Victoria’s Read

Olga Alexandrova Kulikovsky. Born June 1882 at Peterhof Palace, near Saint Petersburg, Russia.

 Died Nov 24, 1960 in Toronto Ontario.

Grand Duchess and sister to Czar Nicholas, Olga Kulikovsky made her society Debut, saying she felt like an animal on display! Married to Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenberg, she was never comfortable. Speculation was that Peter was homosexual. It was also in 1901 when she was appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the 12th Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment of the Imperial Russians Forces, a relationship endearing and lifelong.

Olga’s many charitable works included founding a hospital. Here, doctors taught her medical treatment and care.
In 1903, she was introduced to a Blue Cuirassier Guard Officer, who was eventually appointed as an Aide-de-Camp for her husband. Gossip abounded. Peter seemed satisfied to have Nikolai Kulikovsky live at the family home rather than provide a divorce.

During World War I, Olga cared for wounded near the Russian front. Her service was awarded with the Order of St. George and reverence of the troops. In 1916, the Czar annulled her marriage and finally on November 16, 1916 she married her Nikolai.

1917. Royal family members were under arrest! Olga celebrated the birth of a son, Tikhon while under arrest in the Crimea. When the Allied Army took over the area, Olga and her family escaped to the Caucasus area where, in April 1919 a second son, Guri, was born. November that year they fled again. By Easter 1920 they took refuge in Denmark, Here, Olga was secretary and companion to her Danish mother.

In the 1930’s there were annual vacations with Swedish Royalty and Olga began to sell some of her paintings to help charities.

After World War II, Russian allegations against the family forced them to flee again. By the summer of 1948, Olga and her family, now including daughters-in-law, grandchildren and her Russian maid, arrived in Canada. They purchased a 200 acre farm in Halton County, Ontario. Olga grew food, did shopping and cared for her ailing maid. She also cared for a paralyzed Nikolai, selling jewellery to raise funds for his care. He died in 1958 and in 1960, Olga was buried beside him in Toronto. Officers of the Akhtyrsky Hussars and the Blue Cuirassiers stood guard at her funeral.

Olga’s paintings, shown internationally, continue to help fund The Russian Relief Program founded by her son Tikhon.
By: Dawn Monroe. famouscanadianwomen.com