At the end of the XIX century the princess Zinaida Yusupova commissioned the artist Serov gaining popularity now.Accurate picture, since it required the portraits of all the members of her family.
Valentin famous for the fact that it is extremely disliked to write "the rich, famous and swaggering," but he loved the princess and her family.Artist politely said that if all the rich people were the same, the world there would be no injustice and misery.Duchess sadly replied that not everything in life is measured by money.Alas, the story kind of Yusupov was so complex and tragic that it had every reason to be sad.
Origin sort
origin of the family was very old.Even at the end of the XIX century, when among the nobility of the Russian Empire were more people from among the wealthy merchants and manufacturers, Yusupov were not only rich, but also honored their family, many are aware of their ancient roots.In those years, it could boast not all.
So the story begins with a kind of Yusupov Khan Nogai Horde - Yusuf-Murza.He is well aware of the glory of Ivan IV, did not wish to quarrel with the Russian.Wanting to reconciliation with the formidable monarch, he sent to his court his sons.Ivan appreciated this behavior: Yusuf heirs were not only showered villages and rich gifts, but also to become "eternal master of all the Tatars in the Russian land."So they found a new home.
So there Yusupov (princes).The history of Russian birth replenished with one more glorious page.Himself the progenitor of the family ended badly.
Han knew that in a distant and alien Muscovy his sons will be much better.But they managed to cross the limits of the former State as their father treacherously stabbed his own brother.History of the Yusupov says that tribesmen so furious when they come down to the news of what killed the sons of Khan accepted orthodoxy that they asked one of the most powerful witches steppe to impose a curse on all of their kind.It was terrible.
Curse kind
Yusupov themselves from generation to generation passed on curse words: "And let all kinds of up to 26 years only one survives.And so it is, is not the whole race izvedet at the root. "Superstition superstitious, but his words came true as ornate spell religiously.No matter how many women give birth to children of the family, to the ill-fated 26 years or more old age always lived out only one of them.
However, modern historians say that the family probably had some genetic disease.The fact that "family curse Yusupov" began to show itself is not immediately to about tradition or speak.At the beginning of one child to survive only after Boris (1696-1759).Until then, some information about the small number of surviving heirs not, suggesting a hereditary disease.This suspicion is confirmed by the fact that the girls in the family, everything was much better - they are much more likely to survive to middle age.
Since then, each head of the clan had only one son.Because of this, throughout the XVIII-XIX centuries the family is actually on the verge of extinction.However, it is a sad fact had its positive side: unlike all other princely families, which by the end of the XIX century for the most part completely squandered their fortunes, Yusupov with the money it was more than fine.
Welfare family
However, the problem with the gene pool does not affect the material well-being.By the revolution of the Yusupov family was only slightly "poorer" Romanovs themselves.Although the story is kind of Yusupov it hinted that really kind of was much richer than the imperial family.
According to official sources, distant descendants of Yusuf owned more than 250 thousand acres of land, they also owned hundreds of factories, mines, roads, and other lucrative places.Each year, the profit from all that passes for 15 million (!) Gold rubles, which translated into modern money passes for 13 billion rubles annually.
Luxury same palaces which belonged to them, envied even families whose ancestors have occurred even from the time of Rurik.For example, in St. Petersburg the names of many rooms have been decorated with furniture that belonged to the first beheaded Marie Antoinette.Among their property were such pictures that even the Hermitage pochli would be honored to get them to their collection.
The caskets of the women were kind of sloppy Yusupov decorations before from around the world.Their value was incredible.For example, a "modest" pearl "Pellegrin", which Zinaida you can see in all the pictures, was once a well-known membership of the Spanish crown and was a favorite ornament of Philip II.
However, the happy family considered them all, just do not enjoy it yourself Yusupov.History of the excess happy days never was.
Countess de Chauveau
grandmother Zinaida, Countess de Chauveau, probably lived the happiest life (compared to other women of the family).She came from an ancient and noble family of Naryshkin.Zinaida was issued for Boris Yusupov in the very young age.
She gave birth to her first husband mature son and then a daughter who died in childbirth.Only later did she learn that faced with all Yusupov.The history of the genus is so impressed with the young girl still, even giving birth she flatly refused: "I do not want to produce the Dead."
about the hardships of family life
husband she immediately said that he is free to run for all the serf girl, she did not forcibly become.So they lived until 1849, is already old prince died.Princess at that time was not even forty years, and because it is now customary to express, "had a ball".In those years, the gossip about her adventures were transmitted throughout the empire, not to mention the St. Petersburg!
But the most controversial episode of her biography was the passion for a young Narodnaya Volya.When he was imprisoned in Schlisselburg fortress she has thrown all balls and masquerades, crook seeking for her lover easing prison regime.
new husband
In those years, and for smaller transgressions could fly out of the high society, but Zinaida spared: after all Yusupovs!The incredible story had its continuation, but a long time it was thought that with the cranky princess finished.Her sprees suddenly stopped, the woman for a long time lived fully recluse.Then she meets a handsome, well-born, but completely ruined by the Frenchman, falls in love and leaves Russia forever.She refused to "damn names" and became the Countess de Chauveau, the Marquis de Serre.
strange discovery
forgotten all about this strange and silly stories, but then came the revolution.The Bolsheviks knew of the riches of the family, as the curse of the Yusupov even in Moscow at all was at the hearing.They assumed that "crazy stove" could easily hide your valuables somewhere in his former home on Foundry Avenue, so rattled all its premises literally millimeter.They waited quite incredible discovery: they found a secret room, the door of which had been bricked up.
The room was a coffin, which rested the embalmed body of the young man.It is safe to assume that the solution is found missing the People.Most likely, the Countess could not obtain a review of the judgment and, therefore, set out on spree.Just buying the body of her lover executed, she was able to calm down.
Zinaida Ivanovna, as we have already said, was the only son.Near the Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov had three children at once.Elder was the son of Boris.There were two daughters - Zinaida and Tatiana.No one was surprised that at an early age, Boris died of scarlet fever.Parents only consolation is that her daughter grew beauties were perfectly healthy.That's only in 1878 with Zinaida happened misfortune.
new trouble
Family in the autumn of that year lived in his estate Arkhangelsk.Nikolai Borisovich, being constantly engaged in the service, came home rarely and briefly.Tatiana prefer to read, and Zinaida loved to go for long rides.Once she injured her leg.Rank was tiny and seemingly posed no danger, but in the evening the girl had a fever.
Dr. Botkin, hastily called to the estate, put a disappointing diagnosis.Infection of the blood in those days came to an end only in death.By morning Zinaida temperature did not sleep, she fell into unconsciousness.It seemed that the genus Yusupov soon suffer another loss.
John of Kronstadt: a phenomenon
Subsequently Zinaida recalled that in a strange and unsteady state, which separated from the reality of dreams, she dreamed St. John of Kronstadt, to which her family has long been friends.When she suddenly regained consciousness, the elder was urgently summoned to the estate.He prayed for her, and she quickly went to the amendment.That's just the sad story of the princely family at the Yusupov did not complete.At 22 years old Tatiana died of measles.
Procreation
no wonder that the old prince was eager to marriage of his daughter.Zinaida then recalled that his father, who had by then become much hurt, very afraid not live up to the advent of grandchildren.
Soon bidder is found.Yusupov betrothed young Bulgarian Prince Battenberg, who comes direct relative of the imperial couple.The retinue of the prince was a humble young man, Felix Elston, whose responsibilities included the presentation of the bride to the groom.And then came the thunder.Felix and Zinaida literally fell in love at first sight, and the feeling was mutual.Soon the young were married.
Nikolai Borisovich first almost fainted from such extravagant solutions daughter, but to thwart his sole heiress did not dare.Only a year later the young couple first child was born, which was named after his grandfather Nicholas.
new shocks
boy was very reserved and unsociable, Princess lifetime trying to bring him to her, but not much success achieved.At Christmas 1887 a little boy with icy calm told his mother: "I do not want you to have other children."Soon it turned out that one of the nurses told him that Yusupov - damn race.Silly woman was immediately fired.Zinaida, which at that time was waiting for the birth of her second child, the fear thought as he meets his older brother.
first everything pointed to the fact that the boy hated his younger brother Felix.Only when knocked ten years ago, they began to communicate normally.But contemporaries noted that the relationship between the two young princes were like a strong friendship, but not brotherly love.So to continue the story kind of Yusupov.Discussion of the terrible curse that hung over their family, gradually come to naught.But then came 1908.
death of Nicholas
Nicholas crazy in love with Maria Heyden, who was soon to marry Arvid Manteuffel, the wedding took place, as young love.
Despite desperate exhortations of friends, outraged Nicholas drove them on their honeymoon.Duel was only a matter of time.It took place June 22, 1908.Nicholas died six months before his twenty-sixth birthday.Parents almost went mad with grief, and now all their thoughts were directed at the young Felix.Unfortunately, the obvious happened: a spoiled boy was "broken cherub" greedy and capricious.
However, the trouble was not in it, and in its sole extravagance.When in 1919 the family was sailing from the blazing Russian money they had more than enough.In just a couple of "small and faded" diamonds Felix bought a passport in France all his household, they bought a house in the Bois de Boulogne.Alas, but the prince did not give up that ease of life that led to his homeland.As a result, his wife and daughter Irina was buried in his grave right Zinaida.Money was not a funeral.Rod stopped completely.
