Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna

Born Princess of Saxe-Altenburg. Reputed to be one of the first beauties in Europe. Wife of Konstantin Nikolaevich, younger brother of Emperor Alexander II. She married for great love. Grand Duke Constantine wrote to his parents after meeting her: "Either she or no one." But the end of their family life was very sad. The Grand Duke had an open relationship with the ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater, took on five children from her, and called Alexandra Iosifovna his official wife. When the Grand Duke suffered a stroke and was paralyzed for two years before his death, Alexandra Iosifovna never allowed an illegal family to visit him.