Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Today in Russian History: Last Czar and Family Executed

July, 1918 was a dark season in Russian history. Czar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra and five children were executed the night of July 16-17, 1918 in Yekaterinburg, Russia where they were in exile.


The Mystery of the Romanovs: A National Geographic Special



The Royal Family: Czar Nicholas II with his wife, four daughters and son. You may recall that Prince Alexsay, long-awaited heir to the throne, suffered from hemophilia.



The Romanov family and their assassination has been the source of much intrigue in Russia. Thanks to Russia Today for this fascinating video about the investigation which has put to rest many questions.

Over the years, there has been speculation that at least one of the children, Anastasia in particular, managed to escape death by the firing squad and that she was alive in Western Europe, as I recall. Dozens of women have come forward claiming to be the Czar's daughter. They were all fakers, of course, and I'll confess that I was one of them. Yes, in 1963 when I was in 6th grade I decided that I too was Anastasia, the long lost czaritza of Russia. There was a slight problem with the time-line, however, and little evidence that Anastasia was raised in Akron, Ohio and alas, I got voted out of the palace without fanfare. Anyway.

Summer of 1998, on the 80th anniversary of the execution, Romanov family remains were transported to St Petersburg and interred at St Peter and Paul Cathedral where rest the bodies of nearly all Russian Czars. I was fortunate to visit that site in 2000 and in 2002 and I'm quite certain that on this very computer are photos of the white granite (or marble or whatever) tomb of the Romanov family. Well wishers had placed flowers around it in respect to the royal family loved by Russians even to this day.

How about you dear blog reader? Please share with us whatever special information, interest or intrigue you have concerning the family Romanov.

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