Grand Duchess Of Russia Olga Nikolaevna

Notable

Family

Grand Duchess of the Russian imperial family who became Queen consort of Württemberg. She was the second daughter of Nikolai I of Russia and Charlotte of Prussia. She was thus a sister of Alexander II of Russia. She married Karl I of Württemberg, with whom she had no children, probably because of his homosexuality. In 1863, Olga and Karl adopted Olga's niece, Grand Duchess Vera of Russia, the daughter of Olga’s brother Grand Duke Constantine. On 25 June 1864, after the death of his father, Karl acceded the throne and became the third king of Württemberg, making Olga the fourth queen of Württemberg. The new king was enthroned on 12 July 1864. Queen Olga dedicated her life to social causes. She was especially interested in the education of girls, and also supported wounded veterans and the handicapped. Olga was also very interested in natural science and collected minerals systematically. Her collection was left to the Staatliche Museum für Naturkunde in Stuttgart. Her name is attached to a geological formation in the Northern Territory, Australia. The entire geological formation was named "The Olgas", before the indigenous name “Kata Tjuta” was officially proclaimed in the 1980s. When her husband died on 6 October 1891, Olga became Queen Dowager of Württemberg. She died one year later, on 30 October 1892 in Friedrichshafen, aged 70. Link to Wikipedia biography