Belonging to the most powerful and wealthyfamily, Felix Yusupov was a very shocking person. He loves to dress as a woman and turn the head of young officers involved in the murder of Rasputin, for centuries he has been reputed to be the dark personality of Russian history. On the other hand, as on the scales, his benevolent affairs are balanced: the creation of a fashion house in Paris, patronage and assistance to immigrants from Russia in France. How did demonic vices and good deeds coexist in Yusupov?
Parents of the imperial dandy became ZinaidaNikolayevna Yusupova and Count Sumarokov-Elston. Mother was an enviable bride, the owner of a colossal state. Not only eminent bachelors of the Russian Empire fought for her hand, but also the aristocrats of Europe. Felix Yusupov recalled her as a beautiful, fragile and very intelligent creature.
Zinaida Nikolaevna was not ambitious, thereforeshe married not according to calculation (and she could claim even the royal throne), but out of love. Officer Felix Sumarokov-Elston became the chosen one. With the high position of his wife, he easily managed to make a career. Moreover, Felix-father was presented with a princely title by the emperor, he was also allowed to be called his wife's name.
Marriage of such dissimilar people, the refined princess andofficer was happy but not easy. Two children were born: Nikolai, the eldest, and Felix. In 1908, the 25-year-old heir tragically dies during a duel, and Felix Yusupov becomes the successor to a huge fortune. His biography will be described below.
Childhood - the time when the personality is formed, the formation of character occurs. Yusupov Felix Feliksovich was born in 1887, March 23.
Apparently, from a distant childhood remained with the boythis habit. Already a five-year-old child, Yusupov is demonstrating his love for dressing up in women's dresses. Not soldiers and games with boys, but mother's wardrobe - this is his favorite entertainment. Together with brother Nicholas, they change into women and attend taverns, gatherings of women of easy virtue. Felix even appears in a cabaret: he sings one of the parties.
Occupation is driving father, boyconstantly gets slapped. Felix Feliksovich wanted to see in his son the continuer of his military affairs, and the women's things on the boy did not fit into this view. The relationship of the two Felixs has always been distanced.
The passion continued until the death of Nicholas, brother of Felix.
In Russia, the young prince Felix Yusupov reputedeccentric youths, a rebel. He loved the ridiculous antics, extremely surprising the public. People talk about him, gossip, give birth to fiction. We should not forget that the society of that time was not so accustomed to shocking as modern, therefore the shocking actions of the young Yusupov were stunned by many.
As for the student Yusupov, he was not a diligent student. However, he had a tremendous mind and ability to synthesize the necessary information.
At first he studied in a private gymnasium, then continued to receive education at Oxford University. There he joined the Russian-speaking students in society, also created a car club.
Yusupov had a special relationship with her mother's friend- Grand Duchess Elizabeth. Empress she was a sister. Felix considered the woman a saint, her advice, parting words, a kind attitude helped the young man to survive the tragic death of his brother. In 1914, Yusupov marries Irina, a representative of the house of the Romanovs, and thus becomes related to the imperial family.
The First World finds the young couple Yusupov in Germany. With difficulty returning to St. Petersburg, Felix begins to help in the treatment of patients at the hospital. In 1915, a daughter, Irina, was born to the Yusupovs.
Zinaida, Yusupov Felix Feliksovich and even greatPrincess Catherine saw that because of Grigory Rasputin, who had come close to the imperial family, they were suffering, because the attention of the monarchs was riveted only on this dark personality.
Indeed, Gregory began to occupy a highposition at the court of the emperor. The savior of the heir, he was revered by the empress for the saint. All attempts to appeal to common sense were not crowned with success: the empress was adamant, considered everything to be slander. And the emperor was forced to agree with everything, because in the hands of the old man was the life of the blood heir. Thus, he began to think over the plan to kill the disagreeable "saint."
The involvement in the murder of Felix was the mostdirect. However, until the end of his life he will remember this as a bad dream. The conspiracy was attended by close friends of Yusupov: MP Purishkevich, Dmitry Pavlovich, a native of the royal family, was also involved in a resident of the British intelligence services O. Rayner.
To implement the plan, it was necessary to get close to Gregory. This role was assigned to Felix. He asks Rasputin to get rid of the vice, to help.
12/17/1916Rasputin is invited to the Yusupov family mansion, ostensibly to meet Irina, Felix’s wife (she is at that time in the Crimea). There they try to poison him first, and then fatal shots sound.
Many mysteries hide this crime, howeverone thing is obvious: Felix himself believed that this would save his beloved country from obscurantism. Indeed, the citizens of the empire breathed a sigh of relief after learning of the death of Gregory.
Suspect Felix Yusupov refers to Rakitino, the father’s estate.
The family is safely going through a revolution, howeveremigrates to europe. Their path ran first to the Crimea, then to Malta. Next, Prince Felix Yusupov and his family are sent to the UK, and parents to the capital of Italy.
In London, Felix helps arrivingnoble refugees. The family does not live in luxury, as in their homeland, because they have left all the treasures at home. The jewels that were on the women were sold - they lived on it. It did not do without the fraudsters who robbed the Yusupovs.
Last place of residence - Paris.Irina and Felix Yusupov moved there in 1920. Miraculously managed to take out the original paintings and some jewels from Russia. That was enough to buy a small house. In France, assistance is also continuing to flee from the new realities of the country of the Soviets. At the same time, the Irfé fashion house opens up for the Yusupov couple, but he did not bring them the desired financial well-being.
Livelihoods appeared in unexpected ways:in Hollywood there was a film about Rasputin and his death. It was reported that the elder had a love affair with Irina, the wife of Felix. It was decided to go to court with defamation charges. As a result, the couple received a good compensation.
During the war, Yusupov flatly refusesjoin the Nazis. They seized the family jewel of the Felix family - a very rare gem. They blackmailed her, but the prince was adamant. As a result, the jewel returned to the family.
In 1942, the tragic news arrives: Yusupov's best friend, who participated with him in the conspiracy against Rasputin, died, Grand Duke Dmitry. Long Felix mourns a friend.
After the end of the war, the Yusupovs live in Paris,there is hardly enough money, but they do not despair: they are always hospitable, joyful and happy, despite heavy deprivations. Felix Yusupov, whose photos are in the article, is an example of a truly Russian aristocrat. Non-sales, self-respect, but at the same time open to help the disadvantaged.
The personality of a person will not be fully revealed if you do not understand his relationship with his wife. The wife of Felix Yusupov is nee Romanova, the niece of the emperor Irina Aleksandrovna.
From the engagement of young peopleunderwent obstacles. It should be said that Felix himself decided to marry, it was his decision, and not pressure from the family. The young people knew each other from childhood, had tender feelings in their youth, so they were absolutely not against the wedding. Families also did not object, the union was quite equal: the Romanovs and the richest family in the country. However, the engagement almost fell through because of the "well-wishers" who told Irina's father that Felix was compromising the facts about his chastity. The young man convinces the future father-in-law of his innocence, and the wedding takes place.
Далее, на протяжении всей жизни, Феликс и Ирина Yusupovs do not part. Irina is his best friend, she supported him, gave practical advice. She never reproached him for accepting the other.
All my life in emigration of the Yusupov coupleengaged in charity and help other immigrants, although they lived very modestly. They are an example of like-minded spouses, zealous patriots of their country.
Probably for all the good things they were destined to live many years: Felix Yusupov dies in 1968 at the age of 80 years, his faithful wife Irina died 2 years later.
Unfortunately, the Yusupov couple had only one daughter, Irina. During emigration, she lives with her grandmother Zinaida for some time, then marries Count Sheremetyeva and moves to Rome.
