His minister helped with that (anti-semitism). He became Nicholas' minister as well.No. It was his upbringing and his basic lack of intellectual curiosity. Plus the imbued bigotry. What nature or nuture didn't change, was that he was a loving family man. Great to his wife and children. That speaks volumes, too. He loved children and was fun to be with for them. He was not a particularly bright or well taught man. A second son. Perhaps, if the blight of anti-semitism did not exist in all of Eurpoean Royalty..... he really was no different and he if he was able to access more useable knowledge......but it is what it is.
I wouldn't agree with saying Europe. Europe is a continent with a lot of very different countries. Eastern Europe is very different from middle- or south europe, France is very different from Germany and Italy from Great Britain. For that I wouldn't say that anti-semitism is a big topic in my country. As for your comment - well, the jewish culture isn't indeed european culture. Don't get me wrong, I hate antisemitism and all kind of discrimination and intolerance....anti-semitism is alive and well in Europe...
Yes, he did fight for Alix. And she was a terrible choice. She hadn't any initiative and Minnie, for her part, didn't train her like she should have in the court ways, then again, Minnie was an awfully clever person and figured a lot of it out on her own (as Empress Marie was much of the time bedridden and ailing).Nicholas was not his father. He could barely make a decision. Although, he fought for Alix. He was a terrible monarch, his mother had far more wit and guile on her side.
From Coryn Hall's book "Little MOther of Russia" (excellent book, btw, you should read it . I think just about every library has it) I believe they loved Minnie and she them. When Marie got more and more ill, Minnie took over more and more of her duties. She (Minnie) was not happy with Alexander II when he moved his young mistress in the palace with his wife still alive. Protocol and disrespect, after all. . .Though there was one thing that puzzled me about Minnie. Wasn't her mother-in-law, Marie Alexandrovna German? She was Alix's great aunt or something, wasn't she? It never struck me that she would not like her mother-in-law like she did Alix. Anyone know how they got along?
Could be. I cannot remember what Coryn said in her book. Maybe someone who has the book on hand can enlighten us?She must have been a remarkable woman. I wondered what made Minnie admire the Finns so much? Maybe they reminded her of the Danes or perhaps she sympathized because of coming from a relatively small country, both in world politics and size.