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A thread on homosexuality in the Romanov dynasty:
Cousin to Nicholas II, Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich hid his homosexuality his entire life. He recorded his feelings in diaries, which were to only be published 90 years after his death. But, when the Bolsheviks came to power, they decided to use them for propaganda.
“I again refused to fight my lust; not that I could not, but I wanted not. My evening bath was being prepared; Sergey Syroezhkin was busy, and instead sent his brother, Kondraty, who is 20, and works as a bathhouse attendant. And thus I led this boy into sin.”
Grandson of Nicholas I, Nikolai Mikhailovich was rumoured to be gay. He refused to marry, and secretly met up with men in Paris. It's believed he slept with his nephew, Dmitry Pavlovich, who was also the lover of Felix Yusupov, one of Rasputin's assassins.
Dmitry Pavlovitch and Felix Yusupov both pictured.
Moscow's Governor-General, Sergei Alexandrovich, the son of Alexander II, was also gay. He died in a terrorist attack by anti-tsarists. Below is a photo of the monument dedicated to his memory in the Kremlin. Yes, the Kremlin has a monument to gay. Irony.
From the diary of Foreign Minister Lamsdorf: "Moscow used to stand on seven hills, but now it stands on one hill".
This is a pun referring to Sergei, as the Russian word “hill” (бугор) is a homophone of the French word for "sodomite" (bougre).
This is a pun referring to Sergei, as the Russian word “hill” (бугор) is a homophone of the French word for "sodomite" (bougre).
They were all so handsome!
Of course, I should add:
There are quite extensive rumours surrounding Alexander I sexuality, but I decided not to include him in the thread because they are just rumours and there's so far no hard evidence to prove that he was gay or at least bisexual.
There are quite extensive rumours surrounding Alexander I sexuality, but I decided not to include him in the thread because they are just rumours and there's so far no hard evidence to prove that he was gay or at least bisexual.
Similar with Anna Leopoldovna, who was Queen Regent of Russia for a few months in the 18th century. It's rumoured she had relations with her maid of honour, Julia Mengden.
P.S: Sorry ladies, I know this thread doesn't include feature any women. Sadly, there's just not that much known about the private lives of many Romanova women, and the few ladies we do suspect of being lesbians, it's mostly just rumours.
