The book tells the story of the fates of 13 nieces of Russian tsars in the period from the beginning of the 18th century to the mid-20th century. For two centuries, marriage to the niece of the Russian Tsar meant for a prince and duke from a small European country the opportunity to become related to one of the most powerful and richest powers, to receive a luxurious dowry for the bride, with the help of which they could improve both the family and state budgets. The fates of some “young victims of high birth” turned out predictably sad, but there are stories that look like an exciting novel, and are simply happy. For a wide range of readers