Prince Rostislav Romanov (b. 1985)
Encyclopedia
Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich Romanov (born 21 May 1985) is a descendant of the former ruling Russian Imperial dynasty the House of Romanov. He is also known by the name "Misha".
the eldest son and second child of Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich and his second wife Christia Ipsen (b. 1949). He has an older sister Princess Alexandra (b. 1983) and a younger brother Prince Nikita (b. 1987). From his fathers first marriage to Stephena Verdel Cook, Prince Rostislav has an older half sister Princess Stephena (b. 1963). Rostislav belongs to the Mihailovichi branch of the Romanovs as a male line descendant of Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia the youngest son of Emperor Nicholas I
. He is also a great grandson of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia
, the sister of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II
, and of her husband Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
.
Prince Rostislav has been a member of the Romanov Family Association
since 1985, the year of his birth, and is currently a committee member for the period 2007 to 2013.
in Rye
, East Sussex into a bed and breakfast
. The mansion however was in a semi-derelict state and in need of renovation
. As there was no kitchen to begin with, Rostislav and his siblings used to have to carry buckets of water up to the bathroom in order to wash the dishes in the bathtub. His widowed mother married David Whitney Erskine Russell
the heir to the title Baron Ampthill
on 6 July 2002.
in Denmark. Shortly after this, he attended the reburial of his great-great grandmother's remains in Russia where he announced he was considering moving to Russia. As one of the youngest male members of the Imperial Family, Rostislav could also one day be an heir to the Russian throne. As a descendant of the Electress Sophia of Hanover he is also in the Line of succession to the British throne
.
In November 2007 Prince Rostislav was featured in a documentary produced by France 3
called "Un nom en héritage, les Romanov" where he was filmed visiting St. Petersburg the former Imperial capital. In July 2009 accompanying his cousin Prince Dimitri Romanov
ich, he attended events in St. Petersburg to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the murder of Nicholas II and his family. It was also announced that he had come to Russia in order to learn the language.
The president of the Romanov Family Association, Prince Nicolas, appointed him the official representative of the Association in Russia.
In 2010, Prince Rostislav was appointed Director of the Board of Russia’s oldest factory, founded by his ancestor Peter the Great: The Petrodvorets Watch Factory
– Raketa
. He is also advisor to the factory's Creative department.
N.B. Since the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family have tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov while keeping the appropriate style. However this title, and even his right to the surname Romanov are disputed.
Birth and family
Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich was born in Lake Forest, IllinoisLake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
the eldest son and second child of Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich and his second wife Christia Ipsen (b. 1949). He has an older sister Princess Alexandra (b. 1983) and a younger brother Prince Nikita (b. 1987). From his fathers first marriage to Stephena Verdel Cook, Prince Rostislav has an older half sister Princess Stephena (b. 1963). Rostislav belongs to the Mihailovichi branch of the Romanovs as a male line descendant of Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia the youngest son of Emperor Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
. He is also a great grandson of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia was a daughter of Tsar Alexander III of Russia and the elder of Tsar Nicholas II two sisters. She married her cousin Grand Duke Alexander Mikailovich of Russia, with whom she had seven children....
, the sister of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
, and of her husband Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexander Mihailovich of Russia, Александр Михайлович Aleksandr Mihailovits was a dynast of the Russian Empire, a naval officer, an author, explorer, the brother-in-law of Emperor Nicholas II, and an advisor of the said Emperor.-Biography: Alexander was born the son of Grand Duke...
.
Prince Rostislav has been a member of the Romanov Family Association
Romanov Family Association
The Romanov Family Association, Obyedineniye Chlenov Roda Romanovykh , is an organization for male-line descendants of Emperor Paul I of Russia...
since 1985, the year of his birth, and is currently a committee member for the period 2007 to 2013.
Death of father
In 1998 Prince Rostislav visited Russia with his parents and siblings to attend the funeral of Emperor Nicholas II and his family. Six months later he died on 7 January 1999, during the Russian Christmas celebration. Though he had a cancer treatment, some speculate that, while in Russia he contracted a rare illness from the dust at the church where the funeral was held. This left Rostislav and his family facing financial difficulties due to the loss of his father's income. In order to provide for the family, Rostislav's mother turned an 18th century mansionMansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
in Rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
, East Sussex into a bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
. The mansion however was in a semi-derelict state and in need of renovation
Renovation
Renovation is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.-Process:The process of a renovation, however complex, can usually be broken down into several processes...
. As there was no kitchen to begin with, Rostislav and his siblings used to have to carry buckets of water up to the bathroom in order to wash the dishes in the bathtub. His widowed mother married David Whitney Erskine Russell
David Whitney Erskine Russell
David Whitney Erskine Russell, 5th Baron Ampthill is the son of Geoffrey Russell, 4th Baron Ampthill, and was educated at Stowe School. He currently serves as a councillor on Rye Town Council having been elected in July 2003, and as a Conservative councillor on Rother District Council...
the heir to the title Baron Ampthill
Baron Ampthill
Baron Ampthill, of Ampthill in the County of Bedford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 11 March 1881 for the diplomat Lord Odo Russell. He was the third son of Major-General Lord George Russell, second son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford...
on 6 July 2002.
Russian prince
On 23 September 2006 Prince Rostislav was a guest at the divine service for his great-great grandmother the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (born Princess Dagmar of Denmark) at Roskilde CathedralRoskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral , in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Denmark. The first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick, it encouraged the spread of the Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe...
in Denmark. Shortly after this, he attended the reburial of his great-great grandmother's remains in Russia where he announced he was considering moving to Russia. As one of the youngest male members of the Imperial Family, Rostislav could also one day be an heir to the Russian throne. As a descendant of the Electress Sophia of Hanover he is also in the Line of succession to the British throne
Line of succession to the British Throne
The line of succession to the British throne is the ordered sequence of those people eligible to succeed to the throne of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth realms. By the terms of the Act of Settlement 1701, the succession is limited to the descendants of the Electress Sophia of...
.
In November 2007 Prince Rostislav was featured in a documentary produced by France 3
France 3
France 3 is the second largest French public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5, and France Ô....
called "Un nom en héritage, les Romanov" where he was filmed visiting St. Petersburg the former Imperial capital. In July 2009 accompanying his cousin Prince Dimitri Romanov
Prince Dimitri Romanov
Prince Dimitri Romanovich Romanov is a Russian prince, philanthropist and author. He is also the heir to the prerogatives of Nicholas Romanov, Prince of Russia a claimant to headship of the Imperial House of Russia....
ich, he attended events in St. Petersburg to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the murder of Nicholas II and his family. It was also announced that he had come to Russia in order to learn the language.
Current life
Prince Rostislav is the only descendant of the former ruling Russian Imperial dynasty to have moved back to Russia in 2009. He currently resides in Moscow, where he is improving his Russian.The president of the Romanov Family Association, Prince Nicolas, appointed him the official representative of the Association in Russia.
In 2010, Prince Rostislav was appointed Director of the Board of Russia’s oldest factory, founded by his ancestor Peter the Great: The Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Petrodvorets Watch Factory
The Petrodvorets Watch Factory is the oldest factory in Russia. Founded by Peter the Great in 1721 as the Peterhof Lapidary Works, to make hardstone carvings, since 1962 it has manufactured the Soviet Raketa watches. In almost 300 years of history, the factory has changed name several times...
– Raketa
Raketa
Raketa watches have been manufactured since 1962 by the Petrodvorets Watch Factory in Saint Petersburg. The Petrodvorets Watch Factory is Russia's oldest factory, it was founded by Peter the Great in 1721 as the Peterhof Lapidary Works to make hardstone carvings...
. He is also advisor to the factory's Creative department.
Titles and styles
- His Highness Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich of Russia
N.B. Since the Russian revolution members of the Imperial family have tended to drop the territorial designation “of Russia” and use the princely title with the surname Romanov while keeping the appropriate style. However this title, and even his right to the surname Romanov are disputed.