The Emperor of Russia's four daughters - Olga, Tatiana, Marie, and Anastasia - are best friends as well as sisters. Being in an unusual position as daughters of the one of the world's most powerful men, sometimes it feels that they are each other's...
NOTE: The majority of people listed here either appear in the book or are significant to the plot (such as in political events) even if they do not physically appear; a few exceptions to this (neither mentioned nor present) will be listed anyway due to providing broader historical context. Nickames are in brackets and italics, like (this). Members of the imperial family did not typically use a surname, as there was no need for one, but did use their patronyms. A patronymic is derived from the father's first name. For example, Olga Nikolaevna is the daughter of Nicholas, or Mikhail Alexandrovich is the son of Alexander. Servants and other non-royals are listed with their surnames.
THE IMPERIAL FAMILY
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From left to right: Olga, Maria, Nicholas, Alexandra, Anastasia, Alexei, and Tatiana.
Nicholas II (Nicky): The Emperor of Russia.
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix; Sunny): Nicholas's wife. Born Princess Alix of Hesse, her name was changed to Alexandra when she was baptised into the Russian Orthodox Church, although she still uses her birth name among family and friends. A German princess and Queen Victoria's favourite granddaughter.
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (Olenka): The eldest of Nicholas and Alexandra's children, born in 1895.
Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna (Tanechka): The second of the imperial children, born in 1897.
Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna (Marie,Mashka): The third of the imperial children, born in 1899.
Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna (Nastasia,Nastya, Shvybzik, Shvybz): The fourth of the imperial children, born in 1901.
Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich (Sunbeam; Alyosha): The youngest of Nicholas and Alexandra's children and the only boy, born in 1904.
ROYAL RELATIVES (NICHOLAS'S FAMILY)
Empress Dowager Maria Feodorovna (Minnie): Nicholas's mother, known since her husband's death as the Empress Dowager. Born Princess Dagmar of Denmark, she is related to the Danish royal family and to the British royal family through her sister's marriage to King Edward VII.
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna: Nicholas's sister. Xenia is married to Alexander Mikhailovich.
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich (Sandro): Xenia's husband. He serves in the Russian Navy. Although he is at times considered uncouth and ill-mannered, he is one of Nicholas's closest advisors.
Princess Irina Alexandrovna (Irène): Xenia and Alexander's only daughter. She is the same age as Olga Nikolaevna, and the two were close as children, but their relationship has started to dwindle as they've gotten older and associated with different social circles.
