The Rebel Romanov cover art

The Rebel Romanov

 Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Rebel Romanov

By: Helen Rappaport
Narrated by: Julie Teal
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

 To Queen Victoria she was Aunt Julie; to Catherine the Great she was Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna, granddaughter-in-law. This is the story of Princess Juliane-Henriette-Ulrike of Saxe-Coburg, the Rebel Romanov.

Born in 1781 in a small impoverished duchy of Germany, Julie's quiet life took a fairy-tale turn when she married into the Russian Imperial Family - the Romanovs. But this world of baroque splendour, of opulent palaces and grandeur, was no happily ever after. Taken to Russia at just fourteen, her marriage was hastily brokered to save the Saxe-Coburg duchy from financial ruin. Her husband, Grand Duke Konstantin, was cruel and abusive, Julie was uprooted from her home, family, language and culture.

As Russia and Europe were thrown into tumult by the murder of Emperor Paul and the rise of Napoleon, Julie finally made her escape back to Germany, where she lived for two decades as a social pariah, denied a divorce by the Imperial Family. Forced to give up two illegitimate children to protect her family's honour, she eventually built a life for herself in Switzerland, where she entertained poets and philosophers, regaling them with tales from the Russian court.

Helen Rappaport recreates the extraordinary life of this forgotten figure. In doing so she sheds new light on the Romanovs, reveals the sacrifices Julie made to further her family's interests - her brother became king of Belgium, her sister gave birth to Queen Victoria - and investigates the true nature of Julie's relationship with Tsar Alexander I. Rich in history, drama and royal intrigue, Julie's remarkable story is told at last.©2025 Helen Rappaport (P)2025 Simon & Schuster UK 18th Century Europe Germany Historical Modern Politics & Activism Royalty World Russia Marriage
All stars
Most relevant
Helen Rappaport has done a great justice to Julie of Saxe-Coburg in writing this book and Julie Teal in narrating the audiobook with such enthusiasm and interest, bringing her amazing story to light. The book shows how even if her early married life as Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna was painful and harmful, she lived a fulfilling and intellectual life in Switzerland that was out of reach for many similar people in her position at the time. Rappaport has painted a full picture of the greater Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (later Saxe-Coburg-Gotha) family and their relationships to each other and dynastic ambitions, and it was really insightful to learn that Julie's initial marriage as a Russian grand duchess was the catalyst for the many other great political marriages that would happen within that dynasty, catapulting their name on the political map of Europe forevermore.

A most interesting biography of an underappreciated royal princess.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.