Could Nicholas II have changed the Imperial Succession?

[PrincessKaimi]

The man had little understanding of history, as I see him.

[AristoCat]

I'll never understand it. The constitution could have saved his life and that of his family. If he had just given the Russians a chance, I am sure that he might have lived and had grandchildren and he migth have ended his days as a grandfather/czar.

[Iluvbertie]

He was forced to sign the constitution - it wasn't something he ever believed in.

Go back to when he was 11 and think about what happened then.

His grandfather - the Tsar Liberator, about to sign a new constitution is blown up and taken back to the palace where he dies and who is looking on - his 11 year old grandson.

The lesson he learnt that day was that the Russian people didn't want a constitution, couldn't be trusted with a constitution, couldn't be trusted at all, and that the only way forward was ruthless suppression of all opposition.

After 1906 he became even more repressive than his father had been because he believed that that was the only way to be seen as a strong Tsar and his wife and mother encouraged him in that belief.

[AristoCat]

All the impressions of life imprint themselves on us when we're young.

In several areas though, times were different and things were for a period a lot more stable. I believe it was Alexandra that was determined to keep the autocracy, her idea of a strong govenrment. Since she came from a background of constitutional monarchy, I am surprised she was so ruthless about this aspect.

[Furienna]

Originally Posted by AristoCat

I believe it was Alexandra that was determined to keep the autocracy, her idea of a strong govenrment. Since she came from a background of constitutional monarchy, I am surprised she was so ruthless about this aspect.

Yeah, I've wondered about that as well.

[AristoCat]

I believe that Alexandra got a taste of the grandeur of the Russian court and she stepped literally into the position of Empress, being able to end up weilding power, power she was untrained to responsibly handle. So go figure her head was turned and she ended up being discontented with what she had and decided to start running the Empire via her husband, despite her lack of training and solid education in that area.

Nicholas was educated and was an ordinary man, but he was run over by his wife. He might have slipped into the role of constitutional monarch, but go figure, he ended up getting overrun by the hemophilia of his son, which ended up with Alexandra protecting Rasputin at all costs, which meant in essence protecting the autocracy. If a Duma had been established with real power, then Rasputin might have been called into account and then possibly sent away.

Perhaps even if Nicholas had told the public about Alexei's illness things would have led to a more solid understanding. Everything that happened was in ignorance of the truth of Alexei's condition.

[Vasillisos Markos]

I wonder if he ever considered allowing Olga to inherit if Alexei died without heirs? Surely the family considered the possibility that Alexei would die young and therefore changing the laws of succession may have made the family breathe a little easier. But then, knowing that the crown may possibly go to Alexei might have made Nicholas try harder to conceal the truth and protect the throne for his son, no matter how misguided it was to conceal the truth about the heir's health.

[AristoCat]

I believe that if Nicholas had had the guts to change the succession, that the rest of the Romanovs could have then ended up being told about Alexei's illness and then Olga could have been trained to take over position as Heir and made ready.

[Al_bina]

There were more than enough eligible males among the Romanovs to inherit the throne. Grand Duchess Olga had nothing going for her.

[Archduchess Zelia]

I agree that it would have never happened, other family members with eligible sons would have never let that happen. I don't know how the Russians would have liked it.

However, I do think Olga would have been a strong ruler. She was intellectual, bright, kind, the only thing speaking against her was that she might have been too sheltered by her parents. Quite like Maria Feodorovna never stopped treating her son like a baby.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

I wonder if he ever considered allowing Olga to inherit if Alexei died without heirs? Surely the family considered the possibility that Alexei would die young and therefore changing the laws of succession may have made the family breathe a little easier. But then, knowing that the crown may possibly go to Alexei might have made Nicholas try harder to conceal the truth and protect the throne for his son, no matter how misguided it was to conceal the truth about the heir's health.

Impossible. The tradition of the throne passing only to males was very strong and there were plenty of males available.

[fearghas]

The Vladimirovitchs would never have stood for it. And as pusht as she was, the Grand Duchess would have had the support of the Nichalovitchs and the Michalovitchs.

[AristoCat]

The Vladimirovitchs would never have stood for it

Unless Olga married on of their sons.

[kell]

didnt they trye to push for a marry and olga got creeped out

[Archduchess Zelia]

I remember reading something about Maria Pavlovna trying to get Boris and Olga married, but Alexandra refused. Understandably enough considering that he was 38 and she was 20 at the time. I don't think I would have wanted to marry either one of the Vladimirovitchs either

[AristoCat]

It was age, but also the fact that Boris was basically sleeping aroudn with a ton of women. It might have been accepted for socialites, but Alexandra didn't want her daughter to put up with an adulterous husband.

[ladyladydiana]

Originally Posted by AristoCat

It was age, but also the fact that Boris was basically sleeping aroudn with a ton of women. It might have been accepted for socialites, but Alexandra didn't want her daughter to put up with an adulterous husband.

I completely agree with you, it would have been something outrageous for the Imperial family