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Originally Posted by LadyCat
Vicky as regent of Russia.... now that is an interesting idea, and one that never occurred to me. Thanks, ysbel. I may have to kick that around in my head a bit. 
Cat |
Yes quite an interesting concept, Cat; I admit I hadnt' thought of it either until attaininggrace mentioned who else Vicky could have married.
However, its possible that Vicky could have been a great Dowager Empress. She seems to be such a contradiction, ideals such as freedom and democracy bundled up in a woman who is rather pigheaded and doesn't seem to listen to people who disagree with her. It seems her personality seems to fit better with an absolutist outlook. If Vicky and Fritz had had absolutist tendencies, they would have been a true force to contend with in Germany. In many ways Vicky seems like the female Sasha only with much greater intelligence but Sasha kept his feelings to himself and no one would expect an absolutist czar to listen or respect others. One doesn't expect a liberal minded and democratically leaning princess to be pigheaded and obstinate.
However, I believe Russia may have been more used to the iron rule so its possible that a hardheaded Empress Dowager Vicky could have forced Russia into democracy much like a latter day Peter the Great. Now if Nixa had lived to be czar, with his education and charm and Vicky's iron will, I think its very well possible that they would have been a true force for democracy in Russia. I though suspect though that Nixa would have had his work cut out for him smoothing off Vicky's rather rough edges.