Felix Sumarokov-Elston


Count Felix Nikolayevich Sumarokov-Elston was a Russian general who served as the ataman of the Kuban Cossacks and the governor of Kuban Oblast in the late 1860s.

Parents

Named Felix at birth, he was brought up by Princess Elisabeth Khitrovo, a famous salon hostess who was a daughter of [Mikhail Kutuzov|Prince Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston|Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov] and the mother of Countess Dorothea de Ficquelmont.
It has been widely rumored that Felix Elston was the natural son of Khitrovo's eldest daughter, Countess Ekaterina von Tiesenhausen and Prince Augustus of Prussia.
It appears more likely that Felix's parents were Karl Alexander Anselm Freiherr von Hügel by Countess Jozefa Andrássy de Csíkszentkirály et Krasznahorka, a relative of Gyula Andrássy, married to Miklós Graf Forgách de Ghymes et Gács, by whom she had three sons, all of whom died unmarried and without any issue. Recent investigations undertaken by one of his great-granddaughters and an English genealogist practically confirm this late ancestry, not explaining, however, the motives why he didn't use his father's name but Elston, his English nanny's surname.

Career

Felix Elston was prominent during the siege of Sevastopol and was promoted to colonel in 1855. After his marriage in 1853 with the Heiress of Counts Sumarokov, he received the title of Count Sumarokov-Elston. By Imperial Decree of September 8, 1859 he was authorized to use the hereditary title of his father-in-law, with the condition of using his surname. From 23 August 1863 to 3 February 1869 he was an Ataman of Kuban Cossacks and from 1865 he was a governor of Kuban.
During his military service Count Felix Sumarokov-Elston received numerous awards, including Order of St. Vladimir of 1st degree, Order of St. Stanislav of 1st degree, Order of St. Anna of 1st degree with crown and others.
After 1868, he left military service because of poor health and lived abroad. He was a Russian representative at the wedding of Prince Milan of Serbia to Russian noblewoman Natalia Keshko, in 1875 he was attached to King Oscar II of Sweden during his visitation of Russia. In 1875, he was appointed the head of the Kharkov military district.

Issue

From his marriage with Countess Elena Sergeievna Sumarokova and wife Marchesa Aleksandra Pavlovna Maruzzi ) he had seven children, including Count Felix Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston, later prince Yusupov, who was the father of Prince Felix Yusupov.
  1. Count Sergei Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston, lieutenant in the army, died aged 27 from typhoid fever.
  2. Count Paul Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston, married Alexandra Abaza and had two daughters, Catherine and Zinaida. Later married Nadezda Oznobishina.
  3. Count Felix Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston, married the noble heiress Zinaida Yusupova and had two sons, Nicholas and Felix.
  4. Countess Elizabeth Felixovna Sumarokova-Elston, married the statesman Pyotr Lazarev and had two sons, Mikhail and Vladimir, and a daughter, Irina.
  5. Count Gabriel Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston
  6. Count Nicholas Felixovich Sumarokov-Elston, married Sophia Koshula and had one daughter, Elena, and two sons, Nicholas and Mikhail.
  7. Countess Alexandra Felixovna Sumarokova-Elston, married the revolutionary politician Yuri Milyutin.
Australian conductor Alexander Briger is his great-great-great-grandson. Felix' son Paul Sumarokov Elston → Zinaida Sumarokov Elston → Zinaida Bashkirova → Andrew Briger → Alexander Briger.