Czar Nicholas II :: essays research papers

On May 6, 1868, an event happened that would change the fate of monarchy in Russia. Czar Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov II was born in the Blue Bedroom of the Alexander Palace. Ominously, this occurred on the Orthodox day of feast for St. Job the Sufferer. This omen would prevision the never-ending trials he would face in his lifetime. In 1894, Nicholas's father, Czar Alexander III, died from a liver disease called nephritis. At age 26, Nicholas felt that he was not ready to rule Russia. However, he believed that his autocracy was a God-given right. To give up any part of it would go against the traditions of his country and religion. This belief, though seemingly right at the time, would later have a part in the death of his reign. Czar Nicholas II was short, only about five foot six inches tall. His other relatives seemed to tower above him. Though he worked out in his private gym daily, he would always be seen as slight and wiry. Because his legs were so short, most people agreed that he looked most regal when mounted on horseback. He always wore his brown hair parted on the left. His beard, also brown, was streaked with golden highlights as if the sun had reached out and stroked it with a kindly finger. The Czar had a nervous habit of brushing his mustache up with the back of his hand. In time, this gesture would become his distinct signature. Because of his sheltered life under the fear of terrorists, Nicholas grew up secluded from the world. Unfortunately, this caused him to never had the self-confidence and self-reliance he would need later in his life as the last czar of Russia. Though seemingly weak, his first love was Russia and the second his family. He refused to have secretaries, in the belief that this would help bring him closer to his people. Again, it did not work. He was seen as a phony by the entire country. Nicholas and his wife, Alexandra, soon had a family. After four girls were born in succession, they were still hoping for a boy to fall heir to the throne. On July 30, 1904, their wish was granted. A son they would call Aleksey was born and Nicholas and Alexandra were ecstatic. However, the joy was short lived. Aleksey had hemophilia, a hereditary disease in which the blood does not clot right.