History is full of enigmatic figures who, in the name of morality, faith or the constraints of their own blind will, remain aloof, seemingly oblivious to the direst warnings presented to them. This is a brief overview of selected events which led to the fall of the Romanov Empire, with particular reference to the significance of the personalities and background of Nicholas II, the Empress Alexandra, and Rasputin.
The image of Nicholas II that dominates history is that of a weak and unintelligent man who was poorly equipped to deal with the challenge of a newly emerging, modern nation (Steinberg and Khrustalev 23-25). But he was not a stupid man. While not possessing an education equal to that of today's rulers, he had proficiency in English, French and German, as well as considerable teaching in military, political, and economic sciences (Steinberg and Khrustalev 26). By age ten, he had mastered four languages and had a particular love of history--he was hardly deficient in intelligence (Lieven 34).
But by the time of his teens, he was also the quintessential country gentleman, schooled primarily in the gentler aspects of a very exclusive lifestyle. He had served as a junior officer during this time, but had absorbed only the simple concepts of obedience and command. Lieven stresses the devastating impact the early years of Nicholas' life would have on the events to come (Lieven 34-41). Naive and immature for his age, he grew up sheltered by his parents. Removed from the sobering influence of the outside world, he often lacked outside companions. He would take this adolescent view of the world into his twenties, with terrible consequences. The early death of his powerful, politically astute father, Alexander III, thrust him, well-loved but devastatingly inexperienced, into the merciless glare of a political spotlight. Nicholas' closeness to his family, his gentleness, sensitivity and his marked abilities to give and receive...