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Nicholas II, b. 1868, r. 1894-1917 executed 17 July 1918. Young Tsarevich, 1868-1894. Цесаревич Николай Александрович , “ Горный пейзаж ” Подпись на рисунке: «Ники. 1886. 22 июля» . First born son of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna (Princess Dagmar of Denmark)
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Young Tsarevich, 1868-1894 Цесаревич Николай Александрович , “Горный пейзаж” Подпись на рисунке: «Ники. 1886. 22 июля» First born son of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna (Princess Dagmar of Denmark) Cousin to George V of Britain and Wilhelm II of Germany Close to his father, but envied his strength Close to his mother Good family man Amateur painter Received a serious, broad education (but only to age 20): e.g. mastered German, French, and English
World tour and assassins • Alex III gave him a ship to travel the world. • Britain, Austria-Hungary, Greece, Egypt, India, China and (finally) Japan • April 1891: Ōtsu incident • Tsuda Sanzo, escort police • Prince George • rickshaw drivers • Vladivostok: Trans-Siberian Railway
Nicholas and Alexandra, 1894-1918 Met in 1884 Fell in love Alexander III refused engagement without conversion April 1894: engaged Spent long summer at Livadia, Crimea, with ailing Alexander III
Death of Alexander III, 20 Oct. 1894 “My God, my God, what a day! The Lord took away our beloved, saintly, blessed Papa. My head spins, I do not want to believe it - it seems an implausible, terrible reality. All morning we spent upstairs near him! His breathing was difficult, taking oxygen more often. About 3:30 [pm], he took communion from father Tyne; and soon began light cramps ... and then the end quickly came! Father John for over an hour stood at his bedside and held his head. This was the death of a saint! Lord, help us in these difficult days! Poor dear mother! .. .Evening at 9:30 was a memorial service - in the same bedroom! I felt like the dead. And dear Alix again has sore feet! Gave a night-time confession.” From Nicholas II’s diary, 20 October 1894 entry
1894: Nicholas II comes to the throne • Nicholas caught unawares • Insufficient education and time • No independent political views • Focused on the wedding: • Orthodox church made an exception • 21 October: converted, Alice became Alexandra • 14 November: married “We sat all evening and responded to the telegrams. Dined at 8 pm, fell asleep early, because she had a severe headache!”
Nicholas II’s political philosophy January 1895: "... it has come to my knowledge that during the last months there have been heard in some assemblies of the zemstvos the voices of those who have indulged in senseless [groundless] dreams that the zemstvos be called upon to participate in the government of the country. I want everyone to know that I will devote all my strength to maintain, for the good of the whole nation, the principle of absolute autocracy, as firmly and as strongly as did my late, lamented father."
Khodynka Tragedy, 18 May 1896 • 14 May 1896: coronation • Riot started by rumors of not enough food • Police attempted to control crowd • 1400 trampled to death • Bad omen for new tsar Nicholas’s diary (18 May 1896): “So far, everything went, thank God, like clockwork, but today a great sin occurred. A crowd spent the night at Khodynka field, in anticipation of receiving lunch and mugs... and then there was a terrible crush, and, terribly, about 1300 people were trampled! I learned this at 10:30 am, and the news left a repulsive impression. At 12:30 pm had breakfast and then Alix and I went to Khodynka to be present at this sad “people’s celebration". Actually, there was nothing there; we looked out from the pavilion at the huge crowd that surrounded the stage, where music was being played... We ate at Mama’s at 8 pm. Then we went to the ball at Montebello [French Ambassador]. It was very nicely arranged, but the heat was unbearable.”
Children • Olga (3 Nov. 1895) • Tatyana (29 May 1897) • Maria (14 June 1899) • Anastasiya (5 June 1901) • Aleksey (30 July 1904) • “The Royal Disease”: haemophilia • Queen Victoria • Daughter Alice • Daughter Alexandra
Grigori Rasputin, 1869-1916 Born a peasant in western Siberia Siblings died when young Spent time in monastery Became a strannik (pilgrim) or starets (holy man) 1903 came to St. Petersburg 1905 began “healing” Alexei “our friend” Helped to destroy Romanovs’ legitimacy.