A unique story of Yusupovs' family has thousand years of history with the legendary ancestors and fabulous wealth. The Yusupovs were descended from the monarchs of the Nogai Horde who were renowned for their immense wealth, philanthropy and art collections.

Early history

In the 14th century Khan Edigu from the Manghit tribe (Turk origin) of Golden Horde and one of Emperor Tamerlane's greatest strategists and a close relative (Khan Edigu was a brother of  Tamerlane’s wife), settled on the North shores of theBlack Sea, establishing the Nogai Horde and laying the foundations for the Crimean Khanate. Edigu's death was followed by infighting between his descendants, until, in the 15th century, Khan Yusuf became the head of the Nogai Horde.

Khan Yusuf allied himself with Tsar Ivan the Terrible, but the former allies eventually became enemies with the time. Khan Yusuf's daughter Suyumbika was a Queen of Kazan, and when Kazan was razed by Ivan, Khan Yusuf's daughter was taken as prisoner to Moscow. After Khan Yusuf died, another period of fighting between his descendants followed until the 17th century, when Abdul Mirza, another descendant, converted from Islam to Orthodox Christianity under the name of Dmitry. After the conversion, Tsar Feodor I bestowed upon him the title of Prince Yusupov. 

All subsequent generations of the Yusupovs faithfully served the Russian throne, multiplying wealth and valor of the ancient and famous family valiantly fighting for Russia.

The 20th century

When Prince Nicholas Yusupov II died in 1891, he was succeeded by his daughter, Zinaida, who was considered a legendary beauty at the time, as well as one of the richest women in the country. Her suitors included the crown prince of Bulgaria. Princess Zinaida  Yusupova (September 2, 1861, Saint Petersburg, Russia - November 24, 1939, Paris,France) married Count Felix Sumarokov-Elston (October 5, 1856, Saint Petersburg, Russia - June 10, 1928,Rome, Italy), General Governor of Moscow (1914–1915), son of Count Felix  Sumarokov-Elston. They married on April 4, 1882 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. After his father-in-law died, Felix was granted special permission from Tsar Alexander III of Russia to carry the title Prince Yusupov and Count Sumarokov-Elston and to pass it to his and Zinaida's heir. Prince Felix was appointed adjutant to the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich in 1904 and commanded the Cavalry of the Imperial Guards.

In 1914 he was appointed Governor General of Moscow. At the beginning of World War I the Yusupovs owned more than 100,000 acres (400 km²) of land and their industries included sugarbeet factories, brick plants, saw-mills, textile and cardboard factories, mines and distilleries, in addition to more than 16 palaces and estates.

The younger son of Zinaida and Felix Sumarokov-Elston, who is famous for his involvement in the murder of Gregory Rasputin Felix Yusupov II married Princess Irina, niece of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II. After the murder of Rasputin he was exiled to Crimea, but returned to St. Petersburg in 1917 to find the city in massive disorder after the February Revolution. He took with him some of his most precious paintings by Rembrandt and jewellery. In April 1919, he left Russia for good to Paris. He was the last Yusupov prince.

His daughter, Irina, married Count Sheremetev's descendant. They moved to Greece with their children, although recently they were granted Russian citizenship by the Russian President.

It is interesting to notice that in the book of Prince Felix Yusupov, “Before the expulsion of 1887-1917” he gives a brief biography of the Yusupovs kind:

“Family archives say that the founder of kind of the Yusupovs - Abubekira bin Rayoka, who lived in the VI century and was a descendant of the Prophet Ali - Mohammed's nephew. He was the supreme ruler and given the name of Emir al umrah - Prince of princes, the sultan of sultans and khans. His descendants also occupied prominent positions: were the kings of Egypt, Damascus, Antioch and Constantinople. Some of them are ruled Mecca..."

Translated and adapted from source of information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Yusupov