Nicholas and Alexandra

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

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las was not rushing to meet, negotiate and otherwise intercede with the petitioners. Ferro (85-90) notes the Tsar's diary entries for these fateful days make almost no mention of the impending crisis. By Sunday, the Tsar's troops fired into the crowds, killing hundreds and wounding many hundreds more. Twelve thousand bayonets and sabres were the only answer given to the masses of starving, hopeful people. After an event of such magnitude, Nicholas' telegraph to his people held out little more than idealism and threat. Advising them to be patient, he warned that their rebellious behavior constituted a criminal act, and ends with the astonishing "but I forgive their offense". He had pardoned them; they were not to respond in kind. Subsequent mobilisation of the nation's workers led to crippling strikes by more than 400,000 workers, from all segments of the population, even extending into the military branches. Nicholas blamed this on outside insurgents, the Jews; in short, anything but his own ineffectiveness. And when terrorism in the form of bombings and assassinations escalated against the factories and the government, Nicholas and his wife--always too eager to turn away, to ignore, to remain separate--went underground (Ferro 95-
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Approximate Word count = 3919
Approximate Pages = 16 (250 words per page)

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