Weakness of the Romanovs

Posted by Kerry Kubilius Jul 6, 2007

Tsar Nicholas II. Some see him as a martyr, having died at the hands of Bolsheviks after abdicating the throne. His royal consort, Alexandra Fyodorovna, was canonized as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church, and was undeniably a mother devoted to her children. However, their shortsightedness aided the fall of the Romanov Dynasty, and while not all fault can be put on the Tsar and Tsaritsa, their personal weaknesses amounted to weakening the strongest link in Russia's chain of command.

Nicholas II was not interested in ruling, and his wife encouraged him to play the part of a Muscovite Tsar who lorded over his people like a deity. He could not be bothered with matters of state, and she could not be bothered to play the part of a society lady - both attitudes that were frowned upon by those in positions to criticize. Nicholas II felt his people loved him, but in reality, his ineptitude cause unrest among the ranks of his advisors.

The Romanov Dynasty was in danger, anyway. Tsarevich Alexei, the heir to the throne and Nicholas and Alexandra's youngest child, had hemophilia. Noble relatives in Alexandra's family tree had died of the disease, and while she did not have hemophilia herself, she was certainly the carrier of the gene that was passed to Alexei. She worried constantly over his health, and for good reason. The smallest scratch, bump, or bruise could cause bleeding that failed to stop (or worse yet - internal bleeding), and not only would she lose a son, but Russia would lose its heir.

Had Alexandra acted more appropriately in her position as Empress, and had Nicholas cared a bit more about his duties and his people, history may have looked more favorably upon the last royal rulers of Russia. Nonetheless, even though they are sympathetic characters in romanticized versions of their tale, their overall attitudes towards Russia's problems and government helped, rather than hindered, the drastic regime change that occurred in early 20th century Russia.