Sergei Georgievich, 8th Duke of Leuchtenberg
Prince Sergei Georgievich Romanowsky, 8th Duke of Leuchtenberg was the son of Prince George Maximilianovich Romanowsky, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg and his second wife Princess Anastasia of Montenegro. He succeeded his half-brother Alexander Georgievich as Duke of Leuchtenberg from 1942 until his death.Background and early life
Prince Sergei was born on 4 July 1890 in Peterhof, Russian Empire to George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg and Princess Anastasia of Montenegro. Sergei was styled His Serene Highness from birth until 1899 when he was granted the style of His Highness. George's first wife, Duchess Therese Petrovna of Oldenburg, died in 1883, leaving a young son. Sergei's father remarried six years later, when he caught the attention of Princess Anastasia of Montenegro at her sister Milica's wedding. George and Anastasia soon married and produced two children, Sergei and Elena. Anastasia divorced her husband in 1906 in order to marry Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia.Later years
Sergei introduced Alexander Andreyevich Svechin to his step-father Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, who was known for his religiosity and interest in mysticism. Grand Duke Nicholas died in 1929, and Sergei attended his funeral along with his sister Princess Elena.
Sergei died 16 December 1974 in Rome and was buried in the non-Catholic cemetery for foreigners in Testaccio, Rome, Italy. He was the last Duke of Leuchtenberg.Honours and arms
He received the following honours:
- Knight of the Order of St. Andrew, 1912
- Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, 1912
- Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, 1912
- Knight of the Order of St. Anna, 1st Class, 1912; 4th Class, with inscription "for Valor", 19 January 1915
- Knight of the Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st Class, 1912
- Knight of the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th Class, with Swords and Bow, 5 March 1915
- Grand Cross of the Order of Danilo I of Montenegro
- Commemoration Medal for the Golden Jubilee of King Nicholas I of Montenegro
Ancestry
