The Russian Cadet Corps-Lyceum named after Emperor Nicholas II, also known as the Versailles Cadet Corps, was a military educational institution for the children of Russian emigrants, predominantly officers. It existed in France from 1930 to 1964 and was the last military educational institution of the Russian diaspora.

In Paris, a special "Russian Committee" was established to organize educational institutions, collaborating with public organizations, including the Union of Defenders of the Memory of Emperor Nicholas II. The committee was under the patronage of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, Prince Gabriel Konstantinovich, and Prince Nikita Alexandrovich. It was planned to open a school for boys named "Corps of Emperor Nicholas II" and for girls, named after Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Prince Nikita Alexandrovich became the chairman of the committee, which included Archbishop Seraphim, A.N. Krupensky, General A.P. Kutepov, N.D. Talberg, Prince M. Gorchakov, and others. Colonel Skryabin S.A. served as the secretary.

In 1926, a Founding Commission was created in Paris under the patronage of Prince Nikita Alexandrovich, Prince Gabriel Konstantinovich, and King Alexander I of Yugoslavia. Its members included Prince A.G. Romanovsky, Prince of Oldenburg, General Rimsky-Korsakov, and former cadets of the 1st Moscow Corps. On August 30, 1929, the Pedagogical Committee was officially registered. By the decision of the commission, the corps was formed in 1930 from Russian emigrants by the former director of the Crimean Cadet Corps, Lieutenant General Vladimir Rimsky-Korsakov, who became the first director of the corps. The premises and funds for maintenance were provided by A.A. Vonsyatsky. The first intake consisted of 32 individuals, who, after entrance exams, were divided into two classes: the senior preparatory class (17 people) and the first class (15 people). The corps was located in Villiers-le-Bel until 1937, then in Versailles until 1959, and until 1964, in Dieppe. The French authorities did not allow foreign military educational institutions on their territory, so the school was officially registered as a lyceum.

The official opening took place on November 1, 1930, in Villiers-le-Bel, located 18 kilometers from Paris. The building for the corps was purchased and provided free of charge by A.A. Vonsyatsky. At the time of opening, there were 27 cadets. The first director was appointed Lieutenant General Vladimir Valeryanovich Rimsky-Korsakov, who had previously led cadet corps in Moscow, Crimea, and Yugoslavia. At the opening, Rimsky-Korsakov said: "From a small key, a cold river flowed. From a small one, Moscow began to stir," which was written on the wall of the hall among many portraits, engravings, and relics of old Russia. The commandments of Suvorov also hung: "Obedience, Exercise, Discipline, Cleanliness, Health, Cheerfulness, Courage, Bravery, Victory, Glory! Glory! Glory!" and Rimsky-Korsakov's testament: "I bequeath to you one thing: Keep the holy covenants, Bring to Russia all that the Russian cadets lived by."