Changes

== Heads of the House of Romanov (1917-present) ==

== Heads of the House of Romanov (1917-present) ==

*Tsar Nicholas II (1917-1918) (after abdication).

*Tsar Nicholas II (1917-1918) (after abdication).

*Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich (1918-1938). Proclaimed "curator of the throne" in 1922 and "emperor" in 1924.

*Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich (1924-1938). Proclaimed "curator of the throne" in 1922 and "emperor" in 1924.

*Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich (1938-1992), son of Kirill.

*Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich (1938-1992), son of Kirill.

*Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna (1992-present) [disputed], daughter of Vladimir.<ref>"But most monarchist and monarchist historians consider Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, who lives in Spain and France, to be the legitimate head of the house," Opfell, Olga S., ''[https://books.google.com.vn/books?id=9UFveIUgktIC&dq= Royalty Who Wait: The 21 Heads of Formerly Regnant Houses of Europe]'', 2001, p. 71.</ref>

*Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna (1992-present),<ref>"But most monarchist and monarchist historians consider Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, who lives in Spain and France, to be the legitimate head of the house," Opfell, Olga S., ''[https://books.google.com.vn/books?id=9UFveIUgktIC&dq= Royalty Who Wait: The 21 Heads of Formerly Regnant Houses of Europe]'', 2001, p. 71.<br/>"Maria Vladimirovna is the most widely acknowledged pretender to the throne of Russia." </ref> daughter of Vladimir.

Nicholas II and his family were killed at Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg, Siberia in July 1918 as Vladimir Lenin's Bolsheviks hunted down the former imperial family. Four princes were thrown down a mine shaft alive and then stoned to death.<ref>Opfell, p. 75.</ref>

Nicholas II, his wife, and five children were killed at Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg, Siberia in July 1918 as the Bolsheviks hunted down the former imperial family.<ref>"[https://www.9news.com.au/world/romanovs-house-3d/27e0c473-7541-4e8d-bfe9-704b96a793db See inside Ipatiev House where the Russian Royals were executed]," nine.com.au, Jul 19, 2017.</ref> Four princes were thrown down a mine shaft alive and then stoned to death.<ref>Opfell, p. 75.</ref>

The murder of Nicholas, his son Alexei, and his brother Michael by the Bolsheviks in 1918 left Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich as next in the line of succession. Many monarchists viewed Kirill as a traitor to the House. Kirill waited until 1924 to declare himself the new head of the house.

The murder of Nicholas, his son Alexei, and his brother Michael by the Bolsheviks in 1918 left Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich as next in the line of succession. Many monarchists disliked Kirill or viewed him as a traitor. His elevation to head of the house in 1924 was controversial. When Kirill died in October 1938, the five most senior Romanovs signed a statement accepting his son Vladimir as head of the House.<ref>These were Grand Duke Boris, Grand Duke Andrew, Grand Duke Dmitry, Prince Vsevelod, and Prince Gavriel. See Brien Horan, "[https://www.russianlegitimist.org/russian-imperial-succession The Russian Imperial Succession]."</ref>

When Kirill died in October 1938, the five most senior Romanovs signed a statement accepting his son Vladimir as head of the House.<ref>These were Grand Duke Boris, Grand Duke Andrew, Grand Duke Dmitry, Prince Vsevelod, and Prince Gavriel. See Brien Horan, "[https://www.russianlegitimist.org/russian-imperial-succession The Russian Imperial Succession]."</ref> When Vladimir died in 1992, Maria claimed the right to succeed as the only child of the last male dynast.

When Vladimir died in 1992, Maria claimed the right to succeed as the only child of the last male dynast. Unlike the Romanovs of 1938, those of 1992 were sharply divided. With succession in dispute, ''Almanach de Gotha'' does not recognize the claims of any current member of the House. It describes Vladimir as, "the last Head of the Imperial House of Russia."<ref>James, John. ''Almanach de Gotha,'' 2016.</ref>

 

Unlike the Romanovs of 1938, those of 1992 were sharply divided. With succession in dispute, ''Almanach de Gotha'' does not recognize the claims of any current member of the House. It describes Vladimir as, "the last Head of the Imperial House of Russia."<ref>James, John. ''Almanach de Gotha,'' 2016.</ref>

== Equal marriage dispute ==

== Equal marriage dispute ==