Princess Maria of Greece and Denmark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Princess Maria
Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna of Russia
Photograph, c. 1900
Born	(1876-03-03)3 March 1876 Athens, Greece
Died	14 December 1940(1940-12-14) (aged 64) Athens, Greece
Burial	Royal Cemetery, Tatoi Palace, Greece
Spouse	Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia ​ ​ (m. 1900; died 1919)​ Periklís Ioannídis ​ (m. 1922)​
Issue	Princess Nina Georgievna Princess Xenia Georgievna
House	Glücksburg
Father	George I of Greece
Mother	Olga Constantinovna of Russia

Princess Maria of Greece and Denmark (Greek: Μαρία) (Russian: Мария Георгиевна) was born on March 3, 1876. She was a daughter of King George I of Greece and Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia. Maria was also the sister of King Constantine I of Greece. She was a cousin to important figures like Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and King George V of the United Kingdom.

Princess Maria grew up in Athens, Greece, and received her education from private teachers. Her father taught her to love Greece deeply, and she remained a proud Greek throughout her life. In 1900, she married Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, who was a distant cousin. They had two daughters, Princesses Nina and Xenia.

Their marriage was not always happy, and Maria found it hard to adjust to life in Russia. She often traveled abroad. When World War I began in 1914, she was in England with her daughters and decided not to return to Russia. During the war, she helped by supporting military hospitals. After the Russian Revolution, her husband was tragically killed in 1919.

Later, Maria faced money problems. She returned to Greece in 1920 and married Admiral Perikles Ioannidis in 1922. When Greece became a republic in 1924, she had to leave the country again. She lived in Britain and then in Rome, Italy, for many years. In 1940, due to the Greco-Italian War, she returned to Greece. She passed away in Athens on December 14, 1940, just as the Greek royal family was preparing to leave for exile. She left behind a book of memories, which was published after her death.

Princess Maria's Early Life

Princess Maria of Greece and Denmark was born at the Old Royal Palace in Athens on March 3, 1876. She was the fifth child and second daughter of King George I of Greece and Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia. Her father was originally a Danish prince, which meant the Greek royal family had ties to Denmark.

Growing Up in Greece

Maria was nicknamed "Greek Minnie" to tell her apart from her aunt, Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, who was known as "Minnie." She grew up in a large family with eight children. One sister, Olga, died young. Maria had five brothers: Constantine, George, Nicholas, Andrew, and Christopher. She also had one surviving sister, Alexandra.

King George and Queen Olga were loving parents. They created a happy home for their children. The Greek royal family was not as rich as some other royal families. They lived a simple life. They moved between their different homes throughout the year. They started the year at the Royal Palace in Athens. In spring, they went to Mon Repos, their villa on the island of Corfu. During April, they explored different parts of Greece. In summer, they stayed in Tatoi, in the mountains north of Athens, before returning to the Royal Palace for winter.

Her Family and Home

King George was a strict father, but he believed children should be happy and playful. Maria and her siblings were often mischievous. They played pranks and even rode bikes through the long hallways of the Royal Palace. Sometimes, the King himself joined in the fun.

Learning and Travel

Her Education

Maria and her siblings were raised by British nannies. They were taught by governesses and private tutors. English was their first language. They spoke Greek with each other and English with their parents. Maria's education was typical for princesses of her time. She focused on languages, learning German, English, and French, in addition to Greek. She also studied mathematics, history, literature, and geography.

Besides academics, she learned royal manners and Orthodox religion. She also took lessons in drawing, painting, music, dancing, and playing the piano. Horse riding, gymnastics, and singing were also part of her learning.

Visiting Relatives Abroad

Maria's older brothers were busy with their studies. So, she grew up closer to her sister Alexandra and brother Nicholas. Maria was shorter and had dark hair. She was known for being lively. Family gatherings often took her abroad. She visited Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1882. In 1886, her mother took her to Russia for the first time. They stayed with the Romanovs at Pavlovsk, her maternal grandmother's home.

Every two years, Princess Maria spent holidays in Denmark. She visited her paternal grandparents there. At Fredensborg Palace, Maria and her siblings met their Russian and British cousins. These were large family gatherings. She became lifelong friends with two cousins: Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia and Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom.

A Princess for Greece

Princess Maria of Greece and Denmark in her youth.

King George I taught his children to love Greece deeply. He often told them, "Never forget that you are strangers among the Greeks, and make sure that they never remember." Because of this, Maria remained intensely Greek her whole life. As a child, she cried when she learned she belonged to a foreign royal family. She felt she had no Greek blood. As an adult, she always considered Athens her true home. In her memoirs, she described herself as "A true daughter of Greece."

Helping During Conflict

In 1897, there was a desire to unite all Greeks. This led to a revolt in Crete against Turkish rule. King George sent his son, Prince George, to the island. To support the Cretan cause, Greek troops crossed the border. This led to a war with the Ottoman Empire. During this conflict, Queen Olga organized a military hospital. Princess Maria helped as a nurse. The Greco-Turkish War of 1897 was difficult for Greece. They had to give up Crete to international control. They also made small land concessions and paid money to the Turks.

After her sister Alexandra married in 1889, Princess Maria became her father's favorite child. She was his constant companion. She helped her father as his unofficial secretary. Her mother, Queen Olga, had poor eyesight. On February 27, 1898, Maria and her father were returning from a carriage ride. They were attacked by two gunmen. The King tried to protect his daughter. Both were unharmed, but a footman and both horses were wounded. A church was later built at the site of this dangerous incident.

Her First Marriage

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Princess Marie of Greece, 1896.

Princess Maria wanted to stay in Greece her whole life. This was different from most princesses of her time. They usually married foreign princes and moved abroad. In her late teens, she fell in love with a Greek commoner. However, her parents did not allow her to marry someone who wasn't royal.

When she was twenty, in April 1896, King Alexander I of Serbia proposed to her. This happened during the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. Princess Maria found King Alexander unattractive and turned him down.

A Royal Proposal

Princess Maria had visited Russia many times with her mother since childhood. Her mother loved her native country. They often stayed at Pavlovsk Palace with Maria's maternal grandmother. In the summer of 1894, Maria attended her cousin Grand Duchess Xenia's wedding in Russia. There, she developed feelings for the groom's brother, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia. He was her mother's first cousin. However, he was not interested in her at that time.

During a later visit to Russia in autumn 1895, they met again at a royal ball. This time, Maria found him too old and boring. She was no longer interested. But Grand Duke George fell in love with her. He asked her to marry him. She refused, which upset her mother, Queen Olga. Queen Olga wanted her daughter to marry into the Russian royal family.

In spring 1896, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich came to Athens. He proposed to Maria while they were playing billiards. She accepted, and their engagement was announced on April 4, 1896. The wedding was planned for a few months later. However, Maria changed her mind. After postponing the wedding twice, she broke off the engagement in October.

For five years, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich kept trying. He proposed to Princess Maria twice a year, but she kept refusing. Tsar Nicholas II finally stepped in. He told the Grand Duke to try one last time and then give up. George Mikhailovich arrived in Greece in spring 1900. This time, under pressure from her family, Maria finally accepted his proposal, though she was not happy about it. She made it clear that it was a marriage for practical reasons, and her feelings would not change. To prevent her from changing her mind again, Queen Olga quickly arranged the wedding. The marriage took place in Greece at the church of the old Venetian fortress in Corfu on May 12, 1900. It was a simple ceremony. The reception was held at the Greek Royal family's home in Corfu, Mon Repos. Maria was 24 years old, and her husband was 37.

Life in Russia

Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna and her husband Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia in Corfu during Easter 1900, just before their wedding.

After the wedding, the couple sailed to Italy for their honeymoon. They also traveled through Austria-Hungary. From Vienna, they went to Russia. Princess Maria of Greece became known as Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna of Russia. The Romanovs welcomed her as one of their own. Her mother, Queen Olga, was a Russian Grand Duchess by birth. Maria's father, King George of Greece, was Empress Maria Feodorovna's favorite brother. Maria was a cousin of Tsar Nicholas II, whom she had known all her life.

Grand Duchess Maria and her husband lived in apartments. These were inside the New Michael Palace in Saint Petersburg. They shared the large palace with her husband's father and two unmarried brothers. Maria became especially close to Grand Duke Sergei Mihailovich. For their summer home, the family had Milkhailovkoye near Peterhof. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich had an old leg injury. This prevented him from having the active military career he wanted. Instead, he became the director of the Alexander III museum. He also moved his large coin collection there.

On June 20, 1901, Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna gave birth to her first child, Princess Nina Georgievna. Two years later, on August 22, 1903, she had her second and last daughter, Princess Xenia Georgievna. Soon after Xenia's birth, Maria's father-in-law had a stroke. He moved to the south of France to recover.

During her years in Russia (1900–1914), Grand Duchess Maria often traveled. She visited the South of France, Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, and her native Greece every year. In the summer of 1900, Maria Georgievna visited Crimea with her husband. They decided to build their home there. It was on a high cliff above the sea, near Ai-Todor. They hired Nikolay Petrovich Krasnov, a Russian architect. He had built other palaces in the area.

Building Harax in Crimea

Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna, her husband Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, and their two daughters in 1908.

Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna loved everything English. So, their new villa was built in the English style. It used local limestone. They named the property Harax, which means "fortress" in Greek. This was in memory of an ancient fortress that once stood there. Both Maria and her husband were skilled artists. They were very involved in the design. Maria sketched the outside of the house and drew floor plans. Grand Duke George painted pictures of the designs.

Harax, the villa of Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna and her husband in Crimea, built in the English style, 1913.

Construction took place between 1905 and 1907. Harax had 46 rooms. It sat on a gray stone foundation. The two-story house overlooked the Black Sea. It had a red-tiled roof and many chimneys. Maria decorated it with English furniture, silverware, textiles, and wallpaper. All these items were imported from England. The property later grew to include a farm, a playhouse for their daughters, and housing for staff. A church was added in 1908. Both Maria and her husband enjoyed gardening in the surrounding park. Harax was close to Livadia Palace, the home of Tsar Nicholas II. The Tsar and his children often visited.

For seven years, the Grand Duke and his wife lived a quiet life in Crimea. They returned to St. Petersburg in winter for social events. Grand Duchess Maria did not speak Russian well. She spoke French with her husband and English with her daughters. Princess Nina, the older daughter, was described as "dark, calm and relaxed." Xenia, the younger, was "blond, lively and full of life." Both girls were loved very much by their parents. Grand Duchess Maria hired an English nanny to teach them.

On March 18, 1913, King George I was tragically killed in Thessalonica. This was a terrible shock for Maria Georgievna, who was very close to her father. She was heartbroken for many weeks. A few weeks later, still grieving, she had to take part in ceremonies. These marked 300 years of the Romanov dynasty.

By 1914, the relationship between the Grand Duchess and her husband had become difficult. Grand Duke George was a loving father and husband. However, the Grand Duchess never truly loved him. She also never liked Russia. Eventually, she and her husband grew apart.

War and New Beginnings

Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna with her two daughters in 1917.

In the summer of 1914, Grand Duchess Maria left Russia. She traveled to England with her two daughters and her lady-in-waiting. Her goal was to help her daughter Xenia's health with the mineral waters in Harrogate. They had visited Harrogate three times before. In truth, Maria also wanted a trial separation from her husband. The Grand Duke went with them to Warsaw in July. They never saw each other again.

After staying at the Claridge's Hotel, Maria moved to Harrogate. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich was supposed to join them later. However, World War I began on July 28, 1914. This changed their plans. Grand Duke George had to cancel his trip to return to his duties in the army. Grand Duchess Maria chose not to rush back to Russia. Her aunt, Empress Maria Feodorovna, was in London that summer and returned. Maria decided to stay in the United Kingdom with her daughters. She later used the dangers of wartime travel as a reason not to return to Russia.

Helping in Hospitals

Maria wanted to help in the war effort. She founded a small military hospital in Harrogate. It was for British and Canadian naval men wounded in the war. She took a Red Cross nursing course. She already had experience helping in army medical service as a young princess in Greece. She even nursed patients herself. This hospital was very successful. By 1915, Maria created two more hospitals. One was a home for patients recovering in Harrogate. During the four years of the war, over 1200 patients were treated there. Her cousin, King George V, was impressed by her work. He awarded her the Royal Red Cross in July 1915.

During the war, Grand Duchess Maria lived with her daughters in Harrogate. In July 1916, they moved to a large mansion in Grosvenor Square in London. She was very close to the British Royal Family. She often visited Marlborough House to dine and play cards with Queen Alexandra. Maria also regularly visited her cousin, Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom. They had been close friends since childhood. She continued to go to Harrogate often to manage her hospitals.

Changes in Russia

The Russian Revolution in 1917 changed Grand Duchess Maria's life. She and her daughters stopped receiving money from St. Petersburg. She could no longer support the hospitals she managed. So, she entrusted them to her aunt, Queen Alexandra. However, her patients asked her to stay. She remained the director until the war ended. Her reduced money meant Maria had to move to a smaller home near Regent's Park. She was able to manage her finances thanks to the help of her future sister-in-law, the wealthy American Nancy Leeds.

In 1918, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich was taken into custody by the Bolsheviks. He was trying to move to Britain. Maria Georgievna was worried about her husband. She tried hard to help him and other Russian relatives get released. Through the Danish Embassy, she tried to arrange their freedom for a large sum of money, but it did not work.

After many months of uncertainty, the Grand Duke was tragically killed on January 30, 1919. This happened at the Peter and Paul Fortress by the Bolsheviks. Along with her husband, Maria also lost her brother-in-law Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich. She also lost her former brother-in-law Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich and her younger maternal uncle, Grand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich.

A Second Chance at Love

Queen Olga, Princess Maria of Greece, and her second husband Admiral Ioannides.

After her husband passed away, Princess Maria of Greece began using her original name and title again. She focused on her own family.

Returning to Greece

When World War I began, Greece was weakened by earlier conflicts. King Constantine I chose for his country to remain neutral. Both Germany and the Allied powers criticized him for this. His prime minister, Eleftherios Venizelos, wanted Greece to join the Allies. He disagreed with the King. To force Greece to join the Allies, the French attacked Athens. They demanded King Constantine's departure. He was forced to leave the country. On June 10, 1917, his second son, Alexander, became King. Greece then joined the war on the side of the Allies. The Greek Royal Family went into exile in Switzerland, except for King Alexander. With the difficult political situation in Greece, Princess Maria could not rely on her relatives for support. While visiting Paris, Princess Maria met her nephew Alexander. Venizelos kept him separated from the rest of the Greek Royal Family.

King Alexander died in October 1920. He passed away after an infection from a monkey bite. A public vote then brought King Constantine I back to the throne. Princess Maria and her two daughters joined King Constantine and the Greek Royal family in Italy. From there, they boarded a Greek Navy ship to Corfu. Then, members of the royal family continued their journey on the destroyer Ierax, which took them to Athens. During this trip, Princess Maria met the ship's commander, Admiral Perikles Ioannidis. Maria, now a widow, wanted to spend her remaining days with someone of "Greek blood." She was very fond of the Greek Admiral. Ioannidis was five years younger than her. He had just spent three years in prison for supporting the monarchy.

Back in Greece, Maria settled in Athens. The royal family loved her very much. She even won the affection of Princess Elizabeth of Romania, the wife of the Diadochos George. Elizabeth's relationship with her other in-laws was often difficult.

A New Marriage

However, Princess Maria's relationship with her daughters was strained. The princesses were upset that their mother had kept them away from their father during the war. Their father, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, had been killed during the Russian Revolution. This only increased their sadness and disapproval of their mother's relationship with Ioannidis. To create some distance from their mother, both daughters married early. In 1921, 17-year-old Princess Xenia married William Bateman Leeds Jr. He was the son of Nancy Leeds. Princess Nina married Prince Paul Chavchavadze in London in September 1922.

In the same month, King Constantine had to step down. Greece had lost the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922. Princess Maria's eldest nephew, George II of Greece, became King on September 27, 1922.

Three months later, despite her daughters' objections, Princess Maria married Admiral Pericles Ioannides. The wedding took place on December 16, 1922, in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Later Years and Legacy

Princess Maria of Greece, her nephew King George II, and her niece Helena (sitting in front). Standing in the back: Princess Irene, Prince Christopher of Greece, Admiral Ioannides, and Paul of Greece.

After a honeymoon in Frankfurt and Munich, Princess Maria of Greece and her second husband returned to Athens. They left Greece when the Second Hellenic Republic was declared in 1924.

Life in Exile

The couple moved to London. They lived in the house the Princess owned in Regent's Park for a few years. The Greek Princess enjoyed drawing. She created a series of fun, colorful illustrations of exotic people and animals. She called them "Katoufs," which means "making a face" in Greek. She published her drawings as a children's book in 1925. Princess Maria Trubetskoy wrote the rhymes for the book. The two women dedicated the book to their shared grandson, Prince David Chavchavadze.

Princess Maria was Queen Alexandra's favorite niece. She was her constant companion during the Queen's last years at Sandringham. After her two daughters moved to the United States and her aunt Queen Alexandra passed away, Princess Maria and her husband moved to Rome in 1926. Many members of the Greek royal family also lived in Italy. The Princess bought a home, the Villa Attica. The couple lived a relatively simple life. Princess Maria spent her time gardening and writing her memoirs. Her grandchildren published these memories years later. Maria loved playing backgammon, and her husband carefully managed their money. In 1933, she visited the United States for a few months. She saw her daughters and two grandchildren on Long Island.

Final Days

Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna passed away in her native Athens during the Greco-Italian War (October 28, 1940 – April 30, 1941).

Her daughter Xenia lived for years on Long Island. For a time, she was married to millionaire William Leeds. He was the son of Nancy Stewart Worthington Leeds and the stepson of Maria's brother Prince Christopher. Xenia briefly hosted a woman who falsely claimed to be her cousin, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. This woman was later found to be an impostor. William Leeds demanded that she leave Xenia's house. Grand Duchess Maria never believed the woman's story.

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