The standard of education. The family of the last emperor of the Romanov dynasty - Nicholas II
The birth of children is a joy, and in the imperial family it is a double joy, especially if a boy is born, since the boys ensured the "stability" of the ruling dynasty. In general, since the time of Paul I, who had four sons, the problem of the heir throughout the 19th century. It was not relevant for the imperial family. There was always a “reserve” in a straight descending line, which made it possible, painlessly for the country, to replace emperors or crown princes who “dropped out” for various reasons.
All Russian empresses gave birth at home, that is, in those imperial residences in which they found themselves at the time of childbirth. As a rule, during childbirth or in the immediate vicinity of the delivery room, all relatives who happened to be nearby were present. And the husband literally “held his wife by the hand” while in the maternity ward. This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, in order to verify the truth of the birth and the heir.
Beginning with Paul I, all imperial families had many children. There was no question of any birth control. Empresses, princesses and grand duchesses gave birth, how many "God gave." The exemplary family man Nicholas I and his wife had 7 children, four sons and three daughters. In the family of Alexander II and Empress Maria Alexandrovna, despite the poor health of the latter, there were eight children - two daughters and six sons. The family of Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna had six children, one of whom died at an early age. There are three sons and two daughters left in the family. Five children were born in the family of Nicholas II. For Nicholas, the absence of an heir could turn into serious political consequences - numerous male relatives from the younger branches of the Romanov dynasty were ready with a great desire to inherit the throne, which did not suit the royal spouses at all.
The birth of children in the family of Nicholas II.
The first childbirth of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was difficult. Nikolai's diary mentions time - from one in the morning until late in the evening, almost a day. As the younger sister of the king, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, recalled, “the baby was dragged with tongs.” Late in the evening of November 3, 1895, the Empress gave birth to a girl, whom her parents named Olga. Pathological childbirth, apparently, was due to both the poor health of the Empress, who at the time of childbirth was 23 years old, and the fact that from adolescence she suffered from sacro-lumbar pain. Pain in her legs haunted her all her life. Therefore, households often saw her in a wheelchair. After a difficult birth, the Empress “got on her feet” only by November 18, and immediately sits in a wheelchair. “I sat with Alix, who rode in a rolling chair and even visited me.”
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna
The Empress gave birth again less than two years later. This pregnancy was also difficult. In the early stages of pregnancy, doctors feared a miscarriage, since the documents dully mention that the Empress got out of bed only on January 22, 1897, i.e. stayed for about 7 weeks. Tatyana was born on May 29, 1897 in the Alexander Palace, where the Family moved for the summer. Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich wrote in his diary: “In the morning, God gave Their Majesties ... a daughter. The news spread quickly and everyone was disappointed as they were expecting a son.”
Grand Duchess Tatyana Nikolaevna
In November 1998, it turned out that the Empress was pregnant for the third time. As with the first birth, she immediately sits in a stroller, as she cannot walk because of pain in her legs, and travels around the halls of the Winter Palace "in armchairs." On June 14, 1899, the third daughter, Maria, was born in Peterhof. The series of daughters in the royal family caused a steady mood of disappointment in society. Even the closest relatives of the king in their diaries repeatedly noted that the news of the birth of another daughter caused a sigh of disappointment throughout the country.
Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna
The start of the fourth pregnancy was confirmed by court physicians in the fall of 1900. The expectation became unbearable. In the diary of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich it is written: “She has become very prettier ... therefore, everyone tremblingly hopes. That this time there will be a son. On June 5, 1901, the fourth daughter of the Tsar, Anastasia, was born in Peterhof. From the diary of Xenia Alexandrovna: “Alix feels great - but, my God! What a disappointment! Fourth girl!
Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna
The empress herself was in despair. Her fifth pregnancy began in November 1901. Since the royal family associated this pregnancy exclusively with the “passes” of the court psychic Philip, she was hidden even from her closest relatives. On the recommendation of Philip, the Empress did not allow medical doctors to visit her until August 1902, i.e. almost to term. Meanwhile, the birth did not come. Finally, the empress agreed to let herself be examined. Life obstetrician Ott, after the examination, Alix announced that "the Empress is not pregnant and was not pregnant." This news struck a terrible blow to the psyche of Alexandra Fedorovna. The child she had been carrying since November was simply gone. It came as a shock to everyone. The official Government Gazette published a message that the empress's pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. After that, the police ordered to exclude from the opera "Tsar Saltan" the words "the queen gave birth on the night of either a son, or a daughter, not a dog, not a frog, so, an unknown little animal."
The Empress with Tsarevich Alexei
It is paradoxical that after an unsuccessful pregnancy, the empress did not lose faith in Philip. In 1903, following the advice of Philip, the whole family visited the Sarov Hermitage. After visiting the village of Diveeva, the empress became pregnant for the sixth time. This pregnancy ended with the successful birth of Tsarevich Alexei on July 30, 1904. Nikolai wrote in his diary: “An unforgettable great day for us, on which the mercy of God so clearly visited us. At 1.4 days, Alix had a son, who, during prayer, was named Alexei. It all happened remarkably soon—for me, at least.” The Empress gave birth to an heir very easily "in half an hour." In her notebook she wrote: "weight - 4660, length - 58, head circumference - 38, chest - 39, on Friday, July 30, at 1:15 in the afternoon." Against the backdrop of the festive bustle of the royal parents, they were worried that the alarming signs of a terrible illness would not appear. A number of documents testify that the parents found out about hemophilia in the heir literally on the day of his birth - the baby had bleeding from the umbilical wound.
Tsesarevich Alexei
Igor Zimin, "Children's World of Imperial Residences".
The upbringing he received under the guidance of his father was strict, almost harsh. “I need normal healthy Russian children” - such a requirement was put forward by the emperor to the educators of his children. Such an upbringing could only be Orthodox in spirit. Even as a small child, the Tsarevich showed a special love for God, for His Church. The heir received a very good education at home - he knew several languages, studied Russian and world history, was deeply versed in military affairs, and was a widely erudite person. But the plans of the father to prepare his son for bearing the royal duty were not destined to be fully realized.
The first meeting of the sixteen-year-old heir Nicholas Alexandrovich and the young princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt took place in the year when her older sister, the future Reverend Martyr Elizabeth, married Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, the uncle of the Tsarevich. A strong friendship began between them, which later turned into a deep and ever-growing love. When in a year, having reached the age of majority, the heir turned to his parents with a request to bless him for marriage with Princess Alice, his father refused, citing his youth as the reason for the refusal. Then he resigned himself to his father's will, but in the year, seeing the unshakable determination of his son, usually gentle and even timid in communication with his father, Emperor Alexander III gave his blessing to the marriage.
The joy of mutual love was overshadowed by a sharp deterioration in the health of Emperor Alexander III, who died on October 20 of the year. Despite the mourning, it was decided not to postpone the marriage, but it took place in the most modest atmosphere on November 14 of the year. The days of family happiness that followed were soon replaced by the need for the new emperor to take on the entire burden of governing the Russian Empire, despite the fact that he had not yet been fully introduced to the course of higher state affairs.
Reign
The character of Nikolai Alexandrovich, who was twenty-six years old at the accession to the throne, and his worldview by this time were completely determined. The faces that stood close to the court marked his lively mind - he always quickly grasped the essence of the issues reported to him, an excellent memory, especially for faces, the nobility of his way of thinking. At the same time, Nikolai Alexandrovich, with his gentleness, tact in handling, and modest manners, gave the impression to many of a man who did not inherit the strong will of his father.
The guide for Emperor Nicholas II was the political testament of his father:
“I bequeath to you to love everything that serves the good, honor and dignity of Russia. Protect the autocracy, remembering, moreover, that you are responsible for the fate of your subjects before the Throne of the Most High. Faith in God and the holiness of your royal duty be the foundation of your life for you. Be firm and courageous, never show weakness. Listen to everyone, there is nothing shameful in this, but listen to yourself and your conscience ".
From the very beginning of his reign as a Russian power, Emperor Nicholas II treated the performance of the duties of the monarch as a sacred duty. The sovereign deeply believed that for the Russian people the royal power was and remains sacred. He always had the idea that the king and queen should be closer to the people, see them more often and trust them more. Having become the supreme ruler of a vast empire, Nikolai Alexandrovich took upon himself an enormous historical and moral responsibility for everything that happened in the state entrusted to him. One of his most important duties he considered the preservation of the Orthodox faith.
Emperor Nicholas II paid great attention to the needs of the Orthodox Church throughout his reign. Like all Russian emperors, he generously donated to the construction of new churches, including those outside Russia. During the years of his reign, the number of parish churches in the empire increased by more than 10 thousand, more than 250 new monasteries were opened. He himself participated in the laying of new churches and other church celebrations. The personal piety of the Sovereign was also manifested in the fact that during the years of his reign more saints were canonized than in the two previous centuries, when only 5 saints were glorified - during his reign, St. Theodosius of Chernigov (g.), Rev. Seraphim of Sarov (city), Holy Princess Anna of Kashinskaya (restoration of veneration in the city), Saint Joasaph of Belgorod (city), Saint Hermogenes of Moscow (city), Saint Pitirim of Tambov (city), Saint John of Tobolsk (city) . At the same time, the emperor was forced to show special perseverance, seeking the canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Sts. Joasaph of Belgorod and John of Tobolsk. Emperor Nicholas II highly revered the holy righteous father John of Kronstadt and after his blessed death ordered that his nationwide prayer commemoration be performed on the day of repose.
During the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, the synodal system of governing the Church was preserved, but it was under him that the church hierarchy got the opportunity not only to widely discuss, but also to practically prepare the convocation of the Local Council.
The desire to introduce Christian religious and moral principles of one's worldview into public life has always distinguished the foreign policy of Emperor Nicholas II. Back in the year, he turned to the governments of Europe with a proposal to convene a conference to discuss issues of maintaining peace and reducing armaments. The consequence of this was the peace conferences in The Hague in 1997, whose decisions have not lost their significance to this day.
But, despite the sovereign's sincere desire for peace, during his reign Russia had to participate in two bloody wars that led to internal unrest. In the year without a declaration of war, Japan began hostilities against Russia, and the result of this difficult war for Russia was the revolutionary turmoil of the year. The sovereign perceived the unrest that took place in the country as a great personal grief.
In an informal setting, few spoke with the Sovereign. And everyone who knew his family life firsthand noted the amazing simplicity, mutual love and consent of all members of this closely knit family. The relationship of the children with the sovereign was touching - for them he was at the same time king, father and comrade; their feelings changed depending on the circumstances, passing from almost religious worship to complete gullibility and the most cordial friendship.
But the center of the family was Alexei Nikolaevich, on whom all affections and hopes were concentrated. His incurable illness darkened the life of the family, but the nature of the illness remained a state secret, and parents often had to hide their feelings. At the same time, the illness of the Tsarevich opened the doors to the palace for those people who were recommended to the royal family as healers and prayer books. Among them, the peasant Grigory Rasputin appears in the palace, whose healing abilities gave him great influence at court, which, together with the bad fame that spread about him, undermined the faith and loyalty of many to the imperial house.
At the beginning of the war, on the wave of patriotism in Russia, internal disagreements largely subsided, even the most difficult issues became solvable. It was possible to carry out the sovereign's long-conceived ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages for the entire duration of the war - his conviction in the usefulness of this measure was stronger than all economic considerations.
The sovereign regularly traveled to Headquarters, visited various sectors of his huge army, dressing stations, military hospitals, rear factories - everything that played a role in waging a grandiose war.
From the beginning of the war, the emperor considered his tenure as supreme commander in chief as the fulfillment of a moral and state duty to God and the people. However, the Sovereign always gave the leading military experts a broad initiative in resolving all military-strategic and operational-tactical issues. On August 22, the sovereign left for Mogilev in order to take command of all the armed forces of Russia, and from that day on he was constantly at Headquarters. Only about once a month did the Emperor come to Tsarskoye Selo for a few days. All responsible decisions were made by him, but at the same time he instructed the empress to maintain relations with the ministers and keep him informed of what was happening in the capital.
Imprisonment and execution
“If I am an obstacle to the happiness of Russia and all the social forces now at the head of it ask me to leave the throne and pass it on to my son and brother, then I am ready to do this, I am ready not only to give my kingdom, but also to give my life for the Motherland. I think no one doubts this from those who know me..
“You need my renunciation. The bottom line is that in the name of saving Russia and keeping the army at the front in peace, you need to decide on this step. I agreed ... At one in the morning I left Pskov with a heavy feeling of what I had experienced. Around treason and cowardice and deceit!
For the last time, he turned to his troops, calling on them to be loyal to the Provisional Government, the very one that arrested him, to fulfill their duty to the Motherland until complete victory. The farewell order to the troops, which expressed the nobility of the Sovereign's soul, his love for the army, faith in it, was hidden from the people by the Provisional Government, which banned its publication.
The sovereign accepted and endured all the trials sent down to him firmly, meekly and without a shadow of grumbling. On March 9, the emperor, who had been arrested the day before, was transported to Tsarskoe Selo, where the whole family was impatiently waiting for him. An almost five-month period of indefinite stay in Tsarskoye Selo began. The days passed measuredly - in regular worship, joint meals, walks, reading and communication with loved ones. However, at the same time, the life of the prisoners was subjected to petty embarrassments - the sovereign was announced by A.F. Kerensky that he should live separately and see the empress only at the table, and speak only in Russian, guard soldiers made rude remarks to him, access to the palace persons close to the royal family were forbidden. Once, the soldiers even took away a toy gun from the heir under the pretext of a ban on carrying weapons. Father Afanasy Belyaev, who regularly performed divine services in the Alexander Palace during this period, left his testimonies about the spiritual life of the Tsarskoye Selo prisoners. Here is how the service of Good Friday Matins on March 30 took place in the palace:
“The service went on reverently and touchingly ... Their Majesties listened to the entire service while standing. Folding lecterns were placed in front of them, on which the Gospels lay, so that they could follow the reading. Everyone stood until the end of the service and left through the common hall to their rooms. One must see for oneself and be so close in order to understand and make sure how the former royal family zealously, in the Orthodox way, often on their knees, prays to God. With what humility, meekness, humility, completely surrendering themselves to the will of God, they stand behind the divine service!.
In the palace Church or in the former royal chambers, Father Athanasius regularly served the All-Night and Divine Liturgy, which were always attended by all members of the imperial family. After the day of the Holy Trinity, disturbing messages appear more and more often in the diary of Father Athanasius - he notes the growing irritation of the guards, sometimes reaching rudeness towards the royal family. The state of mind of the members of the royal family does not remain without his attention - yes, they all suffered, he notes, but along with suffering, their patience and prayer increased.
Meanwhile, the Provisional Government appointed a commission to investigate the activities of the emperor, but, despite all efforts, they could not find at least something discrediting the king. However, instead of releasing the royal family, it was decided to remove them from Tsarskoe Selo - on the night of August 1, they were sent to Tobolsk, allegedly due to possible unrest, and arrived there on August 6. The first weeks of his stay in Tobolsk were perhaps the calmest for the entire period of imprisonment. On September 8, the feast day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the prisoners were allowed to go to church for the first time. Subsequently, this consolation very rarely fell to their lot.
“He made this decision [on renunciation] only in the hope that those who wanted his removal would still be able to continue the war with honor and not ruin the cause of saving Russia. He was then afraid that his refusal to sign the renunciation would lead to civil war in the sight of the enemy. The tsar did not want even a drop of Russian blood to be shed because of him ... It was painful for the emperor to now see the futility of his sacrifice and realize that, having in mind then only the good of the motherland, he harmed her by his renunciation ".
Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks had already come to power in Petrograd - a period had come, about which the Sovereign wrote in his diary: "much worse and more shameful than the events of the Time of Troubles." The soldiers guarding the governor's house were imbued with affection for the royal family, and several months passed after the Bolshevik coup before the change of power began to affect the situation of the prisoners. In Tobolsk, a “soldier’s committee” was formed, which, in every possible way striving for self-affirmation, demonstrated its power over the Sovereign - either they forced him to remove his shoulder straps, or they destroyed the ice hill arranged for the royal children, and from March 1, “Nikolai Romanov and his family are transferred to soldier's pack." The letters and diaries of members of the imperial family testify to the deep experience of the tragedy that unfolded before their eyes. But this tragedy did not deprive the royal prisoners of strength of mind, firm faith and hope for God's help. Consolation and meekness in enduring sorrows were provided by prayer, the reading of spiritual books, divine services and Communion. In sufferings and trials, spiritual knowledge, knowledge of oneself, of one's soul, multiplied. Striving for eternal life helped endure suffering and gave great consolation:
“... Everything that I love suffers, there is no count of all the dirt and suffering, and the Lord does not allow despondency: He protects from despair, gives strength, confidence in a bright future still in this world”.
In March, it became known that a separate peace was concluded with Germany in Brest, about which the sovereign wrote that this was "tantamount to suicide." The first Bolshevik detachment arrived in Tobolsk on Tuesday 22 April. Commissar Yakovlev examined the house, got acquainted with the prisoners, and a few days later announced that he had to take the Sovereign away, assuring him that nothing bad would happen to him. Assuming that they want to send him to Moscow to sign a separate peace with Germany, the sovereign said firmly: "I'd rather let my hand be cut off than sign this shameful treaty." The heir was sick at that time, and it was impossible to take him, but the Empress and Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna followed the emperor and were transported to Yekaterinburg, to be imprisoned in the Ipatiev house. When the health of the Heir recovered, the rest of the family from Tobolsk were imprisoned in the same house, but most of those close to them were not allowed.
Much less evidence remains about the Yekaterinburg period of imprisonment of the Imperial Family - there are almost no letters, basically this period is known only from brief entries in the diary of the emperor and the testimony of witnesses. Especially valuable is the testimony of Archpriest John Storozhev, who performed the last divine services in the Ipatiev House. Father John served there twice on Sundays at Mass; for the first time it was on May 20 (June 2), when, according to his testimony, members of the royal family "Prayed very earnestly ...". Living conditions in the "special purpose house" were much more difficult than in Tobolsk. The guard consisted of 12 soldiers who lived in close proximity to the prisoners, ate with them at the same table. Commissar Avdeev, an inveterate drunkard, daily contrived, together with his subordinates, to invent new humiliations for the prisoners. I had to put up with hardships, endure bullying and obey the demands of rude people, including former criminals. The royal couple and princesses had to sleep on the floor, without beds. At dinner, a family of seven was given only five spoons; The guards sitting at the same table smoked, brazenly exhaling smoke in the faces of the prisoners, and rudely took away their food. A walk in the garden was allowed once a day, at first for 15-20 minutes, and then no more than five. The behavior of the guards was completely obscene.
Only doctor Yevgeny Botkin remained next to the royal family, who surrounded the prisoners with care and acted as an intermediary between them and the commissars, trying to protect them from the rudeness of the guards, and several tried and true servants.
The faith of the prisoners supported their courage, gave them strength and patience in suffering. All of them understood the possibility of a speedy end and expected it with nobility and clarity of spirit. In one of Olga Nikolaevna's letters there are the following lines:
“The father asks to convey to all those who remained devoted to him, and to those on whom they can have influence, so that they do not avenge him, since he has forgiven everyone and prays for everyone, and that they do not avenge themselves, and that they remember that the evil that is now in the world will be even stronger, but that it is not evil that will overcome evil, but only love..
Most of the testimonies speak of the prisoners of the Ipatiev House as suffering people, but deeply believing, undoubtedly submissive to the will of God. Despite bullying and insults, they led a decent family life in the Ipatiev house, trying to brighten up the oppressive atmosphere with mutual communication, prayer, reading and feasible activities. One of the witnesses of their life in captivity, the educator of the heir, Pierre Gilliard, wrote:
“The Sovereign and Empress believed that they were dying martyrs for their homeland ... Their true greatness did not stem from their royal dignity, but from that amazing moral height to which they gradually rose ... And in their very humiliation they were an amazing manifestation of that amazing clarity of the soul, against which all violence and all rage are powerless, and which triumphs in death itself..
Even the rude guards gradually softened in dealing with the prisoners. They were surprised by their simplicity, they were subdued by the full dignity of spiritual clarity, and they soon felt the superiority of those whom they thought to keep in their power. Even Commissar Avdeev relented. Such a change did not escape the eyes of the Bolshevik authorities. Avdeev was replaced by Yurovsky, the guards were replaced by Austro-German prisoners and selected people from among the executioners of the "emergency". The life of its inhabitants turned into a continuous martyrdom. On July 1 (14), Father John Storozhev performed the last divine service in the Ipatiev House. Meanwhile, in the strictest confidence from the prisoners, preparations were made for their execution.
Together with the imperial family, their servants, who followed their masters into exile, were also shot: Dr.
Nicholas II and his family
They died martyrs for humanity. Their true greatness did not stem from their royal dignity, but from the amazing moral heights to which they gradually rose. They have become the perfect force. And in their very humiliation, they were a striking manifestation of that amazing clarity of the soul, against which all violence and all rage are powerless, and which triumphs in death itself ”(Tsarevich Alexei’s teacher Pierre Gilliard). 
Nicholas II Alexandrovich Romanov
Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov (Nicholas II) was born on May 6 (18), 1868 in Tsarskoye Selo. He was the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna. He received a strict, almost harsh upbringing under the guidance of his father. “I need normal healthy Russian children,” Emperor Alexander III put forward such a demand to the educators of his children.
The future emperor Nicholas II received a good education at home: he knew several languages, studied Russian and world history, was deeply versed in military affairs, and was a widely erudite person.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
From the very beginning of his reign, Emperor Nicholas II treated the duties of the monarch as a sacred duty. He deeply believed that even for the 100-million Russian people, tsarist power was and remains sacred.
He had a lively mind - he always quickly grasped the essence of the issues reported to him, an excellent memory, especially for faces, the nobility of his way of thinking. But Nikolai Alexandrovich, with his gentleness, tact in handling, modest manners, gave the impression to many of a man who did not inherit the strong will of his father, who left him the following political testament: “I bequeath you to love everything that serves the good, honor and dignity of Russia. Protect autocracy, remembering that you are responsible for the fate of your subjects before the Throne of the Most High. Faith in God and the holiness of your royal duty be the foundation of your life for you. Be firm and courageous, never show weakness. Listen to everyone, there is nothing shameful in this, but listen to yourself and your conscience.
On November 3, 1895, the first daughter, Olga, was born in the family of Emperor Nicholas II; she was followed by Tatyana (May 29, 1897), Maria (June 14, 1899) and Anastasia (June 5, 1901). But the family was waiting for the heir.
On July 30 (August 12), 1904, the fifth child and the only, long-awaited son, Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich, appeared in Peterhof. The royal couple attended the glorification of Seraphim of Sarov on July 18, 1903 in Sarov, where the emperor and empress prayed for the granting of an heir. At birth, he was named Alexei - in honor of St. Alexis of Moscow. On the mother's side, Alexei inherited hemophilia, which was carried by some of the daughters and granddaughters of the English Queen Victoria. The disease became apparent in the Tsarevich already in the autumn of 1904, when a two-month-old baby began to bleed heavily. In 1912, while resting in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Tsarevich unsuccessfully jumped into a boat and severely injured his thigh: the hematoma that arose did not resolve for a long time, the child’s health was very difficult, and bulletins were officially published about him. There was a real threat of death.
The appearance of Alexei combined the best features of his father and mother. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, Alexei was a handsome boy, with a clean, open face.
The life of the family was not luxurious for the purpose of education - the parents were afraid that wealth and bliss would spoil the character of the children. The imperial daughters lived two by two in a room - on one side of the corridor there was a "big couple" (eldest daughters Olga and Tatiana), on the other - a "small" couple (younger daughters Maria and Anastasia).
In the younger sisters' room, the walls were painted gray, the ceiling was painted with butterflies, the furniture was white and green, simple and artless. The girls slept on folding army beds, each labeled with the owner's name, under thick monogrammed blue blankets. This tradition came from the time of Catherine the Great (she introduced such an order for the first time for her grandson Alexander). The beds could easily be moved to be closer to the warmth in winter, or even in my brother's room, next to the Christmas tree, and closer to the open windows in summer. Here, everyone had a small bedside table and sofas with small embroidered little thoughts. The walls were decorated with icons and photographs; the girls themselves loved to take pictures - a huge number of pictures have still been preserved, taken mainly in the Livadia Palace - a favorite vacation spot for the family. Parents tried to keep the children constantly busy with something useful, girls were taught to needlework.
As in simple poor families, the younger ones often had to wear out the things that the older ones grew out of. They also relied on pocket money, which could be used to buy each other small gifts.
The education of children usually began when they reached the age of 8. The first subjects were reading, calligraphy, arithmetic, the Law of God. Later, languages \u200b\u200bare added to this - Russian, English, French, and even later - German. Dancing, playing the piano, good manners, natural sciences and grammar were also taught to the imperial daughters.
Imperial daughters were ordered to get up at 8 o'clock in the morning, take a cold bath. Breakfast at 9 o'clock, second breakfast at one or half past twelve on Sundays. At 5 pm - tea, at 8 - common dinner. 
Everyone who knew the family life of the emperor noted the amazing simplicity, mutual love and consent of all family members. Aleksey Nikolayevich was its center; all attachments, all hopes were concentrated on him. In relation to the mother, the children were full of respect and courtesy. When the empress was unwell, the daughters arranged alternate duty with their mother, and the one who was on duty that day remained hopelessly with her. The relationship of the children with the sovereign was touching - for them he was at the same time king, father and comrade; their feelings for their father went from almost religious worship to complete gullibility and the most cordial friendship. A very important memory of the spiritual state of the royal family was left by the priest Afanasy Belyaev, who confessed the children before their departure to Tobolsk: “The impression of the confession turned out to be this: give, Lord, that all children are morally as high as the children of the former king. Such kindness, humility, obedience to parental will, devotion to the unconditional will of God, purity in thoughts and complete ignorance of earthly dirt - passionate and sinful - led me to amazement, and I was decidedly perplexed: should I, as a confessor, be reminded of sins, maybe they unknown, and how to dispose to repentance for the sins known to me.
A circumstance that constantly darkened the life of the imperial family was the incurable illness of the heir. Frequent attacks of hemophilia, during which the child experienced severe suffering, made everyone suffer, especially the mother. But the nature of the disease was a state secret, and parents often had to hide their feelings while participating in the normal routine of palace life. The Empress was well aware that medicine was powerless here. But, being a deep believer, she indulged in fervent prayer in anticipation of a miraculous healing. She was ready to believe anyone who was able to help her grief, somehow alleviate the suffering of her son: the illness of the Tsarevich opened the doors to the palace to those people who were recommended to the royal family as healers and prayer books. Among them, the peasant Grigory Rasputin appears in the palace, who was destined to play a role in the life of the royal family and in the fate of the whole country - but he had no right to claim this role.
Rasputin was presented as a kind holy old man helping Alexei. Under the influence of their mother, all four girls had complete confidence in him and shared all their simple secrets. Rasputin's friendship with the imperial children was evident from their correspondence. Those who sincerely loved the royal family tried to somehow limit the influence of Rasputin, but the empress resisted this very much, since the “holy old man” somehow knew how to alleviate the plight of Tsarevich Alexei.
Russia was at that time at the pinnacle of glory and power: industry developed at an unprecedented pace, the army and navy became more and more powerful, and agrarian reform was successfully implemented. It seemed that all internal problems would be safely resolved in the near future.
But this was not destined to come true: the First World War was brewing. Using as a pretext the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne by a terrorist, Austria attacked Serbia. Emperor Nicholas II considered it his Christian duty to stand up for the Orthodox Serbian brothers...
On July 19 (August 1), 1914, Germany declared war on Russia, which soon became a pan-European one. In August 1914, Russia launched a hasty offensive in East Prussia to help its ally France, which led to a heavy defeat. By autumn, it became clear that the near end of the war was not in sight. But with the outbreak of war, internal disagreements subsided in the country. Even the most difficult issues became solvable - it was possible to implement a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages for the entire duration of the war. The sovereign regularly travels to Headquarters, visits the army, dressing stations, military hospitals, rear factories. The Empress, having taken courses as sisters of mercy, along with her eldest daughters Olga and Tatyana, looked after the wounded in her Tsarskoye Selo infirmary for several hours a day.
According to the memoirs of contemporaries, following their mother, all the sisters sobbed bitterly on the day the First World War was declared. During the war, the empress gave many of the palace rooms for hospital premises. The older sisters Olga and Tatyana, together with their mother, became sisters of mercy; Maria and Anastasia became patronesses of the hospital and helped the wounded: they read to them, wrote letters to their relatives, gave their personal money to buy medicines, gave concerts to the wounded and did their best to distract them from their heavy thoughts. They spent their days in the hospital, reluctantly breaking away from work for the sake of lessons. 
On August 22, 1915, Nicholas II left for Mogilev to take command of all the armed forces of Russia and from that day on he was constantly at Headquarters, often with him was the heir. About once a month he came to Tsarskoe Selo for a few days. All responsible decisions were made by him, but at the same time he instructed the empress to maintain relations with the ministers and keep him informed of what was happening in the capital. She was the closest person to him, whom he could always rely on. Every day she sent detailed letters-reports to Headquarters, which was well known to the ministers.
The tsar spent January and February 1917 in Tsarskoye Selo. He felt that the political situation was becoming more and more tense, but he continued to hope that the feeling of patriotism would still prevail, he maintained faith in the army, whose situation had improved significantly. This raised hopes for the success of the great spring offensive, which would deal a decisive blow to Germany. But this was well understood by the forces hostile to him.
In the capital came complete anarchy. But Nicholas II and the army command believed that the Duma was in control of the situation; in telephone conversations with the chairman of the State Duma, M. V. Rodzianko, the emperor agreed to all concessions if the Duma could restore order in the country. The answer was: it's too late. Was it really so? After all, only Petrograd and its environs were embraced by the revolution, and the tsar's authority among the people and in the army was still great. The answer of the Duma confronted him with a choice: renunciation or an attempt to go to Petrograd with troops loyal to him - the latter meant a civil war, while the external enemy was within Russian borders.
Everyone around the king also convinced him that renunciation was the only way out. This was especially insisted on by the commanders of the fronts, whose demands were supported by the Chief of the General Staff, M. V. Alekseev. And after long and painful reflections, the emperor made a hard-won decision: to abdicate both for himself and for the heir, in view of his incurable illness, in favor of his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. On March 8, the commissars of the Provisional Government, having arrived in Mogilev, announced through General Alekseev that the emperor had been arrested and that he had to proceed to Tsarskoye Selo. For the last time, he turned to his troops, calling on them to be loyal to the Provisional Government, the very one that arrested him, to fulfill their duty to the Motherland until complete victory. The farewell order to the troops, which expressed the nobility of the emperor's soul, his love for the army, faith in it, was hidden from the people by the Provisional Government, which banned its publication. 
On the very day of his abdication, March 2, the same general recorded the words of the Minister of the Imperial Court, Count V.B. He was worried about the thought of a family that remained alone in Tsarskoye Selo, the children were sick. The sovereign suffers terribly, but he is such a person who will never show his grief in public. Nikolai is also restrained in his personal diary. Only at the very end of the recording for that day does his inner feeling break through: “My renunciation is needed. The bottom line is that in the name of saving Russia and keeping the army at the front in peace, you need to decide on this step. I agreed. A draft Manifesto was sent from Headquarters. In the evening, Guchkov and Shulgin arrived from Petrograd, with whom I spoke and handed them the signed and revised Manifesto. At one o'clock in the morning I left Pskov with a heavy feeling of what I had experienced. Around treason and cowardice and deceit!
From the moment of renunciation, the inner spiritual state of the emperor attracts the most attention. It seemed to him that he made the only right decision, but, nevertheless, he experienced severe mental anguish. “If I am an obstacle to the happiness of Russia and all the social forces now at the head of it ask me to leave the throne and pass it on to my son and brother, then I am ready to do this, I am ready not only to give my kingdom, but also to give my life for the Motherland. I think no one doubts this from those who know me, ”he said to General D.N. Dubensky.
The Provisional Government announced the arrest of Emperor Nicholas II and his wife and their detention in Tsarskoye Selo. Their arrest did not have the slightest legal basis or reason.
Nicholas returned a few days later. Life under house arrest began.
In March it became known that a separate peace with Germany was concluded in Brest. “This is such a shame for Russia and it is“ tantamount to suicide, ”the emperor gave such an assessment of this event. When a rumor spread that the Germans demanded that the Bolsheviks hand over the royal family to them, the empress declared: “I prefer to die in Russia than to be saved by the Germans.” The first Bolshevik detachment arrived in Tobolsk on Tuesday 22 April. Commissar Yakovlev inspects the house, gets acquainted with the prisoners. A few days later, he announces that he must take the emperor away, assuring him that nothing bad will happen to him. Assuming that they wanted to send him to Moscow to sign a separate peace with Germany, the emperor, who under no circumstances left his high spiritual nobility, firmly said: "I'd rather let my hand be cut off than sign this shameful treaty."
There is little evidence of the Yekaterinburg period of imprisonment of the royal family. Almost no letters. Basically, this period is known only from brief entries in the diary of the emperor and the testimony of witnesses in the case of the murder of the royal family.
All the prisoners understood the possibility of an early end. Once, Tsarevich Alexei said: “If they kill, if only they don’t torture ...” Almost in complete isolation, they showed nobility and fortitude. In one of the letters, Olga Nikolaevna says: “Father asks me to tell all those who remained devoted to him, and those on whom they can have influence, so that they do not avenge him, since he has forgiven everyone and prays for everyone, and so that avenged themselves, and to remember that the evil that is now in the world will be even stronger, but that it is not evil that will conquer evil, but only love. 
On December 12, Channel One will show an 8-episode dedicated to the last days of the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, as well as one of the most mysterious close associates of the royal family - the elder. Nicholas II and his family (wife and children) - the last representatives of the Romanov dynasty and the last rulers of the Russian Empire, who were shot by the Bolsheviks in July 1918.
In Soviet textbooks, the autocrat was presented as a “strangler of freedoms” who was not interested in state affairs, and the Russian Orthodox Church (though already today) canonized the tsar as a martyr and passion-bearer. Let's figure out how modern historians evaluate life and rule.
Life and reign of Nicholas II
TraditionNicholas - the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III - was born in Tsarskoye Selo on May 6 (18), 1868. The heir to the throne received a deep education at home: he knew several languages, world history, understood economics and military affairs. Together with his father, Nikolai made many trips to the provinces of Russia.
Tradition Alexander III did not make concessions: he wanted the offspring to behave like ordinary children - they played, fought, sometimes played pranks, but most importantly, they studied well and "did not think about any thrones."
Contemporaries described Nicholas II as very easy to communicate, full of true human dignity. He never interrupted his interlocutor and did not raise his voice, even at the lowest in rank. The emperor was indulgent to human weaknesses and had a good-natured attitude towards ordinary people - peasants, but he never forgave what he called "dark money matters."
In 1894, after the death of his father, Nicholas II ascended the throne. The years of his reign fell on a turbulent period in history. Revolutionary currents were born all over the world, in 1914 the First World War began. However, even in such difficult times, he managed to significantly improve the economic situation of the state.
Arguments and Facts Here are just some facts about the reign of Nicholas II:
- During his reign, the population of the empire increased by 50 million people.
- 4 million rubles, left by Alexander III as a legacy to children and kept in a London bank, were spent on charity.
- The emperor approved all petitions for pardon that were sent to him.
- The grain harvest has doubled.
- Nicholas II carried out a military reform: he reduced the terms of service, improved living conditions for soldiers and sailors, and also contributed to the rejuvenation of the officers.
- During the First World War, he did not sit out in the palace, but took command of the Russian army, finally managing to repulse Germany.
Kommersant However, the emerging revolutionary moods increasingly captured the thoughts of people. On March 2, 1917, under pressure from the high command, he handed over the Abdication Manifesto, in which he bequeathed the army to obey the Provisional Government.
Modern historians believe that the Manifesto was a forgery. In the original draft, Nicholas II only urged to listen to the bosses, observe discipline and “defend Russia with all your might.” Later, Alekseev only added a couple of sentences (“I am addressing you for the last time ...”) to change the meaning of the words of the autocrat.
Wife of Nicholas II - Alexandra Feodorovna
Subscription to publications The Empress (née Princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt) was born on May 25 (June 6), 1872. She received a new name after baptism and marriage with Nicholas II. The upbringing of the future empress was carried out by the English Queen Victoria, who adored her granddaughter.
Alice graduated from the University of Heidelberg with a bachelor's degree in philosophy.
In May 1884, at the wedding of her sister Elizabeth Feodorovna, she met Nikolai Alexandrovich. The wedding took place on November 14 (26), 1894, just 3 weeks after the death of Emperor Alexander.
During the war years, Empress Alexandra and the Grand Duchesses personally assisted in operations in hospitals, received amputated limbs from surgeons and washed festering wounds.
Arguments and Facts Despite the fact that the Empress was not popular in her new homeland, she herself fell in love with Russia with all her heart. The daughter of Dr. Botkin wrote in her diary that after Nicholas II read the manifesto about the war with Germany (her historical homeland), Alexandra cried with joy.
Nevertheless, the liberals considered her the head of the court Germanophile group and accused Nicholas II of being too dependent on the opinion of his wife. Because of the negative attitude, the princess, once sparkling with joy, “the ray of sunshine of Windsor” (as Nicholas II called Alexandra at one time) gradually became isolated in a narrow circle of her family and 2-3 close associates.
Especially a lot of controversy was caused by her friendship with the old man, the Siberian peasant Grigory Rasputin.
Children of Nicholas II
Sites - Google The family of Nicholas II Romanov raised five children: four daughters (Olga, Tatyana, Maria, Anastasia) and a son - the heir to the throne Alexei Nikolayevich.
Olga Nikolaevna Romanova
Wikipedia Olga - the eldest daughter of Nicholas II - gave the impression of a tender and fragile girl. From an early age, she showed a passion for books and was a very erudite child. However, at times the Grand Duchess was hot-tempered and stubborn. Teachers noted that the girl had an almost absolute ear for music - she could play almost any melody heard somewhere.
Princess Olga did not like luxury and was modest. She did not like housekeeping, but she enjoyed reading, playing the piano and drawing.
Tatyana Nikolaevna Romanova
Wikipedia Tatyana Nikolaevna was born on May 29, 1897. As a child, most of all she loved to ride a pony and a tandem bike with her sister Olga, she could wander around the garden for hours, picking flowers and berries.
In character, Tatyana was like her mother: she laughed less often than other sisters, and was often thoughtful and strict.
Unlike her older sister, the girl loved to be in charge, and she did it very well. When her mother was absent, Tatyana embroidered, ironed linen and managed to follow the younger children.
Maria Nikolaevna Romanova
Wikipedia The third daughter in the family of Nicholas II - Maria - was born on the night of June 14, 1899 in a summer residence in Peterhof. Very large and strong for her age, she subsequently carried her brother Alexei in her arms when it was difficult for him to walk. Because of her simplicity and cheerful disposition, the sisters called her Masha. The girl loved to talk with the soldiers of the guard and always remembered the names of their wives, who had how many children.
At the age of 14, she became a colonel of the 9th Kazan Dragoon Regiment. Then her romance broke out with officer Demenkov. When her lover went to the front, Maria personally sewed a shirt for him. In telephone conversations, he assured that the shirt fit. Unfortunately, the end of the love story was tragic: Nikolai Demenkov was killed during the civil war.
Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova
Wikipedia Princess Anastasia was born when the family of Nicholas II and Alexandra already had three daughters. Outwardly, she looked like her father, often laughed out loud and laughed. From the diaries of those close to the royal family, you can find out that Anastasia was distinguished by a very cheerful and even mischievous character. The girl loved to play bast shoes and forfeits, she could tirelessly rush around the palace, playing hide and seek, climbed trees. But in her studies she was never particularly diligent and even tried to bribe teachers with bouquets of flowers.
Alexey Nikolaevich Romanov
Wikipedia The long-awaited son of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna was the youngest of the children of the royal couple. The boy was born on July 30 (August 12), 1904. At first, the Tsarevich grew up as a cheerful, cheerful child, but later a terrible genetic disease appeared - hemophilia. This complicated the education and training of the future emperor. Only Rasputin managed to find a way to alleviate the boy's suffering.
Aleksey Nikolaevich himself wrote in his diary: “When I am king, there will be no poor and unhappy people, I want everyone to be happy.”
Execution of Nicholas II and his family
All of Switzerland in the palm of your hand After signing the manifesto from March 9 to August 14, 1917, the royal family of Nicholas II lived under arrest in Tsarskoye Selo. In the summer they were moved to Tobolsk, where the regime was a little lenient: the Romanovs were allowed to walk across the street to the Church of the Annunciation and lead a quiet home life.
While in prison, the family of Tsar Nicholas II did not sit idle: the former monarch personally chopped firewood and looked after the garden.
In the spring of 1918, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee decided to transfer the Romanov family to Moscow for trial. However, it never took place. On July 12, the Ural Soviet of Workers' Deputies decided to execute the former emperor. Nicholas II, Alexandra Fedorovna, their children, as well as Dr. Botkin and servants were shot in Yekaterinburg in the “House of Special Purpose” on the night of July 17, 1918.
July 17 marks the 100th anniversary of the execution of the Romanov family - Tsar Nikolai Alexandrovich, his wife Alexandra Feodorovna, daughters Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and son Alexei.
What were the royal children from the holy family like? What did you dream about and what have you already managed to achieve in your short but wonderful destinies?
What was the family of Nicholas II like? There is her icon-painting image: seven "I", which have become a unity, like the holy angels of Andrei Rublev. There is a photo in which the four Grand Duchesses are sometimes so similar that they can be confused.
In fact, the royal children are very different. And although they always tried to be together, each life is its own separate story with a tragic end.
Princess Olga: “I am Russian and I want to live in Russia”
“Very well-read”, “remarkably smart”, “crystal soul”, “had perfect pitch”, “loved solitude and books”. So they said about the Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest daughter of the king. She was born in November 1895, a year after her parents' wedding. She took communion for the first time after baptism, when she was 11 days old, in the church of the Tsarskoye Selo Palace.
By nature, she is sensitive, not prone to leadership. She willingly gave way to her sister Tatyana, although she was a year and a half younger. They dressed the same, slept in the same room, shared heart secrets.
Olga was called "daddy's daughter." If she couldn’t answer a question, she said: “Ask your dad.” She wore a medallion with a portrait of Nicholas II around her neck. This image will be found later in Yekaterinburg, in Ganina Yama.
Sometimes there were disagreements with my mother. Alexandra Feodorovna found her a groom - the Romanian Prince Karol. Olga mockingly called him Carlosha. When it came to marriage, she said: “I am Russian and I want to live in Russia.” She was carried away by Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich. A handsome man, an athlete, a brave officer, he did not hide his dislike for Rasputin. The queen was categorically against such a son-in-law, and the daughter resigned herself to her will.
Olga rarely writes “I” in her diaries, mostly “we”. Four sisters came up with a common "name" OTMA - by the first letters of their names. Together they played tennis, arranged horse rides ... But pain, suffering, death were nearby. Little Alexei was seriously ill. Mother had nervous attacks. In the autumn of 1914, the Grand Duchess went to work as a nurse in the infirmary.
“Olga fed the needles at the first amputation,” the tsarina wrote to her husband. - One soldier died right during the operation - such a horror! The girls showed courage, although they had never seen death so close ... How close death is!
Going to Siberia, the princess took with her several icons, books in Russian and French. Between the pages she put dry flowers from Tsarskoye Selo - a reminder of the former happiness.
She did not know what awaited them, but, judging by some of her actions, she foresaw a lot. In Tobolsk, she burned almost all her diaries, and shortly before the execution she copied “Prayer” into a notebook - poems secretly transmitted to the family by the poet Sergei Bekhteev: “... And at the threshold of the grave / Breathe into the mouth of Your slaves / Inhuman strength / Pray meekly for enemies!”
Princess Tatiana: "May God's blessing protect you!"
The second daughter was named Tanya, like the Larins in Eugene Onegin. But it didn’t work out according to Pushkin: Olga was dreamy, and Tatiana turned out to be energetic, rode excellently, patronized the Uhlan regiment and was proud of it.
Outwardly, she looked like Alexandra Feodorovna and of all the sisters was, perhaps, the closest to her mother. The courtiers noted Tatyana's refined beauty, aristocracy, determination and practical mind. When the queen was ill, the second daughter was in charge of the household, sometimes she was jokingly called the tutor. She often accompanied the king on walks. The sisters knew if papa you need to ask for something, Tanya will do it best of all.
In September 1911, Pyotr Stolypin was killed in front of her eyes. Together with her father, she was sitting in the theater box when the shots were fired. The girl saw blood on his tunic, heard his last words ... “This made a strong impression on Tatyana, she cried for a long time,” Nicholas II wrote to his mother.
In September 1914, at the initiative of the Grand Duchess, a committee was created to help victims of the war. General Mosolov recalled that the seventeen-year-old daughter of the king "actively, intelligently and intelligently" participated in all matters. Then she showed the talent of a sister of mercy. She assisted in complex operations, confidently and skillfully bandaged severe wounds. Doctors noted that they had rarely seen such a calm and dexterous surgical nurse.
Thanks to her strong character, she became a support for her mother. After her arrest, in Siberia, she took care of her: she helped her dress, styled her hair, tried to distract her from heavy thoughts. December 31, 1917 presented a beautiful notebook for a diary. She wrote: “To my beloved dear mothers with the best wishes for a happy new year. May God's blessings be with you and protect you always!
On the evening of July 16, 1918, Tatyana read the Bible to Alexandra Fedorovna until late. A few hours later they were awakened, told to get dressed and go down to the basement - ostensibly to move to another building, but first - to take pictures. The whole family was lined up. Later, the participants in the execution said that Tatyana stood next to the queen, closer - the last thing she could do for her mother ...
Princess Maria: “It is terribly sad that we failed to venerate the relics of the saint”
The third daughter was considered similar to her grandfather, the hero Alexander III. At 18, she raised her English teacher, lean Charles Gibbs, for fun. A stately Russian beauty with luxurious hair and big eyes (in the family they were affectionately called "Masha's saucers"), she was distinguished by good nature, simplicity, knew how to find a common language with different people - with officers, soldiers and even with the Red Guards.
As a child, she was told about the heavenly patroness - St. Mary Magdalene, who was left alone in the cave where Jesus was buried, and was the first to see the resurrected Savior. The Grand Duchess was also not a timid ten. In February 1917, when an armed uprising began in Petrograd, and the tsar had not yet returned from the front, she was not afraid, together with Alexandra Fedorovna, to go out to the soldiers who were guarding them. Shots were heard in the distance, the rioters could attack the palace. “The queen and her daughter moved from one line to another, encouraging the soldiers, forgetting about the mortal danger to which they were exposed,” recalled the maid of honor Anna Vyrubova.
Later, in Yekaterinburg, the arrested princess communicated with escorts recruited from local workers. Their greasy jokes shocked Olga and Tatyana, but Maria was not at a loss: she answered the rude people calmly and sternly. One guard, Ivan Skorokhodov, she tried to teach music.
On June 14, a month before the execution, she turned 19 years old. So I wanted to take a group photo for memory! But the guards forbade it. Skorokhodov prepared a gift for her that day - he wanted to secretly bring a birthday cake to Ipatiev's house. He was detained by a KGB patrol at the entrance. The pie was confiscated, and the guy almost went to jail. He didn't come again.
Courage and strength were combined in Mary with gentleness of character. "Masha, carry me!" - the sick crown prince called when he wanted to move to another room. And how fervently she prayed for her brother! “When I left Alexei’s room after the prayer, I had the feeling that I had come from confession… Such a pleasant, heavenly feeling,” she wrote to her mother.
“We always rejoice when they let us into church,” a friend reported in the spring of 1918. - But it is terribly sad that we have never been able to venerate the relics of St. John of Tobolsk.
Who killed her is not exactly known. According to Chekist Medvedev, after the first salvo, the surviving Maria rushed to the locked door - she pulled, tried to open it. Then Commissar Ermakov discharged his pistol into her...
Princess Anastasia: “How funny the Red Guards are armed!”
Even in the front photos in her eyes - a laugh, and her lips seem to be about to smile. Short, broad in the bones, little Anastasia did not worry at all because of her build, on the contrary, she joked, called herself a “shvybzik”.
Being the youngest is a special advantage: everyone's favorite "pod", "sun", "shooter" had maximum freedom. At the age of four, she crawled under the table and pinched the legs of the Grand Dukes (for this, she flew in from the pope). In the park, she easily climbed a tall tree and refused to descend. Hiding in the cupboard from the doctors. She painted the face of the Tsarevich in the manner of an Indian with strawberry juice. She put on false teeth and scared everyone. She also loved eating chocolate, painting and swinging.
She quickly understood her role in the house - to be a source of fun, to defuse the situation. The mournful mother, the strict Tatyana, the pensive Olga could not stand it and began to laugh, looking at her comical improvisations. But little Alexey became her main admirer. “You need to play in the theater,” he said. Nastya immediately took on an official look: “No. I have other responsibilities."
When the Tsarevich was ill, she would sit by his bed for hours, read aloud, tell stories that she invented right there, on the go, and in each, after all the vicissitudes, goodness won.
When the family was arrested, she was 15 years old. In Tobolsk, she sawed logs with her father, rode down an icy mountain, played comedy plays for her relatives. Every day she found a reason for joy and shared it in letters: “Now the weather is wonderful, the sun shines so well!”, “I got tanned most of all, just an acrobat!”, “I fell off the swing - it was such a wonderful fall!”
“How funny the Red Guards are armed - they are directly hung with weapons, something hangs or sticks out everywhere,” she wrote to her parents in the spring of 1918. “We arranged the iconostasis terribly well for Easter!” And at the end of the letter: “Dear, dear, how we pity you. We believe that the Lord will help his own!!!”
After the execution of the royal family, whites entered Yekaterinburg. In the Ipatiev house, in the room where the Grand Duchesses lived, the investigators found a drawing by Anastasia: two birches and between them an empty children's swing.
Tsarevich Alexei: "If I die, put a small monument to me in the park"
"For whom the Lord loves, he chastens." How so? The confessor explained to the little Tsarevich: “God is testing us, and if you endure, do not grumble, this will bring spiritual fruit.”
It was hard to bear. At the age of eight, Alexei fell, hurt himself, and developed a strong fever. Three weeks of torment day and night. “If I die, put a small monument in the park for me,” he asked his parents.
In summer, the boy lay down in the grass and looked at the clouds. "What are you thinking about?" asked his sister Olga. “A lot of things,” answered the Tsarevich. - I enjoy the sun, the beauty of summer, while I can. Who knows, maybe one of those days I won't be able to do it anymore."
There are many icons in his bedroom, in the center of the icon-case there is "The Resurrection of Christ" with a particle of stone from Golgotha. Every evening my mother comes here and they pray together. Then Alex immediately turns off the light. Why so fast? “Mommy, it’s light for me only when you are with me. And when you leave, there is darkness all around.
Does God hear their prayers? Alexei is the heir, he must become strong, at the head of Russia. When that happens, he will make everyone happy! Together with dad, they get out of the car at a small station. Some official with a bow addresses the tsar: a large family, poverty ... "From this day on, you will receive another 30 rubles a month from me," the tsar promises him. The Tsarevich, standing next to him, adds: "And from me - 40."
In August 1914, in Moscow, he walks with his mentor on the Sparrow Hills. On the way back, in the Yakimanka area, the car was surrounded by a crowd of ordinary people. They are delighted, everyone is trying to touch him. Hosanna to the king's son!
In the spring of the 17th, he, like the whole family, was under arrest. Bright week, the boy walks in the garden. Drunk sailors shout to him: "Hey you, the future king!" He looks at them and suddenly answers: “Christ is risen, brothers!” Having ceased to smirk, the sailors stretch to their full height: “Truly, He is risen !!!”
Their last New Year in Tobolsk: a Christmas tree without toys is on the table. “Lord, help us! Lord have mercy!" - writes the crown prince in his diary. In Yekaterinburg, he injured his knee and fell ill again. Chekist Yakov Yurovsky came to see him. Examined the leg, advised a bandage. I could also kiss Alexei - following the example of Judas, the betrayer of Christ.
Before the execution, the Tsarevich was put on a chair. When Yurovsky pulled out a pistol, Nikolai shielded his son with himself. And then collapsed under a hail of bullets. Alexei remained seated. He groaned for a long time. Even after many years, the executioners were surprised by his "strange vitality."
