The Mystery of the Romanov’s

1. The Mystery of the Romanov’s

2. Nicholas II was the last tsar of Russia He and has wife Tsarina Alexandra had five children Olga Tatiana Maria Anastasia Alexei The Royal Russian Family

3. Tatiana 1897-1918 Olga 1895-1918 Maria 1899-1918 Anastasia 1901-1918 Alexandra 1872-1918 Nicholas II 1868-1918 Alexei 1904-1918

4. Nicholas & Alexandra • On April 20, 1894, Czarevitch Nicholas II proposed to Princess Alexandra of Hesse. Although • seen by the Russian people as a cold, unhappy German princess • numerous letters document a lifelong love that existed between "Niki" and "Alix."

5. The Romanov Children • The Czar and Czarina Alexandra produced five children. • The first two daughters, known as the "Big Pair," were named Olga and Tatiana. • The next two daughters – the "Little Pair" – were Maria and Anastasia. • Then finally an heir to the throne, Prince Alexei, was born.

11. The Royal Family • Alexei, the only son, destined to be the next tsar, had hemophilia • Virtually untreatable and usually led to untimely death • In desperation, Alexandria began to rely on Rasputin, a mystic, who seemed to be able to help Alexei during bleeding episodes

12. Rasputin • healer for the young Alexei • Called upon when doctors couldn’t help him with his hemophilia • Alexandra believed that Rasputin was the only one who could cure Alexei • He warned that the destiny of both the Tsarevich and the Romanov dynasty were "irrevocably linked to him"

13. Problems for the Tsar • The mounting pressure of World War I and economic hardship led to massive discontent with the Tsar • In addition Alexandra began to consult Rasputin on domestic policy while the Tsar was absent leading troops in WW I, further alienating the Russian people • The Tsar was forced to abdicate in March, 1917

14. Rasputin’s Death • Russian officials decided that Rasputin should die • they fed Rasputin poisoned wine and tea cakes but they did not affect him • Dismayed, they shot him twice but he lived • it was only when they bound his body and threw it into the Neva River that he died.

15. Final Days • Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks took full control of the revolution and sought to govern the land.

16. Final Days • Family put under house arrest by the Bolsheviks • Became a problem for Lenin • Many still saw Nicholas as the legitimate ruler of Russia

17. Execution • On the night of July 17th, the family was awoken and told that there was trouble and that they would be safer in the basement • The whole family, the family doctor,and three servants went to the basement. A group of twelve Red Army soldiers appeared in the basement and shot those there. • The legend has it that the princesses had to be finished off with bayonets as they had stuffed jewels in their blouses which had deflected the bullets. • According to the Yurovsky (the man who carried out the execution) the bodies were soaked in acid, burned, and thrown down a mineshaft

18. Execution Room

19. Missing Bodies • The next morning, fearing the discovery of the bodies, Yurovsky ordered the bodies retrieved to be buried elsewhere • However, the vehicle carrying the bodies broke down and they were buried in a pit along a cart track

20. Locating the Remains • In 1979 a grave was discovered and believed to contain the bodies of the Tsar, his family and servants • Authenticity of the remains was questioned • Only nine bodies were found. (Yurovsky explained that two of the bodies were incinerated and not removed from the mineshaft) • Popular rumor that Anastasia had miraculously been survived • In 1995 and the fall of the Soviet Union that permission was given for the bodies to be exhumed and examined

21. Authentication of the Remains • Fingerprints • Dental records • Physical Inspection • Evidence of crushing blows, bayonet thrusts and bullet wounds were apparent and consistent with reports of the execution

22. Authentication of the Remains • Reconstruction of the remains • Nine skeletons were painstakingly reconstructed from 700 bone fragments which were consistent with ages and genders of those known to be executed

23. Authentication of the Remains • Nuclear DNA Fingerprinting • Proved that three young women were the daughters of one of the adult males • Insufficient DNA for complete analysis

24. Authentication of the Remains • Mitochondrial DNA Analysis • Mitochondrial DNA from living and dead (but known relatives) of the Tsar & his family established that the remains were indeed theirs