Son of Emperor Nicholas II. Principles of raising children in the family of Emperor Nicholas II. The reason for the execution of Nicholas II and his royal family
Nicholas II is the last Russian Tsar who abdicated the throne and was executed by the Bolsheviks, later canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. His reign has been assessed in various ways, from harsh criticism and statements that he was a “bloody” and weak-willed monarch, responsible for the revolutionary disaster and the collapse of the empire, to praise of his human virtues and statements that he was an outstanding statesman and reformer.During his reign, there was an unprecedented flourishing of the economy, agriculture, and industry. The country became the main exporter of agricultural products, coal mining and iron smelting increased fourfold, electricity generation increased 100 times, and the gold reserves of the state bank more than doubled. The Emperor was the founder of Russian aviation and the submarine fleet. By 1913, the empire entered the top five most developed countries in the world.
Childhood and adolescence
The future autocrat was born on May 18, 1868 at the country residence of Russian rulers in Tsarskoe Selo. He became the first-born of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna among their five children and the heir to the crown. 
His main educator, according to the decision of his grandfather, Alexander II, became General Grigory Danilovich, who held this “position” from 1877 to 1891. Subsequently, he was blamed for the shortcomings of the complex character of the emperor.
Since 1877, the heir received home education according to a system that included general education subjects and lectures in higher sciences. At first he mastered the visual and musical art, literature, historical processes and foreign languages, including English, Danish, German, French. And from 1885 to 1890. studied military affairs, economics, and jurisprudence, which were important for royal activities. His mentors were prominent scientists - Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev, Nikolai Nikolaevich Beketov, Konstantin Petrovich Pobedonostsev, Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov, etc. Moreover, they were only obliged to present the material, but not to test the knowledge of the heir to the crown prince. However, he studied very diligently.
In 1878, an English teacher, Mr. Karl Heath, appeared among the boy's mentors. Thanks to him, the teenager not only mastered the language perfectly, but also fell in love with sports. After the family moved to the Gatchina Palace in 1881, not without the participation of the Englishman, a training room with a horizontal bar and parallel bars was equipped in one of its halls. In addition, together with his brothers, Nikolai rode horses well, shot, fenced, and became well developed physically.
In 1884, the young man took the oath of service to the Motherland and began service, first in Preobrazhensky, and 2 years later in His Majesty’s Life Guards Hussar Regiment.
In 1892, the young man earned the rank of colonel, and his father began to introduce him to the specifics of governing the country. The young man took part in the work of Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers, visited different parts of the monarchy and abroad: Japan, China, India, Egypt, Austria-Hungary, Greece.
Tragic accession to the throne
In 1894, at 2:15 a.m. in Livadia, Alexander III died of kidney disease, and an hour and a half later, in the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, his son swore allegiance to the crown. The coronation ceremony - the assumption of power along with the corresponding attributes, including the crown, throne, scepter - took place in 1896 in the Kremlin. 
It was overshadowed by the terrible events on the Khodynka field, where festivities were planned with the presentation of 400 thousand royal gifts - a mug with the monogram of the monarch and various delicacies. As a result, a million-strong crowd of people wishing to receive gifts formed on Khodynka. The result was a terrible stampede that claimed the lives of about one and a half thousand citizens.
Having learned about the tragedy, the sovereign did not cancel holiday events, in particular, a reception at the French embassy. And although he later visited victims in hospitals and financially supported the families of the victims, he still received the popular nickname “Bloody.”
Reign
In domestic politics, the young emperor maintained his father's commitment to traditional values and principles. In his first public speech in 1895 in the Winter Palace, he announced his intention to “protect the principles of autocracy.” According to a number of historians, this statement was negatively received by society. People doubted the possibility of democratic reforms, and this caused an increase in revolutionary activity. 
However, after his father’s counter-reforms, the last Russian Tsar began to maximally support decisions to improve folk life and strengthening the existing system.
Among the processes introduced under him were:
- population census;
- introduction of gold circulation of the ruble;
- universal primary education;
- industrialization;
- limitation of working hours;
- workers' insurance;
- improving soldiers' allowances;
- increasing military salaries and pensions;
- religious tolerance;
- agrarian reform;
- large-scale road construction.
Rare newsreel with Emperor Nicholas II in color
Due to growing popular unrest and wars, the reign of the emperor took place in a very difficult situation. Following the demands of the time, he granted his subjects freedom of speech, assembly, and press. The State Duma was created in the country, which performed the functions of the highest legislative body. However, with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, internal problems worsened even more, and mass protests against the authorities began.
The authority of the head of state was also negatively affected by military failures and the emergence of rumors about the interference in the governance of the country by various fortune tellers and other controversial personalities, especially the main “adviser to the Tsar” Grigory Rasputin, who was considered by most citizens to be an adventurer and rogue.
Footage of the abdication of Nicholas II
In February 1917, spontaneous riots began in the capital. The monarch intended to stop them by force. However, an atmosphere of conspiracy reigned at Headquarters. Only two generals expressed their readiness to support the emperor and send troops to pacify the rebels; the rest were in favor of his abdication. As a result, in early March in Pskov, Nicholas II made the difficult decision to abdicate in favor of his brother Mikhail. However, after the Duma refused to guarantee his personal safety if he accepted the crown, he officially renounced the throne, thereby putting an end to the thousand-year Russian monarchy and the 300-year reign of the Romanov dynasty.
Personal life of Nicholas II
The first love of the future emperor was ballet dancer Matilda Kshesinskaya. He had an intimate relationship with her with the approval of his parents, concerned about his son’s indifference to the opposite sex, for two years, starting in 1892. However, the connection with the ballerina, the path and favorite of St. Petersburg, for obvious reasons could not result in a legal marriage. Dedicated to this page in the life of the emperor Feature Film Alexei Uchitel “Matilda” (although viewers agree that there is more fiction in this picture than historical accuracy). 
In April 1894, in the German city of Coburg, the engagement of the 26-year-old Tsarevich to the 22-year-old Princess Alice of Darmstadt of Hesse, granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England, took place. He later described the event as "wonderful and unforgettable." Their wedding took place in November in the church of the Winter Palace.
The upbringing he received under the guidance of his father was strict, almost harsh. “I need normal, healthy Russian children” - this was the demand the emperor put forward to the educators of his children. Such an upbringing could only be Orthodox in spirit. Even as a small child, the Tsarevich showed special love for God and His Church. The heir received a very good education at home - he knew several languages, studied Russian and world history, deeply versed in military affairs, was a widely erudite person. But the father’s plans to prepare his son to bear his royal duty were not destined to be fully realized.
The first meeting of the sixteen-year-old heir Nikolai Alexandrovich and the young princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt took place in the year when her elder sister, the future Martyr Elizabeth, married Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, the Tsarevich's uncle. A strong friendship began between them, which then turned into deep and ever-increasing love. When, having reached adulthood, 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 soft and even timid in communicating with his father, Emperor Alexander III gave his blessing for 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 wedding, but it took place in the most modest atmosphere on November 14 of the year. The days of family happiness that followed soon gave way for the new emperor to the need to assume the entire burden of governing the Russian Empire, despite the fact that he was not yet fully introduced to the highest state affairs.
Reign
The character of Nikolai Alexandrovich, who was twenty-six years old at the time of his accession, and his worldview by this time were completely determined. Persons standing close to the court noted his lively mind - he always quickly grasped the essence of the questions presented to him, his excellent memory, especially for faces, and the nobility of his way of thinking. At the same time, Nikolai Alexandrovich, with his gentleness, tact in his address, and modest manners, gave many the impression of a man who did not inherit the strong will of his father.
The guidance for Emperor Nicholas II was his father’s political testament:
“I bequeath to you to love everything that serves the good, honor and dignity of Russia. Protect autocracy, bearing in mind that you are responsible for the fate of your subjects before the Throne of the Most High. Let faith in God and the holiness of your royal duty be the basis of your life. Be strong 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 duties of a monarch as a sacred duty. The Emperor deeply believed that for the Russian people, 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 huge empire, Nikolai Alexandrovich took upon himself enormous historical and moral responsibility for everything that happened in the state entrusted to him. He considered one of his most important duties to be the preservation of the Orthodox faith.
Emperor Nicholas II paid great attention to the needs Orthodox Church throughout his reign. Like all Russian emperors, he generously donated for the construction of new churches, including outside Russia. During the years of his reign, the number of parish churches in the empire increased by more than 10 thousand, and 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 (), Rev. Seraphim of Sarov (city), Holy Princess Anna Kashinskaya (restoration of veneration in the city), Saint Joasaph of Belgorod (city), Saint Hermogen of Moscow (city), Saint Pitirim of Tambov (city), Saint John of Tobolsk (city) . At the same time, the emperor was forced to show special persistence, seeking the canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Saints Joasaph of Belgorod and John of Tobolsk. Emperor Nicholas II highly revered the holy righteous father John of Kronstadt and after his blessed death he ordered a nationwide prayerful commemoration of him on the day of his 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 had the opportunity not only to widely discuss, but also to practically prepare for the convening of a Local Council.
The desire to introduce Christian religious and moral principles of one’s worldview into public life has always distinguished foreign policy Emperor Nicholas II. Back in the year, he approached the governments of Europe with a proposal to convene a conference to discuss issues of maintaining peace and reducing arms. The consequence of this was the peace conferences in The Hague throughout the years, 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, which led to internal unrest. In the year without a declaration of war, Japan began military operations against Russia, and the result of this difficult war for Russia was the revolutionary turmoil of the year. The sovereign perceived the unrest taking place in the country as a great personal sorrow.
Few people communicated with the Emperor informally. And everyone who knew his family life firsthand noted the amazing simplicity, mutual love and the consent of all members of this closely knit family. The children's relationship with the sovereign was touching - he was for them at the same time a king, a father and a comrade; their feelings changed depending on the circumstances, moving from almost religious worship to complete trust and the most cordial friendship.
But the center of the family was Alexey Nikolaevich, on whom all affections and hopes were concentrated. His incurable illness cast a shadow over the family's life, but the nature of the illness remained a state secret, and his parents often had to hide their feelings. At the same time, 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, whose healing abilities gave him great influence at court, which, together with the notoriety that spread about him, undermined the faith and loyalty of many to the imperial house.
At the beginning of the war, on a wave of patriotism in Russia, internal disagreements largely subsided, and even the most difficult issues became solvable. It was possible to implement the sovereign's long-planned 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 Emperor regularly traveled to Headquarters, visiting 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 national duty to God and the people. However, the Emperor always provided leading military specialists with broad initiative in resolving all military-strategic and operational-tactical issues. On August 22 of the year, the sovereign left for Mogilev 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 Tsarskoe Selo for a few days. All important 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 hand it over to my son and brother, then I am ready to do this, I am even ready to give not only my kingdom, but also my life for the Motherland. I think no one who knows me doubts this.".
“My renunciation is needed. The point is that in the name of saving Russia and keeping the army at the front calm, you need to decide to take this step. I agreed... At one o'clock in the morning I left Pskov with a heavy feeling of what I had experienced. There is treason and cowardice and deceit all around!”
For the last time, he addressed 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 Tsar’s soul, his love for the army, and faith in it, was hidden from the people by the Provisional Government, which banned its publication.
The Emperor accepted and endured all the trials sent down to him firmly, meekly and without a shadow of a murmur. On March 9, the emperor, who had been arrested the day before, was transported to Tsarskoe Selo, where the whole family was eagerly awaiting him. An almost five-month period of indefinite stay in Tsarskoe Selo began. The days passed in a measured manner - with regular services, shared meals, walks, reading and communication with family. However, at the same time, the life of the prisoners was subjected to petty restrictions - the sovereign was told by A.F. Kerensky that he should live separately and see the empress only at the table, and speak only in Russian, the guard soldiers made rude remarks to him, access to the palace Persons close to the royal family were prohibited. One day, 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 Tsarskoye Selo prisoners. This is how the Good Friday Matins service took place in the palace on March 30 of the year:
“The service was reverent and touching... 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. You have to see for yourself and be so close to understand and see how the former royal family fervently, in the Orthodox manner, often on their knees, prays to God. With what humility, meekness, and humility, having completely surrendered 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 celebrated the all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy, which were always attended by all members of the imperial family. After the Day of the Holy Trinity, alarming messages appeared more and more often in the diary of Father Afanasy - he noted the growing irritation of the guards, sometimes reaching the point of rudeness towards the royal family. The spiritual state of the members of the royal family does not go unnoticed by him - yes, they all suffered, he notes, but along with the 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 anything discrediting the king. However, instead of releasing the royal family, a decision was made 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 my stay in Tobolsk were perhaps the calmest during the entire period of imprisonment. On September 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the prisoners were allowed to go to church for the first time. Subsequently, this consolation extremely rarely fell to their lot.
“He made this decision [to renounce] only in the hope that those who wanted to remove him would still be able to continue the war with honor and would not ruin the cause of saving Russia. He was afraid then 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 his homeland, he had harmed it with his renunciation.”.
Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks had already come to power in Petrograd - a period had begun about which the Emperor wrote in his diary: “much worse and more shameful than the events of the Time of Troubles.” The soldiers guarding the governor's house warmed up to the royal family, and several months passed after the Bolshevik coup before the change in power began to affect the situation of the prisoners. In Tobolsk, a “soldiers’ committee” was formed, which, in every possible way striving for self-affirmation, demonstrated its power over the Sovereign - they either forced him to remove his shoulder straps, or destroyed the ice slide built for the royal children, and from March 1 of the year “Nikolai Romanov and his family were transferred to soldier's ration." 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 fortitude, firm faith and hope for God’s help. Consolation and meekness in enduring sorrows were provided by prayer, reading spiritual books, worship and Communion. In suffering and trials, spiritual knowledge, knowledge of oneself, one’s soul increased. Aspiration towards eternal life helped to endure suffering and gave great consolation:
“...Everything that I love suffers, there is no end to all the dirt and suffering, but the Lord does not allow despondency: He protects from despair, gives strength, confidence in a bright future even in this world.”.
In March it became known that a separate peace with Germany had been concluded in Brest, about which the sovereign wrote that it was “tantamount to suicide.” The first Bolshevik detachment arrived in Tobolsk on Tuesday, April 22. Commissioner Yakovlev inspected the house, met the prisoners, and a few days later announced that he had to take the Emperor away, assuring that nothing bad would happen to him. Assuming that they wanted 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 ill at that time, and it was impossible to transport him, but the Empress and Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna followed the emperor and were transported to Yekaterinburg, for imprisonment in the Ipatiev house. When the Heir's health improved, the rest of the family from Tobolsk were imprisoned in the same house, but most of those close to them were not allowed.
There is much less evidence left about the Yekaterinburg period of imprisonment of the Royal Family - there are almost no letters; basically this period is known only from brief entries in the emperor’s diary and the testimony of witnesses. Particularly valuable is the testimony of Archpriest John Storozhev, who performed the last services in the Ipatiev House. Father John served mass there twice on Sundays; 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 and ate with them at the same table. Commissar Avdeev, an inveterate drunkard, worked every day together with his subordinates to invent new humiliations for the prisoners. I had to put up with hardships, endure bullying and submit to the demands of rude people, including former criminals. The royal couple and princesses had to sleep on the floor, without beds. During lunch, a family of seven was given only five spoons; The guards sitting at the same table smoked, brazenly blew smoke into the faces of the prisoners, and rudely took food from them. 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 indecent.
Only Doctor Evgeny Botkin remained near the royal family, who surrounded the prisoners with care and acted as a mediator 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 and gave them strength and patience in suffering. They all understood the possibility of a quick end and expected it with nobility and clarity of spirit. One of Olga Nikolaevna’s letters contains the following lines:
“The father asks to tell all those who remained devoted to him, and those on whom they may have influence, 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 defeat evil, but only love.”.
Most of the evidence speaks of the prisoners of the Ipatiev House as suffering people, but deeply religious, undoubtedly submissive to the will of God. Despite the bullying and insults, they led a decent family life in Ipatiev’s house, trying to brighten up the depressing situation with mutual communication, prayer, reading and feasible activities. One of the witnesses to their life in captivity, the heir’s teacher Pierre Gilliard, wrote:
“The Tsar and Empress believed that they were dying as martyrs for their homeland... Their true greatness stemmed not 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 their interactions with the prisoners. They were surprised by their simplicity, they were captivated by their dignified spiritual clarity, and they soon felt the superiority of those whom they thought to keep in their power. Even Commissar Avdeev himself relented. This change did not escape the eyes of the Bolshevik authorities. Avdeev was replaced by Yurovsky, the guards were replaced by Austro-German prisoners and people chosen from among the executioners of the “Chreka.” The life of its inhabitants turned into continuous martyrdom. On July 1 (14), Father John Storozhev performed the last divine service in the Ipatiev House. Meanwhile, in the strictest secrecy from the prisoners, preparations were made for their execution.
Along with the imperial family, their servants who followed their masters into exile were also shot: Dr.
Nicholas II and his family
They died as martyrs for humanity. Their true greatness stemmed not from their kingship, but from the amazing moral height to which they gradually rose. They became an ideal force. And in their very humiliation they were an amazing manifestation of that amazing clarity of soul, against which all violence and all rage are powerless and which triumphs in death itself” (Tsarevich Alexei’s tutor Pierre Gilliard). 
Nicholas II Alexandrovich Romanov
Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov (Nicholas II) was born on May 6 (18), 1868 in Tsarskoe 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,” this was the demand put forward by Emperor Alexander III 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, had a deep understanding of 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 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 questions presented to him, an excellent memory, especially for faces, and a noble way of thinking. But Nikolai Alexandrovich, with his gentleness, tact in his manners, and modest manners, gave many the impression of a man who had not inherited the strong will of his father, who left him the following political testament: “I bequeath to you to love everything that serves the good, honor and dignity of Russia. Protect autocracy, bearing in mind that you are responsible for the fate of your subjects before the Throne of the Most High. Let faith in God and the holiness of your royal duty be the basis of your life. Be strong 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 into the family of Emperor Nicholas II; she was followed by Tatiana (May 29, 1897), Maria (June 14, 1899) and Anastasia (June 5, 1901). But the family was eagerly awaiting an heir.
On July 30 (August 12), 1904, the fifth child and the only, long-awaited son, Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, 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 an heir. At birth he was named Alexei - in honor of St. Alexis of Moscow. On his mother's side, Alexey inherited hemophilia, the carriers of which were some of the daughters and granddaughters of Queen Victoria of England. The disease became evident in the Tsarevich already in the fall of 1904, when the two-month-old baby began to bleed heavily. In 1912, while on vacation in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Tsarevich unsuccessfully jumped into a boat and severely bruised his thigh: the resulting hematoma did not resolve for a long time, the child’s health condition was very serious, and bulletins were officially published about him. There was a real threat of death.
Alexey's appearance combined the best features of his father and mother. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, Alexey was a handsome boy, with a clean, open face.
The family's life was not luxurious for the purposes of education - the parents were afraid that wealth and bliss would spoil the character of their children. The imperial daughters lived two to a room - on one side of the corridor there was a “big couple” (eldest daughters Olga and Tatyana), on the other there was 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 in white and green, simple and artless. The girls slept on folding army beds, each marked with the owner's name, under thick blue monogrammed blankets. This tradition dates back to the time of Catherine the Great (she first introduced this order for her grandson Alexander). The beds could easily be moved to be closer to warmth in winter, or even in my brother's room, next to the Christmas tree, and closer to open windows in summer. Here, everyone had a small bedside table and sofas with small embroidered thoughts. The walls were decorated with icons and photographs; The girls loved to take photographs themselves - a huge number of photographs have still been preserved, mostly taken in the Livadia Palace - the family’s favorite vacation spot. Parents tried to keep their children constantly busy with something useful; girls were taught to do needlework.
As in simple poor families, the younger ones often had to wear out the things that the older ones had outgrown. They also received pocket money, with which they could buy small gifts for each other.
Children's education usually began when they reached 8 years of age. The first subjects were reading, penmanship, arithmetic, and the Law of God. Later, languages were added to this - Russian, English, French, and even later - German. The imperial daughters were also taught dancing, playing the piano, good manners, natural sciences and grammar.
The imperial daughters were ordered to rise at 8 o'clock in the morning and take a cold bath. Breakfast at 9 o'clock, second breakfast at one or half past twelve on Sundays. At 5 pm there is tea, at 8 there is general dinner. 
Everyone who knew the emperor’s family life noted the amazing simplicity, mutual love and agreement of all family members. Its center was Alexey Nikolaevich, all attachments, all hopes were focused on him. The children were full of respect and consideration towards their mother. When the empress was unwell, the daughters were arranged to take turns on duty with their mother, and the one who was on duty that day remained with her indefinitely. The children's relationship with the sovereign was touching - he was for them at the same time a king, a father and a comrade; Their feelings for their father passed from almost religious worship to complete trust 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 from the confession was this: God grant that all the children would be as morally high as the children of the former tsar. Such kindness, humility, obedience to the parental will, unconditional devotion to the will of God, purity of thoughts and complete ignorance of earthly dirt - passionate and sinful - left me in amazement, and I was absolutely perplexed: is it necessary to remind me as a confessor of sins, maybe they unknown, and how to incite me to repent of 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 illness was a state secret, and parents often had to hide their feelings while participating in the normal routine of palace life. The Empress understood well that medicine was powerless here. But, being a deeply religious person, she indulged in fervent prayer in anticipation of a miraculous healing. She was ready to believe anyone who was able to help her grief, to somehow alleviate her son’s suffering: the Tsarevich’s illness 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 his role in the life of the royal family and in the fate of the entire country - but he had no right to claim this role.
Rasputin seemed to be a kind, holy old man helping Alexei. Under the influence of their mother, all four girls had complete trust in him and shared all their simple secrets. Rasputin's friendship with the imperial children was obvious from their correspondence. Persons who sincerely loved the royal family tried to somehow limit the influence of Rasputin, but the empress strongly resisted this, since the “holy elder” somehow knew how to alleviate serious condition Tsarevich Alexei.
Russia was at that time at the pinnacle of glory and power: industry was developing at an unprecedented pace, the army and navy were becoming more and more powerful, and agrarian reform was being successfully implemented. It seemed that all internal problems would be successfully resolved in the near future.
But this was not destined to come true: the First World War. Using the murder of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne by a terrorist as a pretext, 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 pan-European. In August 1914, Russia launched a hasty offensive in East Prussia to help its ally France, which resulted in heavy defeat. By autumn it became clear that the end of the war was not in sight. But with the outbreak of war, internal divisions subsided in the country. Even the most difficult issues became solvable - it was possible to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages for the entire duration of the war. The Emperor regularly travels to Headquarters, visiting the army, dressing stations, military hospitals, and rear factories. The Empress, having completed nursing courses together with her eldest daughters Olga and Tatyana, spent several hours a day caring for the wounded in her Tsarskoe Selo infirmary.
According to the memoirs of contemporaries, following their mother, all the sisters wept 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 medicine, gave concerts to the wounded and tried their best to distract them from difficult thoughts. They spent days on end in the hospital, reluctantly taking time off from work for 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 the heir. About once a month he came to Tsarskoe Selo for several days. All important 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 person closest to him whom he could always rely on. Every day she sent detailed letters and reports to Headquarters, which was well known to the ministers.
The tsar spent January and February 1917 in Tsarskoe Selo. He felt that the political situation was becoming increasingly tense, but continued to hope that a sense of patriotism would still prevail and retained faith in the army, the situation of which had improved significantly. This raised hopes for the success of the great spring offensive, which would deal a decisive blow to Germany. But the forces hostile to him also understood this well.
There was complete anarchy in the capital. But Nicholas II and the army command believed that the Duma controlled the situation; in telephone conversations with the chairman 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 this really the case? After all, only Petrograd and the surrounding area were covered by the revolution, and the authority of the tsar among the people and in the army was still great. The Duma's response confronted him with a choice: renunciation or an attempt to march on Petrograd with troops loyal to him - the latter meant civil war, while the external enemy was within Russian borders.
Everyone around the king also convinced him that renunciation was the only way out. The front commanders especially insisted on this, whose demands were supported by the chief General Staff M. V. Alekseev. And after long and painful reflection, the emperor made a hard-won decision: to abdicate both for himself and for the heir, due to his incurable illness, in favor of his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. On March 8, the commissioners of the Provisional Government, having arrived in Mogilev, announced through General Alekseev the arrest of the emperor and the need to proceed to Tsarskoye Selo. For the last time, he addressed 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, and 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. Fredericks: “The Emperor is deeply sad that he is considered an obstacle to the happiness of Russia, that they found it necessary to ask him to leave the throne. He was worried about the thought of his family, which remained alone in Tsarskoe Selo, the children were sick. The Emperor is suffering terribly, but he is the kind of person who will never show his grief in public.” Nikolai is also reserved in his personal diary. Only at the very end of the entry for this day does his inner feeling break through: “My renunciation is needed. The point is that in the name of saving Russia and keeping the army at the front calm, you need to decide to take 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 gave 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. There is treason and cowardice and deceit all around!
From the moment of abdication, what attracts most attention is the internal spiritual state of the emperor. It seemed to him that he had 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 hand it over to my son and brother, then I am ready to do this, I am even ready to give not only my kingdom, but also my life for the Motherland. I think no one who knows me doubts this,” he told General D.N. Dubensky.
The Provisional Government announced the arrest of Emperor Nicholas II and his wife and their detention in Tsarskoe Selo. Their arrest did not have the slightest legal basis or reason.
A few days later Nikolai returned. Life began under house arrest.
In March it became known that a separate peace with Germany had been concluded in Brest. “This is such a shame for Russia and it is “tantamount to suicide,” the emperor gave this assessment of this event. When there was a rumor that the Germans were demanding 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, April 22. Commissioner Yakovlev inspects the house and gets acquainted with the prisoners. A few days later, he reports that he must take the emperor away, assuring 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 abandoned his high spiritual nobility, firmly said: “I would rather let my hand be cut off than sign this shameful treaty.”
There is little evidence about the Yekaterinburg period of imprisonment of the royal family. Almost no letters. Basically, this period is known only from brief entries in the emperor’s diary and the testimony of witnesses in the case of the murder of the royal family.
All prisoners understood the possibility of a speedy 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 to tell all those who remained devoted to him, and those on whom they may have influence, that they not take revenge for him, since he has forgiven everyone and is praying for everyone, and so that to avenge 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 defeat evil, but only love.” 
The personality of Nicholas II, the main traits of his character, advantages and disadvantages caused conflicting assessments of his contemporaries. Many noted “weak will” as the dominant feature of his personality, although there is a lot of evidence that the tsar was distinguished by a persistent desire to implement his intentions, often reaching the point of stubbornness (only once was someone else’s will imposed on him, Manifesto on October 17, 1905). Unlike his father Alexander III, Nicholas did not give the impression of a strong personality. At the same time, according to the reviews of people who knew him closely, he had exceptional self-control, which was sometimes perceived as indifference to the fate of the country and people (for example, he met the news of the fall of Port Arthur or the defeats of the Russian army during the First World War with composure, striking the royal entourage). In dealing with state affairs, the tsar showed “extraordinary perseverance” and accuracy (he, for example, never had personal secretary and he himself put stamps on letters), although in general the rule of a huge empire was a “heavy burden” for him. Contemporaries noted that Nikolai had a tenacious memory, keen powers of observation, and was a modest, friendly and sensitive person. At the same time, most of all he valued his peace, habits, health and especially the well-being of his family.
Nicholas II is the most tragic figure among European monarchs of modern times. He, like no one else, had to experience the difficulties that befell the monarchy in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The social, economic, domestic and foreign policy problems of his time were something about which Nicholas never had an adequate understanding. Of course, special conditions in Russian Empire would have become an insoluble problem for a more intelligent, educated and prepared monarch.
The purpose of this essay is to try to consider the personality of Emperor Nicholas II from a human point of view: how certain of his decisions and his behavior were influenced by his upbringing, family and environment.
There is also an appendix in the abstract that allows you to accurately trace the chronology of events in the life of the emperor, since, unfortunately, not all of them are reflected in this work.
The Tsarevich received a home education: specially selected teachers came to him, in particular the historian V.O. Klyuchevsky, economist, Minister of Finance, and later Chairman of the Committee of Ministers N.Kh. Bunge; the basics of fortification were taught by General Ts.A. Cui is a composer and music critic who apparently managed to instill in the heir a love of music; a number of generals from the General Staff Academy; Minister of Foreign Affairs N.K. Gire and others. All of them only gave lectures, and had no right to ask questions in order to find out how the material was learned.
Nikolai's regular homework began when he was 8 years old. The curriculum included an eight-year general education course and a five-year course in higher sciences. It was based on a modified classical gymnasium program; instead of Latin and Greek languages mineralogy, botany, zoology, anatomy and physiology were studied. Courses in history, Russian literature and foreign languages were expanded. Cycle higher education included political economy, law and military affairs (military jurisprudence, strategy, military geography, service of the General Staff). There were also classes in vaulting, fencing, drawing, and, as already mentioned, music. Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna themselves selected teachers and mentors.
Among the educators and teachers was the chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod, a man of extremely reactionary views, K.P. Pobedonostsev. He inspired the heir that autocracy was given by God, that this is the only form of government possible for Russia, that everyone must unquestioningly obey the tsar, that parliamentarism is a great lie. The young Tsarevich learned these lessons firmly.
The heir, and then Emperor Nicholas II, showed no interest in state affairs. When Pobedonostsev tried, in his words, to explain to the heir how the state functions, “he began to pick his nose with great care.” “The Emperor,” noted Witte, “never opened a single page of Russian laws and their cassation interpretations.” This attitude of Nicholas II to state affairs is explained, according to the former chairman of the Council of Ministers V.N. Kokovtsev, by the fact that “his education is insufficient, and the great problems, the solution of which constitutes his mission, too often go beyond the reach of his understanding. He knows neither people nor life” (Quoted from: Paleolog M. Royal Russia on the eve of the revolution. M., 1991, p. 126)
Since 1889, Nikolai began studying subjects under the program of the General Staff, as well as subjects related to public administration under the program of the law and economics faculties of the university. And he even began to take part in meetings of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. In January 1892, Tsarevich Nikolai was appointed chairman of the committee for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
After all, Emperor Nicholas II was fluent in French, English and German languages, loved music, theater, ballet, opera, in adulthood he fell in love with reading, was a well-built, athletic person. He was always polite to everyone, never raised his voice to anyone, dressed well, tastefully, and danced beautifully. “I have rarely met such a well-educated young man as Nicholas II,” wrote a prominent Russian statesman S.Yu. Witte, who knew the Tsar well. Nicholas II did not shine with mental abilities. In this regard, an anecdote that was in vogue in October 1904 in St. Petersburg is indicative: “Why was a constitution suddenly needed that limits the monarchy? After all, we have had a “limited” tsar for ten years now!”
The best characteristic of the tsar’s personality is his diary, which he kept daily since 1877. The diary basically contains only a superficial list of insignificant, but possibly important events for the author: May 28, 1905 “rode a bicycle and killed 2 crows”; February 2, 1906 “walked and killed a crow”; February 8, 1906 “I took a long walk and killed two crows.” But the matter was not limited to crows: on May 8, 1905, he recorded that he killed a cat while walking. And all these recordings were made at a time when a revolution was taking place in the country!
Alexandra Viktorovna Bogdanovich, wife of the infantry general, headman of St. Isaac's Cathedral and owner of one of the most prestigious and influential salons of the highest St. Petersburg nobility E.V. Bogdanovich, wrote in her diary on November 6, 1889: the heir “is developing physically, but not mentally.” And even Nicholas’s father, Emperor Alexander III, noted in 1892, when the heir was already 24 years old: “He is just a boy, he has very childish judgments "
Nicholas ascended the Russian Throne at the age of 26, in October 1894. “The basis of the state policy of Nicholas II was the continuation of his father’s desire “to give Russia more internal unity by establishing Russian elements.” In his address to the people, Nicholas II announced that: “from now on He... accepts a sacred vow in the face of the Almighty to always have as one goal the peaceful prosperity, power and glory of dear Russia and the establishment of the happiness of all His loyal subjects.” In his address on January 17, 1895 to the zemstvo deputations, Nicholas II honestly and unequivocally said: “I know that in Lately the voices of people were heard in some zemstvo meetings, carried away by meaningless dreams about the participation of zemstvo representatives in affairs internal management; Let everyone know that I, devoting all my strength to the good of the people, will protect the principles of autocracy as firmly and steadily as my late Parent guarded it.” The worldview of Nicholas II was accurately reflected in his words: “Only that state is strong and strong, which sacredly preserves the covenants of its past.”
Nicholas II usually got up at 7 o'clock, had breakfast and began to study the documents submitted for review and decision. He worked independently and did not have a personal secretary. On the desktop lay a calendar of daily meetings and receptions. At 11 o'clock he took a break - walked in the park. When children appeared, they invariably accompanied him on these walks. At 4 o'clock the family gathered for tea. From 17 to 20 the Emperor received numerous visitors in simple, relaxed communication with them. His teacher Gilliard also noted Nikolai Alexandrovich’s restraint and self-control, his ability to manage his feelings. Even in relation to people unpleasant to him, the emperor tried to behave as correctly as possible. One day, Foreign Minister S.D. Sazonov expressed his surprise at the emperor’s calm reaction towards a morally unattractive person and the absence of any personal irritation towards him. And this is what the emperor told him: “I managed to silence this string of personal irritation in myself long ago. Irritability won’t help anything, and besides, a harsh word from me would sound more offensive than from someone else.”
Describing the personality of Nicholas II, the German diplomat Count Rex considered the tsar to be a spiritually gifted person, a noble person of thought, prudent and tactful. “His manners,” the diplomat wrote, “are so modest and he shows so little external determination that it is easy to come to the conclusion that he lacks a strong will; but the people around him assure that he has a very definite will, which he knows how to put into practice in the most calm way.” The stubborn and tireless will to implement their plans is noted by the majority of people who knew the tsar. Until the plan was implemented, the king constantly returned to him, achieving his goal. The already mentioned historian Oldenburg notes that “the sovereign, over his iron hand, had a velvet glove. His will was not like a thunderclap. It did not manifest itself in explosions or violent clashes; it rather resembled the steady flow of a stream from a mountain height to the plain of the ocean. He skirts obstacles, deviates to the side, but in the end, with constant constancy, he approaches his goal.”
Now about his two other sons - Konstantin and Nikolai and their two branches - "Konstantinovichi" and "Nikolaevich". Both had two marriages, like their brother Emperor Alexander II, but both Constantine and Nicholas had their second marriages to ballerinas.
Nikolai Nikolaevich (1831-1891) and Konstantin Nikolaevich (1827-1892)
Moreover, Nikolai did not register his second marriage, but cohabited without divorcing his first wife, who, by the way, became a saint. More on this later, but now a little about the three daughters of Nicholas I - Olga, Maria, Alexandra.
Olga Nikolaevna (1822-1892) Maria Nikolaevna (1819-1876) Alexandra Nikolaevna (1825-1844)
Maria Nikolaevna
(August 18, 1819 - February 21, 1876) - the first mistress of the Mariinsky Palace in St. Petersburg, president of the Imperial Academy of Arts in 1852-1876. She was the eldest daughter and second child in the family of Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich and Grand Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna. Unlike many princesses of that time, whose marriages were concluded for dynastic reasons, Maria Nikolaevna married for love. Married: Duchess of Leuchtenberg. Despite Maximilian's origins and his religion (he was a Catholic), Nicholas I agreed to marry his daughter with him, provided that the couple would live in Russia and not abroad.
The wedding took place on July 2, 1839 and took place according to two rites: Orthodox and Catholic. By decree of July 2 (14), 1839, the emperor granted Maximilian the title of His Imperial Highness, and by decree of December 6 (18), 1852, he bestowed the title and surname of Prince Romanovsky on the descendants of Maximilian and Maria Nikolaevna. The children of Maximilian and Maria Nikolaevna were baptized into Orthodoxy and raised at the court of Nicholas I; later Emperor Alexander II included them in the Russian Imperial family. From this marriage, Maria Nikolaevna had 7 children: Alexandra, Maria, Nikolay, Evgenia, Evgeny, Sergey, Georgy.
Of these, daughter Evgenia gave birth to her only child - Peter of Oldenburg. The same one with whom Nicholas II’s sister Olga lived in an unhappy marriage for 7 years. Another daughter Maria , married the elder brother of Grand Duchess Olga Fedorovna, about whom I already wrote. But the daughter of Maria Nikolaevna - Alexandra died in infancy. Granddaughter of Maria Nikolaevna from her son, whose name is Eugene , was shot by the Bolsheviks. Georgiy - the only one of the brothers entered into a dynastic marriage, but his two sons did not leave offspring, so the family died out.
Son of Maria Nikolaevna Nikolai
in 1868 in Bavaria he entered into a morganatic marriage with Nadezhda Sergeevna Annenkova, in his first marriage - Akinfova (1840-1891), which caused the displeasure of the emperor. The Duke of Leuchtenberg was forced to leave Russia. This union was recognized as legal only 11 years later, and Nadezhda Sergeevna, by decree of Emperor Alexander II, received the title of Countess of Beauharnais in 1879. They had two children - Georgiy And Nikolai.
Sergey,
son of Maria Nikolaevna, was not married and left no offspring. Sergei Maximilianovich was killed with a bullet wound to the head. Prince Romanovsky became the first member of the Russian Imperial House to die in the war. He is buried in the Grand Duke's tomb in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. In his memory, a chapel was built in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Lesnoy.
Maria Nikolaevna's first husband, Maximilian, died at the age of 35, and she married again in 1853 to Count Grigory Alexandrovich Stroganov (1823-1878). The wedding was performed on November 13 (25), 1853 in the palace church of the Mariinsky Palace by the priest of the Trinity Church of the Gostilitskaya estate of Tatiana Borisovna Potemkina, Ioann Stefanov. This marriage was morganatic, concluded in secret from Maria Nikolaevna’s father, Emperor Nicholas I, with the assistance of the heir and his wife. From this marriage Maria has two more children - Gregory And Elena.
Olga Nikolaevna, the second daughter of Nicholas I was born in the Anichkov Palace on August 30 (September 11), 1822 and was the third child in the family of Emperor Nicholas I and Alexandra Feodorovna. On her mother's side, Princess Olga came from the Prussian royal house of Hohenzollern. Her grandfather and great-grandfather were the kings of Prussia, Frederick William II and Frederick William III. Attractive, educated, multilingual, and interested in playing the piano and painting, Olga was regarded as one of the best brides in Europe. After the wedding of her sister Maria, who married a prince below her in rank, Olga Nikolaevna’s parents wanted to find her a promising husband. But time passed, and nothing changed in the life of Grand Duchess Olga. Those close to me were perplexed: “How, at nineteen years old, still not married?” And at the same time there were many contenders for her hand. Back in 1838, while staying with her parents in Berlin, the sixteen-year-old princess attracted the attention of Crown Prince Maximilian of Bavaria. But neither she nor her family liked him. A year later, Archduke Stefan took possession of her thoughts. He was the son of Palatine Joseph of Hungary (the wife of the deceased Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna) from his second marriage. But this union was prevented by Stefan’s stepmother, who did not want to have a Russian princess as a relative out of jealousy towards the first wife of Archduke Joseph. By 1840, Olga decided that she would not rush into marriage; she said that she was already well, she was happy to stay at home. Emperor Nicholas I declared that she was free and could choose whoever she wanted. Olga Nikolaevna's aunt, Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna (wife of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich) began making efforts to marry her off to her brother Prince Frederick of Württemberg. He was sent a refusal. But I had to wait a long time for an answer to the counter-proposal of marriage with Stefan. The letter from Vienna said that the marriage of Stefan and Olga Nikolaevna, who professed different faiths, seemed unacceptable for Austria. An archduchess of Russian origin could become dangerous for the state due to the fact that unrest could arise among the Slavic population of the “explosive” regions of Austria. Stefan himself said that knowing about Albrecht’s feelings, he considered it right to “step aside.” This uncertainty had a depressing effect not only on Olga, but also on her parents. She has already begun to be considered a cold nature. The parents began to look for another match for their daughter and settled on Duke Adolphus of Nassau. And this almost led to a break with Mikhail Pavlovich’s wife, Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna. She had long dreamed of marrying her youngest daughter Elizabeth to him. Nicholas I, caring about maintaining peace in the imperial house, decided that the prince was free to make his own choice between his cousins. But Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, who had not forgiven her niece for neglecting her brother, was now worried that Adolf would give preference to the royal daughter to the detriment of her Lily. But Adolf, who came to Russia with his brother Maurice, asked for the hand of Elizaveta Mikhailovna. The emperor had nothing against it, but was surprised. At the beginning of 1846, in Palermo, where Olga was accompanied by her mother, the Empress, who had been there for some time to improve her health, which had deteriorated sharply after the death of her youngest daughter Alexandra, she met the Crown Prince of Württemberg, Charles, and agreed to his marriage proposal. The wedding took place in Peterhof on July 1 (13), 1846, on Alexandra Feodorovna’s birthday and on the day of her wedding to Nikolai Pavlovich. It was believed that this number should bring happiness to the new couple. Bells rang all day long, even houses in St. Petersburg were decorated with illumination. The emperor wished his daughter: “Be to Karl what your mother has been to me all these years.” Family life Olga's life turned out quite well, but they had no children.
Alexandra Nikolaevna (June 24, 1825 - August 10, 1844), the youngest daughter of Nicholas I, was famous for her beauty and easy-going character, and was distinguished by her amazing kindness and musical character. She died of tuberculosis at the age of 19, leaving her husband, Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Hesse-Kassel (1820 - 1884), a widower. She didn't give birth to children. Therefore, Frederick married a second time to the Prussian Princess Anna.
NIkolay Nikolaevich the Elder
(1831-1891) - Russian military leader and statesman; third son of Emperor Nicholas I and Alexandra Feodorovna; Field Marshal General (April 16, 1878). He was called Elder from November 24, 1856, according to the Highest command - to distinguish him from his first-born son, who was born then, named by the same name; also had a court nickname - Uncle Nizi. Member of the State Council (1855) and honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In his youth, judging by his diary entries, he was in love with Maria Anna of Prussia, but the marriage did not take place due to close kinship. There is also a version that Maria Alexandrovna Pushkina (Hartung) was in love with Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, perhaps they had a secret affair, which is why she did not get married for so long. In 1856, in St. Petersburg, he married Alexandra Friederike Wilhelmina, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Oldenburg Konstantin Friedrich Peter (in Orthodoxy Alexandra Petrovna).
Children:
Nikolai (1856—1929);
Peter (1864—1931).
After 10 years, the marriage de facto broke up; Nikolai Nikolaevich publicly accused his wife of adultery with the rector of their palace church and the confessor of the Grand Duchess, Archpriest Vasily Lebedev. Nikolai Nikolaevich expelled Alexandra Petrovna from the Nikolaevsky Palace, taking away jewelry, including his own gifts. Emperor Alexander II took the side of the Grand Duke, taking, however, all the costs of maintaining the exiled daughter-in-law at his own expense. She never returned to St. Petersburg and ended her days in the Kiev Pokrovsky Monastery, which she founded. Canonized as a Venerable UOC.
