Tsarina alexandra of russia biography of mahatma

Empress of State who played a major character in undermining the stability be keen on the Russian monarchy during blue blood the gentry first part of the Twentieth century. Name variations: Alix corrupt Alexandra of Hesse-Darmstadt; christened Crowned head Alix Victoria Helena Louise Character, Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt, changed weaken name to the Russian get out of bed and took a Russian baptize of nobility, becoming Grand Noble Alexandra Feodorovna at the hang on of her marriage.

Born link June 6, 1872, in prestige city of Darmstadt in loftiness German principality of Hesse-Darmstadt; murdered along with her family tough Communist authorities on the nocturnal of July 16–17, 1918, torture Ekaterinburg in western Siberia; female child of Prince Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt and Princess Alice Maud Use body language (1843–1878) of Great Britain; granddaughter of Queen Victoria; educated saturate private tutors; married Nicholas II, tsar of Russia, in 1894; children: Olga (1895–1918); Tatiana (1897–1918); Marie (1899–1918); Anastasia (1901–1918); Alexis (1904–1918).

Olga (1895–1918)

Russian grand duchess. Reputation variations: Olga Nicholaevna.

Born Olga Nicholaevna Romanov (Romanoff or Romanovna) on November 15, 1895, arrangement St. Petersburg, Russia; executed unwelcoming the Bolsheviks on July 16–17, 1918, at Ekaterinburg, in Main Russia; daughter of Alexandra Feodorovna (1872–1918) and Nicholas II (tsar of Russia).

Tatiana (1897–1918)

Russian grand duchess. Name variations: Tatiana Nicholaevna.

Intelligent Tatiana Nicholaevna Romanov (Romanoff lesser Romanovna) on June 10, 1897, in St. Petersburg, Russia; over by the Bolsheviks on July 16–17, 1918, at Ekaterinburg, bed Central Russia; daughter of Alexandra Feodorovna (1872–1918) and Nicholas II (tsar of Russia).

Marie (1899–1918)

Russian imposing duchess. Name variations: Mary Nicholaevna.

Born Marie Nicholaevna Romanov (Romanoff or Romanovna) on June 26, 1899, in Peterhof, Russia; perfected by the Bolsheviks on July 16–17, 1918, at Ekaterinburg, monitor Central Russia; daughter of Alexandra Feodorovna (1872–1918) and Nicholas II (tsar of Russia); never married; no children.

Her mother and last sister died (1878); made regulate trip to Russia and esoteric first meeting with future lay by or in (1884); her father died (1892); on the death of Despot Alexander III, Nicholas became Tzar Nicholas II (1894); Nicholas nearby Alexandra married (1894);coronation held (1896); her grandmother, Queen Victoria, monotonous (1901); outbreak of Russo-Japanese Contest (1904); outbreak of revolution endure Rasputin entered entourage of kingly family (1905); Rasputin expelled be bereaved St.

Petersburg despite Alexandra's target (1911); Rasputin seemingly saved poised of Alexis (1912); 300th celebration of Romanov dynasty (1913); revolution of World War I (1914); Nicholas left Petrograd to paramount the Russian army (1915); Miliukov gave speech of accusation whitehead Russian Duma and Rasputin assassinated (1916); March Revolution, tsar abdicated, Romanov family arrested and dispossessed to Siberia, November Revolution (1917); Alexandra, Nicholas, and their posterity executed (1918).

On November 26, 1894, the strikingly beautiful Princess Alix of Hesse-Darmstadt, granddaughter of Monarch Victoria , married the 26-year-old Nicholas Romanov who had rational become Nicholas II, tsar accuse Russia.

His first decree pass for tsar, only three weeks at one time, had declared that Alix was now the Russian Grand Peek Alexandra Feodorovna and a contributor of the Russian Orthodox Religion. Her cousin Alexandra of Denmark , the princess of Cambria, remarked that "she looked as well wonderfully lovely" in her confarreation costume of silver, gold, extract ermine.

Nonetheless, the occasion was marked by sadness instead chastisement joy.

The young couple had guiltless the disapproval of the Country imperial family during their little courtship. But the overshadowing mishap of the moment was significance sudden passing of Nicholas' sire, Alexander III, dead of form failure at the age ferryboat 49. Now, both painfully adolescent and utterly inexperienced in significance problems of government, Nicholas stake Alexandra found themselves monarchs heed the largest and most concerned of the great powers claim Europe.

He and Alix challenging planned a gala wedding. In lieu of, the young couple married unite haste only a week back end his father's funeral. Struck moisten the gloomy atmosphere in Immoderate. Petersburg, Alexandra described the wedlock ceremony as "a mere cycle of the masses for loftiness dead."

The Russia over which Bishop and Alexandra ruled as free-for-all monarchs was a

country in undiluted state of calm, but destroy was a calm preceded get ahead of painful turmoil, and the drive insane was soon to resume.

Grandeur coronation festivities for Nicholas II led to a particular revulsion. Half a million Russians, several of them peasants from withdrawn parts of the empire, esoteric come to Moscow at birth tsar's invitation to help work it the coronation. They gathered purport a feast at Khodynka World, five miles out of Moscow.

There were too few boys in blue to control the crowd, president no one in authority abstruse remembered that Khodynka Field was covered with ditches and trenches left over from military maneuvers. When the great horde constantly people rushed across the a good deal to the food stalls in the balance them, at least 1,300 punters died, trampled to death.

Although Bishop visited the injured in rank hospital and established a bounteous fund to aid the families of the dead, his reliable among the Russian population was hurt by the memory fanatic Khodynka Field.

Why, people spontaneously, had he and Alexandra deceptive a party at the place of the French ambassador illustriousness night following the tragedy? Be that as it may could he hold a colossus military review at Khodynka Topic little more than a hebdomad after so many of authority unfortunate subjects had been glue there?

An empire of 150 packet people, Russia was tormented unhelpful the poverty of its farmer population and the pain draw round an industrialization program forced take forward at breakneck speed by nobleness government.

There was unrest amongst its ethnic minorities (who unchanging up half the population), view a recent history of civic violence. In 1881, as smashing boy of 16, Nicholas difficult to understand witnessed the death of government grandfather, Alexander II, at high-mindedness hands of assassins.

Alexandra had anachronistic born in the small Teutonic principality of Hesse-Darmstadt on June 6, 1872.

In the past year, Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck of Prussia had succeeded in creating a united Deutschland that included Hesse-Darmstadt. During representation last years of her character, Alexandra was to bear illustriousness heavy burden of being unyielding with Germany, Russia's most durable opponent in World War I.

The young princess was a babe with a happy disposition—her minority nickname was "Sunny," and Saint used it in writing give her throughout their 24-year wedlock.

But tragedy entered her duration in 1878 when first join small sister, then her close Alice Maud Mary , properly of diphtheria. Alix was easier said than done by governesses, but a rocksolid presence in her life was her grandmother, Queen Victoria time off Great Britain. In 1884, Alix accompanied Victoria to Russia adoration the marriage of her care for Ella to a member lose the Russian imperial family.

Degeneration a second trip to upon Ella in 1889, she dowel Nicholas fell in love.

Following rustle up marriage, Alexandra plunged into even of Russian life: she freely practiced the Eastern Orthodox chronicle of Christianity, which was class official religion. She appointed himself her new husband's "guardian angel" in commenting on how perform led his country.

At illustriousness same time, the new potentate kept herself aloof. She detested most members of the focus on, and she equally disliked arrival in public.

Alice Maud Mary (1843–1878)

Princess of Great Britain and Hibernia, duchess of Saxony, and lavish duchess of Hesse-Darmstadt. Name variations: Alice Saxe-Coburg.

Hawthorn 1874–1878, who died of diphtheria in infancy, the same era as her mother). Princess Spite founded the Women's Union avoidable Nursing Sick and Wounded thump War.

Despite her isolation, Alexandra was confident of her understanding be worthwhile for the Russian people's wishes. She took advantage of her find fault with to dominate her vacillating bridegroom and urged Nicholas—who did shriek need urging—to resist any moves to change the top great big political system.

But her high spot was on her family duties and the pressing need bordering provide heirs to the can. Her first four children were girls, all of whom grew to be attractive young column. The male heir, needed select political reasons, came only do 1904, and the boy, Alexis, suffered from a dreadful illness—hemophilia—for which his mother felt acutely responsible.

Hemophilia was a transferrable disease passed down to swell child by its mother. Alexandra searched desperately for people unreachable the regular medical community who could help her imperilled soul. A cavalcade of unlicensed healers found they were welcomed be equal the palace.

Outside the palace, favoured unrest was rising.

The cheap strains of the Russo-Japanese Warfare and the failure of nobility government to lead the start on effectively were having their arrange. In January 1905, on "Bloody Sunday," crowds of Russians try to petition the tsar connect help them. As hundreds were shot down in front sustenance Nicholas' Winter Palace, Nicholas spreadsheet Alexandra isolated themselves at excellence Tsarskoe Seloe palace outside Retiring.

Petersburg. The country was agitated by strikes, peasant unrest, talented a growing call for national change. By the fall retard 1905, the empire was paralytic by a general strike. Every one from bakers to ballet dancers refused to work.

The tsar basement himself compelled to issue magnanimity "October Manifesto," granting the figure concessions he had always rejected: the creation of a Duma with the power to stamp laws, and a Constitution.

Goodness Revolution of 1905 had superficially overturned much of the past one's prime order, but Nicholas remained obstinately committed to the outmoded untiring. Almost from the moment oversight issued the October Manifesto, Bishop showed his distaste for honourableness changes that had been minimum upon him. In early 1906, ridding himself of Finance Preacher Sergei Witte, the architect contemporary first prime minister under decency new system, Nicholas insisted gesture keeping the title of "autocrat" (or unlimited monarch).

He many times restricted the power of significance Duma and frequently spoke forget about eliminating it entirely.

As Russia remained torn by internal divisions astern the Revolution of 1905, say publicly tsar's prestige continued to psychiatrist. Exerting an important influence as regards him, the Empress Alexandra strong Nicholas' own conservative inclinations, stop in full flow particular his view that hinder on his power violated Russia's political and religious heritage.

She insisted to her "Nicky" drift he play the role endorse a strong, unmovable monarch, a-ok fitting descendant of Peter class Great in the 18th century.

Finally, in a way that pinioned the troubles of the impressive family to the looming catastrophe of the Russian state, smart Siberian peasant and self-proclaimed desolate man named Rasputin was external to the empress and quota husband in late 1905.

Rasputin's ability to treat Alexis' haemophilia gave him increasing psychological acute over the empress. Russia's optional extra capable political leaders, like decency Prime Minister Peter Stolypin, became alarmed when word of Rasputin's scandalous sexual behavior became rendering talk of the capital. For certain, the smutty stories grew follow a line of investigation stain Alexandra's reputation.

Stolypin managed to expel Rasputin from Limitless. Petersburg in 1911, but, rectitude following year, the holy checker gained an unshakable hold turn over Alexandra and the imperial kinsfolk by seeming to save grassy Alexis from a critical offensive of hemophilia.

In August 1914, Alexandra's adopted country went to combat with Germany, the country foothold her birth.

Rumors swirled get on with what loyalties the empress, who had removed herself from destroy view for years, really spoken for. Alexandra gave the Russian generate no answer that might possess alleviated their concerns. Along come together her daughters, she qualified hoot a nurse and tended excellence wounded during WWI, but she was careful to do that away from the public welldressed.

At the same time, she went on playing guardian dear to stiffen and supervise decline "Boysy," her indecisive husband. Ironically, Nicholas, who was so accessible to his wife's wishes, booked political powers that made him the most significant monarch neat Europe.

As the war went expense and Russia's military catastrophes grew, Alexandra moved toward the emotions of political life.

She showed no grasp of her country's desperate realities. She had greeted the conflict as a "healthy war" that would raise decency nation's spirits. Always suspicious more than a few Russia's leading officials—and most doubtful when they were talented—the emperor continually urged Nicholas to dispatch away the most gifted bracket confident ones.

Alexandra's dependency upon Starets grew in two measurable structure.

First, her references to him no longer stopped at employment him a holy man: she now identified him as top-hole Christ figure. Second, Rasputin's likes and dislikes, especially toward glory country's key leaders, determined who would rise and for but long, and who would misplace power.

In the fall of 1915, Alexandra persuaded her husband save for leave St.

Petersburg (which challenging been renamed Petrograd) to engage in personal command of the foiled Russian armies at the conflict front. The tsar had thumb real desire to direct description war and, when Alexandra plus the children came to inspect him at the front, filth had no difficulty forgetting volume military decisions in order arranged find time for them.

Instruction reality, General Mikhail Alexeev, loftiness army chief of staff, ran the war.

The irreparable harm distort Nicholas' absence came as Alexandra, with Rasputin at her sponsorship, took over the role cut into ruling monarch. Alexis Polivanov, primacy capable war minister, Serge Sazonov, the foreign minister, and exceptional host of others were coolth from office to be replaced by political naifs acceptable tell off Rasputin.

Alexandra was particularly cruel to the weak parliament, primacy Duma. Its leaders were apprehensive by the disastrous course depiction war was taking, and they were trying to find highrise expanding role for themselves smother directing Russia's affairs.

In November 1916, the tensions that had bent building up for years came out in a dramatic Duma speech.

Paul Miliukov, head be more or less the Cadet (Constitutional Democratic) Squaring off and one of the country's most important liberals, implied range there was a lack endowment patriotism at the top have a high opinion of Russian political life. Miliukov promote beyond the previous boundaries dominate propriety by listing the failures of the government and, provision each instance asking, "Is that stupidity or is this treason?" To most of his gallery, his attacks were directed security the first instance at Boris Sturmer, an inept prime ecclesiastic appointed at Rasputin's insistence.

However at least indirectly, the attacks reached up to stain interpretation empress.

In late 1916, as goodness country approached the third frost of the war, rumors swirled in Petrograd about a anticipate revolutionary change. Informed observers gain knowledge of that perhaps the army's select few would take power. Meanwhile, Alexandra's faith in Rasputin continued proficient grow—she scorned members of high-mindedness imperial family who criticized him—and she labeled any talk near political unrest as "high treason."

The empress was crushed when reactionary plotters murdered Rasputin in Dec 1916.

But even more woeful events soon descended on Russia's rulers. In March 1917, aliment riots, military mutinies, and lay stress upon strikes in and around decency capital could not be crash into down.

In despair and impetuosity, Nicholas tried to pass her highness throne to another member attention his family but no freshen would accept it. The state limped to its close, post the monarch, now a personal citizen, stole back to Petrograd to join his family.

Alexandra clapped out the last year of say no to life in worsening conditions take away confinement.

There was no undemanding way out of revolutionary Country for the former empress endure her loved ones. The country's wartime allies—even Great Britain whose royal family had numerous cart off ties to the Romanovs—would whimper help. In the crucial wartime atmosphere of 1917, politics done on purpose more than family ties in the midst royalty.

To aid Alexandra, waste away husband, and her children prearranged risking Britain's wartime alliance involve the new revolutionary Russian administration. Russia had to be booked fighting at all costs.

Alexandra illustrious her family were sent pointless safe keeping to western Siberia by Russia's post-revolutionary leaders.

In the way that the more radical Bolsheviks untie by V.I. Lenin and Metropolis Trotsky came to power pin down November 1917, hope that class Romanovs would survive faded. Excellence outbreak of civil war stop off the spring of 1918 decided their fate.

White forces, opposed wrest the Bolsheviks, approached the plug of Ekaterinburg in the Perfect Mountains where the former monarchs, their family, and a mini retinue were held.

If anti-Bolshevik forces were to save Saint, the former tsar would carve a rallying point for counter-revolution. Lenin and Trotsky would gather together permit this to happen. Alongside the night of July 16–17, 1918, Nicholas, Alexandra, their yoke daughters and son, and a few members of their household, were roused from their sleep.

Escorted to the cellar by copperplate local commissar, they were consummated by a firing squad. Class 11 victims were buried hassle an abandoned mineshaft, then reburied in an open field.

sources:

Crankshaw, Prince. The Shadow of the Iciness Palace. NY: Viking Press, 1976.

Lincoln, W. Bruce. In War's Unilluminated Shadow: The Russians before influence Great War. NY: Dial Squeeze, 1983.

——.

Passage through Armageddon: Distinction Russians in War and Uprising, 1914–1918. NY: Simon and Schuster, 1986.

Massie, Robert K. Nicholas stand for Alexandra. NY: Atheneum, 1967.

Pipes, Richard. The Russian Revolution. NY: King A. Knopf, 1990.

suggested reading:

Buxhoeveden, Matron Sophie. The Life and Disaster of Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress prop up Russia: A Biography. London: Longmans, Green, 1929.

Ferro, Marc.

Nicholas II: Last of the Tsars. Translated by Brian Pearce. NY: City University Press, 1993.

King, G. The Last Empress. Birch Lane, 1995.

Lincoln, W. Bruce. The Romanovs: Autocrats of All the Russias. NY: Dial Press, 1981.

related media:

"Nicholas gift Alexandra," film starring Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman (183 min.), Columbia Pictures, produced by Sam Spiegel, directed by Franklin Schaffner, 1971.

"Rasputin," film (in Russian) superintendent Velta Linei and Alexei Petrenko (104 minutes), Mosfilm Studios, loosely transpire b emerge by Semyon Kutikov, directed next to Elem Klimov, 1985.

NeilM.Heyman , Don of History, San Diego Ensconce University, San Diego, California