Changes

*Maria Vladimirovna (1992-present) [disputed], daughter of Vladimir

*Maria Vladimirovna (1992-present) [disputed], daughter of Vladimir

In 1948, Vladimir married Princess Leonida Bagration-Mukhransky in Lausanne. The Bagrations are the former ruling family of Georgia, a republic in the Caucasus. In 1969, Vladimir issued a proclamation which declared that the marriages of other Romanov dynasts were not "equal" according to the rules of the House. They had married members of non-ruling noble families.<ref name="Massie">Massie, Robert K., ''The Romanovs: The Final Chapter'', 1995, p. 282.</ref>

In 1948, Vladimir married Princess Leonida Bagration-Mukhransky in Lausanne. The House of Bagration is one of the world's oldest ruling families, ruling Georgia from 813 to 1801.<ref>Only the Japanese Imperial family is older. Russia and Georgia made a treaty affirming the status of the Bagrations in 1783: ‘Her Imperial Majesty (Catherine II), graciously accept in supreme power and protection over the Kingdoms of Kartli and Kakheti, promises in Her name and in the name of Her Heirs… to preserve forever on the Throne of the Kingdoms of Kartli and Kakhety [Georgia] the Serene Tsar Irakly, son of Theimouraz, and his Heirs and Descendants.’ Quoted by Brien Horan in "[https://www.russianlegitimist.org/russian-imperial-succession The Russian Imperial Succession]."</ref> In 1969, Vladimir issued a proclamation which declared that the marriages of other Romanov dynasts were not "equal" according to the rules of the House of Romanov. They had married members of non-ruling noble families.<ref name="Massie">Massie, Robert K., ''The Romanovs: The Final Chapter'', 1995, p. 282.</ref>

Infighting came to a boil in 1976 at the wedding of Maria Vladimirovna, Vladimir's daughter, and Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, a Hohenzollern prince. The slighted Romanovs formed the Romanov Family Association in 1979. The association included almost all the surviving Romanovs aside from Vladimir and Maria. As the Bagrations had been incorporated into the Russian nobility, Vladimir's own marriage was unequal, the association argued. Maria was thus not eligible to succeed. The association called for the dynasty's rules on equal and unequal marriages to be revised.<ref name="Massie"/>

Tensions between the two Romanov factions flared in 1976 at the wedding of Maria Vladimirovna, Vladimir's daughter, and Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, a Hohenzollern prince. The slighted Romanovs formed the Romanov Family Association in 1979. This association included almost all the surviving Romanovs aside from Vladimir and Maria. As the Bagrations had been incorporated into the Russian nobility, Vladimir's own marriage was unequal, the association argued. Maria was thus not eligible to succeed. The association called for the dynasty's rules on equal and unequal marriages to be revised.<ref name="Massie"/>

When Vladimir died in Florida in 1992, Maria claimed the right to succeed as the only child of the last male Romanov dynast. ''Almanach de Gotha'' has refused to recognize this claim even though no other candidate is genealogically plausible.<ref>''Gotha'' describes Vladimir as, "the last Head of the Imperial House of Russia."  (James, John. ''Almanach de Gotha,'' 2016)</ref>

When Vladimir died in Florida in 1992, Maria claimed the right to succeed as the only child of the last male Romanov dynast. ''Almanach de Gotha'' has refused to recognize this claim even though no other candidate is genealogically plausible.<ref>''Gotha'' describes Vladimir as, "the last Head of the Imperial House of Russia."  (James, John. ''Almanach de Gotha,'' 2016)</ref>