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

[Daria_S]

Originally Posted by Artemisia

Just love the gold velvet and chiffon beauty: very delicate, rich and elegant.

That is truly fit for an empress. Thank you for the picture.

[vkrish]

The romantically potrayed "unflawed marriage" and "strong passionate physical love" or whatever between them. They are not some couple-next-door. They had an enormous role in shaping the future of Russia..and maybe in that way..of the world..and they miserably failed in that. Instead of complementing each other's shortcomings and vulnerabilities they just played into them and highlighted them.
I would still respect Nicolas II even if he had a dozen mistresses, if he were a strong and sensible man..Monarchs too much in love (the better word will be "influence") with their dominating wives are bound to doom..

[Vasillisos Markos]

My dear vkrish,

You may not "appreciate" the marriage of Nicholas and Alexandra, however flawed it was, but it does appear to be the union of two people who were greatly in love. Alone or together, they were ill-suited to lead a country but there is no denying that the two were in love with each other. Perhaps a stronger consort might have made Nicholas a better ruler, but I think he was weak and unless he married another Catherine the Great, it would not have mattered who was his wife -- his reign was doomed.

[Molly2101]

I have just read the letters Nicholas sent Alix between 1914-1917, and they are so sweet. Nicholas no doubt had mistresses, it was commonplace in times gone by, but it is so evident he loved Alix deeply. All his little sign offs of "Embrace you closely", Warm kisses" and "I kiss you tenderly" are so lovely. I know it is just a letter and one can write anything in a letter, but they are beautiful to read.

"I thank you from my heart for your two sweet letters. Every time that I see the envelope with your firm writing, my heart leaps several times, and I shut myself up and read, or more correctly absorb the letter."

[NGalitzine]

I don't think I have ever read in any of their biographies that Nicholas had a mistress after his marriage to Alix. I think he may have been relatively unique in his time and class and been a faithful spouse. Unique also in that he married the woman he wanted to marry, not one that was chosen for him.

[Molly2101]

Perhaps he did not have a mistress, and I think it would have been lovely if he didn't as it would make me love Nicky and Alix's story even more!

"

MY BELOVED SUNNY, How am I to thank you for your two charming letters and for the lilies? I press them to my face and kiss often the places which I think were touched by your dear lips. "

I can't stop reading the letters, they are so heart warming and proof that there was a lot of love and affection in their marriage, from both parts.

[Bensgal]

Nicholas was totally devoted to Alexandra; he didn't have mistresses from everything I read. (Another website I frequent has stated this fact, also.) I believe Nicholas's father, Alexander III, was totally devoted to his wife, Marie, too.

[Molly2101]

From Nicholas' letters it is clear to see how devoted he was to his wife, and it is a beautiful thing to read. Particularly so because you know that so many other Monarch's and others in similar positions had mistresses and often made their wives hate their lives. I am not saying the women were perfect or faultless, but knowing their husband had mistresses would likely leave them feeling quite degraded.

[Alexey 1904]

Yes, Nicky married the woman he loved and wanted, but his parents were unhappy with his choice. I've read they wanted him to marry some girl from the Orleans family, but he wouldn't back down from his choice of Alix of Hesse, so his folks had to consent to it, regardless of the fact they didn't approve of it.

[historyfreak]

Originally Posted by Alexey 1904

Yes, Nicky married the woman he loved and wanted, but his parents were unhappy with his choice. I've read they wanted him to marry some girl from the Orleans family, but he wouldn't back down from his choice of Alix of Hesse, so his folks had to consent to it, regardless of the fact they didn't approve of it.

From what I have read Nicholas's parents only agreed to Nicholas marrying Alexandra due to the fact that Nicholas's father's health was failing and they wanted Nicholas married as they didn't think it was suitable for an unmarried man to be crowned Tsar.

[Daria_S]

Originally Posted by historyfreak

From what I have read Nicholas's parents only agreed to Nicholas marrying Alexandra due to the fact that Nicholas's father's health was failing and they wanted Nicholas married as they didn't think it was suitable for an unmarried man to be crowned Tsar.

Not to mention that he threatened to become a monk if they expected him to marry anyone other than Alix of Hesse. I think by the end of it all, everyone was just sick and tired of the nonsense and figured it would be better to allow him to marry the woman he loved, rather than deal with the fact that the Heir would become a Tsar and still be unwed.

[AristoCat]

They were perfect spouses really, just not good monarchs. It's good Nicholas had a father who was faithful to his wife. In the royal set, ti's the ultimate sign of respect and love.

[IloveCP]

In The Lost Prince, Alexandra is portayed as very unflattering. She comes off as a snob. You can see her appearance here and here. Though I read in the comments section that her portayal is exaggerated for the sake of drama.

[PrincessKaimi]

Royalty often comes across as snobbish - that's an easy literary trick to play.

[Vasillisos Markos]

I don't think Alexanda was a snob but she was very reserved, uncomfortable in public, only at ease around family members and long time friends -- all of this probably contributed to any image which portrayed her as looking down at others.

[vorky]

Специальный проект / Ð*омановы. Падение монархии_1 - YouTube

СПЕЦИÐ�ЛЬÐ�ЫЙ ПÐ*ОЕКТ. Ð*омановы. Падение монархии-2 - YouTube

Can be truth? Some conspiracy

[Al_bina]

Soldiers massacre demonstrators in St Petersburg - From the Guardian archive, 23 Jan 1905 | World news | guardian.co.uk

[Vasillisos Markos]

My dear Al bina,

Thank you for posting this link to the newspaper articles. Fascinating to read accounts written at the time of the massacre.

[AristoCat]

That's pretty funny when you think about it; the RF is portrayed as perfectly abstemious and go figure, Nicholas is teaching his daughter how to smoke. These days the anti-smoking brigade would be out in full force.

[Lee-Z]

Originally Posted by AristoCat

That's pretty funny when you think about it; the RF is portrayed as perfectly abstemious and go figure, Nicholas is teaching his daughter how to smoke. These days the anti-smoking brigade would be out in full force.

Those were different times ("the past is a different country, the do things different there") even as late as the 1950's smoking was a sign of maturity...