Princess Eugenia Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg

Eugenia's palace in Ramon

As a wedding gift, Eugenia's uncle Alexander II of Russia presented the couple the estate of Ramon, in southwestern Russia.[16] in 1883 the couple hired architect Christopher Neysler to build Ramon Palace, a residence resembling an English castle of Gothic architecture; it was completed four years later.[16] After marrying Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, youngest daughter of Alexander III, in 1901, their only son took residence at the palace, and eventually the couple purchased an adjacent estate to build their own home.[16]

In 1902, a mob of peasants, acting out of labor unrest, attacked and set fire to the palace, causing extensive damage. Fifteen years later, the estate was confiscated by the new Bolshevik regime, and turned into a barracks, school, hospital, and housing for a nearby factory.[16]

Alexander, Prince of Bulgaria abdicated on 7 September 1886, leading to various candidates being advocated by interested nearby nations; the two most concerned were Russia and Germany under the respective governments of Emperor Alexander III and German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Duke Alexander was subsequently recommended, at the Russian government's suggestion, for the Bulgarian throne.[6] Not only was he married a Russian princess, and was himself the grandson of a Russian grand duchess, but he also held the positions of Adjutant-General to Emperor Alexander, and was the Commanding General of the Imperial Guard.[6][7] In several desperate attempts to prevent Russia from gaining control of Bulgaria however, the throne was offered to candidates who lacked Russian ties, such as a prince of Denmark or even the king of Romania.[17] In the end, Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was chosen, becoming Ferdinand I of Bulgaria.

Eugenia of Leuchtenberg with her only son Peter of Oldenburg.

Eugenia was considered by contemporary sources to be the "most cultured and amiable women that could be met with", while Alexander was celebrated as a man with "much intellect and character".[4][18] As a very popular and educated princess, Eugenia hosted a salon that was the center of literary, philosophical, scientific activity in Russia.[19] By 1907, she and her husband were widely known to devote "all their life and the greater portion of their wealth to philanthropy", according to one source.[13][20] Their extensive donations helped fund and found technical schools, hospitals, orphanages, as well as other philanthropic institutions all over Russia.[13] She was also instrumental in establishing the Red Cross in Russia.[19] The Oldenburg Institute was one such organization founded by the couple; its purpose was to teach two thousand boys and girls trade and technical education, with more than half of them being lodged at the school at the prince and princess' expense.[13][20] As she suffered from delicate health, Eugenia did not often venture out, instead preferring to quietly entertain in her house.[19]

While attending the opening of the St. Petersburg School of Experimental Medicine as its main benefactor in January 1907, a prominent government official, General von Launitz, was assassinated before Eugenia and her husband's eyes.[13] The general was standing a few steps away from her husband, so that Eugenia, believing at first that Alexander had been the one killed, fell into a faint.[13]

By 1914, Alexander was almost an "invalid", traveling with the help of a nurse for his care.[14] Later that year, while driving just outside Wiesenthal in Baden with his valet and nurse, Alexander was in an auto wreck, sustaining very grave injuries.[14] His gentleman-in-waiting and others who were traveling with the duke, either in his car or another driving behind them, were also injured in the crash, as it involved both vehicles.[14] Alexander survived the wreck. Later in the year 1914, Alexander was chosen by Emperor Nicholas to be supreme chief of medical services to the military and naval forces of Imperial Russia.[20] Though his selection as a royal duke was unusual to hold such a high medical-related position, there had been another precedent in another royal house, Prince Louis Ferdinand of Bavaria, who at that time was serving as surgeon general to the German army.[20]

In exile due to the Russian Revolution, Eugenia died on 4 May 1925 at Biarritz, France.[12] Alexander would die seven years later, on 6 September 1932. Their philanthropy had become so well known, that by 1914, newspaper sources commented that of all the royal personages at St. Petersburg, "there [were] probably not two who are so universally beloved as the Duke and Duchess of Oldenburg".[14]