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Imperial Russian Menu for the Wedding Banquet

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Imperial Russian Menu for the Wedding Banquet
<B>Imperial Russian Menu for the Wedding Banquet of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich and Princess Militsa of Montenegro</B></I><BR><I>In Russian, dated July 26, 1889, Peterhof</B></I><BR><BR>Chromolithograph, depicting a double-headed eagle above Romanov Imperial crown amidst a bouquet of roses surmounting the oval shields of the respective royal families, the center with crowned initials of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich (1864-1931) and Princess Militsa (1866-1951) in Cyrillic with scenes of the two countries united-12 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. within a later frame<BR><BR>Since the days of Peter the Great, ties between the tiny Balkan Kingdom of Montenegro and Russia had been close. Nevertheless, Tsar Alexander III's efforts to secure Princess Militsa as the bride for Grand Duke Peter were not easy. While her father, King Nicholas of Montenegro, readily agreed to the match, the princess refused to leave without her sister Anastasia. The King threatened to ship her to St. Petersburg in chains to fulfil her dynastic obligations, but this drastic solution was averted when Alexander found another eligible cousin, the Duke of Leuchtenberg. While the duke was a "confirmed bachelor," the prospect of the immense dowry Alexander III promised to arrange led to a change of heart. Nicknamed "the black peril," the Montenegran sisters were prominent figures in <I>fin-de-siècle</B></I> St. Petersburg society. The duo also shared an avid interest in mysticism, and it was they who introduced Dr. Philippe and Rasputin to Empress Alexandra.<BR><BR>Provenance:<BR>Purchased from Marie E. Betteley<BR><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)