Early Life
Grand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich was born at Strelna on 13 June 1860, the third son and fifth child of Grand Duke Constantine Nicholaievich of Russia and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna, born Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg. When Dimitri turned seven his education was turned over to Alexei Zelenoy, an officer who had served under his father in the Imperial Navy.
His lessons followed the usual course: science, arithmetic, Russian and world history, composition, and geography alternating languages and the arts. He learned besides Russian, French, German and English. Like all the male members of the Romanov family, he was destined from birth to follow a military career. At his christening, Dimitri was named honorary Colonel in Chief, a month later he was enrolled in the Guard Equipage, and in the Imperial family’s 4th Rifle Battalion Life Guards Infantry Regiment.
Dimitri’s father, Grand Duke Constantin Nicholaievich, was Admiral General of the Russian Navy and hoped one of his sons would follow in his footsteps. With this in mind, Dimitri received lessons in naval warfare and tactics. His religious education left a big imprint on him. He would be a deeply religious man all his life. As both of his parents were musical, he received singing lesson and learned to play the piano and the violin. Dimitri was a diligent and good student, polite an attentive, capable and kind. He was also very shy and introverted, preferring quiet times reading to more usual pursuits of childhood.
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