Tchaikovsky
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Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich

Великая княз Константин Константинович

His Imperial Highness Konstantin Konstantinovich was a grandson of Emperor Nikolai I of Russia, born on 10/22 August 1858 at Strelna, Russia, the second son of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich (1827-1892) and his wife Aleksandra Iosifovvna (1830-1911), daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Altenburg.

After serving with the Imperial Fleet, Konstantin Konstantinovich joined the Izmailovskii Regiment of the Imperial Guard, where he served with distinction. He took a great interest in literature, art and music, and became a poet and playwright of some renown under his nom-de-plume "KR" [in Russian: "КР"]. He was also an able pianist, and became the Vice-President of the Russian Musical Society in 1892, and the President of Russian Academy of Sciences in 1899.

In 1884 he married his second cousin, Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg, who became the Grand Duchess Elizaveta Mavrikevna (1865-1927), with whom he had nine children.

Tchaikovsky became personally acquainted with the Grand Duke in 1880, and they maintained a significant correspondence through the composer's remaining years. In 1887 Tchaikovsky wrote a set of Six Romances, Op. 63 (1887) and the chorus Blessed is He Who Smiles all to verses by the Grand Duke, who also presented the composer with signed copies of some of his collections.

Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich died at Pavlovsk on 2/15 June 1915, aged 66.