Changes

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> The succession law had an absolute preference for males, so this proclamation protected Maria's position as Vladimir's heir.<ref>"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 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> The succession law had an absolute preference for males, so this proclamation protected Maria's position as Vladimir's heir.<ref>"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>

Led by Nicholas Romanov, those slighted by Vladimir's proclamation 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 marriage to be revised.<ref name="Massie"/>

Led by Nicholas Romanov (1922 – 2014), those slighted by Vladimir's proclamation 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 marriage to be revised.<ref name="Massie"/>

== Alternative scenarios ==

== Alternative scenarios ==