Tchaikovsky
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Antonina Tchaikovskaia

Antonina Ivanovna Tchaikovskaia (Антонина Ивановна Чайковская) was the composer's wife, born Antonina Miliukova (Милюкова) on 23 June/5 July 1848, the second daughter of Ivan Miliukov and his wife Ol'ga (b. Iaminskaia).

On 6/18 July 1877 she married the composer Petr Il'ich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) at the Church of St. George, Malaia Nikitskaia Street, Moscow; they separated in September 1877 but never divorced.

Between 1881 and 1884 she had three illegitimate children by unknown fathers:

1. Mariia Aleksandrovna -- born on 13/25 February 1881; died in an orphanage on 2/14 January 1882.
2. Petr Petrovich -- born on 24 August/5 September 1882; died in an orphanage on 9/21 June 1890.
3. Antonina Petrovna -- born on 24 October/5 November 1884; died in an orphanage on 8/20 March 1887.

In 1896 Antonina Tchaikovskaia was admitted to a mental hospital in Saint Petersburg, where she spent four years and was then released; in 1901 she was re-admitted there and was soon transferred to a mental asylum at Udel'naia near Saint Petersburg, where she spent her remaining years.

Antonina Tchaikovskaia died on 18 February 1917, and was buried in Severnoe Cemetery, Saint Petersburg (the grave site has not survived).