Figure 1.--Here we see Nicholas as a little boy, we think in 1874. He would have been about 5 years old. He is wearing a white sailor suit with white long stockings.

Nicholas was born (1868). He was the first child of Crown Prince Alexander Alexandrovich and Crown Princess Maria Fyodorovna. When he was born, his grandfather, Alexander II, was still in power. His brother Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich (1871). His sister, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna. was born (1875). Nicholas enrolled as lieutenant in the Life Guards of the Erevan Regiment (1875). He began his education (1877). Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich was born (1878). His grendfather's assassination would prove to be a traumatic experience for the young Nicholas (1881). At the age of 13 Nicholas became the 'tsarevich', the heir to the throne. His ast sister, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna was born (1882). His parents provided Nicholas and his siblings gave him an intimate, warm and uncomplicated childhood. This was something that many royal children did not experience in the 19th century. We can say his childhood ended as a teenager when he met Princess Alisa/Alix of Hesse at the wedding of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich to her sister Ella (Elizaveta Fyodorovna). Alix was clearly taken with Nicholas. The 12-year-old Alix scratched their names on the window of the Peterhof Palace.

Birth

Nicholas was born (1868). He was the first child of Crown Prince Alexander Alexandrovich and Crown Princess Maria Fyodorovna.

Siblings

His brother Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich was born 3 years later (1871). His sister, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna. was born (1875). Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich was born (1878). His last sister, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna was born (1882).

Famly Life

His parents provided Nicholas and his siblings gave him an intimate, warm and uncomplicated childhood. This was something that many royal children did not experience in the 19th century. Unlike many royal marriages, the one of Dagmar and Alexander was a happy one. It was said of Alexander that the two things that he never wished to break was the peace of Europe and the Seventh Commanment. He was not only faithful to his wife, but he was devoted to domestic life, both Dagmar and the children. [Battiscombe, p. 158.] He had a wonderful way with children despite his massive appaearnce and absolutely doted upon his daughters. The Tsar was warm and loving with his wife and children, if rather over powering. The formality here is more a photographic style thann reflective of family relationships (figure 1). The portrait herewas taken at Lividia. This was a summer residence located in the Crimea. After Nivcholas became Tsar he built a more grandiose palace here. (This was the palace where Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt met during World War II for the Yalta Conference during 1945.) Family life was affected by the measures against terrorism. He did not live in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Instead the family lived in Gatchina, the palace of his great-grandfather, Paul I. Gatchina was more secure. In fact, it was built like a medieval fortress surrounded by ditches and watchtowers. While the Tsar and his family were safe there, it meant that he and the royal family were virtually totaly isolated from the Russian people. Even in this large palace, the royal family lived simply. They lived in the renovated servants area.

Grandfather

When he was born, his grandfather, Alexander II, was still in power. Alexander seems to have been very close to his first grandson. He called him "sun ray". "When I was small," Nicholas lsater toldf his daughters, "they sent for me every day to visit my grandfather. My brother George and I had the habit of playing in his study while he was working. His smile was so pleasant, although his face was usually handsome and calm. I remember that it made a great impression on me in my early childhood... Once my parents were away, and I was at the all-night vigil with my grandfather in the small church in Alexandria. During the service there was a powerful thunderstorm, streaks of lightning flashed one after the other, and it seemed as if the peals of thunder would shake even the church and the whole world to its foundations. Suddenly it became quite dark, a blast of wind from the open door blew out the flame of the candles which were lit in front of the iconostasis, there was a long clap of thunder, louder than before, and I suddenly saw a fiery ball flying from the window straight towards the head of the Emperor. The ball (it was of lightning) whirled around the floor, then passed the chandelier and flew out through the door into the park. My heart froze, I glanced at my grandfather - his face was completely calm. He crossed himself just as calmly as he had when the fiery ball had flown near us, and I felt that it was unseemly and not courageous to be frightened as I was. I felt that one had only to look at what was happening and believe in the mercy of God, as he, my grandfather, did. After the ball had passed through the whole church, and suddenly gone out through the door, I again looked at my grandfather. A faint smile was on his face, and he nodded his head at me. My panic disappeared, and from that time I had no more fear of storms."

Birds

Nicholas as a boy has a special interest in birds. Reports suggest that he was transfixed when he heard birds singing. One account reports, "When he heard them singing, he would become so absorbed that his playmates often commented on it. Once, when a young sparrow fell from its nest, little Nika, as his friends called him, said, 'It is necessary to pray for the little sparrows; may Dearest God not take it - He has enough sparrows.'"

Life Guards

Nicholas enrolled as lieutenant in the Life Guards of the Erevan Regiment (1875).

Education

He began his education at age 10 (1877). He was handed over to a military governor, General G.G. Danilovich. [Lieven] Danilovich arranged for specialists to come to the palace to teach Nicholas. The subjects he studied included four modern languages (Russian, French, English and German), mathematics, history, geography and chemistry. Nicholas' favorite subject was history. Of all his tutots, Nicholas seems to have been cloest to an Enhlishman--Charles Heath. One of Heath's lessons was remembered by Nicholas throughout his life.. Heathtold him the English saying that 'aristocrats are born but gentlemen are made'.

Grandfather's Assasination

His grendfather's assassination would prove to be a traumatic experience for the young Nicholas (1881). At the age of 13 Nicholas became the 'tsarevich', the heir to the throne. His grandfather was killed on a Petersburg street. Revolutionaries threw a bomb that injured some of the guards. The Tsar was unhurt. Instead of seeking safty and leaving the scene in his carriage, he steped down from his carriage and was attempted to aid the injured men. It was at this time that the assasins threw a second bomb. This one fatally wounded the Tsae and several others. Guasrds rushed him to the Winter Palace where he died in the arms of his horrified family. Tsar Alexnder III constructed the Christ the Saviour "Upon the Blood" at the site. It became the stronghold of the Catacomb Church in Petrograd after the Revolution. Nicholas remenbers the tragic event. "We were having breakfast in the Anichkov palace, my brother and I, when a frightened servant ran in and said: 'An accident has happened to the Emperor! The heir [the future Tsar Alexander III, Nicholas' father] has given the order that Great Prince Nicholas Alexandrovich (that is, I) should immediately go to the Winter palace. One must not lose time.' General Danilov [his tutor] and we ran down, got into a carriage and rushed along Nevsky to the Winter palace. When we were going up the staircase, I saw that all those who met us had pale faces and that there were big red spots on the carpet - when they had carried my grandfather up the staircase, blood from the terrible wounds he had suffered from the explosion had poured out. My parents were already in the study. My uncle and aunt were standing near the window. Nobody said a word. My grandfather was lying on the narrow camp bed on which he always slept. He was covered with the military greatcoat that served as his dressing-gown. His face was mortally pale, it was covered with small wounds. My father led me up to the bed: 'Papa,' he said, raising his voice, 'your sun ray is here.' I saw a fluttering of his eyelids. The light blue eyes of my grandfather opened. He tried to smile. He moved his finger, but could not raise his hand and say what he wanted, but he undoubtedly recognised me. Protopresbyter Bazhenov came up to him and gave him Communion for the last time, we all fell on our knees, and the Emperor quietly died. Thus was it pleasing to the Lord."

Alix

We can say his childhood ended as a teenager when he met Princess Alisa/Alix of Hesse at the wedding of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich to her sister Ella (Elizaveta Fyodorovna). Alix was clearly taken with Nicholas. The 12-year-old Alix scratched their names on the window of the Peterhof Palace.

Sources

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

Lieven, Dominic. Nicholas II (London: Pimlico, 1993).

Created: 1:22 AM 2/5/2010
Last updated: 1:22 AM 2/5/2010