Sophie Buxhoeveden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sophie von Buxhoeveden
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Baroness von Buxhoeveden (right) with her mother Lyudmila (left)
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| Born | September 6, 1883 |
| Died | November 26, 1956 (aged 73) England
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| Parent(s) | Karlos von Buxhoeveden and Lyudmila Osokina |
Sophie von Buxhoeveden (born September 6, 1883 – died November 26, 1956) was also known as Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden. She was a Baltic German noblewoman who served as a Lady-in-waiting to Tsarina Alexandra of Russia. A lady-in-waiting is a female assistant who helps a queen or empress with her daily life and duties.
Sophie wrote three books about the Russian imperial family. These books also told the story of her own escape from Russia. In her book Before the Storm, Sophie described what life was like in old Russia. She wrote about her family's quiet country life before the Russian Revolution. As a child, Sophie enjoyed picnics and mushroom hunts. She spent time with other important people from that era, like Anna Vyrubova and Felix Yussupov.
Contents
Sophie's Early Life
Sophie von Buxhoeveden was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her father, Baron Karlos von Buxhoeveden, was a Russian minister. He worked in Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War I. Her mother was Lyudmila Petrovna Osokina.
Serving the Tsarina
When she was young, Sophie was part of the social scene in St. Petersburg. In 1904, she was chosen to be an honorary Lady-in-waiting to the Tsarina. By 1913, she became an official Lady-in-waiting. The Tsarina and her four daughters gave Sophie the nickname "Isa."
During World War I, the Tsarina often chose Sophie to go with her daughters, the Grand Duchesses, to official events. Sophie did not like Grigori Rasputin, a controversial figure who had influence over the Tsarina. However, she saw some of his strange powers firsthand. The Tsarina wanted Sophie to accept Rasputin as a holy man. But she knew Sophie's mind would not change. The Empress appreciated that Sophie kept her negative opinions to herself.
Escape from Russia
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Sophie followed the imperial family. They were sent into exile in Siberia. Unlike many others with the family, Sophie was later released by the Bolsheviks. This was likely because they thought her Danish name meant she was Swedish. The Bolsheviks did not want to imprison foreign citizens. They feared other countries might react negatively.
Sophie spent many months trying to escape across Siberia. She traveled with other members of the royal household. These included Charles Sydney Gibbes, Alexandra Tegleva, and Pierre Gilliard. She was finally allowed to leave Russia when she reached Omsk. This city was then controlled by the Russian White Army and the British Military. Her experiences during this time are described in her book "Left Behind."
Life After Exile
Sophie was not allowed to join the imperial family in the Ipatiev house. Instead, she stayed in a railway car with the foreign tutors, Pierre Gilliard and Charles Sydney Gibbes. They tried to find a way to help the family. They spoke to the British consul, Sir Thomas Preston, every day. They even spoke to the local Soviet officials on behalf of the Romanovs. But their efforts did not succeed, and they had to leave Ekaterinburg.
After many months of fleeing across Siberia, Sophie finally left Russia. The British military, led by General Alfred Knox, helped her get safe passage on a military train. In Omsk, she had a surprising reunion with Joy. Joy was Alexei's spaniel dog. Colonel Paul Rodzianko had rescued the dog. Joy was almost blind but seemed to recognize Sophie. The dog had been very sad after losing the family. This reunion was both sad and sweet for Sophie. Seeing the dog brought back many memories of the Tsarevich.
From Omsk, Sophie traveled across China to avoid dangerous parts of Siberia. She described Vladivostok as being full of foreigners. It was a base for Allied forces. She saw the Pacific coast for the first time. She felt sad as her ship sailed away from her home country.
She wrote: "I was leaving Russia. Would I ever see my country again? What would it be like if I returned? Who among my friends would have survived? The Russia I knew, the old Russia, slowly disappeared from view."
After passing through Japan and Hawaii, her ship landed in San Francisco. She then took a train across the United States. She was amazed by the sights she had never seen.
She wrote: "Everything in America seemed so huge. It made all the European scenery I had ever seen look small. What were the Norwegian fjords, or even the Alps, after the Rocky Mountains? What are the largest buildings of other towns after those in San Francisco and New York?"
When she arrived in Denmark, she stayed with her father. She later saw the Dowager Empress in Copenhagen. It was sad to hear "God Save the Tsar" played. She knew what had happened to the country she loved.
She wrote: "Was this the last time they would hear that hymn? The Empire was gone. The Emperor was no more. Our great country had lost its name. The notes of our anthem held the echo of a great tragedy. It seemed to mark the end of a past that was gone forever."
In exile, Sophie lived in Copenhagen with her father. Then she moved to Hemmelmark in northern Germany. This estate belonged to Prince Heinrich of Prussia and his wife, Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine. Princess Irene was the Tsarina's sister.
Finally, Sophie lived at Kensington Palace in London. She continued to serve as a lady-in-waiting for the Tsarina's older sister, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. Sophie died in England in rooms given to her by the Queen. Her drawers were filled with items from the imperial family. These included photo albums and pieces by Fabergé.
After her death, Sophie left several items that belonged to the Russian imperial family to Grand Duchess Xenia. These included a green enamel Fabergé pencil given to her by Empress Alexandra. She also left a white china cup used by the Emperor at Tobolsk. And a small wooden icon with a prayer written by the Empress.
Disproving False Claims
In 1922, a woman in Berlin claimed to be a Romanov Grand Duchess. She became known as Anna Anderson. Sophie von Buxhoeveden went to Berlin to meet her. Sophie said the woman was "too short" to be Grand Duchess Tatiana.
Sophie tried to help the woman remember things about the family. She showed her an "icon" from the Romanov jubilee. She also showed her a ring that belonged to the Empress. But the woman showed no sign of recognizing anything. Sophie was sure the woman was not Grand Duchess Tatiana. She later learned the woman claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia. But Sophie said she did not look like Anastasia at all.
Anna Anderson then claimed that Sophie had betrayed the family. She said this was why Sophie denied her identity. However, Sophie never changed her view that Anna Anderson was not a Romanov.
Sophie also helped disprove another person who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia. This was Eugenia Smith. Sophie wrote that Smith did not look like the Grand Duchess at all. She felt Smith was suffering from a mental problem.
Sophie's Books
Baroness Sophie von Buxhoeveden wrote three important books. They are considered some of the best accounts of the Romanov family's life and their final days.
- Life and Tragedy of Alexandra Feodorovna (published in 1928)
- Left Behind: Fourteen Months in Siberia During the Revolution (published in 1929)
- Before the Storm
Images for kids
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Baroness von Buxhoeveden (right) with her mother Lyudmila (left)
