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

[COUNTESS]

Originally Posted by AristoCat

One thing I will never understand, is why the West believes that Russia and Russians have to justify themselves at all. Russia does not owe anyone an explanation for her choices and the direction she goes in. The West needs to stop trying to pressure Russia to conform to Western ways.

They don't, but since they wanted to become an ally and part of European Culture, they failed to progress at the same time of European advances. Russia's culture was far more primitive. Their hatred for Jews and the pogroms they encouraged were no worse than the Nazis. Their own people living in abject poverty with shoes made from the bark of trees, clothing in tatters in the late19th century, early 20th century, was an anathema to some extent. A ruler that had no responsibility to answer to his subjects was a difficult political stance. Nicholas should have been a farmer. He was a good man and he liked that idea. Alexandra was kind, but her self absorption and her over used hysteria and lack of knowledge of her surroundings made her a failure, also. Their deaths were a travesty in justice.

[LadyFinn]

From the Instagram of Håkan Groth, a swedish born antique expert and dealer, author and photographer.

At Tullgarn Palace, Sweden. From 1909:
A page open in the guestbook at Tullgarn with the signatures of the last Russian Imperial family's visit 28 June (15 June Russian date) aboard their ship Standart. 'Nicolas, Alexandra, Olga, Tatiana, Marie, Anastasia and A (for Alexis)'. This was their last official foreign state visit.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXdgDeEn...by=hakan_groth

[XeniaCasaraghi]

I'm reading Massie again, it's like my third time. I was wondering if somebody could give me a good definition of Cossack. The word frequently appears in the book and this time I would like to know what significance they have to the story.

[COUNTESS]

Cossacks by the 18th Century had been transformed into a semi military state down in the Ural Basin. Kind of like Knights of the medieval times. During the Tsarist times they were used as police and anti-terrorist service. They guarded boarders and led attacks on what was considered undesirable to the Tsars, like Jews. They often instigated pogroms against them.

[MaiaMia_53]

Nicholas and Alexandra (Alix of Hesse, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria) were very much in love and well-suited, even if they did not have particularly strong or decisive personalities. Alexandra did come under the spell of Rasputin, but she should not be blamed for the Russian Revolution, nor for her family's eventual unconscionable and cruel slaughter.

The historical denigration of Alexandra reminds me of how Queen Marie Antoinette of France is always blamed for the French Revolution and for the way the revolutionary captors and guards sexually abused, starved and tortured her four-year-old son to death during his four years of despicable, isolated captivity.

Meanwhile, the aggressive, scheming, sexually promiscuous, powerful and victorious Catherine the Great of Russia (reputed to have had her husband killed prior to taking over the throne) is aggrandized and admired. She created The Hermitage and amassed great artworks by stealing from countries throughout Europe, Asia & Africa. Yeah sure she was great because she ruled with an iron fist and got away with it. Often those royal women who were less powerful or whose personalities were weaker are portrayed as villains when they were actually victims.

As far as the Russian Revolution, so many different historical factors were at play, and so many situations were out of the Tsar's control, even in spite of his and his wife's missteps and mistakes. It's an abiding shame that the British royals did not try to rescue their Romanov cousins in Russia. There was talk of trying to do so, but they dragged their feet because of not wanting the taint of 'overthrow by the people' to infect their rule in Britain. King George V of Britain and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia were first cousins (their mothers were sisters: Alexandra of Denmark who married Edward VII of Britain, and Dagmar of Denmark who married Emperor Alexander III of Russia looked strikingly alike, as did their sons George and Nicholas respectively).
http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/king...nicholas-1913/

[AristoCat]

The Romanovs could have been rescued and sent to any corner of that VAST empire. I am certain that they didn't need to come to Britain and I am certain if there had been any objections, George V would have ended up telling everyone that he was just getting a family member out of harms way and could have explained to the royalists that he was saving fellow royals. The Danes tried to save them despite not having an empire.

[Iluvbertie]

Had George even tried to rescue the Tsar he may very well have found himself without a throne or empire - that is the reason why he withdrew his invitation - he was told that should he try to get them out he would be seen as a supporter of a ruthless autocrat and that wouldn't have gone down well given the political situation in the UK at the time.

As for sending them to somewhere else in the Empire - the dominions would have certainly said 'no way' and the others states would have been too 'backward' for the Russians - can you really see them settling down to live in the Caribbean or on a Pacific Islands.

Australia, Canada and New Zealand were all self-governing dominions with total control over who entered their countries.

I notice that no one suggests that the US could have taken them - Wilson who advocated so much for people's rights etc didn't lift a finger either. The supposed country that accepted anyone refused as well.

That says a lot about what democratic countries believed about the Tsar - he was a pretty awful ruler who was responsible for the repression of his people. He refused to share power and so was worse even than the Kaiser.

There was no where that would take the Tsar - simple statement.

[MaiaMia_53]

^^ What are you, an authoritative expert historian on Russian and World history during that period?!

[Pranter]

If you hang around and read you'll find that there are a few folks here that are very very knowledgeable about historical issues.


LaRae

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

^^ What are you, an authoritative expert historian on Russian and World history during that period?!

If that last comment is directed at me - the answer is 'ummm' - Yes if you count a Masters Degree in Russian and British history in the 19th and early 20th century as an expert.

Just so you know - I have two Masters Degree - one in education and one in History.

I also have a Bachelor's degree in History - with an emphasis on the Tudors and Stuarts.

I am also just starting my Ph.D in English/British royal history.

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

If that last comment is directed at me - the answer is 'ummm' - Yes if you count a Masters Degree in Russian and British history in the 19th and early 20th century as an expert.

Just so you know - I have two Masters Degree - one in education and one in History.

I also have a Bachelor's degree in History - with an emphasis on the Tudors and Stuarts.

I am also just starting my Ph.D in English/British royal history.

Booom!! 😎😆

[Tsaritsa]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

If that last comment is directed at me - the answer is 'ummm' - Yes if you count a Masters Degree in Russian and British history in the 19th and early 20th century as an expert.

Just so you know - I have two Masters Degree - one in education and one in History.

I also have a Bachelor's degree in History - with an emphasis on the Tudors and Stuarts.

I am also just starting my Ph.D in English/British royal history.

HUGE respect..................and excellent response

[Furienna]

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

Nicholas and Alexandra (Alix of Hesse, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria) were very much in love and well-suited, even if they did not have particularly strong or decisive personalities. Alexandra did come under the spell of Rasputin, but she should not be blamed for the Russian Revolution, nor for her family's eventual unconscionable and cruel slaughter.

Well said!

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

The historical denigration of Alexandra reminds me of how Queen Marie Antoinette of France is always blamed for the French Revolution and for the way the revolutionary captors and guards sexually abused, starved and tortured her four-year-old son to death during his four years of despicable, isolated captivity.

Meanwhile, the aggressive, scheming, sexually promiscuous, powerful and victorious Catherine the Great of Russia (reputed to have had her husband killed prior to taking over the throne) is aggrandized and admired. She created The Hermitage and amassed great artworks by stealing from countries throughout Europe, Asia & Africa. Yeah sure she was great because she ruled with an iron fist and got away with it. Often those royal women who were less powerful or whose personalities were weaker are portrayed as villains when they were actually victims.

Actually, I believe that there has always been some sympathy for Marie Antoinette and Alexandra. After all, they both were brutally executed. And on the other side of the coin, I believe that people are perfectly willing to admit that Catherine the Great made her fair share of transgressions.

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

As far as the Russian Revolution, so many different historical factors were at play, and so many situations were out of the Tsar's control, even in spite of his and his wife's missteps and mistakes.

Absolutely.

Originally Posted by MaiaMia_53

It's an abiding shame that the British royals did not try to rescue their Romanov cousins in Russia. There was talk of trying to do so, but they dragged their feet because of not wanting the taint of 'overthrow by the people' to infect their rule in Britain. King George V of Britain and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia were first cousins (their mothers were sisters: Alexandra of Denmark who married Edward VII of Britain, and Dagmar of Denmark who married Emperor Alexander III of Russia looked strikingly alike, as did their sons George and Nicholas respectively).
King George V and his physically similar cousin Tsar Nicholas II in German military uniforms in Berlin, 1913

George V unfortunately felt that he had to make that sacrifice to save his own family, not to mention all of his relatives, who were his subjects and relied on his guidance and protection, from a revolution like the one in Russia. He also pretty much forced his aunt Dagmar (Nicholas's mother) to move to Denmark, when she became too controversial in the UK. He surely did not want his cousins in Russia to be killed, but his duty was to save his own country and his subjects.

[Pranter]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

If that last comment is directed at me - the answer is 'ummm' - Yes if you count a Masters Degree in Russian and British history in the 19th and early 20th century as an expert.

Just so you know - I have two Masters Degree - one in education and one in History.

I also have a Bachelor's degree in History - with an emphasis on the Tudors and Stuarts.

I am also just starting my Ph.D in English/British royal history.

Have you started writing anything yet?


LaRae

[rominet09]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

If that last comment is directed at me - the answer is 'ummm' - Yes if you count a Masters Degree in Russian and British history in the 19th and early 20th century as an expert.

Just so you know - I have two Masters Degree - one in education and one in History.

I also have a Bachelor's degree in History - with an emphasis on the Tudors and Stuarts.

I am also just starting my Ph.D in English/British royal history.

Very impressed ! Very useful to have a real expert here ! You are very welcome here

[Iluvbertie]

I am still researching for the actual focus of my Ph.D. I only started it in February this year and have 5 years to finish it and can apply for an extension as I work full time.

I do have some pre-research essays to write by the end of next year - on the research process but the final writing won't probably start until the year after next. My supervisor has given me a broad timeline in which to have various things finished and I am ahead of schedule at the moment ...

[COUNTESS]

I don't think they imagined the murder of the family in total. George wanted to save his job, I don't think he ever thought his life was in danger. The English would not have shot the Newly minted Windsors, but it could have jeopardized the Monarchy as it were. And blame must also fall on the Tsar himself. In the early Kerensky days, getting them out would have been easier and the Kaiser made a genuine offer that was refused by Alexandra out of hand. And the Kaiser could have done it. So, knowing to run when you should is also a culprit. The Tsar must have known from the onset his life was, certainly, in danger, as was his wife's. He never made a quick nor forceful decision and didn't at this time either.

[eya]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...II-s-gold.html

KGB file claims anti-Bolshevik soldier hid 26 boxes of Nicholas II's gold for safekeeping

The Central African Republic in Africa and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean issued commemorative stamps in honor of Tsar Nicholas and his family in 2018 who were murdered 100 years prior on 17 July 1918. .

Central African Republic and Maldives issued stamps in honor of 100th anniversary of Royal Martyrs / OrthoChristian.Com

[Alexey 1904]

I wouldn't believe anything the 'Daily Mail' says.

[JR76]

Michael of Greece said in a documentary that nuns visiting the Tsar & his family removed jewels & other valuables and his them in the area around Jekaterinburg. Though I'm not sure where he would have that information from.