Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia - During Three Reigns

During Three Reigns

Grand Duke Vladimir occupied important military positions during three reigns. He experienced the battle fields in the Russo-Turkish War of (1877–1878) attending the war's campaign with his father and brothers Alexander and Sergei. He fought against the Turkish troops as the commanding officer of the XII Corps of the Russian army. However his military career interested him less than art and literature. In 1880, his father appointed him President of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts. He was also a member of the Academy of Science and agent of the Rumyantsev Museum. Grand Duke Vladimir was in the Imperial capital when his father was killed and was succeeded by Alexander III in 1881. It fell upon Vladimir, who regained his composure more quickly than his brother, to announce their father's death to the public. Vladimir inherited his father's personal library which the grand duke added to his large book collection that was arranged in three libraries at the Vladimir Palace. After the Russian revolution these books were sold off randomly by weight and currently form part of several American university collections.

Although Alexander III was not close to Vladimir and there was a rivalry between their wives, he promoted his brother's career. The day after their father's death he appointed Vladimir Military Governor of St Petersburg, a post that was previously held by their uncle Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich. Vladimir served on the state council and chaired the official commission that supervised the building of the Cathedral of St. Saviour, built between 1883 and 1907 on the site of the assassination of his father, Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

Grand Duke Vladimir, was a keen philanthropist. A talented painter himself, he became a famous patron of the arts. He frequented many artists and gathered a valuable collection of paintings and old icons. He later took a great interest in ballet. He financed the tour of Diaghilev Ballets Russes.

Emperor Alexander III, had three sons which pushed Vladimir and his own three sons farther away from the succession to the Russian throne. Nevertheless he was unexpectedly close to become Emperor in 1888 when Alexander III with his wife and all of their children were involved in a train accident at Borki. Vladimir and his wife were at the time in Paris and did not bother to come back to Russia. This annoyed Alexander III who commented that if he would have died with his children, Vladimir would have ruched to return to Russia to become Emperor. At Alexander III's death in 1894 there were unfounded rumors that the army intended to proclaim Grand Duke Vladimir emperor in place of his nephew Nicholas II. over which Vladimir tried to have an influence, particularly at the beginning of Nicholas II’s reign.

Although the grand duke was conservative in his political views, he did not believe in human virtues. A little bit of a rascal himself, he preferred the company of amusing witty people regardless of their ideology or background. The more liberal member of Russian society were invited to lavish parties at his residence. He look with contempt to people less intelligent that himself and considered that he would have made a better emperor than his less gifted brother Alexander III or his ineffectual nephew Nicholas II, Grand Duke Vladimir traveled extensively. Paris was a favorite destination. He became well known in the French capital for his boisterous personality and tremendous voice. He often intimidated people with his coarseness, rudeness and hot temper. He usually complained about the food making a fuss about everything that he disliked, but ended typing generously. Vladimir Alexandrovich was also a devoted family man. He was close to his children.