Nicolás de Greece (In Greek Prince Nikolaos of Greece ), Prince of Greece and Denmark, was born on January 22, 1872 and died on February 8, 1938. Member of the Royal Families Helena and Danesa.
Prince Nicolás is the third of the four sons of King Jorge I of Greece (1845-1913) and his wife the Grand Duchess Olga Konstantínova Románova, Queen of Greece (1851-1926). By paternal line is the grandson of Cristián IX of Denmark (1818-1906) while by maternal line he is Biznieto del Tsar Nicolás I of Russia (1796-1855).
On August 29, 1902 Nicolás de Greece married, in Tsárskoye seals, with the Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna de Russia (1882-1957) daughter of the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich de Russia (1847-1909) and the Grand Duchess Maria de Mecklemburg -Schwerin (María Pavlovna) (1854-1920). By Paterna Elena line is the granddaughter of Tsar Alejandro II of Russia (1818-1881) and by maternal line it is the Grand Duke Federico Francisco II of Mecklemburg-Schwerin (1823-1883)
Three daughters were born from this union:
Olga, Isabel and Marina de Greece were considered the most beautiful princesses of their time. Among his nephews were known as “The Aunts Fabergé”, of whom they were closed.
Of German origin, Prince Nicolás’ family joins close kinship ties with most of Europe’s royal houses. During his childhood and youth Nicolás passed the summers between Aix-Lles-Bains and Denmark, where he met with his cousins of the other European courts among which he was known as “Greek Nicky” (Nicky the Greek) to differentiate him from his cousin, The future Emperor Nicolás II of Russia.
Like all his male brothers, Nicolás began very young the military career entering the Evelpidon de Peiraiás school. In 1908, together with his brothers, he was forced to abandon his military functions because of the pressures organized by Stratiotikós Sýndesmos, a nationalist league that developed during his father’s reign.
With his brothers Constantino and Jorge, Prince Nicolás actively participated in the organization of the Olympic Games of 1896, the first games of the modern era, which were held in Athens. During the Games the Prince was president of the Subcommittee of the shooting tests.
In 1913 King Geórgios I was killed in Thessaloniki. After regicide Prince Nicolás declared that his father’s death had been orchestrated by German secret services. These statements caused a strong controversy since the new queen, Sofia of Prussia, was the sister of the German emperor, Guillermo II.
In 1917, the Prince and his family left Greece following the abdication of King Constantine and caused by his prime minister Elefthérios Venizélos and the allies. Nicolás and Elena are installed first in Switzerland and later in Paris, where the prince will work as a design and painting professor to be able to carry out his family since the exile of Greece and the Russian revolution had ruined the couple. It should be said that Prince Nicolás was a painter of quite talent who, often, signed his works with the French pseudonym of “Nicolas Leprince.”
Honorary distinctions [ To edit ]
Bibliography [ To edit ]
- VV.AA. (1988). Great Encyclopedia Larousse . Barcelona: Editorial Planeta. 84-320-7373-3 .
- Louda, Jiri Y Leads, Michael (1984). European dynasties . Paris: Bordas. 2-04-012873-5 .
- Valynseele, Joseph (1969). The suitors to the Thrones of Europe . Barcelona: Luis de Caralt-Editor. B.18972-1970 .
- Mateos Sáez de Medrano, Ricardo (2004). Queen Sofia’s family . Madrid: The sphere of books. ISBN 84-9734-195-3 .
References [ To edit ]