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Princess Olga Paley

Saint Petersburg, 14 Dec 1865 – Paris, 2 Nov 1929

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 14 Dec 1865

    Born in Saint Petersburg

  2. 1897–1905

    3 children are born

  3. 2 Nov 1929

    Dies in Paris, aged 63

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 3

During her lifetime

She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Saint Petersburg.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1860s · Princess is born in Saint Petersburg

In the news1861

Emancipation of the Serfs

The 1861 Emancipation Manifesto freed nearly 50 million serfs, granting them personal freedom but requiring them to redeem their land through long-term government loans.

What people wore

Uniform Men's Shirts and Diverse Women's Finery

Men's clothing remained relatively uniform, featuring a signature shirt with a side-fastening collar worn untucked and belted. In contrast, women's festive attire was highly diverse, often intricately decorated with embroidery, lace, ribbons, and precious metal threads.

Getting around

Railways revolutionized long-distance travel speed

The railway between St. Petersburg and Moscow, opened in 1851, reduced travel time between the two cities from four days by carriage to 22 hours by train.

Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.In Europe · 1859–1871

Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.

Baldassare Verazzi (1819-1886) · public domain

In the news1860

Petroleum lamps replaced candles for lighting

Starting in 1860, petroleum lamps replaced candles and tallow lights in German households, significantly improving home lighting.

Music

The origins of the Russian garmon

In 1839, a Tula gunsmith purchased an imported harmonica for 40 roubles and used it to create the garmon, an instrument that became central to Russian village celebrations.

Daily life

Peasant Log Cabins and Shared Living Spaces

Peasants lived in timber log cabins, often consisting of a single living room with a large brick stove used for heating, sleeping, and cooking. Due to extreme cold, families shared these small, smoke-filled rooms with their livestock during the winter months.