Figure 1.--This portrait of Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich was painted about 1808. The artist is anonymous, but is silimar to the work of Johann Friedrich August Tischbein. The only other image of Nicholas a boy we have been able to find was a group portrait of Tsar Paul I and his family. This lack of boyhood attention proabably reflects the fact that he had two older brothers and the fact that Tsarina Catherine detested his father.

The imperial succession was uncertain upon the death of Alexander I who left no heirs. The French Revolution had introduced radical new udeas to Russia. Alexander had embraced many of these ideas, but held back from graning a Contitution and introducing parlimentary democracy. A group of young, reformist military officers attempted to force the adoption of a constitutional monarchy in Russia by preventing the accession of Nicholas I and staged the Decembrist revolt in 1825, They failed utterly. Nicholas shard none of Alexander's ideals from the Enlightenment. He grew up during the Wars against the French Revolution and Napolon. He bcame the the most reactionary leader in Europe. He was a dominating figure. His policies in Russia were autocratic while his policies abroad were hostile. He was a manipulative personality strongly believing in censorship and strict control over the university. He forced the Russian language and religion upon the general population. In 1830, he abolished the Polish constitution due to an uprising. He used the Russian army to suppress the Revolutions of 1848 and became known as the policeman of Europe. Next Nicholas turned on the Ottoman Empire in a drive to obtain a warm water port. He was viewed as the cause of the Crimean War of 1853-56 as he wanted to expand Russian territory south toward the Dardinelles by seizing Turkish territory--describing it as "Sick man of Europe". Britain and France were concerned about Russia expanding further. The Russian armies which has conquered Napoleon had changed little. They were able to subdue street mobs in Europe, but war with modern industrial states was a very different matter. Britain and France changed by the Industrial Revolution were able at great cost to defeat Russian armies. The Russians were shocked.

Parents

Nicholas' father was Tsar Paul I Petrovich (1754- ). His mother was Maria Sophie Feodorovna von Württemberg (1759- ).

Siblings

Nicholas grew up in a large family. There were ten children in all. Two of whom would becom tsars, Alexander and Nicholas, each with with long reigns. Alexander would become the sucessful war rime Tdarm palying a central role in the defeat of Napoleon, Ncholas would eign in more tranquil times. e Alexander I, Emperor of All Russia (1777 – 1825), married Luise of Baden (Elizabeth Alexeievna), had two daughters who both died in childhood Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich (1779 – 1831), married (1) Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Anna Feodorovna), no children, marriage annulled (2) Joanna Grudzińska, no children, a morganatic marriage that cost Constantine the crown Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna (1783 – 1801), married Archduke Joseph of Austria, Count Palatine of Hungary, had one daughter who died at birth, Alexandra died of childbirth complications a week later Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna (1784 – 1803), married Friedrich Ludwig, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, had two children Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (1786 – 1859), married Karl Friedrich, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, had four children including Augusta who married Wilhelm I, German Emperor, King of Prussia Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna (1788 – 1819), married (1) Georg of Oldenburg, had two sons (2) King Wilhelm I of Württemberg, had two daughters including Sophie who married King Willem III of the Netherlands Grand Duchess Olga Pavlovna (1792 – 1795), died in early childhood Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna (1795 – 1865), married King Willem II of the Netherlands, had five children including King Willem III of the Netherlands Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich (1798 – 1849), married Charlotte of Württemberg (Elena Pavlovna), had five children

Childhood

Nicholas was born at Gatchina Palace in Gatchina (1786). He was the third of Tsar Paul I's four sons. Nicholas was the ninth of the ten children. As the next to the youngest in a large family, he was npt given much attention. We have been unable to find many paintungs of him as a boy. In addition, the Emperess Catherinr detested his father, much preferring his son Alexander. With two healthy older brothers, Nicholas as a boy was not seen a likely to ever become Tsar. His grandmother Tsarina Catherine had vasically kidnapped his two older brothers (Alexander and Constantine) and raise them in her apartments. Catherine died 4 months afrer his birth so he was raisedvby his parents. They e=ntrusted his care to a governess, the Russian noble Countess Charlotte Karlovna Lieven, for his first 7byears. Countess Lieven been entrusted with the education of Nicholas’ older sisters, Now that Catherine had died, the Countess would also be responsible for Nicholas and his younger brother Michael.

Education

His parents selected Matvey Ivanovich Lamsdorf, an army general, to be his tutor when he was 4 years old. The General remained with Nicholas for 17 years.

Marriage

Prince Nicloas before it was clear he would be Tsar in 1817 married Alexandra (Charlotte) Hohenzollern, Princess of Prussia and daughter of King Friedrich Wilhelm III. It was a felicitous union. Nicholas and Alexandra were devoted to each other and to their large brood which followed. They are decribed as warm and affectionate parents, but despite great wealth and power did not overindulge them. [1] The Tsarina in the evenings ould play games with the children such as riddles and charades. [2] The Tsar enjoyed singing choral us music with them. The children grew up in a close knit family, and remained in touch and friendly troughout their adult lives. .

Children

Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra had seven children. The eldest boy became Tsar Alexander II (1818- ). The other children were: Maria Nicholiava (1819- ), Olga of Russia Nicolaievna, Grand Duchess (1822- ), Alexandra Nicholaievna (1825- ), Constantine Nikolaievitch, Grand Duke of Russia (1827- ), Nicholas Nicholajievic, Grand Duke (1831- ), and Michael Nicholaievic (1832- ). Their titles were Grandedukes and grandduchesses. Several have interesting histories. Unforrtunately all were born before the advent of photography and thus the photographic record is limited.

Tsar Alexander II (1818-81)

The eldest boy was Alexander born just after the Napoleonic Wars (1818). He became Tsar Alexander II. Nicholas' successor, Alexander II, who in contrast to his father was amenable to reform. It was Alexander II who abolished serfdom (1861), though the emancipation didn't in fact bring on any significant change in the condition of the peasants. The action earned him the title of "The Liberator". As the country became more industrialized, its political system experienced even greater strain. Attempts by the lower classes to gain more freedom provoked fears of anarchy, and the government remained extremely conservative. As Russia became more industrialized, larger, and far more complicated, the inadequacies of autocratic Tsarist rule became increasingly apparent. By the 20th Century conditions were ripe for a serious convulsion. At the same time, Russia had expanded its territory and its power considerably over the 19th century. Its borders extended to Afghanistan and China, and it had acquired extensive territory on the Pacific coast. The foundation of the port cities of Vladivostok and Port Arthur there had opened up profitable avenues for commerce, and the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway (constructed from 1891-1905) linked the European Russia with its new eastern territories. Alexander II in 1841 married Maria of Hessen-Darmstadt (Maria Alexandrovna). The royal couple had seven seven children. He was mortally wounded when a student, I. Grinevitskii who belonged to the revolutionary organization 'The National Will', threw a bomb (1881). A cathedral was erected on the site of the murder. Alexander II was buried in the Cathedral of the St. Peter and St. Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

Maria Nicholiava (1819-76)

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna (Мария Николаевна) was born before her father rose to the throne. She was a elest daughter of Tsar Nicholas I and sister of Alexander II. She was educated with her sisters Olga and Alexandra. Their education was standard for girls at the time and focused on dance, music, and drawing, Maria became quite a competent artist in hrr own right doing water colors. They grew up in the water palace, but their childhood was by no means luxurious. They were had a rgime of fresh air in ll sesons and their diet was cloely rgulated. She married Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg, not a very prestigious match for the elder daughter of a tsar and sister of another tsar. Leuchtenberg was a princely title created twice by the monarchs of Bavaria for their relatives. It is based on a town in Bavaria. And of all things, the dUke had Nonapartist family connections. Maria had, however, fallen in love with him and society or nobl rank meant very little to her. The Tsar this decided to give permission to his taented and strong-willed daughter. And theDuke's limited resources mean that he had no problem living in Russia on which Maria insisted. He did not remain faithful which was not uncommon for weathy men at the time. They had seven children. The Duke was interested in science and contracted tunerculosis because of his mining activities (1852). The Granduchess was an avid art collector and President of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.

Olga of Russia Nicolaievna, Grand Duchess (1822- )

Alexandra Nicholaievna (1825- )

Constantine Nikolaievitch (1827-92)

Grand Duke Constantine Nikolaevich of Russia was born in in St. Petersburg (1827). While not the oldest boy, he was the second in line to the crown and thus of some dynastic importance. He was 8 years younger than his older brother and as a result they did not have a close boyhood association. Friedrich von Lutke was entrusted with Prince Constantine's education. He was educated as a naval cadet and because he was treated like other cadets, he learned more about the Russian people than most other members of thge royal family. He spoke Russian fluently at aime when many other Russian royals saw Russian as an inferior language and often spoke French. He also spoke English, French, and German. Constantine at a very young age married Alexandra von Sachsen-Altenburg, daughter of Duke Joseph. They had dsix children: Nikolai Konstantinovich (1850-1918), Olga Konstantinovna--Queen of Greece (1851-1926), Vera Konstantinovna (1854-1912), Konstantin Konstantinovich (1858-1915), Dmitry Konstantinovich (1860-1919), and Vyacheslav Konstantinovich (1862-1879). Constantine began an affair with the ballerina Anna Vasilyevna Kuznetsova and they had several children together. As a young Russian officer, he participated in crushing the revolutions of 1848-49. He participated in the Hungarian campaign and was awarded the St. George's Cross. His father died and his brother Alexander became Tsar (1855). His brother included him in his government, making Constantine responsible for naval affairs. The two developed an intimate relationship. Constantine supported his brother's reformist program. This included the abolition of serfdom (1861) and Russia's first Constitution (1881). His brother appointed him viceroy of Poland (1863). One day after arriving in Warsaw, he was wounded in an assassination attempt. In response to a Polish revolt, he declared martial law. After returning to Russia, his brother president of the government, somewhat similsar to a primeminister. He served in that capacity for 16 years until his brother was assainated (1888). He resigned when his nephew Alexander became tsar. Alexander III believes that his father and uncle had been way too liberal. He abolished the new Constitution and attempted to crush all dissent, both democratic reformers, and domestic revolutionaries, he also supressed national minorities as well as Jews and purued apolicy of Russification. Constantine thought this a great mistake, but in Tsarist Russia he had to accept autocratic nephew's decesisions. Constantine withdrew from political life. His final years were spent in the warm climate of the Crimea. He suffered a stroke (1889) and died 2 years later (1992).

Nicholas Nicholajievic, Grand Duke (1832-1909)

Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia was norm (1832). He was the fourth son and seventh child of Tsar Nicholas I. He was the first owner of the New Michael Palace on the Palace Quay in Saint Petersburg. He married Princess Cecilie of Baden (1839–1891), daughter of Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden and Sophie of Sweden (1857). Cecily adopted the name Olga Fedorovna. They has seven children. Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia (1859-1919) was the edest child. He never married and had no children. He was killed by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. Gran Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna (1860-1922) was the second chid and eldest daugther. She married Frederick Francis III (1851–97) Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1879. They had a son and rwo daughters. Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich was the third child (1861-1929). He married Sophie of Merenberg (1868–1927) (1891). They also had a son and 2 daughters. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich was the fourth child (1863-1919). He married Princess Maria of Greece and Denmark (1876–1940) (1900). They had two daughters. He was killed by the Bolsheviks during the Russian revolution Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich was the fifth child (1866-1933). He married Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna (1875–1960) (1933). They had one daughter and 6 sons. Alexander became a close adviser of his brother-in-law Tsar Nicholas II. He objected to the politicak role of the Tsarina and the influence of Rasputin. He manahged to escape the Bolsheviks during the Revolution and Civil War. Grand Duke Sergei Mikailovich (1869-18) was the sixth child. He never narried and was killed by the Bolsheviks during the Russian revolution. Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich (1875-95) never married. 1895 Unmarried; Their father served 20 years (1862–1882) as the Governor General of Caucasia. He andte family lived in Tbilisi, This was the city that most of his children remembered as their childhood home. Tsar Nicholas II was his grand-nephew. He was godfather to the Tsar's second daughter, Grand Duchess Tatiana. He died in Cannes, France (1909). He was the last surviving legitimate grandchild of Paul I of Russia.

Michael Nicholaievic (1832- )

Imperial Succession (1825)

The imperial succession was uncertain upon the death of Alexander I who left no heirs. Nicholas was thec third son of Tsar Paul I. His brother Alexander I died without heirs (1825). His older brother Constantine was in line to succed but had secretly renounced his rights (1822). Constantine had married a Polish aristocrat. The secrecy associated with his renunciation caused confusion in Russia when Tsar Alexander died. This was partly responsible for the Decembrist uprising against Nicholas.

The Decemberists (1825)

The French Revolution had introduced radical new udeas to Russia. Alexander had embraced many of these ideas, but held back from graning a Contitution and introducing parlimentary democracy. A group of young, reformist military officers attempted to force the adoption of a constitutional monarchy in Russia by preventing the accession of Nicholas I and staged the Decembrist revolt in 1825, They failed utterly.

Reaction in Russia

Nicholas shard none of Alexander's ideals from the Enlightenment. He grew up during the Wars against the French Revolution and Napoleon. While Alexander I had embraced some of these ideas, Nicholas did not. He became the the most reactionary leader in Europe and because Russia at the end of the Napoleonic Wars had the largest army in Europe (1815), this had enormous consequences. He was a dominating figure. His policies in Russia were autocratic while his policies abroad were hostile. Nicholas believed in “autocracy, orthodoxy, and nationality,” He attempted to supress liberal thought by controlling the universities and increasing censorship of the press and other publications. He approved measures which persecuted religious and national minorities and he strengthened the secret police. Nicholas approved some measures which improved conditions in Russia. Russian law was codified (1832–33). Some minor attempt was made to limit the almost absolute control landlords'exercized over their serfs. The Tsar almos improved measures to improved living and working conditions for the peasants on state lands. Russia's first railroad was constructed (1838). Measures were taken to strengthen Russian fiscal policy. Cinsorship could not prevent intelectual debate. A revolutionary movement grew. Debate among Slavophiles and Westernizers grew. Important writers emerged, Pushkin, Lermontov, and Gogol.

Foreign Policy

Nicholas persued a series of military campaigns along Russia's southern boundaries. Russia seized part of Armenia and the Caspian Sea in a war with Persia (1826–28). Nicholas then sized the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the mouth of the Danube in a war with the Ottoman Empire (1828-29). After the Poles rebelled (1830-31) Nicholas ordered a brutal supression. He abrogated the Polish constitution and abolished Polish autonomy.

Cantonist Decrees (1827)

Soon after becoming Tsar, Nicholas issued the Cantonist Decrees. This term came from the word "canton," which meant a military camp. The degree was a conscription measure. It authorized the forced conscription of Jewish boys into the Russian Army. The Army took Jewish boys were taken at age 12-18. The had to serve for 25 years. The boys were virtually forced to convert to Chtritianity or suffer even more horendous conditions that was the normal lot of a conscript. Most did not survive the full 25 years of their conscription period. Almost none of those who did survive considered themselves Jews when they left the army. The Jewish comminity and even their parents looked on conscription as a death sentence for the boys. Some parents cut off the right index finger of their sons to prevent them from being conscripted. (Soldir's without an index finger could not fire a rifle.). Other parents managed to pay bribes.

Revolutions of 1848

He used the Russian army to suppress the Revolutions of 1848 and became known as the policeman of Europe. The Russian Army was ordered into Germany and helped the Austrians crushed independent republican revolutionaries in Hungary (1849).

Crimean War (1853-56)

Next Nicholas turned on the Ottoman Empire in a drive to obtain a warm water port. He was viewed as the cause of the Crimean War of 1853-56 as he wanted to expand Russian territory south toward the Dardinelles by seizing Turkish territory--describing it as "Sick man of Europe". Britain and France were concerned about Russia expanding further. The Russian armies which has conquered Napoleon had changed little. They were able to subdue street mobs in Europe, but war with modern industrial states was a very different matter. Britain and France changed by the Industrial Revolution were able at great cost to defeat Russian armies. The Russians were shocked.

Created: 1:56 AM 9/7/2004
Last updated: 4:35 AM 4/30/2020