Wednesday, 2 April 2014

The Last Tsar - Chapter Two Imperial Children

Chapter Two
Imperial Children



Grand Duchess Olga, Tsar Nicholas' sister, recalled - 'I heard some sort of noise in the morning, a day after the funeral of Papa. I asked my nanny 'What is the bustle about?', she told me Nicky is getting married. He wouldn't let Alix go home. So the period of mourning was postponed for a week so Nicky and Alix could get married. They got married on 27th November.

On the wedding day Princess Alix drove with her mother-in-law to the Winter Palace where, in a private chapel, they were married.

At a quarter to one they came out as husband and wife, drove to Anitchove Palace where they lived for the time being. The new Empress Alexandra Fedorovna was called 'funeral bride' by the Russian people. 'She came behind the coffin.'

In the summer they moved to the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, which became their home for twenty-two years. Alexander Palace was built by Catherine the Great for her grandson, Alexander I, who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Borodino in 1812.

Gleb Botkin, son of Dr. Eugene Botkin, the physician of the Imperial Family, wrote in his memoirs, 'Tsarskoe Selo is the fairyland, earthly abode of human gods. To the monarchist it is Paradise, to the revolutionists it is a sinister place where blood-thirsty tyrants were hatching their terrible plots against the innocent population.'

Tsarskoe Selo was a magnificent symbol of the Russian autocracy. Fifteen miles south of St. Petersburg, a succession of tsars and tsarinas had created an isolated, miniature world, an artificial fantastic, mechanical toy. Around the high iron fence of the imperial park, bearded Cossack horsemen in scarlet tunics rode night and day. Inside the park, monuments, obelisks, triumphal arches studded eight hundred acres of velvet green lawns. An artificial lake, big enough for small sailboats could be emptied and filled like a bath tub.

At one end of the lake stood a pink Turkish bath. At the other end of the lake stood a dazzling red and gold Chinese pagoda, crowning an artificial hillock. Winding paths led through groves of ancient trees. A pony track curved through gardens planted with exotic flowers. Throughout the park were lilacs planted by a dozen empresses. When the spring rain fell, the sweet smell of wet lilacs drenched the air.

In November 1895, the Tsarina gave birth to her first child. It was a daughter named 'Olga'. She was very fair with blonde hair, very similar to her father, both physically and mentally.

Tatiana, the second daughter, was born in 1897, dark with auburn hair, tall and slender, like her mother very active. She was the favourite of her mother and had tremendous influence on her parents. If one of the girls needed a favour from their father, Tatiana was sent to him for his permission, or requested him to grant it. Her sisters and brother called her 'Governess'. When she grew up she was regularly called by her mother to comb and dress her hair. The Empress asked her advice when she was in trouble.

Marie, the third daughter, was born in 1899, was the most beautiful amongst the sisters. She had a fresh complexion and red cheeks, thick light brown hair and dark blue eyes; so large that they were called 'Marie's saucers'. Marie liked to paint, but she was too gay to apply herself seriously. Had she not been the daughter of a tsar, this warm hearted girl would have made some man an excellent wife.

Anastasia, the youngest daughter, was born in 1901. She was short, dumpy, blue-eyed child called in the family 'Wag'. She was witty and vivacious, and also had a streak of stubbornness, mischief and impertinence. She was also a good caricaturist. Anastasia was also a tomboy. She climbed trees to dizzying heights, refusing to come down until specifically commanded by her father. When she was born the Tsar was so disappointed (because he expected her to be a boy). Before facing his wife, the Tsar had to go to the park to conceal his frustration and emotion.

The four grand duchesses were closer to each other than most sisters. All the girls were kind and generous. They used to send money, gifts and presents to the poor girls in joint name 'OTMA'. The fifth and last child was a boy, Alexis Nicholavich, the heir to the throne.

'Alexis was the centre of this united family, the focus of all its hopes and affections. His sisters worshipped him. He was his parent's pride and joy. When he was well the Palace was transformed. Everyone and everything seemed bathed in sunshine.' - Gilliard.

To his mother he was the blessing of God and the fruit of her long prayers.

The Tsarvitch was a handsome little boy with blue eyes and golden hair.

Olga Alexandrovna was most intimate and close to her nieces. She was convinced that her nieces needed an outing. Every Saturday evening she came to Tsarskoe Selo and spent the night in the Palace.

The next morning, on Sunday, she and her four excited nieces boarded the train for the Capital. On the way to their aunt's palace they dropped at Anitchove Palace to have their lunch with their grandmother, the Dowager Empress Marie. In the evening Olga arranged for party, dance, tea, etc., for the girls. The four grand duchesses enjoyed every minute of it. Other young children of the Imperial Family were also invited.

They remained at Olga's palace until midnight, when the Tsarina sent one of her ladies-in-waiting to get the girls home.

In 1914, just before war, the Dowager Empress gave a magnificent ball for her four granddaughters in her Palace. Baroness Sophie Buxhoevedan recalled - 'We remained in Anitchove Palace until 2 a.m. On our way to Tsarskoe Selo the Tsar was sipping a cup of tea and the grand duchesses were talking about sleeping for long in the morning, and getting up late.

In 1911 Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest of the girls, celebrated her sixteenth birthday in Livadia Palace, Yalta. As a present, she received for the first time a beautiful diamond necklace and ring from her parents. In the evening Olga had appeared, flushed and fair, at her first ball to dance and celebrate her birthday.

In 1945, thirty-four years later, Stalin, at the height of his power, received his allies in the same ballroom.

The four sisters were kind and sympathetic to the poor and disabled children. Seeing a child on crutches, Olga enquired and found that the parents were too poor to afford treatment. Olga arranged for the treatment of that crippled child.

As the Imperial children had very short lives, as fate decreed, very little about their talents and personalities are known to the people.



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