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Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia ((ロシア語:Андрей Владимирович); (14 May 1879 – 30 October 1956) was a son of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, a grandson of Emperor Alexander II and a first cousin of Nicholas II, Russia’s last Tsar. Grand Duke Andrei followed a military career and graduated from the Alexandrovskaya Military Law academy in 1905. He occupied different military positions during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, but with no particular distinction. He became senator in 1911 and was appointed Major General in the Russian Army in 1915. In 1900, he began an affair with the famous ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska, becoming the third grand duke to fall for her. He took part in World War I, but was away from real combat spending most of the conflict at Russia's headquarters or in idle time in Saint Petersburg. In February 1917, shortly before the fall of the Russian monarchy, Grand Duke Andrei left Saint Petersburg to join his mother in Kislovodsk. He remained in the Caucasus for the next three years. After the October Revolution he was briefly arrested along with his brother, Grand Duke Boris, but they escaped. He departed revolutionary Russia in March 1920, being the last grand duke to leave for exile. In 1921, he married his longtime mistress Mathilde Kschessinska and recognized her son as his. The couple lived in the South of France until 1929 when they moved permanently to Paris, where Kschessinska opened a ballet school. After World War II, Grand Duke Andrei lived under reduced circumstances. Until his death at age 77, he was the last surviving Russian grand duke born in Imperial Russia. == Early life == Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia was born on in Tsarskoye Selo, at his parents country residence, the Vladimir Villa.〔Beéche, ''The Other Grand Dukes'', p. 25.〕〔Korneva & Cheboksarova, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 71〕 He was the youngest of the four Vladimirovich sons; a sister followed him a few years later, and the eldest of his brothers died in early childhood.〔Chavchavadze, ''The Grand Dukes'', p. 241〕 His father, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, a brother of Tsar Alexander III of Russia, was a renowned patron of the arts.〔Zeepvat, ''Romanov Autumn'', p. 96〕 Andrei’s mother, Grand Duchess, Maria Pavlovna, née a Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was one of the greatest hostesses of Russian society.〔Hall, ''Imperial Dancer'', p. 72〕 Both parents doted on their four surviving children: Andrei, his two eldest brothers, Kirill and Boris, and their younger sister, Grand Duchess Elena.〔Zeepvat, ''Romanov Autumn'', p. 96〕 The children were educated at home.〔Korneva & Cheboksarov, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 71〕 Raised by British nannies, English was Andrei's first language.〔Zeepvat, ''Romanov Autumn'', p.88〕 He also learned Russian, French and German. His father, who loved art, assigned Léon Bakst as a drawing master for the children.〔Hall, ''Imperial Dancer'', p. 71〕 Grand Duke Andrei grew up in opulence. The family's main residence was the Vladimir Palace in Saint Petersburg, but as his father preferred country life, they spent the greater part of the year at the Vladimir Villa, a mansion in Tsarskoye Selo, returning to Saint Petersburg during the winter.〔Korneva & Cheboksarova, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 41〕 The children also accompanied their parents in many of their travels abroad to France, Germany and Italy, staying in Coburg, Paris, Berlin and Schwerin.〔Korneva & Cheboksarova, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 153〕 Following Romanov tradition, Andrei was destined to follow a military career. While his eldest brother, Kirill, chose the Imperial navy, Andrei and his brother Boris joined the infantry. Andrei began his military service in August 1898 as lieutenant in the Guards Horse-Artillery Brigade. In 1899 he was appointed adjutant, graduating in 1902 from the Mikhailovsky Artillery School. He then studied law at the Alexandrovskaya Military Law Academy at Potseluev bridge, graduating with honors in 1905.〔Korneva & Cheboksarova, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 77〕 He was subsequently listed by the military-judicial department. The military law Academy tasked him with translating foreign military criminal statutes. He was appointed lieutenant in 1902, captain in 1906 and colonel on 18 April 1910.〔Korneva & Cheboksarova, ''Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna'', p. 78〕 In March 1911, he was appointed senator. From 1911 to 26 February 1914, he commanded the Life Guards 2nd Don Cossack artillery. In spite of his appointments, Grand Duke Andrei did not have much interest in his military career. Instead, he pursued a life of leisure enjoying the privileges provided by his royal status and wealth. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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