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Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia

Saint Petersburg, 9 Jun 1799 – Saint Petersburg, 20 Aug 1800

9 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

  • Born9 Jun 1799, Saint Petersburgor 29 May 1799Records disagree1 source
  • Died20 Aug 1800, Saint Petersburgor 8 Jul 1800Records disagree1 source
  • FatherAlexander I of Russianot verified1 source
  • MotherElizabeth Alexeievnanot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 9 Jun 1799

    Born in Saint Petersburg

  2. 20 Aug 1800

    Dies in Saint Petersburg, aged 1

Family

See the tree

Parents

During her lifetime

She lived through 2 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 1790s · Grand is born in Saint Petersburg

What people wore

Russian court dress and military-style fashion

By the end of the 1770s, a distinct Russian court dress emerged for noblewomen, characterized by a short train and long hanging sleeves. Empress Catherine II sometimes wore a female version of a military regimental uniform, tailored in the style of an amazon riding habit and trimmed with gold lace.

Getting around

Speedy relay travel for officials

Travelers on official business used a podorozhnaya document to hire horses at relay stations, while emergency couriers could cover up to 125-200 km in a single day.

At the table

Daily Rye Bread Staples

Rye bread was the essential staple, with adults consuming nearly two pounds daily, often stored as a sourdough starter for up to two weeks.

The French Revolution. Parisians stormed the Bastille in 1789; the monarchy fell, the king was executed, and “liberty, equality, fraternity” spread across Europe.In Europe · 1789–1799

The French Revolution. Parisians stormed the Bastille in 1789; the monarchy fell, the king was executed, and “liberty, equality, fraternity” spread across Europe.

Unidentified painter · public domain

Music

Popular instruments and music in society

In fashionable society, the harp and guitar became increasingly popular for accompanying sentimental songs and romances, while the polonaises of the Polish composer Kozlowski were played constantly in homes and at social gatherings.

Daily life

Wooden homes and new urban layouts

In the late 18th century, ordinary urban houses were built of wood, which created a constant risk of devastating fires across entire neighborhoods. New urban houses began to feature central corridors instead of the traditional layout where rooms were arranged directly around a central stove.

What it cost

Food prices in St. Petersburg

In 1793, a pound of beef cost 9 kopecks in St. Petersburg, while a pair of chickens cost 80 kopecks.