Love

Nicky and Alix. Great love of the last Russian emperor. The last empress Why in Russia they did not like the wife of Nicholas II Who was the wife of Nicholas II

The union between Nicholas 2 and his wife Empress Alexandra Feodorovna is one of the most discussed marriages in the world community and modern European history. They were destined to become husband and wife after a flash of love at the first meeting of young people.
Princess Alexandra of Hesse-Darmstadt was born on June 6, 1872 in Germany. She became the last Russian Empress, despite her German nationality. She was the fourth daughter of Duke Ludwig and the Duchess of Great Britain - Alice, granddaughter of the Queen of England - Victoria.

Among all the grandchildren, Queen Victoria singled out Alexandra, and in her youth she affectionately called "Sunny - the sun." The girl liked that her grandmother, despite her busyness, devotes so much time to her and loved to do etiquette with her.

Photo from childhood.

The princess's childhood was overshadowed by the loss of her closest relatives. First, her brother Frederick died of a cerebral hemorrhage. In 1878, due to a diphtheria epidemic, Mary's older sister died, and a few weeks later her mother, Duchess Alice, died.

The princess received her primary education with her sister and brother, when she studied literacy with the best teachers of the royal dynasty. The girl eagerly studied political science, natural history, history, mathematics, philosophy and classical languages. Later, the Hessian princess will graduate from the "Heidelberg University" and receive a bachelor's degree in philosophy.

Years later, on his deathbed, the father will tell Alexandra that he is proud of his daughter, and she will carry these words in her heart throughout her life.

At the age of 12, Alice will visit Russia for the first time during the marriage of her sister Ella (in Orthodoxy, Elizabeth) and Prince Sergei Alexandrovich. The next time the princess will visit the Sergievsky Palace and meet her future husband, Nicholas 2.

After the first meeting, the young man will understand that he is in love with the princess and will order her portrait to be drawn to him. They will begin a secret correspondence, which the parents will find out about and forbid their son any communication. Later, historians published the diary of the wife of Nicholas 2, which describes a brief history of their acquaintance.

Family of Emperor Nicholas II

The last Russian emperor of the Romanov dynasty, who went down in history as a weak-willed ruler. According to the records of historians, management was given to Nicholas very difficult. Despite this, he was able to make a significant contribution to the "industrial and economic development of Russia" at a time when the country was engulfed by a revolutionary movement.

Nicholas II was born on May 18, 1868 in the Romanov imperial family. He was the eldest son of Maria Feodorovna and Alexander III, and the only heir to the throne.

The childhood and youth of the last Tsar of the Russian Empire, Nicholas, passed within the walls of the Gatchina Palace under the strict guidance of a noble couple. The duke brought up his offspring in a traditional spirit, taught them to read and write, and paid special attention to his son in preparing for the accession. The father told his son that the throne is above all.

Despite the fact that Nikolai studied at home, the prince received a liberal arts education and graduated from the school program with honors. After that he took a course of academic studies (history, sociology, political science, financial law and economics).

The young prince aspired to military affairs, he was interested in the strategy of doing business and jurisprudence. At the age of 18, he took the oath at the Winter Palace and entered the service, where 3 years later he received the rank of colonel. All the years of study, he lived with one dream to meet his beloved Alice again.

In 1889, the future duke begins to attend meetings of the "State Council and the Cabinet of Ministers", where his father shares his experience in conducting public affairs.

After the death of his father, at the age of 26, Nicholas (the second) ascended the throne, and the coronation took place 2 years later in Moscow.

Nicholas 2 and his wife: a love story

After the first meeting with the Hessian princess, Nicholas 2 lost his peace. He lived in dreams of his beloved Alex. The empress won the heart of the young duke, but his father was adamant. After 5 years, due to a sharply deteriorating state of health, Alexander III agreed to marry the duchess. On November 26, 1894, they were married in the Winter Palace, and on May 26, 1896, the couple were crowned and officially headed the country.

In the marriage of Nikolai and Alexandra, four children were born (Olga, Tatyana, Maria and Anastasia). The wife strongly wanted to give birth to the king's son and raved about the birth of an heir. A few years later, Nicholas (the second) had a son, Alexei, but the state of his health was very disturbing to the royal family, since the boy was sick with hemophilia.

The relationship between husband and wife was tender. Nikolai was not a public person, he tried to spend more time with his family. Many condemned his behavior, and some (behind his eyes) called the king the weak-willed husband of his wife.

In society, the empress was never accepted, many noble ladies wanted points and circuses, and Alexandra strove for knowledge of the spiritual world. She spent a lot of time with her son Alexei in the company of Grigory Rasputin. Later, the heads of the dynasty will be accused of treason due to close communication with Rasputin. According to the accusers, he full power over the Romanov dynasty and subjugated the will of Nicholas (second) at the time when he held the position of "adviser".

From which country is the wife of Tsar Nicholas 2 - Alexandra Feodorovna

The rejection of the emperor's wife was aggravated by the fact that she was German. Russian noble families, and the whole people as a whole, despised the "Tsar", because he listened to the opinion of his wife and his adviser Grigory Rasputin and tried in every possible way to harm the head of the throne.

The real name of the wife of Nicholas 2

From birth, the future wife of the emperor, Princess Alice of Hesse, had a different name, her name was Victoria Alex Elena Louise Beatrice. These are the names of her grandmother, mother and two aunts. So it was before marriage, or rather before baptism, because before the wedding she needed to change her religion. Having adopted the Orthodox faith, the future duchess received the name Alexander.

Nicholas 2 and his wife were relatives

The emperor and the English king George 5 were cousins. Consequently, Nicholas was the maternal grandson of Queen Victoria. Alice of Hesse (future wife) was also a cousin of George V and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Thus, the future couple of the Romanovs were originally second cousins and sisters. It was because of incest that their son Alexei was sick with hemophilia, which developed due to incest.

Growth of Nicholas 2 Romanov and his wife

Despite the fact that Alexandra was out of place, many said that she is beautiful and smart, and the growth of the duchess was especially distinguished, which, like her husband, was 168 cm. Centuries later, many historians and critics will agree that the children of the royal dynasty were very similar to their mother.

As Nicholas 2 was called by his wife

When Nicholas 2 was absent, and since Alexandra had no friends and girlfriends, she spent most of her time alone with her thoughts. This solitude subsequently affected her psyche, and eventually developed into a disease. Husband Nikolai (second) loved his duchess very much and tried to distract her from clouding her mind. He easily fulfilled her whims, trying to please her, and she, in turn, affectionately called him "Niki".

Many did not like the fact that "Her Majesty" helped the wounded German soldiers on the front line. There were rumors that such simplicity could reduce Alexandra's authority in the eyes of the people. She did not pay any attention to this and every day from early morning until late evening, together with her daughters, she treated the wounded soldiers and prisoners of war of German soldiers.

Reading the diary, which consists of the memoirs of her maid of honor Anna Vyrubova, we see that she called the duchess the merciful and most just ruler in the Russian Empire. It also says that the emperor and empress were simple in dealing with peasants and soldiers, which attracted ordinary people.

Nicholas II and his whole family were fond of canoe trips. It has been the Duke's childhood hobby ever since he was given his first kayak at the age of 13. Later, many relatives knew about his addiction and often gave him exclusive boats as a gift. One of the most famous kayak trips is a four-kilometer descent through the Finnish skerries, which the couple went through together.

Alexandra and her husband annually celebrated their engagement day - April 8th. Every year they spent this day together, and in 1915 Nicholas 2 was on the front line and received a letter. The Duchess called him her beloved boy and wrote how happy she was that they were able to carry love through 21 years of marriage without losing an exciting feeling.

Rasputin and wife of Nicholas II

There were rumors about a love affair between Rasputin and Empress Alexandra, but there is no reliable evidence for these assumptions. "His Majesty" knew about Rasputin's addictions and about all the scandals associated with Grigory. However, Nicholas II never believed gossip about the Duchess. He knew that Gregory was a true friend of the family.

From reliable sources it is known what exactly connected the royal family and Rasputin:

Gregory was an adviser to Nicholas II.
Rasputin treated Prince Alexei for hemophilia, and Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna for periodic neurotic seizures.
He was a representative of the peasants, as well as an intermediary between the king and the Jewish bankers during the contract of sale with Germany.

What were the names of the children of Nicholas 2 and Alexandra Feodorovna

Princess Olga Romanova was the first child of the royal dynasty. She was born on November 3, 1895. She was a tender, fragile girl, but with great erudition, she showed interest in books. She had exceptional hearing and loved to play the piano. The girl was modest and did not like magnificent receptions, preferring solitude to them.

After May 29, 1897, the Empress gave birth to a daughter, Tatyana. Throughout the pregnancy, the duchess was afraid of a miscarriage, because doctors diagnosed difficulties in the first stage of pregnancy. In character, Princess Tatyana was very similar to the duchess, she loved horseback riding, she could spend hours in the royal stable, caring for her beloved pony. She was fond of walking in the forest and loved to pick berries, mushrooms and wildflowers. She liked to embroider, which was in the spirit of her father.

The third daughter of the royal couple, Maria, was born on June 14, 1899. The Duchess was looking forward to the heir to the throne and was disappointed in the daughter who appeared and for some time went into a depressive state. Nicholas II reassured his wife, saying that for him every daughter is the best gift in the world from his beloved wife, and decided to name her after his mother. The girl was humble showed interest in the exact sciences and after received a good education.

During her fourth pregnancy, Alexandra was expecting the birth of a son, but on June 5, 1901, a girl was born. Anastasia was an exact copy of her father and was considered a favorite among all children. The girl grew up as the noisiest child, ran around the palace merrily, loved to play hide-and-seek, bast shoes and could climb trees for hours, for which she repeatedly received nuts from the duchess.

Tsarevich Alexei was a long-awaited son, a boy was born on July 30, 1904, when Alexander's mother despaired of giving birth to her husband an heir. A year before pregnancy, the entire royal family lived for six months in the Sarov desert, where, according to the duchess, God blessed her to conceive a son.

The boy was born with a rare congenital disease - hemophilia, which did not allow him to fully develop, which greatly disturbed the entire Romanov dynasty. However, Grigory Rasputin was able to find a way to improve the condition of the child, and was his closest friend.

Alexandra and Nikolai (second) loved their children very much, as is known from history, all members of the royal Romanov dynasty died on the same day.

Nicholas 2: the execution of the family

The execution of the royal family was scheduled for the night of July 16-17, 1918. The murder of all members of the family of Nicholas II took place in Yekaterinburg, in the basement of the Ipatiev house on Clara Zetkin Street. Yakov Yurovsky commanded the execution.

Thanks to his manuscripts, which he wrote in his diary, it was possible to reproduce the chain of events of a terrible day for the Romanov dynasty. That night, 11 people died: Nikolai 2, Alexander's wife, five children, the family doctor Botkin and three servants. Two dogs were also shot there, only the spaniel Joy, Alexei's pet, was saved. The shot bodies of the Romanovs were thrown into the mines near abandoned mines in the Sverdlovsk region.

When the diary entries of Alexandra Feodorovna were made public, all of Russia would know that before her death, the duchess thanked God for everything that happened to her in this life. And in her last letter to Anya, she wrote that she knew that they would all be killed soon, but no one would take away her love for her family and the Russian Empire, which she considered her second homeland. The last words in the letter were the words: "Lord, save Russia from collapse and have mercy on my subjects."

The marriage of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna is called a saint. The last emperor and empress in the history of Russia carried their feelings through all the trials and tribulations.

5 years waiting

Love for Alexandra Feodorovna, and then still Princess of Hesse Alice, was the first love of Nicholas II. This feeling was born in him even before he came of age - at the age of 16, and the future king saw his wife in Alice, who was even less - 12! Native princesses also called their baby Sunny, that is, "The Sun", and Nikolai was already thinking about the wedding. “I dream of marrying Alix G someday. I have loved her for a long time, but especially deeply and strongly since 1889, when she spent 6 weeks in St. Petersburg. All this time I did not believe my feeling, did not believe that my cherished dream could come true, ”Nikolai wrote in his diary. For five years he waited for the will of God for this marriage, for five years he humbly prayed, asked for "adults" and wrote a diary, on the first page of which was a photograph of his Alice. Later he would write to her: "The Savior told us: 'Whatever you ask of God, God will give you.'" These words are infinitely dear to me, because for five years I prayed them, repeating them every night, begging Him to facilitate Alix's transition. into the Orthodox faith and give her to me as a wife."
Water wears away the stone and breaks through the dam of the parental "no". Five years later, the lovers get married to be together until their death.

Simplicity of habits

Despite the height of the position, above which it cannot be, the emperor and empress led a completely simple life, trying not to indulge in excesses and raising children in severity. They were convinced that everything superfluous only corrupts, that it is "from the evil one." It is known that Nikolai preferred cabbage soup and porridge to gourmet French dishes, and instead of expensive wine he could drink ordinary Russian vodka. The emperor easily bathed in the lake along with other men, without making something secret out of his person and his body.
And the behavior of Alexandra Fedorovna during the war is known to many - she graduated from the courses of sisters of mercy and, together with her daughters, worked as a nurse in a hospital. Evil tongues discussed this every now and then: either they said that such simplicity would reduce the authority of the royal family, then that the empress hated the Russians and helped the German soldiers. Not a single queen in Russia has yet been a nurse. And the activities of Alexandra and her daughters in the hospital did not stop from early morning until late at night.
A lot of evidence has been preserved that the king and queen were unusually easy to deal with soldiers, peasants, orphans - in a word, with any person. The queen inspired her children that everyone is equal before God and should not be proud of their position.

Canoe trips

The royal family is usually presented in a solemn atmosphere, in the performance of the duties of the leaders of the country. But it is impossible to live only in this way, and it is even more difficult in such conditions to preserve and strengthen the family. The emperor, the empress and their children can be imagined... on a canoe trip. Nicholas II had a passion for kayaks since childhood, his parents gave the first kayak to the Tsarevich at the age of 13. Many relatives of the future monarch knew about their love for water, and Nicholas II often received a boat or kayak as a gift for his birthday.
Alexandra, with her sore legs (which forced her to sit in a wheelchair from an early age), seeing her husband's passion, joyfully shared her. And although a long stay in cold water was contraindicated for her, she periodically kept company with her beloved husband. Memoirists, for example, mention her four-kilometer kayak trip through the Finnish skerries.

Charity

Workshops, schools, hospitals, prisons - Empress Alexandra was engaged in all this from the very first years of her marriage. Her own wealth was small, and she had to cut personal expenses in order to carry out charity events. During the famine of 1898, Alexandra gave 50 thousand rubles from her personal funds to fight him - this is an eighth of the family's annual income.
Living in the Crimea, the Empress took an ardent part in the fate of tuberculosis patients who came to Crimea for treatment. She rebuilt the sanatoriums, providing them with all the improvements - with her own money.
It is said that Empress Alexandra was a born nurse, and the wounded were happy when she visited them. Soldiers and officers often asked her to be with them during difficult dressings and operations, saying that “it’s not so scary” when the Empress is nearby.

Houses of charity for fallen girls, houses of industriousness, a school of folk art...
“The August Family was not limited to financial assistance, but also sacrificed Their personal labors,” Monk Seraphim (Kuznetsov) testifies in his book. - How many church airs, covers and other things were embroidered by the hands of the Queen and Daughters, sent to the military, monastic and poor churches. I personally had to see these royal gifts and even have them in my distant desert monastery.

Laws of family understanding

The diaries and letters of the royal family are becoming increasingly popular in Russia and abroad. Young couples are looking for recipes for maintaining a strong and happy family. And, I must say, they find it. Here are some quotes:
"The meaning of marriage is to bring joy. Marriage is a Divine rite. It is the closest and holiest relationship on earth. After marriage, the main duties of a husband and wife are to live for each other, to give life for each other. Marriage is a union two halves into a single whole. Each until the end of his life is responsible for the happiness and the highest good of the other. "
"The crown of love is silence."
"The great art is to live together, loving each other tenderly. This should begin with the parents themselves. Each house is like its creators. A refined nature makes the house refined, a rude person will make the house rough."

Gifts to each other

Small and large gifts to each other were an important part of the Romanov family life. In one of her diaries, Empress Alexandra writes: “A husband and wife should constantly show each other the signs of the most tender attention and love. countless small but kind thoughts and sincere feelings. Love also needs its daily bread."
Notes of the Empress - not a theory, but her daily life. She loved to make surprises for Nikolai and the children on various occasions, and Nikolai appreciated and shared this tradition. Perhaps the most famous and traditional gift in their home was Faberge eggs for Easter.
One of the most touching and beautiful eggs is "clover". On its openwork rim there is an image of the Imperial crown, the date "1902" and the monogram of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna framed by clover flowers. And inside - a precious quatrefoil with 4 portraits of the royal daughters: Olga, Tatyana, Maria and Anastasia. This egg is a symbol of the happy marriage of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna, because a four-leaf clover, which is so rarely found in nature, is a promise of happiness. And the egg itself is symbolic: it is Easter, and eternal birth, and family, and the Universe, and faith in the appearance of an heir.

23 year honeymoon

All families remember their wedding day, but Alix and Nikolai even celebrated their engagement day every year. This day, April 8, they always spent together, and for the first time parted when they were already over forty. In April 1915, the emperor was at the front, but even there he received a warm letter from his beloved: “For the first time in 21 years we spend this day not together, but how vividly I remember everything! My dear boy, what happiness and what love you gave me for all these years ... You know, I kept that “princess dress” in which I was that morning, and I will put on your favorite brooch ... "After so many years of living together, the empress admitted in letters that she kissed Nikolai's pillow when he is not around, and Nikolai still became shy, like a young man, if they met after a long separation.
No wonder some contemporaries said with some envy: "Their honeymoon lasted 23 years ..."
On the day of the wedding, Alix wrote in Nikolai's diary: "When this life ends, we will meet again in another world and stay together forever."

Alexandra Feodorovna (wife of Nicholas I)- This term has other meanings, see Alexandra Fedorovna. Alexandra Feodorovna Friederike Luise Charlotte Wilhelmine von Preußen ... Wikipedia

Alexandra Fedorovna- Alexandra Feodorovna is the name given in Orthodoxy to two spouses of Russian emperors: Alexandra Feodorovna (wife of Nicholas I) (Princess Charlotte of Prussia; 1798 1860) Russian Empress, wife of Nicholas I. Alexandra Feodorovna (wife ... ... Wikipedia

ALEXANDRA FYODOROVNA- (real name Alice Victoria Elena Louise Beatrice Hesse of Darmstadt) (1872 1918), Russian Empress, wife of Nicholas II (since 1894). She played a significant role in state affairs. She was under the strong influence of G. E. Rasputin. In period 1 ... ... Russian history

Alexandra Fedorovna- (1872 1918) Empress (1894 1917), wife of Nicholas II (since 1894), nee. Alisa Victoria Elena Louise Beatrice, daughter led. Duke of Hesse of Darmstadt Ludwig IV and Alice of England. Since 1878 she was brought up in English. Queen Victoria; finished... ...

Alexandra Fedorovna- (1798 1860) Empress (1825-60), wife of Nicholas I (since 1818), nee. Frederick Louise Charlotte of Prussia, daughter of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and Queen Louise. Mother imp. Alra II and led. book. Konstantin, Nicholas, Mikh. Nikolaevich and led. kn… Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

ALEXANDRA FYODOROVNA- (25.V.1872 16.VII. 1918) Russian. Empress, wife of Nicholas II (since November 14, 1894). Daughter led. Duke of Hesse of Darmstadt Ludwig IV. Before marriage, she was named Alice Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice. Domineering and hysterical, had a great influence on ... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

Alexandra Fedorovna- ALEXANDRA FYODOROVNA (real name Alice Victoria Elena Louise Beatrice Hesse of Darmstadt) (1872–1918), grew up. Empress, wife of Nicholas II (since 1894). Played means. role in government affairs. She was under the strong influence of G. E. Rasputin. In period 1 ... ... Biographical Dictionary

Alexandra Fedorovna-, Russian Empress, wife of Nicholas II (since November 14, 1894). Daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse of Darmstadt. Before marriage, she was named Alice Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice. Domineering and hysterical, ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Alexandra Feodorovna (Empress, wife of Nicholas II)- ... Wikipedia

Alexandra Feodorovna (Empress, wife of Nicholas I)- ... Wikipedia

Books

The Fate of the Empress, Alexander Bokhanov. This book is about an amazing woman whose life was like a fairy tale and an adventure novel at the same time. Empress Maria Feodorovna ... Daughter-in-law of Emperor Alexander II, wife of the Emperor ... Buy for 543 UAH (Ukraine only)
The Fate of the Empress, Bokhanov A.N. This book is about an amazing woman whose life was like a fairy tale and an adventure novel at the same time. Empress Maria Feodorovna... Daughter-in-law of Emperor Alexander II, wife of the Emperor...

This term has other meanings, see Alexandra Fedorovna. Alexandra Feodorovna Friederike Luise Charlotte Wilhelmine von Preußen ... Wikipedia

Alexandra Feodorovna is the name given in Orthodoxy to two spouses of Russian emperors: Alexandra Feodorovna (wife of Nicholas I) (Princess Charlotte of Prussia; 1798 1860) Russian Empress, wife of Nicholas I. Alexandra Feodorovna (wife ... ... Wikipedia

- (real name Alice Victoria Elena Louise Beatrice Hesse of Darmstadt) (1872 1918), Russian Empress, wife of Nicholas II (since 1894). She played a significant role in state affairs. She was under the strong influence of G. E. Rasputin. In period 1 ... ... Russian history

- (25.V.1872 16.VII. 1918) Russian. Empress, wife of Nicholas II (since November 14, 1894). Daughter led. Duke of Hesse of Darmstadt Ludwig IV. Before marriage, she was named Alice Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice. Domineering and hysterical, had a great influence on ... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

Empress of Russia, wife of Nicholas II (since November 14, 1894). Daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse of Darmstadt. Before marriage, she was named Alice Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice. Domineering and hysterical, ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- ... Wikipedia

Books

The Fate of the Empress, Alexander Bokhanov. This book is about an amazing woman whose life was like a fairy tale and an adventure novel at the same time. Empress Maria Feodorovna... Daughter-in-law of Emperor Alexander II, wife of the Emperor...
The Fate of the Empress, Bokhanov A.N. This book is about an amazing woman whose life was like a fairy tale and an adventure novel at the same time. Empress Maria Feodorovna... Daughter-in-law of Emperor Alexander II, wife of the Emperor...

Plan
Introduction
1 Biography
2 State duties
3 Policy impact (assessments)
4 Canonization

5.1 Letters, diaries, documents, photographs
5.2 Memories
5.3 Works of historians and publicists

Bibliography

Introduction

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Feodorovna) (nee Princess Alice Victoria Elena Louise Beatrice of Hesse-Darmstadt; May 25, 1872 - July 17, 1918) - wife of Nicholas II (since 1894). The fourth daughter of Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and Rhine, and Duchess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria of England.

Name day (in Orthodoxy) - April 23 according to the Julian calendar, the memory of the martyr Alexandra.

1. Biography

She was born in Darmstadt (Germany) in 1872. She was baptized on July 1, 1872 according to the Lutheran rite. The name given to her consisted of her mother's name (Alice) and the four names of her aunts. The godparents were: Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII), Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich (future Emperor Alexander III) with his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Beatrice, Augusta von Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Cambridge and Maria Anna , Princess of Prussia.

In 1878, a diphtheria epidemic spread in Hesse. Alice's mother and her younger sister May died from her, after which Alice lived most of the time in the UK at Balmoral Castle and Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Alice was considered the favorite granddaughter of Queen Victoria, who called her Sunny("Sun").

In June 1884, at the age of 12, Alice visited Russia for the first time, when her older sister Ella (in Orthodoxy - Elizaveta Feodorovna) was married to Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. For the second time, she arrived in Russia in January 1889 at the invitation of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. After staying in the Sergievsky Palace (Petersburg) for six weeks, the princess met and attracted the special attention of the heir to Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich.

In the early 1890s, the marriage of Alice and Tsarevich Nicholas was opposed by the latter's parents, who hoped for his marriage to Helen Louise Henrietta, daughter of Louis Philippe, Count of Paris. A key role in arranging Alice's marriage with Nikolai Alexandrovich was played by the efforts of her sister, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, and the wife of the latter, through whom the correspondence of lovers was carried out. The position of Emperor Alexander and his wife changed due to the perseverance of the crown prince and the deteriorating health of the emperor; On April 6, 1894, the engagement of the Tsarevich and Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt was announced by a manifesto. The following months, Alice studied the basics of Orthodoxy under the guidance of the court protopresbyter John Yanyshev and the Russian language with the teacher E. A. Schneider. On October 10 (22), 1894, she arrived in the Crimea, in Livadia, where she stayed with the imperial family until the day of the death of Emperor Alexander III - October 20. On October 21 (November 2), 1894, she accepted Orthodoxy there through chrismation with the name Alexander and patronymic Fedorovna (Feodorovna).

On November 14 (26), 1894 (on the birthday of Empress Maria Feodorovna, which allowed retreat from mourning), the wedding of Alexandra and Nicholas II took place in the Great Church of the Winter Palace. After the marriage, a thanksgiving service was served by members of the Holy Synod, headed by Metropolitan Pallady (Raev) of St. Petersburg; while singing "To you, God, we praise" a cannon salute was given in 301 shots. Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, in his emigrant memoirs, wrote about their first days of their marriage:

The family lived most of the time in the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo. In 1896, Alexandra traveled with Nikolai to Nizhny Novgorod for the All-Russian Exhibition. And in August 1896 they made a trip to Vienna, and in September-October - to Germany, Denmark, England and France.

In subsequent years, the Empress gave birth to four daughters: Olga (November 3 (15), 1895), Tatiana (May 29 (June 10), 1897), Maria (June 14 (26), 1899) and Anastasia (June 5 (18), 1901 of the year). On July 30 (August 12), 1904, the fifth child and only son, Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich, appeared in Peterhof. Alexandra Fedorovna was a carrier of the hemophilia gene, the Tsarevich was born a hemophiliac.

In 1897 and 1899, the family traveled to the homeland of Alexandra Feodorovna in Darmstadt. During these years, the Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene was built in Darmstadt, which is still operating today.

On July 17-20, 1903, the Empress participated in the celebrations of the glorification and discovery of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the Sarov Hermitage.

For entertainment, Alexandra Feodorovna played the piano together with Professor of the St. Petersburg Conservatory R. V. Kündinger. The Empress also took singing lessons from Conservatory professor N. A. Iretskaya. Sometimes she sang a duet with one of the court ladies: Anna Vyrubova, Alexandra Taneeva, Emma Frederiks (daughter of V. B. Frederiks) or Maria Stackelberg.

In 1915, at the height of the First World War, the Tsarskoye Selo hospital was converted to receive wounded soldiers. Alexandra Fedorovna, together with her daughters Olga and Tatyana, were trained in nursing by Princess V. I. Gedroits, and then assisted her in operations as surgical nurses.

During the February Revolution, Alexandra Fedorovna was placed under house arrest in the Alexander Palace. Yu.A. remained with her. Den, who helped her look after the Grand Duchesses and A.A. Vyrubova. In early August 1917, the royal family was exiled to Tobolsk by decision of the Provisional Government. Later, by decision of the Bolsheviks, they were transported to Yekaterinburg.

Alexandra Fedorovna was shot along with her entire family on the night of July 17, 1918 in Yekaterinburg.

2. State duties

Empress Alexandra was the chief of the regiments: the Life Guards of the Ulan Name of Her Majesty, the 5th Hussars of Alexandria, the 21st East Siberian Rifle and Crimean Cavalry, and from among the foreign ones - the Prussian 2nd Guards Dragoon Regiment.

The empress was also engaged in charitable activities. By the beginning of 1909, under her patronage, there were 33 charitable societies, communities of sisters of mercy, shelters, shelters and similar institutions, including: the Committee for finding places for military ranks who suffered in the war with Japan, the House of Charity for the crippled soldiers, the Imperial Women's Patriotic Society , Trusteeship for Labor Assistance, Her Majesty's Nursing School in Tsarskoye Selo, the Peterhof Society for Aiding the Poor, the Society for Helping the Poor with Clothes in St. Petersburg, the Brotherhood in the Name of the Queen of Heaven for the care of idiotic and epileptic children, the Alexandria Shelter for Women and others.

Policy impact (estimates)

Count S. Yu. Witte, former Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire (1905-1906), wrote that Nicholas II:

General A. A. Mosolov, who from 1900 to 1916 was the head of the office of the Ministry of the Imperial Court, testified in his memoirs that the empress failed to become popular in her new fatherland, and from the very beginning, the tone of this hostility was set by her mother-in-law, Empress Maria Feodorovna, who hated Germans; against her, according to his testimony, the influential Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna was also set up, which ultimately led to the aversion of society from the throne.

Senator V. I. Gurko, discussing the origins of “mutual alienation that grew over the years between society and the queen,” wrote in exile:

The camera-jungfer of the Empress M.F. Zanotti showed the investigator A.N. Sokolov:

Review of the empress ballerina M. F. Kshesinskaya, the former mistress of Tsarevich Nicholas in 1892-1894, in her emigrant memoirs:

4. Canonization

In 1981, Alexandra Feodorovna and all members of the royal family were canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, in August 2000 - by the Russian Orthodox Church.

During the canonization, Alexandra Feodorovna became Tsarina Alexandra the New, since Tsaritsa Alexandra was already among the saints.

Literature

5.1. Letters, diaries, documents, photographs

August sisters of mercy. / Comp. N. K. Zvereva. - M.: Veche, 2006. - 464 p. - ISBN 5-9533-1529-5. (Excerpts from the diaries and letters of the queen and her daughters during World War I).

· Album of photographs of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, 1895-1911. // Russian Archive: History of the Fatherland in evidence and documents of the 18th-20th centuries: Almanac .. - M .: Studio TRITE: Ros. Archive, 1992. - Vol. I-II.

Empress Empress Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova. Divine Light: Diary entries, correspondence, biography. / Comp. nun Nectaria (Mac Liz).- Moscow: Brotherhood of St. Herman of Alaska, Russian Palomnik publishing house, Valaam Society of America, 2005. - 656 p. - ISBN 5-98644-001-3.

· Reports on the receipt and expenditure of money. amounts received at the disposal of Her Majesty G.I. Alexandra Feodorovna for the needs of the war with Japan for 1904-1909.

· Report on the activities of Her Majesty's Warehouse in St. Petersburg. for the entire time of its existence, from February 1, 1904 to May 3, 1906

· Report on the activities of Her Majesty's Central Warehouse in Harbin.

· Letters from Empress Alexandra Feodorovna to Emperor Nicholas II. - Berlin: Slovo, 1922. (In Russian and English).

· Platonov O. A. The crown of thorns of Russia: Nicholas II in secret correspondence. - M.: Rodnik, 1996. - 800 p. (Correspondence of Nicholas II and his wife).

· The last diaries of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova: February 1917 - July 16, 1918 / Comp., ed., foreword, introduction. and comment. V. A. Kozlov and V. M. Khrustalev - Novosibirsk: Sib. chronograph, 1999. - 341 p. - (Archive of the recent history of Russia. Publications. Issue 1 / Federal Archival Service of Russia, GARF).

· Tsesarevich: Documents, memoirs, photographs. - M.: Vagrius, 1998. - 190 p.: ill.

5.2. Memories

· Gurko V.I. King and queen. - Paris, 1927. (And other editions)

· Den Yu. A. The True Empress: Memoirs of a Close Friend of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. - St. Petersburg: Tsarskoye Delo, 1999. - 241 p.