The Romanovs

Tsesarevich Alexei Crown prince of the Heavens

Alexei Nikolavich Romanov was born on the 12 of August 1904 (Gregorian Calendar) in the lower dacha in Peterof. He was the fifth of four girls whose names were Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. His parents were Tsar Nicolas II Ruler, Autocrat of all the Russians and Tsaritsa Alexandra. They were very much relieved and overjoyed to finally after almost 10 years have a son to be the next Emperor (Tsar). Because it was the Russian law that no female could take the throne unless there was no other male relative. If they did not have a son, then Nicolas II's brother, Grand Duke Mikhail would be the next Tsar. But their joy of having a son was soon replaced with terror for their baby had Hemophilia "The Royal Disease." It is a rare bleeding disorder in which the blood doesn't clot properly, small bruises or cuts could produce immense swelling and bleeding that can even lead to death. Although girls can't have Hemophilia; they can be carriers of it. Alexei's Great Grandmother, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom somehow was a carrier of the disease sadly passed the genes onto her daughter Alice. Which she then passed it onto her daughter Alix, later Empress Alexandra after married Emperor Nicolas II and had Alexei with hemophilia. Boys like Alexei seldom lived to adulthood.

1904-1912

As Alexei grew older he was not allowed to play roughly, ride a bike, or play tennis. He would often beg is mother to do these things and say "You know you mustn't," he would cry and say "Why can't I be like everyone else, why do other boys have everything and I, nothing.'' But on the other hand Alexei was very spoiled by his parent, and when noblemen came to greet Alexei, he would often punch them, giving them a bloody nose. He was also fond of playing pranks. Once when he and his family were at a dinner party, Alexei ducked under the table and removed a shoe of a maid of honor, after showing it to his father, who strictly told him to put the shoe back, he did so, but not without putting a ripe strawberry in it. K.R. (Konstantin Romanov) a cousin of Nicolas wrote in his diary "Recently my wife had lunch with their Majesties, and was embarrassed by the behavior of the Heir. He often wouldn't sit up, ate badly, licked his plate, and teased others." His tutor, Pierre Gillard confronted Alexei's parents and later convincing them that better discipline would help Alexei when he became the next emperor someday.

The Spala Crises

Then Alexei had one of the most severe hemophiliac bouts in his lifetime. It happened when they were in a hunting lodge in Poland called Spala, when Alexei was jumping into a boat, his foot hit the side of it and he fell. Alexei was put in bed for several days until he was thought to be well. Later his mother, thinking Alexei might like some fresh air, took Alexei on a carriage ride with her. But it was a bumpy ride and during the drive Alexei said that his leg hurt and lower stomach ached. His mother quickly gave orders to turn the carriage around. When the family doctor came to see him and he found that his upper thigh was swelling. His father wrote "The days between the 6th and the 10th were the worst. The poor darling suffered intensely, the pains come in spasms and recurred every quarter of an hour. His high temperature made him delirious night and day; and he would sit up in bed and every movement brought the pain again. He hardly slept at all, had not even the strength to cry, and kept repeating 'Oh Lord have mercy upon me.'" Soon the swelling so bad that if someone dared to touch him, he would scream out in pain. Nicolas II sensed that this was the end and asked a minister from the Imperial Court to prepare Alexei's funeral. Alexei, also feeling that he might die, asked his mother "When I am dead, I will not hurt anymore, will it Mama? When I am dead, build me a little monument of stones in the wood." Then his mother tried one last desperate attempt to try and save her only son, she sent a telegram to a mystic or healer named Gregory Rasputin begging him to save her son. Rasputin sent her a telegram back saying, "The Lord has seen your tears and heard your prayers do not worry the boy will not die." Alexei made it through the night and the next day the swelling went down! Alexei felt better, but it took a full two years for him to fully recover. After the Spala Crises Alexei seemed to know that death could come at any moment for him. One day Olga (his older sister) found him lying on the grass, looking at the sky. She asked him what he was doing. He said "I like to think and wonder.'' When she asked him what he was thinking he said "Oh, so many things," he said. "I enjoy the sun and the beauty of summer as long as I can. Who knows whether one of these days I shall not be prevented from doing it?" Alexei even became more kind and polite to people, especially to those who hurt.

A peaceful carriage ride?

In 1914 when his father pronounced war on Germany. There were large crowds by millions at the ceremonies. On their way over to St. Petersburg for the ceremonies, Alexei had twisted his ankle and had to stay in Peterof with Galliard (his Tutor) and later on joined his family. Around that time Galliard decided for Alexei and him to go in a peaceful carriage ride, while they were riding, suddenly peasants began to recognize him, then someone shouted "It's the Heir!" People all around came running toward him trying to touch him. This frightened poor Alexei having hundreds of people trying to stick their hand in the window trying to touch him. And finally the police came to the rescue. His mother blamed Galliard for the accident, because of not asking her before they went.

Stavka

During the world war one Alexei joined his father at Stvaka, (Stavka was the military headquarters for the Supreme Commander of the Russian armed forces) and Mongoleiv, when his father became the Commander and Chief of the Russian Army. Alexei seemed to like military life very much and became very playful and energetic. In one of his father's notes to his mother, he said "...Have come in from the garden with wet sleeves and boots as Alexei sprayed us at the fountain. It is his favorite game...peals of laughter ring out. I keep an eye, in order to see that things do not go too far." Alexei ate the solders black bread and even refused when he was offered a meal in his palace saying, "It's not what solders eat." In 1916 he was given the title of Lance Corporal, which he was very proud of. Alexei's favorite representatives were from Belgium, Britain, France, Japan, Italy, and Serbia. And they in favor, adopted him as there Mascot. Hanbury-Williams, whom Alexei liked wrote "As time went on and his shyness wore off he treated us like old friends and... had always some bit fun with us. With me it was to make sure that each button on my coat was properly fastened, a habit which naturally made me take great care to have one or two unbuttoned, in which case he used to at once to stop and tell me that I was 'untidy again,' give a sigh at my lack of attention to these details and stop and carefully button me up again."

The Abdication

Then the Russian Revolution took place. Nicolas was forced to abdicate. He gave the throne to Alexei, but then Nicolas II abdicated for Alexei later when he found out he would have to be separated from his son. He gave the throne to his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail who refused the position. Russia was left without an emperor! The Romanovs would be placed under house arrest. When the news met Alexandra she was in deep shock it just couldn't be! Russia would be without an emperor and it's most famous family would be prisoners. She was too distraught to tell her son. So she asked Alexei's tutor, Pierre Galliard to tell her son the shocking news. Galliard wrote, "I told him that the Tsar would be returning from Mogilev next morning and would never go back there again." Alexei asked, why? "You're father does not want to become commander of the army anymore" He was greatly moved at this, as he was very fond of going to G.H.Q. After a moment or two I added; You know you're father does not want to become emperor anymore Alexei Nikolaevich. He looked at me in astonishment, trying to read my face at what had happened" "What, why?" "You're father is very tired and has had a lot of trouble lately!" "Oh yes! Mama told me that they stopped his train when he wanted to come here." "But won't Papa be tsar again afterwards?" "I then told him that the tsar had abdicated in favor of Grand Duke Mikhail, who had also renounced the throne." "But who is going to be tsar, then? "I don't know, perhaps nobody now... Not a single word about himself. Not a single allusion to his rights as the heir. He become very red and agitated... then said; "But if there isn't a Emperor then who will govern Russia"? Then I explained that the Provisional Government had been formed..."