Prince Roman belonged to the Nikolaevichi branch of the Russian Imperial Family which was founded by his grandfather Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich.

In 1916 having graduated from the Nicholas Engineering Academy of Kiev, Prince Roman was posted to serve in a Caucasian Sappers Regiment on the Turkish front.

Following the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, Prince Roman resided at his father's Dulber estate in the Crimea and in April 1919 he left Russia on the British battleship HMS Marlborough.

[1] In 1941 he was offered and refused the crown of the newly established Italian puppet state, the Kingdom of Montenegro.

[2] Prince Roman was married on 16 November 1921 at Cap d'Antibes, France to a Russian noblewoman, Countess Praskovia Dmitrievna Sheremeteva (18 October 1901– 21 December 1980).