The Yusupovs

Immerse yourself in a centuries-long saga of the Yusupov dynasty, whose fates are inseparable from the history of the Russian Empire—from the governors of the Golden Horde to the brilliant nobles of the imperial court. The book reveals the secrets of one of the richest and most influential families, their fatal curse, eccentric pranks, and legacy. The most famous representative of the family is Felix Yusupov. The murderer of Grigory Rasputin belonged to one of the richest and most influential families of the Russian Empire. The Yusupovs’ ancestors, governors of the Golden Horde and the khans of the Nogai Horde, moved into the service of Russian rulers. Since then, they have always been close to the throne. Prince Grigory was Peter the Great’s closest associate and a hero of the Battle of Poltava, while Prince Nikolay was one of the brightest nobles of Catherine’s era. Among the Yusupovs there were many philanthropists and patrons of the arts, but they didn’t forget about themselves: they built luxurious palaces, gave their wives expensive outfits and jewelry—and one of them even arranged a garden on his estate with exotic plants and animals.

The glorious family began to decline with the end of the Russian Empire. The last prince of the line, Felix, died in emigration. Yet the minds of historians to this day are still stirred by the mystery of the Yusupovs’ family curse and their eccentric pranks. The Yusupovs look at us from old portraits, and in their appearance, Eastern refinement and mystery blend with Russian boldness.
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