List of Russian Princes of the Blood Imperial
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Prince of Blood Imperial or Princess of the Blood Imperial (Russian: Князь императорской крови) were the titles used in the Russian Empire from the late eighteenth century onwards for members of the extended Imperial Family of Russia. The title was granted to male-line great-grandchildren, and their descendants (as well as the wives of male members of the family) instead of the higher-ranking Grand Duke of Russia or Grand Duchess of Russia (Russian: великий князь), which carried the style Imperial Highness, which was thereafter restricted to the children and male-line grandchildren of an Emperor. Although the title had existed in theory since 1797, it was used from 1886 onwards due to changes instituted by Emperor Alexander III to address the proliferation of members of the wider Imperial Family of Russia during the nineteenth century. The ever-growing number of Grand Dukes and Duchesses in the late 19th century placed increased pressure on the Imperial Treasury to fund the state annuities which each Grand Duke and Grand Duchess was entitled to.
Background
In 1886 Emperor Alexander III altered the use of titles in the Imperial House by amendment to the succession laws. The growing size of the Imperial Family of Russia throughout the nineteenth century had incurred a corresponding increase to the cost to the Imperial Treasury of the annuities of each Grand Duke and Duchess.
Under the existing 1797 Laws of the Imperial Family, title of Grand Duke/Duchess and style of Imperial Highness was granted to all children, and male-line grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of an Emperor. Reform of the Laws which governed the Imperial Family had been discussed as early as 1884.
On 5 July 1886 a son was born to the Emperor's first cousin Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich and his wife Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mavrikievna; the infant Grand Duke, John Konstantinovich, was the first legitimate male-line great-grandson of an Emperor born into the wider Imperial Family. The arrival of the first member of the next generation of Grand Dukes in the Romanov Family prompted the Emperor to alter the entitlement to the title and style of Grand Duke/Duchess of Russia and Imperial Highness by amending the "Fundamental Laws" which regulated membership of the Imperial Family.
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