Emperor Nicholas II Romanov (1868-1918) succeeded to the throne on 20 October 1894 after the death of his father Alexander III. The years of his reign from 1894 to 1917 were marked by the economic rise of Russia and, at the same time, the growth of revolutionary movements.
The latter was due to the fact that the new sovereign in everything followed the political guidelines that his father inspired him. In his heart, the king was deeply convinced that any parliamentary form of government would harm the empire. For the ideal, patriarchal relations were taken, where the crowned ruler acted as a father, and the people were considered as children.
However, such archaic views did not correspond to the real political situation in the country by the beginning of the 20th century. It was this discrepancy that led the emperor, and with him the empire, to the catastrophe that occurred in 1917.
Emperor Nicholas II
artist Ernest Lipgart
The years of the reign of Nicholas II (1894-1917)
The reign of Nicholas II can be divided into two stages. The first before the revolution of 1905, and the second from 1905 until the abdication of the throne on March 2, 1917. The first period is characterized by a negative attitude towards any manifestation of liberalism. At the same time, the tsar tried to avoid any political transformations and hoped that the people would adhere to autocratic traditions.
But the Russian Empire suffered a complete defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), and then a revolution broke out in 1905. All this became the reasons that forced the last ruler of the Romanov dynasty to make compromises and political concessions. However, they were perceived by the sovereign as temporary, so parliamentarism in Russia was hampered in every possible way. As a result, by 1917 the emperor lost support in all strata of Russian society.
Considering the image of Emperor Nicholas II, it should be noted that he was an educated and extremely pleasant person to communicate with. His favorite hobbies were art and literature. At the same time, the sovereign did not have the proper determination and will, which were fully present in his father.
The cause of the disaster was the coronation of the emperor and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna on May 14, 1896 in Moscow. On this occasion, mass celebrations on Khodynka were scheduled for May 18, and it was announced that royal gifts would be distributed to people. This attracted a huge number of residents of Moscow and the Moscow region to the Khodynka field.
As a result, a terrible stampede arose, in which, as journalists claimed, 5 thousand people died. The Mother See was shocked by the tragedy, and the tsar did not even cancel the celebrations in the Kremlin and the ball at the French embassy. People did not forgive the new emperor for this.
The second terrible tragedy was Bloody Sunday on January 9, 1905 (for details, see the article Bloody Sunday). This time, the troops opened fire on the workers who were going to the tsar to hand over the petition. About 200 people died, and 800 were injured of varying severity. This unpleasant incident took place against the backdrop of the Russo-Japanese War, which was extremely unsuccessful for the Russian Empire. After this event, Emperor Nicholas II received the nickname Bloody.
Revolutionary sentiments turned into revolution. A wave of strikes and terrorist attacks swept across the country. They killed policemen, officers, tsarist officials. All this forced the tsar on August 6, 1905 to sign a manifesto on the creation of the State Duma. However, this did not prevent an all-Russian political strike. The emperor had no choice but to sign a new manifesto on 17 October. He expanded the powers of the Duma and gave the people additional freedoms. At the end of April 1906, all this was approved by law. And only after that the revolutionary unrest began to decline.
Heir to the throne Nicholas with his mother Maria Feodorovna
Economic policy
The main creator of economic policy at the first stage of the reign was the Minister of Finance, and then Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sergei Yulievich Witte (1849-1915). He was an active supporter of attracting foreign capital to Russia. According to his project, gold circulation was introduced in the state. At the same time, domestic industry and trade were supported in every possible way. At the same time, the state strictly controlled the development of the economy.
Since 1902, the Minister of the Interior Vyacheslav Konstantinovich Plehve (1846-1904) began to exert great influence on the tsar. The newspapers wrote that he was the royal puppeteer. He was an extremely intelligent and experienced politician, capable of constructive compromises. He sincerely believed that the country needed reforms, but only under the leadership of the autocracy. This outstanding man was killed in the summer of 1904 by the Socialist-Revolutionary Sazonov, who threw a bomb into his carriage in St. Petersburg.
In 1906-1911, the decisive and strong-willed Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin (1862-1911) determined the policy in the country. He fought against the revolutionary movement, peasant revolts and at the same time carried out reforms. He considered the main agrarian reform. Rural communities were disbanded, and the peasants received the rights to create their own farms. To this end, the Peasants' Bank was reorganized and many programs developed. The ultimate goal of Stolypin was the creation of a numerous layer of wealthy peasant farms. He spent 20 years doing this.
However, Stolypin's relationship with the State Duma was extremely difficult. He insisted that the Emperor dissolve the Duma and change the electoral law. Many perceived it as a coup d'état. The next Duma turned out to be more conservative in its composition and more submissive to the authorities.
But not only the Duma members were dissatisfied with Stolypin, but also the tsar and the royal court. These people did not want fundamental reforms in the country. And on September 1, 1911, in the city of Kyiv, at the play "The Tale of Tsar Saltan", Pyotr Arkadievich was mortally wounded by the Socialist-Revolutionary Bogrov. On September 5, he died and was buried in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. With the death of this man, the last hopes for reforms without a bloody revolution disappeared.
In 1913, the country's economy was on the rise. It seemed to many that the "silver age" of the Russian Empire and the era of prosperity of the Russian people had finally come. This year the whole country celebrated the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The festivities were magnificent. They were accompanied by balls and festivities. But everything changed on July 19 (August 1), 1914, when Germany declared war on Russia.
The last years of the reign of Nicholas II
With the outbreak of the war, the whole country experienced an extraordinary patriotic upsurge. Demonstrations were held in provincial cities and the capital expressing full support for Emperor Nicholas II. A struggle with everything German swept across the country. Even Petersburg was renamed Petrograd. The strikes stopped, and the mobilization covered 10 million people.
At the front, Russian troops first advanced. But the victories ended in defeat in East Prussia under Tannenberg. Also at the beginning, military operations against Austria, which was an ally of Germany, were successful. However, in May 1915, the Austro-German troops inflicted a heavy defeat on Russia. She had to cede Poland and Lithuania.
The economic situation in the country began to deteriorate. The products manufactured by the military industry did not meet the needs of the front. Theft flourished in the rear, and numerous victims began to cause indignation in society.
At the end of August 1915, the emperor assumed the functions of the supreme commander-in-chief, removing Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich from this post. This was a serious miscalculation, since all military failures began to be attributed to the sovereign, and he did not have any military talents.
The crowning achievement of Russian military art was the Brusilovsky breakthrough in the summer of 1916. During this brilliant operation, a crushing defeat was inflicted on the Austrian and German troops. The Russian army occupied Volyn, Bukovina and most of Galicia. Large war trophies of the enemy were captured. But, unfortunately, this was the last major victory of the Russian army.
The further course of events was deplorable for the Russian Empire. Revolutionary moods intensified, discipline in the army began to fall. It became common to disobey the orders of commanders. Desertions have become more frequent. Both society and the army were annoyed by the influence that Grigory Rasputin had on the royal family. A simple Siberian peasant was gifted with extraordinary abilities. He was the only one who could relieve attacks from Tsarevich Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia.
Therefore, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna immensely trusted the elder. And he, using his influence at court, interfered in political issues. All this, of course, irritated society. In the end, a conspiracy arose against Rasputin (for details, see the article The Murder of Rasputin). The presumptuous old man was killed in December 1916.
The coming year of 1917 was the last in the history of the Romanov dynasty. The royal power no longer controlled the country. A special committee of the State Duma and the Petrograd Soviet formed a new government headed by Prince Lvov. It demanded that Emperor Nicholas II abdicate the throne. On March 2, 1917, the sovereign signed a renunciation manifesto in favor of his brother Mikhail Alexandrovich. Michael also renounced supreme power. The Romanov dynasty ended.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
artist A. Makovsky
Personal life of Nicholas II
Nicholas married for love. His wife was Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt. After the adoption of Orthodoxy, she took the name Alexandra Feodorovna. The marriage took place on November 14, 1894 at the Winter Palace. In marriage, the Empress gave birth to 4 girls (Olga, Tatyana, Maria, Anastasia) and in 1904 a boy was born. They named him Alex.
The last Russian emperor lived with his wife in love and harmony until his death. Alexandra Fedorovna herself had a complex and secretive character. She was shy and uncommunicative. Her world was closed on the crowned family, and the wife had a strong influence on her husband in both personal and political affairs.
As a woman, she was deeply religious and prone to all sorts of mysticism. This was greatly facilitated by the illness of Tsarevich Alexei. Therefore, Rasputin, who had a mystical talent, gained such influence at the royal court. But the people did not like the mother empress for her excessive pride and isolation. This harmed the regime to a certain extent.
After the abdication, the former Emperor Nicholas II and his family were arrested and stayed in Tsarskoye Selo until the end of July 1917. Then the crowned persons were transported to Tobolsk, and from there in May 1918 they were transported to Yekaterinburg. There they were settled in the house of the engineer Ipatiev.
On the night of July 16-17, 1918, the Russian Tsar and his family were brutally murdered in the basement of the Ipatiev House. After that, their bodies were mutilated beyond recognition and secretly buried (for details on the death of the imperial family, see the article of the Kingslayer). In 1998, the found remains of the dead were reburied in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Thus ended the 300-year epic of the Romanov dynasty. It began in the 17th century in the Ipatiev Monastery, and ended in the 20th century in the house of the engineer Ipatiev. And the history of Russia continued, but in a completely different capacity.
Burial place of the family of Nicholas II
in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg
Leonid Druzhnikov
Nicholas II is the last Russian tsar who abdicated and executed by the Bolsheviks, later canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. His reign is evaluated in different ways: from harsh criticism and statements that he was a "bloody" and weak-willed monarch, guilty of a revolutionary catastrophe and the collapse of the empire, to praise of his human virtues and claims that he was an outstanding statesman and reformer.During his reign, there was an unprecedented flourishing of the economy, agriculture, and industry. The country became the main exporter of agricultural products, coal mining and iron smelting quadrupled, electricity generation increased 100 times, and the state bank's gold reserves more than doubled. The emperor was the ancestor of Russian aviation and the submarine fleet. By 1913, the empire entered the top five most developed countries in the world.
Childhood and youth
The future autocrat was born on May 18, 1868 in the country residence of the Russian rulers in Tsarskoye Selo. He became the firstborn of Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna among their five children and heir to the crown. 
According to the decision of his grandfather, Alexander II, his main tutor was General Grigory Danilovich, who held this “position” from 1877 to 1891. Subsequently, he was blamed for the shortcomings of the complex character of the emperor.
Since 1877, the heir received home education according to a system that included general education disciplines and lectures of higher sciences. At first, he mastered the visual and musical arts, literature, historical processes and foreign languages, including English, Danish, German, French. And from 1885 to 1890. studied military affairs, economics, jurisprudence, important for royal activity. His mentors were prominent scientists - Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev, Nikolai Nikolaevich Beketov, Konstantin Petrovich Pobedonostsev, Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov, etc. Moreover, they were only obliged to present the material, but not to check the knowledge of the heir to the crown prince. However, he studied very diligently.
In 1878, an English teacher, Mr. Carl Heath, appeared among the boy's mentors. Thanks to him, the teenager not only mastered the language perfectly, but also fell in love with sports. After the family moved to the Gatchina Palace in 1881, not without the participation of an Englishman, a training room with a horizontal bar and parallel bars was equipped in one of its halls. In addition, together with his brothers, Nikolai rode a horse well, shot, fenced and became well developed physically.
In 1884, the young man took an oath of service to the Motherland and began to serve, first in the Preobrazhensky, 2 years later in the Life Guards Hussar Regiment of His Majesty.
In 1892, the young man earned the rank of colonel, and his father began to introduce him to the specifics of governing the country. The young man took part in the work of the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers, visited different parts of the monarchy and abroad: Japan, China, India, Egypt, Austria-Hungary, Greece.
Tragic accession to the throne
In 1894, at 2:15 in Livadia, Alexander III died of kidney disease, and an hour and a half later, in the Exaltation of the Cross Church, his son swore allegiance to the crown. The coronation ceremony - the assumption of power along with the relevant attributes, including the crown, throne, scepter - was held in 1896 in the Kremlin. 
It was overshadowed by the terrible events at the Khodynka field, where it was planned to hold festivities with the presentation of 400,000 royal gifts - mugs with the monogram of the monarch and various delicacies. As a result, a million-strong crowd of people wishing to receive gifts formed on Khodynka. The result was a terrible stampede, which claimed the lives of about one and a half thousand citizens.
Having learned about the tragedy, the sovereign did not cancel the festive events, in particular, the reception at the French embassy. And although later he visited the victims in hospitals, financially supported the families of the victims, he still received the nickname "Bloody" among the people.
Reign
In domestic politics, the young emperor maintained his father's adherence to traditional values and principles. In his first public speech in 1895 at the Winter Palace, he announced his intention to "protect the principles of autocracy." According to a number of historians, this statement was negatively perceived by society. People doubted the possibility of democratic reforms, and this caused an increase in revolutionary activity. 
Nevertheless, after the counter-reforms of his father, the last Russian tsar began to support decisions to improve the people's life and strengthen the existing system as much as possible.
Among the processes implemented under him were:
- population census;
- the introduction of the gold circulation of the ruble;
- universal primary education;
- industrialization;
- limitation of working hours;
- workers' insurance;
- improving the allowance of soldiers;
- increase in military salaries and pensions;
- religious tolerance;
- agrarian reform;
- massive road construction.
Rare newsreel with Emperor Nicholas II in color
Due to the growing popular unrest and wars, the reign of the emperor took place in a very difficult situation. Following the requirements of the times, he granted his subjects freedom of speech, assembly, and the press. The State Duma was created in the country, which performed the functions of the highest legislative body. However, with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, internal problems became even more aggravated, mass protests against the authorities began.
The authority of the head of state was negatively affected by military failures, and the appearance of rumors about the interference in the government of the country by various fortune-tellers and other controversial personalities, especially the main "adviser to the tsar" Grigory Rasputin, who was considered by the majority of citizens an adventurer and rogue.
Footage of the abdication of Nicholas II
In February 1917, spontaneous riots broke out in the capital. The monarch intended to stop them by force. However, an atmosphere of conspiracy reigned at Headquarters. Readiness to support the emperor and send troops to pacify the rebels was expressed only by two generals, the rest were in favor of his abdication. As a result, in early March in Pskov, Nicholas II made the difficult decision to abdicate in favor of his brother Mikhail. However, after the refusal of the Duma to guarantee his personal safety if he accepted the crown, he officially renounced the throne, thus ending the thousand-year Russian monarchy and the 300-year rule of the Romanov dynasty.
Personal life of Nicholas II
The first love of the future emperor was the ballet dancer Matilda Kshesinskaya. He stayed with her in an intimate relationship with the approval of his parents, who were concerned about their son's indifference to the opposite sex, for two years, starting in 1892. However, the relationship with the ballerina, the path and favorite of St. Petersburg, for obvious reasons, could not turn into a legal marriage. This page in the life of the emperor is dedicated to the feature film by Alexei Uchitel "Matilda" (although the audience agrees that there is more fiction in this picture than historical accuracy). 
In April 1894, in the German city of Coburg, the engagement of the 26-year-old Tsarevich with the 22-year-old Princess Alice of Darmstadt of Hesse, granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England, took place. He later described the event as "wonderful and unforgettable". Their marriage took place in November in the temple of the Winter Palace.
Biography of Emperor Nicholas 2 Alexandrovich
Nicholas II Alexandrovich (born - May 6 (18), 1868, death - July 17, 1918, Yekaterinburg) - Emperor of All Russia, from the imperial house of the Romanovs.
Childhood
The heir to the Russian throne, Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich grew up in the atmosphere of a luxurious imperial court, but in a strict and, one might say, Spartan atmosphere. His father, Emperor Alexander III, and his mother, the Danish princess Dagmar (Empress Maria Feodorovna), in principle did not allow any weaknesses and sentiments in the upbringing of children. A strict daily routine was always established for them, with obligatory daily lessons, attendance at church services, indispensable visits to relatives, obligatory participation in many official ceremonies. The children slept on simple soldier bunks with hard pillows, took cold baths in the morning and were given oatmeal for breakfast.
Youth of the future emperor
1887 - Nikolai was promoted to staff captain and assigned to the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. There he was listed for two years, first acting as a platoon commander, and then as a company commander. Then, in order to join the cavalry service, his father transferred him to the Life Guards Hussar Regiment, where Nikolai took command of the squadron.
Due to his modesty and simplicity, the prince was quite popular among fellow officers. 1890 - his studies ended. The father did not burden the heir to the throne with state affairs. He appeared from time to time at meetings of the Council of State, but his gaze was constantly fixed on the clock. Like all guard officers, Nikolai devoted a lot of time to social life, often went to the theater: he adored opera and ballet.
Nicholas and Alice of Hesse
Nicholas II in childhood and youth
Obviously, women also occupied him. But it is interesting that Nicholas experienced the first serious feeling for Princess Alice of Hesse, who later became his wife. They first met in 1884 in St. Petersburg at the wedding of Ella of Hesse (Alice's older sister) with Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. She was 12 years old, he was 16. 1889 - Alix spent 6 weeks in St. Petersburg.
Later, Nikolai wrote: “I dream of marrying Alix G someday. I have loved her for a long time, but especially deeply and strongly since 1889 ... All this long time I did not believe my feeling, did not believe that my cherished dream could come true.”
In fact, the heir had to overcome many obstacles. Parents offered Nicholas other parties, but he resolutely refused to associate himself with any other princess.
Ascension to the throne
1894, spring - Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna were forced to give in to the desire of their son. Preparations for the wedding have begun. But before they could play it, on October 20, 1894, Alexander III died. For no one, the death of the emperor was more significant than for the 26-year-old young man who inherited his throne.
“I saw tears in his eyes,” Grand Duke Alexander recalled. He took my arm and led me down to his room. We hugged and both cried. He couldn't collect his thoughts. He knew that he had now become emperor, and the severity of this terrible event struck him ... “Sandro, what should I do? he exclaimed pathetically. - What should happen to me, to you ... to Alix, to her mother, to all of Russia? I'm not ready to be king. I never wanted to be him. I don't understand anything about government matters. I don’t even have a clue how to talk to ministers.”
The next day, when the palace was draped in black, Alix converted to Orthodoxy and from that day on she became known as Grand Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna. On November 7, the solemn burial of the late emperor took place in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, and a week later, the marriage of Nicholas and Alexandra took place. On the occasion of mourning, there was no solemn reception and honeymoon trip.
Personal life and the royal family
1895, spring - Nicholas II moved his wife to Tsarskoye Selo. They settled in the Alexander Palace, which remained the main home of the imperial couple for 22 years. Everything here was arranged according to their tastes and desires, and therefore Tsarskoye always remained their favorite place. Nikolai usually got up at 7, had breakfast and disappeared into his office to start work.
By nature, he was a loner and preferred to do everything himself. At 11 o'clock the king interrupted his studies and went for a walk in the park. When the children appeared, they invariably accompanied him on these walks. Dinner in the middle of the day was the official ceremonial procedure. Although the empress was generally absent, the emperor dined with his daughters and members of his retinue. The meal began according to Russian custom with a prayer.
Neither Nikolai nor Alexandra liked expensive complex dishes. He received great pleasure from borscht, porridge, boiled fish with vegetables. But the favorite dish of the king was a roasted young pig with horseradish, which he washed down with port wine. After dinner, Nikolai took a ride on horseback along the surrounding country roads in the direction of Krasnoye Selo. At 4 o'clock the family gathered for tea. According to the etiquette introduced yet, only crackers, butter and English biscuits were served with tea. Cakes and sweets were not allowed. Sipping tea, Nikolai skimmed through newspapers and telegrams. Afterwards, he returned to his work, receiving a flood of visitors between 5 and 8 pm.
Exactly at 20:00, all official meetings ended, and Nicholas II could go to dinner. In the evening, the emperor would often sit in the family living room reading aloud while his wife and daughters did their needlework. According to his choice, it could be Tolstoy, Turgenev or his favorite writer Gogol. However, there could be some fashionable romance. The personal librarian of the sovereign selected for him 20 of the best books per month from all over the world. Sometimes, instead of reading, the family spent their evenings pasting photographs taken by the court photographer or themselves into green leather albums embossed with the royal monogram in gold.
Nicholas II with his wife
The end of the day came at 23:00 with evening tea. Before he retired, the emperor made entries in his diary, and then took a bath, went to bed and usually fell asleep immediately. It is noted that, unlike many families of European monarchs, the Russian imperial couple had a common bed.
1904, July 30 (August 12) - the 5th child was born in the imperial family. To the great joy of the parents, it was a boy. The king wrote in his diary: “A great unforgettable day for us, on which the mercy of God so clearly visited us. At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Alix had a son, who, during prayer, was named Alexei.
On the occasion of the appearance of the heir, cannons were fired all over Russia, bells rang and flags fluttered. However, a few weeks later the imperial couple was shocked by the terrible news - it turned out that their son had hemophilia. The following years passed in a hard struggle for the life and health of the heir. Any bleeding, any injection could lead to death. The torments of the beloved son tore the hearts of the parents. The illness of Alexei had a particularly painful effect on the empress, who over the years began to suffer from hysteria, she became suspicious and extremely religious.
Reign of Nicholas II
Meanwhile, Russia was going through one of the most turbulent periods of its history. After the Japanese war, the first revolution began, suppressed with great difficulty. Nicholas II had to agree to the establishment of the State Duma. The next 7 years were lived in peace and even with relative prosperity.
Stolypin, nominated by the emperor, began to carry out his own reforms. At one time it seemed that Russia would be able to avoid new social upheavals, but the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 made revolution inevitable. The crushing defeats of the Russian army in the spring and summer of 1915 forced Nicholas 2 to lead the troops himself.
Since that time, he was on duty in Mogilev and could not delve deeply into state affairs. Alexandra, with great zeal, undertook to help her husband, but it seems that she harmed him more than actually helped. And senior officials, and grand dukes, and foreign diplomats felt the approach of the revolution. They tried their best to warn the emperor. Repeatedly during these months, Nicholas II was offered to remove Alexandra from business and create a government in which the people and the Duma would have confidence. But all these attempts were unsuccessful. The emperor gave his word, in spite of everything, to preserve autocracy in Russia and to transfer it whole and unshakable to his son; now, when pressure was exerted on him from all sides, he remained true to his oath.
Revolution. Abdication
1917, February 22 - having not decided on a new government, Nicholas II went to Headquarters. Immediately after his departure, unrest broke out in Petrograd. On February 27, the alarmed emperor decided to return to the capital. On the way, at one of the stations, he accidentally learned that a provisional committee of the State Duma, led by Rodzianko, was already operating in Petrograd. Then, after consulting with the generals of the retinue, Nikolai decided to make his way to Pskov. Here, on March 1, from the commander of the Northern Front, General Ruzsky, Nikolai learned the latest amazing news: the entire garrison of Petrograd and Tsarskoe Selo went over to the side of the revolution.
His example was followed by the guards, the Cossack convoy and the Guards crew with Grand Duke Kirill at the head. The negotiations with the commanders of the fronts, undertaken by telegraph, finally defeated the tsar. All the generals were merciless and unanimous: it was no longer possible to stop the revolution by force; in order to avoid civil war and bloodshed, Emperor Nicholas 2 must abdicate the throne. After painful hesitation late in the evening of March 2, Nicholas signed his abdication.
Arrest
Nicholas 2 with his wife and children
The next day, he ordered his train to go to Headquarters, to Mogilev, as he wanted to finally say goodbye to the army. Here, on March 8, the emperor was arrested and taken under escort to Tsarskoye Selo. From that day began for him a time of constant humiliation. The guard behaved defiantly rudely. It was even more offensive to see the betrayal of those people who are used to being considered the closest. Almost all the servants and most of the ladies-in-waiting left the palace and the empress. Doctor Ostrogradsky refused to go to the sick Alexei, saying that he "finds the road too dirty" for further visits.
In the meantime, the situation in the state began to worsen again. Kerensky, who by that time had become the head of the Provisional Government, decided that for security reasons the royal family should be sent away from the capital. After long hesitation, he gave the order to transport the Romanovs to Tobolsk. The move took place in early August in deep secrecy.
The royal family lived in Tobolsk for 8 months. Her financial situation was very cramped. Alexandra wrote to Anna Vyrubova: “I knit socks for the little one (Aleksey). He asks for a couple more, since everything is in holes ... I'm doing everything now. My father's (tsar's) trousers were torn and needed mending, and the girls' underwear was in tatters... I became completely gray-haired...' After the October coup, the situation of the prisoners became even worse.
1918, April - the Romanov family was moved to Yekaterinburg, they were settled in the house of the merchant Ipatiev, who was destined to become their last prison. 12 people settled in the 5 upper rooms of the 2nd floor. Nikolai, Alexandra and Alexei lived in the first, and the Grand Duchesses lived in the second. The rest was divided among the servants. In the new place, the former emperor and his relatives felt like real prisoners. Behind the fence and on the street there was an external guard of the Red Guards. There were always several people with revolvers in the house.
This inner guard was selected from the most reliable Bolsheviks and was very hostile. It was commanded by Alexander Avdeev, who called the emperor none other than "Nicholas the Bloody." None of the members of the royal family could retire, and even to the toilet, the grand duchesses were accompanied by one of the guards. For breakfast, only black bread and tea were served. Lunch consisted of soup and meatballs. Guards often took pieces from the pan in front of the diners. The clothes of the prisoners were completely dilapidated.
On July 4, the Ural Soviet removed Avdeev and his people. In their place came 10 Chekists led by Yurovsky. Despite the fact that he was much more polite than Avdeev, Nikolai from the first days felt the threat emanating from him. In fact, clouds were gathering over the family of the last Russian emperor. At the end of May, a Czechoslovak rebellion broke out in Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region. The Czechs launched a successful offensive against Yekaterinburg. On July 12, the Ural Soviet received permission from Moscow to decide the fate of the deposed dynasty. The council decided to shoot all the Romanovs and entrusted Yurovsky with the execution. Later, the White Guards were able to capture several participants in the execution and, from their words, restore the picture of the execution in all details.
Execution of the Romanov family
On July 16, Yurovsky handed out 12 revolvers to the Chekists and announced that the execution would take place today. At midnight, he woke up all the prisoners, ordered them to dress quickly and go downstairs. It was announced that the Czechs and Whites were approaching Yekaterinburg, and the local Soviet ruled that they should leave. Nikolai went down the stairs first, carrying Alexei in his arms. Anastasia held the spaniel Jimmy in her arms. On the ground floor, Yurovsky led them to a basement room. There he asked to wait until the cars arrived. Nicholas asked for chairs for his son and wife. Yurovsky ordered to bring three chairs. In addition to the Romanov family, Dr. Botkin, the footman Trupp, the cook Kharitonov and the Empress Demidov's room girl were here.
When everyone had gathered, Yurovsky again entered the room, accompanied by the entire detachment of the Cheka with revolvers in their hands. Stepping forward, he quickly said: "In view of the fact that your relatives continue to attack Soviet Russia, the Urals Executive Committee decided to shoot you."
Nikolay, continuing to support Alexei with his hand, began to rise from his chair. He just had time to say, "What?" and then Yurovsky shot him in the head. At this signal, the Chekists began firing. Alexandra Fedorovna, Olga, Tatyana and Maria were killed on the spot. Botkin, Kharitonov and Trupp were mortally wounded. Demidova remained on her feet. The Chekists grabbed their rifles and began to pursue her in order to finish her off with bayonets. With screams, she rushed from one wall to another and eventually fell, receiving more than 30 wounds. The dog's head was smashed with a rifle butt. When silence reigned in the room, heavy breathing of the Tsarevich was heard - he was still alive. Yurovsky reloaded the revolver and shot the boy twice in the ear. Just at that moment, Anastasia, who was only unconscious, woke up and screamed. She was finished off with bayonets and butts ...
Years of life: 1868-1818
Years of government: 1894-1917
Born on May 6 (19 according to the old style) May 1868 in Tsarskoe Selo. The Russian emperor, who reigned from October 21 (November 2), 1894 to March 2 (March 15), 1917. Belonged to the Romanov dynasty, was the son and successor.
From birth he had the title of His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke. In 1881, he received the title of Tsarevich's Heir, after the death of his grandfather, the Emperor.
Title of Emperor Nicholas II
The full title of the emperor from 1894 to 1917: “By God's hastening mercy, We, Nicholas II (Church Slavonic form in some manifestos - Nicholas II), Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Vladimir, Novgorod; Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Poland, Tsar of Siberia, Tsar of Tauric Chersonese, Tsar of Georgia; Sovereign of Pskov and Grand Duke of Smolensk, Lithuanian, Volyn, Podolsk and Finland; Prince of Estonia, Livonia, Courland and Semigalsky, Samogitsky, Belostoksky, Korelsky, Tversky, Yugorsky, Permsky, Vyatsky, Bulgarian and others; Sovereign and Grand Duke of Novgorod of the Nizovsky lands, Chernigov, Ryazan, Polotsk, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Belozersky, Udorsky, Obdorsky, Kondia, Vitebsk, Mstislav and all northern countries Sovereign; and Sovereign of Iver, Kartalinsky and Kabardian lands and regions of Armenia; Cherkasy and Mountain Princes and other Hereditary Sovereign and Possessor, Sovereign of Turkestan; Heir of Norway, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Stormarn, Ditmarsen and Oldenburg and others, and others, and others.
The peak of Russia's economic development and at the same time growth 
revolutionary movement, which resulted in the revolutions of 1905-1907 and 1917, fell precisely on years of reign of Nicholas 2. Foreign policy at that time was aimed at Russia's participation in blocs of European powers, the contradictions that arose between which became one of the reasons for the start of the war with Japan and World War I.
After the events of the February Revolution of 1917, Nicholas II abdicated the throne, and a period of civil war soon began in Russia. The Provisional Government sent him to Siberia, then to the Urals. Together with his family, he was shot in Yekaterinburg in 1918.
Contemporaries and historians characterize the personality of the last king inconsistently; most of them believed that his strategic abilities in the conduct of public affairs were not successful enough to change for the better the political situation at that time.
After the revolution of 1917, he began to be called Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov (before that, the surname "Romanov" was not indicated by members of the imperial family, titles indicated the family affiliation: emperor, empress, grand duke, crown prince).
With the nickname Bloody, which the opposition gave him, he appeared in Soviet historiography.
Biography of Nicholas 2
He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Feodorovna and Emperor Alexander III.
In 1885-1890. received home education as part of a gymnasium course according to a special program that combined the course of the Academy of the General Staff and the Faculty of Law of the University. Training and education took place under the personal supervision of Alexander III with a traditional religious basis.
Most often he lived with his family in the Alexander Palace. And he preferred to relax in the Livadia Palace in the Crimea. For annual trips to the Baltic Sea and the Finnish Sea, he had at his disposal the Shtandart yacht.
From the age of 9 he began keeping a diary. The archive has preserved 50 thick notebooks for the years 1882-1918. Some of them have been published.
He was fond of photography, he liked to watch movies. He also read serious works, especially on historical topics, and entertaining literature. He smoked cigarettes with tobacco grown specially in Turkey (a gift from the Turkish Sultan).
On November 14, 1894, a significant event took place in the life of the heir to the throne - the marriage with the German princess Alice of Hesse, who, after the rite of baptism, took the name - Alexandra Feodorovna. They had 4 daughters - Olga (November 3, 1895), Tatyana (May 29, 1897), Maria (June 14, 1899) and Anastasia (June 5, 1901). And the long-awaited fifth child on July 30 (August 12), 1904 was the only son - Tsarevich Alexei.
Coronation of Nicholas 2
On May 14 (26), 1896, the coronation of the new emperor took place. In 1896 he 
made a trip to Europe, where he met with Queen Victoria (grandmother of his wife), Wilhelm II, Franz Joseph. The final stage of the trip was a visit to the capital of the allied France.
His first personnel reshuffle was the fact of the dismissal of the Governor-General of the Kingdom of Poland Gurko I.V. and the appointment of A.B. Lobanov-Rostovsky as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
And the first major international action was the so-called Triple Intervention.
Having made huge concessions to the opposition at the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War, Nicholas II made an attempt to unite Russian society against external enemies. In the summer of 1916, after the situation at the front had stabilized, the Duma opposition united with the generals' conspirators and decided to take advantage of the situation to overthrow the tsar.
They even called the date February 12-13, 1917, as the day the emperor abdicated from the throne. It was said that a “great act” would take place - the sovereign would abdicate the throne, and the heir Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich would be appointed the future emperor, and it was Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich who would become regent.
On February 23, 1917, a strike began in Petrograd, which became general three days later. On February 27, 1917, in the morning, soldiers' uprisings took place in Petrograd and Moscow, as well as their association with the strikers.
The situation escalated after the proclamation of the emperor's manifesto on February 25, 1917, on the termination of the session of the State Duma.
On February 26, 1917, the tsar gave an order to General Khabalov "to stop the riots, unacceptable in the difficult time of the war." General N.I. Ivanov was sent on February 27 to Petrograd with the aim of suppressing the uprising.
On February 28, in the evening, he went to Tsarskoe Selo, but could not pass, and, due to the loss of communication with Headquarters, he arrived in Pskov on March 1, where the headquarters of the armies of the Northern Front under the leadership of General Ruzsky was located.
Abdication of Nicholas 2 from the throne
At about three o'clock in the afternoon, the emperor decided to abdicate in favor of the Tsarevich under the regency of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, and in the evening of the same day he announced to V. V. Shulgin and A. I. Guchkov about the decision to abdicate the throne for his son. March 2, 1917 at 23:40 he handed over to Guchkov A.I. The renunciation manifesto, where he wrote: “We command our brother to rule the affairs of the state in complete and indestructible unity with the representatives of the people.”
Nicholas 2 and his family from March 9 to August 14, 1917 lived under arrest in the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo.
In connection with the strengthening of the revolutionary movement in Petrograd, the Provisional Government decided to transfer the royal prisoners to the depths of Russia, fearing for their lives. After long disputes, Tobolsk was chosen as the city of settlement of the former emperor and his relatives. They were allowed to take personal belongings, necessary furniture with them and offer the attendants a voluntary escort to the place of the new settlement.
On the eve of his departure, A.F. Kerensky (head of the Provisional Government) brought the brother of the former tsar, Mikhail Alexandrovich. Mikhail was soon exiled to Perm and on the night of June 13, 1918 was killed by the Bolshevik authorities.
On August 14, 1917, a train set off from Tsarskoye Selo under the sign "Japanese Mission of the Red Cross" with members of the former imperial family. He was accompanied by a second squad, which included guards (7 officers, 337 soldiers).
The trains arrived in Tyumen on August 17, 1917, after which the arrested were taken on three ships to Tobolsk. The Romanovs were settled in the governor's house, specially renovated for their arrival. They were allowed to go to worship at the local Church of the Annunciation. The regime of protection of the Romanov family in Tobolsk was much easier than in Tsarskoye Selo. They led a measured, calm life.
The permission of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (All-Russian Central Executive Committee) of the fourth convocation to transfer Romanov and members of his family to Moscow for the purpose of holding a trial against them was received in April 1918.
On April 22, 1918, a convoy with machine guns of 150 people left Tobolsk for the city of Tyumen. On April 30, the train arrived in Yekaterinburg from Tyumen. To accommodate the Romanovs, a house was requisitioned, which belonged to the mining engineer Ipatiev. The staff also lived in the same house: the cook Kharitonov, Dr. Botkin, the room girl Demidova, the lackey Trupp and the cook Sednev.
The fate of Nicholas 2 and his family
To resolve the issue of the future fate of the imperial family in early July 1918, the military commissar F. Goloshchekin urgently left for Moscow. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars authorized the execution of all the Romanovs. After that, on July 12, 1918, on the basis of the decision taken, the Ural Council of Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' Deputies at a meeting decided to execute the royal family.
On the night of July 16-17, 1918 in Yekaterinburg, in the Ipatiev mansion, the so-called "House of Special Purpose", the former emperor of Russia, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, their children, Dr. Botkin and three servants (except for the cook) were shot.
The personal property of the Romanovs was looted.
All members of his family were canonized by the Catacomb Church in 1928.
In 1981, the last tsar of Russia was canonized by the Orthodox Church abroad, and in Russia the Orthodox Church canonized him as a martyr only 19 years later, in 2000.
In accordance with the decision of August 20, 2000 of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, the last emperor of Russia, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, princesses Maria, Anastasia, Olga, Tatiana, Tsarevich Alexei were canonized as holy new martyrs and confessors of Russia, revealed and unmanifested.
This decision was perceived by society ambiguously and was criticized. Some opponents of canonization believe that reckoning Tsar Nicholas 2 to the face of the saints is most likely a political character.
The result of all the events related to the fate of the former royal family was the appeal of the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Romanova, head of the Russian Imperial House in Madrid, to the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation in December 2005, demanding the rehabilitation of the royal family, who was shot in 1918.
On October 1, 2008, the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (Russian Federation) decided to recognize the last Russian emperor and members of the royal family as victims of illegal political repressions and rehabilitated them.
The upbringing he received under the guidance of his father was strict, almost harsh. “I need normal healthy Russian children” - such a requirement was put forward by the emperor to the educators of his children. Such an upbringing could only be Orthodox in spirit. Even as a small child, the Tsarevich showed a special love for God, for His Church. The heir received a very good education at home - he knew several languages, studied Russian and world history, was deeply versed in military affairs, and was a widely erudite person. But the plans of the father to prepare his son for bearing the royal duty were not destined to be fully realized.
The first meeting of the sixteen-year-old heir Nicholas Alexandrovich and the young princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt took place in the year when her older sister, the future Reverend Martyr Elizabeth, married Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, the uncle of the Tsarevich. A strong friendship began between them, which later turned into a deep and ever-growing love. When in a year, having reached the age of majority, the heir turned to his parents with a request to bless him for marriage with Princess Alice, his father refused, citing his youth as the reason for the refusal. Then he resigned himself to his father's will, but in the year, seeing the unshakable determination of his son, usually gentle and even timid in communication with his father, Emperor Alexander III gave his blessing to the marriage.
The joy of mutual love was overshadowed by a sharp deterioration in the health of Emperor Alexander III, who died on October 20 of the year. Despite the mourning, it was decided not to postpone the marriage, but it took place in the most modest atmosphere on November 14 of the year. The days of family happiness that followed were soon replaced by the need for the new emperor to take on the entire burden of governing the Russian Empire, despite the fact that he had not yet been fully introduced to the course of higher state affairs.
Reign
The character of Nikolai Alexandrovich, who was twenty-six years old at the accession to the throne, and his worldview by this time were completely determined. The faces that stood close to the court marked his lively mind - he always quickly grasped the essence of the issues reported to him, an excellent memory, especially for faces, the nobility of his way of thinking. At the same time, Nikolai Alexandrovich, with his gentleness, tact in handling, and modest manners, gave the impression to many of a man who did not inherit the strong will of his father.
The guide for Emperor Nicholas II was the political testament of his father:
“I bequeath to you to love everything that serves the good, honor and dignity of Russia. Protect the autocracy, remembering, moreover, that you are responsible for the fate of your subjects before the Throne of the Most High. Faith in God and the holiness of your royal duty be the foundation of your life for you. Be firm and courageous, never show weakness. Listen to everyone, there is nothing shameful in this, but listen to yourself and your conscience ".
From the very beginning of his reign as a Russian power, Emperor Nicholas II treated the performance of the duties of the monarch as a sacred duty. The sovereign deeply believed that for the Russian people the royal power was and remains sacred. He always had the idea that the king and queen should be closer to the people, see them more often and trust them more. Having become the supreme ruler of a vast empire, Nikolai Alexandrovich took upon himself an enormous historical and moral responsibility for everything that happened in the state entrusted to him. One of his most important duties he considered the preservation of the Orthodox faith.
Emperor Nicholas II paid great attention to the needs of the Orthodox Church throughout his reign. Like all Russian emperors, he generously donated to the construction of new churches, including those outside Russia. During the years of his reign, the number of parish churches in the empire increased by more than 10 thousand, more than 250 new monasteries were opened. He himself participated in the laying of new churches and other church celebrations. The personal piety of the Sovereign was also manifested in the fact that during the years of his reign more saints were canonized than in the two previous centuries, when only 5 saints were glorified - during his reign, St. Theodosius of Chernigov (g.), Rev. Seraphim of Sarov (city), Holy Princess Anna of Kashinskaya (restoration of veneration in the city), Saint Joasaph of Belgorod (city), Saint Hermogenes of Moscow (city), Saint Pitirim of Tambov (city), Saint John of Tobolsk (city) . At the same time, the emperor was forced to show special perseverance, seeking the canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Sts. Joasaph of Belgorod and John of Tobolsk. Emperor Nicholas II highly revered the holy righteous father John of Kronstadt and after his blessed death ordered that his nationwide prayer commemoration be performed on the day of repose.
During the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, the synodal system of governing the Church was preserved, but it was under him that the church hierarchy got the opportunity not only to widely discuss, but also to practically prepare the convocation of the Local Council.
The desire to introduce Christian religious and moral principles of one's worldview into public life has always distinguished the foreign policy of Emperor Nicholas II. Back in the year, he turned to the governments of Europe with a proposal to convene a conference to discuss issues of maintaining peace and reducing armaments. The consequence of this was the peace conferences in The Hague in 1997, whose decisions have not lost their significance to this day.
But, despite the sovereign's sincere desire for peace, during his reign Russia had to participate in two bloody wars that led to internal unrest. In the year without a declaration of war, Japan began hostilities against Russia, and the result of this difficult war for Russia was the revolutionary turmoil of the year. The sovereign perceived the unrest that took place in the country as a great personal grief.
In an informal setting, few spoke with the Sovereign. And everyone who knew his family life firsthand noted the amazing simplicity, mutual love and consent of all members of this closely knit family. The relationship of the children with the sovereign was touching - for them he was at the same time king, father and comrade; their feelings changed depending on the circumstances, passing from almost religious worship to complete gullibility and the most cordial friendship.
But the center of the family was Alexei Nikolaevich, on whom all affections and hopes were concentrated. His incurable illness darkened the life of the family, but the nature of the illness remained a state secret, and parents often had to hide their feelings. At the same time, the illness of the Tsarevich opened the doors to the palace for those people who were recommended to the royal family as healers and prayer books. Among them, the peasant Grigory Rasputin appears in the palace, whose healing abilities gave him great influence at court, which, together with the bad fame that spread about him, undermined the faith and loyalty of many to the imperial house.
At the beginning of the war, on the wave of patriotism in Russia, internal disagreements largely subsided, even the most difficult issues became solvable. It was possible to carry out the sovereign's long-conceived ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages for the entire duration of the war - his conviction in the usefulness of this measure was stronger than all economic considerations.
The sovereign regularly traveled to Headquarters, visited various sectors of his huge army, dressing stations, military hospitals, rear factories - everything that played a role in waging a grandiose war.
From the beginning of the war, the emperor considered his tenure as supreme commander in chief as the fulfillment of a moral and state duty to God and the people. However, the Sovereign always gave the leading military experts a broad initiative in resolving all military-strategic and operational-tactical issues. On August 22, the sovereign left for Mogilev in order to take command of all the armed forces of Russia, and from that day on he was constantly at Headquarters. Only about once a month did the Emperor come to Tsarskoye Selo for a few days. All responsible decisions were made by him, but at the same time he instructed the empress to maintain relations with the ministers and keep him informed of what was happening in the capital.
Imprisonment and execution
“If I am an obstacle to the happiness of Russia and all the social forces now at the head of it ask me to leave the throne and pass it on to my son and brother, then I am ready to do this, I am ready not only to give my kingdom, but also to give my life for the Motherland. I think no one doubts this from those who know me..
“You need my renunciation. The bottom line is that in the name of saving Russia and keeping the army at the front in peace, you need to decide on this step. I agreed ... At one in the morning I left Pskov with a heavy feeling of what I had experienced. Around treason and cowardice and deceit!
For the last time, he turned to his troops, calling on them to be loyal to the Provisional Government, the very one that arrested him, to fulfill their duty to the Motherland until complete victory. The farewell order to the troops, which expressed the nobility of the Sovereign's soul, his love for the army, faith in it, was hidden from the people by the Provisional Government, which banned its publication.
The sovereign accepted and endured all the trials sent down to him firmly, meekly and without a shadow of grumbling. On March 9, the emperor, who had been arrested the day before, was transported to Tsarskoe Selo, where the whole family was impatiently waiting for him. An almost five-month period of indefinite stay in Tsarskoye Selo began. The days passed measuredly - in regular worship, joint meals, walks, reading and communication with loved ones. However, at the same time, the life of the prisoners was subjected to petty embarrassments - the sovereign was announced by A.F. Kerenskythat he should live separately and see the empress only at the table, and speak only in Russian, the guard soldiers made rude remarks to him, access to the palace persons close to the royal family were forbidden. Once, the soldiers even took away a toy gun from the heir under the pretext of a ban on carrying weapons. Father Afanasy Belyaev, who regularly performed divine services in the Alexander Palace during this period, left his testimonies about the spiritual life of the Tsarskoye Selo prisoners. Here is how the service of Good Friday Matins on March 30 took place in the palace:
“The service went on reverently and touchingly ... Their Majesties listened to the entire service while standing. Folding lecterns were placed in front of them, on which the Gospels lay, so that they could follow the reading. Everyone stood until the end of the service and left through the common hall to their rooms. One must see for oneself and be so close in order to understand and make sure how the former royal family zealously, in the Orthodox way, often on their knees, prays to God. With what humility, meekness, humility, completely surrendering themselves to the will of God, they stand behind the divine service!.
In the palace Church or in the former royal chambers, Father Athanasius regularly served the All-Night and Divine Liturgy, which were always attended by all members of the imperial family. After the day of the Holy Trinity, alarming messages appear more and more often in the diary of Father Athanasius - he notes the growing irritation of the guards, sometimes reaching rudeness towards the royal family. The state of mind of the members of the royal family does not remain without his attention - yes, they all suffered, he notes, but along with suffering, their patience and prayer increased.
Meanwhile, the Provisional Government appointed a commission to investigate the activities of the emperor, but, despite all efforts, they could not find at least something discrediting the king. However, instead of releasing the royal family, it was decided to remove them from Tsarskoe Selo - on the night of August 1, they were sent to Tobolsk, allegedly due to possible unrest, and arrived there on August 6. The first weeks of his stay in Tobolsk were perhaps the calmest for the entire period of imprisonment. On September 8, the feast day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the prisoners were allowed to go to church for the first time. Subsequently, this consolation very rarely fell to their lot.
“He made this decision [on renunciation] only in the hope that those who wanted his removal would still be able to continue the war with honor and not ruin the cause of saving Russia. He was then afraid that his refusal to sign the renunciation would lead to civil war in the sight of the enemy. The tsar did not want even a drop of Russian blood to be shed because of him ... It was painful for the emperor to now see the futility of his sacrifice and realize that, having in mind then only the good of the motherland, he harmed her by his renunciation ".
Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks had already come to power in Petrograd - a period had come, about which the Sovereign wrote in his diary: "much worse and more shameful than the events of the Time of Troubles." The soldiers guarding the governor's house were imbued with affection for the royal family, and several months passed after the Bolshevik coup before the change of power began to affect the situation of the prisoners. In Tobolsk, a “soldier’s committee” was formed, which, in every possible way striving for self-affirmation, demonstrated its power over the Sovereign - either they forced him to remove his shoulder straps, or they destroyed the ice hill arranged for the royal children, and from March 1, “Nikolai Romanov and his family are transferred to soldier's pack." The letters and diaries of members of the imperial family testify to the deep experience of the tragedy that unfolded before their eyes. But this tragedy did not deprive the royal prisoners of strength of mind, firm faith and hope for God's help. Consolation and meekness in enduring sorrows were provided by prayer, the reading of spiritual books, divine services and Communion. In sufferings and trials, spiritual knowledge, knowledge of oneself, of one's soul, multiplied. Striving for eternal life helped endure suffering and gave great consolation:
“... Everything that I love suffers, there is no count of all the dirt and suffering, and the Lord does not allow despondency: He protects from despair, gives strength, confidence in a bright future still in this world”.
In March, it became known that a separate peace was concluded with Germany in Brest, about which the sovereign wrote that this was "tantamount to suicide." The first Bolshevik detachment arrived in Tobolsk on Tuesday 22 April. Commissar Yakovlev examined the house, got acquainted with the prisoners, and a few days later announced that he had to take the Sovereign away, assuring him that nothing bad would happen to him. Assuming that they wanted to send him to Moscow to sign a separate peace with Germany, the sovereign said firmly: "I'd rather let my hand be cut off than sign this shameful treaty." The heir was sick at that time, and it was impossible to take him, but the Empress and Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna followed the emperor and were transported to Yekaterinburg, to be imprisoned in the Ipatiev house. When the health of the Heir recovered, the rest of the family from Tobolsk were imprisoned in the same house, but most of those close to them were not allowed.
Much less evidence remains about the Yekaterinburg period of imprisonment of the Imperial Family - there are almost no letters, basically this period is known only from brief entries in the diary of the emperor and the testimony of witnesses. Especially valuable is the testimony of Archpriest John Storozhev, who performed the last divine services in the Ipatiev House. Father John served there twice on Sundays at Mass; for the first time it was on May 20 (June 2), when, according to his testimony, members of the royal family "Prayed very earnestly ...". Living conditions in the "special purpose house" were much more difficult than in Tobolsk. The guard consisted of 12 soldiers who lived in close proximity to the prisoners, ate with them at the same table. Commissar Avdeev, an inveterate drunkard, daily contrived, together with his subordinates, to invent new humiliations for the prisoners. I had to put up with hardships, endure bullying and obey the demands of rude people, including former criminals. The royal couple and princesses had to sleep on the floor, without beds. At dinner, a family of seven was given only five spoons; The guards sitting at the same table smoked, brazenly exhaling smoke in the faces of the prisoners, and rudely took away their food. A walk in the garden was allowed once a day, at first for 15-20 minutes, and then no more than five. The behavior of the guards was completely obscene.
Only doctor Yevgeny Botkin remained next to the royal family, who surrounded the prisoners with care and acted as an intermediary between them and the commissars, trying to protect them from the rudeness of the guards, and several tried and true servants.
The faith of the prisoners supported their courage, gave them strength and patience in suffering. All of them understood the possibility of a speedy end and expected it with nobility and clarity of spirit. In one of Olga Nikolaevna's letters there are the following lines:
“The father asks to convey to all those who remained devoted to him, and to those on whom they can have influence, so that they do not avenge him, since he has forgiven everyone and prays for everyone, and that they do not avenge themselves, and that they remember that the evil that is now in the world will be even stronger, but that it is not evil that will overcome evil, but only love..
Most of the testimonies speak of the prisoners of the Ipatiev House as suffering people, but deeply believing, undoubtedly submissive to the will of God. Despite bullying and insults, they led a decent family life in the Ipatiev house, trying to brighten up the oppressive atmosphere with mutual communication, prayer, reading and feasible activities. One of the witnesses of their life in captivity, the educator of the heir, Pierre Gilliard, wrote:
“The Sovereign and Empress believed that they were dying martyrs for their homeland ... Their true greatness did not stem from their royal dignity, but from that amazing moral height to which they gradually rose ... And in their very humiliation they were an amazing manifestation of that amazing clarity of the soul, against which all violence and all rage are powerless and which triumphs in death itself..
Even the rude guards gradually softened in dealing with the prisoners. They were surprised by their simplicity, they were subdued by the full dignity of spiritual clarity, and they soon felt the superiority of those whom they thought to keep in their power. Even Commissar Avdeev relented. Such a change did not escape the eyes of the Bolshevik authorities. Avdeev was replaced by Yurovsky, the guards were replaced by Austro-German prisoners and selected people from among the executioners of the "emergency". The life of its inhabitants turned into a continuous martyrdom. On July 1 (14), Father John Storozhev performed the last divine service in the Ipatiev House. Meanwhile, in the strictest confidence from the prisoners, preparations were made for their execution.
Together with the imperial family, their servants, who followed their masters into exile, were also shot: Dr.
