Figure 1.-- Here is Nicholas II and his family in 1913, about 5 years before they were all executed. The Tsar and his wife Alexandra are seated in the center. Around them, from left to right, are Grand Duchess Tatyana, Maria, Anastasia, and Olga. On the floor at the front is the Tsarevich Alexei at the age of 9. Notice that the sailor suit has striped trimming on the collar and sleeves plus a striped dicky.

Most historians are relentlessly critical of Nicholas as Tsar, viewing him a weak and indesisive. And many examples of injustice can be found in the Tsarist regime over which he presided. An example just before World War I was the masacre at the Lena Goldfield (1912). But even the worse Tsarist attrocitities pale in comparison to the attrocities of the Communists after the Revolution. Generally a very different picture emerges of Nicholas as family man. Of course in historical terms, he has to be judged as Tsar. As a man, however, his family life has to be considered. Nicholas was absolutely devolted to his family. He loved Alexandra and unlike many in his position had no extramrital affairs. He was devoted to his children, especially his last chld--the Tsarevich Alexis. Nothing appealed to Nicholas more than times away from the weighty affairs of state with his family. He was a doting father and adored by all the children. There are numerous formal portraits of the family. There are also numerous informal snapshots which show Nicholas with the children and obvously enjoying carefree time with them.

Nicholas as Tsar

Most historians are relentlessly critical of Nicholas as Tsar, viewing him a weak and indesisive. And many examples of injustice can be found in the Tsarist regime over which he presided. An example just before World War I was the masacre at the Lena Goldfield (1912). But even the worse Tsarist attrocitities pale in comparison to the attrocities of the Communists after the Revolution. The Tsar can of course not be blamed for every miscarriage of justice that occurred in Russia. He can be held responible for not taking action to correct abuses when they occurred.

Family Man

Generally a very different picture emerges of Nicholas as family man. Of course in historical terms, Nicholas has to be judged as Tsar. As a man, however, his family life has to be considered. And Nicholas was absolutely devolted to his family. He loved Alexandra and unlike many men in his position had no extramarital affairs. He was devoted to his children, especially his last child--the Tsarevich Alexis. Nothing appealed to Nicholas more than times away from the weighty affairs of state with his family. He was a doting father and adored by all the children. There are numerous formal portraits of the family. There are also numerous informal snapshots which show Nicholas with the children and obvously enjoying carefree time with them. The Tsar as father was the emodiment of a bourgeoise Edwardian family man. Nicholas was attracted to family life by his very nature. Another factor was his burdens as Tsar. The family was a relief from the relentless state burdens. And the need for security restricted the movement of the Royal Family. His grandfather was assaasinated. Thus the Tsar had to be protected and this meant restricting public access. The Royal Family thus was forced to live an extremely closted life, depending on each other much more than an ordinary family.

Sources

Battiscombe, Georgina. Queen Alexandra (Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1969).

Created: February 15, 2004
Last updated: 8:33 PM 12/28/2007