Rasputin's Killer and his Romanov Princess

When Princess Irina Romanov, the Tsar's 18-year-old niece, married Prince Felix Youssoupov, the heir to Russia's wealthiest fortune, the Imperial family was surprised. Prince Felix and Princess Irina had a lot of money and social standing when they married in St. Petersburg in 1914. However, fate had other plans. Felix was involved in the 1916 murder of Gregory Rasputin, the evil genius of Empress Alexandra, and Irina's royal blood ensured he was never prosecuted. Revolution swept the country the following year, and Felix and Irina were forced into exile for the rest of their lives. This book uses little-known Russian sources and documents recently purchased at auction to reveal new facts about the couple's lives, their relationship, and how they never quite escaped the shadow of Rasputin.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

When the Tsar's eighteen-year-old niece, Princess Irina Romanov, announced her marriage to Prince Felix Youssoupov, heir to Russia's richest fortune, the Imperial family was shocked. Prince Felix and his wife, Princess Irina, had it all. When they married in St. Petersburg in 1914, immense wealth and social standing were theirs. However, fate had other ideas.

In 1916, Felix was involved in one of the most famous crimes of the twentieth century: the murder of Gregory Rasputin, the evil genius of Empress Alexandra. It was Irina's royal blood that ensured Felix was never prosecuted for what many saw as a patriotic act. The following year, a revolution swept the country, and in 1919, Felix and Irina were forced into exile for the rest of their lives.

How did they survive in the real world when the money began to run out? Why did they live their lives in the shadow of Rasputin? How did Rasputin save them? And how did Felix redeem himself for Rasputin's murder?

No joint biography of Irina and Felix has ever been written. This book utilizes little-known Russian sources, as well as documents recently purchased at auction, to reveal new facts, throwing fresh light on the couple's lives, their relationship, and how they never quite escaped from the shadow of Rasputin.

Introduction:
The marriage of Princess Irina Romanov to Prince Felix Youssoupov in 1914 was a union of two of Russia's most powerful families. However, their lives were not without controversy, as Felix was involved in a notorious crime that shook the Imperial family to its core: the murder of Gregory Rasputin.

The Murder of Rasputin:
In 1916, Felix was involved in the murder of Rasputin, the mystic and advisor to the Imperial family. Rasputin had gained a reputation for his influence over the Empress Alexandra and her son, Tsar Nicholas II, and many believed that he was responsible for the decline of the Russian Empire.

Despite the evidence against Felix, he was never prosecuted for the murder. This was due in part to the influence of his wife, Princess Irina, who was the niece of the Tsar. Irina's royal blood ensured that Felix was never charged with a crime, even though many saw it as a patriotic act.

Exile:
The following year, a revolution swept Russia, and the Imperial family was forced into exile. Felix and Irina were exiled to the United Kingdom, where they lived in relative obscurity for the rest of their lives.

Despite their exile, Felix and Irina continued to be involved in Russian politics, and they were supporters of the Russian Revolution. They were also close friends of Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, who were responsible for the overthrow of the Tsarist regime.

The End of an Era:
In 1922, the Russian Civil War ended, and the Bolsheviks took control of Russia. Felix and Irina were allowed to return to Russia, but their lives were never the same again. The Russian Revolution had changed the country forever, and Felix and Irina were caught up in the chaos.

In the years that followed, Felix and Irina were both involved in various political intrigues. Felix was a prominent figure in the Russian Communist Party, and he was even appointed as the head of the Soviet Union's foreign intelligence service. Irina, on the other hand, was a patron of the arts and a philanthropist.

Conclusion:
The marriage of Princess Irina Romanov to Prince Felix Youssoupov was a union of two powerful families, but their lives were not without controversy. Felix's involvement in the murder of Rasputin was a controversial topic that shook the Imperial family to its core. Despite the evidence against him, he was never prosecuted, thanks to the influence of his wife, Princess Irina.

Felix and Irina were forced into exile in the United Kingdom, but they continued to be involved in Russian politics and supported the Russian Revolution. In the years that followed, they were both involved in various political intrigues, and Felix was even appointed as the head of the Soviet Union's foreign intelligence service.

Despite their tumultuous lives, Felix and Irina remained devoted to each other until their deaths. Their marriage was a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.

Weight: 558g
Dimension: 165 x 243 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398111202