I believe that knowing history, true factual history, is one of the most important things a person can learn. I also believe that everyone should have a niche so speak when it comes to history. A topic or time, even a person that they learn about and feel passionate about. I have several, and one I have always loved discussing is the downfall of the Romanov Dynasty in Russia and how it led to the communist nation of the USSR.
Peter the Great
The Romanov family was the Imperial Dynasty of Russia, ruling for over three centuries with eighteen Romanovs taking the throne during that time. The family first came to power in 1613, with Mikhail Romanov taking the Russian throne. He later took the name Michael I. The family had many notable leaders including Peter the Great and Catherine the Great.
The family met their downfall under the leadership of Tsar Nicholas II. Tsar Nicholas II's rule was a time filled with social unrest. He was considered by the public to be a very weak leader and was distrusted by many. He and his wife Tsarina Alexandra, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, together have five children, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and their one son, Alexei.
The last generation of the Romanov family
The most famous member of this last ruling Romanov family is the last Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. While Anastasia herself never rose to power and was not even first in line for the throne, she has become one of the most well-known members of the Romanov family. When the family was executed in July of 1918, rumors began to circulate that she managed to escape.
Because of the family's dwindling power, they began to sew prized family jewels into their clothing as a way of hiding them. The rumors stated that these jewels protected the Grand Duchess from the gunfire that killed her family and that she was able to flee. Over the years, many women have claimed to be Anastasia Romanov, the most famous being Anna Anderson. Anderson was one of many who claimed to be Anastasia, however, she was the most famous. It was later found out she was actually Franziska Schanzkowska, a Polish factory worker with a long history of mental illness.
Sadly, Anastasia was killed along with the rest of her family in 1918 in the city of Ekaterinburg early on the morning of July 17. The family was awoken and told to dress. They were taken to the basement of the house they were staying at along with a few servants that remained loyal to the family, and Anastasia's pet dog. The family was then lined up as if they were about to have photographs taken. Soldiers opened fire and killed everyone.
But how did it get to that point? What did Tsar Nicholas II do to make the public hate him enough to execute his whole family, including his seventeen-year-old daughter?
Tsar Nicholas II was a poor leader. He rose to the throne in 1894, following the death of his father Tsar Alexander Alexandrovich. Nicholas II never wanted to become the Tsar, and even confessed that fact to close friends. He had very little understanding of the affairs of the state.
One of his first failures as the Tsar was the way he handled the Russo-Japanese War. The war began when Japan launched a surprise attack against Russia on February 8, 1904. The Russo-Japanese War has at times been referred to as World War Zero as it set the stage for WWI and even WWII within the Pacific Theater.
Tsar Nicholas IIs other mishaps include his poor handling of Bloody Sunday. On January 22, 1905, dissatisfied workers lead by Georgy Apollonovich Gapon, a radical priest, stormed the winter palace in St. Petersburg. The imperial forces opened fire against the protesters, killing and wounding hundreds. Outrage broke out throughout the country and people everywhere rioted and went on strike. Rather than addressing what had happened, Tsar Nicholas II promised he would instate Dumas, which are representative assemblies, to work on reforms. Tsar Nicholas II left Russia in 1915 to help lead the failing Russian Army front in World War I.
In 1916, Rasputin, a cleric that was close with the Romanov family, was murdered. Many hated him, but Tsarina Alexandra kept him close because she believed he could cure the youngest Romanov, Tsarevich Alexei, of his hemophilia. Many considered Rasputin to be a charlatan and were wary of his influence and power.
Vladimir Lenin, leader of the radical socialist Bolsheviks party, seized power in Russia during the Russian Revolution in November of 1917. Lenin established Russia as the world's first communist state. The Romanov family was sentenced to house arrest and sent to Serbia. In 1918, the Romanov family was sent to Ipatiev House, a merchant’s house in Yekaterinburg. Following the Russian Revolution, a civil war between the Bolshevik “Red” army and the anti-Bolshevik “White” Russian broke out. The White Army began to advance, so the Red Army held a secret meeting and sentenced the imperial family to death.
And so, the Romanov family was killed in the basement of the Ipatiev House. In 1991 a mass grave was discovered holding the remains of Tsar Nicholas, Tsarina Alexandra, and the three oldest daughters (Olga, Tatiana, and Maria). The missing bodies of Anastasia and Alexei added to the rumors of Anastasia's escape and survival. However, in 2007, a second grave was found and DNA testing confirmed that two of the bodies belonged to Grand Duchess Anastasia and Tsarevich Alexei, bringing the tragic end to the mystery of Anastasia.
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