Changes

If a dynast marries a spouse of "unequal" rank, the marriage is morganatic, according to the succession law:{{cquote|Children born of a marriage between a person of the Imperial Family and a person not of corresponding dignity, that is not belonging to any royal or sovereign house, have no right of succession to the Throne.<ref>Article 36, ''[https://www.russianlegitimist.org/the-fundamental-laws The Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire]'', 1906.</ref>}}In 1948, Vladimir married Princess Leonida Bagration-Mukhransky in Lausanne. The House of Bagration is one of the world's oldest families, ruling Georgia from 813 to 1801.<ref>The Japanese Imperial House is the only ruling house that is older than the Bagrations.</ref> Russia and Georgia concluded a treaty affirming the royal status of the house in 1783.<ref>"Treaty of Georgievsk," Russia-Georgia, 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]."<br/> "[http://www.imperialhouse.ru/en/dynastyhistory/dinzak3/1117.html Decree of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, on the Recognition of the Royal Rank of the House of Bagration]," 22 November/5 December 1946.</ref>

If a dynast marries a spouse of "unequal" rank, the marriage is morganatic, according to the succession law:{{cquote|Children born of a marriage between a person of the Imperial Family and a person not of corresponding dignity, that is not belonging to any royal or sovereign house, have no right of succession to the Throne.<ref>Article 36, ''[https://www.russianlegitimist.org/the-fundamental-laws The Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire]'', 1906.</ref>}}In 1948, Vladimir married Princess Leonida Bagration-Mukhransky in Lausanne. The House of Bagration is one of the world's oldest families, ruling Georgia from 813 to 1801.<ref>The Japanese Imperial House is the only ruling house that is older than the Bagrations.</ref> Russia and Georgia concluded a treaty affirming the royal status of the house in 1783.<ref>"Treaty of Georgievsk," Russia-Georgia, 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]."<br/> "[http://www.imperialhouse.ru/en/dynastyhistory/dinzak3/1117.html Decree of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, on the Recognition of the Royal Rank of the House of Bagration]," 22 November/5 December 1946.</ref>

In 1969, Vladimir issued a proclamation which stated that his daughter Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna (b. 23 Dec. 1953) would succeed when he died as all other male dynasts had contracted morganatic marriages. The other senior Romanovs protested, arguing that their marriages had equal standing with Vladimir's.<ref name="Massie">Massie, Robert K., ''The Romanovs: The Final Chapter'', 1995, p. 282.<br/>Despite the succession law's absolute male preference, both sexes may succeed. "Both sexes have the right of succession to the Throne; but this right belongs by preference to the male sex according to the principle of primogeniture; with the extinction of the last male issue, succession to the Throne passes to the female issue by right of substitution." Article 27, ''The Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire'' (1906).</ref>

In 1969, Vladimir issued a proclamation which stated that his daughter Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna (b. 23 Dec. 1953) would succeed when he died as all the male dynasts had contracted morganatic marriages. The other senior Romanovs protested, arguing that their marriages had equal standing with Vladimir's.<ref name="Massie">Massie, Robert K., ''The Romanovs: The Final Chapter'', 1995, p. 282.<br/>Despite the succession law's absolute male preference, both sexes may succeed. "Both sexes have the right of succession to the Throne; but this right belongs by preference to the male sex according to the principle of primogeniture; with the extinction of the last male issue, succession to the Throne passes to the female issue by right of substitution." Article 27, ''The Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire'' (1906).</ref>

In 1979, those who felt slighted by Vladimir's proclamation formed the Romanov Family Association. This association included most of 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. The association called for the dynasty's rules on equal marriage to be revised.<ref name="Massie"/>

In 1979, those who felt slighted by Vladimir's proclamation formed the Romanov Family Association. This association included most of 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. The association called for the dynasty's rules on equal marriage to be revised.<ref name="Massie"/>