10 Facts About Zinaida Yusupova

Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova was a Russian noblewoman, the only heiress of Russia's largest private fortune of her time.

Zinaida Yusupova was the greatest Russian heiress of her time, and the last of her line; the House of Yusupov.

Princess Zinaida Yusupova was known for being intelligent, hospitable, socially skilled, and beautiful; qualities that would last late into her life.

Prince Nicholas Borisovich Yusupov was hoping that Zinaida Yusupova would make an illustrious marriage, but at a reception organised to pair her with Alexander of Battenberg, Zinaida Yusupova met and fell in love with Count Felix Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston, a lieutenant in the Horse Guards and son of Count Felix Nikolaevich Sumarokov-Elston.

Zinaida Yusupova owned the palace at Nevsky Prospect 86 as well.

Zinaida Yusupova was known for her generosity; at Arkhangelskoye, she built schools, hospitals, houses, a church, and even a theatre, all for the use of her servants and those who lived on the estate, and she took a great interest in their lives.

Princess Zinaida Yusupova served as lady-in-waiting to both Empress Maria Feodorovna and later Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

Zinaida Yusupova was a friend of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, wife of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich.

Zinaida Yusupova's mother supported his actions, seeing Rasputin's death as vital for the situation in Russia to improve, as the reputations of the Tsar and Empress had been damaged by Rasputin's apparent influence over them, an opinion most of the aristocracy shared, such as the Tsar's mother the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and the Empress's sister, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna.

Princess Zinaida Yusupova died in 1939 and was buried in the Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois Russian Cemetery.