The History of the Romanov Dynasty
The Russian Imperial House is an entity that had the rank of a state institution in the Russian Empire, from which the bearers of Supreme Power descended in accordance with the procedure established by law. Since 1917, the Russian Imperial House has been in forced exile, but continues to exist on its unshakable legal and historical foundations.
After the revolution, in connection with the murder by the Bolsheviks of all the male offspring of Emperor Alexander III, the rights to the throne passed to the descendants of Emperor Alexander II, whose senior dynastic representative was Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich - grandson of the tsar-liberator and cousin of Emperor Nicholas II. In 1922, he assumed the title of guardian of the Sovereign Throne, and in 1924 - the title of Emperor of All-Russia in exile. In 1938, Emperor Kirill I died and was succeeded by his only son, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich.
With his death in 1992, the last dynastic male line of the House of Romanov died out. By virtue of article 30 of the Fundmental State Laws of the Russian Empire, the rights to the throne passed through the female line, and the daughter of the deceased sovereign, Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess MARIA VLADIMIROVNA, became the head of the Russian Imperial House.
