Biographies

• Article by Tom Notten
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Carl Mannerheim

Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was born June 4th, 1867 in Louhisaari, the third child of Count Carl Robert Mannerheim and his wife Helena von Julin. At the age of 14 he enrolled in a course for officers in Hamina but was expelled from school for disciplinary reasons. After having passed an entrance exam, he was admitted to the military school of the Russian army in St. Petersburg where he took a course in cavalry. After graduation, Mannerheim served in the Alexandrijski-Dragoons, stationed in Poland. After having served a few years there he returned to a guards unit in St. Petersburg. In 1892, he married Anastasia Arapova, daughter of the Russian Major-general Nicolas Arapov. They had two daughters, Anastasia and Sophia.. Their marriage was dissolved however in 1903 but the divorce was not officially confirmed until 1917.