#1916 diary of maria nikolaevna

[roses-of-the-romanovs]

“The only thing Maria does is talk. During breakfast, after, during rides. In short, whenever we are [with her], and there is no way to stop her.” —a disgruntled Tatiana, 1916

[otmaaromanovas]

Breakfast on the balcony, 1916

From Tatiana's 1916 diary:

'Monday. 13 June... Ate on the balcony. Wonderful weather. In the afternoon [we] lay out in the sun and picked flowers....'

'22 July. Went to Obednya 4 with Mama. Breakfast on the balcony with the same...'

'Sunday, 7 August... Sat with Mama. Had tea with her on the balcony...'

Sources:

Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar : Diaries and Letters, 1913-1918, Helen Azar and Nicholas B. A. Nicholason - Westholme Publishing, 2015

Anastasia Nikolaevna's 1916-1917 photo album (version two)

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

“…We drank tea in the balcony, then we rocked in the hammock. It is hanging on two trees behind the path in front of the balcony. The trees there are very strong.”

— Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, July 4, 1916

[romanovsmurdermystery]

On the photograph from the left to right: the Grand Duchesses Olga Nikolaevna, Tatyana Nikolaevna, Maria Nikolaevna, and Anastasia Nikolaevna. On their right wrists the gold non-removable bracelets are visible. Livadia Palace, 1916

[...] 'However, even though the amount of jewellery on the four daughters was minimal there were some pieces present and are quite visible on each photograph. These pieces are: the gold non-removable bracelets, and three watches – worn by Olga Nikolaevna, Tatyana Nikolaevna, and Anastasia Nikolaevna. The gold non-removable bracelets were worn by the daughters on their right wrists. They are not only visible on the photographs of the Tsarskoe Selo period but also on earlier ones.

The information about the gold bracelets can be found in the diary of Alexandra Feodorovna dated 4 July 1918 (new style date): ‘and a bracelet per child which we had given them as presents.’ As per the same dairy entry, Alexandra Feodorovna herself had two similar bracelets: ‘they only left me the two bracelets from uncle Leo, which are non-removable’. ‘They’ in the last quote refers to the commandant of the Ipatievsky house, Yakov Mikhailovich Yurovsky (7 June 1878 - 2 August 1938), and his assistant Georgi Petrovich Nikulin (27 December 1894 – 22 September 1965).

In his notes, Yurovsky gives more details about the bracelets in question: ‘Alexandra Feodorovna, however, expressed her displeasure when I was going to remove a gold bracelet from her hand; it was locked and it was not possible to remove it without a special tool. She proclaimed that she had been wearing the bracelet for 20 years and now it was being attempted to be removed. Taking into consideration that similar bracelets were worn by her daughters and that they were not of particular value, I decided to leave them.’ (Notes by Yurovsky Y.M. P.109, 1934)' - Seraphima Bogomolova

Read more in Part One: 'Like Kings and Queens, Like Princes and Princesses'

On the photographs: on the left - Georgi Petrovich Nikulin (27 December 1894 – 22 September 1965), the assistant to commandant of the Ipatievsky house; on the right - Yakov Mikhailovich Yurovsky (7 June 1878 - 2 August 1938), the commandant of the Ipatievsky house.

[otmacamera]

1916 Diary of Maria Nikolaevna

January {part 2 of 2}

15/28. Friday. In the morning there were English and Batushka lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast. Mama lay down all day. In the afternoon [we] 3 rode with Isa in a troika. [I] was in our infirmary. We 4 drank tea with Anya near Mama's bed. There was a music lesson and [I] prepared lessons. [We] 4 had dinner. Mama lay down a little on the couch. Anya was here.

16/29. Saturday. In the morning there were German, Batushka and French lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Mama on the couch. In the afternoon [we] 4 rode with Isa, then [we] were at a concert at the G.P. [We] 4 drank tea with Mama and Anya. [We] 4 were at Vsenoshnaya. [We] 4 had dinner with Anya and Mama on the couch. Said goodbye to Kiki who goes to war.

17/30. Sunday. In the morning [we] 5 were at Obednya. Met Papa. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa and Mama on the couch. In the afternoon [I] was with A in our infirmary. Walked with O and Papa. [We] 4 drank tea with Papa, Mama and Anya. Trina was here. [We] 4 had dinner with Papa and Mama on the couch. Played in the dark. Papa read to us a very interesting English book "A millionaire girl".

18/31. Monday. In the morning there were lessons in arithmetic, history and Russian. Rode with Shura. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa and Mama on the couch. In the afternoon [we] 4 were at the G.P. Walked with Papa. Drank tea with T and A in the playroom. There were English and music lessons. [We] 3 had dinner with Papa and Mama on the couch. Anya was here. Papa read the rest [of the story].

19/1. Tuesday. In the morning there were English, German, French and history lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa, Gavril 1 and U[ncle] Sergei 2, and Mama in another room. In the afternoon walked with A and Papa. Was with A in our infirmary. Had tea with Mama, A and Anya. There was a music [lesson]. Prepared lessons. [We] 3 had dinner with Papa, Gavril and Mama on the couch. Kolya and Anya were here.

20/2. Wednesday. In the morning there were Russian, history, arithmetic and Batushka lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa, Sandro 3 and Kazakevich. In the afternoon walked with Papa and A. [I] was with T and A at the G.P. [We] 4 drank tea with Papa and Mama. There were music and French lessons. [We] 3 had dinner with Papa and Mama on the couch. Anya was here. Papa continued reading [to us].

21/3. Thursday. In the morning there were lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa and Mama on the couch. In the afternoon [I] was with A in our infirmary, was the operation Gerashchenevsky. Walked with T and A. [We] 4 drank tea with Mama, Papa and Sonya Den 4. There was [a] music [lesson]. Prepared lessons. [We] 3 had dinner with Papa and Mama on the couch. Anya was here. Papa read again.

22/4. Friday. In the morning there were lessons. Rode with Shura. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa and Mama on the couch. In the afternoon [I] was with O and A at the G.P. Walked with Papa, T and A. Was with A in our infirmary. Drank tea with Papa, Mama and O. There was [a] music [lesson]. [We] 3 had dinner with Papa and Mama on the couch. Anya was here. Papa read.

23/5. Saturday. In the morning there were lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa, Co[unt] Fredericks 5 and Mama on the couch. In the afternoon [I] was with A in our infirmary. [We] 4 rode with Nastenka in a troika. [We] 4 were at the Pa[lace] infirmary at the concert. Drank tea at home. [We] 4 were with Papa at Vsenoshnaya. The same had dinner and Mama on the couch. Anya was here. Papa read.

24/6. Sunday. In the morning [we] 4 with Papa went to A[unt] Xenia in Petrograd for Obednya and breakfast. Grandmama, A[unt’s] children and her retinue were there. Returned with A and Papa. Was with A in our infirmary. [We] 4 drank tea with Papa, Mama, Kolya and Anya. Rode with A and Shura. [We] 3 had dinner with Papa and Mama on the couch. Anya was here. Papa read.

25/7. Monday. In the morning there were lessons. Rode with Shura. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa, Vilkitsky and Mama on the couch. In the afternoon [I] was with O and A at the G.P. Walked with Papa, A and T. Was with A in our infirmary. Had tea with T and A in the playroom. There were English and music lessons. Prepared lessons. [We] 3 had dinner with Papa and Mama on the couch. Anya was here. Papa read again.

26/8. Tuesday. In the morning there were lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa and Mama on the couch. In the afternoon [I] was with A in our infirmary and pictures of us were taken there. Walked with Papa and A. Drank [tea with] Papa, Mama, O and Anya. There was [a] music [lesson]. Prepared lessons. [We] 3 had dinner 3 with Papa and Mama on the couch. Grigori 6 and Anya were here. Papa read.

27/9. Wednesday. In the morning there were lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa and Mama on the couch. [We] 4 went with Papa in Petrograd at the Winter Pa[lace] infirmary for 450 lower ranks. Drank tea at Grandmama’s with U[ncle] Mimi . Returned. There was a french lesson. 3 had dinner with Papa, U[ncle] Mimi 7 and Mama on the couch. Anya was here.

28/10. Thursday. There were lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Papa, Mama and A[unt] Miechen 8. In the afternoon was with A in our infirmary. I skiied with A. Was with A at the G.P. Drank tea with Papa, Mama, O and T. There was [a] music [lesson]. Rode with A and Shura. [We] 4 had dinner with Papa and Mama on the couch. Papa left, he went to the General Headquarters in Mogilev.

29/11. Friday. In the morning there were lessons. Rode with Shura. [We] 5 had breakfast with Mama on the couch. In the afternoon was with A in our infirmary. [We] 4 rode with Isa in a troika. [We] 4 drank tea with Mama and Anya. Prepared lessons. There was a music [lesson]. [We] 4 had dinner and Mom on the couch. Anya was here.

30/12. Saturday. In the morning there were lessons. [We] 5 had breakfast with Mama on the couch. In the afternoon was with A at the Grand Palace. [We] 4 rode with Isa in a troika. [We] 4 drank tea with Mama and Anya. [We] 4 were at Vsenoshnaya. [We] 4 had dinner and Mom on the couch. Kolya and Anya were here.

31/13. Sunday [We] 5 were at Obednya. [We] 5 had breakfast with Mama on the couch. In the afternoon was with A in our infirmary. [We] 4 rode with Nastenka in a troika. [We] 4 drank tea with Mama. [We] 5 were with Kolya and Anya at the concert in the infirmary. [We] 4 rode with Shura. [We] 4 had dinner and Mom on the couch. Anya was here.

You can find the original Russian text aswell as pictures of Maria's 1916 diary on the lastromanovs vk group

1Prince Gavril Konstantinovich, Grand Duke Konstantin’s son 2Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich 3Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, Grand Duchess Xenia’s husband 4Sofia Vladimirovna born Sheremetieva, Lili Dehn’s sister in law 5Count Vladimir Fredericks, Imperial Household minister 6Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin 7Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich 8Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna the Elder

[mashkaromanova]

“Went to church with Papa and Mama. Had breakfast [we] 5, Papa and Mama on the sofa. [We] 4 went to the Gr.[and] Pal.[ace]. Walked with Papa and Mama [rode] in a carriage. Broke ice [we] 4 with Papa. Had tea in the playroom. [We] 5 went to Anya’s concert at the infirmary, ‘Ivanov Pavel’ and the magicians. Went to our infirmaries with A[nastasia]., 17 soldiers arrived from the train. Rode around with A. and Shura. Had dinner 5 with Papa, Mama, Silaev and Anya. Papa read.”

- Maria Nikolaevna’s diary, 20th March/2nd April 1916

[historicwomendaily]

❁ Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia Nikolaevna were the four daughters of Emperor Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia. Known collectively as “OTMA”, the tragic lives of these four grand duchesses endlessly fascinate. Here is a list of resources to get to know the Romanov sisters a bit more deeply. ❁

⮞ Primary Sources Within the last decade or so, much work has been done to translate the diaries and letters of the Romanov sisters. Additionally, primary source material from their parents and retainers provide excellent insight into their lives. These include:

The Diary of Olga Romanov: Royal Witness to the Revolution by Helen Azar • The first in an excellent series on each individual Romanov sister, Azar offers a biographical sketch and translations of the wartime diaries and letters (1914-1918) of Olga Nikolaevna in a narrative-style with additional documents of the period.

Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913–1918 by Helen Azar and Nicholas B. A. Nicholson • Translated for the first time in English with plentiful annotations, this book offers a  narrative-style approach the diaries and letters of Tatiana Nikolaevna, including a biographical sketch and additional documents of the period.

Maria Romanov: Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Diaries and Letters, 1908–1918  by Helen Azar and George Hawkins  • The first English translation of the intimate writings of Maria Nikolaevna, this narrative-style book offers translations of Maria’s writings and letters, with a biographical sketch and additional primary source material on the third grand duchess.

Anastasia Romanov: The Tsar's Youngest Daughter Speaks Through Her Writings (1907 - 1918) by Helen Azar and George Hawkins • Here for the first time, readers can discover the real Anastasia Nikolaevna through her own letters and writings - translated into English with a biographical sketch and additional documents, illustrating in a narrative style a “surprisingly modern teenager from the dawn of the 20th century.”

Journal of a Russian Grand Duchess:  Complete Annotated 1913 Diary of Olga Romanov, Eldest Daughter of the Last Tsar by Helen Azar • This volume comprises of diary entries of Olga Nikolaevna from the full year of 1913, which allow the reader a unique glimpse into the daily domestic routines of the Russian imperial family just prior to the outbreak of the First World War.

1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna: Complete Tercentennial Journal of the Third Daughter of the Last Tsar by Helen Azar and Amanda Madru • The first translation of Maria Nikolaevna’s 1913 diary in its entirety, Maria’s journal records the daily routines of the Imperial family, from the mundane to the magnificent.

Maria and Anastasia: The Youngest Romanov Grand Duchesses In Their Own Words by Helen Azar • Known to their family and friends as "The Little Pair", Grand Duchesses Maria and Anastasia Nikolaevna are the main topic of this volume on their individual writings and letters.

Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar by George Hawkins • This book contains a wide range of letters to and from the Grand Duchesses, both from relatives and friends, but also from strangers and people from  parts of the world.

In the Steps of the Romanovs: Final Two Years of the Russian Imperial Family 1916-1918  by Helen Azar • Unique volume collection of first-hand accounts of the Romanov family exclusively through their diaries and correspondence. 

Romanov Family Yearbook: On This Date in Their Own Words by Helen Azar and Amanda Madru • A unique edition which commemorates the last Romanovs through a collection of personal documents that recount their daily lives, ranging over a decade. This book contains 365 diary entries, letters, and photographs–one for each day of the year—including some previously unpublished material.

Russia’s Last Romanovs: In Their Own Words by Helen Azar and Eva & Dan McDonald  •  In this book, you will follow the events which led up to their eventual tragic fate through personal words of each family member, as well as their close friends and associates. Their letters, diaries, and postcards – many of which have been compiled into English here for the first time. 

A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra: Their Own Story by Sergei Mironenko and Andrei Maylunas • A large collection of letters, diaries, and writings of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna and their five children, this volume naturally includes much first-hand information on the Romanov grand duchesses.

The Last Grand Duchess by Ian Vorres • A memoir/biography of Aunt Olga Alexandrovna, whom OTMA were particularly close, offers much first-hand information on the sisters’.

The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal by St. John the Forerunner Monastery • This beautifully-illustrated, unique volume draws on letters, testimonies, diaries, memoirs, and other texts never before published in English to present a unique biography of Tsar Nicholas II, his wife, four daughters, and son.

The Life and Tragedy of Alexandra Feodorovna: Empress of Russia by Sophie Buxhoeveden • A unique first-hand account of a close friend of Empress Alexandra, who also served as a lady-in-waiting and close confidant of the four sisters. A wealth of information and anecdotes on the lives of the girls’ full up the pages of this volume, including their lives in captivity.

Six Years at Russian Court by Margaret Eager • The memoirs of the governess of the grand duchesses, Eager offers the most complete first-hand account of the sisters’ childhoods.

Thirteen Years at the Russian Court by Pierre Gilliard • The best first-hand account of the life of the last Imperial family of Russia was written by Pierre Gilliard, French tutor to the Tsar's children.

Memories of the Russian Court by Anna Vyrubova • Memoirs of Alexandra’s closest friend, a lady-in-waiting to the empress, Anna’s memoirs, like Buxhoeveden’s, offers particular insight to the life of Alexandra Feodorovna and her four imperial daughters.

The Real Tsaritsa by Lil Dehn • A memoir of the court by Alexandra’s lady-in-waiting, Dehn with close with the Imperial family and the Romanov sisters in their last few years.

⮞ Historical Novels As many Romanov enthusiasts knows, it is incredibly difficult to find quality historical fiction on the last Romanov family. There are important exceptions, however:

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller • Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. Like the fingers on a hand--first headstrong Olga; then Tatiana, the tallest; Maria the most hopeful for a ring; and Anastasia, the smallest. These are the daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, grand duchesses living a life steeped in tradition and privilege. Highly praised for its historical accuracy and  individual voices given to each grand duchess, Sarah Miller’s young adult historical fiction book can serve itself as a great starting point on the Romanov sisters, fiction or nonfiction.

Anastasia and Her Sisters by Carolyn Meyer • A young adult historical fiction novel from the point of view of Anastasia, this generally accurate book follows the lives of the Romanov sisters from their childhood to young women in captivity.

Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 by Carolyn Meyer • A well-beloved middle-grade novel written in the style of a fictionalized     diary of Anastasia.

Rubies in the Snow: Diary of Russia's Last Grand Duchess 1911-1918 by Kate Hubbard • Another fictionalized diary of Anastasia Nikolaevna, this book follows the grand duchess across seven years.

The Last Grand Duchess: A Novel of Olga Romanov, Imperial Russia, and Revolution by Bryn Turnbull • I have admittedly not read this book yet, so perhaps it is taking a huge chance to recommend this book; however, it is a new first-person novel of Olga Nikolaevna that has been well-received by readers and I haven’t found a trace of the usual sensationalism in the book’s reviews. 

⮞ Secondary Sources While there has yet to be a definitive combined biography of the four Romanov sisters, there are a number of nonfiction works that include their lives woven into their narratives. These include:

Anastasia’s Album by Hugh Brewster • A beautifully illustrated young adult nonfiction book on Anastasia Nikolaevna and her sisters.

The Romanovs: Love, Power, and Tragedy by A. N. Bokhanov • This book provides an enthralling  description of the last Romanov family. It is Told through the diaries and family albums of the last Tsar and Tsarina, and included for the first time in print the diary entries and letters of the grand duchesses. Hundreds of unique and historic photographs from the personal photo albums of Nicholas and his family complete this volume.

Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie • A masterful classic of nonfiction, this book is considered by many to be the standard biography of the last Imperial Family of Russia. Written by Robert Massie with much research work done by Suzanne Massie, this book is a generally great nonfiction starting point on Nicholas, Alexandra, and their five children.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming • A young adult historical biography of the last Romanov family of Russia. This well-researched and well-annotated book provides information not only on the history of Nicholas, Alexandria, and their children but also on the Russian people living at the time and on the social conditions that contributed to the family's demise.

The Resurrection of the  Romanovs: Anastasia, Anna Anderson, and the World's Greatest Royal Mystery by Greg King and Penny Wilson • This groundbreaking book serves three purposes: first, a biography of Anastasia Nikolaevna; second, a recounting of the tale of “Anna Anderson”; and third, a biography of Franziska Schanzkowska and how under the guise of Anna Anderson she falsely claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanova.

⮞ Websites The internet has proven to be an endless mine of Romanov material on the grand duchesses and the imperial family as a whole. These websites are particularly good starting points:

Alexander  Palace Time Machine • The world’s preeminent Romanov website--a treasure trove of photos, letters, books, articles, and more.

Liviadia.org • A tribute to the Romanov children, featuring scrapbook-style biographies and photo albums of each grand duchess.

The Romanov Family • A popular Romanov history website focusing on Nicholas, Alexandra, the four sisters, and Alexei in their own words, run by translator Helen Azar.

Frozentears • A media-rich memorial to the last Imperial family.

Romanov Memorial • A virtual tour of the Ipatiev house.

Yale Beinecke Albums • Browse six of Anna Vyrubova’s personal photo albums, loaded with candid snapshots of the grand duchesses and their family.

The Romanov Royal Martyrs Project • A multimedia dedication to the last Imperial family of Russia.

⮞ Films, Documentaries, & Footage While there have been numerous films and documentaries on the Romanovs, only a small amount steer away from the sensationalism often associated with the family, particularly the imposters. Documentaries and films that focus on the real family instead includes:

The Romanov Four Sisters (2021) • A documentary on the Romanov sisters by The Romanov Royal Martyrs project, this two-part series is a purposeful remake of a far less well-received documentary. This new version features colorized pictures by Olga Shirnina (Klimbim),  newsreel footage, and a selection of photographs from the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF).

OTMA — Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria & Anastasia (Footage) •  An hour length collection of the old archival film footage with the Russian Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Romanov of Russia from the Russian State Documentary Film & Photo Archive at Krasnogorsk (RGAKFD).

Last of the Czars (1996) • A three-part documentary on the last imperial family of Russia, Discovery Networks.

Russia’s Last Tsar (1995) • A documentary on Nicholas II and his family, National Geographic Video.

The Romanovs: An Imperial Family (2000) • A Russian historical drama film about the last days of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. It has been praised by Romanov enthusiasts for its depictions of the Romanov sisters.

Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) • The film adaptation of Robert K. Massie’s book of the same name, this historical drama focuses on the imperial couple and their family throughout Nicholas’s reign.

[imperial-russia]

Here is a list of books you might want to read if you are interested in the Romanov dynasty and the country and society they goverened. I have read some, I own most and some may be of warying quality and reliability. Some include periods before and after the Russian Empire. Some could be fitted into more than one cathegory. A few are not available in English.I will try to update this list from time to time as I find new books or new books become published. Enjoy!

Diaries and correspondence of the Romanovs

The Memoirs of Catherine the Great

Love and Conquest: Personal Correspondence of Catherine the Great and Prince Grigory Potemkin

Chere Annette: Letters from St. Petersburg, 1820-1828: The Correspondence of the Empress Maria Feodorovna to Her Daughter the Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna

A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra: Their Own Story

Romanov Family Yearbook: On This Date in Their Own Words

The Letters of Tsar Nicholas and Empress Marie

The Correspondence Of The Empress Alexandra Of Russia With Ernst Ludwig And Eleonore, Grand Duke And Duchess Of Hesse

The Complete Wartime Correspondence of Tsar Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra: April 1914-March 1917

In the Steps of the Romanovs: Final Two Years of the Last Russian Imperial Family (1916-1918)

The Last Diary of Tsaritsa Alexandra

The Diary of Olga Romanov: Royal Witness to the Russian Revolution

Journal of a Russian Grand Duchess: Complete Annotated 1913 Diary of Olga Romanov, Eldest Daughter of the Last Tsar

Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913–1918

Maria Romanov: Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Diaries and Letters, 1908–1918

1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna: Complete Tercentennial Journal of the Third Daughter of the Last Tsar

Maria and Anastasia: The Youngest Romanov Grand Duchesses In Their Own Words

Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar

Michael Romanov: Brother of the Last Tsar Diaries and Letters, 1916-1918

Diaries and correspondence of other people

Russian journal of Lady Londonderry, 1836-37

Letters from Russia

The Diaries of Sofia Tolstoy

Letters from St Petersburg: A Siamese Prince at the Court of the Last Tsar

The Romanovs Under House Arrest: From the 1917 Diary of a Palace Priest

Private Diary of Mathilde Kschessinska

A Countess in Limbo: Diaries in War & Revolution; Russia 1914-1920, France 1939-1947

Memoirs by the Romanovs

Once a Grand Duke

Always a Grand Duke

25 Chapters of My Life

Education of a Princess

A Princess in Exile

A Romanov Diary: The Autobiography of H.I.& R.H. Grand Duchess George

My life in Russia's service--then and now

Memories In The Marble Palace

Memoirs by other people

The Memoirs of Princess Dashkova

Lost Splendor

Memories of the Russian Court

My Mission to Russia and Other Diplomatic Memories

An Ambassador's Memoirs

The Real Tsaritsa

Thirteen Years at the Russian Court

The False Anastasia

Six Years at the Russian Court

Before the Storm

The Life and Tragedy of Alexandra Feodorovna Empress of Russia

Left Behind

At the Court of the Last Tsar

Memories of Russia 1916-1919

The Emperor Nicholas II: As I Knew Him

The Sokolov Investigation of the Alleged Murder of the Russian Imperial Family

The Russia That I Loved

Dancing in Petersburg: The Memoirs of Kschessinska

On the Estate: Memoirs of a Russian Lady before the Revolution

Theater Street

The Other Russia: The Experience of Exile

Russia Through Women's Eyes: Autobiographies from Tsarist Russia

The Fall of the Romanovs: Political Dreams and Personal Struggles in a Time of Revolution

Tommorow Will Come

Fanny Lear: Love and Scandal in Tsarist Russia

The Coronation of Tsar Nicholas II

Days of the Russian Revolution: Memoirs from the right, 1905-1917

The House by the Dvina: A Russian Childhood

Under Three Tsars

Last days at Tsarskoe Selo

Last Years of the Court at Tsarskoe Selo

The Real Romanovs

Biographies of the Romanovs and general topics concerning them

The Romanovs: Autocrats of All the Russias

The Romanovs: 1613-1918

The Romanovs

The Romanovs: Ruling Russia 1613-1917

Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia

The Tragic Dynasty: A History of the Romanovs

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

Romanov Autumn: Stories from the Last Century of Imperial Russia

The Romanovs, 1818–1959: Alexander II of Russia and His Family

Alexis, Tsar of all the Russias

Sophia: Regent of Russia, 1657-1704

Peter the Great: His Life and World

Peter the Great

Terrible Tsarinas: Five Russian Women in Power

Elizabeth and Catherine: Empresses of All the Russias

Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Catherine the Great & Potemkin: the imperial love affair

Catherine the Great: Love, Sex, and Power

Great Catherine: The Life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia

The Empress of Art: Catherine the Great and the Transformation of Russia

Alexander I: The Tsar Who Defeated Napoleon

Alexander I: Tsar of War and Peace

Alexander of Russia: Napoleon's Conqueror

Nicholas I and Official Nationality in Russia 1825 - 1855

Nicholas I: Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias

Becoming a Romanov. Grand Duchess Elena of Russia and her World

Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar

Katia: Wife Before God

Alexander III: His Life and Reign

Little Mother of Russia: A Biography of the Empress Marie Feodorovna

Nicholas II: Emperor of All the Russias

Nicholas II: Last of the Tsars

The Last of the Tsars : Nicholas II and the Russian Revolution

The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II

King, Kaiser, Tsar: Three Royal Cousins Who Led The World To War

A Gathered Radiance: The Life of Alexandra Romanov, Russia's Last Empress

The Last Empress: The Life and Times of Alexandra Feodorovna, Tsarina of Russia

Alexandra

Alexandra: The Last Tsarina

Nicholas and Alexandra

Alix and Nicky: The Passion of the Last Tsar and Tsarina

The Last Tsar & Tsarina

The Four Graces: Queen Victoria's Hessian Granddaughters

The Imperial Tea Party: Family, Politics and Betrayal: the Ill-Fated British and Russian Royal Alliance

From Splendor to Revolution: The Romanov Women, 1847-1928

Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria and The Romanovs: Sixty Years of Mutual Distrust

Queen Victoria's Matchmaking: The Royal Marriages that Shaped Europe

Imperial Requiem: Four Royal Women and the Fall of the Age of Empires

The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal

The Romanovs: Family of Faith and Charity

The Romanovs: The Final Chapter

The Last Days of the Romanovs: Tragedy at Ekaterinburg

The Fate of the Romanovs

The Murder of the Romanovs

The House of Special Purpose

The Murder of the Tsar

Alexei: Russia's Last Imperial Heir: A Chronicle of Tragedy

A Guarded Secret : Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra and Tsarevich Alexei's Hemophilia

The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra

The Grand Dukes

The Grand Dukes - Sons And Grandsons Of Russia's Tsars

The Other Grand Dukes: Sons and Grandsons of Russia's Grand Dukes

White Crow: The Life and Times of the Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich Romanov, 1859-1919

The Grand Duchesses: Daughters & Granddaughters of Russia's Tsars

Once a Grand Duchess: Xenia, Sister of Nicholas II

Michael and Natasha: The Life and Love of Michael II, the Last of the Romanov Tsars

The Last Grand Duchess: Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna

Olga Romanov: Russia's Last Grand Duchess

Ella: Princess, Saint and Martyr

Elizabeth, Grand Duchess of Russia

Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia: New Martyr of the Communist Yoke

Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna

Princess Victoria Melita

A Fatal Passion: The Story of the Uncrowned Last Empress of Russia

Gilded Prism: The Konstantinovichi Grand Dukes & The Last Years Of The Romanov Dynasty

Death of a Romanov Prince

A Poet Among the Romanovs: Prince Vladimir Paley

Princesses on the Wards: Royal Women in Nursing through Wars and Revolutions

The Romanovs: The Way It Was

Behind the Veil at the Russian Court

The Flight of the Romanovs: A Family Saga

Russia and Europe: Dynastic Ties

Biographies of other people

The Tsar's Doctor: The Life and Times of Sir James Wylie

The Romanovs & Mr Gibbes: The Story of the Englishman Who Taught the Children of the Last Tsar

An Englishman in the Court of the Tsar: The Spiritual Journey of Charles Syndney Gibbes

The Forgotten Tutor: John Epps and the Romanovs

The Rasputin File

Rasputin: The Untold Story

Rasputin: Rascal Master

Rasputin: The Biography

Rasputin: a Short Life

The Murder of Grigorii Rasputin: A Conspiracy That Brought Down the Russian Empire

The Man Who Killed Rasputin: Prince Felix Youssoupov and the Murder That Helped Bring Down the Russian Empire

The Princess of Siberia

Angel of Vengeance: The Girl Who Shot the Governor of St. Petersburg and Sparked the Age of Assassination

Imperial Dancer: Mathilde Kschessinska and the Romanovs

Diaghilev: A Life

Nijinsky: A Life of Genius and Madness

The Russian Album

Russian Blood

Tolstoy: A Russian Life

The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia

Katya and the Prince of Siam

The Defiant Life of Vera Figner: Surviving the Russian Revolution

Pushkin: A Biography

Photoalbums, cofee-table books

The Camera and the Tsars: The Romanov Family in Photographs

The Romanov Family Album

Tsar: The Lost World of Nicholas and Alexandra

The Romanovs: Love, Power and Tragedy

The Regalia of the Russian Empire

The Sunset of the Romanov Dynasty

The Summer Palaces of the Romanovs: Treasures from Tsarskoye Selo

Royal Russia: The Private Albums of the Russian Imperial Family

Russia: Art, Royalty and the Romanovs

Nicholas II: The Last Tsar

Nicholas and Alexandra: The Family Albums

The Last Tsar

Romanovs Revisited

The Private World of the Last Tsar: In the Photographs and Notes of General Count Alexander Grabbe

The Jewel Album of Tsar Nicholas II: A Collection of Private Photographs of the Russian Imperial Family

Anastasia's Album

Lost Tales: Stories for the Tsar's Children

The Last Courts of Europe: Royal Family Album 1860-1914

Dear Ellen (Royal Europe Through the Photo Albums of Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia)

Royal Gatherings (Who is in the Picture? Volume 1: 1859-1914)

Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia

Jewels from Imperial St. Petersburg

Postcards from the Russian Revolution

Before the Revolution: A View of Russia Under the Last Czar

Twilight of the Romanovs: A Photographic Odyssey Across Imperial Russia

The Romanov Legacy: The Palaces of St. Petersburg

Moscow: Splendours of the Romanovs

Fabergé, Lost and Found: The Recently Discovered Jewelry Designs from the St. Petersburg Archives

Art of Fabergé

Faberge: Treasures of Imperial Russia

Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique

Russian Imperial Style

A Smolny Album: Glimpses into Life at the Imperial Educational Society of Noble Maidens

Konstantin Makovsky: The Tsar’s Painter in America and Paris

Anna Pavlova: Twentieth Century Ballerina

Tamara Karsavina: Diaghilev's Ballerina

General history and specific events

Russian Chronicles

Russia's First Civil War: The Time of Troubles and the Founding of the Romanov Dynasty

The Court of Russia in the Nineteenth Century; Volume 1

The Court of Russia in the Nineteenth Century; Volume 2

The Crimean War: A History

Internal Colonization: Russia's Imperial Experience

The Conquest of a Continent: Siberia and the Russians

Red Fortress: History and Illusion in the Kremlin

Sunlight at Midnight: St. Petersburg and the Rise of Modern Russia

St Petersburg: Three Centuries of Murderous Desire

The Shadow of the Winter Palace: Russia's Drift to Revolution 1825-1917

Society and lifestyle

Land of the Firebird: The Beauty of Old Russia

Serfdom, Society, and the Arts in Imperial Russia: The Pleasure and the Power

Lord and Peasant in Russia from the Ninth to the Nineteenth Century

A Bride for the Tsar: Bride-Shows and Marriage Politics in Early Modern Russia

Origins of the Russian Intelligentsia: The Eighteenth-Century Nobility

The Icon and the Axe: An Interpretive History of Russian Culture

The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II

Scenarios of Power: Myth and Ceremony in Russian Monarchy, Vol. 1

Scenarios of Power: Myth and Ceremony in Russian Monarchy, Vol. 2

Pavlovsk : The Life of a Russian Palace

Entertaining Tsarist Russia: Tales, Songs, Plays, Movies, Jokes, Ads, and Images from Russian Urban Life, 1779-1917

A Social History of the Russian Empire, 1650-1825

Slavophile Empire: Imperial Russia's Illiberal Path

Russia at Play

Women In Russian History: From The Tenth To The Twentieth Century

St. Petersburg: A Cultural History

Russian Peasant Women

Romanov Riches: Russian Writers and Artists Under the Tsars

The Magical Chorus: A History of Russian Culture from Tolstoy to Solzhenitsyn

Family in Imperial Russia

Village Life in Late Tsarist Russia

Imperial Crimea: Estates, Enchantments and the Last of the Romanovs

Russia on the Eve of Modernity: Popular Religion and Traditional Culture Under the Last Tsars

The Martha-Mary Convent: and Rule of St. Elizabeth the New Martyr

The Way of a Pilgrim

Icon and Devotion: Sacred Spaces in Imperial Russia

Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia

Valse Des Fleurs: A Day in St. Petersburg in 1868

Murder Most Russian: True Crime and Punishment in Late Imperial Russia

What Life Was Like in the Time of War and Peace: Imperial Russia, AD 1696-1917

When Miss Emmie Was in Russia: English Governesses Before, During and After the October Revolution

From Cradle to Crown: British Nannies and Governesses at the World's Royal Courts

What Became Peters Dream: Court Culture in the Reign of Nicholas II

Faberge's Eggs: The Extraordinary Story of the Masterpieces That Outlived an Empire

Beauty in Exile: The Artists, Models, and Nobility who Fled the Russian Revolution and Influenced the World of Fashion

Revolution and its general aftermath

Spies and Commissars: The Early Years of the Russian Revolution

A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924

Interpreting the Russian Revolution: The Language and Symbols of 1917

The Russian Court at Sea: The Voyage of HMS Marlborough

Former People: The Final Days of the Russian Aristocracy

The Downfall of Russia

Doomsday 1917: The Destruction of Russia's Ruling Class

Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917

To Free the Romanovs: Royal Kinship and Betrayal in Europe 1917-1919

The Race to Save the Romanovs: The Truth Behind the Secret Plans to Rescue Russia's Imperial Family

Students, Love, Cheka and Death

Red Victory: A History of the Russian Civil War, 1918-1921

Conspirator: Lenin in Exile

Hidden Treasures of the Romanovs

Romanoff Gold: The Lost Fortunes of the Tsars

Russia Abroad: Prague and the Russian Diaspora, 1918–1938

Bread of Exile

The Many Deaths of Tsar Nicholas II: Relics, Remains and the Romanovs

Saving The Tsars' Palaces

Catalogues

Kejserinde Dagmar

Nicholas And Alexandra: The Last Tsar And Tsarina

Russian Splendor: Sumptuous Fashions of the Russian Court

At The Russian Court: Palace And Protocol In The 19th Century

History of Russian Costume from the Eleventh to the Twentieth Century

Collections of the Romanovs: European Arts from the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

Magnificence of the Tsars: Ceremonial Men's Dress of the Russian Imperial Court, 1721-1917

Conspiracy and pretenders

Imperial Legend: The Mysterious Disappearance of Tsar Alexander I

The File on the Tsar

The Escape of Alexei, Son of Tsar Nicholas II: What Happened the Night the Romanov Family Was Executed

The Romanov Conspiracies

I am Anastasia; The Autobiography of the Grand Duchess of Russia.

The Resurrection of the Romanovs: Anastasia, Anna Anderson, and the World's Greatest Royal Mystery

A Romanov Fantasy: Life at the Court of Anna Anderson

The Secret Plot to Save the Tsar: The Truth Behind the Romanov Mystery

The Quest for Anastasia: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Romanovs

[annalaurendet70]

The Hammock

Letter from Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova of Russia to her father,Tsar Nicholas II of Russia

3 July 1916

"...Today they will show films to the wounded in the Manege. I am very happy as we all go and Mother, too... Maria and I rock in the hammock sometimes and she overturns me each time and I fall down right on my face..."

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna Romanova of Russia's Diary entry

"…had tea on the balcony then swung in the hammock. It is hanging between two trees behind the path by the balcony. The trees there are very strong….” “Had tea with Shvybz and the same swung in a hammock…”

Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova of Russia's Diary entry

“…Maria and I swing in the hammocks sometimes and she almost always turns me over…” “…Maria and I… keep swinging in the hammock. ” “…We cut off old branches with dull knives and with our hands, and then swung in hammocks. Now there are two hammocks, as Marie has one too and they are hanging in a kilivatorny column…”

[outcast-ofredwall]

Maria Romanov: Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Diaries and Letters, 1908–1918

Title: Maria Romanov: Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Diaries and Letters, 1908–1918

Author: Helen Azar, George Hawkins

Publisher: Westholme Publishing 2019

Number of Pages: 304 (P)

Read: 4/16-18/20

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis: In the twilight of the nineteenth century, a third daughter was born to Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna—known to her family and friends simply as “Mashka”—grew into an empathetic, down-to-earth girl, unaffected by her imperial status. Often overshadowed by her two older sisters, Olga and Tatiana, and later, her brother Alexei and younger sister Anastasia, Maria ultimately proved to have a uniquely strong and solid personality.

    In Maria Romanov: Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Diaries and Letters, 1908–1918, by translator and researcher Helen Azar with George Hawkins, Mashka’s voice is heard again through her intimate writings, presented for the first time in English. The Grand Duchess was much more than a pretty princess wearing white dresses in hundreds of faded sepia photographs; Maria’s surviving diaries and letters offer a fascinating insight into the private life of a loving family—from festivals and faith, to Rasputin and the coming Revolution; it is clear why this middle child ultimately became a pillar of strength and hope for them all. Maria’s gentle character belied her incredible courage, which emerged in the darkest hours of her brief life. “The incarnation of modesty elevated by suffering,” as Maria was described during the last weeks of her life, she was able to maintain her kindness and optimism, even in the midst of violence and degradation.

    On a stuffy summer night in 1918, only a few weeks after her nineteenth birthday, Maria was murdered along with the rest of her family in a cellar of a house chosen for this “special purpose.” Two sets of charred remains, confirmed to be Maria’s and her brother Alexei’s, were not discovered until almost ninety years later, separately from those of the other victims of the massacre. As the authors relate, it is still unknown if these remains will ever be allowed to be laid to rest.

Review: I have Olga’s and Tatiana’s diaries and now I am delighted to have Maria’s! I was disappointed to discover that she’d burned all of her diaries except for 1912, 1913, and 1916. I am happy that the persistent rumor of Maria’s dalliance with a soldier at the Ipatiev house is false.

[early20thcenturynerd]

My Book Collection

Books about historical royals I have either read or are currently reading. [All links, excepting Private Diary of Mathilde Kschessinska, will take you to Amazon UK where you can look at the books description and buy it yourself]. I have probably forgotten to add a few books

Diaries & Letters

‘Journal of a Russian Grand Duchess: Complete Annotated 1913 Diary of Olga Romanov, Eldest Daughter of the Last Tsar: Volume 3 (Last Russian Imperial Family In Their Own Words)’ by Helen Azar

‘1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna: Complete Tercentennial Journal of the Third Daughter of the Last Tsar: Volume 6 (The Romanovs in Their Own Words)’ by Helen Azar with Amanda Madru

‘MARIA and ANASTASIA: The Youngest Romanov Grand Duchesses In Their Own Words: Letters, Diaries, Postcards: Volume 2 (The Russian Imperial Family: In Their Own Words)’ by Helen Azar

‘The Diary of Olga Romanov: Royal Witness to the Russian Revolution’ by Helen Azar

‘Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913 - 1918’ by Helen Azar and Nicholas Nicholson

Private Diary of Mathilde Kschessinska: Romance with Future Tsar’ by Helen Azar

‘A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra - Their Own Story’ by Andrei Maylunas & Sergei Mironenko

‘Darling Loosy: Letters to Princess Louise, 1856 - 1939’ by Elizabeth Pakenham, Countess of Longford

‘Advice to a Grand-daughter: Letters from Queen Victoria to Princess Victoria of Hesse’ by Richard Hough

‘Letters of Queen Victoria: A Selection From Her Majesty's Correspondence Between the Years 1837 and 1861, Published by Authority of His Majesty the King’

Queen Victoria, her children & grandchildren biographies

‘Victoria: An Intimate Biography’ by Stanley Weintraub

‘Victoria and Albert’ by Richard Hough

‘Albert: Uncrowned King’ by Stanley Weintraub

‘Victoria’s Daughters’ by Jerrold Packard

‘An Uncommon Woman - The Empress Frederick: Daughter of Queen Victoria, Wife of the Crown Prince of Prussia, Mother of Kaiser Wilhelm’ by Hannah Pakula

‘Prince Leopold: The Untold Story of Queen Victoria's Youngest Son’ by Charlotte Zeepvat

‘The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria's Youngest Daughter’ by Matthew Dennison

‘Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria’ by Julia Gelardi

‘Ella: Princess, Saint and Martyr’ by Christopher Warwick

‘In The Eye of the Storm: George V and the Great War’ by Alexandra Churchill

Other Royals

‘The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians‘ by Janice Hadlow

‘Katia: Wife before God’ by Alexandre Tarsaidze

‘Royal Renegades: The Children of Charles I and the English Civil Wars’ by Linda Porter

‘Henrietta Maria: Charles I's Indomitable Queen’ by Alison Plowden

‘Royal Passion: The Turbulent Marriage of King Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France’ by Katie Whitaker

‘Bonnie Prince Charlie: Charles Edward Stuart’ by Frank Mclynn

‘Queens of Georgian Britain’ by Catherine Curzon

Fiction

‘The Lost Crown’ by Sarah Miller

‘Most Beautiful Princess: A Novel Based on the Life of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Elizabeth Feodorovna’ by Christina Croft

Books That I Want To Read...

Just a few of the many books I want to read, but can’t buy them right now because I’m broke

‘The Correspondence of the Empress Alexandra of Russia with Ernst Ludwig and Eleonore, Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse. 1878 - 1916’ by Petra Kleinpenning

‘Dearest Missy’ by Diana Mandache

‘Queen Victoria’ by Elizabeth Pakenham, Countess of Longford

‘The Young Victoria’ by Alison Plowden

‘Princess Alice: Queen Victoria's Forgotten Daughter’ by Gerard Noel

‘Louis and Victoria: Family History of the Mountbattens’ by Richard Hough

‘Becoming Victoria’ by Lynne Vallone

‘My Memories of Six Reigns’ by Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein

‘Such Constant Affectionate Care: Lady Charlotte Finch, Royal Governess & the Children of George III’ by Jill Shefrin

‘Edward and Alexandra: Their Private and Public Lives’ by Richard Hough

‘Once a Grand Duchess: Xenia, Sister of Nicolas II’ by John Van der Kiste

‘Death of A Romanov Prince’ by Terry Boland with Arturo E. Beeche

‘Princess Louise: Queen Victoria's Unconventional Daughter’ by Jehanne Wake

‘From Cradle to Crown: British Nannies and Governesses at the World's Royal Courts’ by Charlotte Zeepvat

[otmaaromanovas]

Hey would you mind Could you give us a huge insight of Maria and Anastasia Nikolaevna's personalitys? in some rare quotes said by someone who met them both ?

I would love to read more facts and quotes about the little pair .

Hello! Of course! I'm going to split this into two parts: this part will be about Maria, and another post will be about Anastasia.

Here are some rare, lesser known quotes, about Maria Nikolaevna (or writings from Maria herself) that capture her personality well.

"Marie was kindness and unselfishness personified" - Olga Voronova, Upheaval

Letter from Olga to aunt Xenia - "1916 August 26th … Papa brings an attendant with him to dinner, and Mordvinov comes every evening and we torment and scare him. Yesterday we discharged the conductor and drew a beard, moustache and eyebrows with a burnt cork on Marie and put her on the train. Of course, he didn't recognize her, and he was terribly tormented when during a game of hide and seek in the dark, she ran into him in the corridor and rudely pushed him. He said that it was some kind of half-drunk conductor, and found her impudent, because we gave her cigarettes and she paced about importantly, smoking them." - George Hawkins, Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar

"The other Grand Duchesses were still children. Marie Nicholatevna was a robust, well developed little girl with big blue eves, of a typical Russian beauty. She had an excellent memory and every time somathing to be remembered her sisters always turned to her. - Alexander Spiridovitch, Last Years at Tsarskoe Selo, Volume 2

"One day the little Grand Duchess Anastasie was sitting in my lap, coughing and choking away, when the Grand Duchess Marie came to her and putting her face close up to her said, " Baby, darling, cough on me." Greatly amazed, I asked her what she meant, and the dear child said, " I am so sorry to see my dear little sister so ill, and I thought if I could take it from her she would be better." Was it not touching?" - Margaretta Eagar, Six Years at the Russian Court

The following are from George Hawkins, Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings - volume 1:

Note from Alexandra to Alexei, dated 1 December 1914: "Don’t tease Maria."

Letter from Tatiana to Alexei, Spring-Summer 1916 "...Taube [patient] (the one with no legs, do you remember him?) and Marie yell so you’d think the whole infirmary can hear them, they make such a fuss, and they all shout and argue. It is awfully funny to watch them."

Letter from Maria to Alexei after Alexei asked Maria to draw Joy the dog: "16 December 1916. My dear darling Alexei! I don’t know how big you want me to draw Joy, but I will give it a go, and if it doesn’t turn out, I can do it again…. I have just tried to sketch Joy but it didn't work out because I don’t really remember what he looks like and it ended up looking nothing like him, so I won’t send it to you. When you bring Joy to me, then I will be able to draw him."

The following are from Joseph T. Fuhrmann, Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna. The complete Wartime Correspondence April 1914 – March 1917:

Alexandra to Nicholas "[January] 24 1915 …Marie stands at the door & alas! picks her nose..."

Alexandra to Nicholas "January 2 1916 …Baby began writing his first diary yesterday. - Marie helped him, his spelling is of course queer."

Alexandra to Nicholas "April 2 1916 …Marie is in a grump mood & grumbles all the time & bellows at one, she & Olga have B. [Codeword for 'Becker', meaning their periods]"

The following are from George Hawkins, Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar:

Fanmail letter from American girl Dolores Sybilla Adam to Olga and Tatiana: "Jan 24 1913 …I cannot ever thank you enough for the picture that was sent to me… But tell me is Marie the only one that ever smiles…?"

Letter from Maria to Tatiana: "Tatiana my darling. Thank you very much for the note and good wishes. Although I have not seen my husband [an inside joke amongst the sisters, most likely referring to their crushes] yet, I did see him in a dream. Today we will go to the Grand Palace and I hope that Provotorov (i.e.: your husband) will tell us a lot of nonsense. It’s boring without you. I hope that I will see ND [Nikolai Dmitrievich Demenkov, her crush] again… 9th Dec. 1914"

Letter from Maria to Olga Voronova: "Dec 29th 1914 …The other day we were at a Christmas party at Mama's nanny school. There are now many children of the reserves, so awfully sweet! We gave them all toys and they rejoiced in them, and each showed his nanny what he received. They are so appetising. Some are very small, some are even only two weeks old. I really love young children, and play with them, holding them in my arms. Do you like little children?"

Letter from Pierre Gilliard to Maria: "10 December 1916 …Be careful, Maria Nikolaevna, if you continue to tease me, I will avenge myself!!!!"

Letter from Olga to Nicholas II: "16 August [circa 1904] - Peterhof. Dear Papa …Maria went to sleep in the afternoon, and Anastasia crept under the mattress and slept there with Maria on top of her. When she got up we all laughed, and so did she." - Maylunas and Mironenko, A Lifelong Passion

Letter from Alexandra to Nicholas: "14 June 1915 - I congratulate you with all my loving heart for our big Marie’s 16th birthday… Pity you are not here. She enjoyed all her presents, I gave her her first ring from us made out of one of my Buchara diamonds. She is so cheery and gay today." - Maylunas and Mironenko, A Lifelong Passion

Letter from Anastasia to Nicholas: "26 August 1915 …I am sitting on the couch near Alexei as he is having dinner with M. Gilliard, while Maria is running around like crazy. …This morning [Doctor] Ostrogorsky came to see me, but Maria and I were still in bed, then Maria covered herself with the blanket, then he entered and listened to my [lungs], but when he finished, I quietly uncovered the blanket and Maria had to climb out, and she was very embarrassed." - Helen Azar, George Hawkins, Anastasia Romanov: The Tsar's Youngest Daughter Speaks Through Her Writings

"When I first knew the Grand Duchess Marie, she was quite a child, but during the Revolution she became very devoted to me, and I to her, and we spent most of our time together — she was a wonderful girl, possessed of tremendous reserve force, and I never realised her unselfish nature until those dreadful days. She too was exceeding fair, dowered with the classic beauty of the Romanoffs; her eyes were dark blue, shaded by long lashes, and she had masses of dark brown hair. Marie was plump, and the Empress often teased her about this; she was not so lively as her sisters, but she was much more decided in her outlook. The Grand Duchess Marie knew at once what she wanted, and why she wanted it." - Lili Dehn, The Real Tsaritsa

"Count Grabbe says of the Tsar's third daughter, clearly his favorite: "With her large gray, luminous eyes, her classical features, and languorous movements, she was the true type of Russian beauty, the most good- natured and artless of the four sisters, with endearing qualities which drew people to her." More outgoing than her older sisters, Maria Nikolaievna loved children and used to talk to soldiers about their families. She knew the names of many of the Koncoy Cossacks and Standart sailors, took an interest in their affairs and managed out of her $9 a month allowance to send little gifts to their children. With all her gentle ways, she was strong and solidly built, like her grandfather Alexander III. Her sisters called her "Mashka" and sometimes "Little Bow-wow."" - Count Alexander Grabbe, The private world of the last Tsar, in the photographs and notes of General Count Alexander Grabbe

"The Grand Duchess Maria Nicholaevna was a young wcnnan of broad build. She was very strong; for example, she could lift me up from the ground. She had lighter hair than Tatiana, but darker than Olga. (Olga Nicholaevna had brown hair, of a golden shade, and Maria Nicholaevna had brown hair with a light shade.) She had very nice, light grey eyes. She was very good looking, but got too thin after her illness. She had a great talent for painting and always liked to exercise it. She played the piano indifferently and was not as capable as Olga or Tatiana. She was modest and simple and probably had the qualities of a good wife and mother. She was fond of children and was inclined to be lazy. She liked Tobolsk and told me that she would be quite happy to stay there. It is quite difficult for me to tell you whom she preferred — her father or her mother." - Examination of Sidney Gibbes, The Last Days of the Romanovs

"The Grand Duchess Maria was eighteen ; she was tall, strong, and better looking than the other sisters. She painted well and was the most amiable. She always used to speak to the soldiers, questioned them, and knew very well the names of their wives, the number of their children, and the amount of land owned by the soldiers. All the intimate affairs in such cases were always known to her. Like the Grand Duchess Olga, she loved her father more than the rest. On account of her simplicity and affability she was given the pet name by the family of "Mashka." And by this term she was called by her brother and by her sisters." - Examination of Commissar E. S. Kobylinsky, The Last Days of the Romanovs

Hope you found it interesting or learnt something new! Will post Anastasia's a little later :)

[tatianaromanov-1918-blog]

Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna's diary from 1911, And Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna's diary from 1916.

[takenews-blog1]

Uncommon Final Photographs Of The Romanovs

New Post has been published on https://takenews.net/uncommon-final-photographs-of-the-romanovs/

Uncommon Final Photographs Of The Romanovs

Animosity towards Russia’s ruling class had been constructing for hundreds of years when the Home of Romanov took energy, however a collection of violent suppressions and a mounting demise toll throughout World Struggle I finally led to the autumn of the final empire in Russia, the ultimate Tsar Nicholas II, and his household. These haunting images depict the lives of the Romanovs earlier than their executions in 1918.

This of the Romanov household was present in six recovered household albums which are housed within the Beinecke Library at Yale College. Most of the images within the recovered albums have been shot by the Russian Imperial household’s head of family—Tsar Nicholas II himself. Pictured under, the final Tsar of Russia’s youngsters pose for a photograph whereas standing in shallow water throughout a day on the seaside. The picture captures three of his daughters, Maria, Olga, and Tatiana, and their youthful brother Alexei Nikolaevich, the inheritor obvious to the throne of the Russian Empire. He would’ve been about 13 years previous on the time.

This picture reveals Tsar Nicholas II visiting a regiment of Kuban Cossacks in Russia alongside together with his youngsters throughout World Struggle 1. The Tsar’s older daughters and spouse helped nurse wounded troopers as volunteers with the Pink Cross through the struggle, although Anastasia was too younger to assist, so she performed video games of checkers and billiards with troopers to raise their spirits as an alternative. Through the struggle, Nicholas II took command of the military on the entrance traces. The struggle additionally offered a chance for his spouse, Alexandra, to affect him towards an authoritarian authorities method. Her German origin injured the Romanov’s popularity throughout this time.

This from the Beinecke Library’s assortment reveals Empress Alexandra strolling together with her second daughter, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna. Throughout her lifetime, Tatiana was the very best recognized of the Romanov household’s daughters. She was stated to be the daughter who most favored her mom, Alexandra, and was usually stated to be her mom’s favourite daughter. Tatiana grew to become a talented Pink Cross nurse when the struggle broke out, together with Alexandra and her sister, Olga. They cared for wounded troopers in a non-public hospital on the Tsarskoe Selo grounds earlier than the Romanov household was arrested through the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Within the from the Beinecke Library’s assortment of recovered Romanov household albums, Tsar Nicholas II is pictured together with his daughters, Maria, Anastasia, Olga, and Tatiana. All 4 daughters have been born earlier than the inheritor obvious, Alexei. Olga was closest to Tatiana. They have been often called “The Large Pair.” They have been all the time seen collectively. Maria and her youthful sister Anastasia have been often called “The Little Pair.” Like Olga and Tatiana, they shared a room and dressed alike. The 4 women have been raised as merely as potential, sleeping on laborious cots after they weren’t ailing, and taking chilly baths within the morning.

The Romanov daughters, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, are pictured in a proper portrait taken in 1916, simply two years earlier than their execution. With pearls on their necks, they pose in night robes in one of many salons, which is adorned with French furnishings. Behind them is an organ with sheet music, which all of Tsar Nicholas II’s daughters discovered tips on how to play. Tatiana was the very best participant of the 4 women. The relaxed portrait reveals no signal of the tragedy that might quickly befall the Romanov women. In only a 12 months, they might be positioned underneath home arrest and confined to their quarters.

The Romanov daughters are pictured right here wanting very totally different from the formal piano portrait they took collectively only a 12 months earlier. The grand duchesses shaved their heads within the spring of 1917 after a bout with measles. Captivity definitely took its toll on the Romanovs. Grand Duchess Tatiana was reportedly most upset that she couldn’t proceed her work tending to wounded troopers as she had as a World Struggle I Pink Cross nurse. She wrote to fellow nurse Velentina Chebotarev in April 1917, “It’s unusual to sit down within the morning at residence, to be in good well being and never go to alter the bandages!”

When eager about the grotesque finish that befell the Romanov youngsters, it’s unusual to have a look at earlier images of them taking part in. Grand Duchess Maria, Tsarevich Alexei, Georg Donatus, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse, and Grand Duchess Anastasia are pictured right here taking part in with a toy automobile at Schloss Wolfsgarten, a royal searching lodge. The was taken within the Autumn of 1910 when Anastasia was simply 9 years previous, Alexei was six years previous, and Tatiana was 13 years previous. Tatiana was the one one of many Romanov youngsters pictured above who would stay to see the primary 12 months of her 20s. Her older sister Olga had a barely longer life, as she was executed at age 22.

The under gives a glimpse into the Romanov’s captivity at Tobolsk. The previous tsar, Nicholas II, sits with Tatiana, Olga, slightly boy of a servant, Alexei, and Anastasia on a fence in entrance of a greenhouse. In August of 1917, the Romanovs have been despatched to Tobolsk by Alexander Kerensky’s provisional authorities, supposedly to guard them from the revolution. They lived within the former governor’s mansion in relative consolation till October 1917 when the Bolsheviks got here to energy. Then, the circumstances of their imprisonment grew to become stricter. The above was taken in September 1917, only a month earlier than life would turn into much more tough for the Romanovs.

The right here is believed the be the final ever taken of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. She sits underneath an umbrella on the balcony of the Governor’s Mansion at Tobolsk in Siberia. Her daughters Olga and Tatiana are by her facet. The picture was taken within the spring of 1918. The Romanovs can be executed just some months later by Bolshevik troops led by Yakov Yurovsky. Tsarina Alexandra was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the UK. Her religion within the mystic Grigori Rasputin, her affect on her husband, particularly to withstand surrendering Siberiaratic authority over the nation, and her German heritage severely broken the popularity of the Romanovs.

Previous to their fall from grace, the Emperor and his household loved unbelievable wealth and luxurious, together with luxurious types of transportation. This picture present the Tsar sitting together with his 4 daughters whereas vacationing on their imperial yacht, the Standart. The Standart was commissioned by Tsar Nicholas’s father, Emperor Alexander III. It was reportedly one of the crucial luxurious vessels of its time, fitted with crystal chandeliers and mahogany paneling, with the thought of constructing it a floating palace for the royal household. The yacht was additionally the place the royal household have been instructed in 1914 of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand that might finally be the catalyst for the primary World Struggle.

This haunting of Grand Duchess Anastasia was taken shortly earlier than her execution whereas she was being held in captivity at Tobolsk within the spring of 1918. She is sitting at a desk in her bed room throughout captivity. There have been many false experiences of Anastasia’s survival by means of the 20th century, inspiring books and movies. No less than ten girls claimed to be the Grand Duchess. The perfect-known imposter was Anna Anderson. Anderson was cremated upon her demise in 1984, however DNA testing confirmed no relation to the Romanov household. Nevertheless, DNA testing at two grave websites has now recognized the 4 Romanov daughters, their dad and mom, and Alexei, which proved conclusively that the complete household died in 1918.

The Romanov’s home arrest began on the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoe Selo. Nicholas II, now not a monarch and addressed by sentries as Nicholas Romanov, was reunited together with his household there whereas they have been held by the Provisional Authorities and confined to their quarters. The above reveals Olga, Alexei, Anastasia, and Tatiana sitting on the bottom whereas being held captive. Anastasia is holding Tatiana’s beloved French bulldog, Ortipo, on her lap. The was taken on Could 1917, a few months after the Romanov youngsters have been reunited with their father and Alexandra was reunited together with her husband on March 22, 1917.

This of Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and Tsar Nicholas II is from the Beinecke Library’s assortment of Romanov household images and was possible taken by Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevena. The was taken someday within the winter of 1917-1918, whereas the Romanov household was being held captive at Tobolsk. At the moment, the household’s circumstances have been far much less snug than their preliminary home arrest, because the Bolsheviks had come to energy in October 1917. Alexei and his father are seen sawing wooden since they have been now not permitted to have their ten devoted servants by their facet. The household was additionally positioned on soldier’s rations throughout this time.

This , taken within the spring of 1917 through the Romanov’s captivity, reveals Alexei, Tatiana, and her French bulldog Ortipo sitting on the grounds of Tsarskoe Selo. Ortipo was given to Tatiana whereas she labored as a nurse through the struggle by her favourite infirmary affected person, Dmitri Malama. The canine was a favourite of the household and was talked about incessantly in diaries and letters. In the end, Ortipo would journey with Grand Duchess Tatiana and the Romanov household so far as Tobolsk, the place it was recorded that Tatiana tried to stability the canine and her suitcase in her arms whereas the household walked within the mud from the prepare station to their quarters at Tobolsk.

This from the Beinecke Library can be a part of the Romanov household’s private assortment. The picture captures a really younger Prince Alexei sitting on the desk together with his father, Tsar Nicholas II. This candid second reveals not one of the political turmoil that was brewing beneath the floor. Prince Alexei was the one male youngster of Tsar Nicholas II and his spouse Tsarina Alexandra, who additionally had 4 daughters. Because the inheritor obvious, Alexei was doted on by his dad and mom and sisters and was affectionately known as Alyosha. Alexei’s well being was all the time a priority; he inherited hemophilia from his mom, which made trivial accidents like a bruise probably life threatening.

This from the US Library of Congress was taken within the spring of 1917. The picture reveals Grand Duchess Tatiana throughout her captivity at Tsarskoe Selo. She transports lumps of sod on a stretcher with the help of a soldier. It usually fell upon Tatiana to carry her household collectively throughout captivity. She urged her mom to comply with her father to Tobolsk when Alexei was too ailing to be transported and helped her sisters and brother sew jewels into their clothes so they might go undetected by guards and would have funding to begin a brand new life in the event that they have been in a position to escape.

Tsar Nicholas II is proven right here in a discipline surrounded by troopers after his pressured abdication on March 15, 1917. He was the final Emperor of Russia, and his reign noticed the autumn of the Russian Empire from a terrific energy of the world to financial and army collapse. Nicholas II earned the identify Nicholas the Bloody for the occasions of the Khodynka Tragedy, Bloody Sunday, the violent suppression of the 1905 Revolution, his perceived duty for and defeat within the Japanese Struggle, and the anti-Semitic pogroms widespread underneath his empire. The estimated three.three million Russians killed in World Struggle I and the dearth of meals and provides on the house entrance have been finally the downfalls of the Romanov dynasty.

This was taken at Tsarskoe Selo in 1916, a few 12 months earlier than the household can be held in captivity on the identical grounds. Alexei sits between his mom Empress Alexandra, and father Tsar Nicholas II. Earlier than Tsarskoe Selo was a jail for the Romanovs, the attractive Alexander Palace and adjoining Alexander Park have been a summer time residence for the household. Visiting the Aristocracy would additionally keep in Tsarskoe Selo, which is positioned about 15 miles south of the middle of Saint Petersburg. After Bloody Sunday, Alexandra determined to make Alexander Palace the household’s everlasting residence, for the reason that Winter Palace was too harmful.

This of Anastasia was taken earlier than the Romanovs have been held captive, between 1915 or 1916. Whereas it could initially look jarring, it merely depicts Anastasia playing around with a pair of false tooth. After all, again then false tooth have been usually made with tooth from the useless. So, with that information, the picture continues to be slightly creepy. Anastasia was recognized to be vivacious, mischievous, and energetic. She usually performed pranks on her tutors. Regardless of her excessive vitality, Anastasia was usually unwell. She bled greater than regular when injured, and should have been a provider of the hemophilia gene like her mom.

Earlier than their execution, the Romanovs have been moved to Yekaterinburg’s Ipatiev Home. Round midnight on July 17, 1918, Yakov Yurovsky ordered the household to maneuver to the basement underneath the pretense that it might be a protected location as a result of impending chaos in Yekaterinburg. The household was taken to the cellar room and requested to attend there. They have been solely given a number of seconds to course of their orders for execution earlier than they have been shot chaotically. At one level, the guards opened the doorways to let loose the smoke. The Romanov youngsters had jewels sewn into their clothes, which protected them from the preliminary pictures.

This reveals one other angle of Anastasia Romanov taking part in round with some sort of false tooth and making a humorous expression. Anastasia went on to turn into essentially the most talked about of all the Russian royal household after their murders. Partially due to rumors unfold that Anastasia had survived the execution, which as beforehand talked about turned out to be false. A preferred animated youngsters’s movie was even made about what her life would have been life had she truly survived. Anastasia was not merely a fictional character or topic or lore however fairly, as this picture signifies, she was only a regular younger woman.

On this , among the Romanov sisters are seen posing for the digicam. Tsar Nicholas II, his spouse Tsarina Alexandra and their 5 youngsters Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei. Though, it’s generally recognized that Anastasia was the topic of fable for a few years, so was her eldest sister Olga. Though through the years many started to assert they have been members of the Russian royal household, one girl named Marga Boodts additionally staked her declare to royalty and stated she was truly the Grand Duchess Olga. Some kin of the royal household truly believed her to be Olga and Nikolaus the Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg who was a godson of Tsar Nicholas II allegedly financially supported Marga till his demise in 1970.

Tatiana, the second eldest Romanov sister is seen right here throughout considered one of her household’s summer time cruises. Tatiana was broadly regarded to be “essentially the most stunning” of all of the Romanov sisters. Her hair was stated to be darkish auburn and he or she had blue-grey eyes. It was additionally stated that of all of the sisters she most carefully resembled their mom. As the remainder of the household, Tatiana had a relationship with the “healer” Grigori Rasputin. Rasputin met Tatiana when she was a younger woman of round 12 years previous however apparently, there was some controversy as a result of he met her and her sisters whereas they have been carrying their nightgowns.

The Romanov household revered Rasputin and seen him and every little thing he did as “holy”. Nevertheless, the Tsar’s sister Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna was horrified after she was instructed by one of many women’ caretakers who stated that Rasputin had visited the 2 eldest sisters whereas they have been preparing for mattress and was “caressing” them. Xenia apparently seen Romanov as khlyst which was an offshoot of the Russian Orthodox Church and he or she regarded him with a lot suspicion. In the end, the caretaker he who seen Rasputin with suspicion was fired. There have been rumors that Rasputin had seduced the 4 sisters. In the end, Rasputin was murdered not lengthy earlier than the royal household themselves have been executed.

The Tsarina was broadly unliked by her topics and apparently got here throughout as fairly chilly. Nevertheless, Alexandra was apparently not attempting to be impolite however was fairly shy. She was additionally recognized to be extremely standoffish and solely related herself with a number of shut associates, which made different aristocrats view her with suspicion. It’s potential that as a way to take care of her shyness and issue in coping with individuals she turned to medicine. She at one level confided in considered one of her few associates that she may need had an dependancy to barbiturates. Particularly, one referred to as Veronal and he or she wrote in a letter a number of years earlier than her execution, “I’m actually saturated with it.”

The third sister Romanov sister, Grand Duchess Maria, was stated to have survived the preliminary assault on the royal household. Alongside together with her sister Anastasia, after the preliminary capturing, they have been being carried outdoors to a truck they usually “sat up screaming”. Some rumors surrounded the potential survival of Maria from the execution. Like her different sisters, individuals have claimed to be numerous relations and descendants of Maria’s. Nevertheless, historians principally low cost the chance that any of the household survived the assault. In a single such story, two younger girls claimed to be Maria and Anastasia and have been taken in by a priest within the Ural Mountains. They have been subsequently buried with the names Anastasia and Maria Nikolaevna; nevertheless, no proof surrounding the claims has been discovered.

This reveals Olga Romanov mendacity in mattress. Eldest sister Olga’s marriage was usually the supply of rumor in Russian society. Allegedly, at one level Olga grew to become engaged to Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia, her first cousin as soon as eliminated. One creator named Edvard Radzinsky asserts that the engagement was later damaged off as a result of Dmitri strongly disliked Grigori Rasputin. In The Rasputin File, Edvard additionally says that Dmitri was additionally rumored to be bi-sexual. Whether or not the rumors are true or not the betrothal by no means got here to be. Olga was additionally rumored to be discussing marriage to Prince Carol of Romania, England’s George V, and Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia. In some unspecified time in the future, Olga fell in love with Pavel Voronov, an officer; nevertheless, their relationship couldn’t be due to their differing social standing.

This reveals Olga and Anastasia sitting alongside their mom someday in 1916. The entire youngsters loved a detailed relationship with each of their dad and mom. Olga usually learn books after which really helpful them to her mom in the event that they have been appropriate for her to learn. Anastasia was recognized for fooling around and goofy, usually teasing and making different relations chuckle. After they have been little, Alexandra all the time dressed her daughters in pairs and would have them put on similar clothes. When Alexei was born, he grew to become the apple of the complete household’s eye. Alexandra was notably obsessed together with her son particularly since she gave him the gene of hemophilia and felt it her obligation to guard him.

The peaceable of the household having fun with Alexander Park is in stark distinction to this picture taken only a 12 months later. The reveals Grand Duchess Tatiana and Alexei sitting in Alexander Park in Tsarskoe Selo, holding shovels. They’re surrounded by Russian troopers and are underneath home arrest. Alexei’s hemophilia possible made any guide labor tough and should have led to his extreme sickness in his final 12 months of captivity, which initially prevented him from being transported. Tatiana, then again, was used to bodily work from her time as a Pink Cross nurse throughout World Struggle I.

This of Alexandra was taken a number of years earlier than the top of her life. It was Alexandra who introduced Rasputin into the household circle, primarily due to her obsession with therapeutic her son. She felt like Rasputin would possibly maintain the important thing to therapeutic hemophilia. In direction of the top of her life, Alexandra and the remainder of her household have been confined, she spent her time in a wheelchair. Both she was affected by poor well being or just or emotional well being was being worn down by the confinement. She, alongside together with her husband the Tsar, have been stated to have been among the many first to have been killed through the execution.

This reveals the youngest son Alexei taking part in struggle with the kids of his tutor. World Struggle I had damaged out in 1914. Alexei was the youngest son of the Tsar and Tsarina, but he was additionally the inheritor to the royal throne. Within the Russian monarchy, solely sons are in a position to be heirs to the crown. He’s, in fact, most well-known for having hemophilia. His situation led to him being notably spoiled and typically his habits was seemed down upon. He was additionally stated to tempt destiny as he bought older which led to him getting severely injured quite a lot of occasions.

This reveals Prince Alexei with the royal elephant close to the palace in Tsarskoye Selo. The was taken in 1914, and in Tsar Nicholas’ journal, he wrote: “Took the elephant to our pond with Alexei immediately and had enjoyable watching him bathe.” The elephant was apparently on the zoo on the household’s royal property; nevertheless, after the 1917 Russian revolution, the zoo was closed. It’s unknown what precisely grew to become of the elephant or the opposite animals for that matter. It’s fairly attention-grabbing to see the juxtaposition of such a contented of a household that was in a position to have their very own private zoo with the destiny that awaited them.

This reveals Olga, Alexei, and Tatiana. It was taken 4 years earlier than they have been executed in 1914. Alexei was recognized to be taken care of by his sisters particularly the eldest Olga. Though at occasions she stated it was tough for her to manage him. He allegedly cherished taking part in pranks, particularly as a younger boy. One such story stated that at a proper dinner he crawled beneath the desk and eliminated the shoe of a feminine visitor. When he confirmed it to his father, his father instructed the boy to return the shoe instantly. Alexei did however not earlier than inserting a strawberry on prime.

Alexei’s playful nature is proven on this the place he’s seen taking part in together with his father on the river. Regardless of his sickness, and undoubtedly to his mom’s chagrin, Alexei performed in a fairly tough method. In direction of the top of the lives of the royal household, they’d been despatched to Siberia. There, Alexei had a very dangerous accident whereas participating in tough habits. He determined to experience a sled indoors, down the steps and horribly injured himself within the groin space. The hemorrhage was so dangerous that for the remaining weeks of his life he needed to transfer round in a wheelchair.

This reveals Alexei posing together with his canine named Pleasure. It was taken in 1916 solely two years earlier than his demise. Many individuals thought that Pleasure was additionally executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Nevertheless, the Siberian Occasions wrote that Pleasure truly escaped demise. Apparently, one of many executioners felt dangerous for the canine and saved him from demise. The canine was allegedly later taken to Windsor, presumably to be with the English royal household. The survival of Pleasure was miraculous as two different of the household’s canines have been shot together with the household. Later, a grave belonging to Pleasure was found in England on the Sefton Garden in Windsor.

This reveals Tsar Nicholas and son Alexei out at sea in Finland. This is kind of hanging because it’s a comparatively solitary picture. Regardless of his sickness, the Tsar was recognized to interact Alexei in a wide range of actions as he was the inheritor obvious and set to turn into the long run Tsar. He allegedly additionally had Alexei sit it on lengthy conferences in order that he bought used to the varied duties and tasks it meant to be a royal. After all, though he was the youngest youngster, he was the inheritor solely as a result of he was the one male youngster. On the planet of Russian royalty, solely males have been seen as match to rule.

This was taken someday through the first World Struggle. Usually, the Romanov sisters would go to the troopers, most likely as an try to spice up morale. Through the struggle, the sisters even labored as nurses. One of many nurses that labored alongside Olga was named Valentina Chebotareva. In Valentina’s diary, she claimed that the love of Olga’s life was a wounded soldier she cared for named Dmitri Shakh-Bagov. Olga would allegedly be extraordinarily excited when she would communicate to him on the phone or obtain a letter from the hospital. Dmitri additionally allegedly adored Olga. He even apparently claimed to be prepared to kill Rasputin for her if she wished.

This reveals the Romanov sisters after they have been working as nurses through the World Struggle. Extra particularly, it reveals the 2 eldest, Tatiana and Olga. Olga cared for and pitied the troopers she helped to deal with. The First World Struggle, as most wars are, was fairly brutal and horrific in nature. There is no such thing as a doubt that the sisters would have been witness to some horrific sights. Apparently, the stress did finally get to Olga and he or she acted out in quite a lot of methods. It’s fairly attention-grabbing royal household wouldn’t select to guard their daughters from the atrocities of struggle however fairly have them serve within the midst of all of it.

In the end caring for the dying and catastrophically injured finally wore on Olga. She apparently had a number of moments of performing out her stress which included breaking a window and having numerous rages. She was finally moved to an workplace place as an alternative of instantly caring for sufferers because of her nerves. She was even given arsenic injections in 1915, which have been on the time not considered a poison however fairly as a remedy for despair and anxiousness. Olga was additionally apparently very conscious of the goings on politically and the best way her household was acquired by the Russian individuals. This brought about her to be in a relentless state of fear about what would possibly occur to her household.

The royal household was finally despatched by the Kerensky authorities (those that had taken energy) to Tobolsk, Siberia. Some members of the royal household have been as an alternative despatched to Crimea. Nevertheless, the complete quick royal household was despatched to Siberia. Kerensky claimed it to be for the protection of the household, nevertheless, others suspected different motivations. The entire different members who reached Crimea survived the revolution. It was rumored that Siberia was chosen as a result of that was the widespread place of exile. It was stated that as a result of the Tsar and his ancestors had banished many to Siberia that they deserved such a destiny as effectively.

This was taken in 1918, which is identical 12 months the Romanov household was executed. It reveals Alexei and his mom Alexandra. The Kerensky authorities finally fell to the Bolsheviks who handled the Royals with much more disdain. In April of that 12 months, the household was moved to Ekaterinburg, which might be their final place earlier than they have been executed. The household, pressured into exile, lived accomplished remoted earlier than their deaths which apparently wore fairly closely on many of the household, except for the Tsar who was stated to own an “inside calm”. The household was additionally minimize off from the surface world and had little information of what was occurring so it’s unlikely they noticed what was coming.

Right here, Nicholas II of Russia and his spouse Alexandra are photographed with their youngsters together with daughters Olga, Maria, Anastasia, and Tatiana, and son, Alexei. This portrait was shot by the Levitsky Studio and was one of many last portraits of the household altogether. Taken in 1913, this was taken when the Home of Romanov was nonetheless in reign. Lower than two years later, on March 15, 1917, Tsar Nichols II can be abdicated on account of the Revolution in favor of his brother Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich. Nevertheless, he declined to simply accept imperial authority and finally terminated the Romanov dynasty’s rule over Russia.

Tsar Nicholas II is understood for his poor dealing with of Bloody Sunday and Russia’s function in World Struggle I. When demonstrators appealed to Nicholas II to enhance working circumstances in St. Petersburg, troops opened hearth on the demonstrators, killing greater than 1,000. His actions concerning these occasions finally led to his abdication and the execution of him and his complete household. Previous to his abdication, lots of the Romanov relations would go to wounded troopers within the hospital. This image reveals Tsar Nichols II daughters Maria and Anatasia throughout considered one of their visits.

This was of Tsar Nicholas II was taken in 1915 by none apart from Tsar Nicholas II himself. Nicholas II was an beginner photographer who cherished to take images of his household and day-to-day actions. He was meticulous when it got here to his interest and would take the utmost care of his photos, submitting them in numerous albums. Nichols II handed down his love for capturing movie to his third-born daughter Maria. Maria was continually photographing life by means of her eyes and took an curiosity in coloring lots of the household images.

After the Romanovs have been arrested and despatched into exile, they introduced a cook dinner with them. This wasn’t meant to be a snobbish gesture—the household merely needed to uphold the custom and significance of consuming household meals collectively. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty of being exiled, the household discovered consolation within the routine of constructing up each day menus because it reminded them of their blissful life previous to the Russian revolution. Regardless of the cruel circumstances underneath which they have been residing in whereas exiled, nobody within the Romanov household ever complained in regards to the restricted meals they have been allowed in captivity.

The Romanov household spent the remaining 12 months of their lives in exile. Since they might now not partake in lots of their favourite actions, a big a part of their lives centered round cooking. The Romanov sisters specifically eagerly spent their time studying tips on how to cook dinner and bake. The 4 sisters loved baking bread essentially the most.

After the household’s execution, the ladies’ diaries have been found. They every would incessantly write about their household meals, together with what they ate, the place they ate it, and who they ate with. An entry from Olga’s diary learn, “Had tea as regular. I sat between my associates. Had dinner within the salon of the yacht. Awfully cozy.”

Born on August 12, 1904, Alexei Nikolaevich was the long-awaited son of the Romanovs. He was the youngest youngster and solely son of the Emperor and Empress and was the inheritor obvious to the throne of the Russian Empire. Alexei was born with hemophilia, which brought about bruising and blood-clotting points. Due to his situation, Alexei needed to be fastidiously monitored to forestall probably life-threating accidents. In consequence, he was doted on by his complete household, lots of whom referred to as him “Child.” Alexei spent the final weeks of his life in a wheelchair because of an harm earlier than he was executed at simply 13 years previous.

This picture reveals the stark distinction of life after Tsar Nicholas II was abdicated. Right here, the household is photographed on the home roof in Tobolsk. Tobolsk is the situation the household was stored till the switch of Yekaterinburg in 1918.

Though Nicholas II was not precisely admired by the general public, it’s laborious to consider the Russian public wasn’t utterly outraged by the horrendous acts of violence in the direction of the Romanov household. In reality, in accordance with Russian historians, the authorities nonetheless acquired many letters from the general public asking to kill Nicholas II even after he had already been executed.

After the execution of the Romanov household, their our bodies lay in two unmarked graves in places which have been stored secret by Soviet Leaders. It wasn’t till 1979 that beginner historians discovered the stays of relations, which have been later reopened and confirmed through DNA testing. The Romanovs stays have been eliminated and relocated to a room within the Bureau of Forensic Examination in Ekaterinburg. Though the beginner historians uncovered the our bodies of Nicholas, Alexandra and daughters Olga, Tatiana, and Anastasia—Alexei and Maria’s stays weren’t positioned till 2007. Since then, there have been quite a few investigations opened and reopened concerning the murders.

This picture reveals the ceremony of deaths of the Romanovs, which befell in 1998 and was meant to showcase the nation’s reconciliation with its brutal and corrupt previous. The ceremony was attended by Russian President Boris Yeltsin, in addition to 50 Romanov kin. Tens of millions tuned in to look at the ceremony, which was televised, as troopers carried the caskets of Nicholas, Alexandra, Olga, Tatiana, and Anastasia down a crimson carpet previous numerous Romanov descendants and dignitaries. Following the ceremony, the stays have been reburied within the household crypt.

2017 marked the 100 12 months anniversary of Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution, which marked the start of the top for the Romanov household. To commemorate the anniversary, members of the Communist occasion held protests all through Moscow. Many carried images of Vladimir Lenin. The Kremlin, not wishing to help a revolution of any sort by the individuals, remained silent. Present president Vladimir Putin stated that the revolution is greatest left to historical past books. In 2013, Putin stated that “[t]oo usually in our nationwide historical past, as an alternative of an opposition to the federal government, we confronted opposition to Russia itself. And we all know how that ends. It ends with the destruction of the state itself.”

In November 2017, Mad Males creator Matthew Weiner introduced to The Hollywood Reporter that he was engaged on a brand new mini tv collection titled The Romanoffs. The Amazon-produced “anthology,” will depict individuals who assume they’re associated to the Romanov Dynasty. Stated Weiner, “Each single episode—and there shall be eight—has a unique solid, a unique story and a unique location. The factor that holds them collectively is that all the tales contain individuals who consider themselves to be descendants of the Romanov [family].” As famous by The Hollywood Reporter, Weiner’s spelling of the upcoming present is how ‘Romanov’ was spelled till only recently.

[otmaaromanovas]

Hi, do you know OTMAAs favourite colours?

Hello there, thank you for the great question!

We do know their favourite colours - sort of!

Tatiana Nikolaevna's favourite colour was purple, this is 100% confirmed in this letter sent by Pierre Gilliard:

“It seems that purple is his [Dmitri Pavlovich] favourite colour… Alexei Nikolaevich says that it is also yours"

Maria and Anastasia started hand colouring their photo albums from around 1913 onwards. In these photos, they colour in their outfits in different colours. Tatiana is shown wearing a lot of purple outfits in these albums, so it's safe to assume that they are accurate to the colours that each girl preferred. Anastasia wears a LOT of red and pink clothing, whilst Olga and Maria prefer green and blue (Maria seems to have preferred light blue). Olga also sometimes is shown wearing pink.

Olga:

Mostly blue, some green, some pink

Tatiana:

Purple. Lots of purple! And some blue

Maria:

Maria is probably the one with the least distinct preferred colour. Lots of blue and green though.

Anastasia:

Lots of red and pink

In 1917, family friend Zinaida Tolstaya sent OTMA four little bags, of varying colours. These are of course a limited colour selection, but could indicate their preferences. Here is the letter Tatiana sent in reply:

Tsarskoe Selo , 23 June 1917⁣ Dearest ZS, [Zinadia Tolstoya, family friend]⁣ I am terribly ashamed that I still have not thanked you for your letter on the 29th of May and the lovely embroidered bags. I took the bluish one with multicolored flowers, Olga-blue with yellow roses, Anastasia- pink, and Maria- all yellow. They are very useful and those always remind us of you...’

This matches up with Olga's preference for blue and Anastasia's for pink.

As for Alexei, I'm sadly not too sure. He wore traditional sailor suits rather than being able to express his favourite colours through jumpers etc. Just in case though, his 1916 diary is orange-y brown, and this rather fabulous formal outfit is dark blue, though he was very young at the time. As I said though, we can only guess about Alexei's favourite colour.

I hope this was helpful!

SOURCES:

Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913–1918

Albums - lastromanovs on flickr

[otmaaromanovas]

"This time Nastenka is coming with us [to Stavka]. I don't think Isa is too happy, but I don't care as I like Nastenka more, she is after all more simple than Isa" - Maria Nikolaevna about Anastasia 'Nastenka' Hendrikova in a letter to her father Nicholas II, 10 November 1916 [O.S.]

SOURCE: Maria and Anastasia: The Youngest Romanov Grand Duchesses In Their Own Words. Letters, Diaries, Postcards - Helen Azar