Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1918) and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix) (1872-1918)

[Michael HR]

The "Vlads" have always wanted to rule. But many have not forgotten or forgiven Kyrill's actions in 1917 and view him as a traitor to the Crown, Dynasty and Russia and hence he should have been de-barred from the line of succession. Of course there are other reasons why some do want want his line and it is only Maria who argues that she is head of the house and therefore Empress but gets on a lot of peoples nerves in doing so.

[AnastasiaEvidence]

I understand. Throughout history some never got away with anything, even when things happened that were beyond their control. One could think that if Nicholas had married someone who was vivacious, more open, less shy that Alexandra, he could be more loved and forgiven by the Russian people. Even if he still reigned the way he did.

Well, I think the 'bloody sunday of 1905', Russian revolution and the world war I, had so much to do with the decline and of Nicholas II. So sad, how Nicholas eventually abdicated in 1917. Lenin and the bolsheviks made Russia even worse with dictatorship.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by AnastasiaEvidence

Well, I think the 'bloody sunday of 1905', Russian revolution and the world war I, had so much to do with the decline and of Nicholas II.

Do you think it's because Nicholas was not a forward thinker? He lived too much in the here and now and not preparing his country for the industrial revolution and other growing pains it was experiencing?

[COUNTESS]

Nicholas wasn't a thinker. He was highly influenced by the last person to whom he spoke. And, unfortunately, his wife had a great deal of influence, first or last and both were frozen in time and thought.

[AnastasiaEvidence]

Do you think it's because Nicholas was not a forward thinker? He lived too much in the here and now and not preparing his country for the industrial revolution and other growing pains it was experiencing?

I agree, he wasn't hard enough, he was too lenient. He didn't have enough experience, it just wasn't the job for Nicholas to be a tsar. I think being a father, instead of a ruler would have been a good enough job for Nicholas. He lacks tough behavior.

[AnastasiaEvidence]

I understand. Throughout history some never got away with anything, even when things happened that were beyond their control. One could think that if Nicholas had married someone who was vivacious, more open, less shy that Alexandra, he could be more loved and forgiven by the Russian people. Even if he still reigned the way he did.

I agree. But, the people in the Russian court disliked Alix because she was born in Germany and her original religion was Protestantism. I've read that, they would make fun of her and call her the woman in the shoe in french. I think it's understood that a shy person, who's not so social like, Alix wouldn't like the Russian court much. Alix really didn't like to go out, and talk. She didn't want to be around so much people. I understand how she felt, because this is exactly how I am, I'm not social at all. I don't think it's right, how they mistreated Alix becuase of her character.

[COUNTESS]

If she wanted to be a recluse, she should have married some minor German Prince. When you get the big bucks for the big job, you have to perform.

[Al_bina]

Right you are, COUNTESS... Alexandra Fedorovna had a clear idea about the Russian Imperial Court because her sister was married to Grand Duke and she visited the country. Thus, it would be fair to assume that Princess Alix did know what she was getting into.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by AnastasiaEvidence

I agree, he wasn't hard enough, he was too lenient. He didn't have enough experience, it just wasn't the job for Nicholas to be a tsar. I think being a father, instead of a ruler would have been a good enough job for Nicholas. He lacks tough behavior.

I don't necessarily think it was lack of tough behavior as opposed to no clear direction. I don't think anybody was steering that ship. Nobody knew what was going on, there was no direction, no focus, nothing to work towards, no goals, nothing. So they just floated around. . .

[Odette]

I believe he was basically a very kind decent man who was ill prepared to become Tsar. His uncles did not help him either. Between the sycophants, Alexandra's dependence on Rasputin and his influence on the Empress and the changing mood of the masses put him in a position he could not win no matter what he did. In essence he could not do much since he did not believe in democracy and he tried to rule in an autocratic way a people who wanted freedom. Little did they know of what was to come.