Romanov Tsarevich Alexei. Favorite Bet

A short, piercing life ..... Tsesarevich Alexei did not live a few weeks before his 14th birthday

A short poignant life.....Tsesarevich Alexei

And mistakes are forgotten

And sorrow that torments us

At the sight of a royal smile

Your innocent, childlike eyes.

On July 30 (August 12, old style), 1904, the only son of the last Russian Sovereign Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Tsarevich Alexei, heir to the throne of the Russian Empire, was born in Peterhof.

He was the fifth and very long-awaited child of the royal couple, for whom they prayed a lot and fervently, including during the celebrations dedicated to the glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov July 17-19, 1903

The first acquisition of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov, with the participation of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, 1903

The royal family in front of Seraphim, a painting by priest Sergiy Simakov

On September 3, 1904, the Sacrament of the Baptism of the Tsesarevich was performed in the church of the Great Peterhof Palace with the name in honor of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow. According to a number of researchers, the heir received the name Alexei in memory of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676). The godparents of the porphyritic baby were the English and Danish kings, the German emperor, as well as the Russian Grand Dukes.

Baptism of Tsarevich Alexei, son of Nicholas II, Ilyas Faizullin

Since Russia was at war with Japan during this period, all officers and soldiers of the Russian army and navy were proclaimed honorary godparents of the heir. According to tradition, in connection with the birth of the heir, charitable organizations were established: the military hospital train named after the heir-tsesarevich, the Alekseevsky committee for helping children who lost their fathers in the Russian-Japanese war.

The teacher and teacher of the royal children, Pierre Gilliard, in his memoirs, recalls how he first saw the Tsarevich in February 1906, who was then one and a half years old: “... I was already preparing to finish my lesson with Olga Nikolaevna, when the Empress entered with the Grand Duke Heir in her arms . She walked towards us with the obvious intention of showing me the son I did not yet know. On her face shone the joy of her mother, who finally saw the realization of her most cherished dream. It was felt that she was proud and happy with the beauty of her child.

And in fact, the Tsarevich was at that time the most wonderful child one can dream of, with his wonderful blond curls and large gray-blue eyes, set off by long, curled eyelashes. He had the fresh and rosy complexion of a healthy child, and when he smiled his round cheeks showed two dimples. When I approached him, he looked at me seriously and shyly, and only with great difficulty did he dare to stretch out his little hand to me.

During this first meeting, I saw several times how the Empress pressed the Tsarevich to her with the gentle gesture of a mother who always seemed to tremble for the life of her child; but in her this caress and the glance that accompanied it showed so clearly and so strongly hidden anxiety that I was already struck by it. It wasn't until much later that I realized its meaning."

Terrible disease.

On the mother's side, Alexei inherited hemophilia, which was carried by some of the daughters and granddaughters of the English Queen Victoria (1837-1901). The disease became apparent already in the autumn of 1904, when a two-month-old baby began to bleed heavily. Any scratch could lead to the death of a child; the membranes of his arteries and veins were so weak that any bruise, increased movement or tension could cause a rupture of blood vessels and lead to a fatal end: a fall, a nosebleed, a simple cut - everything that would be a trifle for an ordinary child could be fatal for Alexey.

Grand Duchess Anastasia and Tsarevich Alexei

From the very first years of his life, the Tsarevich needed special care and constant vigilance, as a result of which, on the orders of doctors, two sailors from the imperial yacht were assigned to him as bodyguards: boatswain Derevenko and his assistant Nagorny

Tsesarevich Alexei and boatswain Derevenko

The maid of honor of the Empress Anna Taneeva wrote: “The life of Alexei Nikolayevich was one of the most tragic in the history of the Tsar's children. He was a charming, affectionate boy, the most beautiful of all children. Parents and nanny Maria Vishnyakova in early childhood spoiled him very much, fulfilling the slightest whims.

And this is understandable, since it was very difficult to see the constant suffering of the little one; whether he hit his head or hand on the furniture, a huge blue swelling immediately appeared, indicating an internal hemorrhage, which caused him severe suffering. At the age of five or six, he passed into the hands of men, to Uncle Derevenko. This one used to be not so spoiled, although he was very devoted and had great patience.

I hear the voice of Alexei Nikolaevich during his illness: “Raise my hand,” or: “Turn your leg,” or: “Warm my hands,” and often Derevenko reassured him. When he began to grow up, his parents explained to Alexei Nikolayevich his illness, asking him to be careful. But the heir was very lively, loved the games and amusements of the boys, and it was often impossible to keep him. “Give me a bicycle,” he asked his mother. “Alexei, you know that you can’t!” - "I want to learn to play tennis like sisters!" - “You know that you don’t dare to play.” Sometimes Alexey Nikolaevich cried, repeating: “Why am I not like all the boys?”

Alexei was well aware that he might not live to adulthood. When he was ten years old, his elder sister Olga found him lying on his back and looking up at the clouds. She asked what he was doing. “I like to think, to reflect,” Alexei replied. Olga asked what he likes to think about. “Oh, a lot of things,” the boy replied, “I enjoy the sun and the beauty of summer while I can. Who knows, maybe one of these days I won't be able to do that anymore."

Life in Tsarskoye Selo

Outwardly, Alexei resembled the Empress and Grand Duchess Tatyana: he had the same delicate features and large blue eyes. P. Gilliard describes him as follows: “Aleksei Nikolaevich was then nine and a half years old. He was rather large for his age, had a thin, oblong oval face with delicate features, wonderful light brown hair with bronze tints, large blue-gray eyes, reminiscent of his mother's eyes.

He quite enjoyed life when he could, like a frisky and cheerful boy. His tastes were very modest. He did not boast at all that he was the heir to the throne, he least of all thought about this. His greatest happiness was to play with the two sons of the sailor Derevenko, who were both somewhat younger than him.

He had great quickness of mind and judgment and much thoughtfulness. He sometimes struck me with questions above his age, which testified to a delicate and sensitive soul. I easily understood that those who, like me, were not supposed to inspire discipline in him, could easily succumb to his charm without a second thought. In the little capricious being, as he seemed at first, I discovered a child with a heart naturally loving and sensitive to suffering, because he himself had already suffered a lot.

A resident of Tsarskoye Selo S.Ya. Ofrosimova shares the following impressions: “The heir to the Tsarevich had a very soft and kind heart. He was passionately attached not only to those close to him, but also to the simple employees around him. None of them saw from him arrogance and harsh treatment. He especially quickly and ardently became attached to ordinary people. His love for Uncle Derevenko was tender, hot and touching. One of his greatest pleasures was to play with the uncle's children and be among the common people.

With interest and deep attention, he peered into the lives of ordinary people, and often an exclamation escaped from him: “When I am king, there will be no poor and unhappy! I want everyone to be happy."

A.A. Taneeva recalled: “The heir took an ardent part if some grief struck the servants. His Majesty was also compassionate, but did not actively express it, while Alexei Nikolaevich did not calm down until he immediately helped. I remember a case with a cook who for some reason was denied a position. Aleksey Nikolaevich somehow found out about this and pestered his parents all day until they ordered the cook to be taken back. He defended and stood up like a mountain for all his people.

At the age of seven, Alexei began to study. The classes were led by the Empress, who herself chose the teachers: the confessor of the imperial family, Archpriest Alexander Vasiliev, became the teacher of the law, and the teacher of the Russian language was Privy Councilor P.V. Petrov, teacher of arithmetic - State Councilor E.P. Tsytovich, French teacher and tutor - P. Gilliard, English was taught by C. Gibbs and Alexandra Fedorovna herself.

Archpriest Alexander Vasiliev, Confessor of the Royal Senya, 1912

Life in Tsarskoye Selo had a close family character: the retinue, with the exception of the ladies-in-waiting and the commander of the combined guards regiment, did not live in the palace, and the Royal family, except when visiting relatives, gathered at the table without outsiders and quite easily. The lessons of the Tsesarevich began at nine o'clock with a break between eleven and noon, during which the heir and the teacher went for a walk in a carriage, sleigh or car. Then classes resumed until lunch, after which Alexei always spent two hours outdoors. The Grand Duchesses and the Sovereign, when he was free, joined him. In winter, Alexei had fun with his sisters, descending from an icy mountain built on the shore of a small artificial lake.

Just like his sisters, the Tsarevich adored animals. P. Gilliard recalls: “He loved to play with his donkey Vanka, who was harnessed to a small sled, or with his dog Joy, a dark brown lapdog on low paws, with long, silky ears falling almost to the floor. Vanka was an incomparable, intelligent and funny animal. When they wanted to give Aleksey Nikolayevich a donkey, they applied for a long time, but to no avail, to all the horse-dealers in St. Petersburg; then the Ciniselli circus agreed to give way to the old donkey, which, due to its decrepitude, was no longer fit for performances. And in this way Vanka appeared at the Court, fully appreciating, apparently, the palace stables. He amused us a lot, because he knew many of the most incredible tricks. He turned his pockets inside out with great dexterity, hoping to find sweets in them. He found a special charm in old rubber balls, which he casually chewed with one eye closed, like an old Yankee.

These two animals played a big role in the life of Alexei Nikolaevich, who had very little entertainment. He suffered mainly from the absence of comrades. Fortunately, his sisters, as I have said, liked to play with him; they brought joy and youth into his life, without which it would be very difficult for him. During daytime walks, the Emperor, who liked to walk a lot, usually went around the park with one of his daughters, but he also happened to join us, and with his help we once built a huge snow tower, which took the form of an impressive fortress and occupied us for several weeks. .

At four in the afternoon, lessons resumed until dinner, which was served at seven for Alexei and at eight for the rest of the family. The day ended with reading aloud some favorite book of the Tsarevich.

All relatives of Alexei noted his religiosity. The letters of the Tsarevich have been preserved, in which he congratulates his relatives on the holidays, his poem “Christ is Risen!”, sent by him to his grandmother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. From the memoirs of S.Ya. Ofrosimova: “There is a festive service ... The temple is flooded with the radiance of countless candles. The Tsarevich stands on the Royal Elevation. He has almost grown to the Sovereign standing next to him. The glow of quietly burning lamps pours onto his pale, beautiful face and gives him an unearthly, almost ghostly expression. His large, long eyes look not like a child, with a serious, mournful look ... He is motionlessly turned to the altar, where a solemn service is being performed ... I look at him, and it seems to me that I have seen somewhere this pale face, these long, mournful eyes.

In 1910, the Jerusalem Patriarch Damian, knowing about the piety of the heir, gave him the icon of the Resurrection of Christ with particles of stones from the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha for Easter.

According to P. Gilliard, Alexei was the center of a closely knit Imperial family, all attachments and hopes were concentrated on him. “The sisters adored him, and he was the joy of his parents. When he was healthy, the whole palace seemed to be transformed; it was a ray of the sun, illuminating both things and those around. Happily gifted by nature, he would have developed quite regularly and evenly if his illness had not prevented this.

S.Ya. Ofrosimova recalls: “His vivacity could not be tempered by his illness, and as soon as he got better, as soon as his suffering subsided, he began to play naughty uncontrollably, he buried himself in pillows, crawled under the bed to scare the doctors with an imaginary disappearance ... When the Princesses came, especially the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, terrible fuss and pranks began. Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna was a desperate minx and a true friend in all the Tsarevich's pranks, but she was strong and healthy, and the Tsarevich was forbidden these hours of childish pranks, dangerous for Him.

Education of the heir to the throne

In 1912, while resting in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Tsarevich unsuccessfully jumped into a boat and severely injured his thigh: the hematoma that arose did not resolve for a long time, the child’s health was very difficult, and bulletins were officially published about him. There was a real threat of death. “The Empress sat at the head of her son from the beginning of the illness,” writes P. Gilliard, “bent down to him, caressed him, surrounded him with her love, trying with a thousand small worries to alleviate his suffering. The sovereign also came as soon as he had a free minute.

He tried to cheer up the child, to entertain him, but the pain was stronger than motherly caresses and fatherly stories, and interrupted moans resumed. Occasionally the door would open, and one of the Grand Duchesses would tiptoe into the room, kiss her little brother, and, as it were, bring with her a stream of freshness and health. The child opened for a minute his large eyes, already deeply outlined by illness, and immediately closed them again.

One morning I found the mother at the head of her son... The Tsarevich, lying in his bed, moaned plaintively, pressing his head against his mother's hand, and his thin, bloodless face was unrecognizable. From time to time he interrupted his groans to whisper only one word "mother", in which he expressed all his suffering, all his despair. And his mother kissed his hair, forehead, eyes, as if with this caress she could alleviate his suffering, breathe into him a little of the life that was leaving him. How to convey the torture of this mother, helplessly present at the torment of her child for long hours of mortal anxiety ... "

According to many people who surrounded Tsarevich Alexei, he had a strong will, which was not just a hereditary quality, but developed and strengthened due to the frequent physical suffering caused to the child by a terrible illness. The disease became a kind of educator of the little martyr. According to Anna Taneeva, "frequent suffering and involuntary self-sacrifice developed in the character of Alexei Nikolaevich pity and compassion for everyone who was sick, as well as amazing respect for his mother and all elders."

However, for all his kindness and compassion, the boy did not tolerate when he was treated with insufficient respect as the heir to the throne. S.Ya. Ofrosimova tells the following episode: “The Tsarevich was not a proud child, although the thought that he was the future king filled his whole being with the consciousness of his highest destiny. When he was in the company of noble and close to the Sovereign persons, he had a consciousness of his royalty.

Once the Tsarevich entered the office of the Sovereign, who at that time was talking with the minister. At the entrance of the heir, the interlocutor of the Sovereign did not find it necessary to get up, but only, rising from his chair, gave the Tsarevich his hand. The heir, offended, stopped in front of him and silently put his hands behind his back; this gesture did not give him an arrogant look, but only a regal, expectant pose. The minister involuntarily stood up and drew himself up to his full height in front of the Tsarevich. To this the Tsesarevich responded with a polite handshake. Having told the Sovereign something about his walk, he slowly left the office, the Sovereign looked after him for a long time and, finally, sadly and proudly said: “Yes, it will not be so easy for you to deal with him as with me.”

According to the recollections of Yulia Den, the maid of honor and friend of the Empress, while still a very young boy, Alexei was already aware that he was the heir: “Once, when he was playing with the Grand Duchesses, he was informed that officers of his sponsored regiment had come to the palace and asked permission to see Tsesarevich. The six-year-old child, immediately leaving the fuss with the sisters, announced with an important look: “Girls, go away, the heir will have a reception.”

Klavdia Mikhailovna Bitner, who gave lessons to the heir in Tobolsk, recalled the Tsarevich as follows: “I loved Alexei Nikolaevich more than anyone. It was a sweet, good boy. He was smart, observant, receptive, very affectionate, cheerful and cheerful, despite his often severe morbid condition ...

He was used to being disciplined, but disliked the former court etiquette. He did not tolerate lies and would not tolerate them around him if he ever took power. He combined the features of his father and mother. From his father he inherited his simplicity. There was no self-satisfaction, arrogance, arrogance in him at all. He was simple.

But he had a great will and would never submit to outside influence. Here is the Sovereign, if he again took power, I am sure he would forget and forgive the actions of those soldiers who were known in this regard. Alexei Nikolaevich, if he had received power, he would never have forgotten or forgiven them, and would have drawn the appropriate conclusions.

At the same time, he was frugal. One day he was sick, he was served a dish that he shared with the whole family, which he did not eat because he did not like this dish. I was outraged. How can they not cook a separate meal for a child when he is sick. I said something. He answered me: “Well, here it is! You don't have to spend money because of me."

Favorite Bet. Introduction to military life

By tradition, the Grand Dukes on the day of their birth became chiefs or officers of the guards regiments. Alexey became the chief of the 12th East Siberian Rifle Regiment, and later of other military units and the ataman of all Cossack troops. The sovereign introduced him to Russian military history, the organization of the army and the peculiarities of its life, organized a detachment of the sons of the lower ranks under the leadership of the “uncle” Tsarevich Derevenko and managed to instill in the heir a love for military affairs.

Alexei was often present at the reception of deputations and reviews of troops, and during the First World War, he visited the army with his father, awarded distinguished soldiers, and was himself awarded the silver St. George medal of the 4th degree.

On July 20, 1914, President of the French Republic R. Poincaré presented the heir with the ribbon of the Order of the Legion of Honor. In Petrograd, in the Winter Palace, there were two institutions named after Alexei - a hospital and the Committee for Lump-sum Benefits for Sick and Wounded Soldiers, and many military hospitals also bore his name.

Almost all of 1916, the Tsesarevich spent with his father at the headquarters of the supreme commander in Mogilev. According to A.A. Mordvinov, adjutant wing of Nicholas II, the heir "promised to be not only a good, but also an outstanding monarch." P. Gilliard recalls: “After the review, the Sovereign approached the soldiers and entered into a simple conversation with some of them, asking them about the fierce battles in which they participated.

Aleksey Nikolayevich followed his father step by step, listening with passionate interest to the stories of these people, who had seen the nearness of death so many times. His usually expressive and lively face was full of tension from the effort he made to not miss a single word of what they were saying.

The presence of the heir next to the Sovereign aroused interest in the soldiers, and when he walked away, they could be heard whispering about his age, height, facial expression, etc. But most of all they were struck by the fact that the Tsarevich was in a simple soldier's uniform, no different from the one worn by a team of soldier's children.

The English General Henbury-Williams, with whom the Tsarevich became friends at Headquarters, published his memoirs Emperor Nicholas II as I knew him after the revolution. About his acquaintance with Alexei, he writes: “When I first saw Alexei Nikolaevich in 1915, he was about eleven years old. Having heard stories about him, I expected to see a very weak and not very smart boy. He was indeed frail, for he was stricken with disease. However, in those periods when the heir was healthy, he was cheerful and mischievous, like any boy of his age ...

Tsarevich Alexei in Mogilev

The prince wore a protective uniform, high Russian boots, proud that he looked like a real soldier. He had excellent manners and was fluent in several languages. Over time, his timidity faded, and he began to treat us like old friends.

Each time, greeting, the Tsarevich came up with some kind of joke for each of us. Approaching me, he used to check whether all the buttons on my jacket were fastened. Naturally, I tried to leave one or two buttons open. In this case, the Tsarevich stopped and remarked to me that I was "again inaccurate." Sighing heavily at the sight of such slovenliness on my part, he fastened my buttons to put things in order.

After visiting the Headquarters, the favorite food of the Tsesarevich became "soup and porridge and black bread, which all my soldiers eat," as he always said. Every day they brought him samples of cabbage soup and porridge from the soldiers' kitchen of the Consolidated Regiment. According to the recollections of those around him, the Tsarevich ate everything and licked the spoon, beaming with pleasure and saying: “This is delicious - not like our lunch.” Sometimes, without touching anything at the table, he quietly made his way to the buildings of the royal kitchen, asked the cooks for a slice of black bread and secretly shared it with his dog.

From Headquarters, the Tsesarevich brought an ugly, sandy-colored kitten with white spots, which he named Zubrovka and, as a sign of special affection, put on him a collar with a bell. Julia Den writes about the Tsarevich's new favorite: “Zubrovka was not a particular admirer of palaces. He kept fighting with the bulldog of the Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna, whose name was Artipo, and knocked over all the family photos in Her Majesty's boudoir on the floor. But Zubrovka enjoyed the privileges of his position. What happened to him when the Imperial Family was sent to Tobolsk is unknown.”

In the newspaper "Kronstadt Vestnik" dated November 7, 1915, an article was placed under the heading "Our Hope", dedicated to the stay of the heir at Headquarters. It described the days of Alexei: “... After mass, the Sovereign, together with the heir and retinue, went home on foot. The smile, look, gait of the young heir, his habit of waving his left hand - all this resembled the manners of the Sovereign, from whom the child adopted them. Despite wartime and frequent trips to the fronts with his sovereign parent, the Tsesarevich continued to study...

Tsesarevich Alexei with his teachers on the train

In the classroom, where classes are held with mentors, the atmosphere of goodwill. Teachers forgive the child for his habit of leaving his dog named Joy and the cat for lessons. "Cat" - that's his name - is present at all the lessons of his master. After class, a game of burners with friends. He does not choose them by origin. As a rule, these are the children of commoners. Having learned that their parents need something, the heir often says to the tutor: "I will ask dad to help them." Both the father and the heir go to the temple and from the temple together. In religion, the child draws clarity of views, simplicity in relations with all people.

The Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II himself did a lot to instill in his son attention and compassion for people. P. Gilliard describes the following case: “On the way back, having learned from General Ivanov that there was an advanced dressing station nearby, the Sovereign decided to go straight there. We drove into a dense forest and soon noticed a small building, dimly lit by the red light of torches. The sovereign, accompanied by Alexei Nikolaevich, entered the house, approached all the wounded and talked with them with great kindness. His sudden visit at such a late hour and so close to the front line caused astonishment to be expressed on all faces.

With P. Gilliard at Headquarters. 1916

One of the soldiers, who had just been put back to bed after bandaging, looked intently at the Sovereign, and when the latter bent over him, he raised his only healthy hand to touch his clothes and make sure that he really was the Tsar, and not vision. Alexei Nikolayevich stood a little behind his father. He was deeply shocked by the groans that he heard and the suffering that he guessed around him.

On March 2 (N.S. 15), 1917, news was received of the abdication of Nicholas II from the throne for himself and for his son in favor of Mikhail Alexandrovich, the Tsar's younger brother. P. Gilliard recalls: “... It was noticeable how she [the Empress] suffered at the thought of how she would have to agitate the sick Grand Duchesses, announcing to them the abdication of their father, especially since this excitement could worsen their health.

The last lessons of the Sovereign Father

Since March 8, 1917, the Royal Family was under arrest in Tsarskoye Selo, and on August 1, they were sent into exile in Tobolsk, where they were imprisoned in the governor's house. Here the Sovereign managed to fulfill the dream of raising his son himself. He gave lessons to the Tsarevich in a gloomy house in Tobolsk. The lessons continued in the poverty and squalor of Yekaterinburg imprisonment, where the imperial family was transferred in the spring of 1918.

Life of the Royal Family in the house of engineer N.K. Ipatiev was subject to a strict prison regime: isolation from the outside world, meager food rations, an hour's walk, searches, the hostility of the guards. Back in Tobolsk, Alexei fell down the stairs and received severe bruises, after which he could not walk for a long time, and in Yekaterinburg his illness worsened greatly.

A gun salute rolled across Russia, from Kronstadt in the Baltic, from St. Petersburg and from Peterhof - a child was born in the royal residence. Four times in the last decade, shots of these guns were heard - at intervals of two years, four daughters were born to Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna. And finally, on August 12, 1904, 300 shots of a gun salute announced to Russia that the newborn was a boy.

In the summer of 1903, Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna were present at the Sarov celebrations, but they behaved like simple pilgrims, fervently praying to St. Seraphim about giving them a son. Their prayer merged with the fiery prayer of the people. Exactly one year later, on August 12, 1904, Tsarevich Alexei was born and became the favorite of the whole family. The child was born strong, healthy, "with thick golden hair and large blue eyes."

However, the joy was soon overshadowed by the news that the Tsarevich had an incurable disease - hemophilia, which constantly threatened his life. Even when it was possible to control external bleeding and save the boy from the slightest scratches, which could be fatal, nothing could be done about internal hemorrhages - they caused excruciating pain in the bones and joints.

This required from the family a huge strain of mental and physical strength, boundless faith and humility. During an exacerbation of the disease in 1912, the doctors pronounced a hopeless sentence on the boy, but the Sovereign humbly answered questions about the health of the Tsarevich: “We hope in God.”

The heir was an unusually handsome and intelligent child with an open soul, traces of physical suffering were visible on his thin face. The empress taught her son to pray: at exactly 9 o'clock in the evening he went up to his room with his mother, read prayers aloud and went to bed, overshadowed by her banner of the cross.

Those who knew the Royal Family closely noted the nobility of the Tsarevich's character, his kindness and responsiveness. “There is not a single vicious trait in the soul of this child,” said one of his teachers.

The only son of Emperor Nicholas II, given by God in response to a long, zealous parental prayer, probably, without exaggeration, can be called the most attractive and most unsolved child figure in Russian history. “During the baptism, a wonderful incident occurred with the baby, which attracted the attention of all those present,” wrote Abbot Seraphim (Kuznetsov). “When the newborn crown prince was anointed with holy myrrh, he raised his hand and extended his fingers, as if blessing those present.” What could this boy be if he lived to adulthood? One can only assume that a great tsar was implored for Russia. But history does not know the turn “if only”. And although we understand that the figure of the young Tsarevich Alexei is too bright and unusual, we nevertheless turn to his bright image, wanting to find an example for teaching and imitation in the relationship of this boy with the outside world.

Attitude towards women is the best way to test the nobility of a man. He must treat every woman with respect, regardless of whether she is rich or poor, high or low in public position, and show her all kinds of signs of respect,” Empress Alexandra Feodorovna wrote in her diary. She could write such words with confidence: an example of male nobility, a chivalrous attitude towards a woman was always before her eyes - her husband, Emperor Nicholas.

It is very important that the little Tsarevich Alexei from childhood could see a respectful attitude towards women on the part of a man whose authority was indisputable for him. The sovereign did not disregard even the smallest things, thanks to which it was possible to teach his son a lesson.

He understood a lot and understood people. But he was reserved and reserved. He was terribly patient, very careful, disciplined and demanding of himself and others. He was kind, like his father, in the sense that he did not have the ability in his heart to do evil in vain. At the same time, he was frugal. One day he was sick, he was served a dish that he shared with the whole family, which he did not eat because he did not like this dish. I was outraged. How can they not cook a separate meal for a child when he is sick. I said something. He answered me: "Well, here's another one. You don't have to spend money because of me alone."

He needed to be surrounded by special care and concern. That is why, on the orders of doctors, two sailors from the imperial yacht were assigned to him as bodyguards: boatswain Derevenko and his assistant Nagorny. His teacher and mentor Pierre Gilliard recalls:

“Aleksei Nikolaevich had great vivacity of mind and judgment and a lot of thoughtfulness. He sometimes struck me with questions above his age, which testified to a delicate and sensitive soul. In the little capricious being, as he seemed at first, I discovered a child with a heart naturally loving and sensitive to suffering, because he himself had already suffered a lot.

The upbringing of any boy as the future head of the family should consist in the upbringing of responsibility, independence, the ability to make a decision in the right situation, without looking back at anyone. At the same time, it is necessary to cultivate compassion and sensitivity and an important property - the ability to listen to the opinions of Other people. The boy needs to be prepared for the role of husband, father and master of the house. For Tsarevich Alexei, the whole of Russia was such a home.

“The queen inspired her son that everyone is equal before God and should not be proud of their position, but they must be able to behave nobly without humiliating their position” (Hegumen Seraphim (Kuznetsov). “Orthodox Martyr Tsar”). If the mother had not put any effort into this, then the position of the educator of the heir, which was already difficult, would become even more difficult.

“I understood more clearly than ever how much the conditions of the environment interfered with the success of my efforts. I had to contend with the subservience of the servants and the ridiculous admiration of some of those around me. And I was even very surprised, seeing how the natural simplicity of Alexei Nikolayevich withstood these immoderate praises.

I remember how a deputation of peasants from one of the central provinces of Russia once came to bring gifts to the heir to the Tsarevich. The three men of which she consisted, by order given in a whisper by the boatswain Derevenko, knelt before Alexei Nikolaevich to hand him their offerings. I noticed the embarrassment of the child, who blushed crimson. As soon as we were alone, I asked him if he was pleased to see these people in front of him on their knees. "Ah, no! But Derevenko says that's how it's supposed to be!"

I then spoke with the boatswain, and the child was delighted that he was freed from what was a real nuisance for him.

I. Stepanov recalls: “In the last days of January 1917, I was in the Tsar's Alexander Palace with the tutor of the heir Gilliard, and together with him we went to the Tsarevich. Aleksey Nikolaevich and some cadet were playing a lively game near a large toy fortress. They deployed soldiers, fired cannons, and all their lively conversation was full of modern military terms: a machine gun, an airplane, heavy artillery, trenches, and so on. However, the game soon ended, and the heir and the cadet began to examine some books. Then the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna entered ... All this furnishings of the children's two rooms of the heir were simple and did not at all give an idea that the future Russian Tsar lives and receives initial upbringing and education. Maps hung on the walls, there were bookcases, there were several tables and chairs, but all this was simple, modest to the extreme.

“Aleksey was a very affectionate boy. Nature endowed him with a penetrating mind. He was sensitive to the suffering of others because he himself suffered so much. But constant surveillance irritated and humiliated him. Fearing that the boy would begin to cheat and deceive in order to elude the constant supervision of the guardian, I asked for more freedom for Alexei to develop internal discipline and self-control in the boy.

The maid of honor of the Empress A. A. Vyrubova noted that “frequent suffering and involuntary self-sacrifice developed in the character of Alexei Nikolayevich pity for everyone who was sick, as well as amazing respect for the Mother and all elders.” The heir had a deep affection and reverence for his sovereign Father and considered the days spent under Nicholas II at headquarters in Mogilev the happiest time.

He was alien to arrogance and pride, he easily played with the children of his sailor uncle, while Alexei learned early that he was the future Tsar and, being in the company of noble people close to the Sovereign, he had a consciousness of his royalty.

Once, when he was playing with the Grand Duchesses, he was informed that the officers of his sponsored regiment had come to the palace and asked permission to see the Tsarevich. The six-year-old Heir, leaving the fuss with the sisters, said with a serious look: “Girls, go away, the Heir will have a reception.”

It happened that even in the days of illness, the Heir had to be present at official ceremonies, and then at a brilliant parade, among strong and healthy people, the Tsarevich was carried past the ranks of troops in his arms by the tallest and most powerful Cossack.

Teacher Pierre Gilliard described the behavior of the 13-year-old Heir at the news of the fall of the monarchy: “But who will be the Emperor? - "I don't know, now - no one"... Not a single word about myself, not a single hint of my rights as the Heir. He blushed deeply and was worried. After a few minutes of silence, he says: "If there is no more Emperor, who will govern Russia?" Once again I am amazed at the modesty and generosity of this child.

Alexey Nikolaevich, speaking to me, recalled our conversation with him when he was on a train with the sovereign in the fall of 1915 in southern Russia: “Remember, you told me that in Novorossia Catherine the Great, Potemkin and Suvorov tied Russian influence and Turkish the sultan lost his importance forever in the Crimea and the southern steppes. I liked this expression, and at the same time I told my dad about it. I always tell him what I like. "

In the summer of 1911, Pierre Gilliard became Alexei's French teacher and mentor. This is how Gilliard spoke about his pupil: “Aleksy Nikolayevich was then nine and a half years old, for his age he was quite tall. He had an oblong face with regular, soft features, brown hair with a reddish tinge, and large gray-blue eyes, like his mother. He sincerely enjoyed life - when she allowed him to - and was cheerful and playful ... He was very resourceful, and he had a penetrating, sharp mind. Sometimes I was simply amazed at his age-old serious questions - they testified to subtle intuition. It was not difficult for me to understand that everyone around, those who did not need to force him to change his habits and accustom him to discipline, constantly experienced his charm and were simply fascinated by him .... I found a child with a nature of good nature, sympathetic to the suffering of others precisely because he himself experienced terrible suffering ... "

We think that these sufferings of his were, in essence, suffering for Russia. The boy wanted to be strong and courageous in order to become a real king in his beloved country. According to the memoirs of S. Ofrosimova, “often an exclamation escaped from him: "When I am king, there will be no poor and unfortunate, I want everyone to be happy".

Ready to fool around and during the church service, he was very religious. In the spring of 1915, the empress wrote to Nikolai during Alexei's illness that he was most worried about whether he could be in the service on Maundy Thursday. Everyone who witnessed the difficult minutes (and sometimes difficult hours) of the disease noted the great patience of the prince.

Once the crown prince entered the office of the sovereign, who at that time was talking with the minister. At the entrance of the heir, the interlocutor of the sovereign did not find it necessary to get up, but only, rising from his chair, gave the prince a hand. The heir, offended, stopped in front of him and silently put his hands behind his back; this gesture did not give him an arrogant look, but only a regal, expectant pose. The Minister involuntarily stood up and drew himself up to his full height in front of the Tsarevich. To this the Tsarevich responded with a polite shake of the hand. Having told the emperor something about his walk, he slowly left the office, the emperor looked after him for a long time and finally said with sadness and pride: “Yes. It will not be so easy for you to deal with him as with me.”

According to the memoirs of Yulia Den, Alexei, while still a very young boy, was already aware that he was the heir:

“Her Majesty insisted that the Tsarevich, like his sisters, be brought up quite naturally. In the daily life of the heir, everything happened casually, without any ceremony, he was the son of his parents and the brother of his sisters, although it was sometimes funny to watch him pretend to be an adult. Once, when he was playing with the Grand Duchesses, he was informed that the officers of his sponsored regiment had come to the palace and were asking for permission to see the Tsarevich. A six-year-old child, immediately leaving the fuss with his sisters, with an important look said: “Girls, go away, the heir will have a reception.”

Claudia Mikhailovna Bitner said: “I don’t know if he thought about power. I had a conversation with him about this. I said to him: "And if you reign?" He answered me: "No, it's over forever." I said to him: "Well, what if it happens again, if you reign?" He answered me: "Then it is necessary to arrange so that I know more about what is happening around." I once asked him what he would do with me then. He said that he would build a large hospital, appoint me to manage it, but he himself would come and "interrogate" about everything, whether everything is in order. I'm sure he'd be in order."

A. A. Taneeva: “The heir took an ardent part if some grief struck the servants. His Majesty was also compassionate, but he did not actively express it, while Alexei Nikolaevich did not calm down until he immediately helped. I remember a case with a cook who for some reason was denied a position. Aleksey Nikolaevich somehow found out about this and pestered his parents all day until they ordered the cook to be taken back. He defended and stood up like a mountain for all his people.

On July 28, 1914, Austria declared war on Serbia and, despite the fact that Kaiser Wilhelm and the Emperor of Russia exchanged telegrams, on the evening of August 1, Germany declared war on Russia. Aleksey was aware that war is a horror, but his own life became much more interesting: the sailors changed to a soldier's uniform, and he was presented with a model rifle.

At the end of October, the tsar, Alexei and his retinue departed for Headquarters in Mogilev. Alexandra Feodorovna, like Nicholas II, believed: if the soldiers could personally see the Heir, this would raise their morale. The sovereign hoped that such a trip would broaden the horizons of the Tsesarevich, and in the future he would understand what this war had cost Russia. At the review of the troops in Rezhitsa, Gilliard watched Alexei, who did not leave his father and listened attentively to the stories of the soldiers ... “The presence of the Heir next to the tsar greatly excited the soldiers ... equal to any young man who was in military service, ”Gilliard writes in his diary.

S. Ya. Ofrosimova: “The heir to the Tsarevich had a very soft and kind heart. He was passionately attached not only to those close to him, but also to the simple employees around him. None of them saw from him arrogance and harsh treatment. He especially quickly and ardently became attached to ordinary people. His love for Uncle Derevenko was tender, hot and touching. One of his greatest pleasures was to play with the uncle's children and be among ordinary soldiers. With interest and deep attention, he peered into the lives of ordinary people, and often an exclamation escaped from him: "When I am king, there will be no poor and unfortunate people, I want everyone to be happy."

The Tsarevich's favorite food was "shchi and porridge and black bread, which all my soldiers eat," as he always said. Every day they brought him samples of cabbage soup and porridge from the soldiers' kitchen of the Consolidated Regiment; the crown prince ate everything and licked the spoon. Beaming with pleasure, he said: "This is delicious - not like our dinner." Sometimes, eating almost nothing at the royal table, he quietly made his way with his dog to the buildings of the royal kitchen and, knocking on the glass of the windows, asked the cooks for a slice of black bread and secretly shared it with his curly favorite.

P. Gilliard: “We left immediately after breakfast, often stopping at the exit of oncoming villages to watch how the peasants work. Alexei Nikolayevich liked to question them; they answered him with the good nature and simplicity characteristic of a Russian peasant, completely unaware of whom they were talking to.

Sovereign Emperor Nicholas himself did a lot to educate in his son attention and compassion for people. Gilliard recalled the time when the Tsarevich was with the sovereign at Headquarters: “On the way back, having learned from General Ivanov that there was an advanced dressing station nearby, the sovereign decided to go straight there.

The heir adored his father, and the sovereign in his “happy days” dreamed of raising his son himself. But for a number of reasons this was impossible, and Mr. Gibbs and Monsieur Gilliard became the first mentors of Alexei Nikolayevich. Subsequently, when circumstances changed, the sovereign managed to fulfill his desire.

He gave lessons to the Tsarevich in a gloomy house in Tobolsk. The lessons continued in the poverty and squalor of Yekaterinburg imprisonment. But perhaps the most important lesson that the heir and the rest of the family learned was the lesson of faith. It was faith in God that supported them and gave them strength at the time when they lost their treasures, when their friends left them, when they turned out to be betrayed by that very country, nothing more important to them in the world.

Tsarevich Alexei was not destined to become Tsar and glorify the greatness of the Russian State, which he loved so dearly. However, throughout his short and unusually bright and mournful life until his last breath, he was able to glorify the greatness and beauty of the Christian soul, from a young age ascending to God along the way of the cross, and, having accepted the crown of martyrdom, now prays for us at the Throne of God in the host of the Orthodox New Martyrs Churches.

Holy Martyr Tsarevich Alexei, pray to God for us!

On a frosty day on December 16, 1614, in Moscow, at the Serpukhov Gate, a state criminal was executed. The Time of Troubles, going down in history, ended with reprisals against its most active participants, who did not want to recognize the restoration of the rule of law in Russia.

But this execution had little to do with the triumph of the law. The man sentenced to death was not even four years old. Nevertheless, the executioner threw a noose over his small head and hung the unfortunate man.

However, the noose and the gallows were designed for an adult, and not for a frail child's body. As a result, the unfortunate child died for more than three hours, choking, crying and calling for his mother. Perhaps in the end the boy died not even from suffocation, but from the cold.

During the years of the Time of Troubles, Russia got used to atrocities, but the execution on December 16 was out of the ordinary.

was executed Ivan Vorenok sentenced to death "for his evil deeds."

In fact, the three-year-old boy, the massacre of which ended the Time of Troubles, was the son of False Dmitry II and Marina Mnishek. In the eyes of the supporters of his parents, the boy was Tsarevich Ivan Dmitrievich, the rightful heir to the Russian throne.

Of course, in fact, the boy had no right to power. However, supporters of the new tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov believed that the little "prince" could become a "banner" for the opponents of the new dynasty.

“You can’t leave them a banner,” the supporters of the Romanovs decided and sent a three-year-old child to the gallows.

Would any of them then have thought that three centuries later the reign of the Romanovs would end the same way it began?

Heir at any cost

Monarchs from the house of the Romanovs, taught by bitter experience, were afraid of dynastic crises like fire. They could only be avoided if the reigning monarch had an heir, and preferably two or three, in order to avoid accidents.

Personal coat of arms of the heir to the Tsarevich and Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaevich. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / B. W. Köhne

Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov, he is Nicholas II, ascended the throne in 1894, 26 years old. At that time, the new monarch was not even married, although marriage to Victoria Alice Helena Louise Beatrice of Hesse-Darmstadt, in the future known as Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, has already been appointed.

The wedding celebrations and the "honeymoon" of the newlyweds were held in the atmosphere of requiems and mourning for the father of Nicholas II, Emperor Alexander III.

But when the grief subsided a little, representatives of the ruling circles of Russia began to carefully observe the empress. The country needed an heir to the throne, and the sooner the better. Alexandra Feodorovna, a woman with a tough and resolute character, was hardly happy with such attention to her person, but nothing can be done - these are the costs of the life of royal families.

The wife of Nicholas II became pregnant regularly and regularly gave birth to daughters - Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia ... And with each new girl, the mood at the Russian court became more and more pessimistic.

And yet, in the tenth year of the reign of Nicholas II, on July 30 (August 12, according to the new style), 1904, Alexandra Feodorovna gave her husband an heir.

By the way, the very birth of a son, named Alexei, greatly spoiled the relationship between Nikolai and his wife. The fact is that before the birth, the emperor gave an order to doctors: in case of a threat to the life of the mother and baby, save the baby first. Alexandra, who learned about her husband's order, could not forgive him for this.

fatal name

The long-awaited son was named Alexei, in honor of St. Alexei of Moscow. Both the boy's father and mother were prone to mysticism, so it is not clear why they gave the heir such an unfortunate name.

Before Alexei Nikolaevich, there were already two Tsarevich Alexei in Russia. The first, Alexei Alekseevich, son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, died of a sudden illness before the age of 16. Second, Alexei Petrovich, son of Peter the Great, was accused by his father of treason and died in prison.

Corporal of the Russian Army Alexei Romanov. 1916. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

The fact that a difficult fate awaits the third Alexei became clear already in infancy. He was not even two months old when he suddenly started bleeding from his navel, which was difficult to stop.

Doctors made a terrible diagnosis - hemophilia. Due to a blood clotting disorder, any scratch, any blow was dangerous for Alexei. Internal bleeding, formed due to trifling bruises, caused terrible suffering to the boy and threatened with death.

Hemophilia is a hereditary disease, it affects only men who receive it from their mothers.

For Alexandra Feodorovna, her son's illness became a personal tragedy. In addition, the attitude towards her in Russia, already rather cold, has become even worse. "A German woman who spoiled Russian blood" - this is the popular conclusion about the causes of the prince's illness.

The prince loved "soldier's delicacies"

Except for a serious illness, Tsarevich Alexei was an ordinary boy. Handsome in appearance, kind, adoring parents and sisters, cheerful, he evoked sympathy from everyone. Even at the guards of the "Ipatiev House", where he was to spend his last days ...

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. The prince studied well, although not without laziness, which was especially manifested in shirking from reading. The boy really liked everything that was connected with the army.

He preferred to spend time with the soldiers than with the courtiers, and sometimes he typed expressions that his mother was horrified. However, the boy preferred to share his “verbal discoveries” for the most part with his diary.

Alexei adored simple "soldier" food - porridge, cabbage soup, black bread, which was brought to him from the kitchen of the palace guard regiment.

In a word, an ordinary child, unlike many Romanovs, devoid of arrogance, narcissism and pathological cruelty.

But the disease more and more seriously invaded Alexei's life. Any injury turned him practically into an invalid for several weeks, when he could not even move independently.

Renunciation

Once, at the age of 8, the agile prince jumped unsuccessfully into a boat and severely bruised his thigh in the groin area. The consequences were so severe that Alexei's life was in danger.

Children of Alexandra Feodorovna and Nicholas II in Tsarskoye Selo. Grand Duchesses and Tsesarevich: Olga, Alexei, Anastasia and Tatiana. Alexander Park, Tsarskoye Selo. May 1917. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Exhibition "German St. Petersburg"

The suffering of his son turned the soul of both the tsar and Alexandra Feodorovna. It is not surprising that the Siberian man Grigory Rasputin, who knew how to alleviate the suffering of Alexei, soon became one of the most influential people in Russia. But it is precisely this influence of Rasputin that will finally undermine the authority of Nicholas II in the country.

It is clear that the further fate of the son worried the father. Although Alexei's age made it possible to postpone the final decision "until later", Nicholas II consulted with doctors, asking them the main question: will the heir be able to fully fulfill the duties of the monarch in the future?

Doctors shrugged their shoulders: patients with hemophilia can live a long and fulfilling life, but any accident threatens them with the most serious consequences.

Fate decided for the emperor. During the February Revolution, Nicholas II abdicated both for himself and for his son. He considered that Alexei was too young and sick to ascend the throne of a country that had entered an era of great upheavals.

Strangers among their own

Of the entire family of Nicholas II, Alexei, perhaps, was the easiest to endure everything that befell the Romanov family after October 1917. Due to his age and character, he did not feel the threat hanging over them.

The family of the last emperor turned out to be a stranger to everyone in his country. Supporters of the monarchy in Russia in 1918 turned into a real relic of the era - even in the ranks of the White movement, they were a minority. But even among this minority, Nicholas II and his wife had no supporters. Perhaps what both the Reds and the Whites agreed on was their hatred of the deposed imperial couple. They, and not without reason, were considered the culprits of the disasters that befell the country.

Alexei and his sisters were not to blame for anything before Russia, but they became hostages of their origin.

The fate of the Romanov family was largely sealed when England refused to host them. In a country engulfed in civil war, when both sides of the conflict are seized by ever-increasing hatred, belonging to the imperial family becomes a sentence. In this sense, Russia only followed in line with the global trends laid down by the English and French revolutions.

Russian Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, Tsarevich Alexei. 1914. Photo: RIA Novosti

"You can't leave them a banner"

At the beginning of 1918, in Tobolsk, the illness of Tsarevich Alexei again reminded of itself. Ignoring the depressed state of the elders, he continued to arrange fun games. One of them was riding on the steps of the stairs of the house where the Romanovs were placed, in a wooden boat with skids. During one of the races, Alexey received a new bruise, which led to another aggravation of the disease.

Alyosha Romanov did not live less than a month before his 14th birthday. When the members of the Ural Council decided the fate of the family of Nicholas II, everyone understood perfectly well that the boy, exhausted by illness, like his sisters, had nothing to do with the historical drama that had covered Russia.

But… “You can’t leave them banners…”

On the night of July 16-17, 1918, in the basement of the Ipatiev House, Tsarevich Alexei was shot along with his parents and sisters.

Attitude towards women is the best way to test the nobility of a man. He must treat every woman with respect, regardless of whether she is rich or poor, high or low in public position, and show her all kinds of signs of respect,” Empress Alexandra Feodorovna wrote in her diary. She could write such words with confidence: an example of masculine nobility, a chivalrous attitude towards a woman was always before her eyes - her husband, Emperor Nicholas II.

Klavdia Mikhailovna Bitner, who gave lessons to the heir in Tobolsk, recalled him: he combined the features of his father and mother. From his father he inherited his simplicity. There was no self-satisfaction, arrogance, arrogance in him at all. He was simple. But he had a great will and would never submit to outside influence. Here is the sovereign, if he again took power, I am sure he would forget and forgive the actions of those soldiers who were known in this regard. Alexei Nikolaevich, if he had received power, he would never have forgotten or forgiven them, and would have drawn the appropriate conclusions.

He understood a lot and understood people. But he was reserved and reserved. He was terribly patient, very careful, disciplined and demanding of himself and others. He was kind, like his father, in the sense that he did not have the ability in his heart to do evil in vain. At the same time, he was frugal. One day he was sick, he was served a dish that he shared with the whole family, which he did not eat because he did not like this dish. I was outraged. How can they not cook a separate meal for a child when he is sick. I said something. He answered me: "Well, here's another one. You don't have to spend money because of me alone."

Anna Taneeva: “The life of Alexei Nikolaevich was one of the most tragic in the history of the royal children. He was a charming, affectionate boy, the most beautiful of all children. Parents and his nanny Maria Vishnyakova spoiled him very much in early childhood. And this is understandable, since it was very difficult to see the constant suffering of the little one; whether he hit his head or hand on the furniture, a huge blue swelling immediately appeared, indicating an internal hemorrhage, which caused him severe suffering. When he began to grow up, his parents explained his illness to him, asking him to be careful. But the heir was very lively, loved the games and amusements of the boys, and it was often impossible to keep him. “Give me a bicycle,” he asked his mother. “Alexei, you know that you can’t!” - "I want to learn to play tennis like sisters!" "You know you don't dare to play." Sometimes Alexey Nikolaevich cried, repeating: “Why am I not like all the boys?”.

He needed to be surrounded by special care and concern. That is why, on the orders of doctors, two sailors from the imperial yacht were assigned to him as bodyguards: boatswain Derevenko and his assistant Nagorny. His teacher and mentor Pierre Gilliard recalls: “Aleksei Nikolaevich had a great vivacity of mind and judgment and a lot of thoughtfulness. He sometimes struck me with questions above his age, which testified to a delicate and sensitive soul. In the little capricious being, as he seemed at first, I discovered a child with a heart naturally loving and sensitive to suffering, because he himself had already suffered a lot.
The upbringing of any boy as the future head of the family should consist in the upbringing of responsibility, independence, the ability to make a decision in the right situation, without looking back at anyone. At the same time, it is necessary to cultivate compassion and sensitivity and an important property - the ability to listen to the opinions of Other people. The boy needs to be prepared for the role of husband, father and master of the house. For Tsarevich Alexei, the whole of Russia was such a home.

I then spoke with the boatswain, and the child was delighted that he was freed from what was a real nuisance for him.

It was especially pronounced that the boy cared a lot about Russia, but little about himself, in the episode told by Gilliard. However, the modesty of the little prince did not at all interfere with his awareness of himself as the heir to the throne. The episode, about which S. Ya. Ofrosimova told, is quite well known: “The Tsarevich was not a proud child, although the thought that he was the future king filled his whole being with the consciousness of his highest destiny. When he was in the company of noble people and persons close to the sovereign, he had a consciousness of his royalty.

Once the crown prince entered the office of the sovereign, who at that time was talking with the minister. At the entrance of the heir, the interlocutor of the sovereign did not find it necessary to get up, but only, rising from his chair, gave the prince a hand. The heir, offended, stopped in front of him and silently put his hands behind his back; this gesture did not give him an arrogant look, but only a regal, expectant pose. The Minister involuntarily stood up and drew himself up to his full height in front of the Tsarevich. To this the Tsarevich responded with a polite shake of the hand. Having told the emperor something about his walk, he slowly left the office, the emperor looked after him for a long time and finally said with sadness and pride: “Yes. It will not be so easy for you to deal with him as with me.”

According to the memoirs of Yulia Den, Alexei, while still a very young boy, was already aware that he was the heir: “Her Majesty insisted that the Tsarevich, like his sisters, be brought up quite naturally. In the daily life of the heir, everything happened casually, without any ceremony, he was the son of his parents and the brother of his sisters, although it was sometimes funny to watch him pretend to be an adult. Once, when he was playing with the Grand Duchesses, he was informed that the officers of his sponsored regiment had come to the palace and were asking for permission to see the Tsarevich. A six-year-old child, immediately leaving the fuss with his sisters, with an important look said: “Girls, go away, the heir will have a reception.”

Yes, it can be assumed that under the sovereign Alexei Nikolaevich there would have been order. This tsar could be very popular among the people, since the will, discipline and awareness of his own high position were combined in the nature of the son of Nicholas II with kindness and love for people.

A. A. Taneeva: “The heir took an ardent part if some grief struck the servants. His Majesty was also compassionate, but he did not actively express it, while Alexei Nikolaevich did not calm down until he immediately helped. I remember a case with a cook who for some reason was denied a position. Aleksey Nikolaevich somehow found out about this and pestered his parents all day until they ordered the cook to be taken back. He defended and stood up like a mountain for all his people.

Y. Ofrosimova: “The heir to the Tsarevich had a very soft and kind heart. He was passionately attached not only to those close to him, but also to the simple employees around him. None of them saw from him arrogance and harsh treatment. He especially quickly and ardently became attached to ordinary people. His love for Uncle Derevenko was tender, hot and touching. One of his greatest pleasures was to play with the uncle's children and be among ordinary soldiers. With interest and deep attention, he peered into the lives of ordinary people, and often an exclamation escaped from him: "When I am king, there will be no poor and unfortunate people, I want everyone to be happy."

The Tsarevich's favorite food was "shchi and porridge and black bread, which all my soldiers eat," as he always said. Every day they brought him samples of cabbage soup and porridge from the soldiers' kitchen of the Consolidated Regiment; the crown prince ate everything and licked the spoon. Beaming with pleasure, he said: "This is delicious - not like our dinner." Sometimes, eating almost nothing at the royal table, he quietly made his way with his dog to the buildings of the royal kitchen and, knocking on the glass of the windows, asked the cooks for a slice of black bread and secretly shared it with his curly favorite.

We drove into a dense forest and soon noticed a small building, dimly lit by the red light of torches. The sovereign, accompanied by Alexei Nikolaevich, entered the house, approached all the wounded and talked with them with great kindness. His sudden visit at such a late hour and so close to the front line caused astonishment to be expressed on all faces. One of the soldiers, who had just been put back to bed after bandaging, looked intently at the sovereign, and when the latter bent over him, he raised his only healthy hand to touch his clothes and make sure that he really was the king, and not vision. Alexei Nikolayevich stood a little behind his father. He was deeply shocked by the groans that he heard and the suffering that he guessed around him.

The heir adored his father, and the sovereign in his “happy days” dreamed of raising his son himself. But for a number of reasons this was impossible, and Mr. Gibbs and Monsieur Gilliard became the first mentors of Alexei Nikolayevich. Subsequently, when circumstances changed, the sovereign managed to fulfill his desire.

Emperor Nicholas II with his son, 1904

Nicholas II on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Left - Tsesarevich Alexei, right - Grand Duchess Anastasia, photo 1907

Stacking logs, photo 1908

Alexey is sweeping the path in the park. (Tsarskoye Selo), photo, 1908

Alexei in naval uniform. Petersburg, photo 1909

On a bench in Alexander Park (Tsarskoye Selo), photo 1909

The royal family spent the summer of 1904 at their summer residence at the lower dacha in Peterhof. On the calendar it was July 30 (August 12, according to a new style), the weather, as befits a St. Petersburg midsummer, turned out to be sunny and hot. However, this day promised to be different from others from the very morning: the court doctors noted signs of an early birth in Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The future baby was not long in coming - during breakfast, the empress began to have contractions and she barely made it to the bedroom. It was there that one of the greatest events in the history of the 20th century took place - the birth of the heir to the throne.

The ruins of the Lower Dacha in Alexandria Park, Peterhof - the birthplace of Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich

Alexei became the fifth child in the family of Emperor Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna.

Almost ten years have passed since the marriage of the king and queen. Olga was born in 1895, Tatiana in 1897, Maria in 1899 and Anastasia in 1901. However, according to Russian laws, all the great princesses could not become the head of the empire, only a boy could be the heir. Therefore, the birth of the Tsarevich was expected for many years, and not only by the royal family, but by the whole world. By his very birth, he began to play an important role in big politics.

GOD'S MERCY
WE, NICHOLAS II,
EMPEROR AND AUTOGRAPHER
ALL-RUSSIAN,
Tsar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland.
and other, and other, and other.

We declare to all OUR faithful subjects:

On the 30th day of this July, OUR Most Beloved Spouse, THE EMPRESS ALEXANDRA FYODOROVNA, was safely relieved of her burden by the birth of our Son, named Alexei.

Accepting this joyful event as a sign of the grace of God pouring out on US and OUR Empire, together with OUR faithful subjects, we offer fervent prayers to the Almighty for the prosperous growth and prosperity of OUR Firstborn Son, who is called to be the Heir of the God-given State and OUR great service.
By the Manifesto of June 28, 1899, WE called upon OUR Most Beloved Brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich to inherit US until the birth of our Son. From now on, by virtue of the basic State Laws of the Empire, OUR Son Alexei holds the high rank and title of the Heir of the Tsarevich, with all the rights associated with it.
It was given at Peterhof on the 30th day of July in the year nineteen hundred and four from the Nativity of Christ, but in the tenth of OUR reign.

On the original Own of HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY it is written by hand:

"NICHOLAS".

Published in St. Petersburg, under the Senate
July 30th day 1904

The news of the birth instantly spread to all corners of the world. Fireworks thundered in the Peter and Paul Fortress of St. Petersburg and the military harbor of Peterhof, bells rang all over the country, St. Petersburg and Peterhof were festively illuminated, festivities began in the streets, they sang the royal anthem and prayed for the prince. Congratulatory telegrams poured into Peterhof.

"His Majesty
Tears of joy respond to your touching suggestion. I can't express my feelings in words. God bless you and dear little Alexei. I tenderly embrace you and my future godson.

“I am infinitely happy to have the opportunity to convey to Your Imperial Majesty and Her Imperial Highness my loyal congratulations on the greatest joy of the birth of His Imperial Highness, the Sovereign Heir to the Throne, Tsarevich.

Prince Chakrabon of Siam"

“May the great master not reject my sincere expression of joy and the most heartfelt congratulations on a happy day when providence sent you a son. May God bless Him, sending happiness and long years to the joy of Your Majesty and the mighty Russian Empire. Devoted to Your Imperial Majesty, the heir to the throne of Persia

Prince Mohammed Ali Mirza

Alexey was born at 1.15 in the afternoon. Weight 4660 g, height 58 cm, head circumference - 38 cm, chest 39 cm. Immediately after birth, he received a number of titles and ranks: commander of the Finnish Guards Regiment, 51st Lithuanian Infantry Regiment, 12th East Siberian Rifle Regiment . In addition, he was included in the lists of all the guards regiments and military units under the command of the king, as well as the regiments of the horse guards, the guards of the cuirassiers of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the lancers of the guards of Her Majesty Queen Alexandra Feodorovna and the 13th Yerevan infantry regiment of the king. Alexey also became the chieftain of the entire Cossack army.

In honor of the significant event, an amnesty and benefits were announced. All Russian soldiers who fought in distant Manchuria became honorary godfathers of the boy. Nicholas II sent a telegram to General Kuropatkin, commander of the army: “Today the Lord granted Her Majesty and me a son, Alexei. I hasten to inform you about this mercy of God to Russia and Us ... May He have a special spiritual connection for the rest of his life with all those dear to Us and to all of Russia, from the highest commanders to the soldier and sailor, who expressed their ardent love for the Motherland and the Sovereign selfless feat, full of deprivation, suffering and mortal dangers.

The first steps of the Tsarevich, photo 1905

But soon the most terrible fears were confirmed: the prince was ill with incurable hemophilia - a disease that is expressed in a tendency to bleed as a result of blood clotting.

Hemophilia constantly caused hemorrhages in the joints - they caused unbearable pain, turning Alexei into an invalid. During the celebrations dedicated to the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, the Heir was only carried in his arms through the front halls. He returned to his room in a state of complete exhaustion. His parents considered his presence at the celebrations necessary. But even brief appearances of the prince at the ceremonies were harmful to his health.

Tsesarevich Alexei aboard the Imperial yacht Shtandart. Photo 1907

Alexei in naval uniform. Petersburg, photo 1909

Tsesarevich Alexei, photo 1909 Tsarskoye Selo

Photo 1910

One of the strongest attacks of the disease occurred in the autumn of 1912 in Spala. Severe bleeding began, which the doctors could not stop. On October 19, the temperature rose to 39°, two days later it reached 40°. This case seemed hopeless to doctors. Alexei was unctioned, and a bulletin was sent to Petersburg, drawn up in such a way as to prepare everyone for the announcement of the death of the prince. Alexandra Feodorovna sent a telegram to Rasputin and asked him to pray for the boy. The next day the bleeding stopped and the pain subsided...

During an attack of illness in Spala, photo 1912

The aggravation in Spala did not only damage his body. The disease broke his spirit. Alexey became thoughtful, withdrew into himself. In the summer of 1911, Pierre Gilliard became Alexei's French teacher and mentor. This is how Gilliard spoke about his pupil: “Aleksy Nikolayevich was then nine and a half years old, for his age he was quite tall. He had an oblong face with regular, soft features, brown hair with a reddish tinge, and large gray-blue eyes, like his mother. He sincerely enjoyed life - when she allowed it - and was cheerful and playful ... He was very resourceful, and he had a penetrating, sharp mind. Sometimes I was simply amazed at his age-old serious questions - they testified to subtle intuition. It was not difficult for me to understand that everyone around, those who did not need to force him to change his habits and teach him discipline, constantly experienced his charm and were simply fascinated by him .... I found a child with a character that was naturally kind, sympathetic the suffering of others precisely because he himself experienced terrible suffering ... "

The boy's character was complaisant, he adored his parents and sisters, and they, in turn, doted on the young crown prince, especially the Grand Duchess Maria. Aleksey was capable in studies, like the sisters, he made progress in learning languages.

The heir Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolayevich was a boy of 14 years old, intelligent, observant, receptive, affectionate, cheerful. He was lazy and did not particularly like books. He combined the features of his father and mother: he inherited the simplicity of his father, was alien to arrogance, arrogance, but had his own will and obeyed only his father. His mother wanted to, but could not be strict with him. His teacher Bitner says of him: "He had a great will and would never submit to any woman." He was very disciplined, withdrawn and very patient. Undoubtedly, the disease left its mark on him and developed these traits in him. He did not like court etiquette, he liked to be with the soldiers and learned their language, using in his diary purely folk expressions he had overheard. His stinginess reminded him of his mother: he did not like to spend his money and collected various abandoned things: nails, lead paper, ropes, etc.

ON THE. Sokolov. The murder of the royal family

At the review of the troops in Rezhitsa, Gilliard watched Alexei, who did not leave his father and listened attentively to the stories of the soldiers... - this made him equal to any young man who was in military service, ”Gilliard writes in his diary.

I. Stepanov recalls: “The Heir visited the infirmary several times. Here I cannot write calmly. There is no emotion to convey all the charm of this appearance, all the unearthlyness of this charm. Not of this world. They said about him: “Not a tenant!” I believed in it even then. Such children do not live. Radiant eyes, clean, sad and at the same time glowing at times with some amazing joy.

The prince was given the new rank of sergeant major, and he was awarded the St. George Cross for visiting hospitals near the front line ...

Visit to a military hospital

photo 1915

photo 1916

On March 2, 1917, Emperor Nicholas II signed a manifesto on abdication. The family was told they were under house arrest. At the end of August, the royal family was transferred to Tobolsk.

Alexey and Olga Romanovs.
Tobolsk, photo 1917

Alexei's illness worsened again - never after the nightmarish days in Spala had he been so ill. “Mom, I want to die. I'm not afraid of death, I'm afraid of what they can do to us here. If they kill, then just don’t torture ... ”- said Alexei.

By May 20, 1918, it was decided that Alexey was strong enough, and the prisoners were taken under escort to a new place of detention - to Yekaterinburg. Here the royal family first encountered such open hostility.

In vain were attempts to influence the British consul and take measures to save the imperial family. The only hope was the Russian White Army of Admiral Kolchak, who was rapidly advancing in the direction of Yekaterinburg.

On July 13, the Ural Council decided to shoot the imperial family and their entourage. The execution of the order was entrusted to the new commandant of the Ipatiev House - Yakov Yurovsky.

Tsesarevich Alexei. Life and death of an heir

A documentary film about the son of Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarevich Alexei. It consists mainly of newsreels from the beginning of the 20th century. In one of the episodes of the film, we have a unique opportunity to see a live participant in the Battle of Borodino. The authors made an attempt to reconstruct the last minutes of the life of the heir Alexei, his parents and sisters - the execution of the royal family in the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg.

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