Just watched the film, Nicholas and Alexandra, having seen the film several times over my lifetime. I'm always deeply moved, for reasons not entirely clear to me. Russians on the forum, any thoughts about Nicholas, his family? I know he was recently canonized and this was controversial. I also know the history of the period, to some extent, as an outsider. Just a thread trying to get any Russian impression. No polemic intended or sought - just any sense from Russians of this part of their history. Thoughts?
I am fascinated by Russian history, including and especially Nicholas and Alexandra. But I wouldn't call it moving. And well, Catherine is interesting too I'm not Russian though.
Myself as well, to include Peter the Great, ancient Muscovy. I have no rational reason for being moved by the story of the last of the Romanovs. Something stretching back to at least my days in Shakespeare, playing from Richard II to Henry V. In this day and age, the idea of La Gloire, endemic to monarchy, is eschewed. But we've lost something as well.
Russia is a fascinating country, its history dating back to 1000 yrs ago. I had a chance to visit St. Petersburg last year but missed it. I hope to be able to go someday.
The more I read about Nicholas, the more I am struck at how ill prepared he was to be Czar. Other monarchs have been inadequate, but at least attempted to make up the deficit by using more capable cabinet members. Nicholas? Not so much. Oh, I bought my hubby a book about Rasputin, autographed by his daughter. I wanted toi give him a unique gift!
Wow - great gift, Kaethy. Totally agree on Nicholas. Shades of Louis XVI of France, or so it seems to me, and I do find a certain tragedy here. I have met Stalin's grandaughter. Very odd to see Stalin portrayed in film.
Nicholas II was a part of the richest family in the world - before its demise. In today's value, they would be collectively worth a trillion dollars. Then they got capped and all the assets went to the USSR.
Yeah, the family wealth thing - I wasn't aware of how wealthy until recently, according to Forbes (2006), in current dollars, at $253 billion, 3rd wealthiest in human history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_wealthy_historical_figures#cite_note-0 (Pretty interesting list - Crassus at 8...).
The man really was a buffoon - when Russia faired badly during the First World War he made himself the commander of the military forces. It's really hilarious to read the letters he wrote back to his wife from the front - they consist of nothing but chat about the weather and what he had eaten for breakfast. He wasn't even capable of running a small provincial town, and therein lies the problem of hereditary rule and the reason for its downfall: the incapable are just as entitled to be ruler as much as the capable.
Agreed. Usually, in place are professionals who know what they're doing (Richelieu to Louis XIII, also benefiting Louis XIV's reign; Mazarin to Louis XIV, especially until the latter got his chops; Bismarck to the Kaiser, until the bilious blowhard fired him; etc.), but Nicholas was truly inept and didn't listen to good counsel. But I also thing something has been lost. Just a personal thing, irrational and emotional in basis. Where'd you read the letters?
I agree, Czar Nicholas' legacy is very similar to that of Louis XVI's. Rasputin was basically ruling the country then and I think at this point in history Nicholas is definetely overrated as a ruler.
I'd actually like to investigate more. Anyone recommend a particularly great read on the last years of the Romanovs?
I agree with this but not in the usual depreciative way. Obviously he didn't have the personality for the job, but he happened to be the previous' Czar's son and didn't choose to be the ruler. I'm sure he'd have declined had he had the chance, I'm kind of feel sorry for him.
Yea, that is true. Same was the case with Louis XVI, who showed no interest in ruling. The job just got dumped on him and he just went through with it blindly with Marie Antoinette, both of whom focused more on themselves than the problems of the nation which would eventually lead to revolution.
This is why I feel sorry, to some extent, as well. I know it sounds crazy to the modern ear. But to be cast into a role not of one's choosing, with so many forces conspiring, and so little ability to handle it, I do find a certain empathy here.
A great find. Just came across this site - interesting: http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/AlexPalaceNRbio.html Truly bizarre, if it isn't made up by Simonovich, Rasputin's Secretary, is his apparent final letter. Prior to his murder, Rasputin reportedly set his daughter up with substantial funds, and wrote the following: If true, interesting historical artifact.