CHILDHOOD AND MEETING NICHOLAS
Though Alexandra was born a German princess, she spent most of her summers with her British family, since her mother died when she was six. She met Nicholas II when she was twelve at a wedding. Their acquaintanceship blossomed into a romance over the years. However, marriage between the two seemed very unlikely. Her Lutheran family openly hated all Russian people, and Nicholas's father was anti-German. Even worse, it was believed that she carried the recessive gene for hemophilia, and there was a possibility of passing it to her children.
WIFE AND MOTHER
After finally marrying Nicholas, Alexandra converted to Russian Orthodox, and took the last name Feodorovna, according to Russian tradition. Her marriage with Nicholas was unique, because it was a love match as well as a political union. Unfortunately, their tranquil life was shattered by personal tragedy. Desperate to provide her husband with a son and heir, Alexandra had four children, all of whom were girls. She began to consult mystics in hopes that they could help her have a son, but to no avail. She was so distraught that she experienced pseudocyesis, a false pregnancy, in 1903. This drama ended when in 1904, Alix gave birth to what initially appeared to be a healthy baby boy, Alexei. A week later, after bleeding profusely out of his nose, the young tsarevich was diagnosed with hemophilia, a fatal illness in the early 20th century. She was so distressed by her only son's illness that she separated herself from the world. Constantly doting on him, there appeared a disconnect between her and those she met, because her mind was always on her dying child. To Russians, she seemed cold and uncaring, as the imperial family had sought to keep the heir's condition a secret.
Though Alexandra was born a German princess, she spent most of her summers with her British family, since her mother died when she was six. She met Nicholas II when she was twelve at a wedding. Their acquaintanceship blossomed into a romance over the years. However, marriage between the two seemed very unlikely. Her Lutheran family openly hated all Russian people, and Nicholas's father was anti-German. Even worse, it was believed that she carried the recessive gene for hemophilia, and there was a possibility of passing it to her children.
WIFE AND MOTHER
After finally marrying Nicholas, Alexandra converted to Russian Orthodox, and took the last name Feodorovna, according to Russian tradition. Her marriage with Nicholas was unique, because it was a love match as well as a political union. Unfortunately, their tranquil life was shattered by personal tragedy. Desperate to provide her husband with a son and heir, Alexandra had four children, all of whom were girls. She began to consult mystics in hopes that they could help her have a son, but to no avail. She was so distraught that she experienced pseudocyesis, a false pregnancy, in 1903. This drama ended when in 1904, Alix gave birth to what initially appeared to be a healthy baby boy, Alexei. A week later, after bleeding profusely out of his nose, the young tsarevich was diagnosed with hemophilia, a fatal illness in the early 20th century. She was so distressed by her only son's illness that she separated herself from the world. Constantly doting on him, there appeared a disconnect between her and those she met, because her mind was always on her dying child. To Russians, she seemed cold and uncaring, as the imperial family had sought to keep the heir's condition a secret.
RASPUTIN, RUMORS, AND WWI
It was then that the Czarina met Rasputin, a self proclaimed mystic. He gained her trust quickly by having the ability to keep Alexei calm during his bleeding fits and even stem the flow. This lessened their severity and the tsarevich seemed healthier. Over time, Rasputin became one of her closest
It was then that the Czarina met Rasputin, a self proclaimed mystic. He gained her trust quickly by having the ability to keep Alexei calm during his bleeding fits and even stem the flow. This lessened their severity and the tsarevich seemed healthier. Over time, Rasputin became one of her closest
confidants and advisers. This troubled the Russian people because of the rumors going around about Rasputin depicting him as debauched and a madman, earning him the nickname "the Mad Monk." The worst was a widespread rumor that the reason that Alexandra was so trusting and dependent on Rasputin was that they were having an affair. Though this was untrue, such rumors were now being used as propaganda. For example, the postcard pictured on the left is a pun. The word at the bottom is "autocracy" which has the root "to hold," meaning that Rasputin's hold on the empress gives him control over the empire. Many such pornographic postcards were produced after the February Revolution. Rumors of his debauchery brought disgrace to the royal family. During World War I, she was left alone to rule, and Rasputin exerted much control over her. Russians did not trust her, because as a German, she was shared the same nationality as the enemy, and made poor decisions, like arbitrarily replacing experienced officials with incompetent ones. Russians did not trust Rasputin, due to both his promiscuity, and his unkempt nature, which many (nobles) did not perceive as proper when it came to the royal court.
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DEATH
Alexandra had always loved her family. Though she was air-headed, her extreme loyalty to those she loved stayed strong and continued to grow until her death at the hands of the Bolsheviks at Yekaterinburg.
Alexandra had always loved her family. Though she was air-headed, her extreme loyalty to those she loved stayed strong and continued to grow until her death at the hands of the Bolsheviks at Yekaterinburg.