The Romanov Family

Nicholas II Alexei Olga Maria Tatiana Alexandra Anastasia

Nicholas II For 300 years the Romanov family ruled Russia. When Tsar Alexander III died in 1894, his 26- year-old son Nicholas II became the last Romanov ruler.

Empress Maria Nicholas II Emperor Alexander III

Nicholas & Alexandra On April 20, 1894, Tsarevitch Nicholas II proposed to Princess Alexandra of Hesse. Although seen by the Russian people as a cold, unhappy German princess, numerous letters document a lifelong love that existed between "Niki" and "Alix."

Empress Maria Nicholas II Emperor Alexander III Alexandra

The Romanov Children The Tsar and Tsarina Alexandra produced five children. The first two daughters, known as the "Big Pair," were named Olga and Tatiana. The next two daughters – the "Little Pair" – were Maria and Anastasia. Then finally an heir to the throne, Prince Alexei, was born.

Empress Maria Nicholas II Emperor Alexander III Alexandra OlgaTatianaMariaAnastasiaAlexei

Alexei’s Disorder During the first year of Prince Alexei’s life, symptoms of hemophilia appeared.

Empress Maria Nicholas II Emperor Alexander III Alexandra OlgaTatianaMariaAnastasiaAlexei

Alexandra’s Hemophilic Past Tsarina Alexandra most likely recognized the symptoms of hemophilia in her young son; her own brother and two of her nephews had suffered from the inherited disorder.

Nicholas IIAlexandra OlgaTatianaMariaAnastasiaAlexei Alice Ludwig of Hesse FrederickHenryIrene WaldemarSigmundHenry

Imperial Life The children of Nicholas II and Alexandra led idyllic lives, spending their days at various palaces, military functions and ceremonies, or on their favorite yacht. They had modern American dentistry, fine clothing, and were tutored in the languages, the arts, and music.

Political Unrest But times were troubled for the majority of the Russian people. Poverty ruled the land and the people revolted against their monarch in favor of a Cabinet of Ministers. On March 2, 1917, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated his throne, on his own and his son’s behalf. The Imperial Family was imprisoned.

Final Days Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks took full control of the revolution and sought to govern the land.

Ipatiev House The Tsar and his family were taken to the House of Special Purpose, the “Ipatiev House." They remained there until the fateful July 1918 evening when Bolshevik soldiers were ordered to execute the Tsar and his family, without a trial.

The Execution On the evening of July 16, 1918, the Imperial Family was awakened, along with a doctor, a nurse and two servants. They were asked to enter a cellar room where they were executed by firing squad. The soldiers who carried out the executions later testified about the details of the killings. They recalled the poor visibility in the room from so much gunsmoke, and the bullets that ricocheted off the women's chests because the family jewels had been sewn into their corsets. Moscow soon received a telegram stating that "the family of Nicholas II received the same fate as Nicholas himself."

Execution Room