The Romanov Diary

Author's note

First of all, THANK YOU! Spasibo! Thank you to every single one who has taken their time to read this story. My story. When I started writing this a few months ago I had no idea where I was headed, but I'm so happy with my ending. But without your support I would never have done it. So once again, thank you!

What you just read is my take on the story about Russia's last imperial family, their terrible fate and the legend of Anastasia's and Alexei's survival. My story begins during their exile in Tsarskoe Selo, but there is so much more to learn before that. Most of what you read until chapter 32 was true. I have of course written a lot of truth with modification for it to work with my story and my four main characters, but at least 80% is based on a true story. Maria did fall in love with a guard, Anastasia did stick her tongue at a soldier that tried to shoot her and the family did get very close to the guards during their captivity. However, I am going to have to disappoint you. Anastasia and Alexei did not survive. When the bodies were found in 1991 (originally in 1979, but due to the Soviet Union they waited to dig up the bodies) they were identified as the Romanovs. Among them were Anastasia. Maria and Alexei were missing.

It could also finally be confirmed that Anna Andersson was not Anastasia Romanova. In 1998, 80 years after the brutal murder, the family and their servants got their final rest at the Peter-Paul cathedral. Nicholas also got a well deserved trial which said that the murder was illegal and never should have happened. The Ipatiev House was destroyed during the 70's, but in 2003 a church was built on the same spot - Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land. On the 17th July every year, faithful Russians visit the church in Yekaterinburg and walk the 12 mile long walk into the woods where there now are crosses and chapels for every victim. It would take them until 2007 to find the remains of Maria and Alexei. No one survived that night. Well, no human at least. Joy actually did. She was adopted by one of the soldiers and lived the rest of her life in Britain. Many other Romanovs were murdered during the revolution - Alexandra's sister Ella is one example - , but some survived. Maria Feodorovna, Olga Alexandrovna, Xenia Alexandrovna... One can wonder if they ever knew what happened to their relatives.

My interest for the Romanovs began almost four years ago when I read a fictional book about Anastasia, but it wasn't until we played the musical Anastasia at my school that I really became invested. The Romanovs is my favorite historical subject and I hope to learn more. I've grown very close to the grand duchesses, even though they're dead. Sometimes it feels like they're my friends, or at least we probably would have been if we ever got to know each other. I wanted to bring a lot of focus onto them because they are so very often forgotten. Tatiana is my favorite, I know we would have been great friends. But Olga, Maria and Anastasia are also extremely dear to me. If you're interested in what sources I've used for my story, or if you're curious for more knowledge, here are some documentaries, movies and books to check out!

The Last Czars (2019), Netflix.

Russia's Lost Princesses (2016), Youtube.

Romanovs: a crowned family (2000), Youtube.

Four Sisters: The lost lives of the Romanov grand duchesses - Helen Rappaport.

Anastasias öde - Kim M. Kimselius.

Romanov - Nadine Brandes.

Anastasia (1997), 20th century studios.

Anastasia (1956), 20th century fox.

Once again, thank you so so SO much for reading my story! I appreciate every single one of you. I wish you all the best!

Do svidaniya!

(Picture: My favorite photo of my dear girls. Tatiana sits on a chair to the right of the picture with Olga behind her. In the middle stands Anastasia and Maria sits down to the far left.)