Declaration from the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna

It has come to my attention that the “Union of Descendants of Noble Families—The Moscow Nobility Association,” a social organization of nobles that came into being as a result of an internal conflict within the Russian Nobility Association and which is headed by Prince A. K. Golitsyn, has begun to conduct ceremonies for the award of patents of knighthood in the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Representatives of the Knights’ Council of the Order of St. Nicholas, as well as other organizations loyal to the Imperial House, have taken part in these ceremonies.

The “Union of the Descendants of Noble Families—The Moscow Nobility Association” not only did not receive permission or instructions from me to bestow these documents, but it did not even inform me of their intentions and did not share with me the contents of the documents that they bestowed. Therefore, the “Union of the Descendants of Noble Families” has shown itself to be ready to act without proper authority, obviously with the aim of attracting to its ranks new members to participate in the petty squabbles that are now raging inside the nobility organizations.

In addition, I am extremely unhappy that polemical articles containing mutual accusations and insults have been appearing on the pages of the journals and publications of the “Union of the Descendants of the Russian Nobility—The Russian Nobility Association,” and the “Union of the Descendants of Noble Families—The Moscow Nobility Association”—the two competing arms of the nobility movement. I am convinced that, to the majority of our countrymen, this all appears extremely improper and that it diminishes the moral standing of the Russian nobility in the public’s eyes.

In view of these facts, I find it necessary to state the following announcements:

1. I consider that the actions of Prince A. K. Golitsyn in fact were designed to discredit the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, were contradictory to the declarations of the leadership of the “Union of the Descendants of Noble Families” as to its loyalty to the Imperial House, and were incompatible with such loyalty.
2. I warn the Knights’ Council of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and all the knights of this Order, that the patents of knighthood issued by the “Union of Descendants of Noble Families” or by any other organization, are invalid. Only the Office of Heraldry in my Chancellery has the right to issue patents of knighthood to the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker or to any of the Imperial or Tsarist Orders.
3. I request the knights of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the future to be particularly careful and not to be misled, so as not to expose unwittingly our common patriotic goals to compromise and scorn.
4. To A. N. Zakatov, Head of my Chancellery and the person responsible for maintaining regular contacts with the Knights’ Council of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and for overseeing the proper form of the documents issued by the Order, I have made known my dissatisfaction with the way he has performed his duties in this regard and I have directed him to take immediate action to correct the situation.
5. I express my displeasure to all who continue to participate in the conflicts between and among the various noble organizations and other organizations connected with the legitimist movement.
6. I wish to announce that all social, cultural, charitable, or other organizations that currently enjoy Our support or patronage, or that have declared their loyalty to the Imperial House, risk losing that support if they do not coordinate their activities with me or with my Chancellery.

(The original is signed in Her Imperial Highness’s own hand:)

Maria

Issued in Madrid

11 December 2002