: Félix Yusúpov para niños