R is for Romanov (Blogging Through the Alphabet)

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One of the most influential families to rule a large empire (in my opinion) was the Romanov family. Of course there have been other influential ruling families throughout history, including the Tudors, Queen Victoria and her descendants, the Hapsburgs, and the Medici family, to name a few. There are also influential families from America—some of which may be debated.

In 1613, Mikhail Romanov, at the age of 16, was chosen to be the new czar of Russia. He was the first member of Romanov family to rule. The Romanov dynasty ruled from 1613 until the abdication of Nicholas II in 1917. During the time that the Romanov dynasty ruled Russia, the nation went from an isolated and weak country to one that was industrialized, connected, and became a major European power. Although (truth be told) Russia was still the home of many problems, the Romanov dynasty also witnessed revolts, reforms, revolutions, and repressions.

Foreign Affairs 

During the Romanov Dynasty, Russia clashed with many different nations and territories:

• China
• Poland
• Ukraine 
• Sweden 
• Ottoman Empire (Turkey) 
• Persia
• France
• Japan
• Germany
• Austria-Hungary 

Some of the major conflicts included: 

• Great Northern War 
• First and Second Turkish Wars
• Napoleonic Wars 
• Crimean War 
• World War I 

Nicholas I

Just Who Were the Well-Remembered Czars? 

There were many famous czars and czarinas who ruled Russia during the Romanov dynasty: 

• Peter the Great 
• Catherine the Great 
• Nicholas I 
• Alexander II 
• Alexander III 
• Nicholas II 

Peter the Great expanded the physical size of Russia and modernized her both technologically and culturally. During his rule, he strengthened the power of the czar by taking away power from the zemskii sobor (Assembly of the Land), which had advised the czar in previous decades. Off and on during the Romanov dynasty, the government councils (at national and local levels) would gain and lose power. For example, during the rule of Alexander II, there were a series of Great Reforms that led to new authorities being created locally, known as zemstvos, to help provide limited self-government. However, these Great Reforms also led to diverse opposition from different groups. This led to extreme reaction from Alexander III who overturned many of the reforms of his predecessors.

Both Peter the Great and Catherine the Great changed the face of Russia culturally and intellectually. In a previous Blogging Through the Alphabet post, I wrote about Peter the Great and the changes he brought. Catherine the Great brought even more changes to the nobility and those closest to the czar. Her wishes to change Russia more like the West didn't really have a lot to do with practical matters like Peter the Great. She wished to change Russia to be more like France and combined the enlightenment with Russian absolutism.  Catherine saw herself as a great teacher for her subjects.

Catherine sponsored the arts—theater, poetry, and painting. Books and periodical publication increased during her rule. The nobility learned French and German and read the latest European books but most of the changes were superficial. And no one could criticize Catherine. She did not want to be schooled by her subjects.

One of the wars that led to great changes occurring in the way wounded soldiers were treated was the Crimean War. This war took place during the reign of Nicholas I. It would help crush Russia in terms of its military and diplomatic abilities. Reform would need to take place after the death of Nicholas I in order for Russia to maintain its role in European politics.

During the reign of Alexander II, 52 million Russian serfs gained their freedom in 1861. The changes were not as great as the peasants would have wanted. They were still tied to land – their mobility was restricted by the village authorities – and they had to pay the state back for the reparations paid to the nobility when the serfs were freed.

The last czar of the Romanov Dynasty – Nicholas II – was a weak and unprepared man when he came to power in 1894. During this reign he faced two revolutions and eventually abdicated his throne. He and his family would later be executed during the Russian Civil War.

Cultural and Societal Changes 

Along with many political changes, the Romanov Dynasty also saw great additions to literature, music, and painting. Ivan Turgenev (the first Russian novelist to be read by many in the West) wrote books that some consider easier to read than those of Fyodor Dostoevsky or Leo Tolstoy. Dostoevesky wrote works that blended religious, political, and social themes while Tolstoy gave a great historical novel – War and Peace.

After the Napoleonic Wars, Peter Tchaikovsky wrote a stirring patriotic song to celebrate Napoleon's defeat – the 1812 Overture. He also wrote the Nutcracker Suite, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and Sleeping Beauty. These masterpieces have become part of many ballet companies' regular yearly performances.

 

Final Thoughts 

Russia is one of many nations that could provide a multitude of history-themed posts. From examining individual czars to an overview of an entire dynasty, there are many interesting aspects to study and share with others. Studying Russia's history could bolster one's appreciation for all of history by comparing Russia's highs and lows with those of America and other nations of the world.

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P is for Peter the Great (Blogging Through the Alphabet)

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One of the more influential leaders in Russia's history during the period of Absolute Monarchies was Peter the Great. He was crowned tsar (or czar) in 1689 after his sister Sofia had been governing as regent in his stead from 1682 to 1689 because Peter was only 10 years old when he became czar.

The two greatest achievements during the reign of Peter the Great: expansion of Russian territory and the modernization of Russia. 

Peter did not receive much formal education as a youth or young man but he was greatly self-taught. Peter was an intelligent man who was a hands-on ruler who learned about 20 different trades like carpentry and ship building. He also worked his way up in the ranks of the army.

The goal of Peter was the modernization of the military, economy, and society but not that of politics or the government. In fact, he would execute over 1,000 conspirators who attempted to restore Sofia to the throne. His political reforms would strengthen his own power as czar and that of the Russian state.

Military Changes 

After a defeat by Sweden in 1700, Peter went on to rebuild his army. He introduced military conscription and started a Baltic fleet. Russia would go on to beat Sweden in the war (which ended in 1721). This victory would allow Peter to set up a capital close to the west – St. Petersburg.

The middle and upper classes had to serve in either the military or bureaucracy. The noblemen had to work their way up the ranks from the bottom and they were forced to learn new subjects. Included among these subjects were mathematics, engineering, and foreign languages in an attempt to make the men better officers.

Society 

Peter went on a tour of Europe and discovered many ways in which European countries were different than Russia. He hurried home from this trip in 1697 when there was a group who plotted against him.

In the beginning, his changes appeared minor but in fact they were huge in relation to Russian society. He ordered the people of his court to wear European dress and the men were ordered to shave their beards. The traditional clothing style and long beards were fundamental in the Orthodox faith so these things angered some in Russia.

The expansion of the Russian borders came at the expense of the Russian people. To pay for all the wars, taxation needed to be increased. Peter taxed almost everything from mills to beehives and even coffins and beards! In addition to the monetary taxation, people were also required to serve the Russian government in the way of labor or by providing them with horses and wagons when called upon by the government.

Religion 

While Peter the Great was tolerant of different faiths, he was not popular with the Church in Russia. Due to private and public acts, he was in conflict with the leaders including the Patriarch (the Church's leader). Eventually he would do away with the Patriarch. He made the Orthodox Church subordinate to the government (much like Henry VIII did in England). Those living on Church lands were forced to join military service and monasteries were brought under stricter control.

Education 

Major advances were made in the avenue of education. He did promote the idea of practical training over books and intellectual pursuits. He preferred the training in military, construction, and languages for his people.

Schools, hospitals, and a medical college were set up in Russia. The Russian alphabet was simplified and The Moscow News, the first Russian newspaper, began publication.


With the death of Peter the Great in 1725, Russia was changed into a very different state. He brought the technology of the West and the autocratic principles of the East to Russia. There is debate as to how important he was as leader of Russia – does he deserve to be called Peter the Great? The achievements made during his rule are clear. An army of 200,000 men was created and there was a strong naval force in the Baltic Sea which shifted the power in favor of Russia. Industrialization increased with factories and mines being built. But most, if not all, of the benefits went to the Russian government and not to the people. So the mother country grew but not its people.

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N is for Nicky and Alix (Blogging through the Alphabet)

 

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One area of history that has always interested me was Russian History. After having the pleasure of taking a Russian History course taught by a professor from Russia, my interest grew. A very fascinating period of Russian History is that of the Romanov Dynasty. For decades, people have been intrigued by the last Romanov Tsar and his family and asked many "what if" questions. Many people claimed to be a surviving member of the family and even a children's movie (Anastasia) was made to tell the story.

In this post, I will share details from the early life of Nicholas and Alexandra and leave the drama of the Russian Revolutions and their subsequent arrest, imprisonment, and execution to a future post.

Youths Meet and Fall in Love 

Nicholas and Alexandra first met in 1884. Princess Alix of Hesse – called "Sunny" by her family – was 12 years old while Nicholas (her second cousin) was 16 years old.

Sunny had a happy and pleasant disposition but was often shy and quiet. Her early years had been marked by sadness. In 1873, her 3-year-old brother fell from their mother's bedroom window. He died within hours of internal bleeding. Her mother died when she was only 6 years old.

Alix's mother was the daughter of Queen Victoria and Alix could trace her lineage back to Charlemagne.

Nicky was an outdoorsman – enjoying hiking, hunting, shooting, walking, and riding. He was tutored in mathematics, geography, science, and history but preferred spending time outside rather than in the classroom. He spoke five languages – 3 fluently – English, French, and Russian. Nicky was described as "full of quiet" and very gentle.

Unfortunately, Nicky was not trained in politics. He had little interest in politics and did not understand it. When he was only 13 years old, Nicky witnessed his grandfather, Alexander II, die after a terrorist's bomb blew him up. This led to repression under the rule of Nicky's father, Alexander III and the idea of absolute control by the Romanovs. Nicky's father kept him out of politics so when he came to the throne, he was quite unprepared for the task.

Winter Season and Young Love 

In 1889, Alix arrived in St. Petersburg for the winter social season. During the time Nicky and Alix would see each other at numerous grand balls, dinners, and other social outings. The two quickly fell in love. When Alix left the city, Nicky soon pasted a photo of her in his diary.

There were reservations regarding the match between Nicholas and Alexandra. Queen Victoria, who had been instrumental in the rearing of Alix and her siblings since the death of their mother, was not pleased with the match. Queen Victoria wanted them placed in marriages she approved of and Russia was not one of those locales. Alexander III did not want Queen Victoria involved in Russian affairs any more than necessary and was looking for a match between his son and France to cement an alliance.

For a brief period, Nicky had a relationship with the ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska but he still loved his Prussian Princess – Alix of Hesse – and there is no way that he would be able to marry a ballerina anyway as he was the heir to the Romanov dynasty. In the fall of 1890, Nicholas was sent on a tour of the Far East. He traveled with his brother and their cousin through Egypt, India, Thailand, and Japan.

The Otsu Mark 

While visiting Japan, Nicholas and his brother Grand Duke George and his cousin Prince George visited the town of Otsu. While walking along a crowded street, Nicky was attacked by one of the  policemen, Tsuda Sanzō. The policeman swung a saber delivering a blow to Nicky's forehead. Prince George stopped the assassination attempt by going after the attacker with a bamboo cane. (The first blow left a mark on Nicky's forehead.) The Russians returned soon after and Nicky resumed his affair with his ballerina, Kschessinska. 

In 1892, Alix's father died and she became lady of Hesse with her brother the Grand Duke of Hesse. It appeared that she might be content to remain the hostess of Hesse but things were to change when Nicky's father, Alexander III, grew sick in 1894. With his illness, he finally let go of his opposition to a marriage between his son, Nicholas, and Alix of Hesse.

Conversion 

The final piece that was needed was Alix's conversion from Lutheranism to Russian Orthodoxy. Originally, she was very firm in the fact that religion was "not a thing to be slipped on and off 'like a glove'" but her resolve began to weaken with the conversion of her sister and the marriage of her brother. 

Marriage Proposal 

In April 1894, while attending the wedding of Alix's brother, Ernest – Ernie – and Princess Victoria of Edinburgh, Nicky proposed to his love. While she loved him, she did not want to give up her religion. But this wasn't to be the end of the proposal. Everyone seemed to have an opinion. Queen Victoria was still opposed to the match between Nicky and Alix but Kaiser Wilhelm I (Cousin Willy) said it was Alix's duty to marry Nicky. However it was Alix's sister, Ella – who had converted earlier, who spoke of the personal experience. Her reassurance of the new faith persuaded Alix to accept Nicky's proposal.

In a touching scene, Nicky and Alix became engaged while a thunderstorm raged outside. (Foreshadowing of the troubles to come? Probably just a sad coincidence.) Both cried tears of happiness and there was great rejoicing among Alix's family.

Six Months of Happiness

Both Nicky and Alix spent time in England together where they would grow in their love. Alix began reading Nicky's diary and writing in the margin her own notes. They traveled to visit Queen Victoria at Windsor where she entreated Nicky to call her Granny. A Russian language teacher, Catherine Schneider, and Father John Yanishev, the Romanov's confessor, arrived to school Alix in language and religion.

Happiness was soon ended when the failing health of Alexander III led to his death on November 1, 1894. Nicholas II was in no way ready to rule Russia. He was never trained in how to rule for Alexander III had ruled with an iron fist and did not involve his son and heir.

The following weeks were filled with ceremonies and funerals leading up to the wedding of Nicholas and Alexandra on November 26, 1894. Unfortunately, Alexandra wrote that the wedding seemed to be a continuation of the masses for the dead with the only difference being she was wearing a white dress instead of a black one. What had started as a happy time – both Nicky and Alix were so in love – would be overshadowed with the death of a Tsar and the problems that would come with Nicholas II as the new leader of Russia.

Things would never really be normal for the couple. Times were greatly changing with advancements in technology and changes in leadership across Europe. War would soon come and with it revolutions that would bring about the end of the Romanov Dynasty completely and totally. For only a short while, Nicky and Alix were happy as a couple.

References and Resources 

Images from WPClipart, Openclipart, and Stock Free Images.

Winter Palace image credit: © Valuykins | Stock Free Images

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